Million Mile Monday Ride

June 29, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

It is Million Mile Monday. Tim logged 200 miles today. I have logged 196 miles today. He gets 4 more miles because of the ride to and from work. We didn't get as early a start as we would have liked. Tim worked until nearly 1 am and needed to get some sleep. We rolled out of the neighborhood before 8:30 am heading in a southerly direction through Loveland, Longmont, Boulder and eventually, Golden. Soon we were riding past the casinos at Blackhawk and Central City heading up. We rode the peak-to-peak highway in the glorious Rocky Mountains with sunshine on our shoulders the whole way. Can you see me smiling? We met lots of other riders along the peak-to-peak highway. It is a popular ride, no matter what the reason.

This was a quick ride by mountain standards. Normally, we will dawdle and make a day out of this one. We stopped in Golden for gas, in Nederland for coffee and a cookie at the New Moon Bakery (a favorite stop for us) and made a final stop at the Visitor Center in Estes Park before riding hard down the canyon to Loveland and arriving home about 2 pm, just in time for Tim to grab his lunch and get to work.

It was a great ride. Now all we have to do is see how many other riders were out there contributing to the cause.

Wichita Falls, TX - They had rain in Texas, today. The skies cleared enough to get out about 4 pm. Dad logged 52 miles today...

Oh yeah - I took pictures...

Breakfast in Laramie Wyoming Ride

June 28, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

Tim is working a regular shift this Sunday because of the impending holiday. The sunshine was hard, check that - impossible to resist this morning so by 9:30 am we were on the Harley and in search of breakfast. We found breakfast about 68 miles north of here in Laramie, Wyoming.

It is a rare day to ride this particular road without encountering high winds. It is Wyoming, meaning it is a rare day when the wind doesn't blow - or howl. We made it almost to the state line before we picked winds up this trip in. As we rode through town, we noticed it was busier than usual for a Sunday morning. It looked like they were setting up for some sort of festival. We rode on to Shari's Restaurant for coffee and - you guessed it - a cinnamon roll. Shari's cinnamon rolls are large and drenched in a caramel pecan topping. YUM!

We noticed a couple of old Army vehicles in town. Odd. Before riding back to Fort Collins, we stopped at a Shell station just off I-80 for gas. We talked to a couple there on Harleys, the Ultra was pulling a trailer. They were from North Carolina. she was wearing a USMC sweater and flying what looked like a Marine flag. They were headed to Oregon on a 6000 mile vacation. Wow - does that sound like fun or what?

On the road again, it wasn't long before we spotted an Army convoy. That's what all the activity in Laramie was about I'm guessing - a welcome home for the boys! If Tim wasn't due to work today, we would have turned around and followed them back into town. We waved and got quite a response.

The rest of the ride in was fairly uneventful. The winds gave Tim a devil of a time with his do-rag and he finally just took it off and rode the rest of the way in without it. We enjoyed our 136 mile breakfast ride.

A few pics follow and a video of the army convoy...

Serious Texas BBQ via Carter Lake Ride

June 27, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Tim arrived home from Saturday shift work about 5:45 pm. By 6:10 we were on the Harley and headed out on a supper run of sorts. This is the first afternoon in several days where storms were not an issue. The day was warm and the skies fairly clear. YAY!

Our ride took us west around part of Horsetooh Reservoir, south to Loveland and beyond for a ride around Carter Lake. While cruising around Carter Lake we noticed a motorcycle with a side car in front of us. We could see heads moving in the side car and thought a couple was out for a ride with the kids. Well, I guess they were - three kids to be exact - of the four-leg variety. When we caught up to them we could see three dogs in the side car, two wearing helmets and at least one or two of them wearing goggles.

We rode the long way around, down one coutry lane and another to Serious Texas BBQ where we enjoyed a great meal. This is where Tim wanted to eat on Father's Day, but we didn't make it back from the Colorado State HOG Rally weekend in time. Afterwards, we enjoyed a leisurely ride home with a stunning sunset for a view.

National HOG Rally OKC

June 27, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Dad and Kenny are on their way to the National HOG Rally in Oklahoma City today. We wish them safe riding and can hardly wait to hear all about it. The day will be HOT.

We would have ridden that way this weekend if not for work and would have enjoyed meeting up and riding with Dad and our friends from Texas. Oh well... another time, another road.

Stay tuned for Dad's take on the event.

Update #1: Dad and Kenny arrived in OKC at 9:25 am. There are -- Lots and lots of bikes.

Update #2: From Mom: YOUR DAD CALLED ME ABOUT 1:45... THEY HAD JUST RIDDEN IN TO JAKE'S RIBS IN [Chickasha] OKLAHOMA. THEY WERE PRETTY HOT. HE SAID THEY WERE GOING TO EAT AND HAVE A DRINK OF COLD WATER AND REST FOR A WHILE... IT IS 102 HERE NOW AND THE HEAT INDEX IS 104... THE AIR WILL BLISTER YOU.

Update #3: Dad and Kenny rode into Wichita Falls about 5:00 pm. Hot, tired and thirsty... He says they had a great time. They took in stunt shows and other exhibitions. At the time Dad registered (early in the day), they were reporting ten to fifteen thousand bikers. More later... and maybe some pics...

Rist Canyon BTGTW Ride

June 26, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

I have mentioned it before - Rist Canyon is a great ride just out our front door. A quick trip via scenic Bingham Hill Rd over to Vern's at LaPorte for gas and soon we headed west past the Bellvue Store and in a manner of minutes we were riding through Rist Canyon. The road is good in fair weather and on weekdays the traffic is light. On weekends you'll share the road with lots of other bikers and cyclists... We enjoyed the ride in shirt sleeves. It can be cool in the canyon under cloud cover. We had a few clouds but ran out from under them for the better part of the ride. At the Stove Prairie junction (a favorite biker rest stop), we turned south and rode Buckhorn Canyon into Masonville and over the dam toward home. A turn north at Stove Prairie leads to the Poudre Canyon. Either way, it is as I said, a great ride. Undulating hills, unexpected sharp twists, blind turns and steep grades. Riding the part of the canyon we rode today is just over 50 miles from the house and takes just over an hour.

It is pleasant to ride in the mornings in northern Colorado. Most mornings are clear, cool and crisp. Our afternoons have been stormy and unpredictable lately. Thunderstorms are likely any afternoon through most of the summer. They were building fast as we turned The Ride toward home about noon. The rule of thumb for mountain driving, riding, cycling, hiking is early in - out by 2 pm.

