Hi guys & gals I arrived home today (July 2 2010) from my trip. Some details to ponder. My ride is a 2006 Vegas Premium I bought new May 23 2009. In the 12& 1/2 months I owned the bike I put on 6673 miles. During this trip I spent 18 days on the road with 15 of them in Colorado I visited all 76 of the passes in the program giving total miles for the trip 6598, the odometer now is at 13,271 miles.

What can I say about Colorado's natural beauty that has not been said before? Nothing, it is simply amazing I cannot count the times I rounded a curve or crested a peek to a spectacular view. Than add riding the roads traveling to and from these places exhilarating challenging & also relaxing I will most definitely be back.

Documenting the trip meant stopping along the road for pictures I was very safety conscious & would stop as close as I could in a pull out drive-way or side road. I noted the co-ords when I remembered & will pass them along. Also the wildlife while beautiful & nice to see along the way not something you want on the road in front of you. I had good fortune to see moose, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, deer, mountain goat, badger & two of what I think is a mink or marten. Only twice did I have deer cross the road in front of me & both times plenty of time to slow down.

In the next few posts I will post the route & passes as I completed them.

Have a great holiday weekend
DaGrey1 ( Richard )

Richard,

Congratulations! All 76; that's nothing less than awesome.

Looks like the 50 Pass program might be picking up. Many riders who attended the Rocky Mountain Freedom Rally (RMFR) 2 weeks ago have also indicated interest.

We, the C-VRA Ride Coordinators, hope you can make next year's RMFR so we can officially recognize this momentous feat.

We look forward to your feedback on the passes so we can update our info.

Again, congrats.

Also,

Please send us a picture of you and your Vegas at info@c-vra.com so we can post it on our web site.

Thanks.

Richard,
When we talked at the RMFR you said you were gonna do it, and by George you did it! CONGRATS

After 1105 miles I start Day 3 in Pueblo with an oil change & a quick stop at the library than on to
the first pass Raton Pass. Than to Old La Veta & La Veta Pass end the first day with 3 passes & 315
miles.

Day 4 A very cold start at La Manga Pass than Cumbers Pass and Yellow Jacket pass than to 4 corners monument it was
under construction than Hesperus Summit Ute Pass, Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass I join up with the
rally in Ouray late Friday night 7 passes & 452 miles.

Day 5 Did some rock hounding between Silverton & Ouray than picked up Red Mt Pass than over to
Lizard Head Pass & Dallas Divide 3 passes & 163 miles.

Day 6 Went to Black Canyon Park & Jones Summit than to the bottom of Black Canyon, an awesome ride
down & than back up the 16% grade twisty canyon road. Cerro Summit than Blue Mesa Summit & Black Mesa
Summit than a lot of snow still at Grand Mesa Summit, 5 passes & 316 miles.

Day 7 A steep climb from the San Miguel river up Norwood Hill & I took a picture of the sign. Than
Gypsum Pass, Unaweep Pass than up to Douglas Pass. A little jaunt into Utah than spent the night in
Meeker to end the first week 3 official passes & 465 miles

Week 1 recap 21 passes 2,814 miles 3 spectacular rides, 1)Silverton to Ouray 2)Norwood to Gateway & 3)the Black Canyon Park and the RMFR a very fun week!

congrats!

Day 8 started cool & sunny than having to dodge a deer on the way to Ninemile Gap than Grassy Gap with Yellowjacket Pass next, but not before a real yellow jacket flew up my pants leg ouch! He got me 3-4 times all in row about 3 inches long. The co-ords than led me to a small horse ranch painted yellow with a brown stripe no less. Than the owner drove up I wave her down she gets a good laugh from my stories & directs me to the real Yellowjacket pass I took a pic & noted the co-ords. Than off to Rabbit Ears Pass than Muddy Pass. Heading south a bit I hit Gore Pass than Mclure pass than Watson Divide through Aspen & than over Independence Pass it was late in the day & a lot of snow on the ground made for chilly ride. For the day 9 passes and 447 miles.

Day 9 I started with Cottonwood Pass at the top a fella walked over to me when he saw the Minnesota plate telling me his daughter lives in St Cloud area he introduced himself and is a descendent of Doc Holliday of old west lore we had an interesting chat & I promise to look up his daughter back in Minnesota. Than on to Monarch Pass & Poncha Pass next North Cochetopa Pass than Slumgullion Pass than a new sign at Spring Creek Pass I took a pic & noted the co-ords. The GPS took me for a goose chase down a cow path for old Slumgullion Pass I turned around & found the co-ords back on the main road but it seemed in the middle of nowhere. Than to Wagon Wheel Gap and on to Wolf Creek Pass. For a total 8 official passes and one new pass doing 395 miles.

