Denver (Lakewood) to Steamboat Springs, CO. 220 miles / 354 km
Total so far: 1,430 mi / 2,301 km
Can't seem to get the font/spacing/page alignment of this blogger text correct sometimes. Notes are all down the bottom.
I was going to start today's post by calling Colorado the "State of the Eternal Traffic Lights." There seemed to be so many. I took the scenic route to Steamboat Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road. This was recommended to be by some folks at the office in Denver and it didn't disappoint.
I was glad to leave the Best Western in Lakewood. I was gettign abit fed up there. I'd basically spent the last eight days commuting between there and the office on the other side of town.
It went quickly enough at first, then seemed very slow getting through Boulder. Lots of traffic lights getting there, and more in town, and after town.
As we got up into the mountains things seemed to be going well. Then I noticed tons of cars backed up, and found out there was an accident about a mile up the road. THAT would take a while to clear. Being on two wheels, I was able to dodge and weave and make my way up to the accident site in about ten minutes. As I got the last stretch towards the front, I noticed some guy in a yellow fire department hard hat yelling at me. Actually I wasn't sure it was me, then he made a point of walking up to me and lecturing me, kind of yelling at me. He had a "Fire Department" hat on, but my instinct told me he seemed kind of "coppy."
"What makes you think you're special and you get to pass out all these people?" I toold him nicely that, "Well, I'm on a motorcycle, and I can kind of do it without getting in anyone's way." Then he gave me the old chestnut, It is a motor vehicle, is it not? Do you remind respecting our laws in this state?" I didn't know I'd broken any, but I decided it was best not to argue with him, so I just kind of agreed with him and apologised. He was probably having a bad day. He then instructed the guy at the front of the line with the "Stop / Go" sign to not let me through for a while, presumably to punish me. It was pretty hot, 90F I'd say, fine when you're moving, but VERY HOT just sitting there with a helmet on. Eventually he walked back down the line. The guy with the sign then told me that he actually was a cop as well, and that I had done the right thing by saying little and keeping him calm. He was a nice guy, and let me through after about a minute. In the end it was probably worth it though and saved me at least an hour.
I stopped in Estes Park for a quick bite, then refuelled and drove through Rocky Mountain National Park. Lovely place, it would ne nice to stay there a few days. Lots of wildlife. I say a couple of large deer or elk, and some people getting a little too close to them, I'd say. Later I saw a moose. I was grabbign a few shots - she was pretty close to me, and they are known to charge sometimes - it was then I saw she had a little calf with her. I didn't get a shot of the little one. I figured best not to push my luck.
I got into Steamboat a little after 8 PM. Cool little town. The last picture I have here is of a little travel guitar I picked up in Guitar Center, Denver. It was aright-handed, but the guys gave me instruction on how to switch it around for a lefty like me. After two weeks I missed having one to play, so this will be my campground strummer!
Until tomorrow. Onwards!
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