Thursday, August 16, 2012

Bike Trip Reunion-The Places


The view as we took off from Philadelphia.

An ocean wave of clouds.

A reminder of just how flat most of this country is but in a beautiful patchwork.


First day in Colorado.  Our friend took us to hike on his friend's ranch. If you can see the brown rectangle in the orange ridge (kind of halfway across it but toward the top) that's an eagle's nest estimated to be about 10 or 12 feet high and wide...just to give you some perspective.


For a bit more perspective...the front half of the ranch.  From this angle the eagle's nest is just a dot.

A drive to Rocky Mountain National Park.

In the park.

For purple mountains majesty...

Breathtaking...just breathtaking.


Snowfields in the high mountains even in August.

High above the treeline we entered alpine tundra.  This river of rocks is churned up from the constant freeze/thaw cycle.

I just couldn't get over the various views.  I took 345 pictures, folks.  The process of deciding what to post here has not been an easy one.

Another view of the river of rocks.

Leaving the park we drove back down through the canyons outside Estes Park, which is a gorgeous view in its own right.

The next day we flew back home from Denver.  You already know the flight was less than wonderful but this sunset view certainly was a lovely way to end the trip.

15 comments:

Kat said...

What gorgeous photos. This is a beautiful land we live in, isn't it? :)

Suldog said...

I love the view from an airplane window looking down on our country. So many amazing things to see! You know me, so you will likely find it unsurprising that my favorite thing to do is look down and count how many baseball/softball diamonds I see.

Tabor said...

Thanks for taking me home...I was born in Estes Park and do not get back nearly enough!

stephen Hayes said...

As Ken Burns reminded us in his wonderful documentary: National Parks are America's best idea.

Craig said...

Spectacular photos! (I'm sure that having spectacular subjects helps. . .)

I've never been to Colorado (at least, not outside the Denver airport). Simply wonderful vistas. . .

And I'm with Suldog. . . just stick me in a window seat, and leave me alone. . .

Anonymous said...

Nothing like colorado...except utah..also beautiful. Great shots.

silly rabbit said...

I have never seen Colorado from the sky before! I love your ocean wave of clouds. All of these are fantastic photos. A good reminder of what wonder surrounds us. Clouds are my special happy things from below or above.

Commander Zaius said...

From that first picture that would be a great place for sme fossil hunting. Never took advantage of the chance when I was stationed at Fort Carson.

Craig said...

We saw an eagle's nest once, down at the Space Center in FL. Those things are HUGE!

(M)ary said...

Great pictures! I love the patchwork from the sky view. It kind of looks like a kitchen floor tile pattern.

Hilary said...

Spectacular scenery.. such a lovely part of the continent. I love your sunset shot and the one of the beautiful orange ridge.

~Tim said...

I always love seeing your photos.

Logophile said...

Beautious, and I enjoyed the photos on the last post too.

I haven't been over here much lately but it is good to see you are finding ways to fill your summer
;)

Looks like you had a great time reunioning.

Bijoux said...

Love, love, love this!

Jocelyn said...

Fabulous. My recent trip East coupled with your photos cements it: I will always and ever being a Western girl.