Been out of range and battery for a couple of days. The time in Telluride was great and made all that much greater by meeting our neighbors visiting from N Carolina; Cameron and Cheney were super pals for Karina and the time flew by!
Left there and rode over the pass, had rain, wind, and hail, but it was gorgeous. Stopped in Rico for a warm up, and then on to Dolores. Camped by the river there. The ride from there to Utah (devil's canyon, south of Monticello) was not an easy ride. 70 miles, fully half uphill and with a headwind. Got to Monticello about 8 pm only to find that we had another 11 miles to pedal, and guess what, it was uphill! Karina was relentless, though not pleased. We were very happy to get there! Saw lots of deer along the way. Also some big storms which resulted in Karina and I seeking shelter and hanging out with Roy and Larry, wheat farmers from the area of Dove Creek.
Rode just 10 miles today to Blanding, then a schedule change gave us a ride ahead towards Bryce Canyon; we will be there by tomorrow night. Utah is epic and beautiful. How rocks do this stuff is a miracle!
When we left the campground this morning we spotted a mid sized rattlesnake that had been hit by a car, though only recently and was in good shape (for being squished). We investigated thouroughly and clipped the rattle as a token souviner. Visited a pueblo ruin and museum.
Everything is very cool. Need years to do it all justice.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Lizzard Head - 10,222
Saying goodbye to the high mtns until the Sierras. Wind, NPR rain.......
Mobile post sent by petefeitner using Utterli.
Replies.Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Where was I
Oh yeah, Karina and I took another trip around the nature trail and found a great place to sit on a cliff edge overlooking the resevoir, nice and quiet with a great view of everything. A large hawk flew right over Karina's head and flew up and down the cliff edge.
We packed out and rode into Ridgeway for the main meal before the ride to Telluride. Riding out of town and up into the mountains was a good workout. The Dallas Divide is a slow, continuous climb for about 12 miles. We saw lots of hawks and watched a bald eagle for a while (we took a photo, but we were quite far away). Further up the divide we came upon a bear carcus next to the road; that was a first and another new category in the road kill hall of fame.
After 12 up, we got 12 down, which wAs very nice. Along the route we met two others bound for SF, lou and Mallory. They were the age I want to be and are spending a college summer making the trek. We rode with them the rest of the ride to Telluride, super nice.
The climb from Placerville to Telluride was not as long as the Divide, but a steep way to finish the day.
The events of today (tues) I will write about tomorrow AM, Must sleep again.
We packed out and rode into Ridgeway for the main meal before the ride to Telluride. Riding out of town and up into the mountains was a good workout. The Dallas Divide is a slow, continuous climb for about 12 miles. We saw lots of hawks and watched a bald eagle for a while (we took a photo, but we were quite far away). Further up the divide we came upon a bear carcus next to the road; that was a first and another new category in the road kill hall of fame.
After 12 up, we got 12 down, which wAs very nice. Along the route we met two others bound for SF, lou and Mallory. They were the age I want to be and are spending a college summer making the trek. We rode with them the rest of the ride to Telluride, super nice.
The climb from Placerville to Telluride was not as long as the Divide, but a steep way to finish the day.
The events of today (tues) I will write about tomorrow AM, Must sleep again.
Morning in telluride
Let me go back a day or so. We left Montrose late in the morning after visiting black canyon. That's one phenominal place.
We started out for Ridgeway slowly as we could see a major storm heading smack for our destinaltion. RT50 was very busy with traffic, all with their headlights on (never a good sign, unless you are really into heavy rain and lightening; it's ok if you are, I just don't happen to be right at this particular time).
We had been in touch with Karina's Grandma Ruth and Poppy (Bob) and had arranged to meet them in Ridgeway (they live in Grand Junction). As we are riding on the rain and traffic and watching the lightening pound Ridgeway, we came upon their car pulled over and waiting for us! Took all of about ten seconds to determine that riding with them to Ridgeway was an excellent choice.
Ate lunch at the True Grit Cafe. Ridgeway was the film site for the 1969 John Wayne film classic, so we ate lunch across the street from the hanging scene (how great is that?!)
The storm had passed by the time we had got there, but it was the topic of the day for those who were there, several ground strikes right in the town center.
They delivered us to our campsite, about 5 miles out of town and headed back to Grand Junction. The campsite was in a super location (Dutch Charlie's), and we presented with the San Juan mountains all around us. The night was fine, no rain that I recall and a beautiful sky full of stars.
Up before sunrise for a walk about, the nature trail from the visitor center was great.
More later, Karina is up and we are off to breakfast.
We started out for Ridgeway slowly as we could see a major storm heading smack for our destinaltion. RT50 was very busy with traffic, all with their headlights on (never a good sign, unless you are really into heavy rain and lightening; it's ok if you are, I just don't happen to be right at this particular time).
We had been in touch with Karina's Grandma Ruth and Poppy (Bob) and had arranged to meet them in Ridgeway (they live in Grand Junction). As we are riding on the rain and traffic and watching the lightening pound Ridgeway, we came upon their car pulled over and waiting for us! Took all of about ten seconds to determine that riding with them to Ridgeway was an excellent choice.
Ate lunch at the True Grit Cafe. Ridgeway was the film site for the 1969 John Wayne film classic, so we ate lunch across the street from the hanging scene (how great is that?!)
The storm had passed by the time we had got there, but it was the topic of the day for those who were there, several ground strikes right in the town center.
They delivered us to our campsite, about 5 miles out of town and headed back to Grand Junction. The campsite was in a super location (Dutch Charlie's), and we presented with the San Juan mountains all around us. The night was fine, no rain that I recall and a beautiful sky full of stars.
Up before sunrise for a walk about, the nature trail from the visitor center was great.
More later, Karina is up and we are off to breakfast.
Monday, July 27, 2009
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