We decided to make a run out to Colorado in the fall of 2004. The weather was good, and we had a week. We left after work and blasted down I-80 to Davenport, and spent the night
The next morning we headed across Iowa.
As we approached the
Nebraska border, we saw signs for the Strategic Air Command Museum and decided to stop. It was a little past Omaha off I-80.
The next morning we headed across Iowa.
As we approached the
Nebraska border, we saw signs for the Strategic Air Command Museum and decided to stop. It was a little past Omaha off I-80.
ENTRANCE TO THE STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND MUSEUM
It was a nice museum, lots of great planes from the Dr. Strangelove age. Pam had spent a teenage summer with her uncle, who commanded a SAC base, so she really enjoyed the museum.
STEALTHY!
We spent a few hours in the museum and then continued across Nebraska. Jumped on I-76 and headed into Colorado and toward Denver. The interstate across Colorado was lightly traveled, and large hawks were resting on many of the utility towers along the road. Pam saw two Golden Eagles.
We stopped at a little motel for the night about 50 miles outside Denver. It had a restaurant attached, and we were ready for a Colorado steak dinner. Pretty disappointing. We had breakfast there the next morning and headed west.
At US 34 we got off the interstate and headed for Loveland and Estes Park. We could begin to see the Rockies.
US 34 HEADING TOWARD THE ROCKIES
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
US 34 runs up the Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park. There are signs along the road: “In case of flash flood climb to safety.”
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
One hundred forty-five people were killed in 1976 when a rainstorm flooded the Big Thompson Canyon.
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
It is a great road, winds along the Big Thompson River. There are cabins and some small settlements along the road. Often fly fishermen can be seen fishing for trout in the stream.
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
ESTES PARK AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
US 34 runs up the Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park. There are signs along the road: “In case of flash flood climb to safety.”
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
One hundred forty-five people were killed in 1976 when a rainstorm flooded the Big Thompson Canyon.
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
It is a great road, winds along the Big Thompson River. There are cabins and some small settlements along the road. Often fly fishermen can be seen fishing for trout in the stream.
BIG THOMPSON CANYON
ESTES PARK AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
The canyon ends as you approach Estes Park. We rode through the shopping district, and then back to the east side of town, stopped at the tourist center, then had lunch across the street.
You think as you are climbing through the canyon that you must be heading to the top of the Rockies, but you discover that the mountains dwarf Estes Park. After lunch we headed into the National Park and those mountains.
After entering the park we stopped to decide what we should do: take Trail Ridge Road across the mountains or hang around Estes Park. We decided on the road.
DECIDING WHICH WAY TO GO
The road connects Estes Park to the town of Grand Lake on the western slope. It's the highest continuously paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet.
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD
The road climbs steadily. There is a new view around each curve.
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD
You think as you are climbing through the canyon that you must be heading to the top of the Rockies, but you discover that the mountains dwarf Estes Park. After lunch we headed into the National Park and those mountains.
After entering the park we stopped to decide what we should do: take Trail Ridge Road across the mountains or hang around Estes Park. We decided on the road.
DECIDING WHICH WAY TO GO
The road connects Estes Park to the town of Grand Lake on the western slope. It's the highest continuously paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet.
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD
The road climbs steadily. There is a new view around each curve.
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD
We stopped at an overlook above the tree line.
Looking back we could see the road snaking up the mountain.
A chipmunk came over, hoping we had something for a snack.
We headed onward and upward. It was getting pretty chilly at the higher elevations.
I remembered there was a snack shop and gift shop near the summit. I started looking forward to warming up inside.
Maybe over this hill? Yes, there are buildings ahead.
The only problem is: everything is closed!
Here we are at the parking lot on the top of the world, wishing for something warm to drink!
Looking back we could see the road snaking up the mountain.
A chipmunk came over, hoping we had something for a snack.
We headed onward and upward. It was getting pretty chilly at the higher elevations.
I remembered there was a snack shop and gift shop near the summit. I started looking forward to warming up inside.
Where is the summit? It’s getting cold!
Maybe over this hill? Yes, there are buildings ahead.
The only problem is: everything is closed!
Here we are at the parking lot on the top of the world, wishing for something warm to drink!
What a road! Hoping that it would warm up as we got to lower elevations.
There is still plenty of snow on the west side of the mountains.
It got a little warmer as we descended the west slope.
Saw a small herd of elk at the lower elevations.
The bull wanted to make sure we posed no danger to his family.
US 40 AND BERTHOUD PASS TO BLACKHAWK, COLORADO
We stopped for the night in Grand Lake, CO. Got a little room with a fireplace. Walked through town, looking for dinner. When we woke up the next morning it had snowed: the bike was covered in ice and snow. I walked downtown and got a silver moose for Pam. Also picked up some chemical hand-warmers: it was cold!
