I work in Loveland, and live in Longmont. I received my '07 MCS last Saturday (link to details in sig). Work let us out at noon on 12/24, and since I'm living in the house of pestilance right now (there are eight of us at the house right now, with my brother-in-law and his family in from Omaha for the holidays, and of the eight I'm one of three healthy ones), I thought I'd take the long-way home.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime solo ride.

I've joked that i feel like I'm driving a SPY CAR as my MCS is pretty loaded with gizmos and gadgets. Setting up the NAV (I'd never been into Estes from this side before; plus I never expected the "see the next curve before you round this one" video-game-like nature of the map to come in so handy!) and tuning into Sirius while driving the twisties of the Front Range on dry, empty (everyone must have been doing last minute shopping or spending time with their non-sick family) roads while motoring in my brand spankin' new MINI was AMAZING. I'll respect Mark's rules regarding posting about non-legal road driving, so I'll just say that what most impressed me was my ability to not touch either the yellow or the white lines in some of those switchbacks. "Cats paws with velcro" indeed.

Dad made it home the afternoon before Christmas with a BIG GRIN on his face.

I'd love to hear some of folks other favorite rides. I see reference to the "Western Dragon" along the feet of Mt. Evans, so when I get a chance to head down that way I'll certainly take advantage of it (the ride from Golden to Idaho Springs along Hwy-6 is one of my favorites with the top down in my Wrangler). Other suggestions (or a pointer to a link filled with the same) would be warmly appreciated.

Merry Everything, all!

~Neal

 

I betcha had a big'ol smile! That's a great route (good thing you did it on Monday and not on Tuesday or you would have needed a shovel).
If you ever get a chance to drive Poudre Canyon (Highway 14) from Ft Collins to Walden you will learn why it is one of my favorites.
Hope to see you at a MINI5280 meeting.
Chuck.

 

Congratulations, "The Meal," on your new MINI and thanks for sharing your scenic drive home. There's nothing like that feeling. Sounds like a great route you took in that narrow window of good conditions, due to the recent snowstorms. If you're on the south side of the metro area, another favorite is up Deer Creek Canyon (starting near Chatfield Res.), turning left (south) toward Philipsburg and the "Highgrade Rd." After going through a small village, it climbs quickly with some tight twisties along the side of the mountain. This is part of the nighttime route for several MINI5280 "MADMEN" outings. MADMEN is Motoring After Dark MINI Enthusiast Network. Watch for the next installment, probably toward the spring, or during a lull in the winter storms. When's the next full moon?

Looking forward to seeing you on the next MINI5280 event.
Rick

 

Thanks for the suggestions, Chuck and Rick!

Yeah, the timing was just about perfect with the dry roads. Although I have to admit that she handled pretty well on the drive from Longmont to Loveland this morning (I left with about one inch of the white stuff on the ground, but the folks that came down from Ft. Collins say they saw up to 5" out there -- hopefully I don't have any clearance issues on the drive home this evening!).

I've heard the Poudre is a good drive -- I'll *definitely* have to check that one out.

I'm trying to get myself employed at the Lockheed Martin campus next to the Chatfield Res., so I can definitely see that drive in my future (potentially after an interview, if I could be so lucky). Thanks for that suggestion as well. The first evening with the car I took grandma down the street to the local Target for some laundry soap. But I took the long way up Left Hand Canyon, through Jamestown, across some icy dirt back roads, down the Peak-to-Peak, through Raymond, back down the St. Vrain canyon, and through Lyons. It was under the full moonlight so the snowy mountains were lit up (and the stars were twinkling through the sunroof above). Grandma had a big grin , but nothing compared to mine . The Xenons and empty night roads make for some great motoring. (I did get the driving lights as well, but mostly for asthetics -- they seem to only really add a twinge of yellow to the bright-whites, not really giving much more illumination.)

I'm a bit of a homebody, but I'll definitely try to make it down for a meeting some time. I have the feeling the MINI is just the thing to get me out of the house in the evenings...

~Neal