Mad Dog Ranch
Fountain Cafe Ride
Pics and text by MarkT,
with pics by George Magenta
and friends
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The
Mad Dog Ranch Fountain Cafe Ride
Pics and text by MarkT, |
First Leg Parker to Crawford. Chuck, Brent & Mark met in Parker and hit the road at 8:30. Got lots of approving looks at our burgundy and cream, and black and chrome Valks. Missed the turnoff to 115; at a rest stop on I-25 we watched a couple hundred Harleys thunder by. As they passed one broke down right in front of us. They had a repair crew following in a car who stopped and rescued him.
Already gassed up in Canon City (Home of SuperMax and the Royal Gorge) Stoping for potty and pictures, 1/2 way to Gunnison on Hwy 50
Gassed up in Gunnison, then here we're playing in the twisties in the
Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Two thousand foot dropoffs into spectacular canyons
We just had to stop and get a shot of this cirque 2500 feet below.
George's Green & Black tourer at a reservoir in the area.
Pam and Joe Cocker's Mad Dog Ranch Fountain Cafe. GREAT food & friendly people! We're treated so well, I'm stunned! Free autographed Joe Cocker pics, free ride pins, free bandannas, and greeted like we were returning lifelong friends! WOW How can I move here? |
Our hosts Pam Cocker and George Magenta. We just missed Pam but they gave me this pic. They are building a motorcycle parking lot, and are vigorously getting out the word they embrace motorcyclists and encourage big rides to the Ranch. I'm telling you, better do this ride soon, while you can still enjoy the small town ambiance. I'm betting the Mad Dog Ranch will supplant Sturgis in a few years!
Tanya (exec assist. to Pam & Joe), George, June, MarkT, Brent, Chuck
"OK, take a break from the stories and look over here." About to have a great prime rib lunch. Actually we're having a lot more fun than we look like in this pic. Just a momentary quiet moment in between the lies!
The BBQ and park at the cafe - live music here with cookouts on the green! That's where I am, having a BBQ with live music this weekend (6/13)
"Y'all come back, hear?"
Joe and Pam's neighborhood. God's country. Just stunning. Nice shot, George.
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Second leg, Crawford to Glenwood Springs. Well, after all that, you might think the ride through Colorado wine country, a hundred miles of twisties and another mountain pass, skirting Aspen, to Glenwood Springs where Doc Holliday tried to cure his TB in the Hot Sulpher Springs, was anticlimactic. Not so! Leaving at 7:40, we did it in about 90 minutes, made great time while just giggling through the twisties, and even stopped to offer a tow to some guy pushing his pickup to the top of a hill. He didn't want a tow - said something about it being his penitence and other zen type philosophies. I'm not sure he believed my bike could tow his truck.
We made it to Glenwood in time to check into our hotel and still soak in the world's largest hot tub for a half an hour - that's all I needed and all I could take, anyway.
What a great day!
Third leg, Glenwood springs to Parker. Day two was a quick blast 140 miles on the slab over Vail and Loveland passes back to Denver. Uneventful, but for the satisfaction of blasting over Vail pass at 75 - as fast as I wanted to go - with two up, luggage and SS winshield, at 11,000 feet and still with throttle left. Blasting past the 900S's and all the other supposedly fast cars gasping for every last pony with their engines redlined in third gear. WOW, I have some EXTRA power, ya want some? Ha ha.
Finished off the ride with my killer mesquite smoked baby back ribs and a soak in the hot tub. Watta ride!
I'm going to repeat this ride, LOTS of times!
Mark T back
