Durango or Bust...and Back Home Again

[NancysToy]

Hey Scotty, I'm bummed that we never got a chance to meet - perhaps at the next event. Good to hear your traveling went well. Ours was hot, hot, hot!
Enjoy the rest of your ryde!

-Anita

I was very disappointed not to catch up with you, too. So many people and so little time! We will have to work harder to meet up next time.

Our return trip was plenty hot. I'm way behind on the blogs, but I'll get to that eventually. The A/C at home sure feels good!

 

[NancysToy]

Day 9: Durango, CO
Today was about the BRP Owners' Event and resting up a bit. It was the third and final day for the OE. Our longest ride was downtown. We started the morning at the fairgrounds. Lots of good company, and a relaxed time with good conversation. I bought one of the BRP high tech liner jackets after I found one with longer sleeves than normal. That really pleased me! BRP served up a fine lunch. They sure fed us well at this event!

In the afternoon, we went downtown. BRP had arranged for about four blocks of Main Street to be blocked off for Spyders only. We lined most of the distance in a double row. A number of owners weren't even there. There was a nice stage at the center, and a really good band. The customization contest winners were announced, and the drawing for a trip to the European Spyder Event was done. The first name drawn wasn't there (you had to be present to win), so a lucky second name was drawn. You could have knocked those folks over with a feather! They were truly grateful! Our only disappointment was how fast things cleared out after the drawing. The street remained closed until five, but an hour after the presentation it looked like a ghost town. The poor band played to an empty street. In retrospect, a later ceremony might have kept folks around longer. We stayed until there were only about a dozen Spyders left. Talked to a local LEO for a long time, as he tried to educate the locals as to what the "Road Closed" signs and barricades meant. He was a delight!

Back at the motel, we took a dip in the pool, and just mellowed out. A day of rest was just what we needed to recharge. Yazz was having trouble, even after the techs had worked on her Spyder once. She planned to stay an extra day and try to get further repairs at the Fun Center. Firefly showed up late in the evening, and had a spare spark plug wire, so we tore off the body panels on Joy's Spyder, and installed another new wire. It was cool...Dan working on one side, me on the other, Joy handing us tools, and DocDoru holding the flashlight. We'd make a good pit crew! I was embarrassed to discover that in spite of having plugs in my spares, I had no heat sink compound or boot release. That oversight will be remedied. Not sure why I had none...I carried them on my 2010. pps: We said lots of goodbyes, and headed off to bed.

 

[NancysToy]

Day 10: Durango, CO to Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Naturita, Gateway, Grand Junction, and Delta
Today we started out by riding the opposite direction on the Million Dollar Highway. It was well worth it...it is a different experience in each direction. Heading up through Silverton, Ouray, and Ridgway, we turned west toward Telluride. We went north near there, past Naturita through some marvelous canyons to Gateway, where we turned toward Grand Junction.

The sandstone Dolores River Canyon and the Gateway Canyon along CO141 to Gatway are great. Riding at the bottom of the canyons is an awesome experience. This stretch is real short on fuel stops, so grab gas wherever you can. As it was, we put in 5.5+ gallons at Grand Junction...which was beyond our comfort level. We didn't have time to visit the Colorado National Monuments at Grand Junction, unfortunately. Try to carve out time to do so if you go are in the area. Grand Junction presents a stark, barren landscape. Very dry, no trees, and you can see for miles. We are not used to deserts, so it was neat to see...but only for a visit.

From Grand Junction we caught CO-65 (The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway) and rode south through the mountains, past lakes and forests, through Cedaredge to Delta. The summit area along this road is spectacular! It is no wonder so many people camp in the Grand Mesa National Forest. The cool mountain air was welcome, too, after the canyons and desert.

 

[NancysToy]

Day 11: Delta, CO to Canõn City, CO
Our ride today was one of the most spectacular of all. We rode the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, then along the Blue Mesa reservoir to Canõn City. This road is twisty, spectacular, and had the most wildlife of anywhere we had been yet. We saw mule deer, oxen, cattle, horses, a mule, prairie dogs, squirrels, turkey vultures, kestrels, hawks, chipmunks, squirrels, etc. Not just a few, either. The Black Canyon is aptly named, having lots of black basalt rock, and being so steep and deep that the sunlight seldom reaches parts of it.

