Mini Road Trip - Day 3 - The Wall, Victor CO and one last look at the rally

August 22, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Another great day! Given the rainy season Colorado has had lately, we are counting our lucky stars that we had three perfect days for the Salute to American Veterans Rally. We could not have asked for better.

After yet another good night's rest at the Mecca Motel, we were ready to get up and get rolling. Getting out of the motel a little later than we normally do, we rode with David and Megan two blocks west to the Manitou Pancake and Steak House where three of us dined on the excellent breakfast buffet. Megan's catfish breakfast looked yummy, but took a good while to prepare. Manitou Pancake and Steak House was neat and clean and busy although we were immediately seated. The decor was cozy, exactly what you would expect for a dining establishment in this part of town. The entire staff (including management) was bustling, wait staff was cheerful and efficient and vacated tables were bussed immediately. The food on the buffet was fresh, hot and tasty. Containers were not allowed to dwindle down to the dregs. The buffet included a fruit bar with a good variety which we enjoyed. We liked this restaurant and will return again.

After breakfast, we topped off our tanks. It was nearly noon before we headed back up to The Wall and Victor, CO. We rode out in light jackets and hoodies, which was a smart move as cloud cover and the shade of the mountain made for a chilly ride in spots. It was a beautiful morning though. Lots of people, vehicles, campers and motorcycles were heading down.

I believe it was near the first 30 mph curve, that we ran upon a person by the side of the road, waving at us to slow down as we passed the scene of a motorcycle accident on a graveled pull-out. It looked like a couple riding two-up on 105th Anniversary touring model H-D had gone down hard. The man was talking to the woman who lay prone, nearly face down and was not moving. We assessed the situation. Several vehicles were pulled over and people were offering assistance as they waited for emergency response vehicles. We rode on, perhaps a bit more carefully and definitely with a keener eye to the road. We hope the riders are OK. I was unable to find a police/state patrol or accident report to confirm it.

A short while later we rode into Victor, CO. David and Megan chose to explore main street while we walked down to visit The Wall. It was quiet when we first arrived. We could not find Gary C Johnston yesterday. We found him this morning first thing and said hello for his brother, our friend Nubbin. We revisited other names on the wall and on The Price of Freedom memorial.

While Tim browsed through the patches and pins near the trailer, I watched as a grandfather, obviously a Veteran, spent some time talking in earnest to his grandson about the wars listed on The Price of Freedom memorial. The youngster looked up and caught my eye. I asked them if I could take their photo. They agreed. I asked the youngster if he was learning about the wars. He nodded in the affirmative but had nothing to say. Bashful I think. The Veteran said it was hard to make the youngster understand. I nodded and said, the important thing is, you are sharing it with him. I looked at the youngster and said Listen well. One of these days you will understand. One of these days you will know that the people listed on these walls and the man standing beside you are heroes and champions of freedom. I thanked the Veteran for his service with a pat on his shoulder and said in a low voice teach him well. We parted ways... both the Vet and I trying to get a grip on our emotions.

Walking back up the hill toward town, we decided to explore downtown some. Victor looks about the same as I remembered it. Most of the buildings are still vacant although some have been remodeled. It is a charming setting... and it is easy to get a sense of the gold rush era history of the place simply by strolling past buildings where weeds have sprung up through the cracks in the sidewalks, where the streets while paved remain dusty, where a glance up reveals casement windows and excessively ornamental architectural features reminiscent of a century and more of days gone by. Many of the buildings are dated 1899/1900 and house a variety of businesses from cafes to bars to antique shops. Many of the brick buildings were built after a devastating fire in August of 1899. David and Megan toured the historic and beautifully restored Victor Hotel and The Lowell Thomas Museum which is still under renovation.

Tim and I went in search of a cup of coffee and then discovered that the Victor Trading Co. was still in business. The last time I visited this store was in the mid-eighties. I remember it because of the broom maker. The brooms are one of a kind and are of the highest quality. Karen and Sam are still in business, still making brooms and apparently doing well.

Karen - Broom Maker - Victor Trading Company

David and Megan had commitments at home this afternoon so about 2 pm, we rode out of Victor and with them as far as the split in the road. They headed down the mountain, we headed up the mountain toward Cripple Creek for a final look at the Salute to American Veterans Rally. At the Cripple Creek overlook, we stopped to admire the view and for a photo op before riding on down into town.

The Ride - Cripple Creek Overlook

Lots of bikes still lined the streets and people were still milling around in the booths and casinos. We thought a good many people were hanging around waiting for the finals of the tattoo competition and for Bronco Billy's to announce the winner of the motorcycle and gift certificates they were giving away.

POW-MIA Sand Sculpture - Cripple Creek, CO

As we slowly made our way down Bennett Ave again, we stopped to admire the sand sculpture which was finally completed and simply amazing. There is always some sort of sand sculpture in Cripple Creek, but I think this one with Uncle Sam is one of the best I've seen. These are sculpted by the artists of Team Sandtastic. We rode under that giant flag at the end of the street one more time. We parked on the back street and walked up and strolled for a little while, just taking in all of it. While we were standing on a high point, we felt a cool breeze kick up and the temperature dropped quickly. The clouds rolling in over the mountains to the west got darker and more solid. We took our time before deciding to point The Ride in the direction of home.

Once down the mountain the view to the north looked like we would ride under partly cloudy skies even if we took the long way home. Turning north on Hwy 67 out of Woodland Park, we traveled the twisting turning road which winds along the Platte River and through the small, historic resort towns of Deckers, Buffalo Creek and Pine Valley. It also winds through the part of the Hayman burn area (the scene of Colorado's largest wildfire in 2002). We stopped at a scenic pullout to shed jackets, stretch our legs and drink some water. We were amused at a couple of other bikers sitting there when we arrived. A light breeze brought us the distinct whiff of some funky tobacco while they tried to dicreetly share a joint. We let them ride on down the mountain a good ways before we followed. The clouds spit on us intermittently during this part of the ride, but otherwise the roads remained dry.

Once on Hwy 285, we were abruptly returned to reality, traveling along at a hectic pace, with most of the rest of the world trying to get back to Denver. As usual, we turned off just west of Denver, near Morrison and followed the back roads home, stopping for an ice cream along the way. We rolled into our driveway about 7:30 pm.

This weekend's trip was 679 miles, putting us over 11,000 miles on our new Ride. We enjoyed the rally, and wandering the streets of Cripple Creek and staying in the Springs but participating in the POW-MIA Recognition Ride was the high point of the weekend. We loved every minute of it and we were proud to show our support for America's Veterans.

Here is today's slide show (95 photos):