Tuesday Crystal Bike Path and Aspen Shopping

We got out early today because we wanted to ride AND go to Aspen to ogle all the high-end shops. So, we did tandem from Basalt on the Rio Grande path through Carbondale then up the Crystal River path to the end – 15 miles one way.

The Crystal River w/ Mt. Sopris (13,000ft.)

The Roaring Fork, Rio Grande Bike Path

On the way back we stopped for brunch at the Village Smithy, a local favorite, for brunch. It was enough to get us to dinner in Aspen at the Hotel Jerome. Things are a little expensive. Gas ($3.89/gal) is $0.80 - $1.00 more expensive than down-valley places like Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. We were looking for galleries for home decorating ideas. Aspen had some exotic and interesting things, but it seemed like Vail had more.

The Aspen Shopping Scene 

Wednesday Cycling Glenwood Canyon Bike Path

East from Glenwood Springs is a 16-mile canyon carved by the Colorado River. It is narrow and jam packed – cars and trucks on I 70, rafters and kayakers on the river, bikes on the bike path and trains on the railroad tracks all sometimes in a canyon that is maybe only 200 yards wide. The weather was perfect and there wasn’t much bike traffic which can be a problem sometimes. Then it was a lazy afternoon in Basalt repacking.

Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs

We leave for Santa Fe tomorrow so, good bye to Colorado for this year.