Pancho, Lefty and the Kid's Ride Report - Colorado & N Mexico * 56K warning!!!
pathfinder
Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
Pancho,
and Lefty
, and the Kid
, rolled out of old Terre Haute in the Indiana Territory, at noon, Monday September 4, Labor Day, and headed west on US 36. The trio desperately needed some R&R and time away from the clang and drang of modern life. They knew they needed open roads, a little beer, and a larger space to breath, and the warm sunshine of the Southwest. Empty, twisted roads high in the mountains called to Pancho and his friends, like a siren calling Hercules. Warm, dry sunshine was to be the plan for the week. It was not to be!!!
Pancho rode a Honda ST1300, with new Z6 Metzler tires. Lefty rode his faithful BMW 1200GT that he had ridden the previous year, and the Kid sported a brand new Suzuki VStrom DL 650.
Three different horses, three different riders, riding together across the plains.
Their plan was a good one. They headed west on US 36 to avoid riding through St. Louis on Labor Day. US 36 is straight, Straight, STRAIGHT, and more straight, and lined on both sides by corn fields, but no traffic. NO unplanned stops, just rolling by field after field of dry cornstalks instead of standing over an idling motorcycle in the holiday traffic in St. Louis.. By late afternoon, they had left Hannibal Missouri, the home of Mark Twain, behind them. Hannibal is usually a nice stop for lunch. But not on this trip. The trio had decided to reach the Rockies in two days, and their plan did not include lunch in Hannibal. They rolled on to St. Charles where they stopped for the night at a roadside lodge. They filled their ponies with high test, tied them up outside their rooms for the night, and went looking for a good meal and some brews, before bedding down.
After breakfast the next morning, they stopped to admire the Railroad Museum in Atchison Kansas. They had stopped here previously, a few years earlier, but the museum seemed to have prospered since then, and hosted many new pieces of rolling stock. The old AT&SF RailRoad Museum
Leaving Atchison, the trio headed southwest, down to I-70, and then dropping off I-70 to pass through Pawnee Rock
on the way to Dodge City. The trio usually liked to spend a night with the dancing girls in the saloons of Dodge City, but not this trip, they still had too many miles to ride. They hurried west past the giant windmill farms
, and finally pulled into Lamar Colorado just before sunset. The found rooms in a faux Adobe styled 
road side lodging for traveling cowpokes, hobos, and other ner do wells. Again, they put the iron ponies to pasture, and went looking for food and beer. Needless to say, they found both in adequate measure.
The following morning, the second morning on the road, Wednesday, dawned cool, overcast, damp and foggy. Just a perfect way to begin a cross country run on an iron pony. Only riders will really know what a 45 degree ride in fog without sunshine feels like. The trio needed serious road food before departure.
The trio's first destination was Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site which sits west of Lamar along the Arkansas River bottom. Bent's Fort was a privately owned trading post that traded with the natives in the area and the travelers and merchants traversing the Santa Fe Trail from Missouri through Kansas to Santa Fe in old Mexico ( it was not US territory then, but Mexican property)
http://www.nps.gov/archive/beol/home.htm
http://www.santafetrailscenicandhistoricbyway.org/bentof.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent's_Fort
As they rode down to the river bottom, the fog increased until it was almost drizzling, and the Fort did not open until 9 am; they had arrived at a quarter till.
The Park Rangers arrived just in time to catch the Kid enjoying nature at its finest in the ditch across the road. They opened the gate to the Fort and the trio sauntered in like they had been trading here for years.....
Lefty interviewed the fella at the entrance, while Pancho and the Kid shot frame after frame of the Old Fort. Some of the shots even came out.....
After extensive evaluation of the beds at the Fort, the trio decided they could not live here, and that they needed to continue on their quest to cross Colorado through the mountainous route of US 50 on to Montrose. As their iron ponies climbed up from the Arkansas River bottom through La Junta, to Pueblo, the fog lifted, the air warmed, and the sun came out, to a gorgeous warm, dry day in the mountain air. They rode on through Canon City, Salida, Poncha Springs, and up over Monarch Pass. As they climbed Monarch Pass the temperature dropped from the 70s, down to barely 39, the clouds gathered, and the rains fell. At the summit of Monarch Pass it was time to dismount and huddle up with some coffee before descending into the unknown weather on the far side of Monarch Pass.
