March ride to Estes Park

[alanp]

I don't usually get to run up to the mountains this time of year due to wet/snow/sand/gravel, etc.  But we have been "high and dry" here for several weeks so decided to head up to Estes Park. It was about 60F when I left home, and the roads were dry and clear for the whole ride.  The mountains were beautiful:




And the old Stanley Hotel was looking good too


As was the old V11 Lemans


Overall a great ride.  And the relatively light traffic this time of year makes for a lot of fun in the twistys. 

[oldbike54]

 Yes , the mountains are beautiful ! Must have been fun with no motor homes on the road .

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

Estes is beautiful! Thanks for the pics. The Stanley? I have stories............ ....

[fotoguzzi]

Magnificent! wish I were there..  I did have on my Co sweat shirt yesterday  .

[Guzzistajohn]

Did you see those two little girls down there?

[ohiorider]

Beautiful pics of a beautiful part of Colorado.

Your post reminds me of my time there.  Two of us met up in Indiana, me from Ohio and Brian from Michigan, and took a leisurely two days riding to Estes Park.  We camped at Rocky Mountain National Park.  The park (at the time) had no shower facilities, but we were informed there was a Laundromat in town that also had showers for rent.

I was amazed how nicely my shower was equipped.  A small seat, lovely towels, and, as I recall, fresh flowers.

When I'd finished, I commented to the young lady who managed the showers about how impressed I was with the cleanliness and attention to detail.  Her response "..... you were in the women's shower!"

Oops!

Bob

[Goosecoop]

I am so looking forward to taking the same ride when I move out there next September. Wife and I are having a house built in Frederick and after an absence of 30+ years it is time to go home. I'm also looking forward to meeting and joining the Guzzi owners there. Your pictures make me feel my decision to move back (I lived there in the late 70's) even more right. Thanks for posting those.

[PJPR01]

Nice pics!!

[alanp]

I am so looking forward to taking the same ride when I move out there next September. Wife and I are having a house built in Frederick and after an absence of 30+ years it is time to go home. I'm also looking forward to meeting and joining the Guzzi owners there. Your pictures make me feel my decision to move back (I lived there in the late 70's) even more right. Thanks for posting those.

Goosecoop,
Welcome home (soon)!  Feel free to PM me when you get settled in.  Frederick is really close by.  Colorado has grown a lot in the 30 years since you were here, but it still has a lot to offer.  The ride up to Estes is really best in the spring or fall before/after the tourist season.  Would love to go for a ride with you! 

[rocker59]

 

[lucydad]

Oh man.

CO is home.

Twisting the knife.

Planning to spend my next birthday at our cabin in San Juan County.

Could be cold.  May have to walk in, but last time I did it was 1971....

Jealous...

[M0T0Geezer]

Great ride, Alan & sorry I missed it.  But a boring 3-hour high school play was so much more fun [I keep telling myself].

For those wishing they lived in CO too, I submit this series of maps so y'all can eat your hearts out:

http://www.dansher.com/bikepix/Guzzi/Trips/Trips.html

All are definitely worth considering for your summer tours in this beautiful state.

'Geezer

[charlie b]

For those of you in CO are the passes in the south ok for riding yet?

US 550 up to Ouray, US160 at Wolf Creek Pass, CO145 near Telluride?

[Goosecoop]

Thanks for the invitation, Alan. I will be connecting with you. I know where Niwot is. I have been there many times. Had dinner with my son and daughter-in-law at a great restaurant there a couple of weeks ago. They live in Boulder.

[rocker59]

For those of you in CO are the passes in the south ok for riding yet?

US 550 up to Ouray, US160 at Wolf Creek Pass, CO145 near Telluride?

Those roads are kept open all winter by some pretty heroic snow plow and avalanche abatement crews.

However, they can close for periods due to snow storms and avalanches.

This is a handy link:

http://www.cotrip.org/map.htm


If you click on the little camera icons, you'll see updated images of the roadways you're interested in.

[alanp]

This is a handy link:

http://www.cotrip.org/map.htm

Rocker has the info there.  However, it is important to note that the answer to the question about road conditions in any part of the Rocky Mountains this time of year can be completely different from day to day.  A clear road today may be under be under 2 feet of snow tomorrow, so if you are planning a trip expect change.  Case in point, I think the clear dry roads I took to Easter Park yesterday under 60 degree sunny skies are snow covered today! 

[alanp]

Thanks for the invitation, Alan. I will be connecting with you. I know where Niwot is. I have been there many times. Had dinner with my son and daughter-in-law at a great restaurant there a couple of weeks ago. They live in Boulder.

Please do get in touch.  Sounds like you ate at Colterra. 

[alanp]

Magnificent! wish I were there..  I did have on my Co sweat shirt yesterday  .

Foto,
This is the bike you took me to pick up last August.  Thanks again for all your help.  It had only 4600 miles on it when I picked it up, and turned 7000 on the ride yesterday.  It is my favorite Guzzi to date, and I should have purchased one of these a long time ago! 

[rocker59]

it is important to note...  in any part of the Rocky Mountains this time of year can be completely different from day to day.  A clear road today may be under be under 2 feet of snow tomorrow, 

 :1:






and it doesn't have to be snow on US-550






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1BgAP-6k5w

[Goosecoop]

Hey Alan,

Yes, it was Coltera. Incredibly good food. We were celebrating my daughter-i-law becoming a US citizen. She is from Brazil and a wonderful woman. If you find yourself in Boulder with some time stop by my son's gym and say hi. His gym is Body Balance Boulder at the corner of 28th and Jay. His name is Jason and her name is Sylvana.