Flash floods hit Colorado a few days after our wedding as we enjoyed a mini-honeymoon, oblivious to the outside world. This week, we have been hearing first-hand reports of the floods and beginning to appreciate the extent of the damage. And because most bike trails here are built along rivers, traveling by bicycle provides constant examples of the floodwaters' destruction.

The first evidence was in Loveland, where a trail led us through a mysteriously bulldozed park. New construction? We didn't understand what was going on until we reached an impasse at an underpass.

After that, we traced a trail of destruction along greenways through Longmont, Boulder and into Denver. Bridges were destroyed or strewn with debris, sections of trail were washed out, and many underpasses were closed.

In addition, damage to surrounding properties was visible from the trail. In Longmont, neighborhoods near the St Vrain River were full of trash piles as people repaired flooded homes. North of Denver, a bank of the South Platte River had washed out, scattering huge sections of concrete pipe.

But trail maintenance is clearly a priority. Damaged sections were either taped off with detour signs or already under repair. Way to go, CO.