NELSON'S NOTES #61, Loveland, Colorado, August 2, 2006

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIG THOMPSON FLOOD

For the last five weeks, we've been in north central Colorado, an area called the Front Range. To the east are the plains and to the west are the Rockies. On four separate day trips we drove through many of the 265,668 acres of Rocky Mountain National Park. To get to the park from Loveland, we ride on picturesque U.S. highway 34 for about 28 miles through Big Thompson Canyon.

The Big Thompson flash flood happened on July 31, 1976. An estimated 3,500 people were in the area celebrating Colorado's 100th anniversary of statehood. Because 2006 is the 30th anniversary of the flood, special events were held last week to remember and reflect on Colorado's biggest natural disaster. As a result, we've been reading and hearing personal accounts from people who lived through the disaster. Here are some of the accounts:

On the night of July 31, 1976, the Big Thompson River's flow was so fast that it would have filled an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 2.83 seconds. An ominous and eerie sky was the first warning that an unusual storm was brewing, one that would stall over the canyon. For the next 4 hours, 12 inches of rain fell, too fast and too much to sink into what little thin soil there was. The rain caused the river to rise 19 feet above normal. The force of the swollen river ripped out boulders, trees, buildings, cars, campers, roads, a bridge and even generators from a power plant and thrust them downstream into the paths of people below. Some heeded the warning of the rapidly rising water and the debris it carried by abandoning their homes, cars or campers and trying to climb up the canyon cliffs. Others dismissed the pending danger and just put their feet up on chairs, even though water was rising in the building where they were sitting. All told, 139 people died, including two police officers who tried to save others. Six more people were never found and were counted as missing.

I ask myself what I would have done: would I have had the presence of mind to sense the pending danger and try to get out of the way? And if I tried to climb the canyon, would I have been physically able to do so?

Remains of one of the 197 vehicles removed from the Big Thompson River.

Damaged and destroyed homes along the Big Thompson River.  Part of the flood recovery process included rebuilding U.S. highway 34 above the river.

Plaque on U.S. 34 in memory of two policemen who lost their lives trying to save others in the Big Thompson flood.

CONTROVERSIAL SCULPTURES

When Bruce and I walked through Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden last week we were unsuspecting passersby in a nude sculpture controversy.

Loveland has an abundance of sculptors and an active arts council that for many years has placed intriguing works, including seven sculptures of nudes, in parks throughout the city. The day we went to the garden, I noticed a young fellow with an elaborate camera photographing a nude female sculpture called "Spanish Daggers." Twenty minutes later when we were walking back to our car, he was still there with his camera. To stay out of his way we walked along a path behind the sculpture. After we'd passed by, the young man ran after us and introduced himself as Darin McGregor from the Rocky Mountain News. He explained that the sculpture was one of two nudes people had objected to in the past. Now, he said, some people were upset because a third artwork called "Triangle," which depicts one male and two female forms, will be placed at a roundabout (traffic rotary) in town.

When he asked who we were, where we were from, and how old we were, I figured our names would be mentioned in the article. Instead, the next morning the paper had a photo of us walking past the sculpture, "Spanish Daggers." At the time I didn't realize he'd taken our picture, but in retrospect I think he was waiting for someone to come by so the photo would be more interesting.

I was struck by the size of this photo and caption--they covered nearly the entire width of the newspaper page.  An article about Loveland's nude sculptures was under the photo.

"Triangle," the latest sculpture in the nude controversy.

Interacting with the artwork at Benson Sculpture Garden:

Bruce gives a high five to the dog sculpture, "High Four," . . .

. . . and Marianna joins hands with the kids in "Circle of Peace."

SAME BENCH, SAME PLACE 11 YEARS LATER

On a car trip to Vail, Colorado, we stopped at the Dillon Reservoir rest area on I-70. Bruce recognized the place immediately and said he had taken my picture there on our first cross country trip in 1995.

Aug., 1995:  Marianna at Dillon Reservoir overlook.

July, 2006:  Bruce and Marianna at Dillon Reservoir overlook.

A FARMER'S TIP: HOW TO KEEP CORN ON THE COB FRESH

A farmer at the Farmers Market in Longmont, Colorado, said to soak unshucked corn on the cob in water all day on the day of purchase to keep it fresh. Then you can refrigerate the unshucked ears for up to a week before cooking. I haven't tried this because we always cook and eat corn on the day we buy it, but if any of you try it, let me know if it works.

To see our Family Reunion Pictures ,click here

To see "On the Road With the Nelsons", click here

Marianna