Road Trip ’23 … Day 2 … 14000 feet and Ghosts

Day 2

When one wakes up in a castle, it makes you start your day a little different than normal. It wasn’t pride, or arrogance, or ‘look at me’ … as much as wondering if everything is real.

To be clear – it did start out so great. The shower, an old iron clawfoot tub converted to a shower, was quaint … but water got everywhere as it spilled over the side. Everywhere. After using almost every towel and washcloth and whatever we could find, I think we got it. I figured it out pretty quick, but no instructions had me at a disadvantage. 

We get so used to modern tech and ways, we often think we can do anything from time past. Nope. It was a learning curve.

This first morning waking up on vacay location was great. We walked the grounds, a great retreat center that offers conferences, kids’ camps and marriage retreats. What a wonderful ministry to thousands and thousands every year.

Lisa learned that if someone volunteered for a month at the center, they then could return as a guest whenever they wanted. She now has our retirement planned out. Yeah, like I’m ever going to retire.

We took a cog train up to Pikes Peak – 14000 plus feet up. Didn’t see much wildlife but did see some beautiful scenery and got the great story behind “America the Beautiful’ and the history of conquering the peak itself.

But there is more … a challenge for another day …

After the train ride, we packed everything up and headed to Estes Park – I mean, I am an Estes so I have to visit the old family town. Again – to be clear – I do not think I am related to anyone who pioneered the location, but if it will get me a perk for two, I will try. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

Speaking of creepy and the walking dead, we then checked in to … The Stanley Hotel. 

Yes, the Stanley. The location of several movie sites. The short term residence of Steven King … the place he wrote and the setting of ‘The Shining.’ This place was saved by the master writer of horror.  The movie, starring Jack Nicholson, was not filmed there. However, the TV series was filmed there. Also, the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’ had scenes there.

This hotel, a grand site of hospitality and attractions, had tours offered to all that wanted to share the ghoulish and spectral history of the hotel. Wavy mirrors, well placed vintage portraits, turn of the century furniture, and paraphernalia from the past and the entertainment world all made this place eerie.

They even had a seance room – ready to reach the other side – for those that believe this is more than just an historic bnb.

I believe in the spiritual world. I believe there is more than what we can see. I believe we can be manipulated and deceived, by both the physical and the non. And, I also believe Stephen King is a master story teller. My wife told me her English prof shared that King is one of the greatest writers, story tellers of our day. That’s high praise when you consider writers such ase Bible Rowling, Lewis, Rice, Tolkien.

But the greatest story isn’t theirs to make up. The greatest story is God’s love for us, God’s plan of redemption, and God’s ever faithful steadfastness. The story that is old as time itself. The story we get in the Bible.

He made us – We blew it – He had a plan – He loves us – He sent His Son – the Son took our place, our punishmen – we believe – we live, forever. Now that’s a story. Are you part of it? Eternity hangs in the balance.

Now, that is a story to tell.

Tomorrow, after a good night sleep, we wake early – 4am. So early … so we could do a hike in the dark … to watch the sunrise. And it was a great sunrise,

We slept in the Stanley – two nights. We never saw the ethereal. We never heard ghostly noises. We never were afraid, for we know His story is better and truer than any story by a man, even a story by one named King.