Quick trip to Estes Park-October 16, 2014

While we were having our morning coffee Jerry got a hankering for fresh salt water taffy. So, we headed to Estes Park. It's only about 55 miles from us and it was a great day for a drive. The first stop we made in town was at Estes Park Taffy Co. Their taffy is absolutely the best we have ever found. And they were busy making it today. Yummy stuff.

I am not sure why but we had totally forgotten about last year's devastation to the Big Thompson Canyon caused by the horrible September rains. Going from Loveland to Estes we saw a little damage but coming back to Loveland we were stunned into silence. We both were here when the Big Thompson Canyon flooded in 1976 and over 160 people were killed. Last year's flood only caused one death but the physical damage to the land was shocking.

Before I post the sad pictures please let me share a few pictures of Estes Park itself. It was so nice there we did not even need jackets.

Just walking beside this was soothing.

 

This gigantic bronze Columbine was right on the main street.

It's really pretty and I would estimate 10-12 feet tall.

 

The following pictures might be hard to comprehend for those who have never been in this canyon so I'll explain as best I can.

 

It doesn't need much explanation, does it?

 

Ditto. Those huge rocks were moved from higher up by

the force of the Big Thompson River raging out of control.

 

This is some of what used to be the little community of Drake.

There were homes and businesses here.

 

This house was left but it is not salvageable. There were several

more houses here, too. Giving credit where it is due, at least

the vast majority of the mess and debris has been cleaned up.

 

This just looks like a pile of dirt. However, it was quite a huge

mountain side that washed away with the force of the rain and

rushing water. The camera does not grasp what a big area this is.

There were no houses on this site.

 

Viestenz-Smith Park or what used to be. This was a wonderful

place where we went on countless picnics over the years. It was

a big park with lush green grass, a beautiful river and lots of

picnic tables plus places for kids to run and play. We just loved it.

It no longer exists.

 

This large steel bridge was built and placed in Viestenz-Smith

Park after the horrible flood in 1976. It was supposed to be

indestructible. Walking over it with the Big Thompson River

rushing under it was just delightful. And it made for some great

pictures. However, note that it no longer spans the river.

It is actually positioned parallel to the river.

 

We were supposed to get married the weekend of the Big Thompson flood in 1976 and we had reservations at a hotel in Estes Park. It was such a blessing in disguise when the jeweler who was making our rings called to say he was running late and he needed another week. He offered temporary substitutes for the ceremony. We said we would just put it off a week. If we had taken his offer we would have been driving up the Canyon headed to Estes Park when that horrible flood hit. There might not have ever been a Derrick and thus no Hannah. I still get emotional when I tell that true story. God was really in charge of our lives that night.

 

We have also been through hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. But nothing prepared us for what we saw today. It was so shocking. Can you imagine me being speechless? Sometimes I could not even take a picture. I just had to stare. Bless all those people who have survived two huge floods. No wonder we saw so many "For Sale" signs everywhere.

 

In spite of the sadness there was still beauty to see today. We had a great lunch. And we had a safe drive. We are thankful.