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THE PLACE - Colorado Western Slope - Ouray, Gunnison
THE TIME - JULY 13-15th
Welcome to the first Colorado Homecoming meet - homecoming? Well VFRD was started by a man from Colorado, and two of the Moderators originate from here as well. Colorado is one of the prettiest places in the USA.
SUNDAY JULY 13 LODGING
we have 10 double rooms reserved under "VFRD" this is the peak season in Ouray and we are getting a 15% discount $98 for the night, single rooms also available at a different rate. I am expecting about 20 riders at this point or near that for the first meet here in CO. There are other motels also in the area if these fill up. We slotted into a good spot - since there are several car clubs and a few motorcycle clubs in the weeks around the 13th - so make your reservations asap! Our point of contact is Barbara, and the owners are Steve & Laura. Again we are under "VFRD". Ouray is one of the most incredible places in the state, the town is surrounded by steep mountains on all sides and great waterfalls can be seen right from the main street. There is a hot springs, several restaurants, and a few bars if you want a nightcap. This is the arrival day, Monday we ride a great route! I have already reserved a double room.
Ouray Chalet Inn
510 Main St
Ouray, CO 81427
Toll Free 1-800-924-2538
POC - Barbara "VFRD"
http://www.ouraychaletinn.com
1 non smoking, no pet room(s) with two queen size beds.
The rate, after the group discount, is $93.49 per night plus taxes. The
total amount of your stay, including tax, will be $102.94
MONDAYS ROUTE
We will leave the beautiful scenery of Ouray and head south on the Million Dollar Highway CO 550 - past Silverton, and down into Durango, this is a must ride for many motorcycle enthusiasts and we will be right in the middle of it. From Durango we will head east on hwy 160 to Pagosa Springs, this will be at a moderate pace since the state patrol train new officers on this road, its a speed trap. Then up and over Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork. We will head North from here and follow the Rio Grande River to Creede where we will stop for lunch, (if we make good time or eat in Durango depending) We will continue on highway 149 on the fast sweepers here up Spring Creek Pass and then hit the continental divide at Slumgullion Pass where we can see the headwaters of the Rio - and here you will see some more of the great San Juan Mountain Range from the opposite side. Descending into Lake city where we will follow the Gunnison river all they way to hwy 150 and stop for the night in Gunnison. We will break up into smaller groups slow and fast to keep it safe.
Full Size
MONDAY JULY 14 LODGING
The Water Wheel Inn
P.O. Box 882
Gunnison, CO 81230
Toll-Free 1-800-642-1650
POC - Quincey "vfrdiscussion"
http://www.waterwheelinnatgunnison.com
Rate: $83.20 per room/ double queen
Tax: $7.07
Total: $90.27
Quincey has given us a 20% Discount off the top as well, which works out to $90 for a double room, singles available as well - they have 50 rooms so there are plenty of options, she even gave us a hold on the first floor. The rooms are under "vfrdiscussion" so make sure to use that for the discount. Again this is the peak season for Gunnison too - we had to change the dates to get this weekend-mon since there are so many groups in Colorado at that time vacationing. There is a restaurant within walking distance, a couple of Jacuzzis and they have a spigot to wash your bike, they are accustomed to motorcycles.
TUESDAYS ROUTE
West from Gunnison on hwy 50 to Blue Mesa Reservoir, where we will turn off on the best road in Colorado hwy 92 - Black Canyon Of the Gunnison, it follows a winding path along the side of huge mesa for 30 miles of some very exiting turns, it is a eyes wide ride. From here we will turn off to visit the National Park North Rim to see the Black Canyon at its deepest point, some 2000 feet below to the bottom strait down with almost no grade, its strait down! There is a bit of a dirt road for 3 miles here but a vfr can handle it no problem, its worth it to see the north rim! Then into Crawford and over to Hotchkiss where we head North East on hwy 133 on some very fun twisties as you climb the turns at Panioa State Park - then up and over Mclure Pass for more twisties - at the top is one of the most incredible views you will ever see. Then down the road to Redstone for some lunch and then fuel up in Carbondale. We will have to slab it it east till be get to Aspen - where we will stop to regroup since the traffic is fast and loose on hwy 82 all the way to Aspen. In Aspen we will attempt to ride up to Maroon Bells - a National Monument that is absolutely breath taking, since its a National Monument it has a fee of $10 for vehicles, sometimes they don't allow vehicle at all and you have to take a bus, if that is the case then we will skip it. Its worth the trip if they allow us to ride. Then the highest pass we will encounter is just up the road, Independence Pass - this a tricky and bumpy ride so we will take it easy. You will be too busy looking at the scenery anyways if you never been here to ride fast. Its over 11k at the top so take an aspirin that morning to help with the altitude. Then we will head south and down the road to Buena Vista for some dinner and goodbyes. I will arrange for some lodging in Buena Vista for those of you staying, while I will have to scoot on home to be at work the next day. There is a great restaurant in Buena vista that serves some of the best prime rib you get, and very very affordable. Its a secret so I wont be posting where it is!
Full Size
If time allows and we make it to Buena Vista with plenty of daylight we may also head directly west and visit the top of Cottonwood pass, its as tall as Independence Pass and just as breathtaking. Its about an hours ride up and down - a nice side trip if you are game for more riding.
This is the end of the meet however there is so much great riding in Colorado you might want to spend another couple of days and head north - Rocky Mountain National Park Comes to mind. Craig and I will have to book it home on Tues night - so we wont be staying overnight Tue - we usually stay at the super 8 when we go dirt riding around there.