I highly recommend this ride! We saw more motorcycles on this stretch than anywhere else but the MDH. We wouldn't have missed it for the world. My only regret is the demise of one prairie dog. A Spyder is enough of a hazard to wildlife, with three tracks instead of two. Add two more tracks from a trailer, and it is like riding a steam roller. That poor little prairie dog should have stayed put at the side of the road instead of darting out like that. I missed him with the front, but the trailer got him after he spooked and turned. I'm gonna have to start painting kill silhouettes on my cowl, like a fighter plane. Gas stops are a bit sparse here, too, so plan carefully.

After Gunnison, we rode through the mountains, over Monarch pass at 11,321 ftt. We rode the aerial tram up Monarch Ridge, for an incredible view. I was shocked at that. Nancy doesn't like heights, but readily climbed into the tram. It is pretty neat to look at the view from "the top of the world".

At Canõn City we rode the Royal Gorge Route. Vista Dome cars behind vintage F-7 locomotives. This is 1950s railroading at it finest! We had a delightful trip, chatting with other passengers, looking out the huge windows at the gorge, the suspension bridge, and the rafters and kayakers. Saw some bighorn sheep up close, too. We had seen some up near Estes Park, but these wre much closer.

We had planned to head to Manitou Springs the next morning, to have some fun in the Pikes Peak area and meet up with DocRags and ERags, but we found that Manitou Springs had been evacuated due to fires, and our motel was closed. Ed and Cheryl weren't headed there quite yet, but we found out they were being delayed by another fire near Mesa Verde. Our plan was to head home in the morning...reluctantly.

 

[NancysToy]

Day 12: Canõn City, CO to Alamosa, CO
Disappointed at having to unexpectedly head home and miss Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods, during the night I had an inspiration. Colorado has some of the greatest tourist railroads in the counrty, and we were sorry that we had to miss some of them, especially the Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge. We decided to head south and ride another railroad. First we headed east to slip through Pueblo. Our son had lived in Pueblo West, but we had never had a chance to visit. we wanted to see where he had been. It was tought to leave the river valleys, mountains, and gorges for the desert again. The road to Alamosa was an interesting one, though, with some beautiful scenery and the lovely La Veta pass. The mountain air felt good again, after the morning heat in the high desert, but we were in desert again in Alamosa.

We visited the old Santa Fe raailroad station, which is now a visitor center. It is also the station for the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, but our timing was not right to take their train rides or connect to the C&T in Antonito. Found a nice place to stay at the Best Western in Alamosa for a couple of nights.

 

[Paula(Butch2025)]

We had to pass on Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods too :sour: because of the Waldo Canyon fire. Couldn't leave early because of cabin reservations so I did laundry (which was much needed). We did get to stop in at the Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot Museum...it was very nice. Their roundhouse was within sight of the depot...it's where the 844 is housed and a challenger too.

Butch like the fact that our motel was right across the street from the yards and every 15 minutes a train went by!

 

[NancysToy]

Day 13: Alamosa, CO to Antonito, CO and Beyond
We got up bright and early, ate breakfast, then headed off to Antonito to ride the Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge railroad. The C&T is one of the most modeled railroads in the country...and for good reason. It is a relic of our distant past, still pretty much intact, and still operating. When we got to the Antonito station, we could see why it exists in miniature in basements, garages, and attics all over. You can go anywhere in the yard you want, walk right up to the equipment, and measure and photograph a wide variety of railroad cars, structures, and equipment. We spent some time in the railroad gift shop, and talked Spyders to several curious fellow passengers...and talked railroads to others. Boarding the train in the desert, we had little idea of what was to present itself as we rode toward Chama, NM.

This is a much less restrictive railroad than most others. Not only could we move freely among most cars, but we could stand on the open platforms, lean out the windows, swap to any empty seat, or visit the open observation car. We were in the front of the first coach, and when I went to the open platform, I could actually touch the tender. Who cares about soot, cinders, and water droplets when you can experience a piece of the nineteenth century up close and personal?

