Kingman AZ

Good afternoon dear Reader,

Thanks to Peter and his van we visited downtown Flagstaff for a great cup of tea and a bit of shopping for my return to UK.

Then is was just a case of staying out of the sun until it got cooler - for those of you that have not been following the weather problems in the USA - they have severe thunder storms in the North and a heat wave from the East coast to the West coast and I am just North if the really hot bit - it's 112 down in Phoenix South Arizona....

The forecast was for high winds (23mph) today combined with the high temperatures. So after a sleepless night thinking about riding in the winds and listening to the gusts hitting the tent overnight. I got up at 5am and had a cup of tea with Peter and was ready to ride at 6pm. All was fine until I reached Seligman when the wind caused some issues. I stopped for a cooked breakfast about 17 miles outside Kingman.... tasted great.

I rode the last bit of the I-40 with 20 mph winds and finally arrived at Kingman - nerves shattered... I am staying in a Motel with a/c for two nights before riding the next short leg to Barstow. God it is hot outside....

Enough for today....

Flagstaff AZ

Good morning dear Reader,

Well yesterday was a hot one.   I spent most of the day hiding in the shade and reading.   I was joined on the site by Peter from NZ and he is touring around the USA in a van.  So as the sun finally went down we got some beers and ice for the cooler box - and the sat and compared routes and campsites.   Then I got a text from Tomas Kucera who I had met at the OX some weeks before and so he drove over and picked me up and we went into town for a beer and something to eat (I had fish and chips - how adventurous !!).   We then retuned to the campsite and met back up with Peter and chatted for a while until was just too tired to stay up - after all I had started out yesterday and 05 something silly in the morning.

I slept reasonably well but the wind had got up and the tent was moving about a bit.   So, this morning I was up a 5:30 and in the shower - so warm and refreshing, did some laundry and then had a cup of tea with Peter.   Then we went into the nearest McDonalds for a tea and a bit to eat.  Then back to the campsite and it was still only 8:45 in the morning.   Some campers are not even out of bed yet!!

So now it is just a case of hiding in the shade again and reading and relaxing….  Tomorrow I will have to get suited and booted and head West towards Kingman - via the Planes of Fame museum - I really can not be arse today …

Tomas Lucera and OX 2018..

Later

Peter from NZ

Flagstaff AZ - again

Good morning dear Reader,

Shade, some shade, my kingdom for some shade.... as the King would have said if he lived here...

I did get up early and I was on the road by 5:30am. I had a very cool ride over to Flagstaff, arrived in good time for breakfast at the local McD's and a fuel stop before booking into the campsite.... a very busy site and only a few pitches left - all the shady ones had gone...

Anyway, booked in here for a couple of nights before continuing West. I will ride over to Valle and see the Planes of Fame tomorrow.

Looks like more reading and sleeping are the order of the day. I hope it's cooler on the coast..

Holbrook AZ - Navajo Country

Dear Reader,

It's now 2:30pm and it's too hot to venture outside the cabin.   I had a good breakfast this morning and have been hiding and sorting stuff all morning.  I am now trying to backup stuff to SD cards for safety - slow process though. Also sorting the route for the next week or so - basically going West to the coast.....  Will pop up and visit the "Planes of Fame" whilst in Flagstaff, and possibly the Hoover Dam.

Most of today has been spent reading and dozing, drinking tea and taking on lots of water.  Then some supper when it cools down.  The plan is to get up and packed early and be on the road to Flagstaff before the sun gets too unpleasant - it's only 90 miles...

Nite nite

http://nigel-grace.blogspot.co.uk/

Sedona and Holbrook AZ

Dear Reader,

I thought it would be a good idea to visit Sedona and then Holbrook's petrified forest.... oh dear another mistake ....
First of all I had forgotten it was Sunday and the world and his wife where heading down to the canyons and gorges of Sedona - they were everywhere... all the parks were showing "car park full" signs, they were parking on the side of the narrow road... I did manage to get some shopping done and then return north.   

Then I headed for Holbrook and as usual the wind started and the temperature rose - why would I not expect that.....

Found the site and have taken a cabin with a fridge, microwave and an a/c unit... sorted...

I found this photo on the camera from the night I spent in Beaver....

