musings from Colorado

"parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis" (parkrndl) 08/03/2017 at 18:40 • Filed to: None

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Ok, so I’ve spent the last few days traveling around the Denver/Fort Collins area in a borrowed late-model Sienna. Here are a few observations:

-Contrary to my expectations, the driver’s seat of a Sienna is not such a bad place to be, as long as you’re not looking for driving excitement. As a basic transportation appliance that you don’t need to think much about, this thing excels.

-Driving here is VERY different from the East Coast (PA, MD, NJ, NY) driving that I’m used to. All these north-south and east-west roads all at right angles to each other is kinda weird, and any kind of road closure or construction wreaks all kinds of havoc on the system. On the other hand, the 75-MPH limits are nice, and Coloradans (is that a word?) appear to have mastered the art of flouting the limit en masse. Flying along with traffic doing 85-90 in formation is fairly common.

-When the roads do get twisty, they get REALLY twisty. We visited Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park, and the breathtaking drive through the canyon made me long for my Mustang convertible back home in PA.

-The bicycle culture here is amazing. So many people riding so many different kinds of bikes. It’s not unusual to see a department-store Huffy mountain bike, a vintage Schwinn Varsity, a beach cruiser, and a high-end Gary Fisher chained to the same rack downtown.

-ohmygod... SO. MANY. SUBARUS.

nj959 > parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis 08/03/2017 at 18:45

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Haha that’s great. The only time that really happens here in Jersey is during rush hour on the Parkway when there isn’t too much traffic. The left lane will usually be moving at around 90 and no one gets pulled.

Actually, once you get into South Jersey the Turnpike is usually moving along at 85 or so but I don’t go down there very often. Usually only when I’m on my way to D.C.

CaptDale - is secretly British > parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis 08/03/2017 at 18:47

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Yes! The speed limits are intoxicating! The rest of that could easily be California too

Nibbles > CaptDale - is secretly British 08/03/2017 at 18:50

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If it is, some of that California has not yet reached Washington. If the speed limit is 60, I am passing people when I set the cruise to 61.

Maybe I’m too used to NM and Colorado. If the speed limit is 55, left laners are nearing 80. Not in Washington though

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nibbles 08/03/2017 at 18:52

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I am not sure what you mean by the first bit

benjrblant > parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis 08/03/2017 at 19:03

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Fact: When you move to CO, you’re issued one Subaru of varying amounts of rust with your choice of a bike rack or a Yakima cargo carrier covered in stickers plus a dog.

AestheticsInMotion > Nibbles 08/03/2017 at 19:19

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There are very specific sections of certain highways where people will do 80-100... Everywhere else.... Yeah. 2 over if you’re lucky.

E92M3 > parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis 08/03/2017 at 19:31

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If you are still in FC, go to Big Al’s and get a 50/50 burger.

You’re Welcome!

Nibbles > CaptDale - is secretly British 08/03/2017 at 19:47

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And that’s okay.

Nibbles > AestheticsInMotion 08/03/2017 at 19:49

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Where are these specific sections? Not that I want to see if my truck is indeed governed to 99MPH, but for science I think I need to know the locations you speak of

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion 08/03/2017 at 20:01

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Oh, that is odd. California it’s like 15 mph over no matter where you are

AestheticsInMotion > Nibbles 08/03/2017 at 20:11

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I90 heading east from a few miles after where it switches from 60 to 70mph.

Highway 2, gold bar to Leavenworth.

I5, from Olympia to Portland, assuming it’s not a stop and go traffic nightmare for 150 miles!

Dusty Ventures > parkrndl is enjoying his midlife crisis 08/03/2017 at 20:15

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When I was in Colorado last week what amazed me was that there’s a bike lane running alongside I-70 through the mountains, often with no wall or physical barrier separating the two (aside from maybe a yard of grass). I was stunned, both because of the proximity between bike lane and highway, and because that section of I-70 climbs brutally to over 10,000 feet. It boggles the mind to imagine there’s enough people who want to do that climb that a bike lane made sense.

Nibbles > AestheticsInMotion 08/03/2017 at 20:24

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The scientific community thanks you sir

Although I’m staying just outside Skykomish, I haven’t experienced any speed events on 2 this last week. Minimal, anecdotal evidence though

AestheticsInMotion > Nibbles 08/03/2017 at 20:41

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If you have the chance, check out this spot. It’s the top of a mountain accessible via forest service roads. Incredible views, good driving, good camping, off the grid. The entrance is about a quarter mile past skykomish along the main highway, if you’re coming from the west. Turn onto Beckler road (beckler river road..?), turn left onto the first forest service road and follow it up to the top. Trail takes 5-15 minutes to drive up depending on... Enthusiasm levels.

Nibbles > AestheticsInMotion 08/03/2017 at 21:00

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Shit really?! We are on the second left up Beckler River Road LOL. I passed that road many times and considered checking it out - now I HAVE TO

AestheticsInMotion > Nibbles 08/03/2017 at 21:22

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Oooooh are you staying by the river? My buddy had a redneck wedding there last month complete with ax throwing, woodcarving, shooting and moonshine exchanging! Best part is he’s an I.T. Guy at Microsoft and she’s a Seattle real estate agent...

Anyways, let me know how it goes! Watch out for the occasional moto/Miata/Subaru barreling down at unsafe speeds!

Nibbles > AestheticsInMotion 08/03/2017 at 21:23

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Yup. Tried to get a river spot, none big enough for the camper. So we are about 150 ft away