Friday was a walk-with-weights day, but we woke to thick fog, gusts of wind, and sheets of come and go rain. Oh the weather in Le Crevice lately. It's still too warm for snow to persist on the peaks, and schizo aspen and oak brush don't know whether it's spring, summer, or fall.
Ten miles north, according to incompetent Weather-Guessers, Ridgway is said to be partly cloudy with a forecasted high of 65 degrees, and rain holding off till 1 pm.
So we "bit."
Ridgway has a lovely paved bike path that connects townies with Ridgway Reservoir. The trail meanders alongside the Uncompaghre River where, from November to January, Bald Eagles amass in branches of olden cottonwoods to fish and hunt. It's a great location for wildlife photographers with three foot telephoto lenses and tripods. Here's a link to a video I shot several years ago...without a tripod and 3 foot lens. The last shot is in slow motion and is worth a look. I somehow managed to stay on a bald eagle as he spread wings and flew upstream.
We walked the mostly vacant pathway, pumping our hand-weights and breathing in the scent of early fall. Doc Gingery was out for his daily walk, on his way back to town. He and wife, Suzzie, are regulars on trails and backroads around Ridgway.
Courthouse Mountain and Chimney Rock made a peekaboo appearance. Hard to believe we were on top just a couple of days earlier, under full sun and blue sky.
On our return trip to Ridgway we were engulfed in a dark cloud as it swept down and pelted us with rain. Cortex jackets came out and, of course, the rain petered and sun returned.
Back at Ridgway, we caught the Friday Farmer's Market going on in Town Park. There was plenty of tempting produce and goodies, along with the usual arts and crafts. Not wanting to go home yet, we decided to take a fall drive over Dallas Divide and up to Last Dollar Road. As with Courthouse, fall colors were fledgling, barely getting off the ground. Maybe in a week or so. Of course that didn't stop me from taking a few shots to share with the BCB faithful...
There's a 13 mile backcountry trail race in Lovely Ouray this morning (Saturday). While it's still mild outside, the weather is soggy and deteriorating. Glad I didn't sign up. Time to get in a wet-walk with in Bobbie before I fall out of the mood to move.
It's a good day to bake...maybe a carrot cake. Leon likes carrot cake. Maybe I'll ask him over to watch one of his Texas teams get their butt kicked.
Hmmm. Wonder what beer pairs well with carrot cake...
Peace out,
The BCB Dynamic Geezer Duo from Lovely Ouray,
Mark and Bobbie
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." Albert Einstein
Check this out, Mark. I'm sure you already have some in the fridge.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.caretopair.com/carrot-cake-and-ipa/
Well I'll be darned...Who knew?
Deletemark
Ooh what a tease that little bit of aspen color is. Yes, we are you BCB faithful, living vicariously through your photos and your hikes, virtually. Sigh. Although it IS really fresh and fall-ish and pretty here at the Running Y this weekend. We look outside occasionally while packing for the halfway partial move over to Grants Pass.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful country!
ReplyDeleteGood photos/story with another page opened to the deceased songstress Eva Cassidy singing Sting's Fields of Gold.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UVjjcOUJLE
Sting's inspiration for that song; in his words below.
"In England, our house is surrounded by barley fields, and in the summer it's fascinating to watch the wind moving over the shimmering surface, like waves on an ocean of gold. There's something inherently sexy about the sight, something primal, as if the wind were making love to the barley. Lovers have made promises here, I'm sure, their bonds strengthened by the comforting cycle of the seasons."
Thanks Mark! I always enjoy the drive on route 62.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really nice bike path/trail. I'm surprised that the aspens haven't turned much for this late in September, but those clouds make for some good photos anyway.
ReplyDeleteJust a tease of color! But still lovely!
ReplyDeleteFabulous video and what a zoom. Pits everything I've ever taken to shame. Hand weights. Tell this ignorant reader why.
ReplyDeleteRe pumping hand weights while walking: Just an easy way to tone upper body on a "walk day."
DeleteTry it :)
It may not be the height of color yet but I love your photos. Just remember that all the rain is what keeps it nice and green unlike Central Oregon where I spent my Summer (it just got more and more beige). Not to mention grey skies with all the smoke from all the fires. I am back in New Mexico for a few weeks and blue skies again and just a hint of fall color in the few trees that change around here. Thanks for all the eye candy of your day.
ReplyDeleteLove the header and on our way up to Crystal Res on Tues am @ around 9 just started up and the Highway Patrol had the road blocked....seems someone was doing a photo shoot.....no surprise there. Did enjoy our walk a round the forrest at the S end of the lake and on the return got a major surprise. We were parked in the lot next to the old broading house in the pull off area and had just got into the truck and look up to see an black moose walking right to the truck, yes Al got the picture and you will see proof of it later.
ReplyDeleteAnother First and a great start for the trip :) Loved the Bald Eagle video!