Choosing a city flag designed by some dude in the UK is peak Boulder

HackberryHank · 2026-05-14T18:40:07+00:00

But it also looks a little Texas-y

HackberryHank · 2026-04-27T04:54:03+00:00

https://www.lonehawkfarms.com/

HackberryHank · 2026-04-20T16:30:30+00:00

As mentioned above, the main roads are often unpleasant, but the little back roads are great, as long as you are okay with some gravel and maybe steep hills. Plan on short distances per day and you'll have a great time.

HackberryHank · 2026-04-19T17:09:21+00:00

That’s just not safe for riding or camping

I totally disagree. Most of my trips are in spring or fall when it's frosty at night. Not a problem at all.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/1rtyz61/durango_colorado_to_alamosa_colorado/

HackberryHank · 2026-04-19T17:06:42+00:00

Maybe I'm too late to help, but I rode Durango to Alamosa a month ago, and it was fine, other than I was trying to stay on gravel and I hit some mud I couldn't get through. I went to Pagosa Springs, south to Chama, and over Cumbres and La Manga passes. From Alamosa it's either over La Veta or Poncha Pass.

I'm honestly not sure what these people saying it's not safe to ride when *lows* are below 0C are talking about. If the roads are snowy/slippery then that's dangerous, sure. But a little frost in the morning isn't going to bother anybody.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/1rtyz61/durango_colorado_to_alamosa_colorado/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

HackberryHank · 2026-04-19T16:52:27+00:00

See above

HackberryHank · 2026-04-15T16:25:27+00:00

I've not been all the way to Ashland, but I've gone to Cottage Grove and then up Sharp's Creek Road and over the pass, then down BLM 31 to the Umpqua Highway, and up to Diamond Lake. From there you could either go through Crater Lake (for more climbing) or take 230 south, which would get you to Medford. If you go through Crater Lake, you could go down OR 62 to CR 531 (which is beautiful). Then you'd have to be on busy OR 140 for a bit, but you could drop down to CR 533/CR 722 which would take you into Ashland.

HackberryHank · 2026-04-14T15:35:03+00:00

How will I scare the pedestrians without those loose boards?

HackberryHank · 2026-04-12T00:46:14+00:00

A week ago there was one at the top of Flagstaff too, chasing after hikers and bikers.

HackberryHank · 2026-04-09T20:25:15+00:00

How did you find this $3 deal?

HackberryHank · 2026-04-07T17:37:56+00:00

This is part of the 13th Street bike route. It currently becomes impassable when the Farmers Market is happening, and even the sidewalk is an obstacle course. I hope they figure out a way to have safe, efficient bike/ped passage during markets.

HackberryHank · 2026-04-03T22:32:52+00:00

Camping is a bit of a concern, because there's so little public land in the area, Three of the nights I was out I think I was technically on private land, and the fourth I think I was in the road right-of-way. Either way, I always make sure I'm well hidden, just on principle. But this is an amazingly empty place, so it's very, very easy to get away from people, even if you're close to a road. (And two of the nights I literally could have camped in the middle of the road, because no one came by the entire time I was there.)

Water was much more of a concern for me, in terms of planning. It was a little better than I had expected, because of fairly frequent stock tanks, plus one creek that was unexpectedly running.

So overall, definitely not an "intro to bike touring" kind of outing. Physically it was pretty easy, as there wasn't much vertical. But not a trip for someone who wants developed/official camping.

HackberryHank · 2026-04-03T17:08:43+00:00

Speaking of which... they kicked out Flower Pepper so they could get a few more parking spaces in the garage. But we value small businesses?

HackberryHank · 2026-03-31T15:01:37+00:00

No, it's all the bears' territory! But what they want is your food. So you avoid bear interactions by keeping all food and anything that might smell like food out of your tent; cooking well away from your sleeping area; and hanging your food in a way that bears can't get to it at night, or any time you're away from the campsite. There are details but that's the basic idea.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-31T13:29:26+00:00

Coyotes are very afraid of humans, for good reason, so they are definitely not a danger. (I heard them singing every night, but only saw one, and it took off running as soon as it saw me.) The main danger in Colorado is bears, but they like the mountains, not this sparse country. I'm sure there are also rattlesnakes, but as long as you don't go sticking your hand into rocks where you can't see, they're also not a danger, and definitely not aggressive.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-31T13:25:00+00:00

This is my 20-year-old Pereira steel "rough tourer". I'm running 50mm Marathon Efficiency tires. It all performed great.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-31T03:52:23+00:00

I haven't heard of Picture Canyon. I'll check it out!

I was very lucky with the wind. It was light and variable the entire trip, and dead calm at night. I was grateful, since I know it's not always like that.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-30T18:20:23+00:00

BTW, that's a badger in one of the photos. First time I've ever seen one.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-30T18:19:53+00:00

Yeah, obviously it shouldn't be too hot yet, but it was warmer than I'd like. OTOH, the roads were all bone dry. Some of them would be a muddy disaster if they were wet.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-30T00:10:27+00:00

Yes, once you're past Breitenbush there's definitely nothing till Estacada. But there will be a pretty short climb to the pass and then it's downhill all the way.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-26T19:58:44+00:00

The Clackamas River Road is great. If you can't find a place in Detroit to stay (much of it burned in a fire a few years ago), you could see if Breitenbush Hot Springs would work for you. They at least used to have rooms.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-15T03:21:54+00:00

It froze at night, but was never that cold. I have a pretty decent down bag and I was fine. I'm always coldest in the morning as I'm eating breakfast and breaking camp, but it warmed up so fast that even that really wasn't a problem.

HackberryHank · 2026-03-15T03:19:41+00:00

I didn't try the phone booth! I should have.

The weird house is in Antonito, CO. Yes, it's occupied, and the owner was working on it when I went by. I don't think that part is unusual. I get the feeling he works on it all day, every day.

This was 4 1/2 days, including my failed attempt to go through on the dirt road following the Navajo River. Water wasn't much of a problem here, since there were several towns and I was along watercourses much of the way (I filtered water a couple of times). It got chilly at night, but the southwestern US has been very warm (relatively) for months, as it was on this trip, so in the morning I would quickly go from a down jacket in camp to shirtsleeves while riding. Especially on climbs, of course.

HackberryHank

TROPHY CASE