First, we did a little shopping. Or at least looking. Didn't spend any money yet, but I'm on the hunt for a new pair of hiking boots. There's a factory outlet store in Cheyenne, so I'm kind of waiting to see what they've got. But, if a deal was out there, I would scoop it up.
But first, we had to deal with this!
The little blue car is a trooper though, and it wasn't long before he was ready to go. Good thing we didn't hit the highway yesterday. The I-25 was closed again off and on all day yesterday, with it getting worse the further you got in to Wyoming.
Not good roads!
No problem though. Being from Ottawa, I've driven lots of roads like this!
I've always figured that the Canada Goose is not the smartest bird in the sky!
Went to a couple of stores. Of course there was nobody shopping because of the weather. I got a kick out of the "sales" people. You would think they would try to make at least one sale that day, but there was no effort at all. Couldn't find anything on sale, and I'm not paying full price.
So, with that done, it was time for a beer. There are a lot of breweries here in Fort Collins, and not only the big ones...lots of little craft breweries. During our time here in Colorado I had tried a couple of different beers from a place called Odell Brewing Company and had liked them. So we headed over there.
Odell Brewing Company
Only four people on our tour, so we were fortunate that tour guide Kailey gave us a more personalized version. Interesting to note they only ship to ten different states, so no, it's not available in Canada. Still, they're a big enough company with 84 employees. Really nice beer, but at $9.50 for a 6 pack it's good for a treat but it's out of my price range.
Here's Kailey explaining things to us.
The used hops have a nice smell!
They have a lot of different batches on the go!
And of course, the tasting room!
One of the things I took away from the tour is that the employees have a lot of fun. It really seems like a great place to work!
Looks like things have cleared up today and the roads are open. We're heading north! There appears to be a three day window of decent weather ahead of us, so we're going to get caught up on our driving and do three days of approximately 260 miles (416 kms) per day. That gets us in to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan by the afternoon of Saturday the 20th!
Love the brewery tours, especially if they have free samples. Take advantage of the good weather and make a run for it. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest they gave only a small, small glass as a sample. Any other brewery tour we have been on give out at least a full sized glass. Having said that you wouldn't want to have much beer in you when the roads were as bad as the were.
DeleteOh that snow is so pretty.....wouldn't want to be driving through that in a MH though!
ReplyDeleteI like brewery tours!
Be safe!
Gay Taylor
good-times-rollin.blogspot.com
Yep, the snow did look pretty!
DeleteThose geese look so out of place! But great snow shots. Good luck with the next 3 days, we will get home on the 20th.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you too, hope your border crossing goes well.
DeleteBeer lovers would love this area. Many breweries. Budweiser has a large plant in Ft. Collins (not that I would drink a Bud). New Belgium makers of Fat Tire and others also in Ft. Collins. A few miles away in Longmont we know Left Hand - I drink their Black Jack Porter - and would like to try their Wake Up Dead. Lots of other small producers in CO - to many to list.....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lefthandbrewing.com/verify-age
http://www.newbelgium.com/LegalPurchasingAge.aspx?ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.newbelgium.com%2fhome.aspx
Kevin would have liked to have gone to the New Belguim Brewing Company but they were closed on Wednesday. Guess that will just have to wait for another visit.
DeleteI still can't imagine going from sunny Mexico to snowy Colorado. Sounds like you have fun and find things to do no matter where you go.
ReplyDeleteWe are wishing we were back in Mexico right now but spring is on it's way so hopefully it won't be long and we will see nice warm weather again. We always can find things to do no matter what the weather is like!
DeleteSo, if you head farther north, will it get warmer? I do realise part of the issue is the elevation, so I'm sure you'll be in better conditions soon.
ReplyDeleteMy idea of a perfect road trip involves touring all the micro-breweries in Ontario. Just to start.
I've only had one "tour", which was here in Burlington at Nickel Brook
This was a few years back, before they renovated and expanded. I was the only one to get the tour, the Brew Master is German, so he did the whole show and tell in German.
I never did get to a brewery the whole time we were in Europe, so I guess that one will have to do.
Yes, the weather should be a bit warmer as we head a little further north. Part of the problem with the weather right now is that they have had a couple of bad weather systems go through this area that aren't really normal at this time of year also the elevation doesn't help. We are around 5,000ft (1525m).
DeleteNeither a fan of beer nor snow. But give me a Margarita or a good glass of wine......yum. Be safe!
ReplyDeleteI am the same, Kevin is the one that likes the beer.
DeleteAnd the roads around Moose Jaw, nothing like you've been through so far. That weather is making Regina's stoic snowbanks look good. Safe journey and thanks for the new brewery tip.
ReplyDeleteIt is starting to sound much better up in your neck of the woods, soon to be ours. Hope it continues that way,Tthanks for the weather update Ryshia.
DeleteLooks like you're having fun. Be careful on those icy roads
ReplyDeleteWe are despite the weather, although driving wasn't a whole lot of fun.
DeleteGuy's where is your MotorHome ?????
ReplyDeleteSherman is in Mexico! The job that we have this summer includes accommodation so we left Sherman in Mexico and drove the little blue car up and at the end of the season we will store the little blue car and then make our way back to Mexico and next year will we be back to normal and travel with Sherman.
DeleteIs Tioga George watching over it for you guys...
DeleteNo...Sherman is with our friends at Hacienda Contreras RV Park.
Deletesnowy/icy roads are tiring. I know I have driven strait through from pennsylvania to dardenne, and the worst part was the snow in the moutains of pa.( Afraid I am one of those horse to the barn people.) Drive safely, as you said your living in Ottawa gives you the edge, but its the others you have to watch out for.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's what I keep saying to Kevin. I trust his driving but I'm not so sure about some of the other people. No worries, we are taking care and being careful.
DeleteThe breweries their and in Boulder are wonderful. Our favorite was the Southern sun Brewery which is part of a group of breweries called Mountain Sun. We got thru the mountains before this big snow but still getting some even in Iowa. I'm sure the skiiers are loving it but we are longing for spring weather. Hopefully soon. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteWe hadn't heard of Mountain Sun Brewery so we will have to check that one out next time we are in the area.
DeleteGlad that you were able to escape that worst of the weather. We saw a number of 5th wheelers on the highway and we didn't envy them with the icy roads and the high winds.
Your post reminded me of when we slept in a tent in the Grand Canyon in April. We'd set up our tent earlier when the sun was out and had a meal when the snow came before returning to our cold accomodation. Were the beer samples good?
ReplyDeleteOh, that didn't sound like a lot of fun. Hope the rest of your holiday worked out well.
DeleteThe beer sample was pretty tiny, most brewery tours we have done give out a full glass sample and this one was very small so not really much of a taste!
Now you have me looking for hiking boots. I need them. This is what I like:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rei.com/product/828479/merrell-moab-mid-waterproof-hiking-boots-mens#video-inner
These are very similar to the ones Kevin already has. He has got a lot of life out of them and you know that we have put them through a lot. I say if they are comfortable then go for it. It is money well spent.
Deletesaluddd amigosss¡¡
ReplyDeleteSalud Paco y Oty!
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