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Over the shoulder Boulder holder
Today's Mileage: 41 (on bicycle). This morning, after Karen and Mike left for work, I headed out for a great ride around the area. I did a counter-clockwise loop starting in Longmont, heading north then west to the foothills of the Rockies, and then south towards Boulder. Dozens of other cyclists were on the road, half of them women. Doesn't anyone work around here on Mondays? The view of the Rockies and Flatirons was constant throughout the southern leg.
On the way into Boulder, I saw an intriguing new housing development, with colors and architectural styles I'd never before seen. Deep blues, silvers, reds, and yellows...townhouses, apartments, single family homes, duplexes...all in a tight little community. It was such a departure from the painfully boring Toll Brothers or KHOV developments that litter the PA Turnpike. I later found out that the development has a significant portion of "affordable" housing units, places that people like Karen and Mike--a schoolteacher and Forest Service employee--could afford in the inflated Boulder housing market.
I explored downtown Boulder--it's been exquisitely gentrified into a 16-square blocks of high-end shops and restaurants, with a middle pedestrian street. It's lovely. Then I climbed the hill to check out the University of Colorodo, which incredible pale red stone (I think it's sandstone, but nothing looked eroded). I took a picture with the Bison outside the stadium.
Soon an ominous storm moved in from the mountains, so I high-tailed it out Boulder on the most direct route back to Longmont. It took me about 10 minutes to out-pedal the storm, and the tailwind let me cruise at 24-25 mph most of the way home.
After playing with the 3 doggies, I went off to endulge in my one girlie vice--the mani-pedi. Now I have bright orange nails--and I'm rocking it. Karen came home from work, and we napped and then drove to Boulder--to look at homes we could never afford and to have some wine. Then we met up with Mike to help him set up for the conference he's hosting on "Invasive Species Eradication." Another full day of fun.
Today's Mileage: 41 (on bicycle). This morning, after Karen and Mike left for work, I headed out for a great ride around the area. I did a counter-clockwise loop starting in Longmont, heading north then west to the foothills of the Rockies, and then south towards Boulder. Dozens of other cyclists were on the road, half of them women. Doesn't anyone work around here on Mondays? The view of the Rockies and Flatirons was constant throughout the southern leg.
On the way into Boulder, I saw an intriguing new housing development, with colors and architectural styles I'd never before seen. Deep blues, silvers, reds, and yellows...townhouses, apartments, single family homes, duplexes...all in a tight little community. It was such a departure from the painfully boring Toll Brothers or KHOV developments that litter the PA Turnpike. I later found out that the development has a significant portion of "affordable" housing units, places that people like Karen and Mike--a schoolteacher and Forest Service employee--could afford in the inflated Boulder housing market.
I explored downtown Boulder--it's been exquisitely gentrified into a 16-square blocks of high-end shops and restaurants, with a middle pedestrian street. It's lovely. Then I climbed the hill to check out the University of Colorodo, which incredible pale red stone (I think it's sandstone, but nothing looked eroded). I took a picture with the Bison outside the stadium.
Soon an ominous storm moved in from the mountains, so I high-tailed it out Boulder on the most direct route back to Longmont. It took me about 10 minutes to out-pedal the storm, and the tailwind let me cruise at 24-25 mph most of the way home.
After playing with the 3 doggies, I went off to endulge in my one girlie vice--the mani-pedi. Now I have bright orange nails--and I'm rocking it. Karen came home from work, and we napped and then drove to Boulder--to look at homes we could never afford and to have some wine. Then we met up with Mike to help him set up for the conference he's hosting on "Invasive Species Eradication." Another full day of fun.
2 comments:
Ellen thanks for taking me across the country from my computer, its been a great trip so far. But can you possibly take a more southern route on your dive home? I have already been to Colorado, Chicago, Ohio and will be in Wyoming & South Dakota in August. Just as a suggestion, perhaps adding Vegas, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee to your route :)
You have a great camera crew! Just kidding. Awesome pics and story telling.. Keep it coming!
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