The waining season

The days are getting cooler/shorter and harvest time is around the corner
Still my favorite time of the year.

It'll be pumpkin time in no time.

Great photo!

BTW, how crowded is starved rock on a Thursday or Friday when the leaves turn? I've only been there in February.

It's close for me between spring and fall with fall slightly ahead. As we get closer to fall (today for example), was one of the better riding days all year. I rode the rockies from peak to peak, no tourist, miles of empty winding undisturbed roads and locals still in bed. Towards the end of the ride, on the descent through town the last few bicyclist (of todays event) were making it through the finish line. The bicyclist were riding up hill and the road was blocked off. I got to go down the mountain ahead of the pack and that's something not easy to experience during any other time of year.

loudhvx wrote: It'll be pumpkin time in no time.

Great photo!

BTW, how crowded is starved rock on a Thursday or Friday when the leaves turn? I've only been there in February.

It is very busy on the weekends and lately they have been closing the gates of the park on some weekends because it is filled to capacity.
but Thursday and Friday is always a good time to go, Monday or Tuesday might be better, the leafers are definitely out when it happens.

If you guys want to come out Lou I would be happy to give you some ideas as to where to go or honored to be your guide if you like.

We also like to go in the middle of Winter when the falls are frozen, this year we are hoping for big snow so we can break out the snow shoes, the last few Winters have not produced much snow, we are due.

Thanks Jack! We always mean to go out there in summer/fall, but it doesn't seem to happen. But if we do, I will hit you up. Good to know Thurs/Fri is better than weekends. Thanks!

We do love it there in what would be winter (February) to check out the bald eagles at the dam. But this year I think it was in the 70's maybe even touched 80 deg F. ... pretty whacky.

Olajoe wrote: It's close for me between spring and fall with fall slightly ahead. As we get closer to fall (today for example), was one of the better riding days all year. I rode the rockies from peak to peak, no tourist, miles of empty winding undisturbed roads and locals still in bed. Towards the end of the ride, on the descent through town the last few bicyclist (of todays event) were making it through the finish line. The bicyclist were riding up hill and the road was blocked off. I got to go down the mountain ahead of the pack and that's something not easy to experience during any other time of year.

Sounds awesome. Unfortunately, I would be one of those annoying tourists. RMNP was pretty spectacular. I was at that visitor center at 12K ft. on the last day it was open (by pure luck). It was like being on a different planet.

We were out there in June and camped in Gunnison and Redstone, we rode to Crested Butte (still cool), Monarch pass, Independence pass, Aspen(too crowded) Marble(very cool) Paonia, 92 South of Hotchkiss is awsome!!!
Some of my favorite places as a kid, we had a ball.

We packed up just before the 4th of July and with the exception of Aspen had the place to our selves, that Saturday before the 4th the cars were backed up all the way to Denver but we had clear sailing going the other way.

Taylor Park Reservoir looking East

Fantastantic, awesome. I'm getting chills. We've been in the area for about a generation and though we travel each year there's still something to see right around the corner. Thanks for sharing. And loudhvx tourism helped to get us here today. We are just as much tourist ourselves every year.

I shamelessly promote tourism in La Salle county ,
Ottawa and Utica are thriving because of it, yeah it gets crowded on the weekends but the rivers and parks are still pretty peaceful on the week days.
It's a worthwhile trade off, a lot of towns we ride through aren't doing so well.

My wife and I also promote it as well, especially Matthiessen state park.

Matthiessen is a favorite of ours too and usually less crowded then the Rock.
The trees are changing quickly and I think it has to do with the fact we haven't had any real rain in about a month and the cool nights.

I like the fall the best but just not crazy about what's sneaking up behind it.

Spring, as was mentioned, is a close second but I live for what's next.

Great pics of the KZ from my favorite angle.

Good stuff.