Happy Harley Anniversary #1

June 25, 2009
Fort Collins, CO


Last year on this day, we added a Harley to our lives... Little did we know that things would never be the same... we've never had so darn much fun... this year's pics I'll add later today... or maybe tomorrow - because - guess what? We are out riding.

Later: We rode to Johnson's Corner for a cinnamon roll and coffee. Afterwards visited the CB Shop across the street where we saw a rather interesting flathead something or other ride. The CB shop carries lots of biker leathers and accessories. We stopped by Thunder Mountain for a few minutes and admired (drooled all over it) the Ultra Classic Tri-Glide (trike) in Vivid Black sitting on the floor. What a beauty!

The road we planned to take home was closed to thru traffic - so - I say to Tim - oh me - looks like we'll have to take the long way around Loveland - which took us down back roads, country lanes and eventually over the dam of course...

10,320 Miles

June 24, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Yesterday, we dropped The Ride off at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson for a well-deserved 10,000 mile maintenance and new rear brake pads. Considering Tim didn't get his license until around the first of August last year and that our real riding didn't begin until nearly September, I guess 10,000 miles in nine months is pretty good.

But who's counting - well chances are - Tim is - he's a number guy. You don't say 10,000 miles if it is actually 10,320. You don't figure anything is about half an inch - either it is or it isn't. You don't say it is cold or hot unless you know how [the number] cold or hot it is. I see flowers blooming, Tim sees how many. You absolutely do not say you are celebrating your birthday the weekend before or after your birthday. He says - the day is the day. You get the idea. All I'm saying is a little precision is needed when talking numbers with Tim. Now you know why we keep track of the miles. Ha!

Rally Ride - Day 3, Part 5 - Almost Home

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

The ride through Fairplay and Home

Rally Ride - Day 3, Part 4, Monarch Pass

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

Riding over Monarch Pass

Rally Ride - Day 3, Part 3, The Ride Home - Blue Mesa

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

The Ride around Blue Mesa Reservoir

Rally Ride - Day 3, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Ride...

Rally Ride - Day 3, Part 2, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

Black Canyon of the Gunnison (the slide show)...

Rally Ride - Day 3, Part 1, The Ride Home

June 21, 2009
Sunday
Fort Collins, CO

Taking the long way home...

Day Three: Colorado State HOG Rally and Moab - 3 Day Ride

June 21, 2009
Sunday - Father's Day
Fort Collins, CO

We had rain overnight in Grand Junction, but it was mostly dry when we rose. We had our continental breakfast, loaded the Harley and checked out of the hotel by 8:30 am. It was time to point The Ride toward home. It was Father's Day. I called and tried to catch Dad early but he was out on a breakfast ride with Kenny. Good for him.

I presented Tim with a card and wished him a Happy Father's Day, too. He was feeling a bit frisky this morning. Isn't he always? It was also the Summer Solstice. Summer has officially arrived. OK. It felt good in our shirt sleeves standing around outside the hotel, but we still pulled on our leather jackets. Our ride would take us up along the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, around Blue Mesa Reservoir and even further up over Monarch Pass and into the high South Park valley.

I reckon the last day of even a short vacation can be a let down... but we were far from feeling depressed and eager to be on the road. We were taking the long way home and looking forward to every mile of it.

The first part of our ride took us back to the small town of Delta (halfway between Grand Junction and Montrose). Delta is a quaint little town. Many of the buildings are painted with murals. The oil crews that were working the roads on the far end of town Friday when we passed through, were now working in town. YUK! We topped off the tank with gas and headed east. In the past we have driven the south rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison out of Montrose. Today we would ride the north rim of the canyon. Not too far down the road, we ran into construction where they had taken the road down to dirt. !!^$#&^#&^$#!! So, we rode a couple of miles on dirt and loose gravel. After that, the ride was smooth and easy. We rode through tiny farm and ranch communities, past lush green valleys and rolling hills.



Before long though, the road began to climb and we entered black canyon country. There are a good many routes that qualify as oh-my-gawd roads in Colorado. The Million Dollar Highway near Ouray. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Summit Lake Road on Mount Evans. The Peak-to-Peak Highway. Glenwood Canyon. Monarch Pass. Independence Pass. Wolf Creek Pass. Lots more. Riding the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of those roads. Because of all the rain this year, everything is green, as green as we've ever seen it. The wildflowers, including sunflowers, wild yarrow, thistle, blue flax and pink summer phlox were blooming profusely along the roadside and in the high meadows. We didn't see deer or other larger wildlife but we saw many ground squirrels scamper across the road and we did see a mountain bluebird and heard it sing a sweet song when we were stopped at a rest area called Hermit's Rest. There we marveled at a lake at the bottom of this part of the canyon... a green lake... Morrow Lake, reflecting all the green of the hillsides. I found out later that there are pontoon boat rides on that lake. Hmmmmm...



We talked to a few people while at the rest stop and offered to take pictures of couples who kindly returned the favor. We stopped again at the bottom of the canyon before riding around Blue Mesa and the 15-20 some-odd miles into the town of Gunnison. We talked to a young man who rode in shortly after we did on a nice little crotch rocket. He was from Denver. He said that was the best road he had ever ridden and then joked that he was waiting on his buddy to catch up. His buddy rode up just as we were leaving. He was on an older Harley Sportster I think. He was also older. I don't know if he was all that much slower or if he just knew how to enjoy a ride.

The next part of our ride took us around Blue Mesa Reservoir. Blue Mesa is Colorado's largest body of water. It's a long, easy beautiful ride. The lake is surrounded by rolling hills and cliffs. And, it is blue - as blue as the sky above it.

By the time we reached Gunnison, we were ready to get off and stretch. We thought we might get brunch and make some calls. We had probably the yukkiest breakfast ever at Sugah's Cafe, A Southern Bistro on Main Street. I'm thinking it is pretty hard to mess up a ham and cheese omelet with green onions - but - ugh! Where to begin? The portions were tiny, the ham tasted more like gristled pastrami and they served it up with a side of cheese grits. How did I miss that when we ordered because I wouldn't have intentionally ordered grits... or was it a surprise? Did I mention the portions were tiny? And over-priced? I guess it's a good thing I didn't care for mine as Tim ate what I didn't. Tim can eat anything. He regretted it later I think. I know I did. I told him I would make it up before the day was out. Before heading out, Tim returned the daughter's Father's Day call while I caught Dad just coming in from his ride.

