Making a spontaneous trip to Colorado next week

[weisan]

I just decided to go to Colorado next week...30 seconds ago.

No fixed plans on where to go or where I might land every day.

This is all I know at this point.

1) I will be by myself.
2) I will start driving from Austin TX on Monday 8/3, 9 am.
3) I will bring both my road and gravel bikes.
4) I will either sleep inside my van or in a hammock or tent every night...unless I meet a kind samaritan who offer me a floor to sleep on inside the house.
5) I will cook mostly every meal.
6) I will be in CO from Tuesday 8/4 till Sat 8/8.
7) I will be biking and hiking a lot.
8) I will be taking a lot of pictures.
9) I will be having a lot of FUN!

Any recommendations or offers are welcome.

[boywander]

Liked the spontaneity. It’s the kind of adventure I’d like to have. Have a great time.

[SlowPokePete]

Sounds great have fun and stay out of trouble!

SPP

[Wattvagen]

Sounds like a fun trip. Just looked at the map, Man, TX is a big state! Lots of windshield time just to get out of the state, but colorado is a good reward.

even though spontaneous travel is awesome, if you only have a week, it's probably best to have at least a loose plan, or you may wind up wasting more time than you would prefer driving and working out logistics. Also it's summer, and securing a place to take a quick shower after a long bike ride or hike is golden, and it seems that many campgrounds with facilities these days are packing up with people staying closer to home under current circumstances.

i'm sure you'll still have a good time, but it's a bit of a downer this year that the essential theme of 2020 is "social distance" - which is unfortunate for the wandering traveler. its fun to hit the road, mingle with people and see what happens, but most spontaneous mingling with folks you dont know is pretty well discouraged across the board these days.

anyway, have fun, bring some photos back!

[gbcoupe]

Garden Of The Gods in Colorado Springs is beautiful. Good for riding if it's not too busy. Great for hiking.

[jamesdak]

Go ride Pikes Peak!!!!!!!! That was on my list to do this year until jacked up knees took me off the bikes for 7 months.

[redir]

If it were me I'd hit Crested Butte and that would probably be easy to get to from Texas. But I used to go do the early season free ski at the Crusty Butt and miss it. I always thought it would be great to ride there some day.

[nortx-Dave]

Enjoy the cooler weather! Here in North Texas it's gonna feel like 104 today!

I'd for sure have to hit one or a couple of "personal use" shops!

[Andy sti]

Weisan pal, I’m doing the same. I decided last week, so slightly more than 30 seconds ago. You’ll have a great time.

I have 2 weeks and am heading to Jackson, WY this Saturday. Planning time there and then Ketchum and Stanley, ID on the way home. Packing my van, bringing road, gravel, and mountain bikes, planning a short backpack trip and planning on having a great time!

[Jaybee]

Everywhere in CO is nice this time of year, even if peak wildflower was a couple weekends ago. If you do decide to tackle one of the big peaks or passes on your bike (no cars on Evans this year!) give yourself a day or two around 8000 before you head up to 13k+, and be cognizant of what altitude sickness feels like. It sucks, and it’s dangerous if you are solo with no one to help you get lower.

[weisan]

Thank you for the responses.

A pal caught wind about my "plans" or "non-plans" contacted me earlier...

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Wei San

If you could spontaneously wait until the week of the 17th, I will be there and you could come stay at my property near Canon City.

There's gravel and hilly road biking and hiking on 50 acres.


Call me!

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That was very nice of him. I am not sure if I should hold off until then...

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by Andy sti

Weisan pal, I’m doing the same. I decided last week, so slightly more than 30 seconds ago. You’ll have a great time.

I have 2 weeks and am heading to Jackson, WY this Saturday. Planning time there and then Ketchum and Stanley, ID on the way home. Packing my van, bringing road, gravel, and mountain bikes, planning a short backpack trip and planning on having a great time!

I hope you get some kind of a cool souvenir from your time there

[Ralph]

My personal opinion is you won't have enough time to move around Co too much. It's a good size state. I would just find a place central to things you want to do....and go do them every day...and stay in as few different places as possible. Not spending time every day trying to check into a campground, or looking for a place to camp/sleep. etc.

[gbcoupe]

Originally Posted by Ralph

My personal opinion is you won't have enough time to move around Co too much. It's a good size state. I would just find a place central to things you want to do....and go do them every day...and stay in as few different places as possible. Not spending time every day trying to check into a campground, or looking for a place to camp/sleep. etc.

This, and your offer looks to be a pretty good base station if you can wait a couple weeks. You'll have fun regardless. I miss visiting CO. Used to have friends at the very top of Woodland Park. Stunning scenery! Really is a beautiful state.

So, pending a negative Covid test, I'll be riding on the Eastern Shore of Maryland this coming week. 10' elevation for a 40 mile ride. Little different there.

[pinkshogun]

a friend moved to Colorado Springs for the awesome mountain biking and hasnt been disappointed