Saturday, July 19, 2008

Well it rained about 20 mins after I set up camp oh what fun, it must have rained during while I was sleeping everything outside was drenched when I woke up. It took about 9 am to start drying out. I am reading the Di Vinci code. I had the first book Angels and Demons. which I found at my job. I have been wanting to read this for so long. I finally saw it up on the shelf. I was like running out to my vehicle to get a book to exchange. They had a huge assortment of books must have been a thousand free books.
So I read a little, his books are easy reads. I like to jot things down in my notebook and look at them latter.
He makes my note book full.
So most likely it will be read twice.
After carefully collecting all my gear from my tent not to get the red rust anywhere. I put all the gear on my bike. I did this in between pumping air into my tire. A slow leak and goning downhill on a forest road spell bad news for a low tire. At this time I broke my speedometer since the handle bars were cocked far right. I managed to pull the wire loose. So I got everything back on I was getting good at this now it rains every night. I managed to get some rust on my tarp and a small stain on my day pack but everything else was fine. I had some spray due to lack of front fender that collected on my front panniers.
I talked to pop up camper man who loves to play his acoustic guitar at 0000 hours. The full moon made everything super bright. Skeeters and the cold kept me from looking at the scene to much.
He is looking for housing ouch. Vail and housing are hard to come by since you can rent a condo for a week for thousands of dollars.
I imagine.
So I said " good luck!" And was off. It was a whole lot easier comming down it was a popular forest road. I stopped several times on the one lane red road. People passing in there shiny vehicles I smirked. I even seen a Mita wow. Forest roads are like torture for vehicles. This wasn't to bad a lot of money went into maintaining this road. Normally they are the lowest of the lows in terms of smooth travel. This had some hairy sections. Like boulders creeping out of the road but was rather good as I said.
Finally reaching pavement I noticed my speedo. Dam!
I went into Vail to get my free internet time and read the news paper. I left after that and filled my tire to 95 psi . At the small busy Conoco station. The only gas in town?
I then road the bike path to US road 24 it had a nice wide shoulder I then arrived at the town Minton????
Where I found a c store to change my tire. I made a jack for my trailer with plastic cartons and fixed my wheel. I looked very carefully for what caused it. Sure thing a black piece of wire stick up. I was now satisfied in repairing such a slow leaker. Next to an air hose makes changing a tire a snap. I did notice my defunct tube was like glued to my tire wired. The light tan inside helped identify foreign objects. I put it back and now spent 1.50 on air. O well.
I moved on I could see some black clouds so I headed for shelter at little beach park. There was a band shell and it was mine. I then had a big lunch. Tortillas, ramon, cranberries and animal crackers. I really was tempted to buy some more cheap food but I was able to control my self. I have another two towns that should have something for a price. We will see. Besides I didn't want to carry all that weight. I have enough still.
I did want water but the store I stopped at didn't have anything big enough. So I tried to filter my water at the park yet minning ruined that and the water tasted like crappy minerals. So I managed to get what amounts to a gallon with what I already had plus filtering. And either hoped to find some better stuff on the way or just ration my self Leadville is not to far away and I should have plenty. The park sat beside the Eagle river.
I saw a break in the clouds now or never.
As I was sitting in the park I watched a guy try to kite board (with a trainer kite) he was practicing. Dumb ass place for a place like this. I was waiting for the kite to go right into the power lines ten feet away. I did get a pic though. So now I am off after a nice lunch I have about 14 miles to camp Hale.

I went back to a bike shop in Minton and they didn't have the art I needed I was off. The town had a lot of wrong gravel shoulder riders. At one point I took the lane. The traffic was adhering to the 25 mph limit. There were lots of signs in this town saying slow down we love out children and other signs.
Upon leaving town a guy honked at me and flipped the bird, and I told him off like I had some place else to ride.

