Featured Touring 15 Days, 11 States, & 3,660 Miles: Sturgis And A Wedding

Day #12: Laramie, Wyoming to Salida , Colorado -- 260 miles
• Trip total to date = 2,864 miles

After breakfast at our Laramie hotel, we mounted up and headed south. Our destination today was Salida, Colorado. Russell and I had never been to the town of Salida and Steve had been there only once years before. Typically on similar routes through Colorado we'd stayed in the town of Buena Vista but we opted to explore a new little town and were VERY glad we did!

Our first stop was in the town of Kremmling for gas and other "necessities". We stopped here last year, too. The store is great and had a couple of things we needed including contact solution for Steve and a razor for Russell.

Note the mountains off in the distance. They were more noticeable in person than in this photo. Still snow-capped in August!



Our ride started out rather cold but with beautiful white fluffy cloud-studded blue skies. Our route out of Wyoming on our way to Colorado took us on two-lane backroads through tiny tiny towns. Not long after we entered Colorado and got closer to Interstate 70 and Denver (off to our east...fortunately ) we rounded a curve and saw an amazing sight--a small herd of bison just off to our right! With no shoulder on which to pull over and some cars on our tails, we had no chance to stop and take a photo or just stand there and marvel at the beauty of these creatures. But the image will be forever and indelibly imprinted on my memory. I tried searching for why there was a herd there but only found that there are some small herds still roaming in this area. I'd guess the number of animals was probably 50-60 or so with some standing, some grazing, some lying down. And some babies, too! Here's a photo I found online that best matches what I have in my memory banks.



After crossing into Colorado we rode through Silverthorne and hopped on Interstate 70 West for a few miles before getting on Colorado 91 and riding over Fremont Pass (altitude 11,319') and through the town of Leadville, Colorado.

From Mr. Google...
"At an elevation of 10,158 feet (3,096 m), Leadville lies close to timberline, which in Colorado is from 11,000 to 12,000 feet (3,400 to 3,700 m). The surrounding peaks are all well above 12,000 feet, and are thus bare of trees. Leadville has the highest elevation of any city in the United States."

We didn't stop in Leadville this time around but we promised each other that the next time we ride through, we are making a lunch stop at The Golden Burro! Shortly after leaving Leadville we saw the headwaters of the Arkansas River and rode along that river nearly the rest of the way to Salida. And we spent time on the Arkansas River because it runs right through the town of Salida!

From Mr. Wiki...
"At 1,469 miles (2,364 km), the Arkansas River is the sixth-longest river in the United States,[7] the second-longest tributary in the Mississippi–Missouri system, and the 47th longest river in the world. Its origin is in the Rocky Mountains in Lake County, Colorado, near Leadville."



Upon entering Salida, we found our hotel right at the edge of town. Salida is a very small town with a population of only 5,666 so we figured out hotel wouldn't be difficult to find! We try to stay at local hotels and some personality and history whenever possible, and this place definitely had personality. The family that owns it were very helpful and kind, and we're already reserved there again for this summers Sturgis trip. Steve and I even booked the same hotel room -- #27.





This poster was hanging in the Woodland Motel's lobby and I included it here to give you a bit of perspective on Salida's position relative to the many mountain peaks in this part of Colorado. I added the red circle and star, BTW.






After checking in and unpacking the bikes, we changed into walking shoes and comfy clothing to walk into town. The pedestrian and cycling path along the Arkansas River leading into town was only a short walk through a nearby park and baseball field. The skies were spectacular throughout our visit and the temperatures a tad warm--but not as "warm" as those awaiting us when we returned to Tucson in a few days! Several fly fisherman were taking advantage of the picture perfect weather.



Lots of fun sights in Salida. The town definitely has a great "vibe". But we did notice that lots of people must feel the same way because real estate prices have gone off the charts. It seems that has happened with all the cool little towns in Colorado. Places for the likes of us to travel. Places for the likes of millionaires to live. Or people who lived there before prices got downright silly.





Day #12 -- Salida, Colorado -- continued in my next post.....

 

Day #12 -- hanging out in Salida, Colorado

Ha! I just realized that I failed to include a map of Day #12. So here it is......



We'd missed lunch and it was nearly mid-afternoon so our first order of business was finding something to eat. We did just enough research to figure out this was the place we wanted to check out. And it was a good call! Snacks and beer (yay, beer!) to hold us over until dinner. And we came right back here for dinner! The Boat House Brewing Co. and Tap Room. Key = Beer



I tend to be a "When in Rome" gal so I went with the Penelope Cruiser IPA made on the premises.



The Boat House sits right on the Arkansas River and this part of the river is a popular place for waders, float tubers, kayakers, river rafters, and..... little surfers!





This is a sitting area is across the street from The Boat House and just above the river. Off to the right of the people in the photo is a large and lovely public park--a park that we would return to later this evening after dinner.



After getting something into our empty tummies, we meandered back through town to spend a bit of time showering up and resting before returning to "downtown" Salida for dinner. It was a lovely town to explore and definitely a place Steve and I would consider living--if a teensy house didn't cost $800,000! We'll just continue to enjoy Salida as visitors.

A small skate park for the town skateboarders. And if their hair is getting a tad long, they can get a haircut before heading home.



We spotted this unmotorized cruiser inside an interesting building that seemed to be a gallery waiting to happen.





An Indian waiting for a cowboy to go riding with.....



Day #12 continued in my next post--last post from Salida

 

Day #12 -- Salida, Colorado

After a bit of freshening up back at the Woodland Motel, we turned right around and headed back into town for dinner. We thought about going to a different place but figured why mess with a good thing?! Plus when you live in the desert, any opportunity to spend time by a body of water is an opportunity not to be squandered.

A few photos as we meandered back into town for dinner.....

There were so many cute little houses in Salida. But, again, very expensively cute! This one, however, did not appear to even be for sale so we simply admired it.



Ok, so one of the things we learned about Salida is that there are deer here, LOTS of deer! We saw several this evening and the next morning on our way out of town we saw five including a tiny fawn! They were standing in people's front yards, running across the street (in front of us), and peeking out from alleys. It was very cool! But this one was the coolest....and the first one we encountered. For the most part, yards were fenced in. But those fences clearly didn't do much to deter the deer.



When I saw this deer I stopped and just watched. Then I slowly made my way to the fence--and so did the deer! He was definitely not afraid of me.



Meanwhile, back at The Boat House.....



The view from my seat



The Three Tucson Musketeers



After dinner we strolled over to the city park where there was a concert going on. There was a sign saying listing a summer concert series. We happened upon one of these in Telluride a couple of years ago, too. The band was good and people were having a delightful time--including Steve and me. And Russell, too. It really is too bad his wife, Shelly, doesn't ride with him. She has no interest whatsoever, but it totally supportive of his riding and travel addiction!




Unbeknownst to us, Russell snapped this photo of Steve and me enjoying the evening festivities.



Heading back for a good nights sleep. And yet another gorgeous sky!



Next up, Day #13: Salida, Colorado to Santa Fe, New Mexico

 

Yep, Indian definitely does make some good-lookers! Glad you're enjoying my report--and patiently awaiting my installments. I'm slow but sure on this thread.......

 

Thanks for that kind comment about my posts being worth the wait, @Bikerman.

Re. an Indian test ride at the Sturgis Rally, the previous three times we've been to Sturgis (2019, 2023, and 2024), Indian has had a huge vendor area on Lazelle Street along with Harley and BMW. I do believe that all three have test ride opportunities. Do it!! I think test rides are one of God's gifts to motorcyclists.

 

Thanks, @Dawsy! I'm glad you're enjoying my write-up. I'm having a good time going through photos and reliving our trip. Yeah, that deer was really cool. I totally agree that any interaction with wildlife lifts ones spirit.