2008 — Close to Home and Lovin' It

Doing a mostly Colorado ride was something Ken and John had been pushing for a couple years and this year we did it. Lest anyone be surprised that we found great riding and all sorts of interesting stops so close to home, remember that Colorado is an international destination for bikers. People come from all over the world just to ride here. It was time to play in our own backyard.

This year's group consisted of the three stalwarts, Ken and Bill and John, as well as the other regulars, Brett, Dennis, Johnathon, Randy, and Jason.

Only Friggs was missing, having copped to the lame excuse of having just had his prostate removed. That one won't fly next year, Friggs. Altogether we were on five Hondas and three Harleys, Jason having sold the Shadow he got from Bill and bought a new Road King.

With a group this size we no longer usually all get together in one place and head out. Heck, we can't even all get together on the same day. So on Friday John came from Montrose and Bill, Dennis, Ken, and Randy came from Denver and we all met in Cripple Creek. The others joined later. Check the map. Red is John's trip to Cripple Creek from Colona and blue is the Jason, Johnathon, and Brett coming to Buena Vista.

What better way to start a trip, you know, because if someone wins some really big jackpot it could seriously change the entire trip. Didn't happen but something almost as unlikely did happen: Ken won a little money. We expect Bill to win but not Ken. Highly unusual.

The next morning we set out on the backroad out of Cripple Creek, winding down to where Teller County Road 11 meets CO 9 just north of U.S. 50. We reached 50 and then, with some confusion, found the back route up to the Royal Gorge bridge. This little, infrequently used, narrow strip of asphalt winds wonderfully up the back side to the bridge. We spent some time at the bridge, capped by riding across and stopping for a picture in the middle. Then headed on to Canon City.

At Canon City we rode Skyline Drive and then headed toward Florence and down to Bishop Castle. Here the men were separated from the boys as John and Ken climbed to the highest spot on the "sculpture" while the others felt queasy in their stomachs. "Man up" became the watchword for this trip but in this case not everyone did. We'll try not to mock you too harshly. Wussies.

Then it was on to Salida for the night, where John and Randy butted heads with a hotel manager who needs lessons in dealing with the public.

On Sunday we took the short ride to Buena Vista, where we met up with the rest of the crew, Jason, Johnathon, and Brett. Complement complete, it was on up and over Independence Pass. On the pass Johnathon had a chance to practice hand signals communicating with an idiot who had some concept that she was going to make good speed on this sometimes one-lane road. Through Aspen and on to Snowmass, where a friend of Johnathon's had given us use of his condo.

Come morning we headed on down to Carbondale and then took the left turn that took us up over McClure Pass. We came down to Paonia and took a back road over to Crawford and then down CO 92 along the north rim of the Black Canyon and to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Then, at the east end of the reservoir we turned south again through Lake City, over Slumgullion and Spring Creek Passes, past Creede, and on to South Fork for the night.

Tuesday it was up over Wolf Creek Pass and down to Pagosa Springs and then south on US 84 to Chama. We then headed northeast, back into Colorado along the Chama-Antonito road. In Antonito we visited Cano's Castle, a lesser but no less eccentric project along the lines of Bishop Castle. (Photo of John and Dennis at Cano's Castle below courtesy of Johnathon.)

Then it was south back into New Mexico to the Tres Piedras turn-off and east to Taos, with the obligatory stop at the Rio Grande Gorge. We checked into the very nice albeit quirky Taos Inn for a two-day stay. The first night was clean-up, eating, and drinking. The next day the younger members of the crew decided to check out a hot spring down a dirt road to the river. Ken went off to find a computer to use and the rest did some shopping for gifts for their ladies.

Bill got back to the Taos Inn and was sitting in the lobby when Dennis appeared with two Bloody Marys. One led to another, John joined them, they moved over to the bar at the restaurant from dinner the night before, and Ken joined them there as the drinks had changed to margaritas. Two more margaritas later and the rest of the crew was spotted on the plaza and whistled to, so there were more margaritas to be drunk, as well as some food to be eaten. It turns out the road to the hot spring was rougher than expected and the level of the river was up high enough that there were no springs available for use. But hey, it was an adventure, right? As was a full day of drinking. This is what vacations are for, aren't they? Oh yes, we then went to a bar that night where they had open mic and we persuaded John to get up and play guitar and sing.

Then it was Thursday and time to hit the road again. Back to Chama by the all-New Mexico route and then across to where we headed north past Navajo Lake and back into Colorado.

A short distance further and we were in Ignacio, at the Sky Ute Casino and Hotel, a favorite stop. Except that things were getting a little run down with deferred maintenance considering that the Utes are building a new, replacement casino and hotel. Nevertheless, it was time to gamble. Some of the guys won and some lost but amazingly, Ken won again! This was unheard of.

There was one issue, however, Jason's new Harley was not running well. It was decided that he and several of the others would ride on ahead in the morning to Durango to the dealership. The dealership presumably opened at 9 a.m. so they set out in time to be there when it opened. Only problem was that they opened at 8 a.m. and by the time Jason hit the service desk they already had six other travelers also needing priority service. It would be at least afternoon before they could even touch his bike.

Meanwhile the rest of the crew came along later and the others went to catch up on the news, Ken got separated and so decided to do what he did this whole trip, which was to ride ahead or behind and stop frequently to get photos and information for his website. John, Johnathon, and Randy caught up with him and went on past up over Red Mountain Pass and they regrouped in Ouray. The others didn't catch up in Ouray so they went on to John's house and eventually the Durango bunch rolled in as well.

As a captive audience in Durango, everyone had spent some money at the Harley dealership except Dennis, who was pretty annoyed. He had spotted a Harley that he fell in love with but the salesman blew a great chance. "All he had to do was say 'Throw me the key and I'll take your Gold Wing and see what the Honda dealer figures you can get for it' but he didn't do a thing!" So Dennis once again did not buy a Harley.

Come Saturday it was time to Jason, Johnathon, Dennis, and Brett to head back to Denver. John, Bill, Randy, and Cheryl played golf in the Montrose Elks tournament and meanwhile Ken rode on up to Grand Junction and took Rim Rock Drive through Colorado National Monument. Then, cruising east on I-70, he got off on CO 65 and crossed over Grand Mesa. Back to Montrose to grab some eats and then everyone headed back to John and Cheryl's.

Finally, Sunday morning came and the last three headed for home. Bill and Randy, as the others had before them, took U.S. 50 over Monarch Pass and U.S. 285 on home.

Ken did, too, except that he went into the Black Canyon park and rode down to the river on the 16-degree grade road. He also took a detour to Crested Butte from Gunnison and back. Then home.

And it was over. But we don't dwell on the past. The 2009 trip is already being mapped out. Looks like the Beartooth and Jackpot. And by the way, 2008 was the 20th year and 2009 will be number 21. Stay tuned.

Now, just for a clincher, here's a great shot Jason got while riding.

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