Hey everyone!
I know it has been a little while since I have uploaded any posts or photos- I am still trying to prepare everything into an awesome movie. With that said I thought I would offer a little teaser photo set. 
Steel Horses
Recording
Leaving Park City heading to Moab!
The Line Up
Sean was riding on his tire Cords!
Hello Everyone!
I am back in Denver (and at work) on this wonderful wednesday! The ride back from Moab was incredible, and quick too. Thank you for your patience with the updates, but sometime before friday I will have a full release of all the awesome photos, great stories, and a new video!
-Stu
Sunday Morning at 7:40 AM.
Leaving Blackhawk, CO yesterday we once again made a very bad assumption that we would only encounter rain… Wrong. About 15 miles past Idaho Springs the light rain changed over to light snow, Keep in mind we were traveling I-70 to get over to UT, and also remember that I-70 is also considered one of the most dangerous highway passes in Colorado/ the United States.
Eisenhower tunnel is roughly 11,000 ft and the scary element is you literally could go from sun shining to complete white out snow storm. Needless to say, handle bars gripped with all my might, body tense and nervous, we ride out of the tunnel and are met with even more snow. Lucky for us the snow wasn’t sticking to the ground. We decided to push through. We made it to Copper mountain ski resort and pulled over at the local gas station. Fingers frozen, muscles tired from being so tense all the time- we were tired and apprehensive.
We spent about 20 minutes in the gas station warming up. Every minute debating whether we would push on. We did. The next leg was roughly 123 miles till Rifle, CO- this was a brutal leg of the trip. The wind was unbelievably strong, and the rain was relentless. Constant rain, I have found, isn’t that bad, but rain broken up with ten minute clear periods, then start-up again – is the absolute worst. We ended up stopping in Glenwood Springs, because my check engine light went on and created quite the scare. We stopped for gas and ate at a local bar called Doc Holladays. Great burgers, and the beer is fantastic, or maybe it was just the right timing. Anyways, after thawing out and drying out – we set out with nothing but the sun in sight for the next 148 miles to Dinosaur, CO.
This town is small, quiet, and had dinosaur statues everywhere. This town is Odd but nice. As we are gassing up getting ready to make the last 80 miles to Red Canyon Lodge, we take note of the black cloud of death to the south and the single highway road headed south. We set out, Amped on red bull and 5-HR energy – moving west, knowing that at some point we would have to turn north. Let me try to recreate this picture for you. Heading west on 40 to our right are majestic rolling hills and blue skies. Turn your head to the left, and its the black cloud of death. As we roll into straight for this cloud of death, light rain starts and the wind picks up. Rain gets heavier, and the winds follow suit. If there were ever a moment in this ride that I thought my chances of ditching my bike was elevated it was during this stretch of highway. A 16 wheeler comes hurling past me, soaks me with rain and my back tire skids out a little. That’s was a moment I saw my life semi flash before my eyes. After near death experience, the rain stopped, sun came back out and it was smooth sailing to Red Canyon Lodge. Switch back after switch back, getting lost, and after getting Sean’s bike unstuck - we had finally made it. The Red Canyon lodge is wonderful- review to follow shortly.
Hello everyone! Its 10 AM and we are only about 40 miles outside of Denver. Those rain showers that the weather man spoke of turned into heavy snow. Sean and I met up with Adam in Idaho Springs, CO. By the time we reached Adam we were soaked to the bone and the snow had started to accumulate on the ground. We decided it wouldn’t be smart to get back to Denver, so we rode 8 trechorous miles to Blackhawk, Co- a casino town. We ate terrible food at the buffet, and drank for free while losing copious amounts of money. We are headed to Red Canyon Lodge next- 6 hrs away! Wish us luck!
-Stu
TGIF!!!!
Well everyone Friday is here, the bikes are loaded up, the helmets are cleaned, the weather is behaving (kinda), and I am amped to finally hit the road. Sean and I will be taking off at 3:30 PM from Denver, meeting Adam in Idaho Springs at 4:45 and high tail it to Steamboat Springs by 7:30 (snow is predicted to start falling at 7 PM). The most dangerous part of our ride is going to be Rabitt Ears, which is the entrance to Steamboat- there is no way around it. Ice could make for one super dangerous ride, but we are all about safety first.
Also here is our weather out look for Steamboat Springs, CO: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Steamboat+Springs+CO+USCO0370
Heres a little info from wikipedia for you: “The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties. The pass is named for nearby Rabbit Ears Peak, a mountain in Park Range to the north that is prominently visible from the east side of the pass during good weather”. “The west summit, though steeper (7%), is lower (9400′), and the true high point is the east summit. Although lower in elevation than many of the high mountain passes farther to the south in the Colorado Rockies, the pass often receives a great deal of snow in winter and is subject to regular short closures during heavy winter storms. The meadows beneath it along U.S. Highway 40 allow for reliable cross country skiing. The pass provides the route of U.S. Highway 40 between Kremmling and Steamboat Springs. It is one of three crossings of the continental divide along the U.S. Highway, along with nearby Muddy Pass to the southeast and Berthoud Pass as it approaches Denver. The pass is significantly steeper on the western side (near Steamboat Springs) than the eastern side, where it descends along a slow incline towards Muddy Pass. There is a single runaway truck ramp on the west side for truckers whose brakes become hot while braking down the incline.”
Red Canyon Lodge – 790 Red Canyon Road, Dutch John, UT 84023
Red Canyon Lodge, in Utah will be our hotel for the second night on our trip. Being that it is a lodge, we will be bunking in cabins with fireplace stoves, over looking the small lake outside our front porch. They have an in-house restaurant which can, from what I have read, turn out some great home cooked food. I got in touch with the owner of the establishment- Mark W, he won’t be around for our visit however will be providing insight and history into the place.
We look forward to our first visit!
Check out their website for more info: http://www.redcanyonlodge.com/
Whats up!
While we are in Utah we will have the HONOR of riding with an amazing Motorcycle Club. Sean’s parent’s, Barbara and Frank O’Connell, are members of this amazing group of people – they are also the one’s who extended us the invitation to join the ride.
Find their info below:
Well it is official, we leave Friday afternoon for Utah!
We have an amazing route planned Through the mountains the entire way, past dinosaur national park, into Park City, Utah to meet up with the American Flyer’s MC. It’s a 10 hour ride total, we will split it up over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday night-Monday will be spent in Park City- Tuesday we will leave about 6 AM and hightail it back into Denver- ready for work Wednesday AM!
Thats the plan – I will be uploading photos and posting reviews throughout the whole trip. I invite you to follow along- if you have any suggestions or input on where to go, how to get there, or who to see - let me know!
Happy Mother’s Day to all Mom’s out there – especially mine
-Stu
THE ROUTE: (subject to change)
UTAH HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!
SO! I am planning a big ride to Utah… problem is- I have a wedding on Saturday- so I would be leaving Sunday AM with a massive hangover.
Its a 10 hour ride min, so I would be leaving at 6 AM and arriving at 7 PM in Park City.
If I didnt go to the wedding… I could leave friday, stay in estes park, then slowly work my way there and back.
The wedding is two friends from a place I used to work… thoughts?
