Passes & Canyons Blog

My Cardo mounted on my helmet.

It seems to be a general rule that connecting helmet communicators is not easy. Judy and I have owned a couple sets and neither has been something you just do and that’s that. It’s always a matter of relearning how it’s done and then making more than one attempt to do so until you get it right.

In preparation for this recent RMMRC California trip I bought a new communicator, a Cardo, because that’s what all the other guys had and that would enable me to hook in with the group. It was agreed that on departure date we would get together earlier to get me paired in. What could go wrong?

In a group like this someone needs to be the main guy and the main guy here was Alan. Everyone else already was hooked in.

So Alan pulled out his phone, fired up the app, and opened the group. I installed the app on my phone–though that is not supposed to be necessary–and we tried following the steps as spelled out. No dice. We tried again. I shut my phone completely off and then booted up, with hopes that now everything would be fully settled and in order. Still no dice.

Was it a problem with my communicator? It was brand new and had never been used. They do manufacture lemons now and then, where something doesn’t work right out of the box. I tried creating a group myself and paired one of the guys in with me. That worked. So it’s not a problem with my unit.

I can’t remember what else we tried but nothing worked. Fine, we’ll give up for now and then tonight at the motel in Fruita we’ll try again.

So we got to Fruita and we’re sitting around in our rooms with our helmets on. Surely between the bunch of us we can figure this out. The Cardo can link together up to–I think–19 units. We were only trying to get 5 on one link.

Insanity is reputedly doing the same thing over and over expecting different results and we did the insanity thing for a while. There was no way, apparently, that I was ever going to get linked in to this group. OK, let’s take a different approach. Alan, create a new group and then link us all in on that group. Delete the old one.

And you know what? It worked. Finally. It still wasn’t necessarily working great until we figured out that I needed to move my microphone boom closer to my mouth. Once I did that they could hear me and I could hear them. Great. We’re ready to go.

So the next day we took off and now my concern was, was I going to find myself feeling invaded by hearing everything everyone had to say all day? I’m used to the solitude of being in my own head even when in a group of riders. Would I miss that solitude. Sure I could turn the Cardo off but that would defeat the whole purpose of having it.

It was OK. I even did a bit of the talking because I had been all these places we were going through this day and I had information to share.

Then the following morning the Cardo came in handy, too, as I sprawled across my gas tank telling the guys “I can’t do this. I’m really sick.” Dave replied that “Yeah, if it makes you feel any better, you look lousy, too.”

I just hope next time I try to use this thing it goes a lot more smoothly.

Biker Quote for Today

Faster . . . sixty, seventy . . . the engine growls, and the wind is now howling in my face trying to rip me off the back of the bike. But to outrun the demons I keep pushing it into fifth . . . seventy-five, eighty-five, ninety . . . and now I’ve got a white-knuckled grip on the handlebars as they vibrate up my arms and I tuck my head down for speed.

On the road to California.

Colorado has a newly instituted law prohibiting hands-on use of a cellphone while driving and from all accounts it is doing some good. Distracted driving is of great importance to motorcyclists because we know far too well how easy it is not to see us even when you’re not distracted.

Well guess what. That’s just as true on a motorcycle as in a car. Case in point:

On this recent (aborted for me due to sickness) RMMRC California trip we immediately got separated from one guy. Alan, who was leading, pulled off at Idaho Springs to try to find out where he was. He called and found he was in Evergreen so we just agreed to meet up at lunch in Eagle.

In order to make this call, Alan pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and we all followed him. I tend to be fairly conscientious and so as not to take up a lot of parking spaces in this small parking lot I pulled into the same slot as Alan, a bit behind him.

Alan got on the phone and made his call and got the matter settled. At this point he was in communication with the other guys because we all had Cardo communicators but we had been unsuccessful earlier in trying to get me paired into the group. So I was not connected.

Well, Alan was so involved in making his call and then talking to the other guys that he apparently had not noticed that I was behind him. So we’re ready to roll again and I started to roll back but Alan came rolling back faster than me and though I scrambled to get out of his way he backed right into me. Down I went.

Now, there was no damage and I was not hurt but my point is, he was busy on his phone–his communicator in this case–and not paying attention to his driving. What if instead of me on my bike, there had been some person walking to the restaurant behind him? That person could easily have been hurt. Or heck, I could have been hurt. I wasn’t, but I could have been. Clearly he wasn’t looking very carefully where he was going.

So yeah, hang up and drive. Or maybe just look where you’re going. It applies on a motorcycle as well as in a car.

Biker Quote for Today

As long as you are on planet Earth, you’re not lost.

In Utah on the second day of the ride.

When you start riding with a new bunch of guys it is incumbent on you to become acquainted with the ways of the group. For instance, the RMMRC is very focused on safe riding and thus, if you wish to ride with this group you need to wear a helmet and don’t plan to make any stops that include drinking.

Another thing the RMMRC is pretty serious about is that a time is set for kickstands up (KSU) and when that time comes you are expected to be geared up, on your bike, and ready to roll. On a day ride, if KSU is at 9 a.m. and you arrive at 9:05 you will probably arrive to find an empty parking lot.

On longer rides, however, such as this recent California trip, if you are signed up to come and you’re not there we’ll generally wait for you, but a late arrival will not be appreciated at all unless you have a really good reason.

So it was that KSU was set for 10 a.m. on this trip and the rest of us were ready at 10 a.m. but one guy–I won’t name names but will refer to him as HE–was not there. Alan called him and HE was at Hampden and University, which was still 20 minutes away from where we were. Not a good way to start off.

So we waited and HE finally showed up. But HE needed gas. Fine. We waited. When HE was done at the pump we hit our starter buttons but HE pulled over behind me, parked, and got off his bike, and started wandering around. That was too much, so we pulled away from our parking places and lined up ready to pull onto the road. HE was digging through one of his bags. We left. Later when we stopped in Idaho Springs, Alan called him again and HE was in Evergreen. Fine. We’ll see you in Eagle.

We regrouped in Eagle and rode on to Fruita, our stop for the night. We all gathered for dinner but HE did not join us. Your choice, but not particularly social. Nor did HE join us for breakfast but at least HE was there ready to go at the appointed hour the next morning.

HE did not join us for dinner in Loa, either, that night, and while HE did not have breakfast with the group the next morning, HE was there at the spot for KSU. Except as we all sat astride our bikes ready to roll, HE announced that he needed to go get gas. And off HE went.

This was when sickness engulfed me and I had to tell the guys to go on without me. The last thing I heard on my Cardo as I rode back to the motel was Dave telling the others that “I’m going to the gas station and glare at him while he gets gas.”

OK, he’s new to the group. If I had stayed with the group I’m sure I would have had a word with him about the significance of KSU. And perhaps Dave did later. Dave’s the sort of guy who would make a point to have that talk, perhaps in sterner terms than I might use.

But you owe it to yourself and to the others to learn the ways of the group if you want to fit in. And really, making everyone else wait is never a courteous thing to do in any circumstance. Just practice common courtesy, OK? What’s so hard about that?

Biker Quote for Today

As I turn off the pavement and onto the long stretch of dirt ahead, the rear tire spins and kicks up rocks through first and second gear. I click it into third, and that’s when she really opens up to breathe.

Heading to Loa the day before.

On the morning we were pulling out of Denver on this RMMRC California trip my body did not want to get out of bed. I forced myself and figured I’d get fully awake after a while. And I did. Then we rode to Fruita–not a hard day’s ride at all–and I was exhausted. I crashed before dinner and then after dinner crashed again, getting a good, long night’s sleep.

On Day Two I was glad we had a short day ahead because that allowed me to sleep late–because I was still not feeling wonderful. Then the ride to Loa was not at all hard but when we got there I crashed again. After dinner I was back in bed and during the night I had a fever and chills. Around 2 a.m. the fever seemed to break and I felt better but I did not get much sleep the rest of the night. But come morning I figured the worst was over so at 9:30 I was in the saddle ready to ride.

