Labor Day Weekend at the Cabin

Sunset......thunderstorms all around us. Herd of 50 antelope nearby. 

Sal fishing in Sand Creek off 80C, caught 6, or so, Brook Trout and we tossed them all back, unharmed...,.

Cabin sunset after a day of rain....

Did chores while Sally and Lisa fished. Got lots done - feelin good!

Moto Trip Day 16 Home Again

The Road Home

Was going to stay out one more night, but the forecast was for rain, my stove broke, so no more hot meals, my front headlight bulb went out, so I rode the 7 hours, (through Rocky Mountain National Park) back home. 

Rocky Mountain National Park at Close to 12,000 ft

My 2014 Moto Trip covered 2,100 miles and 7 National Parks over 16 days, about half the mileage of last year's trip. Maybe next year I will get to British Columbia (as originally planned for this year, but cancelled due to forest fires in B.C., Oregon and Washington). 

Moto Trip Day 15 Salida and the Arkansas River

Leaving Crested Butte

Rained all night and raining now as I eat my breakfast. I'm sure glad that I rented a room in CB (as the locals refer to Crested Butte). All the Pro Challenge folks have cleared out - racers, TV producers, race officials, etc and the hubbub has moved to Salida for today. Hope I can still get a campsite!

The sun came out and I encounter a State Highway Patrol roadblock on Hwy 50 to Salida. Sign says the road is closed until 6pm for the USA Pro Challenge race, but amazingly they let me through. I'm guessing they thought I was a race Marshall - they ride a BMW 1200 GS, just like mine, they wear a full black riding suit, just like mine, and they wear a bright yellow vest, nearly like mine (except theirs days "Marshall", while mine says "Triumph"). Everyone was waving to me as I rode by!  Good news: I was THE only vehicle on the highway for nearly 50 miles, except for race organizing trucks.  Bad news: spectator bikes thought they could ride in the center of the lane, cross the road without looking, etc all the way up the twisty road with blind corners over Monarch Pass. 

Salida for lunch. Traffic is a mess, waiting for the race to pass through the downtown. 

Oh No, The Bike Race Runs Through Salida Too!

Just got out, heading for the Hecla Junction campground on the Arkansas River. No need to be worried about finding a campsite - Hecla Junction was nearly empty. I did forget about the road in to the campground. Hairpin turns, loose gravel - but I made it OK. My campsite - #8, same as my spring fishing trip, and on the River....

Campsite #8, Hecla Junction State Park, North of Salida

The Arkansas River below my campsite. 

The Arkansas River at Brown's Canyon

Moto Trip Day 14 Crested Butte & Gothic Ride

Me, and My Yellow-Bellied Marmot Friend

Me, and My Yellow-Bellied Marmot Friend

It rained all night, with temps in the 40's, so I feel somewhat justified in taking a room in town. 

I have long wanted to take the dirt road between Paonia and Crested Butte which goes up over Kebler Pass and planned to do so today, however at breakfast I learned that the Pro Challenge bike race will also go over the pass (on dirt?) so the road is closed for the day. My friendly innkeeper, Rosemary provided three alternates all of which I will try: Gothic, Brush Creek and Slate Creek dirt roads, up into the mountain canyons. 

Gothic: Marmot & Bee Research and a Registered Cricket Club

Gothic Visitor's Center, Made of Turn-of-The-Century Logs

All were beautiful, but Gothic was the most scenic: high peaks and a abandoned mining town (Gothic), now used as a biological research station, studying bees, marmots and ecology.  They even have a registered cricket team in town....

Super-Cute Cabin

Riding Motorbikes in the Mountains

Brush Creek Rd had a different feeling...more high mountain ranch country. 

Abandoned Cabin

Abandoned Barn

Brush Creek Landscape

Cowgirls Moving Cattle

Brush Creek Rd

Back in town at 2pm (pouring rain) before they close the roads for the bike race, I changed clothes, grabbed my raingear and headed into town to watch the race. 

USA Pro Challenge - Riding in The Rain

Wet, wet, wet. Some Pro Challenge riders wiped out on the dirt of Kebler Pass. 

