Embedded Files
Jen and I left Moab the next morning heading to Denver. We planned to stop for the night in Aspen. Riding back on asphalt was both refreshing and, truth be told, a tiny bit boring, but we had our usual great time. The scenery along the Colorado River was amazing as we climbed out of Moab. We followed the Colorado until we joined I-70 for a bit. When you cross into Colorado from Utah on I-70 there is remarkable change in the landscape. You slowly change from a dry, arid and inhospitable landscape, to lush, green, vegetated mountains.
We turned off I-70 to ride Rimrock Dr. around the Colorado National Monument. After you make the climb through a slot canyon you arrive on a ridge road where you can see for miles, the views around each corner are more spectacular than the last. This is a definitely worthwhile detour if you’re ever tooling down I-70 with about an hour to spare.
Slot canyon climbing onto Rimrock Drive
We again turned off I-70 to ride Route 65, the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway. This 20 mile detour follows a tributary of the Colorado for half that distance through a river canyon. Sally led us for a spirited ride through the twists and turns of the canyon and then turned left near Mesa onto 45 ½ Road, past a cattle drive, and back towards I-70 at De Beque.
We also stopped along the roadside near a creek to have our makeshift lunch.
The stretch of I-70 from De Beque to Glenwood Springs follows the Colorado and is as scenic as it gets for an Interstate. Old Route 6 is an alternative, but because of our detours thus far in the day, and our distant destination for the night, we stayed on I-70 to Glenwood Springs. When we got off, it took a while to chill back out from the hour-long oddessey that is I-70. Neither Jen nor I really like traveling at highway speeds on a GS, no less, a GS with knobby tires.
We took Route 82 from I-70 all the way to Aspen. It’s a beautiful ride -- and once you leave the highway behind, a really beautiful ride. As we entered Aspen, we found out that there was a Food and Wine festival going on. Who knew? The place was pretty busy but we found a table for an early dinner at the Hickory House -- they claimed to have “the best ribs in Colorado.” Sounded promising, so we parked Sally right in front of the restaurant. Sally was dirty and stood out like a sore thumb because, I think, she was the only vehicle in Aspen that hadn’t been washed and waxed that day. Turns out that the manager at the Hickory House, David Chan, owns a perfectly clean R1200GSA and spent some time with Jen, me and Sally trying to figure out how to dirty his up. I had the sausage, not the ribs, but Jen scored with the mac & cheese with pulled pork. Yum.
After a brief dip in the pool and hot tub, we had a great sleep in the cool mountain air.
We started out for Denver early, continuing our amazing ride on Route 82 following the river, and then climbing through Independence Pass which sits just above 12,000 feet. After we crossed the Continental Divide, we followed Route 82 to Route 24 and finally Route 285 to Denver.
The temps fell into the 50s and despite the mid-June date, there was plenty of snow on the ground.
After we crossed the Continental Divide, we followed Route 82 to Route 24 and finally Route 285 to Denver.
We made it to Denver in time to drop Sally off in a 10x10 storage locker have a shower and eat a 24th anniversary lobster dinner at Denver’s Palm restaurant. Why did we leave Sally in a storage locker? Because we plan to continue our adventure. By the way, if you never thought about it, a storage locker is a perfect temporary home for your steed. We used ExtraSpace Storage -- they were quite accommodating and seemed used to storing motorcycles. Just show them your license and registration.
The 10x10 Locker
After we got home, we bought a tent and sleep system and are planning to head out on the CO BDR soon.
See you out there!
Google Sites
Report abuse