Just another Thursday Ride in The Rockies

[Hondo]

So jmking43 posted up in the ADV Rockies Forum looking for riders to take advantage of the forecast 70 degree February weather, and that sounded like a great idea to me.

Four of us agreed to meet for breakfast in Colorado Springs at 830 am. I parked my bike next to jmking43's Gold Wing and went in for breakfast.



The riders -

jmking43 on his Gold Wing, ASSFAULT on his CB1000RR, atokadok on his Triumph Tiger and me on my CB1000 Custom.

Here is atokadok, ASSFAULT and jmking43 post breakfast-



Gearing up - (jmking43's pic)



Riding south - (jmking43's pic)



The plan was to head south to Bishops Castle, a "castle" built in the mountains by an eccentric man. More information available here -

http://eagleriverpewter.com/bishop.html

We parked across the street by the mailbox -



A view from my bike -



A few pics from accross the street -





I hadn't planned on climbing this tower, but that later changed -



Before we went up to the castle a retired couple who were sightseeing asked if we would like our photo taken-





So we headed up to the castle. A view in the front, ASSFAULT checkin' it out -



atokadok, jmking43 and ASSFAULT in front of the castle -



The fire breathing (really) dragon chimney -



Curiosity got the best of me & I decided to explore a bit. The steps up were pretty steep -



On the way up - (atokadok's pic)



I went into the huge main room - wow -

Looking towards the back -



The front windows -



Then I started climbing the main tower.

The dragon -







atokadok & jmking43 from the height of the dragon -



Then I went to the top of the tower.

The bikes -



ASSFAULT, jmking43 and atokadok way down there -



The steps from the top -



So we geared back up & headed back to the north. At 96 atokadok headed back to the east while the three of us headed west for Westcliff & then to the north.

We rode to Texas Creek and had lunch at the diner there - it was very good!



After lunch we headed back to east on highway 50. I turned off on 9 and pointed northeast for Hartsel & South Park.

About 3 miles from Hartsel I spotted a large group of antelope right next to the road, so I stopped for a few pics -





I gassed up in Hartsel and then on to Fairplay to join 285 north to Denver.

It was pretty cold, but I did stop at Kenosha Pass to take a pic of Southpark -



I got home at dusk with 316 miles on the clock for the day.

[skramer360]

Nice ride Hondo. I'm really getting that spring riding fever.

[JordanA]

Looks like a great time!  I'm assuming that no one lives in that castle, right?

[Zugzug]

I really need to relocate. This is what it looked like doing deliveries Wedsday around here

[Hondo]

The man that is building the castle lives next to it -

[FAITHBIKER]

Wow, nice ride...got me want to do some riding too

[Zugzug]

So hes still building it? Cool. Is it gonna be his residence or is he setting up for a Renaissance Fair or something?

[Hondo]

He wasn't there when we were. He lives in the house next to the castle, not sure what his plans are.

[RussellH]

Nice RR! What were the temps like? Even in the high 40s here in SoCal I froze my butt off, well my neck to be exact when I went riding today after it stopped raining. Do you guys wear thermal underwear or what? and how do you keep your neck and head warm?

[Hondo]

It was as high as 70 and I would guess around 30 degrees at the coldest -

[happycommuter]

I think a day trip needs at least one destination, and a nutty locale like Bishop Castle looks like one of those places that would be a lessened experience if arrived at by car.  And it's in town where all those government pamphlets come from too!
Love the variety of bike types that this group of riding buddies has.