Friday
was an open-schedule, cool, cloudy, rainy day - good for getting
paperwork - but it didn't happen. A few calls came in and I was able to
tend them (I'll easily put off paperwork) and before I knew it the day
was over. I wasn't in much of a mood to get my paperwork done that
evening. Saturday was supposed to be a trail cleanup day. I said I
wouldn't attend and I spent Saturday tending paperwork - with a
beautiful weather day outside. It was good getting paperwork tended and
having the issue off of my mind.
Sunday was an even nicer day (a tad warmer) and I thought - how about
an afternoon at Pole Hill with a thought at catching a sunset over the
mountains. I checked with some folks to see if they'd be interested in
going (some were interested - but couldn't). In the end, the passenger
seat went empty.
I cleaned the jeep of excess leaves from the chuch parking lot cleanup,
filled the gas tank, and headed to Glen Haven's General Store for a
snack (THE BEST cinnamon rolls in the area).Walking into the store, the
shelves were a bit bare. A comment to the gent at the counter - this is
their last day for the season. Hmmm - OK. Cherry Cobbler with ice cream
for here and a cinnamon roll for the road. No milk - they're out. No
fork - they're out.
Up on the trail (no bother to air down the tires - just get the
windshield down) traffic was out but not too heavy. Two jeeps, one
pickup, one pickup based tour vehicle with a full group. Aspen colors
are looking promising. I was enjoying the beautiful weather and being
solo - no concerns for stopping at this, that, and the other thing
(SQUIRREL!).
A goal turned to catching a sunset. I headed to the nice campsite /
rock outcrop / vista point spot and got comfortable - and enjoyed the
cinnomon roll. The dry air was not being nice to the soft roll and
frosting.
Several sunset pics, some texts (a rare trail that has cell coverage) and a phone call rounded out a good sunset.
On highway 36, westbound towards Estes Park where I'd connect over to
Highway 34 to head back to Loveland, I caught a glimpse of a pedestrian
with a bike walking along the eastbound shoulder. No lights and hardly
any reflector to make them stand out to the near constant line of cars
heading out of the mountains back to front range towns. I was able to
turn about and ask if they wished a ride. Fortunately there was a nice
slow-moving-traffic-pull-out available. With the top off of the jeep it
was simplistic to put the bike in the back and strap it to the roll
bar. The kid was headed to Boulder. He said he had been hotel front
desk clerk/manager for the summer but had been laid off (end of tourist
season). He tried to get a ride from a local but it fell through. He'd
be safer in the jeep than walking on the next-to-zero shoulder of the
busy highway. A good ride offered.
From Boulder it was a direct route home. Top off of the jeep - it's
much more comfortable rolling at highway speeds (in the flat areas).
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