Colorado Riders Thread

[MarkT]

We should be there if you pick a day when we don't have something already going on. Have visitors in late January.

[MarkT]

HEY PIE MAN!

Stop in at Costco and pick up a lattice apple pie!   Gotta be the best store-bought pie I've had in years!  Not only is it delicious, it's HUGE.  12 inch, 4.7lbs.  $10.  Their pumpkin pie is also very good, same size, $6.

HURRY, I'm sure it's a Christmas offering only!

[Tailgate Tommy]

HEY PIE MAN!

Stop in at Costco and pick up a lattice apple pie!   Gotta be the best store-bought pie I've had in years!  Not only is it delicious, it's HUGE.  12 inch, 4.7lbs.  $10.  Their pumpkin pie is also very good, same size, $6.

HURRY, I'm sure it's a Christmas offering only!

That looks good! Fat free, calorie free, sugar free, not so much 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Tom

[deadpan]

 

look'in mighty tasty.

[Brewer]

Thinking about the ride to Inzane in Billings next year, tempted to hit Post Falls ID June 24,25 then Billings 26 to 30.
Wondering what other Colorado folks are planning?

[Misfit]

I will see you when you get to GZ Dave. I will be there early getting things ready for the masses. Enjoy your round about. 

[Brewer]

I will see you when you get to GZ Dave. I will be there early getting things ready for the masses. Enjoy your round about. 

I figured you would be at GZ early, safe travels and see you there.

Any plans for a pretrip wrench and ride day?

[Misfit]

I'll try and put something together for Memorial weekend. 

[BeastMaster]

I haven't been getting notifications.     I'm in for a get together. 

I hope for a great New Year for all, and a less hectic one for me.

[fudgie]

Need some CO info. Coming thru CO from KS to the Grand Canyon. After a overnight in KS the next night takes us to Pueblo CO. How long will it take to get from Pueblo to Durango via 50 to Montrose down 550 to Durango? Hour wise and not miles. We want to see some stuff and not really rush to get there. Would a over night in Montrose be better then to go from Pueblo to Durango? Prob stay a day or 2 in Durango. Tips on where to stay and see/do? Going to stop at Mesa Verde on the way to 4 corners. Also anything neat to see from Pueblo to Durango? Ill prob have a lot of questions! 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Need some CO info. Coming thru CO from KS to the Grand Canyon. After a overnight in KS the next night takes us to Pueblo CO. How long will it take to get from Pueblo to Durango via 50 to Montrose down 550 to Durango? Hour wise and not miles. We want to see some stuff and not really rush to get there. Would a over night in Montrose be better then to go from Pueblo to Durango? Prob stay a day or 2 in Durango. Tips on where to stay and see/do? Going to stop at Mesa Verde on the way to 4 corners. Also anything neat to see from Pueblo to Durango? Ill prob have a lot of questions! 

We stayed at the General Palmer Hotel in Durango on the way to Inzane a couple years ago. I thought it was a great,old, centrally located (close bars & food) place. I'll let the CO guys take it from there. I've only been on 50 & 550 that one time.

[DarkSideR]

Need some CO info. Coming thru CO from KS to the Grand Canyon. After a overnight in KS the next night takes us to Pueblo CO. How long will it take to get from Pueblo to Durango via 50 to Montrose down 550 to Durango? Hour wise and not miles. We want to see some stuff and not really rush to get there. Would a over night in Montrose be better then to go from Pueblo to Durango? Prob stay a day or 2 in Durango. Tips on where to stay and see/do? Going to stop at Mesa Verde on the way to 4 corners. Also anything neat to see from Pueblo to Durango? Ill prob have a lot of questions!  

I live in Pueblo. The route up Hwy 50, through Montrose, and on to Durango will take you about 7 hours. The Black Canyon is an awesome side road or can be just a great sight to see. A shorter route would be on Hwy 160 across the San Louis Valley. That route can be done in around 5 hours. Wolf Creek Pass, and Pagosa Springs are great way points on that route. In fact Pagosa Spring has world famous hot springs to soak your bones in. Ether way you have 2 great options.

