Phil and Gie spent the night at Gram's Cabin last night. Gie had no immediate need to be anyplace at any certain time this AM, so he slept in. Gie walked down to my place for morning coffee about 8:15, Phil followed shortly after. Steve Cook rode up from Loveland, we sat an chatted for an hour or so.
The road plan was the Peak to Peak highway south to Central City, then Oh My God Road (it's a dirt road through abandoned gold mines) to Idaho Springs. Then a short hop on I-70 to Empire, up/over Berthoud Pass. Then N to Granby, Rocky Mountain National Park, then back to the barn. We hit the road about 10.
Lunch at Tommy Knockers (brew pub, and EXCELLENT food too) in Idaho Springs, a wee bit of window shopping, then back on the bikes toward Berthoud Pass. As we were waiting for our food, and fella from Dubuque Iowa walked in...
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While waiting our turn to take the road at Berthoud Pass:
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A bit of a run-in with the Park Rangers at the West entrance gate to RMNP was sorted out in short order. Annual parks pass holders can enter with one car (and occupants), or two motorcycles. Of course I choose the latter, which the Ranger didn't quite understand. OK, he didn't have a clue. He also didn't understand a few other things. Rangers are always right though...
Mandatory RMNP Elk photo shoot:
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Anyway, up to the Alpine Visitors Center for some trinkets for Gie to take back to EU. The visitor center parking lot has marked parking spots for motorcycles now (how cool is this!), and we parked next to a FJR with a Belgian number plate. Gie noticed the bike was sold/serviced at a dealer about 100 miles from his home in Belgium. As Gie was writing out a short note to leave on the FJR, the owner walked out:
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Down the east side of Trailridge Road, Mary's Lake Road (bypasses downtown Estes Park), then CO-7 at a spirited pace back to home. All told, around 220 miles, 7.5 hours seeing the sights.
At the house I torched some brickettes, smoked up some ribs and chicken. Add in a green salad, some slaw, a couple of beers, some wine...
Gie and I will be leaving for the Denver airport at Oh-Dark-Thirty tomorrow AM.
20+ days they were in the US, many smiles, many stories, and a few photos
Bernd and Gie are welcome back at any time. I'll buy the beer.
GCE Rally starts this Sunday, am certain some stories about the event will trickle out...
Rick