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.

 

I just sat down at the kitchen counter to post about Day #13, @Wessa. Our total trip was 15 days so this saga is nearing its end. Finally, right?!

 

Day #13: Salida , Colorado to Santa Fe, New Mexico -- 271 miles
• Trip total to date = 3,135 miles

Steve, Russell, and I were eager to get on the road this morning for our ride to Santa Fe. All three of us love Santa Fe so we wanted to be able to spend as much time there as we could squeeze in. Consequently we had a "breakfast" of granola bars and hotel lobby coffee and then got under way.



It was another beautiful morning as we rode through town to find U.S. Route 50. On our way we saw four more deer just hanging out in neighborhoods including one tiny little fawn who ran across the street right in front of us! Scared to death, no doubt. He (or she?) was so, so cute!

U.S. Route 50 out of Salida was a spectacularly beautiful two-lane road that winds its way along the the Arkansas River through a beautiful red rock canyon and through small towns.

From Wikipedia:
"U.S. 50 closely follows the Arkansas River from Salida to Kansas. East of Salida, the highway enters a deep canyon, dubbed Bighorn Sheep Canyon. There are several small communities in the canyon including Howard, Coaldale and Cotopaxi. The major industries in the canyon are fishing and river rafting".

Must of the route was being repaved with the roadway being that grooved surface that motorcyclists do NOT love to see. But it was in the opposing lane, so didn't (we figured) bother us. Hmmm...that changed. After going about 20-25 miles out of Salida, Steve pulled over to the side of the road and Russell and I followed suit. Lo and behold, we were going the wrong direction on U.S. 50! We were heading east and should have turned right and gone west back in Salida. Steve was pretty upset about his error but I told him not to worry. I absolutely loved the route and was glad for our serendipitous mistake. Well, all except for the part where we had to ride for miles on that grooved pavement after all!
So 50 miles was added to our daily total but they were some of the most beautiful miles of our trip--and that's saying a lot!

At our stopping point after we navigated a u-turn right on a blind curve on a two-lane road.



And a gratuitous photo of my own bike. I'm SO happy with this motorcycle! It is definitely my travel buddy.

2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide in "Whiskey Fire"


The remainder of our ride to Santa Fe was smooth sailing under (again) beautiful blue cloud-studded skies. There was one stretch after crossing into New Mexico where we were delayed for about 15 minutes (maybe not even that long) for road work. It actually gave us some time to shed some of our warm clothing as the day had warmed up nicely. And the road work turned out to be no big deal. Onward...

We stayed once again at our favorite little hotel in Santa Fe, the Santa Fe Motel and Inn. And Russell (again) stayed down the street at the Motel 6. Russell stays there because it is cheap. He can't abide by spending more than the bare minimum on a hotel--although he will spend a boatload of money on a watch or a belt buckle or.... We all have our spending preferences, that's for sure! Steve and I have gotten to know the staff at the Santa Fe Motel and Inn and they are such delightful folks. The hotel is a short walk from the Plaza and The Rail Yard, and each morning a simple yet delicious breakfast is available each morning. I think this time around Russell was pretty fed up with the staff at the Motel 6 who were not particularly friendly or accommodating of our arrival time. We were there on a Friday (I think) and in the summer they have a two-night minimum during the weekends. However, we've stayed there so many times and gotten to know them so they were gracious enough to "override" the computer requirement of a two-night stay. This coming summer we're staying there three nights in June for our annual Tour de Southwest and again for one night in August when we return from Sturgis.



Like yesterday, we arrived after lunchtime and without having had lunch. So after putting our luggage in our rooms (Russell's stayed on his bike at the Motel 6 ), we walked to the Plaza and had a very light mid-afternoon tide-over snack at a place that's iconic in Santa Fe, The Plaza Cafe. We each had the Pork Stew with Green Chili. Steve and I had a cup and Russell had a bowl, which was huge. Yep, he spoiled his dinner.



From their website:
"The Plaza Cafe, Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant, has been serving highly acclaimed, authentic traditional dishes since 1905. In 1947, Dan (Dionysus) Razatos, a Greek immigrant with an American dream, took over the Plaza Cafe and his family has been feeding Santa Fe ever since. Dan married a local girl named Beneranda Maria Montoya Saiz and together they ran the Plaza and raised six children. As their children grew they all worked at the Plaza and helped to create what the restaurant is today."



After calming our rumbling tummies, we stepped back out onto the Plaza for a stroll around our my favorite city. Well, my favorite after Tucson. If I had to choose another place to live besides Tucson, it would be Santa Fe.

Some of you know that Steve and I got married in Santa Fe 10 years ago this coming June. And that we rode our motorcycles there along with another couple and a friend. The solo friend's wife followed us in their truck which came in quite handy when riding to one's wedding, I have to say. A good way to transport a dress and a suit...much better than saddlebags!

We were married in the Loretto Chapel which is quite famous and has a wonderful and intriguing story behind the spiral staircase that leads up to the choir loft. I'm including a link to a video if any of you are interested in reading the story.






Here's a photo taken after the ceremony. The photographer was so tickled that we were riding our bikes from Tucson to Santa Fe to be married that she insisted that we get our bikes and park in front of the church for some photos. Steve was on his 2013 Road King Classic and I was on my 2014 Road King CVO. I didn't wear either the boots or the leather jacket during the ceremony, BTW.



Day #13 -- Santa Fe -- continued in my next post

 

Day #13: Santa Fe, New Mexico

When 4:00pm arrived we walked back to our hotels because Russell could finally check in and put his gear and luggage in his hotel room. After a quick respite in our room, we walked back over to the Plaza and surrounding downtown area again for more strolling about.

Santa Fe has over 250 art galleries and museums! Over 80 of those are on a road called Canyon Road. Steve and I have checked out many of the galleries on Canyon Road in the past but not for some time. I think we'll need to head over there so Russell can see Canyon Road (for the first time) when we return to Santa Fe this coming June. Santa Fe is definitely home to many artists and lots and lots of wonderful art! We have a few favorites including this one.....



There's one gallery on the south side of the Plaza on San Francisco Street called Maya Gallery. This gallery carries work by an artist named Dave McGary. Dave McGary is one of Steve's favorite artists and he's right up there on my list, too. If I won the lottery I'd be quite likely to purchase this sculpture. But it would take winning the lottery to afford it!

From Mr. Google:
"Dave McGary (1958-2013), a legend among contemporary artists of the American West, was considered the Master of Realism depicting Native American Indians and his many awards during the past decade more than verify his popularity among collectors and fellow artists."



And there is also a lot of public outdoor art such as this sprinkled liberally throughout the city.



Then there's a motorcyclists' kind of art, like this!! I wasn't exactly certain which Triumph model is but figure someone on here can identify it straight away. Steve and Russell in the background admiring this beauty. And waiting for me to take yet another photo. They are quite patient about my "other" hobby.



We saw this group while passing a bit of time on the Plaza. A large group of Boy Scouts all going somewhere interesting, I'm sure.



We always have to stop in at Luchesse, maker of fine (and expensive) cowboy boots and related attire. Last time we were here Russell dropped a lot of $$ and had some beautiful boots shipped home. Yes, I'm sure he was able to afford his boots because the Motel 6 was so much less expensive than the Santa Fe Motel and Inn. Steve bought me a pair of boots right in this very store as his wedding gift to me ten years ago.



Steve and I were very glad we'd ordered just the small cup of pork stew with green chili earlier in the afternoon because we were excited to have dinner at one of our absolute favorite restaurants in Santa Fe, The Shed. Russell was complaining a bit that he was still full from his bowl of stew. Gotta plan--and think!-- ahead.



Here we are with the general manager of The Shed, also a Steve. I connected with "Shed Steve", who originally seemed a bit grumpy (not the case we learned!) because I really liked the tee-shirt he was wearing. When I asked him up if I could buy that shirt because my husband liked the logo, he said, "Ok, it's a bit dirty but I'm willing to part with it". And he said this with a completely straight face. But then he took me back to an area of the restaurant where they had a number of Shed tee-shirts. When he told me the price, I said I'd be more inclined to buy the shirt off his back. And he actually offered to sell it to me for $15! My Steve, however, was having none of it when I went to check with him whether that would be ok. I figured, hey, washing machines, right! Pretty soon (my) Steve and Russell all came back to see what was going on and to select their own tee-shirts. "Shed Steve" was a great guy and we'll definitely look him up next time we're in town.



I love, love, love, New Mexican food. And The Shed does it about the best. And has been for many years! Here are my blue corn chicken enchiladas with green chili sauce, pinto beans, and hominy. I could eat this every week for the rest of my life! And, of course, it was accompanied by a margarita. BTW, today (2.22.25) is National Margarita Day here in the States.



Early the next morning with our delicious piñon nut coffee before hitting the road to our next destination--Show Low.



Next up, Day #14: Santa Fe, New Mexico to Show Low, Arizona. Back to our home state after being in ten others on this trip!