Colorado_9

					Colorado 9/02

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	Our biggest and most ambitious trip to date. 3200miles in 8days with plenty of sightseeing and no rush. We traveled from Saturday August 31st to Saturday September 7th. We had great weather for the most part. No rain. But 95-100degree heat with strong 30mph crosswinds during the long trip to and from the Black Hills. Generally when we weren't in the mountains it was too hot when wearing our riding gear. Our goal was Colorado where my brother lives in Fort Collins and spend 2 days riding in the Rockies. Knowing how much fun we had in the Black hills last year we would ride a day there as well. On the way to Colorado we would take the long way across northern Wyoming to see a good portion of that state. I was riding our newly acquired 2002 GL1800 packed with luggage and Carrie rode our 1994 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6E. Yup, she's crazy, but likes to ride. Kerry rode his 2001 GL1800A. No problems with any of the motorcycles. Even the Ninjas tires , Bridgestone BT56ss, held up well after having 14,000miles on them. Anybody thinking the new Goldwing's are not suited to fast paced mountain riding should really try one. Great motorcycle. We took pictures when able but didn't make too many special stops so they are not totally indicative of what we saw. Stopping for pictures really interferes with a nice ride. Kerry brought his video camera so there are video clips also. All pictures are in chronological order. Pictures are numbered corresponding to Map locations. You can also click the numbers on the map for a picture if it exists. You can enlarge the maps by clicking also. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Videos from the trip: (these are also listed under the pictures at the appropriate locations, more will be added with time. Kerry got a total of 5.5 hrs of video) Rocky Mountain Park Video (12.7meg) Poudre Canyon Video (8.8meg)

	Day 1: Minneapolis, MN to Deadwood, SD = 650miles The firs leg of our trip proved to be the most difficult. High temps and high crosswinds made it unpleasant. We stopped many times just to keep our spirits and fluid levels up.



	#2 The Lakeville Mcstop. The starting point for most big adventures	#2 7am and ready to roll. How far will that ninja go?	#3 You pay the price of boredom in SD to get to anywhere west.	#4 Its starting to get windy and hot about here	#4 Taking shelter in a rest stop from the wind	#5 Kerry tries to capture the 35mph crosswind effect on the little ninja


	#6 The wind is really strong now. Extreme case of deja-vue from last year	#6 Carrie decides it's better to sail to Rapid City	#7 Not only is it windy. It's frickin' hot!	#8 New Underwood isn't the best place for a man to take his pants off.

	Day 2: Black Hills, SD : 215Miles This was our first real fun day of the vacation. The Black hills is a great place for bikes. So many roads to choose from. Must see's are 16A south of Mt Rushmore, Vanocker Canyon Rd south of Sturgis, 16 through Custer, and 14 through Spearfish Canyon. Try to avoid holidays to avoid the crowds. It provided for some tense moments for us. Click here for a larger map



	#1 Bright and early in Deadwood, SD.	#1 The whole town is in a valley	#1 Time to prep the bikes	#1	#2 Grab a little food at the Silverado casino for breakfast. The buffet is pretty good	#5 The town of Johnson Siding after Vanocker Canyon. The canyon road is a must stop for cyclists. Not well known.


	#7 Pactola Reservoir	#7	#7 Damning water up in a valley creates more recreation	#10 The State Game Lodge after the must drive on 16A. Excellent Food. Stop if you can	#11 Needles highway	#11 If you have the patience...


	#11 It can provide some spectacular views..	#11 But be prepared to fight heavy traffic	#11	#11	#12 Sylvan Lake on Needles Highway

	Day 3: Deadwood, SD to Thermopolis WY =317miles We didn't know what to expect past Devil's tower, but the scenery was OK heading west. After a few stops looking for more video tape we Made good time to the Big Horn Mountains. Seeing them loom in the distance gave us ambition. The scenery on each side of the mountains is drastically different. Pine forests on the east side, arid desert on the west. Click here for a larger map



	#4 yum, that was good (pizza hut parking lot in buffalo)	#5 umm, maybe it wasnt that good stops to grab Tums	#6 After the summit where we missed a photo op, we found this nice little lake stop.	#6 And they have a bathroom! Yeah!	#6	#6


	#6..and a nice river	#6	#7 An impressive canyon on the west side of the big horns.	#7 Much bigger in scale than Spearfish, SD	#7	#7


	#7 oh no!	#7 You killed Kenny! I'm mean Kerry!, Again! (notice the reoccurring them of Kerry falling off something on our trips)	#8 Carrie thinks the Ninja makes a better bed than touring motorcycle after 1100miles

	Day 4: Thermopolis, WY to Fort Collins, CO = 321miles We spent the morning playing in the Hot mineral springs at Thermopolis. Great way to start a day. Just south out of Thermopolis is Wind River Canyon. It was impressive as anything we saw on the trip. You would swear you were headed downhill because of the angle of the canyon walls but the direction of the river flow told otherwise. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures. South of there all the way to Rawlins is very Arid. Not much of anything around. Make sure you've got gas and water before venturing through this part of the state. We ran into more wind from Rawlins to Laramie and were just missing some rain showers. As soon as you enter Colorado the scenery changes. Wyoming got the short end of the stick as to where the borders are drawn. Click here for a larger map



	#1 The best place to stay, The Holiday Inn. The owner of this place has more animals mounted in the bar than are alive in the state.	#1 The famous 'big turd' mineral formation in the hot springs.	#1 Worlds largest hot springs. 'cause it says so.	#1 The sulfur smell reminds me of riding behind Kerry's GL1800	#1	#1 They divert hot mineral water to a big public hot tub under the white roof.


