2021 Trip

[Russ]

Here I thought you were seeing our messages but not interested in going.  Sooo, you will be joining us this year?!  Good deal, so we are going to need places for 4 then?

[Shawn]

I found someone to take my on call and Chris even let me have the week off!

[Nathan]

Well, it is officially a party then! 

I guess we should start to finalize the route and the accommodations.  I guess we can determine the amount of miles we would like to ride each day and fins a suitable location for finding accommodations, and tentatively plans on the National Parks as at least a day apiece (to make sure we have time to spend at the locations and to see things), even though some of those days may be pretty short 150-200 miles or less.

I guess we can all take a stab at it based on the current route.

[Nathan]

Here is my attempt at Day 1:

https://goo.gl/maps/7RytGhDk8bWn5yat5

To Sundance, WY.  And here is the link to a possible AirBnb, it is above a bakery and has four (4) actual bedrooms!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/45163318?check_in=2021-07-23&check_out=2021-07-24&guests=1&adults=4&s=67&unique_share_id=cc0f7842-3756-491c-a4ae-9ec6a8381e22

$328 for the night.

Thoughts?!

[Nick]

I like it!!

[Shawn]

Looks good but I wonder if they're letting traffic through the reservation yet.

[Nathan]

I believe that is open now. I do not see anything on the sd511.org or the reservation website...

[Russ]

Looks good to me as well.  500 miles is a long day, but we can do it!

Shawn mentioned that he and Nick talked about wanting to book hotels instead of Airbnbs on the way out and back so I want to be sure those guys are ok with doing Airbnb's.  Personally I prefer Airbnbs but that's just my opinion.  I just don't want to get get too far along with bookings and not have everyone on board. 

What is your guy's opinions and preferences?

[Nathan]

Ok. I had not heard that about hotels but I do have quite a few rewards points for hotels (because of work trips) so I can definitely incorporate both maybe base it on quality, beds/bedrooms, and price. I am very busy at work and it is only going to get worse moving forward...so, it would be helpful if anyone who has time could also give it a try.

[Nick]

Hotels could be an optional work around if we don't know what miles we can make going out there or heading home?  I am fine with air bed houses!!!  I like it!!

[Nathan]

Well, I think the next stop will be Steamboat Springs, CO. 

https://goo.gl/maps/c1xzJKMiJUNL4k8g7

It looks like we will need to stay in a hotel there. All the AirBnb's or other rental homes, condos, etc. seem to want you to stay more than one night...or there rate with cleaning fee is ridiculous.

I have plenty of rewards points for IHG hotels, but there are plenty of hotels to choose from. Does someone else want to go thru and take a look at what they might like.  My thought is it would be the best if we could somehow find a suite where we could all stay in the same place and not have to have two (2) separate rooms...but if we can find it or it is too much than two (2) rooms is fine.

Let me know your ideas, thoughts and I will book the place.

Later,

Nate Dogg

[Russ]

Would you be opposed to staying a little further west?  Like in Criag, CO?  Reason I ask is that will keep us further west and closer to our UT destination as well as avoid the expensive accommodations in Steamboat.  Not as scenic I realize, but probably better for making time.  Nothing much for BnB's, but quite a few hotels.  Looks like IGH's are going to be pushing $160 a night for 2 queens.  Otherwise there is a quaint little hotel there for around $80 per night https://elkruninn.com/ .  Craig Hotel appears to be somewhat reasonable by the prices on Google, but I cant find a website for them anywhere.  I have an email into this place to see if they have availiblity and if so how much http://lodgingincraigcolorado.com/

https://goo.gl/maps/sfALUhwWwN85huhp7

I'm not opposed to Steamboat, just throwing the Craig option out there.

[Nathan]

Sounds good. Keep me posted on what you find out about the other places.

I just thought Steamboat Springs had a certain sentimental value for you and Nickoli...because of the hilarious Kombucha conversation!! 

[Shawn]

We used to stay at the Elk Run Inn when we hunted out there, it's a decent hotel with a couple of large rooms that we could probably all stay in.

[Russ]

No reply from the cabin place.  In looking closer I wonder if they are winter destinations only.  I looked at more places in Steamboat, but they are pretty expensive.  I think the Elk Run Inn might be the best bang for the buck for this stop.  I'm good with it, how about everyone else?