As they began descending the temperature began to rise and the rain finally stopped, and it began to look like decent weather might return. They rode west to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and finally turned north on HW 92 to Crawford to try and find Joe Cocker's Mad Dog Inn. It was not to be, sadly, the rumors apparently are true, the Mad Dog Cafe is cashiered. And the rain returned and the temperature dropped back into the 40s. Nothing like riding twisty, narrow, mountain roads in 40 degree weather in the rain, in an overcast. Ya just can't beat it.
The trio soldiered on, passing through Hotchkiss, Olathe, and finally arriving in the dark, in the rain, to Montrose where they found a spinster who went by the handle - Sylvia - who would put them up for a couple of nights in a honeymoon suite. The ponies were oiled and fueled, and the trio went out to oil and fuel themselves.
The following morning, the sun barely peaked though a tiny hole in the clouds, but the trio did not hesitate to push on down 550, the Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and Silverton to Durango. This is the quintessential dangerous, narrow mountain road. The individual riding the cruiser in front of the trio, apparently did not realize that iron ponies can actually lean way over in hairpin turns, but instead, carefully, oh so very carefully, negotiated each hairpin with the cruiser straight upright and both boots down on the pavement at a mind numbing 7 miles an hour.
The trio were so happy to reach Durango and ditch the speed demon in front of them, that they rode on toward Hesperus where they partook lunch
at a lovely little restaurant with a lovely serving wench who stole the hearts of Lefty and the Kid. 
Pancho finally convinced them they had to leave if they wished to see Mesa Verde this century, and they road on to Mesa Verde.
By then, the nicer weather had again departed, clouds and rain returned, so that as they entered Mesa Verde the rain was pouring down in buckets in the nice brisk 50 degree Colorado air. The sun was hiding behind the cloud bank, and the air was destined to get colder as the riders ascended the Mesa. It did get colder; and wetter as they climbed. Again, nothing quite as much fun as riding narrow, mountain roads in cold, wet, foggy, weather, yadaa, yada, yada...
The three riders finally stopped at a campground for some overhead shelter, where they donned more appropriate garments ( less wet maybe) and rode on the Park Point Overlook where Lefty could not contain his enthusiasm any longer with the weather gods.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/
http://www.mesa.verde.national-park.com/
Mesa Verde is a rather large park, and by the time the trio reached the Far View Overlook, the rains had departed, the sun began to peak out a bit, and an attractive ranger caught the eye of Lefty and the Kid as Pancho craftily asked her questions about the Anasazi. She reported that "Anaszi" is no longer considered an appropriate term, but that "Ancestral Puebloans" was now the more politically correct term. (Pancho already knew this, but was loathe to let her know that) "Why do bureaucrats never use one word when they can use two multi-syllable words?" Pancho mused. Photographs of the ruins were taken, shortly before the rains returned once again.
The Ranger also mentioned that she was qualified in Life Saving, Fire Fighting, Crowd Control, Criminal Investigation, and carried two sidearms. Quite a gal. She followed the trio as they left the park on their iron ponies. She had to be sorely disappointed that her radar did not detect the slightest hint of excessive speed within the confines of the park.
The rains were destined not to cease until the trio returned to the lovely abode Syvia was saving for them in Montrose - 120 miles away. The trio was having so much fun in Mesa Verde in the rain, they did not notice the sun sinking in the west until they were leaving the park and had a 100 miles of twisty, narrow, very very foggy, dark road to traverse in drenching rain to return to Montrose. The riders sorely hoped the signs indicating frequent deer crossings were not accurate. Nonetheless, the trio did make Montrose about Oh Dark Thirty and decided to put the horses away wet, and eat the dinner of many tired travellers on the road of life - Pizza by delivery boy and a cerveza from a local liquor store. After sufficient pizza and cerveza, the trio was beginning to think that they might yet survive this trip and began planning the next leg of their journey.
The next morning, the sun was shining, barely, as the trio mounted their dirty and tired iron ponies and headed east back to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and then down over Slumgullion Pass, Spring Creek Pass, and over Wagon Wheel Gap to South Fork and beyond. They ate lunch in Lake City at Charlie P's Place
Finally they sumitted over Wolf Creek Pass, and rode on to Pagosa Springs where they found lodging for the night once again. No sooner had they parked their noble steeds, and unloaded their burdens, when the sky opened up and the rains began again. 45 degrees, rain, on foot, looking for a place to eat and repair from the days assaults. Mama Mia!! They did find a fine Mexican restaurant just across the river that served Tecate from a tap. They each had several glasses of the libation from the Tecate Tap. Mas Cerveza!!
After several rounds of Tecate, they set about making their plans for escape from the drenching rains of south western Colorado. New Mexico - Taos - Cimaron and back into Kansas, away from this damned rain!! That's the ticket!! . They returned to their room at the Best Western which left a great deal to be desired as a place of lodging. Like a door lock that actually locked. Or a window that had not already been smashed, and screens already ripped from the frame of Lefties room. The trio slept with their boots on and their pistols cocked. Fortunately, the night was quiet and the trio slept unmolested.
The following morning, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the trio felt that Colorado was wishing them hasta la vista on their departure. They rode down to Chama, New Mexico on an early morning ride and arrived before the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad had left the station.
They met several English fellows there waiting to photograph the departure - they were devotees of narrow gauge railroads and had come from Doncaster, Great Britain to ride the narrow guage rails between Chama NM and Antonito Colorado.
They photographed the departure as well, and then raced up the mountain ahead of the train and shot it again also, and then again, and again. Finally Pancho and the Kid quit playing Hare and Hounds with the train, and rode on to catch Lefty in Antonito for lunch at a lovely Mexican restaurant.
From Antonito, they rode down south to Taos, on through town, and up the east side of the Enchanted Circle to Cimmaron where they saw a small visitors centre at about 5 PM.
Upon entering they met an engaging fellow who was able to provide them with the telephone number of the Eklund Hotel in Clayton New Mexico.
http://www.theeklund.com/
http://www.theeklund.com/history.html
http://www.sharonniederman.com/herzstei.html
"Surely," Pancho thought," there is not a prayer of getting a room this late on a Saturday afternoon." But Lefty used his devilish charms on lovely Eillene who promised that she would hold two rooms for the trio until dark without so much as a credit card. "Their word was their bond" Eillene said.
The trio remounted their steeds and headed east along NM 56 through Springer and Gladstone to reach Clayton just before sunset, that magical light at the end of the day....
Even a feed store looks good in it...
Or an old marquee past its prime
EIlleen met the trio at the check-in desk and quickly had them ensconced in their rooms. The Eklund is the hotel you have already seen in every western movie you have ever attended.
Narrow hallways
, wooden stairs
, windows with white chintz curtains
, and wrought iron 
used for decoration everywhere.
Pancho felt he needed to wear a hog leg on his hip just to fit in.
After a quick towel bath, the trio were ready to receive the town. Of course, they ate dinner that evening in the dining room of the Eklund Hotel. Having eaten Mexican beans and beef all week, they each decided to savor the Rocky Mountain Trout which was quite well prepared.
After several cervezas they each slept like the innocents they were not.
and Lefty, and the Kid, rolled out of old Terre Haute in the Indiana Territory, at noon, Monday September 4, Labor Day, and headed west on US 36. The trio desperately needed some R&R and time away from the clang and drang of modern life. They knew they needed open roads, a little beer, and a larger space to breath, and the warm sunshine of the Southwest. Empty, twisted roads high in the mountains called to Pancho and his friends, like a siren calling Hercules. Warm, dry sunshine was to be the plan for the week. It was not to be!!!Pancho rode a Honda ST1300, with new Z6 Metzler tires. Lefty rode his faithful BMW 1200GT that he had ridden the previous year, and the Kid sported a brand new Suzuki VStrom DL 650.
Three different horses, three different riders, riding together across the plains.
Their plan was a good one. They headed west on US 36 to avoid riding through St. Louis on Labor Day. US 36 is straight, Straight, STRAIGHT, and more straight, and lined on both sides by corn fields, but no traffic. NO unplanned stops, just rolling by field after field of dry cornstalks instead of standing over an idling motorcycle in the holiday traffic in St. Louis.. By late afternoon, they had left Hannibal Missouri, the home of Mark Twain, behind them. Hannibal is usually a nice stop for lunch. But not on this trip. The trio had decided to reach the Rockies in two days, and their plan did not include lunch in Hannibal. They rolled on to St. Charles where they stopped for the night at a roadside lodge. They filled their ponies with high test, tied them up outside their rooms for the night, and went looking for a good meal and some brews, before bedding down.
After breakfast the next morning, they stopped to admire the Railroad Museum in Atchison Kansas. They had stopped here previously, a few years earlier, but the museum seemed to have prospered since then, and hosted many new pieces of rolling stock. The old AT&SF RailRoad Museum
Leaving Atchison, the trio headed southwest, down to I-70, and then dropping off I-70 to pass through Pawnee Rock
on the way to Dodge City. The trio usually liked to spend a night with the dancing girls in the saloons of Dodge City, but not this trip, they still had too many miles to ride. They hurried west past the giant windmill farms, and finally pulled into Lamar Colorado just before sunset. The found rooms in a faux Adobe styled road side lodging for traveling cowpokes, hobos, and other ner do wells. Again, they put the iron ponies to pasture, and went looking for food and beer. Needless to say, they found both in adequate measure.The following morning, the second morning on the road, Wednesday, dawned cool, overcast, damp and foggy. Just a perfect way to begin a cross country run on an iron pony. Only riders will really know what a 45 degree ride in fog without sunshine feels like. The trio needed serious road food before departure.
The trio's first destination was Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site which sits west of Lamar along the Arkansas River bottom. Bent's Fort was a privately owned trading post that traded with the natives in the area and the travelers and merchants traversing the Santa Fe Trail from Missouri through Kansas to Santa Fe in old Mexico ( it was not US territory then, but Mexican property)
http://www.nps.gov/archive/beol/home.htm
http://www.santafetrailscenicandhistoricbyway.org/bentof.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent's_Fort
As they rode down to the river bottom, the fog increased until it was almost drizzling, and the Fort did not open until 9 am; they had arrived at a quarter till.
The Park Rangers arrived just in time to catch the Kid enjoying nature at its finest in the ditch across the road. They opened the gate to the Fort and the trio sauntered in like they had been trading here for years.....
Lefty interviewed the fella at the entrance, while Pancho and the Kid shot frame after frame of the Old Fort. Some of the shots even came out.....
After extensive evaluation of the beds at the Fort, the trio decided they could not live here, and that they needed to continue on their quest to cross Colorado through the mountainous route of US 50 on to Montrose. As their iron ponies climbed up from the Arkansas River bottom through La Junta, to Pueblo, the fog lifted, the air warmed, and the sun came out, to a gorgeous warm, dry day in the mountain air. They rode on through Canon City, Salida, Poncha Springs, and up over Monarch Pass. As they climbed Monarch Pass the temperature dropped from the 70s, down to barely 39, the clouds gathered, and the rains fell. At the summit of Monarch Pass it was time to dismount and huddle up with some coffee before descending into the unknown weather on the far side of Monarch Pass.
As they began descending the temperature began to rise and the rain finally stopped, and it began to look like decent weather might return. They rode west to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and finally turned north on HW 92 to Crawford to try and find Joe Cocker's Mad Dog Inn. It was not to be, sadly, the rumors apparently are true, the Mad Dog Cafe is cashiered. And the rain returned and the temperature dropped back into the 40s. Nothing like riding twisty, narrow, mountain roads in 40 degree weather in the rain, in an overcast. Ya just can't beat it.
