COLORADO-NEBRASKA-KANSAS-NEBRASKA

Wray to McCook - Day 31--- WEDNESDAY JULY 30 Much of the same things we see as we head from Colorado to Nebraska, fields, rolling hills, no mountains (BOO) and more fields. Today is Wednesday, hump day, and well...it also is significant for it is the halfway marker in days for this tour. The following sign is the entrance to Nebraska, what is with all the bullet holes? Is Nebraska really part of the good life, or are shot gun holes significant for having a good life.

Today, Theresa, Annette, Jeff, Stretch (MARK -- he's 6'7") and I took the mini-est detour, and probably the only side trip I will do on this tour for it was only 3 km out of the way. We went to Kansas, stayed a few minutes and then turned around. I wanted to add another state to the trip...although as we turned off the highway...we went into a headwind and uphill, Jeff and someone else complained blatantly...but i kept them interested and told them it's one of those things we can do, and it wouldn't take us very long.
This is Kansas, very much like Nebraska...aha, since we are only a few feet in.

DISGUSTING FACTOR: GRASSHOPPERS... they are everywhere on the road, trying to hitch a ride on our bikes, on our bodies...we dodge them as they are flying at us, and fling them when they get caught in our spokes. Sometimes then go from one bike to the next, or dodge one biker and hit the next. I had some upclose encounters (in the face) of flying grasshoppers and thats enough for me.

It was another hot day in paradise...when we arrived a Walter's sag stop, we were bushed and we had many miles to go...many.

HEAT RASH: basically every day i am getting heat rash on my legs, and it disappears over night yet to return again the next day...cause, well, we are hot...

FORT MORGAN TO WRAY - Day 30

Today, the view was very much monotonous. Farmland, fields, cows...I guess we really are saying goodbye to those beloved rockies...bye mountain passes, hello flat land ....

Fort Morgan to Wray – Day 30

Today, I rode with Jeff, Jenna, Jonathan (ZINGER) and Annette. We made a very good team and really looked out for each other. Pastor Len continues to emphasize to us that ‘we are all in this together’ (which also reminds me of that high school musical song). We also continue to remember why we pedal. We pedal for those less fortunate, for those without food, with out shelter, those with needs far greater than we will ever know. We pedal to raise awareness, and inform others of the situations people are in. The cycle of poverty for some families and communities is one that needs to be addressed, locally, and around the world.

Today we rode through some small towns off HWY 34. When we rode through the first 10k some guys were standing on the side of the road, and shouted out to us and asked what we were cycling for…we did a u-turn and informed them of what the tour was all about, where we were going and why each of us were. They in turn informed us we were CRAZY… unfortunately I disagree here. Cycling across the continent is totally doable, with or with out help of support wagons and an assortment of others to help. The choices we make in life lead us on paths that help others in turn. We are not just crazy people riding across the continent, we are the ‘word’ to others, proverbial cyclists to some, and people are becoming aware of our comings and going.

When we stopped in a little town of YUMA, we again, overtook a café, and DOROTHY COOK was an avid women who called the local paper and wouldn’t let us leave until she got photos, and the photographer from the YUMA PIONEER had photos of us. It was so funny, and yet lovely at the same time. That this woman was so interested in our plight and our goings on, that she just had to have us in her local paper.

Onwards, Walter’s oasis was again a nice place to stop, out of the wind, and off the hot road we took a break.
Reuben joined us for the last 20k and made it for a beautiful ride in. Jenna and I sang the rest of the way in, to keep our minds busy and off the atrocious wind that was blowing at us.

This is from Sundays service, all our bikes went into the middle after they were ridden around the track.

