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#Post#: 1572--------------------------------------------------
Colorado 2014 trip
By: bigbikejohn Date: August 18, 2014, 1:21 am
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Hey guys,
I'm finally somewhat re-settled at my house, and decided it is
high time I get going on my ride report. My family usually takes
an annual trip to Colorado, and this year was a little different
for me. This is the first trip I've ever had a street legal
motorcycle to ride, and I had the perfect bike for Colorado. My
new KTM 690. I couldn't think of a better bike for the Rockies.
Fun on the paved mountain passes, fun on the jeep trail passes,
and surprisingly capable on the single track. How cool!
Some of you may have seen my 1 minute wander video in the
picture forums, for those of you who haven't, here is a little
teaser to my trip.
HTML http://youtu.be/fGEoCqMEUQI
Now, on to the report.
I took Friday evening off work (night shift worker, makes
leaving on weekends a real bugger) so that I could prepare
everything and be packed to leave before my SO returned from her
job. It seems no matter how much you try to prepare the week
before, you're always in a panic and running late the night
you're leaving, haha. Needless to say, it was somewhere around 6
or 7 PM that Friday night before we got around to leaving OKC.
As such, I haven't a single picture from Friday. I suppose
that's alright though, it was a long night through the most
boring part of the trip, anyhow. We drove from OKC to the Texas
panhandle, making a stop for my dad, and fueling up my F-250
while it was still cheap for diesel. From there we drove on to
Raton, NM arriving around 3 AM and stayed the night there at a
Microtel. I have to say, very nice accommodations for the money,
and the front desk guys were very cool.
We woke up and got going around 9AM, and as our motel was right
next to the first DQ of the trip, the obligatory ice cream cone
picture ensued.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0001.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0001.jpg[/img][/URL]
Now that this was out of the way, we took off over Raton pass
into cool, colorful, Colorado. We drove through Walsenburg, and
headed west until we got to the Great Sand Dunes NP. My SO had
never seen dunes before, nonetheless surrounded by beautiful
mountainside, so we had no reason to not stop off.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140719_140804.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140719_140804.jpg[/img][/URL]
Of course I had to show her the "quick sand effect" that occurs
when you stand in the river and have the sand washed downstream
from under you.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140719_140722.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140719_140722.jpg[/img][/URL]
Then we hiked about the dunes a bit until the sky started
looking too menacing for our t-shirts and jeans attire we were
wearing that day, haha.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0006.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0006.jpg[/img][/URL]
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From the dunes, we headed on into Alamosa, stopping to grab our
groceries for the first few days, diesel for the F-250, and some
drinks and snacks for the road. From there, we were off to South
Fork, then on to Creede where we stopped for more snackage and
to show my SO around, as she had never been there either. Here
is the 250 hanging out at the end of town with the 690 and my
brother's KLX450R hanging out in back.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140719_165717.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140719_165717.jpg[/img][/URL]
By this time, it was somewhere around 6PM, and my family was up
above Rio Grande Reservoir fishing, so we high tailed it out of
Creede so we could meet up with them before they left for Lake
City to eat dinner and bunk down for the night. We made it in
time to hang out and catch some nice pictures as the sun set.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0008_09_10_tonemapped.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0008_09_10_tonemapped.jpg[/img][/URL]
On the way into town, we noticed the sunset was getting to be
quite amazing behind Lake City, and we managed to barely squeak
in a photo from the overlook before the sun gave up.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0011_2_3_tonemapped.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0011_2_3_tonemapped.jpg[/img][/URL]
We barely made it back in time to eat a good dinner at Southern
Vittles, and get back to our cabin we rented for bed.
At this point, I'm going to take a break for bed as well. Coming
up next, some family sight seeing for a short while Sunday, then
some family offroad riding plus some road riding Monday. I'll
leave you with a bike photo to intrigue you for Sunday and
Monday.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140721_190840.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/Mobile%20Uploads/20140721_190840.jpg[/img][/URL]
#Post#: 1573--------------------------------------------------
Re: Colorado 2014 trip
By: bigbikejohn Date: August 18, 2014, 2:19 am
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Scratch the bed time, actually, I've decided to go a bit further
into the trip before bed. Warning, this post will have a ton of
photos in it.
