Out On The Town – Fort Collins, Colorado

I had a domesticated morning catching up on laundry – someone commented I seem to be fixated on laundry – but if you have traveled for weeks over very long distances with one change of clothes, then you do need to wash quite often – or stink!

I had noticed there was a bus service into town, so I caught a bus around lunchtime and headed into downtown Fort Collins.

Initial impression – there was a lot of signage and notices around town…..

But I did find a welcome sign

And a lovely town is too – lots of character. I was fascinated by all the pianos around town – they all work and people can just sit down and play

Pianos About Town 2013

Pianos About Town is a collaborative effort between the Fort Collins Art in Public Places Program and community partners Bohemian Foundation and Downtown Development Authority. This exciting project brings together visual art and music for the public to enjoy.

Entering its third year, Pianos About Town is a project which selects local artists to paint donated pianos in Old Town Square and places the pianos around Fort Collins for the community to discover and play.”Our artists are out painting pianos from May until early October,” said Ellen Martin, City of Fort Collins visual arts administrator. “Then we move them around town so you can happen upon them, enjoy the art, and play the piano.”

http://www.fcgov.com/artspublic/ 

This is a fabulous bronze

And I haven’t found any info on this but I guess it is to do with the collaborative art project

I spotted this Triumph – but wasn’t too keen on the colour

But here is where my sort of art was to be found 🙂

Check out the huge range available in this bar here

A short precis of the small samplers ….

THE  ‘NOT BROWN ALE’, THE PUNJABI PALE ALE AND THE HORSE TOOTH STOUT WERE VERY NICE, THE OTHERS WERE SO-SO

THE GREEN CHILLI BEER WAS GREAT, PERHAPS BECAUSE IT WAS SO DIFFERENT. IT HAD A TYPICAL CHILLI AFTERBURN, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO GINGER BEER; NOT THAT I LIKE GINGER BEER

THEY HAD A WHEAT BEER BUT THAT WAS NOT TO MY TASTE

OBVIOUSLY, I HAD TO LEAVE THE CHILLI BEER UNTIL LAST AS IT WOULD HAVE SPOILED THE TASTE OF ALL THE OTHERS.

Back at the motel, I had slept for a couple of hours. At around 1830 I got a phone call from the workshop; the bike was ready. So I geared up and went to pick the Breva up and return the BMW.

Flash and I agreed to meet up later for a final meal together – unfortunately Beth couldn’t make it out to dinner.

It has been great meeting the family – all very articulate and interesting with lots of travel adventures under their belts. And I have really appreciated having the BMW to see some of the area whilst waiting for the work to be done.

It’s time to head off again today – I am thinking of heading north into Wyoming. Tomorrow is Independence Day – so I am hoping I can find a small, cheap motel off the beaten track.

Ride safe.