I had an invigorating ride in the fog this morning to meet Jeff for coffee. About 10:00 am I drove to the Arapaho Bend Natural Area and then over to the Environmental Learning Center. I needed to take my camera for a walk and did that at the ELC. I had not been to the ELC in a while and was shocked. Everything seemed so bleak to me, dead trees were down everywhere. It’s usually lush, green and vibrant. The last time I was there was there in June of 2023. I settled in for a walk of the Wilcox Trail, about 1.5 mile loop. By the time I headed home for lunch, I had seen seven eagles, two hawks, and a dozen whitetail deer. So I enjoyed my bicycle ride, my mocha, my conversation with Jeff and my walk in nature.
- A pair of Bald Eagles near Arapaho Bend Natural AreaBlue sky and fog over Beaver Pond at Arapaho Bend Natural AreaThe bleakness of the Environmental Learning CenterA whitetail doe framed and staring me down at the Environmental Learning Center
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I want to love this world…
I have a love for nature and all the gifts she offers. I have a love for my prayer and meditation and the gifts they offer. I have a love for all the relationships I have and the gifts they offer. I have a love for photography and all the gifts it offers. I have a love for bicycling and all the gifts it offers. I have a love for life and the gift it offers in these later years of my life. Each day is precious! I like how Mary Oliver says it: “I want to love this world as though it’s the last chance I’m ever going to get to be alive and know it.”
We are enjoying temperatures above 60°. So, Thursday I rode 13 miles along the Spring Creek Trail and Friday I rode 24 miles along Spring Creek Trail and the Poudre Trail. This is a scene along the Poudre Trail.
One option I did not want on my ebike was suspension. It adds weight to the bike, adds more potential maintenance problems, makes pedaling more difficult and is really designed for mountain bikes. I’ve been happy with that decision except on two occasions, both were on 20-plus mile rides. My tushy was a bit sore at the end of rides. Near the end of the ride I felt every bump on the trail and this makes the ride home seem longer. I need to split those 20+ mile rides into sections to give my body a break or just keep the rides to 15 miles or less. Probably go with the latter option. Both Saturday and Sunday look to be good days for riding so I’ll probably get in more riding. I am headed to Windsor and have coffee with my friend Eric. Enjoy your weekend!!
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Lovin Time with Nature
After my quiet time I noticed the eastern horizon had a nice lovely pink glow as I looked out my bedroom window. Excitedly I made a mad dash to Pineridge Natural Area. The whole sky was red as I drove up there but had begun to fade and diminish in size by the time I set up my camera. Seemed like nature was excited that it was Valentine’s Day and put on quite the show. What a gift it is to live as close as I do to these sanctuaries. Even though I caught the tail end of the morning show, I was tickled pink with what I was able to witness and photograph.
Later in the afternoon I was struck by the beauty of the clouds against the blue sky, so it only seemed natural to make my way to Arapaho Bend Natural Area and taking my camera for a walk. Or maybe the camera took me for a walk. Anyway, I walked the path that meanders between the ponds and the Poudre River, with the ponds on the west and the Poudre River on the east. The trail on the other side of the ponds is a paved trail but I chose the dirt rail. Well those trails were muddy and so were my shoes. But, it was time well spent, good for my soul and the shoes can be cleaned.
By the time I arrived darker clouds had moved in and the sun was now hidden. This image is looking south across one of the ponds. I was drawn to those dark clouds that had drifted in and the soft reflections of the trees in the water. A gentle but cold breeze was blowing across the water’s surface leaving small ripples and adding texture to the image.
This image is along the Poudre River side of the trail and looking north. It was taken about 20 minutes after the second image but in nearly the same location. Interesting how those 20 minutes allows nature to change the lighting and mood of everything and rather quickly.
February is a prime time for eagles to begin nesting, so I was lucky to see two eagles hanging around a nest that I’ve never noticed before. Unfortunately no photo opportunities but now I know where they are. I’ve read that the eagles are beginning to nest in more populated areas. However, I want to respect their space so I’ll give them plenty of room when I return. It would not surprise me if they close off that area if they discover eaglets later. Colorado has relatively mild winters and there are lots of large reservoirs that retain some open water with abundant fish and waterfowl. Grateful I got in some lovin time with nature and got to see the eagles!
