May 25, 2010

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is just a fantastic place and Ken and I both said we could live there. The views are spectacular looking up at the snow covered ski trails, mountains all around, the river going right through town and miles of bike trails. I remember a great day skiing here with Linda over 15 years ago.

Ken and I planned to stay 2 nights but stayed for 3 nights because of bad weather. On
Sunday we had a wonderful day to explore. The day was clear, sunny with no wind in the 70's. We were able to relax after such a tough travel day the day before. We walked around downtown, shopped and had a great lunch at The shack Cafe, a local restaurant that has been there over 20 years. Ken bought us gifts which he had shipped home.

Monday was the day we were scheduled to leave and the weather report was terrible with heavy wind gusts and a storm so we stayed and we were so glad we did as some places got wind gusts up to 65 miles an hour and the news reports had 18 wheelers blown over on the highway. In the morning there was a mini blizzard with the snow blowing sideways. But by early afternoon the snow stopped and Ken went out to brush the snow off the motorcycle. The roads were clear so we went to get something to eat.

Today, Tuesday we left Steamboat at 9:00am, clear with not a cloud in the sky, a crisp, sunny morning with no wind about 45 degrees. The ride on route 40 through Craig and route 13 to Rifle was such a pleasure and just the kind of ride we love on two lane country roads, with wonderful landscape views. We stopped in Rifle for lunch before getting on Interstate 70 which would take us into Utah. Interstate rides are not as much fun as the speed goes up to 75 and the trucks and cars passing you stir up wind. After getting into Utah we took route 191 in Moab. The weather was good all the way and the views into Moab are just breathtaking. We will stay here two nights and visit Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park.