My Colorado Ride There and Back Again

Fist let me say that I had been planning a long ride for some time. I finally had the bike to do it and, I finally had the time and even a little free cash. As I described to a client, I was going to Colorado to see friends I had never met. He thought this was funny but it was indeed true. I have know these people only via email correspondence and have never actually met them or talk to them. They are members of the Colorado Norton Club and this past weekend was one of their camp out rides. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to meet and greet while shaking out the VFR.

I left last Thursday morning, August 22 at 7:00 and got back August 26 at around noon. I did a total of 1695 miles there and back on the VFR. The ride through Texas and New Mexico was a lesson in tedium and hold the throttle open while watching for cops. It is pretty easy to see the cops because it’s pretty flat for hundreds of miles. The high speed runs are interrupted at regular intervals with 35 mile and hour hamlets every 25 or 30 miles. I would tell you how fast I was actually going but since the government monitors these thins let's just say I was moderately over the posted limit.

Other than the heat and long straight roads of West Texas, the trip was a great success. The greatest thing about the ride was all the fantastic people I met. I stopped off at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo Texas because I saw it from the road and I needed to do something “touristy.” I struck up a conversation with Randy and Judy. They sprayed their names on one of the cars and I took their picture. They let me use their paint can. I sprayed my name and they took my picture. If you are shocked at my wanton vandalism don’t be. This is an art installation and it is expected that visitor graffiti the cars. It would be nice if visitors also picked up their empty spray cans. The place was a mess.



My first days ride took me from my home in Leonard Texas, across North Texas to Sherman, Gainesville, Wichita Falls, Vernon, Childress, Electra, Amarillo and stopping for the night in Clayton New Mexico. It was 500 long hot miles. The next day I had a leisurely ride of 250 miles over Raton pass, to Pueblo Colorado and on to Rock Creek Camp Ground just 12 miles of so from Salida Colorado. This is where I was meeting my friends.


New Mexico rest stop shows the VFR loaded. Up on Raton Pass.

The camp ground was beautiful and a number of Norton club members were already there when I pulled in. They made me welcome and they made me a welcome supper too. For me, every trip is made worthwhile by the great people you meet and this trip was no exception. I had a really good time talking to Paul. He reminded me so much of my old bike shop boss. He has that same “spit straight out” attitude of someone who has lived a long time and who has left pretension behind. The loss of one of his lower limbs doesn’t keep him from riding. He just built an EML side car rig with an 80s vintage BMW K bike motor for power.

I talked to Mark Liu, another great guy who was riding an exotic French made dual sport bike with a five valve Yamaha engine. As always the conversation was slanted toward motorcycles, rides and tales that involved other people’s poor choices in both of those things. I moved around talking to different people in the group as the fire burned down and one by one we headed to our tents.

I didn’t sleep to well on the ground that night but, truth be told, I had a similar experience in a hotel in Childress on the way back. I just couldn’t get to sleep. It’s funny but I was pretty comfortable in the tent once I got settled. I just had trouble sleeping. The camping was really fun. I used to ride and camp years ago but I forgot how. I got to help cook breakfast, the next morning cutting up left-over potatoes and sausage with the sharpest knife I have ever seen. This was combined with scrambled eggs and salsa on tortillas to make some fat and yummy breakfast burritos. I think I could get used to riding and camping but I am going to have to make the investment in gear. I learned a lot that will be valuable for future purchases.



Saturday morning there was a planned memorial ride. It seems that Frank, one of the Norton Club members, had passed and they gathered to take his ashes for one last ride up Cotton Wood pass. It was an extraordinary experience. The first thing that struck me was the mixed experience with biker people, in their road attire, rubbing elbows with non-riders and Frank’s family. It was such a touching tribute. The ride up Cotton Wood pass was a hoot (if you can refer to a funeral procession as a “hoot.”) The lead riders were all on bikes that frank had owned and his son was leading on what looked like an 80s vintage Ducati Paso. I was following a woman on a Triumph Tiger (modern Triumph) and I knew if I could stay with her I was doing OK. A few times the road twisted in on itself and I lost sight of her as my neck wouldn’t swivel that far around. Bob, a Norton Club member, was on his Guzzi La Mans behind me. He would catch me in the corners and then my VFR would run away from him in the uphill straights. I just had more power, not more skill by any means. It was all very fun and I apologized to him for “parking” in the corners. I didn't want to run off a mountain 700 miles from home.



At the top of Cotton Wood pass everyone walked up at trail to the top of the mountain. Everyone but me that is. I tried to walk up the hill only to have my heart beating wildly. It didn’t hurt and I don’t think I was in danger of heart failure but I just felt really winded. It got me thinking of riding alone through all that empty country and musing on the fact that if something happened I would be screwed. My mountain dwelling friends are in much better shape than me. I am jealous.



After the memorial service I decided to head for a hotel rather than risk another night of camping and the inevitable fatigue that it would bring. Eric rode his Norton with me and we headed back up highway 50 toward Canon City. What a fantastic ride! I had to alternate between stating at the scenery and looking at the road so as not to be killed. The views and the scenery of that place are is so amazing. Every model railroad tries to imitate, in some way, the scenery of Colorado. Even the abandoned buildings look cool.



I started my trip back on Sunday riding from Pueblo CO to Childress, TX. I was getting the hang of riding stopping, resting and riding while making my way home. I didn’t do much site seeing or loitering on my way back. There was not much point. It was hot and as the day wore on it got progressively hotter and more uncomfortable. I found out that if I started right at sun up the temperature didn’t start to get bad until around 1:00pm. I think there is a rhythm of the road that, if followed, can make for a great ride. It helps to know when to stop and rest to get the most out of the day’s riding. It would have helped to have taken a few local, overnight, rides in preparation. As it was I was a bit under prepared for the rigors of such a trip. I am not 23 anymore

My Chaise Harper soft luggage worked great. It held everything I needed and it was easy off and on when I stopped for the night. I could take all my gear in one trip. I never had to get my tools out. I never had to get into my rain gear. It did rain on me three times but not enough to amount to any real wetness. I did have everything packed in zip lock bags. They keep things dry and you can sit on them to squeeze the air out. Clothing packs every so nicely that way.

The temperature range was pretty extended with trips over passes being in the 50s to Texas and New Mexico temperatures in the high 90s. I installed my lining in my Olympia Airglide riding suite when going over Raton and removed it on the way back in Pueblo, CO. I did have to slip into the inner jack for the run over Raton but after the things started to heat up and stayed that way.

I made some attachment hoops for my sleeping bag straps. They were a last ditch effort to get some form of hard mounting points and they worked a treat. I looped the straps around the sub-frame and passed the ends out of the holes reserved for the passenger grab handles that I don't have. The straps were passed across my sleeping bag and connected, via a fastener, to a loop on the opposite side. It held everything securely on the passenger seat. Once again it was easy on and easy off.

 

Great ride up big Jim arty2:
Thanks for sharing :thumb:

 

Just think how much better your trip would have been if your bike wasn't yellow...LOL just kidding. otstir:

Thanks for sharing your adventure and pics with us!!

Rollin

 

I love my Yellow Y2K even more now after my trip. I fell for her looks but she is a solid performer. I think I'll keep her.