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It made me happy
I have never taken a picture for any other reason than that at that moment it made me happy to do so.
Jacques-Henri LartigueThere is about a one mile stretch along South County Road 5 that has maybe three or four places where you can see the Poudre River. The rest of this stretch of road is blocked by brush and trees. I like this specific location because it has a peaceful feel to it. The cows graze in their field of paradise, rich in green grass and the river quietly and gently meanders east onto the parched prairie. Friday was the first day of Fall and I could see and feel it… so stopping and taking a photo made me happy to do so. Have a wonderful Sunday!
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Quiet Moment on the Poudre River
Works of art are not born in flashes of inspiration but in a daily fidelity.
Albert CamusWhere I live each condo has one numbered parking spot. The numbers are painted on the pavement and are now quite faded. This time each year we have a major turnover of residents due to college students. I now find some of the new residents parking in my space and others. Rather than be angry or say anything, I have begun to park in open spaces which means I may need to walk an extra 20 or 30 feet. Could it be that I’m finally growing into a mature adult? Or maybe I’m becoming more childlike than childish?
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Scenes from Cameron Pass
I took a drive up to Cameron Pass yesterday. I had not been up there since the fire in 2020. With rain and snow the past few days and overcast skies in town, I thought I would find some wintery images. I really don’t venture into the mountains much anymore, preferring the open prairie to my east instead. However, I enjoyed my morning drive up there and back. Wonderful weather up there on the pass with blue sky and temperatures around 40 degrees. The above image is on the way up and shows the Poudre River near its headwaters. The melting snow was a dirty brown at lower elevations where up here it is still clear sparkling water.
This is the open meadow at the top of the pass. You get some idea of the height of those peaks in the distance as the pass I’m shooting from is at 10,249 feet. Plenty of snow so you would not think it was June 1st. Not all that familiar with this area but think the peak in the distance is Mt. Mahler. What a beautiful sky we had that day! There were some cross country skiers enjoying themselves up there.
This area was devastated by the Cameron Peak fire in the late summer of 2020. The fire began on August 13, 2020, and was declared 100% contained on December 2, 2020. In that time period the fire burned 208,663 acres (326 sq mi.). The wildfire was the largest to ever burn in Colorado’s history, and became the first wildfire to surpass 200,000 acres. Not the kind of bragging rights we want. The fire is thought to have a major impact on the wildlife, habitat loss, tree population, and many more elements over the next several years. The burn scar from the fire is expected to last and will take years to recover properly. Many areas within the burn scar burned intensely and will take many years for the native Ponderosa Pines to regrow. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Here is a link to information of the fire. The above was shot taken near Chambers Lake from my car.
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Living This Life
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.
Kahill GibranMany who regularly read my posts are aware of my references to pray and mediation. Both have become integral parts of my life and are how I daily start and end my days.
But, it hasn’t always been that way. I mainly prayed to the God I was introduced to in my upbringing in times of distress or to ask for my needs and wants to be granted, and many times bargaining. Prayer changed once I let go of that concept of God. I began to read and study about prayer from different faith traditions and authors. I’m still searching for a better grasp of prayer, its purpose and the source of that prayer. I enjoy this search.
In all honesty, where I’ve grown the most in prayer is by practicing it. Through practice I’ve come to feel that prayer arises from within me rather than something I consciously do or say. It’s very much an internal dialogue. I’ve heard it said prayer is a the longing of the human heart for God, the Divine or whatever name we use. I enter into prayer in many ways. Prayer is spending time in nature, walking along the Poudre River or watching a sunrise. Being grateful at some deep place within me, I find to be prayer. Or the feeling I experience when I take a deep breath and oxygen enters my lungs is prayer. A good conversation with a friend brings a warm feeling and I know there has been some special connection with them, I find to be prayer also. I could go on but….
I end this by saying I now find prayer to be experiencing joy, gratitude, connection, love, peace, justice and just living this life.