The Kansas Crew Lined up in front of Pikes Peak Crystal Creek Reservoir

It was a year in the planning, planning done by committe of which I was only involved in as the official route guide. In that I really must thank Didit, Radar, and Volsfan for thier work in getting this thing put together - the lions share done by Didit of course. I knew when I stood up and asked the Candians at the Kootenay Hootenany if they would be willing to ride to Colorado for a national meet sombody would jump on it, and Didit sure did! It was a great success and I enjoyed myself! It was really a big deal and thanks go out to the local guys and those few with trusty GPS units who served as ride leaders too. Not one accident, not one lost rider, one ticket though and a group got the sherrif warning but all in all a safe and fun rally in Dillion Colorado.

My experience started at home in Colorado Springs where I would lead the flat land boys from Kansas Nebraska Oklahoma and Missouri to the top of Pikes Peak and into Dillion. We had some fun the night before at one of my favorite resturants in the Springs - its Craigs favorite place and the owners always treat us well so we thought we would take everybody there for a margarita and mexican food at La Unica in Old Colorado City.

Waiting for road crews to finish work before heading to the top of Pikes Peak

Devils Playground Pikes Peak Summit

Colorado Springs Down Below Pikes Peak Cog Railway tracks in the foreground

Lee2002 found his way to the summit sign

Hoosier Pass Summit on the way to Dillion

I did not take many pictures at the hotel, some members had much better cameras than I took care of that, lining up the bikes and getting shots with wide angle lenses and all. I just took some shots of my group and the ride out afterwards.

The Scenic Group stops at the summit of Loveland Pass

Loveland Pass Radars group stops at the overlook - you can see the chairlift from Arapaho Basin Ski Area

Loveland Pass Punchy Rider scurries to get out of the shot - too late I got ya

Historic Downtown Central City Opera House Yes that is a no parking area - we did not stay long

Mount Meeker

The Chapel on the Rock

Waiting for somthing to eat at the Peak To Peak diner

Rocky Mountain National Park from on top Rainbow Corner

Mt Chiquita Yipsilion Mountain and Fairchild Mountain from Rainbow Corner

Longs Peak Looms above Mt Wuh

Me and the Big Piggy Baileyrock was out for the day on my vfr appearantly losing ingition key on some backroad somwhere

Scenic Overlook

Takeing a shot of Longs Peak

Elk on the alpine tundra

The Lava Cliffs

Never Summer Mountains

Our Last stop in Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road the highest continuous road in the USA

Dinner was great, everything except the food that is, people and beer is all I need really. I never foget a face but I will forget your name in 2 seconds flat if you dont repete it to me about a million times. So I learned a few, forgot alot and remember everybodies face! God help me putting together real names with forum names - thats a lost cause there!

We had some good breakfast, Baileyrock didit Craig and Radar - we hiked up the dillion lake trail to some lodge joint up the road about a mile and were accosted by the waiter for asking for water, Craig pretty much got a smack down for that - in ski bum summer colorado punk style! It was clear this gig was not the waiters main thing! It was funny though and we made sure to let Craig know we thought it was funny. I was glad to have Baileyrock there since he had always been so gracious to me on my trips to Tennesse to go to the Texasmac for the last few years. Baileyrock was haveing a bit of fun with Didit over the last few weeks - egging him on pulling his leg and such, if you know BR you know he is just kidding. Them two together was a hoot - the back and forth half insults and jokes. Guys will be Guys no matter what border you cross.

The Day before I took out a group and Baileyrock took out my VFR to go ride with Sfarson and the fast group and I guess my key wiggled out and got lost, so that ruined half of thier ride, running around looking for a lost vfr key. It was lucky they made it back to the hotel cause the gas cap was locked. Dutchinterceptor loaned me his bike and I went home and got my spare key. It took forever casue of the weekend traffic and I forgot my wallet on my desk and had to double back to get it. It was not fun untill I got some alone time on a part of Hoosier pass on the way back, I was rather comfortable on that VTEC at that point and let it rip a bit. Not my bike so I kept it sane.

After the meet I was looking for somthing to do so I hooked up with didit and radar for a couple of days and rode with them down to the western slope on the southern end to go do the Black Canyon and the Million Dollar Highway and back into Telluride. We stopped in Montrose for a couple of nights and based out of there. The silver loop is what its called. We rode over Independence pass and had a fun time trying not to dump it on the loose chip seal, hate that stuff! I took some video but it seemes my battery packe for the helmet cams was comming unhooked and it was skipping parts. That was too bad cause when we started up McClure Pass a fellow on a KTM 990 dirtbike took off in front of us and we gave chase for 20 miles all the way down to Paonia Lake, where he turned off. That dude was fast and he had that thing leaned over as far as I could imagine those dual sport tires could go! 80 Plus in some of the tight sweepers he was holding me off pretty good, he stopped racing us near the lake and was acting like a ride leader by then cause well were all there right there! Pointing at road debris and giving hand signals, boy I wish my camera had caught it on tape! It was a blast and we gave him a salute when he turned off. Then we stopped in Paonia for lunch and then rode my favorite road in Colorado (of all time) hwy 92 into the Black Canyon. Didit said it was the hardest he had to work the whole ride from Canada. I am sure some of the roads he is riding now in California are that way too but hwy 92 is definitly there!

Radar and Didit at the Golden Burro in Leadville

Radar poses at the hairpin of Independence Pass

10am at the top of Independence Pass

Independence Pass the first switchback

Mountain Boy Park

Radar and Didit on the Black Canyon hwy 92

Radar and Didit starting up Red Mountain Pass on the Million Dollar Highway 550

Stopped on the way down to Silverton we stopped to let everybody we passed go by so we could do it again

Lizard Head Pass a bit wet and slippery

Lizard Head at 50mph

Riding into the eye of a storm

Sheep Mountain

Yellow Mountain Radar

Radar gets out ahead as I dig for my camera near Telluride

[vid]109[/vid]