We’re back in Morrison and switching gears. Last weekend we were here to watch Richie run a Marathon. This weekend we are here to watch some drag racing.
Back to Bear Creek Lake Park, Indian Paintbrush Campground.
The Thursday before the Mile High Nationals the National Hot Rod Association and Bandimere Speedway host a Block Party in Downtown, Golden, CO. This is a very funky Western town.
Back to Red Pocks … Rowan
wanted to get a penny pressed at the Museum.
I haven’t been giving many E T updates. She is doing amazing. Having Richie and the kids here has been wonderful. We were worried about her not getting enough exercise at Rocky Mountain National Park, because the ONLY place dogs are allowed is in the campgrounds on a 6 foot leash. Not a problem, even after all the hiking we did, as soon as we got back to the campground the kids were out walking her. Here in Morrison she is allowed on many of the trails.
In the morning, before heading to Bandimere Speedway, Rowan and I took E T hiking at Dinosaur Ridge. This is a fabulous place for people of all ages. If you’re not a hiker, the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge have a shuttle up the mountain. We stopped briefly at the Dinosaur Ridge Discovery Center, a small museum and gift shop and picked up a trail map. E T was welcome in the Center, but she would have been afraid of the dinosaur exhibits. There is no admission fee.
UP the trail we went. Along the ridge were placards showing you where things were and how they looked. Then you knew how to find them yourselves.
The one and a half mile, UPHILL trail is more road then trail. It has lanes marked for bicyclists and walkers. At the top you can pick up the Dakota Ridge Trail. It’s a very long mountain ridge trail, kind of like the Appalachian Mountain Trail. We decided to hike a portion. Rowan has this thing about hiking up and up and up. This is not only a hiking trail, but a mountain biking trail as well.
At the top a hiker warned us about a rattlesnake they had seen further up the trail. Yes, there are rattlesnakes in this area. We are in hot, dry conditions and our elevation is only in the 5,000 ft range. Anyone ever heard of Denver, being called “The Mile High City”? So we turned around 🙂
At the top of the ridge we got a sneak peak at Bandimere Speedway.
The racing was AWESOME. Track records were being set in all classes. The weather forecast of zero percent rain was correct, but it didn’t mention “spritzing”. The slightest sprinkle and racing is suspended. It turned out to be a very loooooong day, but quite the experience. Ricky LOVED it. Rowan did not. It was too loud and too smelly. The Grand Stands are built into the side of the mountain . When the Top Fuel-ers went down the track the earth shook.
Next Stop Wyoming