Tag Archives: Fort Collins

Travel

A Stop In Fort Collins

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Prairie Dogs at Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado

After our two weeks exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, we started our journey home with a quick stop in Fort Collins, CO to see our buddy Monte. We packed a lot into a little over a day!

Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
Monte photographing at Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado

 Monte met us at our motel and we had fun catching up over a nice dinner. The next morning while Kathy slept in, I met Monte at Pine Ridge Natural Area, one of his usual haunts. After an hour or so of burning pixels, we retreated to Cups, one of Monte’s regular coffee shops.

Salsify blossom. Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado

We went our separate ways for the rest of the morning, then met up after lunch for a drive out to the Pawnee National Grassland just east of Fort Collins. High winds from an approaching storm system made for challenging conditions on the ground but gifted us with some very interesting skies.

Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
Monte photographing the interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado

We had a second dinner before signing off and getting packed up for the rest of the journey home. It was great to see Monte again and catch up in person instead of just virtually through our blogs!

Travel

Hangin’ With Monte

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Breakfast with Monte at The Chicken Coop Restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado

One of the highlights of our recent road trip (yes, we’re home now!) was a nice albeit too-short visit with our friend Monte Stevens in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Monte strikes a contemplative pose in his “office” on the Foothills Trail at the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
Monte taking Kathy’s picture sitting on “his” rock along the Foothills Trail at the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado

We ordinarily would have planned on spending more time in Fort Collins, as we really like the town and Monte is a swell guy to hang out with, but between the fires and our growing get-home-itis we decided to make a quick overnight stop.  But that didn’t prevent us from getting out and burning a few pixels.

Firefighting helicopters carrying water to fight the Cameron Peak and Williams Fork fires in
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Colorado near Fort Collins. Seen from the Foothills Trail at the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
Foothills Trail at the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado

Kathy & I joined Monte on a walk through the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, where we saw his “office” and were able to see a few of the firefighting helicopters coming and going from a nearby airfield.  We had a nice pizza dinner at a local pizza joint followed by a yummy breakfast at a local “American-Mexican Breakfast and Lunch” spot.

Any time with Monte is time well spent, and we look forward to getting back to Fort Collins at at time where the weather and conditions are better!

Breakfast with Monte at The Chicken Coop Restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado
Travel

Umbrellas

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Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado. The black stones are part of a public art installation titled “Confluence” by Lawrence Argent

One day when passing through the Oak Street Plaza Park in Fort Collins, I spotted the reflections that these umbrellas were making in the black stone and stopped to take a few photos.  I didn’t spend enough time on this idea, but otherwise think I captured what I saw.

The black stones are part of a public art installation titled “Confluence” by Lawrence Argent.  More public art!

Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado. The black stones are part of a public art installation titled “Confluence” by Lawrence Argent
Travel

Art On The Line

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Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado

One of the things that has impressed me about Fort Collins, CO is the amount of public art, especially in Old Town.  They even publish maps and have a walking tour telling people where to find it.  Sometimes the art is sculpture, pavers on the sidewalk, plaques or other displays.  Two of the most prevalent forms seem to be painted pianos placed around town that anyone can play, and painted utility box covers.  A very clever way to disguise what is usually seen as big, green, ugly boxes.

Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado

It’s evidently brand new, as it isn’t shown in Google Street View and I couldn’t find out anything about it in the published information.  But this structure is almost certainly art.  If not, I have no idea what its purpose would be!  I had a little fun with it while walking around on a beautiful, sunshiny day!

Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado

If anyone wants to check it out, it is located in an alleyway in an area bordered by Oak Street, Mason Street, Mountain Ave. and College Ave.  Right behind Walrus Ice Cream! 🙂

Photography

First Thing Is To Show Up

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Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins

While our friends, neighbors and relatives have been sweating out a late summer heat wave in Charlotte, here in Colorado Kathy & I have been treated to mid-70s temperatures with beautiful skies and low humidity.  We took full advantage on Thursday when we headed out into the countryside with our pal Monte Stevens.

When we headed out we had no idea what we were looking for or where we were going, but I think we found it!  Overall an extremely productive and rewarding effort.  Hoping to get into the high country and chase some fall color over the weekend before heading north to Montana, where it is supposed to snow.  Yikes!

Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Abandoned store in the rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins
Rural countryside in Larimer County, Colorado north of Fort Collins