sunny aspen trail

We biked here a few weeks ago, when the aspen were just hinting at the seasonal change. So we knew where we'd be headed on my regular day off this week, hoping to catch the aspen at the peak of their brilliant fall colors. Meyer Ranch Park is just this side of Conifer and only a half hour or so from home. We had the place to ourselves, with hardly a soul there. We wouldn't even attempt it this weekend - likely the last chance to enjoy the fall colors up in the mountains.

I took along my iPod 'cause I knew it would be a spectacular ride. (I couldn't resist playing with the Instagram app - I used the X-pro II filter...it warmed up everything and heightened the already glorious yellows.)

I plan on revisiting this post in the dead of winter just so I can re-live this ride.

And remember...biking is a lot like life:

You gotta keep your eye on the trail

so you can see

where you are going

...carefully navigating the challenges on the ground,

like rocks, roots, waterbars, tight switchbacks, trees etc.

The kind of stuff that can trip you up

if you're not careful.

But every once in awhile, look around you

and notice how beautiful life is.

Especially the little things...

...and every now and then

look up and

thank God

for it all.

Enjoy the ride!