Aug 20 Steamboats Springs to Denver

Today was the last day of our tour. Everyone is a little sad in some ways because we have all gelled as a group and really enjoying each others company. We are off to the Rocky Mountain National Park. This was a morning to rug up as it has been unseasonably cold and you reach a elevation of around 12000 feet at the highest
Point so plenty of layers on before we head off. There was not a cloud in the sky as we left because of cold. It's normal for you to expect to run into thunderstorms in the summer but we have been so lucky with the weather for the whole trip. Headed up into the mountains with our first stop at a cafe to do Tim Tam challenge. Glenda had been carrying 2 packets of Tim Tams around with her so this was the morning to get everyone to try to drink their tea or coffee through a Tim Tam. A couple tried it  it most ended up just having the biscuit. Must have been good as both packets went.
We wound our way up into the Rockies with the temperature continuine to drop . Again the beautiful scenery but then there was a light dusting of snow on the ground. The top of the mountain is only open for about 3 months of the of the year and the rest of the time is closed so everyone stops at the top to climb to the very summit . Talk about hard work you are absolutely gasping for breath. Spent some time trying to get the perfect photo at first but unfortunately Russ started to get short of  breath and had forgot to keep his puffer out so quickly back on the bike and down the other side to lower altitude to help get his breathing under control. Back down into the valley for lunch at Smokin Joe's grill and a ventolin hit. The lunch stop was amazing as we wouldn't have looked twice at this place but go inside it's packed with people and the food was fantastic. Then it was time to wind our way down the other side to Boulder. This is a very pretty area but apparently it's the hippie town and a lot of cannabis is used as it is legal here. As expected as we got closer to Denver the traffic started to build and then on to the freeway with the final run into Eagleriders to drop our bikes off and head into town to get ready for our farewell dinner tonight at Hard Rock Cafe. Great night with lots of laughs and tears. Laura was heading off early the next morning as it's back to work for her and Ken our driver was having a couple of days off before heading off on another tour.
The rest of us were staying another night in Denver so arrangements were made to catchup for dinner the following night.