On the Road to Oregon: Back roads and I-70 to Grand Junction (pics)

[DemoTex]

I missed the part last night about Independence Pass still closed. I drove 13 miles up CO-82 before a bicyclist told me the only way I'd get to Aspen up the 82 was to take my bike off the trailer and ride it there! So I lolly-gagged by the river for a while, took some pics, and then headed back down 82 to 24 and up through Leadville to I-70.

My wireless speed in this La Quinta is very slow, so I'll only post a couple or three pics.

[konnichi wa]

1. Thanks for taking good care of my truck!

:D
:toast:

[DemoTex]

4. Dr. D. said that all I need is her mother on the trailer in a rocking chair!

Granny Clampett. My little 4-cyl Tacoma is loaded. I have a Honda 2kw generator, lots of ham radio gear (Yaesu 817, Yaesu 897D, Yaesu 8100, Icom 706, CB, tuners, meters, dipoles, verticals, etc), kayak gear, fishing gear, 70-qt cooler (full of electronics), 30-watt solar panel, eight 12v-12amp AGM batteries, clothing (for spring, summer, and fall), books (lots of books), two laptops, two digital cameras, topo maps, Nick-Nick's supplies and kennel cage, and some of Dr. D's stuff.

[konnichi wa]

18. You're loaded fer bear, as it were, haha. Some day if you're wandering,

there's a pretty decent airport restaurant at BDN, I forget the name but the lady who runs it is super nice.
I ate there a bunch of times while they were majoring the engines on my plane at Pro Aviation. :D

[neverforget]

2. Great pics!

[gratuitous]

3. Highly pretty

And you're going at a very good time of year. Breathtakingly beautiful.

[DemoTex]

6. Indeed

I posted last night that I had flown over this beautiful territory at 35,000 feet countless times. Driving is 1000 times better. I can't imagine it in a wagon or or on foot with a wagon train.

Today I remembered a terrifying emergency in a Boeing 737-400 over the Rockies at 3 AM on a red-eye from SFO to PHL in July 1989. We thought for a while we might have to do an emergency "landing" in the high plains at night, with major flight control problems (rudder). We knew what that outcome would be (not a Sully splash-down in the Hudson).

[doc03]

5. Hey that's my Tacoma!

Beautiful spot, I love Colorado.

[sandnsea]

7. Beautiful!

So you decided against Wyoming? Probably a good choice. Where you off to next? You might want to take 139 up to 40 into Park City. iirc, taking any of those roads into Provo is kind of long and dry and dull. Ask DrunkenIrish, you don't want to hit snow either.

[DemoTex]

8. I got skunked at Independence Pass today (Aspen from the south).

That cost me half a day. The rest of the drive is a drive, if you know what I mean. I will leave Grand Junction (grand????) early to get to Orem by noon or so. That's where my Tacoma will hit 10,000 miles, so I want to have it serviced in Orem. If they can turn me quick, I'll be on my way toward Boise. I need to be in Bend by Wednesday.

Besides, I'm totally sick of this road food. :puke:

[XOKCowboy]

10. Sorry about the late report on Independence Pass...

Plus you coulda used the time to have gone up to US 40. Oh well. Sorry ya have GJ as your last memory of CO.

[sandnsea]

11. You have plenty of time

You could make that in two days if need be. Be prepared for the happiest people in the world tomorrow. Even teenagers in the fast food joints. I think it must be a rule or something.

Then again, they have these things called grocery stores where you can buy fruit and cheese and trail mix...
:)

[TransitJohn]

15. Nothing wrong with Wyoming

:hi:

[FightingIrish]

9. There's a lot of great biking around Bend

Down the road in Klamath County there is one of the longest rail-to-trail routes in the country. There is more wildlife along the trail than any other trail in Oregon.

http://www.traillink.com/ViewTrail.aspx?AcctID=6032226

There's also great canoeing and kayaking in Klamath County

http://www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges/canoetrails.html

Here's a great hike I did last summer.

http://www.localhikes.com/HikeData.asp?DispType=0&ActiveHike=2&GetHikesStateID=1&ID=5982

[KoKo]

12. Thanks and a Big Kick for your Saga to Connect..

I saw your post too late last night to reply or kick..

Keep us Posted.... I would hope you could do it on your DU Blog..because posts "scroll through" so fast here in "General Discussion" that it's hard to keep up. And, the "search function" for DU doesn't work well.

GodSpeed to you.

[KoKo]

13. Kick...

[stevedeshazer]

14. We've waved off the Oregon Border Patrol

The all clear is in, but which highway?

We have to make sure we don't mistake you for these guys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iigxaFBTAZ4

[Arugula Latte]

16. Nice pics! I've spent lots of time in Colorado.

Here's a reminder: When you come into our fair state of Oregon, remember you can't pump your own gas. Let the attendants come to you.

[arcadian]

17. That looks like Twin Lakes.

You drove by some of the trail work I did up there in '95.

[southernyankeebelle]

19. WOW -

THIS COUNTRY OF OURS IS SO BEAUTIFUL FROM CALF. TO NY IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. WE ALL SHOULD BE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS. MY ITALIAN UNCLE CAME TO VISIT US ONE TIME AND WE DROVE HIM AROUND THE EAST COAST. HE SAID TO US I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AMERICANS COME OVERSEAS WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A VAST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. I LAUGHED AND TOLD HIM THAT OUR COUNTRY ISN'T AS OLD AS EUROPE AND WE WANT TO SEE EUROPE AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES THEY HAVE. I HAVE LIVED OVERSEAS AND I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. BUT I MUST SAY THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY ITS OUR HOME. THANK GOD.

[DemoTex]

20. Monday night in Elko: not a real good day.

I'll update tomorrow.

[XOKCowboy]

22. I can see how the drive to Elko was rough but I need updates!!

From Reno today on I-80 you should have gotten up to Susanville or even southern Oregon tonight. I hope all is going well.

[TahitiNut]

21. DU's own "DemoThoreau" headed for his Walden Tower in Oregon

I expect a novel from you, my friend. Or at least a novelette. Such an "inner journey" warrants some deathless prose and meaningful insights.

When I lived in eastern Washington (the DryShitties) I loved to raft on the Deschutes and wander around there -- usually on my way to or from Eugene when I had the extra time.

I used to know several Forest Service employees ... including one gal that I fell in love with deeply and permanently (as a close friend, of course).

Sigh. I'd give a toe to spend a couple weeks there with you ... ruining your solitude. :silly: