Kansas/Colorado/New Mexico

Kansas/Colorado/New Mexico - May 2003

This ride began in Plano, Texas. First day was 500 miles with an overnight with an old high school buddy in Topeka, Kansas. Rained from Norman, Oklahoma, to the Kansas state line. Left Topeka early on the second day in the rain which lasted for the first 30 miles. Next stop was my old home town, the only Blue Rapids in the U.S. After taking a few pictures for old times sake I rode another 11 miles to Marysville where I checked into the Redwood Inn (a real redneck joint as described by the owner) but it was clean and cheap. A short 140 miles over some great country roads. That day was spent reminiscing with old high school buds at my 45th high school reunion and alumni banquet.

Left early the next morning headed west on US 36, a straight 500 mile shot to Denver. Got cold and stopped 60 miles down the road and donned cold weather gear. Hit I-70 at Colby, Kansas, and cranked it up to about 85 into Limon, Colorado. Cut across from Limon to Castle Rock and then into Centennial, Colorado. Spent two days in Denver on business (had to write off the trip somehow)Got out of Denver at 2 pm on the second day. I-470 to I-70 to US 40 over Berthoud Pass and into Winter Park, to Granby and through the Colorado Canyon to Parshall and on to a mountaintop northeast of Kremmlin. After 18 miles on a gravel road and a 1500 foot change in elevation in the last five miles I made it to my good buddy Lew's house at 9000 feet about 6 pm.

Two days later I was on the road west again. Damn highway department was grading the road and sprayed some kind of crap on the road that stuck like glue to my bike. Rode over Gore Pass (a beautiful and lonely ride) and down to I-70 again. Took I-70 into Grand Junction to have lunch with my very oldest friend and his wife. After lunch I headed south on Colorado 143 to Naturita and on to Cortez to meet up with another high school bud. Ride from Grand Junction to Cortez has got to me the best ride in Colorado. Met up with Bearcat about 7 pm after another 450 miles of hard and lonely riding and a little rain just before I got to Naturita.

Headed east from Cortez to Durango and Pagosa Springs. Had planned to skirt up to Teluride and over to the Black Canyon and down to South Park over Wolf Creek Pass but liklihood of hail and snow at the higher elevations changed ur minds. Ran in front of thunderstorms all of the way. At Pagosa Springs we turned south to Chama and then on to Tierra Amarillo. Was going to camp for the night at a lake south of Tierra Amarillo but it was alomost dry so we continued on. Raced a thunderstorm across a 10,000 foot pass to a campground at the top.

Made it to Santa Fe for lunch the next day and decided to keep going. We headed south, crossed I-40 and about 20 miles further Bearcat cut left to go home to Truth or Consequences and I hung a left towards Clovis, New Mexico. Gassed up in Clovis and made it to Plainview just in front of a thunderstorm with hail.

The next morning I had breakfast with an old friend in Matador, Texas. Great ride back to Plano. Bumblebee flew up my jeans west of Jacksboro and stung me 4 times on the butt before I could get stopped. Lesson learned - tuck your jeans into your boots. Arrived home late in the afternoon after 2800 miles, all but 450 of them solo.

Route Map

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