The State Of Alone - A Month In Colorado (Non-Vfr)

[BrianF]

I'm simul-posting this on ADV, but figure I will post here as well since quite a few VFRD members asked for a heads up whenever I got around to doing it. Mods please move me to "other motorcycle talk" if needed.

A 2014 summer's tale of one idiot with no friends, a WR250R pack mule, and a leaky tent -- as told through the lens of a cheap DSLR that won't autofocus. 34 days of solitude, scenery, and aimless wandering in the Centennial State.

All captions/descriptions limited to 140 characters or less, Twitter-style, since we all read Playboy for the articles.

Let's roll.

[BrianF]

Day 1 starts at Telluride Airport. Slept in the truck while it poured all night. An ominous beginning, but I set off undeterred. Last Dollar Road's up first.

Down there: Telluride. Up here: Indian Paintbrush. I hope you like mud.

I spent every ____ ______ to finally get on this ____.

And boy was it worth it. The clouds gather, but I look forward to the memories of right now.

I deemed this trip IBOSS (It'll Be Over Soon, Stupid). Last Dollar was over too soon, but it wasn't stupid.

The north end.

GoPole party.

"You are guilty, and I sentence you to five weeks of being rained on." Courthouse Mountain.

No deferral of sentence. Wrath-of-God thunderstorm as I passed Cimarron Ridge.

Chased by torrential downpours and lightning, I hid in an outhouse for some reflection and self-doubt.

Storm passed, I emerged to find the reservoir and a place to camp.

I'll sleep better than my rain fly will keep out moisture. Silver Jack Campground.

Fireball, Mountain House, and a spoon borrowed from my neighbor. More to come.

Mappy:

[EhViffer]

As to your comment on "reading for the articles", those are very voluptuous photos. What a great adventure!

[BrianF]

Routine: up early every morning. Pack quickly and hit the road to find a quiet spot to have tea. Smell the roses.

Today it's the Divide Road and Uncompahgre Plateau. Totally deserted and highly recommended.

Then up Land's End to Grand Mesa, and off through the woods to find a campsite.

I think I'll camp here. If it's drying, that means it was wet. Land's End Road.

Right after this I saw a bear and her two cubs. Hide bear keg. Sleep well.

Day 2 Mappy:

Up early for a little exploring. Great campsite.

Land's End Observatory. Grand Junction out there somewhere.

Love tea, love the Seahawks. Did not love the ending of Super Bowl XLIX.

Grand Mesa is le shit. Wish I would've stayed longer.

There are, like, lakes and stuff.

And dirt roads. And mud. And lakes. And mud. A.k.a. paradise.

Brian Fairleigh Photography's my side business. 30 seconds with a 10-stop ND filter. The government doesn't know my real name anyway.

Off the mesa, and on to the empty.

Day 3 Mapper:

Night 3 spent in an RV Park. To the Flat Tops in the pouring rain. Soaked (and soaking in) at Trappers Lake.

More to come tomorrow. Time to work.

[Sweeper]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Now I want a WR250R and some time off.

[ecn]

That's some serious bucket list stuff Brian...thanks for sharing.

I think you just put the US supply of wr250 on backlog for 6 months.

[Switchblade]

Good stuff thanks for sharing .

[bayarearider]

Looks Tits Brian,

Pass along your Playlists as well...

A song inspired on a Colorado Camp Trip.

SuperTramp-Even in the Quietest Moments

[BrianF]

Thanks for the kind words. There's a lot more to come -- I've chosen a couple hundred photos to post in total. It's gonna be a long haul.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Now I want a WR250R and some time off.

Me too. Haha.

Looks Tits Brian,

Pass along your Playlists as well...

A song inspired on a Colorado Camp Trip.

SuperTramp-Even in the Quietest Moments

I don't listen to music when I ride the WR.

