Back home again

Arrived home around 6:30 after a total of 1530 miles on this tip.  The ride from Salina was faster than we thought — probably due to the speeds on I-70 and the tailwind on Highway 50 from Montrose.  The weather was sunny and warm — we sure lucked out on this trip!

Sky was really happy to see us and although our garden suffered from the freeze during the week, we still have some fresh veggies (mostly peppers and squash) and ripening tomatoes hanging in the basement.

Sunday (today) is really warm (70’s) and we are serious about getting more fit.  One hour on the road bikes and more to come later.  We are glad to be home.

Leaving Las Vegas

We are glad to be heading home.  Las Vegas is our least favorite town.  We avoided The Strip once again and gambling too. 

We left about 10 am Vegas time and decided to head north on I-15 to Mesquite.  Weather was HOT!  Our destination restaurant has since closed (probably due to the economy) so we stopped at the Virgin River Casino for lunch.  Rick needed to do some internet work — $ 6 an hour for a connection!! Good thing he wrapped it up in that hour!! 

Thought we would get off the interstate and head towards Zion National Park but a sign warned us that through traffic would pay $25 a vehicle!!  So a short detour at Cedar City and back on I-15 to 1-70 and Salina, Ut.  305 miles for the day.

Our room at the Ranch Motel is classic “you get what you pay for.”  Queen bed, wireless connection, no remote, no clock, coffee in the lobby and all that for $45.  Did I mention the noise?  Highway 89 is outside the window which we will close and turn on the AC when we hit the pillows.  Oh well, tomorrow we will be home and in our own bed again.

We did get a good tip from a local in the super market to eat at a Mexican restaurant about a mile from here.  He was right on but we are both stuffed now.  A new fitness program is looming for both of us!

Interbike Day 2

Another day of visiting the myriad of booths on the floor and we also attended classes on Social Media Marketing. Rick went to the first session and we both went to the second one.  We are overwhelmed with the amount of “stuff” there is to learn about this — but the good news is — everyone is on a steep learning curve.  And it’s changing so quickly that it doesn’t matter when you jump on the train.  When you do, make sure you “join the conversation!”

Finally wrapped up our booth visits and headed back to the room to sort out our swag and figure out how to get everything into GeeGee in the morning.  Not sure where our last night in Vegas will take us…

Looks like we will be heading north on I-15 then towards I-70 to Green River through state and national lands.  Should be home by Saturday.  Hope the weather cooperates!

Interbike 2009

Day one of Interbike (the world’s largest bicycle trade show) was really fun.  Talked to alot of people, Rick met some old friends and make some new ones.  We were pleased to see that bicycles are so much a part of so many facets of life.  Learned about new technology, new products, tested some bikes and wandered aimlessly while taking advantage of the “swag.”

Tomorrow we will attend a couple of Social Media Marketing workshops — focus on FB, Utube, Flicker and of course, Twitter.

We found a part of the hotel we didn’t know was there — the circus, midway and of course, casino.  We are such gapers!  This place is a bit more family oriented but the casinos still do not interest us. 

Starting to think about which way to go home.

We’re in Vegas

We left Kayenta about 8 am under clear skies, temps in the 40’s.  Interesting ride –we thought the desert was in Utah — it’s really in the reservations of Arizona.  So dry, so desolate.  Right nearby is the Grand Canyon turnoff — maybe another trip.

As we got nearer to Flagstaff, the topography changed — now it’s green with trees and cactus and mountains in the distance.  It’s getting warmer too!  The wind picked up again (the Santa Ana winds we heard) but not as bad as Monday.  Stopped in Kingman for lunch and it was about 80 degrees and very nice.

Making good time we so decided to take the tour at Hoover Dam. What a treat!  We were quite surprised at the engineering feat, the power of the generators and the acutal “taming of the Colorado.”

30 miles to Vegas and arrived at Circus Circus around 6 pm — about 425 miles for the day.  GeeGee is in “priority” motorcycle parking right near Valet all covered up since we won’t be riding her in Vegas.

Wandered around the hotel and casino but we don’t gamble so back to the room for an early start and Interbike.

On our way to Vegas

We left on Monday Sept 21 at 9:25 ahead of what looked like very bad weather in Salida.  We were lucky to be heading south since we had sunny skies and warmer weather all day!  The leaves are turning some but not completely as we went through Durango, Mancos, Cortez and then into the Indian reservations.  Stopped at Four Corners (photos to come) and by this time the wind was really blowing!  Thought my head was going to get taken off with some of the gusts!

