Day 1
Saturday, 8 Jun 2013
Denver, CO to Brighton, CO
25.2 miles, 1h59m, 12.8 mph
Elapsed Time: 2h07m, Max speed: 25.0mph
Total Climbing: 485ft, Max elevation: 5303ft
Total mileage: 25.2
We cut out of work early on Friday in hopes of reaching the bike
shop in Denver before it closed at 7pm. It was raining in Baltimore
because of Tropic System Andrea, but our flight left pretty much on
time. Our flight landed early at 5:30, but then we sat on the tarmac
for 20 minutes waiting for our gate to be vacated. Apparently they
were waiting for a flight attendant to show up. That was the
difference between making it and missing it. Oh well. I knew
everything had to go right--and I know it seldom does. So we had to
wait for the bike shop to open Saturday morning at 10.
We drove downtown a little early to see what there was to see. There
was a giant blue bear looking through the windows at the convention
center.
Which some of us found to be quite alarming.
After that encounter with nature, we headed over to the bike shop.
We were there when they opened, and we were out 10 minutes later.
Got a photo with the whole crew at the Mile High step--as is the
tradition.
And I rode away to the applause of the crowd.
Last year I started here and rode south into a headwind. This time I
rode north into a headwind. At least it was a good 20 degrees cooler
this time.
The Platte River Trail runs through some active industrial areas.
Lots of industrial activity and decay.
The trail got nicer right before it ended.
The last few miles were on the
roads of Brighton. I ended up at our hotel in the Prairie
Center--which appears to be a gigantic empty area dotted with
very large stores. There's even a rare standalone JC Penney. But
mostly it's grass.
We met Bert, Lisa, and L'il Bert for lunch in Brighton at Lauer
Krauts--which was featured on one of those food shows with that
spikey-haired guy.
They specialize in Krautbergers, which look more like hotpockets
than burgers--but taste much better.
We followed Bert & Lisa down to Coors Field for that
night's game against the Padres.
The Rockies made it close but couldn't come all the way back.
They lost 4-2.
Which made L'il Bert tired. Me too.
Tomorrow I ride to Fort Morgan. Since there is really nothing to see
between Brighton and Fort Morgan, Linda is going back to Parker to
hang out with Lisa and Bert while I ride the open prairie.
Next
"Great Plains Tour 2013"
Copyright © 2013 By Bob Clemons. All
rights reserved.