Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Ben - Sydney Australia on July 10, 2009:

Sounds like an awesome trip, it makes me want to come over there someday just to have a look at the countryside. Good to hear that you are also now giving yourself some time to get out of the office.

Posted by Doug - Pemberville, Ohio on July 10, 2009:

This is a fantastic article. I've Jeeped about half of what you describe above, and it is slow. I also have a DR-350 Suzuki, daddy to your 400, with over 50,000 miles on it. And I've accidentally taken a big street bike down Schofield Pass.

Again, great piece above. I enjoyed reading it.

Posted by Mike - Singapore on July 10, 2009:

You living in a place like that and bragging about it makes us hate you :p hehe.

I was in that area a couple of years ago on a motorcycle, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world by any standard. 'grats on the DRZ -- nice ride.

Posted by Sue in Bremerton on July 11, 2009:

Thanks for sharing, Randy. I was in Colorado some years back and my hosts took us to an old mining town, where the mine was boarded up and was now the fire station. It was a wonderful trip.

The photo of Corkscrew Gulch looks almost surreal because the colors seem so odd. Is it because you didn't have a filter on the camera, or is it really that way?

I also enjoyed the picture of the 1888 miners. Can you imagine having to work in mines in those days? What brave men they must have been.

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The colors are odd there, but indeed my camera is unfiltered and the light was harsh -- but a cloud was shading the trees in the middle right, making the whole scene seem even more odd. And the three Red Mountain peaks are called that because they really are red, which makes it all the more weird to look at. -rc

Posted by Alan, Maryland on July 11, 2009:

FYI, street legal dirt bikes are great fun, but watch out: the knobby tires can be very squirrely on the pavement. Be very cautious when riding on paved roads, especially around corners. I know from experience ;-)

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I indeed am cautious -- so much so that I was actually quite surprised how well it grips on pavement; I was expecting much worse. -rc

Posted by Carl - Georgia on July 11, 2009:

Wow! You fellas out west are blessed with very beautiful and rugged places to motor around in! This was really enjoyable to get a peek into your leisure times.

Of course I also just had to click on the link to see what the Western Slope 4x4 club is up to. The photos of 'rock crawling' and the stresses they put their Jeeps through were just amazing to me. As a former east coast 4x4 enthusiast (International Harvester 1969 Scout), I actually felt sorry for some of those Wranglers pinned against rocks or twisted into all manner of odd positions. Here on the east coast our rides were entirely different (the snow of Vermont, the sand of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, the mud everywhere in the deep south). We were crazy to take some of our rides, but you guys are nuts! lol

Thanks for this glimpse into your country, Randy. I completely understand the excitement of a thrilling ride into a beautiful setting. It's one of the best medicines around. Good on ya!

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Yeah, my buddy Matt, who I turned to for identification of some of those mines, is one who when faced with a clear path or going over a huge rock, he'll take the rock. He's got a fantastic vehicle for it, and he let me drive it over Imogene Pass, which was a thrill. -rc

Posted by Caroline, Kaufman TX on July 11, 2009:

You really DO have to ride the Durango-Silverton train. It has terrific views and is quite a pleasant ride from between the 2 towns. (Not to mention all the views that you'll recognize from various movies!)

Posted by Jeff in Hancock, MN on July 11, 2009:

Been there several times and know exactly what you're talking about. I have a 5 frame panoramic photo of the Red Mountains taken from almost the same spot as your shot on the bike. (My kids pointed out the knife, spoon, and fork on the side of the mountain.) We live in the flatlands, but love the mountains, and it's pretty convenient to rent a Jeep for a day.

We plan to start on Engineer, to California, and come out Corkscrew at the end of July. But we've always thought a dirtbike looks like a fun way to get up and down those beautiful mountains.

Posted by Jeanne - Kansas on July 11, 2009:

Thanks for writing so clearly that we can almost have a virtual ride with you. The photos are awesome, as is the scenery. Breathless...

I saw Colorado for the first time when I was twelve, and could hardly believe that a sky could be THAT blue - or that rock could be THAT red. (I thought it was just the postcards we had seen.)

We've been through Colorado many times on trips to places beyond, and it has never disappointed us. This is a sweet reminder of many interesting side-roads that are still waiting for us. Thanks so much.

Posted by Mike in Brooklet, GA on July 11, 2009:

Yes, Caroline is right- you need to ride the Durango-Silverton line. I went on it when I was 13... 36 years ago. I still remember the amazing ride. It was wonderful fun to view the scenery and to experience riding a train similar to what was used decades ago. The train was a highlight on a trip with many, many memories that I cherish.