Just then I was overcome with a wave of sickness and sprawled across my tank, telling the guys via our Cardos that “I can’t do this. I’m going back to the motel.” This was no longer a 15-day trip for me.

Back at the Snuggle Inn I walked in and up to the desk and before I could say a word the guy at the desk looked at me and asked, “Is your heart OK? Are you having a heart attack?” That’s how bad I felt, and I guess it showed.

I was pretty sure it was not a heart attack because I had spoken to Judy the night before and she had told me that the same day I didn’t want to get out of bed to go on this ride, after I left she spent the whole day in bed, apparently suffering from the same thing I was. But these super kind folks at the Snuggle Inn were incredibly solicitous of my condition, offering to loan me their car to drive to a nearby clinic or even to drive me there themselves if need be. All I wanted at the moment though was to get back in bed.

And except for going down the street a block to the grocery store so I’d have something to eat, that was all I did the rest of that day. The guys went on to St. George as planned and my room in St. George was paid for but empty because it was too late for me to cancel. Meanwhile, later in the day as I was feeling at least a little better, I made a bunch of phone calls cancelling all my other reservations for this trip.

I considered mapping out a very different trip for myself that would bring me back with the group on their return but really all I wanted was to get home. Being sick on the road is the worst.

Biker Quote for Today

Any idiot can ride a motorcycle but it takes a special kind of idiot to ride 1,000 miles in one day.

With scenery like this it was definitely time for a photo stop.

On the second day of this RMMRC California trip we were in no rush leaving Fruita. We were only going to Loa, Utah, which if you go straight there would be only 197 miles and less than three hours. But it would also be almost all interstate.

That’s not something anyone’s interested in so we decided to get off I-70 at the Cisco exit in Utah and take Utah 128 south to where it goes into a canyon carrying the Colorado River down to Moab. This is a really nice ride and while I had been through that canyon many times, some of the guys had never done it. Plus, it only adds about 60 more miles to the day’s ride but you get off the interstate.

Gene had been talking about what good roads Utah has so he was a bit defensive when the first stretch of road off the highway was quite a bit less than smooth. Soon, though, we intersected the portion of the road coming from the next exit to the west and we turned south and then it was all nice, smooth asphalt. And it was quickly getting pretty darn beautiful.

We reached the canyon and went down into it and now the scenery notched up a big step. We’re in red rock country Utah. Utah, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful states in this country.

At one point we’re coming down this road with high cliffs above us on both sides and there, dead ahead, was a snow-capped mountain rising right out of the center of the canyon. It was agreed we had to stop for pictures.

This was a nice thing about this trip. Five of the six of us were connected with our Cardo communicators so we could actually have these conversations. The last time I’d been on a long trip with this group there were only a few connected and nobody was stopping for what would have been great photos or simply to take a break. This is much more my style of riding.

There was talk of lunch in Moab but I cautioned about going very far into that overgrown mass of congestion so we decided to just take the right turn when we came out of the canyon (US 191) and immediately head north again to the interstate. Lunch in Green River.

After lunch we got back on I-70 just a short distance to where we headed south toward Hanksville (Utah 24). We were headed to Loa and Loa is on US 24 but between Hanksville and Loa is one big section of terrific scenery: Capitol Reef National Park. We had covered quite a few miles at this point and probably everyone wanted to take a break but finding a good spot was tricky. We pulled off at one place but I objected that shade would be preferable. It was a hot day. Yeah, but is there some place with shade or are we just going to keep riding? We went on and in about two miles came to a really nice shaded spot. Much better!

We got on into Loa and though this is a very small town in the middle of just about nowhere, the Snuggle Inn proved to be an amazingly nice place. Talking later to some friends who have been there they said yeah, this place is renowned for being the best motel you’d never expect to find.

So we got settled in and later walked up the street to the only cafe for dinner. It was the only cafe for breakfast, too, so we agreed on KSU here at 9:30 the next morning. And then to top off the day, walking back we encountered this wonderful, big golden retriever who was thrilled to see his best buddies and who we were equally pleased to say hello to. Who’s a good dog?

