John Brown Canyon Camp Trip

[Narsisco Lopez]

Needed to go out and stretch the kitty's legs a bit after adding the new Safari tanks (almost 12 gallons of fuel, baby!) Covered 750 miles of gorgeous Colorado roads in just under 16 hours of actual riding. Original plan was to ride in the dirt from Gateway, CO to Utah 128, but some commitments dictated I get home sooner than planned, so it was just one night camping... just above and west of John Brown Canyon.


Gassing up the "super-tanker" in Johnson Corners, CO (US 285 near Buena Vista)



The KTM's very first shot in front of a Continental Divide sign



Blue Mesa



Jumped a bit past my turn-off onto CO 141 to grab a few things from City Market in Grand Junction. Saw this Hawaiian BBQ place and couldn't resist (Hawaii is my spiritual homeland ;-) )



Sorry, was too busy enjoying the views and the ride down CO 141 to Gateway to stop and take pix. Take my word: it's gorgeous.

The road up to John Brown Canyon (and points west into Utah). In the background is the new she-she Gateway Canyons Resort.



John Brown Rd. (duh)



Heading up Canyon



It was still only around 3pm, so I ventured across the border into Utah and explored a bit. Since I knew I had to be back in Golden the next day, I decided to back-track east and look for a camping spot. This one was great... just above the canyon, plenty of firewood, gorgeous views...



FFYFF!



My views for the evening...





Local flora



"FIRE GOOD!"



Dinner, on the other hand, not so good. So much for Target brand freeze-dried pasta... yuck. Unapologetic foodie here; gonna have to put some thought into better lightweight camp food.



Sunrise



Basic oatmeal breakfast... much better than dinner, though. (Hot coffee and OJ is lurking out of frame)



Heading east out of JBC towards Gateway... around 7am Saturday May 5th, 2012



Rather than bore myself to tears heading east on I-70 from Grand Junction, I back-tracked to Delta, took CO 92 to Hotchkiss, then CO 133 through Paonia towards McClure Pass. Roadside waterfall just before Paonia State Park.



Pulled over to enjoy the scenery just before the climb up the western side of McClure Pass



Beautiful day to be up on McClure... aspens bright green, everything looking gorgeous. Saw an orange 950 ADV. climbing up from the east. Was it one of you guys?



More of McClure Pass



One last shot of the bike with a mountain backdrop.



All in all, a very fun and relaxing day and a half on the road. I didn't get as much dirt in as I wanted, but it was a blast to finally get a chance to stretch this awesome machine's legs and see how it felt to spend some extended time in the saddle. Gotta say, even if I was never able to ride it like it can be ridden off-road, I'd be totally happy with it as a pavement monster... sport bike handling and performance, touring bike comfort (at least for me... some might not like the wind and she's light enough that you definitely feel cross-winds).

The more I ride this bike, the more I simply LOVE IT.

[bilborides]

Looks like a nice easy cruise for the soul

[crowe2815]

That is some very impressive scenery you get to ride through.

[Geek]

gorgeous! Your tail light is a big smilie.. can you program it to be a big frown when stuck in I70 traffic?

You better not make any of that target crap when we're in Echo Park



p.s. who was John Brown? "America's first domestic terrorist."?

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by Geek

gorgeous! Your tail light is a big smilie.. can you program it to be a big frown when stuck in I70 traffic?

You're the 3rd inmate to make the "big smile" comment... now, I can't stop seeing it

Originally Posted by Geek

You better not make any of that target crap when we're in Echo Park

No way, Jose. Next time, I'm doing a bit more prep... like I said, gonna make and freeze a lasagne

Originally Posted by Geek

p.s. who was John Brown? "America's first domestic terrorist."?

Was wondering if they named this canyon after THE John Brown or another guy with the same name. Anybody know?

[Yellow Pig]

Very nice!

Although that's a haul for an out and back trip.

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by Yellow Pig

Very nice!

Although that's a haul for an out and back trip.

The haul WAS the trip... wanted to see what a semi-long riding day felt like on this bike.

FYI: I NEVER saw the fuel light come on! Gassed up in Grand Junction, rode to JBC and around the area, back-tracked to 50 and Delta,133 McClure Pass, gassed up in Glenwood Springs with 270 on trip 2, took 5.5 gallons (44mpg, btw). These Safari tanks are pretty awesome!

[DesertSurfer]

Great country, nice photos, sweet bike... I see that you're already putting those super tankers to work.

[TaZ9]

I'm going down to the Gateway area next week to take John Brown over to Moab. Since Gateway has no gas station, where is the nearest gas other than GJ? My DR650 has a little over 5 gallon capacity.

Thanks,

Taz9

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by TaZ9

I'm going down to the Gateway area next week to take John Brown over to Moab. Since Gateway has no gas station, where is the nearest gas other than GJ? My DR650 has a little over 5 gallon capacity.

Thanks,

Taz9

The nearest gas station is at the City Market on US 50 right on the outskirts of Grand Junction... Orchard Mesa.

[SugarDust]

Originally Posted by Narsisco Lopez

.......Saw this Hawaiian BBQ place and couldn't resist (Hawaii is my spiritual homeland ;-)

Looks like one onolicious plate lunch! hey if you like Hawaiain style plate lunch there's L&L BBQ in Aurora and the Springs - gets as close to home as you can get in Colorado also Okole Maluna in Windsor is pretty good too...

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by SugarDust

Looks like one onolicious plate lunch! hey if you like Hawaiain style plate lunch there's L&L BBQ in Aurora and the Springs - gets as close to home as you can get in Colorado also Okole Maluna in Windsor is pretty good too...

Hawaiian style da kine' ono grindz, brah

Yeah... I hit up L&L when I'm over on that side of town. They've got malasadas, but can't hold a candle to Leonard's kine

There's a small place on Youngfield & 20th here in Golden, but their cook quit and the owner is too cheap to pay a decent replacement, so he's been cooking... and he's terrible! There's also La'Au's Taco Shop on the Hill in Boulder, but it's trying to be like Chipotle's. Need to go try their huli chicken and see if it's any good.

[SugarDust]

Originally Posted by Narsisco Lopez

Hawaiian style da kine' ono grindz, brah

.. They've got malasadas, but can't hold a candle to Leonard's kine

as a keike we used to live up the road from Lenards on Lincoln ave off of Kaimuki Ave in Kapahulu..Sundays after church used to be go to Lenards and get fresh hot malasadas..they were da bes!

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by SugarDust

as a keike we used to live up the road from Lenards on Lincoln ave off of Kaimuki Ave in Kapahulu..Sundays after church used to be go to Lenards and get fresh hot malasadas..they were da bes!

And they STILL are

[SugarDust]

Originally Posted by Narsisco Lopez

And they STILL are

Nice! - My parents and most of my family still live there - my aunt lives right up the street still - used to walk/bike to the beach (Waikiki - queen surf etc) growing up....those were the days! Still go visit when we can...