Beaver Creek

I arrived in Avon, CO in mid-afternoon under overcast skies.  Immediately after exiting from Hwy 70, each driver is thrown into a series of 4 traffic circles (round-abouts).  I came out of the last one heading uphill, being grateful I had not been hit by the furious pace of the traffic.  Eventually I found the Housing Office and, after much discussion and paperwork, was assigned to an apartment.  By the way, you will need to park  "here"  (at least a mile walking from my housing building.)
     Tarnes at Beaver Creek was built to accommodate visiting skiers.  Later on Vail Corporation bought the 3 Tarnes buildings for employee housing.  Above photo.
     It will be a good place, now that I convinced them to send a maintenance worker up to the apartment.  The oven, stove, and shower did not work when I first came in.  This photo is of a 3rd floor window, similar to mine altho I am on the 2nd floor.

 This is the front of the building, my windows face the back side, uphill.

view from the front of the building to the north, across the valley.
     There was a good snowfall before I arrived resulting in most of the snow in the photo.  Overnight Saturday, and into Sunday there has been a bit more snow.  I can walk to work at the Reception Center which is much easier than going down to the overflow parking where I am told to leave Silver truck.  The town offers free bus service on 2 different routes.  I think Silver truck will have alot of rest this winter.

Avian life does exist here, I have seen 2 Black-billed Magpies, and Mountain Chickadees.

Roadtrip

I departed Grand Tetons on a Friday, and spent 2 nights with my friend, Marianne, in central Wyoming.  Continuing on, I drove east and south across windy Wyoming and into Colorado which was also very windy.  I stayed 2 nights with my friend, Sandy, in central Colorado.  We did a nice hike in Pike National Forest, adding Pygmy Nuthatches to the bird list.  She is very kindly allowing me to store Fuji-bike and Dolphin in her shed.
      I continued south on highway 25, driving across the arid grasslands with an occasional clump of Junipers.  New Mexico had more elevation gain and more trees.  I stayed 2 nights with my friend, Elaine, near Phoenix, AZ.  She has been very kind to let me leave Silver truck in her garage while I flew out NH to visit family.
    Photo of Sandhill Cranes in central New Mexico.

     Dad and I have been birding in several places.  Mom and I have made many good things in the kitchen. My brother came over to visit.  Saturday we drove to Plum Island in coastal Massachusetts to meet my sister and her family for a day of birding.  Hooray for birds !   It has been a good visit.

 Above, a Green Heron at Papago Park near Phoenix.

to the left,  this American Bittern was successful in catching small fish and little crabs in the open marsh.  Its the first time I have seen a Bittern out in the open for such a long time period.  at Plum Island, Newburyport, MA

We walked on boardwalks like this one into a beautiful Oak forest.  such a pretty day.






Afternoon delight:  a Barred Owl was very obliging to conduct its late afternoon hunting (looking for mice) sitting on a branch in the sun.