Home sweet home...

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't smoke simply cuz I don't like the taste of it, I don't know how do smokers smoke so much despite its awful taste .

It's amazing what you can get used to. Before switching to e-cigs/personal vaporizers (much better name since most don't look like cigs any more) I have tripped up on occasion (like any other nicotine replacement). I can honestly say, the last time the taste was "holy shit how the fuck could I do this 20+ times a day for over thirty years?!?" What used to be neutral or maybe mildly enjoyable has become something I shudder at the thought of. YES! This time, I'm staying off of 'em.

Good job, brotha. It's a tough row to hoe, but you can definitely do it. I quit two years ago from a 1½ pack per day, thirty year habit. If I can do it, anyone can.

[Ravenshire]

C'mon. I know everybody lives somewhere...

I'll get the ball rollin' again.

Colorado Springs, Co.


Home of:

Garden of the Gods

Also home to:

One of only two surviving cog railways in North America, the Manitou and Pike's Peak Cog Wheel Route

Which takes you here:

As far as I know, this is the only place in the country where you can see parts of seven different states. Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and... Oh yeah, Colorado

The Springs is also home to:

The Unites States Air Force Academy

Where they teach our pilots to do this:



Just down the road a ways, just outside of Canon City:

The Royal Gorge Bridge. The highest suspension bridge in the world

Rules strictly enforced:



Let's see where you're from!

[ignoramus]

Haha, I like the sign: no fishing from the bridge.
By the time you catch a fish and reel it up, the sun would have already cooked it for you!

[jesus_wept]

I live in Nuneaton, England.

Arbury Hall, Nuneaton.
http://www.arburyestate.co.uk/index.php


Caldecote Hall, Nuneaton.


Astley castle, Nuneaton.
http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-a...astle-4806


Mount Judd


George Eliot was born and raised in Nuneaton.
https://humanism.org.uk/humanism/the-hum...rge-eliot/



And last week we had a freak storm, we must've had about a years rainfall in fifteen minutes, and everywhere got flooded. My house was ok though because I live on a hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khhzSb0jCbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frjwjRpCosk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iMjZFBV5P8

[Minimalist]

To paraphrase Sherman, If I owned Hell and Arizona, I'd live in Hell and rent Arizona out.

Yeah - yesterday and today it would be hard to tell the difference. 116 in Phoenix.

The price we pay for the 8 months from October to May.

[Ravenshire]

A little closer to home this time...

My favorite non-mountain park, Cherry Creek State Park:





















The park hosts an astonishing variety of wildlife for a park entirely surrounded by city (Centennial and Greenwood Village to the west, Parker to the south and southeast and Aurora to the north and northeast. It is truly an island of semi-wilderness within the metro area.

I don't make it out there half as much as I should or a quarter as much as I'd like.

[Jenny A]

Home looks like this to me:

[Ravenshire]

Jenny, Is that first one a painting of the footbridge over the Willamette in Salem that used to be the train trestle?!?

When I first moved to Salem, that bridge still carried an occasional train.

[Ravenshire]

West and a little north of home...

Those of you who live on the coast, either one, can keep it. I'll take this any day... The ocean is beautiful, but ohhhh my...

Rocky Mountain National Park... Some of the lakes:

Bear Lake:

RMNPs most accessible lake. Parking lot just 300 or so yards away. Open year 'round, unless the plows simply can't keep up with the snowfall.


Cub Lake:

Tougher hike in than Bear Lake. The "short" path takes you past Bierstadt Lake, but the switchback is a killer. The longer path is an easier hike, but is about twice as long, starting in the Moraine Basin


Timber Lake:

Sitting just below the timber line, Timber Lake is a moderately tough hike. Bring lots of water. The altitude dries you out.

Dream Lake:

A relatively easy hike from Bear Lake, Dream lake is one of the jewels that shouldn't be missed, even by people short on time.


Emerald Lake:

Still farther along the same trail as Dream Lake, Emerald Lake is definitely worth the couple extra miles. Still on relatively easy terrain. My daughters made the hike at 7 and 10.


Odessa Lake:

A moderate difficulty hike, but pack a lunch. Odessa Lake is tucked away in RMNPs back country. It took me a half day to make the round trip from the closest lot. Left later than I should and like a dummy, didn't bring a flashlight. Damn near got lost in the dark on the way back.


Bierstadt Lake:

If I died tonight, this is where I'd want my ashes spread. Illegal, of course, but I've got some friends willing to risk the fine. RMNPs most beautiful lake and one of the more difficult to reach. Truly worth the effort though, even if you take the switchback. The wide open view in this image is misleading, which leads to Bierstadt's real punch. Right up until you can first see a glimmer of water, you're surrounded by forest. In the space of just twenty or thirty yards you go from hemmed in to this view. A sudden, shocking and amazingly spectacular transition.


I truly have got to get the camera out and take a Saturday (leaving very early) to revisit some of these old friends and maybe make some new ones along the way. It's been far too long since I've been even to Bear Lake, let alone any of the more difficult to lakes to reach.

Anyone who's ever visiting and wants a local guide to the park, give me a little forewarning and I am there!

Can you guys tell I really love to show off the home state?!?

[Zack]

I live here:





Grew up here:



Worst place I've lived was here: