HEAT-SEEKING ROAD TRIP 1.15-1.29.16
Day: 1 Date: Friday - 1.15.16
Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 40364
End Cty: Bonner Spring, KS End Mls: 40854
Dly Mls: 493 Tot Mls: 493
Time: 6:45 Notes: Mercedes SLK
Leaving the freeze... Got on the road at 8:15 due to a diligent leavings list and switched drivers every 100 miles. Overcast grey all day with lots of fog until Des Moines. Arrived 3:45 in Bonner springs, KS for walk in exercise room to delay dinner. No MSNBC. Tired of sitting after first day out. Dinner at Applebee's for salads.
Day: 2 Date: Saturday - 1.16.16
Str Cty: Bonner Springs Str Mls: 40854
End Cty: Garden City, KS End Mls: 41244
Dly Mls: 393 Tot Mls: 948
Time: 6:45 Notes: out of the snow into 40 deg
Left at 8 south for Olathe and I35 to Emporia. Looked around there and went cross country 50-150-56 to Garden City by 2:30. Walked and ate at Lone Star Steak, rode into Garden City (28k pop), and got back to HIx early so could watch the playoffs. Sunny most of the day and warmed to mid 40s from low 30s. IU beat Minnesota - 10 straight victories and 5-0 in Big Ten. Packers lost...oh well! We have been following the Santa Fe trail across Kansas. Used two tennis balls on my back for the first time. Stopped at a huge feeder lot. Mostly irrigated crops and cattle herds. Towns were nondescript.
Day: 3 Date: Sunday - 1.17.16
Str Cty: Garden City, KS Str Mls: 41244
End Cty: Santa Fe, NM End Mls: 41656
Dly Mls: 415 Tot Mls: 1364
Time: 6:30 Notes: Done with this Brownback defunct state
Continued on two lane roads.... Done with this Brownback's defunct state of KS and started terrible OK roads. Across pancake scrub plains at 4K' with frost white on every stalk of vegetation at 18degs. This is where the Dust Bowl was centered and started. Crossed to OK - terrible roads and since in cold grey skies. After a stop in OK for a change of driver a Police woman in a pickup flashed us when we tried to pass her to go above the speed limit to our usual 80mph. When we crossed into NM roads improved, the sun shone and the temps rose to 45 degs as we rose to 5600 ft. Once on I25 we rose to over 7k' with snow drifts in spite of mid 40 temperatures. Crossed into mtns and arrived at 2:00. 26 mpg for 1200 miles and over 7400 feet elev. At Springer we met I25 and drove on to HIx in SF at 7100', the end of the Santa Fe Trail. After resting we drove around the Capitol, walked the plaza and scooped the Indian market wares, toured a mall, and did a short walk. We ate at Panera before retiring before nine.
Day: 4 Date: Monday - 1.18.16 MLK DAY
Str Cty: Santa Fe Str Mls: 41656
End Cty: Santa Fe End Mls: 41744
Dly Mls: 89 Tot Mls: 1453
Time: 4 hours Notes: went to the high end gated residential area west of SF and then over 10400' to the Santa Fe ski area 15 miles out of town. The snow at elevation looked deep but packed..$70 for a day ticket. Then the the Capitol and a tour thereof, passing thru a MLK ceremony. Finally, we got a car wash before lunch, took a nap, and then walked .6 miles. Rested and ate at Outback, having the best steak I've ever had there. The temp rose from the low 30s to the mid 40s.
Day: 5 Date: Tuesday -
Str Cty: Santa Fe Str Mls: 41744
End Cty: Tucson, AZ End Mls: 42226
Dly Mls: 487 Tot Mls: 1931
Time: 8 hours Notes: over the mountain in NM-AZ
Rose colored morning cloud forms on west mtns. Hit rush hour traffic at Albuquerque on I25-I40 junction area. Turned off I40 at Grants and stopped by El Malpais national monument conservation area and lava fields on NM 117. We saw a herd of 20 cow Elk at the conservation area. We moved onto the mountains and mesas and over 7600 feet. At the top of the mountain the land was fenced but no buildings to be seen. We went thru several small towns including Quemado/hwy 36 Eagar, Show Low/ 56, and Globe/Hwy 77. Arriving at 4:00 in the bright sun. Gradually the temp rose from the teens in Santa Fe To 41 and sunny in the mountains and to 72 degrees as we neared Tucson so we put the top down. As we came out of the mountains and below 2k' we began seeing Saguaro cacti. We watched IU slaughter UoI by 40 points...we overate at Sweet Tomatoes salad restaurant. Very tired!