Biker Quote for Today

And so it goes on those days when the demons begin to creep in. I pull the bike out of the garage and strap on my helmet. Slip on some gloves, adjust the goggles and start up the engine. I feel the roar of the beast beneath, rumbling and ready to carry me away to god-knows-where.

The usual starting point in Morrison.

By the time we were taking off on this RMMRC California trip our numbers had risen to six, though two were only along for the first few days. Bruce would be with us just until St. George, Utah, while Paul was coming as far as Las Vegas, where he has family. The rest included me, Dave, Alan, and Gene.

I got to the meeting spot early so that Alan and I could pair up my new Cardo communicator with the group but despite everything we tried we could not get it done. For this day at least I would just not be connected.

Kickstands up (KSU) was set for 10 a.m. but come that hour we were lacking one person: Paul. At 10 after Alan gave him a call and he said he was at Hampden and University, on his way. That’s 20 minutes away. Not appreciated. He did get there and we did get off but not together. Paul got himself separated and we went off figuring we’d see him later. There’s more to this story and I’ll fill in the details later.

From the Phillips 66 in Morrison we generally go into town but then take the right fork that runs up Hog Back Road past Red Rocks and pick up I-70 at the top of the hill. We did that with no sight of Paul so by the time we got to Idaho Springs Alan decided to pull off and give him another call. We pulled into a parking lot, with me pulling in behind Alan.

Alan got Paul on the phone and he was in Evergreen. OK. We’ll just meet you in Eagle for lunch. Talking with the others via the Cardos, Alan was apparently unaware I was behind him and as I frantically tried to roll out of his way he backed into me. My bike went down, but no damage done. Alan helped me up and we were rolling again.

This first day had always been the one most likely to be a problem, what with changeable weather in later April. We got lucky and had a good day and while it was darn cold going up through the tunnel and then over Vail Pass, the roads were clear and dry. I was just glad to have all my electrics on.

At Eagle we went to this restaurant that, while easily visible, can be hard to find just how to get to it. We had all been there before but Paul had not so of course it was 10 minutes after we saw him before he came walking in. At least we got reconnected.

Then, leaving, we went across the street to get gas. Dave filled his tank and then rolled his bike forward so Gene could use the pump. And Dave’s bike went crashing to the ground. Seems he had unknowingly knocked his kickstand out of position rolling the bike forward so when he let go there was nothing to stop it. Again, no damage and there were people there to help him get it back up. As I said, things were not exactly going smoothly.

The rest of the ride was smooth, though. Leaving Eagle we were into summer and layers were coming off. And it continued to be a beautiful day. We were headed for Fruita and getting there was uneventful. Great. What time should we meet for dinner and where should we eat?

Oh, and after dinner we again tried to get me paired up with the other Cardos and this time it worked. Now I would be connected for tomorrow’s ride.

Biker Quote for Today

Motorcycle rides, ice cream, and beach sunsets . . . it must be summer.

We took the scenic detour down Utah 128 through the Colorado River canyon to Moab and then returned north on US 191.

Maybe you noticed I did something on Thursday I haven’t done in many, many years. I missed posting. I was traveling on this RMMRC trip I’ve been talking about but that’s no excuse.

I’ve posted every Monday and Thursday for almost two decades now and while early on I was very irregular, that has not been true for a very long time. Usually when I’m going to be traveling I’ll write a bunch of posts before I go and schedule them to publish. This time around I just didn’t get it done. So I figured I would post from the road for a change.

When I’ve done that before I’ve taken a laptop along but our laptop has gotten quite old and balky. I tried cleaning it up but still couldn’t get enough performance out of it so I figured I’d have to use my tablet. I also took my Sony camera because while pictures from my phone are good, I still get the best shots with the camera. Then to access the images I remove the memory card and plug it into a USB adapter and plug that into the computer. Bring all that stuff along.

Wednesday night in the motel I pulled it all out, ready to go. Removed the memory card, plugged it in the adapter, and . . . the tablet does not have a USB port. Dang.