We arrived at our destination for the night Kayenta, AZ around 6 pm and realized no alcohol in the reservation, no cell service and our “wireless” connection was only good in the onsight restaurant. Beautiful here in the desert though and we spent the night relaxing in our room.

Heading out this morning to Vegas via Flagstaff and Kingman.  Maybe we will see the Hoover Dam?  Hope the winds die down.  Photos to come later.

One We’re Planning, Las Vegas!!

Here is a trip we are planning for later this month. Interbike (worlds largest bicycle industry trade show (www.trackbikes.com)) is one of our favs so just thought we’d make a trip on GeeGee out of it. This is how we’re planning on getting there. Not sure yet which way we’re gonna take to get back.

View Larger Map

Our first night will be 372 miles away from Salida near Kayenta, AZ at the Anasazi Motel (928.697.3793 motel number for our own purposes) on September 21st.

Let us know if you have any insights!

Comments from the back seat

This latest trip to Steamboat with 5 other riders and 4 other bikes was quite different from our last trip.  We stayed at a really nice timeshare (thanks, Lois and Buz!) and enjoyed wonderful cooking each night (thanks, Sherry!).  Great conversations, great weather and an all around great trip.

Good Company

Room with a view

Our ride took us through Leadville then towards Minturn.  Along the way we stopped at Tennessee Path where none of us knew there is a memorial to the 10th Mtn Division soldiers.  Further down the road is Camp Hale where they trained (and where Rick was stationed for a while).  Scott then took us to Red Cliff and a special lunch spot with yummy margaritas and fish tacos (thanks, Scott!)

Room with a view

Stopped for coffee in Leadville

Scott wanted pics taken of him on top of passes

Sign at Ski Cooper entrance pointing to 10th Mtn. memorial

10th Mountain Fallen Solders Wall

10th Mountain Division Plaque

Over looking Camp Hale

Susan with moose ears

John & Sherri

Scott & Buz

Rick & Susan

Lois

Buz & Lois

John & Sherri

We arrived in Steamboat and made the usual trip to the grocery store and “packy.”  It took 6 of us and 4 bikes to do that.  We relaxed and hit the pillows early after dinner.

Our ride on Friday was a little more ambitious than we thought.  Perhaps the smart ones were John and Sherry who opted out to ride unmotorized bikes , wandered around town and went out to Steamboat Lake.  The rest of us went to Rocky Mountain National Park via Walden to Estes Park.  We did stop at the Moose Information Center where we saw a moose made of barbed wire (wirelife, it’s called) — actually very cool and lifelike.  We tried the moose ears because we could and really could hear better.  Check out the dorky photos.

After a leg stretch and ice cream break in Estes Park it was on to Trail Ridge Road.  The weather cooperated and we took in the breathtaking views, elk sitings, one deer and a couple of aggressive chipmunks.  Onward to Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs — and how many more miles to Steamboat?  78???  And it’s getting dark.  It got a bit chilly over Rabbit Ears Pass and we (mostly Lois and her cold feet) were happy to finally arrive “home.”

Thanks again to John and Sherry for being so flexible and waiting for us with a delicious dinner for the weary travellers who arrived just before 9 pm, 316 miles later.

Buz & Lois

Scott & Buz

Rick & Susan

John & Sherri

Our route home took us through Dillon/Silverthorne, Frisco and a lunch stop in Breckenridge.  Once again, the weather cooperated and we enjoyed lunch on an outdoor deck looking at the ski area.  John led the way through South Park (good call to slow down right before the cop saw us!) and a last stop on Trout Creek Pass.  We all agreed another trip (perhaps Durango/Ouray to see the foliage?) is in store.

Pictures From Our Group Ride to Steamboat Springs

We haven’t tallied up the miles yet, but Susan and I are guessing around seven hundred miles up to Steamboat Springs > Walden > through Rocky Mtn National Park > back to Steamboat > then back home.

I’ve never been on a such a long group ride before. It was fun spending the time with Lois and Buzz (Hondas), Sherri and John (Kawasaki), and Scott (BMW).

I took lots of pictures with my iPhone cuz it’s fun to see them on a Google map after uploading them all to Picassa. I’m also placing them there just in case the others want a copy. Just click on this map to go to the Picasa web album and Google map.

Click on this map to see photos of our trip (about 160 of them)

Here’s us in Leadville

Riding to Steaboat today. Great friends great ride.