West Coast Ride – Days Eleven & Twelve

Gonna be a bit lengthy. Two days to catch up on as I missed yesterday’s update.

Day Eleven – Started out later than the norm but I’ve got a definite short day ahead of me. Headed out of town and back to I-70. Followed the Colorado River for several miles before heading back into the mountains. For the most part the ride wasn’t too bad but it’s mountain roads so slow and easy. No flying around these corners. You see, guardrails are designed to break and absorb the impact of a car which helps to keep said car on the road. Motorcycles? Well, the bike may stay on the road but there’s no guarantee that the rider will. So, again, slow and easy.

I-70 cut deep into the Rocky Mountains. From the glimpses I was able to get, I could see the mountain walls towering above me. Sometimes the mountain side was bare – rocks and small foliage. Other times it was covered in needle trees, fir or spruce maybe, I don’t know my trees. Then there were times the mountain side was covered in leafy trees, I won’t even guess as to what they were. There was even one section of road that had mountainside covered in needle trees on my left and leafy trees on my right. The leafy trees have already started to turn colors. Imagine bright green, yellow and orange trees all mixed in together. Quite the sight to see.

More snow signs and chain stations. If you don’t know what a chain station is then you’ve probably lived in the south your whole life. But I’ll enlighten you. Chain stations, as I have seen them, are basically a very wide shoulder, probably a lane and half to two lanes wide. These run I’m guessing about a half a mile long, maybe even a mile as I’ve seen some long ones. This section is intended for you to be able to pull over and safely put snow chains on your tires. I don’t think they make snow chains for motorcycles. I’ll have to look into it. Regardless, it’s not snowing so no worries for me.

Continued on to Dillon, CO. A little resort town in the mountains. I was told by my father’s cousin that I should stop at the Dillon Lake Marina and have lunch at a place called the Tiki Bar. I got there, pulled into the marina parking lot and walked down the steps. Doesn’t look like they’re open. Asked a local what the deal was and apparently they only open on the weekends this time of year. Guess we’re skipping lunch, but no worries, I know I’ve got some good food coming soon.

Gassed up and headed onward. There is a very long tunnel coming up. I’ve seen the signs and have been warned about it. I’ve mentioned before how much tunnels suck on a motorcycle but I will reiterate. Tunnels are very loud. All of the sounds of the road are compressed into a tube which means all of the exhaust is also packed in as well. Plus, on a bike, it’s a bit harder to take your sunglasses off for a minute. Sunglasses are a dual function when riding. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun, they also protect from bugs, rocks and any other debris that might fly at you. Make it through the tunnel no problem. It’s loud and smells of exhaust but it’s well lit. Runs for about a mile and a half down hill.

As exit the tunnel I notice weather up ahead. Rain is falling on the mountains. I have no idea where the road is leading me and much like the smoke from a few days prior, it seems to lead away and back towards it several times. Hope and dismay over and over. The air becomes heavy with the scent of rain and the roads become wet. Great, I’m chasing it. The rain starts to fall slowly so I decide it’s a good time to pull off and gear up.

At this point in my trip I’ve started bagging up everything that I don’t want wet. Really just my sleeping bag and computer bag. I don’t use either one until I stop for the day so bagging to start is better than bagging in the rain. I pulled off into the triangle of an exit ramp and suited up. Jacket and vest off. Pants on. Jacket and vest back on. Rain jacket on. It’s a process that sometimes proves to be pointless, but this time was well worth it.

The rain started a couple more miles down the road. I was initially feeling like the suit up was a waste of time. The road dried up and I began to think I was going to miss it. Nope. It hit. Wasn’t a long time but was enough to soak me. And up there its cool right now, not cold but cool. Cool plus rain soaked equals cold. Was glad I stopped. Wasn’t stopping to undress either. When I left the Tiki Bar I was only sixty miles from my first destination for the day.

The road dried up and it looked like I was out of it. Almost to my target. Another tunnel. Short one but as soon as I hit the end I was pummeled with more rain. I’ve had pretty good luck with rain following the first couple days of this trip. This wasn’t bad stuff but remember, I’m still on mountain roads.

