wyoming

state 34! woooo wyoming!

So before I write about my absolutely amazing time camping in Rocky Mountain National Park I’m going to talk about Wyoming. Yes, Wyoming. So I knew I was going kinda North in Colorado to go the National Park but it wasn’t until I saw a local map that I realized how close I was to the Colorado-Wyoming border that it was totally possible. So Tuesday night I looked up how long it would take to get to Cheyenne from the NP and then back to the airport  to return my car and catch my flight and decided my Wednesday adventure was going to Wyoming instead of Mt. Evans. 

got this sign too! wooo!

I was up at 6:30 to pack my tent and try to wrangle everything into my bags (I need to take a picture of all my camping & conference things in their 2 bags) and on the road by 7:30. I stopped once I was in town where I got a phone signal to just check the roads (I was going close to where the really bad fires are in CO and connect for a few minutes with the outside world) and then I was off! Driving on the twisty roads out of the Estes Park area and I was shocked at how smoky the skies were from the fires. I was pretty close driving on 34 by Loveland and the smell of fire was in the air. I’ve never seen anything like it. The destruction from the fires is just massive and the fire is still going strong. Driving through Northern Colorado on I25 was so interesting – the mountains to one side and just flat prairie with cattle. I was in love just with such a new landscape passing through Fort Collins and then I was so close and luckily they have a little pulloff so people like me can easily stop and take photos of the welcome to signs!

wyoming capital! it is so small!

Wyoming is my 34^th state! Now I had a few hours to explore Wyoming before I had to head back to Denver to catch my flight to Houston. So I went to the visitors center and wanted to try to head to Fort Laramie but it was too far away, boo! So I headed to Cheyenne which is less than 10 miles over the border and is also the state capital – so I got another capital in! I walked around the capital which was soooo small and adorable! And then walked around downtown Cheyenne just enjoying my time in Wyoming! I can’t wait until I can get back to Wyoming and explore more – especially the National Parks!

downtown cheyenne - adorable

depot square and the union pacific depot - cheyenne was the headquarters for the union pacific railroad and it played a major part of the city's growth and importance in wyoming

And now I’m in Houston working a conference. (I know - my travel schedule is crazy) Then Sunday night I’m heading back to NJ (slight change of plans) and there for a week. I was supposed to go back to Charleston Monday and be there until Thursday when I was flying home for Twin’s shower next weekend, but I have something I need to be in NJ for on Monday so hopefully it will all be worth it. Keep your fingers crossed for me!  The only downsides is I’m traveling all over with 2 bags and my clothing selection is interesting and I won’t be in Charleston for almost 3 weeks. Grrr. But hopefully I'll have some good news after all this crazy!

So here are a few shots of Rocky Mountain National Park from my phone to go with Wyoming until I get some time to choose my favorite photos of the mountains from the 450 I took while on my adventure!

my love of national park signs!

MOOSE!!!!!!!! 

elk - lots of elk around the park

two miles above sea level looking down on the valley

some gorgeous glacial mountains near bear lake