Let me know if you need anything while in Pueblo.

DarkSider  

[MarkT]

Montrose has been ground zero for many years for the big ride-in annually for the High Country Cruisers (now defunct). Also the VOA did several there, and the big BMW group is set up at Paonia every year (N of Crawford where Joe Cocker's Mad Dog Ranch was - he's gone now) Montrose is set up for tourism with many hotels.  Many many great rides out of Montrose in pretty much all directions. I know all of them - fabulous riding.  If you stay there you will be under 2 hours out of Durango - so you could ride over Red Mountain Pass (the Million Dollar Highway, arguably the first or second best bike road on the continent - the other being Beartooth Pass E of Yellowstone), past Silverton, then Molas Pass and Coal Bank Pass - arrive in Durango in the morning and do tourism things outta there that day.  Specifically the Durango-Silverton NGRR Steam train round trip to Silverton (45mi X 2 at 15mph) through the wilderness along the Rio de Los Animas Perdidas (River of Lost Souls).  The premier historic train ride in North America.  You'll need reservations and deep pockets - last I heard it was $75/ticket probably more now and it fills up - buy them online in advance.  I've ridden it 4 times, taking visitors / family.  Not to be missed.  

Secondly - rent a jeep and explore the old mining trails in the San Juans.  Do some research in advance.  I'd call it the top 4-wheeler venue in the Rockies, maybe on the continent.  I've done a ton of four-wheeling there though I didn't rent - took my Bronco II down there and camped on the plat of the ghost town of Eureka (NE of Silverton).

Many other things - guided hunts, excellent trout fishing, if you have a dirt bike, fabulous trails, if you hang glide the annual world aerobatic championships is held at Telluride. (I used to hang glide) Not to mention the art and music fairs there.  NW of Montrose, at Gateway on Hwy 141, is the Discover Auto museum - well worth the time to visit, eat at their fabulous cafe of the resort there, then ride S along the Dolores river canyon - best scenery you'll ever see.  If you stop at Ridgeway you can eat in the great cafe there which appeared in the original John Wayne movie True Grit. They have a chicken fried steak that's to die for. Just a cpl miles S of there on 550 towards Ouray is the Orvis Hot Springs nude bathing resort in a large natural pond and several smaller private ones.  Worth the experience.

The San Juans are so beautiful, and there is so much to do, I vacationed there every summer for years - best in Colorado.  Sent a lifelong friend there to live when he asked where to live in CO.  He moved and stayed there for 15 years and died there this year - I now have his Valkyrie.

Mesa Verde is very interesting - used to be you could hike around the cliff house.  I think they stopped that due to vandals but I could be wrong.  4 corners is really nothing but a paved wide place in the desert surrounded by Indian kiosks to separate you from your money.  They have the spot marked so you can enjoy being in 4 states at once.  You wouldn't know it except for the marker.  And don't plan to "do it" in 4 at once; there's tourists all around and park rangers (or Indian LEO's don't recall) probably get arrested.  You can fart in 4 states at once...

BTW from 4 corners you're not far from Monument Valley - where John Ford made all those John Wayne westerns.  You should at least see it and take some pics.  It's on a Navajo reservation so be advised - don't expect well-run restaurants and other businesses (the Indian-owned visitor's facility was inoperative with food/refreshements/store on the very hot day when we visited, when there were also busloads of rich Japanese tourists with money bulging their pockets and couldn't spend it.), check up on CCW laws on reservations if you carry.  The town right west of there - Kayenta - is 99% Navajo and very depressed economically and perhaps with some crime danger due to their economy.  Word to the wise. I know, "native American" is PC, "Indian" is not.  I'm so sick of political correctness I said that deliberately.  And BTW - Most of us are "native americans" - weren't you born here? It turns out there is some question - the Vikings may have been here long long ago, aren't they native americans too?  Most everybody is except me (Switzerland, born of American citizens helping rehab Europe after the war), other immigrants, illegals, liars and the Obummanator.  (No I don't buy his story, or his education either for that matter.)  