The trio soldiered on, passing through Hotchkiss, Olathe, and finally arriving in the dark, in the rain, to Montrose where they found a spinster who went by the handle - Sylvia - who would put them up for a couple of nights in a honeymoon suite. The ponies were oiled and fueled, and the trio went out to oil and fuel themselves.
The following morning, the sun barely peaked though a tiny hole in the clouds, but the trio did not hesitate to push on down 550, the Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and Silverton to Durango. This is the quintessential dangerous, narrow mountain road. The individual riding the cruiser in front of the trio, apparently did not realize that iron ponies can actually lean way over in hairpin turns, but instead, carefully, oh so very carefully, negotiated each hairpin with the cruiser straight upright and both boots down on the pavement at a mind numbing 7 miles an hour.
The trio were so happy to reach Durango and ditch the speed demon in front of them, that they rode on toward Hesperus where they partook lunch
at a lovely little restaurant with a lovely serving wench who stole the hearts of Lefty and the Kid. Pancho finally convinced them they had to leave if they wished to see Mesa Verde this century, and they road on to Mesa Verde.By then, the nicer weather had again departed, clouds and rain returned, so that as they entered Mesa Verde the rain was pouring down in buckets in the nice brisk 50 degree Colorado air. The sun was hiding behind the cloud bank, and the air was destined to get colder as the riders ascended the Mesa. It did get colder; and wetter as they climbed. Again, nothing quite as much fun as riding narrow, mountain roads in cold, wet, foggy, weather, yadaa, yada, yada...
The three riders finally stopped at a campground for some overhead shelter, where they donned more appropriate garments ( less wet maybe) and rode on the Park Point Overlook where Lefty could not contain his enthusiasm any longer with the weather gods.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/
http://www.mesa.verde.national-park.com/
Mesa Verde is a rather large park, and by the time the trio reached the Far View Overlook, the rains had departed, the sun began to peak out a bit, and an attractive ranger caught the eye of Lefty and the Kid as Pancho craftily asked her questions about the Anasazi. She reported that "Anaszi" is no longer considered an appropriate term, but that "Ancestral Puebloans" was now the more politically correct term. (Pancho already knew this, but was loathe to let her know that) "Why do bureaucrats never use one word when they can use two multi-syllable words?" Pancho mused. Photographs of the ruins were taken, shortly before the rains returned once again.
The Ranger also mentioned that she was qualified in Life Saving, Fire Fighting, Crowd Control, Criminal Investigation, and carried two sidearms. Quite a gal. She followed the trio as they left the park on their iron ponies. She had to be sorely disappointed that her radar did not detect the slightest hint of excessive speed within the confines of the park.
The rains were destined not to cease until the trio returned to the lovely abode Syvia was saving for them in Montrose - 120 miles away. The trio was having so much fun in Mesa Verde in the rain, they did not notice the sun sinking in the west until they were leaving the park and had a 100 miles of twisty, narrow, very very foggy, dark road to traverse in drenching rain to return to Montrose. The riders sorely hoped the signs indicating frequent deer crossings were not accurate. Nonetheless, the trio did make Montrose about Oh Dark Thirty and decided to put the horses away wet, and eat the dinner of many tired travellers on the road of life - Pizza by delivery boy and a cerveza from a local liquor store. After sufficient pizza and cerveza, the trio was beginning to think that they might yet survive this trip and began planning the next leg of their journey.
The next morning, the sun was shining, barely, as the trio mounted their dirty and tired iron ponies and headed east back to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and then down over Slumgullion Pass, Spring Creek Pass, and over Wagon Wheel Gap to South Fork and beyond. They ate lunch in Lake City at Charlie P's Place
Finally they sumitted over Wolf Creek Pass, and rode on to Pagosa Springs where they found lodging for the night once again. No sooner had they parked their noble steeds, and unloaded their burdens, when the sky opened up and the rains began again. 45 degrees, rain, on foot, looking for a place to eat and repair from the days assaults. Mama Mia!! They did find a fine Mexican restaurant just across the river that served Tecate from a tap. They each had several glasses of the libation from the Tecate Tap. Mas Cerveza!!
