- Joined
- Oct 16, 2008
- Messages
- 3,864
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Bryan, TX
- First Name
- Dennie
- Last Name
- Spears
We decided to go back to Ouray since there were a couple of passes that we missed in the last 2 trips there. There was already another couple going and we really wanted 3 or 4 couples so we placed and ad on TWT for other couples that wanted to travel with us and Chris and Susan answered our ad. I was a little unsure about them since they had been to Alaska recently and had traveled other places extensively. I was afraid they would find our Colorado Rockies to be nothing but foothills. My fears were unfounded since they fit in nicely with our group.
Chris and Susan rode their Goldwing to Ouray while the rest of us rode together and trailered all 3 bikes. I felt they were extremely trusting since they left their bike at a location discussed over the telephone and we picked it up without ever meeting them. All went well and we met them at the grocery store in Durango. The women bought food for the week and we were off.
Now for the pictures.
We used to carry 2 weeks worth of supplies on the bike. This is what happened when we started taking a trailer.
We stopped at the bank for funds.
This unidentifiable guy got us a "loan"
We're cheap so we stopped in Wichita Falls for a picnic lunch.
Lunch
Can you tell where the sprinkler stops?
Some pictures along 550 north of Albuquerque, taken from the window of a moving truck.
We had never ridden together so I wanted our first ride to be gentle and chose Lime Creek road.
Chris and Susan on their KLR650
Me and my Honey (We ride a DRZ400SM) sitting on a rock way above the creek.
Lori and Jeff on a DRZ400S
Stop along the way.
Sitting on a rock wall. For some reason the state has built a wall along this relatively easy road while the much harder Imogene pass has none. I hope Imogene never has retaining barriers.
Three beautiful women in a field of daisies.
The only man that was manly enough to have his picture taken in a field of flowers.
One shouldn't ride through Molas Pass without a group shot.
Back to camp after a nice "get to know you" ride.
It was a little wet the first 2 days and rained on us a little every day except for 2. This double rainbow greeted us on Monday morning. My camera wouldn't capture all of it in 1 picture.
The other side
We decided to tackle Skyline Drive?, Hurricane Pass, and California Pass for our Monday ride.
Flowers were everywhere
The state flower of Colorado, the Colorado Columbine
We had a little mishap but nobody got pictures so it didn't happen 2 time each for 2 of the couples. I'm not naming names but, I didn't fall all week.
The KLR is a heavy bike and I might have misled Chris about how hard the trails are while riding double. He now has an injured leg which will bother him all week.
Lori made a snow angel while the men wrestled with bikes.
It was walk up the hill time for Lori and Susan. Susan was injured earlier by a mishap on the Goldwing and walking was not going to be easy for her. She's a trooper.
The bikes at California Pass.
Some of the scenery.
Linda with Lake Como below. The lake is still partially frozen over. This picture was taken on July 18th. Lots more snow than the past few years.
One of the old mills used to process the ore.
They used fancy joints
Look at the size of those nails. Foot intentionally inserted for scale.
More scenery.
More Columbines
I don't know why these are out of order but, they were taken on Tuesday. Anyway, here they are now or I will forget them.
The falls below Clear Lake. Lori
Me and Linda.
This guy is from Austin and kept giving me the "Hook 'em Horns" sign. I tried to knock him off that big rock by throwing a slightly smaller rock but, he was too quick and kept ducking just at the last moment.
It started to rain just as we got into town so we decided to go to the Silverton Museum. It costs $5 and is money well spent. Chris and Susan decided to go back to camp to rest their injuries after we toured the museum. The rest of us went on a short ride up Maggie Gulch but it was wet and slick and after a couple of slides close to the edge, the women got left behind at their request.
An old adding machine.
A bed from the women's side of the jail. Note the rope springs. In the olden days, several people would sleep in the same bed and if the ropes were loose, everyone would end up sleeping very close in the middle of the bed, hence the saying, "sleep tight."
I felt right at home.
The men's side was somewhat less accomodating than the women's.
Old wooden snowshoes.
The original coppier???
Linda and her friend "Woody".
These pictures are really mixed up and so am I. I'm going to post them as they are. I may be off on the location of some of them but, If you go where we went then you will see all of these sights.
Linda and Lori below Clear lake.
A creek coming out of an abandoned mine. One of the reasons some or the water in Colorado is unfit for humans or animals. If fish and plants don't live in it then you shouldn't drink it.
I believe this is going up to Clear Lake.
It's rougher than it looks and the next 2 switchbacks are at least 25% harder than the ones that were responsible for falls on Monday. We decide we have gone high enough for today.
By now you have probably realize that I have mixed in Tuesday's ride with Monday's ride. Oh well, at my age all the days will be mixed up in a couple of years.
Tuesday nights dinner. Monday's was chili but no pictures so I guess we went to bed hungry.
Some more pictures from around California and Hurricane.
My trusting wife.
Her handsome husband!!
