travels from Pueblo, CO to Harmel's, a dude ranch/fishing camp outside GunnisonDay 6

Pueblo, Colorado to Almont, Colorado

275 Miles

1780 Total Miles

Our day started out with a quick trip to Mailboxes, Etc. to send home a few unneeded items. This is our first extended motorcycle trip and we packed like it was a car trip. Five days on the road gave us a good idea of what we could do without. About 20 pounds of assorted electrical gear and clothes left our bikes a bit lighter and our luggage easier to pack.

We left Pueblo on Highway 50, which took us through the last bit of plains leading up to the foothills of the Rockies. After over 1500 miles, we had finally arrived.

We begin a fairly rapid assent up the Sangre de Christo Mountain Range. The roads were as advertised; twisty and lightly traveled.

Bo on the wrong side of the road posing for a picture

Bill on the high plains. Check that background!

At this point Bo noticed that his right highway peg was missing. Not necessary for driving, the highway pegs are a second set of pegs placed toward the front of the bike. They make for comfortable riding when cruising on long, straight roads. A replacement is necessary before we reenter the plains states on the way back to Nashville.

We turned onto Highway 96, which took us through a number of small Colorado towns. We stopped in Silver Cliff, a pretty little town that appeared to be thriving. Which brings up a point: we have been through well over 100 small towns on our trip. We've talked to the locals, toured some of their attractions and gotten a real feel for their character. We have each remarked how much more connected we feel to the areas we've traveled through than on any other trip either of us has taken.

Spectacular vistas were the order of the day

We then took Highway 114, which gave the most spectacular ride yet. Amazing vistas were found at every turn. We drove through a high plain (about 8000 ft above sea level) that was incredible in its scale. What a panorama!

The horizons and sky merge in a way found only in the West

On the way to Gunnison, Colorado, we drove through the Gunnison National Forest, crossed the continental divide in the San Juan Mountains and drove over North Pass, elevation 10,189 feet.

Our best stop of the day waas at a combination Radio Shack and hardware store, a duo not usually seen. Bill allowed as to how this was his ideal in terms of retail sales. Everything you need in one place!

At Gunnison, we drove to Almont, Colorado, and spent the night at Harmel's Resort, a trout fishing camp on the Taylor River. At Harmel's we rendezvoused with a couple of college friends, Jim Cato and George Wright, and a friend of theirs, Paul Rosenblatt. Bo finds himself the only non-physician of the five. If he's gonna get sick on this trip, now is the time.

If Tomorrow we plan to catch a few Rainbow Trout.