RV Trip: Hartsel Valley, Buena Vista and Independence Pass

This was an RV trip to test out cold weather mitigation techniques in terms of being able to use the fresh water tank.  Last trip out to Buena Vista, I thought I'd run out of water, turned out the tubes feeding the water pump had frozen (and maybe the pump as well).

This time, I used my old Honda EU1000i generator to provide power through most of the night so that I could turn on the heat pads that are attached to all three tanks: fresh, gray and black water.  Each pad uses 9 Amps of electricity when on so my battery couldn't handle it alone.

I'm please to report nothing froze overnight on Thursday, as I boondocked at a friend of a neighborhood friend's place near Hartel, Colorado.  I also woke to a beautiful sunrise:

After breakfast, I broke camp and headed a short distance away, about 30 miles to the boondocking spot near Buena Vista, CO.  I like this spot since it's never full and as I'm typing this, there's perhaps three other campers total in the site tonight.

After work on Friday, Scarlett and I rode up US24 North out of Buena Vista and were soon going up CO Hwy 82, aka Independence Pass Road which I was surprised to find was still open for traffic.

 I like this set to tunnels near the campground, they're

called the Midlands Tunnels

It took very little time to get to the summit of Independence Pass as traffic was very light for a Friday afternoon.  I spent a little time on top taking the following pictures:

 Looking towards Aspen, I didn't go there today.

 The requisite picture of one's ride at the Pass Sign

 The view of neighboring peaks as one descends back

down towards the town of Twin Lakes

I scouted some campgrounds near Twin Lakes, CO, making note of their cellular data signal for future use.  Of the three campgrounds I visited, the two National Forest campgrounds were closed for the season.

Scarlett and I hurried back towards Buena Vista but got to our preferred sunset picturing spot with plenty of time.

 Along County Road 361 just north of Buena Vista

The clouds showed much promise but by the time the sun

went down, there wasn't much left.

A fairly mild sunset with rosy pink pastel highlights for the most part.  Scarlett and I rode back to the campground in the gathering darkness with no issues.  We go home tomorrow I think, unless I make a stop at the Dexter Point Campground near Twin Lakes.  We shall see.

RV Trip: Loveland, CO - Uraling to Carter Lake/Pinewood Reservoir

My loving wife Martha had a nurse conference to attend this weekend in Loveland, CO.  So we decided to mix work with a little glamping.  I got to the Boyd Lake State Park on Thursday afternoon and set up camp; with Martha joining me Friday evening after work.

A nice park, Boyd Lake, there were plenty of sites open, all with power but no other hookups.  Still, got a lakeside spot and no issues getting the water tank filled up for use while glamping.

I did a little bit of riding on Friday, ending up riding along the eastern edge of Carter lake about an hour before sunset.

Carter Lake

I saw and rode over three dams which form the lake apparently, pretty nice spot for boating I assume and picnics.

Sunset was pretty good Thursday night:

Today, Saturday, while Martha was at the conference getting her educational credits for certification, I rode.

Fiona, my '99 Bural Patrol Sidecar Rig and I rode on US34 west towards Carter Lake again but this time we went past its exit and kept heading up Flat Iron Mountain road towards the Pinewood Reservoir.

Randy, the premier URAL dealer in Colorado, had recommended I check out the road going up to Pinewood Reservoir and he was quite correct in that it's a great riding road.

The Pinewood reservoir itself, the brief moments I stayed there, was not very impressive, it is the road and its views of Flat Iron Reservoir that make it an enjoyable ride.

 Nice view of Flat Iron Reservoir eh?

Once off of Flat Iron Mountain Road, it was a quick turn into Carter Lake to get a picture of the same spot, but this time showing the incoming weather clouds.

 Carter Lake

I took County Road 8E out of the southern portion of the Carter Lake park and wound my way past many ranching home communities till I was back on US34.

 View from bridge on US34, overlooking the Big Thompson River

The last stop was at the Devil's Backbone trail head to get a shot of the back bone, it was OK I suppose.

Devil's Backbone

I stopped by Randy's shop: Unique Rides and got some parts for the next 10K Km service interval for Scarlett, my 2014 Patrol; she's actually approaching the 50K Km mark (though her engine was rebuilt by Sergey of Ural at 41.7K Km).

Nice easy day of riding, a bit windy at times but pretty nice.  Sunset was a wash as the incoming weather basically blanketed the views to the west of Loveland.  

Martha and I are homeward bound tomorrow.  A nice little glamping interlude.

A Slew of Sunsets to finish off October

Here's a compilation of sunset pictures that we enjoyed here in the Great and overcrowded State of Colorado; since our return from our Glamping trip to South Dakota.

It's really only the Metro Denver area that is crowded beyond the capacities of its aging infrastructure, I know, but sometimes it seems the whole state is filling up.

Still, the sunsets lately have been pretty nice, with one being exceptional in its colors....

Oct 23

Oct 24

Oct 27

The setting sun's light seems to spill over the foothills 

Oct 28

Oct 29

Update: Nov 01, adding photos from the Halloween Sunset: Oct 31.

 

 Denver Skyline

Like Father like Son?

Back in 2009, I was working in the garage and my youngest son Miles who was 9 at the time, was "helping" me.

Back then, it was Maria, my 2004 BMW R1150RT, that was my sole motorcycle.

After we buttoned her up, Miles asked about being able to ride a motorcycle...even though he couldn't reach the pegs on Maria.

The full details here on the blog link:  LINK

Since then, I'd not given the above conversation much thought.  When asked about riding by Miles after he'd gotten his driving license, I told him: Make it through two years of car driving without an accident and we'll see.

Well, it's been over two years and no accidents per se.  His car has been hit twice, in a minor manner, in parking lots but that doesn't count.

So this past Sunday, Miles swung a leg over a motorcycle at the Basic Rider Course given by T3RG; the same folks who trained me over 11 years ago.

Here's some snippets from Monday, when I stopped by before lunch:

Dang it, he can reach the pedals now....

We're now in the process of getting him his own, proper, riding gear and helmet because he will be ATGATT, or else.

Tuesday afternoon after work, Miles and I went out for a diagnostic ride.  He rode Brigitta, my '87 R80 Beemer and I followed behind him on Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol sidecar rig.  We were using the Sena intercom headsets to communicate as I gave him instructions and advise when needed.

I wanted to see how well he'd absorbed the material from the BRC and I must say he did pretty well actually.  Some rookie mistakes but nothing major and he learned a few things I think.

Best of all, he didn't drop Brigitta!

More such rides to follow, both to increase his and my confidence levels on his ability to ride safely.  We're looking for his own motorcycle of course, something at 500cc or a bit lower for insurance and power purposes.

He wore my regular riding gear until we get him his own, and he'll be sporting a full face helmet and real moto boots very soon!