It’s Day 4, we’re heading from La Junta, CO to Durango, CO for the ‘start’ of the trip! I know that might sound a little odd, but the first four days was to get us to a destination, kind of like the back end of the trip. Durango is where we’re going to start finding those roads that have the twists and turns, the roads that will challenge us, maybe because of a fear of heights, maybe having to execute technial riding skills, speed, you name it, whatever it is to you, it’s an adventure.
We were at a Hampton Inn, they always have a decent breakfast, meet at the bikes at 7a, load up, have breakfast, and KSU between 730a and 8am. I try to take pics of the bikes each morning, sometimes the sun hits the bikes just right, don’t you agree?! And if angle it just right, you can’t see the dirt! ha ha! One of the things we do, not every day, is try to clean off the bikes, at least get the bugs off the windshield/windscreen!
Get on the bikes, we have about 300 miles to go, a short day. I know, some people are thinking, 300 miles on a bike, no thanks, I don’t even want to go 300 miles in a car! fair point, but we’ve got a goal! I don’t know if I already said, but some days are going to be just about 200 miles, some days 300, some 400-500 miles. The crazier part, some of the days are going to be anywhere from 4 to 6 to 8, 10, even 12 hours. You read that right! We may only go 350 miles, but it will likely take more than 8 hours, another day might be 200 miles and take 5 hours, it all depends on the road, how technical it is, the twists, turns, switch backs involved, that’s one of the great things about being on a motorcycle!
I also just realized you might not know some motorcycle terminology! Switchbacks are sharp, zig-zagging u-turns or hairpin corners, I think it’s exactly what you’re thinking it is after that! usually on mountain roads and they take concentration, skill, and technical knowledge and ability. You don’t start off knowing how to do it, someone might tell you how to do it, you learn as you go, sometimes it’s instinct and you just know what to do, you do get there in the end. The most important thing I was ever taught and it’s a mantra I use sometimes “Trust the bike, trust the bike.” It doesn’t get any more straight than that. The bike is going where you point it, and similar to skiing, it goes where you’re looking! When you’re behind the wheel of a car, do you trust the car? You bet you do, trust the bike! The really funny thing, and PSM will tell you… I love the switchbacks and hairpin turns, let me loose on those mountain roads…put me on my own driveway or in a gas station parking lot and I am scared out of my mind to make a u-turn! What’s easy is hard to me and what’s hard is easy to me! Go figure!
Moving on…We have to get to Durango, CO this afternoon! Since we were there a few years ago, DJH and I knew where we were going for dinner! There were some great roads and we were making good time, we pulled into the last stop for gas before we got to Durango and what happened… the sky opened up. Actually, it had started to rain a little just before we got to the gas station, unfortunately, there wasn’t a place for us to stop and put on rain gear. So… we got gas, didn’t think it was going to be too bad, so just put on our rain jackets, to be honest, my upper half wasn’t too wet, my legs were already wet, I did not want to have to put on my rain pants over my wet pants, and we weren’t that far from the hotel, so…you can guess what happened.
Now, MB had been having a few issues with his bike that day and was concerned, the good thing was that we were heading to Durango and we were very familiar with Durango Harley Davidson. When we did our 3-week trip in 2023, some of the folks had been riding for a few weeks so they scheduled a service at the dealership. I had called earlier to see if they might be able to help MB out, and they were nice enough to try to fit him in to at least look at the bike, and VGT thought he might need a tire, lucky we were heading in that direction!
As we were riding, the rain came down harder and harder, always fun! So… needless to say, we were a little drippy when we got there. Take a look at my waterproof riding boots! Yeah… I didn’t bring my waterproof socks because I didn’t think I needed them since I had these waterproof boots.
While MB and VGT were working with the service team, DJH and I headed to the Junction Hotel & Hostel. We stayed in the hotel part, as youthful as I feel, I’m happy sharing a room with just my husband and a friend and no bunk beds, thanks! We unloaded the bikes, rung out our clothes, hung everything to hopefully dry by the morning, and took showers to warm up and dry off! While I called PSM, DJH called home to talk to the family.
When VGT got to the hotel, we reconvened, I ordered an Uber to take us to Steamworks Brewing Company. DJH, PSM, and I had been there in 2023, we were looking forward to going again! MB wasn’t back from the dealership yet, we were waiting on him. We didn’t have a reservation, put our names on the list and hoped to get a table, the place was jam packed for a Thursday! I struck up a conversation with a woman at the bar, who had her name on the reservation list and said we could take their spots at the bar when their name came up, score!
By the time MB showed up, it wasn’t great news, unfortunately, there were a few issues, I wish I could remember exactly what they were, but the bottom was…his bike was staying in Durango until it was fixed and MB was going home tomorrow. Definitely not happy news and not what we were hoping for. He didn’t know when the bike would be done, so he wouldn’t be able to ship his bike to one of our stops, so… he arranged for the bike to be shipped home when it was done and he booked a flight back to Boston for the next day. Bummer.
We squeezed in, sat down, relaxed, ordered food and drinks, I ordered an amaretto on the rocks, and if you know me, you know I’m not really a drinker, I might have one or two a year, and it takes me several hours to finish one! I really only drink when I’m pretending to be an adult! lol We chatted with the people to our left and the people to our right. Everyone we talked to couldn’t believe the trip we were about to do, or that we had ridden our bikes from MA and PA! By the time we were ready to head back to the hotel, MB’s spirits were lifted a little, as much as we could under the circumstances.
We also got a recommendation for breakfast, the Durango Diner, and ordering The Cure is a must! We looked it up and after DJH read what it was, he went to sleep saying “The Cure”, dreamt “The Cure”, and woke up saying “The Cure”. Guess where we’re going to breakfast! Uber back to the hotel, meet at the bikes at 7a, head to breakfast, then hit the road!
Thinking I’m going to leave the post here today, can’t wait to tell you about tomorrow’s ride from Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO, via the Million Dollar Highway and Silverton, CO! So much to tell and what a ride!
Day 4: 298.7 miles, sunny skies, got warm fast, rain storm, rain in my boots. Tomorrow…Grand Junction!
