It's Cold in Them Rockies!

[Gravel Guy]

Originally Posted by _RG_

Hide your eyes Ethel!

But it was toooooo late...she'd already been MOONED!

[frijole_tex]

Chama gets sneaky cold...even in the Summer. Visited a friend up there a few years back and while really warm - hot during the day, it got pretty frigid at night. I was wearing every item of clothing I had to sleep in.

[Robert K]

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

I'd have to ride naked in 62 degree weather for a full day to drive the heat incurred over the last two summers out of my bones......

Let me know when you do this so I can head the other way!

[TallGears]

In for the trip. Looks good so far.

[MotoTex]

[bluedogok]

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

I'd have to ride naked in 62 degree weather for a full day to drive the heat incurred over the last two summers out of my bones......

Last summer in Austin was the last straw for us, probably the main reason why we moved to Colorado. They keep talking about our record breaking heat this summer, 60 some days of 90+ temps. That feels great compared to the 90 days of 100+ and 130 straight days of 90+ in Austin last summer.

[greeneggs&ham]

Well, at the end of day one, I was sitting in front of the motel, thinking about the days ride. Here is the GPS photo.



This was a great ride. It is good dirt road, separated by great paved road. It has been a relaxed ride, with several rests to contemplate the past and the future. I am out here alone and it is very calming, no schedule, no pressure; I am just enjoying the ride. It is beautiful, and around every corner, over every hill is something I’ve never seen.

Last evening while sitting there, in Chama, at the end of the day, as the last light settles down behind the mountain, I received a phone call from my wife, it is the kind of news nobody likes to hear. Our brother-in-law has died; he was only 51 and it was very unexpected. My thoughts were of my sister-in-law and my wife. I could not be there for them. I started thinking how fast can I get to the truck. My wife said that she and her sister wanted me to keep riding north. We left the conversation with “we will talk about it in the morning.”

The next morning I was up early, making plans. I walked over to Fina’s Diner for breakfast; the innkeeper had recommended it. While there, I asked a man, “was that sleet on the ground I saw when I rode in about 5:00 yesterday?” “Yes, that is God’s way of letting us know the fluffy white stuff is on its way.” And with a slight grin he walked away. That is an interesting way of thinking about it. I walked back over to the motel and started loading the bike for the trip back. I was deep in thought when the innkeeper stuck her head out the office door and said, “you have a phone call in your room.” I had not turned my cell on yet. It was Mrs. C. She and her sister decided I needed to keep going north for at least a couple more days. Nothing was going to happen for a few days back in Austin. They are waiting on the results of an autopsy, suspecting a heart attack. We talked about it awhile and north it would be (I know when I can’t win an argument.) So off I rode out of town headed north.

It’s about 25 miles to the CDR turn off on Hwy 17. So it was a good ride out with the sun coming up on my right over the mountains. The clouds still heavy and low around the mountains.

VID00147 - YouTube

VID00147 - YouTube

VID00243 - YouTube

VID00243 - YouTube

It was great riding this morning, more views, rivers, mountains. After riding for about an hour and a half, I stopped here and took a break.



I saw two riders headed south at this point. The first one on a green Tiger and the second on a KLR. They were motivating pretty fast and didn’t stop. But the second one did yell out “Isn’t This Great” at the top of his lungs. I could not have said it better myself.

I stayed for a few minutes and then started up and headed up the road.




Before long the clouds had started to build again. As I ride thru more Pine and Aspen trees my thoughts continually go back to what may be happening back home. It’s a different day and a different attitude. It is beautiful here but I take it in with a heavy heart. I am soon up near Greyback Mountain and North Mountain. There is a part of the trail that is closed up here; the forest service has a gate across it. But the road that I am on still goes in this general direction so I keep following it and about 4 miles later it joins back at the other end of the CDR trail, where it, too, is gated on that end. So now I am on Co. Rd. 14 that leads me into Del Norte. It’s been raining on me for over an hour now, so the first thing I look for is an overhang to dry off under. I find it on the east side of town – an old motel that has been closed and it has an overhang where I can park the bike and kind of dry a bit.

