‘Twas a quiet week for me, one I enjoyed after the big city life the last few weeks. I spent most of the time holed up at Trinidad Lake State Park in southern Colorado, enjoying long hikes and big blue skies. This view from the Reilly Canyon trail is one of my favorites.
I did have some science fun last week, after a friend noticed where I was and asked if I had ever seen the K/T boundary. My response was a polite version of Huh, What?? And so she sent me a handout for a field trip she’d taken people on a decade ago (rocks don’t change all that much in 10 years!) and I went hunting.
This is Longs Canyon, at the far end of Trinidad Lake. See those overhanging rocks? Now look closer….
See the thin black line below the yellowish rock? Now, look below it to see a thin white band. THAT is the K/T boundary. K is the traditional abbreviation for the Cretaceous period, while T is the abbreviation for the Tertiary period.
And what’s so interesting about that? That thin white link is a worldwide geological marker caused by a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) meteor striking the Yucatan peninsula 65 million years ago. So, yes, I touched something that was 65 million years old. I scrambled up the side of that hill and stared at it for a long time. Amazing to think the history that line represents. And then I carefully scrambled back down the hill. (Thanks, Barbara, for telling me about the K/T boundary and sending me the info!)
I had one last look at Trinidad, and then it was off to Denver for a week of family and friends. Cherry Creek State Park is convenient, and the noise from nearby traffic isn’t too bad, so it’ll do for a week. I had planned on dry camping (no hookups) the entire 8 nights I’m here, but the weather forecast down into the 20s and a heaping of snow predicted for Saturday made me reconsider and I was able to score a hookup site for the weekend.
Today was officially “hang out with my sister” day in Denver. You didn’t know that? Well, now you do! She moved here a year ago, her first time to live in a big city and I am very proud of her for settling in so well and I enjoyed letting her show me around downtown. (Flat Eliza will report in separately…)
The reporting week ended with a surprise text from an old friend from my PayPal days. I completely forgot he lives NEAR DENVER but luckily for me, he keeps an eye on my posts and pinged me. We had a great dinner trading stories and eating really good Vietnamese food not far from my campground. Thanks, Mark, for being on top of my schedule!
From very old rocks to old friends to younger sisters, it’s been a very good week.