OK, Bruce had posted a couple shots to the RMMRC Meet-Up site and I figured he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed one of those. And I knew you could load an app on your phone to post to your WordPress blog so I downloaded the app. Launched the app and said go open this site and got a message. It said that because this blog is not hosted on WordPress.com you cannot use this app to post to it. Double dang.

Fine. I turned back to the tablet and launched my browser, then navigated to the blog. Because I’ve never done this with the tablet before it did not have the login and password memorized, but I have an encrypted password app on my phone. Open that app.

I was amazed. Somehow my blog user ID and password never got entered into the password app. Strike three, I am out. No Thursday post this week.

Obviously I’m in now but I won’t get ahead of the story. On Thursday the tale of this ride begins.

Biker Quote for Today

On a motorcycle, you’re immersed in life and everything is louder, brighter, quicker, and ridiculously dangerous. — Jon Robertson

The Phillips 66 in Morrison is a favorite gathering place for motorcycle groups.

To say that there were a lot of motorcycles out on Saturday would be a gross understatement. With temperatures in the 80s Denver set a new record high for the date. Meanwhile, not just motorcyclists but hikers, bicyclists, ATVers and everyone else was out in full force. This included the RMMRC.

Six of us gathered at the Phillips 66 in Morrison, along with about 30-40 other bikers in numerous groups. In an inauspicious start to the ride, Charley, who has recently had surgery and has trouble getting his leg over the saddle, ended up pushing the bike over and falling with it. With all these bikers around a swarm immediately gathered and got him and bike back up. He was unhurt and fortunately this was not a portent of ills to follow on the ride.

We headed north on CO 93 out of Golden, across Rocky Flats, to the south end of Boulder. Boulder is this huge blot on a rider’s route. There’s no good way to get through it and getting around it is limited by the fact of mountains on the west side. Fortunately what you can do at the El Dorado Springs intersection is go east a short distance and then turn north on Cherryvale Road. This takes you a good ways north up past Baseline Reservoir to where you go east on Baseline Road and then you follow a zig-zag pattern up through the less heavily developed portions of east Boulder.

That’s what we did, got into Niwot intending to go west on Niwot Road, but got to the Longmont Diagonal and found the road closed for construction. This put us on the Diagonal headed toward Longmont. With some more bobbing and weaving we finally reached CO 66 and were able to turn west to Lyons, our lunch stop. At Smokin’ Dave’s we found two more folks waiting for us. We got seated and ordered and in walked Bruce. The group keeps growing.

After lunch we headed up to the Peak-to-Peak Highway via CO 7, the South Saint Vrain road. This road had been closed for a really long time, including the last time we had been up this way but it is now finally open to traffic again. Nice.

So we took that southwest to meet up with CO 72, the first stretch at the north end of the Peak-to-Peak. It was starting to cook in the city but up on the Peak-to-Peak it was actually a bit chilly. I had started with a couple layer I didn’t need, had removed them, and now would have welcomed at least one of those back. But it wasn’t bad.

Motorcycles were everywhere. Every trailhead we passed had cars overflowing the parking areas. Bicyclists were everywhere. This was a day to be outside!

We headed south, with intentions of going back down via Golden Gate Canyon. However, at Nederland, with Bob leading, he missed the correct turn off the Nederland roundabout and we found ourselves headed down Boulder Canyon, right into the heart of Boulder. I had considered making the right turn and splitting off from the group but I didn’t. I figured what the heck, I ride Golden Gate a lot and almost never take Boulder Canyon. It will be a change of pace.

Of course Boulder was its usual horrible mess. Some of us managed to stay together and head south on 93 but bit by bit we got separated so by the time I got back to Morrison I was alone and just headed on home. And I was roasting. Really glad I had not put another layer back on, and wishing I could remove another layer, but not wanting to stop.

So. Good ride. Great day for a ride. And as for scuffing up my new front tire on my V-Strom, mission accomplished. What more can you ask for?

Biker Quote for Today

“Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens.” – Dr. K.K. Doty