Sunday we had a high chance of rain, and the family wanted to
goof off a bit. So we headed to Gunnison for some shopping and a
trip to Marrio's for the best pizza I've ever eaten. We've been
eating there for years, and it never gets old.
We stopped for some photos of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison
River:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0014_5_6_tonemapped.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0014_5_6_tonemapped.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
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Here is the obligatory food pic of our Chicago style pizza at
Mario's:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140720_152621.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140720_152621.jpg[/img][/URL]
Then after a spell in Gunni, we headed back to Lake City. We
decided to continue driving around and went up above San
Cristobal for some more photo's and to also check for potential
fishing spots.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/10428184_787349050714_2735278854267232003_o.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/10428184_787349050714_2735278854267232003_o.jpg[/img][/URL]
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[URL=
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[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0047_8_9_tonemapped.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0047_8_9_tonemapped.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
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After a lot of hiking around and taking photos, we headed back
into town to make dinner at the cabin and have some s'mores over
the fire.
#Post#: 1574--------------------------------------------------
Re: Colorado 2014 trip
By: bigbikejohn Date: August 18, 2014, 2:52 am
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So, now it's Monday and the 690 actually got unloaded. It's time
for riding!
My SO and I hopped on the 690 in Lake City and rode over
Slumgullion pass before stopping at North Clear Creek Falls.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_103304.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_103304.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/GEDC0117_8_9_tonemapped.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/GEDC0117_8_9_tonemapped.jpg[/img][/URL]
We went of from there to above the Rio Grande Reservoir again,
to meet up with the family and go fishing a little before we set
out on the trails. Here is a photo my aunt took of us gearing up
to do some fishing.
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/45c44e28-50a4-40e4-bf3e-1244eaf7a625.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/45c44e28-50a4-40e4-bf3e-1244eaf7a625.jpg[/img][/URL]
Got the girlfriend fishing:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_123421.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_123421.jpg[/img][/URL]
My dad and little brother caught some nice ones:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/vacation2014-Sheri038.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/vacation2014-Sheri038.jpg[/img][/URL]
After a while of fishing, it was time to swap our apparel of
choice to the dirt bike oriented type, and hit the trails!
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_173903.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_173903.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/DSC01730.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/DSC01730.jpg[/img][/URL]
We started up from our parking area above the Reservoir, and
headed up Stoney Pass until we got to Kite Lake. Here is a photo
from a stop on the way:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140721_185012.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/Mobile%20Uploads/20140721_185012.jpg[/img][/URL]
And a group shot:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/vacation2014-Sheri043.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/vacation2014-Sheri043.jpg[/img][/URL]
From left to right: My younger brother, my dad, me, my g/f, my
uncle, and my aunt is the one taking the shot.
Not too long after these photos was the river crossing in my
video. My aunt and uncle weren't feeling up to possibly taking a
cold bath, so dad, younger brother, and I (with g/f riding
pillion) headed on up to kite lake. Here are the photos from
that portion of the ride:
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_190743.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_190743.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_190724.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_190724.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_190840.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_190840.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_191356.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_191356.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s4.photobucket.com/user/dobrodragon/media/20140721_191416.jpg.html][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/dobrodragon/20140721_191416.jpg[/img][/URL]
From there, we headed back down to the parking area, and back to
Lake City. We were trying to beat the darkness in getting off of
the jeep trails, at least, so no more photos were taken. With
that, I actually am going to head to bed now. No worries though!
I have much more coming. Cinnamon pass, Engineer, Animas Forks,
Piedra falls, etc. Stay tuned!
#Post#: 1826--------------------------------------------------
Re: Colorado 2014 trip
By: Rusty Shovel Date: September 30, 2014, 9:58 am
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Good Lord John!
You're leading my fantasy life. What a great trip. Awesome
photos! Colorado is so amazing. Maybe I'll go there next
summer.
#Post#: 1829--------------------------------------------------
Re: Colorado 2014 trip
By: truck11 Date: September 30, 2014, 3:13 pm
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I want to go..... :-)
2015? anyone?
#Post#: 1876--------------------------------------------------
Re: Colorado 2014 trip
By: Crowy Date: October 5, 2014, 12:00 am
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.
AWSOME country
never been to the US
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