Pic Heavy Ride Report - MS to Bella Coola & Back 11,000 Miles Heat, Hail & Bears

[DK Custom Products]

as i was told when we went out there 3 years ago. get out early and try and be at your next stop by 1pm at the latest.

I can confirm...that is REALLY GOOD ADVICE!

Good advice .... or stay in the high country ... we are in the 100's pretty much every day from mid June to Early August ... but it's a dry heat ... ... we are technically classified as "High Desert" ... 5200 feet and humidity in the teens most of the time ... the good news ...

soaking your clothes will cool you down and it won't take long to dry. Save lots of the water for yourself to drink ...

Yeah, well, it dries too fast!

Mary and I have decided we like the humid heat Far more than the dry heat.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

A couple of days in Grand Junction, visiting and riding with Alan, aka Fuzzy.

Last night we met Fuzzy, Alan, and went down the road for dinner. Had a great time visiting, closed the place down. Great food, Great conversation, & A/C for Mary.

Went out to the parking lot, our two Tri-Glides were the only vehicles there. Yes, there are two TG's in the pic below....shows you the benefit of a light color at night time.



This morning we see someone had scraped against my rear fender in the Motel parking lot. Does not look good, but will see if it buffs out.



So...Today was a BIG day! Fuzzy took us to the Colorado National Monument, then to the Grand Mesa, then to the HD Dealership, then back to the Super 8, our home away from home.

Mary took over 650 pics, and most of them are spectacular.

It's going to take a few days to whittle it down to 60 or 80 of the best.

Here's the first installment-

Following Alan out of Grand Junction.



It is not long before we are at the entrance to the Colorado National Monument.



Since he knows I like the twistys, and knows I can't take a wrong turn (only one road), he tells me to get up front.



This is gonna be fun!





Oh yeah, after the long straight road yesterday, in crazy heat, it is nice to be climbing into cooler temps via some really great curvy road!



An off camber long sharp curve ahead...just my kind of fun.



But, very quickly I find myself torn....I like to ride hard into the curves...but the sights dictate a slower pace to fully appreciate this amazing place.



I decide to take a much more leisurely pace, enjoying all the sights. Every now and then I speed up for a curve, but mostly we lollygagged along, trying to take it all in.

At this point you can see a bit of the fun road, and we are just barely started!



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Colorado National Monument continued...

WOW! Everywhere we look...



...the sights are amazing!



Just breathtaking!



As we climb, Mary takes a pic of Alan coming up the hill in this enchanted place.



This looks strange, not sure where the road it going...



...ah, a tunnel. That's a lot of rock!



Looks like a massive amount of work cutting thru here!



Looking back at Fuzzy, the tunnel, and where we've come. This place defies words.



Another tunnel, much shorter, much rougher.



A look at just a bit of the road we've traveled so far. Wow!



Next installment coming soon.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

The National Monument outside Grand Junction is truly a must see if you're anywhere close ... truly awesome. I do the ride at least twice a year.

[DK Custom Products]

Day with Fuzzy continued, still on the Colorado National Monument.

Stopped at the Fruita Canyon Overlook...we're no where near the top, but the view is spectacular.



We were looking at the clear coat I put on my rear wheels to see how it was holding up. Just a couple small spots where it looks like it got chipped by some rocks.



Stopped at the visitor center. Inside, was so enthralled with all the info on how they built the road, did not take any pics. lol



Back on the road, heading up the hill.



Looking back.



Usually Mary takes what pics she can as we are riding. The scenery up here is so immense, that I was constantly slowing down, sometimes stopping for pics.



The edge of the road the road is hanging out over/above the road....not something I really care for. lol But it is an amazing sight!



Everywhere we turn the views are HUGE. Pic taken on the fly.



Even though I was mostly taking a leisurely pace, every now and then some curves just begged for me to him them hard...which I did.



Near the top, taking in the view.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Colorado National Monument with Fuzzy continued.


We're starting to head back down now...








Mary missed a shot she wanted...so we did a u-turn. Alan was a bit unsure at first, but then realized how stable these TG's are.







Amazing view!







Look ma, no hands! Felt a bit like we were on a roller coaster, and it looked like the road ended up ahead.







Some more fun curves!







Oh Yeah!







This pic is not distorted, that is how the road surface was angled. Fun!








Everywhere we looked the road was fun and the sights were amazing. We can't thank Alan enough for taking us on this tour today.

Whenever I heard of the Colorado National Monument, I thought it was a monument, a statue.







Another tunnel...







...guess they decided not to tunnel thru this, just blow a channel thru the rock!






We still have a bit more the the CNM, then a ride across some desert, then up to the Grand Mesa, then a ride thru a great canyon road, then some more desert, then back in GJ.

Next installment coming soon.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

A tour with Fuzzy continued!



There is no denying this is a fun road!







Looking behind us....







...and a few seconds later looking ahead of us!








Coasting down the hill...








...from the top, at 7200 ft, to the bottom at 4700 ft...








...about 1/2 of that drop is steep enough...








...that I just put it in neutral, shut the engine off, and we "flew" down. No sound but the rushing wind.








Almost at the bottom...








...and here we are. WOW, what an amazing place. Thank you Alan for taking us here.








Now Alan is back out front, leading the way to the Grand Mesa!






More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

On to the Grand Mesa!


Crossing about 50 miles of desert...yeah, it was up around 100* again...to get to the base of the Grand Mesa...







Fuzzy set a good pace and we were there quickly.








Filling up before getting some lunch and then heading up the hill.

btw, we both filled up at the same gas stations, and we both rode very close to the same ride. I did slow down some in the straights and nail it every now and then in the corners. I also coasted down a few mile hill with the engine off. We compared MPG several times and he was always about .7 to 1 mpg better than us. For all the riding we did, we averaged 38 mpg, that includes climbing up the National monument, and then also climbing up to over 10000 feet on the Grand Mesa, also including close to 100 miles of 70-80 mph interstate riding.







