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9:30 PM - Birthday Road Trip |
| alternate title: The Ground Beneath Her FeetWe packed a picnic and drove up the hill into the Rockies proper hoping to view wildlife and also hoping to gather heart-shaped rocks for the growing collection in our cactus garden.Along the way we watched a mink scamper over the boulder-lined river bank.We also spotted a bald eagle soaring above the trees but under gathering snow clouds.We drove a little further before we pulled off at a wide spot to eat our lunch then hunt rocks.A small band of female bighorn sheep arrived and began to graze.They remained impervious to our joyous exclamations.But exclaim we did.We also found some lovely heart-shaped rocks.Soon the clouds let loose their snow load and we enjoyed a gray-white, swirling, enveloping and magical snowstorm.Not to worry, we were dressed warmly and the Jeep has snow tires, but we drove to the nearest town and ducked into a caf for a cup of tea anyway.Afterward, we meandered Estes Park shops while various elk herds wandered about town.As we tried to depart for home, a group of elk, including at least three of last year?s offspring, stood around demanding right-of-way, not that we were bothered by their insistence.A few miles downhill from the posing elk we stopped again for heart rocks and were treated to the beautiful melody of an ouzel impressing his girl.What a joy to watch these water birds feed on the bottom of a perfectly clean stream.Six miles from our hacienda, a smallish band of male bighorn sheep ambled down a steep cliff and fed next to the highway.(More about bighorn sheep here: http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/bighornsheep.htm) We pulled over to watch these incredible creatures kick aside fresh snow and dine on new grass.(Did you know those horns weigh thirty pounds?)Less than a mile from our place another elk herd sat in a field, resting.So to recap: one bald eagle; one mink; one riverside picnic, one snowstorm; two cups of tea; countless elk; unmentioned, but plentiful mule deer; two groups of bighorn sheep and home again jiggety-jig.A grand way to celebrate turning 49, yes?P.S. The owner of the caf is likely to become an habanero pepper customer.I deliver samples tomorrow. |
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