2016 — The First Luxury Trip

OFMC 2016 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 and ending at Denver.

The gathering place for those leaving early in the day was the trusty King Soopers at Conifer. Dennis and Ken got there on time and Bill and Friggs were quite late. Something about a hellacious traffic jam. No matter--these are the early guys.

Heading south toward Woodland Park it only made sense to stop at the country club for lunch. Er, nope. Closed for repairs. So it was bratwurst in the bar.

Good to Cripple Creek, got checked in, and just hanging out waiting for the other guys. Sort of expected John to be there first but no. Sitting out front of the casino a couple hours later there was John at last. And before John could even get parked and get into the hotel, there were Brett and Randy and Johnathon was with them in his truck. Johnathon has sold his bike and is no longer riding, but he came for the evening.

In the morning we bid Johnathon good-bye and the seven of us headed out the back way down to Canon City. We were looking to pick us U.S. 50 east. In Canon City, however, it was already so hot that we pulled over and enjoyed some shade in a city park. It wasn't going to get any cooler, though, so we headed out, down to Pueblo and across the prairie toward La Junta. Along the way it was necessary for another shade stop in a park in Fowler. Then on to La Junta.

leaving Cripple Creek The Hampton Inn in La Junta is not actually in town; it's out on the highway. With only fast food close by, it was a matter of eat fast food or ride to dinner. But the hotel clerk offered a third option: there was a festival going on and there were shuttles so we could take a shuttle into town for dinner. Some stayed for fast food, some took the shuttle.

Before we were even out of the parking lot the shuttle driver was telling us she gets $10 per person for any trip--we nearly said "Stop the car!" We should have. This was a two-mile trip. $40 for a two-mile trip. And then a return trip. She told us that was cheaper than a DUI. Well, we weren't in any danger of getting DUIs. We paid her grudgingly.

state line On the return trip we decided to give her just $5 for the four of us. Hey, this was a "free" shuttle and this was all tips. Heading back to the motel we could see an awesome dust storm blowing toward us so as we pulled up to the door someone tossed her a five and we all jumped out and rushed off to view the storm.

And what a storm! It was like Dust Bowl Days and the Dorothea Lange photos. Wind blowing hard and the air full of dirt and all sorts of crap. Trash dumpsters sailing across the parking lot, slamming into buildings. Fingers crossed that motorcycles were not blowing over. Yow! Then the rain. Lordy did it rain! And then it all died away and we spent the rest of the evening hanging out in the motel lobby, drinking beer and solving the problems of the world. The 2017 OFMC trip was off to a good start.

logging truck Next day it was south through Commanche National Grasslands. We picked up U.S. 160 and headed west until we turned south on CO 389 heading to Capulin Volcano. Being a Sunday, however, it was a busy day and we would have had to wait to go up to the top. No dice. So Ken led the group on a nice roundabout road that led to Raton. It looked like rain so we stopped for lunch hoping the storm would pass in the meantime.

It didn't. We headed south and took U.S. 64 toward Eagle Nest and after a ways we could see up ahead that we were going to get wet. Suit up. For some it was hard to even see the road, but by the time we reached Eagle Nest it was all gone. Then on to Red River, which was a very nice place to stop. We had a creek right out our doors.

Leaving Red River we doubled back to Eagle Nest and down to Angel Fire and beyond on a narrow, winding road that leads to Las Vegas. We soon got behind a logging truck and had fears of a long, slow trip but he very obligingly pulled over the first chance he had and we blasted past. On to Las Vegas, on to Santa Fe, and north of town to the Buffalo Thunder Resort.

side trip This was a two-night stop, with golf on the agenda. We hit the clubhouse in the morning and were informed that shirts with collars were required. A couple guys paid the ridiculous prices to buy shirts while Ken declined a bit loudly to pay $80 for a shirt in order to be allowed to pay $110 to play golf. Let's all remember to bring shirts with collars from now on, OK?

Back roads The following day it was on to Pagosa Springs and then to Durango. The potential for weather persuaded us not to go the planned route up through Bandelier National Park and Los Alamos. Just another day of riding and hanging out in the evening.

Then we were off to Moab. West to Cortez, northwest toward Dove Creek, and into Monticello for lunch. Heading into Cortez, Friggs's Harley shed its rear shift lever but Ken saw it fall and stopped and rescued it for him.

At Monticello a look at the map showed an alternate route up through some nice country. After getting conflicting reports from locals on whether this road was paved all the way, Dennis got a conclusive affirmative from a librarian and he, Friggs, Ken, and Bill took the alternate route. John was a bit hung over and Brett and Randy weren't interested so they went straight to Moab.

It was a good side trip. The road climbed so it was actually not blazing hot and from on high the view over the canyonlands was spectacular. And then the road joined up to the main highway and led to Moab. Where it was about 105 degrees. We got in the pool then headed next door to Woody's Tavern for beer and food and pool. And of course ice cream afterward.

Come morning we backtracked a little and then headed east back into Colorado on state roads over to Naturita and then north to Gateway for lunch. That place is no longer set up for the passing tourist but with some searching we did find the restaurant and the food was good. Then on to Palisade.

Part of the draw of the place in Palisade was the concert they were supposed to have but they only do that every other week now and we were there on the off week. Nothing to do but eat and drink. Which we did.

Come morning it was time to head home. John had the shortest ride so he was in no hurry. Randy and Brett took off first, being inclined to blast and get home. The rest of us followed, more at our leisure. That's another trip in the books.

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