Driving Back to Colorado

After a week and change in Texas (and a couple days in New Orleans), it was time to get out of the heat and head back to the mountains.  Leaving from Dallas in the morning means driving through the mountains at sunset, which is always incredibly beautiful--especially after storms have passed through.

Outside Trinidad, Colorado

Outside Walsenberg, Colorado

Sunset outside Monte Vista, Colorado

70-mph sunset

Sunset in Del Norte, Colorado

On top of a beautiful sunset, I got to drive through a spectacular lightning show, which I caught a piece of on video:

New Orleans Bachelor Party

If I can't be fly fishing in the mountains, I guess hanging out in New Orleans will do.

Bros hanging out across from the "Breaux Mart"

It was too much excitement for some

Mississippi River winding through New Orleans

View of the city from the hotel

Back in Dallas

After leaving for the mountains at the beginning of June, I didn't make it back to Dallas until late August for Matt and Jenni's engagement pool party and Matt's bachelor party.  I was disappointed to hear I was missing a mild summer by Texas standards.  I'm sure the next summer I'm in Dallas will have plenty of record-breaking heat.

The guests of honor asked that we play twiggy--a very sophisticated pool game--to keep everyone entertained.

From the reactions captured in this picture, I'm guessing someone (probably me) just belly flopped: great success!

Dakota was happy I was home to do some dog sitting.

I was having fly fishing withdrawals, but an evening catching bass on the fly held me over until I got back to Colorado.  Kevin caught the biggest of the trip with this monster at dusk.

Got to catch a Ranger's game complete with a walk-off game winner from Elvis

Internet Famous: John Doumany

Nice Fish on the Lake Fork

Someone beat me to my favorite spot, so I did a little exploring along the Lake Fork and found some nice fish.

18-inch brown along a nice cut-bank

18-inch rainbow along a cliff wall

Evening sun in the canyon

Late Summer Sunset Over Lake San Cristobal

Rain showers cleared up in time for a beautiful late summer sunset over Lake San Cristobal.

The continental divide wrapped in a blanket of light clouds and dotted with pockets of fresh snow

The Pinnacles