This photo was made on I-90, shortly after leaving Sheridan.
We decided to drop south instead of following I-90. This photo was
made on I-25, shortly after leaving I-90.
This is another photo from I-25. Note in this photos, as in the others on this
post, that there is much green this early in the season. As the summer
arrives, and continues, much of the green will turn brown.
Day nineteen. Overnight in Brush, Colorado. All is well.
We started the morning in Sheridan, Wyoming. When we departed Sheridan the temperature was 63 degrees, and the skies were free of the menacing rain clouds we had seen in recent mornings past.
For our travel today we decided to drop further south to escape the on-going turbulent weather that has beset the Dakotas and Minnesota, both of which were in our previously intended path. So, shortly after leaving Sheridan we left I-90 at the I-90 - I-25 junction, and took I-25 which took us almost due south. We followed I-25 until we stopped at a Fort Collins, Colorado exit, when we re-mapped our travels and took secondary roads to our destination in Brush, Colorado (Pop. 5,500).
Brush Colorado is northeast of Denver.
As we travelled south on I-25 we were getting strong wind gusts from the west, directly from our right side. At various locations along I-25 there were lighted signs warning of wind gusts of 40+ miles per hour. Both Doug and I had ridden for extended periods in high wind before so we knew what to expect. Four years ago we rode across parts of South Dakota and had a constant wind of 50 miles per hour which caused us to ride the bike leaning into the wind, as if we were going into a deep curve at high speed. Our lean angle allowed us to maintain directional control, but it did present an interesting ride.
Today's wind was different in that it was not a constant wind. The wind varied from light to strong gusts. We have no way of knowing how strong the gusts were, but we agreed that the warning speeds were at least met.
The temperature through most of this ride was in the mid 70's, which typically would make for a comfortable ride with lighter clothing, but because the winds were coming from the side these temperatures required a light jacket or more for comfort.
We had planned our route to take the bypass (E475) around Denver, but after stopping at the Colorado Welcome Center in Fort Collins (65 miles from downtown Denver) we re-routed to follow secondary roads to Rush, Colorado, which is northeast of Denver, but more in keeping with our intended route in the morning.
Yes, today was a day of riding. Although we did not stop for sightseeing today we were afforded some gorgeous scenery, especially in Wyoming. We are on the wrong side (east) of Colorado to get views of the mountains. The Wyoming countryside has a beautiful green cover on the hills and in the valleys along the interstates. As the summer starts and wears on the green will turn to brown, but for now the countryside is a beautiful green.
The terrain is some lower now on the east side of the Rockies. The elevation of Fort Collins and the surrounding area is approximately 5,000 feet. As we track east tomorrow we will see the elevation get lower, gradually.
Another good day.
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