Part 1 (36 pics) - Part 2 (29 pics)

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34). Arizona, 2000/12/24. We visit Tombstone: "A town too tough to die".
Dramatic events have taken place here during the short silver boom.
Tombstones where the local bestsellers. Now this wild-west town is restored in a quite authentic way.

35). Arizona, 2000/12/25. Detail from the Tombstone grave yard.

36). Arizona, 2000/12/30. Jolanda next to a barrel cactus. In the backgroud stands a Saguaro cactus: the largest cactus in the world.

37). Arizona, 2000/12/30. Put all your arms in the air!
The Saguaro starts developping 'arms' at the age of 75.
They can live up to 200 years and then collapse under their own weight.

38). Arizona, 2000/12/30. Rene, 1 meter 76.
Barrel cactus, 1 meter 72.

39). Arizona, 2000/12/30. An Ocotillo cactus with flowers.

40). Arizona, 2001/01/06. The Apache trail from Phoenix to The Rim.
A beautiful trail!

41). Arizona, 2001/01/13. We camp in the garden of Karl and Phyllis Bartell. A cozy evening follows. The previous days a snow front had past, buy now the weather is nice again. With this picture we stand in the local newspaper: the Payson Roundup.

Read the full newspaper article in a new window! (81 KB)
 

42). Arizona, 2001/01/18. A Back country road after another snow attack:
these roads are not cleared.

43). Arizona, 2001/01/23. Jolanda and Rene at the Grand Canyon.
How specteculair! We are at 2.100 Meters (7,000 feet),
so it is a bit chilly in the daytime in January. (the whithe stuff is snow)

44). California, 2001/02/10. Bad Water in Death Valley is the lowest point in the USA at - 84 Meters (-277 Feet). On the floor lays borax, a mineral with many applications.

45). California, 2001/02/13. Happy couple in Death Valley. Our neighbours Ellis and Kay offer us protection from the hard weather and a nice meal with wine too in their trailer. When we leave, they give us grapefruits. We must climb 1.750 meters (6,100 feet) in one go. (Photo by Kay Walsh).

46). California, 2001/02/14. On our way to Emigrant pass in Death Valley. The road is closed due to snow fall, but we take it anyway. That night the temperatures drop to - 15 C (5 F). Our down sleeping bags barely protect us from freezing to death in Death Valley.

47). California, 2001/02/15. We just made it, alive out of Death Valley. The white peak is Telescope Peak (3.368 meter, 10,104 feet), than can be seen from many directions.

48). California, 2001/02/28. We have made it to the Pacific west coast of the USA! On magnificent Highway 1 we ride from Morro Bay to San Francisco (to the north).

49). California, 2001/03/10. In Los Altos we stay at Uncle Jan and Aunt Rie. They have emigrated from the Netherlands and are now Americans. Uncle Jan is an old study friend of Jolanda's father. Thanks for a nice stay!

50). California, 2001/03/16. We make it to San Francisco without problems.
We make a daytrip to town on our bikes: here is 'the Bridge'.

51). California, 2001/03/16. Jolanda inspects this most famous bridge in the world. We cross it on our bikes, and back. Very impressive, great day, great place.

52). California, 2001/03/16. Rene rolls down over Crookedest street. Many streets here are so darned steep, you can hardly walk them up (don't even think of cycling this up).

53). California, 2001/03/18. The last 12 days we stay with Margaret (here pregnant, next picture) and James Kirby in Richmond (across the bay, near SF). Their house is somewhat small, so our tent is our bedroom again. Now it is lovely spring weather. It takes a while to find an afforable flight to Japan and in between we re-arrange our camp stuff and bikes for the next episode. We make a few daytrips into town too. Thanks again Margaret and James for a long stay and all your great help!

54). On March 22nd 2001 we fly to Tokyo in Japan.

The past 6 months in the USA we have bicycled 7.027 KM's (4,400 Miles). It was an extremely nice tour. This country is full with very helpful and very friendly people. The USA offers great cycling opportunities, including plenty of back country roads. Outside the main cities, this is a very safe country with pleasent people of all sizes. There is plenty of spectaculair nature and plenty of camping opportunities. Most nights we camped in people's back yards! Thanks again all the hospitable and helpful Americans, including all those not mentioned in this photo book, for making this unforgettable tour possible! Till next time!!

 

USA bicycle tour. End of part 2.
Copyright 2002: René Maassen     rene_maassen@zonnet.nl

Nederlandse versie

Part 1 (36 pics) - Part 2 (29 pics)

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