Views of Crystal River from KOA

 

Marble

 

Redstone Historic District

 

Grizzly Creek Fire

 Where there's fire, there's smoke. We see the smoke from the Grizzly Creek fire, but it's not near enough to worry about. It did close Independence Pass and caused us to make a long detour to reach Carbondale from Buena Vista.

Carbondale KOA

 

Lunch stop at Black Canyon

 

Twin Lakes Historic District

 

Mineral Belt Bike Trail, Leadville

 

Taylor Park

 

Cottonwood Pass

Food truck

 Cottonwood Pass food truck arrives at lunch stop. Today’s special is microwave Thai curry.

Grape Creek RV park near Westcliffe

Grape Creek RV park near Westcliffe. Aspen rows separate the sites

The Bromptons have their own cubby.

 

Paradise

 The gate to paradise -- Raton Pass

Purgatory

As all Dante fans know, you must pass through purgatory to reach paradise. One night at 100F in Abilene.

Christmas Letter 2013

To read on the web, go to http://tayaratravels.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-letter-2013.html

Christmas Letter, December 18, 2013

Dear Friends,

There is a saying among travelers that "good trips make bad stories", and vice versa. One may apply that to years, also: we've had a good year, but not one that makes an exciting Christmas letter. We pursed our respective obsessions (motorcycling, blue grass) and avoided further medical adventures. So I will keep this fairly short.

Bettie and I together, and I separately, enjoyed some quality time on two wheels. I did my first (and likely only) "track day", in which one rides at speed around a (more or less) controlled race track, pushing his bike and skills beyond what is prudent on public roads. It was exciting and educational, but not something to make a habit of. Best left to young people who have not fully developed all lobes of their brains. (Though many of you will conclude that I have lost some of mine.)

We spent two weeks in North Carolina, riding among other roads "The Tail of the Dragon", a mandatory bucket list item for all motorcyclists. NC was pure delight for our sport: quiet curvy roads, beautiful scenery, good food. However, ... the heart lies in the West.

And so ...





Our other major expedition was to Taos, riding the mountains and mesas of New Mexico. And eating even better food. And then there were trips to the Texas Hill Country, Arkansas Ozarks, ...
I don't have gorgeous photos, because I'm too lazy and/or greedy for riding time to stop and take many.

We are active in our local BMW Motorcycle Club, helping out in assorted computer and social media capacities. Recently I became "RideMeister" so I get to scout and plan the Club's day rides, about once a month. We also added a third member to our motorcycle fleet, a reacquisition of the small dual-sport bike I rode, when just starting my two-wheeled career.

Allen's Landing Band, did their usual once-a-month gig at Hickory Hollow, plus several corporate and private engagements. The membership is up to six musicians now, and all that keeps Bettie pretty busy.


The high point was another show at the Mucky Duck.

The year had its sadness and loss. We lost two friends, one a talented musician and former member of Betti's band. Another, a long-time family friend and spirited lady, two months short of one hundred.

Looking forward, I will borrow a little glamour from 2014: in February we plan a trip to Costa Rica with our Denver friends, our first international trip in several years. We'll have that to tell you about next Christmas.

Taos - Wednesday Aug 28

Looking out the hotel window: Good. The bikes are still here this morning.

Taos, New Mexico

Taos, New Mexico

Bound for the land of red mesas, blue corn tortillas and green chile cheeseburgers. Six days of riding around Taos.

Drive up was uneventful. First hint of New Mexico came a bit west of Abilene: a convenience store selling Hatch chile burritos. Temps in Taos low 80s, nice breeze, step out of the sun and it's almost chilly. In August. We didn't come the main road from Santa Fe, but rather over the Sangre de Cristo mountains from Las Vegas and Mora via 518. Beautiful Alpine almost Swiss scenes, somewhat spoiled by the herds of junk cars sprawling along the road. Somebody phone Ladybird Johnson.

A lifetime of motorcycles

Our friend Yves has been riding motorcycles all his life. Here is his gallery of rides.

Christmas Letter 2012

To read this letter on the web, go to http://tayaratravels.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-letter-2012.html
Dear Friends, 

30 December, 2012

We hope our Christmas letter finds you agreeing along with us that it was a good year (better than 2011 for us!). More travel, new experiences, time with friends, and good health. I do somewhat feel the poverty of source material relative to letters past. Our interests have been focused on bluegrass bands and motorcycles. A joy for those personally involved, but less compelling to a general audience. Well, we have to make the best of it.

Blanco, Nov. 2012

A busy 5 days. Rode about 1000 miles, counting to/from Houston. Cold but mostly clear weather. We explored some very obscure backroads through beautiful Hill Country terrain. Makes me want to return in wildflower season.