We had breakfast, and around noon the snow was gone from the roads. I hoped the roads were clear in the passes. We took US 34 south to the junction with US 40, near Granby. The shortest way out of the mountains looked like US 40 to I-70.
However, 40 went through Berthoud Pass. An electronic signboard warned “ICY CONDITIONS AHEAD”. We made it over the pass, although it was slippery with a mix of slush and snow on the hairpins. Very nerve-racking! Once out of the snow, we stopped at a little general store for coffee.
There is still plenty of snow on the west side of the mountains.
It got a little warmer as we descended the west slope.
Saw a small herd of elk at the lower elevations.
The bull wanted to make sure we posed no danger to his family.
US 40 AND BERTHOUD PASS TO BLACKHAWK, COLORADO
We stopped for the night in Grand Lake, CO. Got a little room with a fireplace. Walked through town, looking for dinner. When we woke up the next morning it had snowed: the bike was covered in ice and snow. I walked downtown and got a silver moose for Pam. Also picked up some chemical hand-warmers: it was cold!
We had breakfast, and around noon the snow was gone from the roads. I hoped the roads were clear in the passes. We took US 34 south to the junction with US 40, near Granby. The shortest way out of the mountains looked like US 40 to I-70.
However, 40 went through Berthoud Pass. An electronic signboard warned “ICY CONDITIONS AHEAD”. We made it over the pass, although it was slippery with a mix of slush and snow on the hairpins. Very nerve-racking! Once out of the snow, we stopped at a little general store for coffee.
STOPPING FOR WARMTH AFTER SLIDING THROUGH THE PASS
Had a nice conversation with the lady who owned the store. She had moved away from Black Hawk after the town was taken over by casinos.
Took US 40 to I-70 and headed east to US 6, CO119 and the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway. We stopped in Black Hawk for the night. Checked out a few casinos on the strip, but none were giving away money.
It was easy to see why the woman who owned the general store near Berthoud Pass had left with her children. The town was having a building boom: all casinos and casino hotels.
Had a nice conversation with the lady who owned the store. She had moved away from Black Hawk after the town was taken over by casinos.
Took US 40 to I-70 and headed east to US 6, CO119 and the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway. We stopped in Black Hawk for the night. Checked out a few casinos on the strip, but none were giving away money.
It was easy to see why the woman who owned the general store near Berthoud Pass had left with her children. The town was having a building boom: all casinos and casino hotels.
PEAK TO PEAK SCENIC HIGHWAY
The next morning we headed up 119, 72, and 7 back into Estes Park, also called the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway. It was a beautiful day, a little warmer.
ELK IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NP
The next morning we headed south, again taking the beautiful Peak to Peak Highway. It was as nice heading south as it was heading north. We ran it down south of Black Hawk to US 6, and started heading for home. It had gotten chilly in the mountains.
BLACKHAWK
The next morning we headed up 119, 72, and 7 back into Estes Park, also called the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway. It was a beautiful day, a little warmer.
We got a room on the east end of Estes Park, and explored the town, and a little more of Rocky Mountain National Park. We took a ride up to Bear Lake.
BEAR LAKE IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NP
ELK IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NP
The next morning we headed south, again taking the beautiful Peak to Peak Highway. It was as nice heading south as it was heading north. We ran it down south of Black Hawk to US 6, and started heading for home. It had gotten chilly in the mountains.
BLACKHAWK
US 6 was a gem: curves and tunnels, rolling down through a valley next to a stream.
US 6
I expected it to warm up as we reached lower elevations, but it was getting colder. We pushed on east across Colorado on I-70, and it started to rain, and the temperature kept dropping. We stopped at a Denny’s for some hot soup. The temperature sign on the bank across the parking lot read 38 degrees. We warmed up in Denny’s with soup and coffee, and pushed onward for a while, then gave up and found a room for the night. The next day was sunny and considerably warmer. We had a pleasant ride across Kansas and Missouri, and hung it up in St Louis that evening.
I expected it to warm up as we reached lower elevations, but it was getting colder. We pushed on east across Colorado on I-70, and it started to rain, and the temperature kept dropping. We stopped at a Denny’s for some hot soup. The temperature sign on the bank across the parking lot read 38 degrees. We warmed up in Denny’s with soup and coffee, and pushed onward for a while, then gave up and found a room for the night. The next day was sunny and considerably warmer. We had a pleasant ride across Kansas and Missouri, and hung it up in St Louis that evening.
KANSAS
The next day, the rain and cold had caught up with us, but it wasn’t too far back to Chicago.
The next day, the rain and cold had caught up with us, but it wasn’t too far back to Chicago.
And the bike turned over the 50,000 mile mark along that final stretch.
