Photograph courtesy of Cognoscenti
I had one more night in Boulder before my mid day Thursday flight from Denver to Tokyo. Scott and Steve were also staying an extra night. Both had Thursday morning bike fits with the renowned Dr. Andy Pruitt at the Colorado University Sports Medicine and Performance Center.
The brothers had a relative in Estes Park whom they visited many years ago. They kindly invited me to go with them on a drive to Estes Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Estes Park sits on Lake Estes, and is a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. As you drive into Estes Park, you can’t help but notice the Stanley Hotel, sitting as it does above Lake Estes.
Stephen King was a guest in Room 217 when he conceived the idea for “The Shining,” and he used the Stanley as his inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in his horror novel. The 1997 TV miniseries of the same name was filmed at the Stanley. Fans of the film version of “The Shining” may already know that Oregon’s Timberline Lodge, not the Stanley, was used for the movie’s exterior shots.
Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia
We wandered along the Riverwalk for a while.
Photograph courtesy of warmheartcold on flickr
It had been a while since those breakfast burritos. We needed nibbles. So we sat on the waterside back patio of Ed’s Cantina & Grill, eating chips and salsa, and nachos. And chatting about the previous six days.
Photograph courtesy of Ed’s Cantina & Grill
On the way out of Ed’s I spotted this t-shirt. We rode hard at times during our time in Boulder, but with all the wonderful food we had, we were never at risk of being reduced to this.
The visit to Estes Park with Scott and Steve was a very pleasant way to end Day 6. We drove back through some of the spectacular countryside that attracts so many to Boulder.
Photograph courtesy of Cognoscenti
Photograph courtesy of Cognoscenti
On Thursday morning Patrick delivered my bike to the hotel. Boxed up and ready for the flights with me to Kuala Lumpur. I was leaving Boulder with more stuff than I had arrived with. Two of these bottles for a start.
Photograph courtesy of Cognoscenti
The Cognoscenti, Alchemy and Rol bottles I was given, and the Camelbak Podium Ice bottles I brought with me, went into the box with my bike. All stuffed with socks, base layers, arm sleeves, bandanas etc. My cycling shoes went in the bike box too.
There was time for a coffee with Patrick and Karl in Jill’s Restaurant, and one last look at the Flatirons from the back patio of the hotel.
Photograph courtesy of Cognoscenti
Karl drove me to Denver airport, and my Cognoscenti adventure was over, bar the many wonderful memories.
Old Roots, New Routes 