10.07.24 .... Grand Mesa Weekend Trip

Even a mini roadtrip over a regular 2 day weekend can be fun. Very important to drive most of the way on Friday night! We wanted to escape the heat and hopefully the crowds.

Grand Mesa in western Colorado is about as far as I want to drive on an ambitious 2 day weekend. Our destination, Cedar's Edge Llama's Bed & Breakfast in Cedaredge is about 300 miles away.

On Friday night, we drove west on I-70 to Rifle, Colorado where we had booked a room at a Super 8 motel (recommended, a nice newer motel with excellent rooms and beds at reasonable prices).

On Saturday, our only full day in the area, we drove west on I-70 thirty miles to the DeBeque exit and headed south towards the 10,000 foot elevation flat-topped mass of Grand Mesa. Instead of the paved highway through the badlands, we drove on an obscure back road (V Road) for a more scenic and slower route to the tiny town of Collbran in the Plateau Creek Valley at the base of Grand Mesa.

V Road is a rutted clay dirt road that would be bad news in wet weather. It was sun baked into hard surface. We saw no other vehicles or sign of habitation for at least 1 hour. Definitely a lonely place.

On V Road



Eventually we emerged from the desert landscape into the lush green Plateau Creek Valley near Collbran. As you look around, Plateau Creek creates a green corridor of trees and farms survive in the narrow valley.

The Plateau Creek Valley



Upstream, Vega Reservoir [and State Park] holds water to keep Plateau Creek full and life-giving. Built in the 1950s, the reservoir was the result of determined local ranchers and farmers to ensure a more stable water flow for more reliable crops. Today Vega Reservoir and State Park is a recreational draw, despite being at the very end of the Plateau Valley and quite far from the bigger towns in western Colorado.

After a quick look at Vega State Park, we doubled back to Collbran and drove 3500 vertical feet to the flat top of Grand Mesa. A steep relentless climb for our little car!

Sally fishing at Weir and Johnson Reservoir, Grand Mesa


Grand Mesa: high elevation + lots of water = lush & green.




Many large groves of aspen, especially on the south side of Grand Mesa - will be beautiful in the fall !


We stayed at Cedar's Edge Llamas Bed & Breakfast in Cedaredge. Ray the innkeeper, is a particularly pleasant and gracious host. He and his wife, Gail have created a quiet oasis for guests. Four different rooms are available. We stayed in the Peachtree Room.

Cedar's Edge B+B



The Peachtree Room.


A friendly llama.


Lizzie, the resident dog, is sweet and playful.


All photos, except the Peachtree Room were taken with the Panasonic LX3 camera.

10.07.14 .... Fishing at Golden Ponds Nature Area

In nearby Longmont, Golden Ponds is a city-managed wildlife and fishing area. Nice walking trails and benches discreetly placed in a beautiful setting.

There are many trees and aquatic weeds so it feels very natural despite its man-made origins (former gravel pits) and heavy use by dog walkers and bicyclists. A train track and subdivision are a few yards away.

Lots of water birds - I saw ducks, geese, and a night heron. Surprisingly peaceful despite all that activity - well worth a visit early or late in the day.

There are 4 ponds, I visited 3 of them. All these pictures are of Pond #1, the westernmost one. I caught a few small sunfish, but observed many.

A great place to watch fish - the water is crystal clear and small fish are everywhere. Late in the day, I spotted the shadowy silouette of a big bass patrolling the edge of the weeds.





Canon G3 point and shoot camera.

10.07.13 .... Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge has been managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service for many years. Terribly polluted from its days as a chemical manufacturing site, it has been undergoing Superfund cleanup efforts for 20 plus years. Only in recent years has the public been able to access [a limited area] of the property, which is the largest undeveloped tract of land in metro Denver.

In summer, 2 lakes are open for limited and carefully restricted catch and release fishing. The aquatic life is very rich and the birds and animals in the area seem to thrive with human intrusion being so limited.

It was one of the hottest days of the summer so I arrived as early as is permitted - at 6AM. No fish were caught (by me) but others did. Fishing can be very good here, but in midsummer - it can be very difficult. You can only fish 6AM-6PM on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays. Very limited space at the small lake, at the big lake one is allowed to wade. I usually fish the small lake, but I need to explore the big lake and learn how to fish it.


The entrance kiosk. You pay $3 for the day and read the rules and sign a form agreeing to everything.


The small lake, Lake Mary. You could walk around it in 15 minutes. The water is quite clear and you will observe lots of fish activity if you pay attention.



Bluegill sunfish guarding their spawning nests. I drew small arrows pointing to the fish. Sunfish nests are often in very shallow water and look very distinctive. Interestingly, it is the male sunfish that builds the nest, then he guards the eggs and babies.


The big lake, Lake Ladora. There are other lakes with fish on the property, but you are not allowed to go near them.

Canon G3 point and shoot camera.

10.07.10 .... Fishing and Boating at Aurora Reservoir

While Sally was away on a trip, I decided to take my little folding rowboat for its first outing in 5 years.

It worked fine, but since it is SMALL (8 feet long), it really is spooky when the wind kicks up or big powerboats speed nearby.

I got quite a workout with 2.5 hours of rowing. No fish were encountered.



I thought that surely fish would be lurking in water near these trees. Just cormorants - who are better fishermen than me!



Photos with Canon G3 point and shoot camera.