Retired and Trippin

Day 8 When we left the Silver Saddle Motel in Manitou Springs at 8:10 am it was sunny and 52. Before leaving the area we rode through the Garden of the Gods. We tried the visitor’s center but it wasn’t open until 9:00 am. We rode south to Canon City , CO to score on some cherry cider. We stopped at DiNardo’s Cider Mill and Market and loaded up on cherry cider. Gary and Judy also scored on some Rocky Ford cantaloupe. I hope it traveled well in the trailer. After gas and a Wal-Mart stop we rode east to LaJunta , CO where we had a picnic lunch in a city park. We had a butt break in Syracuse, KS and another gas stop in Garden City, KS before we met Carl and Marge at the Dodge House Hotel in Dodge City, KS We had a great evening, dining in the hotel restaurant, playing volleyball in the pool, and soaking in the hot tub. Today we rode 360 miles. The high temperature was 81 and there was NO rain. Day 9 We took off from the Dodge House at 8:30 am in sunny 64 degree

We rode away from our cabin at Blue Creek Lodge at 8:10 am. It was sunny and 41. We rode 10 to 15 miles south on Hwy 149 to South Fork, CO. We got petrol and had breakfast at the Logger Restaurant. Having refueled our bikes and our bellies we rode west on Hwy 160 through Del Norte. At Monte Vista, CO we turned north on Hwy 285 which took us through Saguache. At Poncha Springs we turned east on Hwy 50 and rode into Salida where we got gas and took a break. From Salida we rode north on Hwy 291 which took us back to Hwy 285 north. This entire route of 160, 285 and 291 was mildly scenic at best. On Hwy 285 north of 291 we passed Mt. Antero and some of the collegiate peaks, which were definitely scenic. Just south of Buena Vista we turned east on Hwy 24, which took us east towards Colorado Springs . We came upon a construction zone and an extended delay not too far down Hwy 24. When we finally got underway from the construction zone my motorcycle rolled over 77,000 m

Mel and Trisha rode away from the motel at 7:10 in the morning. I heard the HD fire up but by the time I got outside they were pulling out of the lot. When Gary, Judy, Chris, and I left Cortez , CO at 8:10 am it was mostly sunny and 55 degrees. We rode north on Hwy 145 through Dolores, Stoner, and Rica. As we gained altitude the temperature dropped to 43 and it started misting. We rode out of the ugly weather just before reaching Telluride, where it was bright and sunny. We had a good breakfast at Maggies Bakery and Café in downtown Telluride. Their cinnamon rolls were larrapin good! We walked the main drag and then Chris and Judy went off to photograph some of the houses in Telluride while Gary and I sat in the sun and watched the people go by. We rode the gondola in Telluride that took us up the mountain to the ski resort. This was an act of bravery on the part of Gary, who is afraid of heights. From Telluride we rode north on 145 to Hwy 62 east to Ridgway where we cau

The plan was to depart Ridgway , CO at 8:00 am. At that time, however, it was raining and cold. We waited until the rain stopped and when we took off at 8:40 am it was sunny and 52 degrees but the streets were still wet. We rode 10 miles south to Ouray , CO intending to stop and let the ladies shop around. It was too early and none of the shops were open so we pushed on south on Hwy 550 (the Million Dollar Highway ). The scenery was fantastic with snow capped peaks and golden aspens. As we crossed a pass and rode closer to Silverton , CO it became cloudy and started to rain lightly. The temperature dropped to 39. Mel, our tour guide, wisely decided to find a café in Silverton to drink some coffee and wait out the rain. We landed in the Brown Bear Café. Chris laughed at the rain, grabbed an umbrella, and did some shopping on main street. When the rain stopped we continued south on Hwy 550 to Durango . The sun came out again and it reached 68 degrees while we were