These are from Monument Valley:

[fudgie]

Which State is Monument valley in?
How do I find the San Juans?

Thx for all the pointers, it will help out tremendously. 

We may stay in Pueblo and then Montrose. Then hit Durango for 2 nights after reading this. We been tossing around the train thing.

We planned 6 days to get to the GC from Ind. A couple days longer then it would take but didn't want to hurry and hit some sights since this will prob be the only time we get this way. We want to arrive at the GC early on day 6.

Thx all for the help, keep it coming. 

[fudgie]

Need some CO info. Coming thru CO from KS to the Grand Canyon. After a overnight in KS the next night takes us to Pueblo CO. How long will it take to get from Pueblo to Durango via 50 to Montrose down 550 to Durango? Hour wise and not miles. We want to see some stuff and not really rush to get there. Would a over night in Montrose be better then to go from Pueblo to Durango? Prob stay a day or 2 in Durango. Tips on where to stay and see/do? Going to stop at Mesa Verde on the way to 4 corners. Also anything neat to see from Pueblo to Durango? Ill prob have a lot of questions!  

I live in Pueblo. The route up Hwy 50, through Montrose, and on to Durango will take you about 7 hours. The Black Canyon is an awesome side road or can be just a great sight to see. A shorter route would be on Hwy 160 across the San Louis Valley. That route can be done in around 5 hours. Wolf Creek Pass, and Pagosa Springs are great way points on that route. In fact Pagosa Spring has world famous hot springs to soak your bones in. Ether way you have 2 great options.

Let me know if you need anything while in Pueblo.

DarkSider  

Is the canyon easily found on 50? My riding bud told me about it.

[baird4444]

I've lived in Montrose for almost 5 years and can tell you that Illinois is a great place TO BE FROM! The Black Canyon is just 7 miles east of Montrose. Yea, you could do pueblo to Durango in a day but I'd take the time to savor the ride. Rt. 50 from Canyon City to Salida runs along the Arkansas River and is an awesome run.Then Monarch pass which can be fun..... Then west of Gunnison, home to Valkorado, is Blue Mesa Reservoir and then 45 minutes through some nice canyons and passes to Montrose...
 To stay in Montrose allows you to enjoy the ride to Durango by way of Ouray, Red Mountain on the Million Dollar Highway should not be rushed. Might take a moment in Silverton as well. As Mark said, Molass Pass bout 5 miles west of Silverton is a sight to behold....

   How are ya cum'in cross MO and Kansas? If your skipping the super slab Rt. 36 is a breeze across both states. Let us know when your commin through, might have a beer with your name on it!!
                 - Mike

[MarkT]

Which State is Monument valley in?
How do I find the San Juans?

Thx for all the pointers, it will help out tremendously.  

We may stay in Pueblo and then Montrose. Then hit Durango for 2 nights after reading this. We been tossing around the train thing.

We planned 6 days to get to the GC from Ind. A couple days longer then it would take but didn't want to hurry and hit some sights since this will prob be the only time we get this way. We want to arrive at the GC early on day 6.

Thx all for the help, keep it coming.  

Monument Valley is at Hwy163 right where it crosses the Utah/AZ state line. Lake Powell is just west of there, and so is Rainbow Bridge Nat'l Monument. Glen Canyon, Bryce, Zion all nearby. The San Juans are the mountain ranges N & E of Durango.  There are other interesting historical sites in the area of the Utah/AZ state line, if you want to do some research. And of course tons of beautiful Nat'l parks in Utah.  I spent 10 days on a bike tour with friends, of Utah's natural wonders around 2000, want to do it again this time with the wife.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is on Hwy 92 - the road that crosses the dam on the W end of the Blue Mesa Reservoir.  Goes to Crawford, Hotchkiss, and past Grand Mesa - a huge flattop mountain with over a hundred lakes on it.  Hwy 92 is one of the best bike rides you'll ever see, particularly from Blue Mesa to Crawford.  Constant twisties on very good blacktop, the whole thing is very scenic (watch the road!) with lotsa elevation change, never any traffic, about 45 miles to Crawford IIRC.  Well worth the detour as you can ride it, then go west to 550 and S to Montrose.  BTW I rode through Crawford this summer and noticed the Mad Dog Ranch Fountain Cafe has reopened under new management (didn't stop because I was on a group ride and not leading).  Used to be Pam & Joe Cocker's operation, but they closed it some years ago and now he's passed on and their mansion was up for sale.  You'll see it in Crawford on the left side after you go around the first sharp bend.

