chris-pedals-with-pete

Day 52 and beyond: Manchester to Portsmouth to Harrisburg to Columbus -- The end of one adventure and the start of another!

2009-07-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 59
Total Miles: 3975
Time: 4:00
Average: 14.6
Max 34.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:9
Climbing: Pretty flat and down to sea level.
Weather: Sunny, warm, and gorgeous beach weather.
Climbing: Pretty flat and down to sea level.
Weather: Sunny, warm, and gorgeous beach weather.

Tuesday's final ride capped 7 plus weeks of this grand adventure. An absolutely picture perfect day on which to finish this ride with those I had ridden so much of it -- Leigh and Bob as well as Hans. Chuck had friends and family there who rode with him but the four of us took out sweet time to squeeze every last inch of riding pleasure out of these last miles. We got in two wrong turns, one of which was under Gerard and Judy's direction in response to an omission on the last day's "clue" sheet. So fitting after all the rides' successful reroutes they had engineered to have that happen on this final day.

We also added one yet unencountered road surface to our lengthy list -- a water crossing produced by last night's rain. We got to splash our way through it. And, when told that we had 15 extra minutes to reach the staging area for the community ride to the beach, we found one last coffee shop so Seattleites Bob and Leigh could satisfy their iced coffee addiction while Hans and I treated ourselves to a fruit smoothie. The leisurely coffee shop service and the soft couches drew our break out a bit longer than planned and so we had to hustle along to make those last 10 miles in 30 minutes.

When we rolled in at 11:47 the rest of the gang was already assembled under and in the sprawling branches of a large tree for our final group picture. The troopers were there with their cruisers to lead us down the last 3 miles to the beach. Our spirits soared at the prospect of soon sighting the Atlantic. After the picture posing was past, we rolled out in 4 columns and made our way to the Atlantic and then along the coast to Wallis State Park. The public beach was crowded with sun bathers while the spot where we arrived was crowded with riders' friends and families sporting signs and cheering to welcome us in. The beach was soon the scene of handshakes, hugs, champagne, tires being dipped, poses for pictures, jersey's shed to leap into the surf, shouts of congratulation and words of appreciation.

As the excitement subsided, Marcia and I began to make our way to the Portsmouth motel where I showered, changed, and bade final farewells before we headed south to Canterbury CT to spend the night at Marcia's brother Steve's home. I told Marcia I would plan to leave at 7:00 and ride about 70 miles west and she could then pick me up on our way to Harrisburg PA where her sister Andrea lives. Thankfully she would have none of that! We had a quiet evening at Andrea and Jerry's home, though I faded completely before 9:00. I think the past 52 days have caught up with me!
Today we finished up the journey to Columbus. We made a beeline to the hospital to visit little Max and proud parents, Jocey and Andy. What a thrill that was! The start of an entirely new and different and exciting adventure. We have been praying for this little guy for quite some time now. Certainly for a healthy arrival but even more than that we've been praying that little Max will come to know and trust in the God that has given him life. May little Max come to know Jesus as Lord and as Savior early in his life and so experience the joy of a relationship with Him.

I would like to wrap all of this up by sharing some final thoughts.

I feel immensely grateful to have had the health, the time and the means to do this trip. There are many who would like to but few who can make it happen. I had tears of gratitude the first few mornings of this trip and they returned as I reflected on it the last few days. My brother Pete would LOVE to do this trip, but he cannot. Chris Ray, who I met in Colorado would love to do it as well be cannot. I don't know why I should be able to, but I am very GRATEFUL to God that I could.

I am very grateful to Marcia who encouraged me to do it, who sacrificed so I could and who made the trip out to pick me up and share in this with me. Thanks sweetie!

The experience of this trip exceeded my expectations in almost every way. I loved seeing the US at 15 miles an hour. I loved the great variety of scenery we passed. I'd never seen Lake Tahoe and the Sierra's so I would say that was my favorite part. The mountains and the water were breath-taking. But I also loved the rugged Nevada desert, the endless fields of corn through most of 7 successive states, the big western sky, the tight New England hills and streams, the vast west Kansas plains and the broad-shouldered Rocky Mountains with those long 6% climbs. I loved riding in double pace lines along I80, cranking for an hour or more to the top of Mt. Rose or shooting down the back of Monarch feeling mildly out of control for most of the descent. I loved that tail wind in Kansas that made 20 mph seem easy and 25 doable if you wanted to work for it. I loved riding along at a social pace, conversing comfortably with so many of my fellow travelers or riding in a double pace line with conversation snippets for a minute or two between Chuck's shouts to "rotate" or sometimes hammering so hard with a few others that winded grunts were all the conversation there was. I loved chatting with locals about where they lived or what we were doing. In short, it was much much more about the traveling than the terminus. The accomplishment of riding across the US on a bike may be what first jumps out to others, but the memories of the journey and those with whom I made it are what will remain with me.

