Leaving Boulder

On my last Sunday in Boulder, Colorado, Dave and I went riding for the day. Our ride took us to Rollins Pass, Moffat Tunnel, and several other dirt roads that climbed up the mountains in that area. Many of the roads were not yet open for the season, so the ride had somewhat of an adventurous feel to it. This is the type of riding that my bike was made for, and I had even more fun getting wet and plowing through snow then I did riding through Deals Gap in North Carolina.

I feel that the week I spent with Dave and Aisha was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and I really hope to meet up with Dave somewhere in South America. Their friendship and hospitality made it hard to leave Boulder. The night before I left, Dave offered to let me stay another week and work with him if I wanted to. I seriously considered the offer, then realized that I may never leave if I did that. I can definitely see myself living in the Boulder area when this trip is done.

On Monday, I finally said goodbye to Boulder and my friends Dave and Aisha; twice actually. About an hour and a half into the ride during attempt #1, I realized that I left my cell phone and charger at Dave and Aisha’s. Thankfully the drive out of town was scenic with lots of twisties, so the trip back wasn’t that bad. After grabbing the cell phone, and about 5 blocks into my second attempt at leaving Boulder, my trip came terrifyingly close to an abrupt end. As I made my way out of town, cruising at a comfortable 35mph, a white Honda civic gradually overtook me on the left. Once the Honda was about a car length ahead of me, it abruptly swung a hard right across my lane, while simultaneously hitting the brakes, in order to make it into the all-important parking lot entrance on my right. I immediately locked down on my brakes, putting the rear tire into a skid. I was able to keep the back-end under control though, and I swerved as hard as I could to the left. With the rear tire screeching and the front tire on the verge of breaking loose, my right pannier narrowly missed the Honda’s rear bumper as I skidded by. While the scene seemed to play out in slow motion, it all happened in under 2 seconds. As I made my way to the parking lot’s second entrance, using those few seconds to try and comprehend what had just happened, I locked onto the white Honda in the parking lot. As a I approached the driver’s side door, with my body trembling from the massive shot of adrenaline, I was greeted by an 18 year-old-looking girl that seemingly had no idea what I may have been so upset about. How she could have not seen me before, during, or after the event borders on a malicious form of divine intervention. In hindsight, it’s probably better that she didn’t see me. If she had, she probably would have locked her brakes while in the turn and I would have taken flight. Secondly, I’m thankful that it was a girl behind the wheel. Otherwise, I would undoubtedly be in a Boulder jail, charged with assault and battery, and writing this journal entry on a piece of toilet paper.

As I made my way down Rt-93 and Rt-6 for the third time that day, I continued to replay the event in my head, running through all the what if’s and I was still completely baffled by how I did not hit her or wreck the bike. An hour or so later and with a clear mind, I made my way west across Colorado on I-70. Throughout the trip I’ve tried to avoid interstates like the plague, but I-70 is a must-see. The views are spectacular, and just like the rest of Colorado, every turn reveals a view that trumps the last.

Comments

[Dave]

Close call jeff, you had m adrenaline flowing! Glad to here you enjoyed I-70. At this point I am looking to buy another bike. Safe travels and keep teasing me with new picks, cant wait to hit the road.

[Jerry Wingen]

Hi Jeff:
Spectacular pictures! It's interesting to watch that blue line move through the map of the USA. You're right, it's best that you did not have to whip up on some dumb shit.
Jerry

[Dave]

NICE!! You made it to Durango! Tell me how it was! Waiting for an update on your latest travels!

[TJ]

Hey Buddy! Glad to see you're not roadkill yet ;o)

I have to agree with you on Boulder - When I drove out west to be a dirty hippie it was the best place I went to.

Good Luck!