After lunch at Subway, and some good visiting, we started up the hill...







...stunning country, and more fun riding!








Still climbing...from the floor to the top is about a 6000 ft climb. At the top, is the largest flat top mesa in the world.







A lake along the way.







And still more climbing. It is getting cooler, which is very welcomed!







A look back at the lake we just passed a bit ago.







First look at the lake near the Grand Mesa Visitor Center.






Next installment of this fantastic day of riding with Alan coming soon.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Grand Mesa with Alan continued-



Leaving out from the Visitor Center...






...we continue to climb.







What a view! Emerald colored lakes always get me.







Whoa! What's this? Alan takes us on a dirt/gravel road that is reminding me of The Hill out of Bella Coola!







Another amazing view!







Parked at the boat ramp parking lot for the lake...solving the worlds problems. lol







Leaving the lake, I thought we were back on pavement, but still a ways to go on the dirt.







Looks like there's snow somewhere up above melting.







Still climbing, we're almost to the flat top - Grand Mesa







Some patches of snow along the road. (there was some snow still along the bank of the lake we just left also...but no pics of it.)





More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Grand Mesa with Fuzzy continued.


We got to the top, something around 11,000 feet, and it has been nice and cool for awhile now.

It is really flat....







and Huge! We did not spend much time at the top, we cut across a bit of it...







...and then started our 6000 ft descent...







...down the other side....







...which was much faster, less trees, and just as much fun!







Can never have too many sweepers.







A different perspective-







Straight ahead is the Flat Top Grand Mesa that we just came from.







At the bottom Fuzzy leads us thru some gnarly canyons...







...and yes, we are back in the high desert heat!





Last installment of this amazing day coming soon.

Kevin

[DblTrbl]

I'm being a bit selfish here but I'm not looking forward to you and Mary arriving home and finishing this trip. I have looked forward to ALL your posts and have totally enjoyed each an every one of them. I'm so envious!! Looking forward to the day that I can just take off and see some of the natural beauty that North America has to offer.

With that said, I wish you continued safe travels and good weather for the remainder of your trip.

[Gorilla]

+1 Kevin a big thank you

[Ed Hobgood]

Couldn't agree more!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I gotta admit ... I had a blast riding with Kevin and Mary ... great people ... If you get the chance to ride with them, do it .. but make sure at least some of the time your behind them ... just so you get a feel for what Mary does to get her great pics ... LOL ... it's truly entertaining.

[kybigmac]

You're killing me here, where's the rest of the ride?

[DK Custom Products]

I'm being a bit selfish here but I'm not looking forward to you and Mary arriving home and finishing this trip. I have looked forward to ALL your posts and have totally enjoyed each an every one of them. I'm so envious!! Looking forward to the day that I can just take off and see some of the natural beauty that North America has to offer.

With that said, I wish you continued safe travels and good weather for the remainder of your trip.

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it.

It really is amazing how much beauty and great roads there are in NA.

+1 Kevin a big thank you

Couldn't agree more!

Thanks guys!

I gotta admit ... I had a blast riding with Kevin and Mary ... great people ... If you get the chance to ride with them, do it .. but make sure at least some of the time your behind them ... just so you get a feel for what Mary does to get her great pics ... LOL ... it's truly entertaining.

We had a great time, as you know, we left big chunks out of the ride, so much to see where you are!

In 80,000+ miles of riding a Tri-Glide, we've only ridden with three other Trikes, ever!

Trent and Barbara in Idaho, and you in Colorado. Absolute blast is right!

You're killing me here, where's the rest of the ride?

Have been busy with a family medical emergency this last week. (NOT motorcycle related) Should be able to pick back up today. Several more days of great riding before getting back home.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Conclusion of our time in Grand Junction with Fuzzy-

We are back in the heat!!! Between here and Grand Junction the temps bounced between 102 and 106. Crazy. But we had lots of water.

This canyon was amazing...



Riding thru it was fun...



...inspiring, HUGE & ....



..and breathtaking in it's beauty.



I don't know how many miles it was...



...but it was not short. Definitely on the list to ride again-when it's NOT SO HOT. lol



Getting near the end...



...of this amazing curving canyon road.



We follow Alan onto the interstate, beside the Colorado River.



Looking to the side of the interstate...amazing views!



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Ride with Fuzzy continued-

You would think being right next to the Colorado River would be cool. NOT lol



Amazing views everywhere we look.



Making our way back to Grand Junction...



...thinking about how cool it was up on the Grand Mesa.





But the views down here are something else!



Looking back-



Back in Grand Junction, we had one stop to make before the Motel...



...

In the last leg, Alan had lost his hat on the interstate, and we wanted to get a few items for the DK Team, so we stopped at the HD Dealership. They also are a BMW Dealership.



After Alan dropped us at the Motel, we were going to get together later for dinner...but we were all too pooped out. Just stayed in and ate in the room. Wow! What a day!

After a good nights sleep, and still digesting all the we saw yesterday, we decided no riding today.

We did do a few errands around town...



...in the cool of the day (only 100*).



We spent the rest of the day talking. Bikes, Trikes, God, Country, and a hundred other topics, the time just flew. It was one of the most relaxing & interesting days of the trip so far.

If you ever get a chance to spend some time with Alan (FuzzyWuzHe), I hope you hit it off as well as we did with him. Super Good People!

Tomorrow we head for Durango, via some back roads to the Million Dollar Highway, courtesy of directions from Alan.

Kevin

[kybigmac]

Thx for my ride fix I was having withdrawals!

[DK Custom Products]

Thx for my ride fix I was having withdrawals!

More coming!