My Annual Four Days from MN to CO and home

[KGT1200]

Northfield to Steamboat Springs in late September 2556 miles this year in a four day period with much crowded into a short trip.

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Every year I take a ride in September from home to visit a friend in Colorado, and the last two years, it’s been to Steamboat Springs, CO.
This year’s trip as well as last, I ended the trip with the treat of attending a music concert; this year it was Further at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
outside of Morrison, Colorado. This trip started off different by beginning on the tail end of what turns out to be the heaviest storm of the summer.
Friday evening you would have found me pumping out my well pit and replacing the now fried electrical control box, which flooded to the extent it
floated the pressure tank, and shorted out the electrics on the well! The ride out the next day reflected the amount of rain in the fields, and the
swollen streams that decorated the already saturated landscape. The forecast was good, the well back on line, and at 7:00 AM, I was good to go!
I was never so glad to see the forecast showing NO RAIN all the way to Gillette, my first day out on I-90.

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The weather improved as
I neared South Dakota on I-90. As I try to push ahead at least 140 miles between stops, my breaks were infrequent.
My goal for the evening was Gillette Wyoming, about 600 miles up the road.
This shot was taken outside of Mitchell, South Dakota. Over the years, I've taken every route to get from Minnesota to Colorado, but I-90 seems to be the fastest route
and the one that leads me through some great country if you just keep your eyes on the scenery.

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Crossing over the Missouri River (Francis Case Lake)
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The second day going the backroute out of uneventful (yawn) Gillette to
Steamboat Springs from Wyoming, and the weather was perfect! It always
astounds me the lack of traffic, yet the most beautiful scenery on this route to Cody.

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Heading West to the mountains
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Looking out towards the foothills as I head towards Cody, Wyoming, in route to Rawlins, Wyoming, then on to Colorado.
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No traffic, and no tourists except me!

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At the end of the road, my friend Wes and his condo were a welcome site to see! I met up with Greg and Wes,
and spent the evening catching up from the previouus years Steamboat gathering.

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[KGT1200]

Heading down from Steamboat to Red Rocks the next day. This is a view of Rabbit Ears Pass from the west.
I took the route over Monarch pass, and unfortunately went by a clean up of a pretty serious motorcycle wreck
where the bike had slid into the opposite lane, and was ran over by a 40 ft. boat in tow. It left a serious note
to the remaining trip that day. I then took I-70 down to the Morrison exit.
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I've been to concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre a million times, but never on a bike. This is a picture of me with
my other Dead Head friends!
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Colorado LEOS are always friendly and a good bunch of guys!
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Arrival in Masonville CO the next day at the home of Wes and Liz. As usual, the hospitality flowed over, down to a
mint on the bed and a great breakfast! I left there for a little site seeing over the peak to peak highway, and then a
race for home to meet my work schedule waiting for me in Minnesota. Funny thing on how work gets in the way of rides!
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Local scenery before heading home. This little peak is called Twin Sisters. this is about a half of a sister!
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I was pleased how I seemed to leave the huge stands of beetle kill trees draped in red that I had seen when coming over Monarch pass!
there may be hope yet for the froont range.
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The trip's end was upon me and I pulled 900 miles straight home. Until next year!

[womanridge]

Thanks for your ride report, Dale. I enjoyed reading/viewing it.

[Voni]

Glad the weather gods were with you!

Thanks for sharing your travels!

Voni
sMiling