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Milton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Arvada, Colorado
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 Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:55 am Post subject: Top of the Rockies. |
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Left Wednesday after work for Paonia, CO and the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club's 'Top of the Rockies' rally. Rode through a hellish rain storm on I-70 from Idaho Springs to just past Vail pass. Wanted to get there in the day light but didn't make it so had to set up the tent in the dark with the wife holding the light; always a treat.
Just after registration Thursday morning.
The wife trying a pose in front of the tent. If you look closely you can see a bed in the tent. I order to get the wife to go I had to buy a queen sized air mattress from Bass Pro. Actually worked out pretty well sheets and pillows and blankets - just like home. Behind the tent is our urban assault vehicle which she drove over.
Nealy Naked Guy. I'm not sure if this guy was a local or a rider but any time of the day or night he was always attired in the same fashion. Thankfully he wasn't in a speedo. He just jumped into this picture of the bikes - scared the hell out of me!
Looking down into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison at Pioneer Overlook.
The wife, Sandra, at Pioneer Overlook.
Bikes, bikes and more bikes 98% of which were BMW.
Getting ready to ride, I think. I may have been getting ready for a nap!
More bikes.
Tent city.
The music pavilion. Had live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Bluegrass, top 40 and funk respectively. Our tent can be seen just to the right of the pavilion.
Riding back home on Sunday. Somewhere going up Keebler pass. This was on dirt but pretty solid dirt. People are from left to right. Pat, Randy, Liz and Judy. Sven was off on a nature call. Sandra was driving I70 home while I was off having fun.
Cottonwood Pass. About 7 miles of dusty dirt here. Too Blue was telling me she didn't like the dirt and to keep her on the pavement. I told her to be quiet as the view was spectacular and well worth the dirt ride. Judy and Pat on the right.
One of the many impressive views from Cottonwood Pass. Judy, Pat, Randy, Sven and Liz. Randy was on a GoldWing and he could ride that thing. No going slow for him in the curves.
Sorry no food pictures but the food was pretty good. Most of the food was provided by local town groups; library board, high school marching band etc. The American Legion had a steak dinner on Friday night for $14 that was very good and all you could eat. Thanks for looking.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!
1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.
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oldrunner
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Austin, Mn
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| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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I am planning a trip to Colo the first week in Sept.
I noted that you rode both Cottonwood and Keebler passes with street bikes. My route could include these places. How were these passes on street bikes?
Real tricky?
Not too bad?
Mostly hard pack or loose gravel?
Any different going in one direction or the other?
Any bad switchbacks?
I'm asking all these questions as our group will include a number of riders that I don't know the skill level of as yet.
Any insight you or anyone else can give me will be appreciated.
Also, nice pictures.
Phil |
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drmalacarne
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 02 Mar 2008
Posts: 762
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
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| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Nothing beter than that: a calm weekend with good roads and your K-Bike!
Thanks for the pictures.
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together! |
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rydor
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 16 Nov 2006
Posts: 1304
Location: Southern Illinois, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Great pics! Looks like a great time  |
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owrstrich
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Oct 2006
Posts: 2566
Location: CheezConsin
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| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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dang uncle milton... you got your motobrick eating the miles this summer...
it looks like a fabulous time was had by all... and the scenery is outstanding out your way...
keep the ride reports coming...
johnny
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa... |
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Milton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Arvada, Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:36 am Post subject: |
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| oldrunner wrote: | I am planning a trip to Colo the first week in Sept.
I noted that you rode both Cottonwood and Keebler passes with street bikes. My route could include these places. How were these passes on street bikes?
Real tricky?
Not too bad?
Mostly hard pack or loose gravel?
Any different going in one direction or the other?
Any bad switchbacks?
I'm asking all these questions as our group will include a number of riders that I don't know the skill level of as yet.
Any insight you or anyone else can give me will be appreciated.
Also, nice pictures.
Phil |
Both the passes on the dirt were fine. Keebler has a better surface but longer dirt, about 14 miles. Cottonwood has pavement all the way to the top from the east side; about 6 miles of dirt going down the west side. Cottonwood also has quite a bit of washboard with one tight switchback. Neither road has loose gravel or deep dirt. Any road bike rider with even beginners skill should do fine.
Things might be a bit different if it rains or snows, particularly Cottonwood pass.
Also to everyone else thank you for your nice comments. I like riding, eating and taking pictures, but sometimes the pictures suffer because I don't like to stop riding. Didn't get as many pictures here.
Milton S.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!
1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.
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Off the grid
Chaotic Good
Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 3414
Location: At the local taco truck waiting for Jo.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:36 am Post subject: |
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Great pics Milt....especially the meet and the people/setup there.
Food pic next time dagnabbit!
/slaps with trout
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"
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Jim Brotherton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 233
Location: Nieuwegein Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: |
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Milt
Suggestion...next time send the support vehicle ahead, she can have the tent set up, bed made, dinner and coffe waiting when you roll in after a hard day of riding.
_________________
1995 K1100RS
2004 R1150RT |
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Milton
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Arvada, Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Jim Brotherton wrote: | Milt
Suggestion...next time send the support vehicle ahead, she can have the tent set up, bed made, dinner and coffe waiting when you roll in after a hard day of riding. |
Hey Jim, thats some good advice  . Next time we do this I'll let YOU suggest it to my wife. 
Milton S.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!
1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.
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