We loaded my bike back into the uhaul and left Tulsa about noon Sunday. We drove through the night and arrived in Alabama NY (Chris's) about 9:30 am Monday. I got home about noon.
Overall mileage for the trip was much less than it would have been since many of the trans state miles were covered in a uhaul. Colorado was spectacular and everyone had a blast with the jeeps in Canyonlands.
We had an adventure!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Day 11, Saturday 6/28, Montrose to Tulsa
We dragged our butts out of bed early to start the 830+ mile trip back to Tulsa. Temps were in the low 40's in the mountains. We had a great ride through southern Colorado, crossed briefly into New Mexico and east to Oklahoma. We arrived very late into Tulsa to a meal prepared by Tonita and to collapse in soft beds.
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| Rain Gear in Bright Sunshine + 42F in Gunnison |
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| Incredible Southern Colorado |
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| Why is it always Harley riders that have the prettiest girls? |
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| Rural Colorado - Ranch country |
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| New Mexico |
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| Lots of open space in western Oklahoma |
Day 10, Friday 6/27, Telluride
Chris and I took an easy ride to Telluride to sample the local fare and purchase a couple souvenirs (shirts). Clearly - there is plenty of $ in Telluride. Lots of European SUV's and beautiful people dressed in the best athletic clothing money can buy. Even the Harleys were show quality. No rat bikes here.
Mother nature thought we needed the Telluride rinsed off and provided a quick/cool/intense downpour on the way down the mountain - and neither of us had rain gear with us on this short day ride. We were dry by the time we got back to Montrose. Another great ride in colorful Colorado.
Mother nature thought we needed the Telluride rinsed off and provided a quick/cool/intense downpour on the way down the mountain - and neither of us had rain gear with us on this short day ride. We were dry by the time we got back to Montrose. Another great ride in colorful Colorado.
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| Main St Telluride = $$ |
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| The rain - we just passed through |
Friday, June 27, 2014
Day 8 & 9, Wednesday 6/25 & Thursday 6/26, The Black Canyon & Moab - Jeeps in the Canyons
Wednesday we rode the Black Canyon then on to Gunnison for lunch. After returning and a short break we worked our way on to Moab Utah, including the spectacular rt 128 from 70W to Moab. Rt 128 is one of the scenic byways Utah. It should be on everyone's bucket list.
Thursday we rented Jeeps and went into Canyonlands National Park. Everyone raved about what a great time they had - which was a relief after I had convinced people to try it (and spend the money). Its tough to really describe how beautiful and different it is from anything out east. Another item that should be one everyone's bucket list - Jeeps in Canyonland.
Unfortunately the Can-Am blew a seal and parts could not be found - fortunately there was a friend in the area with a trailer going back to Montrose. So we loaded the Can-Am and doubled up on the bikes so everyone could be included on the ride. In Montrose - Scott had bought steaks for everyone so dinner was ribeyes on the grill, salad and cold beers - perfect.
There was a lot left to see in Colorado & Utah but our time is nearly up. Saturday we head east.
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| Classic Colorado Riding |
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| Look at the smile on that bloke...and vista behind him |
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| Gunnison Reservoir |
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| Chris just fits on the Harley |
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| RT 128 in Utah |
Thursday we rented Jeeps and went into Canyonlands National Park. Everyone raved about what a great time they had - which was a relief after I had convinced people to try it (and spend the money). Its tough to really describe how beautiful and different it is from anything out east. Another item that should be one everyone's bucket list - Jeeps in Canyonland.
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| The crew in the desert |
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| Canyonlands - incredible |
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| 1000's of miles of off road to explore in Utah |
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| Us kids playing in the Jeeps |
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| Us kids - climbing on the rocks - yours truly on top. |
Unfortunately the Can-Am blew a seal and parts could not be found - fortunately there was a friend in the area with a trailer going back to Montrose. So we loaded the Can-Am and doubled up on the bikes so everyone could be included on the ride. In Montrose - Scott had bought steaks for everyone so dinner was ribeyes on the grill, salad and cold beers - perfect.
There was a lot left to see in Colorado & Utah but our time is nearly up. Saturday we head east.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Day 7, Tuedsay, 6/24, The Million Dollar Highway
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| Do I look at the curve or the view? |
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| They aren't kidding about 20 mph |
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| Classic Colorado - snow capped peaks & beef cows |
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| The Amphitheater near Ouray |
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| Would you like to go for a little mcy ride - anyone? |
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| The rail from mining operations near the summit of Red Mountain Pass, 11075ft |
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| Curves curves when there is so much to look at.... |
Day 5&6, Sunday-Monday, 6/22&23, Colorado Springs-Denver-Montrose
Sunday we rode up highway 25 to Denver so members of the team could see friends. Traffic was heavy and not much fun.
