My day started out with a strong smell. With lots of clouds in the sky to keep the heat down (started out around 23C), I thought the farmers must be fertilizing with manure. Not so, I quickly went passed the largest holding pen for cattle that I’ve seen. Subsequently, I went passed several more. One really depressed me as the cattle were lying down – it appeared they had no food or water and were starving, or worse, ill. I also went passed a very modern one which also didn’t smell.
My decision to re-route my trip to Colorado was really put to the test as I left I-80 and went SW towards Denver. Terribly boring and as a result very long. Then I tried to find a coffee in Denver – didnt find it but ended up in a heavy traffic jam.
After Denver, however, the trip was glorious for bike riding. Several hundred miles of ups, downs, swerving curves, tunnels. At one point, I was at 11,350 feet. And the high altitude resulted in lowering the temperature. Denver the temp was 33C and at the highest peak, the temperature was close to 17. And much later on, I ended up in a valley that was tres cool – came out of a tunnel into a gorge that was fantastic – high ragged walls on both sides of the road. Unfortunately, didn’t want to risk stopping to take a picture – doubt the picture would have captured it well anyway.
I stopped at Vail just to see it and the gentleman working there confirmed what I had seen all along – Colorado was in a severe drought condition. I stopped again at a point past Vail and met a fellow BMW rally goer driving the same bike as mine but early year. He was from Knoxville Tenn and he had the southern drawl. Neat guy that I’m sure I’ll meet again but doggone it, I forgot his name already. He was carrying a huge soft bag on the back that he admitted contained camping equipment. However, he admitted he had no plans to camp at the rally because of the high temperatures. Guess I’lll find out tomorrow night!!
Went to a neat restaurant – neat because the food was delicious. I arrived fairly early and got a table. Then it started to rain heavily and people started pouring in (excuse the pun). So i agreed to settle my bill and give up my table but move to the bar. Only……….. the bill contained a dessert I hadn’t ordered and there was no room at the bar. Ended the night standing on the rocks near the unused fireplace and drank a very good cup of coffee I insisted I be given. Took the dessert home (didn’t need the calories) but it was a pretty good cheesecake..
Off to Salt Lake City tomorrow.