Dragons

DOT by Bike and Rail: Cherry Creek and the Finish Line

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Debora

Each loop I charted on this project was longer than the one before. For the last one, I went back to the Ridgegate Station in Lone Tree, rode south to reconnect with the DOT at the beginning of Segment 11, and then curved up through Parker and Cherry Creek State Park and back into Aurora, through segments 12, 13, 14 and halfway through 15, where I had started my journey back in May. Roughly 35 miles, give or take a couple. I need to start tracking my mileage on these explores.

Segment 11 winds east on the East/West Regional Trail.

In Parker, some of the tunnels have been painted by local artists. I like it!

The East/West Trail terminates into the Colorado Front Range Trail, which runs north/south along Cherry Creek up to Cherry Creek State Park and beyond. Near the intersection of the two trails, just past the Bar CCC Reservoir, this flock of wild turkeys was hanging out.

It’s a pretty stretch of trail.

The stone bridge isn’t part of the DOT, but I stopped and played on it for a bit anyway.

Farther up the trail I passed a bakery/cafe that looked good, so I pulled up and enjoyed a really tasty French dip.

Segment 13 is unpaved and a bit rough, but scenic.

Cherry Creek Reservoir was looking pretty.

I’m not a huge fan of rabbitbrush, but it was popping that day. Perfect gold against the muted blue of the water.

For some reason, the bike trail from Cherry Creek State Park to where I left the DOT and rode home is shorter in my head than the drive from my house to the Park. Not time-wise, but geography-wise. It just seems farther when I’m driving it, no idea why.

Anyway, that was my adventure on the Denver Orbital Trail. I enjoyed it a lot, and will probably do parts of it again. I’m impressed by how accessible the “greater Denver metro area” is by bike, as long as you don’t try to go up into the mountains.

Next I’m thinking of riding the entire length of the High Line Canal Trail: 71 miles, 27 segments starting in Waterton Canyon and snaking north and east to 64th Ave in east Denver, almost to the airport. The logistics of that are trickier, though, because the first part isn’t near a light rail station, so someone would have to drive me to the first trailhead out in the boonies.

Next up: we summit our first 14er!

Categories: A Plethora of Parks, Animals, Artwork, DOT by Bike and Rail, Dragons, food, Life, trees, Wildlife | Tags: Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado Front Range Trail, East/West Regional Trail | Leave a comment

Adventures in Nepal XV: Sunday Drive

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Debora

Elizabeth has spoken fondly of “the family next door” to where she and Emma stayed in Paljorling Camp. Pressed for details, she just says that they’re really nice. This family next door is still kind of a mystery for me.

On January 26, the family next door took the girls out for a drive around Pokhara.

Scenes from an SUV window:

Elizabeth liked the narrow, winding roads.

They visited Pema Tsal Sakya Monastery.

The Family Next Door:

The monastery sits on a hilltop, with sweeping views of the surrounding area.

Moobs!

The colorful cloth squares are prayer flags.

RAWR!

The Prayer Wheel.

I like the peacock embellishments on the gray building.

Back in the SUV. The view out the window is mustard crops; mustard oil is a popular condiment in Nepal.

Horsie!

The ubiquitous Phewa Tal

Pretty wall

This is the room Emma and Elizabeth stayed in at Paljorling Camp. So cozy!

Meanwhile, on this day the U.S. confirmed three more cases of Covid-19, bringing the nationwide total up to five confirmed cases. No one was worried yet.

To be continued!

Categories: Artwork, Dragons, Friends, Holidays, Life, Love, Nepal, Travel | Leave a comment

Summertime Fun

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Debora

The rain eventually stopped, and the Texas summer arrived in all its sweltering glory. Luke flew off to California for his four-week visit with his dad. We had all learned our lesson last year about not moping around during these apart times, so Elizabeth and I kept ourselves entertained in his absence.

We discovered Founders’ Plaza, which is a really pleasant little park with a good view of DFW Airport and the adjacent UPS Hub. It’s a nice place to relax, watch planes land and listen to the piped-in live dialog from the airport’s radio control tower. We bring lunch or ice cream and make it a picnic.

Then Luke came back, and Elizabeth went to California. Other than going to see Inside Out, I don’t remember Luke and I doing a whole lot while she was gone. We did get our first sight of Texas fireflies, while we were walking in a park at dusk near a lake. I didn’t have my camera with me though, just my iPad, and that doesn’t take great pics in low light. I did manage to get one halfway decent shot – can you see the firefly?

I have been promising Luke for ages that I would take him to see the Dallas Heritage Village, so we finally made plans to go about a week after Elizabeth got back from California. Unfortunately, when we got there we found a locked gate and a sign saying that the Village was closed for maintenence and would reopen in September. Guess I should have taken a closer look at that website.

Anyway, there we were in Dallas, so we decided to check out the Botanical Gardens instead. That turned out to be a solid choice. The place is gorgeous, and during the month of August the ticket price is only a dollar per person, probably because it’s not the flashiest time of year and it’s like 150º outside. Some of the plants did seem to be struggling in the heat. But there is plently of shade, and lots of water.

There is a LOT of water. Streams and fountains and waterfalls everywhere.

This was my favorite:

There’s lots of statuary too, and most of it seems to involve nudity or sensual themes.

There’s just something about a garden that makes you want to run around naked, I guess.

After we left the Botanical Gardens, we investigated a little spot called Dragon Park that I’d seen mentioned on a website. It really is a tiny little place, but pretty and interesting.

And Monday we took Luke to see Founders’ Plaza for the first time.

And that’s about it for the summer fun. School starts back up in a couple of weeks. As for my job-related adventures…that’s probably a subject for its own post. Which I will write soon. Probably.