Autumn's End

[Vagabird]

It was looking like this may be the last nice day for a while, so I put everything aside and headed up to the mountains for a day ride before the rain and snow knock all the leaves off the trees.

Leaving town I tried for the first time to take pictures while riding. (I got my armpit a few times, but I’m learning.)
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389067637_354Fg-L.jpg

Toward the edge of the Laramie Plains there is a little lake.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389067044_F8FwQ-L.jpg

I continued toward the hills.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389068654_5Y5DA-L.jpg

Up past remote ranches…
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389069175_4tNgT-L.jpg

Welcome to Colorado.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389110488_qfeBB-L.jpg

Finally, leaving the main (dirt) road…
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389070312_7LFiS-L.jpg

Heading higher…
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389070192_h9v27-L.jpg

Into the woods…
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389071308_DoW86-L.jpg

Finally reaching an area above the aspens and cottonwoods…
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389071615_TYkjB-L.jpg

Up in this area, the only “autumn color” is caused by pine bark beetles killing the trees.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389072499_W5apC-L.jpg

There was just a dusting of snow in the woods, but finding this at mid-day means more snow is coming.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389072513_7hxdp-L.jpg

Hmmm. :scratch I’m out of cell phone range, I’m traveling alone, no one knows I’m here, and I haven’t seen another vehicle for over an hour. Time to turn around.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389072474_zB87V-L.jpg

Back to the county road. They may not plow it, but it’s better than that forest road. (And if I’m lying in the middle of it, someone might come by before next weekend.)
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389073615_muYfK-L.jpg

Besides, the scenery is pretty good here too.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389073705_GMcYL-L.jpg

Uh, what does that sign say?
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389073888_e7oUD-L.jpg

To be continued...

[Vagabird]

What’s this?
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389074774_TSJdx-L.jpg

Oh.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389074688_pcvLF-L.jpg

If that’s Nebraska in the distance, I must be coming out of the wilds.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389075212_NWLXW-L.jpg

The rocks and plants are changing as I head down.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389075337_D7W5Q-L.jpg

Oops. :stick Note to self: Pay more attention to the road and less to the scenery.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389075856_Kakdf-L.jpg
Fortunately both of us were both wearing protective gear. Oddly enough, after not seeing another vehicle for almost two hours, seven cars passed within ten minutes after getting Giselle upright and underway.

Definitely getting back to lower elevations here.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389076104_AWcNg-L.jpg

And lower still. (Note that I’m now separating the task of riding from that of leaf peeping.)
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389076682_sGJLr-L.jpg

Goodbye leaves.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389076712_k6dwe-L.jpg

Back to civilization.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389076978_j3oSb-L.jpg

The road seems boring after crossing the mountain through the forest.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389077769_VP5gu-L.jpg

Goodbye mountains. See you in the spring (or next week, if the weather holds).
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389077713_EXiwx-L.jpg

Now I’m REALLY back to civilization.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389078436_FfjAu-L.jpg

Enough of Colorado, let’s head back north to Wyoming.
The pronghorn are moving to lower elevations and gathering in larger herds – a sure sign that winter is coming.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389078917_3wDXK-L.jpg

Back in Wyoming.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389078836_dbE6p-L.jpg

And back to Laramie.
http://vagabird.smugmug.com/photos/389067475_mX7Gb-L.jpg

[Visian]

wow... great ride and report. the photos are excellent... thanks for posting.

what roads were you on?

ian

[john1691]

Very nice, thanks for sharing your ride. I hope to get out that way on the cycle someday..............

[tessler]

:thumb :thumb :thumb

[Oldhway]

Good stuff!! Love that part of the country and hope to retire there some day.

Thanks for the great report :thumb !

[Hoffy20]

Nice pics and reports. Love riding through WY & CO. Also have seen your touring hints in the mag.

Larry - Next-Door tent at Gillette

[SheRidesABeemer]

Great ride report, I really liked the yellow leaves and snow on the peaks in the background. thanks for posting! :thumb

[Vagabird]

wow... great ride and report. the photos are excellent... thanks for posting.

what roads were you on?

ian

I rode WY 230 south to Woods Landing, and then WY 10 into Colorado where it becomes dirt and CR 103. At a place called Four Corners, which is just a crossroads in the middle of the high valley, I headed up CR 162 (Dead Man Road). I tried going down several Forest Service roads, but each one sooner or later got beyond my abilities (not hard to do). County 162 ends at CR 74E (Red Feather Lakes Rd) in the lakes area, where the pavement starts again. I took that down the hill to Livermore and US 287. Then it was just 287 into Fort Collins and back to Laramie. The pretty section is between Woods Landing and Red Feather, which is old ranches and forest and out of the range of second homes.

[Visian]

At a place called Four Corners, which is just a crossroads in the middle of the high valley, I headed up CR 162 (Dead Man Road).

excellent information... thanks.

was this road off of CO14?

ian

[Vagabird]

Nice pics and reports. Love riding through WY & CO. Also have seen your touring hints in the mag.

Larry - Next-Door tent at Gillette

Hey Larry, stop by next time you're through this way! There're some nice roads in this area, even though most of them will be closed soon.

[Vagabird]

excellent information... thanks.

was this road off of CO14?

ian

You can get there from CO 14. Turn north on CR 103 around Chambers Lake.

[terham]

Outstanding photos and report. Thanks for showing that part of the country.

[Rpbump]

Great pictures of beautiful scenery. Ride Safe :usa

[sellis]

Thanks for posting the pictures, it brought back some memories of the great riding we did around WY this summer. I rode out to Gillette for the Rally and spent some time riding around the area. Really enjoyed the state, probably will try to work WY into a trip next year.

Steve

[bobs98]

Beautiful area and great photos! Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to share with us!

[franze]

Thoroughly enjoyed the pictures. The simple narrative truly highlighted the vast west and really worked well with the content. Definitely got the " cowboy spinnin' a yarn" from your report. Loved it, thanks!:thumb

[mIrvin]

Thanks Vagabird for sharing the pics, I grew up in Livermore in the 50's and 60's. Great country, I rode out to see my sister in Fort Collins the last part of May, I was dis-appointed to see that the place my family built in the early sixties had burned down, it was that place on the west side of 287 just on top of the hill from the Forks hotel. Last May was the first time I had been back since 1987, many many changes.....Thanks again...........................Mike

[Vagabird]

many many changes.....

I've only lived in this area for seven years and have already seen lots of changes - mostly houses filling in the beautiful empty spaces. I love the little church in Virginia Dale that burned down and was rebuilt exactly the same. Now I'll give a little wave to The Forks each time I go by. :wave