Off the bike though, it was chill stuff: Soulstance "Blue Grassland," was a favorite, Riton "Put That On My Momma," along with plenty of Dave Koz (try "Beneath the Moonlit Sky"), S.P.Y. ("You" is good), Submotion Orchestra ("Finest Hour" is a favorite, and "Perfection"), Erik Satie, John Denver (yes, lame) and of course my usual hip-hop shenanigans.

And yeah, Even in the Quietest Moments is a great song.

[rangemaster]

You, SIR, are an artist.

[BrianF]

Lagging a little behind compared to the ADV posts, but I'll get there.

If you don’t like the weather, wait 3 minutes. Or descend 3000 feet.




If you’re ever in Yampa, take Bear Lake Road. Then camp. You’re welcome.




See, do as I say, and as I do.




Day 4 map-a-roo:




Current obsession: Indian Paintbrush. Later it will be marmots. Then legal marijuana – unless my employer is reading this.

Stillwater Pass.




Granby Lake campsite. Bud Ice, Champagne, and wieners. Typical Saturday night.

If you're gonna drink, drink something good. And Bud Ice.

I hate RVs, but love showers and clean laundry. Quite the conundrum.




Day 5 mapper:




And now for the good stuff. Jones Pass Road for some tea and lightheadedness.




Doing my best impression of someone with dirt riding skills. Progress is glacial.




It’s August! *Cris Carter voice* C’MON MAN!




Empire Pass strikes back. Easy/short ride south of the town of (and I hope you’re sitting down)…Empire.




Camping off Guanella Pass Road with Argentine in my sights. Drinks were served. More to come.




Day 6:

You, SIR, are an artist.

Thanks man. I disagree vehemently, but I'll take it!

[RichVee4]

Enjoying the scenery. Keep the pics coming. Usually I have to haul a 40lb pack up 20+ miles on my back to enjoy views like that, and I carry that same two leg chair! Thanks for sharing. Hope the wrist is ready for some rides this summer.

[ChasingNolan]

Awesome write-up & pics. I'd love to get back to this area again and do a backroads trip like this! Thanks for posting.

[swimmer]

Nice write-up and pics. Looks like a great trip. I've also got a WRR.

[BrianF]

Argentine was good. Really good. I didn’t even crash. That much.




If you use my license plate number to get my address and steal my stuff, you won't get much.

Possibly my favorite shot from this trip.




Shoutout to John, a PhD/hiker from Tennessee who caught me arriving at the summit. I sent him some wine later for his efforts.




These views are…okay, I guess.




Step 1: stop for creek photos. Step 2: ride off without your tripod when lightning strikes a tree nearby. Step 3: change drawers.




Celebratory beer at 11am. Pack in rain. Ride to Guanella Pass. Be “damp” while you wonder where your tripod went.




Riding through open burn areas during lightning-filled downpours does not encourage photo taking.





Day 7 map:




Rampart Range is overrated. Then it rained.

I bought the el-cheapo riding gear. You know how this ends.




Ride in rain, then hide in casino parking garage in Cripple Creek. Find KOA in rain. Drink Fireball during hot shower. Vicodin is served.




Day 8 map:




Phantom Canyon: tunnels, scenery, and packed minivans that await your hotshot late-braking into washboarded right-handers.




DQ and tarp-buying in Canon City. Vodka-buying in Westcliffe. Hermit Road into lightning storm. Giddy-up U-Turn!




Immediately the weather clears. Find a flat spot to pitch your tent for the night, but drink all that vodka to make it exciting.




If the wind blows your brand-new tarp off a cliff, vow to go get it later. Don’t, because “it looks like it won’t rain tonight.”




My tarp is still up there somewhere. Hopefully some marmots got hold of it.




Speaking of marmots:

Or other rodentia.




This has dragged on long enough. Up to Hermit Pass tomorrow.

Day 9 route:

Nice write-up and pics. Looks like a great trip. I've also got a WRR.

