The sometimes unnervingly strong and gusty winds that had been hitting the Denver Metro Area the last three days finally eased and temperatures were predicted warmer for today.
I rode out of the house at 9:45 AM seeking to find some snow-capped mountain peaks along the Peak to Peak Highway. Here was my route:
I made my way out of town using US285 as usual, taking C-470 up towards the intersection with US6 and Golden. From Golden it was US6 or Clear Creek Canyon Road towards the gambling towns of Central City and Blackhawk where I would pick CO119 and the Peak to Peak Highway. Though the roads were clear up to this point, traffic was a bit heavier than expected so it was slow going along US6's rocky canyon walls.
Once past the gambling towns, traffic eased up considerably and I was able to ride smartly along the Peak to Peak Highway northwards towards Rollinsville.
My first view of snow-capped mountain peaks, just south of Rollinsville on CO119
A short detour at Rollinsville, heading along the Moffatt Tunnel Road didn't pay off in terms of pictures as I ran into snow early on and had to turn around.
Proceeding again north on CO119 from Rollinsville, it was continued smooth roads with the occasional patch of wet pavement where snowmelt had flowed across the road. I tended to slow at these wet patches, since I didn't want to chance hitting some ice, even though the temperatures were in the low to mid 40s by this time.
I continued on CO119, now heading towards Nederland where I would pick up CO72 towards Estes Park.
Just before Nederland however, once comes upon the Los Lagos Reservoir area:
I turned Brigitta to point southwards for this picture, I was still heading North
Approaching Allenspark
Getting closer to Mount Meeker and Allenspark
Getting closer to Allenspark, now on CO7
Mount Meeker from Allenspark
237 miles in about 7 hrs of saddle time, my butt's out of shape for touring apparently, must ride more!
Temperatures had soared in the afternoon into the mid 60s for the Denver Metro area and felt quite nice as I neared my home. It was a good day to ride, hope you got some riding in.
Ride Safe. Ride Aware.
Comments
Great pictures, Dom.
Thanks Patty for your continued patronage
Dear Charlie6 (Dom):
While I found the snow-capped mountains to be awe-inspiring, I was shocked to see slush beyond the shoulders of the road in some of the subsequent shots. I am not yet ready for the snow, even though the bottom has fallen out of my riding season. Great pictures... And I love steam shovels almost as much as I love steam trains.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Belated thanks to you Jack....I'll it a point to get more detailed shots of the steam shovel next time I am in Nederland!
NIce.
thanks
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