The shoulder never gain conscious all the way up the massive hill. A bus broke down on the hill. I was amazed they had bus service in the middle of nowhere. Gotta love Eagle county.
If I see a bus in Leadville I might take that to go shopping ;)
So I had what the computer said 1500 feet to climb. Riding along the outer cliff I had at times drop offs over a thousand feet the scenery was out of this world. The great thing about this the speed is slower for everyone I had no close calls here. Even Semis, however I could see them comming so I just pulled over at a pullout for some of them.
I reached the top and then wahoo on the descent it was really windy and I was weaving back and forth. I pulled up to the Eagle river Gorge where you can go to Red Cliff or across the Eagle River bridge. I went across the bridge after dropping into the canyon and stopped at a bus stop. Ha a bus stop!
Then I put my warm gear on the sun had vanished from the steep canyon. I started cycle in the valley still following the river. It be came slower at this point. Beavers galore. Dam ha!
I then entered the White River National Forest.
I had to do one more medium sized climb. Here I heard screeching tires and some mad truck driver. I screamed "your in a frikin forest." Speed limit was 35 mph. I did this after I pulled way off of the to avoid the idot on the hair pin turns.
Still following the river which was glassy now, reflecting all which watch from above. I also at one point watched the beavers swim about.
Then just before Camp Hale I saw a huge gathering by the bow hunters.
The food smelled so good.
I rounded the corner I had seen the mile marker and new I was going to be ontop of the camp. I saw the satellite picture so instantly recognized the one road which would have been the main road in camp. I was exhausted from the climbs and it felt good to see me campsite. Now Hale is a dispersed camping mecca a 1000 buildings stood here once, now a 1000 rvs pony up. They even try to sell the campground yea fat chance.
They leveled the land and I think I am sleeping on some old Barrick foundation which is hard rocks. Nice and level though. I wonder if the men would have approved such a RV haven?
I feel honored to be in the same place as a 10th MT division. I even felt like one eating canned foods from my army issued can opener. Lasanga and corn.
Now it is time for some novel and then night night.
I climb another 2500 feet tomorrow. 16 miles wasn't much but a chance to spend a night at camp Hale yep gotta do it.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Friday, July 18, 2008

Another night!
I left Vail after my gondala ride to the top of the MT. I suppose to see Holly Cross never happened. However did see lots of 14 teeners. The amazing view helped that I didn't have to climb. I joked " this is the easiest MT I have climbed yet." After they found I was from Phoenix we all had a laugh.
One interesting thing is they don't stop them you just jump in. It isn't going to fast and wheel chair people have e it stopped for them. It was great like a roller coaster ride. In winter an all day pass will cost over a hundred bucks. Today free. There was some lighting in the area so it was shut down for about 45. The thing is you get stuck up there once it shuts down. So I went up marveled at the beauty. And got back down when it started to rain. No way I wanted to get stuck up there for hours. They also have a place you can get married. Like I saw the cross I could see yet it is 1500 feet so maybe the rain or snow prevented this.
Comming back down I was all by myself. I was dancing and yelling it was awesome. The rain was comming down pretty hard now or was it this side of the MT. What about my stuff? At first you feel some Gs but it settles down. It was great feeling descending into the compact village. It was also neat to get a birds eye view now that I had bike the town a few times.
The subsided by the time I got down thank my stars. There was a couple who where going to hike down the thing ha! In that shorts and t shirt wow cold and wet.
I picked up my dry bike and forged through the mass of people walking about. Funny they have dismount zones.
I then with any ped friendly town cross I 70 with a ped bridge, and found Sandstone road which turns into 700 forest road which I could see from my ride down the MT.
After a 1.5 hours walking and biking I was about top give up. See I was in a forest so no problems there, yet I was going aside a steep cliff so no level ground. Finally a turn and poof power lines. Which means access road and Ben finds a nice level camp site. There is a pop up camper here also. So success.
Free gondala ride, free bike adjustment, and free night stay. All in probably the most expensive place in CO.
I am in red sand stone hence the road it gets everywhere and stains everything red.
Just like back in my tour.
Last night it rained and I hope we can avoid that yuck.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile



Heading down South 125 past the Continental divide into windy gap. And the windy Gap Res.


Going into Kremmling on US 40 two tales of death one a nice valley over looking the Colorado river and the other a death trap ready to run you off the road if you get in there way.





Ok so now you are near Kremmling Colorado. Looking at the Colorado river at its lazyness here. Then you got the town of Kremmling with the mesa behind it. Next up you looking at the pass you are looking south on route 9 the death trap of all death traps. This needs a nice shoulder along since so many cars crowd this road. Then the helicopter at Veterans park. And then the cool sports shop I found on one of the back ways.



Silverthrone, and its library where noone locks there bikes, and yes they have a bike path going to Frisco.