Thanks. That WR looks...very light!

[vfrcapn]

Wow, what an adventure. Keep the pics coming.

[HispanicSlammer]

I did an almost identical trip from my home in Colorado Springs on my birthday a few years back, well Identical where it gets to Lake City, wonderful place to visit on an adventure bike, or a cross bike.

[superfunkomatic]

Stunning photos. Way to stick it out through crappy weather. You're a better man than I - I'd have made like Michael Jackson and Beat It out of there. Are the photos HDR? Thanks for sharing and inspiring some off-the-beaten-path riding.

[BrianF]

Stunning photos. Way to stick it out through crappy weather. You're a better man than I - I'd have made like Michael Jackson and Beat It out of there. Are the photos HDR? Thanks for sharing and inspiring some off-the-beaten-path riding.

Thanks man. Yeah, almost everything here is HDR. I take separate exposures then blend and process with Photomatix Pro 5. Some like that style and some don't.

Glad everyone seems to be enjoying it so far.

Up early for the hoof to Hermit. My favorite ride of the trip.

The view from the top. 20 hours in this area, 1 car. Paradise.

So high. The elevation was substantial too.

I warned you about my marmot obsession.

And it continues. Apparently they like to chew up wiring insulation for use in their burrows.

I’m such a badass that I scared him away. Last marmot for a while, I promise. Maybe.

“Marmot Pass” has a nice ring to it. So does “hey a--hole, stop talking about marmots.”

The beast is unladen.

29 mile day! I drank a bottle of wine and read some Hunter S. to celebrate. Hawks/Broncos preseason game on WiFi in the tent. Bang-a-rang.

Day 10:

On to “Mike” Medano Pass the next morning. This looks like a good place to get stuck…and it was.

I’ll cross that creek when I come to it. Many times, actually.

There were Sand Dunes. They were Great. And, like, National Park-y and shit. I fell down.

See, I wouldn’t lie to you.

Then it was off to Del Norte to see Ast Avenue, which is named after my great-grandparents. #passwordhint

They’re buried outside Monte Vista. A cool look into my family tree. I hit a few branches on the way down.

Then I headed north for some “they’ll find the bones, not the body” trails. The only thing I remember is not dying.

Capped the evening with dinner and live music at the Steel Horse Grill in Villa Grove. Go there if ya know what's good for ya.

I like beer.

Day 11:

Hayden Pass was up next. If only I’d known what I was in for. You know, "steeper than it looks" and all that.

Well this is worth 1000 words. Shamefully, I turned around and went back to the highway.

Oh look, the Collegiate Peaks, where the mountains are named after schools I’m not smart enough to get into.

Wandering into the ever-present afternoon thunderstorm. Don’t put on your raingear because it’s too much effort. You'll air-dry.

Finally to Weston Pass CG, where they charge you but don’t have running water. I gave some dude $5 for a beer.

I really like beer.

Day 12 map-orama:

A forgetful Day 13. Weston. 4 Mike's Hard Lemonades in a Leadville laundromat. Camp in the rain, drink cheap red wine. I'M SO ALOOOOOONE :sad2:




Map of absolutely nothing.




And now back to the good stuff. Mosquito!




I need that cabin. I also need a cheaper hobby.




"Do Not Enter." That's what she said.




Dire circumstances lead to Dyer burials.




You were all there in spirit. I'm such a rebel.




Alma side from the summit.




Close cousin of the "bridge to nowhere."




"Hello sir, could I interest you in some panoramic views?"




That poor Jeep. I heard it die at least 4 times. All people who were alive when it was manufactured have also died.




Mine over matter.




If you drop your lens cap, be sure to step on it. It's liberating. Your polarizer is basically a glass lens cap anyway.




If I had a dollar for each time I said "I'll come back here and explore more some day," I'd have at least one dollar.




Down into Alma to buy legal pot I mean lunch, then up to the absolutely brilliant Kite Lake. Be sure to enunciate. I bought another tarp!




