Lake John

August 10 to 12

This year is definitely a learning experience for RV novices that we are.  Next year, we won't leave securing prime spots in highly coveted campgrounds to Lady Luck (because after this season, that will be just plain STUPID).  Reservations will have to be made.

Last weekend, for instance, we were crossing our fingers for a place at Chambers Lake where there are six first-come, first-served sites.  It placed tenth in Gil Folsom's Colorado Campgrounds: The 100 Best and All the Rest in the North Region.  As such, it was not surprising that it was full when we arrived there on Friday afternoon.

So, on to Plan B.  We drove to Walden and followed the signs to Lake John.  After five miles from the turn off, we were contemplating on Plan C, i.e. joining some friends at Delaney Butte, for the site wasn't in sight.  But we bravely carried on and ... eureka!  

The sites by the lake where we camped are free.  Uphill is John Lake Resort where full hookups are available at 30$ per night.  There's also a restaurant, bar and a general store.  I requested Peter to come back here before the season ends. 

Matilda in the middle.  A big group composed of at least four RVs on our right.  On our left was a friendly retired couple escaping the Nevada summer heat - Gilbert and Cely.  I think Gilbert took pity on me after seeing that I had not caught any fish.  He changed my bubble, swivel, leader and hook, showing and patiently explaining each and every step.  

I caught three Rainbow Trout - two around 11 inches each while this one measures 17.5.  I was too excited that I forgot to ask Pete to take a photo when I was reeling it in.

After dinner on Friday night, I took Brontë for a walk.  We saw a deer coming down the hill. 

It was watching us the whole time.  Brontë behaved very well - she was content with sniffing and following the deer with her eyes.

It crossed the street ...

and disappeared in the grass by the lake.

Female Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Mommy Mallard and ducklings

Mommy Barn Swallow

Swallow nests in the toilet.

Swainson's Hawk

They're horsing around!  They decided to have a siesta right in the middle of the road :-)

Happy Campers

Happy campers (literally and figuratively speaking) - that's what we were when we went home from Delaney Butte Lakes on Sunday, the 27th.  A 3-hour drive west of Fort Collins, it is the ultimate site for ardent anglers according to friends who love to fish.  It is where one would catch monster trouts.  We didn't have any luck (yet again!) although Pete almost caught one on Saturday night but it was lucky enough to escape.  Despite this and the strong winds that pounded on us continuously throughout the weekend, our hearts were full of content.  We'd been presented a lot of opportunities to marvel at the amazing wildlife teeming in the area.

Calm Saturday morning, a respite from the howling winds of the previous night.

Muskrat, the first critter we came across during our walk on Saturday morning.

Chipmunk

White Pelicans, probably non-breeding because of the absence of a ridge in their bills 

Pronghorn Doe

Tree Swallow

Brewer's Sparrow?

Female Greater Sage Grouse appeared from nowhere.  I think she scared us more than we did her.

Clark's Grebe

Avocets

Cinnamon Teals

Female Wilson's Phalarope

Testy bullocks giving each other a head butt

A raptor I can't identify :-(

Pronghorn bucks.  The one on the left has a big wound on the chest.  He probably entangled himself in a barb wire during the migration.

Cowbirds hanging out with mother cow and calf who are enjoying their siesta

Bald Eagle.  I hope to snap a much better photo next time.

Swainson's Hawk?

Gadwalls?

Killdeer

Solitary Sandpiper?

Black-necked Stilt

Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper?  I was barely awake when I took this photo.  I opened the door to get some drinking water to make coffee and there it was, bobbing its tail up and down and up and down. I grabbed my camera quickly and snapped.  It turned out that my equipment was in the wrong setting; hence, the blurred image :-(

Male Common Merganser

We braved the gusty winds on Sunday morning and walked around the lake.  This is a view from the opposite side of our camping site.  Our trailer is on the right side.

Brontë loves the outdoors!!! 

Cliff Swallow

Great Black-backed Gulls?

Yellow-headed Blackbird belting it out

Identification in progress - the quality of the photo doesn't make the job easier :-(

Turkey Vulture (definitely not a great shot, for record-keeping purposes only :-).  A clearer photo can be found here.

Cramped caterpillars

Driving back to Fort Collins, we spotted Mr. Moose right before Cameron Pass.

We spotted numerous bird species and small mammals but they were either too far or too quick to be photographed.  I look forward to the next encounters as we'll definitely go back to Delaney Butte Lakes and its surrounding areas.