| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
One Sunday Ride in Colorado I lived in Colorado Springs from 1973 to 1977, and discovered that God loves motorcyclists so much that He gave them a state to preview what heaven is going to be like. It seemed that no matter how long somebody lived there, they were constantly amazed and overwhelmed by the Rocky Mountains and the roads that surround them. I know that was true for me, and also for my friends; some of whom were life long residents. One Sunday, Sue (my wife at the time) and I went out for a day trip. We left the Springs heading south on secondary roads with the purpose of making a clockwise circle. We planned to pass through Florence to Wetmore, then go west to Westcliffe, north and west to Salida, then Up to Buena Vista where we would pick up US 24 and go east back to the Springs. The ride was pleasantly wonderful and at one point, Sue and I found ourselves riding through a nice canyon. The road was flowing along nicely, and we didn’t notice that it was gradually rising until we suddenly came around a curve and saw a Spectacular range of mountains ahead of us. The sight was so awesome that I involuntarily let go of the throttle and rolled to a stop. Sue did likewise, and we both just stared at incredible beauty for a few minutes while stopped in the middle of the road. (Fortunately, there was no traffic) We later found out the range was the Sangre de Christo Mountains. I don’t remember the rest of that ride, but Sue and I talked about it regularly. A year or so later, we were going out on another Sunday Ride. This time, we had a few friends with us. Chuck, Wally and Jim Callan, maybe even Ray come to mind, but my memory is a bit fuzzy. Anyhow, we took the same route, and when we came around that same curve, the same thing happened. Everybody let go of their throttles and rolled to a stop. It was that spectacular a view. That was a memory that was burned into my brain. Fast forward to 2005; my life had made many changes but I still had my passion for Riding. Terri (my wife at the time) had never been to Colorado and I hadn’t been back there since 1981 so we decided to ride there for our vacation. I wanted her to experience the Incredible Beauty that I remembered, and I also wanted to see what had changed in the decades I’d been away. We based in Colorado Springs and I was astonished at how much things were different. The Springs extended east way out into the Prairie, miles beyond where it had ended when I lived there. We got a room in a motel up near the Air Force Academy, and I proceeded to act as a Tour Guide. Terri was awestruck by the natural beauty of the Garden of the Gods and so was I. I’d forgotten just how incredible it really was. We spent the better part of the day there and we didn’t have time to ride up to the top of Pikes Peak. That would have to wait until after we returned to the Springs. There is never enough time to do all the things you want to, when you’re traveling. I had a route planned through the mountains, with a few important highlights along the way. We were going to go to Gunnison, ride along the Black Canyon, ride up to Aspen and go over Independence Pass then ride through South Park on our way back to Colorado Springs. The first stretch was the ride to Westcliffe. I had told Terri about the whole experience, and both of us were looking forward to it. However, it was very different from what I remembered. First, the canyon that was just nice in my memory was breathtakingly beautiful beyond any words I can come up with, and second, when we got to the view of the Sangre de Christos, it wasn’t nearly as magnificent. I had no urge to release the throttle, I was just kind of disappointed and a bit bewildered. I was talking to Sue (my ex) on the phone after that trip, and she had the same memory that I originally had; though she hadn’t been through there since the ‘70s either. The ride was every bit as spectacular as one could ask for (the canyon was very impressive), but now I want to go back one more time and see it again. If I do, I know that I’ll be treated to some delightful riding, whatever else I discover. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I lived in Colorado Springs from 1973 to 1977, and discovered that God loves motorcyclists so much that He gave them a state to preview what heaven is going to be like." Yes! Nice write-up about my adopted home state, Crusty. There's beauty in both other states I have lived in, Florida and Minnesota, but nothing that compares to the Rockies. When people ask why we chose to move here, the canned response is "better schools, more opportunity for career growth in different fields", but anyone who knows Mr Twisty or me knows the real reason is the roads. He did not have a chance to visit here before we decided to move but video footage of a local canyon ride I made on my trip was enough to get him to agree to go "all in" on the relo from Florida to Colorado. The change of seasons is refreshing as well and there is always something to do outdoors. If you do make it out this way, please let us know. B. | ||
| 86129squids |