Here's the cafe Aug 2002 - still looks like this.  Pretty sure that's George Jackson in the white shirt and chrome dome - he had a yellow wing (he built my "George" bike below):



Yours Truly and wife when we stayed as houseguests of Pam & Joe Cocker:





When crossing KS to head to WI, Hwy 36 is a preferred route for me.  Mom & Pop inexpensive motels in every town, not to mention local cafe's for chow that aren't franchises.  IIRC hwy 36 is the Pony Express Trail.  You can visit at least a couple of the preserved pony express way stations.

[fudgie]

Awesome, Thx!  Ill get the map out later and look at all them places.

[Valkorado]

http://kdvr.com/2017/01/09/bullseye-crested-butte-gunnison-valley-buried-in-snow/

Buried.  Alive.

[deadpan]

That snow blowers coming in handy!

[Valkorado]

That snow blowers coming in handy!

If it ever gets here it will, now they're saying Monday.   

[MarkT]

It took 3 weeks for the plow for the Kubota to arrive, supposed to be 1; just got here yesterday. Yeah you can move snow with the front loader but that's slow.  I'm ready now!  Betcha THAT will keep the snow away!

[DirtyDan]

Black canyon of the gunnision is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen

Dan

[Misfit]

I heard Leadville was buried also. Not much here here other than strong winds this week. I lost part of my roofing and some fence due to wind. I heard we had o e gust clocked at 101 mph. Keep warm. 

[MarkT]

I heard Leadville was buried also. Not much here here other than strong winds this week. I lost part of my roofing and some fence due to wind. I heard we had o e gust clocked at 101 mph. Keep warm. 

Yep.  Just under a hundred here Mon, 70 Tue, 50 Wed.  Finally calm.  The wind ripped our roof off twice in the past, and the vinyl siding.  Now we have concrete-based siding and a roof certified windproof to 120 and hail resistant. No more wind damage Unless a tornado shows up.

[fudgie]

Which State is Monument valley in?
How do I find the San Juans?

Thx for all the pointers, it will help out tremendously.  

We may stay in Pueblo and then Montrose. Then hit Durango for 2 nights after reading this. We been tossing around the train thing.

We planned 6 days to get to the GC from Ind. A couple days longer then it would take but didn't want to hurry and hit some sights since this will prob be the only time we get this way. We want to arrive at the GC early on day 6.

Thx all for the help, keep it coming.  

Monument Valley is at Hwy163 right where it crosses the Utah/AZ state line. Lake Powell is just west of there, and so is Rainbow Bridge Nat'l Monument. Glen Canyon, Bryce, Zion all nearby. The San Juans are the mountain ranges N & E of Durango.  There are other interesting historical sites in the area of the Utah/AZ state line, if you want to do some research. And of course tons of beautiful Nat'l parks in Utah.  I spent 10 days on a bike tour with friends, of Utah's natural wonders around 2000, want to do it again this time with the wife.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is on Hwy 92 - the road that crosses the dam on the W end of the Blue Mesa Reservoir.  Goes to Crawford, Hotchkiss, and past Grand Mesa - a huge flattop mountain with over a hundred lakes on it.  Hwy 92 is one of the best bike rides you'll ever see, particularly from Blue Mesa to Crawford.  Constant twisties on very good blacktop, the whole thing is very scenic (watch the road!) with lotsa elevation change, never any traffic, about 45 miles to Crawford IIRC.  Well worth the detour as you can ride it, then go west to 550 and S to Montrose.  BTW I rode through Crawford this summer and noticed the Mad Dog Ranch Fountain Cafe has reopened under new management (didn't stop because I was on a group ride and not leading).  Used to be Pam & Joe Cocker's operation, but they closed it some years ago and now he's passed on and their mansion was up for sale.  You'll see it in Crawford on the left side after you go around the first sharp bend.

