Sunday Classic

I had a classic Ned ride with Dr.CX, the Pilot, and a young buck J the Wrenchmeister - a pilot in training. We went up north this time to such classics as RBV, Swimming Hole, SwissMiss, and Xfiles. I hadn't been up that way in years, literally, and much has changed. Fences and houses being built where the trails used to pass by. We had to take several detours to avoid these areas and it looked like these routes have mostly been abandoned because of that. Part good, but mostly bad as they looked the same as when I last rode them 3 years ago, but it may be the last time I ride them for another 3 years.

Paintbrush and singy

The "Ex-urbanization" of this area (of which I wholeheartedly admit I'm a part of living up here in the mtns) is swallowing up habitat (and trails) left and right. At least my house is somewhat historical (how's that for a rationalization?! Why convert land to build a new 5000 square foot second or third home? I mean really...!? A mile long driveway in the mountains? That person cannot be planning on living there year round and plowing that all winter.

Ok, enough ranting. The wildflowers are going off right now so it was a perfect time to visit these mountain meadows. This seemed like the first hot day this year, and the lack of thunderbolts was a pleasant surprise too. The moisture has been amazing this year, i hear we're at near record June precip in the last 100 years!

A Dr.CX wheelie through one of the meadows with Audubon in the background.

The Pilot posing with a Columbine, don't they look cute together?!