Behind the Times

Cranes Mill Park
Canyon Lake, Texas

Once we left Kansas and arrived in Colorado, I couldn't think of anything to blog about.  Since we had lived here for about five years, we were familiar with the area.  One day became another and before I knew it a month had passed without any updates.  I'll make a feeble attempt to catch up on our travels since then but don't expect much creativity.

Longmont, Colorado has changed extensively since we lived there.  The city has recovered from the devastating flood of a few years ago and it has grown noticeably in both population and construction.  The most noteworthy change was the removable of the Rocky Mountains. 

The mountains used to be here, but on the day of our arrival they were nowhere to be seen.  We were pleased to find out that the illusion was the result of smoke from the California wildfires and about a week later the peaks reappeared.

We stayed at St Vrain State Park during the week but  changed to the fairgrounds over the weekend.  Colorado is very pro-environment so the fairgrounds had several different collection containers for recyclables.  In addition to the normal plastic and aluminum another container was for kitchen waste that would eventually end up in the compost pile.  Campers were constantly warned by several prominent signs posted throughout the campground to not leave any food outside during the night.  Evidently the pesky raccoons often feasted on anything they could find.  They must have the ability to read because the campground seemed unconcerned by the animals dining on the kitchen waste in the recycle container. This trash can had no lid and was only emptied each morning.

We stayed here until the end of the month taking day trips around the area.





Elk in downtown Estes Park.













There is a nice walk along the river in Estes Park.  Makes a nice change from the souvenir shops.




































I'm still getting used to the "Gas and Grass" gas stations.  Don't think you can get your twinkies there.


After Labor Day, we headed southwest towards Alamosa, Colorado.  We camped at a spot just outside Great Sand Dunes National Park. 

The aspens were starting to turn  so it was a nice time to be in Colorado.





 This is the view from our campsite.

On the last day we were here the weather finally cleared and we went over to the park.

Many people rent "sand boards" to ride at the park.  I was told it's kind of like snowboarding or skateboarding.  Since I can do neither, I thought it best to not embarrass myself and just watch others do this sport.



Those tiny dots in the center of the photo are braver (and much younger) people zooming down the slopes on their boards




We are currently dog sitting in Texas  and will stay here until time to go to Albuquerque.