2021 - Crater Lake National Park: Next we were off to Crater Lake for two rides around the rim (two separate days) and a day of hiking. We had to contend with a bit of smoke from wildfires, but it was fantastic. We stayed in the Crater Lake Lodge. One of the rim rides was just the two of us, and then 2 days later we rode it with another tandem couple.
66.3 miles
7267' elevation
In addition to the riding documented with these photos, the Southwest National Parks trip also included a ton of hiking in these and other parks and National Monuments, lots of sight seeing, canoeing, and boating (on Lake Powell). A fantastic trip. Let us know if we can help you plan a trip like this.
2021 Tours
Arches National Park.
52.5 miles
3901' elevation
Zion National Park.
16.0 miles
584' elevation
Crossing the Colorado River on the bike trail near Moab.
Canyonlands National Park.
36.3 miles
1486' elevation
Mesa Verde National Park.
5.7 miles
400' elevation
The Potash Road ride out of Moab.
47.3 miles
873' elevation
2021 - National Parks of the US Southwest: What with restrictions to international travel due to the COVID pandemic, we decided in 2021 to focus on some of the domestic tandem riding we had been wanting to do for some time. First up was three weeks in the desert Southwest riding and hiking in several National Parks. Note: this trip is not included in the tallies given on our main tour page, as it was basically a van tour, staying in hotels and lodges, with day rides in and around the parks. And the same is true of the Crater Lake trip that follows.
Enjoy!
We began with a week in a tiny home in Moab, riding Potash Road, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. We hiked in the parks too. What a great area for riding!
Grand Canyon National Park.
33.3 miles
1850' elevation
2021 - Midwest Tandem Rally: Labor Day found us in Racine, Wisconsin for the Midwest Tandem Rally, put on by the COWS (Couples on Wheels - the Wisconsin tandem club). Wow! What an excellent time! The venue was very well chosen for not only the location but also for the excellent host hotel (Delta Hotel by Marriott). The rides were great and the support, including the food at rest and lunch stops was superb. In fact, I told one of the volunteer organizers that, if I had to put on a tandem event, the first thing I would do is try to hire the COWS to run it!
We arrived a bit early to explore the area on our tandem, then rode the rides and set up our vendor booth in the vendor fair. We shared space with good friends and customers, Peter and Tracy Flucke, who were sharing their experience and expertise with attendees as well as offering their book for sale. Check them out!
On the drive back home to Washington, we stopped in Mason City, Iowa to overnight at the Historic Park Inn Hotel, the last Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel on earth. Kudos to the citizens of Mason City for preserving this treasure!
It was an adventure. We connected with old friends and made lots of new ones. Thank you COWS!!
Days riding: 6
Distance ridden: 162.1 miles
Elevation gained: Not much - it's pretty flat in that area!
PS: One of the highlights was the apple cider donuts at Apple Holler in Racine!
TANDEM Diversity