Be Boulder: Buy a Bench

I just returned from a mini-vacation to one of my favorite places on this planet

- Boulder, Colorado.

Something new always reveals itself to me when I visit Boulder and Boulder did not disappoint this time around.

My first adventure to Boulder was nine years ago when I spent the month of July in a furnished apartment on the corner of 10th and Spruce - one block off the main drag, Pearl Street.

In October of 2020, I asked a friend to join me and we stayed in a small cabin at Chautauqua Park near the Flatiron rock formations and I repeated that experience with another friend last week.

Last year, the university, CU, was closed due to COVID-19, but this year is was wide open. Gobs of kids milled about the CU campus and it was fun to watch the college students coming and going from classes during the day. (Did you know skateboarding was back?)

Most of the restaurants were open on Pearl Street and I noticed only a few shops and restaurants vacated. Not too many homeless people holding signs or playing guitars on the street and I only saw one tent camper near Boulder Creek. It seemed as if the authorities had cleaned out the tent village next to the Farmer’s Market area that I noticed last year.

The traffic is hectic at times in Boulder as many people live in this small area, but if one knows the backstreets it is easy to get around.

I love staying at Chautauqua Park because you are off the beaten path and right next to the mountains, but you have access to the town very easily.

Wonderful trails originate in Chautauqua and the cabins are darling.

We would hike in the morning, read books in the afternoon and stroll Pearl Street and eat out at night.

A good combination of activities.

The grounds at Chautauqua are beautiful as there are walking trails, parks, and many quiet spaces on the forty acres. This year beautiful, colorful benches were scattered throughout the grounds. As I explored the reason for this I discovered it was a fundraiser for the victims of Cal-Wood Fire.

https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/10/18/cal-wood-fire-at-8788-acres-sunday-morning/

Last year, the week after I left Boulder, the fire broke out and destroyed a good portion, 600 acres, of the Cal-Wood Education Center northwest of the town of Boulder. The estimate right now is that will take millions of dollars and it will take five to ten years to restore the grounds and some of the buildings. Apparently, the main lodge was salvaged. This facility has been in operation for close to forty years and hosts school children mostly in the summer to educate them about nature and forestry.

I knew about the fire, but I didn’t realize the extent of the damage. The benches have been crafted out of charred trees that survived the fire. The wood was sanded down and made into park benches. Then artists from the community volunteered to paint and decorate the benches. The benches are now being auctioned off to raise money. (Apparently, about 25 people also lost their homes due to the fire, but there were no fatalities.)

Here is the link if you would like to see all the benches and make a bid.

https://event.auctria.com/1cadf90b-ef56-4f84-86e1-427411ce9485/450c01e082ad11ebb6cac3ea15098a7f

We didn’t go to this area to see the damage, but next time I am out there I will try to venture over that way.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/accuweather-2021-us-wildfire-season-forecast/939026

People who live in Colorado and many parts of the west are in constant fear of forest fires. And, as we all know things are changing due to global warming. Of course, there have always been forest fires in the mountains, but fires are getting more frequent and more intense due to inadequate forest management, and lack of rain/snow. Most forest fires are caused by humans by accident and there are more humans living in and around the forests every day. It is a perfect storm - ironically - they say.