Death Valley Junction

Wow!  That is almost all I can say about riding to the Death Valley Junction.  I wasn't sure how the ride would go but I knew the climb would be long.  We started out at 7:15 am for our first stop which was at Zabriske Point, one of the most famous lookout points over Death Valley.  We met there for a group photo.  Its a great place for anyone to take in the vastness of Death Valley.

Pam, Jill and Angie showing off their calves

View from Zabriske Point

But Zabriske Point was at the 5 mile checkpoint and we still had another 15 miles to ride up.  Thankfully the climb seems to be around 4% which is doable but it is a long slog.  I was never so glad to see the 2000 foot marker knowing I only had a 1000 ft left to climb, but that 1000 ft seemed to take a while.  Once at the top, there was another van waiting for us before we started off for the next 10 miles.  I was so glad to see the top.

The long road down

Me at 3000 feet

We flew down the next 10 miles to Death Valley Junction even though there was quite a cross wind.  I guess we can't escape the winds even up here.  I knew we would feel it on the way back.  Once in town, we stopped for pie at the cafe.  We missed the inpromptu opera aria by Jill and Chris but we were glad to make it to the turnaround point.

Pam waiting for everyone to get moving at the cafe at Amargosa

The next 10 miles back were a little slow due to the wind but the grade never got more then 3%.  Once you hit the 3000 ft marker again, you literally screamed down the top.  What a rush it was to speed down the hill.  The descent seemed to go on forever.  I have to admit that I need to work on my downhills skills since I didn't go over 31 mph but Pam was flying down the hill.  I never saw her after a point and I am sure she was really cooking out there.  I think I probably enjoyed this ride the best out of the three rides we have done so far.  There is nothing like getting the reward of flying down a hill after climbing it.

A stop at the official entrance sign

Our last ride for the camp is on Thursday where we ride to Hells Gate.  This ride will be a little steeper and less elevation gain but hard nevertheless.  Its a good thing we have yoga after each ride here since I can't even begin to describe how sore I am.  I would probably be a lot worse if we didn't stretch after these rides.

Stovepipe Wells Plus

Well today was proof that the wind does not really leave Death Valley.  Pam has always described the wind here but I always thought it just was a one day here or there.  Today it was back again but not as wicked as it was on Sunday.  You could notice how the wind is a factor in riding when we compared our time riding out on Sunday and riding today.  We were much faster today.

Today was a great ride since a good part of it was flat and the grades never got above 4%.  So riding out to Stovepipe Wells was a nice ride despite the wind.  A good part of the road was newly paved which is always what cyclists dream of riding on.  Plus even if we were riding up, we knew we were going to get a good reward on the way back.

Our turnaround just ahead

I was considering the ride up the Wildrose since it would only take me out a little further.  I asked Steve about this and he said it was only around 4%.  But obviously I asked the wrong person since it was only 4% for a quarter of a mile.  It was actually 6% to 8% the whole way up for 8 miles  I am just not used to riding grades like this for very long.  I gave it my best shot but after 6 miles I had enough and I still had to make my way back.  Thankfully it was all downhill from there and by the end I had my 62 miles for the day.

The hill up to Wildrose

More of the Wildrose hill

One thing I will mention is that I seem to have a poor perception regarding distances here.   Since there are such wide open spaces that you can view, it is easy to think a distance may be only about a few miles away.  However because the roads wind a bit it isn't easy for me to tell how far I am away from something.  I have my Garmin to tell me how much I rode and how much is left but sometimes it doesn't seem to match what I am seeing.  Maybe it has something to do with mirages in the desert.

I mentioned earlier that there are such interesting people here.  One of the people I have met through Pam and Dave is Steve Barnes who helps do SAG for the riders.  This guy has some amazing stories and is a great story teller.  Last night we sat around for what seemed like hours as he told us his story about doing the Furnace 508 in 2009.  For many who don't know about this race, it is a race of 508 miles on a bike but it must be done within 48 hours.  It is held in October and only 240 participants do it as either a two man or 4 man relay team where their time on the bike is split between 8 segments.  Anyone who does this is a really amazing cyclist especially when they have to do this through the night.

Steve who has done it many times told us such a great story about how the 2009 race had such high winds that gusted up to 50 mph I believe and how he persevered even when other riders took shelter in their crew vans.  The other amazing thing was that he did this race on an old bike with 6 speeds.  Just shows you how strong of a rider he really is.  But he told us such an incredible story that you wanted to know more.  Hopefully he will continue to tell us more of his stories.

Tomorrow should be interesting since we are riding out to Zabriske Point.  We are meeting for a group photo and then we all have to decide on whether we go on to the Death Valley Junction which means climbing to 3000 feet.  I hope I will have my legs back for tomorrow for I surely want to make it.  Should be another fun day of riding.

Artists Drive

Wow!  Artists Drive was not exactly what I was expecting for Death Valley.  I know that you can only go up but REALLY, riding up where the grade goes between 10% and 12%, that was hard.  The ride out to Artists Drive is a nice set of rollers and then you turn left and you just climb.  The climb is also deceiving since you go around bends in the road and just when you think it is over, the hill keeps going.  There are a few dips in the road which are fun to ride through.  Of course the real kicker of the ride is that once you take in the beautiful view of Artists Palette and go right, you would hope it just means you get your reward.  But NO, you have to climb a little more as you make your way around the peaks.  Talk about some canyon riding.  No wonder why they only allow a single lane.  But like all rides that involve a climb, at least you finally get your reward down and we earned it.

Road ribbons through Death Valley

Me, Angie, Pam, Jason and Dave at the start of Artists Drive

Climbing on Artists Drive 

Quick stop on the way to Artists Palette

Don't look behind! 

Sometimes when you are taking in Death Valley, you have to ask yourself if this is what Mars is like.  So much of it seems completely uninhabitable.  Before gearing up for the ride to Artists Palette, we decided to check out two salt plains.  One of which is called Devil's Golf Course.  Sometimes you have to wonder who comes up with these names.  Anyway, there is salt dried up on mud as far as the eye can see.  From a distance it looks just white like snow or water, but up close the salt covers the tops of the crevices of dried mud.  As Dave would say, you could not find your golf ball if you even tried to play here.

Salt, salt everywhere

How I would imagine Mars would look like

Another place we stopped at was Badwater Basin which is the lowest point in North America.  Unlike Devil's Golf Course, the area is flat and sometimes it seems like we were walking on ice or snow.  The area is fed by a spring-fed pool.  Although it is undrinkable, there are animals and plans that survive in its water.

Lowest point in Death Valley

Hard to believe there was water here 

More salt

First Ride

Well the high winds were still with us in Death Valley today.  It was the common theme no matter where we went.  After catching breakfast we all got together for our first ride before the camp started.  We were all itching to take a ride even if it was short.  Since the winds would be a factor, we rode out right into the headwinds.  We decided it would be better to fight the wind in the beginning and then ride in it on the way back.  Although the winds were hard, it was fantastic riding on such great pavement.  Not a pot hole or road side garbage in sight.  Why can't I have roads like this back home.  Oh that's right, we have a think called snow.  Well it was nice for a chance not to have to ride in that.  Anyway, we road out on a great road and took in the views.  

One thing I do have to remember is to use sunscreen which I forgot to wear.  I was lucky that it wasn't too hot and that we weren't out for long.  Even in the 60s, you could feel the heat.  I will definitely not make this mistake tomorrow.

I love the mini hills in the road.

Taking a quick break.

Another pose while taking in the views.

What more can I say but a great road

Most people think of sand when they picture the desert, but in Death Valley, only 1% of the park has sand.  We checked this out when we went out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes where you could watch how the dunes are formed by the wind.  Hard to imagine anything can live out there.  But there is plenty of brush and trees spread out between the dunes that there must be water somewhere.   Jason even had a chance to fly his stunt kite.  He usually does a lot of kite flying at Edgewater Park so it was a rare opportunity to do it here.

Jason flew one of his stunt kites in the sand dunes.

Footprints in the sand.

