A Ride To Victor, Colorado
A ride out west, on two wheels, beautiful weather, a full belly, and a full tank of gas... It's really hard to beat that!
I took the opportunity and did my best to get myself lost. You turn off the GPS and just go in whatever direction you can see. And I mean any direction. On this particular ride, I was trying to keep it to flat roads to go as far as I could in as little time it would take, but I found myself going over trails I don't even think cars could make it over.
My first stop of the day was a charming valley with a small river flowing through it. In the distance, I could see a piece of property with absolutely no idea how one would get to it. And to whoever lives/vacations there, I bet that is exactly what they were going for. There was nothing else out there. It would be amazing to wake up and hear nothing but the breeze blowing through the trees.
A little further up the road was one of the few tunnels I've ever been in that was completely pitch black. So dark that the headlight of my motorcycle was barely enough for me to see the path to the exit. It wasn't a very large or long tunnel, but to cruise on through took a bit of faith that you weren't going to wind up with your face against the sides. If I wasn't concerned about cars running through, it would be fun to walk through one day.
The valleys along this route are absolutely stunning. This is early Springtime 2022, so the grass is still brown, no leaves on anything but the pine, and if you look close I'm sure you could still spot some snow.
Crazy views. You wouldn't be able to tell but that is a rather steep and deep cliff off the roadside. I wish my camera could have done it justice!
And finally, the destination! Victor, Colorado. There were bars, shops, and activities just like a larger city but I'm sure everyone here knew everyone in town. Not far from Colorado Springs you could feel like you went back in time to the Gold Rush.
Some of the views were too good to pass up. Taking some of the extra time to stop and breathe, would take that breath right back out of you.
I just crested a hill and I swear I actually made a noise when I saw this. I still don't know if it was a gasp or something unmentionable, but this is why I love the Rockies.
I had to check out the overlook of the mine outside of town. And truly, this does not represent the absolutely MASSIVE hole the earth this thing really is. I'll try to describe it, but you know those GIGANTIC dump trucks that just the tires are the size of a large house? So, that road on the left going uphill, that isn't a single path your Ford Ranger takes up a driveway, no, that is a two-way road for those dump trucks! Just that road could fit your house AND mine side-by-side and probably not even touch the edge!
The end of my journey was at an overlook of Cripple Creek, Colorado, where I was about halfway through my gas tank and a few hours into my day and I was just about tired. But I wish I had enough gas to keep pushing and make a straight line to the West because there was so much Earth left uncovered and I was just dying to cross it.
A Perfect Trip Isn't Without Its Downsides
I had made it about 90% of the trip without issue. It was incredible, enjoyable, and peaceful. Until the moment when I felt something shaking loose on my motorcycle.
I had made this trip with confidence that I could make the extra mileage than normal because I had installed a gas can on a rack that would double my range. This gas can, as it turns out, was too much weight for my poor little rack.
Those water ruts in the road were no help either...
The screws holding everything down had rattled loose. There were 4 screws and they all came out. These screws held in my plastics, my seat, my license plate, and almost my whole back end!
Luckily, the mounting points had bent under the weight of the can, so they were held down to the motorcycle without coming off. So, rattles and all I was able to make it home without losing my precious gas!
The major damage was that the rack has scratched my plastics up real bad, and put holes in the seat. So now I need to buy new plastics and a new seat. That is... only if I plan to sell it. I can tolerate a bit of damage. It just upsets me that the bike had less than 600 miles on it.