[Andy]

While I'll soon be posting my "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" term paper, I felt it a bit more appropriate to jump to the past 36 hours. So, here goes:

You may have already seen the videos of myself and Phoenix9 visiting Estes Park a few weeks ago and riding to 12,090 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park. I enjoyed that part of the country so much, I decided to go back (via Southwest Airlines) and this time I headed to Boulder, Colorado.

I had stopped and spent a day in Boulder after leaving Estes Park and something told me I needed more than a day there. So three weeks later, I'm back in Boulder, CO.

I stayed in one of the nicest hotels I've ever had the pleasure of visiting, The St. Julien, that overlooks the Flatrock and the Fourmile Canyon areas of the Rockies.

The view from the room's balcony was nothing short of breathtaking:

I arrived in Boulder on Thursday September 2nd and yesterday (September 6th) I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the Canyon area overlooking Boulder. This picture (below) was taken around 10:15am Monday, September 6th.

On the way down the mountain, we stopped for a late breakfast and when leaving the restaurant, this is what we saw coming from just above the Canyon view we just left.

From the News Reports, around 10:30am, the fire was started by a vehicle hitting a propane tank. Evidently it had started as we were descending the mountain.

When I got back to the hotel, the fire had spread:

As the day went on, due to the high winds, the fire spread quickly and the air was filled with smoke.

The Police had blocked the entrance to the Canyon and had started the evacuation of those in the potential path.

The winds were high and air support could not be brought in until dusk when the winds subsided.

As the winds slowed on Monday evening, the smoke started heading into the Downtown Boulder area where I was staying. I don't have the words to describe the thick smell of smoke. Even now, 24 hours later, and 2,000 miles away, I can still smell the smoke on my clothes and my luggage.

By dawn Tuesday, the fires were still spreading and the smoke was a thick fog in the downtown area.

I drove to Denver and flew out Tuesday morning. At that time, 3,000 acres had burned. By the time I arrived back in Florida, that number had spread to more than 7,000 acres and 92 structures had been destroyed.

I've traveled to many cities across the USA and Boulder is a city like no else. It's known as a "Green" city and is very bicycle friendly. It also embraces motorcycle riders.

Even those who ride Victory Motorcycles.

I didn't meet the owner of this Vision, but I hope you know that we're thinking of you.

 

[dizmodeus]

burn boulder burn cleanse that commie stronghold with fire hell yeah

 

[phoenix9]

burn boulder burn cleanse that commie stronghold with fire hell yeah

Ummmm, OK........so you're rooting for a U.S. City to burn to the ground? Not cool dude.

 

[Andy]

burn boulder burn cleanse that commie stronghold with fire hell yeah

Ummmm, OK........so you're rooting for a U.S. City to burn to the ground? Not cool dude.

That was uncalled for.

Yes, Boulder is known as liberal city, I can only guess that much of that comes from having University of Colorado nearby. From what I've learned this week, for the most part, the People of Boulder do not resemble that remark.

On a serious note, any Boulder Victory Riding VOG Members, if there's anything we can do to assist or help, just let us know what we can do to.

 

[phoenix9]

I went through a similar experience back in 2003 in San Diego. For those who have never experienced a wild fire it is a hell of lot more dangerous than people think. We woke up to City that was quickly becoming engulfed in smoke that just choked you. As we evacuated the City we watched the fire jump from house to along I-8.

Here are a couple pics we took back in 2003.

Overlooking Qualcomm Park

Our car covered in ash....it looked like the middle of the night at 9:00 in the morning.

 

[ByteN2it]

Ahh Boulder, or asI like to call it "twenty seven square miles surrounded by reality". The fire is horrible and nowhere being contained, couldn't imagine what those folks are going through right now and like most desasters there's no reason why one house is burnt to the foundation while the houses on either side are untouched? Hopefully the winds will calm down and they'll get it contained shortly- glad you had a good time Andy

 

[vicldyffemt]

Thanks for sharing your pictures Andy. It really puts things in perspective of how
fast fires spread when there are high winds and no moisture. Glad you got back to
Florida ok.
Thoughts and prayers to the citizens of Boulder and surrounding area AND for all of the firefighters on the ground and in the air.
Tracy

 

[Keith Grey]

burn boulder burn cleanse that commie stronghold with fire hell yeah

Brother if that was an attempt at funny it kinda fell flat.There's more than one person on here who has had to run into a fire to help somebody.
On the other hand, I figure it must have been a joke, 'cuz it's waaaay hard to be a card carrying, closed minded, gun nut, conservative, seperatist, maniacwhen you've had a Yamahaki in your barn so recently (at least thats the official rule since I sold my Kawasaki).
p.s. I usually don't comment on failed humor 'cuz i have left a trail of it across 43(?) countries, but I needed one more post for another pretty star on the board.
Respectfully,
HonorarySeargent at Arms, of the
'If you don't like my driving, give back my beer and get off the sidewalk' club
KG

 

[dizmodeus]

semi humor i have no love for boulder and no pity for people who build homes in forests and act surprised when a forest fire burns it down much like the clowns who build houses on the beach and seem so surprised when a hurricane comes along and wipes it out every year while it is sad that people are suffering lets see how many build in the exact same place and still fail to cut back a fire break from their homes