Denver to Fort Morgan, Colorado - Day 29

JUST ANOTHER DAY CALLED MONDAY
A century ride, and then some… 165 k ....
Jenna, Brent, Annette, and I rode the day together. And the only way that we managed to ride with Brent was because of our 20 km detour the wrong way on a cycling path. The only reason we discovered this mistake was due to the fact that the bike path ended abruptly to a road that was not part of our map, nor was it located at the right mileage. Needless to say, we turned around and headed back to where we came from and got on the right bike path following the river into Denver and beyond. Tonight we are staying in Fort Morgan. Wouldn’t you know though, that all day we were faced with a head wind, or cross wind. Who ever told me that the winds predominantly blow from west to east and that is why the tour is going from west to east must not have been a cyclist. For where there are cyclists there is wind that generally against them. I believe it just makes us stronger, and look at it as training for even longer days.
One stop along the way we talked to a trucker, and he was much impressed with the adventures we were having and the willingness of us to serve.

I really appreciate the support and the emails I have been receiving, so thanks to those of you who have taken a moment to do that.
As well, I believe that my blog is open to anyone who wants to comment. I changed the settings, and if you would like to comment on the blog, or anything else, maybe points of interest, things I should do, places I should go, people I need to talk to … drop me a line, I am open to all comments and thoughts from those who read this! Again thanks!

RALPH and his flat...oh Ralph, are you not glad we rescued you?

This is how you keep your tent from flying away...aha Jenna- you have Annette working hard for you. Okay, it was terribly windy until after supper, and then of course not again until you cycle next day!

SUNDAY in DENVER - Day 28

DENVER

Well, after such a fun evening last night, what else could compare.
Our service today was at a local stadium, which we rode our bikes to (of course)...and then around the track of the stadium prior to the service for all to see who is a cyclist.

The service was a very nice service, but quite sweltering hot in the stands with the sun beating down on us the entire time.


After the sevice we were bussed down to downtown Denver, and spent a couple of hours on the streets wandering. We took the local transit home, and hit up a 7-11 for a slurpee, the temp is in the high 30's almost 40's. Then we walked over to the local bike shop for cleats for someones shoes. And now, we are in the school, with air conditioning, and lovely high speed internet.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Tyler: broke his collarbone coming out of a paceline...accordian/braking/ paceling.... and now is on his way home. Pray for peace of mind for such a diligent, and good cyclist who now cannot complete the tour.

Arnie: Last weekend Arnie tore his achilles tendon, he went home, and on Friday just past had surgery to mend it. Pray that he can regain his mobility and keep his great character in happy spirits. He has a huge heart and is such a kind soul.

KNEES: knees are becoming a common hurt for cyclists. Many need to be careful with cycling and how hard they push themselves.

SWEEP DAY - SATURDAY July 26, day 27

SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH - DENVER COLORADO



Accordingly, the following photo has Johnny and the 'sweep' feather duster...for we are sweep team today. Johnny, Jeff, Doug, Kaitlyn, Marty, Theo and I. Today we finish highway 40, finally. It has been a long week, on and off this highway, what with debris and rumble strips, hay, glass and other sorts of TIRE dangers. This morning we were up basically with or before the sun, I can't truly remember, it had become a blur, and headed to set up for breakfast. After serving breakfast we cleaned up, checked the grounds for lost and found items, then took down our tents. We loaded up the gear truck with every ones bags, some are definitely HEAVIER than others....its a wonder no one has gotten hurt hefting these huge suckers around. I now know how the bottom of my hockey bag is getting burn holes...people are sliding them down the gear truck ramp...I guess this brand new hockey bag is only going to last 9 weeks, if that!





After loading and all other sorts of small things that just happen along the way, we headed to the next town to get something to drink (and for the guys, something to eat). We stopped at this little SHARK cafe, we stop because we don't want to 'catch up' with others and make them feel rushed. We ended up staying there til almost 11....by this time my heart was hammering and ready to get a move on this mountain pass we had to climb....the last mountain pass of the rockies...this would be our 7th or 8th.... of the tour so far. (we--johnny handed out cards at breakfast to all the patrons, and along the way we managed to hand out many more en route at random stops, and to people who we would just go up and talk to ---in spandex with bikes--it is somewhat amusing)

this is one of the turns when i looked back and swung my camera back to get a snapshot of what we were climbing, it was a long gradual climb and we reached the top nearly at the 40k marker from leaving the Snow MT ranch.

