The Stats

There are so many stories rolling around my head that I want to share. I don't know where to begin so I will start with a few statistics. Although statistics may seem dry fodder for a blog, some of it may be useful in understanding fully the stories of the road I will tell later.

By Andy's calculations we put 2,356 miles on our bikes. By my GPS we covered 6,546.7 total miles by bike and car. We went through 5 tires on the trailer. It seems Wal-Mart tires are only good for about 1,000 miles. On our return home, we found a tire dealer that carried our size and had two new ones mounted. These tires had some serious tread and we had no more issues with tires on the trek home. In fact, they look barely used.

The temperatures in July can reach 110 degrees in Arches National Park. This would be the day, of course, that Andy decided to ride without a jacket. By the time we returned to the hotel, Andy had witnessed his flesh bubble and blister. He now looks like a snake shedding it's skin.

The Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park is about 11,500 feet. I found myself light headed and short of breath. Jade wasn't too fond of the altitude either. She coughed and sputtered the entire way. Try doing those serious twisties and hairpin turns with a bike that is chocking and coughing the whole way.

The highest gas price we paid was $4.57 and the cheapest was $3.68. In Colorado, the octane starts at 85%. It's hard to find a decent grade of fuel. I'm not sure why. Some Colorado law possibly.

Jade typically reaches reserve at about 140 miles on the tank. Her worst day was reaching reserve at 110. Judging the tank became a game of chance. If you have never traveled west before, there is no way to describe the expanse of open space. A person needs to seriously calculate their gas tank before beginning any travel to ensure reaching services before running dry. This happened to me at the Grand Canyon, and nearly so in Canyonlands National Park.

The weather covered the spectrum. All in one day you can blister, ride with teeth chattering finger numbing cold, get seriously rained upon and stop for lunch in the warm sunshine. And true to any summer in any state of the union, the inevitable road repair. Here we rode in dirt, loose gravel, loose gravel sprayed with fresh oil, rain drenched dirt turned mud and freshly laid tar not yet packed. That wet mud we rode through on the last day has Andy and I looking at our bikes with jaws gaping. That stuff is so hard and stubborn that the tropical rain storm we drove home through could not loosen it at all. In fact, tomorrow we will need some serious elbow grease to remove the grime. No wonder this stuff screwed with Bill's kickstand safety switch.

The speed limit on I-70 is 75 miles an hour. Jade can do 75 miles an hour and even 80 with the throttle wide open. It gets dicey when the group passes those tractor trailers. Little 650 Jade held her own playing with the big boys. Her rider's knees, on the other hand, threatened to knock a few dents in the tank though. Jade got up to 91 by the GPS on the open road. Speaking of speed, once in Rocky Mountain National Park, a traffic cop stuck his arm out the window and told ME to slow down! Now that's a first!

Home again it's hard to adjust to the fact that our adventure is behind us. I have posted here a number of photos, but it only begins to scratch the surface of the photographic record. I have found myself reliving moments through these photos. I hear, smell and feel the West. At night, in that space of time between wakefulness and sleep, I see, as if a vision, bikes before me, swaying and undulating with the turns and twists in the road. In these moments, I am there still.

Green River to Colorado Springs - Monday & Tuesday

We had a long ride from Green River to Colorado Springs. We started our journey on I-70. You can take just so much of super slab riding however, and Lee diverted us to route 24. Lee went ahead to fill his twistie lust and the other four bikes stuck together in a leisurely scenic ride to meet up with Lee in Buena Vista.

Route 24 is undergoing road work in some areas. We knew this as we had traveled the road earlier in the week. To add to our discomfort riding a dirt road way, the skies darkened and it began to sprinkle. Now our road was mud. At the second section of road way there was a flagman and at this point we pulled off to put on rain gear as the sky was getting darker. After our gear was on, Bill's bike would not start again. We spent some time at this stop until Bill and Andy discovered the trouble. All that dirt and mud from the road had interfered with the kill switch mechanism that prevents you from starting a bike with the kickstand down. After the dirt was cleared the bike roared to life.

We were not spared the rain and endured some serious pelting on our way to the meet point. This rain was so intense that it felt like a million needles piercing the flesh. It's possible the rain was close to hail. Ouch!

We reconnected in Buena Vista and had a great lunch in the sun. When we saw the dark clouds heading our way, we hightailed it out of there and continued our ride to Colorado Springs. Not far from our destination is the Garden of the God's. This is a strange area that seems as if parts of Utah have been dropped right into Colorado. The surrounding landscape would not indicate that such formations were close at hand just seconds of the highway.

After a late meal, we retired for the night. This morning, we are packing in preparation for our ride home. Andy is off looking for two more decent tires for the trailer. I have some moments to myself for reflection of the past week. This adventure has been a once in a lifetime opportunity. As riding companions our personalities blended well. It was a pleasure to spend time and share these experiences with them. If I could have one wish, it would be to come together again in the future for a new adventure. Bill, Barb, Deb and Lee. Thanks so much. Andy, you were more than tremendous in how you watched our tails from behind. Also a special thanks to Lee who put so much time and effort into planning this trip. You did one hell of a great job. Thanks.

A Day of Rest? - Sunday-

It seems that what motorcyclist do to relax is to take a day trip. No watching birds, no sitting by the pool. That's for old folks right? Ok, enough teasing, here is the real story.

At breakfast, the owner of the establishment, a friendly fellow named Ben, suggested some fun sights we might want to visit. Not only that, he highlighted in yellow a route we should take. Included in the sights was Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, and the Indian Pictograms. Lee and Deb were off to do their own thing, and Andy and I joined Bill and Barb for a day following Ben's route.

We spent the most time in Canyonlands. Our destinations of choice were Grand View and Upheaval Dome. Upheaval Dome is another spot on the map that begs for one to sit and ponder. The wind blew across the canyon at this spot and cooled our scorched flesh. Back to the bikes we headed down the Canyon for gas. Once again, Jade is burning fuel like there is no tomorrow. When we reach the gas station, the tank is nearly dry, but I made it there this time.

The day is getting away from us when we reach Arches National Park. The one arch that Ben suggested we see is 40 miles into the park. We haven't even been to the Pictograms yet. We settle on riding 10 miles instead to look at Balance Rock. While there, I am dizzy and light headed despite keeping hydrated. We head back out of the park fully intending to take in the Pictograms. However, as we travel closer to our destination, the sky darkens and we see lightning in the distance. Unsure of which direction this storm is heading, we hightail it back "home." I feel it's a wise decision. I arrive feeling a bit queasy and very thirst. I buy a large beverage from the machine, put on my suit and hop in the pool.

At dinner Lee has is laptop which is his habit when we are discussing our next days travel. This time however, Lee has some words of contemplation and reflection he has put together in a quiet moment of his own. Watch this blog for a guest posting from Lee as I feel his words would be most appropriate here.

Monday we head back to Colorado Springs. We have an option to ride through the Garden of the Gods. The skies, heat and fatigue level will make our decision for us the closer we get. Monday's ride will be long and that is one of the considering factors.