Breckenridge to Vernal

We awoke to a fantastic day in Breckenridge all leaving together at 0800hrs for Frisco and breakfast; we did this as nothing opens in Breckenridge before 1000hrs but close late to catch the skiers coming off the mountain.

After breakfast it was off to Steamboat Springs. I had this image of a small place with a saloon or two, a garage and maybe some car wrecks on the side of the road, but no! Steamboat Springs is another ski resort type town with million dollar homes all over the place; ski slopes just behind the town/city and shops and restaurants as far as the eye can see.

We were in Steamboat Springs for an hour and a half; I bought a pair of boots and Jude a lovely T shirt. From here it was free riding to Dinosaur where we stopped for fuel; from here it was a casual ride into Vernal for the night.

Vernal is pretty much a trucker's town with not a lot happening.

Tomorrow it is out of Utah to Jackson Hole Wyoming.

Monte Vista to Breckenridge

Today was a short hop to a ski resort town called Breckenridge.

Out of the hotel at 0830hrs for a straight forward ride through Granite to Leadville, Lake County Colorado. This place is really out-back America with old saloons, moonshine, secondhand store that had everything!

After lunch it was up over and through White River National Forest to Frisco then Breckenridge.

Jude, Mike, Sandy and me went and explored town and find the the Post Office to send our post cards. Town is definitely set up for the tourists; I have never seen so many clothe shops; it makes Queenstown look so small in this regard.

We are staying in a two bedroom condo and on the wall is a map (?) showing all the ski slopes, there are a lot, I lost count at 70.

Bubba Gump Shrimps for tea; coffee/tea and cup cake for desert and then to bed.

Tomorrow it is off to

Silverton to Monte Vista

Well the night at Silverton was probably the best night we have had. Both groups got together, had a few drinks and sang along to the guy playing a piano.

Didn't sleep well at all. At an altitude of over 9000ft I found it hard to breath and often woke up gasping for air. We left Silverton in rain and that is how it stayed for 90% of the day.

The ride up over the Red Mountain Pass, in the San Juan Mountains, was spectacular even though it was raining. The rain did stop for around an hour as we came into Durango and heading out to Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde is where ancestral Pueblo people lived and the remains of their dwellings built into a rock face can be viewed and explored under direct supervision of a ranger.

From Mesa Verde it was onto Pagosa Springs and fried ice cream at a local Mexican Restaurant, strange as it sounds it was devine. Pagosa Springs is like  Hanmer Springs with regards to hot pools, they were everywhere! From Pagosa Springs it was up over Wolf Creek Pass, another spectacular ride, and onto our stay for the night Monte Vista.

Tomorrow a short ride to Breckenridge.

Grand Junction to Silverton

Today was a short and pleasant day. We left Grand Junction at 8am and had  coolish ride for about an    hour where we stopped to look at some old classic cars which were for sale. They included an Oldsmobile, Desoto, Dodge and Buick. We carried on and had a quick stop at Walmart and then on to Ouray for lunch. Ouray is an awesome little town and very picturesque.

We then started our ride over a mountain pass which was spectacular but a bit scary as it was a straight drop over the edge. We stopped at a look out point for photos and were warned by a lady that there was heavy rain and hail in Silverton so it was on with the wet weather gear. Just as well as not too far down the road the hail started and then the rain and the temperature dropped. We arrived in Silverton at about 2.30pm. Silverton is another great little town which sits 9318 ft above sea level. The rain had stopped by this stage and we had a wander around town and had a drink at the Handlebar Saloon, very cool and busy little bar.

We saw these Amish folk in Ouray and again in Silverton so Judy took the opportunity to talk with them and found out that they are from Idaho and are on holiday. Because it is way too far for there horse and buggy they hire a van and driver to drive them around.

Tomorrow it's Monte Vista.

Torrey to Grand Junction

Sorry yesterday I said we were headed for Grandview today, well I was wrong, it is Grand Junction.

Very big day today, about 540 ks all up in 40 deg temps which was a little difficult at times.

To try and beat the heat we left at 0800hrs; first stop Goblin Valley and then onto Arches National National Park, Moab.

Both of these areas have amazing rock formations but because of their colour (red) it is very very hot and really saps the energy out of you.

After looking at the Arches we went into Moab for a cooling down session (water and sitting inside their beer cooler) before following the Colorado River out to the I 70. This road would have been a great ride but for the type of road repairs that had been done; these caused the front and rear tyres to let go on numerous occasions with one of the group going before us ending up in some light scrub because of it; very stressful.

Once on the I 70 it was 80-90mph into Grand Junction and its Harley Shop so some of the group could do some buying. Once completed and everyone had cooled down and hydrated themselves we headed for our hotel, tea and sleep.

Hopefully see you in Silverton tomorrow night.

Bryce Canyon to Torrey

We left Bryce Canyon City at 0900hrs this morning after a lovely lay in due to it being a short day's riding for us. I don't what altitude we started at but by the time we got to the top of Bryce Canyon we were at 9110 ft. Bryce Canyon is the youngest of the three canyons we have seen, then Zion Canyon with the oldest being the Grand Canyon.

After Bryce it was back to fuel then onto Escalante for lunch. After lunch we had some free riding to Torrey through some amazing rock formations and Dixie State Forest.

Easy days riding. Have just come back from a rack of ribs dinner and now to sleep as we head out at 0800hrs tomorrow on a 500km day for Grandview.

Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon

Today we headed out of Las Vegas into the desert and 40 deg temps for Bryce Canyon. From Vegas it was onto the I 15 and through the desert at 90mph for our first stop at Hurricane for a drink and then onto Falcon for another drink and fuel before going onto Zion for lunch at The Wildcat Willies Cafe.

After lunch it was through the Zion National Park; 45 deg temps; red rocks, red road and red houses looking at these beautiful rock formations; going through tunnels and climbing another couple of thousand feet out the other side and onto Bryce Canyon.

About 20 miles out of Bryce Canyon we hit rain which dropped the temp back to 20 deg so we had to stop to put a jacket on.



Tomorrow its through Byrce Canyon to Torrey

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a place to see once or twice if you didn't stay long the first time as it is truely Sin City.

We got up at around 1100hrs due to a very late 0130hrs to bed. We met up with Mike and Sandy and went up town to have a look at the gondolas inside on the 4th floor of the Venetian Casino. On the way there we stopped at the Margaretta Bar and ordered four to have and got great entertainment with the bar maid throwing bottles in the air and catching them again; the finished product was just devine.

On the way back we went up the replica of the Eiffel Tower and got a fantastic view of Las Vegas, the one surprise was to see the airport 2 miles away from the "strip"

Right next door to the tower a giant wheel like the one in London is being constructed except it will be larger; the cost of each revolution will be $10,000.00 but it is expected that it will generate 3 times that amount.



At 1830hrs we went over to the old original Las Vegas in these ginormous limos and was treated to some entertainment that you will not find anywhere else in the world. The laser light show was 10 times better than great.

We got back to the hotel at around 2200hrs and went to bed content!



Tomorrow Bryce Canyon.