Between traveling this summer and not having a bicycle in working condition, it had been three months since I had been on my bike, but I'm back in the saddle!

happy to be heading out for a ride... taken before I turned back after getting a flat at mile 3

Over the years, bike parts have worn out, but I somehow managed to get enough gears working to comfortably ride on all but the steepest mountains here. ("All I want for Christmas is a bike tune up...")

After a few weeks of what seemed like weather better suited for the Pacific northwest, it has been magnificently sunny and mild outdoors during the day. We've lost all our flowers up at altitude, thanks to below-freezing temperatures at night, but the aspen trees have turned their leaves ...or lost their chlorophyll... and have changed the landscape daily.

                          
Down at lower altitudes in the city, I have been enjoying the last of the summer flowers and much warmer temperatures. I'm not ready for wearing all those layers just yet!

Even though I have been quite familiar with this area for a long time, living here now is completely different. The easy parts have been knowing which trails I enjoy, where to buy groceries and the like, while the more interesting bits have included living in such a small town-- everyone knows you even if you haven't met them yet. I met a couple at the museum today, visiting from New York City, who mentioned how friendly they found people here, and that I find to be very true.

I have made a few friends here so far, but just in the past week I have been delighted to hear from people that I knew in previous areas of my life-- my Tibetan teacher, whose subtle wisdom always has given me pause for thought, and a former co-worker in Massachusetts who I always looked forward to talking with while at that job. And it's those heartening conversations that I feel are most important to us. Thinking back over the path I have taken so far, and all the moves to new cities or states I have made, I look forward to meeting many more wonderful individuals here as well.

chains required...?

Is it that time of the year already? I've only been back to the US for a little over a month, and it sure feels like fall. This past weekend I was driving back from Denver and a roadside sign caught my eye: chains required through May 31-- for trucks, of course, and thankfully not for my little car! The accountant who comes by to collect our money at work every morning even told me how it had snowed the previous night, though high up on the mountain tops. I can't say I'm ready for it, but I guess that's what I signed up for living at altitude.

The transition to my new job here has been the easiest of them all. I would say the laid-back atmosphere of the town and its museum is the reason for it. I really enjoy the few people I work with, and having more freedom and responsibility in this role was very easy to get used to.

 Aside from the job, mountain living has its perks, and being able to walk out from work and be at the trail head in just a few minutes probably tops them all. That, and I'm more centrally located for family visits!

dad and me at Hoosier Pass

 The city isn't far away either, and that makes a big difference. I can have the best of both worlds. This past weekend while I was there, I knocked one item off my bucket list: the Ferris wheel! I'm not a fan of heights, but I always love a challenge. We were the first ones loaded on, and so we waited while the wheel slowly made its way around so the others could get loaded into their baskets.

Finally we reached the bottom again and were about to get going up to speed and the ride operator told us we would have to get off. Someone had broken a door, so the ride could not continue until it was repaired. Such a disappointment. At least I made it around once or twice and got to see the city from the top, but I was just getting started! Next time...

A few sights from my first month here:

Chihuly at the Botanic Gardens

interesting meditation exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art

concert at Red Rocks

rainbow at Loveland Pass