Bilco's Coast to Coast trip 2015

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Thanks a million for these great reports and photos!

 

[Wrinkly]

Cracking

 

[UturnTony]

Hey all, here is my daily blog throughout the trip, just my take on things...

https://usabiketrip.wordpress.com/

Dave

I wish i had the discipline to do that kind of thing Dave



Another great report Chris and you really do seem to know the what, when and where of taking pictures

 

[BRD]

Great report.

I love the desert South West, must go again!!

Just wondering - did you buy a National Parks Annual Pass?

Reading Shedboy's blog it suggests that he didn't, which seems a bit odd.

 

[newboy]

I did last year - $80 for a year for 2 bikes...

Halved my costs and make sure the other bike scribbles their name

By the time they explain they have to get off and find their driving license/passport in the luggage they wave you through

 

[shedboy]

We were meaning to buy the parks pass and in hindsight we should have done, as it was a lot pricier paying the individual entry fees.... next time i will tho

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Two really good write ups both really enjoyable.
Still putting me spare change in a big whisky bottle 2 gallon job .Will take a few years but one day , one day. In the meantime will live the dream through your trip reports ,keep em coming

 

[Phil Magill]

Hey all, here is my daily blog throughout the trip, just my take on things...

https://usabiketrip.wordpress.com/

Dave

Great write up Dave, brought back some great memories.


I must get the finger out and sort out my photos and videos.


Phil.

 

[shedboy]

Cheers Phil, been keepin an eye on your webpage for your report

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Just realised that I haven't finished this! Getting as bad as Skygod.

After Hoover Dam it was time for the superb and weird Death Valley. We left very early and there had been a wee bit of rain and it was drizzling when we left. It's not rain like we know it and more like a warm shower but was gone very quickly. We went through the very quiet Las Vegas and had breakfast in a fine little cafe in a small town called Shoshone on the outskirts of the Valley.

A stop at the sign before the descent into the oven.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

And now into Death Valley and no matter how many times you go there it takes your breath away. It was a relatively cool 42 degrees C which after yesterdays brutal 48 degrees it felt nice and cool. It's a huge expanse of dust and salt flats and goes down to 282 feet below sea level. Quite a contrast from the 14,000ft plus altitude we were at at Pikes Peak a week or so previously.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As you leave Death Valley, the views behind are just as good and you climb to around 4000ft in very short order. Got caught in some roadworks which isn't nice when it's around 40 degrees but all worth it when we get to Frosty's and an excellent milk shake

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A little run up Highway 385 past Mono Lake and to an abandoned gold mining town called Bodie. This place was abandoned in around 1911 when the gold seams ran out and for a few years was amongst the richest places in California. Fascinating to walk around all the old buildings and learn what life was like way back then.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We left Bodie and back past Mono Lake which is a lovely sight as you approach from the north. A nice cup of coffee in Lee Vining before heading up to Yosemite National Park via the East Entrance at 10,000ft.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

So, into the famous Yosemite National Park which has to be on everyone's bucket list. It really is a fantastic place with a huge variety of stunning scenery every which way you look. Because of this, it's also one of the most popular NP's so the centre especially is very busy. I've been lucky enough to go when it's very quiet but the scenery is the same no matter how many people are there.

Pictures, especially mine, unfortunately do not do Yosemite any justice whatsoever.

 

[GS-Jonesy]

A little run up Highway 385 past Mono Lake and to an abandoned gold mining town called Bodie. This place was abandoned in around 1911 when the gold seams ran out and for a few years was amongst the richest places in California. Fascinating to walk around all the old buildings and learn what life was like way back then.

Now that takes me back!! My wife and I spent 3 weeks driving around the SW states for our honeymoon in May/June 2010. We stumbled across Bodie whilst driving south on the 395. It was a literally a list minute decision to go and visit and one of the best calls we made all trip. One of the volunteers there had lived in Llangollen, North Wales for 6 months in his youth. This is only a few miles from where I grew up so we started chatting and he ended up giving us an informal tour and spent a couple of hours telling us about the town and its history. Incredible place.

We now have a 4 ft canvass of one of my wife's pics (shes pretty handy with a camera) from Bodie on the wall in our house.

Awesome trip by the way. Just lost 45 minutes (that I should have spent reviewing a report) drooling at the screen and trying to figure out I might convince the Mrs to let me do a trip like this. With a 2 yr old and one due in the spring I don't fancy my chances any time soon!!

Thanks for taking the time to share

 

[newboy]

I was there in 2014 and it is a beautiful area...

Mono Lake is a sizzler of an area - the lake is shrinking due to water demands - little rain for ~5 years...


Lake Tenaya on the pass is a godsend...


As usual the saffer I was with was straight in!!


Tioga Pass is beautiful

(not my pic)

 

[Sgt Bilco]

One of the volunteers there had lived in Llangollen, North Wales for 6 months in his youth. This is only a few miles from where I grew up so we started chatting and he ended up giving us an informal tour and spent a couple of hours telling us about the town and its history. Incredible place.

He's still there and I was chatting to him at the entrance this year.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Great RR Chris, thanx for taking the time to post.
Eventually.

 

[lmg]

Continual water extraction for farms in the California basin is reeking havoc in the area. Which bright spark thought it would be good to farm in a near desert area?

Superb pix by the way Bilko - "envy" doesn't quite cover what im feeling