Rocky mountain high...

We headed into the Rocky Mountains via Fort Collins. This was also the day we first ate at International House of Pancakes.  We didn't completely regret it.

So that's why they call them rocky.

The Talk had planned a route for us which would head through Rocky Mountain National Park.  The drive through the Rockies is spectacular, and the roads are very good.  If you ever get the chance, drive here.  Unfortunately as we climbed higher it started to rain.  Then sleet.  Then snow.

When we reached the entry to the national park, a friendly ranger had a look at our car, a listen to our accents and decided it would be best if we turned back the way we had come.  We were disappointed on one hand, because it seemed like a nice drive, but on the other hand we didn't want fall from the Rocky Mountains, hang our heads and cry...

Driving downhill in our first snow-storm.

We reached Avon quite late and checked into our hotel.  The concierge suggested a nearby fancy restaurant which had slashed its prices for the off season.  We had an amazing dinner of bison and fresh vegetables, followed by a house-made spirit (someone remind me what this was called please and I'll add a link) and some local beers, which I've posted about before.