2013 — A Little Rustic, A Little Fancy, A Little Wet

OFMC 2013 route

It has become almost impossible to map out the first day's ride considering that so many people start from so many different places at so many different times. We're just showing the trip starting from Lakewood, with a possible route. Also, the little purple squiggles are the spots where Ken took some dirt while the rest stayed on the pavement.

Friday, and for most of us it was time to head out on the bike trip. Yee ha! By whatever routes, we made our ways up the Poudre Canyon, with John, Bill, Friggs, and Dennis getting there first. Brett and Jason were headed up the canyon when they spotted another bike behind them. Jason didn't recognize the bike but he did recognize Ken's jacket. Ken was on his new Suzuki V-Strom 650. Two more would be joining us later.

The gathering spot in the Poudre was a rustic lodge, as in you've got to leave your cabin to go use the john. Timing was good because very soon after all had arrived it started pouring rain. There was no restaurant so we got hot dogs and bean dip from the little store and grilled the dogs outside under a tarp they had set up covering that area. Then there were ice cream bars for dessert. Hey, this counts for roughing it with the OFMC these days.

Later, as John and Ken sat out smoking legal marijuana on a bike trip for the first time, Friggs came over to share John's cabin because--imagine this!--his bed in the other cabin didn't have any blankets or anything. Man, that guy expects a lot! We're getting rustic, dude!

In the morning there was no breakfast to be had but there was coffee. Probably setting an OFMC record for early starts, we headed on up the Poudre, over Cameron Pass and down to Walden where it was definitely time for breakfast at the Moose Creek Cafe.

From Walden we headed south. Our destination this day was Dillon, where Johnathon and HomeSlice would be playing a gig that evening. Colorado 125 carried us over Willow Creek Pass and down to Granby, where we had a decision to make. A right turn would take us to Kremmling and we could then ride south on CO 9 directly to Dillon. Or, we could go left into Granby and continue on US 40 through Winter Park and up over Berthoud Pass, down to I-70. We went left.

I-70, for whatever reason, was a parking lot. We got on it but as soon as possible Ken led the group off onto old US 6, which is a nicer road anyway and runs along but not always within sight of the interstate. Then a quick jump back on the slab before getting off again to go over Loveland Pass. Then a short run down to Dillon and that was it for the day's riding. But our evening's entertainment was pre-arranged and HomeSlice kicked butt as usual.

Cabins in the Poudre In the morning there were now eight stud bikers who rolled up CO 9 toward Kremmling and past to the turn-off to CO 134 over Gore Pass. At Toponas we picked up CO 131 as far as Oak Creek, then headed up the Twenty Mile Road, which brought us out on US 40 a little east of Hayden. We rode on into Hayden and stopped for lunch.

By this time Ken was getting antsy. He was on this dual-sport bike and wanted to do some dirt. Checking with some locals he found there was a route heading south out of town that would meet up with CO 13 as it runs south from Craig to Meeker. Meeker was our destination so while the other guys stayed on US 40 to Craig, he took the other route.

Loveland Pass Ken's route was shorter, but the gravel/dirt was slower, so he was the last one reaching Meeker. Meanwhile everyone smelled smoke as we neared Meeker, and in fact, there was a forest fire burning nearby. But no problem for us. And there was beer and pizza as we sat out on the benches on the lawn. Another fine day.

On Day Three we headed west out of Meeker on CO 64 to Rangely, where we turned south on CO 139 and over Douglas Pass, down to I-70 at Loma. A quick blast east brought us to Fruita, where we got off and took the road up into Colorado National Monument, to ride Rim Rock Drive. You don't pass up the scenic route when you're on a bike trip. This is the good stuff.

Colorado National Monument This route brought us down into Grand Junction, which we passed through and then made a stop at City Market in Clifton. We were headed up to a condo at the Powderhorn ski area on the north face of Grand Mesa and knew there were no restaurants. We had to bring our own food and drink.

Stunner! Doing his own grocery shopping in City Market was our long-time-no-see once-upon-a-time buddy Christopher. Our last encounter with Christopher had been at the end of a bike trip about 10 years earlier. Oh my goodness.

Bill and Christopher So we rolled on, I-70 to the Debeque Cut-off to the road going up on the mesa. We got settled in at the condos and shortly afterward Randy showed up. A full complement at last.

Come morning we continued on up and over Grand Mesa, descending to Cedaredge and taking CO 92 to Hotchkiss. Our destination for the day was Crested Butte, and from Hotchkiss to Crested Butte is only about 35 miles if you take Kebler Pass. But Kebler Pass is not paved. Despite Ken's urging, no one else was interested. He took Kebler and got there several hours before they did.

For everyone else it was south on CO 92 through Crawford and along the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Then US 50 along the Blue Mesa Reservoir to Gunnison and north on CO 135 to Crested Butte.

Kebler Pass Have we mentioned that a big theme of this trip was ice cream? It's probably Dennis who is the chief promoter of this theme. Fortunately, ice cream is sold in Crested Butte. Thanks goodness.

Come morning the route took us right back down to Gunnison, and then east on US 50, just a short distance, to CO 114, which crosses over North Cochetopa Pass on its way down to Saguache, in the San Luis Valley. Along the way a couple guys on show-bike Harleys blasted past us, leaving the OFMC Harley contingent drooling. Gosh, show-bikes that actually get ridden.

It had threatened rain the whole time we were in Crested Butte, and it continued threatening in the morning but we got lucky right up until the point where we were getting near Saguache. Then the wind hit really hard. And then the rain started. Experienced Colorado riders as we are, we correctly surmised that we could ride through it and didn't need to stop and suit up. It was getting cold, though.

At Saguache we went south on US 285 to Monte Vista. We were looking for lunch. The place we had in mind, however, was closed so we turned west on US 160 to Del Norte. The sky was just starting to drip as we rolled in and stopped at a restaurant. Then while we were inside the skies opened up. We had a really good lunch and by the time we were ready to go it was barely dripping again. Fortunately we had all managed not to park in the places that were now swimming pools in the parking lot.

From Del Norte we stayed on US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass and down to our lodging for the night, a place a little outside of Pagosa Springs. We checked in and headed into town for dinner. We got a nice table on the patio of a place but then the weather started getting nasty again. We moved inside. And it rained.

It hadn't stopped raining when we were ready to go however, although it had diminished. For some of us it was a wet ride back but at least we knew there were dry clothes and a hot tub waiting for us back at the lodge, and not far away. Anybody can stand to get wet for just a few minutes under those circumstances. Hey, if you don't ride in the rain you don't ride. We ride.

Ant battle site The next day, Day Seven, we headed south on US 84 for our only bit of the trip that left Colorado. Hitting US 64 in New Mexico we turned east to Chama and on to Tres Piedras. Between Chama and Tres Piedras there are some nice hills that seemed especially nice on this trip and we stopped at a pull-off on a high ridge. Here we had a bit of a diversion, watching ants.

There was this one ant that was dragging a dead bee along but with all its activity it seemed to be accomplishing nothing. First a second ant came along and they had a tug-of-war over the bee and got nowhere. Then one ant gave up and the other continued pulling the bee, but after perhaps 15 minutes of watching all this the ant and the bee had not moved more than two inches from where we first spotted them. Some creatures lead unfathomable lives.

From Tres Piedras we stayed on US 64, crossed the high suspension bridge that spans the Rio Grande, and rode on into Taos for lunch. Then up Taos Canyon and over Palo Flechado Pass headed toward Angel Fire. Breeze on past Angel Fire and reach Eagle Nest. This is our destination. It seems the bulk of the town is one establishment, featuring cabins, two motels, and a strip of old buildings that now house a restaurant, bar, shops, and more. Talking with a waitress in the restaurant she tells us the building used to be a brothel and, pulling aside a velvet rope blocking the stairs, takes us up to see the upstairs of the old brothel. An interesting bit of history to end our day.

Morning came in Eagle Nest and it was a glorious day. Blue sky and sunshine, temperature cool enough to need an extra layer but not in the least uncomfortable. Mountains and greenery all around us. A day to ride motorcycles.

We took off, continuing the loop we started making the day before from Taos. The road out of Taos going east and north is US 64. At Eagle Nest you loop north and west on NM 38 through Red River to Questa. At Questa you pick up NM 522 that arcs west and south back to Taos. All of this encircles Wheeler Peak and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. We weren't headed back to Taos, though. From Questa we were heading north, back into Colorado to Fort Garland on US 160.

Bishop Castle US 160 took us east over La Veta Pass and down to Walsenburg. We stopped for lunch and there was a guy there on a scooter so loaded it was a wonder to look at. He and his guitar and all that gear were headed to La Veta where he was going to play in a festival. He dreamed of having a real motorcycle but that dream never seemed to come true, but at least he had the scooter.

We zipped north on I-25 to Colorado City and got off onto CO 165. This highway runs along the east face of the Wet Mountains and they lived up to their name this day. The sky looked worse and worse, but no rain. Finally, someone in the lead decided it was time to suit up and we did. Barely a mile further and the rain hit. Good timing. But a few miles later it was gone and we stopped to take off the gear.

Of course we were going to stop here anyway. This was Bishop Castle. Some of us climbed much higher than others. Some of us are wimps, I guess, while others of us are, you know, stud bikers. We won't name names.

Shortly after leaving Bishop Castle Dennis realized he had company in his helmet so that necessitated some quick action. That makes you think of the biker saying, "Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary." Dennis didn't mention what words he used.

Our stop for the night was Canon City. While some guys reclined, others went for a ride over Skyline Drive. Some of us love that ride, others swear to never do it again. Stud bikers? Wimps? You decide. And then of course there had to be ice cream. In this case that meant quite a long walk along the highway to Coldstone Creamery. But hey, stud bikers will walk a mile for ice cream.

Canon City was our last night out; it was time to split up and head in all directions. Johnathon and Jason had left earlier in the week, from Eagle Nest, and Brett and Randy were the ones interested in getting home as quickly as possible. They left pretty early.

For John, Dennis, Bill, Friggs, and Ken there was no hurry. But when we were ready to roll John turned his head to the west, to Montrose, while Dennis, Bill, and Friggs wanted to take a route through the gambling town of Cripple Creek. They decided to head out on CO 9, catch Fremont County Road 11 up to Teller County Road 1 and into Cripple Creek. Ken took the Phantom Canyon Road because it was gravel and he had never been on it. That's what a V-Strom is for.

Phantom Canyon After the gambling bug was at least mollified in Cripple Creek we headed on. Some guys needed gas so we figured to stop in Divide, where the road from Cripple Creek hits US 24. The station right on the corner was closed so we went to one up on the hillside a little ways. Leaving there Dennis was in the lead and it got treacherous. The driveway back down to the highway was steep, and there was a drainage swale right at the bottom. That swale was full of sand and gravel. Dennis was aware of all this, but the retaining wall they put up to build the gas station sticks out so far you practically have to be on the highway before you can see if it's clear to get on the highway. Dennis edged carefully forward but at one point he put out his feet and one of them just slid on the gravel and he was down.

We were behind him on the steep slope but Bill and Friggs were able, with those long, sweeping side stands that Harleys have, to park their bikes right there to go help him. There was no way the upright kickstand on Ken's bike would have handled that but fortunately the two of them were plenty to help Dennis get back upright. We won't be stopping at that station again.

We cruised on to Woodland Park and stopped for lunch, then took off in a hurry as the rainclouds seemed to be gathering. About 10 miles further along and Dennis pulled off, figuring it was time to suit up. Very good call. We hadn't gone a mile when it started to pour. But then we hadn't gone 10 miles further and it cleared up. That's rain in Colorado.

On up CO 126 to Pine Junction, where we picked up US 285, to Conifer, where we lost Dennis, down to the west edge of the metro area, where Bill and Friggs turned north on C-470 and headed into town. And so our 25th OFMC summer trip came to an end.

Oh yeah, this was our 25th. We hadn't even realized that. It just occurred to us the night before in Canon City. That's six solid months spent on the road on motorcycles. Life is good.

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