Heat wave into Fresh Mountain Air

Today was a record setting heat wave in Denver, Colorado and the outlying area. While Jim and I were making our way from Kearney, Nebraska to our destination Bailey, Colorado the temperature was 100 degrees and we rode through a couple of towns at 106!!

Needless to say it was "stinking" HOT. Dehydration set in very fast so we had to stop often to drink water, it was a very weird feeling.

We navigated by writing the directions with crayola writers!!

This is one of the highways from Nebraska into Colorado.

Finally as we approached the mountains in Bailey the temperature changed with a cooling breeze and even some sprinkles on our hot bodies. Just riding to our cottage was amazing with winding highways and elevation at 8,000 feet! We saw a Mule deer with her 2 brand new fawns, and a cute cottontail rabbit leading to our cottage.

 

Ah, the Heartland of America, Nebraska

Our first stop after leaving Cedar Rapids was in Des Moines, Iowa. We looked around here at Big Barn HD then rode through tons and miles of corn fields to Lincoln, Nebraska. Did I mention that we saw lots of beautiful corn fields??? US 34 was the way to travel... It seemed as if we had the road to ourselves, with just the wonderful heat and wind at our faces.

 

Here we are at Frontier HD in Lincoln, Nebraska and although it looks a little cloudy, it was a sweet relief from the hot sun and 90 degrees! So back on the road until we reached our stop for the night in Kearney, Nebraska and this was our sunset.

 

 

Through Chicago on to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Today we rode through Chicago and stopped in at the Harley dealership, from there we rode to U.S. 30. This was the way to go as we got to see many little towns like Hinckley, Iowa . Jim and I ran into a fellow at a gas station going the same direction from Michigan on his bike. We see many riders, but not too many from near our neck of the woods!

The ride along U.S. 30 continued until we decided to get off at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We found our Best Western right on the Cedar River, which flooded the town back in 2008. It was by all accounts very damaging . We also saw the same man from earlier in the day checking in at the same time. His name is Don, and he lives in Denver....where we will be for 5 days! The weather today was between 80 and 90 degrees, wall to wall sun!

 

Scenic Ride to Michigan Saturday June 23

We got on the road at 5:45...just because we woke up so early! Stopped for coffee and a breakfast snack in Madoc. There were no actual rain drops that fell on us but we rode through some wet pavement from fresh fallen rain. Whew, we missed the early morning showers.

Love the roads when the sun is coming up and only the birds are flying with us.

We stayed off the 401 and rode HWY 7 all the way to the border at Sarnia.

Lunch was in a small town called Arthur, Post Time Pub was just what we needed to eat and stretch. We got there just before a Poker Run came through.

 

 

Seems like all we do is eat!! It's the only time today when we took our camera out....here I am at Schuler's restaurant in Marshall, Michigan. After a very yummy dinner, we got back on the road to the hotel. We are about 3 hours from Chicago where we will ride to in the morning.

 

Weather & Coffee

Thursday morning joe and weather....long term for Saturday's ride toward Sarnia looks great!

Everything we want to pack comes out tonight.

 

Got maps -12 total! Will travel...in 3 days

We have all the maps, most addresses of where we want to stop and finalizing our wardrobe ;) Only a few days left until we head west!