We departed Amberwood in Estes Park at 8:10 am. It was 57 degrees under blue clear skies as we rode into Rocky Mountain National Park, westbound on Hwy 34. Shortly after entering the park we saw a bunch of cars parked along the road with people at the edge of a field. As we approached we realized they were watching and photographing a herd of elk. We joined them.
The views in the park were beautiful and we made many stops to take pictures. After exiting the park we rode south on Hwy 40 over Berthoud Pass to I-70. Westbound I-70 took us to Loveland Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel, which I always enjoy. We exited the interstate at Dillon, CO for a picnic lunch in Rainbow Park.
After lunch it was back west on I-70 to Hwy 91 south through Leadville to Hwy 82 west. Hwy 82 provided us fantastic views though the road was very rough in places. We traversed Independence Pass and rode through groves of aspen trees into Aspen, CO.
We walked around Aspen, ate dinner at Boogie’s Diner, and then rode west on Hwy 82 (in the rain) into Glenwood Springs, CO. We spent the night at the Frontier Lodge after a very scenic day of riding and 260 miles in the saddle. The high temperature today was 64 and the low was 42. It got very chilly at higher altitudes.
For more pictures of today’s ride click on the following link: http://picasaweb.google.com/goldwinger.shawnee/Colorado2009Day3?feat=directlink
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