My one big organized event for 2017 was the Great Divide Ride – a 1000+ mile, five day ride along the continental divide route, from Silver City, New Mexico to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Over the years I had heard many good reports about the Continental Divide route, a 2768 mile, 90% dirt route that runs from Mexico to Canada on along the western United States’ continental divide, and I was determined to ride at least some of it myself. In today’s vernacular, it was on my bucket list. Well, June 2017 was the year that everything finally came together and 45 of us converged to ride the New Mexico and Colorado sections.

While I really enjoy riding, the biggest enjoyment I personally get from these events is the friendship and camaraderie that comes from riding with, and sharing the experience with, like-minded souls. For me this picture includes all the elements that make adventure riding so enjoyable – friends riding dirt bikes on a remote dirt road with who knows what awaiting ahead and the distant mountains beckoning them on.