Dead tree in the dunes

Angie and Pam taking in the dunes

So far I have met a number of nice people and the camp hasn't begun.  Yesterday I met Georgiana and Grayson.  Today I met, Jill, Tim, Chris and Karen.  All of them are repeat riders like Pam and Dave.  All of them older then me but so inspiring since they are here to be out on their bikes.  Every time I ride, I am continually inspired that there are people still riding at ages when others have long given up.  I want to be like all of them as I get older.

Grayson going out for a spin

Well wish me well for tomorrow for we ride on Artists Drive which is a one way road.  I am told there is quite a climb out there so this will be my first taste of riding hills here.  It should be warmer and the forecast predicts winds of 3 mph which will be perfect. This will also be the first day of the camp where we get to meet everyone.  Can't wait to get back on the road again.  Until tomorrow...

We have arrived!

Well we have finally arrived at the Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley.  Not only did we all arrive with our luggage but our bikes were here when we arrived.  So far our trip has gone as planned and I can only hope it will continue.

On our way here the drive was such a contrast between flat barren land to rolling hills and rock formations.  Once again I am surprised by how interesting the landscape is here.  Such contrasts.  It also reminds me of how lucky we are to have national parks in this country.  I know it isn't always everyone's cup of tea but there are so many amazing and beautiful places that we need to keep so that everyone has a chance to experience them.  Even in a place like Death Valley.

Mountains in the distance across from Furnace Creek Ranch.

Well the winds have proceeded us here at Death Valley.  Pam wasn't kidding that they are wicked here.    All the beautiful palm trees dance in the wind and she tells me that this is nothing yet to experience.  No wonder there is a section in Death Valley called Racetrack where rocks are pushed across the desert floor by these powerful winds.  Our only hope is that the winds will start to die down sometime tomorrow.  They could get up as high as 30 mph.  It sure would be tough to stay upright in those kind of winds.

Another pleasant surprise is our stay at the Furnace Creek Ranch.  The lodging sits within an oasis in Death Valley which explains why they can support a golf course and why palm trees are out here.  The lodging is another property managed by Xanterra and I think once again they have done a great job of maintaining the property.  The rooms are comfortable and now they even have wifi in the area.   Of course they need to have enough amenities out here since there is nothing near by for miles.  One thing we did notice was that they winds do place havoc with there power.  There is a solar power panel farm near by that supplies a third of their power here and the winds were causing the power to go out periodically in the restaurant.  I suppose that might be one way to have a romantic dinner.

Entrance to Furnace Creek Ranch

View from my room at Furnace Creek Ranch

Well I am off for bed.  We plan on going out for a short ride to make sure all our bikes are in working order before everyone else arrives on Monday.  Can't wait to start riding again.   Sometimes there is nothing better then spending your time on two wheels. :)

Another Extreme Vacation

I'm off for another extreme vacation.  Where is the hottest, lowest and driest place you can think of in the United States and that is where I will be for the next week.  I must have been not myself when I agreed to join friends Pam and Dave Semanik for a week of cycling in this place.  The place I am going is the Death Valley National Park where I will join 50 some cyclists who will ride throughout the park. These rides are meant to prepare you for the last day which is to ride either a century, ultra century or double century.  Of course it is hard enough to do a century but I guess there are some who are willing to go to the distance and push themselves.  I guess I am of a mind to get in a long satisfying ride but get back in time to have a nice beer or glass of wine.

This trip is filled with more extremes then one can plan for.  First there is the weather since I am told it can change from 40 to 80 in a day.  Then there are the possible winds that can be so hard to ride against that you can try and pedal but you won't go far.  Finally there are the climbs.  Although it is the lowest place in the US, there is only one way out and that is up.  So it is the climbs that probably worry me the most.  I haven't had to do climbs like this since 2006 when I rode through Utah.

I am packing for a trip that will offer all sorts of extremes.  I thought I would take a picture of the items I packed but I am almost too embarrassed to show how many things I am brining.  I am just afraid that I won't have everything I need but I guess it is going to have to be good enough.

Well I am off.  Wish me luck and let's see where this trip takes me this time.