Motorcycle Explorer May 2016 Issue 11 | Page 16

Oh to be free on the open road. After being cooped up in our truck for the past two days it was glorious to finally be on two wheels hitting the empty roads of northern Colorado. We went North only briefly from Craig to join the start of the official COBDR (Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route). At the start of the dirt tracks we met two other dual sport enthusiasts who had just finished their journey following the COBDR south to north. We had ridden this section a few years earlier on our BMW F800GS bikes, en route to Argentina, when we were loosely following the CDT tracks (Continental Divide Trail). What immediately struck us what the size of the ranches in Colorado. These people don’t mess around with their luxury properties. Wow! Nice flowing dirt roads led us all the way into the charming town of Steamboat Springs. We had to stock up on a few essentials, like snacks and camping supplies. I love the charm of Steamboat Springs, the place has a nice vibe to it. The culture appears to have a healthy emphasis on outdoor activities, and I love the old architecture. It was getting late in the day though so we didn’t stick around too long. The road south was wide open, and we were moving along at a pretty good clip. We eventually found refuge in the Routt National Forest at the Lynx Pass Campground. It was great! The campground host was exceptionally friendly and we had a premium spot for the night. We asked him if we had to worry about bears in the area, but he told us that we should be more worried about squirrels because the last time he saw a bear was many years ago. Another sign that us Canadians are further south and don’t need to be as bear aware.