Video Compilation - Riding another awesome Motorcycle Road - Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway, Colorado state Highway 141

A close friend of mine that lives near Grand Junction said "you must go to Gateway Colorado and see the Auto Museum and the Canyon". Well, we did, we first took the motorhome down this route on way to our base in Silverton, Colorado. The road was super easy for a big RV rig and the Auto Museum was an absolute treat. Watch for the post on that visit in a few days. I will add that this 300 mile ride was a backup to a 400 mile ride that we had to cancel due to the Wild Fires in south central Colorado. there was certainly no loss on our part because the ride delivered 10+!

I could try and be an expert and say a lot about this part of our great country but, I again will differ to the various "true expert" and their websites on these Interwebs that are stock full of info on this historic and beautiful drive. Enjoy!

BLM Excerpt:

Along the Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway, reminders of Colorado's last frontier are still evident today. The route begins in Whitewater and pursues a course through Unaweep Canyon, where geological formations are as many as 1.4 to 1.7 billion years old. Along the way, the route passes by Bangs Canyon Recreation Area and through the Gateway Area. After reaching Gateway, the Byway turns to thread its way through the vivid desert redbeds of the narrow Dolores River Canyon. Soon, travelers will pass Uravan, where mining activity has been historically prominent, beginning with copper and later shifting to uranium used for atomic bombs during Wolrd War II. Water for these processes was provided by the Hanging Flume aqueduct system, and remnants of this landmark can still be seen today. Continuing on, the Byway eventually takes a course through San Miguel River Recreation Area and ends in Placerville. By the time travelers have completed the entire route, they will have seen remote lands featuring green meadows, snow-capped peaks, turbulent rivers, abandoned mining claims and more.

About the Hanging Flumes:

The Hanging Flume is perhaps one of the most risky and lofty plans in mining history . . . and for the purposes of placer mining, pretty much a complete failure. But as a heritage tourism site, it still holds our attention, long after the memory of its father, the mysterious Nathaniel P. Turner and hundreds of grunt workers have faded. Recent preservation efforts promise that we will enjoy the Hanging Flume for generations to come.
 

 On to our videos! Folks, this video is about 10 minutes long. Go grab a cold beverage and come back and sit back for a spell to enjoy.

Riding the Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway (Standard Definition) from PJC on Vimeo.






Riding the Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway (High Definition) from PJC on Vimeo.

Riding the Million Dollar Highway - Time Lapse Photography

One of the finest Motorcycle Roads in the United States is better known as "The Million Dollar Highway". It is a breathtakingly beautiful and mostly a "soul settling" ride in both directions. Going north, is more relaxing than going south as the section described below keeps you on your toes at the edge of an abyss.

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles (19 km) south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass which gains the highway its name. This stretch through the gorge is challenging and potentially hazardous to drive; it is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains.

To render this ride into a format easily viewed, I used a GoPro camera to shoot 2 photos per second. I then combined and edited the photos into a movie using CineForm Studio and Apple IVideo. I am very happy with the final product.

Some have asked how I kept the little GoPro camera running so long. My setup is a GoPro Hero3 Black edition with extra battery backpack as well as a large, external LiPo battery that connects to the GoPro USB port.The USB connection is a bit finicky and sometimes does not power the camera when the cameras batteries are depleted. It's king of hit and miss. I sure wish that GoPro would come up with a bulletproof external power supply... HINT!!  To control the camera, I enable Wifi on the camera and connect via the GoPro app on my Iphone. The later is powered all the time as I use the Iphone on my bike to play music while I ride.

Here are the videos for your viewing. There are Standard and High Definition formats. Enjoy.


Timelapse - Riding The Million Dollar Highway - US 550 - July 2013 (SD) from PJC on Vimeo.


Timelapse - Riding The Million Dollar Highway - US 550 - July 2013 (HD) from PJC on Vimeo.