• bicycle rides,  bicycling,  campus,  Transportation

    How about a coke?

    October 18, 2026

    I have not posted anything for three days. So, I will post this image of the Coca-Cola truck parked just outside of Morgan Library on Colorado State University campus. I actually see this truck quite often which tells you they sell a lot of coke there. I honestly do not remember the last time I had a coke. Just not my thing. We are enjoying some Indian Summer weather. Mornings are in the high 30’s and low 40’s then reaching mid 70’s by afternoon.

    The update on my car is not good news. The engine needs replacing and will cost far more than the vehicle is worth. So, at the moment I am without a car and I’m okay with that. She lasted me 15 years. It’s a strange and new situation for me to be without a car. I’ve not been without a car for the past 60 years. And, that may even be true for you. I have over the past few years wondered if I could manage without a car. A couple of reasons for that is the amount of traffic on the roads, crazy drivers, bigger vehicles, pollution and the cost of driving. It would require a major shift in my thinking and lifestyle. I have kept track of all my car expenses since January 2021. It costs me $309 a month to have that car. That includes insurance, gasoline, and maintenance ( tires, oil changes, brakes and repairs). I have averaged only 10,000 miles a year since I’ve owned it. Looks like I will get to find out what life is like without a car. Buying a new car is not something I want. However, I have tossed around the leasing idea. It would fit my budget and at my age makes sense to me. So, I will get to see what it’s like to live in this culture without a car. I have my bicycle, a good bus system, I still am able to walk and the money I will save on gas and insurance will buy a few Uber rides. I honestly really don’t drive that much. In fact I have only put 4,800 miles on the car since February. I will keep you informed. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    The Gift of the Moments

    September 15, 2026

    This morning has had the feel, look and smell like fall. My bicycle ride was refreshing and brisk to the coffee shop. Nature offered her lovely sky canvas painted with delicate clouds and subtle colors. I stopped a couple of times to take photos and appreciate the gift of the moments. I listened to birds singing. Had two whitetail does ignore me as they grazed along the trail. With experiences like this each morning I enjoy my rides even more. My barista this morning was Madi, my drink was an Old Town mocha and I had good conversations with the regulars! Yes, I am appreciating the gift of the moments!

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  • Anime,  Art,  bicycle rides,  bicycling,  Creativity,  landscape,  Plants,  Spring Creek Trail,  trees

    My Morning Ride

    July 10, 2026

    I am thoroughly enjoying my morning rides to the coffee shop along Spring Creek Trail. This morning I stopped and took this image while standing on a small bridge over the creek then put it though the Jetpack image editor to come up with this AI generated image. I used anime style with enhancement. I did ask it to add the sunbeams and show more of the creek. I feel it gave a decent representation of the original scene. Anyway, it was fun to play with. It is another hot day for most of the country so I hope you enjoy or have enjoyed your day!

    Before
    After
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  • bicycle rides,  flowers,  landscape,  Plants,  Spring Creek Trail,  sunrises

    On my way to the coffee shop…

    June 26, 2026

    … I needed to stop and get on one knee again to get a photo of these asters (blanket flowers) along Spring Creek Trail. I did not ride the past couple days because of the rain and drizzle, so I really enjoyed this morning’s ride. And, in case you’re curious, I was able to get back up without help and there were no popping sounds!!

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  • bicycling,  campus,  coffee life,  shadows

    The Last Leg

    June 21, 2026
    Shadows across CSU Oval

    This is the last leg of my bicycle ride to one of my favorite coffee shops. And for many of us at the end of this path awaits one of our baristas, always greeting us with a smile, a drink of our choice, and one or two of the irregular/regulars to commiserate with. And it almost never fails that we find one of the squirrels-of-the-oval, at almost every other tree, encouraging us along on this last leg of the mornings journey. And Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers!!!

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling

    Getting some exercise

    February 27, 2026

    Well, I have now riden the past five consecutive days and love being back on the bicycle. A couple of those days I had to deal with north/northwest wind gusts up to 20 mph so I got in some good exercise. I took this image of the red steed at Spring Canyon Park which is where I turn around and head back. It’s an easy 10 mile round trip. The sun has set so time to push publish. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

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  • bicycling,  clouds,  horizons,  lake,  landscape,  quotes

    Well Worth the Effort

    February 24, 2026

    “There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving.
    But, who wants easier?”

    Mary Oliver

    I finally got in my much needed bicycle ride yesterday afternoon. I rode out to Spring Canyon Park and back, a 5.9 mile ride. The last time I rode was December 27th. It felt good physically and mentally to ride again. I followed that up with a round trip ride to Mugs and back this morning, about 5.4 miles. My Fitbit is telling me to take it easy and go slower and I am. It has been cloudy and overcast today with the wind gusting up to 16 mph but the temperature is 68 degrees. Winter is not showing up in Colorado. The above image was taken last week on a drive along Horsetooth Reservoir. Love the blue and the effort!

    For many years I had no clue what love was. I guess you can say I took a lot of those paths Mary Oliver mentions in search of it , while not really knowing what I was looking for. It also took a while to realize how I had love, lust and desires all tangled up in my head. I am happy to say that the past 25-30 years have given me an appreciation of all the varieties of love we can experience in life and the wisdom that there is no need to define love, but only experience the gift of loving and being loved. It requires knowing ourselves, letting go of preconditioned notions of love, taking risks, being open to the other, and an openness to the unlimited possibilities. That’s true whether loving or being loved. As Mary suggests it is not easy but in my experience, well worth the effort! I would even suggest it’s much easier than being full of hate. I hope you are having a good day.

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  landscape,  Spring Creek Trail

    Taking a short trip…

    November 18, 2025

    This is an image taken along the Spring Creek Trail. I have wanted to stop on several occasions and take this image for quite some time but I seem to always tell myself tomorrow. The morning’s ride became that tomorrow. I plan to stop more often in an effort to catch the light at different times. I have seen the water glisten with sunlight around mid-morning and I would like to capture that. Anyway this is the scene with overcast skies.

    My sister and I fly out tomorrow for Phoenix to spend Thanksgiving a week early with my dad, sister and brother-in-law. It will be a short trip, coming back on Saturday. That should give me enough time to enjoy my family and overeat. I will not be posting much so I will catch up when I get back.

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