• Simon Fretwell
  • Simon Fretwell

Fretwell Family Cruiser Trip

A 17-day adventure by Simon Read more
  • Trip start
    May 11, 2016
  • evening one.. Lubbock

    May 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Nearly made it at Amarillo. But terrible rain and my bike actually only going 200 yards at a time, between breaking down slowed our progress. Luckily I whipped the petrol tank off and replaced the small vacuum hose that had split. Fix anything me!
    Checked into a motel. Dry off our boots and have a quick dip m the hot tub to warm up. Nice ribeye steak and chips to finish the day off. So maybe a little drama on day one, but success non the less.
    Texas is a big place. Total trip distance today 407 miles.
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  • Evening 3 a very damp Grand Canyon

    May 17, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    So surprised again by rain. Had a good run out to Winslow Arizona today. Stood on the famous corner and had a beer and tacos. From their headed west once more and went to the famous Meteor Crater just west of Winslow. Then headed north at Flagstaff but my bike was misfiring. Soon we were headed over the top of the Grey mountains and there was actually snow on the road. Bike ran fine for 80 miles then Bang Bang Bang. Started back firing again.
    Had the whole tank off again. Air filter t out. The works in a car park at the end of the grand canyon.
    Took the spark plugs out, seems two were dodgy. Decided we hand to carry on and ended up riding another 60 miles west to where we are now. Grand Canyon village.
    Bloody freezing run through the rain. Feet soaked through!
    The roads were great so tomorrow we will do the 100 mile round trip over them again so we can see it all in daylight.
    That's me for tonight.
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  • day 4...

    May 18, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    So after a soggy night yesterday at the grand canyon this morning was fine and dry, if a little nippy. Looked round the grand canyon. Saw a moose, like 4 feet away. Limped the poorly bike down to the i40 and set off to the west again. Took a detour onto the old route 66 again as I can't take her past 65mph. Better sights than the interstate though. Got to Kingman, AZ and it took forever! Bought new spark plugs. Bit better but no cigar. Think it must be a weak coil pack. Left kingman at 5pm in 85 degree heat! Wearing only a T-shirt we did the most epic drive so far, through the mountains and across the Hoover Dam. Got to the campsite and blagged the old boy to let us in for free, another 85 dollar saving (charm goes along way, almost as long as a story in a British accent!)
    Set up camp, hammocks I'm trees and massive steaks on the coals. Got a case of beer, fantastic surroundings and 75 degree heat. Best day yet.....
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  • Vegas!

    May 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    So, the bike broke down again. Figured it was something electrical so tool it into the shop in Vegas then went down the strip for a few hours to see the sights. Dads eyes nearly popped out when he saw the burlesque girls on the strip!
    Nice to pop past but bike was soon fixed and we were back underway.
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  • Death valley

    May 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    What a place! Rode through the hot desert to get here. All of a sudden we cleared the mountains and dropped down to -147 below sea level. It was windy as hell. Literally. 70mph gusts at 80 degrees. It was 105 degrees when we camped. We found a great spot with a bar and Elliott and I wanted no time getting a cold ale down us whilst dad fannied about booking us in.
    Slept in a hammock again but this time it was being swung back and forth by the scorching gusts! The ride out if death valley and towards Yosemite took is over the most amazing mountain roads. best roads of the trip. a solid wall on one side and a thousand foot drop on the other.
    Headed up the valley between the two snow topped mountain ranges.
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  • Yosemitie

    May 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C

    What a place. We climbed to 10,000 feet and there was snow falling, waterfalls, bears, giant trees. Words cannot describe this place. Oh, maybe "bloody cold". That describes it.

  • california!

    May 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Camped in the forest last night. Actually bloody freezing. Tried to sleep in hammock but it hailed at 1am and I thought I was going to die. Got in tent between dad and Elliott and survived the night.
    Has a fire this morning and the sun came out. Ready to hit San Francisco this morning....

    Oh. And if you were wondering... my camera broke on my phone so I can only take selfies!
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  • San Francisco

    May 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    So we headed up past San Fran so we could see the giant redwoods. It was a bit if an anti climax as they were no bigger than the trees in Yosemite.
    Lost dad in traffic so me and Elliott found a bar. Had a few beers then dad turned up. Determined that we were leaving the city and heading south to camp I forced dad to accept that I had booked us into a hotel on the very road Steve McQueen did the bullit scene. Had a few beers and a shower. Good to wash the desert off of our bodies.
    Going out for beer with Elliott tonight so will look forward to the next update........
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