Stopped along the South Platte outside of Deckers.

Band practice got canceled on Tuesday so I had the entire day wide open. Can you guess what I did?

My biggest problem was in figuring out somewhere to go that I hadn’t already been just in the last few weeks. That’s the one thing about living in the same place for so very long–you’ve got to go a really long way to go any place you haven’t been to many times before. So you try to string different roads together in a series that is different than you’ve done before. I think I managed to do that this time.

First I headed out US 285. Nothing new there. I think the last time I went out that way was, oh, two weeks earlier. I wanted to head south on South Pine Valley Road, CR 126, down to Deckers. But to make it different, this time I did not follow 285 to Pine Junction and get directly onto CR 126, I turned earlier at Foxton Road, which turns off just past the main section of Conifer. Foxton Road runs down to the Platte River and at the bottom, if you go left, it turns to gravel and follows the river. If you go right the road follows the river that direction but it is paved. That brings you out to CR 126 at Buffalo Creek.

So this was my plan as I came through Conifer. I knew the turn-off for Foxton Road was not too far ahead. Still, I was behind a really slow truck. Should I pass him, only to find myself turning off almost immediately? Or poke along behind him? I decided to pass.

And then, moving at a fairly high speed, there was the sign for the Foxton Road turn-off. I crossed quickly in front of the truck into the turn lane and had to brake hard to make the turn. Yeah, I felt a bit foolish. No harm, no foul.

I had not intended this ride as a fall color ride but it turned into one as I came up on Conifer. Leaves were turning all around me and as I headed down Foxton Road the show continued. Nice. There was almost zero traffic so I was cruising nice and easy, just enjoying being out on this super nice day.

Then I very suddenly became aware of three hot sports cars behind me. Clearly, they wanted to get past, to go faster than I was going. As it turned out, there was some road construction right ahead and we had to stop. When we got the signal to move again we immediately found ourselves on what must be one of the only straight stretches of this road and those guys instantly hit the gas and blasted past me. Good for you. And that was the last time I had anybody behind me until hours later when I reached Sedalia.

I got to Buffalo Creek and turned south on CR 126. Nice easy ride on through the hills, through some good twisties, and on down to Deckers. Time for a bite. I pulled in and was surprised there were so few vehicles in the parking lot. I soon learned why. I headed for the restaurant and found it closed. Turns out they close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I had not known that before. Fortunately there was a little pizza joint cum convenience store right there as well so I got a slice and sat out on the veranda in the shade with my food and drink. Very serene; very relaxed. Chilling.

A few more bikers came in while I was there and then those three sports cars showed up. I have no idea what route they took that I got there before them but hey, we’re all out with our vehicles having a fun day. You go your way, I’ll go mine.

When I was ready to roll again I made the turn there at Deckers, off CR 126 onto CO 67, which runs along the South Platte. Actually, if I had turned left at the bottom of Foxton Road this is where I would have ended up, but the first stretch of that would have been gravel. There at Deckers it is paved.

So 67 follows the river for a ways and then turns off up the hill. Down along the river, however, the pavement continues for a while longer, until you reach Pine Creek Road. Then the pavement ends either way you go. That was the route I chose.

I’ve been over this stretch before. Pine Creek Road is good, smooth dirt/gravel and it has some pretty serious ups and downs. Like 9 percent grades. I was on my only bike these days, my V-Strom, and the V is made for this kind of stuff. I’m running regular street tires on it lately, though, so I just took my time. Did I mention I’m in no hurry?

Eventually Pine Creek rejoins CO 67 and then it was all pavement. Up over past the Rampart Range area, where folks go to do serious dirt riding, and on down into Sedalia. At Sedalia I turned onto US 85 and was once again in traffic. A short jog down to Daniels Park Road and then on home. What a nice day.

Biker Quote for Today

Studies show that life is too short for traffic.