Kebler Pass - Autumn Colors

  

Song:  Reflections Of My Life

Group:  Marmalade

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This blog post was erroneously flagged as inappropriate...

none of the rules of which I had breached.

It was most likely flagged by AI...

still of which is in its infancy.

I never post inappropriate content.

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At about 2 PM...

I decided to go to Kebler Pass for some Autumn pictures.

I had wanted to time it so I could get the sun shinning through the leaves...

instead of having it just reflected off them...

as well as hopefully getting a beautiful sunset.

At home...

the temperature was in the low 50s F (11 C).

By the time we got home...

it was in the mid 30s F ( .55 C ).

As it is some 3.5 hours west of me...

it is one of the first places to turn colors this Autumn...

other than far north.

Bandi and I were about half an hour west of home here.

Bandi was so excited the whole trip.

She loved just hanging her body out of the rear driver side window.

She loves the wind in her face.

   

You can see in the sideview mirror how far Bandi hangs out of the window.

As she had stood up almost the whole journey...

once we got home...

she wriggled about on my bed...

so happy to be home...

and then almost immediately...

went to sleep...

while snoring loudly  :)

I stopped at a lookout point to take some photos...

still more than two hours from Kebler Pass.

After but ten minutes or so...

I hit the road once again.

I would have to go over multiple mountain passes before reaching my destination...

but the whole way was so beautiful.

This mountain pass was particularly high in elevation.

The tree line was ending as it was so high.

This was over the highest pass I would go over...

until I again went over it on the way back at night.

There was one section of the pass where they had a blinking highway sign warning of cows.

They wandered freely on a section of about ten miles.

I would encounter them wandering the road even more on the way back...

at night.

I had to be extra careful...

as they would sometimes be in the middle of the road.

One of my rest stops.

I stretched my legs...

and Bandi used the bathroom (and I gave her water).

The town of Crested Butte is nearby.

At the end of town heading into the mountains...

 is the starting point of Kebler Pass.

This area is also famous of having some of the best Spring wildflower blooming

in the whole state of Colorado.

I will be sure to visit this place during the height of the blooms...

one of these Springs.

The beginning of Kebler Pass.

Most of Kebler Pass is unpaved...

but perfectly passable...

except in Winter.

I was entering the most beautiful area of the pass.

I seemed to have had driven through a tunnel of luminescent yellows.

About halfway down the highway...

I turned around...

as I had gone through the pass itself...

and the sun was going down.

I wanted to catch the last of the colors with the sun to my back.

My original plan was to catch a beautiful sunset on the pass...

but the sky was clear...

and so...

with no clouds...

there was no beautiful sunset.

On my way back.

Almost back into Crested Butte.

I stopped in Crested Butte for gas and took this final Autumn color shot.

On the way back through the mountain passes...

I would drive through some small mountain towns.

I loved passing through them as many of the residents were burning wood 

in their wood stoves.

It is these wood stoves that had lightly scented the air

with the wonderful aroma of burning wood.

I love that smell...

as it reminds me of my childhood...

of camping in the wilderness as a young teen...

and of the temples and country side of Japan in the early 60s.

One of many cows in the road

I had encountered on the way back through the area

which had flashing highway signs warning of cows in the road.

I had taken this last photo before it got too dark.

I was still only halfway home here.

I still had a few mountain passes to go through...

but as I enjoy driving...

it was still an adventure.

The included song...

I had played over and over...

as I sang to it through the mountain passes.

I had kept my windows fully opened most of the way home...

until it got into the 30s F.

But...

when I finally got within a few miles of home...

I reopened them so Bandi could hang out of the rear window...

for she had recognized that we were near home.

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Once the colors fully turn here at home...

I will be taking more photos and video of the trees of my mountain...

from my trike.

I plan to visit the many beautiful places in Colorado...

a little at a time.

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I had a wonderful time...

but I was tired when I got home after 10 PM.

I was so tired that I decided to write this article on the following day...

for not long after I lay in bed...

I, too, was fast asleep...

beside Bandi...

and I am sure...

snoring away just as was she.

