Happy Sunday! The Lens-Artists team is back after the annual 2-week hiatus and it’s Ann-Christine’s turn to host this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #405. The topic she picked is Adventure.

Because of my anxiety, every day feels like an adventure because anything can happen. I can slip and fall down the stairs, there might be something attacking the garden, or something can go horribly wrong. So, to leave the comfort of the house and go on a road trip is truly a heart-pounding adventure.

I visited Rocky Mountain National Park in early June. The trip only lasted 3 days with 2 days on the road and 1 day in the park. To be honest, I wish I had more time in the park. There are so much to see that I think such place should warrant at least one week of one’s time to learn, explore, and savor.

But…

I was traveling with my mom and unlike me, she’s not exactly into… nature. Her kind of adventure lies in cities where museums are plentiful. When we visited Seattle, we spent every day in a museum because that’s just about the only place my mom is willing to visit. For nature trips to, say national parks, she would spend a day there and would tell her friends she’s seen it all.

Still an adventure is an adventure, even though it’s short. That day in Rocky Mountain National Park began with a drive on the highest highway in North America, followed by a short hike to a man-made waterfall. That waterfall was made when a dam broke and caused the gush of water to pour down the side of the mountain.

After a brief recess at the nearby town of Estes Park, the trip was concluded with one short hike to another waterfall. Never did I expect wildlife on the trail to a waterfall! Thankfully, there was a group of people watching, taking pictures, and recording videos. That completely took the fear out of me.

I am a sucker for waterfalls because they usually require a strenuous hike, so, if I find one that’s short and easy, I’m going for it. The hike was mostly uneventful other than the deer. The strenuous part was the return trip because as people say, “what goes down must climb back up.” The trip officially ended with a few minutes by a tranquil lake. I only wish the sky was better looking but what can you do about nature?