OzarksPhotosTravels

After breakfast at our campsite we decided to do some exploring. We had passed by the entrance to the Lands End Observatory several times. A sign there indicated it was about 11 miles and appeared to be gravel road.

While we did not make it all the way to the observatory we did make it to what used to be the welcome center. Many of the views along the road made the trip very worthwhile. We hope you will agree.

There are trails at the center which are along the very edge of Grand Mesa overlooking the valley several thousand feet below. Unbelievable vistas.

And on our way back to the highway we found one aspen tree which had the golden color we hope to see in abundance in the next week or two.

We departed our campground on Grand Mesa early this morning. We drove down to Delta and Montrose for groceries, supplies and a new 85mm f1.8 lens for my Z cameras. Expeditiously shipped to me by AllensCamera.com. Looking forward to getting some nice images with it during the rest of our trip this summer.

Below are some images from our drive down off Grand Mesa and in Delta.

We decided this morning to drive up to the Grand Mesa Visitor Center hoping to see if the color in the aspen trees might be progressing. While on the way we explored some of the other campgrounds and found what you might agree are some interesting subjects to photograph. Below are the images from our short trip.

We stayed last night at the Rifle Falls Campground near Rifle, Colorado. After arriving there yesterday afternoon we visited the triple waterfalls. Images below:

After getting a few essentials at the City Market in Rifle, filling up the gas tank and getting my birthday mocha at Starbucks we headed out for Grand Mesa National Forest. Much higher altitude and a lot cooler. Below are a couple of images from one of the pullouts near the top. One can see a very long distance.

We will be waiting for the aspen trees to become golden, hopefully in the next week or two.

Today we went back through some of our videos which we had not posted and decided to try to bring you up-to-date with some of the information.

Below are two videos from the Fourth of July parade in Cody, Wyoming. The first is of some very talented young ladies who were able to dance while on a moving wagon.

The second video is of some of the professional rodeo performers riding on a wagon in the same parade.The wagon they were riding on was being pulled by a team of six white horses

The final video is from the start of the pack burro race during Boom Days in Leadville, Colorado. Each burro has to carry a pack weighing 33 pounds and containing a shovel, pick and gold pan along with other mining articles.. The race is up to Mosquito Pass which is above 10,000 feet and then they return to Leadville. This is in excess of 20 miles for the man to run. He is allowed to carry the burro but not allowed to ride.

We are back in the Leadville, Colorado area. Just enjoying the cooler mountain temperatures while we wait for the aspen leaves to get some color.

Tonight we enjoyed what we have decided to call “Eggs Dańiel”. Poached egg, ham instead of Canadian bacon and on a half a biscuit instead of an english muffin. And then of course topped with Hollandaise sauce. It has become one of our favorite light dinners.

After leaving Crested Butte we did some wandering and discovered the Grand Mesa area. A multitude of lakes and campgrounds. Also some amazing scenery. Like this:

And a short video which I hope shows the grandeur.

Wildflowers were very plentiful and beautiful.

And there was even wildlife (look closely).

Here are a few views of the lake from our campsite.

And a short video showing fish jumping from the lake, maybe looking for a fisher person to catch them?

We hope to return in September to catch the aspen in full color.

Oops, I forgot the fireweed image.