Panorama Point Fall Aspen Hike

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Heather and I went for a short hike at Panorama Point in Golden Gate Canyon State Park to see the annual change of aspen leaves from green to gold.  The area gets its name from the stellar view of the continental divide mountains.


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Hiking into the forest where evergreens mix with aspen.

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The leaves have already begun to fall.

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Little bursts of color on the hillside.


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A grove of aspen along a waterway.

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Where greens turn to golds.

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An enchanting little grove of aspen.

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Aspen dot the hills and mountains from where we stood all the way to the continental divide and beyond.


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Walking through a forest of gold.


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USA Pro Cycling Challenge comes through my neighborhood


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The USA Pro Cycling Challenge came through Golden this year as part of Stage 7 on its way from Boulder to Denver for the finish line.  Lots of people were lined up very early to get a good spot.


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Police clearing the course.

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Race official.


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Lots of pissed off people who didn’t read the signs about the hour-long road closure that were posted for over a month.


Such a short amount of action for such a big buildup!  At least the bicycles were more spread out than when I saw a stage finish of Tour de France in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2005.  That was over in the blink of an eye!

The Carousel of Happiness with my aunt


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We arrived at the Carousel of Happiness and had the whole carousel to ourselves.

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This bunny has a clock on its paw.

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A moose!

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A cat!

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Heather found a dolphin to ride.

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My aunt Joyce chose to ride a moose.

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I love the mechanisms of this old carousel.

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Great details!


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At the reservoir below Nederland.

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