Pikes Peak (August 2)

Sunday was a rest day for John.  He was considering biking Pikes Peak again this year, but after all of the climbing in CA, NV, UT and CO he opted to just drive up with us.  We started the day at about 4600 ft elevation and drove up almost 10,000 ft to get to the top of Pikes Peak at 14,115 ft.  

It was a brisk 51 F on the top, but we were all prepared with our sweaters.  Charlotte got to play her violin at the top. See video here:

http://youtu.be/Myv3eW-LJ_4

On the way down I drove the first 7-8 miles because the altitude affects John more than it does me.  After the first stretch of very steep down hill switch backs they have a brake check....we failed...oops!!  Darn that RV and slow car that were holding us up.  Our brakes were at 517 F and should have been below 300 F.  The truck in front of us was at 624 F.  We had a chat with them because we were all advised to wait in the parking lot for at least 30 min to let our brakes cool.  Here is a photo of the brake over heating parking section.  It smelled um...like you would expect.

Charlotte and I took the opportunity to use the restroom and see the giant stuffed bear.

Once to the bottom we found a bike shop and a lunch spot that John and Steph had visited last summer.  Edelweiss.  Charlotte's lunch was a nutella crepe...more like dessert.  I think they used an entire jar of Nutella!

We also found some needed camping supplies at Camping World.  I was under the impression before going on this trip that we would find a Camping World easily across the US...not true!  This is the first one I have seen since leaving Iowa.  

Due to our low riding bumper alteration we keep losing sewer storage end caps, so those were needed.  We also had a critter eat through our breakaway cable for our trailer brakes.  Lastly we keep running into these campgrounds that say they only have 50 amp electric...everytime they have 30 amp as well.  However we might actually run into a campground with only 50 amp available, so we purchased a converter from 30 to 50 just in case.

I think we are set for Kansas!  Tonight laundry, because who knows when we will have that again.  Tomorrow John Martin Reservoir State Park...still CO for one more night.