So here I am in the middle of the desert and l can still hear the lonesome train whistles...

Anyway I should not be here and will return to Flagstaff on Tuesday morning....   silly Brit ...

One good thing is that they have a cowboy cafe on site the does meals and breakfasts....

Nite nite

Hiding in the woods in Flagstaff

It's a nice REI tent I bought whilst here - I don't really want to take it home!! Any offers? I finish in LA...

Flagstaff Arizona

Good morning dear Reader,
Well yesterday was a knackering day, I rode from Beaver in Nevada to Page in Utah then Page to Flagstaff Arizona - I think that's right. The first bit was fine with good roads, lots a forests and views, but then once I reached Page and refuelled and then turned South..... well the heat went up and up and the side winds did too.... and we got stopped at roadworks and were just sat there in the middle of nowhere for 30 minutes with no shade, OMG is all I can say... at one stage the winds kept alternating from the left over to the ride - I was all over the road... I was so thankful to see the hills and forest as I approached Flagstaff....

I arrived at Woodys Mountain campsite a physical wreck... I just about managed to put the tent up and I hit the sleeping bag and fell fast asleep, even with the endless trains running by the site...

After a great shower this morning and a borito and coffee, and at least three pints of water I am starting to feel better. I am currently lounging on a lounger at the back of the laundry, in the shade with a breeze and reading my e-Reader - I think the book is entitled "those two idiots" and is about a motorcycle trip through Europe, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan... well that as far as they have got so far....

I will be riding out to Holbrook tomorrow and will then decide where next.... the heat is a great factor so I will need to look at the options.... but for the moment I am chillin if that is possible in this heat - mind you they all flock to Flagstaff as it is in the mountains and away from the high heat further South....
I suppose one could get used to it - eventually - still better than freezing temperatures - I suppose...

Speak later

Flagstaff Arizona

Dear Reader,

No update tonight - I rode too far(320 miles), in 100+ temperatures, the last 120 across deserts with high winds - totally knackered. Managed to scare myself fartless....

Staying here for two nights - so no riding tomorrow .....

ATVs and Leviathans of the Road

Beaver Utah

Good evening dear Reader,

After such a busy day yesterday and a reasonable night, today was going to be a short one.   I left the campsite at about 7:30 and ventured into town in search of breakfast.  I found a charming little cafe and was immediately invited to sit down and chat with an elderly gentleman and we discussed many things over two eggs, hash browns and toast.  I nice chap who was driving a modern Jaguar of some mark.  He is a working poet now and has published a book - apparently  containing an ode to Tony Blair - that might be worth reading.  William Grimbald I think he said his name was - I must look him up.  He certainly new his history too.

I then departed to get fuel and get back on the road to Beaver in Utah.  Those of you that are following these 'adventures' on a map - I left Ely on the US-50 and then took the Scenic By-way (their description not mine!)  The US-21 took me through Garrison and Milford.  Not very scenic just more and more of nothing for a far as you could see but plenty of passes to climb over and the valleys; well they were just stupidly hot… Never mind your Death Valley, these were certainly over 100 degrees…. And by the time I reached Milford for more fuel the wind had picked up…. Arghhh

I am now sitting a the shade at a campsite and watching these vast RVs arrive - Leviathans of the road and usually towing and equally large vehicle behind….    Someone once told me that comfort starts at about $500,000 and they use about $160 of fuel a day…..!!!

We now have about 10 ATV buzzing around the campsite - all togged up with headsets and ballon tyres… "Lets off road"….  Oh yes and flags on long aerials… just in case..  Over the air I could that they had "have a copy - so let roll". And off they went...

I took some short videos whilst riding today and will try to post them at sometime….

Ely Nevada

Good afternoon dear Reader,
What a dreadful night at Dayton State Park - all a bit run down and the restroom some 300 yds away, no showers and my tent was so close to the US-50 it was like camping on the central reservation of the M25..... Not much sleep at all.

I was out of bed and all packed up ready to go by 6:15am. Off onto the "Loneliest Road" in the USA the US-50. It was reasonably clear all the way to Fallon with most of the traffic heading the other way towards Reno / Carson City. I stopped at Fallon for some food and water - I wish I had topped up with petrol too!!!