This climb wasn't as bad as the lasts ones we have done, but still it was hard in my books. I don't have a granny gear technically, since I have a 'compact.' Although I fare very well going up the hills but much better going down, oh so much better going down!!! We reached the top just after noon, and some people were ahead of us, we saw them leaving Corey as we pulled in. We ate lunch at almost 11000 feet. I can definitely tell the air is thinner, when I stop pedalling or moving, I start to cough up a lung (or so it feels) makes me a little light headed, and once I saw a few stars a few mountains ago. Aha, oh well, keep pedalling, need to get to the next destination.

The sweep team in all its glory...
Doug, me, Johnny, Kaitlyn, Theo, Marty and Jeff.

The descent down the hill was glorious, well deserved after long climbing time...at some points we were going faster then the vehicles (carefully of course)but faster!

There were many small towns on this ride to Denver, and we really took our time in making sure that we didn't push anyone to getting into town...

Around 5:30 we got to this little town, just past the RED ROCKS of Colorado and had a milkshake and the best pink lemonade I have had ever! Johnny called camp and we found out that there were still 4 people on the road ahead of us, and so we stuck it out there for another half an hour.

At this time, a group that had climbed Mt. Evans, (14,000ft) had pulled (they were on there own since they decided to do a detour off the given route) and they filled us in on their lovely experiences of even less O2 up there, and the chilliness of mountain air. (about 8 degrees Celsius) There adventures went well...

Our sweep team arrived in around 7:15, signed in and started to set up camp (we had missed supper, and two people had been picked up by SAG by then). In all I really do like sweep days, although they make for some very long days.

Denver Christian High School has been a very receptive school. They have provided us with haircuts, with ice cream socials, little mini welcome packages, postcards and all sorts of things.

I was so glad to finally be in and ecstatic that Steph and Hilena had put up my tent. One less thing for me to do. A good shower after getting set up felt GLORIOUS!

In the evening, a whole crew of us went out for some beverages and group fun. By midnight a few of us were getting hungry, and we tried the local safeway to appease us, (no luck) then to a pizza parlour, but they would only deliver after midnight....(again no luck) Steph, Julie and I went to a 24 Burger King, which was drive through only, we tried jumping on the sensors but it didn't recept us as a vehicle...so we had to go up and knock on the window.

Kaitlyn AND I

The boys... Matt, Brian and Jeff.

Julie, deciding what to eat for a late night snack!

FRIDAY July 25 - Kremmling toto YMCA at the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch

Today was a lovely short ride, just under 60 k to the next town.

As lovely and short as it was, it took us to after 3 to get to our next destination.

Jenna, Annette, Kaitlyn, Stefanie, Jody, Lawrence, Theo, Marty... and I got ready for the day and then headed back into Kremmling to go for breakfast. We had so much fun just relaxing and knowing that we didn't have to pedal extremely hard to get to where we were going.

WE left breakfast around 9:30 and continued on our way.

TODAY'S CHALLENGE : today we were challenged to ride the ride in one gear only. To pick a gear we thought we could ride in for it was being assimilated to how people are stuck in the cycle of poverty and thusly, if we were in one gear we would be challenged by the fact that we were unable to get out of it. I declined this challenge, for a many reasons.

The ride to Hot Sulfur Springs went suprisingly quick and by the time we got there, there was a crew who had stopped there for breakfast and we joined in for some conversation. We were about to head out when Katrina's tire blew, just while we were standing there....and once it was fixed, it blew again. This changing of tire tubes is what takes time. Just a block down the road was this wonderful little candy shop, which we needed to stop at for a chocolate fix and 'sweets' need, it also was filled with trinkets and do-dads....when leaving Steph noticed she had a flat, so we pulled off to the side of the road, and that is when I took the following picture. This wagon was just at the side by a motel.