As we climbed across the desert, and into the scrub brush, we saw eagles and antelope. Then the mountain scenery began to open up. It was incredibly spectacular! We had surely saved the best for last. The eating house at Osier fed us a nice lunch. The other train was there, and we got to get up close and personal, and take dozens of great pictures. From there we proceeded to the station at Chama, continuing to cross the CO-NM border several times as we wound our way up and across the mountains. The Chma yard was even better than Antonito, with a coaling tower, maintenance-of-way equipment, rotary snow plows, flangers, and other neat things.

We took the bus back to Antonito. I wish we could have stayed a while in Chama to explore and photograph. The road to Antonito was pretty neat. It would be a great ride on a Spyder. Someday we'll ride back and take those pics. It rained on the way back, but Antonito was dry (and very hot). After a ride back to Alamosa, we ate and headed for the pool. This may not have been our original plan, and we did regret having to miss Pikes Peak, but sometimes Plan B can be just as good or better. We wouldn't have missed this for the world!

 

[spyder3]

I love these old train picts. Makes me want to break out the S gauge trains and run them around a bit. Thanks for sharing.

 

[retired1]

Thanks for the reports on your travels and the pics! Glad that you and Nancy enjoyed the adventure. :thumbup:
John

 

[NancysToy]

Day 14: Alamosa, CO to Hays, KS - Time to Head for Home
Well, we were hot and tired, and had seen a lot of Colorado. It was time to head for home. It was already nearly 80 degrees when we started packing at 6 AM...an omen of things to come. Record heat was forecast for the entire plains area. We headed out as early as we could. Across La Veta pass again for a final fresh breath of the cool, mountain air, then out actross the deserts and onto the plains. The stretch from Walsenburg, CO, toward La Junta and then north to Limon is straight and desolate. We hardly saw another vehicle. There are very few gas stations.

From Limon, CO, we hit the freeway and fly across the plains. The plains have huge areas where you don't even see a building. These farmers must till thousands of acres. The corn is very high...and in tassle. Coming from a land where the watchword is "knee-high by the Fourth of July", this is a surprise to us. This corn is as tall as I am. As we roll along,, the temps get higher and higher. The Spyder temp display has read three digits since mid-morning, but by shortly after lunchtime the zeros disappear. We shed our mesh jackets and ride in just our long-sleeved tech shirts. We seldom do this, but it has become a necessity. I will say that we feel much safer doing it on the Spyder than on my motorcycles.

Nancy received word that her 100 year old grandfather got an infection from cutting himself with a power tool. and has contracted MRSA. We are in a hurry to get home, so we push through the heat. I don't know how Lamont and Ron managed over 1,400 miles in a day through this stuff...we are whipped trying for 450-500 a day! By afternoon we cross the Kansas border and I am getting groggy...and maybe a bit dehydrated despite all our efforts to the contrary. The Spyder temp display reads 117! We stopped into the first Kansas rest area, which was also a welcome center. The A/C feel good, the cold water is good too. I sit down on a bench and catch a catnap for about an hour. It is difficult to go back out into the heat, but we must forge on.

At our last gas stop near Colby, KS, the gauge display still reads 117. The water temp gauge has been riding just barely over half. The Spyder seems happy. While we are stopped, though, the water gauge hits the red. I restart the Spyder as soon as I have filled the gas...before we even drink more water and get a snack, but the Spyder immediately goes into limp mode. I let it idle a while and watch the gauge come down. The limp mode clears as the water circulates again and the fan does its job. We are soon on our way again.

The cross winds are incredibly strong now...25-40 mph without gusts. I have to sit sidesaddle to compensate, and my arms hurt from hoilding on so tightly. The gas mileage is in the dumpster. By the time we reach Hays, KS, the Spyder display reads 120. The bank says 114, and the weather report says 113. The Hampton we stop at has no vacancies, but we have another surprise. When we come back out to the Spyder, it is hissing loudly. At first I think it is the collant spewing, but there is no apparent liquid. An overpressure cap or split coolant tank would surely show a trace. Listening carefully, the sound is coming from directly below the glovebox. I open the seat and hear the sound of vapors escaping from the feul cap. Turning it, I can get the sound to come and go...but not stop. The fuel is boiling. I release the pressure carefully, and soon it settles down. When we ride over to the Best Western, I keep it running while Nancy goes inside. Good news...they have a room. It is a very nice room, in fact. I decide to wait until morning to fill the gas tank, and we walk to a restaurant.