The next part of our ride home would take us over Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide for the second time in this trip. We love this drive but once again, this is a first time on the motorcycle. Wow! I can' tell you how much fun we were having. The summit of Monarch Pass is 11,312 feet above sea level. Yes, there's still snow on the ground up there. There's a nice Visitor Center with bathrooms, snack foods and a large gift shop. The same as you remember, Mom. Of course, we stopped, walked around, browsed through the curios, watched group after group of bikers ride in and out and took a picture of The Ride against a pristine mountain backdrop.


The ride down the pass on the motorcycle was easy... I think it is easier on the motorcycle than it is in a car. We eventually arrived at Poncha Springs/Salida. We wished we hadn't dined (if that's what you want to call it) in Gunnison. Salida was bustling with people attending some sort of water festival. We rode on as the day was marching by without consulting us... We rode into Fairplay and stopped for a coffee and a coke. We visited with a friendly group of CMA HOG riders who had attended the rally in Montrose also. Fairplay is a small town situated in a high mountain valley. Elevation is about 9950 feet or so. If I remember correctly, it was established as a prospecting town in the late 1850s. A section of the city is called South Park. It is a museum which includes many authentic turn of the century buildings. A ride through the valley is awesome. Mountains tower over the west side while the east is a wide expanse of flat grazing land.

Hwy 285 ambles down a bit and then over Red Hill Pass which is almost 10,000 in elevation. It's an easy road but after Hwy 285 passes through the town of Bailey, near Crow Hill it goes down at a rapid rate with steep grades and sharp curves, eventually leading into the suburbs on the west side of Denver. We chose to ride through Morrison and get a glimpse of Red Rocks, the site of a natural amphitheater. We've attended a couple of concerts there. The experience is amazing. We whipped into an open parking space to rest and stretch. I admit, my butt was flat and my knees were complaining. The storm cloud that chased us from Fairplay in finally caught up with us and it began to rain. We rode a back road that leads to extra parking at Red Rocks and cuts across to Golden, but we ran into tiny hail out of that storm cloud so we sat under an overpass with another biker until it let up. I guess it was about ten minutes.

The rest of the ride in, Hwy 93 through Golden and Boulder was uneventful. We arrived home at 8:03 pm. That's almost 12 hours on the road for a total of 413 miles. We parked the bike, unloaded, said hello to our neighbors, cleaned up and headed out in the Tahoe to find Tim a Father's Day supper. I mean, we had to do something about making up for that awful brunch. Chili's was our choice as it is one of the few restaurants in town that keeps later hours. Fajitas, quesadillas, endless chips and salsa along with a couple of El Presidente margaritas was the perfect end to a near perfect day.

We rode 1168 miles to revisit places we love, places we've never been and found some places we will visit again. We found out what a HOG rally is all about. We met some fun and interesting people along the way, saw some oh-my-gawd sights and realized a sun up to sun down ride is not only fun and exhilarating, now that summer is here, we say it is downright mandatory. I shot 1206 photos and video clips. Oh me! What was I thinking? Ha! I am still editing... this day's photos will post soon.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Monarch Pass
Fairplay, CO

Happy Father's Day

June 21, 2009
Fort Collins, CO



To all the Dads I know out there... have a good one -- you deserve it!

-V-

Rally Ride - Day2, Part 2 - Arches National Park

June 20, 2009
Saturday
Fort Collins, CO

The ride through Arches National Park, Moab Utah. ..

Rally Ride - Day 2, Part 1 - Riding into Utah

June 20, 2009
Saturday
Fort Collins, CO

The ride from Grand Junction into Utah...

Day Two: Colorado State HOG Rally and Moab - 3 Day Ride

June 20, 2009
Saturday
Fort Collins, CO

Ride to Moab Utah
After a good night's rest and a continental breakfast, we were ready for a ride just after 8 am into Utah - Moab, being the loose destination. We had planned to make a long loop past Moab back into Montrose for a second stop at the rally. It didn't quite work out that way as the weather didn't cooperate the whole day.

The morning was bright and almost warm, although high, thin cloud cover developed quickly as we rode west. We were happy to be riding out in denim jackets rather than leather. The wide open horizon with painted book cliffs in the distance was awesome to take in. We posed for pictures by the Welcome to Utah sign, which has seen better days... having been there since the 2002 Winter Olympic games.
We rode for what seemed a really long time with that wide open vista. A friend of Tim's had mentioned a cutoff at Cisco that wound through a river canyon into Moab. We found the first cutoff, but the road was rough and getting rougher as we rode along which would have been fine for a dirt bike. We turned around after a few miles and rode back to the interstate because we didn't like the road which offered no services and because we didn't know how big of a town Cisco would be or if gas would be available. We stopped about mid-morning for gas and a coffee break at a Shell station located at a crossroads called Thompson Springs. There we watched a pronghorn antelope with twin calves feeding nearby.


After another short stint on I-70 we turned south toward Moab on Hwy 191. The terrain changed again to rugged, towering cliffs and hills or dunes with a coppery green cast. Before long we rode up on the entrance to Arches National Park. We thought - why not? I had read about the Arches in a brochure the night before. Even better, we discovered at the gate it was free park entry this weekend.

We roamed through the Visitor's Center for a bit, posed for pictures and then took The Ride through the 27 miles of park at a leisurely pace. Allegedly, there are over 2,000 cataloged sandstone arches in Arches National Park. We enjoyed spotting a few for ourselves as well as those that were pointed out. The rock formations were similar to those found in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. We spent several hours in the park. There were many side roads leading to different attractions with names like The Three Gossips (my personal favorite), The Windows, Fiery Pit and The Devil's Garden. In the late 1800s, a Civil War veteran, and his son, built a homestead in what is now the park. A weathered log cabin, root cellar, and corral remain as evidence of the primitive ranch they operated for more than 10 years. Several of the arches required a hike into the hills. Ummmm... not in biker boots.

