I was going to follow the old highway 40 across then I noticed a destination I couldn't (Or, could, I guess) pass.
Cawker City KS! Home to the world's largest ball of twine!
The whole town is devoted to this thing! Along the main street, every building has a painting of something that includes a twine ball in it.
For more info:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/KSCAWtwine.html
Another town with a theme is Wamego, KS.
Home of, you guessed it! The Oz Museum!
http://www.ozmuseum.com/
I encountered a lot of rain west of Topeka. Here is the spaceman after I got through it before I hit the twine ball.
Sunset:
Nobody on these roads around this time.
Stopped to get a little rest in a small town called St. Francis.
Cool little roadside park.
Here's the moon as I was getting ready early in the morning.
Sunrise over Kansas:
..or was I in Nebraska at that time? Was there for about um, a couple miles I think.
So I get to Ft. Collins CO!!
My friend Maree has a treat for me!
RAIN!!! No, not rain.
MODEST MOUSE AT RED ROCKS!
There's Denver in the background!
Yes we got rained on, but great show!
Really liked the opener "Band of Horses"
Check them out!
Got some rest, then in the morning I dropped the bike off to get a new rear tire.
Maree and I headed to the Rocky Mountain State Park (Don't call it "Rocky park") to "camp" overnight.
The day we got up there it was really cloudy and rainy, so we couldn't see much.
Except, of course, the donkeys in the bike lane!
HAHA
We stayed at this cool little boarding house turned hotel in Kremmling. Like I said, "Camping".
The next day cleared up and the park was absolutely beautiful!
Lots of pics!
Coyote going for some blue jays.
Elk
Bighorn (Female I believe).
Campground attendant
Rocky Mountain Dork.
Me enjoying a mountain.
Maree and I!
So taking a lazy day today, then back on the road!
On to Salt Lake City to get a few wives.
It might take me a while to get there though. Although SLC is directly due west of Ft. Collins, I might detour to the south to catch some amazing country in southern Utah.
Whadda ya think?
Into the mountains!