Here's the cafe Aug 2002 - still looks like this.  Pretty sure that's George Jackson in the white shirt and chrome dome - he had a yellow wing (he built my "George" bike below):



Yours Truly and wife when we stayed as houseguests of Pam & Joe Cocker:





When crossing KS to head to WI, Hwy 36 is a preferred route for me.  Mom & Pop inexpensive motels in every town, not to mention local cafe's for chow that aren't franchises.  IIRC hwy 36 is the Pony Express Trail.  You can visit at least a couple of the preserved pony express way stations.

Ended up booking a place in Mexican Hat Utah for the night. Its near monument valley. 

[MarkT]

Yeah I know the place.  Have ridden through there several times.  It's very hot and dry - not a place for the middle of summer. There are traditional Navajo hogans at the restaurant S side of the road in Mexican Hat - probably where you're staying - it's a small venue.  The place was Navajo owned and run IIRC - though I note the "town" of Mexican Hat on the map is on the N side of the San Juan river - the other side is reservation land.  Be careful what you eat and good luck with that.

Mexican Hat is named for this formation:



Per wikipedia, the Demographics of Mexican Hat are:

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 31 people in 17 households residing in the CDP (Census Designated Place). The population density was 3.8 people per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 23 housing units at an average density of 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 9.7% Native American and 90.3% White.

There were 17 households out of which 5.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.4% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 64.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.82 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the CDP the population skewed older since the last census, with 6.4% under the age of 15, zero residents aged 15 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 42% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.5 years.

As of 2012, the median income for a household in the CDP was $80,767, and there were no families or individuals living below the poverty line.[7]

[Valkorado]

Mexican Hat, been there done that.  Nice area for riding, but hotter than I would imagine Hell to be.  Pack plenty of ice water.

[fudgie]

I've lived in Montrose for almost 5 years and can tell you that Illinois is a great place TO BE FROM! The Black Canyon is just 7 miles east of Montrose. Yea, you could do pueblo to Durango in a day but I'd take the time to savor the ride. Rt. 50 from Canyon City to Salida runs along the Arkansas River and is an awesome run.Then Monarch pass which can be fun..... Then west of Gunnison, home to Valkorado, is Blue Mesa Reservoir and then 45 minutes through some nice canyons and passes to Montrose...
 To stay in Montrose allows you to enjoy the ride to Durango by way of Ouray, Red Mountain on the Million Dollar Highway should not be rushed. Might take a moment in Silverton as well. As Mark said, Molass Pass bout 5 miles west of Silverton is a sight to behold....

   How are ya cum'in cross MO and Kansas? If your skipping the super slab Rt. 36 is a breeze across both states. Let us know when your commin through, might have a beer with your name on it!!
                 - Mike

Looking up room in Montrose now...
I been on 36 thru KS & Mo. Nice road. Coming thru Eldorado KS to see Valkhound and some stuff in Dodge City.

[baird4444]

I've lived in Montrose for almost 5 years and can tell you that Illinois is a great place TO BE FROM! The Black Canyon is just 7 miles east of Montrose. Yea, you could do pueblo to Durango in a day but I'd take the time to savor the ride. Rt. 50 from Canyon City to Salida runs along the Arkansas River and is an awesome run.Then Monarch pass which can be fun..... Then west of Gunnison, home to Valkorado, is Blue Mesa Reservoir and then 45 minutes through some nice canyons and passes to Montrose...
 To stay in Montrose allows you to enjoy the ride to Durango by way of Ouray, Red Mountain on the Million Dollar Highway should not be rushed. Might take a moment in Silverton as well. As Mark said, Molass Pass bout 5 miles west of Silverton is a sight to behold....

