Then and Now Images

[Zanatos]

Fantastic pictures! Thank you for posting these.

[sfarson]

Those are great!

Hmmm gives me an idea, there are more historic photos of Denver, Boulder, Golden etc that we can actually ride to, and pose our bikes in. Kind of a historic scavenger hunt anyone?

A fine idea! If interest, here's a start. My now images in front of these two places are lame. One was rushed, the other was taken before finding the old pic. These are winter rideable...

The Elbert County Courthouse in Kiowa (1910)...


This 1900 image of a church in Elbert...


Would love to see framed "now" versions of these with a bike in front, or at least with the church pic, the motorcycle attired rider standing on the stairs.

[longrider]

Great pictures, I like the comparisons! A few observations: I have ridden the Tarryall road (77) and that is definitely a dualsport/adventure tourer ride, not a sportbike ride. I made it all the way but it was not fun. I found it funny that in Victor there was still a utility pole in the same spot 100 years later. At least now we dont have those 50 individual wires strung. I will see if I can get the Elbert county courthouse next Sunday (assuming its rideable that day) It is now the county admin building and all the grass and shrubbery is nothing but parking lots

[Cap'n Crunch]

Cool! Awesome post sfarson!

[Lomax]

Steve,

I LOVE these. Thanks for posting them up again.

I was just down on foxton Saturday with Bill. Even coaxed him into riding it on his Duc.

We were both thinking of you.

Thanks

Marc

[LambeauXLIV]

If ever in the Canon City area, ride this thing. The one way road with its blind rises will leave you with your stomach in your throat if you gas it a bit.

+1 highly recommended

[biikChiQ]

... I'm inspired to do one of these historic scavenger hunts too!

[Joe]

Here's the Elbert Church circa 1995.
I had just finished pouring the stairs for my Eagle Scout Project.

I haven't been out there since... 2002?

I think it's time for another trip. Thanks for these photos.

[Clovis]

Is the Skyline drive paved? Aaron and I are riding Canon City to Salida later this week.

[longrider]

Skyline is paved and it is a great ride! (but not for speed)

[Bugkiller1]

Great post Steve!

After reading your book I now have a greater appreciation for all of the roads I love to ride... and bonus; cool then and now photos!

See you soon buddy!

-Neil

[Vitesse]

Great photos! Love seeing the history like that!

One small correction I'd like to make. The population of Victor is around 500 people. Although there are a couple of downtown buildings that are not in operation, most are active small shops and restaurants. I grew up there.

Today about 100 call Victor home. Most downtown structures are empty...

[stubbicatt]

Outstanding contribution to the community. Thanks for your efforts. Very nice.

[sfarson]

Bluestreak... Thanks for the clarification. I tried not to include the pop of the nearby surrounding communities, like Goldfield, but not that it would have made a huge diff. For sure Victor is a cool place. Authentic. There are some businesses on the 1st floor of the down buildings, but most don't look like, at least to me, they are much of a going concern.

[CBRSue]

Needed a quick break from boring work stuff today... these are really cool pics, thanks for sharing!!!

[Ghost]

I love seeing these, thanks for posting them, and looking forward to seeing more.







...and now I need a SuMo or DS...damnit...

[FZRguy]

Thanks Steve, enjoying your book. I'm a big fat IN for a photo scavenger hunt.

[Nvr2late]

Bought your book today and can't wait to start planning some rides for this summer. Skyline Drive looks amazing and will definitely be on my list of "must sees".

[lytehouse]

I love this kind of stuff....I recieved this a few years back......

http://www.johnfielder.com/shop/Colorado-1870-2000.html

[sfarson]

For something diff... If you can hang in there until the last 40sec. of this 3:19 ride vid, there are "then" pics with the "now" video, pausing at the semi-ghost town of Eldora.... a boom and bust community from the flare and fade of productive mines...

http://youtu.be/aevZevqVJFs

Quite the contrast.

[Lomax]

Steve, I still need to goad you into signing my book Someday

Marc

[sfarson]

Great pictures, I like the comparisons! A few observations: I have ridden the Tarryall road (77) and that is definitely a dualsport/adventure tourer ride, not a sportbike ride. I made it all the way but it was not fun.

lr... Yeah, the 42 miles of the Tarryall Road does have its "opportunity areas", but there is some news. Before this past summer the lower seven and northern eight miles were riding divine. Still are. Ten more miles were re-engineered in 2011, and wow, what a great job. This leaves a middle 17 miles still a broken chip/seal, but for eight miles south of the historic Tarryall townsite, it is pretty good, even for sport bikes. Now, really, it is the nine miles between the Tarryall townsite and the Tarryall Reservoir that are... ugh.

The feds are helping with the funding of improvements. It is a Park County scenic and historic treasure, with interpretive signs and pullouts along the way, and the feds want to upgrade this road linking U.S. 285 on the north and U.S. 24 on the south. The massive 2002 Hayman wildfire was launched by the forest server worker at a campground about seven miles north of U.S. 24 on this Tarryall/County 77 road. The feds helping fight the fire saw the need for improving this road. Supposedly, bids go out soon for the bumpy nine miles mentioned above.

If interest, this recent November ride video reveals the sweet ten miles of improvements made north of the Tarryall Reservoir in 2011. The pic below is passed at around 3:30 of the 5:16 recording...

http://youtu.be/_8kYneVwdlQ

[sfarson]

Steve, I still need to goad you into signing my book Someday

Marc

Well, if YOU WOULD LET ME KNOW when you and Bill are on ONE OF YOUR SCOOTS, I think I could be goaded.

[crypto0793]

Where is this skyline road?