After several rounds of Tecate, they set about making their plans for escape from the drenching rains of south western Colorado. New Mexico - Taos - Cimaron and back into Kansas, away from this damned rain!! That's the ticket!! . They returned to their room at the Best Western which left a great deal to be desired as a place of lodging. Like a door lock that actually locked. Or a window that had not already been smashed, and screens already ripped from the frame of Lefties room. The trio slept with their boots on and their pistols cocked. Fortunately, the night was quiet and the trio slept unmolested.
The following morning, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the trio felt that Colorado was wishing them hasta la vista on their departure. They rode down to Chama, New Mexico on an early morning ride and arrived before the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad had left the station.
They met several English fellows there waiting to photograph the departure - they were devotees of narrow gauge railroads and had come from Doncaster, Great Britain to ride the narrow guage rails between Chama NM and Antonito Colorado.
They photographed the departure as well, and then raced up the mountain ahead of the train and shot it again also, and then again, and again. Finally Pancho and the Kid quit playing Hare and Hounds with the train, and rode on to catch Lefty in Antonito for lunch at a lovely Mexican restaurant.
From Antonito, they rode down south to Taos, on through town, and up the east side of the Enchanted Circle to Cimmaron where they saw a small visitors centre at about 5 PM.
Upon entering they met an engaging fellow who was able to provide them with the telephone number of the Eklund Hotel in Clayton New Mexico.
http://www.theeklund.com/
http://www.theeklund.com/history.html
http://www.sharonniederman.com/herzstei.html
"Surely," Pancho thought," there is not a prayer of getting a room this late on a Saturday afternoon." But Lefty used his devilish charms on lovely Eillene who promised that she would hold two rooms for the trio until dark without so much as a credit card. "Their word was their bond" Eillene said.
The trio remounted their steeds and headed east along NM 56 through Springer and Gladstone to reach Clayton just before sunset, that magical light at the end of the day....
Even a feed store looks good in it...
Or an old marquee past its prime
EIlleen met the trio at the check-in desk and quickly had them ensconced in their rooms. The Eklund is the hotel you have already seen in every western movie you have ever attended.
Narrow hallways, wooden stairs, windows with white chintz curtains, and wrought iron used for decoration everywhere.Pancho felt he needed to wear a hog leg on his hip just to fit in.
After a quick towel bath, the trio were ready to receive the town. Of course, they ate dinner that evening in the dining room of the Eklund Hotel. Having eaten Mexican beans and beef all week, they each decided to savor the Rocky Mountain Trout which was quite well prepared.
After several cervezas they each slept like the innocents they were not.
Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenton,_Oklahoma
As they headed north on NM 406
As for "The Merc" in Kenton, Ok..... Alas, it was not to be that early Sunday morning. It was closed and sported a "For Sale" sign. Pancho had frequently stopped in the Merc when leaving New Mexico riding out the Dry Cimarron River Valley, and always stopped in to say "hi" to the proprietor.
He knew he would miss The Merc.
Several cowboys were leaving the Sunday worship services as the trio rode on through Kenton Oklahoma aka: The Panhandle's Last Resort.
http://www.geocities.com/kenton_merc/
The scenery changed very rapidly as they headed east, past Black Mesa, and on toward Boise City. Riding up out of the desert, the scenery quickly changed from desert and mesas 5000 feet tall, to corn fields and pastures - all within a scant few miles. They passed the signs commemorating the Santa Fe Trail east of Kenton and west of Boise City.
Boise City is famous for being bombed in WW II on July 5, 1943, by a B-17, whose crewmen mistook the courthouse lights for a nearby bombing range. In 1993, the pilots were invited back to the city to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Boise City. Fortunately, they were only using practice bombs, or the city would have been leveled.
