VFR Discussion Group -> Creede Ride annual ride reports

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd08.jpg)

Creede Colorado
"The Silver Thread"

For 2 years running the local Colorado Springs VFRd group takes a 500 mile trip in early spring to visit Creede Colorado, the town sits in the middle of a Colorado Scenic byway officially known as the "Silver Thread" �

It starts out near South Fork Colorado and follows the Rio Grande all the way to Creede then it crosses two mountain passes along the San Juan mountain Range. �A string of small Gold Rush towns such as Creede popped up all along the San Juans during the Heyday of Silver Mining in the 19th Century, what is left now is Colorado Heritage and freindly folks living in one of Americas most beautiful historical backdrops, the Silver is long gone and the boom is gone but the place is as pretty as it ever was. It makes for a wonderful motorcycle trip.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/route.jpg)

Creede 2002
We started the trip in Colorado Springs in April of 02, and headed south on Highway 115 to Canon City then up Highway 50 along the Arkansas River for some fun Twisty riding to Salida for Lunch, this was my first ride with Craig, Duel VFR's with sound by D&D!

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd01.jpg)
Sandwitch in Salida

We turned south and headed over Poncha pass on Highway 285

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd02.jpg)
Just over Poncha Pass, west face of the Sangre De Cristo range

The San Luis Valley is usually very boring and windy, for 80 miles, we rode along 285 and turned off at 112 to Del Norte for gas where we connected with highway 160 and headed west to South Fork, into the highway 149 to Creede!


(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd03.jpg)
Begin sceanic Highway 149 to Creede

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd05.jpg)

Not very twisty in this part but very beautiful

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd06.jpg)

Creede just sort of snuck up on us, its not much to look at coming in fromt the south but surprises await around the corner! We tooled around the town, a sleepy and quiet place, with some cute shops.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd07.jpg)

Ever just ask your self "now where does THAT road go"? this one goes 20 miles up into the mountains to...Back to Creede all dirt!

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd08.jpg)

WE decided not to take that road and found the "Tommy Knockers Bar" instead, the bouncer greeted us upon arrival (a Golden Retriever) We met some friendly local folks, who told us that Creede is where they breed drunks and divorces! Where you dont really lose your wife you lose your turn! I asked for a Tommy knockers beer but they didnt have that brand lol! They say that most bikers see the bar there and just stop, some Harley riders dont even wait till the motorcycle is stopped before jumping off, we practically did a stoppie when we saw it! There are screech marks on the street out front to prove it!


(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd09.jpg)
Tommy Knockers Bar

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd10.jpg)
The source of the Rio Grande River The San Juan Range

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd11.jpg)
That little dot is Craig, He sort of dissapeared on me

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd12.jpg)
The San Juans


(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd13.jpg)
Uncompahgre peak 14,309"

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd14.jpg)
what lies below for us

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd15.jpg)
Near Spring Creek Pass, site of the Alfred Packer massacure


(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/cd16.jpg)
Leg home flying down Monarch pass hwy 50

Creede Revisited 2003

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED04.JPG)

8:30 am Craig Mitch and I started off from the World Arena in Colorado Spring on our voyage to creede CO. We were expecting clear skies and temperatures in the 70�s. We started out working out the hand signals with Mitch who wanted to know how and to communicate with each other, a whirl in the air with a finger means cop, the old stand by left, right, and stop signals. Well we took off down cop alley (117 to Penrose/Cannon City) at a moderate pace, I call it that for a reason. We turned off at the nearest access road to CC and sped down some open country road I don�t know the name for, but it takes you all the way to CC.

Once we made it through Canyon City and around that big tight right hand curve up the pass towards the Royal George the pace quickened, as soon as we started down the hill into the Arkansas River Valley on Hwy 150 we were going about 80mph. The first tasty twisties had me and Craig pulling away from Mitch who by now was probably expecting more of easy riding we have been doing, but he managed to keep in sight. Craig passed me in a passing lane and started to pull away in some tight curves but I gassed it and buried my head and caught up. Whew some fun is always to be had through there, Craig pulled in a the Texas Creek diner and we cleaned off the bugs, little did we know that was as clear as it was gonna get! Craig took the lead and I followed behind Mitch. I noticed something about the way he was riding that reminded me of a picture I had seen in a magazine and instantly knew why he couldn�t keep up with us.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/REG.JPG)

At the gas stop in Salida I told he about it and maybe he should lean forward and bend the elbows. He was asking for advice so I told him. Anyway we took one look at the way towards Monarch pass and there was a huge ominous dark cloud over it. The blue skis were only to the south, so we decided to go to creede from the south and head up Poncha Pass down the gun-barrel to Del Norte. Poncha Pass was a surprise as it was recently repaved and it was very smooth, it is full of nice deep turns, I had it up to 80-100mph running it up the pass, guess who was right on my wheel?

The gun-barrel was boring as always and windy but it went quick, we stopped in Del Norte to gas up, Craig thought it might be wise since the towns are few on the �Silver Thread�

We headed south to �South Fork� and turned at the Highway 149 turn off the �Silver Thread� official scenic byway of Colorado. The road follows the Rio Grande river valley and is walled off by huge rock bluffs very beautiful, but it began to rain so no pictures, just some very nice road, all the way to creede.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED01.JPG)

Craig and I had been there the year before and stopped at the �Tommy Knockers� for a beer and some all you can eat tacos, Mitch got the Chile Burger. The first thing that we said when the tacos came was �can we get some taco sauce�? No need, the mountain muffin goddess that made them had some secret concoction of lime juice and cabbage meat and freshly formed corn tortilla shells (not preformed) WOW I took them up on the all you can eat. I can only imagine how good the fish tacos are!