Super 8
530 US Highway 24 South, Buena Vista, CO
(719) 395-8888
attached is a gps exhange file of the routes
homecoming.gpx ( 733.26K ) Number of downloads: 11
THE TIME - JULY 13-15th
Welcome to the first Colorado Homecoming meet - homecoming? Well VFRD was started by a man from Colorado, and two of the Moderators originate from here as well. Colorado is one of the prettiest places in the USA.
SUNDAY JULY 13 LODGING
we have 10 double rooms reserved under "VFRD" this is the peak season in Ouray and we are getting a 15% discount $98 for the night, single rooms also available at a different rate. I am expecting about 20 riders at this point or near that for the first meet here in CO. There are other motels also in the area if these fill up. We slotted into a good spot - since there are several car clubs and a few motorcycle clubs in the weeks around the 13th - so make your reservations asap! Our point of contact is Barbara, and the owners are Steve & Laura. Again we are under "VFRD". Ouray is one of the most incredible places in the state, the town is surrounded by steep mountains on all sides and great waterfalls can be seen right from the main street. There is a hot springs, several restaurants, and a few bars if you want a nightcap. This is the arrival day, Monday we ride a great route! I have already reserved a double room.
Ouray Chalet Inn
510 Main St
Ouray, CO 81427
Toll Free 1-800-924-2538
POC - Barbara "VFRD"
http://www.ouraychaletinn.com
1 non smoking, no pet room(s) with two queen size beds.
The rate, after the group discount, is $93.49 per night plus taxes. The
total amount of your stay, including tax, will be $102.94
MONDAYS ROUTE
We will leave the beautiful scenery of Ouray and head south on the Million Dollar Highway CO 550 - past Silverton, and down into Durango, this is a must ride for many motorcycle enthusiasts and we will be right in the middle of it. From Durango we will head east on hwy 160 to Pagosa Springs, this will be at a moderate pace since the state patrol train new officers on this road, its a speed trap. Then up and over Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork. We will head North from here and follow the Rio Grande River to Creede where we will stop for lunch, (if we make good time or eat in Durango depending) We will continue on highway 149 on the fast sweepers here up Spring Creek Pass and then hit the continental divide at Slumgullion Pass where we can see the headwaters of the Rio - and here you will see some more of the great San Juan Mountain Range from the opposite side. Descending into Lake city where we will follow the Gunnison river all they way to hwy 150 and stop for the night in Gunnison. We will break up into smaller groups slow and fast to keep it safe.
Full Size
MONDAY JULY 14 LODGING
The Water Wheel Inn
P.O. Box 882
Gunnison, CO 81230
Toll-Free 1-800-642-1650
POC - Quincey "vfrdiscussion"
http://www.waterwheelinnatgunnison.com
Rate: $83.20 per room/ double queen
Tax: $7.07
Total: $90.27
Quincey has given us a 20% Discount off the top as well, which works out to $90 for a double room, singles available as well - they have 50 rooms so there are plenty of options, she even gave us a hold on the first floor. The rooms are under "vfrdiscussion" so make sure to use that for the discount. Again this is the peak season for Gunnison too - we had to change the dates to get this weekend-mon since there are so many groups in Colorado at that time vacationing. There is a restaurant within walking distance, a couple of Jacuzzis and they have a spigot to wash your bike, they are accustomed to motorcycles.
TUESDAYS ROUTE
West from Gunnison on hwy 50 to Blue Mesa Reservoir, where we will turn off on the best road in Colorado hwy 92 - Black Canyon Of the Gunnison, it follows a winding path along the side of huge mesa for 30 miles of some very exiting turns, it is a eyes wide ride. From here we will turn off to visit the National Park North Rim to see the Black Canyon at its deepest point, some 2000 feet below to the bottom strait down with almost no grade, its strait down! There is a bit of a dirt road for 3 miles here but a vfr can handle it no problem, its worth it to see the north rim! Then into Crawford and over to Hotchkiss where we head North East on hwy 133 on some very fun twisties as you climb the turns at Panioa State Park - then up and over Mclure Pass for more twisties - at the top is one of the most incredible views you will ever see. Then down the road to Redstone for some lunch and then fuel up in Carbondale. We will have to slab it it east till be get to Aspen - where we will stop to regroup since the traffic is fast and loose on hwy 82 all the way to Aspen. In Aspen we will attempt to ride up to Maroon Bells - a National Monument that is absolutely breath taking, since its a National Monument it has a fee of $10 for vehicles, sometimes they don't allow vehicle at all and you have to take a bus, if that is the case then we will skip it. Its worth the trip if they allow us to ride. Then the highest pass we will encounter is just up the road, Independence Pass - this a tricky and bumpy ride so we will take it easy. You will be too busy looking at the scenery anyways if you never been here to ride fast. Its over 11k at the top so take an aspirin that morning to help with the altitude. Then we will head south and down the road to Buena Vista for some dinner and goodbyes. I will arrange for some lodging in Buena Vista for those of you staying, while I will have to scoot on home to be at work the next day. There is a great restaurant in Buena vista that serves some of the best prime rib you get, and very very affordable. Its a secret so I wont be posting where it is!
Full Size
If time allows and we make it to Buena Vista with plenty of daylight we may also head directly west and visit the top of Cottonwood pass, its as tall as Independence Pass and just as breathtaking. Its about an hours ride up and down - a nice side trip if you are game for more riding.
This is the end of the meet however there is so much great riding in Colorado you might want to spend another couple of days and head north - Rocky Mountain National Park Comes to mind. Craig and I will have to book it home on Tues night - so we wont be staying overnight Tue - we usually stay at the super 8 when we go dirt riding around there.
Super 8
530 US Highway 24 South, Buena Vista, CO
(719) 395-8888
attached is a gps exhange file of the routes
homecoming.gpx ( 733.26K ) Number of downloads: 11