~Lake Colorado City State Park, Colorado City, Texas, April, 2017
oOo – Follow your dreams wherever they take you.
Path to the lake.
oOo – Take a moment and enjoy your surroundings.
Eastern Cottontail
oOo – Keep exploring, enjoy the journey.
oOo – Find the beauty in all things.
Lake Colorado City State Park beginning to bloom.
oOo – Be with those that bring you joy.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole
oOo – Enjoy spending time alone.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (more photos of these gorgeous birds later)
Howard and I enjoy staying at this 500 acre Texas State Park with lake views and access. It is picturesque and quiet (in the early spring anyway, don’t know about the summer when full lake activities begin). Nature trails to walk with lots of wildlife to observe.
I imagine this park wouldn’t be for everyone. Too isolated with few amenities. However, if you love nature, birding, wildlife, peaceful days and dark skies then stop here for a few days.
oOo– A few photos from March, 2016:
The evening glow of sunlight across the park is gorgeous.
A cool Spring day here in the Colorado Rockies. We went for a walk this morning along the Big Thompson River. Looks like we are caught in between Winter and Spring.
Soon, warmer weather will melt the snow in the mountains sending runoff to fill the river.
Big Thomson River waiting to be replenished.
Some Cottonwood trees have seen better days, some are starting to sprout their leaves. Wildflowers are starting to bloom. We heard that a Great Horned Owl is nesting in one of the Cottonwoods along the river path. Can’t wait to see babies.
Our Keeshond has lots of fur, so I try to brush her often. While camped at South Llano State Park a few days ago, I got our her brushes.
After I was finished brushing Skye, I placed several clumps of her fur in the surrounding trees near our RV site. It is almost spring and I noticed the birds were starting to gather materials for nest building. What better nest material than thick, soft doggie fur?
It didn’t take long for the birds to find Skye’s present. With amusement, I sat back and watched this Carolina Chickadee pull apart a ball of fur and fly off with it toward a distant tree. Perfect!
To our sweet, beautiful girl, it was our privilege to have you as a member of our pack. Love you forever and always. Only love so pure and deep can cause so much pain with loss.
It’s early morning. The car is packed with snacks, lunch, water and lots of camera gear. Excitement fills the air. We chat about our hopes of seeing a Moose, of taking photos of other wildlife and capturing the serenity of nature, and of breathing into our lungs the fresh air in the higher elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Leaving Loveland we travel west along the twisty Big Thompson River, into the narrow canyon and continue climbing until we reach Rocky Mountain National Park. We make one stop along the way. A stop in Drake; I want to look for a Dipper.
I have fond memories of observing Dippers feeding along the Big Thompson River years ago when we first moved to Colorado. We pull over and search the banks of the river, but our luck isn’t with us on this endeavor. We hop back into the car and continue our journey. We enter and drive through the town of Estes Park and soon we reach the entrance booth into Rocky.
We stop at Sheep’s Lake, because Linda had heard that the day before a Moose had been spotted wondering around the area. We stopped also, because we just couldn’t drive by this picturesque scene. We didn’t see a Moose, but stood in awe gazing at the beautiful, snow-covered mountain tops and enjoying the quiet.
After “drinking” in the beauty of Sheep’s Lake, we continued toward Endovalley.
As we travel along, I stop the car and ask Linda “What is that bird sitting on the branch of that tree? Oh, its a Tree Swallow.” I jump out of the car, grab my camera from the back seat and try to capture this gorgeous Tree Swallow as it sits in the sun preening. The first photo above is the ever swooping, diving, sliding little swallow as it takes a “sun” break. What a beautiful area this little Tree Swallow calls home.
Slowly driving a little further we enjoy the scenery and just had to stop when we saw these backlit, Aspens. Yes, spring has reached some areas in Rocky! The photos don’t reflect the beauty of these trees as a faint breeze and morning light kiss their new leaves.
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A glance across the road reveals the beauty of more Aspen, plus the signs that Elk have been enjoying a snack.
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Well little Tree Swallow, thanks for sunbathing this morning. You invited us to pause for a closer look, giving us a chance to observe your surroundings and to photograph you. Thanks for sharing your home with us today!
Our day in Rocky Mountain National Park continues, so stay tuned.
