Getting to the Pepsi Center Denver,CO

10/24 Hugo,CO
After drying out at the Chek Inn in Lamar,CO, I headed to Kit Carson. There I stopped at a little place called Shepp's Motel and Restaurant. I chatted with the owner who made a grilled cheese and fries. We talked about life in a small town, the economy, and the next few towns amenities and distance.
Finished up some apple pie à la mode and continued on toward Hugo.
Signs warned of construction near Wild Horse. These things you never quite know what to expect until you get there.
When I got to the construction area, the two lane highway was down to a single lane in which traffic exchanged turns for the next four miles.
As I arrived at the stopping point, a flagger had called ahead for a flatbed to taxi me through the construction site.
I waited through a few cycles of traffic for the truck.
When the truck came around the driver helped me load my bike on to the truck.
If I recall correctly, her name was Deborah.
She asked me what makes someone decide to ride a bicycle across the country. I explained, "Hockey."
She drove me approximately four miles to a safe spot so I could continue riding.

I wasn't far from Hugo at this point.
Got to Hugo and stopped at the Plains Bar. Walked in had a cheese pizza. Some guys from Texas bought me a Guinness. Started watching the Longhorns destroy Mizzou. Shifted to Dr. Pepper and talked to a local trucker and the bartender about weather and Colorado sports and such. The bartender found out for me that it would be okay to camp for the night in the city park across the street.
Hung out to about 11:30, then rolled across the street to pitch my tent.


Had a decent night sleep. Woke up only a couple of times from passing trains.
The next day I woke up to patches of snow and a flock of turkeys.

Down the street, I had some coffee, eggs, and hash at Jean's Family Kitchen. Next door was the only laundromat/motel for miles. My clothes needed a bit of freshening up. The motel attendant opened up the laundry room and sold me some soap. He turned on the heater and I got to watch some NFL football while I was organizing my laundry, lubing my chain, and conditioning my saddle.
Headed off to Limon rather late afternoon. The weather was supposed to get colder, and snow was expected.
10/25 Limon,CO
Got to Limon, stopped in a grocery store to get some supplies. I was relatively dazed and wandering through the aisles. Got some simple food items and then went across the street to the Loaf n'Jug to sit down, eat, and assess my situation.
I noticed a local police officer leaving the convenienc store. I stopped him and asked if there was a local spot I could pitch a tent for the night. He asked when I planned to leave. I said I was passing through. He explained he wouldn't hassle me if I stayed at the city park, but to be gone by 8 AM when there would be a shift change or I would catch some hell. No problem.
Camped by the railroad tracks behind city hall in a charming little park.
10/26 Watkins,CO
Next day, I got up rather quickly. It was pretty cold but no precipitation. Limon is where I could no longer avoid the interstate. I got up on I-70 and felt quite safe. The interstate has no frontage roads, but is a divided highway with large shoulders and rumble strips.
Snow was abundant along the roadside for the next few mile. I could feel the sun warming my back as I headed west. My hands were feeling warmer.
Got to Cedar Point exit and caught my first glimpse of the Rocky Mountain horizon.
I rode on up to a rest area near Deer Trail. I cooked some food there and enjoyed the warmth in the sunlight even though the ground was covered in snow.
I was feeling good and continued on. Within a few miles the snow was pretty much melted away. The day was nice and mileage was coming relatively easy.
I was told Byers was the halfway point between Limon and Denver. I pushed on.
Got to Byers, I knew another rest area was coming up.
At the Bennett rest area I was considering calling it a day. Looked around, seemed like it would be a good place to camp for the night. Researched on my phone to see if it would be legal to camp. It is, of course, illegal to camp at rest areas in Colorado. Arrived in Bennett to see what I could figure out. Some adolescent kids shouted some stupid comments my way. I ignored them and kept rolling.
Watkins was only twelve miles further, but I was losing daylight.
Contemplated camping in a field. I arrived in Watkins and found Lu Lu's.
I saw an interesting looking chap with a beret and plaid jac shirt having a smoke outside. I rolled up to him and asked him if he was from around there and if he knew a place where I could camp for the night. He said no, he was a truck driver, but we should go into the bar and ask the bartender.
Turns out he was of Scottish descent and had done some bicycle touring himself.
The bartender had no helpful info but another truck driver who was drinking with him offered me a spot to sleep in his empty semi trailer parked across the street.
At this point I shift into a bit more relaxed phase...how things go when you figure out your evening. I was low on cash as I had some difficulty transferring money to my debit card account. The two guys bought me a couple of rounds and I wolfed down bowls of bar peanuts. Listened to some trucker jokes and politics. Just grinned and listened. When you get outside of the cities, not too many liberals.
Somewhere around then a couple of guys walked in. One of them was a bigger Hispanic guy with a Longhorns cap. The other a smaller guy with longer hair. I asked them if they were from Texas. We struck up a conversation, they offered up there pitcher to share. They were in Colorado working on telecommunication towers and staying at Lu Lu's Inn. Within a few hours, Eddie (Longhorns cap) offered a spare bed in the Motel room he was staying. Another crew member showed up. At some point there were some flaming Dr. Peppers in front of us.
The night continued and eventually headed back to the room, took a much needed shower, and slumbered peacefully.