Day: 6 Date: Wednesday - 1.20.16
Str Cty: Tucson, AZ Str Mls: 42226
End Cty: San Diego, CA End Mls: 42643
Dly Mls: 420 Tot Mls: 2360
Time: 4.5 hrs Notes: crossed the Sonoran Desert south of Maricopa county to the urban areas next to the sea. Exercised in workout room, ate and left by 9:00. Rode thru desert to below sea level to above 4K' close to the Mexican border, arriving by 1:30 for a huge room upgrade. Rested til 3 and rode the coast from here to south of the harbor. Returned to eat bbq at 5:30 and come back for the news. Huge city which I visited twice on bike trips, but the first time we were here together in 40 years.
Day: 7 Date: Thursday - 1.21.16
Str Cty: San Diego, CA Str Mls: 42643
End Cty: Carpinteria, CA End Mls: 42895
Dly Mls: 254 Tot Mls: 2615
Time: 7:45 Notes: exhausting day / pain from sitting
Exercised in the gym, ate, and left on I5 for Hollywood. Went to all the places Beebes lived, took pics and sent them off to all the grandkids. All the way up and around Hollywood traffic was horrific... at least by our standards. Above Hollywood we went out to the Pacific Coast Highway and visited Malibu, Pepperdine, and Oxnard. Got in Carpinteria HIx by three for a walk and swim...oh, and clothes washing. Dinner of salad and pizza at the deli Nutberry.
Day: 8 Date: 1.22.16 - Friday
Str Cty: Carpinteria, CA Str Mls: 42895
End Cty: San Francisco End Mls: 43275
Dly Mls: 385 Tot Mls: 2999
Time: 8 hours Notes: CA1 and the pacific coast...
Left in sunshine and at 100 miles hit CA1. Rain started and continued all day. Stopped in the Hearst Castle parking lot for a break and soon after Marianne Mitchell called. Stopped to see the elephant seal breeding grounds, where the seals only come ashore each year for breeding. Otherwise, they are off to the Aleutian islands or above for feeding - up to 5000 pounds. Fierce fighting for the haram. On in the rain on undulating roads til Santa Cruz where we turned inland on interstate and hit the terrible Friday rush hour traffic. We finally got to the HI civic center at 5 and immediately left for the wharf for dinner. Marn's was great but I got calamari steak instead of fried calamari and I did not like it. Went to bed very early and died after the exhaustion from the rain added to coastal roads.
Day: 9 Date: 1.23.16 - Saturday
Str Cty: San Francisco Str Mls: 43275
End Cty: Fort Bragg End Mls: 43495
Dly Mls: 186 Tot Mls: 3183
Time: 5 Notes: visiting with Tilak's family/ friends
Up at 6 and left for Tilak's at 7 arriving about 7:30. Went in the house they rent with another couple and everyone emerged - wife, brother (actually friend) and wife, parents of woman, friends from living near by ...it is a Nepali community in El Cerrito .. We could not decide what to do so we took them all to brunch at Denny's. We had the whole table practicing spoon on nose trick. First time American food for older couple. Left about noon - up I80 to Petaluma, to CA1 and then the coast for 100+ miles. Very rugged seas and beautiful cliffs. We put the top down for the entire coastline trip. It was sunny, sprinkling, raining hard intermittently so we were constantly having to adjust the wipers, to say nothing about shifting thru the undulating terrain. We passed an area where foam bubbles were blowing up out of a beach cul du sac. 5 at HIx in Fort Bragg...had reservation for 25k points because cheapest was $159, very expensive, but she gave us a room for $90....you only get what you ask for.
