Road To Denver

Traveled down to Denver yesterday to check out preparations for the Democratic Convention. I took my bike along; given all the street closings it was the best way to get around. So what was going on? Well, the street demonstrations, an "energy fair" under the dancing statues at the performing arts center platoons of heavily armed security forces walking around in the hot sun, a street fair in the civic center, roses stuck to the high wire fence around the Pepsi Center, a church baptism ceremony at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte, and, at the end of the afternoon, a Larimer Democratic Party reception at a downtown art gallery.
Charlotte has been working full steam on this election...it was good to have a glass of wine with her amidst friends and art works.

Summer being "over"

There is a morning in mid-August when you realize summer is over. The end comes early in the morning. I go outside to pick up the morning paper or to take Pacha for a walk. Overnight the temperature has dropped. Cold mountain air is still pouring down the foothills onto the Fort Collins plains. And though the temperature that day may get into the 80s or 90s, the pattern of cool, then cold, nights and early mornings will repeat itself. The tipping point has been reached; there is no going back. Summer is over.

Felt the need to spend a night in the mountains so I packed my mountain bike, tent, sleeping bag, a few provisions (wine, crackers) in the Explorer (in spite of gas prices, my favorite mountain vehicle). Went biking and hiking in the St. Vrain drainage. Then drove over to Brainard Lake and watched the canoes as the sun set behind the Indian Peaks. Came home early in the morning...a new person (well, maybe just a bit renewed).