Day 8 Friday August 24th - Hot Sulphur Springs to Denver, CO.

It was about 48 degrees when we headed out this morning. We bundled up as we knew that it was going to get colder as we headed over the pass in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was overcast to start, but cleared as we neared the park. That last time I was here was in 1985 and I was looking forward to the drive. It was as beautiful as I remembered. This is a high road for vehicles. We passed over 12,090 ft/ 3685 at the highest point. You are above the tree line as they can no longer grow due to the lack of oxygen at this altitude (trees stop growing between 10,000-11,000 ft). Instead, you see Alpine Tundra. It is very delicate and grows at a rate of 1-3 inches every 100 years!!! It also produces its own soil to grow in. It was not as cold or windy as it normally is. The temp was about 50 and the winds were fairly calm. We came down to Estes Park and stopped by the Stanley Hotel (where they filmed the Shining) and had a late lunch before our drive through Big Thompson Canyon. We ended the day having dinner at “The Fort” a very nice restaurant in western Denver near Red Rocks. Drove 195 miles today for a total of 2327 miles.