276 Miles
We got far more mileage in today than we actually needed two. The Wycolo Lodge was far closer to the Colorado border than Laramie which its postal and Airbnb address suggested. Since, we got there sooner than check-in allowed, we rode on in to Laramie to do some shopping.
After breakfast at the Glenwood Springs La Quinta, we set off east along I-70 and Glenwood Canyon. That stretch of highway has to be one of the best interstates to ride. The massive canyon walls going up, the tunnels, the Colorado river, the two level highway, and if you are lucky big train coming down the tracks on the far side of the river.
At Walcott, we headed north towards Steamboat Springs. In Yampa, we found a little cafe for coffee. Mac brought in his own teabags and took advantage of the hot water for a cuppa. We went through some awesome scenery, with plenty of Aspens showing their fall colors.
From Yampa, we went up and over Rabbit Ears Pass, a mere trifle at 9400’ compared with Independence Pass yesterday. It got greyer and colder from then on all the way into Walden where we stopped for lunch at the River Rock Cafe. Martyn needed his photo taken with the big brown bear. It did take me a while to warm up and I added an extra layer after lunch.
After lunch, we punched in the address of the Wycolo Lodge and realized it was far closer than we expected and not all the way into Laramie. Mac wanted to get a cheap camo fleece so we thought Laramie would be the place. It turns out that while Laramie had the stores that sold them, they were for hunters who pay for warmth and waterproofness at a premium over cheap. On the way there, we found our first border crossing into Wyoming.
While Mac did not find the fleece he wanted, Murdoch’s gave him the chance to show his inner cowboy.
After our shopping adventure, we turned around and went back to the Wycolo Lodge which we had passed on the way into Laramie. We did have to stop and get beer at a drive through liquor store. The place is a riot and I highly recommend it. Jason the owner is super friendly and helpful. The rooms are big and basic. The food in the bar is wholesome, try the smoked brisket sandwich. There were two other groups of riders staying there and multiple people showing and hanging out in the bar.
I always think of snow machines as being the big, fast, fire-breathing beasts you see being jumped at the X-Games. Apparently, they came from simple beginnings. According to Gemini, this is a vintage Eliason Motor Toboggan from the late 1940s. They were manufactured by the Four Wheel Drive company. The Wycolo Lodge had many different examples of snow machines lying around. A testament to the winter activities that they serve.
