Day 3...

We started early morning i Colby, Kansas,and today we had a long drove ahead (to Estes Park, Colorado).  Northwestern corner of Kansas didn't surprise us so much. The scenery changed a little bit with more hills and rougher ground with Sagebrushes. First stop was a little town, Haigler, (Nebraska) so we could let the girls run around. The town only had a postoffice, a family market and a café. Different little mini town.. Unfortunately the owner of both the market and the café was on vacation.hehe..but we had brought food with us!  We only drove 10 km in southwest NE before we reached Colorado and a new timezone!

In CO we tried to drive smaller roads to avoid the Denver met. area, so we stayed on highway 34. The roads in the States are named odd numbers goes north/south starting with Highway 1 in California, and even numbers goes West/East. That way ita easy to tell your direction.

Colorado scenery changed pretty quick. The easter parts still has big plains, and we passed several huge feedlots for cows. It started to rain alittle when we got closer to the frontrange so we couldnt see the mountains from far away. A clear day you can see the Rockies from Kansas!
We were trying to reach Estes Park in the afternoon so we drove as much as we could, had a quick lunch at Pizza Hut, Yuma. And then drove to Loveland right at the front of the mountains.  Loveland is a big city with everything you can wish for and a lot of "money", with nice houses... We had a coffe and homemade Peach cobbler (smulpaj) at Cracker Barrel. It's a national food chain with country cooked food and the also have a store with very pretty things, alot of small decoration and kids stuff. I bought two new Yankee Candles from their fall collection. "Harvest" and " Apple Pumpkin".. I know they are alittle more expensive at Cracker Barrel but total 40 dollars for two large candles.. I think that's what I paid for one medium in Sweden..Anyway, before we reached Estes Park, we drove into the mountain and the truly amazing Big Thompson Canyon. I hope to show pics soon, but it cannot be described with pictures-you are really driving in to the Rockies...an amazing drive up to our goal for today!

Around 5 we reached Estes Park. It is a beautiful place for all outdoors lovers,right by Rocky Mountain National Park entrance.  We stayed in a very nice room at the Estes Hotel. Good place for kids with nice views and a pool. For dinner we bought home deli food from the nicest grocery store I've been to over here, Safeway. All fresh, very good selection of ecofriendly food. A couple of beers later it was time to sleep and get ready for tomorrows adventures!

.. Totally we drove about 600 km today..