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..........