Finally in Loveland the dealer again treats me like royalty. The service manager drives me to a motel and assures me they will do their best. I believe them.

So, here I sit in another overpriced hotel waiting to get a BMW motorcycle fixed. When will it end? You get into these bikes, buy extended warranties, and then don't want to get rid of them because you have too much invested. My warranty goes until 2008 and gives me more mileage than a new warranty. It appears that I will need it often.

There is an outlet mall about 1 mile from the motel and I wander through there looking for dishes and knick knacks that I don't want nor need. At least it gets me out of the motel. The dealership is too far away to walk and the local taxi cabs come all the way down from Fort Collins. I'm pretty stuck!

On Saturday, the service manager calls and says that they couldn't get the rear end in for a Saturday delivery, but it will be here on Tuesday. I expected that and am not disappointed. I know they tried their best. During that same conversation, he offers to give me a bike for their Sunday shop ride. Wow! This is amazing and I'm delighted to go.

Sunday morning is cold and wet, but the ride is still on. One of the sales people picks me up and takes me to the shop. There's a big turnout for a rotten day and many of the shop employees come out for the ride. This sure is different than the Orlando shop.

A new F650GSA is waiting for me. That's not exactly the right size bike for a guy as big as me, but I'm extremely grateful to have the use of that bike. We take off into the mountains north of Estes Park and ride through several canyons. My mind is on not wrecking their new bike in the rain. It turns out that several of the shop employees either still do or have raced motorcycles. That explains the brisk pace.

In Nederland, CO, we stop at the Black Forest Restaurant. Upon entering the dining room the first thing you notice is a piano player and the fine table clothes. This sure doesn't look like Taco Bell and the possibility of high prices worries me. I hope the water is free.

As it turns out, the prices are very reasonable. I buy the service manager's lunch and still come out in the low 20's. To add to the experience, the shop manager buys everyone's dessert! When we are leaving he asks if anyone is going to the shop. Uh, I guess I am if you want your bike back. He tells me to keep it until Tuesday. Wow again!

Two locals are going my way and I follow them out of the mountains. As it turns out, another rider needs help loading his motorcycle at the shop, so I follow him over to do that. Even though I have the motorcycle, I'm not going to take advantage of their generosity and will only use it for meals.

On Tuesday, I head over to the shop around 11am. The bike is almost done and I thank everyone profusely. They've also done an engine oil change. Now I just have to decide where to go. I'm not interested in heading west anymore. I might go through Arkansas on the way back or head south to the sand dunes in southern Colorado. Instead, I'm going to go up into the Dakatos for a couple of days and then head home.

Thanks to this wonderful dealer!