Catching up on July Rides during this HOT DRY Summer

 It's been HOT & Dry since our last blog entry so there's a bit of catching up to do, so let's get at it!

July 11- Angletech, then just out for a ride on a HOT-DRY Day:

Headed up Sinton Trail to Angletech, then we just kinda pointed the wheels in a direction and headed out here and there. We headed for the Garden of the Gods Rd. Mavrick Station cafe for iced tea and lunch. Then, headed north on the double-wide sidewalk to pick up 30th. Street and the Foothills Trail that goes in front of the access to Garden of the Gods Park. Down to the Midland Trail and west to the Creek Walk Trail and into a portion of Manitou Springs. Headed back going east on the CWT/MT into downtown and headed back to the apartment.

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July 12- Rode to the Starsmoor Visitor & Nature Center in North Cheyenne Canyon Park to check out the upgrades made to the Center entry and Parking lots.

Another HOT-DRY day, 90F we decided to head up to the Starsmoor Center so we jumped on the Cascade St. bike lane to get to the Tejon St. bike lane and finally the Cheyenne Blvd. bike lane heading up into North Cheyenne Canyon. Normally we stop at the Sacred Grounds Cafe but on Sundays, they only serve a great but expensive BRUNCH menu! So after checking out the upgrades we headed back the same route, except we took back streets over to the Southgate Center and the Panera Bread for iced tea and the brown bag lunch. Back on the Tejon St. bike lane we headed thru town to the Shooks Run Trail, north for a bit more shade along the trail to the Drive Inn for more iced tea and a Atkins Bar and then home via Shooks Run/Rock Island!

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July 15- Mission Ride, then rode the Templeton Gap (T-Gap) Trail and Austin Bluffs Trail

Jo made a computer tablet cover for a friend, but it needed a repair so we dropped it at their apartment on the using the T-Gap trail. Got back on the trail and rode it till we veered off and picked up the Austin Bluffs Trail till it dead ends. Headed back but went off trail using a smooth as glass paved back road to a different entry point on the T-Gap trail heading southeast. We then picked up a pathway to Templeton Gap Road, got on the bike lane and rode past Nancy Lewis Park, picked up the Rock Island west to Shooks Run south and made our way to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for Herbal Berry iced tea and a Atkins bar, then home to cool off from the 90F+ temps!

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July 17- Food Run and Lunch Ride:

Alas, we were running out of FOOD, so it was time for a Food Run and Lunch Ride. Headed east on the Rock Island Trail to the Union Blvd. Walmart Market. Hooked up the cargo trailer (I call TUGGER), did the dirty deed of Food Shopping and loaded up the cargo trailer and the Panniers! Decided we wanted a Hot Dog, but we've had a problem of them not having any at our normal Mavrick Station Store/Cafe so we headed out on the Pikes Peak Greenway (PPGW) to the University Village Colorado Center, Smashburger for their Americana Big Dog, YUM, a really good dog from a hamburger joint! Again it was screaming HOT out so we just headed back down the PPGW to the apartment to get into the AC and out of the Heat!!

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July 18: July PPRRN Meet & Eat Ride to Red Leg Brewery:

It's time for our Monthly, Pikes Peak Region Recumbent Network (PPRRN) Meet & Eat Ride and Gather! A meet and eat is where an Eating Destination is picked and a Time to meet is set and YOU can ride your favorite route to the meet point or Myself (BJ) and Jo set up a 2nd. meet point so we can all ride in together to the Destination. 

We chose the Legacy Loop Trailhead off the PPGW and Fontanero St./Recreation Way. It was Jo and I and Mark and Dianne, we left at 11:10 am and headed up the PPGW to the Sinton Trail west. The destination was the Red Leg Brewery Complex, not only a local pub but it has several different types of cafes in different metal compartments so you can PICK what kinda food you want! They put up a large shade tent due to the heat, so we didn't have to melt while trying to enjoy our food. We all chose Gordon's Deli and the Turkey Club we had was awesome, sadly no cafe severed unsweet iced tea, RATS!

After a great lunch we headed back down the trail as Mark and Dianne needed to stop at Angletech for some supplies. We said our so-longs and headed off down Sinton and ended up at the T-Gap Trail and headed to the S. Nevada Ave. Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for the large Iced Tea and the Atkin's bar, so life was good, again too HOT to ride further so we again headed home via trails to the relief of AC and ice-cold water!

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That's All Folks, for this Blog entry so stay tuned for more July stories, photos, etc. Till we come together, again-MY FRIENDS, "Happy Trails"! 

Is it possible, it's JULY already??

 Not a lot of riding due to the SMOKE from Wildfires and 90 F temps! Hoping that July will bring a bit of rain to help put out the fires and we can get back to riding again!

