Covering the distance off 3,222 miles in total.
Altitude between 1,600 meters and 3,700 meters. 
Weather influences – I discovered a lot
Due to weather and personal reasons 😙 less campgrounds than originally planned.
Create your dreams – every day
Final one hour ride down to Denver returning bike.
Again another amazing road – through Bolder Canyon to Bolder City. Lot of tough guys climbed up on their bicycles – seems like a organised Sunday morning event.
Uber brings me into hotel were I will wait for J to arrive.
Reorganised the gear and doing laundry is the topic for the rest of the day.
Create your dreams – every day
Enjoy lazy morning. Continue planning for next stage. Making calls home.
After making some final groceries cleaning up the bike a bit (will go back tomorrow).
In the evening some live music at the ‘Very Nice Brewery’ – of course accompanied by a beer.
Create your dreams – every day
Trip to the final destination before stage 1 comes to an end.
But waiting until rain stops is necessary. Nice ride to Aspen, even though the wide part of Hwy 82.
But then up to the Independence Pass – still Hwy 82. In the end at an altitude of 12,095 ft (3,687 m) sea level.
AND on the way rain starts which turns into hail. Also a new experience!
The advantage of hail is that it simply bounces away and doesn’t soak everything like rain/water does.
It does look a bit like the Alps. But you have to realize that the valley is already at an altitude of over 3,000 meters – and then come the mountains.
Final miles lead through Central city – a centre of gambling and casinos.
In the end, arrive at the nice  accommodation booked on AirBnB. And actually enjoying coffee and an evening drink in the sun. 
And unbelievable – the day ends in the sun …
Create your dreams – every day
Long sleep in the morning. Then planning for the next stage which J has perfectly prepared. Still steps open and additional arrangements are made.
In the afternoon a short ride to Carbondale to do some groceries.
Then the Fry Pan Road up to enjoy the valley. This seems to be a fly fishing dorado …
Up there visiting a Swiss fellow – Hans Ruedi. Okay in reality the John Ruedi Reservoir.
Back in the White River Valley – just be lucky not to have the rain on the way back home.
Evening again at the neighbourhood ‘Propaganda Pie’ for – today – a pizza Boston style.
Create your dream – every day
From Lake (Fun) City starting at some chilly temperatures. Air clear, blue sky with some clouds …
What is left and right of the route
Entering Cimarron Canyon over the Blue Mesa Dam
Following the Rim
Arriving in Redstone – the stay for two nights to relax. For what ever reason the town is called Redstone. The small town is awesome and I will explore tomorrow.
The town is stretching along the river – perfect to relax behind the lodge.
Create your dreams – every day
This point at the Navajo Lake in New Mexico is the most southern point is stage 1 tour.
Early morning crawling out of the tent. Sky has cleared up and it is a nice and sunny day.
Finally it need 3 hours (without hurry) from getting up to departure.
Just 10 minutes on the road the stop. A crashed working truck is recovered – with closing road for 40 minutes – the guys doing the recovery are real professionals 😉
Hwy 149 along Rio Grande…
… with the town Creede …
… and Bear Creek Pass
Sheriffs department seems always be nice to me – reminding me about my speed – this time when entering Lake City.
Create your dreams – every day
Monday, September 1st and Labour Day.
Short leg planed for today. Just about 100 miles. So easy and relaxed start into the day after yesterday‘s long ride.
Leaving Silverton in Million Dollar weather (clear air, sunshine, blue sky with some clouds)…
… and continue southern part of Hwy 550 to Durango.
Event in between: Speed limits in case of curves are really a topic for the safety on road. Fortunately I only got a friendly reminder to reduce my speed (which was definitely too fast.
Night to stay at Navajo State Park.
Campground above the lake …
Thunderstorms are passing by – leaving only some drops of water for my setup.
Create your dreams – every day
Coffee on the veranda looking into the sunny wide … what a start of the day. Again Jake and its offer is awesome.
Down into the valley on the Rim Drive of the National Park and passing the Independence Monument!
Hwy 141 – just not to go the direct way to Silverton … BUT what an amazing ride.
I don’t know how many pictures to post … after any corner the canyon narrows and the view is even more spectacular than before.
And this is really dangerous to ride … you want to look left and right – up and down … but please stay on the road. Plus it was getting warmer and warmer. However – never wanna miss this!
Finally get back on Hwy 550 – the famous Million Dollar Highway – just north of Ouray. And the southern direction is not looking too good wheatherwise.
OK – I can claim – I just did it in cold rain!
Silverton – stay in the Grand Imperial Hotel … the place to be.
With its restaurant and bar.
And again, it’s also about meeting people. Today at  the bar a couple served in the forces and she is working with a (big) supplier of Airbus. Both are in the voluntary search and rescue in Utah just preparing for the final test. Crossing fingers!
BTW – just was lucky as the route will be closed for construction by day after tomorrow. The highway south of Silverton was closed last week.
Create your dreams – every day
Today’s leg is not too long, so I can start late … meaning at 10am.
Heading into to late morning sun (therefore SE) enjoying the fresh air and recognizing…
Fog rising behind cliffs – see first highlight.
Highlights today:
Short stop at Dinosaur National Monument. But not spending time for a tour (done this decades ago – therefore only seconds related to the age of the bones).
But the cliffs and mountains are still gorgeous.
Hwy 139 climbing up to the Douglas Pass …
… and going down.
From Grand Junction – the point you more or less always pass when cruising the southwest – the direction is again south to enter the Colorado National Monument.
Behind there is the AirBnB accommodation I booked, wondering what I will get after reading the description. Actually it is gorgeous.
Calm cabin beside the horse range of Jake Stephens in Glade Park – a gem in AirBnB. Unbelievable – and …. just see the pictures.
Create your dreams – every day
Late departure from Evanston to avoid the last rain showers passing through the area of my route.
Actually, my planning was not proper enough. At one point the 171 turned into a gravel road. However, let’s make it and hope the tires will be fine afterwards.
In the end, all went fine.
Accidentally I am passing by the Piedmont Charcoal Kilns State Historic Site.
After some miles on I 80 (horrible with the bike) leaving at Fort Bridger.
Now the landscape raises with gorgeous formations (at that point many in grey colour).
Turning into red was the title. Latest at the red Canyon it was.
And all this water is dammed at the Flaming Gorge Dam.
To get there to cross the bridge.
Thoughts in the end of the day: the road really crosses the border of the States regularly …
And the real end of the day while writing this and preparing the pics – Little J‘s Bar. Too Lord and too many young guys …
But ‚805‘ is not too bad.
Create your dreams – every day
After replanning during the wet day yesterday – it is again to hit the road. Leaving Glen the biker and bike collector and his Swiss Mountain Motel which gave me shelter from the rain.
Cruising south under clouds towards hopefully sunnier parts from Wyoming to Idaho to Wyoming to Utah.
Then you could smell it: smoke and wet ash.
Thanks to all Firefighters – and especially these packing together after killed the fire just beside Hwy 89.
From Geneva to Montpelier and further to Paris (not taking the way towards Bern).
Later passing Bear Lake – quite touristic area.
And in the end of the day it is the farmers market and live open air music in Evanston.
And I could not resist the little girls directly selling their Mint-Oreo-Something – sugar shock ;-).
Create your dreams – every day
Original plan was: Chill, Cruise & Distillery
But rain, heavy rain and thunderstorm gives the clear guidance for the day – stay dry and chill.
Hope I will be able to escape to South without getting too wet tomorrow.
What is skipped:
Create your dreams – every day
After all camping gear packed and sorted on bike (quite a work) it is time to head south.
Staying at Canyon Village of course the Canyon trail is part.
Later at Yellowstone Lake for a coffee.
Continuing further south – through the woods – along the rivers of South Yellowstone, including first drops of drizzle.
Weather is still not the best reaching Jackson Lake – but it makes for a gorgeous scenery.
The peaks are always special.
And finally a short round trip through Jackson – funny tourist city.
Create your dreams – every day
Good morning – how was the night? Not too bad and not too cold.
Putting together what was collected earlier for breakfast.
Most importantly: some hot tea. And the instant oat meal is not too bad!
The day was warm – up to hot. But cruising at the Parks standard speed of 35 to 45 mph makes it enjoyable.
Covering all (?) the roads in the Park was the goal.
Let’s make it major roads with some smaller bypasses – and the exit way to the south tomorrow.
Of course…
Old Faithful wasn‘t too motivated at 15.25 – nevertheless he spit reliable and faithful.
Diner Buffet in Old Faithful’s Inn – was the reservation (actually early diner at 4.30pm – the only slot available beside everything after 9pm)
Stomach full after the very tasty buffet was the challenge for the one hour ride back to Canyon Campground.
Ah – there was a Bison … again.
Create your dreams – every day
Second crossing of Beartooth Pass – now from the North.
Even it is Sunday morning, only few cars are on the street and the very beginning was the perfect flow on the turns (see comment at day 4!)
Entering Yellowstone
When entering from the North it is Bison area. And so it was. And it is a difference passing with a hard shell (in a car) then in a soft shell (on the bike).
And the problem is the quite loud engine which irritates a calf … but all went fine and the adrenaline is degraded now.
Canyon Campground in Yellowstone
First time setting up the tent during the trip. All easy. But the recommendation to have Bear Spray with you (in the tent) is a really expensive one.
And to finish the day with a (small) fire and the respective dram (shot) is the perfect fade out …
Create your dreams – every day
National Park Service at Yellowstone really wants you to enjoy the nature.
No mobile phone connection (T-Mobile) and no Wi-Fi at the park services.
‘Sorry, do you have WiFi here?’ ‘No, but – hey – we have running water!’
Create your dreams – every day
Saturday in Billing … Sure not the Center of the World for sightseeing, but good for relaxation and shopping.
Yellowstone County Museum
Small collection of artefact describing history around Billings. Actually history since 150 years ago.
Pictograph Cave State Park
Old and very old stone picture in the Hills above Billings.
Create your dreams – every day
Fun not from the beginning to be clear. Gusty and cold (!) wind on the way to Cody weren’t that pleasant. Interesting always leaning sideward to drive straight and even better being straight in a left curve.
After refuelling found the way to the entrance of Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
Winding up – up to the first top
For Beartooth Pass (US Route 212) the road is getting worse for the first miles. With an altitude of 10,947 ft (3,336 m) it is remarkable up there. Yeah, quite cold also. Nevertheless the curves and turns are wide and the speed limit even doesn’t allow real floating and leaning in the turns – if you respect it.
To be honest – both passes were beautiful – especially the view you have from even every part of the road – … but definitely not difficult. OK – I compare to the Alps … e.g. Passo die Stelvio. Maybe I am not the one to judge.
Landing in Billings MT concludes the day with some local singer songwriters live.
Create your dreams – every day
Starting early to avoid the heat in the end of the day.
Heading West (first) and then North. Straight, flat, dry. The country is so wide.
Countryside delights have other varieties …
After long flat highway routes the Wind River Canyon gave nice changes.
The day ends with a great Bunk-a-Biker hospitality from Margarete and Bill. It is always a pleasure to sit together with other bikers and sharing stories – either as a host or as a guest (currently my position).
Check it out … https://www.bunkabiker.com/
Create your dreams – every day
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