By the time we rode out of the park, the day was gray and there was an impressive storm building over the mountains just south of Moab. We were hungry so we rode the five miles into Moab, toured the main drag looking for restaurants (I think there are 3) and lunched at what looked like a fun place called Eddie McStiff's touting an open menu and over 72 beers on tap. We saw some other bikes in the parking lot, so we took a chance. The decor was BAR, nothing to get excited about, the service was slow and the food was average. Then there's this funky club law that required a $4 temporary fee which was credited on the bill. That law is about to be repealed July 1st. Two skimpy pulled pork sandwiches with fries and a pickle and an order of onion rings, plus 1 coffee and 1 water was $40 with tip. No, it was not a $40 meal. We felt fairly stiffed as we left Eddie McStiff's.




The storm arrived about the time we exited the restaurant. We lingered for a few minutes as rain began to patter down. We strolled out to the street and looked south which was the direction the rest of our trip was supposed to take us. The clouds looked fairly angry so we decided to ride back the way we came, which looked somewhat if not a whole lot better. Needless to say, the weather caught up and we rode about 80 miles in the rain. Guess where our new rain suits were? Right. Weather people just cannot be trusted these days... My Grandpa's gimpy elbow did a better job at predicting the weather. Anyway, about 50 miles outside of Grand Junction, we ran out of rain and dried out.

We passed on riding to the rally once we rolled back into Grand Junction. We talked to a few bikers who came from that direction - very wet - not good.

Our ride today was 291 miles and about 150 miles shy of what we had intended. Wet or not, we enjoyed every bit of it. Actually, we'll head back in that direction again. There are several National Parks in and around Moab that looked like great rides.

Afterword: We rode out of Grand Junction this morning in denim jackets, not leathers and we rode light having left our rain suits on a rack in the motel. Riding out of Moab, we met rain and considerable truck traffic that blasted us every so often with a good amount of water. Riding behind Tim, I don't catch as much water as he does. After about the third or fourth truck, he unexpectedly ducked. I didn't. As you can expect, I got plastered. Fortunately, I have a good sense of humor. And contrary to popular opinion I do not melt when I get wet. However, we learned how to duck in unison. Ha!

Arches National Park

Rally Ride - Day 1, Part 4, Colorado State HOG Rally

June 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Friday - June 19, 2009
The ride to Colorado State HOG Rally...

Rally Ride - Day 1, Part 3, The Road into Grand Junction

June 19, 2009
Friday
Fort Collins, CO

The road into Grand Junction...

Rally Ride - Day 1, Glenwood Canyon

June 19. 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Friday - June 19, 2009
The scenic ride through Glenwood Canyon...

Glenwood Canyon Ride - June 2009

Rally Ride - Day 1, Eisenhower Tunnel

June 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Friday - June 19, 2009
The Eisenhower Tunnel Ride

The Eisenhower Tunnel Ride - June 2009

Rally Ride - Day 1, Part 2, Continental Divide

June 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Friday - June 19, 2009
Riding toward the Continental Divide and the Eisenhower Tunnel...

Rally Ride - Day 1, Part 1, The Road to Idaho Springs

June 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Friday - June 19, 2009
The road to Idaho Springs

Day One: Colorado State HOG Rally and Moab - 3 Day Ride

June 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

We're baaaccckkk! Ha! Last Friday, June 19th we rolled out of the drive at 4:30 am for a three-day trip across the state to the Colorado State HOG Rally. At least, the rally was the loosely conceived reason (not that we need one) for our ride to the western slope and parts beyond.

Friday - June 19, 2009
Riding out - Fort Collins to Idaho Springs
Yawn! Despite the fact, that neither one of us could sleep the night before our trip, we were up early and eager to ride at 4:30 am. The temperature in Fort Collins was chilly (in the upper 40s I think) as most of our mornings are in northern Colorado. Chilly I say, but not uncomfortably so. We believed we would shed our heavy leather jackets by mid-morning. Some places south of us along Hwy 287 south had rain the night before but most of the clouds were clearing out about daybreak. As we turned west on I-70 into the mountains, it became one heckuva frosty ride. We ran into a cold mist of rain at Genessee near the notorious Floyd Hill so by the time we rode the 18 miles or so to Idaho Springs (elevation= 7524), our fingers were numb and we were cold through and through. We have been to Idaho Springs many times before but never this early in the morning. We found a promising restaurant, filled with locals (always a good sign) called Marion's of the Rockies across from the Shell station on Colorado Blvd, as luck would have it. We fumbled with buttons and snaps on our clothing with numb fingers and wrapped our hands around a steaming mug of hot and tasty coffee. Ahhhh! That's better. Marions was clean and the decor was homey or cozy, a little dated but that was part of the charm. Service was good, the breakfast was excellent. I had biscuits and sausage gravy with eggs. Tim had chicken fried steak and eggs. Just shy of an hour later we were warmed and ready to get back on the road.

Eisenhower Tunnel
Riding west in the shadow of the mountains that cradle I-70, we found that the morning had not warmed much in the hour we paused at Idaho Springs. We were glad for the full-fingered gloves we wore as we knew we would climb in elevation until we reached the Eisenhower Tunnel. Still, the temperature didn't matter... we were having such a great time. We've driven this part of I-70 many times in the years we have lived in Colorado but this was the first time we have ridden it on the motorcycle. Can you see me smiling? It was early so the west bound traffic was light. We rode past the mountain towns of Georgetown and Dillon remarking at how full the lakes were, how green and lush the mountain valleys. The remarkable point in this part of the trip is the tunnel, located between Georgetown and Silverthorne. The Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel was built in the 70s. It is located approximately sixty miles west of Denver. It is the highest vehicular tunnel in the world, located at an elevation of 11,013 feet at the East Portal and 11,158 feet at the West Portal. The Tunnel traverses 1.7 miles underneath the Continental Divide, the line which separates the nation into Atlantic and Pacific watersheds. I made a video clip of the trip through the tunnel and will share it soon in another post.

We stopped for a few minutes at a Visitor Center/Museum in Eagle, Colorado (elevation 6601), located just off the interstate in Chambers Park. It was somewhat warmer. We were too early to visit the museum which included a railroad car, a couple of log buildings and a barn. It was a nice stop for a stretch of the legs and a cup of coffee. But, when Tim popped the top on the thermos, he discovered the coffee was darn near frozen. Ah-Oh! As a result, we were back on the road quick, and off again at Glenwood Springs. We took a short (not altogether intentional) detour into Aspen, looking for something more than convenience store coffee, but got caught in a traffic jam of a Strawberry Festival or something of the sort. This is not the first time we've experienced stupid traffic (as Tim calls it) in Aspen. Needless to say, we got the heck out of there and settled on coffee and a cookie at a McDonald's in Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Canyon
The next part of this ride took us through scenic Glenwood Canyon which winds, for the most part along the Colorado River. Wow - that's the best adjective I can come up with. Again, we've been through the canyon before -- but on a motorcycle -- well -- as I said - WOW!