On our way again, after 3 tubes...we headed on to Granby. In Granby, because we can, we stopped at Java Cafe, and had a little break with a bunch of other sea to sea-ers. Tour de France was on, so many were just enjoying some of the clips and shots of what was going on.

While in the coffee shop we handed out some cards, and put them in the clear napkin holders which had 'advertising space' - so i just stuck some of the sea to sea cards...

ONWARDS to Snow Mountain Ranch, little did we know that the climb was going to increase....we had had it pretty easy all morning.

the last climb of the day was a doozie, down to my last gear to get to the right turn into the camp...along the way we have seen many many dead pine trees due to a beetle that has been killing them (eating them until they die). This cycle usually happens every 500 years.

In camp, we set up on the most uneven ground, filled with pinecones, debris of all sorts from the woods and stumps from the dead trees they have cut down. Snow Mountain Ranch is a beautiful place, and has a lot of acreage. After getting in we went swimming in the pool and were at the same time multi-tasking by doing laundry in a building one over from the pool. Swim, laundry, swim, dryer, swim...fold...then supper. Friday night, sweep team 'f' was on duty...that means me.

Serving supper was fun, this purell deal is getting quite funny.

The evening peleton was dedicated to those who were leaving the group, as well as communion. It was a very nice service and there was a lot of nice comments made about the group members who have been with us thus far.

CRAIG TO KREMMLING - THURSDAY JULY 24

Getting into a paceline....

Last nights sleep was a workout in itself. All of us had tented on a hill, the entire school was built at the top of a steep hill. At times I hung on to my hockey back so I wouldn't continue to slide off my air mattress.


Craig Colorado to Kremmling

CLIMB: up Rabbit’s Ears Pass- over 4000 feet of climbing today…and more to come by weeks end.
Perceived Exertion: A LOT…let’s see, I drank over 6 bottles of water…nearing on the edge of 8…and didn’t use ‘facilities’ until in camp at the end of the day.
HAPPY FACTOR : great…

Today’s ride was a long ride. Almost 7 hours on my bike makes for a tired me. The wind was against us when we started our ride in and we formed a pace line as per usual. The police were also on our case for they were not told by their “higher up” officials that we would be on the highway. They were out, and were willing to give tickets to those who crossed over the white lines. Quite hard not to, with a huge rumble strip…and a lot of debris to the right of it, including hay, glass, rubble, gravel, and many other items of debris, making it sketchy to ride to the right of the rumble strip at times, thereby leaving you about 6 inches between the rumble and the white line. We made do, and no one on tour received a ticket. There were many times though, that the rode had given way and there was no white line, as well, no shoulder to ride on, causing some angry motorists (mostly truckers) and they would blare there horns at us, but we would have no where to go, for there was no shoulder, just a gravel side, and moreover some drop-offs.
The first leg of the ride went well, although the pace line was accordion like at times….speed up, slow down, coast, brake, speed up…and it is not a conducive cycling way. We stopped in a little town of Hayden and had a snack and then continued out into the wind along the highway. The fist SAG was Corey, and he really does enjoy when we come by. I call him crazy and he calls me lucky…or vice versa. Good camaraderie here amongst the people.
Jeff, Jonathan, Annette, Kaitlyn and I stopped in Steamboat Springs, to eat our lunch and think about the rest of the day. See we were just on the edge of starting our climb to the summit of Rabbit’s Ears Pass. The climb was not too long, but it did require much perseverance, I managed to continue at a lovely high rate of 8-11km/hr and sometimes faster. In all it took and hour and a half (at that rate) to reach the summit. This is how riding can get long…you can’t go any faster…cause your legs just can’t pump any more.

