:::sOOOO.........how was the Top 'o dah Rockies in Paonia..??:::

[hANNAbONE]

pIX & digital verbal coverage please..!!

[Mike O]

In due time...

 

Mike O

[Bullett]

We had a great time. I have to say that this is the first event of any type that I have attended where the women's facilities were never crowded. No lines for the ladies for restrooms or showers . Beats anything I've ever seen.

 

Weather was great. Rides were great. The people for the most part, were great. I met more Texans than I have seen since I moved from there in '84.

 

I got to chat with "Yahoo Steven," who grew up mere blocks from where I did in the DFW area. It was neat to try to figure out if we knew the same people.

 

I also met "JohnRT," and someone pointed out "Mike O" in the distance.

 

Music was good. I particularly enjoyed the cowboy music on Thursday night. But all the bands were good. We had never been to the Paonia area on the m/c's. LOTS of great roads! We'll be back .

 

No door prizes for me, but the guy camping next to us (Mike) won a tinted, stick on sun visor that he gave away because he always rides with his shield up and sunglasses on.

 

Oh, weather was nice. I guess that's because "Killer" didn't come this year. I will let Jan post the pics. Apparently, we (he) didn't take many this ride.

[Eschelon1]

First time at Paonia for me, didn't know it was such a small town, wouldn't have found it if it weren't for the Nav 3. I underestimated the hyperdrive on the 1150RT and got there Tues at 2pm. I got a good camping spot, you betcha!

 

Weather was warm, a little cloudy at times and it rained a little thurs night but never amounted to anything.

Great roads but didn't get to ride all of them.

 

Town folk were friendly and it was nice to see a lot of the concessions run by the local organizations and the monies going back to them.

 

Good turn out, I didn't hear any official numbers, but I would guess 600 or more.

 

Jerry Sullivan was there with his pristine R80GSPD. Made friends with some of the BMW Colorado guys and ran into three Amigos from River City Beemers.

 

Good food too. I would recommend this rally.

 

I got some pics, but still trying to figure out how to get them on the internet...

 

[JB-BMW]

Just got back yesterday from my first TOR. Rode up and back with Arizona Al. The trip up was "fast paced", my new Zumo said the on road average was 77 miles per hour for the 604 miles. Al got a flat in Cortez, CO due to a bad valve stem. A couple trips to AutoZone yielded the correct replacement and soon we were on our way.

 

Ran into some rain outside of Telluride and at one point rode through some low clouds. We were dry by the time we reached Paonia though.

 

The Rally was very nice, lot's of bikes and nice folks. As stated the before the music was nice and diverse. It was nice to see all the local folks running the concessions, prices were not outrageous and proceeds went to good causes.

 

Since Signman wasn't there, Jack's Playground was shut down. Trinity, YeeHa Stephen, Paul Burkett, Al and I tried to make do with some Wellers and Cragganmore. The beer concession was doing land office business as well, they went through 18 kegs of Singletrack ale from Thursday to Saturday afternoon.

 

Great rides to Aspen (sort of Sweeper Madness with scenery) and up Grand Mesa.

 

The trip back was not too hot and long. Stayed at Al's Sunday night and cruised home yesterday afternoon.

 

Pictures later.

[Twisties]

Alright, Bullet said she'd leave me to post the pics, but I did get her to help pick out the ones to post. Really we didn't take many, and none at the rally. But we did get one for hANNAbONE almost right off, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

 

We lit out I-80 to US-40 and then turned off on UT-35 (Wolf Creek Pass), which goes through Francis, Woodland, Hanna (hint), and Tabiona before dead ending at UT-87, just north of Duschene and US-40.

 

The view from Wolf Creek Pass:

 

 

The sport bikers like this road on weekends, and so do we.

 

Some wildflowers on the pass:

 

 

and for hANNAbONE, the Hanna Cafe, most bikers have a bite to eat and then turn back here. The rest of the way to Duschene is pretty red rock country, but not too twisty or spectacular.

 

 

 

We had lunch in Vernal at Canton City, this place was a garlic lovers dream, and we enjoyed the food a lot.

 

 

We ran down Douglas Pass CO-139 and around through GJ and Delta. We got to Paonia just after 6, and spent the evening settling in. We met our neighbors, Mike from Arvada to the west, and Lon from Phoenix to the East. Although they seemed to be old friends, it turned out they just met. We seemed to fit right in with them and we chatted until bedtime, with the band playing just far enough away to allow for conversation. We got delicious Olathe sweet corn from the American Legion, and Beemer Burgers from CAW (an animal welfare group).

