Take it Easy

Well I've been runnin' down the road, try'n to loosen my load, I got 7 women on my mind...Well, maybe not 7, but I do have 4 that I'm missing very much...

Take it easy was a good theme for today.  After busting our butts this week, trying to get out of some desolate areas, our run from Kremmling to Breckinridge was an easy day, and we didn't really have to push hard and enjoyed the views and the experience.  We started off in Kremmling with a nice breakfast at the Moose Cafe, and talked them into making us lunch too.  Nice move, as there really wasn't anything at the right spot for us to pick up anything later.  The only glitch today came as we were moving down Colorado Highway 9, and Adventure Cycling sent us around the Heeney Dam and the Green Mountain Reservoir, for reasons unknown to us.  We then had to climb about 5 climbs that just went down again, all while we could see the arrow-straight trip down  Route 9 across the lake.  It was interesting, and the road was quiet, but it seemed like a grand waste of time.  We'll see if ACA replies to our inquiry as to the reason for the detour.  

The Green Mountain Reservoir

The view down the Heeney Dam 

After we traveled past the reservoir, we found some camping spots and landed a real picnic table for our lunches, with a nearby handy outhouse.  Moose Cafe's sandwich wraps were good, when combined with the fruit cups and juice from the Super-8, it was a good lunch.  On we went toward "civilization," and within about 8 miles we got to the outskirts of Silverthorne.  The really nice thing  was that ACA sent us on the bicycle paths that travel through the towns here.  We traveled through Silverthorne along their local river, then through Dillon, to Frisco, and then eventually to Breckenridge, all without having to suffer another auto route.  The bike trails were absolutely filled with people today.  Cyclists of all ages and abilities, families, people on scooters and e-bikes, everyone thrilled to be outdoors.  I was a bit puzzled by a number of cyclists who were wearing masks today.  I get trying to be safe, but I think masks while outdoors traveling alone?  It seemed a little silly to me.  

A view of the Dillon Dam from Silverthorne.  230 feet tall and pretty imposing

I was blown away with the development of the whole area.  Back in the '80s, I used to travel up this way with my friend Tim Shannon to go skiing at the nearby resorts.  We would stay in Frisco because it was a sleepy little town, inexpensive, and we could drive our rental car up the road to the resorts at Keystone, Arapaho Basin, Copper Mountain, and Breckenridge.  I didn't even recognize this place as Frisco is now gigantic, and includes marina access to Dillon reservoir, and lots and lots of new homes and condominiums.  Boy, I'm old, you would say, but I admit this.  (When I was a kid, candy bars cost a nickel! Hey kids, get off my lawn). 

Dillon Lake near Frisco

The night before we had thought that, perhaps, Breckenridge might be busy on a weekend, so we started calling around places to stay.  Oops.  I guess this is the busiest weekend of the year so far in the area, so all of the recommended hotels were booked.  Jerry called the only other recommended option we had, which is a hostel called the Fireside Inn.  He had a very nice conversation with the new owner, and we took a hostel room with 3 beds, meaning Jerry and I would take 2 of 3 of these.  We booked it and figured at least we had something.  It turned out to be a real gem, and I'm really glad we did this.  The owners, Marcy and Carey, just bought the place and took over in March. We met their daughter, granddaughter, and dog Chewbacca, a poodle mix who's very jealous of granddaughter.  The place is right in town, and it is perfect for our needs, with our bedroom (visitor #3 didn't show, so we have the bedroom to ourselves), bathrooms, a comfortable common room where I sit now writing this, and Marcy even did a load of wash for each of us.  We couldn't ask for more.  I think this could be a fun place to come for skiing on the right week or weekend during the season.  The rates are higher, of course, but reasonable and the accommodations are great.  A highly recommended place if you're looking for a trip to the area.

Jerry's friends Danny and Jane Goldberger happened to be visiting their son in Frisco this weekend, so we were able to join them for a quarantine beer in downtown Breckenridge.  The town is just getting opened up again, and most dining and drinking is currently being done on the closed Main Street where they've extended seating.  A good idea (hint, hint, Lakewood).  The weather was good enough, so we enjoyed catching up with the Goldbergers and Jane asked about Monkey and Cow and the girls, so I figured she has been reading up on the Dinosaurs online.  I hadn't seen them in years, but it was really easy to catch up with them.  Their other son was on his way in from California this evening, so they had to go, but the beer was appreciated.  We had dinner at a place called Eric's which had good bar food and good music, so we enjoyed both.  

A beer with the Goldbergers

Diners and drinkers on the closed Main Street

A touch of Paris(?) in Breckenridge - an Eiffel Tower of bike parts

We are looking forward to a day off tomorrow, hoping to get a rest day for our legs, and a little more acclimation to the altitude, so that we'll be ready to climb the Hoosier Pass on Monday.  The Hoosier Pass is the highest point we'll reach on this cross-country trip at 11,542 feet.  It will begin our descent from the Rockies, and the last real mountains until we reach the Appalachians in Kentucky and Virginia.  And we'll see if we can spot any Hoosiers in the area.  We'll recognize them by their candy-striped warm up pants, I think. 

Today was a short day, at 60 miles, with 3,894 feet climbed (most of this at Green Mountain Reservoir).  Overall, a real "take it easy" day.