Crazy Travels on 2 Wheels: Head West Crazy People.....

Crazy Travels on 2 Wheels: Head West Crazy People.....: After two nights spent in Colorful Colorado, we were excited to start off on our next adventure...which was basically just to keep h...

Head West Crazy People.....

After two nights spent in Colorful Colorado, we were excited to start off on our next adventure...which was basically just to keep heading west as far as we could get in one day.  Our ultimate goal would be near Sacramento, California---and the plan was to be there by Friday evening.  That means we had all day Thursday and most of Friday to get from Point A (Fort Collins) to Point B (Roseville, CA).  The picture above shows some of the amazingly glorious beauty that God has provided for us to enjoy...that was in Wyoming.

Unfortunately, this is the view that greeted us as we began the day----fog and drizzle as we left Fort Collins.  It was the understanding that the landscape would be beautiful if we took this highway...and I do believe that we could have seen more of it---on a better day!  We headed north with the intention of hitting I-80 at Laramie, Wyoming.  

 I love how God scatters the rocks all over the hillsides....

 One of my favorite pictures from this day...the colors are amazing and it is as if God is opening a path for us to follow (which was good since our glasses kept getting covered with moisture)!

I am not sure if this cafe is still in use, but I love imagining the activity that has happened there before.  There were some really amazing scenes along the way...and despite the cool, damp weather in Colorado in the morning, it was an enjoyable ride.  I find that it is interesting to see the rock formations left behind by the glaciers years ago....

How do the rocks stay like that??  Just amazing!

Does anyone see that this rock formation looks like a turtle on its back??  Or am I just that crazy??  We all know that I am, but seriously....and sometimes the rocks looked like giant eyes watching us!  There were times when I felt that they were the eyes of God watching over us as we traveled!  And I know that we had many family members and friends praying for safe travels for us as well.  

 Eventually the clouds began to dissipate and we started to thaw out---AHHHHHH the fantastic sunshine!  The Rocky Mountains were still visible in the background as we got closer to Laramie.

A beautiful day emerged for us to travel the rest of the way across Wyoming.  So much magnificent scenery there!  

The Soroptimist International is an organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in communities and throughout the world. Soroptimist means "best for women", and that's what their organization strives to achieve.  They are women at their best, working to help other women to be their best. (Yes---I had to Google this as I had not heard of it before!  Another thing I learned!)

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At Laramie we reached I-80 and headed west. We saw lots of trains as the railroads are used to haul many products across the USA---it could be carrying anything from oil to liquor.  

I have seen the wind turbines in Kansas (my home state) and it did not surprise me in the least to see them in Wyoming.  I am sure that lots of energy was produced there.

This was the view outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming.  It is known as the Home of 56 Nationalities due to the influx of immigrants who came to work in the coal mines to help fuel the Union Pacific Railroad. Each summer they celebrate the cultural heritage on International Day with a festival where each nationality represents with foods, costumes and traditions at Bunning Park in downtown Rock Springs.  

On the day that we stopped in Rock Springs, I had researched to find the best places to stop for food and refreshments.  We found Bitter Creek Brewing Co.....

...and tasted some of the craft beer that they brewed right there.  The atmosphere was friendly and laid-back.  The sweet gal who waited on us explained that there was the Western Community College there, and any resident who graduated from the high school in Rock Springs would get free tuition to attend there.  Pretty sweet deal if you ask me!

This was a funny sign on the wall at the brewery.  It was a welcome oasis for us in Rock Springs.  If you ever find yourself in that fine city....I would highly recommend Bitter Creek Brewery as the food was amazing, and the beer was cold and delicious!

I became fascinated with the placement of the snow/wind breaks in Colorado and these were in Wyoming.  I know that it saves the states money as far as snow removal costs, plus it allows the roads to stay open so that freight can still move more efficiently.  They also have improved the safety of travelers. (When you have too much time to think...these are the things that start to fascinate you!)

Yes!!  Life Elevated....made it to Utah!!  And I was NOT prepared for the sights of this state....

 The beauty of Utah astounded me...I have never been through this state and wow!!  I would love to go back and explore its beauty further.  I could not believe the colors splashed on cliffs and rolling hills.

 As we traveled along I-80, we were sandwiched between the southern edge of the Wasatch Range (part of the Rocky Mountains) and the northern section of Uintah National Forest.

These pictures do not even come close to capturing the essence of the actual beauty we passed as we ventured through Utah. And from what I could see in the atlas, the southern part of Utah has much more of God's beauty available.  What I also learned from the travels is that I have completely and totally underestimated God's creative abilities in nature....

 ....just a few examples of such.

 

 This is Echo Reservoir which is near the town of Coalville, UT.  For three miles right next to the interstate you get to enjoy the sights of this gorgeous lake.  

Signs like this were common in many of the states we traveled....not sure if it was my imagination, but the antlers seemed to grow larger with each state!  Needless to say, my hunting crazy husband was hoping that we would actually see some of them---just not in the road!

Getting closer to Salt Lake City!  Our original plan was to get all the way across Utah and stop in West Wendover, Nevada (which is just over the border from Utah).

This is near the Park City area outside of Salt Lake City. 

 I noticed this camper halfway up the side of this hill...just surprised me to see it up there all alone.

 Another house peeking from the tops of the trees...makes me think that they would have a spectacular view!  If anyone who lives in a house set up like that would like to have a visitor...please contact me!!  I would just take a few pictures and be out of your hair....I promise!!  

At long last we made it through Salt Lake City. We had stopped for fuel and were told that a storm was heading into the city from the west.  That means that we would be heading straight into it...with no idea whether we would find a place for shelter.  We made the decision to stop for the night and make up the miles the next day.

