One of our key objectives for this trip is to spend time exploring some of the states we are particularly interested in. Some travellers have a goal of covering as many states and kilometres as possible - and that is fine if you enjoy long hours in the saddle and riding nothing but Interstate Highways. As for us - we would rather cover less distance and make sure we see everything we want to - especially the national parks (& some shops for Tracee!).
Colorado is one of those states I wanted to spend some time in and have a good look around. It is a beautiful state and a bikers dream to ride in - lots of alpine riding, sweeping curves, mountain passes and cool, mild temperatures - a welcome change from the heatwave conditions we have encountered elsewhere.
We were up early at 5:30am and on the road after breakfast around 6:30am to beat the freeway traffic as we passsed through Denver on our way south down the 25, then flicked onto the 70 and headed west for a short time before turning south on the 285. The temperature was nice and cool, the day overcast with the feel of rain in the air. We were steadily climbing in altitude and decided to stop and put our rain jackets and gloves on in case we were caught in a shower and also to give a bit of additional warmth. The terrain reminded me a little of the Lewis Pass as we wound our way up the road. You could see some of the different ethnic historic influences in some of the smaller settlement names as we passed through them - Shawnee (Native Indian), Boxcart Gulch (European) and Santa Maria (Spanish).
We passed over the crest of Kenosha Pass (10.000ft) and spread out before us below as we descended was the valley of South Park, once a favourite Indian hunting ground and also the site of Indian battles.
We stopped to fuel up in the town of Fairplay and one of the locals struck up a conversation with us. We told him of our plans to visit Mesa Verde National Park, travel through Monument Valley and then head east again through New Mexico and up into Kansas. He warned us to watch our speed through the Ute Indian Reservation, as the Ute people are strapped for cash and the police will nail any motorist who is a fraction over the speed limit (sounds like NZ!). We thanked him, gave him a NZ key ring as a gift and filed his information away for future reference.
We continued on our way through the San Isabel Forest and near Poncha Springs swung right on to the 50 that took us over Monarch Pass (11312ft). We passed Blue Mesa Lake and then stopped at a shop near Black Canyon where we got chatting to a group of local bikers from Montrose (our destination for the day). They were very friendly and intrigued that we were New Zealanders who had shipped our bike to the States for 8 weeks of touring (and a little jealous I think).
We arrived in Montrose (where there is a rodeo on today) around 1:30pm after 5 hours in the saddle and 500kms under our belt.
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