Continental Divide

Yesterday was more climbing, but another good day in the Rockies.
Today we crossed the continental divide – I was on support so I didn’t actually ride. There were great views and it was a pretty steep climb. We set up lunch at the top of the mountain. While we were having lunch, a snow plow ran into one of our parked vans (which was in a parking lot). Kind of complicated the day – everyone had been so happy because they had finished such a major climb and then that happened. I'm told that if I follow the water, its all downhill from here.
Trying out a video - Kem racing toward the top.

1000+

From yesterday - pictures of Telluride, and yes, some riders ran into Katie Holmes at a coffee shop.

Today I noticed on my odometer that I’ve gone over 1000 miles so far on this trip. Its crazy how fast it seems to be going.

As I ride every day, I think about all the things that I want to write on here – and compose great little stories in my head, but once I sit at the computer, I forget everything that I wanted to say.

After a day off in Telluride, we were back to climbing a little in the Rockies. Today the mountains actually looked like what I had expected in the Rockies. When we started the day I had ice on my bike seat and it took a while for my second water bottle to melt from the bikes being left outside over night.

Today’s climb wasn’t too bad. There were amazing views. The road up snaked along an overfull spring river which makes climbing so much easier. I actually think that I like climbing mountains better than coming off them. I’m able to look around and enjoy the view. Going down the mountain you have to worry about potholes and crosswinds.

Even though a large part of today was flat, we had to deal with a lot of headwinds. Pace lines totally saved me today. Its so much easier than trying to fight the wind myself.

The Rockies

Today was another amazing day. We climbed up into the Rockies and have arrived at Telluride. The climb actually wasn’t too bad. We made it up to 10,222 feet before coming down a little to Telluride. On the way up, we traced a river that was overflowing with water from the melting snow that was all around. Great views of the river, mountains, pines/aspen and snow. We thankfully had a tailwind on the way up which made it an easier day than many last week even though there was so much climbing.

It was snowing a little bit around dinner time.

Colorado!

Today we entered Colorado. Tomorrow we start the Rockies.

The day went pretty well. Not too long and the wind wasn’t too bad. We’re staying in the town of Dolores, CO. A really nice town at the base of the Rockies. We’re staying in the High School gym and the local Catholic Church made us dinner. During the dinner, Van and I gave a talk about poverty and health. It seemed to go over well – the members of the church are really active in local poverty issues.

Random fact – tumbleweed is an invasive plant brought over from Russia.

Downtown Dolores
Samara, Steph and Jen at Karaoke in Monticello, UT.

Cory and Kel in the gym where we're staying.

Monticello, UT

The dust storm from two days ago (I'm in there somewhere - Linc hung back and took a picture).

Lunch stop (actually from yesterday).
Riders coming into the first rest stop today.

Yesterday was horrendous. It was supposed to be a 72 mile day and it ended up being a 98 mile day. It was arid, hilly, and windy, so it took a while. We all ended up running out of water and a lot of people got sagged. I think it made a lot of people very unhappy – probably one of the more intense moments of the trip. But, when we finished, we were at Natural Bridges park, so we were able to get around and see the park a little. We camped out and the stars were great.

Today was a much better day – and not just because I was on the support crew. The ride was only 65 miles and we went through a couple of nice small towns. We’re staying at a Catholic church in Monticello, UT. They made us an amazing dinner of flat tacos. It was very nice after our past two nights of camping and throwing together meals.

Hanksville

Leaving Boulder, going up through the aspen.
On the other side of the mountain - mesas.
Random moonscape. I have no idea how cows graze here.
Random house in the middle of nowhere.

