DAY 20 AND END OF THE ROAD DAY21

DAY 20

We had decided to ride Colorado’s famous Million Dollar Highway today and a quick look at the weather  said it would be a good day to try it. Left Montrose with temps in the 40’s heading for Ouray and our climb into the mountains. We have done this ride on prior occasions but always from south to north and I can tell you it is a completely different ride the opposite direction.

The road is very lightly travelled during this time between skiers and summer visitors and we had it pretty much to ourselves. Short straight stretches with a 35 mph speed limit quickly change to 10 MPH corners with shear drop offs. When the road was built there wasn't room for two lanes and a guard rail so the pavement edge is a several hundred foot drop-off that begs to be looked at as you near the edge on the corners. We all know you will go where you look so there is a constant struggle to keep your speed adjusted and eyes looking ahead as the tires move ever closer to the edge. You do all this bundled up like a cocoon against the 31 degree temperature at the top. Dropping down into Silverton and the lower altitude (9300 feet) the weather warms and we sat outside a coffee shop for a cup of coffee before tackling the next two passes between Silverton and Durango.

Lunch in Durango and the map came out, we had three options, southwest to four corners towards Flagstaff and home, Straight south towards Shiprock and over to Show Low for the last night, or….route 550 (green scenic dots) southeast to Albuquerque. The rain we encountered later in the day let us know that we did not choose wisely but we made it cross it of the list. After 19 days of avoiding the weather with creative route planning we were due a day like this.

DAY 21

Pretty simple, everyone ready to head home about 500 miles to ride so for the first time long day of Interstate which put us home around 4 ish where a wife and grandkids gave me an enthusiastic welcome.

As usual have to thank my family for their support, the guys I ride with for keeping it fun and of course the great roads all over this country.

Every day's a revolution
Pull it together and it comes undone
Just one more candle and a trip around the sun.

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning
And it's good to know it's out of my control.
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go.

No you never see it coming,
Always wind up wondering where it went.

Only time will tell
If it was time well spent.
It's another revelation,

Celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun.

Jimmy Buffett

I know we can't all ride around the country on motorcycles but get out and do something. See something, learn something, spend time with loved ones, just do something. Don’t look back and say “I could have”.Don't waste another Trip Around The Sun.