Day 4: Trail Riding & Organization, Shower, Laundry & Relaxation

We didn’t get much sleep last night, which we should have expected. When we went to check out the camp site earlier in the day, the campers we ended up parking next to last night were sitting by a fire with a bottle of vodka at 3:00pm. However, we didn’t have many options since we arrived after dark.  We ate breakfast and got dressed to ride Magnolia West which looped throughout the campsite. At this elevation, the dirt roads are very rocky, so I was sure the trails were going to be more technically challenging than I have the skills for. Sure enough, within a few minutes I was hiking my bike. Andrew and I were both gasping for air, with minimum effort being exerted. The altitude really suppresses your physical capabilities. My brain is telling my legs to move, but they simply don’t respond. It’s a frustrating feeling. Andrew was not feeling great this morning either, so after a few miles we headed back to the car with the intention of going to Betasso Trail between Nederland and Boulder. We stopped by Happy Trails Bike Shop again to talk with Randy, the bike shop owner about where to camp near Lyons, our next stop about 30 minutes away. We pulled down Sugarloaf Road and arrived at the Betasso Preserve. We unloaded the bikes, walked to the map to check out which direction to go, then read the sign “No Mountain Biking on Wednesday and Saturday. “ It was Saturday. Really? Andrew was NOT happy. We loaded the bikes back up and decided to head towards Lyons where we were told to ride at Hall Ranch.

Happy Trails Bike Shop in Nederland

Bike Shop - Coffee Shop - Burritos!

We drove on the scenic Peak to Peak Highway, looking for a camping spot along the way. We were frustrated that things had not worked out for us this morning and wanted to set up camp early, reorganize the car, take a shower, and clear our heads since it had been go, go, go the past 3 days.  After unsuccessfully finding any available spots at the camp spots Randy told us about, we found an area that seemed fitting. We put water into the solar shower and laid it in the sun to warm up, Andrew worked on his school work for fire and I rearranged the car, did some laundry (the old school way) and caught up on some reading about the surrounding areas of Colorado, trying to map out our path over the next few days.

On our way to Lyons on the Peak to Peak Highway

Andrew set up the tarp, only blocking us from the roadside. I was the first to bare it all in the woods for our first shower in over 3 days. We had about 3 gallons of water for two people so I had to make it quick. This is how our showers went: Strip down, rinse with warm water, cool wind comes and sweeps past every wet inch of your body (brrr!) scrub with soap (ahh – that feels nice), shampoo, rinse (by this time I have goose bumps and my teeth are chattering), quickly grab a towel and dry off (much better!) We got a good laughed at each other standing bare in the woods and felt much better once the dirt and old sweat was washed off. So much better that we saw it fitting for Andrew to crack open a beer and a bottle of wine for me. But whoops, I forgot a wine opener. Andrew worked for over 20 minutes trying to get the cork out, which he did, but there was quite a bit of cork in the bottle. We made pork, rice and green beans for dinner and sat by the fire for a bit before we went to bed.

Andrew attempting to open the bottle.

Day 3 - Brainard & Isabelle Lake, Nederland & Boulder, CO

Passing cars woke up at 7:00am again this morning. We really need to find a legit campsite where we can have a fire and sleep in one morning. I cooked bagels and sausages while Andrew replaced the fuel filter in the truck. Among the stress of finding a place to sleep last night, his truck began making odd sounds as we climbed the mountain. Luckily, he bought an extra filter the day before we left. Once we packed everything up, we headed back towards Brainard Lake, determined to get something out of all the effort we put in it last night. The road leading up to the lake was a completely different scene than what we had witnessed the night before. It was no longer and lonely, desolate road, but rather a road full of hikers, bikers and cars.
 

We gladly paid the $9 entry fee, got a map of the park and began our hike. We didn’t know which trail to get on – we just walked to the trail head closest to our truck. About ¾ mile up the way, we stopped for a quick photo. A woman walking her dog asked if we’d like her to take one of the two of us. We gladly accepted and made small talk about where we were from and our road trip adventure. She was delighted with our story.

We happened across another couple at a fork in the trail and decided to follow them, not knowing where either trail led. Later we found we were headed towards Lake Isabelle. This wasn’t listed on our map, but as we continued up the trail we ran into more and more people; this must mean there is something worth seeing at the end.

After approximately 4.5 miles we came to a small clearing where the trees opened up and we could hear the sound of rushing water. The trail went from dirt to snow and at the very top was a gorgeous view. We were at an elevation of approximately 12,500 feet. The pictures below will tell you better than I can say in words.

We left there feeling much better having finally exerted some energy and seeing such beauty. We ate lunch and then headed back down to Nederland to check out the town. A friend told us we had to go see her friend Randy at Happy Trails Bike Shop. First we went to the visitor’s center to check in to other options for camping and trails around the area. The woman was very helpful and we were pleased to hear there was plenty of camping here. After we stopped at the bike shop and got Randy’s recommendations for trails, etc, we decide to check out some of the camping options now so we would not get caught in a similar predicament as we did the night before. After scoping out some good possibilities, we headed back towards Boulder, hoping the bike tires were ready. The shop called as soon as we got out of the canyon, perfect timing. We parked the car, ran into the bike shop for 10 minutes, came out and saw that we had been given a parking ticket for parking in the wrong direction - $15, Great. The next obstacle was to find a free wifi spot so I could update the blog real quick and then we were going to stop by one of the local breweries. We decided to do this at a bad time. Friday night, 7:30ish…everything was packed. We walked up and down Pearl Street Mall to check out the shops, was approached by a younger guy our age, holding a map; these were the direct words out of his mouth. “Hey, you guys look like you could help me out with something. Could you…(starts pointing at something on the map) spare me some change for acid?” This guy cannot be serious, right? Nope, he’s dead serious. We laughed and walked away – kind of in shock. Street performers were lined up and down every block. Every brewery we passed was packed and we were not in the mood to compete over the noise, so we headed back towards the campground instead.

We got back on Canyon Road, headed towards Nederland again, but had to wait 30 minutes due to a rock slide construction workers were trying to clear. Since the campground we were staying at was free, there’s no water, electric, etc. and definitely no road work. Trying to squeeze a large Chevy 2500 loaded down with all its gear in between tight trees and very rocky roads was a trial in itself and there were quite a few moments when I held my breath, waiting to hear something scratch, dent, or break on the truck. Andrew drove with great care and skill and we finally found an empty spot. We cooked spaghetti, made a fire and talked of our plans to ride Magnolia West and Betasso trails the following day.

Day 2 - Kansas to Boulder, Colorado

We woke up this morning at 6:30am with the sun just rising over the horizon. I had to squint my eyes and then realized what I was missing, I grabbed my phone to get a shot of the sunrise. Andrew and I climbed out of the cab and began pulling out the camp stove to boil some water for coffee and oatmeal. Before the coffee finished, it started to sprinkle. We quickly load everything back up while the coffee finished, filled the mug,  and jumped in the cab just before the down pour began. I guess breakfast will have to wait. We got back on Interstate 70, looking for an old gas station we can pull under in order to attempt cooking again. The first exit is a fail, but we get some needed gas. The next exit looked a little more promising. We pulled into a Walmart to get some eggs and milk then parked the car in a car wash overhang for a dry place to cook breakfast. After cleaning up and repacking the items we used as well as reworking the tarp on the back hitch we finally got back on the road around 9:30am.

We crossed the state line into Colorado around 2:45pm this afternoon. The Boys are Back in Town welcomed us to this beautiful state on the radio. We stopped at the next rest area and Visitor Center to use the bathroom, rotate drivers, and get some brochures on the surrounding cities, national parks, scenic highways, etc. Now, while Andrew is driving the final 100 miles to Boulder, I sit here flipping through the pages mesmerized with all the things I want to do and see while we are here. This is really going to be a problem. I could spend the entire month in Colorado alone. How and I going to do this? I’m not! I guess it gives me an excuse to come back! How does one choose between Denver, Boulder, the Rocky Mountains, Aspen, Crested Butte, Leadville, Colorado Springs, Vail and more!?!  

While browsing through Colorado’s 2011 Official State Vacation Guide I began reading the frequently asked questions.  (But before I get into that, let me state that based on what people have been telling me about Colorado, it’s not the actual mountain biking I have to be worried about, it’s the altitude). So what caught my eye on the FAQ page? “How do I avoid altitude sickness?”

