Uraling to the top of Pikes Peak - finally

Natasha, my Ural Sportsman sidecar rig and I, had attempted three times to ride to the top of Pikes Peak together.  The first time was back in November of last year, and we ended up being stopped a bit after mile marker 16 of the 19 miles to the top! 

The second time I tried, the sign at the toll station said that the road was only open to mile marker 13, I didn't even ride up.

Today was the third attempt, and as they say, third time's a charm.  Or course, being the middle of summer helps too in terms of no snow blocking the road to the top!

I left home around 7:50 AM and it was at 9:42 AM that I got through the toll booth and did a check-in with my loving wife before heading up the 19 miles to the top of the mountain.  Traffic was light on the Pikes Peak Highway and road conditions were good, even on the dirt portions of the road since it had apparently rained pretty hard the night before, so no dust.  Plenty of gravel and sand washed down from the sides of the mountain though, but being on three wheel, no big deal for Natasha.

Crystal Lake Reservoir, that's Pikes Peak in the background

Click here for a picture of Brigitta, my 1987 R80 Beemer at Crystal Lake back in March of '09

As you can see from the first picture above, the top of Pikes Peak was shrouded in clouds today.  I took it as a good omen since it's kind of barren up there above the timberline when there's no snow, the clouds would add a foggy effect to the shots.

I hit the "cloud line" shortly after I crossed above the timberline.  

This was the view just before the 12000 foot marker.

Being inside the clouds, you couldn't see the valley below or the surrounding terrain

One of my favorite spots to photograph, the Boulder Pile, as I call it.

Click here for a picture of Natasha back in November of 2009

Click here for a pano picture of Brigitta back in March of '09

Looking down from the Boulder Pile

click here for a picture of Brigitta from same location but in March of '09

Leaving the clouds below me, at the first hairpin turn

Click here for a pano shot of Natasha in same spot, back in November of last year

An attempt at an artsy shot

Next to the Bottomless Pit, the clouds crash into the mountainside and roll up like volcanic gases

A closer view of Natasha with the clouds boiling up from below hiding the rocks behind her

Here's a shot of Brigitta in same spot, March of '09

That straight line you see is the Cog Railroad line from Manitou Springs up to the top of Pikes Peak

It had always been snow-covered before so I'd not seen it.

There were a lot of cars and tourists up on the top of the mountain, not sure what they were taking pictures of besides themselves as the clouds were thick on top.  I managed to squeeze Natasha in between two cars for this shot of the summit sign:

Natasha at the peak, finally.

There really was not much to see up on top, what with the clouds and all so I started heading down the mountain.  I must say, the cars seemed more aggressive on the way down and I found myself pulling over a lot to let them get by.  Or, perhaps they had no idea how to put their car in lower gear and were burning up their brakes!

I stopped at this spot being graded for hikers and parking, that had a view of the Crystal Lake Reservoir.

Nearing the Boulder Pile, I always stop for this shot.

Here's a shot of Brigitta in near the same spot, back in March of '09

Here's a pano shot of Natasha as she nears the Bottomless Pit area

As I stood next to Natasha in the spot above, waiting for a line of cages to clear the shot, one of them paused and took a picture of me of all things!  I waved, they smiled and yelled "Nice Bike!"

A pano shot of the hairpin before the Boulder Pile

Here's a shot of Natasha in November of '09, quite a difference eh?

Pikes Peak, check!

On the way home, instead of retracing my route on CO83 to Parker, I swung east of Colorado Springs on US24 and took the road north to the small town of Elbert.  I wanted to get a look at the green prairies and lush wooded areas of the eastern portion of the Front Range.

The ride home was without incident and in very light traffic.  Got home a little bit before 4PM, perhaps 200 miles of riding in about 7 and 1/2 hrs of saddle time, a good ride.