My 3rd Act

A towering statue of a man in a blue shirt stands among tall grass and sunflowers at sunrise, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere.

#Stunday Combining my love of sunrises with my quest to see all of the remaining Muffler Men. This guy stands in a bed of flowers in front of Greeley Garage and Auto Repair in Colorado. On my way to Rocky Mountain NP.
#findjoy #roadtrip
#traveloften #MufflerMen #roadsideamericana #sunrise #Colorado

I still have Dahlias in bloom too. Such long lasting, hard workers!

What a lovely birthday gift!!

A grid photo that shows each of 6 flower types boxes. Pinks, purples, peach, and yellow.

#SixonSaturday My fall garden snapshot: Mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) 3 Aster colors (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Grape Leaf Anemone (Eriocapitella vitifolia) Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus) & Dahlias (Dahlia pinnata)
#bloomscrolling #findjoy
#gardening #PNW #Octoberblooms #photography #garden

A white, arched concrete bridge spans across lush greenery under a partly cloudy sky, conveying a serene and peaceful rural landscape. The unique and graceful Rainbow Arch design was the brainchild of James Barney Marsh, a bridge designer from Iowa, who patented the concrete and steel truss design in 1912. Marsh spent the next two decades erecting approximately 70 of his Rainbow Arch bridges throughout the Midwest. Built in 1923, this 130-foot bridge carried Route 66 motorists over Brush Creek until it was bypassed by the interstate in the 1960s. The bridge consists of a pair of arches disposed between two abutments, with concrete banister railings aligned parallel with the bridge deck. The original patents called for slideable wear plates, molded into the concrete where the bridge deck came into contact with the beams and abutments. This is important, as one of the main benefits of this design was to allow for the expansion and contraction of the reinforced concrete bridge under varying conditions of temperature and moisture. The Brush Creek Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 1992, upon seeing two other Marsh Arch bridges on the short stretch of Route 66 through Kansas dismantled, the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association worked successfully to save the Brush Creek Bridge.

Route 66 Kansas: The Rainbow Bridge. The only Marsh Arch concrete bridge left on Route 66. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
#route66 #Kansas #getyourkicks #roadtrip #findjoy #rainbowbridge #roadsideamericana
(more info in Alt Text).

A serene lake with clear blue water reflecting lush green trees and distant snow-capped mountains under a bright blue sky; evokes tranquility. Bear Lake is a scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sitting at 9,450 feet. It’s an alpine lake beneath Hallett Peakand the Continental Divide . Bear Lake Road is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and starts close to the Beaver Meadows Entrance station of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake was formed during the ice age by a big chunk of ice. Several moraines can be found downhill of Bear Lake.

Staying at the Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park gave me anytime access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor w/o needing a separate timed entry reservation. The views were breathtaking!! #nationalparks #parkchat #RMNP #roadtrip #findjoy #NatParkGeek (more info in Alt Text).

I can’t wait to meet them next year and I hear the garden site is incredible to visit as well!

Thanks for sharing. She’s on my bucket list!

Yes!! thank you 🥰 I’m planning at trip to Acadia NP (and other area sites) next year and they are on my list!

A large handmade troll kneeling and pushing rocks with green trees and shrubs behind her and the mountains around Cripple Creek in the background. Her name is Rita the Rock Planter. Created by artist Thomas Dambo, Rita is a towering troll figure crafted entirely from recycled wood. But she's not just any troll – Rita kneels on the ground, carefully tending to the earth. Inspired by the historic mining landscape, Rita kneels attentively, patching up the ground where miners from the 1800s may have carelessly left holes behind. This playful giant serves as a symbol of environmental care, reminding us to treasure the beauty around us. #thomasdambo #cripplecreek #Victor #Colorado

On a recent trip to Colorado, I met Rita the Rock Planter - a Dambo Troll nestled in the mountains near Cripple Creek on the Little Grouse Mountain Trail. (please see Alt Text for more info). #roadtrip #findjoy #DamboTrolls #Colorado #seekadventure #troll

Awesome photo!

Gorgeous!

Sunset scene with a glowing orange sun setting over a busy road lined with cars. The sky is filled with warm hues, creating a serene, picturesque view.

#Stunday Quick weekend trip to Sapulpa,
Oklahoma. This big orange ball was nearly perfect! #findjoy #traveloften
#sunset #Tulsa #Route66 #OK

Beautiful! Thanks for the memory of this magical place that I love so much!

Yes! a MG for 5 years now. Also still pretty lazy - I plant mostly drought tolerant and natives. I do post something that’s blooming every week on Monday and #sixonsaturday. 🙂

I appreciate the kind reply. Someone else really came for me today about my mistake. It was rude and they attacked my intelligence and personal integrity. We all make mistakes, unfortunately. This is supposed to be fun!

*a slight correction* Yellowstone Lake is the LARGEST high elevation lake in the U.S. - not the highest. I mistyped. Thank you for your grace. ❤️ I’m definitely not perfect.

I love Yellowstone! I’ve camped there and explored the West and South sides several times. This was the first time at this entrance and I was speechless as we drive the length of the lake.

I just camped there earlier this month- my first time at the park. It was lovely!

A serene lake with calm blue water is surrounded by dense, dark green pine trees under a cloudy sky, evoking a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

A stunning scenic drive. Yellowstone Lake from Lake Village to the East Entrance near Cody: It’s the highest elevation lake in the U.S. at 7,733 ft above sea level. It feels huge! 20 miles long x 14 miles wide with 100 miles of shoreline. #nationalparks #ParkChat #YellowstoneNP #roadtrip #findjoy

I agree!

Giant statue of a smiling man in a green uniform and cap holding a wrench. His right hand is raised in a wave, set against a backdrop of trees and buildings.

Route 66 Kansas: Big A - the handsome Texaco Muffler Man stands 22 feet tall at Gearhead Curios in Galena. Meticulously restored by the American Giants Museum. Less than 200 Muffler Men remain in the U.S. and I want to see them all!
#route66 #Kansas #roadtrip #findjoy #roadsideamericana

Great shot! One of my favorite places on earth 💕🌎

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Close-up of a vibrant purple thistle flower against a backdrop of a sunny, grassy meadow with a clear blue sky and scattered clouds, evoking a serene mood.

Bloomscroll from Rocky Mountain NP: Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Talk about resilience! A single plant produces 1000s of seeds that can travel +350 ft, & remain viable in the soil for 10+ yrs! #findjoy #roadtrip #bloomscrolling #gardening #flowers #RMNP #nationalparks #ParkChat #photography

Your pink Zinnia is Gorgeous!!

A grid photo that shows each of 6 flowers in a box.

#SixonSaturday My last summer garden snapshot: new blooms Showy Stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabile) & Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) plus still in bloom Dahlias, False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), & Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus).
#bloomscrolling #findjoy
#gardening #PNW #garden

His name is Dave. He is the BEST traveling buddy!

I think I have to agree with you, Eric. I was in awe of the “first looks” at the other parks mentioned here (and Ruby Beach is my 2nd favorite place on this planet) but there is something about making that turn and seeing El Capital for the 1st time in real life that I will never forget!!!! 💕🗻

Ha! Mine is nearly the same except I also collect brewery t-shirts from everywhere I go. I’m definitely a walking travel billboard most days.