Colorado Cruiser: Colorado Hidden Roads - Day 4 - Blanding to Teluride to Delta

I got a later start than I'd wanted to, but when I decided to send out the early morning pictures I knew it would delay my departure. I was trying to get to Naturita by 10:00 for church services. As I started down the road I realized that being late while riding one of the most deer prone sections of road was a really bad combination.

I just had to deal with the fact that I'd be late, and not let it make me go too fast or be inattentive. I slowed down to do 50 and kept my eyes open. Especially because deer are much more active early in the morning than they are later in the day.

One big problem with the section of road between Blanding and Monticello is that the trees come right to the edge of the road, and deer can jump out at you between the trees. I've always thought of it as one big long Rorschach Ink Blot test. I imagine myself with a pshychologist:

Dr: "So Mr Jones, you have a deep fear that Bambi, the little deer from the disney movie is trying to kill you?"

Me: "Yes"

Dr: "So lets do a little test and see what we find. Look at that tree on the left there, in the shadows, needles, and patterns, do you think you see a deer"

Me: "Ummm No"

Dr: "How about that one on the right?"

Me: "Uh no"

Dr:" On the left, on the right, the big patch on the right, left, right, bush, next, next, next......................"

There is nearly 20 miles of tree lined road that I had to ride and be careful of deer the whole way. I didn't see a single one.

At Monticello I turned right towards Dove Creek. This road still had the chance of deer, but it was 4 lanes wide and more importantly, the trees were cut back a good 10 yards meaning I'd have plenty of time to see a deer spring out of the trees and stop. Once I got to Dove Creek I turned North onto highway 141. That's the same 141 that John and I rode 2 days ago, but this is the Southern half.

Within a couple miles I saw something that I don't think I've ever seen before. A massive field of sunflowers. Even though I was late, I pulled over to take a quick picture. All of the sunflowers were turned to the East, but the faces were turned down. Is that how sunflowers grow normally?

Back on the road, but slowed just a bit because once again, the trees and bushes came right up to the road. About 12 miles along and the road dropped down into a canyon. Once again I tried some pictures but they're all washed out by the smoke. I got a couple that were recognizable, but not many.

I wrote on the day 2 report that this road was long, straight, and boring, and made a joke about disappointment. I think I was mostly remembering the heat from the day I rode the highway, because this morning in the cool air, it was a blast. I loved the twists, turns, and especially the scenery. There were a few straight sections with nary a tree in sight, but those were great because I could blast down the road without worrying about deer.

When I reached disappointment, I looked for the "Lone Cone" but it was nearly invisible in the smoke. The lone cone is a solitary mountain that juts up on the large mesa. As kids, whenever we got an ice cream cone, we'd try to lick it into the shape of the mountain, then hold it up and yell "Lone Cone". Well, I still do it now, but we're not talking about that.

By the time I reached Naturita's LDS church, it was 10:30. I took off my helmet, jacket, and gloves. Tried to make my hair look presentable, and tried to stroll in unobserved. Yeah, right. In a small congregation of about 50, the guy in grubby tennis shoes, jeans, and pull over shirt stood out from all the white shirts. But no one pointed and laught, and a couple skooched over so I could sit down.

Over the years I've attended allot of meetings without planning in advance and without my "Sunday Best" clothes. I've always felt welcome, and I've always tried to make others feel welcome too.

After the meeting ended, about 15 people introduced themselves asked my name. I told the first lady I was a Naturita Native and had quite a swarm for a bit. 4 or 5 remembered my father and grandfather, including one old farmer who's land my dad used to run sheep on. I'm horrible with names so I don't remember any of them, but it was good to hear. I guess my grandpa used to be the leader of the congregation and one man recounted some of the advice grandpa had given him when he took over the leadership.

I didn't stay for the entire 3 hour block (yes, Mormons have 3 hours of church meetings every Sunday, the leadership have more). I thanked them for the warm welcome and headed back to the bike.

Yesterday at my aunt's home I showed her my pictures of the Naturita house. If you noticed in the pictures, there was an old copy machine in front of the fireplace. The house has been used as a junk storage for years but has been cleaned up some since the last time I visited. The copy manchine however was still there right in front of the fireplace along with some old boards.

My Aunt said that I should have moved it all, because on the right side of the fireplace was a little rock sticking out that I, as a small child, had claimed for my own, and used to hang my hat on. Well dang, now I had to go back to Naturita yet again. So from the church house, I rode up to Nucla for a couple quick pictures, then followed the Nucla loop again to the West, then a mile North on 141 to the old farm house.

I parked in front of the farm house and went inside. I moved that 200lb copier out of the way, and tossed the old boards to the side, and there was my little hat hook right where my Aunt said it would be. I took a bunch of pictures trying to get a decent perspective of the hook, then took my Harley riding hat and hung on it and took some pics. I'm gonna have to get a hammer and chisel and come back for that rock now.

As I was leaving I realized that I forgot to tell one part of my story from yesterday. I talked about the door frame and the door nob that I took with me. But some of the screws that held metal plates onto the door were missing. I started to look around on the ground trying see if I could find the screws. At one point a walked over by what looked like a sawhorse made out of pipe. I figured I'd lean against the pipe and squat down to look closely at the ground.

