Pike's Peak was amazing. It is a mountain in the front range of the Rocky Mountains. At 14,115 ft. it is one of Colorado’s 54 fourteeners. Racers drive up the mountain in the annual Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. The race is 20 kms with 156 turns and a climb of 4,721 ft. from Mile 7 at a 7% grade. All of this translates to “OH SHIT THAT IS ONE BIG MOUNTAIN!!!” Previous winners of the race are Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Robby Unser (get a name the baby book why don’t you!!!) and the current record holder is Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajina from Japan at a time of 10:01.408 in July 2007. (He regularly practices his fast paced erratic driving on No. 3 Road in Richmond).
But my experience was at a considerably slower pace but a white knuckle drive nonetheless. It was a nice sunny day and I headed up. Since it was a weekday there wasn't much traffic but they are doing a lot of road work so there are big trucks going up and down. The road was paved for most of the way up but there were parts that were hard packed only. NO RAILINGS (not that they would stop a truck from going over) so the drive started to get a bit scary at about 10,000 ft. I turned off my headphones and radio, rolled my window down and started talking to myself. Basically I gave myself the “If all these other people can do it then so can you” lecture. Yes, I have not only started to talk to myself on my adventures but I give myself lectures or tell funny jokes or just sing really loud but only every third word as my daughter loves to point out to me.
Got up to the top which is over 14,000 ft. and parked. There was still some small patches of snow. I had done the calculation re how far it was from the RV Park but didn't take into consideration that of the elevation so it was a bit cold with just shorts and a tank top. Luckily I keep a jacket in the truck in case of rain so it can in handy. I had purchased a better camera and this was the first real test. I got some good shots and even some panorama shots with the camera. The park will not allow people to walk, bike or jog up the peak but there was a company that has people biking down the peak (if only I had more time!!!). Trucks, cars, bikers, gravel trucks - it was a little harrowing. The drive down, in low gear, was spectacular. Since there was no way of going too fast I got to really enjoy the scenery. There was a stop on the way down at about 10,000 ft. and a cute old guy was stopping all the vehicles to test the heat of the brakes.
The pictures do not do the Peak justice. The lake in the picture is located at the start of the State Park. (Pictures on a separate post)
Really a great outing and if you find yourself in Colorado it is a must see!!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
THE DRIVE THAT ALMOST DID ME IN!!!!
Yesterday, I left Colorado City, Colorado (like you couldn’t have figures that one out on your own) and drove to Grand Junction, Colorado. I had asked about the two interstates 50 & 70. Interstate 50 I was told was a beautiful drive where as 70 was just a freeway. Also I had to backtrack north to Denver to take 70. When I put both routes into my trip planning from AAA the hours of driving were the same – 5 ½ - but 70 was an additional 120 kms. So I decided to take 50 because that is what this trip is about – seeing the back roads. It was a fabulous day – sunny and warm. The scenery was spectacular. There was not very much traffic and certainly no semis. This was going to be a great drive. YEAH, NOT SO MUCH.
Go grab a map and follow along with me, boys & girls!!! From Colorado City I drove north to Pueblo which is a delightful city. I then turned west and I was on 50 which would take me all the way to Grand Junction. Do you have your map ready??? Lovely smooth drive and then I go through Gold Belt Recreation Area where they ski in the winter. To ski you need elevation but this was an easy climb up and a smooth drive down. Then comes Poncha Pass at 9,010 ft. Not so smooth going up and pretty much the same coming down. Then I hit the Rocky Mountains (I am an idiot – where did I think they were) and Monarch Pass which is 11,312 ft. Now you might think that since the last pass was 9,101 ft. that I only needed to drive up the difference of 2,311 ft. WELL, YOU’RE WRONG! I had to drive up the entire 11,312 ft. AND THEN WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN!! Okay, I got that out of the way and now I am on the other side of the Rockies so easy peasy. Except for West Elk Mountains and further along Black Canyon.
By this point, I have been driving for 8 hours and I finally got to within 60 miles of Grand Junction on a nice level stretch when ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. A guy honked as he passed me and pointed out that I have a tire problem. I pulled over and got out. The truck tires on the driver’s side are good and the truck tires on the passenger side are good and the trailer tires are – HOLY CRAP one of the tires has all the rubber blown off and I am driving on the big rim. I grab my trailer keys and go inside to get the road side assistances information. I have BCAA (thanks to Elaine), I have CoachNet (thanks to the RV dealer) and I have OnStar (this one is all mine). I decide to call CoachNet and just as I start to call their number, a young guy does a U-turn and he stops and tells me he can put on the spare. I collapse with relief and 20 minutes later (and some cash lighter – not that he even asked) I am off. I get a new tire and rim and I finally get to the KOA 9 ½ hours after leaving Colorado City.
