Bow Tie Tour

I left you last as we were departing Colorado Springs on Day 10 of this grand adventure…

After doing a brilliant job of leading us around in a huge circle, we successfuly merged on to the interstate, and headed North. Of course, as luck would have it, we made it North about a mile before the traffic slowed to a stop and I jumped into the Exit lane (beside the giant Focus on the Family Center) to follow some back roads toward Denver.

Of course, I succeeded in getting us turned around once more before getting BACK on the (now moving) Interstate and riding on.
Our destination for the night was planned to be Casper, Wyoming where we’d be staying with the True family… It wasn’t supposed to be a hard ride at all, fairly clear weather, less than 400 miles and beautiful countryside to ride through. Ahhh, but as you well know, things aren’t always what they seem.

We turned off the Interstate just South of Denver and rode up into the Rocky Mountains. It was glorious! I can’t express the beauty in those mountains… Sure, the yuppies abound, the elk show rarely themselves, and there are cops hidden in bushes, but it REALLY is beautiful!

In the distance, we spotted some massive red rocks jutting out of the ground and then soon after, a sign for “Red Rocks State Park” I took the turn, rode in a few hundred yards and stopped for the obvious photo op… Massive pebbles 100+ feet tall rose above us on both sides, it was amazing!

As I stood in the middle of the road, conspicuously taking photos I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. A moment later, a bicyclist swiftly passed us with a smile and a wave.

We followed him up to the top of the park where there was a beautiful view (Including downtown Denver!).

After a brief interrogation, it came to light that “Sifredo” the bicyclist was a grandfather with a mission, a mission to cycle as much of the world as possible. In recent years, he’s ridden from Denver to the Artic Circle, from San Diego to Miami, and much more… He’s currently training for a ride to Southern New Mexico with his Grandson!

Amazing guy, really.

And Signature:

From the Red Rocks, we headed due North towards Evergreen and I drug my first knee in Colorado, shortly before we came around a turn where the CHP had pulled over nearly a dozen riders. We continued on through some of my favorite places in the US until we finally stopped for a tasty (but greasy) lunch at Burger King.

After some more mapping, we rode off towards Wyoming, through Golden, CO and into the rain…. It rained for hours as we rode through the Rocky Mountains, barely puttering along for fear of losing traction and sliding off of an un-guarded cliff. Finally, we turned away from Estes Park and towards the lighter end of the storm, and the city of Boulder.

The rain stopped as we passed through Boulder and clear skies awaited us, along with long empty roads as we made our way towards Wyoming.

As the day wore on, it became increasingly aparent that we wouldn’t make it into Casper until late that evening… So, as the roads became flatter and longer we rolled on the throttle, made great time and saw the most breathtaking sunset of my entire life… I don’t think that pictures could even do it justice, it was amazing.

We stopped for fuel in “Historic Medicine Bow, Wyoming” grabbed a wrinkly hot dog and watched with amazement as massive lightning storms grew to our East and West… Somehow, it didn’t sink in fully that we were turning East, until we finally made the turn.

… I put on my right blinker with a mind full of worried thoughts and hasty prayers. Within minutes of leaving Medicine Bow we were surrounded by the most INCREDIBLE lightning either of us have ever seen.

It was striking all around us, but seemingly never TOO close. As the rain began to fall, the road turned a few degrees to the left, and directly into the middle of the storm. I began reciting the 23rd Psalm and scanning the road ahead for deer and antelope.

What I SHOULD have been watching for was jack rabbits… Because, even though there were literally dozens of deer visible beside the road, the only thing that stood in our path was nothing more than a wee little jack rabbit.

Now mind you, in Wyoming they make some BIG rabbits!

This thing stood around 2 feet tall and seemed to hop all over, trying to hit me and my bike… I narrowly avoided it, as did Ethan and we continued our way into the blackness of the storm.

Now, when I say blackness I MEAN BLACKNESS… It was incredible! As the rain got harder and it became nearly impossible to see, I half jokingly Prayed that God would send a car or something for us to follow so that we wouldn’t have to be so afraid of the animals in our path. I say “jokingly” because we hadn’t seen another vehicle in around 20 miles, this is some seriously desolate area.

But, to my surprise… No more than a minute later a car roared around us and we quickly worked to keep up with it as it led us through the worst of the storm.

As time marched on and the miles rolled by, the car gradually pulled away from us and we saw the glare of lights on the horizon. “Rest Area” a faded blue sign said, as we pulled into the parking lot.

There was only one car there, and as “coincidence” would have it, it was the car that had led us through the storm.

And as a few more “minor” coincidences, the couple driving it just happened to be not just motorcyclists, but the regional LEADERS of the Christian Motorcyclists group.

After an excited conversation, they signed Ethan’s tail bag, prayed for us and took off.

Less than an hour later, we pulled in to Casper, Wyoming where our host was awaiting us with his oddly shaped Suburban, to lead us to the barn where we’d be staying the night.

Well, when promised a barn to sleep in, one can only think “Barn… Cool!” It’s a rare occasion when you’re able to think “Barn… GORGEOUS!”.

This was one of those occasions.

We rode our bikes into the hall downstairs, beside the 17 horses stall’s and tack rooms, grabbed our luggage and were led upstairs to the “dining hall” where they’d recently entertained the State of Wyoming’s entire Republican party.

(Pictures to come)

It was gorgeous! Hardwoods from floor to ceiling, round tables, refrigerators stocked with drinks, and comfortable couches… Oh, and WiFi!

We were in heaven, and soon after… In bed!