Sun Day

Yesterday, J suggested we do a ride at Chatfield Res, since the weather app was saying the temps would be 66+. It ended up hitting 72. The weather app didn't say to expect 20 mph winds, however, but we sucked it up and rode anyway.

When we reached the gate to the park, J and I were speechless. The State decided to expand the holding capacity of the reservoir which means that a bunch of construction is occurring.

 Huge swathes of land are tore up and there was a huge pile of destroyed trees just inside the park.

 I understand the need for water, it is one of the more compelling things we need to consider when looking into the future. Mad Max aside, Cape Town is already out of fresh water completely. California is in a deep drought, and the snow pack for Colorado is down this year. The expansion of the reservoir will allow for farm land and expansion of the cities along the front range while still providing flood control for Denver and the South Platte.

All of that said, it has ruined our emotional reaction to riding in this park.

We will find other places to ride until this is fixed.

Lowry may be our next exploration. 

We had to park down by the stable in an asphalt parking lot, rather than the dirt lot we've used in the past. Ashke was very looky. There was a tarp that had been somewhat stuffed into a dumpster on the far side of the parking lot that Ashke was very interested in. I got him saddled and swung up. I told him that today was about having fun, relaxing in the sun and just being together. That's what we did.

 In spite of the wind, and not being on trail for four months, he was rock solid.

Skeptical ears every once in a while, but only two real spooks: once when the lower branches of a bush struck his shins and once when a tree was blown down near us.

Yes. That happened.

 More with the tilted ear.

 J was bright. 

We did really enjoy the ride.

I can't hold the phone with my right hand and guide him with my left.

Left hand stoopid.

Not shown here - but we did have some really nice collected canter among the trees.

I was almost dipped into snow melt, ice rimmed water.

Ashke really wanted to lay down.

Really, really bad.

9.25 miles at 4.1 mph average.

Wonderful day with my boy.

Today we have snow and a high of 20 degrees. Colorado in the spring is bipolar.