 |
| Lorelei considering a geode in small shop in Silverton, Colorado 2010 |
Lorelei Bell is a self-taught naturalist, as well as an avid birdwatcher. When her father called her to the window one spring day and pointed to a scarlet tanager in their lilacs, she was hooked.
Weather, nature, flowers, birds, animals, all fascinates her.
It was not until she met her husband, Dennis Bell, when her desire to travel and camp was fulfilled. They have traveled the western states for two and a half decades. Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park most of those years, now, unfortunately the beetles have decimated the trees, and the area is no longer what it once was. But plenty of other places call to them: Montana, Utah, Nebraska, North & South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho... all places they have traveled to and want desperately to get to states further west, such as Washington, Oregon, California, and one dream for her husband is to reach Alaska, some day.
Since growing older, the idea of ground camping has lost its appeal. However, all other interests hold her captivated. Traveling with her husband of 26 years is one of her favorite things to do.
When not traveling, or at her day job, Lorelei is a writer. Having published short stories, poems, and articles in several publications, her one dream of having a book published finally came true in 2012, when Copperhill Media took on her first vampire novel, "Vampire Ascending". After years of trying to gain an agent, she went another direction with Copperhill Media, a micro publisher.
 |
| On the road through Colorado, and New Mexico |
In 1994, the couple got on at Afton Forest Preserve with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District. When you visit Afton Forest Preserve, Dennis' eye for detail in trimming trees, and mowing might make you appreciate the park more than you realize. There is 316 acres of park, lots of trails where one can get off by themselves for a hike or birdwatching.
"There's nothing like having your backyard to take a nice hike." - Lorelei Bell on Afton Forest Preserve, her backyard.