Day 10 I didn’t start this ride thinking I was going to do all of the passes & had misses one the first day Needing another oil change I headed back to Pueblo & decided I could try for them all, so I backtracked to pick up Cucharas Pass. Than to Pueblo but Mike at Rocky Mountain Cycle Plaza was swamped he said if I can stop first thing in the morning he would squeeze me in. I got a room for the night but is was still only late afternoon so I head out for a loop picking up Long Saddle than Promontory Pass than found a heard of bighorn sheep on the side of the road, took a short movie & a few pics very impressive sight. Than to Bigelow Divide I found a sign hiding in the bushy road edge & took a pic & noted the co-ords they were not the same as the ones listed. Total 4 passes & 375 miles.

Day 11 First thing at 9:00am I'm at Rocky Mountain Cycle Plaza for my 2nd oil change of the trip, I give Mike & his crew a big thumbs up for squeezing me in for not once but twice. I head out to Devils Gap & its HOT, than Twelve Mile Pass & still HOT it clouds over as I head to Trout Creek Pass & I see rain in every direction. Next to Wilkerson Pass with rain still threatening from every direction. I stop at Florissant Fossil Beds very interesting for me & I think of the comparison my grand kids would have as they call me a fossil also. With rain all around now I find lodging for the night getting 5 passes going 250 miles.

Week 2 cont

Day 12 A nice sunny start as I head to Ute Pass than Tenderfoot Pass than to Cripple Creek. Working my way north I find Mountain Shadows Pass than Templeton Gap & Monument Hill Divide I Find lodging on the outskirts of Denver. This will be my base camp for the next two days. Ending with 5 passes & 239 miles.

Day 13 I head out to find Windy Saddle Pass & find myself sharing the area with many bicyclist & hang gliders. Than to Dix Gulch, Juniper Pass & Squaw Pass as I head twards Mt Evens. Driving to the top of the highest paved road in the lower 48 states was one of my “must do events” & I thoroughly enjoyed the breathtaking views the weather was constantly changing the mountain makes its own weather. I headed back to Denver camp & my last pass for the day at Golden Gate Pass. Finding 5 passes & 235 miles.

Day 14 Was going to be a busy day I head down 285 to Crow Hill which was under construction I took a pic at the co-ords but no sign further ahead was a sign but no place to park with all the construction equipment & lane closures. Than to Kenosha Pass & Red hill Pass. I see a large storm approaching as I turn north to Hoosier Pass than loop around to Fremont Pass & Tennessee Pass Just ahead of the storm clouds. Heading north again away from the storm towards Battle Mountain Summit than Vail Pass than through the tunnel to Lovland Pass than to Eisenhower Tunnel for a pic & the last pass for the day Berthound Pass. A total of 11 passes and 331 miles.

Week 2 recap I visited 47 of the official passes traveling 2272 miles for a total so far of 68 passes traveling 5086 miles. Too many great rides to count but one of the most memorable was the climb to the top of Mt Evens & for reasons other than riding the Florissant Fossil Beds.

Week 3
Day 15 I headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park the first pass was Wind River Pass than Iceberg Pass but not before going past the spot & having to drive a couple miles in one lane gravel road construction traffic to turn around & go back for the picture, than having to turn around again & continue on. Than Fall River Pass & Milner Pass turning around again to find Forest Canyon Pass I had missed on the way down the mountain. Seeing elk & than moose heading out of the park on the way to Willow Creek Pass driving through falling snow at Granby & heading north to try to outrun the storm but got caught in rain at Walden & waited 15 minutes at a fuel stop for the rain to pass. My last pass for the day was Cameron Pass than a wonderful ride down the mountain to Ft Collins for the night. 7 passes and 298 miles.

Day 16 I have one pass left to finish all 76 listed on the website so onward to Pawnee Pass completing the major part of my trip. I wind my way through Nebraska on my way to Newcastle Wyoming for the night 1 pass and 417 miles.

Day 17 & 18 My last must see site is Devils Tower & I spend a good part of the day there. Heading to Rapid City to have my rear tire replaced & start for home. Sometime along the way I decided to drive straight through to home. Driving 797 miles going into the 2nd day.

Week 3 recap I finished the 8 remaining passes buzzed up to Devils Tower & drove home for 1,512 miles. The best ride of the week & one of the best on the trip was from Walden to Ft Collins.

Trip total 76 official passes 6,598 miles. I had a new front tire put on before the trip. Two oil changes & a rear tire during the trip & another oil change the day after I got home.

Sounds like you had an awesome trip Richard.

I know what you mean about Devil's Tower. I was there myself about 1 1/2 months ago. Wonderful riding in that part of the country.

Glad you made it back safely.

And thanks for the information about your trip; it will help make the 50 Pass program that much better.

Hope to ride with you the next time you come through these neck of the woods.