Stopped on top of Wolf Creek Pass.
Slept late the morning of our second day on this four-day trip, but Nick and I were on the road by 9 anyway. I like motels that provide a breakfast for you. It saves a lot of money and it’s a heck of a lot faster than going to a restaurant and waiting to be served.
We headed west out of Walsenburg over La Veta Pass on US 160 and then down to Alamosa. Then it was already time to stop for a cup of coffee. I had mapped out this ride figuring to go south from Alamosa to Antonito then over Cumbres and La Manga Passes to Chama, New Mexico, then west and north again to regain 160 at Pagosa Springs. I didn’t know if Nick ever been over Wolf Creek Pass but I was sure he had never been over Cumbres and La Manga.
We talked over coffee and he did not think he had been over Wolf Creek so we opted for that route. It was once again a beautiful day for riding but I figured it would be cool going over Wolf Creek so at a gas stop in South Fork I put on a sweatshirt. I probably didn’t need it because it was pretty warm but I didn’t regret having it on. I’d rather be too warm than too cool.
We stopped at the view point on the way down and Nick was properly impressed. It really is a terrific view.
At Pagosa I was very interested to see what progress they had made on the huge reconstruction project they have on the main road all the way through town. I naively thought they must be close to wrapping it up but not on your life. They have made substantial progress but they are nowhere close to done. It’s going to be another year for sure.
We wanted to have lunch here and with all the construction it can be hard to find places or to find parking. But we saw one cafe with a parking lot and pulled off. Walked up to the door and found they were closed. Dang. Nick checked his phone and found another place just half a block down the street so we walked there. This place was Sage. They didn’t have a very extensive menu so I just ordered a burger and I have to tell you, this was the best burger I have eaten in years. It was great! Sadly, Nick’s chicken sandwich was nothing to write home about but if you’re in Pagosa and want a burger, go to Sage!
From Pagosa it is a short run to where CO 151 forks off from US 160, and it is in that V where you will find Chimney Rock National Monument. We stopped to get a couple pix and then cruised on to Durango. I had had a motel in mind in Durango but Nick was making that night’s reservations and he found a place right in downtown for a very good price, the Durango Lodge. I’m not sure how he found it because the search engines don’t list is as an option–they probably refuse to pay Google to be listed. But that allows them to keep their prices down and it’s a nice place.
One of the nicest things about it was that it was just a block from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. We had visited this free museum when the OFMC was in Durango a few years ago and had been really impressed. It’s well worth a visit. Nick was equally impressed, although unfortunately we arrived when they were set to close in 15 minutes so we didn’t get to see all that much.
Time to find dinner.
Biker Quote for Today
Flat tracks will abound in Utopia.