I am grateful that two guys with whom I really connected early in the trip, rejoined the tour for the last couple of weeks. Jim, my doubles roommate early in the trip came back riding strong. We did lots of miles together, talking and enjoying riding together. Jim is one of those guys whose knowledgeable on so many topics, can connect with about anyone and is a real gentleman. He had a string of friends and relatives he connected with all across the country. Rick is an elder at his church and a close follower of Jesus. His love for Christ is evident in how he talks, lives and conducts himself. He pulled those that wished together after the route raps for prayer for all the riders' safety. I very much loved getting to know Rick and share with him.
I am also especially grateful for our Always Leaves Last team (ALL) of Chuck, Bob and Leigh, as well as Hans who often joined us later in the ride. Chuck's infectious enthusiasm was a delight. And he was about as competitive as I am when it came to riding, horse, pool, table tennis, basketball and about any other win lose event. I really enjoyed our more serious discussions about how to live life to honor God. Bob good spirits and ready humor were a delight as well. He is able to sum up any situation with funny pointed brevity. Some of his lines will stick with me for a long time. I appreciated Bob's serious side as well. He is well read and knowlegable. And very devoted to Susie, and his two kids, Kyle and Bethany. Leigh is a great listener and interested in talking about all sorts of things. She has a great sense of adventure and has traveled all over the world. She wants to leave the world a better place which I commend. I really enjoyed reading her descriptive well written and well illustrated blogs.

Another point of gratitude is for the wonderful Ohio riding I have right here in my back yard. We have smooth roads, low traffic and flat terrain when we go west of Columbus. We have rolling terrain to the southeast of us and all the hills we want if we go further southeast. We have many many roads to choose from in every direction. Along the way there are small towns with little stores and delis and dairy queens and subways and local festivals . And if we wish, we probably have a greater network of bike trails to choose from than most other states. All in all, Ohio riding is pretty special.

I am grateful that I was able to check out of a very full life for a while. I greatly enjoyed the focus that simply riding each day brought. I never dreaded getting on the bike in the morning and my enjoyment of riding was enhanced, if anything as a result of riding each day.

Finally, I am grateful to my brother Pete who introduced me to riding in the first place. He and I had ridden many many miles together and it would have been so sweet to do this with him as he had dreamed. But that was not to be. He has made an impact in a far greater way than any I could make through the riding he has done which has impacted and benefited so many. Pete, you were on my heart and in my thoughts often over these 52 days. May God encourage you and bless you and keep you and continue to use you for blessing in the lives of others. You're courage, your initiative, your perseverance, your sense of humor and your love for others is exemplary. It has been a privilege to ride for Pete's sake!

Thanks to each one who followed along with me on this journey through the blogs and pictures. May God richly bless you and encourage you in mountain tops He allows you to climb as well as in the valleys He leads you through. May we each seek Him on of our journeys.

Day 51: Brattleboro to Manchester, NH -- Yet another "best" day of riding!

2009-07-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here
Miles: 87
Total Miles: 3916
Time: 5:45
Average: 15.1
Max 43
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:9
Climbing: About 6000' total climbing including 3/4 mile long hill that had 15% grade sections.
Weather: Sunny, warm, a bit muggy with temps in mid 80's. Another absolutely gorgeous day!

Penultimate night and day of the grand adventure! The end is clearly in sight. Almost literally from the top of Hogback mountain yesterday where the claim was one could see for 100 miles. We were about 170 miles from the Atlantic and now it's shrunk to less than 70.

The penultimate hotel stay was a bit unusual as I was in with Tom and Jim for the night. It was fitting. Jim was my first nights roomie out of SF and we rode a lot together since he returned in Indy. Tom rolled in about 9:00 from an afternoon in Brattleboro with some of the others and was a bit surprised to see me in the suite, but he was a great sport about it. Especially when he learned that he and Sean had dropped me and I had not had had chain problems as they assumed when they realized I was no longer behind them. Oh the simple pleasures of friendly competition.