We reached the summit, had a drink break, and then continued to find these ‘rabbit ears’ that were an outcropping of rocks over yonder on the top of another mountain. Took a moment there to take a photo and continue on our way. We came to the real summit a couple of km later, and took a photo at the sign that says the footage and the continental divide line. We are now in the run off water towards the Atlantic….no longer the Pacific.

By the time we got to Walter’s I was just about done. We still had another 25 k to go of rolling hills.

I really enjoyed the last 10k for they were good rolling hills, whereby I booted down the hill and coasted up the next. Annette and I got to town and headed straight into towards the school and set up our tents as well as Theresa’s.

DINOSAUR to CRAIG Colorado

Time in the saddle: nearly 6 hours
TOP speed: 81.5 - yes yes yes!!!
KM: 148
HARDNESS FACTOR: today was a enduring day....it had many climbs but many declines as well, on one of these down hills i sling shotted around another biker and pumped down a hill to settle into a nice tuck and before i knew it i was literally flying down the highway, so nice for once to go as fast as a vehicle, versus a slug up the hill. Alternatively though, bugs, butterflies, bees and other insects have passed me by while I cycle on up these so called mountains that are in the way to getting to Denver.....today after riding so lovingly down a hill to come upon another, i yelled out, WHO PUT THIS HILL IN THE WAY?!

This morning we started out a little after 7:30, Marty, Annette, Jenna, Kaitlyn and I. We had a good pace-line going and were getting into the groove of the ride. Soon we came upon Denise and Heidi, and they joined our ‘train’ up and down the beginning of the rolling hills. Today was much better than yesterday…much better. We stopped at the first sag, and were greeted by rain showers just after we stopped.

This is what happens when you lay your bike down when you stop at a sag wagon and it begins to rain....rightly so, for i have no kickstand...they are uncool! It left a lovely imprint in the gravel and called for a photo op....

COLORADO in its beauty and majesty.

Part of the group I rode with today...Jenna, Kaitlyn, Marty, Jonathan, Annette, Denise and Heidi. What fun we had....

We continued on, the a small town where we had lunch at a park. We spent over an hour chatting at the picnic tables and changing a flat Kaitlyn got...it was the weirdest flat ever. We were done lunch, and she had headed to the gas station to get gatorade...when suddenly we heard a woooshhhh noise... and we looked over at her bike and you could see her tire losing air.
Lawrence changed it nearly before she came back....we were trying to see if we could get it done before she got back and see if she noticed...

For most of the morning I could only ride in my small front ring...don't know what was going on...but Lawrence saved me there, he just twirled a few of these things on my bike and presto...big ring back in order. THANKS Lawrence!

The rest of the ride in...the last 50 some k, I rode with Jenna, Denise, and Heidi...we doubled up and chatted through the hills and made it into town safely. I got one flat, my rear tire is a little on the thin side, and a rock managed to lodge right through the rubber.
CHANGE OF TUBE TIME: 7 minutes... thanks ZINGER for pumping the last 30 psi in...aha.
So Hilena, you gotta work on the tire changing time... your 5 times slower...

When we got to town, we all exclaimed at the fact that there were stop lights... i know i know, stop lights, but the last few stops have been some small towns...
WE went to walmart for gatorade, a local jewelry shop for kicks...and a bike shop for Jenna needed a part (bike ring on front cog) ...This bike shop was the size of a double garage and packed to the nines...tiptoe room only...he had her part and saved her day, now she can go fast like me!

Tonight, I changed my tires....they have a lovely blue stripe in them and match my bike...apparently the boys think they are every so lovely...and wish they had tires like mine..

Day 23, Duchesne to Dinosaur, Colorado

Alex, my'luv of the trip, such a funny story... will enlighten later.

