Throwback to fall leaves

Posted on November 8, 2021 by dinajohnston

Normally we got out west for vacation in early October but last year we didn’t go due to Covid and this year we didn’t go since we were right in the middle of moving. We’re planning a trip early next year (to see some snow) but I was bummed to miss the fall leaves out west two years in a row. These were taken several years ago in Colorado. On the way to Cripple Creek and Mueller State Park. The aspen trees were bright yellow and the valley around Pike’s Peak was a blanket of yellow. I think the last shot above was taken in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

The above were taken in the North Cheyenne Canon Park just outside of Colorado Springs. There wasn’t a lot of water coming down but it was raining on us as we hiked around the area.

I found these bright orange leaves in the parking lot at the Air Force Academy. We stopped by for a tour on our way back to Denver.

Hopefully next fall I will have some new pictures of the leaves.

One last look at Colorado for now

Posted on March 15, 2018 by dinajohnston

We only saw a few bison during our drive through Rocky Mountain Arsenal Park.

The view of downtown Denver from the park.

I did not want to leave. Even though we had cold rainy weather the entire trip out here I could so live here. Maybe I’m just tired of the beach and heat after living in Florida for almost 16 years.

I had a window seat on the way home.

I knew I was getting close to home when I saw so much water.

Where to next????

SkyWatch Friday

Lots of deer at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Park

Posted on March 6, 2018 by dinajohnston

The park was full of deer. I don’t see bucks often at the parks near my house so it was fun to see the big antlers everywhere.

Driving around the park, you could see families pretty far out.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World.

Little critters at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Park

Posted on March 5, 2018 by dinajohnston

These little prairie dogs were so cute. I know, they are just cuter gophers or maybe more like meerkats. We just sat in our car and watched them run around for a while. These shots are all extremely cropped up. They were pretty far out in the field and if I opened my door they would all scurry into the holes.

My first ever coyote sighting. He was also pretty far away.

A few birds along the road: pigeon, meadowlark, kestral and a sparrow of some type.

Some of the critters we saw during our drive through Rocky Mountain Arsenal Park in Denver. I think if I lived here I would always be cruising through here. Lots of critters to see roaming around. It was near our hotel so we drove through quickly before getting dinner. We also saw bison and deer so more on those later.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

One last look at Garden of the Gods

Posted on March 1, 2018 by dinajohnston

More pictures from our walk through Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. It was our first day in Colorado so I took a ton of pictures. What an amazing place. Even with the dark clouds it was a magical place. I think it even drizzled a little while we were there but at least it wasn’t freezing. I’m sure on the weekends and in the summer when it’s extremely crowded it’s not as much fun. There were signs for over flow parking down the road and you have to take a shuttle into the park.

A few birds. A pigeon and a western scrub jay. The western scrub jay was a first for me. I still haven’t seen the eastern one that lives here in Florida.

SkyWatch Friday

A quick look at City Park in Denver

Posted on February 28, 2018 by dinajohnston

A few shots from our quick walk around City Park near downtown Denver. It’s always fun to see Canadian geese walking around. We don’t see them often in central Florida. After a sunny morning, the clouds had started to move in. Our last stop on our visit to Colorado was Rocky Mountain National Arsenal Park. More on that later.

The parking lot at Red Rock.

Posted on January 25, 2018 by dinajohnston

The view driving into Red Rock Amphitheater Park and walking up from the parking lot.

Birds in the parking lot. A towhee, magpies and a first for me was the western scrub jay on the left. He was very skittish.

After leaving the amphitheater we walked around the park for a while. We took a short trail right off the parking lot. Even from the parking area, the views were amazing.

SkyWatch Friday

Red Rock Amphitheater

Posted on January 18, 2018 by dinajohnston

Heading into the famous Red Rocks amphitheater was a jaw dropper for someone who hasn’t spent a lot of time out west. Not just the rocks and the view but to see a concert here would be amazing. The hike up the main ramp was incredible although I can imagine at night you just want to get there so you can see the band you came to hear. Most people who grew up there probably doesn’t stop to look at the view. My husband thought the big rock in the 3rd picture looked like a dinosaur head.

We came in from the side of the stage and then walked up to the top.

Brett took a picture of me taking a picture of something with my phone. I had heard that when the park is open (on days when there is not a concert scheduled) you can come in and walk up and down the stairs. I saw several people doing that.

View from the top of downtown Denver.

Pano of the area.

More to come on this fun place. There’ an actual park around the amphitheater that has trails you can hike. We did a little hiking but was on a tight schedule so we didn’t go too far.

SkyWatch Friday

The Air Force Academy

Posted on January 11, 2018 by dinajohnston

We stopped for a visit at the Air Force Academy on our way back to Denver from Colorado Springs. I think this was the coldest morning we had in Colorado. We had freezing drizzle that was blowing sideways. Our main visit was the famous chapel. I had seen pictures of it from my cousin who graduated from the Academy many years ago. Through all of the fog and rain, you could see the spires on the top of the chapel. I would have liked to have blue sky behind it but that was not happening on this trip.

The architecture was amazing. Lots of clean lines. Due to the weather, there wasn’t a lot of people there so we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Lots to look at through the fog.

Also lot of color. The trees were beautiful. The colored rocks were around the parking lot of the visitor’s center. The inside of the chapel was beautiful as well. More on that later….

SkyWatch Friday

Watching the rain fall from a water fall.

Posted on January 10, 2018 by dinajohnston

Pictures from our stop at Helen Hunt Falls in Cheyenne Mountain Park. The falls were named after Helen Hunt Jackson, a poet and activist from the late 1800. Of course, another rainy day walk as it rained most of our time there.