July 4- Being lucky, a cold front came through and changed the wind direction to take a lot of smoke in the air away! We normally, ride with the kids in the local area 4th. of July children's Parade! Just down the block at Boddington Soccer Field along Wood Ave., the Parade's starting point. They had an excellent turnout for the parade this year, kids on bikes, scooters, striders and family pushing strollers or pulling wagons all decorated in Red/White/Blue colors!

We decorated our trikes a bit and then joined in the fun, the route is short, 5-6 blocks but winds around the neighborhood and back to the Soccer Field where tables are set up with snacks and drinks, etc. We left the parade and headed over to pick up the PP Greenway (westside) trail and then north along the trail to Criterium Bike Shop to turn around and come back to get on the Rock Island (east) and Shooks Run (south) over to the Tasty Freeze Drive Inn for a grilled hot dog and crispy French fries with what else, unsweet iced tea! Back on the Rock Island (east), we headed up to the Academy Blvd Path and over to Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for more iced tea and our Atkins Bar snack. 

The HEAT really jumped up by 1 PM. so we rode back down the Rock Island then back to the apartment, to get out of the sun and into some AC! Fun day, totally different kinda ride so it made our Independence Day a bit special!

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July 6- Food Run and Lunch Ride

Had to get out and head to the Walmart Market on Union Blvd to get FOOD! Between HEAT & WIND, it's been tough to find a decent day to do the bi-weekly shopping. As usual, heading east on the Rock Island Trail over to Union Blvd. then south using the sidewalk nobody actually walks on down to the entryway to the store. Jo played Guard Dog and stayed out in the shade with the trikes, and I went in and did the shopping. Loaded up the cargo trailer and even Jo's panniers with provisions for the next 1.5 weeks. 

Headed back on the RIT to the apartment and unloaded food and supplies, then decided to head north on the PP Greenway to the UVC Center and get a good burger at Smashburger, YUM. After that we headed up the Nevada Ave Access Path to the Vincent Street Bridge and then west on the Cottonwood Creek Trail back to the PP Greenway and headed home! I made up a "Music Video" so kick back and enjoy!

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Tuesday, was our day at the PACE Explorer Center and afternoon Tai-Chi Class, Wednesday was HOT, SMOKEY then on and off quick ending rains! Today, Jo has a dental appointment so we did a walk and then came back and pulled the trikes to the shady spot in the back of the apartment complex to clean and lube the chains and do a full trike lubrication of all the moving parts before she got picked up for her appointment. Me, well I'm updating the BLOG as the gray clouds have taken away the sunshine and the "Thunder Rolls" outside the window of the front room. Happy Trails, the weekend is looking hot and dry, LET'S RIDE!

Last ride in June 2026-90F+ temps, WIND and smoke from wildfires has caused us not to ride so far in July!!

 Hello again, well I'll be posting the last ride we did for June 2026. July has been extremely HOT, WINDY and Smokey due to wildfires burning all around the State of Colorado! :( The smoke makes it much harder to breathe easily while riding and irritates the eyes! So, no July rides as of yet, hopefully by the 4th. (Independence Day) so, on with the last ride in June!

June 28- The TRAIL that TIME (and the city) FORGOT

We headed up to do a video of a couple of standalone portions of the Sand Creek Trail. This ride starts on the Rock Island, then taking the Homestead Trail South to Galley Rd. From there, it's going thru parking lots, sidewalks and finally an "access road" Over to Wooten Rd and a stop at a Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for iced tea and the brown bag special. Taking the Wooten Rd bike lane back up to Galley Rd. and then sidewalk heading East almost to Powers Blvd.

We pick up the 2-sections of the Sand Creek Trail, 1. goes under Galley Rd but dead ends in 100ft. Turning south, 2. the second section heads south and under the Platte Ave/Hwy 25 Bridge and then goes 200 ft and dead ends. Someday, the north section will hook up with the Rock Island Trail, the south section will hook up to the rest of the Sand Creek Trail as it heads back to its ending point at Las Vegas St., it will be a 30-mile trail, when and IF ever completed! We headed back having to use the sidewalk along Galley Rd. due to heavy street construction adding new massive water pipes.

Now, heading north on the Homestead South Trail back to the Rock Island Trail and over to the Academy Blvd Path heading north. LOL, headed to a different Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for, yep, more Iced tea and snack, 90F+ temps and quite windy conditions but still a good ride and day of exploring! Back on the Rock Island and then to the apartment to put the trikes away and get out of the HEAT!

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Well, we have gotten through June already, the summer goes by so fast! It's a PITA when wildfires cause you to miss beautiful but HOT days of summer riding but that's the "way the cookie crumbles", LOL! Hopefully we will be riding in the "historic old Northend" 4th. of July (Independence Day) Parade on Saturday, Happy 250th. USA Independence Day to all of YOU! HAPPY TRAILS. :)