Pacific Ocean

Day 21 and our last day. 45° to 54° and 48° when I pulled in to home.

Not much to report today as it was a get home day. Started out dry but had 150ish miles of light rain in 46° temps.

Made a gas stop near Cedar Rapids and then rode home.

6784 total miles for the 21 days. 323 miles per day trip. Every ride day was an easy day based on distance and things we saw.

Kevin was a great ride partner, as I am still alive to tell these stories.

I really missed not having my best riding partner along in Greg Kane. Neither of us are done riding and I am ready to do it again if he wants company. Time to plan next years trip.

Only took 1 picture today.

Day 20. 519 miles of SLAB. Man I hate I-80 traffic. 36° to 64°

Not much to report as we ran I-76 to I-80 to I-29 to IA 92 and ended the day at Laura and Joel's.

Well one more sunrise

Some will understand this sign.

Archway museum.

Day 19. 315 miles today. Lowest was 23°, our lowest of the trip, and it got all the way to 66° at our destination in Hudson, CO. It was toe numbing temps for the first 1.75 hours. We had a well needed warm up while we ate breakfast in Carbondale.

Today’s route was CO 92 to 133 to 82 to US 24 to CO 91 to I-70. We tried to go see the Maroon Bells in Aspen, but you need a reservation parking ticket to get past the entrance station. Bummer as the skies once more were cloudless and BLUE.

Saw a couple of deer, one was a lot closer than I would have liked, but hard braking kept her alive. Another cash crop to add, In Colorado, do I need to say what it was?

Traffic was mixed. Carbondale to Aspen was moderate, and up to Eisenhower Tunnel was heavy along with Denver.

Sunrise

Kilns near Redstone on CO 133

Carbondale trees

Heading up to Independence Pass

Heading down from Independence Pass

Leadville

The Johnson tunnel of the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnels

I-70 Towards Denver

Georgetown Loop RR

Our last motel stay

Day 18. 24° to 72°. 266 Miles. Rode 550 north out of Durango, went west on 62 to 145 to 141 past Gateway, turned south on 50 to our destination for the night in Delta.

Once again traffic was light to nonexistent. Did have a red light controlling traffic on 550. This time I waited for the green before proceeding.

Made a few stops. First at Bear Falls on 550. Second at the hanging flume lookout on 141. You can throw a rock from the view point into the river. Mostly a ride and snap some pictures. The colors on the mountains were great. Hope some of the pictures capture it as well as my eye did.

Leaving Durango

US 550

Overlook just before Silverton on 550

Silverton

Bear Falls

Ouray

CO 145

What look like sticks on the wall are the supports for the flume

The next 2 were at the bottom. Right of the light colored sand bar 2 pictures up

After Gateway on CO 141

Day 17. 315 miles as we pushed on to Durango as we had plenty on riding time left. 37° to 73°. Perfect riding weather to cross the 4 corners area of our country.

First stop was the Butler Wash Ruins. An Anasazi Indian cliff dwelling. A half mile walk among brush and then a walk across slickrock marked with cairns. At the observation fence the ruins were easy to see across the canyon.

We then continued on to UT 261 and Moki Dugway. Before getting there we went out to Muley Point on a 5 mile hard pack road. Had it been damp, no way on two wheels. Moderate challenge. Oh what a view. Worth the ride if you are up to it.

Both of the above stops were recommended by my nephew – Blake Elliott. So glad he did tell me about them.

The rest of the day was just riding and looking at the views. We were going to stay in Cortez, but we had time to kill, and pushed on to Durango. This gives us time tomorrow to stop and see the many sights from here to Delta, via Gateway.