I love that drive, I love that drive.
It’s a slow scenic four miles to get out of the park. The speed picks up when we get on the C470 freeway to head west then north to Hwy 285. That’s where we turn into the mountains. Highway 285 is modern four-lane all the way to Conifer. Through the hogback, then the narrow winding canyon section, past Tiny Town, Windy Point, and the Meyer Ranch Open Space. Past Aspen Park, and Conifer, traveling against any traffic. Commuters live in the mountains and drive to Denver in the morning. After Conifer it gets even better. The road reverts to the older two lane highway. It gets a little rougher. It gets a little slower. Past the Black Mountain Inn, the house that looks like a castle, Shaffer’s Crossing, and Pine Junction. Past the twin traffic lights of Deer Creek, to the top of Crow Hill, then two miles of seven percent downhill to a hard right turn, directly into the middle of Bailey. Forty miles, the first ten, driving next to the mountains looking at them, the next thirty driving through them. What a ride!
A good morning at work, a trailhead into Lost Creek Wilderness Area for lunch, and a good afternoon at work. Then I got to see the backside of everything on the way home. And know what else? I get to do it again tomorrow!
It’s all good.
