Merry Christmas

Months have passed since my last post as well as many a possible day of riding. Life has thrown me some unexpected issue's and the last thing I've thought about is riding. Depressing, I know. In the spirit of the season here is a great picture to enjoy! Merry Christmas All....

Beauty is ...

As close as your own back door...

Back on the road again...

First small road trip of the season and its on Harley's Million Mile Monday. This ride was for Olivia and Mom to spend some one on one time together. I think I succeeded in my endeavour. Our trip was to be about 230 miles and take us through some of the prettiest scenery that Colorado has to offer. I wanted us to experience mountains, valleys and rivers all in the same day. How exciting to get to see this with my daughter.

First stop was the Visitor Center for Pike National Forest on the west side of the forest.

The view from here is spectacular! You can see the valley and the mountains that ring it.

With the Collegiate Peaks in the background I had to stop and get a picture of her.

A friend coming to visit?...

Yep! Here he comes...
In Salida we stopped at a local restaurant, The Boathouse, that served good food and was located on the Arkansas River. Olivia watched as this kayaker started his run by the restaurant and then...
Well he lost it. Fortunately we weren't the only ones to see him flip and we did hear that he was able to right himself just beyond our sight.

Skyline Drive outside Canon City. The road is one way and way up. So if your afraid of heights its not suggested that you go.

Buena Vista!

The weather was agreeable though the smoke from the Arizona and New Mexico fires were still in the air so the bike and I headed with daughter and son-in-law over to Buena Vista to meet up with a friend and her boys. The itinerary suggested riding, yarn, food and wonderful company! Who would pass that up!?! Not I!

So we met up at the milk store at 9:30 a.m. and daughter jumped on the back of my bike choosing to enjoy the ride comfortably than on the back of her husband's sport bike/crotch rocket. We were to be in Buena Vista by 11:30 meeting up at Serendipity to check out the store and its yarn contents.

The ride over was uneventful but filled with smoggy/smokey air the entire way. I was ever so disappointed to discover that apparently the entire state was under this heavy layer of smoke. This ride was my first day ride with son-in-law and I had high expectations of descending out of the Pike National Forest into the valley and seeing the valley and San Isabel mountain range spread out before us. What we did find was visually unappealing. About 3 miles of visibility and then a wall of smoke.

Anyway..... we pressed on and arrived at Buena Vista at about 11:45. We found Serendipity and what a lovely store it is. Lots to drool over and look at. They have a tremendous selection of Noro and I ended up purchasing my first hank of Madeline Tosh sock in "TART"! Now does that fit me or what!?! A truly lovely yarn. The colors of the Madeline Tosh are just extreme. The breathe and depth is unbelievable. So my pictures really don't do it justice. I also purchased a hank of Zitron "filigran" in the most beautiful color spread called "Indian Summer". Think of Taos or Santa Fe and you'll get the idea of the colors. Just yummy...

From there we headed over to a cafe called Mothers. Just lovely and the most wonderful food. Reasonably priced. I had a delightful eggplant and hummus pannini with chips on the side. I'm so looking forward to going back and getting another of those sandwich's.

Shortly after we jumped on the bikes and were headed home. Arriving at about 4:30. Throat sore from the smoke filled day I was concerned that I'd get sick. Far be it from me to disappoint! I woke up the next morning raspy voiced, coughing and sinus' giving me fits. Its Friday now and for the first time since Tuesday I don't feel like I'm in a fog. Nose still going crazy, but the throat has mended. Yea!

Now to decide when I'm heading back out there..........

A Bit of Out and About...

Saturday our temps climbed into the low 70's. We piled the kids in the car and headed to Lowes to pick up paint for DD room and for David to get toilet guts to finally fix the toilet in our bedroom. This was the day the boys and dad were to take the guts of the existing toilet out and then put in all new ones. yea. A week of having to remember to use the powder bath at 2 a.m. was beginning to wear on me.
While we were out it was a perfect time to head off to HD to pick up a new bulb for my left side lamp. Its been out for a while and riding with one main lamp was just strange. Ran into Lee who I haven't seen in quite a while. (he and his wife are snowbirds and spend their winters in Tucson) So he quickly got my bulb and $22.00 later we were on our way.

New bulb installed, thanks honey, and 2 walls painted I did go out for a quick ride to make sure all the lamps were in the correct position. ;-)

Yesterday saw temps in the 80's! Of course I couldn't let that lie. So after cutting in a couple of walls in DD room I jumped on the bike and headed out for a bit of pavement time. Didn't head out far, like I would have liked, just didn't have time for that. Rode up to Lowes for some paint rollers and paint samples to start contemplating painting all the wood in the house.

Later it became all important that I get out for a while. So with another DD in tow we headed over to a friends house for DD to babysit friends boys and we headed off to Chilis for a lite dinner and some adult conversation. Of course I rode. The evening was so pleasant with the wonderfully warm temps. I still needed my hoodie but it was simply for protection from bugs and the chill that would come later. The wind in my hair offered me the calming moments that I desperately needed. We had a great dinner with lots of laughing and then headed off to Starbucks for my evening coffee. Starbucks closed with us sitting outside enjoying the evening and the crotch rockets cruising by. We arrived back at her house for me to pick up DD and got home at about 10:30. ahhhh....

Just beginning...

The weather is on a up turn now and I think riding will become more enjoyable. The chaps and heavy leathers are no longer requirements for the weather. Colorado has definitely had a strange winter this year. The mountains have received their wonderful snow but here in the city we're almost 27" behind. It will be interesting to see what this summer brings. So far its been cooler than normal days and wet with rain! So maybe we'll make up the precip loss in rain this year. I can handle that, I think!

I have some work to do on my bike. Just little things. Like change a light bulb, etc. My main objective is to get out in the garage and really clean her up. I need to do the leather treatment, a little chrome polishing...... I really wish I had a lift for her. Maybe I'll check into the cost of that. It would be wonderful to put her up and really get her clean. My back just isn't what it used to be and all the bending over and crouching takes its toll.

I'm looking forward to getting out and doing a bit of traveling this year. Maybe head off into the mountains for some day rides and of course bring my knit along.

At the moment I'm working on 2 pairs of socks, a sweater, a rug, and I'm getting ready to begin another pair of socks. By the time I get to do a bit of traveling on the bike who knows what I'll be doing.

Weather Changing?

With time all things change. At least that's what its supposed to do, right? Well we've had our warm days as of late, which meant that I was finally able to get out and do a bit of riding. So yesterday I thought, after almost 2 weeks of cold weather...... "I'm outta here!" So off I go, 55*, wind in my hair, headed for the LYS. (Can't think of a better short ride.) Got there, having totally enjoyed the ride, and was visiting with the owner and new sales lady when I looked out to see ominous clouds coming over the mountains. Great! I'm going to get snowed on! I can't believe this. But there is good news. The clouds appear to be moving to the south, not the north. So maybe I can wait it out. So back to visiting and way to soon it is time to head home. I go to leave the store and sure enough the clouds had moved to the south, built up and were now expanding towards me and my final destination. I can't believe this. So I go out and start putting away my purchases and getting ready to jump on the bike when I feel something wet hit me in the head. Good grief!, its not snowing, its raining! So about half my ride home was in a steady drizzle. I'm glad I left when I did though, as the real storm hit shortly thereafter and graced us with rolling thundar. Wow! What a treat!