An engineering marvel, Glenwood Canyon is about 150 miles west of Denver and 90 miles east of Grand Junction. The 16 mile-long canyon is on the Colorado River between the towns of Glenwood Springs and Gypsum. A huge engineering challenge was undertaken starting in the 1980s to complete one of the last stretches of Interstate Highway through the canyon. Transportation, environmental, recreational and economic considerations all had to be taken into account before the completed highway opened in 1992. In the end, the canyon ended up with a freeway snaking through its length using bridges, tunnels and retaining walls to create a highway that did not hurt, and even contributed to, the canyon's appearance.

Yeah, I shot video clips through the canyon... I will post them soon.

Grand Junction and Colorado State Rally
The remainder of the ride into Grand Junction leaves the grandeur of the Rockies behind. That doesn't mean that the descent isn't every bit as scenic. Now you travel through rugged hills and get a taste of the southwest with painted cliffs, mesas and sand dunes. And, it was warmer. We never did shed those jackets but the sun on our faces was something to celebrate. We rode into Grand Junction and checked into our hotel just after 1 pm. We chose to stay in Grand Junction because the motels in Montrose were about twice the rate. Pooh! Plus, we didn't plan to spend the whole weekend at the rally. We planned to ride.

We freshened up, called the folks to let them know we safely arrived and rode the 71 miles to the Colorado State HOG Rally in Montrose. It took a few minutes to find the rally site as it was in a new park (not on the maps yet) and the signage could have been a bit better. We probably should have stopped at Black Canyon of the Gunnison Harley Davidson on the way through, but we were eager to get to the rally.

This was our first State HOG Rally, so we were not sure what to expect. We arrived about 4 pm amidst two to three hundred or so other riders. The park was small. The rally was small. We dutifully registered and contributed $50 to - uh - wrist bands and - uh - whatever. No rally pin. No rally shirt. It was supposed to be a sanctioned pin stop, but we never found the booth or anyone who knew anything about it. We did receive a City of Montrose pin. We found coupons for a free rally shirt from the Grand Junction dealership, after we got home Sunday in the pile of local discount coupons we received with a bunch of other rather odd freebie items (mostly from Walgreen's). OK. No big deal. That's not why we made the ride. We wandered through the twenty or so vendors, only about half of them with motorcycle oriented offerings. We shopped one patch booth, one leather booth, one t-shirt booth and avoided most of the other booths. We enjoyed a funnel cake and visited with a few other riders. The on-bike games began at roughly 5pm and were fun to watch until an equipment malfunction delayed the second game (road kill cleanup - funny) indefinitely. More riders were arriving and I'm certain they had a great crowd for the evening. I believe the music was a DJ and of course the beer garden had just opened. After about half an hour of admiring bikes and standing around, we decided to head back to Grand Junction. We planned to attend the rally Saturday afternoon after a ride through Utah.

We put The Ride to bed, and took a short walk to Applebee's and had a good supper and a couple of beers. We called it an early night and looked forward to whatever the next day had to offer. We rode 464 miles and made a really great day of it.

*****

Afterword: Finding the Rally. We rode through Montrose, slowly looking for signage of some sort until we saw a group of bikers rolling by rather quickly. We're thinking they are headed to the rally and they know where it is. We followed them. As it turned out, they were headed to their motel. We were laughing at ourselves. We rode back the way we came and finally spied one of a very few teeny-tiny signs at ground level (I think they were made of paper plates) - most of them blocked from view by vehicles. Oh well! We found it eventually.

Afterword: Funnel Cake Mischief. There's nothing like a fresh funnel cake as was evidenced by the number of bikers in line for them. We got ours and found some makeshift hay bale seating next to a group of other bikers. We are all in black leathers maneuvering cheap paper plates in high winds. I looked down the row as Tim was about halfway through his funnel cake - his leather chaps were decorated with my powered sugar and the leathers on the guy next to him were decorated with his powdered sugar and so on down the line. The guy looked at us, looked at his leathers, grinned and looked at the guy next to him and so it proceeded for about a dozen or so bikers - everyone grinned and shrugged and kept on munching.

Historic Idaho Springs
Eisenhower Tunnel
Glenwood Canyon

Ready to Roll

June 18, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

The Ride is shined, our stuff is packed and stacked all over the kitchen table ready to load on the bike late this evening. We ride out first thing in the early, early morning for a long weekend at the Colorado State HOG Rally in Montrose. This will be our first official State HOG Rally.

The round trip we have loosely planned is 712 miles, not including the 362 mile ride into Utah we may do on Saturday or the back and forth between our motel in Grand Junction and Montrose or all the little side trips we'll sneak in. Our total mileage is already over 9000. The Ride's 10,000 mile maintenance is scheduled for next Tuesday. Tim's One Year Harley Anniversary is the 25th (this is the day we bought The Ride, delivery was about a week later). It's hard to believe it has been nearly a year of riding fun.

It's a bunch of sight-seeing for three, maybe three and half days... but we are ready, the camera has fresh batteries and you know I'll be sharing photos all next week. Till then -- ride safe and keep the shiny side up...

Got go juice?

June 17, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Who says going for gas can't be fun? We used getting gas for our end of the week trip to the Colorado State HOG Rally as a reason to ride for at least an hour. Up and over the Dam to Vern's and back by way of the Silo (otherwise known as Bingham Hill Road). Yes, it was short and sweet but what a great start to a great day - so far - thunder is rumbling in the distance and I'm signing off.

Why Do Harley Riders Wear Black?

June 15, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Last weekend, we were enjoying our coffee in the Mountaineer Restaurant in Estes Park, minding our own business, when a man at the table behind us leaned over my shoulder and asked Tim, "Would you mind if I ask you a question?"

Tim says, "Sure".

The man said, "I'd really like to know why all Harley riders wear black?

Me thinking: If you have to ask - you won't get it.

"Why they all wear black leathers and vests and those head things?"

Me thinking: Well, we don't all wear black - do we? I've seen red, purple, pink, white and tan leathers. Some only wear vests to rallies or on special rides although Tim likes wearing his vest and does so often. Head things? I'm thinking the man meant a do rag or skull cap? Who knows? We were wearing helmets.