TUESDAY
JENNA DAY
Last night, Jenna and I had decided to ride together for we didn’t want to burn out, nor did we want to race, because we definitely have a long week ahead of us, what with large elevation climbs --- and this is how the day started, Jenna and I started out our day together and booted the first 32k in under an hour. It was amazing (partially due to the fact that it had a slight down hill. This was where Corey was stationed. From there we proceeded to climb the first two hills, and then were joined by Alex, Jeff and Jonathan. We rode up and down hills, (mostly up)…which slowed us down much more than we wanted, or I wanted…one of these days I just want to fly up the hills.
The day started at 7:30, and ended around 4…
The last 20k were the work...they were hard, they took our time and sapped our energy. Jeff and Alex had gone ahead, and Zinger managed to fall back with us...climbing these hills are quite the ordeal, and then into a headwind was just added mix of pleasure and fun ( NO).

During the whole ride, we were a tight group, managing to help each other out, and stop when necessary. One stop was made at the seven eleven and I had the chance to talk to two people about the cause. I generally am able to give out a card a day, and have piqued a good many of others in just mini chats. We ate our lunch outside the 7 11, and one of the workers came out to talk to us, she then offered us free ice and drinks (water) from the fountains in the store....our lucky day. I put ice in my jersey pockets and in the cracks of my helmet to keep cool. A few others did the same. From the stop we headed on to Walter who was parke at about the 100k mark. Which was just before we started climbing the rest of the way to our destination. Climbing: sounds funny, but thats the lingo...we climb hills with our bikes... and make it work for us to the best of our abilities.

The rest of the day is history. Jenna and I sang the last 5 k into camp for we just needed to take our minds off of the head wind, the uphill climb, and the fact that we were nearing 6 hours in our seat...yah, the bottom gets tired by the end of the day...as well as the mind, the feet, the legs, and even my pumping heart...how much can the body take...how much of a machine are we becoming...

I now talk about inserting food, for energy, not eating for pleasure...what you put in, must be good fuel for the ride...and agreeable! Some people are finding out the hard way when introducing new foods at certain times of the day...mcdonalds is a no-no. haha!

MONDAY day 22, SALT LAKE TO DUCHESNE

THis picture is from Sunday night when we had large gusts of winds coming up over the water, and some scattered showers. Thunder was heard in the distance, but it stayed away.

The covers in Park City.

Today, we left camp around 7:30…and we soon named ourselves the J- team.
The route today was rather long, quite the challenge due to all the climbing, but beautiful for the visual. We had lovely cloud cover which made riding your bike on a challenging day that much nicer for we didn’t have to also think about how hot we were.
THE J-team started with Jessica, Jeff, Joshua, Jenna, Julia (me) and Hilena, who was soon named Jilena just so that she was not ‘one of these things does not belong here.’
The night prior to the ride we receive a map with our directions and as well the elevations thereby enabling us to know how much climbing there is and what is in store for us that day. Unfortunately for this Monday there was no such map, leaving us a little in the wary for what was in store. We were told it was another ‘pass’ through the mountains, and that most definitely means climbing.

This is what we saw, when we took a look back as per what where we came from...or WHAT WE CLIMBED...yes a little tuckered when at the summit...but ready to pedal on.

