The DU Lounge

On my 2nd Big USA trip by bus (SD, CO, AZ, NM) I visited my cousin who was then at the University of Denver. He shared a house with a roomate. Picked me up from the bus terminal.

Eventually, he needs to go to the bank. But the roomie has taken the car.

Time to get on his motorcycle! Eeeps! Off we go, he giving me his helmet. We return to have lunch.

And then he says that today is the Annual Coors Bicycle Race, and he wants to try and catch it somewhere up in The Rockies! More eeeps! =0
He said I was testing you by going to the bank - you're a natural on the back; you properly leaned into the turns (some people stay more straight and makes it more difficult). I said maybe bc I rode a bike? And I didn't hang on for dear life; a firm but not intense grip.

Sooo...off we went! First we stopped at the lovely Red Rocks Amphitheater! Then we went up to Golden; an old mining town with an opera house. Further on we were passing a stream with people panning for gold! I'm a mix of a bit fearful, but also thrilled!

We finally arrived at Echo Lake about 10,200 ft up. In the nearby south west direction is Mt Evans (renamed Mt Blue Sky), with a patch of snow near the top. It's around mid-July. Will be a couple more weeks for it to melt.

But in the north direction is a ridge of blued-out by atmospheric conditions, and brilliantly white snow capped mountains. It's The Continental Divide! Oh, my goodness!

We go up even further round and round till we stop. From there looking a bit northwest and downward is a massive valley stating narrow at the top, and fanning outward like a triangle in a massive "carpet" of thousands of trees. No roads have yet been built there.

Finally we head back. It feels a little more scary zipping down the road, but I hang on in the same manner.
We never did find the racers.

I have a rare photo or two and memories still bright with wonder!