Pic Heavy Ride Report - MS to Bella Coola & Back 11,000 Miles Heat, Hail & Bears

[DK Custom Products]

Colorado National Monument with Fuzzy continued.


We're starting to head back down now...

Mary missed a shot she wanted...so we did a u-turn. Alan was a bit unsure at first, but then realized how stable these TG's are.

Amazing view!

Look ma, no hands! Felt a bit like we were on a roller coaster, and it looked like the road ended up ahead.

Some more fun curves!

Oh Yeah!

This pic is not distorted, that is how the road surface was angled. Fun!

Everywhere we looked the road was fun and the sights were amazing. We can't thank Alan enough for taking us on this tour today.

Whenever I heard of the Colorado National Monument, I thought it was a monument, a statue.

Another tunnel...

...guess they decided not to tunnel thru this, just blow a channel thru the rock!

We still have a bit more the the CNM, then a ride across some desert, then up to the Grand Mesa, then a ride thru a great canyon road, then some more desert, then back in GJ.

Next installment coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

A tour with Fuzzy continued!



There is no denying this is a fun road!

Looking behind us....

...and a few seconds later looking ahead of us!

Coasting down the hill...

...from the top, at 7200 ft, to the bottom at 4700 ft...

...about 1/2 of that drop is steep enough...

...that I just put it in neutral, shut the engine off, and we "flew" down. No sound but the rushing wind.

Almost at the bottom...

...and here we are. WOW, what an amazing place. Thank you Alan for taking us here.

Now Alan is back out front, leading the way to the Grand Mesa!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

On to the Grand Mesa!


Crossing about 50 miles of desert...yeah, it was up around 100* again...to get to the base of the Grand Mesa...

Fuzzy set a good pace and we were there quickly.

Filling up before getting some lunch and then heading up the hill.

btw, we both filled up at the same gas stations, and we both rode very close to the same ride. I did slow down some in the straights and nail it every now and then in the corners. I also coasted down a few mile hill with the engine off. We compared MPG several times and he was always about .7 to 1 mpg better than us. For all the riding we did, we averaged 38 mpg, that includes climbing up the National monument, and then also climbing up to over 10000 feet on the Grand Mesa, also including close to 100 miles of 70-80 mph interstate riding.

After lunch at Subway, and some good visiting, we started up the hill...

...stunning country, and more fun riding!

Still climbing...from the floor to the top is about a 6000 ft climb. At the top, is the largest flat top mesa in the world.

A lake along the way.

And still more climbing. It is getting cooler, which is very welcomed!

A look back at the lake we just passed a bit ago.

First look at the lake near the Grand Mesa Visitor Center.

Next installment of this fantastic day of riding with Alan coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Grand Mesa with Alan continued-



Leaving out from the Visitor Center...

...we continue to climb.

What a view! Emerald colored lakes always get me.

Whoa! What's this? Alan takes us on a dirt/gravel road that is reminding me of The Hill out of Bella Coola!

Another amazing view!

Parked at the boat ramp parking lot for the lake...solving the worlds problems. lol

Leaving the lake, I thought we were back on pavement, but still a ways to go on the dirt.

Looks like there's snow somewhere up above melting.

Still climbing, we're almost to the flat top - Grand Mesa

Some patches of snow along the road. (there was some snow still along the bank of the lake we just left also...but no pics of it.)

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Grand Mesa with Fuzzy continued.


We got to the top, something around 11,000 feet, and it has been nice and cool for awhile now.

It is really flat....

and Huge! We did not spend much time at the top, we cut across a bit of it...

...and then started our 6000 ft descent...

...down the other side....

...which was much faster, less trees, and just as much fun!

Can never have too many sweepers.

A different perspective-

Straight ahead is the Flat Top Grand Mesa that we just came from.

At the bottom Fuzzy leads us thru some gnarly canyons...

...and yes, we are back in the high desert heat!

Last installment of this amazing day coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DblTrbl]

I'm being a bit selfish here but I'm not looking forward to you and Mary arriving home and finishing this trip. I have looked forward to ALL your posts and have totally enjoyed each an every one of them. I'm so envious!! Looking forward to the day that I can just take off and see some of the natural beauty that North America has to offer.

With that said, I wish you continued safe travels and good weather for the remainder of your trip.

 

[Gorilla]

+1 Kevin a big thank you

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Couldn't agree more!ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[kybigmac]

You're killing me here, where's the rest of the ride?

