Inspired by Steamboat Springs style, we head east considering wearing Stetsons instead of helmets. Cowboy hats on Harleys has been a thing ever since Dennis Hopper made it cool in Easy Rider, back in 1969. It’s truly a fashion statement.

I wrote that just to see if Sarah and Gail were paying attention. Of course we’ve got our helmets on. Safety first.

We’re now heading east on US-40, toward the tiny Town of Walden, about 60 miles away. To get there, we ride over Rabbit Ears Pass, yet another crossing of the Continental Divide.

Walden, population 600, is in the center of a large open valley called North Park. Walden is located just north of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, and calls itself the Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado.

Walden was named for Mark Walden, an early postmaster there. The town has a reservoir, but not a pond. Yes, that was an obtuse reference to Walden Pond, inspiration for Henry David Thoreau.

Thoreau’s Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, actually got its name from early colonists who named it after Saffron Walden in Essex, England. Glad you asked?

***

In Walden, Colorado, we begin riding the Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway, which runs 101 miles along the Cache la Poudre River, from Walden to Fort Collins. We’ll be doing most of that ride today, stopping short of Fort Collins, home to Colorado State University, the state’s fifth-largest city.

The Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway crosses between the Never Summer and Medicine Bow Mountains. The Never Summer Mountains have 17 named peaks, many of them named after cloud types, such as Mount Cirrus, Mount Nimbus, Mount Stratus and Mount Cumulus.

The Cache la Poudre winds through the piney hills and willow-covered riparian habitat of Colorado State Forest State Park, the mot reliable place in Colorado to see a moose. No wonder Walden is the Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado.

Cache la Poudre is French for “Hide the Powder.” It refers to an incident in the 1820s when French trappers, caught by a snowstorm, were forced to bury part of their gunpowder along the banks of the river. And now you know.

The Cache la Poudre is popular in the summer for fly fishing, whitewater rafting, tubing, and kayaking. The National Park Service has designated the river as a National Heritage Area, recognizing its contributions to the development of water law in the Western US.

Poudre Canyon Road is an invigorating way to begin the day. The canyon is breathtaking, with hundreds of gentle curves, just enough to keep our focus. Poudre Canyon is considered one of the top motorcycle rides in Northern Colorado.

After riding 72 of the Cache la Poudre’s 101 miles, we turn south on Stove Prairie Road, and begin heading toward Estes Park, tonight’s destination. This road, too, is one of the top motorcycle roads in Northern Colorado. Stove Prairie Road becomes Buckhorn Road, for no apparent reason, but continues its twisty path to Masonville, which has a general store, a post office, and little more.

A few miles south of Masonville, we turn west on US-34, which deposits us, 27 miles later, in Estes Park.

The city is named after Missouri native Joel Estes, who founded the community in 1859, then moved his family there four years later.

Estes Park sits along the Big Thompson River, and adjoins Lake Estes. Its most famous landmark is the historic Stanley Hotel, which opened in 1909. The hotel was built by Freelan Oscar Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame.

The Big Thompson River, on which the hotel sits, is named for English fur trapper David Thompson. He was employed in 1810 by the Northwest Fur Company to explore the Rockies.

We arrive in Estes Park after a ride of 180 mostly spectacular miles, ready for ribs at Smokin’ Dave’s.

It would be hard to imagine a more appropriately named place to eat: Smokin’ Dave’s.

Turns out, not surprisingly, Smokin’ Dave’s delivers on the promise: their ribs make our podium (top three), and are likely to stay there when our Rib Rally ends in a few days.

Now, after 11 consecutive rib meals, here are the updated standings: #1, Slow Groovin (Marble); #2, tie: Serious Texas BBQ (Durango), and Smokin’ Dave’s (Estes Park).

***

Day Eleven Summary: On the lookout for moose, finding the hidden gunpowder in Cache la Poudre Canyon.

Click here to see today’s complete route from Steamboat Springs to Estes Park.

Glad you’re along for the ride.

Vroom, vroom.

***

Today’s Colorado Fun Fact: The first Teddy Bear was invented in Colorado, when the maids at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs crafted the Teddy Bear to give it to a famous visitor – Theodore Roosevelt.

Today’s Rocky Mountain Rib Rally Fun Fact: Tonight, we’re staying in Estes Park. That, by itself, isn’t too interesting. But you may be interested to know the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park was the inspiration behind Stephen King’s infamous horror novel, The Shining.

Today’s Colorado Food Fun Fact: Tomorrow, we’ll be riding through Rocky Mountain National Park, with a peak elevation of 12,183 feet. What to eat and drink at that altitude? According to one website, carbohydrates are the preferred energy source at altitude. Carbs replace depleted muscle glycogen, preventing muscle from being used as energy, and requires less oxygen for metabolism. A high-carb diet can reduce the onset and severity of Acute Mountain Sickness. And, stay hydrated; dehydration at altitude increases the risk of frostbite and worsens the fatigue, impaired judgment and apathy of hypoxia brought on by high altitude.