Jonesin' for a Roadtrip 2
I wake up and the first thing I think of is "I have to get out of the Springs for a while!" Sounds like a roadtrip to me. Grab the camera, fill up the car, and let's get going. On my last trip north, I noticed some great things to get pics of but ran out of daylight. That won't be a problem this time! The pics for this trip start up right where that last trip left off.
Ready to do some zigging and zagging?
Now that we're through Loveland, it's time to head up Big Thompson Canyon on the way to Estes Park. Big Thompson Canyon had its 15 minutes of fame in the summer of 1976 when the river overflowed its banks in a freak flash flood triggered by thunderstorms that dropped something like 4 inches of rain in an hour. IIRC, about 20 people lost their lives in the torrent.
)
Just after the ridge seen in the last page, 34 gains a passing lane. This is a great time to jockey for position for Big Thompson Canyon. There's not many pullout spots for a while.
)
The first sign that we're about to leave the flat lands of the Front Range and head into the mountains.
)
Ominous LBS here. I like how Emergency is the first word listed. Someone somewhere took that flash flood seriously.
)
And now the speed limit drops. The canyon curves mandate at least this speed limit, if not a little less.
)
So just as we're about to enter the canyon, the batteries in my camera die! I hit the brakes, make a quick turn onto a county road, pull over, and trade out the batteries. When I look up, this is what I see. Can someone loan Larimer County a ruler or a level?
)
Entering Big Thompson Canyon. Check out all of the old skool crash barrels! The following pictures show you the curviness and steepness of this canyon. Just as with any other picture on these pages, clicking on the snap will pop up a full sized snap. There's no commentary because I'll be too busy keeping the car in the right lane. See you on the other side of the narrow part of the canyon!
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Whew! That was a lot of curving, wasn't it? It's pretty much light curves and wide valleys all the way to Estes Park now. And if this Cherry Cider store is open, stop by! They make the best Black Bing Cherry Cider I've ever had!
- Where to next?
- Page 4
- This trip's Index
- Page 6
Section Links
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the orginizations listed within this site. I'm just a bored roadgeek with way too much time on his hands. All of the picts in this page are mine and mine alone unless otherwise noted. Remember, kids: stealing is bad, mmmm-k? I get quite pissy if things are taken without telling me. I don't like to be pissy. You won't like it either. If you want to link to this page, that's fine. Please shoot me an email beforehand so I can link to your page as well. K? Thanks. --Ryan
Additional links you may find handy... Sitemap ... RSS Feed information