Colorado!

We found a nice park, Boyd’s Lake State Park outside of Fort Collins/Loveland Colorado and have decided to stay here for a few days and tour the area.

We rode the bike up Highway 34 (Big Thompson River Canyon) into Rocky Mountain National park and the town of Estes Park. I had never thought about it before but it’s called The Rocky Mountains because the mountains are ‘rocky’. Well, Duh! We easily found Mall Road and took a couple of pictures of the house we think was Wayne’s family home, overlooking Estes lake.

The Mall Place in Estes Park?

Beautiful Estes Park

I spotted these beautiful white buildings on the hill overlooking Estes Park. It’s called “The Stanley” and is a resort that was built in 1909 by F.O. Stanley, one of the brothers who invented the Stanley Steamer. It’s also where Stephen King was inspired to write “The Shining”.

"The Stanley"

Lester & the Stanley Steamer

Out of Estes...

We spent the next day in Fort Collins. It’s easy to see why the Hoffman family loved living here. It’s a very cool college town with a wonderful old town and main street.

We even drove by Korin’s childhood home on our way to the New Belgium Brewing Company where Fat Tire beer is made. This was a really fun tour and we learned a lot about the company. When an employee has worked there for one year they’re given a fat tire bike (which many of them ride to work). They also become owners, as the brewery is privately held and employee owned. The plant is 100% wind powered and they even recycle their own wastewater and the resultant methane gas provides 15% of their energy needs.

The Hoffman Place in Fort Collins

On to the town of Golden Colorado where Coors is King! It’s a huge plant; the world’s largest on a single site. Above the campground where we’re staying in town is Lookout Mountain where Buffalo Bill is buried (according to his wishes). Compared to the wonderful museum in Cody, this is a very tacky grave site for such an important guy.

Lookout Mountain looking West

Lookout Mtn. towards Denver

Looking down on the town of Golden & the Coors plant

We’ve done a number of motorcycle rides in and around the Roosevelt National Forest and The Rocky Mountains. Today we made Boulder part of our route. We’re finding that Colorado is a really beautiful state.

Riding into the storm...

We’ve had a bit of rain and the aspen’s are starting to turn colors in the upper elevations. It's also a bit chilly at the upper elevations.

Tomorrow ~ off to Vail.