Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
General Discussion => Trips/Ride reports => Topic started by: High On Octane on August 19, 2013, 02:04:35 am
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It was crazy hot today so I decided to head up into the mountains to cool down. I took the Beamer up to the Mt Evans Summit just outside of Idaho Springs, CO. Mt Evans is the highest paved road in the United States and it's a lot of fun to ride, it is 14,130' at the top parking area. There was one section where the road was really wavy from the mountains shifting and at 30mph I was catching a little air off of them! ;D After arriving at the summit, it was about 38F and it started snowing/sleeting just as I got there, so I definitely got to cool down from the city temps. Took a few pics and smoked a cig and put on the rain gear.
Headed back down I teamed up with a father and son on a pair of Yamaha 250 supermotos. We blasted back down the mountain carving the corners and basically told the snow to go screw itself. ;) I stayed plenty warm with the extra layers of clothes, rain gear and heated grips, but my face was frozen until we got back down to about 10,000'. Went back into Idaho Springs, CO and stopped at the Georgetown Candy Factory for the best homemade ice cream in the world, and made my way back home.
Total Mileage: 168 miles
Total Ride Time: 4hrs 35mins
At The Summit
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/MtEvansSummit_zpsdf867505.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/MtEvansSummit_zpsdf867505.jpg.html)
Another Pic From The Summit
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/ViewFromSummit_zps11acf775.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/ViewFromSummit_zps11acf775.jpg.html)
A Pic From One Of The Lakes
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/OnTheLake_zpsa0235cb1.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/OnTheLake_zpsa0235cb1.jpg.html)
One Of Many Mountain Creeks
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/OnTheRiver_zps562b40a8.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/OnTheRiver_zps562b40a8.jpg.html)
On The Way Back Down
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/WayBackDown_zpsa3a08750.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/WayBackDown_zpsa3a08750.jpg.html)
Scottie
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The green is growing on me. Looks good with a backdrop of trees.
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Been there, did that last summer. One of the best rides of my riding life.
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/rvcycleguy/tx%20nm%20co/a67ab4f7c19ce8847f911ed2903efa38.jpg)
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/rvcycleguy/b268c0d93126c94f82623cb61b5472d7_zpsdd61f3ee.jpg)
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rvcycleguy - Did you ride in from Evergreen or Idaho Springs? Both directions are pretty, but Beau Jo's Pizza and Georgetown Candy Factory always have me going into Idaho Springs. Oh, and don't forget Tommy Knocker Brewery! :D Do you live in CO or were you just visiting?
Scottie
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rvcycleguy - Did you ride in from Evergreen or Idaho Springs? Both directions are pretty, but Beau Jo's Pizza and Georgetown Candy Factory always have me going into Idaho Springs. Oh, and don't forget Tommy Knocker Brewery! :D Do you live in CO or were you just visiting?
Scottie
I was visting from my home in Houston. I ride a Suzuki Boulevard and there was a meet up in Fraser/Winter Park last summer. I rode 1500 miles to meet up and ride with 15 other riders. We rode down on State 40 to IH70 and exit at Idaho Springs. The group rode up a couple of times over the week and experienced weather as you did, although I did not on the day I went. Incredible destination and ride with views that are spectacular. My route from home was out the Texas Panhandle, Santa Fe, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Ouray, Montrose, Gunnison, Breckenridge, Frisco, and 40 up to Fraser. My route home was over Trail Ridge, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Canon City, Royal Gorge, Salida, Alamosa, Taos, Santa Fe, Roswell, Carlsbad, and back into Tx at Pecos. 3100 miles round trip, 12 days. Lifetime of memories, and new friends. Possibly one of the best riding states for motorcyclists of all types. Your one of the lucky ones to have it as your backyard. The ride was on top of my list of rides until wife and rode CA 1 over this recent Xmas holiday. We rode from LA to SF round trip over 9 days and 1100 miles.
Photo of Red Mountain Pass.
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/rvcycleguy/tx%20nm%20co/54ec7d44fae9769de808c5f97c70d3cf_zps5e1c5330.jpg)
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Great rides, guys. Wish I'd been there. It's been awhile since I've been in Colorado!
Bare
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It does look wonderful!
rvcycleguy - nice pic, but does that traffic put a damper on things?
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It does look wonderful!
rvcycleguy - nice pic, but does that traffic put a damper on things?
It does make a slow ride but at 10k ft with no guardrail, you really have to be on your marks anyway. There are a couple of turnouts near the pass summit that allow you to wait for traffic to clear and then you can enjoy a more unencumbered ride. Knowing the view of Ouray are upcoming is worth the wait...
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/rvcycleguy/tx%20nm%20co/7e2a3425.jpg)
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Yo rvcycleguy....
you're talk'in my neck of the woods now.
That ride over Red Mountain is one of my favorites; love those
15mph hairpin switchbacks with NO GUARD RAIL!! I think your
pic is of Silverton, not Ouray. Our favorite lunch spot
Maggies Kitchen; is in Ouray. Best 1/2 LB Mushroom Swiss in
this part of the state!
- Mike
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It does make a slow ride but at 10k ft with no guardrail, you really have to be on your marks anyway.
Good point...
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Yo rvcycleguy....
you're talk'in my neck of the woods now.
That ride over Red Mountain is one of my favorites; love those
15mph hairpin switchbacks with NO GUARD RAIL!! I think your
pic is of Silverton, not Ouray. Our favorite lunch spot
Maggies Kitchen; is in Ouray. Best 1/2 LB Mushroom Swiss in
this part of the state!
- Mike
You are correct. Silverton. You can see the train depot in the valley. Thanks.
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Son of a bitch! Now I have to find an even BETTER ride this weekend.....
Baird - So about 5 hours to your place, huh? ??? :D
Scottie
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Prolly closer to 6 when you figure all the stops. But....
being the retail whore that I am I will be off Wed. and
Thurs this week so I can work the weekend!!
(somehow I'm spose to feel good about this...)
I guess I should feel lucky my days off are back to back.
must have been a glitch in the scheduling computer!
- Mike
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The green is growing on me. Looks good with a backdrop of trees.
Same. In a natural setting, it looks like it fits right in.
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Same. In a natural setting, it looks like it fits right in.
Kind of like the Forest Service work trucks in the '60's.