beemerboy Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I don't know about the rest of you out there but having the god fortune to live in Colorado provides me with ample ride routes for anything from a one hour jaunt to a full fledged weekend getaway. With the need for a change of scenery AND speed I decided to take off last Friday the 27th and do one of my favorite short rides to help start off Memorial Day weekend. CO Hwy 115 out of Colorado Springs leads to the state's southwest territory, the kind of scenery that you typically see in a western movie. In fact, parts of my route included areas where several John Wayne movies were shot as well as Louie Lamour's epic "The Sackett's" starring Tom Selleck among other famous actors. Via Highways 115 and 67 I made my way to Wetmore, CO, and headed up Wet Mountains Pass towards Silvercliffe, CO, via Hwy 96 where I took these photos just four and then two miles shy of this little burg: That's the Sangre de Christo mountain range in the background and no, it wasn't cold that day. Upon reaching Silvercliffe and then Westcliffe just a mile down the road, I treated myself to a 1/2 pound burger at one of the many quaint restaurants on Westcliffe's main street. Shortly after lunch I headed north on Hwy 69 towards Texas Creek where I hooked up with Hwy 50 and and followed the Arkansas River to Canon City, CO. For the uninformed this particular stretch of the Arkansas River provides some of the best white water rafting in this region if not the entire country. The river wasn't running fast that day as the summer heat has yet to take its toll on Colorado's record (230% +/- of normal) snow pack. Hwy 50 is a gentle road with just enough curves to keep a rider interested but not so much that he can't enjoy the scenery. The highway brings you into the south end of Canon City and passes right by Skyline Drive: Built in 1932 (probably a WPA project), Skyline Drive is a single lane route that takes a motorist up over Dinosaur Ridge, a paleontologist's dream. Here I am about 1/4 of the way up: Some road signs detailing the area's rich fossil heritage: About 1/3 of the way up: A rocky outcropping: The road's pinnacle is not too far beyond the last photo and with almost sheer drop offs on both sides I put the camera away and concentrated on the ride. The rest of the way includes two almost 180 degree switchbacks and then a gentle decline into a nice little neighborhood. After riding through Canon City I connected with Hwy 50 and took the Penrose exit onto 115 and back to the Springs. Total mileage is something like 180 miles. It was a great way to spend the day and along with being blessed with perfect weather it seems as though speeding award gods were with me. You see, as I approached Silvercliffe I noticed another bike headed towards me. I thought it was a Victory Vision at first but as we closed the distance I saw that the bike had a familiar batwing fairing but there was something about this bike that had me puzzled. It wasn't until I was about 300' from him that I noticed the fairing had the word "Sheriff" emblazoned across the front. At that point I looked down at my speedo and saw that I was 20+ over the limit. I raised my head to see the LEO smiling from ear to ear then he gave me a big wave as we passed each other. Whew! Life is good! I hope you enjoyed my little ride report. Link to comment
Mrs. Caddis Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Excellent. Wish we went with you. Skyline Drive is on the list now. Link to comment
Paul Mihalka Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Nice! If somebody asks me which is the best motorcycle riding state in the USA, I say Colorado. Link to comment
Patallaire Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Love those Co. roads, great sweepers, great place to feel like you really know how to ride. Link to comment
hopz Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Randy... love the photos and the travelogue... really like the Bike. Didn't know you had a K bike! Tell me about it... Link to comment
TEWKS Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 [quote=beemerboy ]Hwy 50 is a gentle road with just enough curves to keep a rider interested but not so much that he can't enjoy the scenery. The highway brings you into the south end of Canon City and passes right by Skyline Drive: Aw, was so close when I visited Royal Gorge park! I remember going by that entrance. Nice! Pat Link to comment
beemerboy Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Randy... love the photos and the travelogue... really like the Bike. Didn't know you had a K bike! Tell me about it... In April of '08 I bought this bike used w/3K miles from its original owner. It's black & yellow color scheme really sticks out if you know what I mean.....heck, I get speeding tickets even when parked! It's my third K bike, the first being a '92 K1 that later gave way to a blue & white (zebra) '04 K1200RS. I miss the KRS' cruise control and heft when navigating windy roads but the K12S' power is intoxicating. Link to comment
beemerboy Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Aw, was so close when I visited Royal Gorge park! I remember going by that entrance. Nice! :thumbsup:Pat Well, it's obvious that you need to come back! Link to comment
TEWKS Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Oh Yeah! If it wasn't for Kansas i'd probably head out tomorrow! Pat Link to comment
OlGeezer Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Nice pics. I should try using them in my ride reports. They are much more entertaining that way. Of course, that would require stopping. Link to comment
beemerboy Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Nice pics. I should try using them in my ride reports. They are much more entertaining that way. Of course, that would require stopping. Stopping for photos is the bad part. I don't like passing slower motorists only to have them drive by me ten or so miles down the road where I've stopped to take some pics only to pass then within minutes of getting back on my bike. For a while I got pretty good at snapping shots while underway (see first pic below) but I wouldn't recommend it as common practice. On the way to Gunnision via Monarch Pass: At the top of Monarch Pass. My Duc is the black one in the background. Link to comment
jslyter Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 LOL, I just did almost that same ride the day after you Randy. I did the quick detour up to Bishops Castle before lunch in Westcliffe though. Probably even had lunch at the same place (Philly sandwich for me). Then home thru the canyon until the CO Hwy 9 turnoff, so I didn't have to ride 115 again, but otherwise the same route. Saturday was another perfect CO day and for some reason there was no traffic considering it was a 3 day weekend. Worked for me. Link to comment
beemerboy Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hey John, I wanted to do Bishop's Castle as well as the Hwy 9 return route but was a but pressed for time that day. Hey, when are you going to update your sig line to reflect Brenda's new scoot?? Link to comment
jslyter Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 It's not here yet. Supposedly on the boat last time I checked about 1.5 weeks ago (when I was checking out the K1600GTL) Link to comment
Whip Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Thanks Skyline Drive must be traveled. Soon I hope. L Link to comment
dba Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Although I live in a pretty spectacular place myself, I never get tired of the Rocky Mountains. I'll be back again in August for the Colorado Beemers 100K Foot Ride. Love it there Link to comment
Fubar Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 Nice pics, nice ride. I wish it wasn't so far away. Link to comment
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