Snippets

[kkbii]

Have a great trip . we will be waiting on ride reports.

[Crusty]

Cold Rain

I made it to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado this afternoon after pushing through Missouri and Kansas. I'm in a motel again. There are scattered showers all around me and there's no such thing as warm rain in Colorado. I was just about to get soaked when I spotted this motel and I made a quick executive decision. In other words, I wimped out.

Today went a lot smoother than yesterday did. Traffic wasn't that bad and I was able to maintain a mostly steady speed at, or slightly above, the Speed Limit. I did that for a couple of reasons. I want my tires to last the whole trip and higher speed wears them out faster and there were a whole lot of State Revenue Enhancement personnel along the way. So far, there have been many in each State I've been in. I guess they're warming up for the Holiday Weekend.

Back in 2005, Terri (my Ex) and I rode our bikes out to Colorado. We discovered a real gem of a restaurant in Russell, Kansas called Meridy's and we had dinner there. Since we were staying in a motel up the road for the night, we went back to Meridy's for breakfast. Both meals were way above average. That stayed in my memory, so I made it a point to stop there for lunch today. After that many years, anything was possible. The restaurant may have changed hands or it may have changed cooks or it may even have gone out of business.

It's still in business and the food is still very good and reasonably priced. I'm glad I stopped there. As I was getting ready to leave, the waitress told me that the next time I come back, I should try the Chicken Fried Steak. I don't know when I'll be back again, but I bet I'll remember that if I do manage to get back again. Nice people, nice prices and good food. I recommend it as worth stopping for.

Well; I'm in for the evening. I'll probably send this out in the morning if I can find a Golden Starches with WiFi.

Cold Fog

I'm in Colorado Springs having an expensive Flat White coffee in a Starbucks type coffee shop.I left the really crappy motel at about 6:00 AM. I took Gargle's route to Colorado Springs and boy, it's over some crappy road.

I was sunny when I left the motel; but I could see the thick layer of fog between me and the mountains. I had to stop when I first turned onto State Rt. 94 and put on my sweatshirt. Now, I'm thinking I might put on my electric jacket liner and my winter gloves.

I don't recognize Colorado Springs any more. I found my way to Route 115, but nothing is like it was when I lived here in the 70s. There are two Space Force bases here that I never heard of, as well as the other military bases. I think that makes five or six in all. The city has grown until I don't know most of the major streets and roads.

Well; I've finished my coffee. I'll be in Cedaredge by tonight.

[Crusty]

In Cedaredge


I made it to Susan's House around dinnertime yesterday. it was sunny and in the 80s when I arrived, but I encountered rain, snow, thunderstorms and temperatures ranging from mid-40s to mid-80s along the way.

I left the Black Bear Coffee Shop in Colorado Springs and headed south on Rt.115. The sun came out within 10 miles and it immediately started warming up. By the time I got to US Rt. 50, I was feeling pretty comfortable. I followed Rt.50 west and stopped in Salida and got lunch at a Macca's. It was warm enough that I took off my sweatshirt, then I continued west. The sky was darkening as I approached Monarch Pass, so I got smart and pulled into a Chain-Up area and put the rain liner in my jacket as well as putting on my sweatshirt again. I also put on my winter gloves. I didn't put on my rain pants, which turned out to be a mistake.

I was on my way up the pass when big raindrops began hitting me. The rain got heavier for a while, then became snow as my elevation increased. Once over the summit, the snow turned back to rain; thgen the rain quit altogether and the sun reappeared. There were a few scattered very dark clouds that were visibly raining, but there was sun on me. As I pulled into Gunnison, a very large cloud that had several bolts of lightning hitting the ground was directly in my path, so I pulled into another Micky D's and got a coffee and an apple pie to wait it out.

After the storm passed, I continued west until I hit a construction zone. All the westbound traffic was stopped and there were no eastbound vehicles on the road. I stopped at 2:20 (I looked at my watch). We sat until 3:15 when I saw a string of vehicles coming east towards us. There were 118 cars, trucks and motorcycles (I counted them) that passed me, then the westbound traffic got to go, There was only one lane open and our speed varied from stopped to a pulse quicking 23 MPH. It took a while to get through the construction, then the race was on. Frustrated drivers were looking to pass and make up time; timid drivers from the flat lands were driving beyond their abilities, trying to get the yahoos off their tails, and it was all happening on very twisty mountain pass roads.

I had taken off my sweatshirt and swapped my winter gloves for my thin gloves while I was waiting at the Construction site, and that was a good thing. I finally made my way into Montrose, where I got gas, then found my way to Cedaredge and Susan's house.

I really like the dry climate here. It gets hot during the day, but cools down into the 40s at night which makes for really good sleeping.

I don't know when I'll be able to send this out. Susan doesn't have internet. I'll have to hit a McDonald's or the Public Library or someplace with Wee-Fee or somethin' to send it out. Just so you know, today is Friday May 26.

Today, we're going out to see some of the area, and I think we're stopping for BBQ at a local joint. If it's any good, I'll let everybody know.

[sportsterpaul]

Okay John, what happened with the Bar-b-que?