Ride along the lake

One of the reasons I love getting on my bike is that it can take me places I might not have otherwise been. Today I rode north to Cherry Creek State Park and around the reservoir; I hadn't realized it was that close. The winding bike path and road around the park took me through varied foliage and views of the water, with sparkling reflections and just a few speed boats out for the morning. As I came around within view of the Dam Road, the road ended in a loop at the water's edge, with parking for camping and fishing. I took a dirt path shortcut through the fence and ended up riding just along the northwest bank of the lake for about a mile, right along the shore, until the trail picked up again at the Cherry Creek Yacht Club. Being a land-locked state, I rarely get the chance to be near water that's not a tiny mountain stream. That mile was the most peaceful, scenic part of my ride, somewhere I never would have walked to or driven to, and only came across by chance (Providence?). The smell of gulls and fish and algae permeated the crisp air, and ducks, pelicans, and cormorants (I had to look that one up) filled the water. As I neared the Yacht Club, a large pelican several yards out from shore eyed me as I came into his field of view. He kept his head turned to the side to keep me right in his line of sight, and as I peddled past, I could see his webbed feet working to keep him rotating counterclockwise while his head kept perfectly still. It seemed he was weighing how dangerous he thought I was and what his next step should be, and then I passed through his territory and rode on. Then within 10 minutes I was riding past Cherry Creek High School and the spell was broken. But I'm already looking forward to going back, and grateful for the brief retreat into nature this morning.

Apparently, this is a double-crested cormorant. Who knew?