I started off after a late breakfast and headed West towards Morrison and the mountains to see if I could find snow. In other words, see how far I could get. Turns out, you can get pretty far along the major roads!
There was a sheriff vehicle blocking the way west out of Morrison and Bear Canyon Rd so I turned around at his direction. I went into the Red Rocks Amphitheater Park through the #3 entrance and enjoyed once again the beautiful rock formations that exist there.
The Red Rocks AmphitheaterOnce down from the mountain, I went West on US40 till it merged with I-70 Westbound. The original intent had been to get on CO103 from it's eastern start point and ride that particular road all the way to Mount Evans Road (which is already closed for the snow season). I messed up though and realized this soon enough to exit where CO6 and I-70 junction.
I got off there, headed back East on US40 which is a nice and curvy two lane road. Since the idea was to find more changing foliage pictures, here you go:
On Eastbound US-40
Using this road, I made my way back to US74 which lead me South to Bergen Park and finally CO103. The signs confirmed two things, Mount Evans Road was closed for the season and that "Motorcyclists should exercise Extreme Caution". Hmmm, last time I saw that sign was 2006 when I ended up on the same road, on packed snow, and managed to go down with no real damage to Maria or myself.
The warning sign proved overcautious, the road was dry all the way up to Mt Evans Road and back down to Idaho Springs. On the bonus side, I saw the first snow of the Fall riding season. First it was a few spots here and there in the shady areas on the North side of the road. As I climbed higher, more snow would appear until I was seeing this:
On the way up on CO103
On the way down to Idaho Springs, shortly after Echo Lake
On US6, heading EastAbout 167 miles ridden today, a bit more than I had planned but it was quite enjoyable in terms of riding, traffic, weather and sights.
Hope you got a chance to ride today....
3 comments:
Dear Charlie 6 (Dom):
Your state -- Colorado -- offers dramatic changes in elevation, terrain, and scenery. I especially liked the contrast of the stark and imposing rock formations against the first snowfall of the season.
Yet this makes it extremely challenging for writers like myself, in urban Pennsylvania, where one must ride a good deal to simply go from horse country to Amish farm country, where horses still crowd the photographs.
Since I cannot compete with your pictures, my only hope is to score highly with my text. Yet because of the limitations of my urban environs, it is difficult for me to have an adventure that doesn't involve pool halls, tattooed women, and games of skill where a spittoon plays a prominent role.
You are constantly raising the bar. Furthermore, your ride reports often include folksy touches. For example, I liked where you mentioned you enjoyed a lunch packed by your loving wife. If my second former wife packed a lunch for me, I'd have to have the dog taste it first.
Fondest regards,
Jack Riepe
Twisted Roads
Thanks Jack for your comments and praise. Hope you're getting some riding in before the snows get serious in your part of the country!
Looking forward to your blog's next posting....whatever happened with Cheri Pie? : )
Dear Sir:
i can't believe you read that one, much less remembered it. Cheri Pie is the next future former Mrs. Riepe.
Fondest regards.
Jack Riepe
Twisted Roads
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