Denny and I talk to a rider who had stopped for gas at the same station. This guy was hardcore, riding a Yamaha 1100 V-Star with no windshield and only sunglasses for protection.

Day Six: Dillon, Colo., to Colby, Kan.

Miles covered: 315 miles

It’s Friday and it’s time to turn the bikes east and head for home. Unfortunately, central Colorado is a long way from Northwest Missouri and it’s going to take a couple of days to get back to Joetown.

My wife Chris and I, along with our traveling buddies, Denny and Melissa Villhauer, had left home Saturday and ridden southwest through Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and into Taos, N.M. Then we headed north to Colorado to hook up with friends and spent a few days in the Rocky Mountains.

We had spent Thursday night in Dillon, Colo., and needed to head home, but before we could depart, we had to take care of a minor issue.

You know how some people respond to two-word phrases, like “chrome accessories” or “cold beer?” My wife Chris lights up to the two words, “outlet mall.” Dillon has four outlet malls and dozens of discount stores and we had to look in a few before leaving.

Thus, we didn’t leave Dillon until noon and began zipping east on Interstate 70. The first part of the trip was cool. Several rivers run beside I-70 in this part of the state and, of course, there’s the Eisenhower Tunnel. Legend says it can be snowing on side of the mountain when you enter then sunny when you come out the other side.

Gradually, the high majestic mountains gave way to smaller mountains as you near Denver. Then come the foothills and you gradually drop in elevation until you’re back on flat land again. Eastern Colorado looks a lot like western Kansas.

We had hoped to reach Hays, Kan., that night but the day got away from us and we were tired of riding. We turned off the interstate in Colby, Kan., and spent the night.

Colby is actually a pretty hopping town. We had a great meal at Montana Mike’s Steakhouse and visited two local taverns, the B-Hive and Twisters. Both places were pretty busy.

Unfortunately, we had a long drive the next day and all of us turned in early.