Passes & Canyons Blog

My only remaining bike, this 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 650.

Every year I total up all my motorcycle mileage and compare it to my car mileage, but this year is radically different than any previous year. Two years ago I had three bikes and one car. A year ago I had two bikes and a car. This year I have one bike and a car. Plus, it was a decidedly not-normal year. I knew all mileage was going to be low this year because there was a four-month period when I was under doctor’s orders not to drive.

The last time I put more miles on my car than on my bikes was 2014. Since then I have frequently put more miles on a single bike than on my car. Before I did the math I suspected I might have put more on the car this year. I totaled the V-Strom miles and it came to just 2,605. I checked the car and it had added 2,858 miles in the last 12 months. Dang.

But then I remembered. My Honda CB750 got smashed in June but I rode it at least six times–at least once a month–before that happened. How many miles did I put on it? I don’t know because when I went to visit it in the tow yard I did not think to check the odometer. But at least six rides? Just for a round number I’m going to guess 50 miles each, coming to 300. Add that to the V-Strom miles and you get 2,905. So that just slips past the car’s 2,858. Did it again! I guess.

I’ll tell you one thing, I intend to blast way past that number in 2026. I missed the whole summer riding season last year and I intend to make up for that. And who knows, maybe come this time next year I’ll be listing the mileage on two bikes again. For now that is a total unknown, but it could happen. We’ll see.

Biker Quote for Today

The world is a book, and bikers read the best chapters.

Is this shot in January? July? Who knows, this is one reason why we love living in Colorado.

It’s so much about the weather this time of year. On Sunday it was about 70 degrees and the forecast was for progressively cooler all week. It only made sense to get in my first (and you never know, maybe last) ride of January. I had a couple errands I needed to run and when possible I like to do them on a bike rather than in a car.

My first stop was Swallow Hill Music. That meant heading west on Hampden and then north on Downing to Yale, then west to Swallow Hill.

I was in no hurry and when I’m poking along I like to look more closely at the neighborhoods as I cruise along. There on Downing was the first interesting thing I spotted. There was a house with an exterior of brick up to about waist height and then wood up from there. And they had painted the brick turquoise. Yeah, that will catch your eye.

The funny thing was it didn’t actually look terrible. The terrible it brought to mind was when, in 2024, Judy and I were on a road trip in the Midwest and we routed ourselves through Decatur, Illinois, because that was where my family lived when I was a senior in high school. We drove past our old house and could not believe it. This wood-siding house has been painted blue. Rough wood that had been stained dark brown–now bright blue. Ghastly! The turquoise brick is nowhere near as bad.

From Swallow Hill I headed north on Broadway as far as Mississippi, turned east, north on Logan to Alameda and east to University. Then north to 3rd and east to the wine store we always shop at. Nothing much of interest to be seen along this route.

From The Vineyard I continued east on 3rd to Colorado and then south. Normally I’ll take Colorado to I-25 and take that home. This time I decided to stay off the highway and turned southeast on Leetsdale. I had gone about 10 blocks when I came upon a scene that reminded me I had seen the news about this. There had been a big fire on the north side of Leetsdale, with a four-story apartment complex that was under construction reduced to a total ruin.

And the road was blocked. Nothing to do but follow the detour sign and go south. Well, along with everyone else, I was looking for a cross-street going east, but there was none. I turned into a condo complex and there was no exit except right back onto the street I had come in on. Continuing south you had no choice but to turn west. OK, this is called exploring. There was no choice but to follow that road all the way back to Cherry. I guess I know why I’ve never been into that neighborhood before.

The rest of the way home was no problem. So I got in a ride, ran two errands, and saw a few interesting sights. I’m fine with that as a first ride of 2026.

Biker Quote for Today

In a world full of followers, be a biker.

You couldn’t ask for a nicer day for a December 31 ride.

Hey, this year (last year now) people actually got to ride to ABATE of Colorado‘s Last Brass Monkey Run. Always held on December 31 as the last ride of the year, it’s no surprise that many times riding is just not an option. But this year Denver came just one degree short of the record high and it was a warm, sunny day. Yahoo!

I headed west on the V-Strom and while it was warm and the streets were clear in east Denver, where I live, I wondered about out west by the foothills. Golden. But out there it was just as warm and the streets were just as clear. Considering we had a bit of snow just three days ago this had not been a certainty.

As always, it was good to see the folks. I used to attend my ABATE meetings each month but have not done so for a few years, so I only see folks at events like this. The Last Brass Monkey Run used to be an actual poker run but these days it is all held in one place so you get your sheet and then move from station to station picking up your cards. I did well. I got a full house, queens over nines. Could be good.

But no. It was best five of seven cards and both the first place winner and the second place winner had four of a kind. So much for my full house.

They also hand out door prizes. Last year my ticket was the absolute, very last one to be drawn. Think about it. Someone has to have the last ticket drawn, and last year that someone was me. You don’t get much to choose from when literally everyone else has already taken all the good stuff. This year I was still late in the draw but not the very last. I got a card game that we hope our seven-year-old grandson will like. That’s OK, you don’t go to these things looking to bring home a bounty. That’s just a bonus if you do.

Heading home I couldn’t help but notice as I pulled up at a red light that the guy to my left was on his phone. Illegal in Colorado these days. His lane moved faster than mine so I watched as he drifted out of his lane to the left. You dip. Hang up and drive!

But I got home safely and got out of 2025 alive. Obviously you did too. Congratulations to each of us. Here’s to an even better 2026.

Biker Quote for Today

Live Free and Ride