And then today's second to the last day's ride. What an absolute delight that was with its many ride textures. A long 6% climb to the top of Pitcher Pountain. A 3/4 mile grind and grunt and sweat and sweet talk to the top of two very steep back to back climbs that featured 15% grades in spades. Fast downhills on very smooth tarmac and a fast down hill on a mile of dirt road through the woods. A long wind driven ride that followed the bends of that clear fast moving NH stream off our right side. Long shaded roads, open ridge tops and fast sections on the shoulder of gently undulating US highways. This ride had it all!

The first SAG featured the best peaches by far I've had all season. And these after I said to someone last evening that I'd just love fruit in season -- and Oh by the way, peaches are in season right now. And then the second SAG stop featured a full gourmet lunch provided by Judy's husband, Dan. He had a spread of chicken salad on Pita bread, past salad and fruit salad all laid out on the back of his pickup for us. All we had to do was dig in and eat. Judy, you got yourself a jewel!!

SAG 2 also featured some neat reunions. Bob's wife Susie and two kids, Kyle and Bethany had driven in from Boston in their rental to connect with him early. And then Chuck's 80 some year old uncle who had ridden cross country some 20 years ago joined him there on his bike and the two did some miles together. "Bullet Bob" as he was called, must have been the fastest in his crossing those years ago.

And when I rolled into Manchester, I looked for the gray Odyssey and sure enough -- it was parked in the lot and Marcia was waiting for me! We enjoyed our last route rap together followed by a slide show of photos Gerard had put together that captured the ride well. Then dinner, awards by staff and some comments from each of the riders that wanted to share.

Day 50 Latham NY to Brattleboro NH -- Thank yous and acknowledgements

2009-07-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 81
Total Miles: 3827
Time: 4:52
Average: 16.7
Max 46
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:9
Climbing: About 5000' total climbing
Weather: Partly sunny, a bit muggy and temps in low 80's. Gorgeous day overall!

Well, the number of posts is starting to dwindle so I'm going to do something a bit different.

Oh, the ride was great today -- beautiful Vermont mountain scenery, great weather with temps in the lower 80's and no rain as forecast, smooth surfaces on most roads and manageable traffic. And there was a mix of competitive riding on this last day of continuous climbing along with some leisurely riding as well. I caught Sean and Tom at the first SAG stop about 26 miles out and we rode together to the start of the climb. Sean kept a steady strong pace up the 4 mile 6% climb we had and Tom stayed on his wheel. Though I tried to stay with them, I could not and slipped back a ways before we got to the top. I had hoped to reach the top first, but they were both definitely stronger. Congratulations guys!

As a result of the aggressive pace to the top of that first climb, I got to the second SAG stop at close to 60 miles out just after Tom and Sean left and decided there was no point in pushing hard any further so I ended up chatting with Michelle a good long while until Steve and Jack arrived and the three of us finished the last climb and the long downhill to Brattleboro together.

But what I really want to do here is to offer some thank you's.

Thanks again to all who have donated to thes ride. Thanks Haide for your pledge to this ride for PwP. Haide, my step-mom has been such a wonderful encouargement, mentor and supporter to Pete over all these years and continues to support PwP year by year by volunteering and giving. Haide, I want to salute your part in Pete's life and the many other lives you have touched! Thanks for your support.

Also, Thank you's are in order to the great AbB crew that have made these past 50 days go SO well. Michelle and Gerard, you have done a great job in leading. You have been even tempered and even handed. You have been cheerful when it would have been easy not to be. You have responded to small and large requests quickly. You have spent endless hours souting out routes ahead of time, plotting reroutes, shuttling us to dinner, to airports, attractions and other places. You have been there to fix endless flats, spokes, wheels, shifters, derailleurs, cleats and anything else that ailed our bikes. You have set up SAG stops and torn them down only to set them up and tear them down again. You have joined in our fun with field trips, riding, gag shots, pace lines and whatever other crazy ideas were floated.

Judy, you've been a great support and a real asset to have along. You, have of course, willed and reminded us to ride safely. You have supported Gerard and Michelle in every way as far as I could tell, taking on the jobs that needed to be done. Tom -- your cheerfulness is infectious! You have the gift of encouragement for sure. Who could ever get upset with you! And, your wrenching skills were not bad either. Always filling in where there were needs. Alex, I loved your willingness to fit in with a bunch of folks 3 times your age and more. And, to do a lot of the grunt work that needed to get done -- cheerfully!

