A rough Itinerary

Westie said:

OK, have done a little bit of research and I have a better idea of
what I'm planning to do.
Can anyone give me an opinion about this plan?

I'll fly into LA at the start of September and jump on a tour for a
couple of weeks. That'll satisfy my initial tourist tendencies.
When that finishes I'll go from LA to Denver and then have three
(maybe four) weeks to go riding.

I'll be on my own and I intend to be pretty casual and go where whim
takes me, staying a few days here and a few days there. I'd rather
not pin myself down with transport and accommodation bookings.
Whatever I do I have to be back in Denver for my flight out.

From Denver I head along the I70 to Grand Junction/ Fruita/Moab
spending time in places like Breckenridge etc. I expect I'll hit
Moab in the last week of September. Once I've done that I'll take
the I50 to Salida stopping at Gunnison and Crested Butte on the way.
I think that I'll skip Durango at this stage. From there I'll head
to Colorado Springs and back to Denver.

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and
that I can use without having to book ahead.
Likewise with accommodation. Budget, backpackers or B&B stuff that I
can find when I arrive in a town and that I don't have to book.

The only wrench in the works that I can think of at the moment are a
lack of accommodation, and long distances to trailheads from my
accommodation. Does anyone know off-hand about the availability of
accommodation in places like Moab and Fruita in mid-September? How
busy is it likely to be? Is getting from hotel to trailheads going
to be a problem anywhere?

Why wouldn't you want to rent/hire a car? You can get pretty decent weekly
rates if you do some research. For $25 you can join AAA here in the states
and get a very nice discount at Hertz. I had a Mazda 6 for $129 a week.
It'll cost you more for shuttle/bus services and they are few and far
between with strange schedules. You could also use the car to take you to
campsites (if you have gear) which could also save you some $$$.
Additionally, you can rent a small conversion van which has sleeping
quarters for about $250 a week. Then you don't have to worry about finding
a hotel/motel.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Ride-A-Lot said:

Why wouldn't you want to rent/hire a car? You can get pretty decent
weekly rates if you do some research. For $25 you can join AAA here
in the states and get a very nice discount at Hertz. I had a Mazda 6
for $129 a week. It'll cost you more for shuttle/bus services and
they are few and far between with strange schedules. You could also
use the car to take you to campsites (if you have gear) which could
also save you some $$$. Additionally, you can rent a small conversion
van which has sleeping quarters for about $250 a week. Then you
don't have to worry about finding a hotel/motel.

I guess I'm thinking cheap and easy. I doubt that I'll be camping as I
don't want to bring gear with me from NZ and lug it around for two weeks
before I use it. I don't really want to buy gear there either. Security
for property is also a consideration while I'm out on the trails.
I hadn't considered the car/van options before; you've now given me
something more to think about.
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Westie said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Why wouldn't you want to rent/hire a car? You can get pretty decent
weekly rates if you do some research. For $25 you can join AAA here
in the states and get a very nice discount at Hertz. I had a Mazda 6
for $129 a week. It'll cost you more for shuttle/bus services and
they are few and far between with strange schedules. You could also
use the car to take you to campsites (if you have gear) which could
also save you some $$$. Additionally, you can rent a small conversion
van which has sleeping quarters for about $250 a week. Then you
don't have to worry about finding a hotel/motel.

I guess I'm thinking cheap and easy. I doubt that I'll be camping as I
don't want to bring gear with me from NZ and lug it around for two weeks
before I use it. I don't really want to buy gear there either. Security
for property is also a consideration while I'm out on the trails.
I hadn't considered the car/van options before; you've now given me
something more to think about.

Screw the California tour. Rent a car and us Californian's will set you up
with a good itinerary before you head east. For a non-riding itinerary I'd
do something like head up the coast through Big Sur and up to San
Francisco. Then over to Tahoe and down to Yosemite, and then on to
Colorado. If you can spend more time in Calif extend that up to Redwoods
Natl Park. And in LA proper I'd be happy to give you a tour of the local
sights.

Greg

"Westie" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and that I
can use without having to book ahead.

BWAAAHAHAHAA! This is America, boy. You rent a [censored] car.

What are you, some kind of communist?

CC

Ride-A-Lot said:

Westie said:

OK, have done a little bit of research and I have a better idea of
what I'm planning to do.
Can anyone give me an opinion about this plan?

I'll fly into LA at the start of September and jump on a tour for a
couple of weeks. That'll satisfy my initial tourist tendencies.
When that finishes I'll go from LA to Denver and then have three
(maybe four) weeks to go riding.

I'll be on my own and I intend to be pretty casual and go where whim
takes me, staying a few days here and a few days there. I'd rather
not pin myself down with transport and accommodation bookings.
Whatever I do I have to be back in Denver for my flight out.

From Denver I head along the I70 to Grand Junction/ Fruita/Moab
spending time in places like Breckenridge etc. I expect I'll hit
Moab in the last week of September. Once I've done that I'll take
the I50 to Salida stopping at Gunnison and Crested Butte on the way.
I think that I'll skip Durango at this stage. From there I'll head
to Colorado Springs and back to Denver.

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and
that I can use without having to book ahead.
Likewise with accommodation. Budget, backpackers or B&B stuff that I
can find when I arrive in a town and that I don't have to book.

The only wrench in the works that I can think of at the moment are a
lack of accommodation, and long distances to trailheads from my
accommodation. Does anyone know off-hand about the availability of
accommodation in places like Moab and Fruita in mid-September? How
busy is it likely to be? Is getting from hotel to trailheads going
to be a problem anywhere?

Why wouldn't you want to rent/hire a car? You can get pretty decent
weekly rates if you do some research. For $25 you can join AAA here
in the states and get a very nice discount at Hertz. I had a Mazda 6
for $129 a week. It'll cost you more for shuttle/bus services and
they are few and far between with strange schedules. You could also
use the car to take you to campsites (if you have gear) which could
also save you some $$$. Additionally, you can rent a small conversion
van which has sleeping quarters for about $250 a week. Then you
don't have to worry about finding a hotel/motel.

What he's really trying to say is that pulbic transportation in the US can
really suck.

Penny

Westie said:

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and
that I can use without having to book ahead.
Likewise with accommodation. Budget, backpackers or B&B stuff that I
can find when I arrive in a town and that I don't have to book.

The only wrench in the works that I can think of at the moment are a
lack of accommodation, and long distances to trailheads from my
accommodation. Does anyone know off-hand about the availability of
accommodation in places like Moab and Fruita in mid-September? How
busy is it likely to be? Is getting from hotel to trailheads going
to be a problem anywhere?

Local bus service rarely exists outside metorpolitan areas. Based on your
itinerary, I can't imagine not having a car. The assumption of bus service
might be a bit of a stretch particularly in the CO destinations you are
planning to hit. You can probably find decent accomodation in most places,
but getting from point A to point B without a car is going to be tough.
Likewise, you might want to check the mileage scales between LA and CO.
Youre talking a 15-20 hour drive from LA to Denver by car. Longer by bus.
Getting from hotel to trailhead without a car is going to be nearly
impossible unless you plan on riding your bike.

To reiterate what Corvus said. "This is America, boy. You rent a [censored]
car." Like it or not, its how we get around, particularly in the western
states. On a brighter note, car rentals tend to be cheaper in the US than
in other parts of the world. It will have to be included in a budget, but
it might not be as bad as you imagine.

Tom

On 5 Jun 2004 06:33:29 -0700, [email hidden] (Corvus Corvax)
blathered:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and that I
can use without having to book ahead.

BWAAAHAHAHAA! This is America, boy. You rent a [censored] car.

And remember to turn onto the wrong side of the road at the first
junction after you come off I70. It would be difficult to do a trip
within your time limit, without a car, where you did much riding other
than plugging along roads from one location to the next. CC is right.

I did a 3 week Moab/Colorado trip in 2001, late Sept/early Oct. Best
part was Durango, Fruita and especially Crested Butte. The stuff I did
at these places, inevitably an exercise in cherry picking given time
constraints, was not hugely technical but still very enjoyable riding.
I would like to return to this area for a longer trip one day.
Altitude is a factor to bear in mind. Moab was a disappointment on
most levels.

Many towns (e.g. Durango) have campsites nearby analagous to the $5
DoC campsites in NZ - basic but adequate, with an honesty box. There
does not seem to be the backpacker hostel style network you will be
familiar with from NZ, although Crested Butte does have one such
place, $20/night, that is pleasant.

Pete

On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 15:04:34 +1200, "Westie"
<[email hidden]> blathered:

Quoted message said:

OK, have done a little bit of research and I have a better idea of what I'm
planning to do.
Can anyone give me an opinion about this plan?

Back, for a limited time only:
http://www.btinternet.com/~peteajones/USA-mtb/

Quoted message said:

I'll fly into LA at the start of September and jump on a tour for a couple
of weeks. That'll satisfy my initial tourist tendencies.
When that finishes I'll go from LA to Denver and then have three (maybe
four) weeks to go riding.

I'll be on my own and I intend to be pretty casual and go where whim takes
me, staying a few days here and a few days there. I'd rather not pin myself
down with transport and accommodation bookings. Whatever I do I have to be
back in Denver for my flight out.

From Denver I head along the I70 to Grand Junction/ Fruita/Moab spending
time in places like Breckenridge etc. I expect I'll hit Moab in the last
week of September. Once I've done that I'll take the I50 to Salida stopping
at Gunnison and Crested Butte on the way. I think that I'll skip Durango at
this stage. From there I'll head to Colorado Springs and back to Denver.

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and that I
can use without having to book ahead.
Likewise with accommodation. Budget, backpackers or B&B stuff that I can
find when I arrive in a town and that I don't have to book.

The only wrench in the works that I can think of at the moment are a lack of
accommodation, and long distances to trailheads from my accommodation. Does
anyone know off-hand about the availability of accommodation in places like
Moab and Fruita in mid-September? How busy is it likely to be? Is getting
from hotel to trailheads going to be a problem anywhere?

Pete

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Xpkwc.4718$wS2.4048@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

To reiterate what Corvus said. "This is America, boy. You rent a [censored]
car."

Yep, due to the greedy capitalist oil and auto industry lobbying the commie
public transportation infrastructure out of existence here in the West back
in the 40s we're stuck with a worthless 300 yard subway that cost 78 billion
dollars to build here in LA. The only city's public transportation that
survived in California was San Francisco.

Greg

Pete Jones said:

On 5 Jun 2004 06:33:29 -0700, [email hidden] (Corvus Corvax)
blathered:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use
and that I can use without having to book ahead.

BWAAAHAHAHAA! This is America, boy. You rent a [censored] car.

<grin>

Quoted message said:

And remember to turn onto the wrong side of the road at the first
junction after you come off I70. It would be difficult to do a trip
within your time limit, without a car, where you did much riding other
than plugging along roads from one location to the next. CC is right.

I'm really don't want to try to drive in the bigger cities but I guess where
I'm going it should be OK. I thought that there would be a better transport
network - buses or something scooting regularly between towns.
Looks like a car is it.

Quoted message said:

I did a 3 week Moab/Colorado trip in 2001, late Sept/early Oct. Best
part was Durango, Fruita and especially Crested Butte. The stuff I did
at these places, inevitably an exercise in cherry picking given time
constraints, was not hugely technical but still very enjoyable riding.
I would like to return to this area for a longer trip one day.
Altitude is a factor to bear in mind. Moab was a disappointment on
most levels.

I've considered altitude. I'm coming from sea level here in NZ too. I'm
not sure how much of a problem it will be and I can't see that I can avoid
it.

Quoted message said:

Many towns (e.g. Durango) have campsites nearby analagous to the $5
DoC campsites in NZ - basic but adequate, with an honesty box. There
does not seem to be the backpacker hostel style network you will be
familiar with from NZ, although Crested Butte does have one such
place, $20/night, that is pleasant.

I take it that you travelled with camping gear? I've got camping gear but
figured it would be a hassle dragging it around on aeroplanes. Any
suggestions, like buy the tent there or something?
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Pete Jones said:

On 5 Jun 2004 06:33:29 -0700, [email hidden] (Corvus Corvax)
blathered:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use
and that I can use without having to book ahead.

BWAAAHAHAHAA! This is America, boy. You rent a [censored] car.

<grin>

Quoted message said:

And remember to turn onto the wrong side of the road at the first
junction after you come off I70. It would be difficult to do a trip
within your time limit, without a car, where you did much riding other
than plugging along roads from one location to the next. CC is right.

I'm really don't want to try to drive in the bigger cities but I guess where
I'm going it should be OK. I thought that there would be a better transport
network - buses or something scooting regularly between towns.
Looks like a car is it.

Quoted message said:

I did a 3 week Moab/Colorado trip in 2001, late Sept/early Oct. Best
part was Durango, Fruita and especially Crested Butte. The stuff I did
at these places, inevitably an exercise in cherry picking given time
constraints, was not hugely technical but still very enjoyable riding.
I would like to return to this area for a longer trip one day.
Altitude is a factor to bear in mind. Moab was a disappointment on
most levels.

I've considered altitude. I'm coming from sea level here in NZ too. I'm
not sure how much of a problem it will be and I can't see that I can avoid
it.

Quoted message said:

Many towns (e.g. Durango) have campsites nearby analagous to the $5
DoC campsites in NZ - basic but adequate, with an honesty box. There
does not seem to be the backpacker hostel style network you will be
familiar with from NZ, although Crested Butte does have one such
place, $20/night, that is pleasant.

I take it that you travelled with camping gear? I've got camping gear but
figured it would be a hassle dragging it around on aeroplanes. Any
suggestions, like buy the tent there or something?
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

tcmedara said:

Westie said:

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that there are plenty of bus services that I can use and
that I can use without having to book ahead.
Likewise with accommodation. Budget, backpackers or B&B stuff that I
can find when I arrive in a town and that I don't have to book.

The only wrench in the works that I can think of at the moment are a
lack of accommodation, and long distances to trailheads from my
accommodation. Does anyone know off-hand about the availability of
accommodation in places like Moab and Fruita in mid-September? How
busy is it likely to be? Is getting from hotel to trailheads going
to be a problem anywhere?

Local bus service rarely exists outside metorpolitan areas. Based on
your itinerary, I can't imagine not having a car. The assumption of
bus service might be a bit of a stretch particularly in the CO
destinations you are planning to hit. You can probably find decent
accomodation in most places, but getting from point A to point B
without a car is going to be tough. Likewise, you might want to check
the mileage scales between LA and CO. Youre talking a 15-20 hour
drive from LA to Denver by car. Longer by bus. Getting from hotel to
trailhead without a car is going to be nearly impossible unless you
plan on riding your bike.

I'm planning on flying into, and out of, Denver. Distances to trailheads is
important. I wasn't sure if I could just bike a few miles or would need a
car.

Quoted message said:

To reiterate what Corvus said. "This is America, boy. You rent a
[censored] car." Like it or not, its how we get around, particularly in
the western states. On a brighter note, car rentals tend to be
cheaper in the US than in other parts of the world. It will have to
be included in a budget, but it might not be as bad as you imagine.

I'll start checking prices.
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Pete Jones said:

On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 15:04:34 +1200, "Westie"
<[email hidden]> blathered:

Quoted message said:

OK, have done a little bit of research and I have a better idea of
what I'm planning to do.
Can anyone give me an opinion about this plan?

Back, for a limited time only:
http://www.btinternet.com/~peteajones/USA-mtb/

Nice. It answered quite a few of my questions. And it gives me confidence
to see that someone-else has done it before me and lived to tell the tale.
Thanks for posting that.
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Xpkwc.4718$wS2.4048@okepread03...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

To reiterate what Corvus said. "This is America, boy. You rent a [censored]
car."

Yep, due to the greedy capitalist oil and auto industry lobbying the commie
public transportation infrastructure out of existence here in the West back
in the 40s we're stuck with a worthless 300 yard subway that cost 78 billion
dollars to build here in LA. The only city's public transportation that
survived in California was San Francisco.

Greg

San Jose, but San Diego isn't bad either. MUNI sucks.

R

Pete Jones said:

Back, for a limited time only:
http://www.btinternet.com/~peteajones/USA-mtb/

Pete

Classic: "I believe each passenger should just be allowed a 'total
weight' allowance - you AND your bags. So if you're a fat [censored] - you
have to pay excess lardage. Sounds eminently sensible to me."

ROTFLMAO
--
Slacker

Westie said:

I'm really don't want to try to drive in the bigger cities but I guess where
I'm going it should be OK.

Don't sweat it... it's not that big of a deal. We (Los Angeles) probably
have the largest population of idiot drivers anywhere. Just yesterday: I
was driving down the street with one of those idiot Harley moto riders
next to me. The bonehead whips out a cell (one hand on the handlebar)
and starts dialing. All this while attempted a lane change without
looking. The dumb ass almost side swiped a car that was in the lane he
tried to go into.

I have to confess, I did experience intense, perverse pleasure from the
above scene. I hate, hate, hate Harleys and the sorry wretches that ride
the obnoxious pieces of [censored].

--
Slacker

Slacker said:

I have to confess, I did experience intense, perverse pleasure from
the above scene. I hate, hate, hate Harleys and the sorry wretches
that ride the obnoxious pieces of [censored].

Well, you'll be pleased to hear this story then. A friend of mine was
heading down to a Motorcycle Rally a couple of days ago. He left late and
it was dark with a full moon.

He tried to outrace a cop. He flicked the lights off and used the light of
the moon to see. His old Harley promptly blew up as he hit the gas so the
chase was over before it started. He ended up with a $550 fine for his
troubles and was stuck in the middle of nowhere in the dark in wet, cold
sleet waiting for the tow-truck the cop called in for.

He also owes another mate a few beers because he had to travel 400 miles and
back in an equally old Chevy pickup to go get him and the bike.
--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Westie said:

Slacker said:

I have to confess, I did experience intense, perverse pleasure from
the above scene. I hate, hate, hate Harleys and the sorry wretches
that ride the obnoxious pieces of [censored].

Well, you'll be pleased to hear this story then. A friend of mine was
heading down to a Motorcycle Rally a couple of days ago. He left late and
it was dark with a full moon.

He tried to outrace a cop. He flicked the lights off and used the light of
the moon to see. His old Harley promptly blew up as he hit the gas so the
chase was over before it started. He ended up with a $550 fine for his
troubles and was stuck in the middle of nowhere in the dark in wet, cold
sleet waiting for the tow-truck the cop called in for.

He also owes another mate a few beers because he had to travel 400 miles and
back in an equally old Chevy pickup to go get him and the bike.

Send your friend my, HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

A police chase in sleepy NZ ?? How can that be... what did he do, steal
some farmer's sheep? That thing must've weighed a ton after it go all
wet. Maybe that's what blew the engine??

--
Slacker

Slacker said:

Quoted message said:

He also owes another mate a few beers because he had to travel 400
miles and back in an equally old Chevy pickup to go get him and the
bike.

Send your friend my, HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

A police chase in sleepy NZ ?? How can that be... what did he do,
steal some farmer's sheep?

No such luck. I think it was a cow.
It was doubly amusing because the guys had been discussing tactics just last
Saturday night at the Pub. They'd decided that the best way to deal with a
police chase was to turn the lights off and put the pedal to the metal. He
did exactly as planned. Brilliant.

Quoted message said:

That thing must've weighed a ton after it
go all wet. Maybe that's what blew the engine??

I actually think that it might have been him. He's no lightweight.
Especially in a wet full leathers.

--
Westie
(Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)