Another of Lake Como and Linda
Lake Como partiall iced over.
Chris riding up to california. Poor crippled Susan is walking behind.
Jeff riding up california. I don't remember Lori walking but I'm pretty sure she's not on the bike.
My trusty steed with Lori and Susan in the background. It's time for a rest.
Somewhere downhill.
Chris and Susan rode their Goldwing to Ouray while the rest of us rode together and trailered all 3 bikes. I felt they were extremely trusting since they left their bike at a location discussed over the telephone and we picked it up without ever meeting them. All went well and we met them at the grocery store in Durango. The women bought food for the week and we were off.
Now for the pictures.
We used to carry 2 weeks worth of supplies on the bike. This is what happened when we started taking a trailer.
We stopped at the bank for funds.
This unidentifiable guy got us a "loan"
We're cheap so we stopped in Wichita Falls for a picnic lunch.
Lunch
Can you tell where the sprinkler stops?
Some pictures along 550 north of Albuquerque, taken from the window of a moving truck.
We had never ridden together so I wanted our first ride to be gentle and chose Lime Creek road.
Chris and Susan on their KLR650
Me and my Honey (We ride a DRZ400SM) sitting on a rock way above the creek.
Lori and Jeff on a DRZ400S
Stop along the way.
Sitting on a rock wall. For some reason the state has built a wall along this relatively easy road while the much harder Imogene pass has none. I hope Imogene never has retaining barriers.
Three beautiful women in a field of daisies.
The only man that was manly enough to have his picture taken in a field of flowers.
One shouldn't ride through Molas Pass without a group shot.
Back to camp after a nice "get to know you" ride.
It was a little wet the first 2 days and rained on us a little every day except for 2. This double rainbow greeted us on Monday morning. My camera wouldn't capture all of it in 1 picture.
The other side
We decided to tackle Skyline Drive?, Hurricane Pass, and California Pass for our Monday ride.
Flowers were everywhere
The state flower of Colorado, the Colorado Columbine
We had a little mishap but nobody got pictures so it didn't happen 2 time each for 2 of the couples. I'm not naming names but, I didn't fall all week.
The KLR is a heavy bike and I might have misled Chris about how hard the trails are while riding double. He now has an injured leg which will bother him all week.
Lori made a snow angel while the men wrestled with bikes.
It was walk up the hill time for Lori and Susan. Susan was injured earlier by a mishap on the Goldwing and walking was not going to be easy for her. She's a trooper.
The bikes at California Pass.
Some of the scenery.
Linda with Lake Como below. The lake is still partially frozen over. This picture was taken on July 18th. Lots more snow than the past few years.
One of the old mills used to process the ore.
They used fancy joints
Look at the size of those nails. Foot intentionally inserted for scale.
More scenery.
More Columbines
I don't know why these are out of order but, they were taken on Tuesday. Anyway, here they are now or I will forget them.
The falls below Clear Lake. Lori
Me and Linda.
This guy is from Austin and kept giving me the "Hook 'em Horns" sign. I tried to knock him off that big rock by throwing a slightly smaller rock but, he was too quick and kept ducking just at the last moment.
It started to rain just as we got into town so we decided to go to the Silverton Museum. It costs $5 and is money well spent. Chris and Susan decided to go back to camp to rest their injuries after we toured the museum. The rest of us went on a short ride up Maggie Gulch but it was wet and slick and after a couple of slides close to the edge, the women got left behind at their request.
An old adding machine.
A bed from the women's side of the jail. Note the rope springs. In the olden days, several people would sleep in the same bed and if the ropes were loose, everyone would end up sleeping very close in the middle of the bed, hence the saying, "sleep tight."
I felt right at home.
The men's side was somewhat less accomodating than the women's.
Old wooden snowshoes.
The original coppier???
Linda and her friend "Woody".
These pictures are really mixed up and so am I. I'm going to post them as they are. I may be off on the location of some of them but, If you go where we went then you will see all of these sights.
Linda and Lori below Clear lake.
A creek coming out of an abandoned mine. One of the reasons some or the water in Colorado is unfit for humans or animals. If fish and plants don't live in it then you shouldn't drink it.
I believe this is going up to Clear Lake.
It's rougher than it looks and the next 2 switchbacks are at least 25% harder than the ones that were responsible for falls on Monday. We decide we have gone high enough for today.
By now you have probably realize that I have mixed in Tuesday's ride with Monday's ride. Oh well, at my age all the days will be mixed up in a couple of years.
Tuesday nights dinner. Monday's was chili but no pictures so I guess we went to bed hungry.
Some more pictures from around California and Hurricane.
My trusting wife.
Her handsome husband!!
Another of Lake Como and Linda
Lake Como partiall iced over.
Chris riding up to california. Poor crippled Susan is walking behind.
Jeff riding up california. I don't remember Lori walking but I'm pretty sure she's not on the bike.
My trusty steed with Lori and Susan in the background. It's time for a rest.
Somewhere downhill.
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