The Ride Home

May 31, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

I have been in Texas for most of May, visiting with the folks and friends and helping out with my 98 year old Grandmother's affairs. On the 30th of May, I bid a reluctant farewell to the folks and my daughter and grandsons drove me from Wichita Falls, TX to Raton, NM. Raton is just over half way between Wichita Falls, TX and Fort Collins, CO. Tim met us in Raton on The Ride. I shipped all but a couple of changes of my clothing from Texas to Colorado last week. After seeing the daughter and grandsons off after a big breakfast Sunday morning, we started on a leisurely ride home which would be nearly the entire length of Colorado from south to north.

I was so looking forward to the ride and I have to admit I was pretty darn happy to see ol' Tim and the Harley. Lots of pics follow.

Ride Home Part One and Raton Pass
Leaving out from Raton, NM, headed north on I-25 takes you over easy-riding Raton Pass (elevation 7834). I remember as a girl, traveling over Raton pass on vacation with the folks was quite the adventure. It was my first time over any mountain pass and I loved every thrilling moment of it. Little did I know... that as passes go... Raton is a baby pass... Because of all the rain this spring, the pass is as green and lush as I recall at any other time. The morning was bright and crisp, perfect riding weather.

Ludlow Massacre Memorial
Along the way, we stopped at the site of the Ludlow Massacre. We've driven past the sign for that too many times to count, but sight-seeing is more fun on the Harley so this time we stopped. It's an interesting and sad story about a conflict between Striking Coal Miners and the Colorado National Guard (called in by the Mining Companies) resulting in the loss of many innocent lives including women and children.

Ludlow Massacre

Ride Home Part Two and San Isabel Forest
Why ride hectic I-25 north when a trip through scenic San Isabel Forest will get you there with your sanity in tact? Even though the route is marked as a scenic by-way, it is one of the best kept secrets in Colorado. It is a favorite ride with bikers of course but we are always amazed at the number of tourists and even locals and natives who have never seen this part of Colorado. We picked up clouds before heading west and the skies over the forest didn't look too friendly, but we rode on anyway... and picked up a smattering of cold rain a few miles in... enough to make Tim stop and don his jacket but not enough to deter us from journeying on.

Looking south from the excellent Colorado City Rest Stop, you can see the rounded Spanish Peaks which the Ute Indians called the Breasts of the Earth. The Spanish Peaks were the landmark used to locate La Veta Pass and the Taos Trail. To the North is Pikes Peak and to the west is a spectacular view of Green Horn Mountain (elevation 12,350) and the rest of the peaks in the Wet Mountain Range.

Bishop Castle
No ride through San Isabel Forest is complete without a stop at the castle. Bishop Castle is a massive hand built castle under construction by the same family since 1969 (40 years) sitting just off the side of the road. It is on Hwy 165 about 27 miles west of Colorado City and I-25.

More info on Bishop Castle

Ride Home Part Three
Once out of the Forest, we turned The ride toward Florence and stopped at a gas station in Florence for an ice cream and to stretch our legs. I talked to a couple of guys with show cars who had just left the town of Florence where they had participated in a celebration honoring veterans. The car show ended early due to some rather ominous storms on the horizon.

Ride Home Part Four
We didn't tarry long. A big storm was brewing over Pikes Peak and we were anxious to get through the Springs [Colorado Springs] before rain set in. The Springs is notorious for monsoon-like rains and flash flooding. As it turned out, we encountered a traffic jam on I-25 and decided to get off of the interstate and ride around the east side of the Springs on Hwy 83. We followed 83 all the way into Denver, followed 470 around the west side of Denver and took one of our favorite routes through Golden, Boulder, Lyons and finally home. We arrived at exactly 7 pm.

It is good to be home. This ride (over 300 miles) was our longest to date. We are looking forward to longer roads and perhaps a bit more sunshine this summer.