New Adventures

And you thought there must be no trip this year!  This trip was probably the earliest ever planned.  Flights were booked in January, and now the time is finally here.

The trip is a six day trip through Death Valley National Park, short by comparison to the past three years which was what made it attractive.

No staffing duties this year.  Just ride from point A to point B every day.

Sounds good, right?  I have to admit I feel this is probably the least prepared I've ever been.  Overall mileage is just under 200 for the week (1/2 of a RAGBRAI); but if you're a biker, your mind is saying there must be alot of climbing.  The itinerary looks like a couple of challenging days, the most so being the final day to get out of the valley with 3000' of climb.

At this point it is what it is.  The weather in Iowa is not as bike friendly as what it has been, so all biking prep has stopped.  We had our first snow last Friday.  Temps at Furnace Creek have just dropped below 100 degrees this week.  I've been re-acquainting myself with the local gym this week; and yes, I can barely walk.  My bike is waiting in Las Vegas, having arrived there last Thursday.  The shop there will re-assemble it, and picking it up will be the first order of business when I arrive.

There are 17 riders on this trip.  I don't recognize any names on the guest list.  

We assemble in Las Vegas, overnighting at Red Rock Casino Resort.  We'll shuttle two hours the first day to Rhyolite, now a ghost town; and from there we bike down into the valley.  We'll spend two nights at Stovepipe Wells and two nights at Furnace Creek Ranch.

I hope for dry weather, warmer temperatures (which would be anything north of 40), good riding and a safe trip for all the riders.

Training this season has been in small increments, wherever and whenever there was an opportunity.

St Louis

St Louis

Dubuque

Dubuque