If you drink enough cheap white wine, you might accidentally pronounce the name of this lake in a very inappropriate fashion.




Do whatever you have to do to get here.




I've camped a lot in my life, and this spot is one of my all-time favorites. Not one of my all-time favorites: running out of stove fuel.




I would soon learn that above 12,000 feet, nights can be very cold. Who knew?




Day 14 (?) maptime:




Well, that's one way to burn a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I could've been curing cancer. Or robbing a bank. The night is young.


Finally figured out my coding issues so it works on both pages. From this post on ADV & VFRD will get the posts at the same time. Thanks for hanging in there with me. -B

[Auspanglish]

How do you do what you do w those (magifisome) photos!!

Jealous

[Terry]

Great photography and text Brian, thanks for sharing. You should get this stuff published and make squillions of $$$!

[Switchblade]

Hey drink a beer !!!

Great shots ...

How bout the Badlands this year ?

[Dutchy]

Showed your pictures to this guy in Austria just now.

He now wants to come over to Colorado to check out the ladies!!!!

:-)

[Suitcase]

I have an "eye toothache" from gazing at so much EYE CANDY... your photos .. composition ...light ...and color saturation, place you on a level with the likes of Yosuf Karsch and Ansel Adams ..... now watch to see how many VFR's go up for sale on Classifieds ....and like the man says ...WRFs' going on back order ...Thanks a lot for one of the best ride reports I've seen in a long time .

[BrianF]

Waking up’s easy when you know this is outside your tent. Or when you’re freezing to death. Hot tea is gonna be so…oh wait.

Despite having chattered my teeth into calcium dust overnight, I hit the road headed for Boreas. It was…okay.

Boreas is a walk in the park. Easy rides are the best rides. Wooo yeah they are bro! *high five*

Shoutout to my good buddy Joe B aka Boxcar. I think he lives in here. At least he dresses like he does.

Make sure you look both ways for the trains that aren’t running.

Heading down into Brecky for petrol and corndogs. Yuck.

Had a hell of a time finding the road to Georgia Pass. Private property should be illegal. In the meantime, I could learn how to read a map.

Windows Vista.

“Hi” to the HDR haters out there. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Random marmot photo to keep you on your toes!

Beer run into Jefferson and back to camp at Michigan Creek. Possibly fell asleep on the picnic table.

Mapalicious:

Up early (i.e. late) to go after Webster and Red Cone. I wonder why they call it Red Cone? How creative.

Up and away. Dude in an actual bulldozer was paving the way for me. Fresh groomers…what a boss.

So scenic that I completely forgot to turn off for Red Cone. I can’t do anything right.

Speaking of Red Cone, I walked to the top and wouldn’t you know it – it’s steeper than it looks.

The color on this photo is weird. But how else would you know I actually made it to the summit?

Oh NOW you tell me.

Met some nice but forgettable locals on the summit and immediately hightailed it. This is why people don’t like me.

Then again, with t-shirts and stupidity like this, how could they not??

The rest of the day was a wash because I went to “High Country Healing” in Silverthorne, which netted me this. I absolutely did not drink it.

I partied all afternoon. And by party, I mean napped. And ate Sour Patch Kids. I’m a real winner.

That’s maptastic!

More coming soon.

Great photography and text Brian, thanks for sharing. You should get this stuff published and make squillions of $$$!

Unless I can get bazillions, I'm out.

I have an "eye toothache" from gazing at so much EYE CANDY... your photos .. composition ...light ...and color saturation, place you on a level with the likes of Yosuf Karsch and Ansel Adams ..... now watch to see how many VFR's go up for sale on Classifieds ....and like the man says ...WRFs' going on back order ...Thanks a lot for one of the best ride reports I've seen in a long time .

Holy crap man, there is no way I deserve this kind of praise. Thank you though, that's a very serious compliment.