Sunday, June 13, 2021
The night before, I'd pushed Therese so far onto the sidewalk she was nearly blocking the door of Room #1 at Naturita Lodge.
The intent was to get her out of the perceptive range of the yappy dogs in the motel office, and thus prevent their otherwise inevitable eruption when I loaded up at dawn.
It worked.
But there was no way to avoid triggering what was possibly an engineered biological alarm system when I finally saddled up and eased away from the lodge, rolling backwards down the slope of the parking lot all the way to the street before starting the engine. At least I could avoid direct responsibility for disturbing the sleep of other guests.
The first leg of the day's ride was 0.4 miles to the convenience store, where I enjoyed an al fresco breakfast of a quite decent and adequately voluminous egg and cheese burrito, hash brown cakes, and coffee. I filled my thermos with coffee and headed west.
I could have gone south on CO-141, but I knew from experience that CO-90 is a great scenic ride through a wide valley rimmed with dramatic escarpments, and a very nice set of curves at the west end.
And this time, I'd capture it on my GoPro.
The night before, I'd pushed Therese so far onto the sidewalk she was nearly blocking the door of Room #1 at Naturita Lodge.
The intent was to get her out of the perceptive range of the yappy dogs in the motel office, and thus prevent their otherwise inevitable eruption when I loaded up at dawn.
It worked.
But there was no way to avoid triggering what was possibly an engineered biological alarm system when I finally saddled up and eased away from the lodge, rolling backwards down the slope of the parking lot all the way to the street before starting the engine. At least I could avoid direct responsibility for disturbing the sleep of other guests.
The first leg of the day's ride was 0.4 miles to the convenience store, where I enjoyed an al fresco breakfast of a quite decent and adequately voluminous egg and cheese burrito, hash brown cakes, and coffee. I filled my thermos with coffee and headed west.
I could have gone south on CO-141, but I knew from experience that CO-90 is a great scenic ride through a wide valley rimmed with dramatic escarpments, and a very nice set of curves at the west end.
And this time, I'd capture it on my GoPro.
It was another "yadda yadda" morning.
Adding to my enjoyment was a spontaneous inspiration of the kind I sometimes get while riding, but more often (and quite reliably) obtain by utilizing a technique I call CEP ("Creativity Enhancement Protocol").
CEP typically involves a walk in the woods, equipped with a hip flask and ideally accompanied by a dog who might wag a tail at, but won't naysay, any random musings I might mutter aloud. Under such conditions my brain needs devote no resources to things like precisely controlling a hurtling piece of machinery.
But after entering the valley I was utterly alone on a long, mostly straight road with no tall vegetation that might hide large animals inclined to leap into my path. Therese was running as she should have. Navigation and control demands were about as low as they get, and the epic desert vista in front of me was a fine surrogate for a flask of whisky.
The concept I'd engendered was (and remains) a truly excellent idea, quite possibly the best I've ever had. As CEP-style ideas tend to, it just kept getting better. The longer I rode, the more additional elements materialized and snapped into place. Soon I was shouting and whooping and pumping my fist in the air.
The idea does have one significant problem: it would involve turning the thing I enjoy most into a job.
Still, it's worth developing a business plan and pitching it to the right people. I know who those people are, and they know who I am. I'll see what happens. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. I'd be stupid not to explore the possibility, and the timing is perfect.
Like any good CEP-style idea, there was no need for me to stop and write it down lest I forget it.
It had formed as, and will remain, a perfect and indestructible crystal.
The ride continued.
Yadda yadda.
Adding to my enjoyment was a spontaneous inspiration of the kind I sometimes get while riding, but more often (and quite reliably) obtain by utilizing a technique I call CEP ("Creativity Enhancement Protocol").
CEP typically involves a walk in the woods, equipped with a hip flask and ideally accompanied by a dog who might wag a tail at, but won't naysay, any random musings I might mutter aloud. Under such conditions my brain needs devote no resources to things like precisely controlling a hurtling piece of machinery.
But after entering the valley I was utterly alone on a long, mostly straight road with no tall vegetation that might hide large animals inclined to leap into my path. Therese was running as she should have. Navigation and control demands were about as low as they get, and the epic desert vista in front of me was a fine surrogate for a flask of whisky.
The concept I'd engendered was (and remains) a truly excellent idea, quite possibly the best I've ever had. As CEP-style ideas tend to, it just kept getting better. The longer I rode, the more additional elements materialized and snapped into place. Soon I was shouting and whooping and pumping my fist in the air.
