We have a busy summer planned. I signed up for two of the SCMA, Southern California Motorcycle Association rides. The two are; the US 15 best, 20 roads, yes 20 are on the list this year. A rider only has to ride 15 to get the award, so you just choose 15 out of that list. The second is the California 15 Best.
Whew!!...
We made plans galore!
However, we have received so much snow this winter and spring that some of our first trips had to be canceled or postponed. I think we had to change or ax a total of 5 different trips.
...sigh...
"The best laid plans...."
With the date of this trip getting closer, checking the long range forecast it looked like we would get hosed by Mother Nature once again!
But the weather held and we were able to start on the 15 best list.
The first road on our list happened to be SR 128 from Cisco to Moab. SR 128 is a quiet two lane that follows the Colorado river from Cisco to Moab. With gentle sweepers, the wide river on one side and red rock formations on the other, it is a breathtakingly scenic road!
To begin the 'bagging' process I stopped at Thompson Springs 7-Eleven to get gas and a receipt. Then continued down the freeway to the start of the 128.
Mile 17 JJs Mercantile which is, oddly enough, 17 miles away from Moab on the 128.
This was in our room in Moab so obviously we had to have a playoff for the World Championship, it was a good series (2 out of 3) I won't say who won, after all it's more important that almost both sides showed good sportsmanship.
And looking off our deck at late afternoon, then again in the morning. Utah's Red Rock country is full of incredibly Scenic Vistas!
Speaking of morning, at the break of midmorning we'll set off for Pagosa Springs. Bev will take the shorter route, and I will ride a few extra miles and bag CO 145 on my way.
A quick stop at the LaSalle post office for a picture with the Cache.
My gas receipts
While gassing up to get the first receipt in Norwood Colorado I met this fellow. This is Bill, Bill restored this cb500 and it is absolutely beautiful. The bike is spotless there's not a speck of grease or dirt on it. He also built his panniers out of Aspen wood as he wanted strength and lightweight.
Bill if you are reading this I forgot to invite you to the Cache rally in New Mexico on June 5th through the 10th at the Silver City koa. If you get on Facebook and search Cache Gathering or Rally you should be able to get some information about it. Hope to see you there!
( anyone else reading this who has a motorcycle and an itch to ride is also invited to the Cache Rally)
Lizard head pass somewhere along the 145
The snow has its own Beauty but once it melts the Lush greenery, and rugged mountains are a beautiful sight to behold!
While getting my ending gas receipt and eating a sandwich at the Maverick. A woman pulled in with this truck and small sailboat. One of the wires to her brake lights on the trailer was dragging on the ground it was still hooked up and working, but would soon wear out dragging on the ground like that. I let her know about the dragging wire and offered her a wire tie. We were able to secure the brake wire back up on her trailer so it wouldn't wear out.
And just like that my good deed for the day is done!
We arrive at our lodging in Pagosa Springs and have a restful night. This scene greeted us in the morning off our back deck.
So we put Pagosa Springs in our rear view mirrors and headed off for Bishop's Castle. Unfortunately we spent too much time visiting with people we met along the way and when we got to Walsenburg, before Bishop's Castle we decided an hour and a half ride round trip plus the visiting time at the castle would put us too far behind our days plans. So regrettably we went East instead toward La Junta.
On our way there we stopped at a gas station where I saw this 78 Ford pickup and the young man driving it. I walked over and asked him about his truck. He said his father had given it to him when it was well used and a little bit beat up.
But he had done the body and had it painted and it's looking pretty darn good now. He has much more that he wants to do, but that will happen eventually.
This is Kade, I don't know if Cade is spelled with a K or a C but either way this is an impressive young man not only in the way he speaks but how he presents himself and unless I'm a poor judge of character he's also has a very good work ethic. I'm sure his parents are very proud of him
You know sometimes the future looks very very good!
On our way to what eventually was La junta Co Bev snapped some pictures of me on the 160
La Junta.
With dark clouds gathering we were able to find a hotel in La Junta just before the storm broke.
I got a picture with the Cache ala the Cache rally.
So the storm we barely missed the night before continued on the next day with toad strangler rainstorms and scarily strong winds!
With the strong winds and the sideways rain, visibility was so poor at times I was down to 40 mph and over in the emergency Lane. Not sure that's the right way to handle it but I didn't feel good about being in the lane that I was sharing with semi trucks.
Beverly and I had become separated so my rear guard was not there.
Arriving at Dodge City we decided to grab some lunch. While in the restaurant we saw on the TV that there were tornado warnings and storm warnings all around us.
The Boot Hill Museum at Dodge City
After hearing the storm warnings we decided it was time to get outta Dodge and get back on the road.
We motored on through the winds and rain to Kingman Kansas where we'll stay the night.
I wasn't the only knucklehead out riding in the bad weather.
And this ends part 1 of our first trip to bag the US 15 best. We'll go to Branson Missouri for a couple of days then continue on to pick up more roads.
Thanks for reading!
LIFE IS sometimes wet and brain scrambling windy, but still GOOD!!!!
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