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- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 1,023
- Reaction score
- 10
- Location
- Beaumont, Texas
- First Name
- Ken
- Last Name
- Phenix
The 4th of July weekend looked pretty slow at the bakery. I had been awarded a kitchen pass for Father's Day. Where am I going? COLORADO!
DAY ONE, JUNE 30
I hit the road at 6:30. HalfFastRider buds Taz and The Rev happened to be heading out the same day so I tagged along. This day was nothing more than a fast paced slab trip to Amarillo. 617 miles.
A storm hit just as we checked in the Motel 6 but lasted only few minutes.
DAY TWO, JULY 1
Taz and The Rev were on their way to the VTX rally in Denver and ultimately to Yellowstone. I peeled off at Colorado Springs on hwy 24 in route to Pike's Peak. I set up camp in Cascade and then cruised through Garden of the Gods before dark.
I dined on beef jerky and roasted pecans.
DAY THREE, JULY 2
I started the day with complimentary pancakes, sausage and coffee at the lodge. Sorry, no pics. At 8am I was at the gate to Pike's Peak highway. The temp at the bottom of the hill was 70f. The view was awesome.
The road to Pike's Peak is 19 miles long and climbs an astonishing 7,000 feet. The temp at the top: 35 degrees! There were several van loads of mountain bikers being carried to the top so they could coast all the way back down.
No high speed coasting for old Ken though. I gently descended in 1st and 2nd gears, broke camp and headed west on 24 and 9. I always wanted to get one of those shots of a long stretch of road leading to mountains in the distance. Well this will do.
Hoosier Pass was first, then a right turn at Breckenridge lead me up Boreas Pass Road, unpaved and beautiful.
On to Loveland Pass.
The Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel was just to the west so I couldn't resist.
Too many photo stops and then the rain and darkness prevented me from reaching Rocky Mountain National Park as I'd hoped. I secured a room at the last motel in Granby and let's just say they saw me coming. Don't ever get caught there on a motorcycle in the rain after dark. It'll cost ya.
DAY FOUR, JULY 3
Rocky Mountain National Park! The southwest part of Trail Ridge Road was being resurfaced and quite rough but only for a short distance. The view was awesome, as beautiful as I remembered in my youth.
As I feared, all the campgrounds were full. I pulled up the ranger station at Glacier Basin at 11am in pouring rain. The nice lady ranger at the window let me in to cruise the campground for anyone packing up to check out. Sure enough, #57, got it! The rain subsided and after staking my claim to my little piece of Rocky Mountain territory I rode to Estes Park for some lunch. The sign caught my eye: TEXAS BBQ. How dare they! I had to investigate. this pulled pork sandwich was indeed worthy of the name.
Estes Park is bustling with tourists.
I had other plans. I wanted to find the place my dad had taken me (and mom) in the late 60's and early 70's. Endovalley had been closed for a time and restored to be reopened for day use only. I believe I found the spot along the Fall River where we camped. It was a touching moment. I found myself wishing dad was alive to see it again.
Fall River Road was to be my next endeavor, narrow, one way, unpaved and eventually wet and slick as the rain returned. Needless to say, I was quite cautious.
I retired to a gorgeous near full moon silhouetting the mountainous horizon, one of those "It doesn't bet any better than this" moments.
DAY FIVE, JULY 4
It's a beautiful morning.
Coffee and oatmeal.
On the road again, south this time on hwy's 7, 72 & 119. Sweet roads for carving, sorry no pics. I needed to make it to Idaho Springs before noon to meet Redleg, a BMW rider from the Denver area.
Next stop: Mount Evans. The scenery here is indescribable, even more spectacular than Pike's Peak!
While heading east on 103, Brigitta, Redleg's 87 R80 suffered an input shaft failure and we waited for the tow truck in impending wind, rain and hail. Too bad.
. . . . . . MORE TO COME . . . . .
DAY ONE, JUNE 30
I hit the road at 6:30. HalfFastRider buds Taz and The Rev happened to be heading out the same day so I tagged along. This day was nothing more than a fast paced slab trip to Amarillo. 617 miles.
A storm hit just as we checked in the Motel 6 but lasted only few minutes.
DAY TWO, JULY 1
Taz and The Rev were on their way to the VTX rally in Denver and ultimately to Yellowstone. I peeled off at Colorado Springs on hwy 24 in route to Pike's Peak. I set up camp in Cascade and then cruised through Garden of the Gods before dark.
I dined on beef jerky and roasted pecans.
DAY THREE, JULY 2
I started the day with complimentary pancakes, sausage and coffee at the lodge. Sorry, no pics. At 8am I was at the gate to Pike's Peak highway. The temp at the bottom of the hill was 70f. The view was awesome.
The road to Pike's Peak is 19 miles long and climbs an astonishing 7,000 feet. The temp at the top: 35 degrees! There were several van loads of mountain bikers being carried to the top so they could coast all the way back down.
No high speed coasting for old Ken though. I gently descended in 1st and 2nd gears, broke camp and headed west on 24 and 9. I always wanted to get one of those shots of a long stretch of road leading to mountains in the distance. Well this will do.
Hoosier Pass was first, then a right turn at Breckenridge lead me up Boreas Pass Road, unpaved and beautiful.
On to Loveland Pass.
The Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel was just to the west so I couldn't resist.
Too many photo stops and then the rain and darkness prevented me from reaching Rocky Mountain National Park as I'd hoped. I secured a room at the last motel in Granby and let's just say they saw me coming. Don't ever get caught there on a motorcycle in the rain after dark. It'll cost ya.
DAY FOUR, JULY 3
Rocky Mountain National Park! The southwest part of Trail Ridge Road was being resurfaced and quite rough but only for a short distance. The view was awesome, as beautiful as I remembered in my youth.
As I feared, all the campgrounds were full. I pulled up the ranger station at Glacier Basin at 11am in pouring rain. The nice lady ranger at the window let me in to cruise the campground for anyone packing up to check out. Sure enough, #57, got it! The rain subsided and after staking my claim to my little piece of Rocky Mountain territory I rode to Estes Park for some lunch. The sign caught my eye: TEXAS BBQ. How dare they! I had to investigate. this pulled pork sandwich was indeed worthy of the name.
Estes Park is bustling with tourists.
I had other plans. I wanted to find the place my dad had taken me (and mom) in the late 60's and early 70's. Endovalley had been closed for a time and restored to be reopened for day use only. I believe I found the spot along the Fall River where we camped. It was a touching moment. I found myself wishing dad was alive to see it again.
Fall River Road was to be my next endeavor, narrow, one way, unpaved and eventually wet and slick as the rain returned. Needless to say, I was quite cautious.
I retired to a gorgeous near full moon silhouetting the mountainous horizon, one of those "It doesn't bet any better than this" moments.
DAY FIVE, JULY 4
It's a beautiful morning.
Coffee and oatmeal.
On the road again, south this time on hwy's 7, 72 & 119. Sweet roads for carving, sorry no pics. I needed to make it to Idaho Springs before noon to meet Redleg, a BMW rider from the Denver area.
Next stop: Mount Evans. The scenery here is indescribable, even more spectacular than Pike's Peak!
While heading east on 103, Brigitta, Redleg's 87 R80 suffered an input shaft failure and we waited for the tow truck in impending wind, rain and hail. Too bad.
. . . . . . MORE TO COME . . . . .
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