All my bags are packed

I am ready to go on a practice ride. My bike has the touring tires and liners and my panniers are ready for a 3000 mile

Getting ready to ride cross country

Last week I road over 300 mile as a final check on how prepared I am to ride San Diego to St Augustine. Today I feel great and am looking forward to the trip.

I depart Detroit on 9/15 via train and arrive on 9/17 in San Diego. We start riding on 9/19

Estes Park KOA

We were alone in the Ansel Watrous campground after all the other campers left.  Not feeling real comfortable, we decided to get a bit closer to Rocky Mountain National Park.  We drove into cell service and found an opening at the Estes Park KOA for ONLY $80. The site was almost as large as our camper. The staff was friendly and the place clean.  What made it worthwhile was some kids wanted to go on the "train ride" (carts behind a tractor) and Henry (guy who leads you to your site) took them for a ride (only officially offered on weekends).  This made the morning drive to Rocky Mountain National Park 20 minutes.

Fwd: Hiking Young Gulch

Near our Ansel Watrous campground was a nice trail with spectacular wildflowers.  We did a short hike and the only thing we missed seeing was a rattle snake that other people saw coming in.

Fisherman’s Corner to Grand Island KOA

The driver today was uneventful and changed from flat to rolling hills.  We made only one stop for gas and coffee. We arrived at the Grand Island KOA and I found out I had reserved for last night, they fixed me up and were very nice about it.  I have double checked the rest of my reservations and I think I am good to go!  

Grand Island KOA cooking dinner 

Our gas stop 

Us not stopping at the world's largest truck stop

Heading west

We are heading to Rocky Mountain National park!  First day was all RAIN 🌧 at times with 30 foot visibility on I-94 near Chicago, I am glad we made it in one piece.  Staying the night on the Mighty Mississippi.

Practice Ride

 

My bike all ready to go, I added the front panniers at the last minute.  Read a good article about 2 vs 4 (only a bit more wind drag).  I am still trying to figure my final setup, the only thing in the front bags was my tent and day bag.

First stop was The Bake Shop, great pastries and pepperoni bread.

My new tent was great, 45deg with 15mph winds much of the night and I slept well.  It was hard to setup in the wind, I finally had to put my bags into it then set it up, otherwise it kept blowing away.

Stopped for a burger and beer a few miles before the park, first time eating out since the pandemic.  That burger and fries tasted so good!  The beer made it the perfect meal.

Inside the tent is cozy, but not too tight.

Lesson learned:

1) Sunscreen is not enough for me, I need to have sun covering.  DaBrim and sun leggings will be ordered.  No I am not a vampire, yes I could play one on TV.

2) I need to drink more water along the way.  I am prone to leg cramps and don’t drink enough, a bad combination I  need to keep working at.  My trip back was good because I made several stops for OJ which seems to help.

3) I like traveling with people!  I don’t mind traveling by myself, but I enjoy company more.  I met a 77 year old gentleman (John) who is still bike touring and road with him for about 15 miles, one of the highlights of the trip.  I also ran into Jim on the return ride.

4) Coffee from a percolator is 30 degrees hotter than from an espresso machine.  Burnt tongue is a painful! How many times have I learned this while camping?  At some point it will stick!

5) I had everything I required at 50lb of gear.  Now what can I get rid of and still have everything I require.

6) Michigan State Parks are required to accept cyclists even when full, much of their staff does no know this.  The site they give you is not much.

7) I am in good enough condition to go, it will be more fun if I am in better shape.

https://strava.app.link/YEEnqXt7Hgb

https://strava.app.link/Tpjrs8p7Hgb

A fun two day adventure!