12 July 2014 - Steamboat Springs

Following my road trip to Utah, I decided to spend a couple fo days in Steamboat Springs. This is still quite a drive from home (3.5h) but compared to last weekend, it was nothing.

I decided to leave early on Saturday (06:00am) so that to enjoy the farmers market and most of the day. 

272 Km on I-70 / Hwy-40 (3.5h)

It was my first time in Steamboat during the summer season. It is beautiful!!

Steamboat Springs (CO)

It was a busy weekend (hot air ballon show) and most (if not all) of the hotels were FULL! I managed to get the very last room downtown at the "Nordic Lodge". Not a really fancy room but at least the location was prime.

Then, I rented an awesome MTB and decided to ride on the amazing trails: 
Distance: 24km
Duration: 2h 09min
Elevation: 500m (2100m --> 2600m)

KHS-6500 / MSRP $4000.-

View from the top (almost)

Back to the hotel in the early afternoon, I walked downtown and visited the area:

Fair by the river

This why there it is called Steamboat "Springs"

Sulphur Spring

 Then, later in the afternoon, I drove to a wonderful place: "Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs"!

The dirt road that leads to Strawberry Park is beautiful...and as this place is open 365 days a year, I may be quite challenging during the winter season!!

The main entrance / cashier

Beautifully nested within the Aspen trees...

The "hot" springs, really hot!!!

The owner has built several pools where the hot water mixes with the mountain river

There is a small camping site and a couple of rooms as well 

Mail boxes on the road leading to the springs...

Only in Colorado!

Last shot on the way back home...

Back home on Sunday afternoon, beautiful weekend...must come back with the "girls" ;-)

03 July 2014 - Moab / Mesa Verde / Durango / Telluride

Taking advantage of being on my own, I am planning a long weekend across Colorado and Utah ;-)

Day 1: 366 miles (589 km) / 5h30

• Denver --> Moab
• Arches National Park

Day 2:

• Mountain biking (4h)
• Canyonland
• Dead horse point

Day 3: 150 miles (240 km) / 2h30

• Mesa Verde
• Durango

Day 4: 432.5 miles (696 km) / 13h (due to heavy traffic!!)

• Telluride
• Montrose
• Home

...on a map, it looks like this:

1200 miles over the weekend...

Driving is fun, but visiting is even better. Here some of the best shots I took over this long weekend:

Denver to Moab / Arches:

At the border of Colorado and Utah

Cisco the ghosts city...

Scenic road to Moab (128)

Arches entrance, beautiful!!!

Moab fault

Balanced rock

Balanced rock

Delicate arche, quite a hike to reach it...45°C!!!

All set to climb ;-)

Panoramic view of the delicate arche

Delicate arche through another one

Beautiful and breathtaking!!

Panoramic view of the area

Sand dune...nothing much to see and it's tiring to hike in the hot sand...

Devils garden trails, quite impressive...

Landscape arche, my favorite, really really nice!!

Landscape arche

 Mountain biking in Moab:

Solfun MTB and my guide (Maggie)

My playground for the entire morning ;-)

Riding hard!!!

Climbing hard too!!

Beautiful ride and love the bike too!!!

 Dead horse point & Canyon land:

The road to dead horse point

Panoramic view of dead horse point

Beautiful Colorado river (see the horse shoe?)

The white rim heading to canyon land  

Canyon land, very impressive!!!

Panoramic view of canyon land

Mesa Verde:

Mesa Verde entrance sculpture

House of many windows 

Can you see it?

Beautiful, isn't?

One of the many sites to visit. It's really amazing how they carved their houses

Durango / Telluride:

Local delight... ;-)

Police car in Durango, ready to ride!!!

The Strater Hotel in Durango, a must!!

View over Durango / Purgatory Mountain Resort

Telluride, Main street

Do you see those beautiful mountains? --> CO-2015!!!

The last day was a bit long in the car, but I had no choice (Sunday...). Glad that I was alone in the car because Wai Leng and Mila would have gone "nuts" after 13h of driving!!!