Day 8- Sept. 28th Medicine Bow, Wy to Denver, Co est. 185 miles The sound of another early morning train wakes me this morning. I go to the window to get a peek of the sunrise and ensure my motorcycle is where I left it. I dress and pack quickly this morning and Im downstairs with coffee in hand before eight oclock. More good conversation with Clyde and Dinah this morning, they have their plans laid out for the day and are on the road just after breakfast. I wish them safe travels and tell Clyde I may be taking him up on his offer sooner than later. Its cold this morning but the forecast shows a nice afternoon with plenty sunshine. It’s a chaps and layers morning, the skeleton face mask Craig Mcgarvey lent me has become my best friend on cold days. Don makes his way over as I pack my motorcycle, bicycle in hand he is anxious to get on the road this morning. He warns me of the cell phone distracted ladies in their oversized SUVs that Ill be sure to encounter as I make my way into Denver today. We discuss an alternate route that will keep me off of the freeway most of the day, it will take me through some small towns and will make for a much more relaxed ride. Don remarks to the headwind he will be fighting today, mounts his bike and leaves me with a smile. Some last minute packing adjustment and Im on my way, excited and anxious to be in a metropolis by this afternoon. The cold bite of the morning air keeps my speed in check; I tuck myself in and absorb the heat coming off the engine below me. Its longer then I expect before I catch up with Don, he hears me coming and extends his arm for one final farewell. I have the road to myself for much of the morning and I dont take it for granted, by afternoon and for the next few days it will be all hustle and bustle. I take a break for lunch and call to make arrangements at a hostel in downtown Denver, twenty dollars a night for bunk accommodations. A rather uneventful ride today as I make my way south down 287, by afternoon Ive shed my layers to enjoy the warmth the sunshine brings. I stop for coffee in the college town of Fort Collins, Co., home to Colorado State University. I find a cafe with outdoor seating and settle in, I have a plan and this stop is no coincidence. I started this trip with only one plan really, Tom Petty plays at Red Rocks Amphitheater over the next few days and I plan to be there. I figured the closer I got to Denver but not inside the city the better my odds at finding a decent ticket price, hence my stop here today. I start firing inquiries out on Craigslist in hopes of finding a ticket today, sip my coffee and wait for a bite. I get one response from guy here in Fort Collins but he cant meet today, Ill press on and look again later. I arrive in downtown Denver and after a couple reroutes and a lot of traffic I make it to the hostel. With quite a few hostel stays under my belt I feel comfortable with the shared room and bunk bed routine but my initial impression of this hostel was unsettling. I check in and make it to my room, open the door and get hit with the unpleasant smell of a men’s locker room. All but one of my roommates are out, leaving just the old guy snoring in the top bunk across from my bed. I cant help but think he looks more homeless than traveler, again not a norm in my hostelling experience. I unpack, stow my valuables in the locker and chain my luggage to my bed. I decide to freshen up and head out for beers and dinner. I park in a garage that was suggested by the front desk, tonight Ill use the fork and caliper locks. The city is not the welcoming embrace I had hoped for; instead its unfriendly and cold in comparison to this past week’s environments. I drank beers and ate at a loud and crowded sports bar just around the corner from my hostel; I couldn’t get into the televised football or the scene. I did find a community room at the hostel that was uninhabited, made some more ticket inquiries and enjoyed some quiet time. As I retire to my bunk I make my plan for the morning, Ill get up early and get the hell out of the city. travelpod/dashboard/trip/1
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:19:26 +0000
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