Overnight ride to Estes Park, CO.

We took a ride up to Estes Park, CO. on Weds., August 19th. and stayed over night. We really love the the town of Estes Park, it's just a cool place to walk around, with lot's of babbling brooks, fountains and even a old fashion "water wheel"!

Jo next to the wooden water wheel!

The town is in a mountain valley and the river runs right thru it, it's got lot's of shops of all kinds and many great places to eat! We stopped for dinner at a little Pizza and sandwich place that has the patio seat on the river!

A view from our patio table! 

We walked the whole town and came back via a "free shuttle bus" from our motel, that was just across from Lake Estes. Wish we had lot's of bucks as there were a lot of neat things we'd have liked to buy, although we'd have to have all shipped home, LOL! :)  The ride up started on I-25N out of Co. Springs up to Castle Rock, CO. and Hwy. CO. 86 to C-470 bypass up to I-70 west. Then we got into the mountains via CO. Hwy. 119, then CO. 72 thru Central City and Blackhawk, (Gambling Towns!), the roads were filled with 30 mph corners and great views, even though it was pretty hazy due to the BIG FIRES north of Colorado! It was a fun ride flowing with the river up to Hwy. CO. 7 that takes you the back way into Estes Park.

After dinner we walked the river trail back to the Visitor Center to pick up our shuttle back to the motel. We stopped for a nice waterfall and then LOL, tried to play a tune on the "chimes" by the river.

The night was COLD and rainy but the next day dawned sunny and chilly we headed back towards home on CO. Hwy. 36 a very sweet set of mellow twistys for 20 miles. Then CO. Hwy. 66 thru the fields and on to I-25 S. for the quick ride home to Co. Springs. Over 300 miles total and a very good time! :)