2017 Colorado Rally Trip Report & Photos

[aviationfred]

The 2017 Colorado Rally Cast of Characters

(following names in order of the photos)

FJLee
Cutter Bill
motogp52 - Barry
Firehawk068 - Alan H.
Andyoutandabout - Andy
Mike Ramos
yamaha fj rider - Kurt
aviationfred - Fred

[Firehawk068]

Well, after originally being out, and then IN, and then back out again, I tried my best to be a part of this.

I worked out a way to clear most of my day Saturday, and then comitted myself to somehow meet up with a group of guys at the Rally, and get some riding in with them.
I reached out to Andy on Friday, and after some deliberation on route choice, the plan was made to meet up.............
And meet-up we did!



I left the house in Aurora at 7:30am, gassed up and hit the highway.
I boogied on down the 285 out of Denver to Poncha Springs. Got fuel and headed West on the 50.
Around 10-minutes before 11:00am, I picked a spot on the highway between Monarch Pass and Gunnison to pull over and wait for them, as I knew they would be along any minute.
Sure enough! Right at 11:00am, here they come ripping down the road!
The rest of the day was an awesome mix of good friends, fast sweepers, and amazing scenery!
After a filling lunch at K-Bob's Steakhouse in Canon City, we parted company and I headed home the quick way as the crew headed back West to Ouray.
It was a 405-mile day for me, and I want to thank Andy F, Fred, Kurt, and Mike R for agreeing to meet up with me, and allowing me to take part in the Colorado Rally this year 

[ZOA NOM]

Ramos is an ANIMAL!

[1tinindian]

Very good Alan. Great that you took part!
I would have, if I could have!

[Mike Ramos]

Good afternoon everyone,

Arrived home from the Colorado Rally early Sunday evening.

I wish to say "Thank You" to everyone who attended and organized this Rally.

While it may have been small in the number of attendees, it was certainly was large in riding on some choice roads!  Well over 800 miles of good & enjoyable riding.

Thanks to the usual suspects of Aviationfred & Kurt from Salt Lake City for planning rides and good company.

It was nice to meet Barry, his wife and wonderful daughter.  Quite an accomplished family.

Mr. engineer Cutter Bill is quite knowledgeable about everything FJ and a repository of mechanical knowledge.

And of course the most memorable FJ Lee – quite the conversationalist and a top notch machinist as well.  And what a conversationalist...  And a great story teller too...  Knows a thing or two about fuel levels & such...  And can really carry on a conversation...!

Much thanks to gentle giant Firehawk Alan for riding out to meet us for some good, sound riding; a most pleasant personality and all around nice guy!

And many, many thanks to Mr. Andyoutandabout for good companionship, friendship and absolutely top shelf riding.  Our return ride to Ouray in the afternoon was especially notable.  While in their recalling, the many memorable rides often meld into a kaleidoscope of the most pleasing colors, however this remarkable ride will long stand out for it was an absolute delight.

Ride safe.

Midget.

[motogp52]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone at the Colorado Rally!  Everybody was so friendly, social and inclusive, not to mention very accomplished motorcyclists.  Thanks for letting me tag along, after twenty years from the time I got my first FJ (July 1997) I'm glad I finally made an FJ rally!

Keep the rubber side down and ride safe,

Barry

[aviationfred]

The rally for me began with a 500 mile boring, flat and mostly straight ride through Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado. Once I made it to Cañon City the fun began. The next 200 miles to Ouray on US50 along the Arkansas River, over Monarch Pass, around the Blue Mesa Reservoir, through the south rim of Blacks Canyon and into Montrose was a bit wet, but much more enjoyable. A quick jaunt down Hwy550 into Ouray. I met FJLee and CutterBill at the camp site. A bit later Mr. Ramos joined us. 700 miles knocked out in 13 hours.



Fred

[Pat Conlon]

How does Lee like his new Bandit?

[aviationfred]

How does Lee like his new Bandit?

From all indications from Lee. He is pleased with it. He says that he likes his FJ better.


Fred

[aviationfred]

The sayings is.... When there is 3 FJ's together that you have a rally. An unscheduled FJ Rally last evening in Wichita, Kansas. Andy (andyoutandabout) stopped by over night on his travels, and Dale (Shaarth) stopped by on his 2000 Vmax.


Fred

[aviationfred]

The first day of riding, we were having such a blast riding 145 and 141 to Gateway that I didn't get any photos. Here are a few that I pulled from the web.


Fred

[aviationfred]

Friday we ran the North Rim of Blacks Canyon. Route 92. The run through the South Rim of Blacks Canyon on US50 to get to the Blue Mesa Dam is always fun. We crossed the Blue Mesa Dam and rode on one of the best stretches of curves in the country. Unfortunately the restaurant in Crawford that Alan had suggested was no longer open. We continued to Hotchkiss and stopped for a bite. I think Mr. Conlon would have approved of our choice. We continued on to Delta and ran 550 all the way back to Ouray. Unfortunately I had a slight delay. While trailing a few riders, I was attempting to catch up and got the attention of a local LEO. With the Luck the Kurt and I had 4 years ago in Colorado still in effect. I DID NOT get a performance award. Later in the evening Alan had contacted us about a possible meet and ride. While at dinner we struck up a conversation with the gentleman that was riding a purely amazing American made Sport-Touring bike. A Motus, #15 off the assembly line.


Fred

[aviationfred]

Andy and I had spent the previous evening planning the ride route that Alan would be able to meet up and ride with us, while enjoying a pretty good Pizza. The plan was to ride from Ouray to Cañon City along US50 and have lunch at K-Bob's Steakhouse. As Alan has already posted, he met us between Gunnison and Monarch Pass.   There is the 7 mile climb up to Monarch pass that is one of my favorite short stretches of curvy goodness. Glass smooth asphalt, Double East bound lanes, appropriately banked corners and an absolute blast to blaze up to the summit. Stick it in 4th gear and go WOT with a bit of a roll off in the corners.    The 6 mile drop from the summit is steep and fast   and brings you into a valley that has some pretty good roads leading into the town of Salida. From Salida to Cañon City you pretty much ride the course of the Arkansas River. The river on your left and steep river cut cliffs on your right for about 60 miles. Caught during to right time of day with little traffic....this stretch is amazing. Alan showed us the amazing Skyline Drive. A single lane paved road that gives the impression of literally riding your FJ on a Roller Coaster rail. Once in Cañon City, we had a late lunch at K-Bob's Steakhouse and then a reverse trip back to Ouray. All total distance was around 450 miles for the day, by far the longest rally ride for me.


Fred

[CutterBill]

Pretty much the only interesting photo I took on my way to Ouray. And if you are wondering, yes that is the road you saw in Forrest Gump...

[CutterBill]

One more photo. Taken during a ride with Fred and Mike R. on Thursday...