Estes Park Birthday Extravaganza

After class Friday morning, Mary and I packed up and headed 1 & 1/2 hours West to camp in Estes Park. The drive was beautiful as was Estes Park on arrival. We pitched a tent at a KAO camp ground and then spent the afternoon walking around the downtown shops. We had dinner at a pizza place along the river walk, bought some necessary camping items (S'more ingredients and firewood) and then watched Bourne Ultimatum at a local theatre before returning to camp for fire time. It was really cold Friday night, so sleep was a bit limited, but that's what happens when you go camping in Colorado. Thankfully I had my new snow boots and silk thermals from my parents to sleep in. :o) We spent Saturday hiking and driving in Rocky Mountain National Park (it just happened to be "free day") . We saw lots of elk and even got snowed on. Saturday afternoon we drove back to Boulder and spent the evening downtown there. Downtown Boulder is probably one of the most interesting places to people watch ever - there are people from all walks of life and lots of street performers. Sunday morning we had a picnic outside of Starbucks, went to church, had lunch and chilled at the park until time to go to the airport. However we underestimated security and Mary didn't make her flight. So we had dinner with Ashley and then Mary stayed the Clark's before going back to the airport to catch an early flight out the next morning. When I went back to property Sunday night for our girl Bigs meeting, they had made a cake and had balloons and some fun little gifts for me. So I busted out my "party in a box" from the Murrays, complete with party hats, candy, party blowers, etc. It was great. "M" had even got me a little birthday present.
Yay for birthday weekends and time off and friends and the beautiful mountains!