I wanted to head back to southwestern Colorado, and I had six weeks off work . So, I looked for a more interesting route down. I chose the "Continental Divide Trail"Or, CDT as it is most commonly know to as. I will ride from Vancouver to Creston, stay the night at my sisters, cross the border at port hill ride down through Idaho, and pick up the CDT trial at Seeley lake. Ride the trail as far as Elwood pass, then head west on another trail that would bring me out to Pagosa Springs. Sounds good lets pack. I finished work on Friday got my bike ready for an early start in the morning, but when I woke it was raining so hard that the streets were like rivers. I push back my departure a day, and went for a very very wet walk. Sunday dawned to a very dark sky, but no rain. so I loaded my bike, and I was on my way. I had just left the under ground parking, and was waiting for the gate to close, when the sky's opened up. Well I already on my bike, so I take off riding slowly so that I can wipe the rain off my visor. Within about three seconds it had also fogged up... woo hoo!
I finally ran out of the rain around Chilliwack, yes now my stuff will have a chance to dry. Just out side of Hope I have a little stop to get the blood to were it is suppose to be. This bike has the worst stock seat ever.
It looked to be clearing, and I thought that I may see some sun.
I also had to check on my riding buddies
A gift for my niece in Colorado, They didn't like the weather much either.
The rain and I hit Manning park about the same time, and only took a short break when I did in Princeton to have a coffee. The sun came out, and with it the harleys. At the same moment I started my bike the rain came back... I wonder if it thought that I might get lonely if left for too long with out its bountiful goodness. I did have a few short breaks were I was able to get my camera out.
Behind me
Ahead of me
The last few miles in to Grand forks was like a 30 mile river crossing.
I said enough, and got a motel room. Ordered a pizza, and set my stuff out to dry. My riding buddies enjoyed the room as well.
They didn't like the look of it out there either.
The next day a cool, but dry ride into Creston. I put my bike in their shop, and sat back with a beer while a dinner was being prepared.
Mmmmmm steak :)
I had been a few years since I had last been to my sisters. I keep forgetting what a nice place Creston is. The next morning My sister says that she will make me breakfast before I go.
Notice the eggs on the counter.
Now there on the floor... Magic? Well maybe not but the language that came out of my sisters mouth was. Here husband and I thought it quit funny. Within a 10 minuets of leaving their place, I was here.
Nice clear sky
From here I headed southeast through some amazing valleys.
Took a short break in Swan Valley
On the wall behind my bike, are wooden plaques with the name of men from the area, who have given their lives for their country in the different wars. ( I think they start with ww1)
A little more thoughtfully
I again headed south through the Valley these men had called home.
I road as far as Seely lake, intending to connect with the CDT in the morning. found a great place to camp(free), and set up my tent with the help of some local wild life.
While I lay in my tent, I listened to a small radio I had brought. It only picked up one channel. What I heard was
"If you've found Christ, you are now a slave of Christ. Bought and paid for by him."
I turned my radio off.
Just starting the trail.
You weave your way though many many trail (Thank God for my GPS)
With the clear sky, the heat rose quickly
You follow pavement for a short while before you turn south to Stemple pass.
I rode along, looking at old mining structures, and enjoying the nice easy pace that these small roads allow.
This is Empire mill, I saw another just like it miles from here.
At the top of this road I had planned to camp for the night, but it was only 3:00pm when I reached my turn from the Empire creek rd to Blossburg rd, plus there was a horabel smell. I ran into a man on a quad, who said the smell was a dead cow, and he was waiting for some freinds to bring thier truck to remove it. He said that he had a cabin close by, and the dead cow would bring bears from miles away. I rode on down the roughest part of the trail so far, to a ranch in this beautiful valley
From here I went over Priest Pass
I rode in to Helena Montana, got a tiny room, and turned on the weather channel. Looks like really crapy weather where I'm headed. There had been snow and tons of rain in Wyoming, so I changed my planes a little. I really wanted to ride the Ashton-Flagg Ranch rd. It runs in a slim strip of land that lays between Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons national parks. I cut out part of the CDT, and headed down in to Idaho, where I could pick up the trail again. I took my time and really enjoy all the small towns I rode through. At Ashton ID, I headed east into the the parkway. I got lost a few times, and ended up riding through some huge fields. I rode down to some trees to get some shade, and load the next part of the journey on my gps. When I got off my bike this is what I found.
