Estes is the bestes
daily life June 16th, 2007With all the anxiety that had built up from finally nailing holes into our virgin walls, I had to get out for a long ride today so that I was too damn tired to think about the holes anymore. Plus, I hadn’t yet ridden to Estes so today was as good a day as any to tackle those damn switch backs after Glen Haven. Riding up the Big Johnson…wait, it’s the Big Thompson Canyon (I’d forgotten the proper name since I hear too many guys around here laugh about how funny it would be if it was really called the Big Johnson - real mature), is really beautiful with the river gushing alongside, the fly fisherman wading out to their waists waiting for the big johnson to come along, the fresh smells of pine, and the mountain views of Longs Peak that greet you at the top. Before reaching the top though, we had to ride through Glen Haven, which is a quaint, artsy town about 8 miles from Estes, that all the cyclists know for its famous cinnamon rolls. I had waited for over 2 hours of riding to eat so that I would be good and hungry for one of these delicious rolls, but once we were in Glen Haven I couldn’t do it. These things are HUGE, but the problem isn’t that I was afraid I couldn’t finish it, it’s that the steepest part of the ride is waiting just a mile or so up the road and I really didn’t want my stomach to explode. People had warned me about this but I just scoffed at the idea that I wouldn’t be able to eat a cinnamon roll. I mean, come on, after over an hour of climbing already, who wouldn’t be drooling at the mouth in anticipation of several hundred of the best calories you’d eaten in hours?! Well, I couldn’t do it - the thought of those switch backs looming in the near distance kept me from popping one of those delectable, gooey, icing filled rolls into my mouth. However, the red raspberry muffin suited me just fine. So, until I ride DOWN the switch backs next time I’ll just have to wait to shove that extra yumminess in my tummy to help me get down the descent even faster.
And what better way to end the day than with a homemade Mexican style pizza (that would be topped with black beans, tortilla chips, tomatoes, chipotle spices, cheese and potatos thrown on for good measure) accompanied by an ice cold, Cuban style drink (mojitos baby!!!)….mmmmmmmmm
Check out the flickr photos for a couple shots of Longs Peak.
-MM
June 17th, 2007 at 11:04 am
One time the Glen Haven General Store had peaches and cream cheese muffins. I’ve stopped in so many times since then trying to get another, but they never have them anymore. If you’re ever there and they do have one, you should try it. They put any cinnamon roll to shame.