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED02.JPG)

Well we headed up the pass to an access road that takes you to the Santa Maria reservoir that is somewhere above the bluffs you see.

Here is Mitch taking pictures with the camera he forgot to bring
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED03.JPG)

Soaking up the disappearing sunlight
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED05.JPG)

We had expected better weather so Mitch was a bit unprepared with only a set of Draggin Jeans, Tour Master Jacket, and a liner. Craig loaned him some rain pants and a zip up for layering.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED06.JPG)

We were 5 miles from the summit of Spring Creek Pass and the Continental Divide the road had been swift up to this point and now began to tighten up considerably, not to mention the road debris.

Once we hit the top of Slumgullion Pass we were at the top 11,000 feet and the seat of the San Juan Mountains the source of the Gunnison river, We had just passed the source of the Rio Grande.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED07.JPG)

There was a passing rainsquall that was covering the mountains so we waited for it to clear and just took in the sights.

Our bikes parked in front of Red Mountain
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED08.JPG)

Craig�s ill fitting ZG double bubble looks nice
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED09.JPG)

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED10.JPG)

There it is that�s what I came to see Uncompahgre Peak 14,804 peering out from under the rain
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED11.JPG)
We started down the pass and took it rather easy as it gets really tight, much road debris and rain to come. We passed the Alfred Packer site and into Lake City where the road flattens out and follows the meandering Gunnison River for about 40 miles. It was fast and fun. Then the rain hit! We turned the big turn east up Dutch Gulch and the skies opened up a down pour! The stuff we encountered before was nothing THIS was rain! It poured all the way to Gunnison, we stopped and gassed up had a drink of juice and talked with some knarly college boys from Adams State, (wheelie for us, do a stoppie) no thanks see ya! It was drizzle all the way to Monarch pass and then it turned to snow

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED12.JPG)

We stopped to warm up with coffee and hot chocolate at the visitors center for 20 min and headed down, good thing we stopped cause it all cleared out! The whole way back the roads were wet but the ski was blue, it was pretty but caution riding in it.

Here we are at Skyline ridge on the last part home, Craig shedding his rain jacket
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED13.JPG)

Mitch next to his yellow VFR
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/creede/CREED14.JPG)

It was here I discovered I had threads showing on my rear tire, I knew I getting bad but not that bad, I let out some air to flatten it out and we rode home!

I counted 499.5 miles and we got home about 8:15pm almost 12 hours, the rain really slowed us down.

Wow
I've done so many great rides, but what an amazing treat to be able to read about it and have the photos right there. � Awesome..Thanks Miguel. �I was a bit surprised when you and Craig took off when we hit RT 50. �I kept you guys in sight and felt OK but not really comfortable. �I found your advice really helpful. I noticed that I really had to get in on the fuel tank and work the tank and pegs to relax my upper body and arms. �Once there, �I felt very comfortable and safe keeping up with you guys. �I've been there before, but without the external feedback and coaching it would have remained an inconsistant intuited kind on thing. �I was thinking of canning the Helibars for the stock ones, but as is often the case ,it's the rider not the equipment. �I'm glad you had the vision to check the speedo when the wick was on. �I had no idea we were cranking quite that fast thru the twisties. �Even though I was wet and cold, it was my face that hurt most from smiling for almost 12 hours straight. �Great ride, great company. BTW my burger was up there with the tacos.
Mitch

I was pooped, went to bed at 9:00.  You were right I was getting tired at Monarch. I woke up this mourning rather plugged up.  I enjoyed that ride even in the rain.  Something about riding all day in the Colorado mountains just stirs something in me very satisfying.  I enjoyed having you along, too bad you missed some of the earlier rides, oh well there are more to come its early in the season.

Miguel
I wanted to follow up on that conversation we had about a track day at Pikes peak raceway.  Will you post something here?  Do you help organize them or do you know who does?
Mitch

There is only one pikes peak event I know about and it is a part of the California superbike school, then there is Pueblo they have more track days, and also there is second creek out by DIA.   I dont have a track day planned.  Maybe if I can get some race leathers.

That pic of the mountains, 4th from last is cool.  :D

Damn, I live in the wrong part of the world. But Saturday it will be 2 weeks of Alpine twisties for me. That should compensate some! Trip report and pics to follow.

Never been to the Netherlands.  We have a Nederland here in
Colorado, but it's at altitude and probably just a bit different from you home. It must be kind of flat there. Have fun and be safe on your alpine trip.
Mitch

You might want to take a day before you go to the top of any high mountain passes, you can get light headed really easy.

I will, the highest pass I'll be driving will be about 8500ft with a nice view of the peak at almost 13.000ft and nice twisties going up and down, averaging 12% elevation the entire road. I'm gonna have fun.  :D

combined two post into one on Creede

Great report Miguel!  A couple of my riding buddies & I went for about 200 miles last week.  Lots of fun and lots of wind but it sure is great to see spring here. :D