Connecticut to California – Day 18 – August 29, 2000

The sun is setting over the Rockies.  Pike’s Peak is shrouded in clouds, but from my fourth floor windows I can see the Air Force Academy Chapel and a little bit of Vandenberg Hall.

Reflecting on the day, I thought I would be nearer to Denver tonight – but it just didn’t work out that way.

I had three important things to do today – so they controlled the pace of the day.

First thing on the agenda was to be at Davis Service center – the Honda dealer in Montrose, Colorado – to have the 16,000-mile service done on the Valkyrie.  Thanks to Jeff and his crew – they had me in the bay at 8:10 and out by 10:30.  While I was there I cruised the showroom – looking at all the bikes on display.  I still haven’t found a bike I would rather have than the Valkyrie Interstate.

The second important stop is the Trading Post at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  One thing that must be done is finding something special for the special people at home.

The awesome part of having “things to do” on this trip is the fantastic riding I get to do in between.  Today it was a brief stop at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and then really great riding on Route 50 – through the Gunnison River Canyon and around Blue Mesa Lake at the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

As I am approaching Monarch Pass, my weather forecasting talent tells me to stop and put on the rain gear – less than a mile later it is raining hard.  I am grateful for my Frogg Toggs, Nolan convertible helmet – and once again – my Cruiserworks boots.  I could ride all day in the rain in this outfit.

Monarch Pass takes me up over 11,000 feet for the first time on this trip – the Valkyrie never even notices the altitude – pulling the trailer and passing RV’s like they are standing still.

I love the canyon riding out here in the West.  I can always count on a curvy road – a river, generally with white water – and railroad tracks.  When the canyon walls are steep and narrow – there is cool shade – and it inevitably opens up into a valley with cows and horses grazing in green pastures.  Pickup trucks with horse trailers populate the roads – not luxury cars – and the pickup drivers generally wave at me – even though they don’t know me.

Just beyond Canon City, I turn north on 115 – another great Colorado road – along the edge of Ft. Carson and right by Cheyenne Mountain – I sure would like to take a tour inside that mountain.

Colorado Springs is a mess.  The roads are all torn up – clearly this place has experienced explosive growth since I was here for graduation in 1993.

A quick tour of the Garden of the Gods and a stop at the Trading Post – where a very sweet lady helps me find the perfect treasure to take home to someone special.

The last stop of the day is at the United States Air Force Academy.

There are names on a wall – on the Terrazzo – I don’t have an escort this time – so I will have to pay my respects from the public area.

I pulled up to the gate and the airman there gives me a mile-wide smile – hands me a map and says, “Hope you have a wonderful visit, Sir.”  You know, gate duty at the Air Force Academy can’t be the most exciting post in the Air Force – and maybe it was the motorcycle that brought out that ear-to-ear smile – but it just reminded me that not every young man has purple hair and multiple body piercings.  If I had been the Academy Superintendent, I would have promoted him on the spot.

I make it as far as Dolittle Hall before I have to pull off and put on rain gear again – as soon as I get it on – the sky opens up with a downpour.  I drive around to the planetarium and park in the staff lot – don’t even take off my helmet – as it is pouring rain.

As I walk up onto the deck, a couple of cadets on the Drill Team are practicing under the Superintendent’s office building – they look at me like I am crazy – I walk past the bronze aircraft displays – to the wall that overlooks the Terrazzo.

I immediately see that there is a new class of “smacks” (fourth class cadets) – I can tell because walking in their world consists of straight lines and 90 degree turns.

As I lift my eyes to the far left, I see what I have come to see – and I realize that it is wet – both outside and inside my helmet.  They graduated in the mid-60’s to early 70’s – and they never came back.

So I trust you will pardon me if I just sit here a while – and look out my windows – toward yonder hill – and remember them.

The bike trip meter says282.3 the Garmin III+ trip meter says 290.1 and I say Goodnight  looking at United States Air Force Academy, Colorado.

Connecticut Yankee in Yosemite Valley- the Trek
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