SMALL WORLD


 

3 days of "super" trials


 Always sad when three days of trialing comes to an end and even moreso as its the last trial of 2009 for
me. Never mind, in this economy I have still had a good trials riding year despite everything. It certainly
did not start too well having to ressurect the old Safari from its slumbers in January and get her up and
running for Buckeye.

 Well the old girl has performed very well over the season and taken us to where we wanted to go
without all the "incidents" of the giant Beaver Marquis. Now all that remains is the 600 miler home from
C-D or Casper to Dolores.


 

Awards done!

 Presentations and awards over, time for some farewells and then get on the road homeward bound.
Slip through Casper having followed the ring road this time and out on the open road for Rawlins and a
full top up of everything at the Flying J. Good smooth straight roads all the way and apart from doing a
"Brenda" at the Flying J when I fell out of the RV an incident free first portion. Onward down 80 with it's
never ending straight lines to the horizon and then the turn off for the state line, Baggs, and all things
Colorado.


 

Straight, smooth roads to the horizon

 Back in Colorado and the awful roads with either expansion joints or drainage cuts the drive becomes
less than pleasant with everything banging and crashing around. At last we are in civilization and come
into Craig where we will night stop at the good old Walmart. A beer in hand and 280 miles done time to
reflect on the weekend and what a great three days of trials the Casper event is. If you like trials in their
true form with all types of hazards this has to be the place to go and a must for any of the serious
contenders as you get such a lot for your buck.

 Tuesday morning and while walking the dogs I notice several other RV's joined us for the o'night and
clearly one has a motorcycle type trailer behind him but think nothing of it. On the road at 8'ish and now
we need to go further south to Rifle and pick up 70 for Grand Junction. Having looked at the map we
decided to give boring old Utah a miss and take the shorter scenic route through Montrose and
Telluride and stop at a roadside stall for some of the Olathe Corn and maybe some Palisade Peaches.

 Approaching Rifle we meet a local who is half asleep and on a relatively straight road this individual
starts veering towards us and in no time has occupied half of my lane! With a closing speed of 100+
I'm forced to take evasive action as he will go directly under my seat, and on this stretch of road there is
NO hard shoulder, as we depart the highway  all hell breaks loose in Economy and he finally sees me
and swerves the correct way passing too close for comfort and still in my lane!!! With the minor cardiac
arrest under control we regain the highway, bin doors are secured, the screaming has subsided, dogs
returned to their normal seating positions and other unrestrained items collected off the floor. Well that
one was a real show stopper and just shows how easily an accident can occur and of course the mind
chills with the thought of what would have happened if we had hit each other?

 The freeway at last, and as we join the RV and MC trailer I had seen in Walmart at Craig blasts by with
a friendly toot. Plain sailing down a pretty freeway with the mighty Colorado wending its way through the
mountains and giving up its water to the orchards and vinyards in the Palisades area. Brenda is noting
all the places of interest for next time and a wine tasting at this end might be more fun than a nightstop
amid 18 wheelers.


 

Fruit and grapes at Palisades


 

Wine tastings too


 Off on the shortcut and yet more wineries and corn a'plenty as we pick up the route to Olathe and
Montrose. Pleasant and colorful we find Olathe and our roadside stall and take on vitals and let the
dogs have their lunchtime run.




Corn a'plenty at Olathe




The pack loved the lush grass


 

One of each please


 Montrose next and as we come into the outskirts there is a sign for free "chocolate tasting" at the
Russel Stover's factory promising plenty of room for coaches. As a Chocoholic this just cannot be
missed, even though my past expereiences of Russel Stovers have only been left over Christmas
selections from Walgreens and for the most part they have always seemed a little stale as chocolate
goes. But hey this is free from the factory, so must be worth a look!


 

Yum, Yum


 Pull into Stovers and park and now see whats on offer. Valentine Truffles at $9.99 but thats FOUR
boxes for the price of one! We could spend a lot of time and money here but we must press on as we
have people arriving at the park this afternoon.


 

A cracking deal on Valentine's truffles


 The chocolates are GOOD and I'm pleasantly surprized at their freshness, and the fruit is crisp and
tasty too. Onwards to Ridgeway and the turn off for Telluride and up ahead there is a storm but it seems
we are just behind it all the way as we chug up the mountain passes with just a splash of rain as we
come up the hill to the ski area at Mountain Village. Over the Lizard and all downhill through Rico and the
last 35 miles to Dolores.


 

About to turn right in Ridgeway and get away from the storm





One more mountain




Skirting the storm, just the Lizard to go
 

 Unloading begins and after dog walking a RV with trailer turns up, none other than the one in Craig! He
is here with his friend for a months riding around the mountains. Rain gear every day at this time of the
year! Small world!!!


TONY DOWN