End of the summer season riding

Well we decided to head up to one of our favorite close rides as the summer is pretty much over here in So. Colorado. We headed up to Westcliffe, CO. for our favorite "Chili-Cheese fries" and a Rootbeer! It's about 180 mile RT with some great riding thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon on CO. Hwy. 50, then north on CO. Hwy. 96, with it's awesome view of the Wet Mountains. On 96 we had the highway all to ourselves, what I call, "owning the road"!  We've had a LOT of HAZE from out of state fires so the view wasn't as grand as usual, that and it's been warm enough to melt the snow off the peaks, still is a great motorcycle road in Westcliffe! Headed back home the same way, just so we can re-ride Big Horn Sheep Canyon, as it flows right along the Arkansas River. Got to the barn and cleaned the bike a bit, we got a LOT of BUGS on this ride! We will be staying closer to home the next few months but we can dream of the Chili-Cheese Fries and the warmer days of next summer! :)

Million Dollar Hwy. Ride

We finally got in a decent "Road Trip", as of August 21 thru 24th. We rode from Colorado Springs to Montrose, CO. spent the night, the rode CO. Hwy. 550, known as the Million Dollar Highway, 1/2 of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway, thru Ouray, Silverton and down into Durango. Over Red Mountain, Molas and Coal Bank Passes. It's one very beautiful road, with hundreds of curves, lot's of spectacular mountain views!   We stopped in Silverton, CO. " as it has the "highest altitude" Harley-Davidson Store (over 9,000 ft.). We were amazed as this tiny mountain hamlet was filled with "motorcycles" of all brands and styles of street machines and lot's of adventure tourers and dual-purpose bikes. We didn't a have a real sunny/clear day but we never got rained on so that's ok with us! :)

Into Durango to spend the night, on a search for food, close to our motel, we found a River Walk Trail and walked it's length, found a great little Chinese Place with a patio by the river, ate and watched the rafters, waders, tubers, etc. in summer sun and heat! We got up the next morning and rode Hwy. 160E, thru Pagosa Springs and Wolf Creek Pass. Saw a Semi that went off the side of the pass being pulled back up, what mess!!! Rode thru South Park and into Monte Vista for gas and lunch. Ate at a little diner called, BOOGERS, LOL, they made a great club sandwich with onion rings! We headed up CO. 285 N. which is a open hwy. surrounded by vast farming lands over Poncha Pass into Salida, CO. for our final nights stay. Found a quaint little, old style motor lodge, Silver Saddle Motel and walked the town, ate and then watched The Godfather I & II before hitting the sack! Headed home via CO. 50E. thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon to Canon City, CO. 115 N. home to Colorado Springs. Lot's of miles and smiles, just wish it didn't have to end so soon. :)

Due to the rain's lately, we decided not to do a long ride on Sat. so we just headed south on CO. Hwy. 115 to CO. Hwy. 50 W thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon to the little store/diner at Texas Creek. Had a really good Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and a root beer. Love riding thru the canyon, it nothing but sweepers right along the Arkansas River. The river level is really high and it was full of rafter's, LOL, they are braver than me, I'll stick to the road by the river, not getting on it in a little rubber boat! ;) Headed home the same way, no rain till we hit Cheyenne Mnt. in Co. Springs, just a light sprinkle and got the bike back to the barn and us back home. We will be heading out for 3 days of riding in the Southwest area of Colorado, around Durango, riding 50/550 (Million Dollar Hwy.) and CO. 149 over Spring creek and Smgullion Passes back into Gunnsion, CO. for the last night. around 700 miles, can't wait, been a long time since we've been on a real road trip!!! :)

Just, ride'in around

Well with a recent move, etc. lately we've just been riding around the local area's south and east of Colorado Springs. We are planning a 3 or 4 day ride come the week of the 18th. of August, heading to Northern NM. and Southwestern, CO. So JULY,  was a bit light on the "miles" but we so NEED a Road Trip or we might just go crazy, LOL!! Stay tuned for photo's and an update!! :)

A great ride with old friends!

Jo and I went on a ride with two old friends we don't get to ride with very often, we went to Bishop's Castle on CO. Hwy. 165, heading west out of Colorado City and I-25. We stopped at the "hand built" castle to see what new additions have been added since our last visit awhile back. We then headed north on 165 to pick up CO Hwy. 96 W. into Westcliffe, CO. for lunch at the Rowdy Rancher's Café. The views of the Wet Mountains on 96 heading to town are beyond awesome, it's towering mountains as far as the eye can see! We headed back 96 E. down Hardscrabble Pass into Wetmore, then 67 S. into Florence, CO. for a cold drink and fuel stop. Headed home via CO. 115 N. into Colorado Springs, Mary B. headed north on I-25 to Castle Rock CO. and Ed headed south to Fountain, CO. a beautiful day, a great time! :)