Prospect Ponds Hike

Today we headed to Prospect Ponds for a hike/geocaching adventure. The area is about 10 minutes South of our home. It is a natural area that is popular to hikers/walkers/bikers/dogs.
We took advantage of the cooler weather in the morning to head out. By the time we were done, it was getting very warm and we were glad to head home to cool off.

The first part of our day took us on an easy hike around the ponds. We found the cache easily, signed the log and headed back to get our next cache. The next one was about 1.5 miles from the first so we chose to drive part of the way. We parked at the CSU Environmental Learning Center.

Leaving the parking lot, we walked across a swinging bridge. Of course Peter had to be the funny man and shake the bridge as I was going over. Hmmmmm! Children! Do they ever grow up?! Let's hope not.

We followed the trail to get to the next multi cache at the south end of the Center. Along the way we came across fields of phlox being munched on by deer. Deer that were so used to humans, that they stood still (for a bit) to have their pictures taken. We continued on. Arrived at the coordinates and began our search. We had to get through some high grasses and swat a couple of dozen mosquitoes, but Peter's eagle eyes spotted the clue! It gave us coordinates to the 2nd part of the cache. We again went off trail for a bit and headed toward the La Poudre River. The water was high and flowing rapidly. Spring thaws have brought a lot of water down from the mountains. We found the cache, signed the log and returned to the parking area. There was one more in the area, but we chose to leave that one for another time. We went home to clean up and get some bug lotion for our bites. Another great day enjoying the great outdoors. What a joy it is to live in an area where all of this beauty is nearby and just waiting to be found!

Paul and Maris' visit to Colorado

In May 2011, Paul and Maris drove from Milwaukee to visit us.
During their visit with us, we introduced them to our surroundings as well as our newest hobby...geocaching.

On one of the first days they were here, we took them for a drive north and Wwest of Fort Collins on a road that runs along the Poudre River and through the canyon.  No matter what time of the year we head out in this direction there always seem to be new sites to see.  On this trip, we noticed that the river was beginning to swell.  Rafters were enjoying the exciting ride.

Our goal for the day was to head about 20 miles west to pick up 3 new caches that had been placed in the canyon along the road.  The first one had us (not Renee) climbing down the steep slope in search of the elusive cache.  We never did find this one and actually have been back since with no luck as well.  Giving up on that one for the moment, we headed back east to pick up the remaining 2 and have our lunch.  Success!  Both were found in record breaking time.  We had our lunch along the river and headed back to town.  Along the way, we were all treated to a small grouping of Big Horn Sheep that had progressed down from the mountains to feed on the new grasses.  Great photos.