Exploring the Superstitions

 

A perfect day for a hike into the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix. We did have an eye out for the Lost Dutchman or his legendary gold mine but found neither.

White River National Sticker

 

Sticker stickers at least try to avoid defacing the National Forest sign with their favorite beer and snowboard label. This is at the Loveland Pass on U.S. 6 along the Clear Creek and Summit County lines.

Condensation Trails at Sunset

 

The day after New Year's Day, the sunset sky at Sloan Lake, in Denver, is etched with Sunday evening air traffic.

Station Price Sign Blown Down

The same dangerous 80+ mph wind gusts that touched off a firestorm in Superior and Louisville, CO, on Dec. 30, knocked down this gasoline price sign at a Sinclair station in Arvada, about 20 miles to the south.

 

Tornado in Kentucky Damages Courthouse

 

 

On a motorcycle tour in September, I stopped in Mayfield, KY, to snap a photo of the Graves County Courthouse. A fierce tornado cut a swath of destruction through Mayfield on Dec. 10 and tore away most of the courthouse roof and clock tower.

Barn in Valley

 

An abandoned barn sits at the bottom of a small valley in White Ranch Park operated by Jefferson County Parks and Recreation. Founded as a homestead in 1865 and later as ranch land, it covers nearly 4,000 acres and is the largest park in the county's open space system.

Lamar Train Station

The historical train station in Lamar, CO, still provides limited passenger services as a stop for the Amtrak Southwest Chief line, connecting Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque and Los Angeles.

Oversized Ice Cream Shop

On a hot summer evening in the Lower Highland neighborhood in Denver, the line at Little Man Ice Cream runs a half-hour but the wait is well worth the time.

 

 

Sunset at Confluence Lake

 

Our weekend getaway to western Colorado included a visit to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and this serene sunset at a city park in Delta.

Busy Corner in Puetro Vallarta

 

Along the Rio Cuale near the market in Puerto Vallarta, we stopped for a cold beverage at La Fuente Del Puente. We watched the busy late morning traffic heading north on Rio Insurgentes and enjoyed the respite before heading back to our hotel.

Rolling to the Collegiate Peaks

Heading west on US 24/285 near Buena Vista, CO, this striking view of the Collegiate Peaks range always brings awe.

Snacking in the Marsh

On our latest walk around Crown Hill Park, in Wheat Ridge, CO, and we spotted what may be a member of the heron family in town for a quick snack of a small fish or other marsh dweller.

Gathering Darkness

As night falls near the end of our walk around Crown Hill Lake, in Wheat Ridge, CO, the colors of the evening sky are reflected on the water.

Cold morning at Tabor Lake

 

Named after Horace Tabor, whose Matchless Mine, in Leadville, CO, was one of the most famous of the Gold Rush era of the 1880s, this lake is located along the Clear Creek Greenbelt in Wheat Ridge.

African Pygmy Hedgehog

 

On a tour of Sea Quest, in Littleton, CO, we got close up with this little guy. I think he is a member of the Somali hedgehog family, Atelerix sclateri, but my niece and guide for the tour says he's an African Pygmy.

Place Information Sign

  

At the historic Beckwith Ranch near Westcliffe, CO, this sign tells of early settlers in the Wet Mountain Valley from Germany and England who ranched and mined the bountiful resources nearby. When the DRGW Railroad arrived in 1882, the town was chartered and named after Westcliff-on-Sea in England.

Mid-day at the Pueblo Union Depot

 

The beautifully restored rail depot in downtown Pueblo is the home of the Pueblo Railway Museum. The depot serves both the UP and BNSF rail networks.

Shady Porch on a Hot Day in Cody

Arrived in Cody, WY, on a hot Sunday afternoon. The porch at the Visitors' Center provided a quiet, shady respite.

Just a Duck on the Pond

Local duck and friends enjoying a quiet summer morning on Four Acre Lake in Arvada, CO

Near the Tarryall Reservoir

A few miles south of the Tarryall Reservoir in eastern Park County, the creek runs through this scenic valley. We visited on a day trip over the Memorial Day weekend.