There and Back Again . . . A tale of a flatlander

[CDMartin]

Left the flatlander's meca of Florida for Ouray, Colorado for 14 days. From my house its roughly 2,200 miles by way NOLA. I have ten years of history there as a cop, so its a must stop before going West. A lot of slab, a lot of gravel, mountain passes, and a Tenere Ralley to top it off. Then to find the most scenic way back. I say the most scenic way back, but what I mean is the most scenic way back until the dreaded wind ridden panhandle of Texas. Don't get me wrong, I love Texas, just not the stretch of Amarillo to Dallas on US 287. So, without further delay . . .

The usual suspect pre-packed


Sorting through the necessities, and non-necessities, camping gear, camera gear, food prep, clothes, tools, just the basics. Comicly, I bought a GoPro Black, but don't have the laptop to run the videos So the 96gigs of video I shot will be edited at a later date


So sparing the photo's of the drudging slab of I-10, I-49, I-20, and US 287, I found a great little box canyon road out of Amarillo called TX1061. I was planning on taking US 287 to Dalhart, TX, but a very gruff looking 1%er came up to me at the gas station in Amarillo and told me about this great little gem. 89 miles of twisty 2 lane, and he was right.


Once out of the panhandle of Texas, it was Clayton, NM to Pueblo, CO.


Because of the fires in Pagosa Springs, I decided to take US 50 from Pueblo to Montrose, CO. Absolutely gorgeous piece of slab crossing the state.

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

Once in Montrose, it was quick shot down US 550 to Ouray and the ralley campground. Home away from home, KOA cabins are great



So now that base camp was set, it was time for mountain passes, Day 1: lunch in Silverton and Animas Forks. Had two great Texans with me, and made the juant really fun. Unfortunately by the time we got to the ghost town, I was having camera issues, a full SD Card :Wow1:

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

And for comic relief, one of the Texan's found a creek to cool off in . . . :snorkel: Also the obligatory Silverton plug for "Thee Pig,"
great bar-B-Que


Day two was Last Dollar with lunch in Telluride, then Last Dollar back. Last Dollar was great, some techical on Telluride side, and great views on the way to Ridgeway. While we at the top of the pass, a US Forrest Service Fire Officer told us about a great little 40 mile gravel road over the Uncompaghre Divide. Sounded like a great ride for day 3, to bad we didn't listen to the directions better.

 

[mph]

great pics! I was just in tride...must have missed you! looks like you had a great time...

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

So we are sitting around the campfire, and talking about this 40 mile gravel road over the Uncompaghre Plateau known as the Divide Road, and several of the guys with little drt experiance decide that might be the "trick" to break in their new Tenere's. Well, we left Rideway and rode all the way to Whitewater, 90 miles of gravel. Loose gravel, hard pack, loose sand, not a great ride for newbies, but a great day all together. The scenery was fantastic, aspens and spruce to red rock.


Of course, by the time we realized it wasn't 40 miles, most of the guys were getting very comfortable on gravel, so all was good, and the blue bonnets were in serious bloom.


The landscape changed dramatically on the Whitewater side, pure red rock

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

So Thursday was the ralley dinner, awards and general get together, I can honestly say I have never seen as many Tenere's in one place


Well almost everyone bugged out Friday morning for points unknown, but a few of us stayed behind. A command decision was made to pick up a few growlers at the Ouray Brewery and sit in the Uncompaghre River and relax


Then it was to decide where to go next. My decision was to head to Durango for some sight seeing by way of the Million Dollar Hghway

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

Durango in all its glory, and a hotel room


And the view behind the hotel

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

So I opted to go to Mesa Verde, great place, got caught in a hail storm on the mesa

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

Now off to one of my favorite places . . . Moab

 

[CDMartin]

Continued . . .

Now, I had wanted to ride Valley of the Gods and Monument valley, but time was not on my side. So I pointed South and started my was back to Florida. By way of 4 Corners and Shiprock, NM. I do so love the Southwest.


My detour took a bit more of my first day heading back than expected, but was well worth it


The Navajo lands are absolutely gorgeous, desolate, and harsh all in the same existence.

 

[CDMartin]

So after blowing my first day to head back on things I wanted to do, it was time to make to the east Coast of Florida in 3 days. I always wanted to earn an Iron Butt :roost: So since it was 5 pm on Thursday and I wasn't even to Gallup, NM yet, it was time for super slabbing. I hit I-40 at Gallup and pulled off at Santa Rosa for a hotel. The june bugs were mercilous, dang near knocked me out of the saddle a few times.

So bright an early Friday morning, I slabbed an Iron Butt out to New Orleans, 1,100 miles in 19 hours. Rolled in to my buddy's house chunked my clothes in the wash and crashed out. Much respect those IBA guys, I documented mine so I could get a coveted license plate. I will say I was quite amazed how proper pit stops and hydration make the whole experiance quite easy. I never felt tired, and was alert through the whole ride. Endurolytes and a Camel Back are your friend.

So at noon on Saturday, I decded to make the final push from NOLA to Palm Coast, and easy 500+ miles. Made it in at 3 am, would have been earlier, but stopped for some crazy good Bar-B-Que in Mississippi at The Shed. Besides it was raining and I needed to stay dry.

Well hope you enjoyed the light banter and pictures . . . almost forgot, the obligatory foodie shot. Hands down the best meal of the trip, hence the pictures, From the Blue Pig in Moab. Pulled pork, smoked tri-tip, cajun sausage, fried okra, loaded baked potato, and an Uinta Imperial Black IPA . . . freakin delicious

 

[xjaugie]

Wow, that's a lot of riding. A trip worth remembering for sure. Congrats on the iron butt. Last year I drove from AK to MD in 4 days, but I was in a tacoma not on a bike. Hands down to you sir...

 

[CDMartin]

thanks

Thank you kindly, its trips like these that really press upon your memory for years to come

 

[KarmannMarco]

Nice trip and writeup! Im going to have to try out that TX1061 next time I drive to Colorado. The stretch between Amarillo and New Mexico is dreadfully boring.

 

[CDMartin]

TX1061 is also known as Tascosa Road, it cuts out of Amarillo up to US 87 North. Its a great little gem in the panhandle