From high up in the San Juan Range of Colorado:

 

How about this for a serenity inducing moment..

 

A Colorado mountain flower busting out of granite chunks, pretty enough for a post card.

If mineral infused h20 is more to your liking, check out Pinkerton Springs, at the foot of the "Million Dollar Highway" between Durango and Silverton. 

 

Now a roadside attraction, on a nice weekend, hundreds stop to click a pic.



Old man Pinkerton and his (is that a dude?) wife. 

Hey, Steven Tyler, bag this one for a remake of

"Lady Looks Like A Dude"

1878.  Now that's history.

Also very cool: Navajo Lake, New Mexico. 

 

Gallon and a half of gas, south of Durango, just across the border into New Mexico. 

Like anything which shouldn't exist, but does, lakes slap in the middle of a desert attract this beach-based biker.  Crappie, catfish at the upper end, Salmon at the lower.  Some of the houseboats are so huge they have to be launched via 18 wheeler!  This is a great bike ride.    South thru Ignacio, bear to the left, and keep the throttle twisted 'till you see the aqua blue h20.

Beware the tarmac quality in New Mexico.  They don't plow much cash into the NM/CO border highways in these parts. 

If separated from your biker pack, the speed bump effect will provide a trail of nuts, bolts, and tooth fillings for e-z tracking.

Black 'n' Whites?

The Durango PD has the coolest cruisers going.  Black 'n' Whites.  You stare, expecting the Blues Bros to hop out, and sing "I'm a soul man".  Speaking of malfeasance prevention..traffic cop activity has increased greatly over last week in anticipation of the heavy Labor Day weekend crowd.  They're all out there, state, county, municipal, and yes, motorcycle cops.  We like to think they're doin' it for us.  Too bad they missed the chick driving that land cruiser on Camino Del Rio.  There aren't enough cuss words to adequately describe how she makes a right hand turn a potential accident.  Just another biker day on the open road.

Sunday's parade is Durango's only connection to the 4 Corners Rally:

A few weeks ago, a hundred sweating, skinny dudes in tight fitting spandex, pumped pedals on their bicycles.  Durango was the starting point, with Denver the goal.  Compared to the support the town gives to the 4corners rally, you'd think bicycles were the second coming.  Apparently, we're not the only ones who noticed.  The Durango Herald published a letter from Mr. Cole, a local, who admonished the city for doing little or nothing to support the 4corners rally, saying, and we quote..

"...the town won't even put up a banner even though these people (bikers) are nice and respectful."  

He goes on to say that merchants, restaurants, grocery stores, and sales tax revenue peaks when the bikers are in town.  While this may suprise some, in Florida, it's old news.  Bike week at Daytona brings in three times the revenue of NASCAR's Daytona 500.  Locals repeatedly tell us that if not for spring bike week, and Biketoberfest, folks occupying lower rungs of America's financial step ladder would fall through the cracks.  So, if the cities won't do it for the bikers, then do it for those most in need.

 

A potential gold mine?

Inhabitants of an area as rich in natural resources as here should know a gold mine when they see one.  As it stands, Durango does well without having to do much of anything to promote the rally.  Sales tax dollars pour in no matter, but imagine the cash potential of 2X, 5X or over time, 10X the present crowd of bikers.  Ignacio, Durango, and Cortez/Dolores, three towns within an easy ride, sponsoring their own activities and events would cement the rally as one not to miss.  Yes, you get a decent slice of the pie as it stands, but how would you like pie ala mode, or, perhaps the whole enchilada? 

 Least they can do is to buy some banners..  Show us the love!

Sunday, 11am, cages will lead the way, at "Durango's Motorcycle and Classic Car Parade". 

If this is a motorcycle a-n-d- classic car parade, shouldn't the bikes be first?  (see last paragraph.)  Sunday morning Burrito breakfast, benefits "Homes for Heroes", great cause, small town, ask anyone for the lowdown.

Speaking of food...

Are we the only bikers in the world to photograph their meal?  Apparently, the answer is yes.

Item: Exhibit Uno..  Men have fought and died for less than this!

Patio Restaurant, Ignacio, Colorado:

 

 Chicken-Fried Steak over Texas Toast, smothered in white pepper gravy, side o' smokin' hot fries!  Last year, $7.05, this year. Thanks to the "energy act of 2005", 40% of our corn production is now used to make crappy gasoline instead of feeding livestock.  The CFS shot up to $7.99, (along with $2 apples, $10 steaks, and four dollar petrol).  Our government (both sides voted it in-now vote it OUT),

hard at work.

Pure gas in Durango:  "7-2-11", halfway up 550, main drag.  We found this one, and another, through www.pure-gas.org.