The idea does have one significant problem: it would involve turning the thing I enjoy most into a job.
Still, it's worth developing a business plan and pitching it to the right people. I know who those people are, and they know who I am. I'll see what happens. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. I'd be stupid not to explore the possibility, and the timing is perfect.
Like any good CEP-style idea, there was no need for me to stop and write it down lest I forget it.
It had formed as, and will remain, a perfect and indestructible crystal.
The ride continued.
Yadda yadda.
In Naturita I'd had no problem booking a room for Sunday night at the Monte Vista, my cousin having converted his spare bedroom into a gym.
After all, who needs a guest room during a pandemic?
I arrived two hours before check in time, but the gal at reception let me unpack my soft luggage, and peel off my riding togs, and stash the whole stinking mess in the mailroom.
I then walked across the street to Swaddee Thai where I enjoyed one of the better interpretations of Pad Woon Sene I've ever had, washed down with two Nut Brown Ales from Oak Creek Brewing, and finished off with coconut ice cream (sorbet, actually).
After all, who needs a guest room during a pandemic?
I arrived two hours before check in time, but the gal at reception let me unpack my soft luggage, and peel off my riding togs, and stash the whole stinking mess in the mailroom.
I then walked across the street to Swaddee Thai where I enjoyed one of the better interpretations of Pad Woon Sene I've ever had, washed down with two Nut Brown Ales from Oak Creek Brewing, and finished off with coconut ice cream (sorbet, actually).
After an hour at Swaddee I knew Rendezvous, the hotel bar, would now be open...so I walked back across the street.
Caelan the bartender was unable to supply me with Nut Brown Ale, but Four Peaks Kilt Lifter "Scotch-style amber ale" would do nicely.
While I sipped ale and fiddled with GoPro files, a guy came in whose ensemble was entirely inappropriate for the weather. As I'd been comfortably attired in shorts and a T-shirt since stashing my own inappropriate ensemble in the mail room, I knew he wouldn't recognize me as a fellow rider; it was my responsibility to strike up the Endless Conversation.
He'd ridden from Oceanside California on an Indian Roadmaster, and it had been long, hot journey. Multiple pileups on the freeway hadn't helped.
When the clock struck 3 I paid for his beer and we migrated to the lobby. I settled into an armchair and let him take cuts; still in his riding togs and dragging luggage, he needed to get to his room more than I did.
I'd been assigned the Debbie Reynolds.
While I sipped ale and fiddled with GoPro files, a guy came in whose ensemble was entirely inappropriate for the weather. As I'd been comfortably attired in shorts and a T-shirt since stashing my own inappropriate ensemble in the mail room, I knew he wouldn't recognize me as a fellow rider; it was my responsibility to strike up the Endless Conversation.
He'd ridden from Oceanside California on an Indian Roadmaster, and it had been long, hot journey. Multiple pileups on the freeway hadn't helped.
When the clock struck 3 I paid for his beer and we migrated to the lobby. I settled into an armchair and let him take cuts; still in his riding togs and dragging luggage, he needed to get to his room more than I did.
I'd been assigned the Debbie Reynolds.
Larry would not approve of this room, because it's impossible to see the motorcycle.
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I showered, napped for a couple hours, then rode to Eric's house where he'd prepared a dinner of BBQ chicken and corn on the cob.
Jen's parents Bruce and Joan were there and they are fun. They're serious travelers, hikers, and backcountry campers, and had just returned from their own tour of Colorado.
Jen's parents Bruce and Joan were there and they are fun. They're serious travelers, hikers, and backcountry campers, and had just returned from their own tour of Colorado.
After dinner I returned to the Rendezvous, where Calen had changed roles from bartender to patron, and I met a former M-1 Abrams tank crewman named Shoma and his friend Mikey.
We closed the bar, which was quite a happening night spot, though my last few drinks were icewater.
I slowly trudged upstairs, thinking I'd just stay up all night to enjoy the room for as long as possible before riding to Phoenix at dawn.
But the bed was damned comfortable and I ended up getting some sleep.
We closed the bar, which was quite a happening night spot, though my last few drinks were icewater.
I slowly trudged upstairs, thinking I'd just stay up all night to enjoy the room for as long as possible before riding to Phoenix at dawn.
But the bed was damned comfortable and I ended up getting some sleep.
The ride to Phoenix isn't worth the time to read about, let alone write about.
Thus ends Tour 2021 Part 4, Destination Unknown.
Thus ends Tour 2021 Part 4, Destination Unknown.
Stay tuned for Part 5!
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