The Apishapa Arch

I spent Monday setting up my XR650 from long distance dual sporting, tearing off the vinyl seat and cutting the foam to make the seat top a bit wider, to better support my wieght. I cut up a sheepskin seat cover and used it for the seat cover. It came out ok, and very comfortable! I put a layer of soft foam around the seat that had a plastic laminate so it wouldnt absorb water.

I have been wanting to head down to the Spanish Peaks to do the dirt roads down there, paticularly Codova Pass. It comes out in Aguilar Coloardo where my Mother Was Born and where my Grand Father was Buried. A Coal miner who suffered the fate most coal miners did of that era, black lung. I am 3 generation Coloradoan and I think my Great Great Grandmother was born in Aguilar too which would make me 4th generation but that is unconfimed. I passed through Ludlow where the infamous Ludlow Masscure happened, 1913. I did not stop but it peaked my interest and I did some research.

My Grandfather emmigrated from Mexico during the Mexian Revolution to avoid being killed by Pancho Villa who was killing seminary students who where loyal to the government, so he crossed the Rio Grand and became a Coal Miner in Colorado. I dont know if he was involved with any of those where were killed at Ludlow but I know it was around the same time he met my Grandmother. I went and visited his grave outside town, he died when my Mother was 3 both my grandparents died before I was born. Last time I was in Aguilar it was rather run down. I was pleased to see that it had gone through some renovation and it seemed the town has grown some these last few years. There is a lot of oil and gas industry activity down south and people are moving there to retire - no small wonder its beautiful there!

12-mile hwy 78 Greenhorn Mountain Near Buela Colorado

I have been wanting to explore this dirt road from Wetmore to Buela for quite some time, I started to turn off on it and some dude in a pickup truck turned right infront of me. I followed for a mile and got tired of the slow pace and passed him on a clear section. It was bumpy as it winded its way up a mountain then surprise it was paved for 20 miles into Buela. I love that place, its so nice there. So peaceful and pristine and only 17 miles southeast of Pueblo.

Greenhorn Mountain Aspens Changing

Aspen Grove open view of the high plains

12-mile hwy 78

Ophir Creek Road

I ran into an old couple who where changing a flat, I stopped to see if they needed assistance. the long haired old hippy man said he was fine but he warned me of a fire on the other side of the mountain said it was a controlled burn and not to worry. Nice guy and boy did he have a long beard!

Gardener Road cr-634 a contoled burn by the forest service

Presribed Burn

Mount Blanca from Gardener Road

Gardener Road From where I had just came it had been graded since my last visit

Colors where incredible

Gardener Road 10% grade in places

Sangre De Christo Mountains across the wet mountain valley

Lets See here names - left to right - Marble Mountain, Broken Hand, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Humbolt, Kit Carson

Tiseras Peak, Tejeras Peak, Music Mountain

Sangre De Christo Mountains across the wet moutain valley

Williams Creek

Gardener Road

Blueberry Mountain

Sheep Mountain and Little Sheep

now for another dirt road to get to Lavita Pass head west to Malicite and over Pass Creek Pass

Mount Blanca

Hogbacks Co-572 going up Pass Creek Pass

Pass Creek Pass

Pass Creek Pass

Spanish Peaks from Old Laveta Pas

Spanish Peaks same spot zoomed

Old Laveta Pass

Highway Of Ledgends

The pavement up to Cucharas was brand new and the colors where fantastic, I sometimes wish I have both bikes at the same time cause I could have railed those turns on that wonderful pavement on my vfr at 30 mph faster!

Cuchras Lunch at the Dog Bar

Cucharas Pass seen from the top of Cordova Pass

Trinchera Peak

Cordova Pass

Adolesent Mule Deer they just stood and watched me

his partner in crime

Spanish Peaks from Cordova Pass

Looking East from Cordova Pass

More Hogbacks

Trinidad Lies below from Cordova pass

West Spanish Peak

The Apishapa Arch west side

The Apishapa Arch east side

East Spanish Peak near Ludlow

Purple Mountains Majesty

Pikes Peak

The Dark Road Home

All in all it was 320 on a dirtbike! wow I was so tired when I got home I fell asleep as soon as I got out of my gear

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This map will probably be blank click on it and then refresh. I attached my gps tracks and the path in google earth