My first ride to Colorado from Central California

[2on2off]

We had great views all day long and rode most of the day above 9,000 ft.

[2on2off]

We rode through the Eisenhower Tunnel and then into Boulder from the west for lunch and then headed to Estes Park, the most northly part of the trip.

[2on2off]

There was too much traffic going into Estes Park. There was an organized bike ride on the road and a special event at Estes Park.

Estes was much bigger than I thought it was.

[2on2off]

We continued past Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park and were we in for a treat.

The views in this park rival Glacier National Park in Montana. This is another place that can't be captured by pictures. Stunning views are around every corner.

The park ranger told us it had snowed on the pass the day before so we were feeling lucky until it started raining on us and then hailed and then thundered and the lightning started.

Like I said earlier, just keep riding because it gets better, then worse, then better..........you get the idea. This is what it is like to ride in the high elevations of Colorado.

My jacket and pants, with the gortex liners, worked great and kept me dry all day. My heated grips kept my hands warm even though my thin gloves were wet.

You really have to go and see this park because my pictures will not give a satisfactory view of what it is like.

[2on2off]

The road went all the way up to 12,200 ft and it was very frustrating to know I couldn't even begin to capture the grandure of the views.

[2on2off]

We reached one summit over 12,000 ft but then further up the road, it kept going higher and higher.

[2on2off]

We finally began our decent and rode through more rain, unbelievable views and endless miles of big sweeping curves.

We crested another 11,000+ ft pass and then rode highway 70 to Silverthorne where we are spending the night.

[viffergyrl]

Just beautiful and awesome - takes your breath away doesn't it? The thing about weather is that it gives you some great pictures!

Thank you for posting these as you go; it is a treat.

[2on2off]

We rode a total of 349 miles today but much of that was 25 - 45 MPH so it took a long time. Riding that slow is more tiring than riding in the rain and hail.

We rode past Vail and it is a major ski destination. We tried to ride to Mt. Evans but the last 20 miles was closed due to 3 inches of ice on the road from yesterdays storm.

Here is todays route.

[kluts]