[sfarson]

Maybe it's more years on life's odometer. Maybe a look back helps me face forward. Awwww, maybe it's just kinda nice taking the big twin down alongside a scenic, lonely, and wild river, one a train used to take visitors to over 100 years ago.

Perhaps old images can be found, and we stand near where the photographer stood. Explore some. Find the spot. Frame the image. Examine change. Be whimsical then live with gusto.

A ten mile, 106 year ride report. Many images loading below, showing then and now.

A brief 2:30sec ride video here: Along a River - Streaming Video with a two minute Doobie Brothers instrumental "Flying Cloud" accompanying. But the images below are the tale.

Map of the journey, SW of Denver...

First stop is at the town Pine, historical name is Pine Grove. In 1900 it was a popular narrow gauge train stop with travelers from Denver enjoying a day or days in the mountains...

And today. More trees is one change. Local residents not cutting them down to build structures...

Continuing to the small town of Buffalo Creek, a nice road to get there...

And turning around, the old train bridge crossing the river. Can see the old grade...

First of two old 1900 images of Buffalo Creek...

And today. Interesting cloud...

This is where we will be heading towards, the rocks and river in the distance...

The same structures remaining today, including a Catholic church, the old Buffalo Creek train depot, and a home...

Had to do a little 700lb dirt biking to get to the place above...

 

[sfarson]

OK, this is where the onboard video above starts, at the old Buffalo Creek train depot. Used to be a town around this place, but a fire in one structure quickly spread to all the other tightly packed structures and the town literally went up in smoke. With wood heat in the winter, wood structures, adjoining walls... this is how many small towns met their fate. Wonder how many business and home owners felt like reaching for the Colt 45 when their neighbor let loose a fire...

First stop in the river canyon is the resort cabin community of Ferndale. A half dozen cabins for rent in the trees on the hillside on the right. This is before cars. Yesterday it was the train...

Today it is the big twin...

One would have to cross the walk/swinging bridge to get across the river in 1900...

Same is true today, but the bridge you see here was rebuilt ten years ago when a flash flood blasted the previous one away...

Let's turn back the clock and visit the cabins and people of 1900...

Gather your friends and family for a picture...

 

[sfarson]

In front of one of the cabins...

And today. Difficult to see, but this is where the photographer stood 106 years ago. Same cabin...

Leaving Ferndale in 1900...

Leaving Ferndale in 2006...

Continuing down the river canyon on the old train tracks bed, with the Cathedral Spires the backdrop...

Today...

Then...

Now...

Pausing for a glamour shot. The rushing water here is the location at the beginning of the ride video above...

 

[sfarson]

Got to love the name of this rock coined back in 1900... Peterhead Rock. Admired then...

Some rocks remain unchanged...

Approaching the conclusion of this ten mile, 106 year old ride. The town of Foxton on the river in 1900...

Today...

Handwritten on the back of the image here..."In Platte Canon below Foxton, Sept. 1, 1901. Coupling broke between engine and tender and locomotive ran ahead of train. Tender jumped track and whole train derailed."

OK, could only find a 1971 image of what was at the time, the Foxton Post Office...

Not much of a going concern today, but the electrical wire looks unchanged in 35 years!

Unlike anything else, collecting memories on the Harley-Davidson.

 

[sparks'n'dust]

Great post! Amazing pictures!

 

[99evo]

i enjoyed looking at the photos. they are great!

 

[slammedv]

Awesome pictures. Thanks for sharing

 

[Kainam]

Very cool.

 

[Hawkmann]

Loved those pics.Truly amazing stuff.

 

[Softailer]

Awesome. That is one place I have yet to ride my Harley.

I love the views and roads. My brother lives in Ft. Collins.

 

[sfarson]

Awesome. That is one place I have yet to ride my Harley.

I love the views and roads. My brother lives in Ft. Collins.

Thanks everyone.

Softailer, sometimes I lead rides up north. Recently rode the Poudre Canyon over Cameron Pass to Walden. Maybe on a visit we connect sometime. Very interested in your '07 FLSTC impressions... the stock exhaust note, the tranny, etc.

 

[Softailer]

Thanks everyone.

Softailer, sometimes I lead rides up north. Recently rode the Poudre Canyon over Cameron Pass to Walden. Maybe on a visit we connect sometime. Very interested in your '07 FLSTC impressions... the stock exhaust note, the tranny, etc.

The stock exhaust note and the SE note are the same db. Perhaps the SE is alittle more aggressive due to the air flow. Noise wise they are the same. 80 db. According to my trusty mechanic. I like the six speed tranny. Just when you think you need to shift and now you can. I like it.

So far, very pleased with the changes HD is making.

 

[hogdon]

Wow, trees! I remember those. Anyway, great job. don

 

[Nitram]

Sfarson,

That was outstanding!!!

Thank you.

 

[litox]

What a great thread. The pictures are awesomw. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[sfarson]

The stock exhaust note and the SE note are the same db. Perhaps the SE is alittle more aggressive due to the air flow. Noise wise they are the same. 80 db. According to my trusty mechanic. I like the six speed tranny. Just when you think you need to shift and now you can. I like it.

So far, very pleased with the changes HD is making.

Softailer... Reason I asked was H-D has made a big deal about the retuned stock exhaust note, emphasizing lower frequencies giving the stock sound a lower and deeper note. I think this is very good and I hear conflicting reports. Some say they can't tell a difference versus previous years and others say it is definitely deeper. Just haven't heard one myself yet.

 

[centralozzy]

Yeah that post was amazing. I love the comparison shots, Old & New.....just great, thanks for that.

 

[Harley Guy]

Great post - Awesome pictures.

Thanks for sharing

 

[oldbag]

Steve it seems all the old rail tracks over the years have turned into roads today. Nothing seems to stay the same, well maybe the pleasure from riding to see the changes might be the same. I enjoy everything you post pictures and video. Thank you!

 

[06FLSTC]

Great idea! You've just given me food for thought in planning some rides around Virginia. There are lots of places around here that date back to the 1700's and older, some with structures still standing. I think I'll try and find some pictures from way back and then see if I can't find those places today! Thanks again for planting this idea in my head!