"And, why black - isn't black more dangerous?"

Me thinking: Dangerous? It all depends mister on how many more stupid questions you ask.

In a rare show of patience and congeniality, Tim said, "Black is a personal choice. It matches the bike. We like black. We wear leathers for protection. Black isn't as reflective if that's what you mean by dangerous... but, clothing isn't dangerous... drivers not paying attention is dangerous."

The man kept going on and on about how we [specifically Harley Riders] all look alike, like penguins in a row, or a bunch of scarecrows.

Me thinking: - Eh? - Leathers look like tuxedos to this guy? I'm not following the reference to scarecrows at all, unless he's talking about helmet hair. If that's the case, he's getting rather personal.

The man can be described as an older, pencil neck lookin' fellow, with manicured nails, dressed in khaki trousers, hush puppy loafers, a yellow sweater with the air of an insurance salesman. How's that for stereotyping?

He goes on to explain he rides a BMW that has about 97,000 miles on it. Now I get it. He was about to ride it 3000 miles on vacation to Utah this coming weekend. He went on to say how much BMW riders do for their communities, having recently attended a gathering of BMW riders that raised over $300,000 in Denver. He said BMW riders do not feel compelled to wear leathers or black or gather in over-advertised huge numbers.

Me thinking: So? I have some questions for you Mr yellow-sweater-beemer-bud... How do you know what gear you're in when your engine sound is a whoosh? What's up with those klunky boxes on the sides of the bike? If you don't wear leathers - what do you wear for protection? And, if you wanna talk dangerous apparel - kind of run me through the merits of that whole no helmet, Bermuda shorts and flip-flops on the way to the golf course thing? Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you over-advertise a gathering, especially if it is for charitable purposes, isn't it reasonable to expect that you could collect more than a measly $300,000 in a city the size of Denver.

Needless to say, it was a pointless conversation... that really didn't amount to more than some nosy guy poking around trying to get a rise out of somebody. I, showing a remarkable amount of restraint... managed not to call the noodle-head a noodle-head while Tim just smiled and wished the guy a safe road. To his credit, the guy returned in kind and said the parking in back of the restaurant was better (that's where we were parked).

Me thinking: One last thought... if the guy is headed to Utah next weekend, he's gonna have plenty of black garbed, leather-wearing Harley riders for company on the road, because we are all headed that direction for the State HOG Rally in Montrose. Ha!

Anyone who knows us, knows we don't care what you ride or what you wear when you are riding it. And, we don't care if you notice or like what we are wearing. Perhaps, to some, riding a motorcycle is about fashion. To us, it is about comfort and the ride itself. Heads up! Whatever we are wearing - we are not wearing it for you.

Now, to answer the question... about wearing black. The Ride is black so I guess you can say we match The Ride. Otherwise, it is simple. It is a personal choice. I was wearing black, more often than not, long before we bought a Harley. I prefer dark colors. Tim wore dark blue and black before getting the Harley. We wear black leathers because well - they are black, but also because that's what is most readily available and cost effective. We wear leather jackets for warmth in Colorado and chaps for both warmth and protection. We wear boots. We wear gloves of some sort all of the time. Since my accident last summer, I've said if anyone could be a poster child for why one should wear leathers - I could be it. Had I been wearing leathers or sleeves when I did a nice rag doll over my windshield, the scar that nearly encircles my right forearm wouldn't be the unsightly thing it is today.

With that said, the wearing of black is part of the - Harley-Mystique - if you will. So what? Like most things in our popular culture, we can attribute the perception of Harley riders to stereo-typing. Crotch Rocket people wear one piece suits and Darth Vader helmets in fluorescent colors which is preferable to those who ride in over-sized jeans showing cracks where some would prefer not to see them. BMW people wear khaki and wind breakers and some wear yellow sweaters. Young ladies and some older ladies seem to wear as little as possible... All of it, each type seems to go with the type of bike one rides. It also goes for how one rides and where. But, as most riders know not all of the rules apply to any one set all of the time.

Personally, I believe that riding a motorcycle is about so much more than the look. Why would anyone trivialize such an experience with fashion critique?

It's about wind and freedom and miles and miles and miles of road to travel.

Flag Day Ride

June 14, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Once again, we had to wait nearly a week for a ride as we had more tornasty type weather in northern Colorado. One shouldn't complain about rain in this area ya know as we live in dry country... but well... we are feeling a little testy with hail, high winds and a tornasty in the sky every time we turn around.

The wait paid off. We had one really nice Flag Day Sunday ride. It may be hard to believe we can cram so much amazing scenery into 140 miles and make a six hour day out of it -- but that's Colorado.

We rolled out of the drive under mostly clear skies about 8:30 am, with no particular destination in mind. The moon was still high in the sky. We were happy to be riding. Where to ride never really came up over coffee this morning. Tim pointed the bike west through the notch over the south end of the Dam, through Masonville, then south, then westward to Lyons. Lyons is one of our favorite stops (actually it is a favorite for many) in the road but we didn't tarry long as lots of folks were gathering for what appeared to be a kayak gathering of some sort. Tim asked - where to? I said - UP. That got a grin.

Up from Lyons can mean many things... today it meant Estes Park. The trip up found us riding in quite a bit of traffic but it was mostly uneventful. We did ride up on the scene of an accident involving a motorcycle that was already on a wrecker. The windshield was busted so we're thinking an encounter with a deer, elk or some other critter that crossed the path of a biker or maybe a rock came tumbling down the hillside. What appeared to be the rider was loading up in another vehicle so maybe the damage was all to the bike.

We found breakfast (after a long wait) at the Mountaineer Restaurant on the way in to Estes Park. We were not in a hurry. Estes Park is a busy town on weekends as there is always something going on. Today, there was some sort of fun run (two leg variety) - thus, the wait. The breakfast and the coffee was very good. Tim had the two egg breakfast with bacon, hash browns and homemade raisin toast. I had pancakes the size of dinner plates.

