30 December 2014

Stardate 2014.997

Chatfield State Park

Getting Chatty With Chatfield

Another warmish December day and time to take the fast bikes out for a spin around Chatfield State Park.


Chatfield State Park road route at the South Platte River bridge.

Minimal traffic and scenic riding abound.


My soul-mate and best friend!

Guess who?


Chatfield State Park

Groves of cottonwood, ever so patiently, awaiting warmer temperatures.


South Platte River pedestrian/bike bridge, Chatfield State Park.

Numerous pedestrian/bike bridges allow easy access across the South Platte River.


Dinner!

Canada geese are fattening up for the cold temps yet to come.


Looking at the mouth of one of my favorite haunts - Waterton Canyon.

The mouth to one of my favorite areas, Waterton Canyon, beckons a mountain bike ride.

Adios

26 December 2014

Stardate 2014.986

Hidden area of Chatfield State Park

Afternoon Roadie Trip

How do you get rid of the BAW HUMBUG associated with the sensationalized commercialism of this time of year? Go for a RIDE with your favorite person!


Hidden area of Chatfield State Park

Especially if they're in training, because they want to hurt a little; taking it out on the overindulgence of the season.


Hidden area of Chatfield State Park

Yes indeed, it's the shorter, steeper walls that often get your attention.


Is this the look of perseverance, or what?

Snowcatcher's perseverance tells the tale.


Hidden area of Chatfield State Park

The above pic is our new secret hide-a-way. In addition to goat heads, a small herd of elk reside here. While I fixed a flat, they played hide and seek with Snowcatcher. However, she never got a photo op.

Adios








24 December 2014

Stardate 2014.984

Hudson Gardens

Merry Christmas

My brothers and sisters, may the spirit of love which comes at Christmastime fill our homes and our lives and linger there long after the tree is down and the lights are put away for another year.
-Thomas S. Monson


Hudson Gardens

We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.
-Pope Paul VI


Hudson Gardens

Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas. And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that's set apart to celebrate love, friendship, and God's gift of the Christ child.
-Amy Grant


Hudson Gardens

Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.
-Thomas S. Monson


Hudson Gardens

God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.
-Pope Francis


Hudson Gardens

There are a lot of Grinches out there that would like nothing better than to take any references to religion out of the holiday season.
-Ernest Istook

Adios

17 December 2014

Stardate 2014.962

Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

Autumn Bliss Continues

It's December 11th, and I'm still riding in shorts. Temperatures are supposed to reach the mid-sixties today. In honor of the sun's warmth, I'm going to take the Black Pearl out for a jaunt at Deer Creek Canyon Park.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

After some zigging and zagging through sun-lit oak brush, the canyon is entered, where much of its lower reaches catch zero sun. The canyon walls of Plymouth Creek are too steep for the sun to share any rays down low. In the shade, the temps are a bit icy. At the moment, I'm doing more ice portaging than pedaling. I think I'm inventing a new sport known as – push-a-bike. Oh wait, cyclo-cross already exists. Just kidding fans of mud riding; I like cyclo-cross.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

I have not ridden these trails for a while. I have forgotten how technical some segments of Plymouth Creek are. I'm always whining about how I've lost some of my technical skills. I blame it on too much time on the road bike and age. I think if I incorporate this area into my ride schedule, a lot of my tech skills will re-emerge. In other words, I won't have an excuse to whine when an itty bitty rock jumps out in front of me.


Denver's almost perpetual smog layer engulfs the city in grime.

After the short, steep and rough climb, I turn south on the Plymouth Mountain Trail for several miles of delightful single-track riding. Soon, I was rewarded with the above view. Sheeesh, I hate cities. Look at that crap; you could cut it with a butter knife. It's things like this that make me appreciate growing up on the west side of Colorado.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

But then, the enchanting single-track makes things all better.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

In time, the trail ends on an old logging road. After descending Plymouth Creek Trail a short distance, I immediately ascend toward the Red Mesa Loop. Red Mesa Loop has quaint little meadows scattered about, some still holding snow.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

The snow is just a harbinger of things to come.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

Shadows overtake me, and I feel the onset of evening on my legs. Oh, did I mention that I'm in shorts again?


