Baltimore to Colorado and New Mexico

[Balmorerider]

Leaving tomorrow for my long anticipated trip to CO. Will do I 70 all the way to Denver and the hitting all the great roads in CO and some in NM. Will take pics and post them as I go along if anybody would like to follow along. This trip has been on my bucket list for years and I am finally doing it! ::015::

Cheers!

Chris

 

[Baja Explorer]

Have a wonderful trip !
::018::

 

[Checkswrecks]

Congrats on finally doing it and have fun!


That first day+ on 70 is a grind but it also can be good introspective head-time.

 

[klunsford]

What Checkswrecks said. Having rode I-70 more times than I can count, doing it very early morning going thru Kansas or late in the evening. (night is even better, but you have to watch out for deer).

 

[Balmorerider]

Congrats on finally doing it and have fun!


That first day+ on 70 is a grind but it also can be good introspective head-time.

Thanks! I was passing Damascus on I 70 and remembered that you live there....

 

[Lutsie]

Good luck. Have a good trip.

 

[sail2xxs]

Safe travels! If you can, skip the toll part of 70 at Breezewood and take 68. It's prettier and doesn't add any real time. The more of the Midwest you can cover at night, the better. Just watch out for deer. Tuck in behind a pickup that's setting the pace you want and let them clear the way.

Best,

Chris

 

[Balmorerider]

Safe travels! If you can, skip the toll part of 70 at Breezewood and take 68. It's prettier and doesn't add any real time. The more of the Midwest you can cover at night, the better. Just watch out for deer. Tuck in behind a pickup that's setting the pace you want and let them clear the way.

Best,

Chris

Thanks, Chris! Unfortunately I took 70 before I saw your message. Crap! I will take 68 on the way back, though. As far as covering the Midwest by night....I avoid riding at night because of deer! Maybe I am too wimpy?

Stuck right now due to a thunderstorm.

Chris

 

[Checkswrecks]

I still ride at night, but I get behind something else without being close enough to tailgate.


The last deer I saw explode into a red mist was when the dually pickup I was following nailed it as we were doing about 80, and that was also on I-70. The deer just exploded and almost immediately after the truck hit it I entered the red mist. All I could taste and smell was blood and tissue and my KLIM jacket still has little brown flecks.

 

[Balmorerider]

I still ride at night, but I get behind something else without being close enough to tailgate.


The last deer I saw explode into a red mist was when the dually pickup I was following nailed it as we were doing about 80, and that was also on I-70. The deer just exploded and almost immediately after the truck hit it I entered the red mist. All I could taste and smell was blood and tissue and my KLIM jacket still has little brown flecks.

Yuck! Deer guts and blood on your fancy Klim gear? I guess, I am too cautious to experience the red mist! :-[
Btw - why are people recommending that I ride through the Midwest at night?

 

[klunsford]

Because it is FLAT and BORING! I ride at night a lot also. I had a similar experience several years ago. Not any fun, but riding across Kansas is almost like riding across Oklahoma!

 

[Balmorerider]

Well, here is my first pic if the trip - of the saddest breakfast buffet I have ever encountered. McLure Hotel in a Wheeling, WV. When I saw it I actually had to laugh. Even had coffee mate instead of milk!

 

[sail2xxs]

On the plus side, you won't have to worry about getting sleepy after an amazing breakfast.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Congrats on the ride. Just returned from NM and CO and it's definitely worth the effort.

Do watch out for deer, but don't surprised to find them out in the daylight. I did. Also saw a good number of Elk in Colorado.

Avoid the wildlife and enjoy the ride. I was there little more than a week ago and I'm already envious of your ride.

Be safe.

 

[Balmorerider]

Congrats on the ride. Just returned from NM and CO and it's definitely worth the effort.

Do watch out for deer, but don't surprised to find them out in the daylight. I did. Also saw a good number of Elk in Colorado.

Avoid the wildlife and enjoy the ride. I was there little more than a week ago and I'm already envious of your ride.

Be safe.

