Denver to Las Vegas

[Scudrunr_imp]

First long ride. First stop. Franktown Colorado


I put gloves on after the pic...

[jazzmans_imp]

Rock On, bub! what'cha doing here in sin city?

[HikerToo_imp]

How far is that, any turns, mountains, etc on the way?

[dUh!_imp]

Franktown is just South of Denver. Still in the Foothills really running parallel to the Mountains. Depending on the route picked, he will eventually have to turn right and go over the Mountains.
I am eyeballing this with interest. Have thought about making a run out to Colorado this summer to visit Pikes Peak and camp out for a few nights. I am missing; where I grew up.

[the Ferret]

Good looking luggage.

[Cormanus]

I was relieved to hear you put your gloves on. Looks like a decent sort of ride.

[Scudrunr_imp]

Well guys, I'm writing you from a hotel tub in Page, AZ. Things didn't turn out quite the way I expected. Hence the long soak in the tub. I have never been so cold in my life. I had intended to post a picture at every fuel stop, but I ended up with get-there-itis instead.

First stop was gas in Franktown, CO. I wanted to get gassed up yesterday, but was just too busy. Oh well

Continued south on 83 until I got to Colorado springs, then hopped on 25 all the way to Walsenburg. The wind just south of Colorado city was insane. I was thinking I had a high probability of crashing. None the less, it has been a wet spring and this part of the state is beautiful, if a little boring



160 to Alamosa, CO. I stopped to check my weather since it looked wet all around. The radar said smooth sailing so I pressed on.

Wrong. Wolf creek pass between Alamosa and Pagoda Springs tried to kill me.



Rain, snow,rain....

Still raining all the way Pagosa Springs. Had a fuel stop. I was planning on lunching here but I pressed on in disgust.

Some rain until Durango, no stops, continued on 160 to Cortez (instead of Farmington, weather looked better)

Lunch and gas in Cortez. Couldn't get myself warm. My bottom layers were soaked.

Cortez to Kayenta on 160. Some rain here and there. Got to kayenta just before a huge dark cloud hit. Looked for a hotel but none were to be had. Booked a hotel on my phone for Page before they got scooped up.

Rode off into the rain towards Page. It rained off and on the whole ride.

Got to my hotel and here I soak trying to warm up. Temps were between 43-54 the whole ride. Not bad, but in the wet it bites.

Lessons learned:
Heated grips are useful at 100% setting
All layers should be synthetic
The bags per Ferret's recommendation are good. ( anyone seen my rain cover?)
If you are cold enough you don't think about how your butt feels
Must rainx visor

And I'm headed to Vegas to see my dad for the halibut. I'll fly home for the week and ride home next weekend

[the Ferret]

Holy Smokes that is some wintry weather. Glad you are safely ensconced in a hot tub of water to warm up. Rain covers are about useless. They just love to blow off someplace. Use garbage bags inside your luggage with the top folded over and you never have to worry about it.

Last summer when we left Pikes Peak and were headed for 80, the wind was so strong I took pics of my buddy on his V strom getting blown from near the center lane over across the white line and riding on a 45 degree angle for like 2 hours, before we turned and got the wind to our backs headed home lol

[jazzmans_imp]

I hit that same type of weather on my CB (750) coming back home from Logan Ut, Every mountain pass was snowing, (just like your photo) and I ended up holed up in Beaver Ut, where a truck stop had a 'truckers' room that was heated to 80-85+ I stayed there for three or four hours till my core was warm enough, and yes. Synthetic layers ONLY, Down is great, until it gets wet, then loses everything..


Warm up, and enjoy the rest of the ride tomorrow.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

That looks like a good ride. Around 1600miles round trip. One of those "wish I was there" ones. Be careful, cold is one thing but wet and cold is on the dangerous side. Sorry, I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. If it makes you feel any better, yours is not the only CB to have felt the cold. But we were dry.



Good photos and narrative. Cant wait for the next episode.

Cheers

By the way, and way off topic, anyone on the forum walked the "Evolution Loop"? If so PM me. Thanks.