Uraling for Fall Colors along Marshall Pass Road

 Tuesday, Oct 11

No riding today, spent the rather windy day working on stuff within and outside the VRRV.  Chores such as applying 303 Protectant on all rubber seals and decals on the VRRV.  Fixing a dislodge section of trim on the right rear corner of the VRRV, must have caught it on a stump or something while parking it.

I cleaned off the old sealant, a little hammering after applying new sealant and it's all "good".

Some cleaning tasks, and a check of the hardware securing the front rack that carries Yagi.  All good.  If not working on something, I was reading or resting inside the VRRV, too windy outside adding an unwelcome wind chill factor.

Wednesday, Oct 12

Today I rode Scarlett up to Marshall Pass Road, seeking more Fall Colors.  In the end, the pickings were slim!  Lots of Aspen have already lost all their leaves, especially alongside the road.  You could see some color down in the valleys below the road but not accessible without some climbing.

Pano with Mt Ouray and part of the

Sangre de Cristo Range

Views along FR 204:

After I returned to US285, I headed into Salida to the Walmart to pick up some stuff and a couple of food items.  I also topped off Scarlett's gas tank and the spare 5 gallon gas can on my way through Poncha Springs.

Got back in the late afternoon, put stuff away and just processed pictures and rested.  I was feeling a bit tired and my right calf had been giving some trouble all day, nothing major, just not full painless mobility yet.

I think I'll revisit the Aspen grove I found closer to me on the southern end of the dispersed camping area tomorrow, we'll see how my calf is feeling.

Now Boondocking near Poncha Pass

Headed out of Buena Vista this morning shortly after 7AM.  I'd woken at 4:30AM and had not been able to roll over and get back to sleep.

By 10 AM I was at my preferred spot in the BLM area just south of Poncha Pass, south of the town of Poncha Springs, CO.  There's only 2-3 other campers out here with their rigs.  Before I arrived, I stopped south of Salida at the visitor center where I was able to dump tanks ($10 via credit card) and fill up with potable water.

The morning was pretty windy as I set up camp and it would blow on and off through the rest of the day.  A bit cloudy, but when the sun was out, it felt nice, especially when the wind would die down.

The area has experienced major logging activity!  The campsite used to have a lot more trees behind it.

After lunch, I went riding with Yagi, my TW200, to check out the Fall Colors (or variations of Yellow), in the area.

I had to ride to the southern edge of the BLM area to find the good stuff:

Reflections

Part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range

Mount Ouray

As I returned towards camp, I checked out some other spots and at one of them found a nice pile of cut aspen wood.  Since I was riding Yagi, I was only able to grab a few logs:

Meager Load

Of course, I then returned with Scarlett:

Full Load!

The local Fourteeners on the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range have their first coatings of Winter ...

Cottonwood Peak

Mount Owen

Back at camp, I started a fire and tended it till dark.  

Dinner by the fire

The plan is for Martha to join me out here this weekend.  Should be fun.  

Fall Colors on the Road to Cottonwood Lake

 It had been quite cloudy and overcast when I first drove Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig, to Cottonwood Lake after having checked out Cottonwood Pass.

I had at the time, thought I should return on a sunnier day; thinking it would improve the collection of Fall Colors pictures.

Today, the sun was out in force and though clouds did form before I was at Cottonwood Lake, there was enough sun if one was patient for clouds to move out of the sun's way.

Sheep Mountain

Reflections

A sight from CR 306

Though not pictured above, there were plenty of cagers out doing their own leaf-peeping.  By 1230 or so, I'd had enough of colors and people, so I headed into town.  Got some groceries and then retreated to my campsite, seeking solitude once more.

The afternoon was breezy but was mostly sunny, good resting weather.

Tonight's sunset show wasn't too shabby:

Still alive...just recovering.

Still here in the Four Mile Travel Management Area near Buena Vista, Colorado.  As you know, I managed to crash my TW200 a couple of times on muddy trails on Wednesday, this week.

Besides my pride, the only injury I sustained was the motorcycle falling onto my right calf somehow in the first fall.  It swelled up a bit but it's surprisingly did not bruise up.

By Thursday I was able to walk almost normally with just some twinges as I put pressure on the right leg.  Thursday was definitely a rest and recovery day.  I did get in a short hike on a nearby trail to stretch out the calf muscle.

Friday, Oct 7

Laundry at a laundromat in town, then more resting.

A lunch to help me heal....

After lunch, I saw a guy park nearby and walk into my campsite.  He said he was doing a survey, then I watched him walk over to the neighboring campsite and pick up trash.

At first I was suspicious and watched him carefully, he ended up back at my site and we talked.   He's a volunteer with a group called Friends of Four Mile.

Four Mile TMA

They go around checking the campsites, usually after the people have left, if they see trash they pick it up.  They're kind of like the eyes and ears of the BLM officers / Forest Service rangers in a way.  No enforcement authority whatsoever of course.

Actions such of those groups like this one, almost restore hope in me for humankind.