Tag Archives: Fort Collins

Hangin’ With Monte

September 25, 2020 Tom Dills 4 Comments

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!

Travel

Umbrellas

October 27, 2019 Tom Dills 2 Comments

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!

Travel

Art On The Line

October 27, 2019 Tom Dills 5 Comments

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.

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!

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

Elvis Sighting

October 22, 2019 Tom Dills 2 Comments

He turns up in the most unexpected places. This time in Old Town Fort Collins! 😉

Photography

First Thing Is To Show Up

September 27, 2019 Tom Dills 2 Comments

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!

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