Monday we rode from Denver to Montrose via Fairplay. This was the Colorado I remember.
Upper 50's in Fairplay, low 80's in Montrose, quite the range of temps. To get to Fairplay you climb the front range and top out around 9000' on a broad windswept plateau surrounded by snow capped peaks. There are more horses and beef cattle than people.
We've been bustin' on Chris for riding a Harley since his Triumph tranny failed. He found a real dinosaur to match his ride.
Monday we rode from Denver to Montrose via Fairplay. This was the Colorado I remember.
Upper 50's in Fairplay, low 80's in Montrose, quite the range of temps. To get to Fairplay you climb the front range and top out around 9000' on a broad windswept plateau surrounded by snow capped peaks. There are more horses and beef cattle than people.
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| On our way up |
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| The high plains near Fairplay, ~9000ft above sea level |
We've been bustin' on Chris for riding a Harley since his Triumph tranny failed. He found a real dinosaur to match his ride.
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| A dinosaur to match his ride |
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| Neida, Lupe & Lore at Monarch Pass - Lore rides the Can-Am - really fast |
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| Yours Truly at Monarch Pass |
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| Between Gunnison & Montrose - incredible |
Sunday, June 22, 2014
For all of you visitors to previous years ride blogs - this is the same format with the same caveats. Format - haphazard, typos and spelling errors included for the readers enjoyment and entries as connectivity and energy level allows. And - it reads backwards. Each post is placed ahead of the others.
The blog is back due to popular demand and threats from my fellow workers. Originally I said - no blog this year, its too much work but my teammates promised that I would be absolved from all problems I left them with if (and only if) the blog was created. Sounds like blackmail to me....
This is actually the start of day 5 with a plan to go to Pike's Peak and it's already been quite the adventure.
Day 1, Wednesday 6/18, Home to Muncie Indiana
Chris and I met near Erie and rode (4 lane - slab, trucks, blah, blah, blah) to Muncie Indiana and the home of Adam & Missy and a wonderful meal of smoked ribs and cold beers. Paul and Peggy (from Canada - A) joined us after a bit - soaked to the skin and ready to get off the bike. They had ridden through a super cell and were thankful to be in one piece. The meal and company was excellent. Our sincere thanks to Adam and his family for their outstanding care and hospitality. Staying with friends is such a delightful experience as compared to a (sometimes not so sterile) cookie cutter hotel and road food.
Day 2, Thursday 6/19, Muncie to St Louis - el kruncho
We met Scott in Vandalia Illinois with plans to get to near Rolla before stopping for the night. Plans changed. Chris had problems getting his bike into 5th gear after a stop but that was only a hint of thing to come. During rush hour, at least 4 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic, in 94F heat, in St Louis, Chris's tranny locked.
We made to a place on the inside of a curve, under an overpass with about 4 feet between the guard rail and screaming trucks. Due to the curve, traffic could not even see us until they were right on top of us. Yikes! A picture would have told a thousand word, but in this case maybe its better. It was not a pretty spot.
We waited for the bike to cool and traffic to open up and Chris managed to limp the bike in 3rd gear to an exit away from downtown. Of course its actually a little deeper - about 1/4 mile from where Chris got restarted the interstate splits in multiple directions - we all got separated (including the chasers) due to different start times into the traffic flow and it took a little time and a few phone calls to get regrouped.
We found a (high rise, very fancy) Marriot close to where Chris was and the gods took mercy on us and there were a couple of rooms - even though the hotel booked full that night - makes you wonder. We looked like something the cat dragged in compared to the convention attendee's and all the business people in their suits. And we were probably too loud in the lounge - but we let off some stream and had a great evening (till sometime well after midnight ??).
Day 3, Friday 6/20, St Louis to Tulsa
Paul, Peggy and Scott headed for Lupe's in Tulsa and Chris secured a rental truck (from the hood in St. Louis). Lupe offered to lend Chris a bike (one of his many) so we loaded the truck and made our way to Tulsa. Lupe's wife and sister made us a fabulous traditional mexican meal - we pigged (oink oink). The showers and soft beds were oh so welcome.
Day 4, Saturday, 6/21, Tulsa to Colorado Springs
The blog is back due to popular demand and threats from my fellow workers. Originally I said - no blog this year, its too much work but my teammates promised that I would be absolved from all problems I left them with if (and only if) the blog was created. Sounds like blackmail to me....
This is actually the start of day 5 with a plan to go to Pike's Peak and it's already been quite the adventure.
Day 1, Wednesday 6/18, Home to Muncie Indiana
Chris and I met near Erie and rode (4 lane - slab, trucks, blah, blah, blah) to Muncie Indiana and the home of Adam & Missy and a wonderful meal of smoked ribs and cold beers. Paul and Peggy (from Canada - A) joined us after a bit - soaked to the skin and ready to get off the bike. They had ridden through a super cell and were thankful to be in one piece. The meal and company was excellent. Our sincere thanks to Adam and his family for their outstanding care and hospitality. Staying with friends is such a delightful experience as compared to a (sometimes not so sterile) cookie cutter hotel and road food.
Day 2, Thursday 6/19, Muncie to St Louis - el kruncho
We met Scott in Vandalia Illinois with plans to get to near Rolla before stopping for the night. Plans changed. Chris had problems getting his bike into 5th gear after a stop but that was only a hint of thing to come. During rush hour, at least 4 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic, in 94F heat, in St Louis, Chris's tranny locked.
We made to a place on the inside of a curve, under an overpass with about 4 feet between the guard rail and screaming trucks. Due to the curve, traffic could not even see us until they were right on top of us. Yikes! A picture would have told a thousand word, but in this case maybe its better. It was not a pretty spot.
We waited for the bike to cool and traffic to open up and Chris managed to limp the bike in 3rd gear to an exit away from downtown. Of course its actually a little deeper - about 1/4 mile from where Chris got restarted the interstate splits in multiple directions - we all got separated (including the chasers) due to different start times into the traffic flow and it took a little time and a few phone calls to get regrouped.
We found a (high rise, very fancy) Marriot close to where Chris was and the gods took mercy on us and there were a couple of rooms - even though the hotel booked full that night - makes you wonder. We looked like something the cat dragged in compared to the convention attendee's and all the business people in their suits. And we were probably too loud in the lounge - but we let off some stream and had a great evening (till sometime well after midnight ??).
Day 3, Friday 6/20, St Louis to Tulsa
Paul, Peggy and Scott headed for Lupe's in Tulsa and Chris secured a rental truck (from the hood in St. Louis). Lupe offered to lend Chris a bike (one of his many) so we loaded the truck and made our way to Tulsa. Lupe's wife and sister made us a fabulous traditional mexican meal - we pigged (oink oink). The showers and soft beds were oh so welcome.
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| L-R, Lore, Lupe, Neida, Tonita, Paul, Peggy, Chris, Scott |
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| This was not the plan. |
Day 4, Saturday, 6/21, Tulsa to Colorado Springs
We worked our way across Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. The land quickly changed from green to tans -
and the west. Common sights included 1000 acre grain fields, cattle, feedlots,
windmills, oil wells and finally the empty horizon of the lands just east of
the rockies.
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| Shades of the west |
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| Oklahoma Oil |
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| And windmills - often not that far apart |
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| Steak anyone? BTW - Phew! |
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| Subtle Beauty |
Around 6pm in Scott City Kansas the front brake failed on one of the
bikes. The bolt that holds the caliper
to the fork had backed out and fallen off.
Not much open at 6 pm on a Saturday nite in Scott City Kansas
(population 3817). We got lucky. An individual in a passing work truck stopped
and found a spare bolt that would fit the Triumph enough to work (english
standard thread - rare in the US) in a box of spare parts. By 7 pm we were back
on our way.
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| Is this a state job? |
We continued on to cover some of the least populated sections of the
country and into the super cells. We could see the black/green thunderheads,
curtains of rain and lightning – to either side of us. We didn’t escape
forever.
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| Not a chance we'll ride around the edge of this one. |
In the most desolate section of Colorado we crossed one of the bikes ran
out of gas about 5 miles short of the next gas station. So there we sat on a
Saturday night, in the dark, in the rain, in Sugar City, population 279. Not
much was going on. The first car that came by left us a gas can with
instructions to leave it by the garbage can when we were done, they would pick
up tomorrow. Probably not much theft in Sugar City. I’m guessing they have met
all their neighbors. The next (rather beat Chevy) truck was the secretary of
the town and his wife who proceeded to take the gas can, drive to the next town
and return with gas. He wouldn’t even accept a token of our appreciation. Love
them country folk.
After filling up we finished the miles to Colorado Springs arriving after
11 pm (1 am on my body clock). Long day.
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| The secretary of Sugar City & his wife - our heroes! |
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