There have been some changes, I swapped out the BMW luggage for cases and mounts from Jesse Luggage Systems. Why? They’re tough, hold the load in close to the bike, and they swallow far more stuff than I would need on this trip. But the thing about adventure touring, the adventures have to get longer. =)

As things started out it was cloudy and cool as I left the confines of Denver. Naturally the mountain route is the only way to travel. I wound my way through Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park. Yeah sure, I’ve been there before but it’s my vacation and I’ll go where I want to. =P

I took the Fall River Road up to the Continental Divide, I figured it would be a nice route and on a Monday morning I figured the traffic would be light. Boy was I right and wrong at the same time. Traffic was light, but there were a pair of mini-vans going up the mountain who refused to acknowlege that anyone else behind them might want to travel faster than 5 miles an hour. Now to be fair, most of the people on the road pulled over and let me pass, not that I was flying up the mountain, but keeping a bike up while loaded for travel is much easier if you can travel faster than Grandma with a walker.

I actually stopped halfway up the mountain. The slow pace of the trip had heated my mount hotter than ever before. That’s saying something considering I used to ride in Phoenix Arizona in the middle of summer. So the stop gave me time to cool the bike, and let the mini-van dynamic duo get way ahead of me.

Even though this is practically my back yard, I still took the time to take some pictures. I love the mountains and the breathtaking views. The forest fires this year have put a haze into the air, but I still love it.

On the way down the back side of the divide, I stopped in Grand Lake for lunch at JG’s Garden Cafe. Why the heck am I mentioning this? Because they have the absolute best onion rings I have ever had, anywhere, bar none. If you live near a place that has onion rings as good as those, well you’re a very lucky person indeed. =)

I won’t bore you with the details of my travel into Wyoming, highway travel is usually fast and uneventful. I stopped to take the obligatory proof that I actually made it. =) Shortly there after I encounted the first rain storm of my trip. The first of 6 showers in a 7 day trip. Not a problem though, my gear proved to be rain proof enough that I never got a drop on me.

I almost missed the gravel road I wanted to take. It led to a campground in Medicine Bow National Forest, where I was planning to spend the night. Fortunately the map I had was pretty good, and there was a good sized sign pointing the way, so there weren’t any long detours that day.

As I was puttering along I passed a sign that said “Fire Tower, Visitors Welcome.” I still had plenty of light to keep me going so I figured why not? I found myself at the top of Kennaday Peak. It was easy to see why they put a fire tower up there, you can litterally see everything within a hundred miles. The lady manning the tower said you could see all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park on a clear day. It was definitely a view that was worth the detour.

I made it back down the mountain to the campsite and was treated to a crack performance of the Wyoming State Stunt Mosiquitos. Those little bastards were on me as soon as I stopped the bike, trying to get their little pointy beaks through my riding gear. The sun was going down fast anyway so I threw up the tent, stowed my gear for the night, and with the mosquito netting closed killed every one of the little buggers that flew in with me. All in all a decent days ride and the best thing about vacation, no alarm clock to set!

Part I
Sat February 08 2003

Part II
Sat February 08 2003

Part III
Sat February 08 2003