Well crap… We show up at the rafting place at 7am as instructed for our 8am rafting trip. The raft guide was there opening up the place then he looked at us like we had 3 heads. What are you doing here? he asked. Uh, we’re here for the breakfast and the 8 am river ride. Then he looked befuddled. We uh, canceled that trip.. We checked our phones and apparently we didn’t get a call, so they refunded our money. We couldn’t hang for the 10am trip.
From there we tried to locate a pass over the Tetons but it wasn’t going to be as good as we thought and was in the wrong direction. So we headed south towards Mount Evans.
After a good day of riding and some long boring roads we decided to stop for the night at Steamboat Springs. We had a little trouble locating a room and the rains were coming. We stopped at the Best Western and they told us they were booked as were all the other hotels in the town. It was peak season after all. After calling about 12 hotels we found rooms at the Bristol Inn, another historic hotel in downtown Steamboat Springs. We also ran into a single guy riding a Harley. "Harley Mike", he too needed a room, and we told him to follow us to the Bristol. We booked our rooms, unpacked and had dinner with Mike at the Italian restaurant beneath the hotel.
Tuesday morning, we got up early and made the round about run down to Mount Evans… Which is the highest paved road in America, higher than Pikes Peak, which is also on our list.
About 30 minutes out we stop for a pee break, and Kyle notices the screw sticking out of my rear tire. This is exactly what we need to round off this trip. Luckily it’s not on a sidewall and we’re equipped with plugs so we put some air in the tire and head off to a gas station that has a real air compressor. We locate said gas station and plug the tire with my stop and go plugger (thanks for getting the for me for Christmas Claudine)
We get there and make the accent. It takes for ever but the views are spectacular (pictures forthcoming).
Kyle doesn’t like heights much. And really doesn’t like looking over switchbacks that have 3000 feet drop offs without guard rails. I find that extremely ironic since he’s a pilot 😉
After about an hour at the top we’re all feeling a bit funny from the high altitude so we head down the mountain. The altitude has taken it’s toll so we decide to look for a room and find a great deal at the Best Western in Frisco. Again a room that sleeps 3 (in three separate beds) for the bargain rate of $91… Can’t beat that. Although they are all in the same room. This will be snor-a-polooza 2008.
In Frisco we find a really good meal at some high end restaurant in a strip mall. A little rich for my tastes but the food was excellent. Think of Hell’s Kitchen in a strip mall.
After dinner we finally get the opportunity to rest our tired bones in the Best Western Hot Tub.
Wednesday morning we head out for Pikes Peak. But the weather is chasing us. We stop about 30 minutes short for lunch and it’s starting to rain by the time we get going. When we get to Pikes Peak the recommend we don’t go up because of the weather. So we choose Plan B, which is a run in the rain to Cripple Creek, an old mining town that is now Casino heaven. We stop at a historic jail and take a quick tour. Then off to Starbucks. We’re supposed to meet Frank Frederick at a Greek restaurant for dinner. We get there on time but the restaurant is closed, like for good. So we punt and meet Frank in Manatou Springs. Again another great meal. After dinner we start the hunt for a hotel. We tried the Cliff house but were informed by the valet that the rooms are $199-$450 per night. Just a tad out of our budget so we settle for Pike’s Peak Motel. $89
We check in and hit their hot tub by the creek and have an interesting conversation with a family from Texas.
Tomorrow, Thursday is another light day. We’ll try to cram some stuff in, the make the decision if I’m going top stay behind and hang with my FJR brethren at their national meet for a couple days.
More later…
Current photos are being posted now… http://picasaweb.google.com/mdisher/2008Trip