All of you have been great to ride with, chat with and hang with. Thanks SO much!

And, finally, to my fellow riders! I've enjoyed so much getting to know each one of you. Riding with you, sharing meals together and competing with some of you :=). I could not have imagined a better group to share this great adventure with. Thanks to each of you!

Tomorrow is the penultimate ride -- a time for dawdling, reflection and milking all there is on the road to Manchester before all of us spend our last evening together!

Day 49: Little Falls to Latham, NJ -- Mohawk River Ramble

2009-07-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 81
Total Miles: 3745
Time: 5:46
Average: 14.0
Max 33.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:9
Climbing: Nice and flat most of the day.
Weather: Fog in the morning then glorious sunshine and low 80's with little wind. Gorgeous!

Promise of a beautiful day from the weather report and sure enough, it was all it was made out to be. Low traffic all Saturday morning let us enjoy the many neat New York vistas over green valleys. Periodically we came upon a small town with shops and old factories along the river.

Early in the day we stopped at Fort Klock, a collection of 18th century structures with attractive gardens and vegetation scattered about. Then came Nelliston, Fonda and Amsterdam along the wide Mohawk River to our right. Occasionally we climbed a bit above it and got a clear view. A railroad traveled between the river adn the road so we regularly saw short passenger trains and long freight trains.

After 50 miles we passed over the the south side of the Mohawk and soon hit a bike path that we were on a good deal of the last 30 miles. Lunch was a burger and root beer float at Jumpin Jacks, a popular summer burger joint.

I spent the day riding with a variety of folks and did a lot of dawdeling. A picture here, a turn into town there and so it went. Had a good chance to talk with Jim early in the day about his family heritage. He was in a reflective mood as he was heading off route to Schenectady where his mother was born and raised and where she met his dad, a WWII veteran who had seen much action in Germany. Jim looked up the house where his mother was raised as well as the hospital he was born in. While there, he connected with the woman, now 81, who had helped deliver him. It was quite the day for him.
I stopped along the way in to pick up some super glue to drip into the many slashes my tires now have. I am hoping to make it in on these tires the last three days. We'll see. I also bought a new chain as mine is worn out. I am hoping to get more miles from both sprockets as a result.

This evening we had a spirited T-shirt swap which was great fun. I offered up a PwP T-shirt. There was a soccer jersey from England, a school T from Switzerland, a mountaineering Tshirt and a whole variety of biking related Tshirts like "I'm only wearing this because my biking jersey is in the wash". Steve from Florida, offered one that had the highest mountain in FL -- which of course is a joke since the highest elevations there are freeway overpasses. I ended up with the T-shirt I wanted, a mountain climbing related shirt Jim had offered.

Most everyone was feeling up beat after the day and the fun at the swap. In general the reality of this trek closing down is affecting different folks in different ways. The prospect of real life, looking for a job or returning to one that is less than desireable is less than appealing to some. The fact that friendships formed will not be refreshed is depressing to some. The sense of accomplishment is uplifting to some. The long time on the road living out of a suitcase and eating at buffets can't come to an end fast enough for a few.

Best news of the day for me is that Marcia will be joining me a day early in Manchester on Monday for our last dinner together celebration and a time where we each share with the group what this ride has meant to us. The next day is an easy ride to the ocean with the last 7 miles being all together with a celebratory police escort. Two days of climging left before then to get us throgh Vermont and New Hampshire.

Day 48 Liverpool to Little Falls -- Other Traveling Bikers.

2009-07-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 80
Total Miles: 3664
Time: 5:17
Average: 15.1
Max 30
Flats Today: 1; Total flats:9
Climbing: Nice and flat most of the day.
Weather: Overcast to start turning to light rain half way out. Rain stopped before we got in.

Chuck and I talked about hammering it out today, but before I pulled out from the motel Jim had a hotel flat and I decided to stay and ride with him. There was a second flat and then a third.
It was flat riding and cool temperatures going out and Jim and I had a good time riding and talking to the first SAG stop. We picked up Zero at the SAG and the three of us pedaled on with many sections of the ride along the Erie Canal. As we have had the canal in our sights regularly over the past few days, I have been quite amazed at the huge undertaking this was, even by today's standards. Digging this all out mostly by hand in the mid 1800's is a staggering thought. And then the canal was in use for only a relatively short amount of time before it was obsoleted by the trains.

