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Start: Estes Park, CO
End: Frisco, CO
Distance: 182 miles
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After breakfast at Nicky's Steakhouse, food was good, service was very slow, we went back into RMNP via Hwy 36 back to Deer Ridge Junction at Hwy 34 and then back to Bear Lake. We got there about 10:30am and the parking lots were filling up. If you're on a motorcycle just keep going to the trail head to Bear Lake and beyond. There are quite a few motocycle only parking spaces. We hiked around Bear Lake and "hung out" for a while be for heading to Frisco.
It was sorta the wrong day to be on the on Hwys 7, 72, 119, and 6 between Estes Park and Idaho Springs - Monday of Labor Day Weekend; too many cars and RVs. This section was nice but not as nice as the previous day. We had a very nice lunch at the Savory Cafe in Nederland and then hightailed it to Idaho Springs. We stopped there for a drink, gas and stretched our legs and continued the debate about going up Mt Evans - "heck, lets head that way and decide when we get to Echo Lake. Got to Echo Lake, do we go to the top or continue over Squaw Pass and back on I70 to Frisco??? It was scattered clouds but no build ups or signs of rain; "what the heck we're here, lets go". Of we go - remember to breathe deeply, watch the road some of the drop offs are "rather impressive", and numerous tight 180 degree climbing switchbacks, and lots of cars not paying attention to the road. We got to the top - 14,130', took pictures, talked with the Park Rangers, watched the mountain goats and when back down to Summit Lake. We spend about an hour walking around and enjoying the views and then headed down to Echo Lake Lodge for a drink and snack before we "dashed" to Frisco.
As we dashed toward the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, it was getting overcast, moisture in the air, dark and cold. As we came through the tunnel, the temperature really dropped and the mist got thicker! The LEO at the bottom of the grade must have felt sorry for us didn't turn on the lights - let's just say we were by far NOT the slowest car on the road! We pulled into the Frisco Lodge, checked in, unloaded the bikes, cranked up the heater in the room, and jumped into a hot shower - "ah that's better!!". After we warmed up, we walked a short block to Tuscato An Italian Trattorria where we had a very nice diner and red wine.
Rocky Mountain National Park
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Top of Mt Evans
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Summit Lake - Mt Evans
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