Then on to US-50 to Ely - miles and miles of bugger all.... as I approach the town of Austin I was running on fumes, so switched to reserve just in case... There were two sets of roads work that cost us about 25 minutes each... waiting in the heat. Finally found a Chevron Gas station just in time. Onwards through more and more miles of wilderness and mountain passes. I found another gas station at Eureka so topped up just in case.... onwards now to Ely a total of 351 miles today (6 hours with stops) but I could not be helped : this is Nevada....

Got to a campsite and had a hot shower and jumped up and down on the laundry, and ahhh a flushing toilet..

Tomorrow I will be heading to Beaver in Utah and then south to Flagstaff Arizona where I am booked in for two nights. A rest day is needed.

The view from my tent:

Dayton State Park Nevada

Good afternoon dear Reader,

An early start this morning (7:45) so missed at lot of the hot weather by mid day. I rode over empty roads through the endless forests and lakes. Stopped at Susanville for a bit to eat and some tea...

Then the long boring ride to Bordertown and then Reno Navada..... Managed to escape incident on the interstate through Reno to Carson City and finally got to the campsite at Dayton State Park about 2pm. Nothing to write home about I promise. Except that's it is very very hot - no showers and the rest room is miles away from the campsites.

Tomorrow will be a very long day as I will be riding to Ely on Route 50 - said to be the loneliest road in the US.. Miles and miles of bugger all - well we have had a few of those this trip.... I will stock up on Water and fuel at Fallon. And will go for a early start again.

Good afternoon to you...

Mount Lassen California

Good evening dear Reader,

What a excellent stay with Greg and Kirsty at McKinnleyville. Managed to shake off most of this cold, rest up and recharge my batteries, and get a flight around the area in his Cessna aircraft - how cool was that. Thanks to both of you - see you when you get to the UK.....

I hit the road this morning at 9am and rode on the 299 to Redding and then on to Mt Lassen. I did stop at Weaverville for an excellent hot lunch.

Arrived at the camp site at 2:30 which sounds early but that's 5 hours riding which in the increasing heat was enough.

Looking at the map this afternoon I have decided against riding through Death Valley, and against booking into Lake Tahoe (they want $100 for a primitive tent site) - that ain't happening.... so I am heading for a State Park near Carson City... and then to ride Route 50 to Ely for the night - then crossing over from Nevada into Utah just above Cedar City....

So that's that, in done with the thinking for today....

Nite nite all

McKinleyville - Day 3

Dear Reader,

Still here in McKinleyville.  Although still getting over this cold, I was invited to stay another day, a generous offer that I could not refuse.

Yesterday was a brilliant surprise, we took a tour around the town and had to walk around and a great breakfast.  It was the annual Oyster Festival yesterday and the town was alive and busy.  Then off for a further tour of the area in the car and we ended up at a remote airfield in Samoa and there in a lockup was Greg's aircraft.  After thorough pre-filght checks it was all aboard and down the runway and up, up and away.   We flew over the area and circled around, a brilliant flight - a little bumpy in places but nevertheless great.   We put down for fuel at Arcadia Airport and having topped up the tanks, the starter motor would not engage (!)… So we parked up the plane and got a lift back to the house.   Later Greg and the other guys that use the aircraft returned and sorted out the issue.

Later that day we all went out for a meal at the local very popular 6 Rivers Brewery - another excellent meal and I have now got my appetite back.  We returned to the house as Greg and Kristy were going out to celebrate her birthday, I decided that the best this was to stay home and rest.  I actually had another early night, and slept extremely well and did not hear them arrive home in the early hours of this morning…

I had decided to ride to Mt Lessen this morning but was persuaded to stay another day and rest….  So this morning we all drove into town for a cooked breakfast (eggs and hash browns for me) delicious.

Greg and Kirsty have now gone to recover the aircraft back to Samoa and then collect an item for his bike from Fortuna.

I decided to stay in the house and am now listening to Money Box Live on Radio 4….

Tomorrow I will ride to Mt Lessen and stay overnight and then of Tuesday I will ride to South Lake Tahoe…. and then decide where next..  but heading towards Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam and Flagstaff…

Thank you to my daughters for the Fathers Day wishes and the card….

Speak later...

McKinleyville California - Day 2...

I was not expecting this today....  great day... Many thanks Greg - you are full of surprises...