Bo & Bill's Western Trip

Epic Journey Planned; Mid-Life Crisis Blamed for Lapse in JudgmentEpic Journey Planned
Mid-Life Crisis Blamed for Lapse in Judgment

Sorry for the delays. We have had multiple computer problems and have been unable to update our blog.
Day 1 was 320 miles of rain and 70 miles of blue skies. We made it to Alton, Mo, where we rented an entire house for 40 dollars.

Day 2 was great. Sunny, no humidity and great roads.

We've done 620 miles so far.

See you tomorrow

Hopefully, our computer problems will be behind us tomorrow.

Look forward to

D

Day 1

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

Nashville to Alton, Missouri

393 Miles

We said we were going to make this trip, come Hell or high water. Hell can wait 'til another day but did we ever see high water. Rain, rain rain! We left Nashville at 8:30 am in a downpour. We drove through White Bluff, Charlotte, Erin and Dover in the rain. Once we hit Kentucky, the rain became intermittent. It remained that way until 5:28 pm when we hit clear blue skies in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Friday, September 5, 2003

297 Miles

1002 Total Miles

Another day of sunshine. And facing us, the plains of Kansas, over 500 miles of not much. Not or so we thought.

Although farm fields, loooong straight-aways and flat terrain are not most Tennesseans idea of beauty, southern Kansas has been great fun. The people are nice to strangers, the natural beauty is subtle and the roads are great. By the way, I don't think we've mentioned that we are avoiding interstates whenever at all possible.

Thursday, September 4, 2003
Alton, Missouri to Joplin, Missouri

315 Miles

708 total miles

So far this web site has been clearly less than advertised. We've grappled with poor phone service and a busted iBook power adapter. But now we're ready to roll.

AWAKE and READY TO RIDE

Another day in paradise. We got the full Kansas. Miles and miles of never-ending straight-aways, strong winds coming off the plains and lots of agriculture. Our route took us through the southern part of the state.Day 4

Saturday, September 6, 2003

375 Miles

1377 Total Miles

Wellington, Kansas to Lamar, Colorado

Short day in a paradise with a brief run in the rain to Pueblo to get free government information...just kidding, but why else come to this town. Great Sant Fe Trail fort visit with pictures. Check it out.Day 5

Lamar, Colorado to Pueblo, Colorado

128 Miles

1505 Total Miles

It was a late start today as the Cow Palace Inn was too comfortable to leave. Actually, we were beat and decided to make it an easy day.

We departed Lamar at 12:00 and drove a total of 128 miles. But they were good miles.

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.

Gunnison and Harmel's and bad weatherDay 7

A cabin on the Taylor River in Almont, Colorado

0 Miles

1780 Total Miles

A pleasant night at Harmel's Resort was followed by a fun, yet unproductive morning of trout fishing. Could it be that we have neglected our fishing over the past year? Has our motorcyclemania become so obsessive that we have let our fly-fishing skills deteriorate? We chose to think not. We fault the weather. That's our story so believe it.

Beautiful run across central rockies and breathtaking ascent of independence passDay 9

Gunnison, Colorado, to Buena Vista, Colorado

251 magnificent, spectacular miles

2006 Total Miles

Yesterday we said that not every day can be wonderful. Well, today was just that, and more.

We broke out of our two-day doldrums in a big way.

Eight hours of eye candy. We decided to make a 260 loop that began and ended in Buena Vista.
Day 10

Buena Vista, Colorado to Buena Vista, Colorado

260 miles

2366 Total Miles

Eight hours of eye candy. Have we mentioned yet that the vistas are beyond belief? We know this isn't news to anyone but we have to mention it...repeatedly.

We decided to make a 260 loop that began and ended in Buena Vista.

Day 11

Buena Vista, Colorado, to Westminster, Colorado

135 miles

2501 total miles

Both of your earnest motorcyclists were looking forward to weekend visits by our spouses. Bill's wife Laurel and Bo's wife Fifi were scheduled to fly into Denver and spend a couple of days with us visiting Estes Park and other Denver area attractions. Unfortunately, Fifi developed a respiratory ailment inherited from their teenagers and was unable to make the trip.

Adventures around Denver with Laurel and a trip on the most spectacular highway in North AmericaDay 12

Westminster, Colorado to Westminster, Colorado

257 miles

2758 Total Miles

We assembled at 10:00 in the hotel parking lot. The skies were crystal clear and the temperature was moderate. It looked to be a great day for riding. Today would be a little different because Bill would be carrying a passenger, his wife Laurel.

The three stooges?

easy trip to Boulder - great weather and interesting townDay 13

Westminster, Colorado to Westminster, Colorado

106 miles

2864 total miles

Another day of perfect sunshine!

We decided to give Laurel a break and make it an easy day. Our agenda included a trip to Boulder, Colorado.

Power poles painted the same color as the mountains ouside Denver

Westminster, Colorado to Grand Junction, Colorado -
Bo's bike goes on the fritz and we end up near Utah.
What will happen next?Westminster, Colorado to Grand Junction, Colorado

320 Miles

3184 total miles

We neglected to mention it because it is so painful to think about, but yesterday marked the half-way point in our epic journey. At 12:00 noon on September 15, while enjoying homemade ketchup at Lucile's restaurant in Boulder, we both realized that the rest of the trip is downhill. It was such a sobering thought that we quickly put it out of our mind.

quick and cheap bike repair and on to Moab, Utah and the land of LDSGrand Junction, Colorado, to Moab, Utah

209 Miles

3393 total miles

Our prayers were answered.

At 8:55 am we arrived at AllSport Honda/ BMW and sought out service manager Bill Davis. He looked Bo's bike over for a minute and asked that it be driven into the service area.

Day 16 was our most ambitious to date. Under sunny skies with mild winds, your intrepid travelers covered two national parks, 320 miles of road, successfully completed our most demanding mountain descent yet and cruised through the center of Monument Valley, Utah.Moab, Utah, to Monument, Valley, Utah

331 miles

3724 total miles

flat tire and Telluride and a big dose of luck as we return to the canyons and twisties of ColoradoMonument Valley, Utah, to Placerville, Colorado

242 miles

3973 total miles

We awoke for Day 17 still tired from a couple of demanding days. Our plans included a trip to Four Corners and drive on the "Million Dollar Highway." Our destination for the day was Ouray, Colorado, a quiet little town nestled in a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains. Ouray is known for its' hot springs and vapor caves.

More million dollar highway and Mesa Verde, the home of the cliff dwellersPlacerville, Colorado, to Durango, Colorado

220 miles

4193 total miles

Day 18 continued our fine streak of sunny skies and mild temperatures. Although we've whined annoyingly on occasion due to rain, wind and cold temperatures, we have enjoyed great weather during this trip.

On our route today we planned to make a short visit to Ouray, Colorado, finish the "Million Dollar Highway," tour the Mesa Verde National Park and finish up in Durango, Colorado.

We turn east and deicide to head home via New Mexico and the last of the Rockies. We see Taos and glimpse the plains and their vast expanse. Durango, Colorado, to Cimmeron, New Mexico

291 Miles

4484 total miles