Crusty, thanks for sharing! You've got a nice way with words, a rare quality nowadays- make use of that gift whenever you can! I've been riding this old blue marble for over 47 years now, and have never been further west than Dallas- soon I need to remedy that! We've got good friends who have moved to Arizona to retire, and they've been begging us to come visit- next year we should make that happen. I've been a Tennessee boy all my life, and although they're totally different than the Rockies, the Appalachian mountains and hills do the magic for me. The leaves are beginning to turn, so I gotta get the bikes ready to do some cruisin'! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"the Appalachian mountains and hills do the magic for me" We really enjoyed the Appalachians as well....that's where we first cut our teeth on the twisty bits. I'd go back riding there in a heartbeat. But its nice having Pikes Peak right down the road just in case the mood strikes for something a little more.... well....extreme. Careful about heading west, squids. Your experience may be totally different, but I first visited Colorado for a work trip in 1998-ish, and became obsessed with it. We finally said "let's just do this!". My niece visited us last month and after spending one full day here, was asking how the job market was. And I never thought she'd be open to living anywhere but Minnesota. | ||
| 86129squids |
At this point in my life I've got the best job I've ever had, living pretty comfy in general- in my line of work it would be hard to do the same anywhere else except a big city, which I'm not into at all. One thing that intrigues me is the rumor that allergies and stuff do much better out there- I grew up with severe asthma and allergies, and still suffer from the regular seasonal suspects, but I've just learned to deal with it. I'm sure ready for some quality time out that way though. I'd love to hang at Big Sur, run Hwy 1, and stuff. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
I understand how important and how difficult it can be to find a job you like and how the big city might not hold much appeal. "One thing that intrigues me is the rumor that allergies and stuff do much better out there- I grew up with severe asthma and allergies, and still suffer from the regular seasonal suspects, but I've just learned to deal with it." That is true. I had horrible allergies in Florida. The humidity, all the plants, and the mold made my already bad allergies worse. It took a while for my system to adapt to the arid climate, and for the nosebleeds to stop (sorry, ewww, gross), but once we got the humidifier dialed in, my allergies have diminished to almost nothing. I have a friend out here who had horrible asthma in Milwaukee and she is much healthier here. We've only been as far west as Steamboat, and unfortunately our L.A. friends moved back to Florida so visiting the west coast has not been as easy of an option as we had hoped. It's funny how people have lofty aspirations of all the riding they will do when they move to a new location, until the reality of new jobs, kids in new schools and life in general gets in the way. I admire Crusty for starting this thread because people tend to get caught up in the details of life and let their dreams and aspirations go unfulfilled. If you don't make these things a priority and pen them in on your calendar, there's a good chance they won't happen. | ||
| Court |
I love my job . . . . .and I'm within 60 minutes of Midtown Manhattan where my office is and where I teach. Getting paid to spend days in a 4WD truck traversing some off the most gorgeous county in the USA . . . . . Could be worse. Finish here in late4 2016 . . the to CT for a year and then, possibly, on to NH/RI/VT. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=6817&post=2444177#POST2444177 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/109329.html?1412104313 IMPORTANT: Please keep insisting to your legislators that power lines be placed in the most remote places we can find . . . | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Lived in The Springs from 87 - 93 and Denver from 93-2010. Loved to ride there. If you look at my profile, I show Favorites rides as:Colorado - Bear Creek Rd, Hwy 285, 40, 34, Heck anywhere in the mountains. | ||
| Daddio |
Crusty, I also enjoy your prose. I'm happy to you and all the rest that you so enjoy my home state. I still get down there regularly, since most of my friends and much of my family (all of our kids and g-kids) still live there. I agree that the roads and scenery are among the best anywhere, but --and no offense to any recent arrivals there-- there are just too darned many people there, and they've priced us out of the state. | ||
| Iamike |
Crusty, Thank you, thank you, thank you. That brought vivid memories to me of that area. In college my son was dating a girl from Pueblo West. I wanted so much for them to be together so that I would have an excuse to go out there a couple times a year. Unfortunately it didn't work out. Sigh, maybe next year. | ||
| Doz |
Crusty, I'm really enjoying your posts. Can't wait to see who you do the next Colorado trip with. (excuse me, I'm jealous) | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"but --and no offense to any recent arrivals there-- there are just too darned many people there, and they've priced us out of the state." Yep, I hear that from a lot of natives. It was the same story in Florida...and I bet some people in the Twin Cities feel the same way. We were on a train-chasing, leaf looking drive last weekend in the canyons outside Boulder. Let's just say our conclusion was that the next time we make that trip, it will be on a weekday when EVERYONE from Denver isn't on the same road. When we do our canyon carving rides on the Buells, we do it in the early morning, before the bicyclists take over the roads. | ||
| 86129squids |
"but --and no offense to any recent arrivals there-- there are just too darned many people there, and they've priced us out of the state." Funny, but the new Nashville Scene just published online today covers the same subject. I guess my hometown has gotten too cool for regular peeps. Glad I'm in Mur-vil TN! |