The trio now shifted into making tracks, and attacked the Kansas plains
They left Dodge City after eating a late lunch, and rode on as the skies were once again turning black and bearing the imminent appearance of rain. And rain it did, all the way into Lawrence Kansas where the trio holed up for the night to escape the clutches of Mother Nature.
After a fine breakfast the following morning, what did they see arrive but the Spam truck. A large blue van with a picture of a Spam sandwich painted on the sides. The Kid just had to have his picture taken in front of the SPAM truck. Go figure!!
From Lawrence is was just a long days ride back to Terre Haute, where the trio was greeted warmly by their families for their safe return.
The moral of this story is that a day spent riding in the rain in the South West can still be better than a sunny day spent at work.
More pictures can be seen here and here.
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My wife and I took a spin through Mesa Verde on a trip to Colorado last year. What a cool place.
Glad it was a good trip; sorry about the weather.
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Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
nickwphoto
That was the most rain I've ever experienced in early fall in the Southwest. But it was better than working:D
I'm sure you can appreciate riding back to Montrose by Telluride in the dark in the rain and fog. Not exactly the smartest thing to do, but it worked out fine in the end.
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My GS was safely parked at home, and I was on a Honda, so I'm have not posted this thread anywhere else. I may post it later on Advrider or Stromtrooper.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Thanks Nick. Actually, the Kid shot that frame.
And Nightingale did see it this evening when she read this post. She knows I am harmless anymore. But fantasies are always nice to have. She was a cutie too.
We had a number of cute waitresses during the week. But the cutest I thought, was the heavily armed Ranger at Mesa Verde. I was too dim-witted to get her picture. So many things to regret in this life.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I have a firend that was on a motorcycle and got mauled by a dump truck a few weeks ago coming out of Montrose on his way to t-ride at night. He got lucky and only lost his spleen and a kidney after a flight-for-life to Grand Junction.
I once did T-ride to Durango after the beer festival leaving at 1am after sleeping off the brew and it was a very tough drive in a (how ironic) Pathfinder on a clear night. The real crime is that you blew through some of the finest scenery in CO in the dark. The stretch along the Delores is one of my favorites.
open up on our way through back in July...
Thanks for a wonderful ride report!
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I can't believe you missed Vera's Mexican Kitchen in Chama. It's one of the landmark eateries in Northern NM.
Maybe next time...
Hunger.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I did not know that. I'll definitely not miss it next time. I love all the Mexican restaurants in New Mexico. I always try new ones if I can. So Vera's will definitely be on my list when I go back next time.
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Did you like my faux IR??
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Very cool, PF, great report, great pictures...enjoyed it thoroughly.
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"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Looks like you guys weren't on Weight Watchers.
Arizona, USA
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Thanks for sharing.
ann
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Thanks, Ann. I wanted it to not just be "we went here, we went there, yada yada yada " SO Pancho and Lefty and The Kid were born:D
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That is rather convincing.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I just kind a played around with it, until I liked the effect.
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Thanks!!!
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twitter: @milanovec
Jim great story of Pancho and Lefty and the Kid( thats one we do down at the old watering hole here)
Loved the photos of the train very cool.
And also Bent's Old Fort photos...awesome
Fred
http://www.facebook.com/Riverbendphotos
Off Thread comments....
I know how much you enjoy photographing the Roebling Bridge in Cincinnatti.
There is a great suspension bridge that is even older in Wheeling West Virginia, built by Charles Ellett in 1849, and still in use today. Wheeling is an old river town that has lots of old brick bulidings with ghost signs on the walls. I think you would enjoy it quite a bit.
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In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
I loved reading the adventures of the intrepid trio and their noble steeds. It sounds as though some of the riding was pretty uncomfortable but that the trip was fabulous just the same, especially in retrospect. Love the pictures.
Please say hi to Nightingale for me. I have happy memories of our dinners at Zion.
Virginia
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know." Diane Arbus
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I will say Hi to Nightingale for you.
We loved the meals with you and Skippy at Bryce and Zion. We would love to dine together again
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin