Why did I change the name of the tour? Mostly to avoid repeating names but also because it seemed vistas became the recurring theme, that thing I kept taking pictures of in hopes of sharing the grandeur. Grandeur and scale are what I seek in my rides. Forgotten and scenic byways provide gateways to the less traveled coast or mountain pass or desert plateau. How … Continue reading Reflections – 2018 Western Vistas Tour
Day’s distance: 530 miles (odometer) Total trip distance (final): 5,116 miles Today’s temperatures started at 45, dropped to as low as 38 at the Pass, and rose to 94 before finishing in the 80s. All this under sunny skies. Light headwinds buffeted my final two hours of riding back home. My second highest mileage day ever was just 10 miles below my record It took … Continue reading Day 23 – 2018 Western States Tour
Day’s distance: 395 miles (odometer) Total trip distance: 4,586 miles This was a gorgeous day of riding in the mountains of Idaho. Temperatures reached 80 after starting off at 45. Skies were clear in the morning with increasing cloud cover in the mountains. At times, I thought I was going to get rained on, but it never happened and when I reached Missoula, there were … Continue reading Day 22 – 2018 Western States Tour
Day’s distance: 395 miles Total trip distance: 4,191 miles Much of the day was very pleasant. Temperatures started in the 50s with blue skies and fluffy clouds. This lasted until about 2pm when I encountered some gray skies and storm clouds. More on that later. My destination was Twin Falls, Idaho, the same as yesterday, and I was on the road just after 8am. Heading … Continue reading Day 21 – 2018 Western States Tour
Day’s distance: 117 miles Total trip distance: 3,796 miles The weather started out with some dark clouds and a prediction of showers along my route. I was pretty optimistic on reaching Sevier where there were blue skies and a short section of fast sweepers that made me smile. However, on turning west on I-70, the skies opened up and the temperatures dropped to 37. It … Continue reading Day 20 – 2018 Western States Tour
Day’s distance: 300 miles (odometer) Total trip distance: 3,679 miles It was another windy day with reported gusts to 45mph this afternoon. Temperatures ranged from a low of 60 to the high 70s. The skies were hazy and a bit cloudy but predicted showers did not materialize, for me anyway. None of today’s route was new to me, though I haven’t ridden west along … Continue reading Day 19 – 2018 Western States Tour
Day’s distance: 238 miles Total trip distance: 3,379 miles (odometer) Sunny skies and warm weather continued today with temperatures ranging from low 60s above 10,000 feet to high 80s at lower elevations. Winds picked up quite a bit as the day progressed and were blowing both me and bike around during the last two hours. I rolled out of the motel in Durango about 9:30 … Continue reading Day 18 – 2018 Western States Tour
