Passes & Canyons Blog

A glorious day to be out on a motorcycle.

We had some really bitter cold days but now we’re into the most beautiful time of year in Colorado, the days of Indian summer. It was October in Denver during my travel year after college that led me to come back here and stay. So what do you do on these glorious days? You ride your motorcycle!

That’s sure what I’ve been doing. I’ve gotten out five times in the last 10 days or so.

One day I set out on the Concours just to see if I might easily adjust to dealing with this throttle issue I’ve been telling about. I took a different turn somewhere than I usually make and found myself . . . I wasn’t quite sure where. Truth is, I like that. I like exploring and finding new routes. So I just kept going and soon came out somewhere where I knew where I was. But I’m not sure I could find my way there again by that route. Fun.

The day memorialized in that photo above was the day I went to Vickery to look again at that Yamaha FJ-09 I’ve been lusting for. After leaving the shop I just headed out on Parker Road and then thought about Cherry Creek State Park, which you can get into directly off of Parker Road.

This park is emblematic of a complaint I have had with Colorado Parks & Wildlife for many years. They sell annual parks passes that are good from January 1 to December 31, and they’re not cheap. But I don’t generally want to go to state parks in January, and by May or June I hate the idea of paying full price for a one-year parks pass that is only good for seven or eight months. Why can’t they make the passes good for one year from date of purchase? Anyway, as a result of this, although I live about two miles from Cherry Creek State Park I have not been to that park in so long I can’t remember. Decades.

Well, starting this year there has been a change. Now, when you renew your vehicle registration, unless you opt out, you also purchase a parks pass for less than what used to be the standard fee. Of course this can get expensive if you have numerous vehicles, as I do. And the passes are linked to the vehicle, so having a pass on your car does you no good if you’re on your motorcycle. Why can’t they just sell a parks pass to me, to use no matter what vehicle I’m in or on?

Anyway, I have opted out of the parks pass for my CB750 and my Concours but paid for it on the car and the V-Strom. On this day I was on the V-Strom. I know! I’ll go in the park!

I had totally forgotten how nice this park is. Especially on a fabulous Indian Summer day, with the reds and browns of fall color everywhere. The main portion of the park is on lower ground than the surrounding area and what that means is that you can get down in there and there is no indication at all that there is a city around you. It was beautiful!

Yeah, there’s a lot of great riding to be done at this time of year. Don’t miss it.

Biker Quote for Today

“When I was 16, everyone else got a car; I got a motorcycle.” — Jason Priestley

No better time than now to ride!

We had bitter cold weather and now the temps are back up in the high 70s and low 80s. It’s Indian Summer. This weather is literally the reason I live in Colorado.

Back a long time ago I graduated from college and then set out on some serious traveling. In the course of that traveling I spent some time in Colorado. I didn’t fully understand it then but by chance I was here during Indian Summer, a time when the days are just glorious and being outside is being in heaven.

When I decided I was really to stop and put down some roots I asked myself where I had been that I liked the best and the very easy answer was Denver. And here I am.

Well folks, we’re in Indian Summer and it is just as awesome as it usually is, which is to say, to the max. I’ve been getting out on one bike or another as many days as I can and the riding is beyond wonderful.

The days are starting out cool, so you have to layer up starting out in the morning, but by about noon you’ll be shedding layers. On Wednesday last week I knew it was going to be a very warm day but the morning was chilly so I put on my electric vest, a sweatshirt, and a leather jacket. I also wore my riding pants but zipped up the vents and wore long underwear underneath.

And it was indeed chilly starting out, but long before noon I was unzipping vents in the pants and the jacket and at a stop I removed the sweatshirt altogether. I wish I had removed the vest, too, because a bit later than that I started to roast.

But the ride! Ooooh, the ride! The air is just so sweet, the fall colors so gorgeous. And the weather just balmy.

This is why I came to Colorado. It’s also a big part of why I stay. If you’re not out riding in this weather you’re missing some of the best riding of the entire year. What are you waiting for?

Biker Quote for Today

Motorcycle fever has almost drove me insane — David Allan Coe