Another Day Of Music

 

Song:  It Don't Matter To Me

Group:  Bread

Although I was thinking about doing some more work on my outdoor projects...

after eating lunch...

I decided that I would dedicate today to music.

I brought out all my instruments

(I have yet to unpack the keyboard.

I will work on the keyboard second to last even though it will be used extensively

throughout the song. The bass flute will be recorded last for a special reason).

I am going to experiment using my 6 string Bass

with a classic guitar tuning in place of the classical guitar...

(or as an adjunct to it).

The one octave difference should add a more dramatic flair 

to the cover song I am working on.

However...

it may not...

I will have to see.

In between sessions with the bass guitar...

I will throw in practice with the 12 string guitar...

as my left hand still needs conditioning to hold the chords

for long enough to practice the song with enough repetition

(my left hand still cramps after a short while).

I may also use the electric guitar...

but I will have to experiment with it in the song first.

            

My bass flute is resting on the keyboard.

The bass flute will have the most complicated passages...

but I will mostly be improvising with it in a free flowing manner... 

contrasting and reflecting off the other instruments...

and so...

I shall record it on the last track.

And...

don't worry...

the song will be purely instrumental...

I won't be singing at all  :)

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I am thinking of taking Bandi to Colorado Springs tomorrow morning.

There is a bike trail (one of many)...

that I wish to try.

It is supposed to have many beautiful views of Pikes Peak...

and of nearby rock formations.

Although...

it may be in the afternoon...

I will have to see.

Once I get started on music...

I sometimes lose track of time and end up 

working at it late into the night.

Again...

this is a long term project.

I have much practice and arranging to do before it will be

anywhere near completion.

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Addendum 10 PM...

I am practicing the classical guitar by Christmas Tree light...

and the loft computer desk red light.

I tried the bass guitar with alternate tuning...

nope...it just didn't sound right.

I will just use it in a supplemental mode.

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I may not be going on the trike ride tomorrow. 

I will most likely be up all night.

That is when I am most creative.

Anniversary Supper - More Ornaments

Song:  What Is Life

Artist:  George Harrison

On the day after my one year anniversary living in Colorado...

I went to Colorado Springs to eat sushi.

As you can see...

Pikes Peak had a dusting of snow from the previous night.

I ate my fill at my favorite sushi place.

I had another two orders of food...

but I got so into eating that I forgot to take more photos.

On the way back from Colorado Springs.

Cheyenne Mountain is straight ahead...

the location of NORAD.

Pikes Peak is shrouded in clouds in the center of this photo.

I was in Manitou Springs...

on my way home.

I was in Woodland Park en-route home.

Pikes Peak is partially covered in clouds.

I had stopped off at my mailbox...

and I was just a few minutes from home as I headed up the mountain.

I was almost home here.

I had received the following five Christmas Tree Ornaments as a gift.

Colorful Dragonfly

Beautiful Butterfly

Snow Bear

This dog looks like Bandi.

Northern Lights

I greatly appreciated these gifts.

I will be hanging them up once I receive all of my ornaments...

and the topper.

I expect the rest late next week.

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I had gone food shopping today...

and on the way back...

I stopped at my mailbox.

I had ordered some ornaments for myself...

and I received the following today.

I still am waiting for the tree skirt...

two other ornaments...

and the topper

(a snow owl in flight).

Autumn Bear

Magnificent Peacock

Tree of Life

Owl of Wisdom

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As you can tell...

my ornament theme is of animals.

It is so fitting to my surroundings.

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 I had awakened very early this morning...

and so...

I am going to lie down with Bandi and take a short nap.

Later tonight...

I will practice some more music up in the loft

as I overlook the Christmas Tree.

I just love that tree all lit up at night.

It adds such great ambiance...

it just mellows me out.

I cannot help but feel inspired by it.

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Later next month...

they will be having the Autumn Arts and Crafts Fair 

at the community center.

I will surely be going to that once again.

There is one particularly talented artist

who lives in our community.

I expect to buy at least one of her art pieces.