After drying a little, I got gas and headed north out of town. So I ride up toward the airport, then into the airport, a small rural patch of land with about a half dozen hangers on it. The track shows to run due north, across the flight line. As I am looking over toward the track direction, a man is walking toward me. As I pull up to the man, he smiles and says, “You’re riding the CDR, aren’t you?” “Well, yes, but…” “Yeah, the track says you need to go straight across the flight line doesn’t it?” “Yes!” “Well, last year they built a new runway and diverted the trail to that dirt road headed N.W. just before you entered the airport.” At that point, I just thought he had a lot of people ride in here and ask him this question, but no. He explained, “My son rode this trail several years ago and he has also ridden from Alaska to Patagonia on a separate trip.” So we chatted about rides and trips; I think he mentioned that he rode with his son from time to time. But soon it was time to turn around and head back out of the gate and find this road that he spoke of. Very easy, just like most all of the trail, it is not marked, it is just another county road. It led me around the airport and to a short section of what I call two-track, or in other words, a jeep or four wheeler road, which then ends up on Co. Rd. A32. I will call this Mudclod’s Rd., because when I got on it, he is who came to mind. Fast, curvy up and down rolling hills, just a blast. Mudclod, this road’s for you, sorry no video, though. The trail starts to climb slowly again after this and soon I am back in the pines. I soon come out on Highway 114, then a few miles down the road the trail heads west off of 114 then north and back to it.

This is a video of some of the trail west of HWY 114

VID00305 - YouTube

VID00305 - YouTube

It drizzles or rains on me most of the way into Sargents. There is a section that comes off of 114 and intersects with Hwy 50, that was just a nasty mud bog. It also is where a section of the trail has been closed to M/C, only hikers and horses are allowed now.



It was necessary for me to keep my speed up so the mud would not bring me down. I stopped and talked with two bicyclists that were pushing their bikes because the mud was sticking to the tires so bad they would not turn. After talking to them, it took awhile to get up to speed – it was very gooey, and slick!

I filled up at Sargents, and talked for a few minutes to a couple of KLR riders who were riding the TAT. They talked about a pass that was gravel that I was going to have to ride up. They thought it would give me some trouble. I told them about the mud I had just been thru just west of town and suggested since they were running 50/50 tires, they may want to just ride the highway around to the next crossing on 114. They were not scared of a little mud, and said they would ride it anyway.

So off I went on a dirt road out of Sargents. It was nice, smooth road, but I either missed the pass or just didn’t notice it. There’s no video after Sargents for the rest of the day because the goggles were so saturated, I had to take them off.

It’s a short hop over to Poncha Springs then to Salida. Just before Poncha Springs you pop out on Hwy 285, then a couple miles later, the trail takes off to the right and misses the town to the south. When I pulled off the highway there at the start of the trail, it looked promising, but once in the woods, there is a sign stating the trail is closed. It is very evident that a landslide just past the sign is the reason. I looked for a moment, contemplating going over the low side toward the creek; heck I’m on a dirt bike, couldn’t be that hard. But caution got the better of me, not having any experience with landslides, how loose is the rock; could I get it sliding some more? How many more slides might be right down the trail that could be worse? So in a weak moment, I turned around. The ride to Salida was good anyway. I pulled into a Shell station on the east end of town. Filled up, took all the gear off and walked in to ask the attendant if he knew anywhere I could get a good meal looking like I did. He recommended the sports bar down the street. “Will they let me in like this?” “Oh yeah, we get people thru here like you all the time!” I asked if he had a hose where I could clean off some of the mud. He took me around where he had a facet but no hose. I thanked him and proceeded to clean what I could.

Soon I was off to Wallbangers Sports Bar, which was not at all what I expected. I took all my gear off outside, walked in and said to the hostess, “Can I come in here looking like this?” “If I can work here looking like this, then yes, you can.” Nice place – I had the grilled Salmon, and it was great. It was during dinner that I decided to hotel it again. I called home to check in and Mrs. C did a quick search for a room, and came up with two possibilities. I chose the Americas Best Value Inn. Very nice place and the owner told me to park my bike right in front of his Harley, right next to the office.

I want to say at this point that everyone I have met – bicyclists, motorcyclists, tourists, local people – all have been very nice. I guess if you are in Colorado, you don’t have a reason to have an attitude.

