Packed up, had breakfast and headed East .... Crap, cloudy straight ahead on 160 towards Durango, but clear to the North East towards Telluride. So I head that way and up 145. It got cold real quick. So on came the electric Vest and the heated grips. I also put my helmet on to retain heat. Beautiful road and climb all the way to the top of Lizzard Head pass. Also lovely ride down to the turn into Telluride. I stopped for food and fuel, chatted it up with some fellow travelers then headed out towards Montrose. A few more passes up and down, then flat, and warm, so I got rid of the cold gear, and then rode all the way into Montrose.

I pulled into MacDonalds for a coffee and got the map out. It looked like Gunnison was a good lay over so booked a room. Then headed East on 50. It's about an hours ride, but another pass, or was it two (I am loosing track), and then into town. That whole piece of road is great, lots of scenery and some high speed, and slow speed, sections. And a cool damn to stop at for a bit. You get to drive right over it. Just watch for the wind. If you go over, you are very wet on one side, and drop 300 ft on the other. Ok, to the Picts .....

 

On the way up to Lizzard Pass. The road was wet, so again, I just skirted rain.



Top of the pass. About 10,200 feet high....



...same.

 

If you want lake side property at 10,000 ft, here it is



....this would be your backyard



Telluride is up that valley. If my memory is correct, that was where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank.

 

All Hwy 50. All beautiful.......

 

Tomorrow..... I head towards Loveland Pass..... Continue on 50 to 24 then North towards Dillion. I will decide at the top of Loveland how much further. But I am heading towards Rocky Mountain National Park the next day.

 

I don't know how many passes I went over today, but three of them where over 11,000, with one of them a few feet under 12,000. After packing and food, I headed east on 50 and in a bit, after a bit of construction (there was quit a bit of that today on the roads I chose) I started to climb to the top of Monarch Pass (11,300) then down into the valley and stopped for coffee at Poncha Springs. I was feeling a bit off this morning, I put it down to either the thin air of the Mountains or the thick Pizza I had for supper last night.

Headed north on 285 and up and over Trout Creek Pass, a tiny little 9,800 footer. Then up to FairPlay. What an interesting valley that is. Wide open, almost no one lives in the Valley, and high mountains on both sides. I stopped in FairPlay to get my bearings and then up 9, and up and over Hoosier pass (11,500) and on towards Brekinridge where I stopped for fuel and food. I was there about an hour.

Then back North and I was looking for a road that connects 9 to 6 (6 goes over Loveland Pass) It is called Swan Mountain Road, and worthy to find. Short, but great views and twisty.

Then onto 6. That road back to the freeway is a Holy Crap Batman road! Up and down with a stop at the top, and then down to Idaho Springs and a motel. Okidoke..... Pictures, and some are really something.....

 

East of Gunnison



Top of Monarch pass



Looking back towards Monarch pass



Climbing out of Johnson Village

 

Hope all goes well in Colorado. I would love to do it this time of year but have been told this is monsoon season for the Rockies.

 

Up high, just after Trout Creek Pass



Big open valley on 285. A huge expanse.



Downtown FairPlay. About 10,000 feet. This is higher than the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies where I live. And then we go up from here. Just love the high country.



I just love this building in FairPlay.

 

I have seen a bit of rain, but not caught in any of it so far.