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm being a bit selfish here but I'm not looking forward to you and Mary arriving home and finishing this trip. I have looked forward to ALL your posts and have totally enjoyed each an every one of them. I'm so envious!! Looking forward to the day that I can just take off and see some of the natural beauty that North America has to offer.

With that said, I wish you continued safe travels and good weather for the remainder of your trip.

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it.

It really is amazing how much beauty and great roads there are in NA.

+1 Kevin a big thank you

Couldn't agree more!ThumbUpThumbUp

Thanks guys!




We had a great time, as you know, we left big chunks out of the ride, so much to see where you are!

In 80,000+ miles of riding a Tri-Glide, we've only ridden with three other Trikes, ever!

Trent and Barbara in Idaho, and you in Colorado. Absolute blast is right!

You're killing me here, where's the rest of the ride?

Have been busy with a family medical emergency this last week. (NOT motorcycle related) Should be able to pick back up today. Several more days of great riding before getting back home.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Conclusion of our time in Grand Junction with Fuzzy-

We are back in the heat!!! Between here and Grand Junction the temps bounced between 102 and 106. Crazy. But we had lots of water.

This canyon was amazing...

Riding thru it was fun...

...inspiring, HUGE & ....

..and breathtaking in it's beauty.

I don't know how many miles it was...

...but it was not short. Definitely on the list to ride again-when it's NOT SO HOT. lol

Getting near the end...

...of this amazing curving canyon road.

We follow Alan onto the interstate, beside the Colorado River.

Looking to the side of the interstate...amazing views!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ride with Fuzzy continued-

You would think being right next to the Colorado River would be cool. NOT lol

Amazing views everywhere we look.

Making our way back to Grand Junction...

...thinking about how cool it was up on the Grand Mesa.

:laugh:

But the views down here are something else!

Looking back-

Back in Grand Junction, we had one stop to make before the Motel...

...

In the last leg, Alan had lost his hat on the interstate, and we wanted to get a few items for the DK Team, so we stopped at the HD Dealership. They also are a BMW Dealership.

After Alan dropped us at the Motel, we were going to get together later for dinner...but we were all too pooped out. Just stayed in and ate in the room. Wow! What a day!

After a good nights sleep, and still digesting all the we saw yesterday, we decided no riding today.

We did do a few errands around town...

...in the cool of the day (only 100*).

We spent the rest of the day talking. Bikes, Trikes, God, Country, and a hundred other topics, the time just flew. It was one of the most relaxing & interesting days of the trip so far.

If you ever get a chance to spend some time with Alan (FuzzyWuzHe), I hope you hit it off as well as we did with him. Super Good People!

Tomorrow we head for Durango, via some back roads to the Million Dollar Highway, courtesy of directions from Alan.

Kevin

 

[kybigmac]

Thx for my ride fix I was having withdrawals!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Thx for my ride fix I was having withdrawals!

More coming!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 31 - Headed for Durango-

After a couple of days of riding and visiting with Alan, we are packing up, and heading out.

Yep, that's a bunch of water, will probably all be gone by the time we go thru the first tank of gas.

Alan gave me a route to Ouray,that he says will be cooler, and much more fun & picturesque than the direct route. I'm punching in the waypoints on the GPS before heading out.

We had just a bit of interstate before taking an off-ramp to get on the back road route to Ouray. His route is taking us to Gateway, then thru Naturita, then Ridgeway and on to Ouray. From there we are taking the 550/Million dollar highway to Durango.

Can't tell from here, but the next 93 miles are going to be some of the best we've ever traveled!

Just starting out, and looking like fun!

Can you tell...this road is going to be nice and winding, along with some very scenic views!

Amazing....

...HUGE sights, everywhere we look.

We're very early on, & I can already tell, this is turning into one of those perfect riding days!

It is difficult for me to verbalize what a day like today is....

Perfect road - combo of good surface, sweepers, winding and some tight curves too...

Hardly any other vehicles on the road....

Mind-blowing scenery....

Good weather-warm but not uncomfortable...

Perfect running bike...

Riding with my bride...

Well...I tried. This is one of "those" days!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

31 Road to Durango continued.

Oh yeah, I'm liking this road!

The TG laughs at 30 mph, more like 55-60 is where she's comfortable in this sweeper.

It is a lot of fun when a long sweeper is immediately followed by nicely banked triple S curves.

View to the side...

...View ahead...

...and we're just barely started! Fuzzy sure gave us a great route to ride!!!

