DAY 6

Hard saying goodbye to Greg this morning, wish he was continuing with us but it was not to be this year. Nice ride today across the grassy plains of eastern Wyoming and into the Black Hills of South Dakota. We crossed Grasslands National Park which is exactly what it sounds like. This is definitely the "range" of Home On The Range fame, deer and antelope all along the way. Also, cows and sheep all sharing the endless grasslands in every direction.

Saw lots of oil wells in Wyoming and several drilling rigs as the high prices have caused a mini boom in this area, also passed a large refinery. So please explain why when we stopped to get gas we had to go to three stations to find fuel that wasn't 85% corn! Everywhere we tried was E-85 what is the deal with these states.

Finished the day in the middle of the Black Hills, expecting a great ride tomorrow around the area. Standing on the balcony watching a light rain pass by knowing that we were in for the night.

Chuck

DAY 5 JB'S BIRTHDAY

It's late and I'm tired so this will be short. Much of the day spent on I-25 either riding or standing on the side of the road, read Ken's Daily Monitor if you haven't already.

I will tell you about the start of the day instead. Headed down route 34 which is another of those spectacular Colorado roads. As soon as we left Estes we were in a deep ravine with thick pine tree covered slops rising on either side of us. The road twists and turns following a river back and forth for mile after mile, the morning sun causing the trees to cast shadows like dark stripes across the road. The river was busy with fisherman and a few early morning kayaks getting ready for the day. Then suddenly we were in a rocky canyon with cliffs on both sides of the river and us before suddenly rounding a corner and finding ourselves at a traffic light in Loveland Colorado.

But the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high
He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept his memory
John Denver

I can't believe how quickly you can go from the feeling of: it's just us in the universe, to the big city, truly amazing.

Glad to be in for the night, glad the motel has a bar on premises, glad the waitress at dinner was tolerant with a good sense of humor.

Good Night

DAY 4 ROCKY MONTAIN PARK

Stood alone on a mountain top,
Starin' out at the great divide 
I could go east, I could go west,
It was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin'
And my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin'


Roll, roll me away,
I'm gonna roll me away tonight
Gotta keep rollin, gotta keep ridin',
Keep searchin' till I find what's right
Bob Seger

Left Dillon under clear cool skies, a quick ride up I-70 through the tunnel under Loveland then headed north over another pass adding to the dozen or so we have already driven.

Eventually it was on to Rocky Mountain National Park and another day of incredible riding. Didn't get many miles today but had quality over quantity this state just keeps impressing with new things to see. Once in the park the road starts to climb rapidly back and forth up steep mountain grades with speeds from 30 to 10. After a few minutes you can look down and see the tiny dots of cars coming up behind far below. Looking back has to be in quick glances as the road is narrow with sharp turns and few guard rails, just what we are looking for.

Shortly after entering the park we saw the first of several moose sightings, also lots of elk were in attendance for the tourists pleasure today. This causes many of said tourists to stop their vehicles in the middle of the road and jump out to take pictures. Sometimes the animals themselves caused the traffic delays. Two elk were crossing the road and the first elk, obviously a male, waited for traffic to stop and made a quick direct crossing. The second elk, possibly a female, started across then stopped went back started again eventually stopping in the road before finally crossing at a leisurely pace.

Stopped at the top of the park, the Alpine Lodge for a break and to admire the scenery. Lunch tastes great when you are eating above the tree line at almost 12,000 feet with a view for miles around. Restrooms, and drinking fountains were out of order since all the water pipes and supply was still frozen.

Into Estes Park Co stopped for the night nice motel, gorgeous views, walked to dinner. Finally leaving Colorado tomorrow.

Chuck

DAY 3 PIKE'S PEAK

What’s the best thing to do with eight AARP members most of whom take meds for one ailment or another. If you guessed put them on motorcycles and drive a narrow two lane road with no guardrails to an altitude over 14,000 feet and then make them try to walk around you got it right.


Left Pueblo north to 24 then over to entrance to Pike’s Peak. Stopped at the ranger station to pay our entrance fee and the sign said temperature at the top was 32 with wind chill 19! Decided to put on jackets, ride up and down couldn’t have been better. The views from the top are amazing the road is incredible, and here is the best part, it was my turn to lead up and down.

Followed that up with a great ride on more Colorado two lane even managed to work in a few additional mountain passes. The 10,000 footers just don’t seem as high after Pike’s Peak, this is one incredibly beautiful state. In for the night in Dillon Colorado in a Best Western with ski lockers for each room and a beautiful view of Dillon Resovoir.

Pike's Peak was named for Zebulon Pike and inspired Katharine Bates to write America The Beautiful, the road to the top is 38 miles round trip.

DAY 2 DURANGO TO PUEBLO

If you looked at a map of Colorado you would notice several ways to get from Durango to Pueblo Colorado. That was our goal for the day, drive to Pueblo and meet JB the last member of this years ride and a charter member of our group.

Well, after letting Jan look at the map and talking it over we had found a route that would take us all day, wear out the sides of the tires, and take us over four different mountain passes above 10,000 feet. There was no other reasonable choice but the long way around and a full day of hard riding. So it was over Wolf Creek then north on 149 towards Gunnison over a couple of passes all narrow two lane stopped for a great lunch in Lake City Co.
Once we had started up into the high mountains of 149 we came across a section with three signs spaced a few hundred yards apart.
ROAD DAMAGE
NARROW ROAD
MOTORCYCLES USE EXTREME CAUTION
doesn't get any better!


After the 149 it was onto 50 over Monarch pass and into Salida then east along the Arkansas river for mile after mile, absolutely gorgeous, not the first time on 50 but could do it every day.

Finally made it to Pueblo found JB at the agreed upon motel gave him a big hug, got a kiss from Susie and followed up with dinner at a nearby restaurant. Clear skies, temps ranging from 50 to 75, great twisty roads, bikes running good, mark it down as a great day.

Chuck

DAY 1 PHOENIX-DURANGO

Started with breakfast at Denny's, kind of a tradition, joined by family and friends. Headed out to the bikes shortly after eight and on down the road. Didn't really feel like the start of another trip,felt more like a weekend run to Flagstaff or Prescott. Picked up Jan in Camp Verde and headed north slowly starting to realize this was it, the start of another adventure.

I was soon off the interstate headed up 89 with sunny skies, 70 degrees, great music on the satellite radio, big v-twin rumbling and followed by friends. At that point thoughts of three weeks of doing this very thing start dancing in my head.

Now I been out in the desert, just doin' my time
Searchin' through the dust, lookin' for a sign
If there's a light up ahead well brother I don't know
But I got this fever burnin' in my soul
So let's take the good times as they go
And I'll meet you further on up the road
Springsteen

Driving across 160 around Kayenta skirting the south side of Monument Valley I'm amazed at the red rock formations that look like ocean waves that were frozen in time. They undulate back and forth imitating a storm at sea with spires reaching to the sky in the distance, so beautiful and varied, impossible to take it all in. This part of Arizona is so different and desolate but with its own incredible beauty.

We are stopped for the night in Durango, about 450 miles today, a good ride. This year we have two new people riding with us, Tim and Greg giving us seven tonight. Tomorrow we will meet up with JB probably around Pueblo.

Ready To Go

Just finished packing after spending a wonderful day with family. Sitting here in front of the computer knowing I should go to bed since we leave in eight hours with the  "did I forget anything" thoughts running through my head.

Then on pops the screen saver which is set to google photos and I spend the next half hour watching pictures of trips past and thinking about the trip to come. Time to get some sleep and begin another adventure around America.

Chuck