Mel, Trisha, Chris, and I had a “continental” breakfast at the motel this morning. It was a very limited continental breakfast compared to most (cereal and breads only). After we left at 8:15 am (52 degrees) we rode east on Hwy 82 to Hwy 133 south. At this intersection we stopped at the Red Rock Diner so Gary and Judy could eat some breakfast with protein in it. We rode south on 133 to Paonia , CO where we stopped so Mel could gas up his HD. At Hotchkiss , CO we turned south on Hwy 92 east. The south and east end of Hwy 92, before we reached Hwy 50, paralleled a gorge through which the Curecanti River flows. Great views! We crossed the Blue Mesa Dam, which holds back the Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado . Hwy 50 took us west to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park . Here we had a picnic lunch, enjoyed the spectacular views, and took a boat load of pictures. It rained lightly and briefly as we exited the park. We rode Hwy 50

We departed Amberwood in Estes Park at 8:10 am. It was 57 degrees under blue clear skies as we rode into Rocky Mountain National Park , westbound on Hwy 34. Shortly after entering the park we saw a bunch of cars parked along the road with people at the edge of a field. As we approached we realized they were watching and photographing a herd of elk. We joined them. The views in the park were beautiful and we made many stops to take pictures. After exiting the park we rode south on Hwy 40 over Berthoud Pass to I-70. Westbound I-70 took us to Loveland Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel, which I always enjoy. We exited the interstate at Dillon , CO for a picnic lunch in Rainbow Park . After lunch it was back west on I-70 to Hwy 91 south through Leadville to Hwy 82 west. Hwy 82 provided us fantastic views though the road was very rough in places. We traversed Independence Pass and rode through groves of aspen trees into Aspen , CO . We walked around

We rode away from Russell , KS westbound on I-70 in fog and 61 degrees at 7:20 am. 106 miles later we stopped in Oakley , KS for gas and a butt break. Back on I-70 westbound into more fog. We finally drove out of all the fog around Goodland , KS and a short distance into Colorado it became partly sunny and the wind picked up. About 125 miles down the road I decided to stop at Flagler , CO for gas. As we exited I saw a pink Cadillac sitting high on a pole. It was in front of the I-70 diner, which had a sign in the window saying they had wireless internet access. After getting gas we went to the diner so I could update this blog, drink a cup of coffee, and eat a piece of pie. This diner was purchased on the internet from Fargo , ND , where it sat in six pieces on a dirt lot after being one of four Kroll’s Diners. It was moved to Flagler , CO (I-70 exit 395) on six semi-truck trailers in May of 2007. It was put back together, cleaned up, and was in business on Jul

Mel, Trisha, Gary, and Judy met in Lawrence , KS at 9:00 am and started towards Colorado . Chris and I had to attend our grandson’s first birthday party at 4:00 pm. It was a fun time as we got to see all 3 of our grandchildren, our sons and their wives, and our parents. We also had some larrapin good chow – smoked pork spare ribs plus other good stuff. We departed Overland Park , KS for Colorado at 6:15 pm. We rode I-435 west and north to I-70 west. We stopped for gas at the Maple Hill exit off of I-70 and then rode 153 miles nonstop to Russell , KS , where we spent the night at the AmericInn. We got an executive king suite for the price of a regular room. At least that is what she told me. It was a nice room . . . . . . . . . but . . . . . . the internet access did not work. We rode 240 miles this evening in great weather. It was 78 when we left Overland Park . It got down to 66 before we stopped at 10:00 pm. For pictures of today click on the following

We rode off this morning (day 5) under partly cloudy skies in 54 degree temperature. Today would involve a parting of the ways. We were headed for Iowa City, IA (south on Hwy 136, south and west on Hwy 151, and south on Hwy 1) after which, all the guys except me would head for home in the Kansas City area and I'd head for Montrose, IA to pick up my little Peach, who was at her cousin's ranch. We rode through Iowa City on Hwy 1 and stopped at a Village Inn, located at the junction of Hwy 1 and Hwy 6, for breakfast. This was our only real breakfast of the trip. All others were motel provided breakfasts. It was larrapin good. The other boys took off south on Hwy 1, eventually making it home by about 5:30 pm. I rode south on Hwy 27/218. I arrived at Deb and Tim's ranch at 11:30 am having ridden a total of 165 miles for the day. It got more cloudy the further south I went. As I was turning onto Deb and Tim's road it sprinkled very lightly. The high for the morning was 69. Af