tour reports » 2nd Trip to Colorado This Summer

The first trip was in July to meet a group from another forum.
This trip we met the group from Grumpy Goat's forum.
We left Iowa on Sep 3rd and returned on the 15th.
The weather was good except when it wasn't :)
Gunnison (6).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We spent the first two nights in Broken Bow Nebraska because it was our anniversary.
Creston to Broken Bow.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Most of the trip was 2 lane with fairly short mileage.
Beaver Crossing (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We had a nice place with a small balcony overlooking the town square.
Arrow Hotel Broken Bow (6).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Arrow Hotel Broken Bow (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The windows on the first floor is the paring area. We parked next to Billy Bob.
Arrow Hotel Broken Bow (7).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The free motel breakfast was much better than other motels during Covid.
Arrow Hotel Broken Bow (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The next travel day was through the Nebraska Sand Hills to Torrington Wyoming.
Ne. has a National Forest :)
Nebraska.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We visited Scotts Bluff National Monument. We rode up to the top but did not do any hiking trails because it was 100F.
Scotts Bluff National Monument (1).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Scotts Bluff National Monument (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Day four was Torrington Wy. to Walden Colorado.
Torrington to Walden.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We had hoped to take Pouder River Canyon, hwy 14 on the way but a large forest fire had the highway closed. We cut across southern Wyoming to get to Walden.
Hwy 210 and 130 were great rides. 130 goes over Snowy Range Pass.
Hwy 210 in Wy.
IMG_0318.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We took a little detour to check out Saratoga Hot Springs.
It was too hot to get in the hot springs so Debbie settled on cooling her feet in the creek.
Saratoga Hot Springs (2).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The hot springs emptied into the creek here.
Saratoga Hot Springs (1).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Day five was Walden to Gunnison to meet up with the other RS riders.
We went over Gore Pass, Tennessee Pass and Cottonwood Pass on the way.
Cottonwood Pass was paved for the first time the end of last year.
Picture from July
Cottonwood Pass (5).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We had a little smoke this day.
Cottonwood Pass (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Cottonwood Pass (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

July
Cottonwood Pass (4).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

PART TWO

The first day at Gunnison Colorado we only had time for a short route because a major winter storm was moving in. We took one of our favorite roads in the area, hwy 114.
The plan was to ride up to the pass, check the weather then head for Saguache to have breakfast if possible.
A group of nine or ten bikes headed out before us. We waited for 30 minutes or so before heading out. We don't like riding in groups and I knew the restaurant was small and did not want to cram in with the group to eat because of Covid.
Debbie is in close contact with a couple hundred people a day at work so we tried to keep our distance from others on the trip.
IMG_0328.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The weather looked like we had time to continue on for breakfast so we headed to Saguache.
4th Street Diner Saguache (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We sat at the anti social table :)
4th Street Diner Saguache (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I was thinking of taking a different route back to the motel and go over Monarch Pass but the lady at the diner told me it was already snowing in that area.
We went back over the same pass on the return.
When we dropped down into the canyon the wind got a little nasty. Brush and trees were leaning one direction on one side of the road and the other direction on the other side.
Made it back to the motel with only sprinkles and flurries.
We were not back for long when the snow started. 13 inches by the next morning. I found out later the west side of town was without power a couple days and emergency shelters were set up for some of the residents.
Lucky for us our motel and restaurants close by did not lose power.
Gunnison (4).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

That's Ray waving
Gunnison (10).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gunnison (9).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

It was only one block to the BBQ place that night but Debbie wished she had dressed warmer. It was also the one time she forgot her mask.
Gunnison (13).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gunnison (5).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gunnison (14).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I could not brush off the snow the next morning because there was also a layer of ice I could not break.
Gunnison (6).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

No bikes moved the next day.

I don't remember if it was Wednesday or Thursday that duccrazydave and Kent escaped the winter wonderland and headed to Arkansas.
Gunnison (8).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I think I was the only one to ride Thursday and did a short 75 miles to Tayler Park Reservoir in the afternoon.
Temps were 40 to 45 F and the roads were dry except where melting snow was running across the road.
I stayed below 10,000 feet just to be safe.
Taylor Park Reservoir (2).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Taylor Park Reservoir (3).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

No surprise to see the pass was closed.
Taylor Park Reservoir (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Friday everyone left but it was a nice day so Debbie and I stayed another day to ride the area.
Still a little iffy to do the Sumgullion Pass loop so we did a loop that included the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Black Canyon route.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We stopped at the overlook on the north side of the canyon.
Black Canyon (2).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Black Canyon (1).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

It was not long before two large groups of bikes pulled in.
Black Canyon (4).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Black Canyon (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

PART THREE
Saturday we left Gunnison and headed to Naturita Colorado. 141 is a fun road plus we wanted to visited the Auto Museum in Gateway and stop to see the Hanging Flume on the canyon wall.
Gunnison to Naturita map.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (10).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (7).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (8).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (9).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (11).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (12).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20200912_133238.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (13).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (19).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (20).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (21).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Gateway Auto Museum (23).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (11).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (1).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)


1980
hwy 141.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)


You can see the supports on the smooth part of the canyon wall.
hwy 141 Hanging Flume (12).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (6).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (15).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (4).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 141 Hanging Flume (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

PART FOUR

Saturday night we had a good private owned motel in Naturita with a restaurant attached.

Rimrock Motel Naturita (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Rimrock Motel Naturita (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

No breakfast on Sunday mornings so we had that in Telluride.

Today's route was Naturita, Telluride, Cortez then Durango.
Naturita to Durango.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Telluride (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Watched a few hang gliders while we ate.
Tellurude.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

145 south of Telluride is a good road and very scenic.
Telluride (4).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Didn't check out the Durango sites like I thought we would, just hung out. Didn't even go eat because of our big Mexican breakfast at Telluride.

Sunday we headed to La Junta Colorado and took hwy 12 on the way because we liked that road when we took it in July.
Durango to La Junta.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wolf Creek (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Butt break on hwy 12.
hwy 12.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

A couple July pictures on hwy 12.
Hwy 12.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Hwy 12 (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Tuesday we headed east to Alma Nebraska.
The Wallace museum in Kansas was a good rest stop. The building was much larger than it looked from the front.

Wallace (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wallace (2).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wallace (3).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Good place for burgers in Alma, Nebraska.
The Station Alma Ne..jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wednesday we arrived home in Creston Iowa.
Stopped a few times on hwy 6 to get a close look at the center pivot irrigation systems.

hwy 6 Nebraska (2).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 6 Nebraska (3).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 6 Nebraska (4).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

hwy 6 Nebraska (5).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Great trip report..thanks! Glad the cold snap in CO didn't spoil your plans. I think it dropped 60F in one day!

M

Zitat von TriangleRider im Beitrag #6

---

Great trip report..thanks! Glad the cold snap in CO didn't spoil your plans. I think it dropped 60F in one day!

M

---

Outstanding ride report pics, Lee! It was a pleasure to finally meet you and Debbie
BTW, the roads in Arkansas were excellent, but I was blown away (literally, lol) by Colorado. Even with the smoke haze, it was beautiful.

Looks like a fun trip! thanks for sharing.

Chris

Great trip pics. Thanks for sharing.

Some fantastic roads and sights there.

I was working out of Durango for most of 2012 and borrowed a Harley from dealer in Colorado Springs, so I do recognise some of the names.

Lunched in Aspen and hoped to stop at the top of the hill, but a fierce rain storm meant I just rode through it to get down the other side as fast a possible.
(did treat my wife to a night in Aspen on a later visit - on 4 wheels)

I stopped in Gunnison too on my loop.

And visited Telluride on a 4 wheel day trip - played Tim McGraw's song when I got there

I've worked in Alaska too. For us Europeans who live in small countries the sheer scale is an eye opener. 20 mile straights. Wow!
2012-0831 HD (58).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
2012-0831 HD (153).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
2012-0831 HD (180).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
2012-0831 HD (184).JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
Harley-Ride.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I love that part of the country, Lee. My wife and I have seriously thought about moving to Walden, Colorado. There is nothing there, but gorgeous views! I would also like being flanked by the Cameron and Rabbit Ears Passes...