The ride started out on the highway with an amazing downhill…blowing by above 60k an hour…which is chilly at 7 am…with a turn off the highway we started a 6-8% climb for about 800 ft. From the top of the climb we could see out over Jordanelle state park and see where we had camped just an hour earlier. On with the ride, Hilena had a flat at 8:50, where Jenna and I stopped to keep her company….it took her until 9:26 to complete the task…meanwhile Jenna and I had already perused the area, and tried to coerce some ‘snobby horses’ to come eat the delicious grass we had picked. They had no need or interest in us. We went back to help Hilena, but she was intent on completing it herself. By now, our group had come to a trio….but later we caught up with Josh, who stayed with us for the rest of the day. Continuing on with this leg of the trip, we started out at a good pace, but were soon feeling the effects of horrible optical illusions. WE were slowing down incredibly but couldn’t understand why. Our rear tires felt flat, my legs felt like jell-o, and my bottom like lead. We were climbing…we reached Walter Vink’s oasis at the 50k mark and we still had 12k to climb. This climb was no easy deal, we were doing 8-10% easily, IN GRANNY GEAR…at least I was, and reach the summit of a daunting 9485 ft…what a climb for the morning…..but next came the descent…and lovely as it was I only reached 74k an hour, due to curves in the road…and possibly fear of crashing if going any faster.
We reached a town of Hanna, whereupon we decided to stop for snacks and coffee, and for some PIE. With in minutes this small little café was overloaded with us sea to sea-ers…and Joan was serving water and pie like she worked there all her life (she is one of the cyclists). Certain pie flavours were sold out within the hour, and those further behind in the ride were going to be out of luck.

Shawn and Brent, zooming by, as i was on the otherside of the road trying to coerce some horses to me....while waiting for Hilena to change her tire...

Leaving the café we still had no idea of what was in store for us, besides what the trucker I had been talking too had said. He was right, another 8% climb…and then rolling hills all the way to Corey who was 30k from the end point. At Corey’s Jenna noticed a flat tire…and we ended up changing that there, and it took her only 15 minutes…yeah Jenna…(with the help of some nice boys). We turned from Corey’s stop to head into a head wind…what a day… that last bit, with climbing was nuts on our minds and as well as our bodies. Needless to say we made it into camp, with delays, and stops at the SAG’s, by 5pm…..long day.
Setting up tents we had a race, because how else do you keep the spirit of fun with tents going…and then changed into bathing suits…for we were going SWIMMING at the local pool that had it open for us. Supper, shower, peleton…small groups…try to email…and then bed is how it went….

sunday/monday

Sunday was a lovely day at Jordanelle State park.
I cleaned my bike...got stuff ready for the week to Denver...
and then went into town via one of the Sea to sea shuttle vans.
A whole crew of us, went up and down Park City, which was a lovely place
to visit and see (after we had biked through it on Saturday, I am glad we had
the chance to come back and walk through some of it).

When back at in the late afternoon, we had a dinner put on by the CRC of the local area, very large scale potluck. Afterwards we had our....

I am too tired, I am going to bed, i will complete my thoughts later, and finish what i meant to...
goodnight!

WILLARD TO JORDANELLE -Salt lake city, DAY 20 - A CENTURY RIDE 160 *

Sunset on Friday night, it was beautiful to see.

Saturday July 19th 2008, Day 20
Well, the day has arrived that we arose with the MOON, yes the moon was still over the lake when I awoke. Still over the lake when I was eating breakfast, and still over the lake when I put my foot into my shoe into my clips on my bike.


Now let me tell you, 4:55 is quite early in the morning and the sun was most definitely not up over the mountains just yet…I really tried to sleep until 5:30…but it just wasn’t happening….see many people were anxious and worried about today’s ride. And with no undo forethought, for the ride was 160 km, the first hundred into Salt Lake City, and then the next 60 km of on and of climbing into the camp ground we are staying at for two nights, up to the elevations of 7000 feet. We gained 2522 feet today.

The first hill, 5-6% incline for about 10-15 km, the second, a little bit worse and a little bit longer….then when rounding the corner on the last stretch into the park, another HILL that was monstrous, for by then your quads are burning, your legs are nearly jell-o, and your brain is telling you to stop…GET THIS, my shoes left cleat was broken since the 60 km mark, thereby leaving me with only one foot that clipped it…making it just a little more challenging for the already challenged….kidding….it was just harder to ride, for I couldn’t use my left leg to pull up on the pedal, my right leg compensated, and now I fear, I will have a bigger right thigh then my left. I will be purchasing new clip cleats for Mondays ride!! When we passed by the cycling shop we saw in one of the towns we were going by, it was closed of course…so we just kept pedaling.