As I put my hand on the end of the pipe, I gripped the end a bit and my fingers crushed something. Instantly I felt something crawling over my fingers. I looked up to see hornets coming out of their nest that I'd just crushed. It was built into the end of the pipe and I had destroyed part of it.

I jerked my hand back very quickly and turned to run away. I got about 4 steps, but I wasn't looking where I was going, and a foot caught on something. I went down very hard on my left knee, right hand, then right shoulder. It completely knocked the breath out of me.

I got up very quickly because breath or no breath, I didn't want a swarm of hornets (or whatever they were) stinging me. But there was nothing. I could hear them angrily buzzing back over by the pipe but they weren't after me. I decided that my visit was over, got on the bike and left.

Today I was very cautious to park and stay well away from that pipe. I could see they'd already rebuilt the nest but I got the bike parked ready to go just in case.

After getting my fireplace pictures I took one more look around the place. I had seen a bowl filled with water when I moved the copiers, and over in another corner, I saw a bowl heaping with some sort of dry pet food. Then I spotted a cat up on a shelf. I guess someone's keeping a pet here now.

I got back on the bike and rode out to highway 141 for my next decision. Which way do I turn?

I could turn right and ride highway 141 in the reverse that John and I did 2 days ago. Or I could turn left and head towards Telluride. I sat there about 30 seconds and turned left toward Telluride. Mostly I wanted some altitude and cool air. It was already getting pretty hot, and 141 North would be even hotter.

I took the Nucla loop for the 3rd time which dumped me back on the highway towards Norwood. I could have taken 141 around, but the loop is kinda cool.

I made it to Norwood and kept going. Just East is "Norwood Hill" and I was at the top of it. It's a sheer bluff that the road was chiseled into the side of. It's pretty steep and winds back and forth as the bluff does. The roads been improved allot over the years though, and I was able to do some fun riding down those turns.

At the bottom of the hill, the road follows a river that winds along the bottom of a canyon. About 17 miles brought me to the turnoff towards Telluride. There were cars everywhere on that road. A major bicycle race starts tomorrow and the whole area is preparing for it. As I neared Telluride I saw distance markers and viewing areas already setup. I stopped for a picture by the town sign, and a panorama, then rode on in. Many of the streets were already blocked off. There were already people with sleeping bags saving areas for spectators.

I parked the bike and walked around looking for something to eat. I found a nice little mexican place. You order at the counter, pay, and take a numbered card back to your table. They bring the food out, you eat and can leave. I've had allot of trouble getting through restaurants quickly on this trip.

I got 3 soft tacos, fish, beef, and chicken. I wish I'd gotten all fish because it was fantastic with a really crunchy batter and bit of guacamole. I sat eating my tacos and watching people out the front window. What's with rich people and Spandex? I saw lots of interesting hair and hats.

After I finished eating I wound my way out through the obstacle course the town has become. I gassed up at the only gas station owned by a hippy, then turned South. I wasn't going to ride all the way to Cortez, as I said, I wanted some cool air, and the closest was at the top of Lizardhead pass about 17 miles South. I stopped at allot of scenic overlooks, but the smoke was even thicker than previous. At one stop was a Channel 9 new van. I guy had a tripod setup and was trying to get some scenic video. I took my photos and rode on. At the next scenic overlook the same van pulled up. The guy recognized me and we chatted a bit about how bad the smoke was. He said he wasn't sure he'd gotten a single usable clip of photo yet. He's getting some stock footage that they can use during tomorrow's race to fill gaps when nothing else interesting is going on.

I reached the top of the pass and found a nice spot to sit for a while and enjoy the scenery and cool air.

Many more cars and trucks passed by than I expected or have seen on previous rides. I think allot of people are scoping out their spots for the race.

Finally it was time to head back down. As I approached the blacktop I noticed that it was all brand new and that there was a 6" difference between the ground and the road. I had to back up a ways and take a running start to pop up onto the road. That was a bit nerve wracking but it went ok.

I go back down fine, but it was slow behind all the traffic. When I turned back towards highway 62 the traffic got really bad. There were allot of slow moving cars, and unfortunately allot of very impatient drivers who kept trying to pass everyone whether there was room or not. I once had 2 cars at the same time try to pass me just before a turn. They almost hit each other, then both wanted to cram into the space ahead of me when another car came around the corner.

I backed way off and hugged the right side to let the idiots get around as fast as they want. It wasn't like they were actually going to get anywhere because the traffic went on and on ahead of us.

Once onto 62 it was just more of the same. RVs, trailers, slow cars were everywhere, and the people who felt the right to pass and jeopardize everyone else's lives kept trying to pass and having to re-Lerge at the last second. Finally a bunch of slow moving cars pulled over and the rest of us zipped past just as we began the long descent into Ridgway.

The rest of the ride was hot and highway like. I gassed in Ridgway, then rode North through Montrose and on to Delta for the night.

Clumps of trees along the rode hiding Bambi