Gorgeous Day, Gotta Ride
Monday, December 23rd, 2019
Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view–this is Skyline Drive.
Saturday: “If it’s gonna be a beautiful day I’m gonna have to ride.”
It was, so I did.
Of course I had no idea where to. As so often, I headed across Cherry Creek Dam to Parker Road and then decided to go east on Hampden. Heading that direction I thought of how I have followed streets like Colorado and Quebec south to see where they go. What about the streets further east? I turned south on Buckley.
Buckley through here is a major thoroughfare–six lanes. What I didn’t know is that it ends at Arapahoe. You come to that intersection and on the south of Arapahoe the six lanes goes down to two, with no sidewalks. There’s a sign that says Foxfield. OK, this is somewhere I’ve never been before.
The street on this side of Arapahoe is Richfield. Foxfield appears to be an area of large, somewhat older homes with large lots. Horse properties. Richfield passes on through the development until it hits a T at Jamison. Now it’s looking familiar. I think I came through here once before, following Broncos Parkway after it crossed Parker Road into the Chenango development.
Sure enough, Jamison bends around until it hits Long and you have to east or west on Long. I went east. If I’m correct about all of this, I’m going to come out at a point where some road crosses C-470. Sure enough, I come over a rise and there’s C-470. The road that crosses it is Ireland Way.
Ireland becomes Travois Trail, winding through an Indian-name-themed older development, also with large lots but looking more middle class than the upscale Foxfield. Streets with names like Warbonnet, Bowstring, and Arrowshaft. Then it hits a T at Inspiration Drive. Now I really know where I am.
I go east on Inspiration and at some point reach an intersection that makes me wonder if this is a road I was on just a few weeks ago. Turn right and let’s see. Nope. About half a mile later the road, that is clearly intended to be extended at some point, dead ends. Head back the other way.
Not really sure where I am now, the road bends around and runs into Aurora Parkway. OK, I’ve been getting more and more acquainted with Aurora Parkway lately. Head north and I should hit Smokey Hill. Correct. On north to what becomes Gun Club Road and I’m following a pick-up with a load of trash that doesn’t look any too securely strapped on. He must be headed for the Waste Management landfill on Gun Club.
Sure enough, he turns east toward the landfill–having not lost anything while I was cautiously behind him–while I turn west, back once again on Hampden. And on home.
Not an eventful ride, but an exploration. Have I ever told you I love to explore?
Biker Quote for Today
That biker guy was passed out on the floor. We took his wallet and the keys to his Harley and now we doesn’t have them anymore. — Bowling for Soup
