California To Colorado

[OrangevaleFJR]

We left Orangevale on Monday at 5:45 p.m. We left so late to avoid the heat.

Here is the bike loaded up and still in the shade ready to roll:

See also Mount Evans, Red Rocks, Denver to Cortez, Cortez-Stoner Telluride, and Utah Sandstone threads for additional trip reports from our Cali to Co and back ride.

It was still warm in Sacramento, but we live close enough to the Sierra to get to altitude quickly, and by the time we were rolling through Nevada, it was cooled down. Our first stop came pretty quickly as I started the trip with only 3 bars of fuel. Ascending I-80 we stopped in Nyack for fuel...expensive fuel.

There weren't many picutures of Nevada as it was night time, but we got pics at a gas station in Lovelock, where we also stopped for a snack and camelback fill up:

We stopped in Wendover where we stayed the night. Wendover is essentially on the Nevada/Utah border. There were some bikes where we stayed and one was a FZ-1 and the other was a V-max. The other two were HD's and we met the HD riders (husband/wife) the next morning.

That was day one...next post will have more pics as it was Daytime

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

sorry...I thought the forum software would resize the photos to be smaller...doh!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

well, I'm not going to take the time to resize every photo as my time on the computer is limited. Taking it up from day two, we left Wendover early in the morning after chatting with the HD couple. They asked about our riding gear and asked if were cooler than leathers. Yup.

We wanted to get through Salt Lake City and get into the hills before it got too warm, It got to about 92 on us and we were never too hot. We had to get a few photos of the Salt Flats and here is one of them. What is that thing? Well, about 1/2 way through the Flats there is the sculpture and if you look you can see it is the tower plus some outer (shells) on the ground. I think it represents spores. I dunno:

We got through Salt Lake and scooted up 80 to US 40. The mountains out of Salt Lake are wonderful and this was my first time through on a bike. Awesome.

Farkle comments: New grips really do help the vibration issue and my hands were never numb. The Cee Bailey +4+1 provides good protection and quiet when up for both me and my wife. The Starcom1 unit is awesome with an effective VOX and loud and clear communication.

Question for Nevada: What the heck is going on in Winnemucca? I have been past feed lots that smell better than that place. When I stink up a bathroom, it smells better than Winnemucca. Sorry y'all, but what is going on there?

Isolated showers were all over the place once we it US 40, except on us. All the way to Steamboat springs we only got hit three times, and two of those were no more than a slight drizzle for a minute of two. The third was harder rain that lasted longer. We got rain gear on before riding into it and didn't have to. I found that if I lean on the tank bag, an Sherri leans forward too that we don't get wet at all. very cool.

Sorry, I don't remember the name of this lake, but it's the first big one that is right next to 40 out of SLC:

The smells coming from the sage and wild flowers were intense as they were heightened by the rains. While much of the road on the way was wet, we weren't. Then the cross winds hit. They were pretty bad, very gusty and had us leaning forward to stay in the protection of the windscreen again.

Some of the cloud formations and scenery along 40 were wonderful:

We spent the night in Steamboat Springs having taken a liesurely ride with two meal breaks and various picture stops. Now for the best part of the ride: US 40 out of Steamboat to US 14 and across to Fort Collins. This entire ride provides some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever witnessed. The roads are good shape, and the variety of terrain is incredible. Here are a few pics:

We started taking pics while rolling

Can you imagine the smell of sage in this area? Wonderful!

views:

North Park Colorado, about 14 miles from Walden:

Where the road gets fun; descending out of the rockies in the Pouder River canyon

Our destination...the driveway of my sister's family home in Windsor Colorado...nice view eh? Sailing on their Hobie Cat got really fun with 30 mph winds yesterday! Woohoo!

 

[Randy]

Wow - sounds like a blast. Thanks for sharing. Pics always make the story much more interesting. Was it a leisurly ride or were you pushing for high miles every day?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Wow - sounds like a blast. Thanks for sharing. Pics always make the story much more interesting. Was it a leisurly ride or were you pushing for high miles every day?

Leaving late on Monday made this a three day trip. We travelled about 550 miles day one, 672 day 2 and 300 day 3. I wouldn't call it pushing as we stopped for meals and pictures and two nights in hotels. The rides through Colorado, especially the one from Denver to Cortez are going to be awesome.

I am using a laptop...hopefully on larger monitors, the pics are too big to be seen!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Nice pics Orangevale, glad the CB worked for you! Looks like a great trip...672 miles you say, did the pillion do OK, or was she hurtin' after this one?

--G

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Nice pics Orangevale, glad the CB worked for you! Looks like a great trip...672 miles you say, did the pillion do OK, or was she hurtin' after this one?
--G

we both had our times of discomfort on the stock seats and she thinks an aftermarket seat would be a good idea. I agree with her from my experience. Everyone has a different rear end, so I can't say whether the seat is great, or not.

I, from time to time, experience pain in my cajones while riding long distances on the bike. Standing on the footpegs and shaking my pants down feels great, but the pain returns as soon as I sit back down....when the pain exists.

Sherri's butt got sore from the seat, but was better as soon as we stopped. I wouldn't call it a damaging seat, and frankly I have been less comfortable in some 4 wheel vehicles. However, if a Rusell with fix all this then I'll probably go that route.

 

[CISCO]

Hurry up and come home. Im jealous and I want to go for a ride

Of course when you get home you will need a week to massage the calouses off your arse.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Hurry up and come home. Im jealous and I want to go for a ride Of course when you get home you will need a week to massage the calouses off your arse.

Jealous eh? Mr. "Go to Hawaii wihout a bike". It's your own fault! ;-) Cya soonish

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Not looking to bump this up, but I noticed that all the pic links were broken in this post so I fixed them...