We continue to travel toward New England and the towns and homes and old factories become more and more New English as we go. Old Inns, old brick factories, twisty roads and large wood piles are just some of the sights along the route.

By the time we got to the second SAG it was raining lightly but steadily. We ducked into the Subway there for lunch and Jim decided he would SAG on in. EDI (Every Dry Inch) has become his motto since he is only doing a partial crossing anyway. Zero and I pressed on. Suddnely we heard a loud "poof' followed by a steady "pishshshsh" I had my ninth flat. I sent Zero on because fixing flats by committee does not work well and then started the task. Soon I had it done, though I could not identify the cause at the time. As I was putting stuff back into the tool bag, another rider passed by-- but it was not one of our AbB folks since he was on a mountain bike and had panniers.

When I caught him, I struck up a conversation with him. Les was a 35 year old Hartford teacher. He had driven to Buffalo in a rental car and was now pedaling along the Erie Canal back to Hartford. We had a great time talking. Les had done a lot of traveling including a bike trip to the Yucatan and a 2 year Peace Corps stint in Cameroon. The time passed quickly and we were soon in Little Falls where Les also got off and checked into the same hotel we were staying in.

This Knights Inn is close to the bike path along the canal and so was a popular bikers rest. Several other bikers rolled in over the course of the afternoon including Dave and Gordon, who were also doing a cross country crossing. Theirs was self contained, starting in Washington State and also ending in Portsmouth. Gordon had done the trip 28 years ago and was struck by the traffic increase and the growth of the urban centers. They had each had only one flat which amazed me since they' d been on busy highways regularly as well.

At route rap Michelle and Gerard talked some more about the trip end logistics. Packing bikes, reaching the beach with police escort, the last night's festivities and such things. Most folks are becoming reflective, relieved, morose or other moods we've not had before. Only 4 riding days left. Tomorrow will be another relatively flat medium length day. Got to enjoy each one!

Day 47: Canandaigua to Liverpool -- Picturesque FIngerlakes

2009-07-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here
Miles: 70
Total Miles: 3583
Time: 4:18
Average: 15.9 Max 30
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: 2400' of climbing -- lots of inclines and downs all along -- nothing too steep.
Weather: Rain early, then the rain quit and the roads dried. 70's to sart and 80's in by afternoon.

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day. It was coming down steadily when we got up, when we packed and when we loaded. Breakfast was after load at Denny's but not for me. Two Otis Spunkmeyer bran muffins and a cup of coffee at the motel and I was off into the rain. Seventy miles on modest rollers seems like a short ride with nothing much needed so I decided I would get this one over with. Besides, 3-4 hours sleep the last couple of nights and I was feeling a little fried.

After an hour or two, the rain let up, and the NY scenes started coming to life. Flowers along the road opened up. The many still bodies of water reflected what was above with remarkable clarity. The small New York towns of Geneva on Seneca Lake, Waterloo, Camillus and Seneca Falls on Lake Cayuga were full of life. The traffic had picked up and sprayed water off the puddles. I wondered on more than one occasion if drivers saw me or not as they approached Rt 5 from intersections, driveways and parking lots.

It was actually kind of nice riding alone, stopping often for pictures along the way. The only SAG stop of the day was not in place yet when I drove on through. I saw Zero and Jack once briefly when they came by at a photo op, but they soon stopped for at a convenience store and then I was by myself again until I rolled into the Clarion Inn in Liverpool.

Then it was clean the bike which was absolutely as filthy as it had been all trip with grunge in and over everything. Hopefully the wet tires did not pick up any road debris to work its way through the tire and tube and end up as a hotel flat. Tomorrow is a flat 80 mile day to Little Falls NY and another day closer to the Atlantic. And to Marcia and the kids and the grandson and Home!

Day 46 Hamburg to Canandaigua -- Best Bike Museum Ever!

2009-07-22T17:33:00.001-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 99
Total Miles: 3413
Time: 6:31
Average: 15.1
Max 35
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: 3800' of climbing -- nothing steep but lots and lots of long rollers.
Weather: Sunny and pleasant. Some headwind all the way but not bad. High in 80's

Clear skies after yesterday's rain were most welcome by all of us. First stop after breakfast was the Pedaling History Bicycling Museum. Check out the link to the website. I would add that you should check out the museum if you ever get the chance, but unfortunately it appears that it will be sold and relocated by the Fall. It was an exceptional hour and a half at the start of a century long day, but worth every minute.

Carl, the owner and curator who built it up over the past 35 years is an absolute expert on every aspect of bicycling history from its origins in the early 1800's. Carl regaled us for an hour with bicycling technology, manufacturing, social acceptance, road systems, safety features and much more. He has accumulated an amazing collection of rare and unusual bikes and biking related stuff. It's an absolutely one of a kind place though its sad to think about it being relocated elsewhere.

The museum is somewhat of a complement to the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen Ohio which specializes more in the last 60 - 70 years. It would be kind of neat to see these two merge as it would result in a very complete picture of the growth of cycling in all its aspects.

On leaving the museum we pedaled through New York farm country with the fields and streams and woods and homes. At mile 70 there was another old time soda fountain kind of place with wonderful rootbeer floats and fantastic thin hamburgers on kaiser rolls. Absolutley delicious at reasonable prices with50's and 60's music playing on a juke box. Great fun!

On the last leg in to Canandaigua I got passed by a local rider and rode with him for a while. Kind of fun to talk to him about the family farm that he and his brother had inherited as the 4th generation and how they turned it into a glf course he now runs. Said that it has worked out exceptionally well.

At route rap tonight Michelle and Gerard started talking about ride end logisitics. Hard to believe we have only 6 days left before we dip the front wheel into the Atlantic.

Day 45: Erie PA to Hamburg NY -- Dreary along Erie

2009-07-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 82
Total Miles: 3413
Time: 4:31
Average: 18.3
Max 31:5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Pretty flat along Lake Erie.
Weather: Cool and rain all along the way.

Yesterday's day off was much needed and laid back. A walk to the lakefront in downtown Erie with Zero, a leisurely lunch and a great time chatting. Some blogging, a little baseball on TV and then dinner with Tom, Zero, Jim and Dan at an Irish Pub.

We woke this morning to gray skies and wet downtown streets. A good day to try to get to "point B", that is Hamburg NY, just outside Buffalo, as fast as possible. And that is just what I set out to do. It rained moderately on and off the entire 82 miles but never real hard. I stopped for a photo op at the NY state line and for a light house along the way and a pit stop at a Tim Horton's in Dunkirk but that was about it.

It was 12:15 when I arrived at the Comfort Inn Suites. The room was ready, rags were out to clean the bike and the motel featured Versus, so I could catch today's exciting mountain TdF stage.

Cleaning the bike after the rain on the road involves moistening it with a hose and then wiping it down to remove all of the road grit that gets kicked up. The wheels come off and get wiped down including each spoke and the hubs. The rear sprocket set gets flossed. The rag is inserted between each pair of sprockets and is pulled back and forth all around the circumfrence. The wheels are put back on and then the chain is wiped clean and re-lubricated.

In addition to missing home and the person who makes it home -- my very special lady -- I have also been missing everyone at CHM and am looking forward to reconnecting with everyone there. Mitchell preached a compelling message Sunday per reports from several family members. Lunches continue to be well attended from what I am hearing. And, I am also hearing the Friday evening movies for kids is going very well with Eric, Karen, Carusos and Mitchell and I am sure a number of others pouring into that. Also, very much feeling the loss of having been gone so long from Tuesday morning prayer times and the special time that always is. JohnM, Mitchell, JohnR, Mike, and others who come -- May God bless your faithfulness!

Tomorrow its back to more climbing, 3800', and our last day 90+ mile day.

Day 43 Youngstown to Erie PA - Weary in Erie

2009-07-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here
Miles: 101
Total Miles: 3330
Time: 6:15
Average: 16.1
Max 34
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Flat and generally downhill to lake Erie
Weather: Continued cool, partly cloudy, in low 70's. Moderate northwesterly wind which was in our face until we turned the corner at Conneaut.

I am really missing being at Meadowbrook on Sunday mornings. This makes 7 Sundays I've missed hearing our very special Praise Team lead us in worship to lift our hearts to the Lord. I miss the mutual encouragement. I miss getting caught up on what is going on with Abdul as well as Jeneba and Fatima and now their two little guys. I miss hearing the message God has laid on the heart of the speaker. I miss finding out what is going on the lives of my brothers and sisters the past week so we can rejoice together and pray for one another. To my church family -- I miss each of you! I am very much looking forward to being with you and hearing all God is doing in your lives in a couple of weeks!!!
My Sunday was spent -- you guessed it -- pedaling the back roads of Ohio and PA to get to our next overnight and our last rest day in Erie. I really needed a day off, I must say. I think most of my fellow soujouners did as well judging from the comments and the weary faces at times. Four centuries and all the miles have taken their toll. But I have very much felt the prayer for me as I have had renewed strength each morning and have had no injuries or ailments of any consequence. To God be the glory for that!

