Colorado; Day 7; 9/18/09

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 miles.

At Wilkerson Pass we stopped in a rest area, had a picnic lunch, and then continued east on Hwy 24. At one point we rounded a curve in the road and there, grazing at the edge of the road, was a deer that seemed unfazed by passing traffic. I passed within 8 feet of it and it never flinched. It happened so fast I had no time to be scared. Gary, who was riding ahead of me didn’t even see it.

We turned south on Hwy 67 and rode to Cripple Creek and Victor. On the way to Cripple Creek it started to rain. It wasn’t real heavy rain but enough to wet my crotch from the rain dripping off my face shield. By the time we reached Victor the rain stopped. We stopped in a scenic (not really) pull-off near the big gold mine operation at Victor to let the rain pass from the area. We then rode back north on Hwy 67 through Cripple Creek to Hwy 24.

Hwy 24 took us east to Manitou Springs, where we found the Silver Saddle Motel a short distance off the highway. We had dinner up the road at the Stagecoach Inn.

Excluding the rain around Cripple Creek it was a good day of riding. The high was 68 and the low was 41. We rode a total of 290 miles.

For more pictures from today click on the following link: http://picasaweb.google.com/goldwinger.shawnee/Colorado2009Day7?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_d-Za7-pvSEA&feat=directlink

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