19 @ Ester park over the range to Winter Park

Do you want to really want to know that we had 0 visibility crossing the great divide? That it was cold and wet, slippery with no guard rails, all making minimal enjoyment? The upside is knowing we're in beautiful country and don't know exactly how steep the drop off is! 

We expect to come back to Esters Park so there was no hesitation in leaving. Into the Rocky Mountain National Park we went, boy those yearly passes are good value. 
Up to Bear Lake and walk up to Emerald Lake. The puffing in altitude, dressed like a biker is as not as much fun as sitting on the bike staring at the white line keeping away from the drop off best you can. Lenore, my GoPro on the back, swivels from side to side and even to the back like she is gambled whilst I keep the ship steady! She has become the chief photographer in this expedition whilst the iPad and I have shown a fraction of that captured for the blog.
The Lakes were grand but more so the scenic journey and totality of it all. We are at The Lakes, well let's climb the pass. This and other such high mountain passes close on the 2nd September so timing was perfect...except for today. We hesitated at the summit for a picture for the blog readers, another sacrifice!

We continued on trying to get to a warmer and drier environment. Out of the park we stopped at a diner for lunch. The weather got worse. The heated grips and seat did little warming as we rode strait though Granby. At Winter Park we stopped, saturated and cold knowing there was a pass in front of us. Our shortest ride to date. The accommodation was more chalet style and lying around the room resting we listened to the doof doof from the restaurant below. We trust that won't continue!
A while later a fire alarm sounded in our room and corridor. Loud is not understanding the volume penetrating rocking the building. It got us up and interested in doing some dinner (downstairs was the easiest option). Seated at the table, water delivered, menu pricey, hesitating and off goes the alarm again. Well F# me. In comes fire men stomping through in their fluros. No bugger it! Yep, I spat it and got up and left muttering something to the waitress. Meagre apology? Out the front door and onto the front lawn the manager chases us down and offers a sincere apology. I grunt! I grunt again. He offers a complete dinner, wines and all to make me happy! The grunting subsided. So we return and to keep a little face, sit in the front room on comfy lounge room style chairs. Well what followed was a Italian influenced meal with un-proportional service and delectable delights. From the cocktails, wines, lemoncello, to the home made pasta, pork belly, to lemon citrus and chocolate something! The best pasta ever. It was fantastic. A true dining experience, our best by far in the States. At no cost except the $50 tip! We slept well that night, window open, stream gurgling outside and no fire men!