Bike, Brew, and Beyond - Day 1

There were a couple of functions held on Thursday. However, Friday was the official start of Outside Santa Fe's Bike Brew, & Beyond festival.  I got up early to be at the concierge table soon after open.  Wanted to let then re-assign my reservation for the SOB ride.  After my problems riding Thursday, I was better skipping that ride.

Picked up a printed schedule of events.  Asked one of the volunteers if the River Trail might be a better on for me to ride.  He agreed.

Back to the room and a nap (had not slept well). By 11am, it was starting to warm up, so stated preparing for a bike ride.  See http://naugabike.blogspot.com/2014/05/santa-fe-river-trail.html for details of the ride.

The party started at 4pm with the After Work Party.  Add in a beer fest with handmade bicycle vendors at the venue.  For your $10 entree fee to the beer fest, we got a commemorative pint beer glass and a ticket for the first pint of beer.  We could sample a pint of the craft beers of several breweries in the area.  Unfortunately, none of them had an amber ale - my preference.

Eventually, I found the outside picnic tables to rest my legs.  Had a nice conversation with a guy that grew-up in Peoria IL area, spent much time living in Tucson, AZ and now lives in Santa Fe. The crowd was increasing and noise was louder.

I had planned to eat at the rail yard. First preference was The Junction - knowing what I was get there.  But, my legs said to select a closer place.

Squeezed into a seat at the bar of Second Street Brewery.  Had my second pint.  Again, nothing close to an amber ale.  got a pint of a beer the bartender recommended.  Was OK.  Use it to wash down a cheeseburger and fries.

The railroad plaza stage was jumping.  There were vendors set up on the plaza.  I took a few photos.  But, i was ready to get to the car and into my motel room.  Had to take a couple rest break getting to the car.  Back at the room, the lower volume was welcomed.

Santa Fe River Trail

This afternoon I made another attempt a getting in a decent bike ride.  At the concierge tent at the festival agreed the Santa Fe River Trail might be a good trail for me to ride.  The completed section totals about 2.5 miles.

From my Santa Fe trail maps, I ascertained the best place to start my ride would the at Friendly Park.  Not sure parking but was pleasantly surprised that is a decent sized parking lot.  Unloaded the bike, changed shoes, mounthed the rack bag and headed to the trail.

First thing I noticed was that the trail drops down to the river.  Crossed a narrow bridge, and headed up the trail.  And "up" the trails is right.  As I rode, it was clear the trail makes a slight grade. A couple times I had to stop and catch my breath.  Started drinking my water and popped a Shot Blok in my mouth.

About a mile in my ride there is bridge over to the other side of the river.  It looked like a good place to turn around.  Not sure what I would have on the way back.  I knew I would have a headwind and climb back up from the river to the parking lot.  Soon  realized I could almost coast back the trail.

A Short Ride on the Santa Fe Rail Trail

Just HAD to get on a bicycle today.  Did my coffee and waffle at the motel.  Putzed in the room waiting for the temperature to get up to into the 60s.  Loaded the hybrid on the car and headed to the Rabbit Trailhead on the Santa Fe Rail Trail.

At this trailhead, the trail is Paved to the North and crushed stone to the South.  I headed North toward the plaza.

Being a trail along the active railroad bed, I was thinking it might be relatively flat, or at least a easy grade.  NOT!  The trail follows the surrounding terrain, ignoring the rail bed cuts and fills.

In the upper photo, I-25 crosses the trail and a less used track.  I selected this photo for its aesthetic value more than to show the trail typography.

By the time I arrived at Rodeo Rd, I knew I had to turn back to the car.  Disappointed, as I had not hit the one mile mark.  But, i knew I would have a headwind and a rough hill to get back to the car.  Further, the two hills I had climbed getting to Rodeo Rd had me stopping to catch my breath.

Climbing the rougher hill, I had to get off my bike and walk the bike. I just could not get enough air to ride - even had to take it slow walking the bike.  When I got to the parking lot, I did some reconnaissance on the crushed stone trail to the South.

From the trailhead, the trail takes a big drop.  Then coming up to the track grade.  I know that if I were to ride this section of the trail, I would have to walk the bike back up to the parking lot.  I have been advised that further South, the trail is more like a singletrack.  See the lower photo.

By the time I was near my motel, I was hungry.  Stopped at a Dennys just down the block.  Just what the body needed - water and food.  Have been thinking of going to Plaza/Rail Yard area for a beer or whatever.  The spirit is will but the body says NO.

There are some trails in Santa Fe along the river and an Arroyo.  They might be better to ride, but there are not trailhead parking places noted on the trails map.  It was the climbing (short as the hills were) that did me in.  Some research this evening might be warranted.  Today's ride DID convince me that it is better than I NOT try to do one of the group rides.

Wednesday, A Day to Recover

With all of the driving (logged 978 miles) over the last 2 day, I needed a day to recover and acclimatize for the 7000 ft altitude.  Got up for breakfast at the motel.  Motel had the popular waffle irin.  Add a sweet and coffee.  Back to bed.

Spent some time working on photos and posting them to Fine Art America.  Created and posted on my photography blog. 

Found The Broken Spoke Bicycle Shop.  They were very helpful giving me a free city trails map and suggested a place to ride.  Next heading to the rail yard - where much of the festival will take place.  Wanted to be able to easily find my way between the motel and rail yard.

