As Jimmy Buffet once sang, "The Weather is here, Wish you were beautiful." 

Actually, the weather is beautiful here, and we wish you were here to enjoy it. It's been a great fall season. Cottonwoods along the Colorado River still show their colorful yellow leaves, although they are beginning to shed for winter. While much of the state has experienced cold, winter-like temperatures, we had only one cold spell a couple weeks ago, and it's been in the 60s since then. 

Sure, it may drop down to the 40s for a day or two as this next storm blows over us and dumps snow in the high country, where it belongs. But it'll be nice and warm in a couple days. So don't put your road bicycle away just yet. 

Layer up, and take a ride across East Orchard Mesa. Orchards and vineyards, fruit stands and wineries -- you'll find quite a few of them on this ride. Of course, many of the fruit stands are closed for the season, but the wineries are still open. Most of them offer wine tasting, so you might want to bring a pack to carry home a couple bottles of some famous Palisade wine.

One of the best spots to begin and end a ride across Orchard Mesa from Grand Junction to Palisade is at Eagle Rim Park. To find this park, find 5th Street and Ute Avenue in downtown Grand Junction. 5th Street is also Colorado State Highway 50, and it leads you south over the Colorado River. Go 1.25 miles on 5th to Unaweep Avenue, and turn left. Go 1.1 miles on Unaweep to the Orchard Mesa Middle School, turn left, or east, at 27 3/8 Road and pedal into the Eagle Rim Park. You'll find a skate park, pavilion,  water, restrooms and views of the Colorado River, Mount Garfield and the Grand Mesa.

From the river overlook at the park, you can see the pedestrian bridge that spans the river. Hop on your bicycle and take that bridge to the north side of the river, where it turns right at C 1/2 Road. You then have to pedal to 29 Road, turn right for about a quarter-mile, then hop onto the Colorado Riverfront Trail and cruise on that to 32 Road and the Jim Robb Colorado River State Park, Corn Lake section. 

From there, the road winds some more, and the best way to follow this trip is to get a map or bicycle with a local. If you don't know a local, I suggest a map drawn by a local -- one John Hodge -- whose maps are featured at the Tomorrow Hill Farms website.

Let me tell you -- John knows his stuff and produces some great local bicycling maps. Check 'em out. Then check out this gorgeous weather and a wonder bicycle ride across the orchards and vineyards of East Orchard Mesa. You'll be glad you did.