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

Back down in sunless Plymouth Creek, I begin working my way down the technical segments, the ice adding to the technical level, even when walking.


Deer Creek Canyon Mountain Park

Some of the Plymouth Creek Trail looks similar to the above. However, once on top, the single-track is pretty nice to ride.

Adios

13 December 2014

Stardate 2014.951

Waterton Canyon at sunset

Fall Continues Its Wonderful Grip

And I fear we're going to pay for it with snow and cold come April. Nonetheless, I'll ride in shorts as long as I can. Temperatures in Waterton Canyon today are iffy. I find shorts to be sufficient in the sun, yet wish for tights in the shade.


Colorado Trail single track begins here.

When I reached single-track, the majority of the canyon was in shade. However, above the river, forest temperatures are warmer.


Joint Trail 800 and Colorado Trail

Most of the trail is devoid of snow, although, a few icy sections lie in wait for a victim not paying attention.


Joint Trail 800 and Colorado Trail



By March, the above trail segments will be drifted in with several feet of snow. This segment is always last to melt as well.


Upper Waterton Canyon

After I finished my climb, I started out of the canyon as the foothills slowly gave in to dusk. At this point, temps were dropping fast, and I scolded myself for not putting tights in my pack. I beat the dark and cold, but not by much.

Up-next, Deer Creek Park...

Adios

08 December 2014

Stardate 2014.937


Coastal Oregon

The morning following our nephew's wedding, Snowcatcher and I awoke to a bright and clear Sunday. We had an entire day to dig up something to do. Being landlocked back home, it was an easy decision. We would drive up the coast to Bandon; then cut back across to Roseburg and the I-5 corridor. That will put us about halfway to Eugene, Oregon, and an easy catch of our Monday flight back to Denver.


Crescent City, CA

After topping-off with petrol, we followed a siren toward the southwest. Two hours into our trip we craned our necks in awe amongst a redwood forest. Several miles later, we drove into Crescent City, California. Soon, we parked along a quaint beach, courtesy of the Pacific Ocean.


Crescent City, CA

There were numerous beach rocks highlighting the Crescent City lighthouse.


Arch Rock, OR

Our trip was a whirlwind tour. We could easily spend a day at each stop. Nonetheless, we pointed the car north and began our Pacific Coast journey. We had no itinerary. We bid farewell to California as we crossed back into Oregon. Arch Rock beckoned us not long after.


Arch Rock area, OR

The coast is ever so slowly exfoliating away. Yet it has a lot of character.


Arch Rock area, OR

Are these weathered rocks the result of ancient plate subduction or eons of coastal erosion; probably the latter. Where's a coastal geologist when you need one?


North of Gold Beach, OR

We continued north, following the beautiful coast line. When not paralleling the sea, we enjoyed taking in stunning farmland and forest. In the vicinity of Gold Beach, we pulled over to admire yet more coastal rock.


North of Gold Beach, OR

Regretfully, we didn't have time to roll up the trousers and get our feet wet.


Bandon, OR

Sun was beginning to wane, so we drove north again, hoping our timing would put us at Bandon close to sunset. We drove up to one of Bandon's beaches just after the sun set. Perfect!!


Bandon, OR

Minutes later, it was over.


Umpqua River at Roseburg, OR

Goodbye Bandon, we'll be back. We pointed our car east and settled in for our 80-mile drive east to Roseburg. Darkness upon us, we didn't get a chance to enjoy the forest en route. Wiping sleep from our eyes the next morning, we caught our first daylight glimpse of Roseburg.


Airport, Eugene, OR

Monday found us navigating through Eugene mid-morning. Snowcatcher had made arrangements to meet a friend prior to our checking in at the airport. Our delightful visit came to an end all too soon. Several hours later, we were checking in at the airport.


Liftoff from Eugene, OR

Liftoff... we begin our journey back east.


Heading east away from the sun

See ya next time Oregon! It's been a hoot!

Adios

05 December 2014

Stardate 2014.929


Medford Oregon

My nephew recently married, providing us with the perfect defense of a road trip. Nonetheless, road trip aside, he's a good kid, and we wouldn't have missed it. All the decorations were made by the wedding party. The reception was held in an old grange building, which was pretty cool. Following are a few pics from the reception.





More Oregon to come

Adios
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...