 

[NancysToy]

Day 15: Hays, KS to Hannibal, MO
It is warm again this morning...a sign of things to come. We head out even earlier than the day before, but still not early enough. At least this time we don't see triple digit displays until afternoon, and the zeros don't disappear until late afternoon. There is more green and more hills as we move east. It is good to see something that reminds us more of home. We are riding in our Khumbu tech shirts again. We bought them on sale at a new little shop in Ft. Collins. They are our new, favorite riding shirts.

The heat takes its toll again...but not as much. At the last gas stop of the day, the fuel starts to boil off just as fast as I put it in. I trickle in a cupful at a time until it settles down, then fill the rest. Wow, is it hot! The humidity is up, too, as we move East. We finally reach Hannibal and the mighty Mississippi. Hannibal is not your typical tourist town...most of the shops close up at 5 PM. we walk around town after dinner, past Becky Thatcher's house and Tom Sawyer's fence, but we are spared the need to shop. We Missed the riverboat dinner cruise, but we did see the boat leave. We walk along the river for a while, then hit the sack early. One more day and we should be home.

 

[NancysToy]

Day 16: Hannibal, MO to Battle Creek, MI
The only way to get home in one more day is to go past Chicago. We'd much rather take the southern route across Indiana to Ft. Wayne, then turn north, but it adds about 100 miles and another 2 hours or more. We decide to do it the hard way and brave the traffic. That will prove to be both a good decision and a bad one.

Another warm day to start, but as we move north on I-55 it get cloudy, and then downright threatening. We duck into a rest area for a break, and it has weather radar. Good thing, as my phone has no bars out here. There is a storm building north of us. That confirms what the darkening skies told us. About 30 miles up the road we stop for gas and put on the rainsuits. The temperatures are dropping, and the rainsuits don't feel that bad for long. The rain hits us at about Peoria, IL. It will last into Indiana.

As we ride, we watch the sky. There is a lot of black and increasing lightening. The lightning is still pretty far off. I am hoping it will be past by the time we hit that area. The ride past Chicago is not fun! heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic for 20-30 miles...often stopped completely. The rain is coming down hard. I am thankful for the visibility and stability of a Spyder. The slowdown lets the storm get ahead of us a bit. The lightening is more intense, and closer now, but it is east of us and we are moving slowly. We follow it into Chesterton, IN, and stop for lunch. That lets it pass, and by the time we eat and refuel, the rain has stopped and the rainsuits go back into the trailer.

By taking the norther route we skirted behind the worst of the weather. If we had ventured through Ft. Wayne, where the storms intensified and caused severe damage, we might have had serious troubles. it was worth some insane traffic to avoid severe weather.

We are refreshed as we cross the Michigan border. It has been a great trip, but the longest and farthest we have ever taken, and we long for home and our own beds. Forget food, the cupboards are bare, so there will be one more restaurant meal. Amazingly, the deer haven't eaten the entire garden when we get home. The sprionkler tiomers have saved the garden and main flowerbed, but the lawn is dried up and the rest of the plants are suffering. It is good to be home!

 

[NancysToy]

Summary:
We rode 4,295 miles over 16 days. We visited 10 states. We went from elevations as low as 300 ft. to over 12,000 feet. We used 160.89 gallons of gas, and one quart of oil. We averaged 26.9 mpg two-up with the trailer, with a minimum of 15.7 mpg and a max of 36.4 mpg. We had two minor limp mode incidents, but no real problems whatsoever. We rode 5 tourist railroads and 1 aerial tram. We saw mountains, deserts, forests, lakes, farms, ranches, and everything in between. We rode some incredible roads! Fortunately we didn't count the calories consumed.

The trip was a huge success. Our profound thanks to BRP for making these events better and better. This one was the best by far! We would have gladly paid for the privilege of attending, but it was free of charge. What company does that for their customers? :clap: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

 

[docdoru]

Very nice trip review :firstplace::thumbup:

 

[gypsy_100]

Great Review

Nice write-up and great photos. You packed a lot into your trip. That's the way to do it. Thanks for sharing.