Colorado : July 2001
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Below is a list of Rick's firsts:
  • First airplane ride out to Colorado.
  • First time biking more than 25 miles.
  • First time at a SUUUPERCROSSSS.
  • First time at a baseball game in Coors Field.
  • First time riding a motorcycle (and motocross track).
  • First time hiking up a mountain (that's 26 miles round-trip!).
  • First time seeing the Rocky Mountain mountain range.
  • First time visiting Breckenridge.
  • First time driving thru the Eisenhower tunnel.
Day 1 - July 4th
  • Flight arrived in Colorado Springs around 2:00pm.
  • Relaxed, ate and drank beers at O'Maley's in Palmer Lake.
  • Watched fireworks (crappy ones at that) in Palmer Lake.
  • Highlight of the night: Rick stomping out a fire that was started by kids, while Dave, Deb, Mike and Linda all sat and watched.
Day 2 - July 5th
  1. First bike ride (a good warm-up):
    • Where: Ramport Resevoir
    • Length: 14 miles
    • Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    • Notes: Same ride we did last year on the first day
  2. Ate burgers at Colorado Wines restaurant (sitting outside next to a waterfall, cool!).
  3. Watched the movie Soldier on DVD.
  4. Ate spaghetti and bread....mmmmmmm!
  5. Watched NORBA and Road To Paris.
Day 3 - July 6th
  1. Longest bike ride of the vacation:
    • Where: Gold Camp and Captain Jacks
    • Length: 28 miles
    • Time: 4 hours 44 minutes
    • Notes: Up at 5:15am, on the trail at 7:00am
  2. Ate sandwiches with chips.
  3. Watched Rafter defeat Agassi in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
  4. Took a nap! (Rick did anyway =)
  5. Ate steak, potatoes, salad and bread....mmmmmmm!
  6. Watched the movie Jurassic Park on DVD.
Day 4 - July 7th
  1. A bike ride to test how the legs feel:
    • Where: Limbaugh Canyon
    • Length: 16 miles
    • Time: 3 hours 7 minutes
    • Notes: Lots of hike-a-bike due to tired legs
  2. Watched Tour-de-France time trials -- Lance Armstrong took 3rd.
Day 5 - July 8th
  1. Colorado Rockies baseball game:
    • Where: Coors Field
    • Seats: Section 125, Row 27, Seats 5-8
    • Who: vs. Anaheim Angels
    • Score: Anaheim 11, Colorado 3
    • Homeruns: 5 (4 for Anaheim, 1 for Colorado)
    • Foul ball: 10 feet away....doh!
    • Notes: Outdoors, natural grass, sunshine - kick ass!
  2. Hit a hail storm in Denver on the way home....it's time to buy a new windshield =(.
  3. Grilled and chilled at home.
  4. Tour-de-France -- Lance Armstrong still in 3rd.
Day 6 - July 9th
  1. Drove to Pueblo, Colorado, for some motorcycling:
    • Rick's bike: Yamaha TT-R 225 (known as "The Beast")
    • Mike's bike: Suzuki DR 400 (known as "Big Betty")
    • Length: 40 miles
    • Motocross track: Awesome!
    • Air: BIG!!!
    • Notes: This was Rick's first time on a cycle....boy just look at him go
  2. Relaxed, grilled and chilled =).
  3. Watched the movie Vertical Limit on DVD (to get ourselves ready for Pikes Peak).
  4. Tour-de-France -- Lance Armstrong in 11th.
Day 7 - July 10th
  1. Pikes Peak
    • Up at 5:00am
    • On the trail at 6:00am (Barr Trail)
    • 4 hours 56 minutes to ascent
    • Hamburger, hotdog, fries and gatorade for lunch
    • 4 hours 40 minutes to descend
    • Much pain in knees and feet
    • 9 hours 36 minutes total hiking time
    • 26 miles total hiking distance
    • Conquering our first "fourteener"....PRICELESS!
  2. Once again, grilled and chilled.
  3. Took advantage of the heat and massage options on the couch.
  4. Tour-de-France -- Lance Armstrong in 7th.
Day 8 - July 11th
  1. Felt good enough for another bike ride:
    • Where: Falcon Loop (United States Airforce Academy)
    • Length: 12 miles
    • Time: 2 hours
    • Notes: Good up-hill, technical down-hill and fast flat single-track
  2. And again, grilled and chilled.
  3. Watched the movie Heat on DVD.
  4. Tour-de-France -- Lance Armstrong tied for 6th.
Day 9 - July 12th
  1. First day of tourist stuff:
    • Drove up thru Wilkerson Pass
    • Checked out the awesome view of the Colorado Rockies mountain range
    • Headed north thru Southpark, CO (where they film Southpark the cartoon)
    • Stopped in Breckenridge and enjoyed some lunch at the Horseshoe II restaurant
    • Headed south thru the Eisenhower Tunner towards Denver
    • Since the mountain roads are steep, you'll seen signs like, "Truckers, don't be fooled, 6% to 7% grade".
    • Drove along the west side of Denver to home in Monument, CO
  2. Went out to eat at Buca Di Beppo and had some awesome food....mmmmmmm!
  3. Watched the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me on DVD
Day 10 - July 13th
  1. Last bike ride (a good finishing ride):
    • Where: Mount Herman base trails
    • Length: 6 miles
    • Time: 1 hour
    • Notes: Some good technical spots, just an overall good ride
  2. Grabbed a sandwich to eat
  3. Headed off to the airport for the trip home