Happy Birthday, Monte!
I got some skeptical looks when I told people that while I was in Colorado I was looking forward to seeing a friend that I had met on the internet. It wasn’t quite that way but it usually got the reaction I was looking for! I’m like that sometimes. 😉
Most of the readers of this blog already know Monte, and a few had already met him. But since I had already met Paul, Earl aka Brooks, and Paul Maxim, I couldn’t take a trip to Colorado without checking in with Monte.
When we planned the itinerary for this vacation I wanted to spend some time in Fort Collins, mostly to see Monte but also to visit the town itself. As it turns out, it is quite the booming place, with a vibrant downtown area known as Old Town, lots of breweries and some excellent restaurants.
Monte came to meet us at our hotel the first night we were in town, we spent an hour or so chatting, and as I expected hit it off immediately. You kind of get a feeling for a person after sharing stories and photographs for as long as we have, but you never know. It was great! Kathy got into the act, too. We had a nice dinner and kept each other up well past our usual bedtimes.
The second evening Monte acted as tour guide and took us to some of his favorite photographic locations. Many places I had seen from his photos, and a few that I had not. And mostly places I never would have gotten to – or back from – on my own!
We met up again on our last evening, had another nice dinner and spent a lot more time chatting. Fortunately we were already packed for the return trip to Charlotte and didn’t figure we would get much sleep anyway!
Thank you Monte for an enjoyable time! You are a great host and guide, and we look forward to meeting up with you again sometime or somewhere soon!
Awesome photos and great company!
Thanks, Faye! It was great fun.
The telephone poles are awesome as is the road photo. Again, I enjoyed my time with you two and tge photo session on Friday evening. Also, glad your vacation was a success. Thank you for the compliments and I’ll be sending a bill for the tour guide work in the next couple weeks. Thank you also for the birthday wishes. Spent yesterday grilling with my family.
You got some really nice shots here, Tom. Glad you have a good time and got to meet Monte. He’s one of the “good guys.”
Thanks, Brooks. I’m looking forward to hanging with you somewhere one of these days, too. Although I may need to go back to Colorado to catch up with you! 😉
Thanks, Monte! I’ll be on the lookout for that bill, and think I have some Funny Money to return with it. 😉 Sounds like you celebrated appropriately.
Just love the “County Road 94” image. I’ll make one of these every chance I get. Which makes Barbara nervous sometimes because (in my opinion) road pictures only look good when the photographer is standing in the middle of it. They don’t seem to work when you’re off to the side (on the shoulder). Fortunately, I haven’t tried this in the middle of an interstate…….And not for nothin’, but it might work as a B & W.
Did you make it to Rocky Mountain NP? It must have been pretty close.
Paul, need to get a reflective vest. 🙂
I hadn’t thought of that, Monte. That’s a heck of a good idea!
Paul, I suppose it’s a bit like standing on railroad tracks…I won’t do it without a spotter. The best thing about those roads is that it felt like our car doubled the traffic count for the day!
Yeah, Barb and I kind of “spot” for each other. And we usually only do it on lightly traveled desert roads. The only time it ever got dangerous was on the road leading into Monument Valley. Lots of traffic there, but an iconic photograph.
Those are some truly beautiful vistas you’ve captured Tom. Pretty cool photo of you and Monte too 🙂
Thanks, Cedric. Considering the subject matter it isn’t a bad shot! 😉
Real nice, Tom!
Always enjoy the work from your perspective. Your stuff is beginning to reawaken the long-asleep travel bug in me!
I’d say it’s about time for a road trip, buddy! 😉