Button Rock Preserve

May 8, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 33 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Once again, a planned camping weekend at Great Sand Dunes National Park did not materialize for us. We got a late start heading out on Friday and then took one look at the slow-crawling traffic as we approached the freeway and summarily ditched our plans.

Instead we went home, unpacked the camping gear, ate our picnic dinner in our own yard, called up some friends who came over and sat around a backyard bonfire and we talked and laughed and swapped stories until nearly midnight.

Then on Saturday we “hiked” at Button Rock Preserve, about an hour’s drive away through Longmont and Lyons. Quote marks because this was our second time there, and just like last time, we didn’t get more than a half-mile away from the parking lot. The kids have a favorite spot where there are small rapids and piles of driftwood, and they find boat-like driftwood pieces and launch them through the rapids. (Or, as Luthien did in the very last photo below, lash sticks together with jointed grass to make a raft.)

Nathan and Luthien also climbed Tigers in Lipstick, a small but challenging route Nathan had his eye on last time we were there. And Silas had fun taking lots of pictures while they were climbing and he and I and Cody the dog were lounging at the base of the rock.

 

Lake Loveland 2

May 4, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 32 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

When I posted about Lake Loveland the first time, I really didn’t do the view justice. Today my dog Cody and I ran around the lake, and I got some photos from a better vantage point. Look at all those snowy peaks!

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Here’s a closer view of the biggest peaks visible from Loveland – Longs and Meeker:

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Probasco’s

May 3, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 31 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Now here’s something you don’t see every day:

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But I do. Every school day on my walk to pick up Silas. This may be the only store of its kind. I’ve never been inside but when our friends came to visit and went on a little downtown exploration, they visited and bought a Bible for their son. The staff even engraved it with his name while they waited.

I love that downtown Loveland is home not only to hip brewpubs and fancy restaurants and art galleries, but quirky places like this too.

Here’s a look at the front of the store. Yes, that is a wall of mannequin heads sporting wigs in the window!

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Faces Bridge

May 2, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 30 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

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Loveland has an extensive recreation trail that loops the city, with only a few incomplete segments and plans to connect them. Unfortunately, repairing the trail had to take priority over extending the trail after the 2013 flood. And finally, today, one of my favorite sections was open again.

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I only saw Faces Bridge once or twice before today. We moved here in late June 2013, and I explored the trail and discovered these sculptures under the bridge that summer. Then in September came the flood, and this section of the trail including the pedestrian bridge over the river was destroyed.

So it was a pleasant surprise when I went running this morning and discovered it was open again at last.IMG_3634

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A closeup of two faces on the outside of the bridge (yeah I think that’s an alien on the left!):

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I also love seeing these swallow nests under bridges along the trail.

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Here’s a closer view of some:

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And an over-the-shoulder look from the sidewalk on Wilson Avenue, where I got off the trail to loop back home.

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