That evening, I spoke to Mrs. C and it was decided that I would ride north a little longer, then turn south and head back down toward Pagosa Springs, and hopefully be home by Monday evening. Later, I walked down to a convenience store to get some bottled water to have in my pack for tomorrow. Salida seems to be a nice little town, too.

Late that night I checked my voice mails and Vinny had left me one saying “I noticed on the Spot that you were in Salida. If you want to camp in a really nice area, continue north out of town and…” You get the picture; Vinny had told me of a place that I should camp, but I had not checked my messages in time to take his advice. That’s why I need to take Vinny along!




End of day two. More to follow. Sam

[greeneggs&ham]

Saturday, Day 3 – Daybreak in Salida, Colorado. I am up about 5:30 a.m., and start to get ready for the day. I had checked out a place for breakfast last night. The Country Bounty Restaurant, just a block from the hotel. They opened at 6:30, so I was there about 6:40. I was wearing my Eskimo Joe’s hoodie, and I noticed the man in the next booth looking my way and then said something to his wife. His wife turned to look right about the time he said, “are you from Stillwater?” “No, I have family that went to school there, I am actually from Texas.” “Well, I am from there and I met my wife while going to school there.” And so the conversation continued about Stillwater and OSU sports. I called my wife at one point and told her that I had been having breakfast with some OSU alums. I always seem to run into someone who knows “Joe” when I’m wearing one of his shirts.

The conversation with my wife seemed to center on me riding north. I thought I should get back, and she thought I should ride one more day. So there in the restaurant, I pulled out the Colo. map and started looking. The original plan was to be somewhere around Kremmling tonight, but that would be a lot of highway back for at least two days. I said I would ride about a half day more and make a decision then. I was still losing the discussion, but I said I will ride till I feel I need to turn around. That seemed to pacify her. I finished my breakfast, and headed back to the hotel room. I loaded the bike again, took the room key to the front desk, and rode out of Salida.

Here are some pictures taken with the pov goggle camera of the road N.E. out of Salida.









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Another beautiful morning, very quite, almost no other person or vehicle seen. The road starts climbing a little, then as it heads east it seems to level, the trees become fewer and fewer. Here is a video of one of the forks in the road that should have been taken.

VID00385 - YouTube

VID00385 - YouTube

I turned around and went back to the intersection, somehow I missed the private road sign on the right side when I was approaching it, looking at the GPS, I guess. From here the road levels even more with the trees only seen in the distance. This is high prairie land, I am thinking about my crack in the upcoming rides post about ending up in Kansas. On the GPS I can see a flag and it is labeled Muddy Crossing. I am not worried because it never looked very bad in the previous posts I had seen. Here it is, as I pull up and first see it.

VID00434 - YouTube

VID00434 - YouTube

Not bad, but I decide since I am carrying quite a bit more weight than normal, I will get off the bike and walk through to test the bottom. Even the bank is wet and soft from the rains. I first try on the right. Nice and firm, about 5 inches deep, till the last 12 inches before the opposite bank, it’s soft and goes down about 10 inches. I walk back toward the bike in the middle, many times trucks will dig out the two sides of a crossing without ever touching the middle. Not this time, I put one boot in just off the bank and it goes up to the top of the boot, oops not here. I back out and try the left side, first step in is about 8 inches deep, but firm. Second step, about two feet from the opposite edge, goes down to the top of the boot. Well, I guess it is the right side of this crossing. Now once back across I look around to find a fair size rock to put in that soft area. The only one I find is kind of rounded on top and bottom, it may cause more problems than it would help. I back the bike up about 20 yards from the crossing, and get a little momentum in 2nd gear. I don’t want to hammer into the bottom but I want enough momentum to get across. The front wheel hits the water, it is kind of skimming over the bottom, I never feel it drop into the hole, it just hits the opposite bank and up. The back I do feel drop into the hole but resist the urge to give large amounts of throttle. The MT-21 does it’s job and tracks right up the opposite bank. I guess having all the weight on the rear of the bike helped the front just glide right over, the opposite is true with the rear, but it worked.

Here are the last of the pictures of the CDR from the third day.







Here is a video of some Prong Horn crossing my path. It is not the only wildlife I saw, but one of the few that I had time to turn on the camera and push record!

