To the mountains: 8.30.2018 through 9.7.2018
We headed West for a Labor Day week escape to visit family, friends and
hit the mtn bike trails before the end of summer.
Part I: To Sundance, WY and Devil's Tower at sunset (8.30.2018)
Drove along I-90 toward Sundance, WY.
One memorable moment was driving past the geographic Center of the Nation in Belle Fourche, SD. Other than that, the best sights came in WYO. (We skipped the Badlands and Black Hills d/t time; we checked those places out on our road trip while moving from Portland to Duluth).
We went for a ride in Sundance - and the thin mtn air hit us real good!
Sundance ride: 7.7 miles (1,108 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 6,433 ft)
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| On the way to Devil's Tower. |
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| Dinner and beers at Cowgirl Pizza. Really tasty after a real, long day! |
Part II: To Laramie, WYO to hang with the Vigens (8.31.2018-9.2.2018)
Met up with Molly at their home along with Brent's parents, Doris and Randy. Lunch at The Crowbar before heading to Jake's football game.
We went up to Happy Jack with Nate for a mtn bike ride. Nate was such an excellent guide!
Laramie ride: 8.8 miles (836 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,879 ft)
Quick trip through the Brown & Gold outlet for game-day gear as well as a drive-thru liquor store:
Saturday in Laramie = GAME DAY!
WYO vs Washington State
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| Tailgating to the extreme! |
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| From the box seats with new friends! What a view!! Thanks for the awesome experience from Cebe & Tracy! |
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| View from the ground |
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| Sitting with Molly and Lindsey |
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| Height contest between Sam and Jake... so close! |
Part III: To Fort Collins, CO, the Kohan ranch & Red Rocks concert (9.3.2018-9.4.2018)
We pull up to the Kohan's to Pat, Ed and Libby (Emily's parents) preparing ribs and chicken to be smoked in a barrel. Smelled so good!
Then, while the meat cooked, we headed to campus to watch Emily's team, CSU play TCU.
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| Coach Kohan with the W! |
Back to the Kohan ranch for the after-party! Clay shooting, spikeball, Quillie Nelson the hedgehog and s'mores as the sun sets on the Front Range.
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| Emily's sister, Elise, schoolin' everyone on shooting clays! Super impressive! |
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| Quillie Nelson. |
Next day, Monday 9/3, started out with a mtn bike ride in Lory State Park.
It was beautiful! (all of the pictures are on Sam's phone, though, and he hasn't contributed to my Google Album yet).
FoCo ride: 9.7 miles (1,489 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 6,736 ft)
We cleaned up, then hit up the Old Town of FoCo.
Amazing brunch at Ginger & Baker, then a walkabout town. Beers at Odell's Brewing, then off to Golden for a beer before the concert at Red Rocks!
(Jason Isbell; openers: Amanda Shires, Amy Mann)
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| So great to meet up with Rachel and Marc! |
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| Gorgeous night to watch Jason Isbell rock out at the best outdoor venue! |
Part IV: To Steamboat Springs, CO (9.4.2018-9.6.2018)
The drive from Fort Collins to Steamboat is really awesome; filled with deep, rocky canyons as well as mountain meadows and fields.
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| Aspens in the fall :) |
Checked out Orange Peel Bicycles, went to grab a beer at Mtn Tap, then back to pick up my new bike: Skelley. #newbikeday
From there, she crushed her first ride on Quarry Mtn!
Quarry Mtn Sunset ride: 10.4 miles (1,335 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,032 ft)
Next day, breakfast at Freshie's (so delicious; restaurant with the MOST choices of meals including avocados that I've ever been to. And, I keep track).
Quick shuttle ride down Spring Creek trail, where we met Corey, who agreed to help us shuttle an epic course the following day!
Spring Creek ride: 6.4 miles (170 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,402 ft)
We washed up then met up with Connor and Hannah! Dinner and drinks at Mtn Tap, then we made our way to Strawberry Springs for an evening soak. It was perfect!
Our last day in Steamboat was an epic one.
We shuttled up to Rabbits Ears Pass (thanks, Corey!) and rode every type of terrain, then crushed the downhill trails at the ski resort. Soo amazing - and we out-biked the pending thunderstorm!
Rabbit Ears Pass EPIC ride: 25.0 miles (2,112 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 10,358 ft)
Lots of pictures, so here are the highlights...
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| Dumont Lake, to start the epic ride. |
After an amazing and well-deserved lunch (see above right), we hit the road again, our trip essentially complete. The drive through the mountains toward Laramie was beautiful; lookin' like fall in the mountains!
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| We did make it to Alliance, Nebraska. Driving through the "panhandle" of Nebraska wasn't too horrible! |
Part VI: :( The stretch home (9.7.2018)
Alliance, NE wasn't much for us, except for Carhenge just outside of town.
Then, sunflower fields for days somewhere in Nebraska or South Dakota somewhere.
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| This is the pouting pup we brought home with us. |
That's all :) What a fantastic way to finish off the summer with friends, family and the mountain life.
THANK YOU to all who took part in this trip.
We TRULY appreciate the time we got to spend with you :)
TOTALS:
2,687.8 miles for Wiley's inaugural road trip
5 states (MN, SD, WY, CO, NE)
0 stitches!!
68.0 miles on mtn bike
7,053 ft climbed on bike
Biked 6 out of 9 days :)
Wow! Such an amazing trip, it looks like every day was a great time, thanks for sharing 😀
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