Route Map
Daily Journal
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Dolores 7/1/00 66009-66394 (385 mi.)
After a nice send-off, got on the road about 10:00 am and headed west on 50 from Canyon City. Met up with a guy on a Shadow in Gunnison on his way to Grand Junction, but soon lost him passing traffic. Got to Telluride and met a couple of guys from Louisiana on Harleys - planned to meet them later to camp but never did. Found Smuggler's Brew Pub and had some dinner. Continued on to Dolores and camped near McPhee Reservoir about 7:30. Saw some amazing stars that night, including a spectacular shooting star.
Brice Canyon 7/2 66394-66804 (410 mi.)
Up (thanks to some loud cows) and on the road about 8:30 am. Went down to 4-corners, then up 41 to 95. Incredible variety of "rooms", all desolate and barren, yet different and beautiful.
Torrey to Boulder was beautiful - a forest after so many miles of badlands! Met GWTA group in Escalante - 2 Valks and 3 Wings. Followed them to Brice Canyon, where we camped at Ruby's Inn with the rest of their group (from Las Vegas). Had a nice fire and cooked hot dogs until about 10:30.
Fairfield 7/3 66804-67529 (725 mi.) - new record!
Left about 8:00 am and followed the group for about 35 miles before heading west on 14 - another beautiful, winding forest road. After Cedar City the desert began to take over - mile after mile of winding mountain ridge followed by 20-30 miles of straight, flat road. Got ticketed in Caliente (75 in a 70?). Gas in Rachel, lunch in Tonopah. Continued to Benton, Ca. Where I bought a gallon can of gas ($3.00!) to extend my range to Lee Vining. Lots of whoop-de-do's on 120! Got to Yosemite about 5:00 (pacific time!). Beautiful ride - slow and downhill (39 mpg!) but ok traffic. Nice ride out of Yosemite as well. Stopped at Valley Brewing in Stockton 5 minutes after the kitchen closed, so had a beer, growler, and T-shirt and ate at in-and-out before heading on to Fairfield in the cold and dark. Arrived abour 11:45 at Mom and Dad's.
Fairfield 7/4 67529-67554 (25 mi.)
Had a nice visit with my parents. Went on a drive around Fairfield after the 4th of July picnic lunch at the Paradise Valley restaurant. Ate dinner with Mom and Dad at the Blue Frog Grog & Grill.Fairfield 7/5 67554
Walked up the hill behind the complex (in shorts!) and then went for a workout and swim at the fitness center. Took Mom to dialysis and then Dad and I went to the motorcycle shop to replace my headset (which blew 100 miles into the trip). After checking out the Grizzly Bay Brew Pub (still closed) in Suisun City, we went to the Anheuser Busch Brewery. Got talking to one of the guys after the tourist tour of the bottling facility, and he took me on a private, VIP tour of the actual brewing facility. Picked up Mom and had dinner at the "Soda Shoppe".
Contact me at: rf6gunz@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2000, Rick Fletcher
