posted 07-02-2001 01:24 AM                  

It was great to finally meet Alex. A while back, Alex saw a red Prowler and it was enough to convince him to buy a cat instead of a Vette. At the time, he didn't know who the owner was. I think it was just a few days ago, that Alex pulled into a parking lot, followed by a heating and air conditioning service truck. Out jumped Tony, who had followed Alex in his Orange. As fate would have it, Alex figured out by their conversation, that Tony was the guy in the red cat that he had seen. Alex invited Tony to come along for the day trip to Estes!!

So, we headed up the Big Thompson Canyon up to Estes Park. We took a back route through Glen Haven that comes out right behind our friend's home. We stopped by the house to pick up the cell phone Bob forgot and to unload Larry's stuff. Took the opportunity to get some photos with the beautiful mountains behind the cats.

Proceeded to town to gas up and headed for Rocky Mountain National Park. As we cruised through downtown Estes, we stopped in front of our friend's goldsmith store and honked the horn and waved. They all came running out to see... along with the thousands of other people on the streets. We were quite a hit!! Up into the park and to Trail Ridge Road. The weather was beautiful. Started about 79 in the park and dropped to about 64 at the top. The cruise up was great.....majestic mountains, lots of elk and lots of people! When we arrived at the top, the parking lot was pretty full, so we parked in a couple of bus/rv parking spots and managed to get 5 Prowlers, 1 pickup truck and 1 motorcycle in two spots!!!

Visited the Visitor Center/Store and browsed a bit. Took pictures, talked to the crowds of people around the cats. One teenage boy asked Alex if he would take his picture next to his cat. After I shouted encouragement, Alex let him sit in his cat for a picture! The kid looked like he was in seventh heaven!! He thought that was pretty cool and it was nice of Alex to do that!!

Back down the mountain. Lots of smiles, waves, and thumbs up!!! It was rather funny to see people poised to take pics of the mountains and turn around to take pics of the cats instead!! One guy stopped his pickup (with traffic lined up behind him) so he could videotape us driving by! At one point on the road, we were over 12,000 feet up!!

Went back into town for a another cruise down the main street where we caused another big stir!!! Tony had to get home, so he left. The rest of us stopped for lunch. Afterwards, Alex left for home and Pauley and family left to do the family vacation thing! Larry, Bob and I went back to the house and cleaned up Larry's cat. Later, we went back downtown to wander around for a while. Larry ran into his brother and sister-in-law from Nebraska! After a while, we met our friends and another couple (friends of theirs) for dinner at a great restaurant!

Hooked up the car trailer, did some packing and everyone else is sawing "Zs" but me!

Tomorrow they will be meeting Larry Lord and his catavan at the Budweiser exit to head to Deadwood.

It was a great day in Estes Park. I have wanted to drive my cat over Trail Ridge Road since the day I got it! I am happy now. It has been such great fun running up and down the canyons in this cat......boy, does it handle those curves!!!

Thanks to Alex, Tony, Larry S, and Pauley and family for joining us for this great cruise!!! Alex will be back up to run with Larry's catavan as far as Cheyenne! A safe trip to all...........

posted 07-03-2001 07:54 AM                  

Alex

posted 07-07-2001 03:03 PM                  

Alex and Tony - thanks for joining up with us. Let's do it again. Great meeting you both!!!

YOU haven't done everything UNTIL, you cruise the Big Thompson Canyon under Estes Park, Colo. Put this on your MUST DO list!

Bob and CJ, thanks for all the things you helped me with during this event. CJ, I still owe you lunch at Woodward. Remember the Saunders?

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Larry Salzman
Call 911 - there is a Prowler in my garage....