To the right...

...To the left...

...In front of us...

...and behind us. We're surrounded by an amazing world!

Mary took 792 pics today. We traveled less than 275 miles. It's gonna take at least another 40 pics to just scratch the surface.

Will be continued soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

No Doubt! What a great route you gave us! ThumbUp

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ride to Durango continued.

Well, I am cutting out big chunks of the ride, but still am looking at 60 or more pics before arriving in Durango. Hope y'all don't mind...just so many good pics to choose from. I'm just posting a small fraction.

Everywhere we look, we are amazed...

...the road is great...

...the views are great...

...and the curves are seemingly endless!

There is very little traffic on the road...hardly any at all, but we did see this motorcycle enjoying the curves too!

A different perspective.

This road is a blast!

Another shot out to the side.

These curves with the high grass right on the side were some of the ones I was most cautious with. Never know what it is hiding. Dawn, at our shop, was riding passenger a couple of years ago, a rabbit ran out, hit her leg and bounced up into her lap! She had to literally throw it off her lap...this all happened at about 60 mph.

Curve after curve.

Followed this river off and on through the entire canyon...rarely was it this close to the road.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ride to Durango continued.



Looking back.

Heading into some tight canyon walls and curves!

This is a bit different...

...I wouldn't say claustrophobic, but both sides are quite close relative to what is has been.

Mary's view when she's not out to the side.

Looking back as we...

...come out more into some open space.

Little did we know when we took the turn, off the interstate, towards Naturita, what a scenic and fun road this was going to be. Definitely one I want to ride again!

Dunno if you can see in this pic, how the road just flows, in curve after curve, along the edge. Huge beautiful country!

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[Papa Zook]

Beautiful country and as always great pictures from Mary!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Beautiful country and as always great pictures from Mary!

Ditto that. ThumbUp




Yep, he steered us right! Great guy to meet too!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ride to Durango continued.


We're starting to come out of the canyon we've been riding in...

...but there are still curves as far as I can see.

We stopped at this gas station/car wash in Naturita. Bunch of bikes there. We're at 5400 feet elevation, and this is the warmest it's been today. 98*

Filled the tank, hydrated a bit, talked to some of the guys coming and going...none had been on the canyon route we just finished.

Leaving out of Naturita, we had a long flat pass to the mountains in the right side of this pic.

We are now in the foothills of the mountains from the previous pic, starting to climb.

A lot closer to the Million Dollar Highway now!

We're now on the 550 (MDH), making our way toward Ouray.

Climbing the last little bit before coming into Ouray. Beautiful country.

There are a lot of bikes, parked everywhere in Ouray. We have plenty of gas, and I've got ants in my pants to get on the Million Dollar Highway that I've heard so much about.

We passed thru town slowly.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ride to Durango Continued.

Climbing out of Ouray we see these signs...they were not kidding.

Soon after, we see this sign...it can only mean fun road ahead!

I like curves plenty, tunnels, not so much. But this is a short one.

Soon after we come to a scenic stop where there are a few waterfalls. Pic of an old Sporty and a dirty Trike.

This is a panoramic shot that Mary took of me taking a pic of a waterfall.

The pic I was taking of the waterfall while Mary was taking the panoramic.

After taking a bunch of pics of all the waterfalls, reading the amazing history of the Million Dollar Highway, & talking to an Amish guy about how he would not have taken his horses on the road...he figured they would get too spooked by the edges with the drop-offs and no rails....we sat in some shade and had our lunch.

Back on our way.

Yeah, the edge really looked like that. Sheer drop-off...notice that I am in the left part of my lane. lol

Looking behind us....I don't know how far she was leaning out to take this pic...but it looks scary to me!

Beautiful country....

...and super fun roads!

More coming soon.

 

[consitter]

Man, I love this stuff.

It's gonna end soon.

 

[nova]

i just want to say as a newbie to this site and a future triker, i really have enjoyed your travels. i started reading this last week before i even signed up to this site. i hope that i enjoy my trike as much as you seem to be.

thanks for the great words and even greater pictures.ThumbUp

 

[55il]

DK, This has been more fun to read than any book I have read ina long time. This should be on DirecTV’sTravel Channel……. Thank you DJ

 

[Zammy]

This has been more fun to read than any book I have read in a long time. This should be on DirecTV’s Travel Channel……. Thank you DJ

Ditto for sure, an absolutely wonderful ride along journey, I can't say thank you enough Kevin & Mary