Colorado Trip Part 1

===Day 1: Wednesday July 27: Just arrived in Colorado.  Staying tonight in Castle Rock, and head to Estes Park tomorrow.  Once I got here I was anxious to ride, so I went out on my bike before we were even settled in.  Being the first day at altitude I knew to keep it easy.  Did an one hour ride at medium pace.  The area I found was gorgeous.  I did have one big effort though, at the turn around spot.  There was a large dog that spotted me from 50 yards away, and turned aggressive and chased me up the hill.  I nearly missed being bitten.  Now it would have been easy to get away, if I were not a total sucker when it comes to dogs.  It was super cute so I hesitated in my movements.  True story.  
===Day 2: Thursday, July 28 Family went white water rafting near Fort Collins.  Was super fun and tough.  The excursion took us over many class three and four rapids.  Rapids range in categories from 1 at the easiest to 5 at the hardest.  We went through them pretty easily, with only one of our boat members swimming in a class four.  Definitely was a core workout.  Due to that taking all day, I did not ride today but plan to tomorrow, and want to do a long day on Saturday.  Having a great time out here, and not as affected by the altitude as I have been in the past.  Adjusting easily.  More tomorrow.
===Day 3: Friday, July 29:  Went on a long hike with the family this morning.  The views were definitely worth it!  The walk was very tiring, though.  In the afternoon I went for a med length ride at a good pace.  Went around the lake several times, and rode past the Stanley hotel (location of the Shining). Then we all went out for desert at a handmade ice cream place.  I got the delicious pecan ice cream, and for the second a mocha almond flavor. Yumm!!!
===Day 4:  Saturday, July 30:  Rode into boulder, from Estes.  Met up for breakfast with Brittany Marrans.  It was pretty bomb, and I was super tired from the ride, which hurt due to the altitude/hike/river rafting combo.  Was pretty stoked to be in Boulder, it is way chill there, and I see why it is the cycling capitol of the USA.  Although, I was really freaked by all the grasshoppers in the surrounding land.  They really suck.
===Day 5: Sunday, July 31:  Rode a chill ride in early am, then family photos (which are impossible).  Not to mention we had an incompetent photographer.  After that it was time to leave our stay in Estes, back to Castle Rock.  On the way there we stopped again in Boulder, and walked around a bit, and drove around the campus.  Cool stuff.  Tomorrow riding with Laurel Rathbun of Garmin-Cervelo Junior team.  This is turning out to be a rad trip.  I am pretty much adjusted to the altitude, meaning I am back to a relatively normal recovery rate, and not gasping for air.  I am actually a bit surprised at how well I recovered from yesterdays ride.

Day1: On the Road

Day3: Part of the hike: Emerald Lake

Day 3: Part of the Hike

Day 5: Estes Lake

Day3: Part of the Hike: Dream Lake