Start at the Bottom!

This is the first time I've ever blogged.  I'm sure there is a way to reorganize the posts, but I don't have time to mess with it!  So, if you'd like to see our trip in order, please start at the bottom of the links on the right hand side of the page and work your way up.

I hope you enjoy reading about our adventure and looking at our pictures.  You can click on any of the pictures to see a large view, too.  Please feel free to comment!

Steve and Donna

Right Back Where We Started From

We opted out of camping this night and stayed at the 59er Motel in Shenandoah, IA.

Obviously the heat got to us cuz we got very, very silly!

I love how green Iowa is:

Back at home safe and sound with some very dirty bikes!

I almost hate to wash them.  I'm kinda proud of that road grime!

The Long, Hot, Windy Road Home...

Grain Elevators in Kansas may or may not indicate a town ahead...this one did not.

(notice the "amber waves of grain" to the left!) 

See that flag?  That be our cross-wind.  :(

Know what?  Kansas is flat.

100 degrees...

Yup, Kansas is still flat...

We ate a tasty meal at the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Marysville, KS.

I like their menu:

Tell me how you really feel... 

An Oasis in Kansas!

A great big shout-out to our friends in Kansas! We watched one of the boys' games and crashed at their house.  OOOO yeah, and had the best eggs and bacon with coffee the next morning.

You guys are the best! I am so happy we got to stop by, even if it were only for a night...

Top o' the World!

We decided to pack up one day early from Central City and make our way down to Colorado Springs for our last night.

First stop, Mt Evans.  What an incredible journey up over 14,000 feet to where you look DOWN on snow-capped mountains.  To my surprise, the ride up was more harrowing to me than the trip down.  As I would approach the left-turn hairpins all I could see is the road ending into nothing but sky.  Freaky!

Storm Trooper Steve

YAY!  I made it!

The mountains just go on forever and you can see the curvature of the Earth and the layers of atmosphere.  Simply stunning.

Yup, that's the road to Mt Evans we were just on!

Another one of our great ideas was to take Tarryall Road on the way to Colorado Springs.  According to our trusty Motorcycling Guide book, it was broken chip seal.  No problem, we thought!  Well, when we pulled onto the road there was a sign about road construction.  OK!  They are fixing the road, that's great!  As it turns out, they don't do road construction in Colorado like they do in Iowa...

The road was great all the way to Stagecoach Saloon, where we stopped for a burger.  The owner told us that we'd reach the construction soon thereafter and that we should hope to catch the pilot car at the right time.  Otherwise we might as well go hang out at the resevoir.  Seriously?

Before reaching any flagman or other signs of construction, we completely lose the pavement.

But, it was still ride-able.

Luckily, we did get to the pilot car at a good time.  She told us she'd be leaving in about 5 minutes and that she would be sure to direct us carefully through the 9.7 miles so we miss the sharp rocks.

Sharp Rocks?!?!?

9.7 Miles?!?!?

Oh boy.  What did we get ourselves into??

Not only were there sharp rocks, but also big trucks and excavators.  The pilot car takes you directly through the construction area!!!  Back in Iowa they bypass the active construction.  Not in Colorado...they are hearty folk!  So, add big ruts and lots of washboard to the 9.7 miles of sharp rocks.  OY! Also add a young kid on a dirt bike that zipped past me.  I bet he thought we were nuts, too!

I think it took us a good 45 minutes to an hour to go a little over 10 miles.  But, we made it through safely, as did our tires!  And let me tell you, that will be a SWEET RIDE when they are finished!!