Leadville to Grand Lake - driving 11th September

Wake to a cold and wet day. Fortunately today is one of the few rest days I have given myself and is only a transit day to Grand Lake.

From here I plan on riding up Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountains National Park. It is said to be one of the most scenic roads in Colorado and as an extra incentive tops out at 12,183 feet.

After doing one more load of washing and generally procrastinating, I packed up the van and made my way into town to finally buy some stamps and postcards. Will be interesting to see if the cards or I arrive first...

The drive to Grand Lake took in Freemont pass which I struggled up yesterday and I feel a little better as the climb was as bad as I remembered. The rest of the drive via Kremmling took in some lovely vistas of mountains and rolling farmland.

I drove straight to the Kawuneeche visitor centre at the Grand Lake entrance to Trail Ridge Road just see if I can leave the van there in the morning and find out relevant details about road conditions and entry costs. Ranger at the counter was a little concerned when I told her my plans, as it was currently only a few degrees above zero with visibility down to 40 metres at the top. Unfortunately this weather will be around till the weekend at least so looks to be the same tomorrow. At least I was forewarned about the conditions and immediately unpacked the merino undershirt and all my winter kit plus the lights for my bike.

Once I had the information I needed, I drove back through the town of Grand Lake – all full of gaudy tourist trinkets so I continued straight to the Stillwater campground located on the shore of Lake Granby where I will stay the night. All a little exposed after all the trees had to be removed due to Pine beetle. But has showers so more facilities than most park campsites.

To bed early with initially drizzle then rain falling heavily on the van...

Driving to Grand Junction Colorado 6-7th September

On leaving Lone Pine CA, the first stretch led us through Death Valley and the lowest elevation we would see for the trip 200 feet under sea level.

It will also hopefully be the hottest; registering 114 Fahrenheit (45.6 Celsius) on the dash thermometer and felt it on the few times I quickly got out for photos!

There was a 200 feet below sign, but I wasn't going back to take the photo.

Once out of Death Valley, I continued Southeast, through Las Vegas and onto the Interstate heading East. 

Here on the I70 I did get a little melancholy, as the Interstate cuts straight through Virgin River Gorge, the location of a cliff I spent a couple of weeks at during a 6 month US road trip back in 1995 climbing. For those who don't know, rock climbing was my life back in the 90's. Not just a hobby either, that is what I was. Chronic injuries forced me to move on and find substitutes like cycling, but it still is my first love...

Some favourable music located on the vans satellite radio and previously untraveled countryside past St George got me back in the groove and focused on the next coming days riding.

After 8 1/2 hours driving I make it to Salina in Utah, I fill up the tank and decide this is a good location to call it a day and spend the night in the van.  

Glad I slept here, as I enjoyed riding the last 3 hours through the amazing scenery that the road traversed to Grand Junction. Very spectacular!

Driving to Bishop 2nd September

The smoke from the rim fire was noticeable from my overnight spot near Pollock Pines and only got thicker as I climbed over Echo summit.

As good as the climb over both sides of Monitor pass looked, the thickness of the smoke it would have been unpleasant.

The further south I headed once on highway 395, the clear the air became. Fortunately the wind direction means the Bishop area should be fine for the rest of the week.

Mono Lake on the way to Bishop

In Transit - LA 29th August

Now is the part of traveling I don't like, the getting there... Sitting currently in LAX waiting for my connection to San Francisco after a very tiring flight. Only just over half the travel time compared to Europe, but I only got light sleep and now have a full day here to get through.

Flying into LA at dawn, I had a great view of the Hollywood sign as we circled LA on the way into land. Long queues at customs and now a 6 hour wait at the airport. In hindsight I could have taken the earlier connecting flight, just wasn't sure though how long it would take to make it through the doors and into the California sun.

Saw the bike case briefly on landing before handing it on to the luggage handlers for the final leg. Hopefully TSA are kind and repack the case properly! 

Postscript

Seven hours later after the first post I am still here in LAX! At first the flight was delayed and then finally cancelled! Mad dash to the customer service desk and then an hour long wait in a slow moving queue to finally find out I will still be in San Francisco today. Unfortunately way too late to ride as planned.

So my 12:50pm flight is now 6:05pm on an already long planned layover. Still not sure of the fate of my bike or luggage after leaving them with airport staff after going through customs. Nor yet if I'll be second time lucky and on the plane to San Francisco...

Postscript two

Flight on time and after a nervous time in the air wondering about the location and condition of my bike; luggage all okay and intact. Car hire processed smoothly and hotel in Sunnyvale found after only one wrong turn.

Once checked in, I drove a short way to a grocery store for supplies, then finally rebuilt the bike. Finally get to sleep at 12:30am!