410 was a very cool road. Curvy in a lot of places, and some really interesting geology.
To Glacier National Park
Logan Pass day hike
To Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons day hike
To Colorado
The way home
John headed for home after the Grand Tetons. Says he had a nice ride back. Finally got to stay in motels, ha ha. Austin's not a fan of motels, so we had camped the whole time. Our next goal was Flaming Gorge in Utah, and then Dinosaur National Monument. So from Jackson we headed down through Alpine, Smoot and Cokeville. Great riding around Alpine. Then from Evanston, WY we took 410 through McKinnon towards Flaming Gorge.
410 was a very cool road. Curvy in a lot of places, and some really interesting geology.
Green hills by 410
Nearing Flaming Gorge.
So red.
Nice, curvy ascent.
Horseshoe bends are fun.
Flaming gorge.
We shared a campsite with a nice guy at Flaming Gorge. Here's my $80 solo tent. It worked pretty darn well.
Looking down into the gorge from the campsite. The site was really close to the edge of the gorge.
Austin making dinner.
In the morning we did a 3 mile day hike. Part of the trail was paved. It ran along the edge of the gorge and had some spectacular views. Austin wants to come back and do a paddle trip here.
From Flaming Gorge we headed to Dinosaur National Monument. There are 2 main entrances there. Eastbound, the first you hit takes you to a visitor's center that has a shuttle bus which takes you to a dig area that's been preserved. You can see partially excavated fossils. The second entrance eastbound takes you up road that's reputed to be very curvy. We opted for the first entrance. It was fairly interesting, but the shuttle bus soaked up lots of time. Next time will go in the other entrance.
Tourist examining the exposed fossils.
Exposed fossils.
I like these park murals.
A large, scary skeleton of a meat eater.
The shuttle bus.
My next goal was to go to Boulder, CO to visit my son Evan. He was in school there at the time and worked at a Ozo Coffee shop. Austin planned to spend 2 nights with some friends who live in Golden, CO. Before parting was for a day or so, we rode part way up the Peak to Peak Highway, with goes from Estes Park to Golden. It is a truly great sportbike road. Tons of twisties. I didn't realize how rich in twisty sportbike roads Colorado is. I'm definitely going back. Anyway after going up and down part of it, Austin headed to Golden and I went to Boulder. Had a nice visit with Evan at his coffee shop, then I got a motel. It was the only night I spent in a motel for 2.5 weeks.
2 gals who work at Evan's coffee shop. They were super nice and didn't charge me for my mocha when they found out I was Evan's dad.
The coffe shop.
Evan, masked up.
The coffee shop from outside.
View of the Flatirons from my motel room balcony.
Me doing some route planning in my motel room.
The next morning I rode the entire Peak to Peak Highway with some offshoots that were fantastic. What fun!!! Then I headed down to rendezvous with Austin in Golden. But first, a visit to the Colorado Railroad Museum.
Requisite HO scale train layout.
Closeup of buildings in the layout.
Rotary snowplow train.
Old steam engines. One was idling.
Thomas the Tank! My kids grew up with lots of Thomas the Tank stuff.
Austin's friends took us up a mountain outside of Golden to an overlook where Buffalo Bill was buried. There were a ton of road cyclists ascending and descending that road. Paragliders and hang gliders were also flying around there. That huge industrial complex in the background is the Coors brewery.
Buffal Bill's grave.
Dog action in the parking lot.
We had a nice dinner at Austin's friends' house that night. I slept on the porch. In the morning, Austin was putting on his helmet when he noticed this black widow spider inside. That could have been ugly.
From there we took 285 south to Buena Vista, and then up 24 and 82 through Aspen. Aspen reeks of money. Before camping at Ridgeway State Park south of Montrose, we rode routes 92 and 50 east of Montrose. Rte 50 had the best sweepers of the trip. Rte 92 was tied with Rtes 145 and 141 NW of Telluride for the best twisties. Fantastic roads if you like curves. Great scenery too. Zero traffic on 92.
The good roads east of Montrose.
View south from Rte. 92
Austin pulled over on 92.
Deep rocky gorge by 92.
Camped at Ridgeway State Park south of Montrose.
Approaching Ouray. Mines can be seen in the surrounding hills. Ouray looked like a great town to spend the night in.
So we made it to Silverton and decided to drink a lot of beer at Handlebar's. Tons of taxidermied animals in there. Nice wait staff. We liked it there.
Me seated in the distance. It was pretty hot then.
Armed and dangerous.
Worn out after lots of riding. Or was it the beer?
Austin futzing with his bike outside of Handlebar's. We cruised the tourist stores there and bought silvery things for our significant others.
Then south on 550 to Durango, which wasn't nearly as charming as Silverton. Then west on 160 and north on 145 to Telluride.
Near Telluride.
Looking down into the Telluride valley at sunset. The campsites in town were all reserved, so Austin talked a nice young guy into letting us share his campsite. Had a nice evening talking and drinking with him.
Austin with his 72.
So this road had pretty much the best twisties (20-35mph rated) combined with the most spectacular scenery (exotic red cliffs) of all the roads on the whole trip. It's Rtes 145 and then 141 between Telluride and Grand Junction. Almost no traffic too. We talked to another rider at one point. I asked him why no other riders are on it. He said "Don't tell anyone." Whoops.
View from 145.
View from 145.
You can see the remains of supports for a log flume structure on the side of the cliff here. Hard to imagine how they built it.
On Rte 141.
On Rte 141 near Grand Junction.
To Glacier National Park
Logan Pass day hike
To Grand Tetons
Grand Tetons day hike
To Colorado
The way home