Final riding day

Today is the last full day of riding on the trip. We are planning to explore some roads in the mountain foothills from Boulder to Colorado springs. We are tired so the goal is to take it easy, get the trailer, pack the bikes and hit the road. One small concern - Jeff's back tire is wearing fast and the cords are showing. Some think we should leave the bike and bring the trailer, others think the tire will hold for one more day.

The ride starts up well, with Canyon Road providing a suburban version of the wilderness, only with paved bikes paths, volvos and traffic. I'm lucky - starting out in the lead lets me pass the half asleep drivers who are more interested in sipping latte and chatting that so important conversation with their cell phones, that they can't appreciate the what the mountains bring to their lives. Tom catches up, passes me and we eventually stop at the top of the hill waiting by the Netherland reservoir chatting with Dave. He had a later opportunity to pass and just as he got into the clear and accelerated to top speed,  he passed a cop going the other way. The cop lit up the christmas tree lights putting the fear of god in Dave, but in the end, he realized he couldn't stop his vehicle and mount an safe chase.  Josh arrives saying that Jeff's rear tire blew out. I guess that answers the debate on the condition of the tire. We are, of course, concerned for Jeff's well being. He is always cool as a cucumber under stress and we don't know if his message to Josh was designed to prevent worry, or if indeed everything was OK. 

It takes some time to get down the hill, being mindful of the cop who might still be on the prowl for the bike that got away. We find Jeff at the side of the road, bike and Jeff are OK, but he can't get off the bike because the hill is so steep, he can't get his kick stand down and the bad tire prevent him from manoeuvring to a safer location. There are ball bearing like river stones all around him waiting to trip man and machine - he's starting to get tired and is glad for the hand, pushing the bike to a safer location.   The cell phones don't work in the canyon so Josh, Dave and I head to the top to call CAA for help while Tom helps Jeff secure the bike. If you have any doubts about the value of CAA - it was priceless for us.

climbers in the mountains

Water is chilly

Location of flat tire bike

Rescue vehicle

Storms on the ride home

Dinner location

The bike is inside a dangerous curve and we need to manage traffic so that someone doesn't run into the truck, which can't get fully off the road. Tom sets up the recovery (he's an expert after all).  I head down the road to direct the truck to Jeff's bike away from Josh and Dave's bikes which are parked in that safer location. While waiting, I get to watch 3 crazy rock climbing parties conquer insane climbs, hanging upside down, using fists to ram into cracks in the rocks in order to reach their objectives. Good thing they are tied down, because one falls several times. While I am baking in the sun, Josh is tempting fate with ropes and cooling down in the rushing mountain stream. 

Jeff is on his way back to Colorado Springs and and we continue on one last ride. We get a bit wet in a thunderstorm but then enjoy one more set of great roads. Tom and I switch bikes so that I can see how a sport touring bike behaves. His bike is a rocket ship that turns just by thinking about the turn. It accelerates in ways that my tame dirt bike could never contemplate. At first, I spend too much effort over compensating steering input, but eventually get into the flow and am able to make some speed. Tom is impressed with how well the BMW dirt bike handles the big road. 

We eventually meet up with Jeff, have dinner and plan the trip home. Jeff and Tom get the trailer while Josh, Dave and I prepare the bikes for the trailer. This time, it only takes 90 minutes to pack the bikes and we are on our way back to TO.

The ride home is all about keeping the driver alert, getting sleep so that you can take your driving shift and safely operate the vehicle, making sufficient fuel, food and nature call stops to get home in one piece. In true character for this trip, the decision is made for a Polish dinner in Chicago, so the research is done on the fly, GPS reprogrammed, and we are off to Staropolska Restaurant in the old Polish area. Our trip is interrupted by a church bus accident caused by inconsiderate other drivers but 14 people are injured so the highway is closed to so that the many emergency vehicles can provide care for the victims. The second interruption comes from the tenth annual World Naked Bike Ride. We get by the parade route just in time to avoid seeing things that married men should not see (Josh was disappointed). After a great meal, we are back on the road, cross the border at 6:30 and get back to Toronto by 10:30.

What a successful trip.

I will be processing the photos and videos and posting them up to better describe the trip. (just need the time)