	#1 Very good for a motorcyclist's back	#1	#1 The color in the water comes from different fungi	#1 Different colors means different temps	#1	#1 This is the source of the spring. Water comes out at 137degrees.


	#1	#1	#1	#2 This view of nothing is something.	#2 "I sure hope the bikes dont break down now"	#2 Na, they wanna go!


	#3 We stopped at Wendy's this time in Rawlins, WY	#4 Finally, FT Collins and my bros house. Carrie is thinking his cat is smarter than she was after 1600miles.	#4 Jason's mountain villa, It's in Livermore, CO actually.	#4	#4 Nice views	#4 And a hot tub! yippie! Two in a row!


	#4 Carrie is having a hard time dressing herself after riding so much.	#4	#4	#4	#4	#4

	#4

	Day 5: Fort Collins, CO. to Breckenridge, CO. via Rocky Mountain National Park = 215miles The most awe-inspiring portion of our journey was through Rocky Mountain National Park. Great Vistas from the highest paved continuous road in the world reaching 12,200ft. Exiting the park through Berthoud pass is great also. All these roads had hairpin turns that really make you smile. Especially when 1 ft off the road is 50ft down. Our stay in Breckenridge was great, especially considering the deal on the room we got. Click here for a larger map




	Jason's Hooter's Restaurant in Ft Collins. Great food and staff! Yes, my brother has most men's dream job. Hooter's manager.	Kinda great when a bar opens just for you at 9am! Just tell the manager, Jason Hanson that you saw this on his brother's web page (Ron) and you'll get a free beer ;)	#2 On the way to Estes Park	#2	#3 Estes Park for lunch.	#3


	#4 Rocky Mountain National park. Yes, that is the road up the side of the mountain.	#4 The road goes to the peak in the center of the picture, see picture #	#4	#5 The view from 10,600ft. The road you come up is the line in the trees. See the video (12.7meg)	#5	#5


	#5 You can see the town of Estes Park in the distance	#5	#5	#5 The highest point on the road is up there at 12,200ft but less scenic than this.	#5 "I guess its all down hill from here"	#6 We scored on a condo in Breckenridge.


	#6 We were quoted $330 for a 3 bedroom hotel room	#6 Seemed like a lot so we asked if the had something with a hot tub around the same price	#6 "Sure" she said. "We have a 3rd floor 2 story condo, but it's off site 1 block, closer to the mountain"	#6 "full kitchen"	#6	#6 "hot tub with mountain view"


	#6 "Two baths"	#6 "And Master suite" , we say "Ok how much?"	#6 Here we are celebrating our $240 castle for the night :) Stupid is as stupid does.

	Day 6: Breckenridge, CO to Fort Collins, CO. via Steamboat Springs, CO and Poudre Canyon = 300miles The day started with a great breakfast in Breckenridge then up to Steamboat Springs via Vail. Just like in the Bighorn Mountains, once past Vail it turned very arid. The road up to Steamboat had the most intricate tar snakes I've ever seen. Steamboat was deserted in the off season but we found a good meal in Mountain Village. Heading back to Jason's house he suggested we take Poudre Canyon. This was the most fun we had, after days of sightseeing at fairly sane speeds, we were ready to crank it open and just look at asphalt. After the peak at 10,500ft, it was 60 miles of great twisty road, full of blind corners and a canyon that kept narrowing the whole way down. We only had to pass a few cars since traffic was so light. Anyone on a motorcycle should drive this road. Speed limit was 35mph but we were going 55mph to 60mph the whole way very comfortably. Could probably go much faster if you knew what was around those blind corners :) At the end of our day, Jason treated us to a great Hooter's dinner where we were treated like Kings and Queens. Click here for a larger map



	#1 This is the view from the hot tub in the morning.	#1	#1 Breckenridge is a quiet, little mountain town in the summer	#1 The outside of our park avenue loft	#1	#1 In back of our loft is mainstreet on the otherside of the pond.


	#3 Steamboat Springs. Different than Breck and Vail but still nice.	#3 Good food at Tugboat.	#3	#3	#3	#3 Still deserted in the off season. Best time to visit for crowd weary big city folk.


	#3 Carries finds a new friend. Windy Bender. She's got strong boobs!	#5 Stopped to fill in Walden, CO. as Jason leads us back to Ft Collins. Says he's taken us to something called Poudre Canyon	#5 Kerry says "I'm moving here, Ive already got a job!"	#6 Poudre Canyon. After 60miles of the best twisty road in we've seen, dropping 6000ft with no traffic, we're all smiles! See the video (8.8meg)	#6 Poudre Park is a great place to kick back for a beer.	#6


	#6 Windy can't believe how much fun she's had.	#6 Poudre River	#6	#6	#6

	Day 7: Fort Collins, CO. to Rapid City, SD. = 365miles The fun was basically over at this point. Time to head back home. First leg was a 330miles stretch across a bunch of nothing with high winds and high heat. The last little 30mile stretch through Custer on 16 let us scrap the pegs one last time. A nice ending to the trip. Click here for a larger map



	#9 Such sorrow.	#9 Home Tomorrow

	Day 8: Rapid City, SD. to Minneapolis, MN = 620 miles The return stretch. Wouldnt ya know it. 95degrees and 30mph crosswinds. We got an early start by 5am and were home 10hrs later with 3 fuel stops and a lunch stop



	#2 Over half way there and making great time.620 miles in 10 hrs with lunch and gas stops	#2 Kerry's GL didn't like the extended vertical riding position after being sideways so much.	hmm, 5300 miles after 4 weeks of ownership. Wonder how many I'll end up with

	Special thanks to Scott Carpenter for the Olympus 520z camera loan and Chris Berg for the Sony Mini-Disc Loan. I love you man.
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