Exploring the Little Things

I was riding my bicycle through town the other day. It was hot, but not completely unbearable. I am from Houston, right? I headed west on Olive Street past Library Park and I saw the funniest thing. I wished that I had my camera because it would have been one of those “priceless” moments. A little girl had squirmed her way up onto the water fountain. She was in fetal pose on top of the water fountain drinking as much as she could. Perhaps she was even trying to cool off in the water. There were a couple of other children standing around waiting their turn, but she took her time, getting all that she needed for the long hot day of play ahead.

Back on my bicycle, I rode a little further into town. I stopped at Oak Street Plaza Park to watch the children play in the water fountain. They giggled and laughed and jumped up and down. Again, I wished that I had my camera. Even with bathing suits on ready to get wet, they would try to jump out of the way of the water squirting this way and that, playing their own little games that only they knew in their heads. The sound of children’s laughter seemed to be at the forefront of the action in Old Town. The traffic and the trains were all in the background as onlookers smiled at the children laughing and playing.

I was having fun with this little game I was playing, so I decided to take a ride outside of town. I hadn’t really explored the north side of town much. What a beautiful ride I was missing! The hills were rolling and not jagged and rocky. There was another spot that I wanted to stop and take a picture, and again, I had no camera. It was a horse standing in front of a barn kicking up its heels and making a fuss. He obviously wanted attention. I stopped to stare imprinting the picture in my mind so distinctly that I could write it down later.

He was a black and white spotted horse with a black mane. He stood tall and proud in front of a weathered, gray barn, where the paint was chipping off in large sheets. The field was not of green grass, but rather of red dirt and hay. The barn was situated on top of a hill with the perfect view of the mountains to the west and the plains to the east. Green grass surrounded the large penned area, but didn’t dare grow past the fence line. I soaked it all in and gazed around the surrounding pastures inhaling scents of manure and hay. Camera or no camera, sometimes it’s just the little things in life that you have to stop and appreciate. There are so many little things in Fort Collins to explore. Getting outside and taking a simple bike ride around town will open your eyes to a whole new world if you just look around and welcome the little things.

Northern Colorado Outdoors has weekly cycling activities on the calendar throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Check the calendar for times when you can join us to enjoy the little things: http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/