mistressofmuses (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mistressofmuses) wrote2023-07-18 09:59 pm
mistressofmuses) wrote2023-07-18 09:59 pm
Roxborough State Park (again)
We had *two* meeting/appointment things today - one to fill out our annual redetermination letter for the apartments, and one with the local county housing office. That second one was the one I was hoping for good vibes for, but the "appointment" turned out to just be picking up a ton of paperwork, ha. Unfortunately... I don't think it'll end up mattering. It was for financial aid with housing, which would be really helpful as our rent is set to jump by another $100. Buuuuut, I think we're still in a frustrating grey area where we do make little enough that we *qualify* for aid, but because the apartments are already below market rate, they won't actually *give* us aid... but that $100 is going to really fucking hurt. We'll have to check the fine print and see for sure.
BUT.
After all that was over, we did want to go do something. We figured the dogs could use a break after yesterday, even though it was a pretty easy day. Today was very hot again. So we decided to go back to Roxborough and try a different trail.
Last time we went on a hotter, sunnier trail, and the ranger seemed to want to steer us toward a shadier path. So we figured we'd try that one today!
The landscape.
Finally, a picture of one of the very loud towhees!
An extra-spotty ladybug on the oaks between the lot and the trailhead.
Right at the trailhead we saw a snake! Fairly certain it's a "western yellow-bellied racer." Pale, uniform grey-green on top, yellowish below. Pretty good size, maybe three-ish feet long?
No really, I swear there's a snake in there!
See, there's her head!
So then we started on the actual hike. This was the "Willow Creek" trail, and it starts off trying to kill you: the undergrowth is basically all poison ivy and water hemlock, lol.
These bumblebees were ENORMOUS.
I cannot convey just how damn big they are. Probably a good inch and a half from head to butt.
Some rocks and some stormclouds.
We had... semi-decent timing with regard to the rain. There wasn't rain in the forecast, but a bit after we got there, it started to cloud over. That was nice in terms of no blazing sun, but was less nice because the humidity just skyrocketed.
It did start to rain a little bit, but it was mostly pleasantly cool and relieved some of that humid sticky feeling.
HUGE. MUSHROOMS.Having just read the Ambergris trilogy, I am suspicious of things with this many spores. Stuck my hand down there anyway.
Enormous thistle flower, with a bee-mimicking beetle on it. (And another little red beetle almost out of sight along the edge.) We stopped to look at the red one, and then the orange one charged up from below, lol.
Asters.
Around this point, the thunder started getting a little more frequent, and the clouds started getting a little darker. So we picked up the pace a bit. We were already about 2/3 of the way down the trail loop, but didn't want to get caught out in the open if it got bad.
A sunflower!
We did make it back with only a few raindrops hitting us, and a few threatening rumbles.
Also saw a real big, relatively fresh pile of bear scat on the trail near the road, ha.
We made it back to the truck, and had about five or ten minutes to spare before the rain really started, though it then moved through fairly quickly. Still, glad to have avoided anything worse.
BUT.
After all that was over, we did want to go do something. We figured the dogs could use a break after yesterday, even though it was a pretty easy day. Today was very hot again. So we decided to go back to Roxborough and try a different trail.
Last time we went on a hotter, sunnier trail, and the ranger seemed to want to steer us toward a shadier path. So we figured we'd try that one today!
The landscape.
Finally, a picture of one of the very loud towhees!
An extra-spotty ladybug on the oaks between the lot and the trailhead.
Right at the trailhead we saw a snake! Fairly certain it's a "western yellow-bellied racer." Pale, uniform grey-green on top, yellowish below. Pretty good size, maybe three-ish feet long?
No really, I swear there's a snake in there!
See, there's her head!
So then we started on the actual hike. This was the "Willow Creek" trail, and it starts off trying to kill you: the undergrowth is basically all poison ivy and water hemlock, lol.
These bumblebees were ENORMOUS.
I cannot convey just how damn big they are. Probably a good inch and a half from head to butt.
Some rocks and some stormclouds.
We had... semi-decent timing with regard to the rain. There wasn't rain in the forecast, but a bit after we got there, it started to cloud over. That was nice in terms of no blazing sun, but was less nice because the humidity just skyrocketed.
It did start to rain a little bit, but it was mostly pleasantly cool and relieved some of that humid sticky feeling.
HUGE. MUSHROOMS.
Enormous thistle flower, with a bee-mimicking beetle on it. (And another little red beetle almost out of sight along the edge.) We stopped to look at the red one, and then the orange one charged up from below, lol.
Asters.
Around this point, the thunder started getting a little more frequent, and the clouds started getting a little darker. So we picked up the pace a bit. We were already about 2/3 of the way down the trail loop, but didn't want to get caught out in the open if it got bad.
A sunflower!
We did make it back with only a few raindrops hitting us, and a few threatening rumbles.
Also saw a real big, relatively fresh pile of bear scat on the trail near the road, ha.
We made it back to the truck, and had about five or ten minutes to spare before the rain really started, though it then moved through fairly quickly. Still, glad to have avoided anything worse.
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We have So Many of those thisles growing around here!
Sunflower!
Your bear scat sighting reminded me of something I saw on Tumblr the other day. Someone had taken a photo of a bear standing behind a sign that said something about bear sightings, lol!
Sometimes the sprinkles can feel good when it's so hot out, but I'm glad you missed being drenched.
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The thistles are having a banner year here. They're everywhere! The bees and butterflies love them.
And of course, a sunflower! They're just starting up around here.
Hahaha, "bear sightings! (example provided)"
Agreed - the sprinkling felt nice, because it was pretty cold, but pleasantly so. If it had been a true downpour, that would NOT have been refreshing, lol.
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I know everyplace south is hurting bad for rain. :( My dad is just outside of Phoenix, and their *low* temp last night was 97. They're at 20+ consecutive days over 110, which is just obscene.
I really hope you guys get some rain soon.
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Again, I love the first pic. I don't usually see that sort of rock among greenery. It's really cool.
Housing prices are nuts. Hope that you get some help!
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It's really cool to see the rocks like this. This is part of the same formation that Red Rocks Amphitheater is part of - one of our most interesting and famous concert venues, within a natural sandstone amphitheater. The bright red looks especially striking in years like this where the green is so green!
Yeah, housing prices are just... stupid. I know they're stupid and awful in a lot of places, but the Denver Metro is definitely one of them.
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Fingers crossed! :/
I'm glad you got to see so many lovely things and not get drenched!
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And yes! It was a nice day, and I'm glad we managed to avoid the weather!