Thursday, August 8

I changed up a bit today.  After I fueled up, I got on the interstate toward Denver.  It was beautiful out.  In the 60’s.  Clear skies.  I-25 traffic was very light.  65mph in this section.  Climbing up to the pass.  Still feeling refreshed and sparky, I stopped for some pics.  At the top of the pass was also the Colorado state line. 

Cruising was easy.  Once down the mountain, the speed limit went to 75.  I kept it about 70, enjoying the cool air and light traffic.  Pueblo was a little over 100 miles.  Perfect first fuel stop.  Great vistas.  Not hurries.  Traffic stayed light.  Some stretches of road construction here and there.  I was in such a good mood, I even pulled over for more pics..    Amazing what happens when its not 102 out, right?

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Got to Pueblo in short order.  Fueled and got back on the road. Traffic began to build.  The Denver metro area has abysmal traffic, just like any large city.  6 lanes, bumper to bumper on a bike was not something I was looking forward to.  So as I tooled north, putting miles down, I was thinking about plan B.  If traffic continued to build, I would bail at Colorado Springs and take alternates north.

Well traffic was getting very heavy.  To add to that there was a HUGE t-storm cell forming on the eastern slope as I approached Colorado Springs.  It was so dark I couldn’t see the mountains.  And in the Springs, the mountains are right there.  Big lightning off to my forward quarter in the storm.  The static electricity was intense.  Traffic was down to about 60-65.  It looked like if I could keep that speed up I could outrun that thing.  I decided to stay on the interstate and beat the weather.  Traffic slowed.  And the rains came.   Heavy rain.  I didn’t have my rain gear on.  Traffic went down to a crawl.  I bailed at the next exit.

Roads were very slick from the oils from a first rain.  I was riding very slow. I couldn’t see too well but I eventually found one of my favorite safe harbors.  Those do it yourself car washes.  So I took a break, put on my rain gear, had a cigar and looked at alternates.  There were some local ‘utes sitting in cars in a few of the bays.  I could only guess.  One came over to check me out.  Nice guy.  At least once he figured out I was just sitting out weather.

I was only a few miles away from the Air Force Academy.  I was entertained by watching fighters and large cargo jets taking off and landing.

Once I figured I had wasted enough time, I ‘manned up’ and saddled up.  All the locals had left, it was a light rain and I had charted a back route into the city.  A little over 60 some miles up the road.  Mid-day Colorado Springs traffic was heavy.  Once out of the city proper, the road went from a 6 lane thorough fare to a two lane country road.  Lots of curves.  Getting closer to Denver the rain became heavy again.  Stopped for fuel.  15 miles to the hotel.  I bet it took me close to an hour to go that last 15 miles

Staying at a very nice Hampton Inn.  Right next to a Panera Bread.  Busy hotel.  They gave me a first floor room near a door so I didn’t have to lug my stuff all over.  Got to the room and it was a two room suite!  Bonus.

Took a shower, had a drink.  I even turned the TV on.  First time since I left MI.  Here is where it gets exciting..  I did my laundry.  It was time.  The jeans need to be purged of all the grasshopper remnants and god knows what else was collected there over the past 2,000 miles.  T-shirts were a bit ripe as well.  You get the idea.  I went to their little store to buy some laundry detergent but they were out.  One of the staff went into housekeeping and gleeped some for me.  I had all this change from every-time I bought water.  I am like a new man..

So here is a bonus travel tip..  I normally do not get leg or foot cramps.  The first night, after the 600 miles on the bike, I got these excruciating full leg cramps.  Yeah. The ones that make you sit up in bed, if you can.  Think about it.  Sitting in a static position, in a 60-70mph wind tunnel for 8-10 hours, on a vibrating seat and only able to put your legs down every so often.  It wreaked havoc.  I do not want those again.  At any rate, I dialed up the ole internet in the middle of the night, and saw these.  Picked them up at a Walmart going out of town one morning.  All I can tell you is they work. And they work fast.  PTS tested and approved.

It’s cloudy this morning so no sunrise.  I looked like it rained during the night.

Today I am going to visit my good friend Benny this morning. Tonight, I am planning to end up in Cheyenne with another good friend, Miguel.  About 100 miles up the road.    I am going to take a personal day and won’t put out a blog but will catch up once I am somewhere in Montana.  Heading north to begin the Canadian portion of this trip.  Figuring 2,200-2,500 miles to go.

Life is good my friends.  Embrace it..