Taylor Park, CO 2012

I'm pretty sure I mentioned this trip. I'm working on a real ride report, but still in recovery mode!
I'm working on it. I have over 500 pics to go thru as well.
Here's what I've got so far:

Whew…It’s been a couple of wonderful, exciting weeks.
We had 1 motorhome with an aluminum car hauler in tow. 4 ATVs and gear on the trailer. Mr. & Mrs. Schaffer, their son Mike and club member Jeff inside. Coral and I in the Dually with camper on top and Wee Willie Wagon in tow. 2 ATVs and 1 Jeep inside the trailer.

July 7th found us hooking up at a rest area near Battle Creek, MI. Fueling up in Indiana and heading towards the World’s Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, IA. http://iowa80truckstop.com/ Stopped and shopped there while getting fuel. Next stop was the Freedom Rock, Menlo, IA. http://thefreedomrock.com/ Very interesting and heartwarming. Continue on to the other side of Omaha, ME for the night.

Day 2 heading for the mountains. No more stopping except for fuel and food. As we approached our destination, we split up. The Cummins has no equal when you put it to work. The Triton V-10 had to take an easier, longer route. Unfortunately, that led to some wet, muddy slippery trails/roads. One little slip and they were in the ditch. Nothing major, just a slight channel on the side. There they stayed that night. Meanwhile, we made it to our campground unscathed but couldn’t find our campsite. So we just went to sleep in the parking lot.

Day 3 We got ready to head for the site we had reserved. I looked at my phone and found a text from Mike. He had ridden his ATV about 11 miles to Pitkin, CO http://www.pitkincolorado.com/ where he knew he could get cell service to text me. At that time I found out about the ditch mishap. So it was time to drop the trailer and go pull the motorhome out. We unloaded the Jeep and drove both the Jeep and Dually to Pitkin where we met up with Mike. We then followed him to the “scene of the crime”. We arrived at the motorhome and were sizing up the situation when we were told by Mike’s mom that his dad had gone to call a tow truck. It took a couple of hours for the tow truck to arrive and extract the coach from the trench. When all was said and done, it was time for dinner and fuel. It took about 1 ½ hours to drive the 20-25 miles from the campground to the ditch site. Nothing like a 10 mph switchback with a camper on the truck! On to the campsite to finally get set up. Then off to bed.

Day 4 We headed up to Taylor Pass.

When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!!! But which way???

Keep the info coming. Enjoyed the 4 day report

""When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!!! But which way??? "

Taylor Park is to the right of the sign. We stopped at that sign in '02, but it was during daylight. Joyce really loved driving that road with all the switchbacks and the gravel road on the west side of the mountain.

Will be waiting for more pictures and the write up.

Looking forward to the pics, quite a ride report teaser.

Good Stuff... You always seem to find some neat things

Too funny.
I would have definately chosen the Gunnison side.
Haven't you heard about all the issues with not enough water in the Colorado River?!

Good one, TW.
Looking forward to reading your entire report and seeing more of your pics.

This could be the longest ride report ever, judging by the wait for it.

Looking forward to it though.

I forgot to mention that the motor home also had a flat tire. Just a short while before sliding into the ditch!


Day 4 We headed up to Taylor Pass. As might have been mentioned, it was rocky. Someone a little more girly than I would even say “too rocky and rough for me”!

But we had a good time wandering around with the cows. They are free range and stroll around like they are on an Australian Walk-About. Ear tags and hide branding keep track of them. Anyway, we rode up to Taylor Pass. After crossing streams and following a boat being trailered down the trail.


Most unusual goings on here. Just find a cozy place to park and set up your camp. Strange to these eyes. Bounce the boat down the path and launch it where you can. We found a little snow up top. That seemed a little weird too, but at least it was understandable. I had to hike up to grab a handful of snow.

It must have been the thin air, but man I sure got winded quickly. I brought the snowball back down with me to take it home as a souvenir, but it disappeared in my cargo box. Things got wet too. “Most peculiar, Mama”.

Day 5, July 11, We decided to take the Jeep today and follow the others. Jeeps are much slower in the same terrain as ATVs but the others didn’t mind. They were forewarned. Tellurium Pass…Major puckering. I’m still pulling seat cover fibers from my butt! I am not sure if we should have even attempted this trail. The switchbacks weren’t too bad. Plenty of room to maneuver. However the scariest parts were going up across a trail that was made up of sliding shale type rock.

Several small rockslides had us getting out the shovels to try to level out the trail.


Coral had her head down and eyes closed. Partway up, Mike’s dad decided that he couldn’t continue anymore. He was too scared. His mom and dad were on a 2-up Outlander. Coral and Chuck (Mike’s Dad) ended up walking up the last ¼ mile or so. Mike’s Mom rode up in the Jeep with me. Head down, eyes closed and leaning in towards me. At least she didn’t put on her helmet! Mike stated that the Jeep was causing rock slides of it’s own as we passed the rock slide areas.


All-in-all it was great and we survived, but I still don’t know if we should have even attempted it. Maybe I’m too green with the Jeep?!?!


Day 6 Repair Day. The motor home’s water pump quit working so they had no water. Mike went into Gunnison with Coral in the Jeep to get the motor home tire repaired/replaced. Tire had to be ordered. Mike’s Dad & I went for a short, 25 mile ride.

Day 7, Friday the 13th. An auspicious date. All of us rode our ATVs up to Mt. Antero via Tin Cup Pass, and a couple of ghost towns. St. Elmo and Tin Cup. Apparently these towns will revert to Federal Land if they are not kept up by the local populace. Neither town is much of anything. A couple souvenir places and 1 restaurant. Some chipmunks and hummingbirds running wild in St. Elmo. Back in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s they had some mining going on around there. That fizzled out and most people moved away. Anyway, on to the ride. Rocky trails with nice views and elevation changes. Mirror Lake is a cool spot to take a break, fish or simply pose for a photo shoot.

Canned Hams like this trail.

Up at the top there were marmots playing around a rocky shrine for “Clint”.
I added a rock.

Day 8, Coral & I decided to duplicate some of yesterday’s ride in the Jeep, just the 2 of us.
Stop by Mirror Lake again.

Tin Cup Pass with a little “flexing” of the Jeep.

Hummingbirds galore.

There was an alternate “easier” route, but I had to try this.

This spot turned into one of Coral's favorite places to stroll into the woods!

We got to see a nice bull moose.

We made it back just in time for a nice Saturday Night Prime Rib dinner. So Sorry, no pics!!!

Day 9, Sunday 15th, Back on the ATVs. Just the guys. First thing we stopped to visit the Tin Cup cemetery. It certainly looked odd to see a cemetery segregated by religion!

They had a Catholic Knoll, a Jewish Knoll and a Protestant Knoll. We will have no co-mingling of spirits in Tin Cup!!! Then on to Cumberland Pass.

We paused by a little rock hill that has pikas running around. I only saw a few, I’ve heard that they whistle and at times number in the hundreds.
They are well camouflaged. Can you spot one?



Of course someone had a flat tire.

He had it repaired by some Yahoo, just before we came out here. Put a tube in the bighorn, but cut the valve stem off the tube and glued a steel valve stem in it’s place! What the heck??? Of course that turned into a nightmare trying to get it repaired on the trail. Probably took 2 hours or so. Lots of rubber cement and stripping a tire plug like you would string cheese! Oh, well we got it to hold air. Slime wouldn’t work on the steel stem. We got up to the Alpine Tunnel. A train ran through it that used to carry mining supplies and products. It’s been closed since 1922.
Then onward and upward to the Mary Murphy mine. Closed in 1920.

At that point the skies opened up and we hauled azz back to camp. I had 2 sets of rain gear on but it looked like I'd had an accident in my pants by the time I got back!

Nice pics, Tumbleweed. Looked like a lot of fun.

Nice pictured ride report, looks like it was a great time

WOW that is stuck in a ditch. Good report TW, enjoyed it. Nice pictures too. I was surprised with some of the trails, I guess I envisioned them being alot like the Paiute trail in Utah. i don't recall any of them being as rocky as that one trail in your photo or a trail with rock slides.

BTW didn't know I was going to get to play wheres waldo in your trip report.

I see the pike in the 1st picture, at about 8:30 almost smack dap in the center of the picture. It's almost facing you with its head turned to its left. Second picture it's a little farther away from center at about 7:00. Facing toward its left.

I did have to google pika, came up with this. Pika is a small mammal, with short limbs, rounded ears, and no external tail.

Trails out there put the "Rock" in Rocky Mountains

Ahhhh the elusive bull moose LOL I'm glad someone from QCR finally got to see one

G Bob wrote:

Ahhhh the elusive bull moose LOL I'm glad someone from QCR finally got to see one

U R So funny!
I put moose in the wild in the same category as Bigfoot...
there's plenty of pictures out there, but I ain't never seen one!

BTW
Nice pics and report TW. Glad you all had a fun and safe time.

If a flat on a bighorn was as seldom seen as a bull moose Gump wouldnt have a thing to bitch about would he

Great pictures and enjoyed reading the ride reports.

I always like getting to hear about you adventures.

Next and Final Chapter:

Day 10 found Coral & I in the Jeep once again. This time heading for the Laundromat!

Not really...Pike’s Peak!

Where it was SNOWING a little!

Coral was smart enough to have on her winter coat. Other Ladies were jealous.

The views were spectacular. In the clouds with the rain/snow mix. A drop of 30+ degrees from the bottom to the top.

There was a "brake check" station on the way down. A ranger shot a temperature measurement with a laser thermometer. If your brakes were too hot, you had to pull over and let them cool down...Conveniently, right next to a gift shop!!! What a coincidence!

After Pike's Peak, we stopped at a dinosaur museum. Where Coral got fresh with someone.

Then a stop for Mexican dinner.


Interesting decor.


Then onto the laundromat and a little grocery shopping while we were waiting for the clothes.
Interesting trailer?!?!?

Finally, heading back to the campground. We drove around 250 miles that day and it took about 13 hours, with all the stops.
Cottonwood Pass again. I didn't have to go this time!


Day 11, our final day in Colorado. Coral relaxed in the camper and I drove the Jeep around, following the ATVs.


When I took this pic, Mike said "I've gotta get a picture of you taking a picture of that"!!!

So he did!

Wednesday the 18th found us on the road heading for southern Illinois where I have a cousin. She is 2 years older than my Mother. Mother was an Aunt the second she was born!. Mother passed away several years ago, before Coral had a chance to meet her. My cousin and Mother grew up together, like sisters. In her mid-80s, it seemed like a good idea to stop to see her. We drove to Oak Grove, MO and spent the night. Around 730 miles. It rained most of the way. Coral was hoping for a TORNADO!!!

Close, but no cigar!


After a truck bath we headed to Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, MO for a "Home of the Throwed Rolls" lunch.

Coral started off with Okra...nasty stuff IMHO!

She had chicken.

I had steak. Of course we had numerous rolls throwed our way!!! If you ever get out that way, you MUST stop. You will thank me later!

BTW, Bigfoot is real! Just don't climb on him. He doesn't like it!




After an overnight stay in Creal Springs, IL we left for home. 600 miles later, we made it!!! 3287 miles total. $1241 in fuel.

I almost forgot.

My Pics: (some borrowed from Mike)
https://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f29/Jaxom44/Colorado%202012/

Link to Mike's pics:
http://www.mi-offroad.com/pix/tp12/

heheheh our local mexican resturant has the exact same chairs LOL

Very nice total ride report and pictures