Finish: Estes Park, Colorado
Distance: 352 miles Total to date: 2105 miles
Campground: KOA Campground, Estes Park, Colorado; $83/site for a cabin. Sites very small and gravelly so we went with a cabin. Super view of the mountains.
Gas: Scotts Bluff, South Dakota 4.649 gal @ $2.689/gal $12.50; Wellington, Colorado, 3.83 gal @ $2.999, $11.49
On Day 6, we knew we were going to have a long hot ride as we wanted to make it to the east side of the Rockies and Estes Park. As we were about to leave our campsite, a rafter (group) of turkeys came running through our site. This site had a lot of wild turkeys and bunnies running throughout.
After a quick breakfast, and so that he wouldn't get an earful from his Aunt Bebette, Al donned his helmet with his faceless visor and we got ready for another day of riding.
We headed Hwy 18/385 south towards Scotts Bluff. The terrain has really changed from the Black Mountains as we are really in the high plains. For some time, we were riding in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands which is the second largest grassland. The temperature was a comfortable 84 degrees.
We went south and crossed the border from South Dakota to Nebraska.
The Nebraska State sign that says Enjoy the Good Life, was riddled with bullet holes. I guess someone didn't agree!
The only major town we rode thru in Nebraska was Scotts Bluff. Scotts Bluff is a National Monument due to it's importance of the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The monument contains multiple bluffs located on the south side of the North Platte River and one is named Scotts Bluff, which rises over 800 feet above the plains at its highest point. The monument is composed of five rock formations. It looks very impressive against the bright blue sky.
Leaving Scotts Bluff, we could see the brown grasses edged with dark green trees and chalky white rocky formations.
There is an incredible vista just leaving Scotts Bluff as you are very high up on a plateau and all of a sudden, we started down a large hill and there was an incredible vista of grasslands going as far as you can see on both directions. It was an amazing moment to see this view. Many times I wanted to take a photo along the highway as you the road was so straight, had short hilly undulations and went straight into the horizon. The high plains seemed to go on forever and at one point I said to myself, "It's like being in the middle of no where...and we were!From Scotts Bluff, we headed east along the Interstate 80 towards Cheyenne, Wyoming. The temperature was now about 91 degrees.
In Cheyenne, we then took Interstate 25 south to Hwy 34 which is the main road that goes into the Rockies.
So, within a very short period of time, we were in the states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado.
Riding along Hwy 34 was very nice as we first entered Big Thompson Canyon, a canyon sided by huge rocky walls on each side. The road winded thru this canyon, following the Big Thompson River. The road was very narrow and windy and you had to go slow. Cars would quickly form a long line as there was no place to pass or pull over.
Being at about 5:30, the sun was directly in our eyes and blinding and it was impossible to see in front of you for short periods of time.
After about 22 miles, we came to the east side of Estes Park and stopped at a KOA campground. It had a spectacular view of the mountains as the sun set to a mountain backdrop.
Tomorrow, we will go further down Hwy 34 and explore Estes Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment