Patriot Guard Honors Soldier's Grandfather

July 29, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- Mom (Inez) stands the flagline yesterday with riders of the Patriot Guard to honor Mack Bronough, a Marine veteran and grandfather of Blake Bronough (Army) who died stateside shortly after returning from a tour in Iraq last year.



Dad (Ted) and other Patriot Guard Riders attended the funeral services for Mr Bronough today. Here are a few photos of the PGR members gathering for the mission. These photos are compliments of friend John in Wichita Falls, also a proud Patriot Guard Rider and author of an excellent motorcycle blog, North Texas Bikers III.






You can read John's post and see more pictures here:
http://jjskewlstuff3.blogspot.com/2009/07/pgr-mission-wichita-falls-texas-7-29-09.html

And... this is Dad messing with friend John...

Devil's Gulch to Estes Park Ride

July 26, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

After proving Tim was good-to-ride yesterday with a 330 mile somewhat soggy ride, we rolled out of the drive this morning for a mountain ride, duration to be determined by Mother Nature. The forecast for our area was rain again, but we rode anyway.

Mountain is a fairly general term in our neck of the woods so eventually we had to define what that meant. Tim uttered two words. Estes Park. I responded. Devil's Gulch. So, our route and destination was more-or-less set.

Devil's Gulch is an indirect route up to Estes Park via a road that branches off of Hwy 34 out of Drake, CO which winds its way through a scenic gulch. Glenhaven is a tiny town on the route which is home to a popular B&B. The road is an easy, scenic ride except for a couple of harsh switchbacks with severe grades coming one right after the other near the end closest to Estes Park. They are marked 15 mph although I don't think we've done them at that speed yet.

The day was fine starting out. We were riding in hoodies although we had light jackets in the bags. The clouds were gathering over the mountains early. As we climbed out of that last switchback and topped out where you can see Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains beyond, we knew this trip would be strictly a ride-on-through.

We negotiated our way through heavy traffic to the Visitor Center on the east side of town, but we did not linger. When you see blue clouds hanging low over the Rockies, it means get the heck out of there, especially if you're on two wheels. We headed down to Lyons PDQ. Lyons was having a festival of some sort that was about to get wet and the traffic was getting nasty, so we didn't make our customary stop in the park. Oskar's (a restaurant) was doing a booming biker business. So was Wild Bill's Saloon. We weren't the only ones calling it an early day in the mountains.

On the road home, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the clouds roll over and consume Boulder in a matter of minutes. We didn't hurry, but we didn't stay out much longer either.

On the way, we saw a lone biker on a Harley wearing a patch that said "No Rules Riders". I looked it up. NO RULES RIDERS is NOT a Motorcycle Club. It is people who like to ride for the freedom of riding. That's it, plain and simple. THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. I'm not sure I entirely buy that concept. I think most of us ride for the freedom of riding. I think we all ride with rules, even if they are our own rules. I suspect the trick here is to ride without others inflicting their rules upon you. Hmmmm... good luck with that.

Tim's Recovery Ride

July 25, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

After having knee surgery July 8th and sitting (not too patiently mind you) through some really nice riding days (the best we've seen all year), Tim announced yesterday (Friday) he was ready to ride more than a few miles. I casually mentioned the dour weekend forecast in passing but being the enabler I am when it comes to riding the Harley... well... OK, says I - where to?

We decide a Poudre Canyon to Walden ride and if the knee is holding up, perhaps beyond. After taking a look at the map, we remember we have never been over the pass of the Snowy Range in Wyoming so that's sort of what beyond meant today.

The first part of our ride took us out of Fort Collins about 7:30 am to the mouth of the Poudre Canyon and up alongside the Cache La Poudre River. It was warm enough down in the city but we rode out in full leathers knowing our ride would take us to higher altitudes and lower temps. The river was flowing hard the last time we rode through here. This time, it was flowing about normal. The sun was barely up over the walls of the canyon, but rafters and kayakers were already gathering in little knots along the side of the road. We have driven and camped and now ridden the Poudre many times. Along the way are a few landmarks... the tunnel, the falls, profile rock, another lesser known profile rock and the Sleeping Elephant to name a few. Our first stop was at Sportsman's Lodge where decent coffee can still be purchased for fifty cents a cup and one can be entertained by hundreds of hummingbirds. Sportsman's Lodge, a mom and pop operation, offers rustic cabins for rent. Across the highway the Big Thompson flows and we've seen deer and elk in the meadow that can be viewed from the lodge.

Cameron Pass (elevation 10,276) is a short ride up from the Sportsman's Lodge. It was a crisp morning. The smell of pine was strong through the canyon. Although we picked up high clouds, the ride was near perfect. The Crags (rugged mountains looming over the area near Gould, Colorado) still had a good bit of snow. As we rode up on the Moose Center, we stopped for thermos coffee and a brownie. It was surprisingly warm and we were shedding our jackets as quick as we dismounted. The Moose Center offers great information about the area including the time and location of recent moose sightings, a trail head, picnic tables, benches, and decent restrooms. A barbed wire moose, made by local craftsman stands seven foot tall in front of the center. Behind the center are bird feeders that attract hummingbirds and many other mountain birds as well as a healthy population of chipmunks and ground squirrels.

It is just over 20 miles from the Moose Center to Walden (elevation 8099) and the ride is spectacular through wide open you-can-see-forever terrain more typical of Wyoming than Colorado. From Walden, you can head southwest to Steamboat Springs or south into Granby or northeast into Laramie. We chose the northern route. Leaving Walden, headed north on Hwy 125, it is 22 miles to the state line, 62 miles to Saratoga and 62 miles to Laramie. Now, we've never been to Saratoga, and it was early in the day so it seemed the natural choice. From Saratoga, we'd only have to backtrack about eight miles to do the Snowy Range ride. Thus far on the trip the skies had only spit at us. Outside of Walden, we ran into a rain shower but rode out from under it soon enough.

So, we rode on, passing through the tiny town of Riverside, WY (elevation 7137), Population 59. Ha! Despite being blink-and-you-miss-it size, the tiny town was home to a couple of fun looking restaurant/bar establishments. I caught the name Mangy Moose Cafe as we rode on by.

Saratoga (elevation 6785) has a population of just over 1700. The Platte River runs through the town and it is home to a Mineral Hot Springs which visitors can swim in (at the Hobo Pool) free of charge, I believe. We stopped to stretch our legs at a busy park known as Island Park as it is located on an island in the middle of the river. The downtown area was bustling and home to some old west and turn of the 19th century architecture including a historical Hotel/Restaurant which dominates the downtown area. There were several restaurants and at least one bar on main street.

We didn't linger in Saratoga as the clouds were spitting again and looking heavy. We backtracked the eight miles to Hwy 130 and began the Snowy Range Scenic Byway Ride. The mile marker said 20 miles to Centennial, 47 miles to Laramie. This ride through the Medicine Bow National Forest was a pleasant surprise. The road was good, the grades gentle and the twists and turns easy. Wyoming has many beautiful places, but having lived there for two and a half years we learned seeing those places doesn't usually come without a price. Either you drive (or ride) forever through barren sage land only to find your destination is still 40 miles down a sandy road (check that - antelope trail), or the town you thought you'd stop in doesn't have so much as a place to buy a coca-cola much less a place to pee or you get caught out in a vicious thunder storm, or you encounter the world's nastiest winds that can sand blast a vehicle and your sun shades in a matter of minutes or take the hide right off your arm. All I'm saying is... do your homework if you plan to ride in Wyoming because the points of civilization (food and gas and shelter) are few and far in between on some routes and the weather can be quite harsh.

This time, the road, which has plenty of paved pull-offs, offered many sights to appreciate with names like Silver Lake, Mirror Lake, and Libby Flats all with little effort. About halfway up, as we rounded a bend in the road we caught sight of the Snowy Range (aka The Snowies) for the first time close-up. Wow! We stopped near the summit of Snowy Range Pass (elevation 10,847), at the base of these massive gray rock formations composed of granite for a picnic lunch of bologna and cheese sandwiches, chips, fresh peaches and ice-cream cookies. I know, it's pathetic - I am such a cheap date. Ha! It can snow up here at any time of year, ten foot drifts not uncommon in winter and snow fields linger throughout the summer. It wasn't exactly cold, but it didn't bother us to munch without shedding our jackets. About the time, we finished our lunch, we heard a rumble of thunder roll across the mountains... UH-OH!

We were pelted with a hard rain before we could clear the pass. We rode as far down as we dared in a steady downpour before utilizing one of the paved pull-offs. We sheltered under the awning of a roadside outhouse until the rain let up a bit. Our reprieve from the elements was short-lived though as we rode the rest of the way down into the tiny town of Centennial, CO in a steady rain. We stopped at the first place that caught our attention to dry out. The Old Corral is a restaurant, hotel and gift shop all rolled into one charming, tourist trap setting. The decor is western log lodge and fun. We roamed through the country store on our way to the restaurant where we had pie and coffee. Tim says his peach pie and ice cream was good. My german-chocloate pie was served cold rather than room temperature. It was OK. I noticed the majority of the wait staff, the cook and others manning the restaurant were young to very young. The folks at the table next to us struck up a conversation with kind of wet out there for a ride huh? We learned they had waited 20 minutes to order and another 40 minutes for their meal (club sandwich and a chef salad). Some of the other entrees passing by looked good with what appeared to be healthy portions, but I'm not gonna recommend the restaurant until we try it again.

The rain continued for a good while. We managed to linger over two cups of coffee. Eventually it let up long enough for us to dry the seat on The Ride and convince ourselves we could make it into Laramie. That misconception lasted about three miles. ha! By the time we made it to Laramie, we had suffered a good soaking. And, there wasn't a road out of Laramie in any direction that looked good (meaning dry) so we chose the most direct route. We rode for a few miles in rain, but eventually rode out from under one storm and in between two others. As we approached Fort Collins on Hwy 287, the weather dried out and we even had sun. YAY!

The storms that had plagued us all day, arrived shortly after we had settled in on the patio with a beer and a Mike's with a fire blazing in the chiminea. It wasn't long before we had to abandon the patio for a seat at the edge of the garage. After a while, we gave up being outside altogether and settled in downstairs with a movie.

Despite being somewhat soggy, we enjoyed the day and our 330 mile recovery ride. We set out to prove Tim was good-to-go (at least as far as riding is concerned). We traveled a couple of new roads and experienced The Snowies of Wyoming for the first time. Yes, we will ride that way again - hopefully on a sunnier day.

Below are slide shows of the day's ride.

Part 1 - The Poudre Canyon to the Moose Center


Part 2 - From Walden to the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and Home

Patriot Guard Mission - Dad & Bro

July 25, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- Dad (Ted) and my brother, (known as TedJr) attended a Patriot Guard Rider mission for the funeral of a fellow Patriot Guard member's mother. They rode with a large group of friends and fellow PGR members to Jacksboro, Texas for the services.

The following photos below were taken by Mom as Dad was headed out on the new Road King, flags flying from the flag mount Dad just made to fly the colors from the new bike.




The photos in the slide show that follows were shared with me by friend John in Wichita Falls, TX. John, kindly shares photos of the folks and other family and friends when he catches them out and about. John is a great photographer, taking many photos while he is rolling. He writes an excellent motorcycle blog currently found at North Texas Bikers III where you can see the rest of the photos from this Patriot Guard Mission and many more rides.

Dad's New Ride

July 24, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- While Tim and I were out riding the roads of Colorado and New Mexico, Dad was sittin' handsome (wanted to say pretty but that word doesn't fit Dad and would likely cause knuckle bumps to appear on my forehead next time we meet) on a brand new ride over Independence Day weekend.

Of course, Mom had a hand in getting the right deal on the 2009 Road King that replaced the 2007 Dyna Super-Glide. We'll miss the Dyna... it was a sweet little ride... but the Road King is a beauty and Dad's lovin' that cushy ride! Word is: Ruby or Red (which is it, Dad?) is ready for the 1000 mile maintenance.

Here are the pics I have on hand...

Birthday Ride

July 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Happy Birthday Tim!

We rolled out of the drive about 9 am after doing birthday stuff, opening cards and letters and gifts and taking calls. The plan was to ride to Johnson's Corner for a birthday breakfast.

Tim loved this card from the folks. It said: Son-In-Law Medal of Valor... For exceptional judgment in choosing a wife and for uncommon patience and bravery in the face of your in-laws! And... it came with some cold, hard cash.



Well, ride we did, but not before neighbor LeAnn wished Tim a happy birthday and sang a couple of bars from I can't drive 55! while doing a little jig on the sidewalk. After the brief serenade, we rode off to Johnson's Corner for breakfast. While we were inside enjoying our eggs, clouds rolled in. We looked at the clouds, looked at each other, shrugged and said so what. Daring Mother nature to rain on Tim's birthday ride - we took the long way home anyway.. riding through Berthoud, around Carter Lake and the no-name lake at Loveland (one of these days I'll look it up) and to Masonville, over the dam, stopped at Vern's for afternoon coffee and finally made it home just as the skies started spitting. Tim had a couple of hours rest, with the leg propped up before joining our friends, the Browns for Mexican Food and Margaritas at Tortilla Marissas.

Happy Birthday Tim

July 19, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

One more year down the road... but you have to admit - what a fun road it has been to travel. The places we have been... over 10,000 miles (correction: over 12,000 nearly 13,000 miles says the birthday boy) of road covered... who knows how many memories we've made... and places yet to see and memories yet to be... beckoning on yon horizon...

I'm thinking... let's start the day out right... say breakfast about 20 miles down the road and see where the day takes us...

Oh yeah - it's on the way...

Testing... testing...

July 18, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Thursday and Friday were the followup appointments on the knee. One to get a release from the surgeon, the other to get restrictions from the doctor at work. It's back to the grind Monday for Tim, but only half days for a week.

Of course, a trip to Loveland required a stop at Thunder Mountain on the way home.
With Big Ol' #55 just around the corner we needed to do some serious birthday shopping.



Tim picked out a set of engine guards (crash bars), mustache style for The Ride. No, he wasn't supposed to install them yet - can't a girl even take a shower these days? We also ordered a piece of Saddlemen luggage and we're thinking about the studded backrest.

Tim tested the knee this morning with a short ride to Vern's for a cinnamon roll. I'm happy to report he did really well. We were only out for just over three hours. Long about noon we brought the knee home and propped it up. That evening, we asked our friends, the Browns to join us for Serious Texas BBQ. That was fun and tasty!

Tim pronounced he was ready for a birthday ride, tomorrow.

Mom stands the flag line...

July 9, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- Mom stands her first flag line with the Patriot Guard Riders at the funeral of Mike Stennet, a National Guard veteran. Dad has been a Patriot Guard member for a few years now and has stood the flag line and escorted many funeral processions. Although a solemn occasion , we are happy to see Mom able to do this after several years being all but disabled from serious back problems and several surgeries.

The first flag line was held at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was hotter than blue blazes. If you are from Texas you know what that means - if not - it means fry an egg on the sidewalk HOT! So Mom did not go on to the grave site in that kind of heat. Dad went on to Buffalo Springs with many of his fellow Patriot Guard Riders and stood the flag line there as well. Mr Stennet's last ride was in a motorcycle hearse from Bryan, Texas.

I can't say enough good things about the Patriot Guard Riders. They are a class act and I'm proud to see my Dad and now my Mom stand tall for those who have served our country and bring comfort to those who remain behind.

Tim's Last Ride.... Before Surgery

July 7, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

After our Colorado Weekend ride, we had lots to do in the two days before Tim goes in for knee surgery. We shopped for groceries, picked up a prescription, mowed the lawn, filled up the cars and washed four days of road off The Ride.

Despite all that, we managed to squeak in enough time for a dam ride before work. We encountered some four-legged beasties up on the dam that had Tim showering down on the brakes. He noticed a cyclist waving wildly as we rode by him about the same time I tapped him on his sides and said deer-deer-deer! Someone had spooked about five deer who came bounding up over the ridge at a picnic area and headed straight for us. The sound of squalling tires and hollering scared most of them into altering their path of flight. One passed in front of us and the cyclist and three or four others passed behind us. Whew!

Otherwise, the ride went well and although it was short, it was a fine day to ride. Tomorrow, is surgery and at least of few days off the leg and the Harley. Here are a few pics of the dam ride... I know you seen 'em before - so what?

Lookin' good and he knows it

July 7, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- The daughter (Stormy) took this photo of Dad (Ted) and the new Road King that he rode home over the weekend... I'm saying there are many great ways to spend a holiday weekend, riding out from Red River Harley-Davidson on a new bike has got to make the top ten - huh?

Lookin' Good Dad!

Independence Ride 2009

July 06, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Here they come... finally! The pics and posts from our last ride over Independence Day weekend. Why the delay you ask? Well, Tim had knee surgery on the 8th and is home recovering. He's doing very well, but as you might expect I've been busy doing other things.

Our 1380 mile ride over four days was fun. We rode mountain passes and valleys, followed rivers and rode through desert lands. We saw parades, balloon launches and fireworks and waterfalls. I have day one up... and posted... I will post links to the other posts here as soon as I get them done. I managed to take 8 GB worth of photos and video clips... stay tuned...

Independence Ride - Day 1 - July 2, 2009
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-1.html

Independence Ride - Day 2 - July 3, 2009
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-2.html

Independence Ride - Day 3 - July 4, 2009 (Part 1)
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-3-part-1-2.html

Independence Ride - Day 3 - July 4, 2009 (Part 2)
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-3-part-3-4.html

Independence Ride - Day 3 - July 4, 2009 (The Fireworks)
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-3-fireworks.html

Independence Ride - Day 4 - July 5, 2009
http://ourharleydays.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-ride-day-4.html

New Ride for Dad

July 6, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Wichita Falls, TX -- I could not wait to share this news... While we were out on our Independence Ride over the holiday weekend, I get a call from Mom. After a few days of negotiating the deal, Dad rode the 2007 Dyna Super Glide to Red River Harley-Davidson for the last time on Friday, July 3rd. He is now riding a 2009 Harley-Davidson Road King.

Congratulations folks! She's a ruby beauty! And we still say... point that thing in this direction and ride! We have some mountain roads we want to share!

Back to reality

July 6, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Yes, we are home again... after four GREAT days of riding 1380 miles in Colorado and New Mexico. We called it our Independence Ride. I cannot begin to say how much fun we had! But I will try... Do I have tales to tell - you betcha! Do I have photos and video clips... well-duh. Just ask Tim who was fairly certain when he upgraded my camera memory on Mother's Day from two 1 GB memory cards to one 8 GB memory card I could not possibly use up 8 GB of camera memory and 10 lithium batteries - in four days - LOL! Guess who fooled him!

Anyway, I'll start editing photos and posting later in the week. For now, it is back to reality - the job, the bills and the laundry... yikth!

Independence Ride Day 4

July 5, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Hot Air Balloon Launch - Gunnison, CO

We thought ourselves lucky to have procured a room in the hotel across the street from the fireworks celebration yesterday. We had a great time last night. This morning's balloon launch made our overnight stay in Gunnison, Colorado one we will remember for a very long time.

We've never seen a balloon launch up close... so we were up, breakfasted early and in the park as the first of the balloons were getting up in the air. I think my favorite was the alien... There was barely a breath of wind, so the balloons went up and drifted slowly down onto parking lots, the college campus and even the side of the road. I made the pics into a movie - enjoy!

Balloon Launch – Gunnison, CO - July 5, 2009

Gunnison to Salida over Monarch Pass
We spoke with a retired military veteran/retired police officer as we were packing the bike. He stopped Tim and pointing to The Ride asked what a rig like that cost these days. We get that question often. The vet and his wife rode years ago until she had some sort of a seizure while riding. She hasn't ridden since. He had a great shirt on that simply said Respect Our Constitution which sparked a lively conversation for a few minutes.

We checked out of the hotel about mid-morning, having thoroughly enjoyed the balloon launch and somewhat reluctantly started our ride home. The road to Salida out of Gunnison took us over Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312) which brightened our spirits. Yay! At the summit, we stopped at the Visitor Center. We spoke with several bikers from all over the states, most of whom were exclaiming - it's cold! It was chilly. We had stopped about halfway up and added hoodies to our clothing layers. One biker on a Shadow I think was from Nevada and was carrying camping gear. He was riding to and hiking the glaciers in the state. Interesting fellow! Other bikers were passing through from California, New Mexico and Florida. Several others rode on by and waved. We had a cup of coffee, browsed the store, made a wardrobe adjustment (lace on my chaps loosened) and bought Monarch Pass patches and pins for our vests.

Buena Vista to Leadville
We began our descent from the pass about 10 am, riding on through the edge of Poncha Springs and it wasn't long before we rolled into busy Buena Vista where we stopped for gas and a stretch and coffee, of course. Then we dared to ride into what looked like a pretty good storm brewing on the road to Leadville. Hindsight says we should have suited up in Buena Vista or altered our course. Ha! We were only a few miles down the road before it started to rain... hard... and about a mile further on we were pulled off the side of the road with a few other soggy bikers dragging out the rain suits. It was a sloppy ride most of the way into (I should say up to) Leadville (elevation 10,200) and cold. Normally, we would stop in Leadville, as it is one of our favorite places. It is fun to stroll the streets of downtown and there's some great history in Leadville including a tour of Baby Doe's mine and shack. As the clouds were looking rather ominous all around, we decided to get over Fremont Pass and around Copper Mountain before the weather got worse (wetter). We have camped on Turquoise Lake at Leadville many times and know the weather can get nasty in a matter of minutes. Fremont Pass (elevation 11,318) is a great ride in fair weather. Today it was damn cold. We were surprised at how much snow was still on the ground. Of course, it didn't help that we were already damp.

By the time we had ridden about 30 miles and made it over Fremont pass and to I-70 we were ready to thaw out. We stopped at a convenience store at the junction of I-70 and Hwy 91 for coffee and a cookie. We stripped out of our rain suits which have been officially christened. The weather was warm and the skies only partly cloudy so we put the rain suits away. Before leaving, we called Texas and left a birthday message for our grandson, Chevy. Today Chevy is 13.

I-70 (no, not quite the plan) and Home
Now, we know better than to even contemplate traveling I-70 east on a Sunday and especially not on a holiday weekend. But, we only wanted to travel on it far enough to reach Hwy 40 so we could ride north to Winter Park and Granby and take a wide circuitous route home. The traffic seemed to be flowing fairly well, so we chanced it. Hindsight, that rascal, says we should have got off at Silverthorne because the traffic went to hell just after that. And, we spent the rest of the afternoon in bumper-to-bumper, stop-and-go traffic.

By the time we got to the Hwy 40 cutoff, it was too late to head off in that direction and the clouds were not cooperating. If anything, they looked worse in that direction. We were thinking as we rode up on the Johnson Tunnel (the other side of the Eisenhower Tunnel), that we'd ride to Idaho Springs, get off the interstate and ride the canyon into Golden and home. It started raining just before Idaho Springs. That ruled the canyon out.

Johnson Tunnel – I-70 Eastbound - Colorado July 5, 2009

Vickie's Hindsight said get off at Idaho Springs, have pizza and wait it out. Tim's Hindsight, would have said that too if he was listening. But no... after being nearly blinded by goggles fogging up, rain and back splash, and small hail pelting him in the face (I say what are you doing. He says I can't see. I say what the hell do you mean you can't see!), Tim took the Evergreen exit, where we rolled into a gas station, filled up and spent about an hour drying hair, gloves, and what all out in a Burger King. We had some bad coffee and cardboard pie. We weren't the only ones sheltering from the storm there, but we could have won the wet t-shirt contest had there been one. Once on I-70, there was no place to pull over and put the rain suits on again, so we were soaked through three layers.

We finally had an encouraging break in the clouds and we rode our favorite route home, through Golden and Boulder. As we rolled through the edge of Longmont, we came upon a stretch of road about a mile long where hail had piled up like snow. From the look of the clouds hanging low and threatening over the entire length of the Rockies, the route we had thought about earlier in the day would not have been a good choice either...

Oh well! We had three really great days out of four and the fourth wasn't all that bad - it just turned out different than we thought it would be. There are no photos after riding up on the traffic jam. The camera was put away quick as it began to rain.

What a great Colorado weekend! Four days riding roads we didn't want to end (well, maybe we wanted to see the end of I-70 - ha!). Our ride today was 276 miles bringing the total for this trip to 1380 miles. We discovered some new favorite places and can't wait until we're rolling out of the drive again in search of others.

Independence Ride Day 3 - Fireworks

July 4, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Like I said, of course there is a Fireworks post. What more perfect ending could I prescribe for an Independence Day Ride than fireworks? We had the good fortune to land in the hotel across the street from the park where festivities were in full swing in Gunnison, Colorado. There was a huge crowd of revelers gathering, all ages, all ethnic cultures, all 100% American. There was live music and dancing, cotton candy and hot dogs, and children running in wild abandon. By the time the fireworks began, the park where we stood was full to overflowing and the college campus across the street was taking the overflow.

Some say: There's no patriotic spirit left in America... Americans are no longer proud to be Americans. Americans are apathetic, complacent, detached, unwilling participants in a land built on the concept of FREEDOM... You know, I'm talkin' about that ol' life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness routine.

No patriotic spirit! Snort! I heartily beg to differ! What we saw on our ride today through the cities and small towns of southwest Colorado was Americans out in huge numbers, lining parade routes, gathering for picnics in the park, firing up the BBQ, riding, cycling, running mountain roads, and celebrating Independence Day in classic good ol' American style. Old Glory adorned buildings, fences, town squares, all sorts of vehicles (including our own), hats, kerchiefs, t-shirts, even the pets were decked out. People carried blankets and lawn chairs blazing with America's colors. And, when the crowd grew quiet for the beginning of the fireworks ceremony - it wasn't long before nearly all of us were proudly singing along in discordant oneness, our beloved National Anthem. We cheered the fireworks. We applauded at the end.

So, here's what I say to those idiotic pronouncements that America is all but dead. I don't think so. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty and it will... please be advised: The widely accepted perception of America and Americans is totally w-r-o-n-g. The inept inhabitants of Congress, the White House, governor's mansions, the hollywood hills and studios of mainstream media are not - I repeat - NOT who you will have to deal with when the going gets tough. The aforementioned people are not representative of real Americans. Yeah - it's a problem - we're workin' on it. The real Americans were dancing in the street tonight. I am more than ever confidant those same Americans will unite to fight in the very same streets tomorrow if need be. So, if you (whoever you are) come knockin' with the idea America is a pushover for your non-American agenda - I believe you can count on some rowdy resistance from real Americans and count us proudly in their number.

Enjoy the fireworks! This is one of the best exhibitions we have ever witnessed! Parts 1-3.

Fireworks – Gunnison, CO - July 4, 2009 (part 1)

Fireworks – Gunnison, CO - July 4, 2009 (part 2)

Fireworks – Gunnison, CO - July 4, 2009 (part 3)

Independence Ride Day 3 - Part 3-4

July 4, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

Part 3
The ride to Creede and Lake City

The whole point (well, sort of) of riding in this part Colorado was to travel a road or two we haven't been down before... or roads we haven't been down in a very long time or roads we haven't ridden on the motorcycle yet. We moved to Colorado in 1998 and spent most of our spare time driving from one end of the state to another. Getting a Harley has created in us little demons that must revisit all of those old, favorite roads and made us hungry to explore others. I cannot tell you how many mornings we've spent with our coffee pouring over the Harley Touring Handbook wondering why we have not traveled this or that road.

This morning we revisited the road from Cortez through Durango, to Pagosa Springs, over Wolf Creek Pass - Woo-Hoo! and down to South Fork. As we entered South Fork we saw more signs of a huge Independence Day celebration. Vehicles and buildings were all decked out in the colors of the day. Red. White. Blue. High altitude will affect your appetite. Add the exhilaration of riding in high altitude then you have to know we rode down into South Fork ravenously hungry. Before long we spotted a sign that said CATFISH. Oh yeah - we brake for catfish. The locals were having a catfish fry and from the looks of it, all of the locals and a good many tourists were present for it. This building was about half the size of a Walmart and the line went clear around the building and strung out through the parking lot. Much as we would have loved to have some catfish, we passed on the wait.

Instead, we found lunch at a BBQ place called The Shaft. We could have made a meal on the beer-battered Onion Rings alone... Yum! But, we managed to consume those big ol' BBQ brisket sandwiches, fries and beer-battered zucchini. The Shaft is neat and clean, the decor was galvanized with some folk art mining murals, and the wait staff energetic and friendly (they were busy). The prices were reasonable and everything was served up in plentiful portions.



We didn't backtrack to visit South Fork's downtown area as yet another pesky cloud loomed dark over the mountains.

