A Biker's Blog

Touring Bikes: Mountain Bikes and Motohicans

As some of the last of the Motohicans, each year we try to chart a different course of our pilgrimage Annual two-wheelers "Sturgis." Our itinerary tour of motorcycles for the year 2010 was to cover a distance of 3,055 miles in 7 days. We cover the first 1,515 miles – from Miami Beach, Florida Wichita Falls Texas – within 36 hours. That should earn me 51st certificate Iron Butt, and bought us the time necessary to relax the pace and enjoy the scenery during the remaining 5 days. The last 1,540 miles west took us through stretches of old Route 66 in Texas and New Mexico after north through the high mountains and narrow valleys of southwestern Colorado Rockies, and finally, in northeastern Wyoming Sundance, our base for this year "The Black Hills Classic"

http://tinyurl.com/wichitafalls2sundance

After coffee on a sunny Monday morning and breakfast cold eggs in the Wichita Falls La Quinta, we headed northwest along the Red River Valley in the U.S. 287 where parallel course, the famous river and the border between Texas and Oklahoma. We made our first stop just below the Panhandle at the crossroads behalf of Quanah Parker, the mestizo and the Comanche Indian Chief last that – given that he fathered 25 children with five wives – may well have been its founding father. Then followed by 287 in the Altiplano region Panhandle through small villages lost to time reminded me of "The Last Picture Show" to get to Amarillo. From there we headed west past the Big Texas Steakhouse on I-40 and old Route 66, stopping for lunch and lots of iced tea on Route 66 Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, where the food is so good and people are as friendly as their website suggests:

http://www.midpointroute66cafe.com

A short drive west of Adrian took us through state line in Zone Mountain Time and New Mexico Mesalands. The transition of the landscape from endless flat plains to the hills of the plateau part flat top and high desert plateaus is sudden and dramatic, and another of the experiences that I have no words to adequately describe. Let's call it a "must see" as Tucumcari, the slow fading old Route 66 Mecca of motorsport, where we stopped for the night with Gail in his return to the fifties-Motel Safari:

http://smalltown-america.com

Wake Eastern time, we were able to roll west on I-40 before 5:00 am the following day. The desert was huge and the road was straight, so twisting the throttle took us to Albuquerque, just in time to enjoy your Monday morning rush hour. However, it was a small jump to I-25 to Bernalillo, where gassed to ride in the northwest U.S. 550 through the San Juan Basin Badlands "reserved" for Zia and Jicarilla Indians Apache. There, mid-morning, crossed the Cordillera Central to what would be the first of several times:

http://ldrlongdistancerider.com/motorcycle_photos_color/1667.jpg

At noon, they had crossed the border into Colorado and traveled through the southern portion of the postcard-picturesque San Juan Mountains to our Destination Durango. Durango is a haven of high country from 16,000 to taste with adjectives like eclectic, eccentric, and one end of the D SNGRR 45.4 miles (Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad). Worth the trip to see, but expect to pay for the privilege. We stayed at the Best Western Inn Durango … and really enjoyed our liquid meal with some "loaded" corridors there Christina Grill & Bar:

http://www.christinasgrill.com

Wednesday morning we were again packed and rolling early, excited to be on our way to what is supposed to be the highest point (the double meaning) of our trip, ie, an overnight stay at the New Sheridan Hotel in Telluride. The distance he had to cover the entire U.S. west of Durango Cortez 160 to north on the CO 145 to Telluride was less than 120 miles. But with all the stops for Kodak moments along the way, they took half the day to get there. And I'm ashamed to report after one of those stops, we were lucky to get to everyone:

For most of the road, two lanes of CO 145 runs along the turbulent waters of Dolores River (imagine the old "Taste the High Country" Coors commercials, but in the middle of summer). And for most of the way the shoulder is narrow and the slope is steep. In a particularly panoramic, however, was convinced to stop when it looked like his shoulder was both wider and paved. Great was … but it was not paved. What I had paid to be a little wet gray clay. And when I put my right boot down, just kept going. A full load, Hidalgo started listing to the right. I was surprised for a moment, but then somehow stupid and left the bike back upright before reaching to that terrible moment of no return. And then give thanks to Divine Providence, which soon ease back on asphalt instead of thirty feet down a steep slope in the fast ice.

An hour later, after stopping in Mountain Top Fuel gas Rico and cross Lizard Head Pass, riding the super input exclusive mountain village (altitude 9545 m) and then down and right on the only main road in or out of the legendary snow ski resort of Telluride (base 8750 m, slope of 12,570 feet, the height of 13,150 feet). A few minutes more and they were stationed at Colorado Avenue and control in the New Sheridan Hotel, where a motorist concierge using call Elaine welcomed us as if we were old friends.

