My friend Shari and I went on a hike, this past Wednesday, in the Coyote Ridge Natural area, located between Loveland and Fort Collins, Colorado.
We hiked about four miles round trip. This area is beautiful and we had a fantastic view of the Hogbacks sitting majestically to the west!
Between Two Ridges
It was a gorgeous, sunny day with blue skies and a few white puffy clouds. We had a great time. We passed and said hello to bike riders, other hikers and runners all enjoying this natural trail system.
We also encountered a few four-legged animals enjoying the area as well.
Mule Deer
This photo looks a little odd to me, as if I took the head of another deer and placed it on this deer’s body! She was standing up hill from me as I was trying to take her picture from the trail below.
“Maybe they don’t see me”
We spotted a few birds, but not many. A Black-billed Magpie riding the wind, an American Robin sitting in a pine tree singing a tune and a Northern Flicker just being a Flicker, making a lot of noise! All of which were fun to see.
Hogbacks are defined as, a ridge with steep sides formed by dipping strata. Dipping strata are stratified layers of rocks lying at an angle.
The name, Hogback, comes from the ridge resembling the high, knobby spine between the shoulders of a hog.
In most cases, the two strata that compose a hogback are different types of sedimentary rock with differing weathering rates.
The softer rock erodes more quickly than overlying hard rock. Over time, the softer rock retreats to a point where the hard and soft rock strata are adjacent. This creates cliffs that steepen as the softer rock continues to erode. (info taken from web)
Standing on a HogbackWhoa! What big ears you have!My Center, Nature
Sunflower in ProfileSunflower in OctoberSunflower being Shy
On Tuesday I walked in my back yard and saw this beauty growing in a flower bed. She probably won’t have time to grow very big before the cold and snow pay an unwelcome visit.
Monday, we stopped by the Loveland TCI Tire Center to order new tires for our coach. We needed six, size: 11 r 22.5, Model XZA3 (H) tread tires. It was after lunch and the service manager stated:
“Why don’t you go get your coach and bring it in now and we will begin installing your new tires; we have the tires you need in our warehouse.”
We asked him what the manufacture dates were on the tires and he said: “ lets go take a look.” So we walked with him into the warehouse to check the dates on the tires. Great, recent dates, good to go! We appreciated the fact that he let us go with him to check the dates.
We left TCI and drove over to pick up our coach, which is stored in an RV storage facility less than a mile away. It does not get any more convenient then that!
The Rambling Rose spend Monday night indoors and we picked her up after lunch Tuesday with her new treads!
FMCA…Michelin…TCI Tire Center
TCI Tire Center in Loveland, COMichelin!
The partnership between FMCA, Michelin and TCI Tire Center and the process offering FMCA members a discount price on tires, went smoothly. The only item TCI needed, from us at the time of tire installation, was our FMCA number. We were given a TCI bill for tire installation and told that Michelin will bill us for the tires.
This morning, I received an email from Michelin stating that our final invoice was attached and our credit card would be charged. Very convenient! It sure feels good to have new tires on the coach. Safety always comes first!
The next couple of weeks will be a busy time for us as we begin getting ready to head south for the winter.
A couple photos of the dirty Rambling Rose with her new tires. She needs a good bath!
The “needs a bath” Rambling RoseHubby, checking for the model number of the generator.
Here is the link to the first post I wrote on RV Tires: FMCA, Michelin and TCI
Chapungu African Sculpture Park in Loveland, Colorado
Trails at the Chapungu Park wind through twenty-six acres of wetlands and past more than eighty stone sculptures. The sculptures are handmade by Shona sculptors from stone brought from Zimbabwe. The Shona people have lived in southern Africa for thousands of years and the sculptures are meant to represent their traditional African perspective.
A friend and I spent a lovely day strolling in Chapungu African Sculpture Park, soaking up the sun and enjoying these beautiful African sculptures. We only got to see about one-third of the entire park so we must go back.
Here are a few photos from our visit on September 25, 2013.
“Lovers”Dancing to “Yes I Can”
The LagoonBlooming GrassesLily PadsGrasses
White Berries – 3
White Berries – 2
White Berries – 1
Loveland is world famous for its art and currently has two sculpture parks; the other park Benson Sculpture Garden was established in 1985. Everywhere you look, throughout the city, you will see beautiful bronze sculptures.
If you would like to read about Loveland’s Art Community you can visit these web-sites:
While on a walk with a friend, at Chapungu Sculpture Park, I saw this Dragonfly. I have been searching all summer long for Dragonflies to photograph. I will post more photos from this beautiful sculpture park tomorrow.
Loveland is internationally known for its beautiful art.
Wolf Song Blog 