Just got back from three weeks at our new place in New Smyrna Beach. The first day we were there we popped over to Lake Mary and bought Townies, I pedaled that thing everywhere, FL weather rocks!!Quote:
Originally Posted by BlessedB
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Just got back from three weeks at our new place in New Smyrna Beach. The first day we were there we popped over to Lake Mary and bought Townies, I pedaled that thing everywhere, FL weather rocks!!Quote:
Originally Posted by BlessedB
Pax, that is great!
It's a good time of year to be in Arizona. I was on Christmas break from teaching through Jan 4, and got in about 125 miles. This week, I got in one after work ride (15 miles), 44 yesterday and 39 today. The weather this weekend was great for cycling- mid-40's to start and to mid-60's to near 70 later, and mostly sunny and dry, so it feels warmer. Jan 2 was really cold for us but I braved it when I rode in to work - temps in the 30's on the way in, and about 42 on the way home. Toes were cold but I managed everything else okay.
It was like being a little kid again and getting a new bike for Christmas!Quote:
Originally Posted by salsabike
:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Well I guess it’s too easy for me to change my mind. I’d been planning on doing an organized 200k this past weekend but when Sky King posted about her ride in that texas desert area I felt the need to ride in the Mojave desert again…..this is also a good time of the year to do it. So, we did our own 200k ride (+ a couple) leaving from and coming back to furnace creek in death valley national park on saturday. A long days ride, thankfully with little wind and traffic, but beautiful scenery in the quiet and peace of a desert, very good massages when we got back to the furnace creek inn and a sky with an incredible amount of bright stars in it that night. The next day we just rode up to dante’s view, with its up to 15% grade the last 3 miles, to watch the sunrise over the valley and on the way back to the furnace creek inn we rode artists drive and into the badwater basin with its salt flats. It was cloudy with an on/off very light rain on Sunday morning which didn’t bother me as the views were so incredible……and lots of rain on the drive home later Sunday. Temp’s in the high 40’s both mornings and high 50’s to low 60’s each afternoon. My first time in death valley and I’m definitely going back as there are so many great area’s in the national park that I want to come back to explore more.
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Fascinating and beautiful photos, rebecca!
Just breath-taking pictures, truly! We were in Death Valley a few years ago. It was late May...and already 110 degrees... at 7:00 pm. We did do a short ride just to say we did it, but it was not a good idea at all, ha ha. But I didn't expect to find it as beautiful as it was...not really a desert person, but it WAS tremendously beautiful. I would love to go back in more temperate weather to ride. How lucky you are rebecca! And not a car in sight!
As always, beautiful photos, Rebecca! The red rock formations remind me of Bryce Canyon and Canyon de Chelly.
Holy cow, Rebecca, gorgeous pictures!!
Oh man I miss traveling West. Beautiful. So many good memories there. Every turn we'd take we'd be saying "wow" "OMG", etc... we sort of lost our vocabulary. haha
We have a month again this summer and wanted to travel (motorhome) since gas is so cheap (and should stay by summer). But our exchange rate is nearing 25%. So I may decide to travel in Canada instead but certainly will miss all of that. Not the same on Canadian side.
Was trying to find out cycling paths for Manitoba and nothing was looking good. Prove me wrong ladies!!! hihi
We haven't been to Death Valley since Oct. 2003. We always went in the fall. We keep meaning to go back in the spring, but there are SO many places to go to and only so much vacation time!
How was the Inn? Lodging in National Parks always seems a little overpriced to us for the type of room you get.
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Death Valley in the fall - a little warmer, but still comfortable. :)
Veronica
Love the photos! We came back to a horrible January inversion and I haven't seen the sun for almost two weeks.
Traffic looks good :) When we were there in 2013 we realized the week between Christmas and New Years was not prime for biking
Nice to see you could ride to Artist Drive, etc. If I close my eyes I can "hear" the desert. Thanks for posting
Funny, I haven't thought about Canyon de Chelly in years. Never in terms of beauty, but back in the day, we'd always say that's where we'd end up if we couldn't get a teaching job in the city!
Not to mention, it's always the spot where the weatherman states the lowest temperature in the state!
Thanks for the nice comments!!
Marie, the valleys red rock canyon has some amazing geologic visuals very much like Bryce!
And this + a trillion
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleTree
Veronica, finding the Inn with a massage for after Saturdays ride is what tipped me quickly into doing it. The Inn is an older building. What I saw of it was being nicely preserved. I’d think the expensive part is because of the location. The location is also great for short or long rides into some incredible landscapes.
Artist Drive was another world especially on a bike ….and thank youQuote:
Originally Posted by Sky King
We've stayed at Stove Pipe Wells and at the Ranch on previous visits to Death Valley. I like the cabins at the Ranch. They're tiny and only have a shower, but they are REALLY quiet since you only have neighbors on one side. The Inn's prices are in line with the cost to stay at most of the nicer hotels at National Parks, but those nicer hotels don't seem to have much sound proofing between rooms! :D Of course, I don't think either of those places offer massage.
You have to go back. There's so much good hiking there.
Veronica