Of Beaver, Beauty Spots, Prairie Rats and a Gorgeous Day for 20 Miles
 

Wonderful 20 miler today. 1.100 feet elevation gain, as measured by my new android program, "Tracks"!! I was extremely pleased that I had absolutely no difficulty with the 20 miles - as easy as pie, even after the"winter" layoff, although I rode several times this winter.

There used to be a stream you could not see, until the beavers moved in!! Now a beauty spot, right off the trail, and 95% of those bicycling by have no clue why it is now so pretty. Nora and I saw a beaver at another spot yesterday.

The first one (five miles from the ones below) was started this last year, and is small

http://www.ourwebs.info/beaver1.jpg

These were terraced by beaver just this year.

http://www.ourwebs.info/beaver2.jpg

http://www.ourwebs.info/beaver3.jpg

http://www.ourwebs.info/beaver4.jpg


And, down the trail a few miles, we have a field full of prairie rats (most folks call them prairie dogs). Cute, but detested by many, including ranchers. There is one in the middle of the first picture.

http://www.ourwebs.info/prairierat1.jpg

There are scores of mounds like this, each an entrance to a prairie rat home.

http://www.ourwebs.info/prairierat2.jpg

I could see why ranchers would hate that . I bet somebody (or a cow) could break a leg around holes like that . Explain to people that prairie dogs are the new artisinal gourmet food , like guinea pigs in South America . That'll solve the problem .

Prairie Dog Shoots on the western slope of Colorado were quite the sport a few years back, until publicized and heavily criticized by the East coast more ecological groups (who don't have prairie dogs, by the way). Ranchers claim, as you suggest, that they break the legs of livestock.

But, in reality, Prairie Dogs form a vital part of the ecological chain, providing a much needed source of protein for many raptors. Without the prairie dogs, some species would not survive. Also, every few years, bubonic plague invades the colony and pretty much wipes the whole colony out. At that time, if near trails, areas are quarantined and are off-limits to us human types.

I enjoyed your pics thanks

You are very welcome!

I enjoyed the pics also , thanks for the info , stillsiding with the angus

Dnvr, I'm glad to see you are back on the bikes.

Nice pictures, infromative too. It sounds like you had my kind of ride!!! :)

Yep. Thats the only kind of ride I do any more. Relaxed, comfortable, not trying to beat anyone, including myself. Scenery and talk with the nice folks, etc.

Hey, at 72, I have earned it and have absolutely nothing to prove.

The only competition is to enjoy the next ride more than the last one.

Glad to see you back on the bike! Love the pictures.

Glad to see you are up and rideing again!!!

Keep on Rolling ! Good thought on enjoying the ride .

Good to hear you are out enjoying riding again.