The motto is: Some days you’re the bat and some days you’re the ball and, like yesterday, you’re the only fire hydrant in a busy dog park!!!
Go grab a map and follow along with me, boys & girls!!! From Colorado City I drove north to Pueblo which is a delightful city. I then turned west and I was on 50 which would take me all the way to Grand Junction. Do you have your map ready??? Lovely smooth drive and then I go through Gold Belt Recreation Area where they ski in the winter. To ski you need elevation but this was an easy climb up and a smooth drive down. Then comes Poncha Pass at 9,010 ft. Not so smooth going up and pretty much the same coming down. Then I hit the Rocky Mountains (I am an idiot – where did I think they were) and Monarch Pass which is 11,312 ft. Now you might think that since the last pass was 9,101 ft. that I only needed to drive up the difference of 2,311 ft. WELL, YOU’RE WRONG! I had to drive up the entire 11,312 ft. AND THEN WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN!! Okay, I got that out of the way and now I am on the other side of the Rockies so easy peasy. Except for West Elk Mountains and further along Black Canyon.
By this point, I have been driving for 8 hours and I finally got to within 60 miles of Grand Junction on a nice level stretch when ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. A guy honked as he passed me and pointed out that I have a tire problem. I pulled over and got out. The truck tires on the driver’s side are good and the truck tires on the passenger side are good and the trailer tires are – HOLY CRAP one of the tires has all the rubber blown off and I am driving on the big rim. I grab my trailer keys and go inside to get the road side assistances information. I have BCAA (thanks to Elaine), I have CoachNet (thanks to the RV dealer) and I have OnStar (this one is all mine). I decide to call CoachNet and just as I start to call their number, a young guy does a U-turn and he stops and tells me he can put on the spare. I collapse with relief and 20 minutes later (and some cash lighter – not that he even asked) I am off. I get a new tire and rim and I finally get to the KOA 9 ½ hours after leaving Colorado City.
The motto is: Some days you’re the bat and some days you’re the ball and, like yesterday, you’re the only fire hydrant in a busy dog park!!!
ODDS & ENDS
I passed a “chain gang” but without the chains. There were about a dozen prisons in black & white striped prison uniforms at the side of the road and maybe three guards. They were busy picking up garbage. I have two points – one is that is does my heart good to see prisoners working (take note Canadian Penal System) and two, someone needs to tell the powers that be that no one, even hardened criminals, should be made to wear horizontal strips even if they are in black and white. Now that is cruel and unusual punishment!!
There are many correctional institutes that I pass when driving and I love the signs that they put up “CORRECTIONAL FACITLITY. DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS”. Not that I would ever pick up a hitchhiker especially wearing horizontal stripes!!!
Along this line, the authorities picked up the final escapee that had been hiding in Yellowstone National Park. In his company was a female described as “his accomplish, his girlfriend and his cousin”. You have to love the family that holds up together does time together.
I am not sure what part of my looks says “tell me all your medical issues” but there must be something because it happens too often. I was sitting next to an older guy fishing and he had a portable oxygen tank. We were talking about the fishing and he then told me that he can’t drive anymore because he has diabetes and his vision is poor and he has dialysis three times a week and he can’t get a kidney transplant because the radiation from the treatment for prostate cancer several years ago has caused his other organs to pack it in. He was very nice and I left him with some gas money to give to his cousin who drives him to fish. There was another incident where the guy wanted to show me his scars from the broken leg and the scar from having his gall bladder removed. Yes, think about where that scar might be located on the human body and then you will understand why I had a hard time getting that image out of my head.
