Bill and Joan's
Bike Adventure
May 3 2000
Well I just got back from a week's worth of cycling and I am happy to say
that I survived despite many hazards. See the photos to right. Click on most
of these photos for a larger rendition.
We started Thursday a week ago. From Durango we rode to Shiprock and then
onto Flagstaff.
Contrary to reports of much slacking in Flagstaff we found it to be tidy and
prompt.
Our first overnight was Oak Creek Canyon above Sedona both of these places
are tourist Meccas, but Oak Creek Canyon is beautiful and mostly unspoiled
by Kokopelli shops.
Bikers beware the driving here can be addictive.
Day two took us all the way from Oak Creek to San Diego, via Jerome, Prescott,
Congress, Blythe, Palm Desert and Finally Temecula...
The shortcut from Oak Creek to Congress, AZ has two world class sections of
twisties. The scenery is beautiful and it cuts about 50 miles off the freeway.
Forget about saving time. It adds one or two hours.
Out in the California Desert we encountered a nasty sand storm that was streaming
sand across the freeway. This picture snapped after the storm had passed us.
Finally we made it to San Diego, where some really cool chicks had to sit
on my bike. (I always let the babes sit on my bike).
Then we preceded to LA, where Joan rocked on learning to skate.
Day one of the return took us from LA to the Grand Canyon. Even starting at
sunup, we found ourselves driving through the desert at midday. The heat was
positively dangerous. I didn't know which would cook first, my feet our my
brains.
The Colorado River was a lifesaver. Anyone crossing the desert should stop
for a dip here (even if they are driving an air conditioned car.)
Finally, we made it to the canyon. Some things never change.
On our last day, we tooled home via 160 with a detour up through monument
valley. Now that they have paved McElmo Canyon Road from Bluff to Cortez,
the detour was fairly cheap. Watch for damage and gravel if you go the McElmo
Canyon route.