Then, the sun came out. Dinner at Teocalli Tamale, a locals favorite. The owner and staff were super nice, and the food was sooooo good, and for a reasonable price!

Teo's

Very Friendly Servers!

Crested Butte town sculpture...

Local Sculpture

Local Sculpture

Local Sculpture - Cool Dragon

Local Sculpture - Cool Knight

Local Sculpture - ?

Tomorrow, off to Salida, CO and camp on the Arkansas River. 

Moto Trip Day 13 Crested Butte

Riding Into Crested Butte

Short ride from the Black Canyon to Crested Butte (elevation 8,908), a cute, outdoor sport-oriented Colorado town which I have never visited until now. 

Main Street, Crested Butte

Cute, not really busy (although the USA Pro Challenge cycle race comes through here tomorrow morning.  Big storms are also predicted for tonight and tomorrow, so I opted for an inexpensive B&B vs another night in a wet tent. The few B&B's were all booked up, but I managed to find a room at the Cristiana Guesthaus - small rooms, but very clean, friendly and centrally located. 

The Cristiana B&B, Owned by Martin & Rosemary

Happy Hour at Lilly's Sushi Bar and Grill on Elk Ave. 

Lil's

After Nights of Noodles, Cravin' Sushi 

Street fair, including a bull ride for kids, welcoming the USA Pro Challenge bike racers..

Kids Having a Ball!

Moto Trip Day 12 Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is unique among North American Canyons having similar spectacular geological features (and is my favorite). It combines depth, narrowness, steepness and precipitous elevation drop that differentiates it from Yosemite (wider, glacier gouged, flatter) and Grand Canyon (wider, softer rock, flatter). 

In the cool of the morning, I took a number of hikes, then rode the scenic South Rim Drive for gorgeous (no pun intended) views of the canyon. As you progress along, the canyon views open up.....

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The Dragon on the Wall

Cactus

At the end of the scenic drive, the Warner trail (1.5m r/t) offers scenic valley views, a self guided nature walk and the only strong cell service in the park. 

Fellow hikers from Canada on the Warner Trail

Canadian Hiking Buddies from Toronto

My super nice camp neighbors, Tracy and Mike from Boston

Camp neighbors, Tracy and Mike from Boston

Moto Trip Day 11 Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Sunny morning, white puffy clouds, cool temps, perfect for a bike ride. 

After breakfast with Marcy, I headed north on Hwy 550 toward Silverton, Ouray, Montrose and finally Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (8,300 ft). On the way I ride over three major passes: Coal Bank,  Molas (10,910 ft) and Red Mountain, the last two having majestic views. The twisty, winding road with lots of hairpin switchbacks is really fun on a motorcycle. 

Molas Pass

Red Mountain Pass

I arrived at the campground around 4pm, set up my tent, made supper and turned in, planning a nice 4mile hike in the cool of the morning, then the scenic south rim ride with great views of the steep canyon. 

Campsite at Natural Bridges National Park

Moto Trip Day 10 Durango

Breakfast with Marcy, walking around Durango, shopping for supplies, then dinner and house site tour with Marcy, Steve and Dora Lee

Pretty Durango Shops on Main St

Directions to Mary's New House

Dinner, then House Site Tour with Marcy, Steve and Dora Lee

Moto Trip Day 9 Durango

Wet Outside, Dry Inside

Constant rain, stopping around 6am, everything pretty wet or at least damp. Breakfast of oatmeal, tea and leftover Fruita peach pie - Yum!

Capitol Reef Peach Pie - Yum, Yum

Drying Out My Gear

Grey skies until Blanding, Utah, then the sun came out and I got cell phone service after 4 days without.

From there to Durango, it was in and out of storms constantly. One minute 85 degrees and sunny, then 55 degrees and hard rain. However, the ride into Durango was pretty and college friend Marcy Pryor graciously allowed me to stay at her house  for two nights to dry out, rest up and get clean. Very interesting when the primary pleasures in life come down to a hot shower and a cold beer!!

Heading Into Another Storm!