When I purchased the trailer I also arranged for driving lessons. Attila (insert joke here) was the guy I hired. I learned a few things but he was a lousy instructor when it came to backing up. I realized early on that most RV parks have pull thrus so not being able to back up is no big deal. The only time I have backed into a spot was in Needle, CA. Well, I leave Cheyenne, WY for Colorado City, Colorado and it is a lovely drive. As I get to Pueblo, CO which is only 30 minutes to Colorado City but there has been an accident so it takes 40 minutes to get around the accident and back on the highway. By this time nature is calling and I need to get to the KOA sooner rather than later. So when OnStar tells me to take a certain exit, I do. When OnStar tells me to turn left and go over the highway, I do. When OnStar directs me down a small road, I do. When OnStar directs me to turn left and go up the dirt path, I do. But I get to the top of this dirt driveway where instead of a campground I find myself stuck with what look like old mobile homes (that haven’t be mobile for decades) I know I am in trouble. First things first, I open the trailer and pee. Nothing like towing your own facilities. I call the KOA and they tell me that everyone who uses GPS gets lost and they are located further down the highway. I am now forced to back up in a very small space. It was a tight spot if I only had the truck. Well I had two choices. Get unstuck or go home. Well, I got unstuck all by myself. It was a three point turn but I was able to do it. Amazing what you can do if you stay calm!!
I have been using my old digital camera and when I download the pictures to my computer, they are not great. So I decided that if I was going to do justice to some of the scenery I needed to buy a better camera. The new one has lots of bells and whistles none of which I understand. But is has two great features – Auto Intelligent Adjust and Sweep Panorama. The second feature you will notice from some of the newer postings to the Blog. I wish that people all came with the first feature!!!
There are many correctional institutes that I pass when driving and I love the signs that they put up “CORRECTIONAL FACITLITY. DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS”. Not that I would ever pick up a hitchhiker especially wearing horizontal stripes!!!
Along this line, the authorities picked up the final escapee that had been hiding in Yellowstone National Park. In his company was a female described as “his accomplish, his girlfriend and his cousin”. You have to love the family that holds up together does time together.
I am not sure what part of my looks says “tell me all your medical issues” but there must be something because it happens too often. I was sitting next to an older guy fishing and he had a portable oxygen tank. We were talking about the fishing and he then told me that he can’t drive anymore because he has diabetes and his vision is poor and he has dialysis three times a week and he can’t get a kidney transplant because the radiation from the treatment for prostate cancer several years ago has caused his other organs to pack it in. He was very nice and I left him with some gas money to give to his cousin who drives him to fish. There was another incident where the guy wanted to show me his scars from the broken leg and the scar from having his gall bladder removed. Yes, think about where that scar might be located on the human body and then you will understand why I had a hard time getting that image out of my head.
When I purchased the trailer I also arranged for driving lessons. Attila (insert joke here) was the guy I hired. I learned a few things but he was a lousy instructor when it came to backing up. I realized early on that most RV parks have pull thrus so not being able to back up is no big deal. The only time I have backed into a spot was in Needle, CA. Well, I leave Cheyenne, WY for Colorado City, Colorado and it is a lovely drive. As I get to Pueblo, CO which is only 30 minutes to Colorado City but there has been an accident so it takes 40 minutes to get around the accident and back on the highway. By this time nature is calling and I need to get to the KOA sooner rather than later. So when OnStar tells me to take a certain exit, I do. When OnStar tells me to turn left and go over the highway, I do. When OnStar directs me down a small road, I do. When OnStar directs me to turn left and go up the dirt path, I do. But I get to the top of this dirt driveway where instead of a campground I find myself stuck with what look like old mobile homes (that haven’t be mobile for decades) I know I am in trouble. First things first, I open the trailer and pee. Nothing like towing your own facilities. I call the KOA and they tell me that everyone who uses GPS gets lost and they are located further down the highway. I am now forced to back up in a very small space. It was a tight spot if I only had the truck. Well I had two choices. Get unstuck or go home. Well, I got unstuck all by myself. It was a three point turn but I was able to do it. Amazing what you can do if you stay calm!!
I have been using my old digital camera and when I download the pictures to my computer, they are not great. So I decided that if I was going to do justice to some of the scenery I needed to buy a better camera. The new one has lots of bells and whistles none of which I understand. But is has two great features – Auto Intelligent Adjust and Sweep Panorama. The second feature you will notice from some of the newer postings to the Blog. I wish that people all came with the first feature!!!
WILD HORSE LOOP & PILOT BUTTE, WY
I was going to drive to the top of the Butte but I figured that the trip would tip and then the road trip is over. So I thought that I would walk up the Butte but what if I fell and couldn't get up. I have a cell phone so no problem also no service so I was happy to just get close!!
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