We picked up light rain just outside of town as we pointed The Ride north on Hwy 149 toward Creede, a 21 mile awesome canyon ride from South Fork. Wow! All I can say is when can we do that again? This road is known as The Silver Thread. I couldn't have been more pleased with Creede itself. The outskirts of Creede was dotted with old, buildings, mine shafts and vintage vehicles just as you would expect of a historic mining town. Creede (elevation 8852) is nestled at the base of a canyon with the walls of that canyon towering over the town. These walls, volcanic cliffs rising nearly a thousand feet are aptly named the Pillars of Hercules. The main street of town is lined with turn of the century architecture and mountain rusticity. It was fun to slowly negotiate main street and take in the sights and sounds of a small town bustling with the celebration of Independence Day.

After taking in (all too briefly) the town of Creede we moved on toward Lake City. Here again, the ride was simply gorgeous... every mile seemed to reveal something new. The Headwaters of the Rio Grande begin at over 13,000 feet in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. We had no idea... but there we were, standing in the middle of the 499,771 acre Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness area and feeling awestruck.

A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain... ~~ Wilderness Act 1964

Another amazing stop along the way (and we almost missed it) was North Clear Creek Falls, Spring Creek Pass (elevation 10,898), Continental Divide. This falls drops at least 100 feet. Riding by the cutoff for the falls, the landscape which looks like and is used as grazing land simply does not indicate that it holds secret such an awesome spectacle of nature. Like I said, we rode past it and turned around and went back. Are we glad we did! I shot some stills and video clips. Enjoy!

North Clear Creek Falls - July 4, 2009

From the falls, we traveled over scenic Slumgullion Pass (elevation 11,530) and past Mount Baldy Cinco (elevation 13,383). The pass is not really a pass but the location of a huge earthflow or mudslide that began over 700 years ago. The word slumgullion picked at my curiosity - apparently the yellowish soil reminded early settlers and miners of slumgullion stew, a concoction of meat, onions, cheese, tomatoes, macaroni or rice and whatever else would go in the pot. It sounds like something I've thrown together more than once.

Lake City (elevation 8671) was also bustling with Independence Day activities. We watched an egg toss in the park, roamed the tiny Main Street, and settled on a restaurant for apple pie and ice cream. I'm saying this was the best apple pie I've ever had, baked from scratch, says our waitress in the local Lake City bakery. We lounged on the front porch of Biker Friendly Southern Vittles with our pie and ice cream and had a great cup of coffee or two. We noticed they also offer catfish, but our recent hefty lunch left no room for more than pie. We will remember catfish can be had along this route. Lake City is a lovely town and we vow to return for a longer stay.

Part 4
The ride to Gunnison and celebrating the 4th

Continuing along Hwy 149, we rode out of Lake City down into Gunnison, CO where we hoped to spend the night. This part of the Silver Thread ride was as unexpectedly grand as the rest of the ride had been. I have to say - this road quickly climbed to near the top of our oh-my-god road list. I can't begin to tell you how much fun we were having! We rode through a rugged canyon with towering cliffs beside a river for a good part of the way. Then the road topped out onto high rolling hills, wildflower meadows, mesas and impressive rock formations. The view - you literally could see forever was astounding! And, we finally had sun!

We rolled around part of Blue Mesa Reservoir and into Gunnison (elelvation 7703) well after time we should have looked for a hotel/motel. The rule of thumb for travel in Colorado is: if you plan to stay the night, stop and get your lodging no later than 3 pm. Otherwise, you'll likely get some variation of the honeymoon suite routine... and charged out the wazoo... So, since it was after 7 pm, we knew how it would go. We rolled into a Super 8, got the last room as they just had a cancellation, but it was an Executive suite. Ouch! We didn't complain too much because we discovered that the park where the fireworks would be was across the street and there was a balloon launch scheduled for in the morning! What luck! The room was comfortable. Plus, there was free computer access in the lobby, so we finally got to log on and see the pics of Dad's beautiful new Road King.

We kicked back for a little while with a beer and a Mike's and waited for dark. Our ride today was just shy of 295 miles... can you believe what we packed into that mileage?

Of course, there's a Fireworks post... stay tuned...
The Silver Thread - Hwy 149 - 120 Miles of OMG Road
Creede, Colorado
Lake City, Colorado
Slumgullion Pass Earthflow
North Clear Creek Falls