10/27 Denver City Park, Pepsi Center. Golden to Boulder,CO
Next day I woke up and checked my phone for weather updates. Looked like conditions would be favorable until 6 PM....6 PM!
Got up,packed my bike panniers, and thanked Eddie again for his hospitality.
I rode up the hill on 36(parallel to I-70) just before it dumped me into the interstate. Caught a real nice glimpse of the Rockies. My picture doesn't do it justice.

Pedaled on up just passed the 470 toll road. Exited illegally onto 36/70 continued to Aurora. Found my way to Colfax Ave.
Somewhere near Quebec St. I flatted and sat down on a bus stop bench to replace my tube. I watched across the street as a Denver cop pulled over, ticketed, and had a couple's car towed. Inflated my new tube and headed to Denver city park to cook up some grub for of the rest of the day's ride.

Made up some potatoes,rice, and beans and watched people enjoying a pleasant day in the park. [6 PM]
Battled with overly aggressive squirrels and geese who were highly interested in a handouts for which I had none to offer.

Finished up and headed to the Pepsi Center.
Denver sites were all around. Downtown didn't feel as big and metropolitan as most big cities I've been to. It was quite nice. I knew I was getting close as there Avs flags along the street.

Rode passed Coors Field and got within sight of the Pepsi Center. I took some photographs and digested the moment as others just walked in to the VIP entrance oblivious to the bearded weirdo with the green bike.





A couple of guys were walking by. I stopped them and explained what I was doing. Asked them to take a picture of me. They obliged and compared me to Forrest Gump (a common reference when you'rer bicycle touring). [6PM]

Kept riding west on Colfax by Mile High Stadium to Golden Road. My friend Ben had a friend of his email a good route to Boulder. I never really made an effort to get internet access to get it. [6 P M]



Golden Road takes you from Denver through Golden, CO to Hwy 93 which leads you to Boulder. Not the best route for this late in the afternoon with a storm on the horizon. [6 P M]
Golden road has a bunch of roundabouts as you head through town. At some point Golden turns into a one way street called Ford. The Coors brewery was up my right and Ford becomes really steep at that point. I noticed a female cyclist coming off a parallel paved path and asked her if it led to 93. She explained it would take me through neighborhoods but would get me to 93. She acknowledged it as the better path choice.
The paved path was a lot of climbing, but quite manageable with my lowest gears. At some point a jogger ran by me as if I weren't even moving. [6 P M]
Finally made it to 93. The road to Boulder is a lot of up and down. Lots more climbing and I was starting to lose light. The clouds were sinking into the hills I was climbing and I started to feel a cold sprinkle. I turned on my head and tail light and kept rolling.
Six P M
Six PM was now upon me and in the back of my mind I remembered my phone's forecast. Things were starting to look real shitty and the miles weren't going by very quickly.
I knew Ben wouldn't be home from class until around 6:45 PM.
I started to prepare my mind for epic misery for the next couple of hours.
Just as things started to look as grim as I could imagine a nice local gent pulled over and asked me where I was headed. "Boulder," I said. He then offered me a ride and helped me toss my bike in the back of his Civic. He gave me a ride the next 12 miles into town.
His name was Russell and he is a school teacher working in Boulder. He had an eastern accent and I asked him where he was from. "Rhode Island." We talked about what I was doing. He gave some insight about living in Boulder and the layout of the city. he got me to Ben's house. Ben left some keys and a door opened so I could get in.
Not much afterward Ben showed up and I was settled for the night.
The weather continued to get worse as the rain became snow.
His room mate, Anuthee, strolled in early in the morning from a night of Lucero in Denver. I rolled back over and slept. Warm.