I am done, the weather won.

 I awoke this morning in Ogden Utah and started planning this day. The weather forecasts  had worsened on Monarch Pass and North Pass to the San Luis Valley. The web cams on both passes showed snow packed conditions still, and the forecast was for rain. (on ice, I am not that brave or foolish!) Nothing was very promising for the next two days that would hope to melt back to pavement so I could cross one of the passes home on Wednesday.  I have been away on the Mothership for three weeks today and life responsibilities are starting to intrude. So I decided I could get as far as Glenwood Springs and run up the Roaring Fork Valley to El Jebel and my brother in laws house.
     In this picture above you can see the low clouds that were around all day. Those are the La Sals over by Moab Utah from I-70. There was virga all around most of the day and from  Salt Lake the temps went down to 49 degrees on Soldier Summit to a high of 61 degrees here at the Crescent Junction rest stop. I was using the hand grip heaters and seat heater on and off all day.
      Traffic was pretty light through Salt Lake and just a steady flow on US 6 over Soldier. I have found on these longer ride days, that to stop more often at rest stops seems to be refreshing. I found myself more alert on these long stretches of super slab. As I approached Colorado and saw the turns for Westwater, a fun river run to Cisco takeout everything became familiar again. And as I drop into the Grand Valley alongside the Colorado River, spring was starting with greening fields and blossoms on the trees.
    After a gas stop in Clifton I ran upriver to DeBeque Canyon and the sweeping turns on I-70, from there all the way to my in laws in El Jebel it was spitting rain, and up on the ridges it looked like it could be snowing. All this was enforcing my decision that I couldn't get over the Continental Divide tomorrow without driving on snow or ice. F---ing winter, at least the areas I came from knew it was spring! Oh, yeah, that is spring here isn't it.!
      So to El Jebel and a warm bed and the lend of a car, plus a garage for the Mothership to sit in until I can come back and get her when the roads are clear.
     So here I am, calling it a completed trip and this my final trip blog. I promise a epilogue  on the final two hundred miles when I get this big BMW home.
      It was all I wanted it to be. I had no trouble, used no oil, the tires held up. No close calls, no scary moments. I met many wonderful people and saw the incredible Pacific Ocean coast from LA to Astoria Oregon. I saw hidden gems of beach towns along the way and ate a lot of fish. I don't think the mothership or I look any worse for wear!
     So I checked my mileage and I will have driven over 4000 miles when I get the bike back to Salida. Now thats my idea of a great trip.
     Thanks to you all for listening, sharing your comments and even the offer of a bed, But really Christopher Arthur, do people even come to Casper Wyoming in the winter? But thanks I do appreciate the thought. I am impressed by this 17 year old bike and the way it shrugs off the miles, and comes up shining. It was a fun ride.

Will, almost back by his river.