 

Friday we ran down towards Durango, where used to live. Unfortunately Red Mountain Pass had some serious weather. We didn't feel the need to run it since we've been there before, and will be there again. Still got some nice shots of the San Juans:

 

 

Link to Panorama of San Juans....Display about 6" tall on your screen and scroll left to right(280 kB)

 

Friday night, another band and three more new neighbors, three old friends Gary and Lyndon from Pampas, TX and Peter from Amarillo, TX. Our little groups formed up and we had another pleasant evening chatting away. Dinner was the American Legion steak BBQ. We managed to get a ride on the shuttle over to the showers just before the last run of the day. Showers were much needed, but it was so steamy inside that afternoon that I had go outside to put on my shoes and brush my teeth. I guess the ladies were warm too since Sharon (Bullett) was actually ready before me!!!!

 

Saturday we rode up McClure Pass (CO-133), and then turned around and rode back over and up Kebler Pass to Crested Butte (CO-135). We then proceeded through Gunnison to US-50 around the North Rim of the Black Canyon CO-92, and back to Paonia. Great Ride

 

On McLure Pass:

 

 

On Kebler Pass:

 

 

 

 

There were a few other people from the rally in Crested Butte that day... Well ok, quite a few.

 

 

Do I have to tell the rest of the story? I've pulled into town, and am sitting at a stop sign waiting for Bullett to get there. She is kinda nervous about dirt, and Kebler pass, though immaculately maintained, is dirt. And I'm waiting, and well I'm hungry, and a bit jittery because we didn't really get breakfast and it's like 1:00 and I needed to eat an hour ago. And I'm waiting... when suddenly I dropped the bike, just was switching feet and I guess paying no attention, and the next thing I know, it's down. No damage to me, and only inconspicuous scrapes on the side case on the bike, but embarassing as hell. Bullett of course pulls right up at this moment. We right the bike and have some non-descript BBQ for lunch. EVERYONE at TOR was a joy, and friendly and loved to say hi, where ya from, what ya rid'in, where you been.

 

The only rudeness we encountered was at this lunch when a group of 6 fellow TORers pulled in and refused to so much as wave at us, or pass a smile, or acknowledge us in anyway. Anyway, that was fine, I just mention it because in thinking about, it points out the sharp contrast of how the rally really brought folks together, and everyone was cool (well except for the Harley with straight pipes in the night). I mean in normal life I probably wouldn't find it rude, but in the context of TOR, I did.

 

The ride back to Paonia along the north rim of the Black Canyon was truly spectacular, and this road was a favorite of everyone we talked to at the rally. Coming from Gunnison first you hit some sepctacular red rock on US-50, then CO-92 climbs and twists up to Crawford. We stopped often and took some pics, but none really came out. We met some bikers on Harleys and some TORers at one stop. Lady Harley sat on Bullett's bike w/the low stock seat as she wants a beemer. Mr. Harley used to have a GS. Another beemer pulled in, a guy from Norwood, CO on an oilhead GS. We chatted a while. He was planning to stop in at TOR for few hours to look over the bikes.

 

After we topped out of the canyon we saw a horrible crash involving a truck and trailer and a bike down. There was already an ambulance at the scene, so although I have first aid training, I thought we'd be in the way if we stopped. Then we passed another ambulance and some LEOs on their way and I started thinking maybe I should have stopped. Anyhow we thought the bike was probably a Goldwing. Met up with the guy from Norwood at the rally. I don't know how he took in so much, but he saw a lady biker sitting up, and man with a his chest bare, laying out. From the skid marks he surmised that the truck probably made a left in front of the bike. No one at the rally seemed to be missing or talking about it. We were worried it might be Arnold, a little fellow of about 65 yoa on a new 1800 wing, but Arnold put in an appearance after half an hour, so it wasn't him. We finally concluded it was not a TORer. Norwood and I talked about the dangers of biking in farming country, falling bales of hay, slow moving vehicles pulling out of nowhere, etc. We both remarked that we had slowed down after seeing that.

 

Saturday night, Lon had pulled out to visit friends in Dove Creek, but more chats with the rest of our group, dinner served by the Paonia Teens, and the band. Oldies, not to my taste, but talented.

 

Sunday we headed home over Grand Mesa CO-65, another spectacular great ride, and then picked up our same route as on the way out. In Loma we met HoboCrow on his way home to Seattle, and Tom, Mindy and Jess from Park City. All coming from TOR. Tom had 450 miles on his new Concours 14. Mindy and Jess were on beemers. We rode over Douglas Pass with them before parting ways. We'll see them again as they are members of Beehive Beemers, and we just joined.

 

Made it home about 6, and were beat from the heat. topped out at about 104 F near Vernal. Thank goodness for three passes on our route that day, it's all that saved us.

[Mike O]

You traveled some very nice passes (and some great pics). Thanks for sharing and it was a shame we didn't get to meet. Sure we'll see you on the road in the future, however.

 

Mike O

[hANNAbONE]

nOW that's what I was looking for..!! Thanks for posting the pix and the great RideTale..also stopping at all the "Hanna" places of interest..COOL

 

And to think you took pic'x of all of it..!!

 

You are DaMan.!