I finally make it into Lakewood, a town in the Denver area. I’m going to see a family member I haven’t seen in well over twenty years. Hell, probably close to thirty. There’s a little building there where they make queso and salsa. An old church with the church sign is still hanging on the front of the building. So I guess you could say I HAVE been to church lately. I won’t get into the details but it’s a small, very streamlined system. And very good stuff. I got to be quality control for the afternoon and was paid quite well.

From there I left to head north to Erie. Another Denver suburb. I’m going to stay the night with my cousin, or first cousin once removed. Maybe second cousin…..my cousin. I haven’t seen her and her husband in thirteen years and I’ve never met their children.

The ride was short, only about 30 miles. Took me nearly an hour and a half. Traffic in the Denver area is exactly why I will never live in a metropolitan area. But I made it. I had a warm hug and a cold beer waiting, Coors banquet. Haven’t had that in a very long time. And their little girl fell for me immediately. It was a much needed feeling. A little girl wanting my attention. I miss mine but I know that, Lord willing, I’ll see my own little girl soon.

They took me to dinner at a little micro brewery in town. Don’t remember the name of the place but it was quite good. The beer wasn’t bad either. And aside from some chips and salsa/queso, I hadn’t eaten all day. We head home for more beer, good conversation and a game of Go Fish. Spent the night in a comfy bed, with the window open. Can’t much do that in Texas, too damn hot most of the time.

In the morning we sent the kids off to school. I get a monster hug from this little girl who’s known me for less than 24 hours and then a home cooked breakfast. I felt a bit bad for not eating it all but I’m not a huge breakfast person, at least not before putting a few miles in first. Off I go. I hope to see them all soon.

Day Twelve – Left out about 10:00am. Headed for the interstate and luckily Libby’s GPS sends me to the toll road that runs around Denver. Traffic’s not too bad at this time but the toll road was much easier than going through Denver. Took 40 miles to get back to the interstate south though. Headed towards New Mexico again. Leaving the Denver area was pretty uneventful. The city driving eventually turned to mostly prairie lands. A clear view of the Rocky Mountains to my right. The smoke from wildfires has become nothing more than an afterthought.

A few miles down the road I reach Colorado Springs. Home of the US Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak. What I believe was Pikes Peak was something to see. I say “what I believe” because I’m not 100% sure it was it. But, the tree line stopped towards the top of the mountain and above it, all brown. Plus it was taller than everything around it. So probably Pikes Peak.

After I left Colorado Springs I hit more prairies. And wind. From hear on out I spent most of the ride in a right hand lean. The wind was nuts. On several occasions I was forced into the left lane and had to let off the throttle to regain my lane. This happened all the way to the border of New Mexico, 150 miles.

I stopped for lunch at a little place off the interstate called Opie’s. A BBQ joint. The sign included the word “Bar” so I new they served beer. I was in. Wasn’t bad but looked more like a diner than a BBQ place. I received the wrong type of beer but didn’t complain. At this point in my trip, any cold beer midway through my day is welcome.

Once I got close to the border I reached one more pass to cross. The Raton Pass. Nothing like I’ve seen so far but more mountain like roads. And the wind is still pushing me as it wishes. Made it to the border and into Raton, NM. Time to cut southeast towards Texas and leave the mountains in my rearview.

I stopped for gas and water in Raton. The wind is still pushing pretty hard so I’m figuring it’s going to continue for the 80 miles I’ve got left today. It does. The wind isn’t as strong as heading south through Colorado but there’s still a few heavy gusts. And not much change in scenery. A lot of prairie lands. Much different than what I remember going through New Mexico ten days ago.

My target for the night is Clayton. A few miles from the Texas border. My campsite is a former KOA site. Little run down but I’ve got a spot to put up my tent and bed down for the night. I’m extremely sore. The wind has been physically taxing. My arms and thighs are feeling today’s ride but will be good to go in the morning.

Tomorrow I’ll head back into Texas and stay the night with an uncle I’ve not seen in too long. And then I’ll be on mostly country roads back home. One last night away from the loves of my life.

Country roads take me home.