When you have two young border collies, the morning walk

When you have two young border collies, the morning walk does not wait. It comes first: out of the truck, around the lake, and back again before the rest of the day takes over. Early on, we pass the other greenbelt walkers, which is good for the dogs’ social skills.

Branch with delicate pink flowers in soft focus against a blurry natural background

A tree covered in white blossoms surrounded by bare trees and dry grass in early spring

From there we follow the river, cross the dike between West Lake and Bass Lake, and slosh through the water and mud beneath the grove of eleven cottonwoods. Then we pass the willow thicket and circle back toward the lake.

There is a lot to be said for not saving nature for epic trips, for knowing one place by repetition, for being there as the season moves from bud to leaf to bloom.

Sunlight filtering through bright green spring leaves on branches beside a gently flowing stream bordered by green grass and trees

Calm river bordered by green trees and grasses on a sunny day with a black dog walking near the water's edge

The border collies are the catalyst. Because of them, I go every morning. Because of them, I have not missed a day.

Black and white border collie wearing a red harness sitting on a forest trail surrounded by young leafy bushes and fallen leaves

Narrow dirt path winding through a dense grove of leafing trees and shrubs, with white blossoms on branches near the foreground

Look underfoot. You are always nearer to the true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are

- John Burroughs

White and pink blossoms on branches in a natural greenbelt setting with trees in the background

branches with clusters of small white blossoms and a few green leaves in soft focus

Close-up of delicate white blossoms on tree branches with soft green leaves and a blurred background of similar flowers

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On April 2, I marked ten years of retirement. Years ago, I heard an old hiker say that if you can stay healthy as you grow older, those years can be the best of your life. A decade into retirement, I can say without hesitation: he was right.

Retirement has not been a quiet fading away. It has been an opening up, a widening of the world. It has taken me back again and again to the turquoise waters of the Coral Triangle, where I have now returned five times to find peace beneath the waves. It has carried me as well to the far shores of the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

At home, life moves to its own joyful rhythm. Twice a week, I head to the dance hall, where music, movement, and good company keep the evenings bright. In between, I am out in the wild with my Border Collies—backpacking, hiking, and camping under open skies.

Yet for all the travel, adventure, and lively nights, the greatest gift of these ten years has been time itself. Time to notice. Time to linger. Time to be fully present for the quiet wonders close to home.

This past week, the greenbelt came into its spring glory, bursting into white and pink with the flowering plums. There was nowhere else I needed to be. I was simply there in the soft spring air, walking with my dogs and taking in the bloom.

Cluster of small white flowers on a green leafy branch against a dark background

Close-up of green leaves and a small cluster of delicate white flowers against a bright blue sky

Black and white dog lying on a dirt path next to a tree in a shaded outdoor area with fencing and leaves on the ground

weathered wooden picket fence with pointed tops against a dark leafy background

Two black and white border collies looking out from a porch surrounded by trees and greenery

Downtown Denver served as Ridge's classroom for some real-world education. He mastered the art of winning hearts, soaking up attention from passing admirers and sharing his lesson in joy with a few polite face licks and plenty of cheerful tail wags.

A sweet woman was rollerblading through downtown Denver near the Denver Pavilions when her movement caught Ridge’s attention—classic border collie herding instinct—prompting him to bark. She stopped, sat down on the pavement, and spent a few minutes giving both dogs affection. They, of course, responded by smothering her with kisses. A genuinely kind person.

#bordercollie #bordercollies #denver #downtowndenver #colorado

Two black and white border collies on leashes standing in an urban plaza with tall glass buildings reflecting sunlight and a partly cloudy sky

Two black and white border collies on leashes standing on a paved walkway lined with blossoming trees, facing a large classical building in the distance under a partly cloudy sky

Two black and white border collies standing on grassy land under trees blossoming with pink and white flowers on a sunny day

Two black and white border collies on leashes walking on a paved sidewalk in an urban area with tall glass buildings and leafless trees nearby

Two black and white dogs licking the smiling woman's face as she sits on the ground with her eyes closed, enjoying their affection