Follow the bouncing... tire, and you might find Aspen Ridge

Today's CFFC Fall Color Tour was the "grand tour" up on Aspen Ridge. You will have to ask Mike about the bouncing tire. Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful day. The weather was super, with sunshine all the way. The group was glad to be dry and warm for a change.

The "Grand Tour" all lined up

This year, the 19 jeeps reversed the route by heading north to cross over Fisherman's Bridge. From there they headed to Ruby Mountain and Bald Mountain Gulch. Passing the Castle, they wound around the backside of Aspen Ridge and then came out in Bassam Park.

In Bassam Park, they detoured up to Futurity. Futurity is a fun old ghost town with just a few buildings. While there, you have to check out the Futurity Hilton.

Visiting Futurity

Next, the tour headed south through Bassam Park to the spot where you can view a very large stand of aspen. It is actually several clones that frequently turn gold in stages. However, this year, everything was still shades of green.

Viewing GREEN aspen trees

Continuing south, the group drove through the various aspen stands. They did the hill climb for some great photo ops, and then down to the marble quarries. From there they picked up the Ute Trail and dropped down into Salida.

Blue Mule in his element

After a quick wash up and wind down from the day's travel, the entire group headed to Coyote Cantina. It's always a great time, as stories get told and adventures regaled.

Fall Color Tour Dinner at Coyote Cantina

Pictures from m38Mike

-- m38MuM (Ellen)

Sunshine after a rainy week

Yesterday was the first day of the 2013 CFFC Fall Color Tour. Jeepers began arriving at the Thirsty Dirt Ranch amid more torrents of rain.  In between rain showers, tents were erected and jeeps unloaded. The evening was spent huddle around jeeps with talk of transmissions and brake lines and such.

5-man Arctic tent from Korean War

Today was the first ride. A group of six old jeeps headed up Bald Mountain Gulch and east across Aspen Ridge into South Park. From there they headed south and around to Ute Trail, which brought them down to Salida. Luck was with them, and they only encountered one brief area of rain.

Stretch break in a nice open meadow

Meanwhile, the Thirsty Dirt Ranch greeted three more jeeps. By evening, another jeep arrived, bringing the total of jeeps to 10.

More jeep talk and a impromptu sing-along filled the evening. A few problems were solved, and plans were made to get parts to solve other problems. Never a dull moment!

Singing to the Coyotes!

Photos are by m38Mike.

-m38MuM (Ellen)

One Month and Counting

It is one month until the CFFC Fall Color Tour. Just one month! We have a zillion things we need to still do. This year, the weeds and grass are getting a haircut because they have grown like crazy with all the monsoon rain. Interesting to feel like we actually have a yard instead of living in the middle of a knee deep pasture. Mike's out mowing as I write this:

Mowing the Thirsty Dirt Ranch!

A couple of the current bushes, and my baby elm tree are starting to change colors. I hear tale that up high, you can find a few aspen that have started the change. That's really not too unusual at this time of year, but it always makes me nervous that the leaves will all change too soon!

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Mike tells me that we have a bunch of new faces joining us. It is fun to meet so many people that love these old flat fenders.

Speaking of flat fenders, we are taking Electro-Willys to the car show out at Limon this coming weekend. This will be the fourth show this year. At the Salida car show, E-W won the "Most Unusual" trophy. E-W certainly is an unusual flat-fender. Does anyone else know of a conversion to all-electric?

Smiling faces at the Salida car show.

- Ellen (m38Mum)

Aspen Ridge at last but certainly not least!

The highlight of the CFFC Fall Color Tours is the Saturday Aspen Ridge ride. The group stopped first for some gas at Centerville before heading down Highway 285 towards Salida.

Gassing up!

From the north side of Salida, they headed up past Spiral Mountain and the big Salida "S". The route took them past the old marble quarries. Then the steep climb to the lookout area which has become a tradition and a test for each jeep and driver. This spot has become very special to the Fall Color Tour, as this is where Allen Boyd's family spread his ashes to the Colorado winds.

On 'Boyd's Hill'

The jeep trail winds through aspen and openings with views across the valley until reaching Bassam Park. Here the trail becomes a maintained county road, and the pace picked up a bit until the group reached Futurity. This little ghost town is truly a ghost town, as no one resides there any more.

Futurity

From there the group looped around some hills and aspen stands before reaching The Castles. These rocks can be seen from Highway 24 on the way down from Trout Creek Pass. At The Castles, the group turned west to head around Bald Mountain and into Bald Mountain Gulch. The gulch is a dry, finely graveled creek bed popular with ATVs and dirt bikes. The curving banks are a blast to drive in an old jeep, too!

A Smiling M38Mike

The jeepers were hot and dusty when they arrived back at the Thirsty Dirt Ranch. We put on a great potluck, with Steve's Chili the highlight of the meal. Everyone pitched in and I really am thankful that so many hands made light work of the evening.

The Arkansas River

Today's pictures are compliments of an old high school buddy of m38Mike's--his name is Mike, too!

- Ellen

Mike finally gets out of the office!

Today the Fall Color Tour swung through Salida and picked up Mike at his office. They all went for an early lunch at Patio Pancake before heading out on the trail.

The group of 12 jeeps started up Poncha Pass, then turned off at the O'Haver Lake/Marshall Pass road. This road is an old railroad grade. O'Haver Lake is a popular camping and fishing spot.

The Jeeps hanging out at O'Haver Lake

Fishing Platform at O'Haver Lake

Marshall Pass is at 10,000 feet. They checked out the winter cabin up there before taking an alternate route back to the highway. On the way home, the group all stopped for some ice cream in Poncha Springs.

They couldn't resist having ice cream on the way home!

When they got back to Thirsty Dirt, we heard a few tales of troubles, like a broken throttle cable, but otherwise, a very successful ride.

These photos were taken by of JPet of the CJ2A page. More of his photos can be found at the Fall Color Tour's CJ2A forum

- Ellen