Thanks, DD! I saw your pics (awesome!) and read your report about your meet n' greet with Bambi...oy!
I saw tons of dead deer on the side of the road in PA, OH and WV. Less so in Ill and MO. I do not ride at night because of the deer and use cars/p'ups during the day as buffers. Btw - tons of construction on 70 in Indiana and Illinois which slows things down a bit. I enjoyed stopping in Columbus, OH, which was a bustling town with a really nice civic feel. I also took a ride through downtown St. Louis which was about the same as when I studied here in the late 1980s - dead, bland and faceless. Too bad!
The bike is a true pleasure and it handles superbly, especially given the fact that I am all loaded up.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Thanks, DD! I saw your pics (awesome!) and read your report about your meet n' greet with Bambi...oy!
I saw tons of dead deer on the side of the road in PA, OH and WV. Less so in Ill and MO. I do not ride at night because of the deer and use cars/p'ups during the day as buffers. Btw - tons of construction on 70 in Indiana and Illinois which slows things down a bit. I enjoyed stopping in Columbus, OH, which was a bustling town with a really nice civic feel. I also took a ride through downtown St. Louis which was about the same as when I studied here in the late 1980s - dead, bland and faceless. Too bad!
The bike is a true pleasure and it handles superbly, especially given the fact that I am all loaded up.

Ah yes. Indiana and Illinois.
Any local there can tell you that they only have two seasons: Winter and Construction.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Thanks, DD! I saw your pics (awesome!) and read your report about your meet n' greet with Bambi...oy!
I saw tons of dead deer on the side of the road in PA, OH and WV. Less so in Ill and MO. I do not ride at night because of the deer and use cars/p'ups during the day as buffers.

Like you, I also don't ride at night for the same reason. I've hit two deer on the bikes over the years, one with my old F-150, and had countless near misses. All while the sun was shining.

I suspect you've probably received a lot of good advice on what to ride out in Colorado. I know I got some great recommendations. From one first timer to another, here's what we enjoyed most in Colorado.

A+ Million Dollar Highway out of Durango.
A+ Colorado 141 between Naturita and Orchard Mesa
A+ Colorado 82 between Aspen and Rt 24 (Independence Pass is awesome)
A+ Rt 14 between Poudre Park and Walden
D- Peak to Peak Highway. Compared to everything else, it's a real head scratcher on why this is on anyone's list.

Don't worry if you do none of these. Colorado has so much beauty and is amazingly overstocked with fantastic riding, it's mind blowing. You're going to love it. Have fun, be safe, and most of all, enjoy the ride. It's something special out there.

Looking forward to hearing about your experience.

Ah yes. Indiana and Illinois.
Any local there can tell you that they only have two seasons: Winter and Construction.

You're missing the most constant season there...Bug Splat Windshield Season. Those two states can create the most godawful mess on your windscreen/windshield. Went through there with the Uhaul this time and it was absolutely disgusting.

 

[Balmorerider]

Like you, I also don't ride at night for the same reason. I've hit two deer on the bikes over the years, one with my old F-150, and had countless near misses. All while the sun was shining.

I suspect you've probably received a lot of good advice on what to ride out in Colorado. I know I got some great recommendations. From one first timer to another, here's what we enjoyed most in Colorado.

A+ Million Dollar Highway out of Durango.
A+ Colorado 141 between Naturita and Orchard Mesa
A+ Colorado 82 between Aspen and Rt 24 (Independence Pass is awesome)
A+ Rt 14 between Poudre Park and Walden
D- Peak to Peak Highway. Compared to everything else, it's a real head scratcher on why this is on anyone's list.

Don't worry if you do none of these. Colorado has so much beauty and is amazingly overstocked with fantastic riding, it's mind blowing. You're going to love it. Have fun, be safe, and most of all, enjoy the ride. It's something special out there.

Looking forward to hearing about your experience.


Thanks for the suggestions. I will try to ride them all! I missed the bugs in Ill/IN but here in Topeka the cicadas have awoken from their 17 year sleep and are swarming en masse. It's creppy!



You're missing the most constant season there...Bug Splat Windshield Season. Those two states can create the most godawful mess on your windscreen/windshield. Went through there with the Uhaul this time and it was absolutely disgusting.

 

[Balmorerider]

Hey DD,

Sorry, I responded to your last post yesterday but somehow it did not post. Anyhow, thanks for your excellent ride suggestions and I will put them on the itinerary.
It's pouring in Topeka and my hotel room smells like a wet/old towel.

Chris

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Hey DD,

Sorry, I responded to your last post yesterday but somehow it did not post.

No worries. It was in there. Just had to look for it.

Hope the sun came out for you today. I know how it feels to ride day after day in rain. Don't bother watching The Weather Channel to get weather. They apparently only do tornado TV shows now. Stay dry.