After breakfast, we both agreed we were not interested in shopping. Main Street shopping and dining is why most people come to Estes Park. Others are headed through to the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Both excellent options. We took a couple of turns around the edge of town, ran onto a herd of elk and snapped a few pics. Elk can almost always be seen somewhere in Estes Park. They graze the golf course, cross the busy streets downtown and highways on a whim and roam through people's yards and business establishments. We rode past the historic Stanley Hotel (you know the Stanley Steamer) where part of Stephen King's The Shining was filmed in 1977 and made the turn onto the Devil's Gulch road. This is one of those fun twisting, turning, undulating side trips that area bikers favor over the highway that goes straight up or down from Loveland. We have driven it a few times, but this is the first time we have ridden it. I put together a little movie with still shots and a mini-video clip. It's about 3 minutes long. Enjoy!

We rode down Hwy 34 into Loveland. We had a cup of thermos coffee and stretched our legs for a few minutes at the Sculpture Park where we posed for a couple of pics under the crow sculpture. We were not ready to go home. On our way out, I snapped a few pics of an older gent in a 1937 Ford coupe, giving a young boy a lesson, maybe a grandson, in how to cruise - s-l-o-w-l-y. Much to my surprise, when I edited the photos I found The Ride captured in the reflection of his vehicle. Kool! We thought we might ride around Carter Lake before heading home, but when we got out where we could see the horizon, we realized the late day thunderstorms that were forecasted were on their way in. We took the long way home, back over the dam. Bikers and Cyclists were coming down out of the high country fast. With the clouds coming in hard, you should have seen the boats on Horsetooth Reservoir scooting toward the boat ramps in a hurry...

We rounded out our day with beer and burgers... feeling fairly pleased with ourselves and the ride today. This ride put the bike over 9000 miles.

Like I said, the weather has played a big part in how we've ridden lately, but Friday - come rain or shine - we are headed to the Colorado State HOG Rally in Montrose, Colorado. We are looking forward to the ride.

I took 265 pictures today and a short video clip. I edited the pics down to just over 100 for your viewing pleasure. My point? Just think how many pics I can take between here and Montrose, the Rally and beyond with all of the Rocky Mountains laid out before us. Fair warning... Stay tuned... Ha!

WBC attacks Patriot Guard Riders

June 12, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

I received the following article from many different people who were outraged by the outpouring of hate from the followers of the Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka Kansas. All I have to say is reading it, has only solidified my belief that the Patriot Guard is justified in the work they do. I am proud of my DAD and all his friends (you know who you are) who do this good work. Thank YOU!

The article is wrong-wrong-wrong on so many levels I do not know where to begin. I post it here because people need to be aware of the nefarious WBC which disguises itself as a religious establishment. They are, in reality a dangerous cult, purveyors of extreme hate and discontent. I became aware of them in 1998 when they picketed the burial of Matthew Sheppard, a young man from Wyoming who was beaten to death and left to die by two men because of his homosexuality.

It is no surprise that the WBC has come out so vehemently against the Patriot Guard. Since the meager beginning of the PGR in 2005, we have thwarted their every move. We outnumber them. Our belief system cuts through their backwards BS so thoroughly that they choke on it. All one has to do is review the behavior of the Patriot Guard vs members of the WBC... to realize who is sane - who is not. As to their claims we deny them their right to exercise the First Amendment, well... we are merely exercising our right to that very same Amendment - what's more - most of us have fought to preserve it and so much more.

The Patriot Guard Riders is a motorcyclist group comprised mostly of veterans who attend the funerals of members of the U.S. Armed Forces at the invitation of the deceased’s family. The group was initially formed (established in Mulvane, Kansas at American Legion Post 136 in 2006) to shelter and protect the funerals from protesters from the WBC, but has since expanded its activities beyond those funerals covered by the WBC.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

---

Westboro Baptist Church
(WBC Chronicles -- Since 1955)
Religious Opinion & Bible Commentary on Current Events
Friday, May 15, 2009
NEWS RELEASE

God Hates America, and God is killing our troops in His wrath.
Thank God for IEDs.
This message to be preached in respectful, lawful proximity to the memorial of Dr. Matthew Philip Houseal.
Tue., May 19, at 9:15 a.m.
St. Ann's Catholic Church
Connor Dr. & 38th St., Canyon, Texas

Dr. Houseal gave his life for the Constitutional right of WBC to warn America. To deny us our First Amendment rights, is to declare to the world that Dr. Houseal died in vain; and that America is a nation of sodomite hypocrites.

These soldiers are dying for the homosexual and other sins of America. God is now America’s enemy, and God Himself is fighting against America.

“Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain that build it; Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.” Psa. 127:1.

The Lord no longer builds the American house; nor does the Lord watch over and protect America. Lawless men like the so-called Patriot Guard Riders hate God. These PGR slobs are violent, cowardly, murderous liars. To the PGR gang of thugs, we say, as Jesus said: “Ye are of your father the devil.” Jn. 8:44. God Hates the PGR.

---

FYI: The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an independent Baptist church headed by Fred Phelps and located at 3701 SW 12th Street, in Topeka, Kansas, USA. Its first public service was held November 27, 1955. The group is known for its protest activities, including those which are anti-gay, anti-military and apparently now anti-patriot guard. The WBC is not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles, though mainstream Primitive Baptists reject Westboro Baptist Church and Phelps, regarding them as unaffiliated to the Primitive Baptists. Yes, these fanatics have a website... but I would never promote it by providing a link...
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

Comments from Patriot Guard supporters:
I am sure all of you have by now heard about one of our soldiers in Iraq cracking under the pressure and killing four of his fellow soldiers. Major Matthew Houseal of Amarillo, Texas was one of these soldiers killed. Barbara and I had the honor of being at the Amarillo airport this morning as his body arrived and participating in a flag line for this soldier as he was brought home to his family. As you can see below, his services will be Tuesday morning in Canyon, which is just a few miles south of Amarillo. Well, it seems the Westboro people are saying they will be there. The article below was pulled from their web site this afternoon. They are also pretty plain as to how they feel abut us, the Patriot Guard Riders. I personally feel proud to be part of an organization that is obviously hated by these whatever they are!
Mike Johnson, Wichita Falls Ride Captain, Patriot Guard Riders

---

I am appalled that the people spewing this hatred associate themselves with the Baptist Church. People like this are a disgrace to Christians and do NOT represent the majority of us. None of what they are saying even makes any sense.
I am both a proud Christian AND the proud daughter of Mike!!! From what I have seen of the PGR, they are very giving, selfless people. It seems to me that they are doing a form of God's work and ministry in their own way.
Also, our country does appear to be heading downhill very quickly, but it is NOT because God is not watching over us and is ignoring us, it is because people are ignoring Him. And unfortunately, people that do not know the Lord just hear examples like this and think all professed Christians are wackos.
-Danielle J.