Another beautiful day in Utah. We started with a climb to almost 10,000 again just outside the town of Boulder, UT. Then it was mostly downhill which was nice. It was freezing up top the mountain and then it stayed cool most of the day. It was great to see all the different changes in terrain, plants, etc throughout the day. The first mountain had streams, aspen and tons of pine, but as we came down, it turned more into desert and mesas with tons of great colored dunes and formations. We also went through Capital Reef park which was beautiful – although the park ranger was not so cool. He fined us for having an event in the park without a permit. Kind of bizarre. Utah has rules for everything. We had some crazy wind for about half the day. There were points where we were riding at 45 degree angles into the wind and where the wind pushed me over a lane. We also had some crazy headwinds where I would pedal as hard as possible and go about 4 or 5 mph. We’re camping out tonight in Hanksville which is in the middle of nowhere with great surroundings.

Boulder

Utah is beautiful – every cyclist needs to ride through this state. Today was another great day. There were some climbs, but even though they are higher than other climbs we’ve done, they just seem easier. I think the beautiful surroundings help out a bunch. The downhills are great too. Gradual downhills that seem to last forever, but not too steep so that I don’t have to ride the breaks.
Getting energy from the petrified wood.
We had lunch at the petrified forest. It was cool to see, but not what I was expecting. The lake and the view was much nicer. It was good to get out and hike a little – use some different muscles. We’ve also been passing through a lot of fun small towns.

After lunch, some of us got stuck in the middle of a dust storm. It was crazy. We were riding leaning over because of the wind and there was dirt everywhere. My right eye was closed and my left one was barely open. Tumbleweed was everywhere. It was actually pretty funny because there was so much of it flying around. I got a little piece trapped in my brakes.

We met two Germans that are riding their bikes from Miami to San Francisco. Their bikes were so heavy, loaded down with all their gear. Right after that we came across the first coffee shop that we have seen in hundreds of miles. I stopped in and got an espresso with an amazing view.

The top of our second major climb of the day was kind of like a roller coaster. Very high up and it dropped off on both sides. I rode in the middle of the lane – especially with the wind howling.
Cory having espresso with the best view of any coffee shop I know. 14% grade climb = steep
Tonight we’re staying in home stays in the town of Boulder, UT. It’s a great little town with really nice people. The vegetarians are all staying with Mike who works for the parks department and who sets up the home stays. He’s got a great place with tons of land and animals. He built the house himself and is kind of making it a stand alone sustainable place to live. We had a great meal and then watched O Brother, Where Art Thou.

The house where we stayed.

Great Day

Today was such a great day - probably my favorite. We rode 92 miles and climbed a mountain with a peak of 9910 feet. It was a long and slow climb, but not too tough. It was very beautiful - don't have any pictures because i didn't want to stop but the support team got some. Part of the climb went through a bit of a canyon type thing with little mountain streams along the road. there was tons of snow, but this time I was dressed properly.

At the top.

The way down was great too. Lots of downhills, but not too many of the steep ones that make me feel like my bike is going to fall out from under me. Part of the path took us through Red Canyon which was really nice.

Van in Red Canyon.

We then took a detour and saw Bryce Canyon which was really fun. Met some Italians there.
Linc at Bryce Canyon.

Cedar City

Entering Utah & Leaving Nevada

We’ve now left the desert and have headed into the cold. The two days of riding after Vegas were pretty easy. There were climbs, but we had a tail wind which makes things so much easier. The last ten miles into Panaca were rough though because of strong cross winds.

The terrain has been changing. We saw our first trees in a while two days ago. We’re now in Cedar City at the base of some mountains. Yesterday I was on support, so avoided the sudden drop in temperature. The riders were freezing. We tried to get them as many clothes as possible, but most people had their gear packed in the trailer.

Yesterday morning Van and I gave a presentation on Poverty and Health at Lincoln County High School. The whole school came – about 180 students. It was a pretty good group, and I think most of them were interested. We tried to make it as interactive as possible to try and keep people’s attention. I was a little stressed prepping it, but I’m glad to have finally given the presentation so that I don’t have to worry about giving it for the first time any more.

Linc arrived yesterday – he flew into Cedar City and then rode his bike out to meet us on the route.

