I got an email a while back from Anthony asking me for routes ideas. He said he was coming into Colorado to Durango and was heading on through to Wyoming. He wanted to do some dirt; did I have suggestions?
Of course I did so I mapped out a possible route and sent that to him. So much for that. Normally.
Then, a few days ago, I got another email. He had completed his trip and now had posted the video. Oh, I had no idea you were going to be doing that. So I had to go watch the video.
The fact of the matter was that I did not remember what we had discussed. I knew I could go reread out exchanges but I didn’t bother doing that before watching the video. I would do that afterward.
The video starts with some introductory footage that I suspect (haven’t checked it out yet) that he starts each video with, setting the scene. Then the riding begins out around Moab, and he quickly takes a fall on the Honda CB500X he’s riding. Not the last fall he’ll take along the way. Clearly Anthony is no quitter.
He reaches the Million Dollar Highway, US 550 running up to Ouray, and is not impressed. Mostly it was the traffic and the fact that it was raining pretty hard, but he called it “kind of boring” and said he really preferred the McKensie Highway, up in Oregon. I haven’t been on that so that could be something to check out some day.
After a stop to do laundry it was time to hit the dirt. He was still on US 550 and when he turned off to the right I immediately recognized that he was headed for Owl Creek Pass. It turned out when I did go back and read our emails that this was a route I suggested. I sure didn’t remember that, though. But I recognized that turn-off.
Through the course of the video you see all these nice views of the bike and while some shots are clearly from cameras mounted on the bike, others look like they were shot by someone else on another bike. On this stretch you really get a chance to see at least some of the cameras. Apparently enough people asked that he put up a video just showing his camera set-up. Very interesting but I wish he had explained why, when the camera is mounted on a selfie stick “the selfie stick disappears.” Really? How?
So he made it to Gunnison that day, which is where this episode (there are four of them, so far) ends, but as a teaser he includes a preview of crossing Wyoming . . . and another spill. This time it was tipping slowly sideways in a mud hole.
I totally identify with that. I did exactly the same thing once coming across northern Kansas. Your front wheel goes splooshing into the deep mud and you just fall over in slow motion. Then getting back up is super hard because you don’t have solid footing to lift the bike.
Anyway, it’s kind of a fun ride to go along on. And I’m glad I was able to contribute in a small way. Check it out if you’re interested.
Biker Quote for Today
Don’t know if it’s illegal to be handsome and ride a motorcycle at the same time but whatever, I live dangerously.