This is verbatim from the text: “Altitude sickness – typified by headaches, nausea and/or fatigue – is usually contracted when you go to a high elevation too quickly from lower elevations. When visiting Colorado, make sure you drink more water than you normally would, avoid alcohol and tobacco and do no overexert yourself.” 

My immediate response…”Oh great!” First of all, driving from Kansas, which has an elevation of around 500 feet to Boulder where the elevation is 5,400+ feet in a few hours immediately means we failed at the first statement about not making the climb “too quickly.” Next, drink plenty of water. “Ok, I can do that,” I think to myself. Now…the next two cause me to stop and think for a second. “Avoid alcohol and do no overexert yourself.” Not OK, seeing as though one of the main reasons for this trip is to ride and hike our little tushies off. And what do most mountain bikers do after a long, “overexerting” day of riding do? DRINK! We already picked up a brochure of Colorado’s breweries and I know Andrew’s not leaving the state before we hit several of them up!

****

We found our way to Boulder and immediately stopped at one of the bike shops on Pearl Street called Full Cycle to have them work on the bearings. We talked to them for a bit about some of the surrounding trails and then tried to find our way to a local campsite a friend told us about. After 45 minutes of searching, we stopped by a motel on the side of the road hoping for some guidance. When we told him we were looking for some where to camp, he said, "yea, that could be a problem around here." Apparently, they recently quit allowing people to camp on the side of the Canyon Road, on the way to Nederland. He said the closest place to find a spot would be in Nederland, which is about 17 miles away. He gave us a map and showed us several other places we could check out. After scoping out some pictures online, we decided to try Lake Brainard, just past Nederland on the Peak to Peak highway. By the time we finally made our way up there, is was already getting pretty dark. We pulled up to the entrance and it says "camping closed until 2012." Seriously? We make our way back down the mountain and begin pulling down dirt roads to see if we can squeeze in for the night. After more than 2 hours of searching, we finally find a small place to set up camp for the night. We cooked some soup real quick, read up on some of the other local things to do and went to sleep, waking up frequently throughout the night due to lack of proper clothing for 40 degree weather.

A small park near the motel we stopped at for directions. There were rocks stacked in multiple locations.

Brainard Lake - I was able to get one photo before we had to head back down the mountain.

Day 1 - Ellijay, GA to Hays, Kansas

Andrew and I left promptly at 7:30am this morning to make one last stop at Cartecay Bike Shop to pick up some parts we ordered a few weeks ago and fix the wheel bearings on the Ellsworth. They did not have the correct tools for the job but luckily we brought an extra set of rims just in case. We’ll have to stop at a bike shop along the way to get the bearings fixed later. Around 9:30am we officially headed west towards Colorado. We have somewhere between 21-23 hours of driving from Ellijay, GA depending on which device we use; Map Quest, Garmin and our iPhone GPS. As of right now, clear skies, an open road, and lush, green mountain ranges are the only things we can see. 

The truck loaded down.

Andrew did a really good job building all the racks.

Here is the planned route for today’s journey. Take I-24 through Tennessee and Kentucky, pick up I- 57 in Illinois which turns in I-64 somewhere along the way. Continue west towards St. Louis, MI where we get on get on I- 70 and see the Gateway Arch. We will stay on I-70 all the way to Colorado. After the mountains in Tennessee, we began the long stretch through flat terrain, dirt roads alongside the highway, corn fields as far as the eye can see, hay barrels, antique shops and plenty of road kill. Soon after we got on I-70, we chased the sunset for a good distance across Missouri on our way to Kansas, until it finally disappeared out of sight.  

St. Louis, MI

Sun setting in the west

  

While Andrew took over the night shift, I sat in the passenger seat with an Atlas and flashlight, trying to determine a more distinct route for the next few days of our trip. It looks like we are going to hit Crested Butte on the way back along with Moab, Frutta, Arches National Park and Devil’s Garden in Colorado and Utah. While reading an issue of my National Geographic Traveler magazine today, I came across a quote that I deemed the motto for this trip. It’s simple: “Take your time, give in to temptation.”