Linc & Samara at a local bar in Cedar City.

The place where we stayed in Cedar City - an Episcopal Church where people were really rude.

Maryanne going downhill (above) & Chris going downhill (below).

Easy Desert

A better day in the desert. The sun was intense, but there was no major climbing and the wind was mostly at our back. We left Vegas this morning and about 74 miles later we arrived around 2ish to give a talk at the high school in Alamo where we are staying. The students seemed interested and many asked questions after the talk. Maryanne cooked a great dinner in the home ec room and then we went into town for dessert. Some in our group went to local springs to swim, but I stayed back to work with a group of four that will be giving a presentation on Poverty and Health in 2 days.

Nate giving a presentation at the High School in Alamo, NV

We're sleeping in the hallway outside the gym

Things this country has too much of: Deserts, Wind & Mountains

So I'm finally in Vegas and have access to electricity. The past three days have been intense.

Day 5: CrewI was on the support crew for our longest day so far - 108 miles through the desert on Route 66. Not a bad day to crew because the sun was intense and the roads were practically gravel. I'm surprised that the state of California even has those roads still open - they were in bad shape. Katie and I drove the sweep can and set up lunch. Cheering everyone on and helping out was much more fun and work than I expected. We spent the night camping at this great spot in the desert.

'Bagdad Cafe' in the middle of nowhere on Route 66Kel & Joe on Rt 66

DQ in the middle of nowhere - they donated

25 ice creams for our lunch stop - looks like

I'll have to force myself to contine to eat Blizzards

to support DQ.

One of the many abandoned places

along Route 66.Katie & Seth helping with a flat.

Random shoe tree near Amboy in the middle of nowhere.

Katie taking pictures in the desert.

An abandoned school along Route 66. There really wasn't much along the whole 108 miles.

Sun setting as we set up camp.

Day 6: 90ish miles in the desert with a climb at the end.
I could feel myself cooking in the desert as we went through the Mojave and Death Valley. The climb at the end of the day was not fun. We had a great camping spot though - it had a natural springs bath. We had lunch at Baker Jr/Sr High School where Jen gave a great talk to the school (of about 200 people). They had great questions about our riding. I got cheers from the crowd for having ridden my bike longer than anyone else in the group - 9 yrs. Yes, I’m old. The students came out to talk to us and see us off. It seemed like a good experience for both side.

Jamie preping for the wind, sun & sand.

Ride prep - there were a lot of trains crossing the emptiness. Its cold in the morning - we layer and take off gear as we go along.

Baker, CA - Home of the 'World's Largest Thermometer (in the background), just outside Death Valley

Day 7: Into Nevada
So I’m a bit upset with the state of Nevada – they had no welcome sign on the tiny road that we were on. All that work, and no sign as a reward - but the roads got better. We did about 74 miles to get to Red Rock outside Las Vegas. We had a crazy climb to get to lunch (which was around mile 55). There was so much wind that even when going downhill I had to pedal. The climb was so long that the downhill lasted about 10 miles. At the end we had an optional 14 mile loop around Red Rock park. The majority of us decided to relax in the shade.

We went out last night along The Strip. We started with all you can eat Sushi/Asian. Don’t think that restaurant knew what hit it. We can all pack away a lot of food at the end of a ride. We then walked around a little and played some games at the Bellagio. I expected to be wowed by Vegas but have been a bit under whelmed by it. I’m glad that I got a chance to see it, but I don’t foresee too many return trips. I’d rather go back to San Diego. I won $40 at Bellagio but then spent $20 of that at South Point. South Point was a lot more fun because they had $1 tables which means you can play for a long time. I watched one guy at my table go through $12,000. Craziness.

Today we are just hanging out in Vegas to rest. Ashley's family hooked us up with a time share. Its a great chance to do some laundry and reorganize.

Kel, Josh & Ash at Red Rock after the ride.

A group of us at Red Rock after the ride.

Out in Vegas - outside the Bellagio.