It's been quite awhile since this trip, and I should've put together this trip report some time ago............Life and work always seem to draw my time away however.
It's still not riding-season for me yet, so always dreaming of the next adventure.
Day-1
288-Miles
I spent the week leading up to my Friday departure packing all my gear that I would take with me. Basically everything that I would need to live off the bike for a week, plus a few luxury items. As always, I end up bringing too much stuff!
I loaded the bike the night before, and layed out all my riding-gear so I could get on the road more quickly once I got home from work that Friday.
Received the "Go-ahead" from my boss to work a half-day, and leave at Noon to head home.
The original plan was for me to make it as far as Moab, and camp in the "Willow Springs" dispersed area for the night. That would make for less miles that I had to ride the next day to get together with my friend Cap'n Ron, at our designated meeting location.
As everyone knows.............things don't always go according to plan.
I left work at Noon as planned, and drove home. Rolled the bike out of the garage and did the last-minute checks of tires and such. Got halfway through with putting my riding-gear on when my phone started blowing up with calls from the school where our two boys attend............
Turns out my oldest had a headache and was throwing up. Called my wife to see if she could get him, but no-dice..........She was in the middle of a lesson and could not break away.
Removed my riding-gear, rolled the bike back in the garage, and drove the 40-minutes across town to get him. (we live in Aurora, but our boys attend school in Denver)
Brought him home, gave him some pain-reliever, and left him for dead.................Just Kidding!
I made sure he was ok with being home by himself for a couple hours (he's 13) until wife got home with our other boy, and by this time he was feeling better.
I rolled the bike back out of the garage for attempt #2, and donned all my riding-gear for the second time.
Said my "Goodbyes" and away I went!
Being a Friday afternoon, I expected the traffic to be a lot worse than it was. It didn't turn out to be that bad, and before long I found myself heading up into the Mountains.
One of the reasons I had planned for a mid-day departure was to get over the two major high-passes on I-70 during the warmest part of the day.
Being mid-October, you never can tell what the weather in the high country is going to be like.
It was a nice sunny day, and it was chilly at the highest altitudes, but nothing too bad and I ended up breezing right over.
I needed to make miles and get as far west as I could before the sun went down.
I rode non-stop until my first gas stop at the little town of De Beque. ( around 225 miles)
I wasted little time using the restroom and filling the tank, and was back on my way heading west.
Since I ended up leaving an hour and a half later than intended, I defaulted to my backup plan. Although not as far as I originally wanted to get, I set my destination for the day to "Rabbit Valley" Recreation area. They have free camping there, and I ended up rolling into "Jouflas Campground" just as the sun was setting.
To my suprise the campground was only about 1/3rd occupied, with plenty of available sites.
I chose a suitable one and began quickly setting-up before the light faded altogether.
While I was setting up, the Gentleman that was occupying the site next to me walked over to chat with me.
He noticed the bike and was curious. Turns out him and his wife are riders, and each own a couple motorcycles.
They were originally from Australia, and currently living in Florida. They were on a cross-country trip, towing an RV behind a pickup-truck and happened to be passing through the area as well on their way home.
He invited me over, and after I finished setting up my tent and bed for the night I obliged.
I strolled over and had a seat with them. He offered me a beer, and we had the most pleasant chat about all sorts of things..........most of it pertaining to motorcycles, but some of it not. His wife offered me some of their dinner, but I declined.........
I thanked them for the beer and the food offer, strolled back over to my campsite and had a quiet meal while gazing at the stars.......which were amazing out there near the Utah border.
I tried my best to capture the night sky with the limited equipment I had in my hand at the time.........
Everyone seemed to ease into the night quickly here, and the campground became silent.
I went to bed shortly after also, as I knew I had extra miles to cover the next day.
Here's the map of my ride on this first day.
Stay tuned!
