Lunch Run

Lunchtime.

We decided to hit our favorite barbecue joint - a high-class scarfing establishment called "Piggin' Out". Piggin' Out is considered to be one of the best barbecue joints in town. Their ribs, like sex on a plate. Their brisket, without equal.  Their sauces, and rubs, ambrosia.

P.O. is only a couple miles from the house, but it was such a nice day - warm, sunny -that  a Canyon Drive, first, seemed like a better idea.  A much better idea.  An Excellent Idea.



So off we went!

  

The first order of business, then, was head for Deer Creek Canyon.  Deer Creek is a typical Front Range canyon road.  It's narrow, lots of twists, turns, and elevation changes, scenic, and total a blast to drive.

Most of the time, anyway.

I suppose, at this point, I should be telling a story about what a thrill and joy it is to go tear-assing up a narrow canyon road, top down, wind in your hair, the intoxicating exhaust note and your Best Gal at your side on a warm autumn day.  I should, because it was all of that.  I won't, at least not yet.

Things did not get off to a good start.

As we started winding our way into the canyon we came upon an accident - a cyclist, injured and lying on the road awaiting an ambulance (which was on it's way).  It was a sobering reminder that canyon driving is serious business and you really need to be on your toes.  Canyon roads can be hazardous. Besides bicycles, you'll find critters of various shapes and sizes, pedestrians out for a stroll, and other vehicles - cars and motorcycles - some going too fast and others going too slow.  Encountering such road hazards can really mess up your day of you're not careful.  Hit a Critter (larger ones), a bike, or rear-ending a Slow Mover means your drive is pretty much screwed. You don't want to be screwed ..... especially when you're on the road to the Greatest Barbecue In Colorado.

But back to the drive ......

The Miata is a perfect car for canyon drives like Deer Creek. You can throw the car into corners (of which there are plenty), accelerate hard as you exit , and still not flirt with the speed limit too much. The car's small size makes driving feel like you're going much faster than you are, so the Fun Factor is high. You don't have to be going a million miles an hour to have fun driving a car like this.

And it was a glorious day to be out, made more so by the prospect of sexy ribs slathered in smoke, spices, and sauce, awaiting us at road's end. 

Yes, I take barbecue seriously.

Tiny Town

Anyway, after Deer Creek Canyon you drop down to Turkey Creek and Tiny Town.  Tiny Town is a quirky little tourist attraction on Turkey Creek. It was started back in the 1920s by a father entertaining his daughter. Beginning as a couple 1/6 - scale buildings, Tiny Town grew to over 100 and even had it's own railroad. Tiny Town was what we used to uncharitably call a "tourist trap", and was a going concern until after WW2, when the main highway was rerouted. After that, it was "out of sight, out of mind" for Tiny Town. There have been ups, and downs, but is currently in operation (May-September). It has a neat, kinda kitchey feel to it.  It's a reminder that roadside attractions like Tiny Town used to be everywhere. People weren't in so much of a hurry. They had time, took time, to stop and enjoy. We're in such a hurry nowadays, and sadly, a lot more stressed. Maybe it's better to keep an eye out for Tiny Towns and slow down.

After Tiny Town we picked up Parmalee Gulch Road and headed for Kittredge. Parmalee Gulch is easy and undemanding. The temptation to Go Fast is strong here, but there will be lots of deer, elk and let's not forget police who will gladly ticket you or worse.  A lot of people live in this area and county sheriff's deputies patrol the area.

Tickets suck ..... especially when you're starting to get hungry.

Kittredge is a fairly typical mountain town - bars, restaurants and a post office. Other than that, Kittredge is unremarkable save for the fact that Gary Hart lives around there somewhere. For those who were born yesterday, you can find out more about Gary Hart here: Click Me.

View Lunch Run in a larger map.

The road below Kittredge, Highway 74,  is wider, with fewer tight turns and more traffic than Deer Creek and Parmalee Gulch. The road is used by commuters going to and from the Evergreen area, so you seldom get this bit of road to yourself.  We got behind a Slow-Mover.  This is the sort of benighted driver that will drive at the speed limit through the easy/fast stretched of road and then slow WAY down for turns and get on the brakes at the most inappropriate places.  We were several cars backs from the Slow-Mover and there would no chances to pass unless he got out of the way.  There should be laws.  People who drive like that cause unrest.

Grin, bear it, and enjoy the ride.

Just before you break out on the flat, you pass though Morrison. Morrison's a neat little town with trendy, but good eateries, various services and is just down the hill from the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheater (click). Less well known is the nearby Dinosaur Ridge (click), which is known for ...... wait for it ..... dinosaurs!  We could have stopped in Morrison to eat, and as things turned out, we probably should have, but awesome barbecue was on the agenda and that was now only a couple miles away. We were getting hungry, so we pressed on.

Good Citizens riding near Morrison.  Yes, the lead rider has one arm. 
Most canyon roads don't have this much shoulder to ride on.

A few minutes later we were at the door of Piggin' Out. It was like the Pearly Gates of Heaven. We were standing at the door of what could be argued to be the best barbecue in the Denver Metro, bar none ....

and they were closed.

Shit!

Saturday, lunchtime, and the best barbecue joint in the state ain't open. There was something terribly and fundamentally wrong with that.  We had driven over 30 miles, out of our way, and wanted not just barbecue (we could have gotten that anywhere), but Piggin' Out barbecue, the best in town, what would have made the perfect end to a great drive.

And they're fucking closed.

Complete Downer.  Total Buzz-kill, and let me tell, you, when you have your heart set on bar-b-cue that good and can't have it, it sucks. Really sucks. Out loud!

We shuffled around in front of the door for a few minutes, aimlessly, as if someone would suddenly appear bearing ribs, slaw and fries, but it was not to be.  Forlorn, we got back in the car .....

and went somewhere else.