I saw on the weather channel yesterday that parts of the mid-west have had temperatures over 100 degrees for 31 days straight. We’re hoping it cools down significantly since we will be sleeping in this region tonight. We drove until 12:30am where we stopped at a rest area past Kansas City. We fell asleep to the sound of semi engines and passing cars on the highway.

Working Away

Over the past 4 days, Andrew and I (although mostly Andrew...about 97%) have been cutting, sawing, screwing, welding, sanding, and painting the wooden platform - soon to be called our bed - as well as the metal rack which will sit above the topper and hitch rack to hold our gear. Not only did we buy all of the materials, but Andrew labored in the extreme summer heat and humidity to construct the following items by hand! 

Pretty impressive stuff if I do say so myself. Here is some of the work which is still in progress. Final pictures will be posted at send off!

Mattress sits above platform, underneath will be used as storage.

Platform hinges towards the middle to allow ease of access to gear and supplies.

Fits perfectly!

Andrew beginning the process of constructing the rack.

Welding in progress...

Safe-fitting the rack to the truck bed.

More or less what it looks like without the bed liner paint.

Andrew has gnarly tan lines, a burnt face from welding and has enjoyed a good amount of beers during this process, although he claims "not enough." All the while, I have been sitting inside the A.C. helping my mom out with various tasks around the house. Andrew sits here watching me write this in disgust with my behavior!

Until next time...

Kate & Andrew

A Small Hickup

I came out of a jet lagged haze today only to realize that the road trip is only one month away! And the next thought after that was "holy crap, I am no where near the fitness level needed for the western mountains." Can I get in enough training between now and departure time? Looks like I have to! With only two weeks left in north Georgia before I head down to south and northwest Florida for another two weeks, I am going to force myself to do some sort of physical activity each day until we leave...or at least try.

While preparing for a bike ride a few days ago, Andrew and I noticed that the bike I intended to use was no where near the shape it needed to be in for me to use it. Now on a frantic search for another bike, we are wondering if we're both going to be able to ride. Eyes and ears are open!

Update on July 12th, 2011. As it turns out, Andrew's bike fits me quite well. Much better than the Cannondale I was using before. The only thing I seem to need to make the Ellsworth fit me better is a new stem for the handlebars. So what's Andrew going to ride? Well, he's been working this the local bike shop owner and good friend Mike Palmeri to get a deal on a single speed, which he's been drooling over for over a year. Mike was able to work out a deal with Norco and the Judan model is in route from Canada! Hopefully it should arrive before we head south for two weeks to take care of some business before we get on the road.


All is good!

Kate & Andrew

Packing List

With the road trip about a month away, Andrew and I have begun compiling a list of items we will need. Our motto is to try to prepare for the worst and we should be fine. However, with a limited amount of space for items this may prove to be more of a challenge than we think. 

Although we plan to sleep out of the back of the truck as much as possible, we are going to bring enough gear to set up camp, including a tent, in case we decide to go for an overnight biking/hiking trip.

Gear:

Water bottles and purifier

Backpacking stove with one burner (lighter & matches)

Pots, pans, eating utensils

Propane canister

Pocket knife - multiple uses

Headlamps (also good for biking)

Lighter/matches

Cell phone

Weapon - some sort of defense mechanism

Solar shower

Bike tools 

Cooler

Fold out table

Spare tire

Hiking backpacks

Camping:

      Tent

      Sleeping bags 

      Tarp (at least 6x8 ft)

Sleeping in truck:

       Mattress

       Sheets

       Pillows

Clothes:

Riding gear (shoes, jersey, gloves, helmet, etc.)

Baseball cap

2 pairs of pants

2 nice shirt

Several t-shirts (at least one weeks worth)

Several pairs of shorts (at least one weeks worth)

Jacket

Rain jacket

7 pairs of underwear

Boots, sneakers and flip flops

Toiletries:

Soap

Shampoo

Razor and shaving cream

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Deodorant

Eco friendly cleaning products

Towels

Misc:

Road atlas

Maps of places we’re hiking/biking

Books for reading

Camera

Journal

Proper ID
Emergency money

Food (two or three day’s worth):

Noodles

Breads

Nuts

Granola

Dried fruit

Canned goods

Protein bars