A Little Tour in My Back Yard

[Colorado CJ]

Well I'm off. About a 150 mile trip through the mountains this time. I'll be heading south to Lyons, then up Left hand Canyon to 72. I'll be taking the Peak to Peak highway down almost to Central City, then turning around and head back north up to 7 and down through Estes Park into the Big Thompson Canyon.

It should be a good ride today, nice and sunny. Should get some great pics!

 

[Colorado CJ]

Got rained on, AGAIN! I must be cursed, when I start the ride the weather looks great, but as soon as I am in the mountains, it turns dark and wet. Oh well, it is still GREAT to ride out here in Northern Colorado!

Here's my bike, ready to ride

On 66 heading towards Lyons

Up Left Hand Canyon and going into the old mining town of Ward

This is an old mining museum in Nederland a ways south of Ward (another old mining town)

 

[Colorado CJ]

Looks like I'm going to be hitting some rain, heading south on 119/7

Yep, gonna get wet!

 

[Colorado CJ]

I decided to ride into BlackHawk / Central City. They are a couple of other old mining towns that have turned into a casino town. I do a lot of prospecting around here in the local streams and old mines.

One of the old mines

 

[Colorado CJ]

Heading back north on 119/7

Looks like it might be better weather up ahead. Sure don't get tired of these views!

 

[Colorado CJ]

 

[Colorado CJ]

Another abandoned mine. These mines are everywhere, many thousands of them dot the mountains from Colorado Springs all the way to north of Boulder.

Starting to see some of the 14er's

 

[Colorado CJ]

Mount Meeker

Longs Peak

 

[Colorado CJ]

Heading into Estes Park (only about 40 minutes from home)

Estes Park

 

[Colorado CJ]

Heading into Big Thompson Canyon on 34

Some mountain goats on the side of the canyon. These guys are everywhere out here, I see them almost every time going up the canyon.

 

[Colorado CJ]

"The Narrows" about 4 miles of tight canyon road. This is a fun spot when there aren't any other vehicles blocking the way!

Riding out of the canyon, the scenery opens up immediately. This is my town, Loveland, it is a really trashy area, no one else needs to move here

Back at home with 170 miles traveled. I don't know about you, but to me, this is one of the best ways to spend the day.

 

[Scotts]

Hey out there at the mine museum. Is that the old steam shovel that they showed on mega movers? If it is they got that thing out of the woods and ran it down to a clearing with a portable air compressor instead of firing up the boiler.

Scott

 

[ronh]

Wow, great pics! Thanks for taking us along on the ride! :clap:

 

[Craiger]

Thanks again, Colorado CJ. Those pics never cease to amaze me. You're definitely blessed.

 

[Colorado CJ]

I've been riding regulary again since it stopped being so cold up in the mountains. Thought I'd update this post with my first long ride on the V-Strom. I started today at about 11:00 bright and sunny in Loveland. Ended up riding in freezing temps and snow for about 230 miles. This was the first longer ride on my new V-Strom, my old GS can't even compare!

Because of the cold, I didn't take many pictures this time. I headed up from Loveland going to Estes Park (home of Rocky Mountain National Park). Then rode on 7 through the high country.

Longs Peak:

I then turned off the road and started to look for the old mining ghost town of Jamestown. I didn't have a map on me and have never been there before, so I didn't know exactly where it was. I ended up not finding it (turned around a little too soon), but I did get a chance to ride the V-Strom on about 20 miles of dirt! Not bad scenery either.

 

[Colorado CJ]

I then headed back down 7 to 72 and rode into Nederland (another old mining town. It started snowing and getting REALLY COLD (I need to fit some grip warmers and guards on the bike). So I had to stop every 20 miles or so and warm my hands on the muffler. Fun riding though.

I rode up 119 through Blackhawk/Central City and into Idaho Springs. I then headed up to Echo Lake since I wanted to see if any of the road to Mount Evans was open (it wasn't) This road goes all the way to the top of Mount Evans and is the highest paved road in the U.S. at 14,264 feet.

Here's a couple of shots at Echo Lake, (sorry about all the bike pics, but I really like this bike!)

It sure was much nicer and more fun to go on this long of a ride on this bike compared to my old '80 GS. I could actually walk and sit after getting off the bike. I was pretty sore after riding so long on the GS. I DO see that I am going to change these tires though, there is tons of fire roads and trails through these mountains and the V-Strom could be really good with a set of more agressive tires.

 

[willie]

Thanks for posting all the great pics. It always amazes me how easily I'm reminded of roads I've been on before (in this case 30 yrs ago) when I see pictures of them. I roamed around CO back in the late 70's when I spent a yr checking out the good ol USA. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.
Willie in TN

 

[journerr]

Thanks for sharing the photos !!
but, YIKES !, taking them under motion !! 8-o
Awesome rides !

Brightest Blessings

 

[Zooks]

.........It is pretty fun to be taking pics with your left hand and steering with your right hand through tight ess turns

I'll get better at it!

Great thread, I was going to ask how you took the pics. Well done :clap:.

Just be careful man.

I've been thinking of doing a similar thread about my part of the world. I get the feeling you U.S guys would find it quite interesting.

 

[Colorado CJ]

Thanks guys

I've been thinking of doing a similar thread about my part of the world. I get the feeling you U.S guys would find it quite interesting.

DO IT! I've always wanted to visit Australia