Today, we started out with Steph, Sarah and I. WE ride comparably well together, and since Steph’s knee generally holds her back, it was good that I was gimpy with one clipped shoe and one not…made for an interesting team! Sarah went ahead on the hills, and made it to camp before us…although I did enjoy riding with her the first 100 k of the day….its so weird how you can go from one day, 56k last week… to over 156 the following week. The body is an amazing machine, and the extent that you can push it or make it do. A CENTURY… my first CENTURY ride… 160 km and it was quite the ride with hills and

SALT LAKE CITY....and the olympic games park.

This is where we are camping, i took this shot from the one side of the mountain where our gear trucks and kitchen trucks are parked. Via the shortcuts and thistle laden paths you can get there in about 805 steps...i counted...if you go around the long way its averaging 1200 steps....better to take the shortcut although it leaves you quite dusty and short of breath for the grade of the one climb is near 25%...good thing we don' t have to bike that one.



You can almost make out the tents on the other side.... quite a ways a way, although it makes for interesting camping conditions....

Friday SNOWVILLE - WILLARD 108 km

Friday July 18th 2008 - DAY 19

Upon leaving friday morning, it looked like some cyclists were chasing
down the portapotty SAG- as well this is the town of Snowville
and its entirity- a four way stop.

We started our day off with, Len, Julie, Katrina, and Steph….we stopped 20m down the road because his rear tire was making noise. It came down to a rock lodged in his rear brake rubbing on his tire. I came to his rescue, and helped him out. Then we were on our way to hwy 1-84. The ride on the highway was absolutely lovely, for there was a newly paved lane that they still had pylons up so that drivers could not ride on it. This was absolutely glorious for us. We continued on this busy highway for about 20 miles, which most was climbing….not hard hills but climbing none the less. Upon departing the highway, we came upon “Walter’s Oasis” for this is the place were you stop, eat a snack and get a drink. Lately Walter has been able to give us treats as well, watermelon is my favourite right now. We were on our way to leave from Walter’s, when Len said we should go with out him, for he was feeling not as speedy as we were going and pulling him. Us 4, went on our way, and for the most part, since the roads were empty, were able to double, sometimes, triple or quadruple up in our lane. This way we can chat as well as ride, passing the kilometres more quickly then in a pace line. A headwind was there but we continued our doubles for sometime until we reached the ATK local missile factory, out side of the building where they build missiles, they have a display, of rockets and other ‘metal’ things, which we stopped to look at, and wander through. For really, we were in the middle of a desert, and then this huge rocket appears in front of you, and many buildings as well, makes for an interesting discover and mini pause to our cycling of the day.

Once done at the display, we continued on our way, Joshua joined us, for he no longer wanted to ride with Reuben and Nick (these guys are probably the top 3 cyclists on the tour). Joshua joined our pace line all way until we were 10 k from our campsite. This is when we stopped for icecream. Icecream and cycling right afterwards doesn’t mix or sit so well, so for future reference for me, I will now have ice cream after the ride…whereby not having to have it jump around in my stomach so much. Upon reaching our campground, we had a lovely lake to swim in, and a backdrop of mountains…it made for a glorious front yard and a wonderful backyard. It is sometimes surreal to just bike from town to town, or city to city. There are times when I feel like I am cycling in Ottawa, going down a road I know, passing over bumps and cracks that I have ridden over before.
Then reality hits, we are cycling across the continent. The scope of that idea is still vague, mostly I am taking it one day at a time....

Joshua, Nick and Reuben riding the rocket.
Joshua apparently had 'rocket grunge' on his legs
from climbing onto this 'missile'?

this photo depicts what we rode through on friday, and then up popped the missile place...and then nothing but desert and sage brush again.

THIS Is the front yard (or back-take your preference), of our Willard Bay State Park campspot on friday.

BACKYARD - look at the amazing backdrop we have for our backyard.