I might be thinking about all the anglers I didn’t see on the South Platte River last week, but “going fishing” was on my mind as I returned to the river, as well as returning to Lee Gulch Overlook Park. Although I was in the middle of the city, the river was the same flowing water that I had followed through the canyons of the Front Range.
Downtown Denver above, Arapahoe Community College below, 15 August 2025.
I remember the heady days when I first started aerial photography during the pandemic. I was experimenting with robotics, and the little “house drones” were swarming indoors. When I went outside, I needed a bigger drone with more capabilities, not the least of which was to return home in case of an emergency!
Instead of boulders, here I found businesses and reservoirs along the South Platte River.
In fact, I lost my first “camera drone” when it flew off and crashed somewhere that I couldn’t find even after several days of looking. But back then, it was just a matter of grabbing whatever gear I had ready and then looking for a spot to fly. Nothing special, just something to do in between experiments on the little drones.
The color of the sky just before sunrise, taken over Littleton, Colorado
The newer camera drones were more expensive, but had larger batteries for longer flight times, improved flight characteristics, obstacle avoidance from more cameras, and even GPS-enabled navigation! That was the key in case the connection between the drone and the controller is lost, the drone can still navigate back to the “home point” that it set when it takes off.
Sunrise pierced the clouds east of the metro area.
In last week’s newsletters, I was “fishing” with a purpose! I knew that the results would be voluminous, so I planned accordingly. But this week, I was just grabbing whatever cameras were handy to load up on the bike and head down the trail.
Sunrise over the trees of Big Dry Creek, Littleton, Colorado.
In order to catch the sunrise, I set my alarm and charged the batteries the night before. But when going up to the mountains, there is a bit more in preparation, and the execution isn’t just a ride in the park!
180° panorama of the sunrise.
Of course, attempts like this start with a ride in the dark, which is an adventure in itself. But the bike paths along Bear Creek and the South Platte River almost entirely avoid any streets making the journey a safe adventure.
From the Lee Gulch Overlook installation view through the trees towards the sunrise.
Even in the middle of a city starting its day, it feels like it’s only me traveling about in my little world! The “Secret Garden” I had found in the Spring had matured and is winding down at the end of Summer. This visit was just another stop, but the last time I was here was a focused expedition to find the blossoming trees for the advent of Spring.
360° panorama of the garden at Lee Gulch Overlook in late Summer.
Summer is almost over, and the season is winding down, ready for a change. Thanks for reading all the way to the end!
