There's smoke in the air...

 

Woke up @ 5:15 today (in order to avoid the 100 degree temperatures predicted for today) to do a 50+ mile bike ride.  I'm glad I was going east and not sticking around town.  The smell of smoke was overwhelming.  This was our second worst day since the fire began.  The wind finally stopped blowing last night so all the smoke settled in and is still making things hazy this afternoon.

 The bike ride was great.  The sun was just coming up as I started.  The hot air balloon was taking off in Windsor by Eastman Park.

This bike ride is usually a little shorter but there was a piece closed that probably added 2-3 miles.  My changed route took me by the Vesta's plant (wind turbine blades).  I had to stop on the way home to let this big daddy get out on the road. 

My changed route also took me by the Kodak plant.  I believe a small portion is still being used in the back area but part of the front was being demolished.  Their plant used to look like a lush golf course.  Those days are obviously long gone unless you consider the rampant spread of bind weed lush!

 

Bike: Poudre River Trail to Greeley

Trails Used:  Poudre River Trail

Distance: 57.67 miles

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (lengthwise)
Overall average: 13.2 mph (went the exact same speed as last year)
Overall Time: 4 hrs, 22 min
Total Ascent: 67 ft.

 

 

What's Fido drinking this week?

 

Yummmmm, it's a delicious peach daiquiri!  One hundred degree weather deserves one hundred percent fun summer drinks!  I made this with fresh peaches, peach nectar, rum, diet 7-up & ginger ale, and a couple of leaves of mint.  I threw everything but the rum into the blender and then threw it into the ice cream maker for 25 minutes.  I was rewarded with a perfect slush drink!  All I had to do was pour it for the kids and add rum for the adults!  Don't forget the umbrellas.  Nothing makes a fun summer drink complete like an umbrella!

The hot summer weather is bringing out the cook in me.  After I finished making my drink I decided a blueberry pie was next in line.  I had my heart set on this all week and boy did it live up to my dreams.  I used a recipe from my Cook's Illustrated magazine.  The crust is a huge pain in the butt but it does turn out perfect every time.  The filling needs a little extra TLC also but it's well worth the effort. 

Lastly, I made this yummy veggie stir fry to cleanse our system from a week of sausage and hamburgers.  It featured fresh bok choy, snap peas, onions (all from the garden), and broccoli.  I grilled it to add a bit more flavor and then topped it off with a sauce.  Over rice, it was just what the doctor ordered!

High Park Fire

I've been meaning to get these pictures up on my blog for some time now....This is the view from my backyard:

 over a couple of different days

 This was the view when I dropped the kids off for swim lessons this week:

 

This is the same view as above on one of the worst days yet.  The smell was awful!  Needless to say, we did not bike to swim lessons that day! (Notice that the mountains just disappeared.)

 

The helicopters and planes have been flying over us nonstop.

       

 This was last night coming home from Winter Park.

We have had some ash on our deck and in our yard and varying levels of smoke to deal with.  However, that is nothing compared to all those people who have lost their homes!  So sad.

Winter Park fun!

We went to Winter Park for Father's Day weekend.  The boy's went mountain biking and the rest of us hiked,

 Golden Banner

 

Oxeye Daisy

 Columbine

 

  

(someone decorated the teepee with mistletoe and a dream catcher)
biked, drank mojito's, went to the base and jumped around (fun but expensive),

 

 

 

and swam at the Rec Center pool (highly recommend, the pool has a cool water slide, lazy river, hot tub, toddler/preschool play area, and a diving board.)

We came home to a hot, scorching (97 degrees), and smoky day.

 

Ugh!  I hate when we have to run the AC all night and can't put on the whole house fan!  I can't wait for this fire to get under control.  It will be awhile since it's 99 degrees and windy today.

Windsor Lake is no longer Windsor's best kept secret!

 

Went to the beach w/ the kids today.  What a gorgeous day, 85 degrees and lightly breezy.  We got there around 10:15 and it was already hopping.  I remember the days that I would get there at 10 and be by myself until noon.  Those days are no longer, at least on Fridays, it seems.  Even though it was busy the kids had a great time and there was plenty of room for everyone.  It's great that we have a lake so close that is free to swim in and a good place for the younger crowd.  They even have paddle boats to rent for $5/30 min.  A snack bar, toilets, and showers make it even better for a visit.  The water doesn't get very deep until you are pretty far out so you don't have to worry about the toddler/preschooler as much. We drove over in the Jeep w/ the top down.  It doesn't get much better than this!  (Okay so a margarita would have made it a tiny bit better!) :)

Power Line Trail

We took the Power Line Trail (aptly named) today to the pool.  It was downhill on the way there and uphill back.  Don't do this trail in the heat of the day.  It gets hot quickly!  There aren't any trees along it so finding shade is difficult.  When in need of rest just sit in the middle!  I kid....I don't think the other bikers would appreciate this. 

 

There is a nice running path alongside the concrete for those people who don't want to wreck their knees and feet. 

Bike: Power Line Trail

Trails Used: Power Line Trail

Distance: 7.53 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 4.5 mph (one child biking, one on tagalong w/ burly behind)
Overall Time: 1 hrs, 40 min
Total Ascent: 210 ft.