Thursday, June 14, 2012

Everyday for 7 Weeks–Day 45–Durango to Manitou Springs

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Today was all about riding. I had ridden all of these roads on my trip here in 2009, but it rained horribly and was foggy. I didn’t get to enjoy them much then as many times I could only see 20 feet in front of the bike. A bit exciting on mountain roads. The sign above was posted just north of Durango on US-550 which is one of my favorite roads.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

The weather cooperated nicely, and my heated coat kept me warm. It was a bit chilly so early in the morning especially at altitude.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

What is there to say about twisty mountain roads in Colorado that hasn’t already been said? They were steep, tight, and narrow. No guard rails or shoulders in some sections, so no room for mistakes. The traffic was light, and most of them knew how to stay on their side of the double yellow. Several were confused; they were from Oklahoma. In a shorter version, motorcycling paradise.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

I found the roads easier to ride on this trip than I remembered. The lack of rain and fog probably helped, but I felt much more confident as well. I guess experience helps; I’ve put about 40,000 miles on my SV since I bought it four years ago. I wasn’t thinking about riding, so much as just doing. Completely in the moment. It was nice. The one thing I am still working on is to hold focus deep in the corner. I have a tendency to inspect the oncoming traffic and sometimes (1%) pulls me a tad closer to them than I’d like. Look where you want to go! (and keep looking there). Instead I’m using my periphery to look at the cars while keeping my attention on the corner until I’m pointed there, and then I begin looking for the next one.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

The section of US-550 between Silverton and Ouray is fantastic. It is the only stretch of road on this entire trip (10,000+ miles) that I intentionally rode more than once for pure pleasure. I enjoyed it; everything just clicked.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

After Ouray I went east on US-50 to US-24.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

I had forgotten how brown some parts of Colorado are. Even with the evergreens, there was brown underneath. It felt like Arizona with mountains. The long straight stretches in between the passes was also tiring. Maybe I put too many miles on today (almost 400 again) or that I was just distracted by the brown ground everywhere. Or maybe I miss the lush green of the Oregon coast. The mountain roads in CO are very fun. I need to come back more often.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

My lunch spot was infested with lots of little birds. They didn’t like me stopping and kept dive bombing me. I moved. It was just too distracting to eat there with a couple dozen birds flying at your head. The wind was quite brisk, so they had a hard time getting to close without being blown away. If you squint, you can see their beaks poking out of their nests.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Monarch Pass at just over 11,000 feet is my new highest elevation. I hope to break that tomorrow – weather permitting. I crossed it in 2009, and this time was much easier. No snow on top either.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

I tried to recreate a pic I made last time I was here.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

I got a room in Manitou Springs. I visited it on my last trip, and said I would stay there the next time I came. I did.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

At the other motel down the street, I found three bikes from Minnesota. Who’d have guessed? All these weeks and thousands of miles, and I see another MN bike in CO first.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

After all the riding today, I decided to treat myself and not cook. I mean boiling water takes a lot of work! haha. The food at the restaurant was very tasty.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

Lots more mountain pics in the full album below.

Everyday for 7 Weeks - Day 45 - Durango to Manitou Springs

 

Day 45 Full Flickr Album

 

 

Today’s Route:


View Larger Map

14 comments:

  1. Give the man some twisties, and all is well.

    Somebody had some fun today, at least that's what the gorgeous pictures are telling me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great pictures both in the post as well as Flickr. Lots of blue sky and twisty roads. One of these days I'll manage to get to Colorado on a bike. Gas or human powered...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CO is some fun mountain riding. Some of the best I've experienced.

      Delete
  3. Chris

    The parts of the San Juan Skyway you were on are some of my favorite riding in the state. Looks like you had some bright sunshine though, making everything seem a bit "flat" in terms of lighting....still, the riding appears to have been "acceptable".

    :)

    Manitou Springs....you must be trying for the top of Pikes Peak and a new altitude record....you should have good weather as we had us a heck of a thunderstorm move through around 2am from the South.

    After Pikes Peak, you could ride up to Mount Evans and work in two Fourteeners in one day...I'm just saying.

    There's a place for you to stay in Denver if that's your next stop....sent you email with my cellphone.

    dom


    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine as well.

      Manitou Springs has a lot of tasty food as well as a good location to visit Pike's Peak from.

      I would have loved to visit Denver, but your schedule didn't work out. Maybe next time.

      Delete
  4. Long day for you mileage wise but it looks completely worth it to ride those mountain twisties. I forget what real mountains looks like I'm so used to our little coastal ones.

    Thanks for the great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your coastal ones are good. Better than what we have in MN, so don't feel too bad.

      CO does have good and proper mountains though. very enjoyable.

      Delete
  5. Chris:

    Those are nice twisties. We don't get many "back to back" twisties here, but they have them in Oregon. 400 miles is a long day, 300/350 is my limit, otherwise I get too tired. The weather was good to you, lots of sunshine and clear pavement

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also prefer a 300 mile day. The sunshine was a nice change. The last time I was on those roads it was pouring rain with lots of fog.

      Delete
  6. It looks like you're back home. It would be great to see a post of what worked and what didn't on your trip. I.e. carrying camping gear was a waste of time...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yup, the posts became a couple days behind in CA.

      I plan on writing up something like that, but it will probably be a few days (hopefully not weeks). If you have specific questions feel free to give me a call or email.

      Delete
  7. That stretch from Silverton to Ouray is the famed ‘Million Dollar Highway’ and I am not at all surprised you rode it more than once. I did it five times when I was there!

    It is funny seeing some of your pictures, taken as they are of exactly the same things from exactly the same places as I stood on my long trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember reading your posts about riding it very jealously as my first time there the weather was quite bad.

      I thought of you while I was taking one of the shots. I thought I remember seeing it on your blog. Great minds ya know ;)

      Delete