   How are ya cum'in cross MO and Kansas? If your skipping the super slab Rt. 36 is a breeze across both states. Let us know when your commin through, might have a beer with your name on it!!
                 - Mike

Looking up room in Montrose now...
I been on 36 thru KS & Mo. Nice road. Coming thru Eldorado KS to see Valkhound and some stuff in Dodge City.

Dodge City, try the $10 1LB prime rib at the casino....  also about 10 miles west of D.C. there is a lookout where you can see the wagon ruts of the Old Santa Fe Trail. I stopped there at sunrise 2 years ago and drank my coffee, lotta history; almost a spiritual experience for me. Montrose is about 500 miles straight west on rt. 50, a good day. If you're going to do it in 1 day you'll want to start early and  make time on the flat ground so you can enjoy the road west beyond Canyon City, that's where the mountains will start for you....
       - Mike

[DarkSideR]

We may stay in Pueblo and then Montrose. Then hit Durango for 2 nights after reading this. We been tossing around the train thing.

Thx all for the help, keep it coming. 

Let me know if and when you are staying in Pueblo. It's always good to meet VRCC folk.

DarkSider

[fudgie]

We may stay in Pueblo and then Montrose. Then hit Durango for 2 nights after reading this. We been tossing around the train thing.

Thx all for the help, keep it coming. 

Let me know if and when you are staying in Pueblo. It's always good to meet VRCC folk.

DarkSider

Will do. 

[MarkT]

Check out the thread on Dragonman's museum at http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,93017.new.html#new

We should do this after we get when they resume tours and get a consensus here.  I can handle it unless say Damon wants to...

Called up - they start tours Mar 5.  On Saturdays.  They will also do tours during the week with reservation,  if concerned on too many from the public on Sat. $15 / pop.  They also have other stuff like a gun range - $8 no time or gun count limit. They are E. of town N of 94 & Curtis Rd on 300 acres.   We are pretty open except around the time of the GOTF and Inzane. See http://www.dragonmans.com/content/military_museum_dragonmans_colorado_springs

[Valkorado]

Check out the thread on Dragonman's museum at http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,93017.new.html#new

We should do this after we get when they resume tours and get a consensus here.  I can handle it unless say Damon wants to...

I'm in!     Late April or May would be best for me.  Maybe we could squeeze in a wrench "party" as well.  Damon knows how much I love partying with those wrenches!

[Tailgate Tommy]

Should work for me.

[Misfit]

That place is about 4 miles straight south of my shop in Peyton. On the corner of Curtis Rd and hwy 94. I can here them shooting the big guns most days. He has a shooting range and you can rent full autos also. He has a motocross track next to the range. A few years ago Larry the Cable Guy had a show on tv and they were filming at Dragon Mans. They were setting up to blow up a bunch of stuff when something went terribly wrong and his wife was accidentally blown up. He moved here after leaving the military because the gun laws in NJ sucked and he was a true gun nut. He also has a gun shop at the range. Count me in. 

[Misfit]

Mark if you set it up, they will come. I hope. Shouldn't be to hard to get 15 interested. 

[MarkT]

Let's wait until we get closer then set it up. They start tours Mar 5 but that is the snowiest month.  I'm thinking with as dry as it's been, the weather is storing up to really hit us hard before she quits for the season.  Or now that I'm ready for big snow it won't happen. Maybe in April after the GOTF would be a target time.

[Moofner]

Wow, CO looks ro be a pretty active area! I'll be moving into the Denver area beginjing of March, will live out of a suitcase for a few months, then move the family up. 1800 Valk is coming me with me to be joined by the 1500 when the family moves.

I look forward to meeting you all!

[Valkorado]

Wow, CO looks ro be a pretty active area! I'll be moving into the Denver area beginjing of March, will live out of a suitcase for a few months, then move the family up. 1800 Valk is coming me with me to be joined by the 1500 when the family moves.

I look forward to meeting you all!

Welcome, Moofner!     I'm thinking you'll find Colorado roads a bit more suited to fun than the ones in Florida panhandle.