First Day of Spring Ride

March 20, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

The first day of Spring dawned cool and gray in our neck of the woods. Yeah, we were really looking forward to the sunny skies and warm temperatures that were in our forecast. It will have to work hard to reach temperatures in the 70s. It is near 3 pm, still mostly gray. It isn't going to happen.

So, our first day of Spring ride evolved into a lunch before Tim goes to work ride, instead of the longer ride we had in mind. We rode the short distance to Loveland and decided on The Cracker Barrel. It is Fish Friday. The catfish strips tasted OK. Just OK. We suffer from catfish deprivation, but we are not so far gone that we were impressed with the minimal quantity offered for the price we paid. Yep, they will hear about it. The ride over was a bit on the cool side, but not unbearable. We were glad we slipped into our leather jackets before heading out.


Overcast skies do not lend themselves well to photography, but here's a mountain shot. We are getting snow melt in the high country now, which means soon the rivers and creeks will be raging.

Loveland is home to several Bronze factories and world famous sculptors. The city's collection of artwork is rather phenomenal. It is worth the side trip just off I-25 to roam the city streets and parks to see the remarkable work.

Loveland Lake was like glass, today. With the winds that whistle down the mountain corridors in this area, it is very rare to view a still lake.

Our first day of Spring ride was short, but we take them as they come and enjoy them all. We have the whole weekend ahead of us and if it can be believed - the weather might just cooperate.