---

I have never been prouder in my life!
"Twister"

---

I am a Baptist and not all feel like the people below. God loves everyone in his own way.
I also believe that they are way off base and hope that whoever wrote this awful thing reflects back on it and retracts these nasty words.
The PGR is a great group of people and are very caring to do the things that they do and are very selfless to give up the time for such a worthy cause.
Missie Rodgers

---

I've answered this previously, but let me share with you an experience from just yesterday.
I went to one of the local CVS Pharmacies to pick up a prescription for my Mom. When I was leaving an older gentleman pulled in behind me and asked if he could take a picture of my bike. Those of you that know me, know of my pride in my bike- so of course I told him yes. We began talking about the bike and he noticed my PGR dew rag and the PGR sticker on my windshield. He asked if I rode with the PGR when they escorted Blake Branaugh from DFW to Wichita Falls. I told him that "Yes we met the escorts in Decatur and came in to Wichita to Crestview Funeral Home." He then told me he was Blake's' Grand-Father. He told me how proud we made him feel. How we honored the family by being there. He had me near tears, swelling with PRIDE for being a part of the PGR. I told him that "No Sir! , we were the ones that were honored to be there for your Grand-Son." That "We can not repay you enough for your loss, but we were proud to do what we could."
As long as I keep getting reactions like that from the Families that we honor, I will ride with you- My fellow Guard members, as long as we are needed. Thank You for allowing me this High Honor!
Gary "Buddha" Fortner

---

The cult members of the Westboro Baptist Church have only their misguided hate as a claim to fame. What they represent has nothing to do with religion. For all their alleged biblical quoting and ranting, it is apparent - they know nothing. If I were them, I would be mightily scared of the vengeful beast they call GOD. As long as the Patriot Guard stands for what is right and true, what the WBC does means nothing... what the WBC says means nothing... WE have rendered their slanderous words impotent and therefore irrelevant. A just reward for their maniacal efforts - wouldn't you say?
Vickie "daughter of Ted"

The riding in Texas was good today

June 11, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX - While we find ourselves a bit annoyed with Mother Nature's antics in Northern Colorado recently (wind, torrential rain, enough hail to need snow plows, and twisters all over the place) Dad rode out solo this morning in North Central Texas and put about 115 miles or so on his Dyna. I know it was a good ride, Dad... it goes without saying I think - but I'll say it anyway - wish we were there.

White Water Poudre Canyon Ride

June 6, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

What a great day and a great ride! We have waited all week to get a decent ride in. We rose early but waited for a dense fog to lift before rolling out of the drive about 8:30 am.

By the time we had finished our giant cinnamon rolls and a couple of cups of coffee at Vern's, the day had brightened and looked promising. It would have been hard to dampen our high spirits... we have long looked forward to making one of our favorite drives into a motorcycle ride... Of course, Tim cheated and did part of this ride solo while I was in Texas last month... tsk tsk tsk...

We rode up the beautiful Poudre Canyon which runs beside the Cache La Poudre River for miles and miles. With the snow melt and recent rains, the terrain was green, wild flowers were in bloom and the river was rushing as high as we've seen it in several years. In many places, it was well out of its banks. River rafters and kayakers lined the banks and braved the rapids. With as wild as the river was, we are thinking they got one awesomely cold and wet adventure. The river is normally crowded with fisherman standing waist deep - not so today... the waters were just too treacherous.

Needless to say, we confined our adventure to the road... Our ride took us up scenic Poudre Canyon through Roosevelt National Forest to the Summit of Cameron Pass to Walden, Colorado then through the Medicine Bow National Forest to Laramie, Wyoming and back to Fort Collins, Colorado. It is 100 miles from Fort Collins to Walden, CO and somewhat over 100 miles taking the Laramie route home. We rode 254 miles and made a whole day out of it.

Along the way, we made a pit-stop at Stove Prairie Landing (campground) and spoke with a maintenance employee of the campground, an older gent who rides a Honda Trike that pulls his maintenance trailer... we were thinking what a kool way to ride to work.

The road (Hwy 14) follows the river past small mountain towns, numerous campgrounds, high mountain meadows, and ascends to the Summit of Cameron Pass which is 10,276 in elevation. Most of the campgrounds near the summit are still closed (lakes are frozen, too much snow). We had snow along the roadside and in the tree line. As we got higher, the winds kicked up. The temperature was not unbearable with the sun shining but we were glad we wore the leathers.

Our next stop was the Moose Visitor Center near Gould, CO. This is a favorite stop for us. We visited often when we camped in the area. The center is very nice with informative, interperative displays, picnic tables, nature trail and wildlife viewing. We love to watch the hummingbirds, jays and ground squirrels. The center usually has a report of the latest moose sighting and has maps, books, clothing and other tourist items for sale.

After stretching our legs, posing for the camera and drinking the last of our thermos coffee, we rode 27 miles through high mountain prairie (moose country) to the small town of Walden, Colorado (elevation 8099 ft). Here, we stopped for gas, a hot cup of coffee and to get out of the darn wind for a few minutes. It is always fun to watch the locals and tourists intermingling. We watched the locals shake their heads at a couple of what appeared to be college-age guys stock up on energy snack food, change clothes and repack the bags on their bicycles. They rode off due west toward Steamboat Springs - destination, according to the cardboard signs on the back of their bikes - California. I wished later I had asked where they started from. Talk about adventure!


The next leg of our now very windy ride took us through the rolling hills of northern Colorado, through scenic Kings Canyon and eventually to the flatlands of southern Wyoming. We stopped in Laramie (elevation 7165 ft) at Shari's Restuarant for a light lunch, checked the Hasting's Book Store nearby for a bargain (didn't find one this time) and roamed through Bart's Indoor Flea Market (left empty-handed) before heading back to Fort Collins. We couldn't resist a ride over the dam where we stopped to take in a view of Horsetooth Reservoir crowded with boats, a sure sign summer has arrived. Our last stop was the liquor store where we proved a 12 pack of Budweiser and a 6 pack of Mike's would make the few blocks home on the luggage rack with no ill effect. Ha!

I took video clips while we rode through the Poudre Canyon and lots of pics of the rest of the ride which I will post soon. Enjoy!

White Water Poudre Canyon Ride June 2009

The slide show Part 1 of this ride

The slide show Part 2 of this ride