Lessons that I learned on this day of travel:

1. I have A LOT to see and learn about the USA yet.

2. Rocks that hit your head while you are on a motorcycle hurt!

3. I would NOT want to be a semi-truck driver.

4. I am not too proud to use the men's bathroom at quick shops.

5. There are WAY more shades of green in nature than I realized.

6. Being surrounded by God's beauty in nature is humbling.

Join me next time as we leave Salt Lake City and travel across Nevada and into California!!

Colorful Colorado....

Our next destination would be Fort Collins, Colorado....which would be a 428 mile trek for us.  Let me assure you---after the wet and cold trip from Oklahoma to Kansas the day before---we were hoping and praying for better conditions! What normally would have taken us four hours became an over SEVEN HOUR storm adventure!  A new day had dawned and we were excited to see the sun, and to hop on the Harley and head west!  We said our good-byes and headed out....beautiful weather!!

Highway 24 was our path for most of the trip west through Kansas.  If you have never traveled through the western end of Kansas...it is a whole lot of open territory and wind!!  Soon we had gained an hour when we hit Mountain Standard Time and the border....

...well, yeah...this is what happens when you miss the Colorful Colorado sign...there is a tree and another sign that designates I-70 as Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail.  Interestingly enough, when I researched this, Colorado made a memorial to WWII pilots, bombardiers, navigators and ground crew who were African-Americans...

Tuskegee Airmen are shown at a briefing session in Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945. Courtesy of the Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress; LC-DIG ppmsca-13259.

I just love learning this kind of historical information...and if I hadn't accidentally taken this picture instead of the Colorful Colorado sign as I had intended to--I never would have noticed this.  These airmen played a vital part in WWII.  I always appreciate the service of veterans and soldiers, and kudos to Colorado for designating this highway to honor a special unit!

We continued on without a hitch and arrived in Fort Collins in time for dinner out with my classmate and good friend, Lynette Creech and her family. They took us to an amazing restaurant in Old Town Fort Collins named The MainLine Ale House.  I had my first Moscow Mule drink that is served in a copper mug (the copper is supposed to keep you from tasting the alcohol). The food was oh so delicious and filling....especially the Donut Holes that were the size of a giant meatball!!  They tasted like a warm, yummy coffee cake and when you dipped them into the coffee-flavored ice cream....WOW!  Such great food and delicious company for a night out on the town!

Lynette and I with our Moscow Mules

Amazing Blackened Salmon Sandwich

Brown Paper Bag Donut Holes with Coffee Ice Cream--Yum!!!

Our plan for the next day was that Terry would go car shopping with his son, Derek, and "the girls" (Lynette, her daughter Madie, and me) were going to hike around Horsetooth Mountain and Reservoir.  Lynette's husband, Roman, decided that he wanted to join us on our hike.  They are so lucky that this is almost in their backyard, and it was a short drive from their house...and just so beautiful!  The first picture of the blog shows the view from Horsetooth.  We decided to hike to the falls, which would be about half a mile there (downhill most of the way---so you know what the trip back was going be like!).  It was a perfect day for hiking...

Photo bomb time! Hi Lynette!

Roman IS in the picture...see if you can find him!

Enough energy at the end of the hike to plank....crazy!!!

And just to be clear here....that water that we stood in was COLD!!  It was such a gorgeous place to hike though.  If you get to Fort Collins, you need to drive around Horsetooth, and hike it if you dare!

Horsetooth Mountain is a mountain in the foothills of the Front Range west of the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, from which it is easily visible.

The mountain is easily distinguishable by the large rock formation on its summit known as Horsetooth Rock. The formation is a prominent landmark of the nearby city of Fort Collins and often used as a symbol of that city, appearing in the official city seal. The name comes from its distinctive appearance.(Wikipedia)

  Next time I go....I want to hike to the top of Horsetooth!  Hiking is great exercise and you are surrounded by beauty created by God!  What else could a person need?

Well....maybe a person needs to take a tour of the New Belgium Brewery!!! Another MUST if you visit Fort Collins!!  What a cool place!!  As a kid, I remember touring the Coors Brewery....but the New Belgium is truly amazing!!  So many cool ideas incorporated into this employee-owned, environmental conscious business.  It is the third largest craft brewery in the US.  I am so glad that I am "of age" to visit a place like this!

We had to wait for a bit to get our names on the list for the 90 minute FREE tour....so what else do you do....sample the products!!  New Belgium has a full bar and also an outside sitting area, with food trucks available if you are hungry.  Roman got us signed up for a tour.

A drawing for the 1554 brew

Cool signs were everywhere!

Display for their new brew Snapshot! So cool!

Notice that Oklahoma is not a state they ship to....bummer!

An employee working at the brewery.

Fermenters.

Each fermenter had a unique mosaic around the edge of it....

A taste from each type of beer they brew.

Yes that is a rock climbing wall inside the brewery for the employees.

The beer travels in those tubes above to the storage area.

Being put into bottles.

We had a great time!

Oh...did I mention that you could slide down to the bottom floor at the end of the tour??

Weeeeeeeee.....

Our tour guide was AWESOME!!!

If you are in or near Fort Collins, you really should take this 90 minute tour that is FREE (in case I didn't already mention that it is FREE)!  They run every 30 minutes and really is a cool and interesting place!  I would work there if they would hire me! (hint, hint)

Well, our plans were to head out the next morning to make it through Wyoming, Utah, and hopefully get to the border of Nevada!!  Stay tuned for the next installment....you never know where we will end up!!