VID00436 - YouTube

VID00436 - YouTube

I eventually come out on Hwy 9 just south of Hartsel, the GPS track took me up to Hwy 9, then to Hwy 24, and from there you are in Hartsel. I pulled up to the first store I saw. Took some gear off and got out the map. I think it was about 10:00 a.m. and I am thinking this is a good place to leave the CDR and start the trek south. Looking at the map, Buena Vista is just east, then south toward Monte Vista, then southwest to Pagosa Springs. Sounds like a plan.

Hwy 24 to Buena Vista is good road, very smooth, and not too much traffic on it for a Saturday. Here is a video of some of Hwy 24.

VID00442 - YouTube

VID00442 - YouTube

I pull into a Shell station in Buena Vista and fill up. I pull over on the side where they have some benches in the shade. I make a phone call to Mrs. C. We are talking about different routes back. She is suggesting Aspen to Montrose. I am liking the pavement up here, but that’s a lot of pavement. I walk into the station attendant and he says “what are you riding, a dirt bike?” “Yeah, a dual sport.” “You should go up to 306, at the next light, take a left, then follow it up and over, it is pavement on this side but dirt down the west side.” Out comes the map again, looks like a great way into Gunnison. So I call up Vinny, my unofficial Colorado guide. He says that it is good road, and a great ride along the river. A call back to the wife to let her know the plan, of course she will see it on the spot anyway, I just don’t want her calling out the highway patrol saying her husband is lost up there.

The road that goes by the name 306 is 209 on my GPS, but the signs say I am going the right way, so I continue. It is a great ride up. How about some video.

VID00446 - YouTube

VID00446 - YouTube

VID00448 - YouTube

VID00448 - YouTube

It was cold at the top; this was the first day I have not been rained on by noon, and I am having a pretty good ride. The back side is dirt till you get to Taylor Park Reservoir. This is where you get on Co. Rd. 742. It is paved, but don’t think you’re going anywhere in a hurry; the locals really get their udders in a uproar if you speed.

VID00465 - YouTube

VID00465 - YouTube

Just a little cow humor there.

Down a little further toward Almont, a road crew was working overtime on Saturday. And as I was looking around, I saw a man fly fishing in the middle of the river, with his black lab dog on a rock next to him. I wish the video had come out better, it was so clear when I saw it. I know that dog was thinking “Fish for dinner, Umm”

VID00468 - YouTube

VID00468 - YouTube

That’s all the video and pictures, the rest of the day I was just trying to make time going south. I should have turned east in Gunnison and gone over to 285 south to Alamosa. But I was still thinking Pagosa Springs and I went west to Hwy 149, Lake City and Creed. It was a beautiful ride, but I used a lot of time going west when I actually got to Creed and looked at the map I decided to go east to Alamosa anyway.
Plus the fact that I had been dry all day, but it started raining on me about 5 miles before Lake City and sleeted on me all the way over the pass on the way out. That’s the reason this story is called “It’s cold in them Rockies”. I should have taken some other insulated rain cover, because any moisture at that altitude is cold. The Revolt pullover kept me dry, but not warm.

I made it as far as Taos that night. Lots of miles on a dual sport.



Got up Sunday morning, rode to Las Vegas, picked up the truck, then headed home, and what do you know, I got drenched in Coleman, Texas. Made it home around 10:30, and haven’t seen any rain since.

Sam

[Gravel Guy]

Thanks for the fine report Sam...I like your goggle-cam! Sorry about your BIL....
Anything we can do just call.

[The Bruce]

Good report on a good ride. Stay flexible with a general plan. I like it.

[fotoTEX]

I too was a big fan of Vera's in Chama. She passed away over 4-5 years ago and sure do miss her and her great food. Hard to ride by and see an empty building. Headed that way in a couple of weeks.

[greeneggs&ham]

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

Thanks for the fine report Sam...I like your goggle-cam! Sorry about your BIL....
Anything we can do just call.

The POV camera does pretty good. The point of aim for the video seems to be lower than the still shots. I think I need to shim it up a little to get a better video. But I am blown away by the clarity and color of the still shots. It has two still shot modes, you can push the button and it will take one picture, then it has a 2 second mode which is just that, it takes a picture every 2 seconds. Very cool when going down some of the forest roads up there. That's how I ended up with 470+ pictures. Sometimes you should NOT give an automatic weapon to a monkey!
Sam