Summer 2014: the Colorado High Country

The new year brings anticipation of the rides I want to take this year. Last night, my good friend Eddy came by and we started discussions. We've decided to spend a week in July at altitude in Colorado. The exact route has not been nailed down, but we will hightail it from the Permian Basin to Pueblo, CO the first day. That is about 530 miles according to Google Maps.

After that we will reduce the number of miles each day to around 200 to allow us to enjoy the rides, take photographs, and reduce the strain on our 60+ year old bodies. The second day I want to ride to the top of Pike's Peak. When Deb and I last visited Colorado Springs we attempted to go up, but rain at the base of the mountain was a couple feet of snow at the summit. We were turned away by Forest Rangers about half way up the hill. I sincerely hope the weather is good because I want to spend a lot of time in the high passes and summits available to motorcycles in the summer.

After Pike's Peak we will ride the Peak-to-Peak highway, Colorado 119 and 72, up to Estes Park.

 From Estes Park to Leadville for the next day's ride.

The fifth day will be a stunner. Leadville to Independence Pass, Carbondale, then south to Hotchkiss and finally down to the Black Rock of the Gunnison and finish the day in Gunnison.

The sixth day has us go over Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista, then south on US-285 to Taos,  and end the day in Las Vegas, NM.

The seventh day we head for home.