This was not my first visit to Telluride or the New Sheridan … but it was my first visit since 1984. Back in the day, Telluride was recognized by more than one type of snow, and it would be amazing to walk in the historic New Sheridan bar and see bowls of peyote passes about party favors. But like I say, I was back in the day … Much tamer now, Telluride is still a city of stories so rich in modern culture and "Old West, "the story as most of the residents of the trust funds are in equity. Is in many ways more charming and exclusive of Durango. Just as rising prices are even higher in Telluride. However, the wash house for a steak meal with a cold beer at the New Sheridan bar must be Bucket List in each rider:

http://www.newsheridan.com

One night in Telluride was all our budget would allow, so last week that were packed to leave long before the sun crested any high peaks around us. And at dawn, we resumed our walk north along the narrow, winding San Juan Skyway. Dealing with a combination of early morning fog and drizzle, which we are the best part of an hour to make the turn at 16 miles and turn Placerville west on CO 62. Soon the rain came after, however, and the sky cleared enough for us to see that photograph impossible horizon comprises a series of peaks touching the sky – anchored by Mount Sneffels (14,150 feet) and popularly called the "Sneffels Range" – which he thought long and poorly Ridgway (correct spelling) its name. They turned left at the light only in Ouray County, and headed to the U.S. over 550.

We went to North the imposition of the peaks of San Juan now, and the view opened up more and more as we got closer to Montrose. Being a little claustrophobic, and I felt DP relieved that all the narrow valleys and slopes of confinement behind us. And the distant rounded hills, broad, open valleys and arid terrain of Delta to Grand Junction looked so much like the Davis Mountains and Big Bend I felt at home. Thence east on I-70 and gun, then followed by CO 13 to the Wyoming border. CO 13 has not been designated scenic manual HOG maps, but it certainly should be: rugged hills … unusual rock formations … rustic relics … unmarred natural beauty … CO 13 is all.

At the border of Wyoming CO WY 13 becomes 789, and just north of where we stopped for gas in Baggs (like someone riding through). At an altitude of 6,245 feet, which is still "riding the wave" of Florida standards, but the ground was far from mountains. We approached the top of high plains of Wyoming and would roll over the continental divide two more times we have our tour to the east on I-80 and Rawlins. There was recorded in the clean very affordable Motel La Belle. And as the sun sank in the west, a storm rose to our east, producing a light show in the sky This photo can not grasp:

http://www.ldrlongdistancerider.com/motorcycle_photos_color/1704.jpg

Our internal clocks are still running two hours earlier in the morning Friday was again well before the sun. Not wanting to miss the view, however, expected "light of day before heading north on U.S. 287 then east on WY 220 to the heart of Cowboy Country and Casper. Then a short commute to I-25 to exit Edgerton, turning east on WY 387 Wright, south stand fast in WY WY 59 to 450, then east again to Newcastle along a section of the instruction sheet says HOG is scenic, but it is not. Of U.S. there more than 85 to 585 and in Sundance WY, however, were in the Black Hills … and you can not ask for much more scenic than that.

Find fully linked version of this article here:

http://distanceriding.ldrlongdistancerider.com

About the Author

Bruce Arnold is one of the http://tinyurl.com/LastOfTheMotohicans … a record-holding long distance motorcycle rider … bikers’ rights activist, proud member of The 100 … political agitator targeting social injustice and piercing the veil of our two-puppet system to expose the institutionalized greed of the Kleptocracy pulling all strings Left and Right … like Thomas Jefferson, an aficionado of ethnic aesthetic and a philosophical anarchist who accepts the State as a necessary evil under which the best government is less government. Follow Bruce at: http://LdrLongDistanceRider.com

Pro Guards Motorcycle Crash Bar Protectors Front & Rear $22.95 No More scuffed Chrome, Crash Bars protectors For Harleys (used by motorcycle cops). No tools required they just snap on. Package includes rear and front guards….

Victory Motorcycles Highway Bar Top Chrome Cover – pt# 2877932-156 $134.99 Give the Chrome Highway Bars of your Cross Country a finished, custom look with these Chrome Highway Bar Top Covers. These Covers add the finishing touch of chrome near the Bars’ top mounting point. Sold in pairs….

Dessert Dawgs Nostalgia Highway Bar Rain Guards 2010 $102.23 Made of top-quality leather-touch vinyl; looks like leather, lasts longer and requires no special maintenances or treatment (cleaning requires only soap and water)Minimize cold updraftsRepel road spray from front wheel and flared front fenderKeep bug juice off motorcycle chrome and legsAllow engine cooling; no temperature restrictionEasy on-and-off; three snaps, belt clip and hook-and-loop attachm…