Bike 'N' Bar Tour of Denver

REI flagship store

After a much needed shower and repacking of the truck, Greg and I headed out from Rudi's by bike and rode to an REI store in town.  Denver is a very pedestrian-friendly city, and has built incredible trailways through the city for commuters.  We took the Cherry Creek Trail to Confluence Park, a beautiful river through the city with a water park, swimming, and awesome old brick buildings around.  This is where the REI Flagship store is, the pride and joy of their retail chain.  It was built in an old brick warehouse with huge iron columns inside.  We spent a while looking around and Rudi met us there after she got off work.  She commutes by bike, so all three of us saddled up and headed out for our first destination.  We hit the Falling Rock Taphouse, one of the coolest little bars with hundreds of beers on tap, almost all of which I had either never heard of, or you can't get back east.  The greater Denver area is home to dozens of microbrews, and people who live here have an incredible choice of brews. I don't think I ever saw anybody  drinking any of the standards we are so used to.
After one drink there, we biked to Wynkoop Brewery, for another tasty beer and a buffalo burger.  Then on to Breckenridge Brewery, then Great Divide Brewery, where the tiny bar is located immediately adjacent to the brewery.  They must have just mashed in a kettle  of malted barley, as the bar was filled with the sweet smell of wert.  It reminded me of brewing in my garage.

View from rooftop bar

After that the sun was starting to set so we rolled to the Tavern Uptown next to Coors Field where we spent a while at their rooftop bar overlooking the city.  My old roommate and buddy Collin showed up and I was able to meet his wonderful wife Jane.  Collin and I go way back to my days of waiting tables and scrounging for food and gas money in Manassas in the mid 90's.  We shared a house with another friend Gary and anybody who knows us from back then remembers some of the crazy things we got into.  I won't go into it now but there were some fires in the house, a pet bobcat, yard parties, cops, and high-speed wrecks.  I've already said too much.
By dark we were biking back to Rudi's place.  It's strange to be riding through dark city streets filled with traffic, and there's a better chance of colliding with another biker than there is getting hit by a car.  Everyone here is much more courteous and aware of the pedestrians.

It was a good day: another great experience in another great American city.  Thanks Rudi for your hospitality!  Now on to Leadville, CO.