Gone to Gunnison

Trying out the extension of the work from home concept.  My present contract is based on the premise that I do most if not all of my work remotely, telecommuting full time so to speak.  Basically, I connect via the Internet to the company's network and put in my hours as needed.

So I thought to myself the week before last: "Hey, you don't have to be at home to work remotely, you doofus....all you need is Internet access, power, shelter and some kind of makeshift workspace."

Some map perusing and online searching later, I made reservations at the KOA in Gunnison, CO for three nights.  I got on my 2011 Ural Patrol Sidecar, Valencia, right after work today and hit the road for what would be a 4 hour 35 minute ride from Centennial to Gunnison!

It was mainly slab riding of course in order to make the campsite before dark.  I was mostly on US285 once I left the Denver Metro Area.  Except for fuel stops, my only other stops would end up being stops to don or shed rain gear, and of course to take pictures.

Once I was down from Kenosha Pass and into the Colorado Plateau Valley, it was time to pose Valencia with some mountains comprising part of the Continental Divide in the background:

 On the valley floor, western side of Kenosha Pass

The Continental Divide mountains in the background

Continuing on US285, the towns of Jefferson, Fairplay were passed with ease.  This road enables you to claim several passes by the way.  There was Crow Hill, Kenosha Pass, Red Hill Pass, Trout Creek Pass, and finally the mighty Monarch Pass on US50.

Once you get to Buena Vista (Good View in Spanish), you can gaze in awe at the massive mountain formations to the west of the junction of US285 and US24 known as the Collegiate Peaks.

The light however wasn't very favorable for pictures, lots of haze and of course the overcast skies laden with rain clouds didn't really allow the sun to paint the mountains nicely.

The lighting wasn't great, but it had stopped raining at this point so I was not complaining!

Soon after the above pictures, I came upon the junction of US285 and US50 which I took westbound towards Monarch Pass and the Monarch Ski Resort.  Valencia struggled a bit with the altitude and the uphill portions of the ride but she still managed to actually pass some other vehicles!  I think the engine is finally getting fully broken in....

The requisite picture

Being in the mountains, things turned pretty dark by now, it was around 6:15PM or so I think but the overcast skies and mountains made it look much later.  I chased the setting sun along US50 and soon I could see a big rain cloud dumping rain on the town of Gunnison.  I made good speed and arrived in town just a little after 7:00PM, the rain had passed and I got to the campsite with no hassles.

I had, by mistake, booked what the KOA Camp folks call a Tent Cabin....I thought it was just an overhead shelter arrangement under which one pitched a tent.  Nope, it turns out to be a 10x10 A-Frame structure that sleeps two adults in small single "beds".  You lay out your sleeping bag on top of the foam cushion.  You get electric power, lights, a lockable set of doors and this view of a small pond:

Valencia is parked right outside so I can keep an eye on her with no issues.  It's getting late and it was a long ride.  I'll take pictures of the tent cabin tomorrow in the light of day for your viewing amusement.  After I put in a full day's of work, there will be riding to be done!