Day: 10 Date: 1.24.16 - Sunday
Str Cty: Fort Bragg Str Mls: 43495
End Cty: Ferndale / Fortuna End Mls: 43610
Dly Mls: 150 Tot Mls: 3333 miles
Time: 4 hours Notes: finishing CA1 on to Ferndale
We ran along the Pacific before turning inland and going over 1800' in the coastal range. We came upon 4 bull elk grazing along side of the road. One jumped a 5' fence from a standing jump and then two pushed each other around by the horns. After 68 miles we hit 101 and the Avenue of the Giants...so into the redwoods we went. Rode to my favortie grove - the Rockefeller Grove along the Eel River. Arrived at Ferndale by noon and explored the environs before deciding on the Comfort Inn in nearby Fortuna for the game and rest...out of the cold and rain.
Day: 11 Date: 1.25.16 - Monday
Str Cty: Ferndale / Fortuna Str Mls: 43610
End Cty: Tehachati End Mls: 44206
Dly Mls: 602 Tot Mls: 3939
Time: 10 hours Notes: turning back
Left early..out 36 to I 5 for Sacramento/Stockton. Took 3 hours for the first 140 miles on undulating roads and over 4600' - some snow and great views ...I had ridden 100 miles of 36 last summer on the way to the redwoods. Hit I5 to Sacramento and Stockton. Mess in Stockton getting 99 south to TEHACHATI. fast and tiring ride.
Day: 12 Date: 1.26.16 - Tuesday
Str Cty: Tehachati, CA Str Mls: 44206
End Cty: Flagstaff, AZ End Mls: 44648
Dly Mls: 441 Tot Mls: 4384
Time: 6:11 Notes: front tires in Williams/snow
Tired but up at 7 and on the road at 8 with 40+ temps thru the desert. 58 to Barstow to I40 and then 80 mph switching every 100 miles. Stopped for 2 gallons $$ gas at Williams and the owner came out and pointed out how bad our front tires were. We decided to put on front tires for $360 and 45 minutes. On to Flagstaff at 7k' and lots of snow covering the ground and got into HIx in time for the game. Birthday day! Marnie picked up some redwood on 36 for display at home. Time to watch IU-UW.... First loss for IU in 8 Big Ten games. Sleepless nite and long drive tomorrow.
Day: 13 Date: 1.27.16 - Wednesday
Str Cty: Flagstaff, AZ End Mls: 44648
End Cty: Amarillo, TX End Mls: 45263
Dly Mls: 617 Tot Mls: 5002
Time: 8:15 Notes: long ride..lost an hour
Rode rode rode starting at 7:15. High desert and some snow covered ground in NM. We passed a car earth sculpture (Cadillac Ranch) on 66 and little useful land until we got into the grasslands of Texas. Worked the treadmill and swam. Dinner at Outback. Exhausted.
Day: 14 Date: 1.28.16 - Thursday
Str Cty: Amarillo Str Mls: 45263
End Cty: Tulsa End Mls: 45642
Dly Mls: 381 Tot Mls: 5383
Time: 5:39 Notes: 😇to Peers
Got going early and arrived at Peers (IU friends) at 1:30 after gas and skin moisture. Sat and talked to catch up and then toured Oral Roberts Univ ( sixties trashy and garish) and Tulsa uUniv where Gary worked for 12 years. Home to meet Mike who was a preteen when we knew the Peer kids in Bloomington for the institute. Great talking about their linage to many great grandchildren. Went to dinner at Red Rock Grill... Talked til 11:30 and slept well.
Day: 15 Date: 1.29.16 - Friday
Str Cty: Tulsa Str Mls: 45642
End Cty: Home End Mls: 46395
Dly Mls: 755 Tot Mls: 6139
Time: 10:15 Notes: headed for Home/ stiff & sore
Enough said....WI, IA, MO, KS, NM, AZ, CA, TX, OK.... 2000 miles on the front tires...found they had a pulling cord and pulled right until rotated and then they pulled left...will put 4 new tires on slk and try to warrantee the bad tires.. 44444 - 46444 at Capitol Tire today 2.1.16...