Here is the Silverthrone to Frisco bike pathways. They have a camp site but at 16 dollars for two vehicles I wonder why they are not more bike friendly since it is on the bike path. I will just tell everyone to go to the Meadow Trail head and camp for free. The one picture along the road is the Dillon Dam road that closed and i talk about that road. The Dillon Res. is huge.




Here is Historic Park in Frisco CO. They moved all these buildings to create a small little city of the past. It has been going on for 25 years. Here are just a few buildings in these buildings they have displays. Here is a cabin they have about 10. The school house with its bell was the orginal site and it was a Saloon at one time. Then you have a shot just across the park looking at the old town itself. They lost most of there economy and turned into a tourist haven.



These would be images from the Bike path to Vail from Frisco Colorado. One part you go right along the Interstate and this is what I want since they apply interstate gradings route selection (straight). More of this should be applied.
Next up you see the many stream bridges you have to cross because the route doesn't go straight. Lastly you the bike route out of Frisco. When you come out of the MTs just ahead you will see Copper MT after passing though a valley.


First picture is to the south and the next picture is to the north.
Here I am ontop of the MT. I would have stayed longer but I was worried that they would see lightning and I would be stuck up here for a long period of time. These MTs are 12 or 14 thousand feet.

The last picture you see the cliff I was riding along.



This is Lions (something) just west of Vail. I think it is a part of the Vail complex.
There are connected at any rate. I am headed up the Gondola ride in one picture.
This is inside the complex and this is a dismount zone going through the tunnel.
Today I am headed into Vail which you see from the opposite side.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

So I am in Vail as you know the whole place reminds me of Germany as this is what the buildings are. The peds friendly atmosphere in out of this world.
I went to Val bike tech to check out my bike and Dan tuned it up for free just needed some adjustment. He said "We will sponsor your tour". Yeah I have a sponsor.
So I am off feeling much better I stopped in. I found dome free camping and will stay in Vail for an extra day.
I saw a sign that said Eagle Bahn I think it is for skiing since bahn is road in Germany.

I here rain in the forecast so I am haning out in vail knowing I can duck into the parking garge. As a model how things should be done you park your car in the garage and the head into the city.
If politicans had some balls I think you would see more of Vail popping in a lot of towns. Shunning the car isn't hard to do. After a few painful moements people realize how idealic not having to listen, smell, or be inhibited by cross motors.
Time for lunch I have so many spots to choose from wow.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
p


This out by point of rocks WY.
This mural was taken in Rock Springs I didn't get the whole thing.
Lastly outside Rawlins WY my camp site and this is BLM land notice how the road just enters BLM land rather than having to have an access point.




Here is Hobo pool or the Sarasota Hot springs and it is free and 115 degrees.
Fireworks at Point Of Rocks WY the longest fireworks show for the least amont of people 1.5 hours and only 12 people watching HA!
Next up the town of Sarasota looking north and this on the Platte river and this would be the flood plain.
Then you got I 80 in Wyoming for 120 miles to SR130.






This was another campng spot on the side of the MT. This was about 10 miles from US 40 in the Aparahio National forest. The headwaters of the Colorado river. I was down by the dark tree spot. Bryer canyon shot the Colorado river they had a bike share the road sign yellow, so people were extra careful passing me. the bike path was after my self photo shot, and about 10 miles outside Vail as you go under the bridge portion of my post. There was snow here can you believe it.moving right along,
The bridge would be my path up to the hill overlooking Frisco.
nc



So you looking at the amazing Vail library they have tissues, hand sanitizer, pens, paper, and plenty of computers to with a fast connection.
I am standing in the stream I filtered my water my feet are numb from the stream.
The river shot is of the Blue River heading into Silverthrone about 10 miles out
Next up your looking at the Platte river crossing I just crossed into CO and I had to climb this hill after those crosswinds remember. I would then on the other side have a nice incline to Walden.




Ok the picture low looking at the MTs. was the Rott National forrest I stayed there 3 days, and your looking at the Continental Divide or Willow Pass. I would climb the 9600 feet on Sunday after leaving Walden CO.
This is Waldon Colorado looking down.
Next is comming down from Willow Pass going toward Windy Gap
The town your looking at is Frisco CO I climbed the hill and got some great cell reception, The trail was Meadow creek trail.



The picture looking out to the lake was my camp site for the night Green MT. Resivor.
The picture looking out to the MT with the bike path is Vail pass climbing up.
Finally the Colorado river looking up stream to Bryer Cannyon.