Getting hungry by then, so stopped in at the Junction for a burger and brew.  Today's photo is of the New Mexico RailRunner at the Santa Fe Depot.

Still not really warming up (mid 50s).  Below freezing over night.  Forecast is for mid 70s over the weekend.  Stayed in last evening.  Did some more photo work.

Up and Down Kind of Day

After a good night's sleep, I was ready for the drive - almost all on narrow 2-lane.  Packed the car and had a waffle at the motel.  Had to wait for the waffle-maker to warm up.  Thermometer in the car was reading 34 when I headed out.  Topped off the gas tank - not sure if I would be able to gas-up before Ratan.

The route I had mapped out gave me lots of opportunities to take photos of old, abandoned buildings.  Will take me time to process the 73 HDR photos I took today. 

My first main destination was the old "ghost" town of Folsom.  Folsom is in the NE corner of New Mexico.  Its claim of fame is "Folsom Man" dates at 10,000 years ago.  From there, It was up onto Johnson Mesa.  Snow up on the mesa.  Today's photo was taken climbing up to the Mesa.

Gassed up again at Raton.  Rout took me across US 64 to Taos.  Wanted to check out the old ghost town of Colfax.  I could not find any of the ruins of the town.  Just the bar at the highway intersection.   There was a sign just down the road about the old Dawson Cemetery.  That is a 5 mile drive down a gravel road.  Passed on that side trip.

Nice drive up Cimarrom Canyon.  Took a couple photos of the palisades.  Back into the snow as i climbed in altitude.  By the time as I neared Taos, shooting old buildings was getting old.  Further, there were just too many of them.  This was definitely the case along the "High Road to Taos".

I stopped at a convenience store when I reached Taos.  Wanted to make sure i did not miss the turn-of to the "High Road".  Did not need to worry, There were signs where to start and at every intersection.  Made it easy to find my way.  And it dumped me onto US 84/283 towards Santa Fe.  (see lower photo)

The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway was interesting.  Lots of abandoned building and "shacks".  Much of the roadside is dotted with pueblos.  Another up into the snow and down to out of it.   

Found and checked into my motel.  Started unloaded the car into the room.  Will finish later this evening or in the morning.  Was gonna eat the the El Salvador restaurant at the motel.  But, the waitress did not know what I wanted.  I had asked for my go-cup of water and order some food.  When after 20+ minutes and no food, she asked me it i wanted something else -- I said "food"!  And since she had not ordered it to the kitchen, i told her to forget it.

Desk clerk at the motel suggested a place less than a block down the street.  Had a expensive beer, burger, and spuds at Dr. Field Good Kitchen.

No big plans for tomorrow. Need to rest, recoop, and recover from the drive.  I will be moving slowly with the altitude here.  Will have to watch myself - not over-do it.

Changing Weather for the Drive

As usual, did not get a good night's sleep before my drive.  Finished loading the car and was on the road just after 5am.  Threatening rain and in the upper 50s. 

The weather turned bad while driving I-80.  Had a head-wind (probably 20-30mph) all the way.  Add periods of heavy rain and dropping temperature.  It was down-right cold (41 deg) when I stopped at the Elm Creek Sapp Bros for breakfast.  (Photo is from the WB rest area near York, NE.  Note the standing water in the field)

From there, I got a break from the wind when heading South.  At the Kansas border, I missed a turn.  Ended up taking me about 10 or so miles out of my way.  Made changes to my route.  Stopped several times to shoot photos of old buildings.  Ended up with photos of over 30 such buildings.  Plan to post some are on facebook and more on my web site.

 

During the drive in Colorado, the sky cleared off and the temperature climbed.  Was in the low 50s when I hit Lamar.

Arrived my motel in Lamar, CO about 3:30 MDT.  Processed my photos and got recommendation for food by motel desk clerk.  Had a good Mexican meal at La Mission.  Tired from the drive.  Time to get some sleep.  Looking forward for a good photo day tomorrow.

Exploring the New Iowa Riverfront

Today was an awesome bike riding day.  Temperature in the upper 60s (near 70), slight breeze, and partly cloudy.  It had been ages since I rode the Iowa Riverfront trail North from the Western Historic Trails Center.

As i passed under the I-80 bridge I noticed that much of the bike lane pavement had replaced.  I really needed it.  Had been destroyed from heavy trucks parking on the bike lane.

Big change as I rode under the Harrah's parking garage. The casino boat was gone.  I had heard that it had been moved down river and no longer being used as a casino.

The big change, and my destination for my ride, is the new Hanafan Riverfront Park (upper photo). I had not seen the new park since it had been completed.  Also, I knew there was a function at the park - a celebration of kite flying.  The crew from the Trails Center called for me as I was riding the hybrid.  Brought that bike because with the rack and bag, I could pack my good camera.

Resting on the bike, I guess I was sitting too heavy on the top-tube.  Broke the kick-stand.  After my visit at the park, stopped for a couple photos and headed back.  On the way to the park, I rode the levee trail.

On the way back, I took the trail down along the riverfront drive as far Harrah's.  Greeted a guy on a fat bike - looked like he was also exploring the trail. It was a great day for exploring by bicycle!  Noticed the fruit tree blooms near Ameristar Casino.  Grabbed the D-SLR and shot a couple photos of the blooms.  (lower photo)

A quick stop at the bike shop for a new kick-stand.  Home, processed photos and blogging.