In the middle of vast wheat fields. this river had cut a beautiful canyon. I loaded the info I needed and found that I was very close to the trail. I thought about setting up camp when I got further in to the parkway.
But, I was have a such good time flying down this hard pack road, that I thought I will ride just a little further.
Grassy Lake reservoir
Stopped had a snack, and thought, just a little further. By now the shadows were getting a longer, but all the signs waring of bears in the area kept me riding.
I thought that I would ride as far as Camp Flagg , and set up my tent there. So, I rode on, enjoying the slight drop in temperature. In fact it was perfect riding weather now. When I eventually made it out to Camp Flagg, I found hordes of people :( After ridding in such amazing country, there was no way that I could spend the night amongst all noise from radios, car horns, and drunks yelling. Whit some light left in the sky, I quickly left, and headed back out on the John D Rockefeller, jr Parkway.
What I most remember about doing trips with my family when I was young, was the road construction. Crammed into a car , the heat, the dust, moving so slow that you think time has stopped. I has just ridden a mile, when I hit construction. I sat on my bike watching children desperately trying to claw their way out of their car seats, and their haggard parents, whom I sure felt more like jailers than parents at that point. When we finally started to move, I was crammed between these cars with the exhausted drivers, and on very fresh loose gravel :( We wound our way south very very slowly. I followed a mini van, full of kids who were keeping a very close eye on my progress. It seemed to me, that they were hoping I would bite it, and bring some distraction from this painfully slow journey. It was getting quit dark now, so as soon as the pilot vehicle let us pass, I pulled over by Jackson lake, to let the cars pass, and watch the last bit of sun disappear from the tips of the Grand Tetons.
(This is a shot from an earlier trip)
Since it was so late I thought that should ride to the next town, and get a room. Judging by my map, the next town Dubois, was olny one hour away. I would have to ride over Togwotee Pass, but it was still warm, and I had my new heated grips installed Woo Hoo! As soon as started to climb, I hit more road construction ugg. As I waited I put my sirius radio into my jacket. It is a small unit, buy produces a ton of heat, I thought I may need some before I reached to top of the pass. After a very long wait we oh so slowly moved off, and the temperature dropped. It seemed like hours by the time we reached the top of the pass (9658 ft), and I was freezing. When we could travel on our own, I pulled over to jump about, and get some heat back into my body. As I descended the temperature rose, to where I was have a nice evening ride. Found a room, got some sleep, and in the morning while having some breakfast, I chatted with a couple from back east. I found out about their trip, and when I told them about mine, the lady said "If I was your mommy, I would never let you do that". After I finished my waffles and coffee, they wished me luck on my trip, I packed my bike and headed for Union Pass. I had to travel back a few miles to get to Warm Spring, before I could get back on the trail.
On the way you get a great view of the Windriver Range.
Climbing up the pass, I encountered lot of cyclists loaded down and sweating, breathing dust from trucks flying up and down the road.
I love my bike.
A view north from the top of the pass.
As I came down the other side I kept hitting quite a bit of snow, so I decided to cut off the CDT, and head south for Durango. I could always come back earlier in the year, and finish the trail.
I went to Rock Springs had some lunch, headed south on this road.
What a great road, nice new pavement, and big sweeping bends.
And the views...Wow!
Mans best friend... a DR
My crappy job of stitching some photos together.
Looking south towards Flaming Gorge.
The Flaming gorge dam.
The reservoir behind it.
After the dam, you climb up to a high plains, and when you start to descend this is what you see.
I found a place to camp at Steinaker State Park. This has to be the nicest camp ground that I have stayed at on my travels.
View from my camp site.
Sunset
I was up VERY early the next morning. I wanted to be on the road before the sun crested the surrounding hills. It was going to be a very hot day. I was still a little sleaping when leaving, and almost ran over this :(
Down in to Vernal, for gas, coffee, and a breakfast burrito with salsa :)
On the way to the Colorado border.
Kept up a steady pace, stopping only for gas and drinking water, till Ouray
Up this to
This
Then on to Silverton.
From her it is a fun twisty road down into Durango.
Where there is cold beer waiting.
My brother resting after a party, the night before...lazy Bugger
Time to settle in and get some grub.
Later all