Last night I got close to 12 hours of sleep -- about twice what I have typically been getting. To bed at 8:30, up a while early for some reading and then back for more sleep until 8:30. Absolutely delicious!

Since Rick from New Jersey rejoined the trip in Indianapolis, he has been pulling anyone that wishes together for a short time of prayer right after our route raps. This has been a great encouragement to the half dozen or so of us who join in. I roomed with him in Youngstown as the rooming assignments got jumbled up a bit and very much appreciated his meek spirit and his desire to serve God.

We had another wonderful day yesterday. The weather was coolish -- just right for riding with a two layers. The roads were a huge improvement over the day previous. We had one stretch of 25 miles of the same straight road with no turns or interruptions through green pastoral northeastern Ohio on our way to Conneaut on Lake Erie. The ride was kept interesting in other ways as well. The most delicious strawberry shortcake at 33 miles out! So glad they'd run out of pie so that I had to choose that. Two great road works detours that presented fun photo-ops and some logistical challenge in getting through with bikes and cleated shoes. For some reason, I really enjoy these little interruptions because they remind me a tad of my enduro riding days where getting across swollen streams or over fallen trees was part of the package.

There were a variety of riding tempos as well from comfortable conversational paces with Ed, Hans, Alex, Leigh, Bob and Jim, to moderate pace line paces for stretches to out and out down on the bars, see how long you can keep it at 24mph paces.

The second SAG stop was at the White Turkey Root beer stand for lunch. You knew this place was going to be great when it gets mentioned several times at the previous night's route rap. When we rolled in about 1:00 there were people lined up waiting to place their orders for rootbeer floats and burgers. The bevy of young ladies behind the counter were exceptionally efficient and friendly in getting orders taken and filled. And the food was indeed great!
Leigh had her first root beer float ever. She does not do root beer but decided to make an exception here and was glad she did. Hans had also never had root beer as that's definitely not a European drink. While they were waiting to order, Jim encouraged Hans to try a root beer float, but Hans ordered a coke instead. After he'd washed down his hamburger with the coke, he went back for a cone of soft ice. Strange we thought -- why not just do the float and get it done with? And then the explanation came. Hans did not want to drink "beer" and ride the bike. He thought the beer meant alcohol. Now it all made perfect sense!

I am looking out on beautiful downtown Erie from the 8th floor of the Avalon Hotel. After I checked into the room yeserday afternoon, I came back down to the lobby to see about times for route rap and supper on the white board. I glanced in the drop box there next to it and a black something caught my eye. Stooping down it looked suspiciously familiar. What!? It was my long lost windbreaker lying on top of the remaining stuff still in the box. Where had it been these last three week since I last saw it on the way to Pueblo? So glad it found its way back. I will be able to use it in the cool of New England. Thanks to whoever found it!

And this morning now, I've got the worn out cleat on my right riding shoe replaced, I've got the blog entry composed, and my bike is prepped. This afternoon, I plan to walk the mile down to the water front to check out Erie -- the town and the lake. I'll be ready to roll again tomorrow. Thanks for following along with me as I "Pedal, For Pete's Sake!" And for mine as well. :-)

Day 42: Wooster to Youngstown -- Rough road to go

2009-07-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here
Miles: 92
Total Miles: 3229
Time: 6:25
Average: 14.3
Max 40
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: rollers with some hills.
Weather: Cool, overcast, with high in upper 60's and threat of rain mid afternoon.

Our first two days of Ohio riding brought lots of ooooohs and aaaaahs from our out-of-staters. Smooth roads, tailwind, flat at first, then gentle rollers and then full fledged 15 percenters by the dozens. Lots of intersting little towns with bakeries, sandwhich shops and interesting buildings. Straight roads, curvy roads, twisty roads, up roads, down roads and into the woods roads. Lots of corn for sure, but soy beans, streams, woods, cows and pigs and horses, hay fields and lots of other stuff thrown in. Blue skies, bearable humidity, and temperatures in the 70'. Oh yes, did I mention the tailwind? Amish folks, intersting detours to ride through and plenty parks, rivers, lakes and other attractions of which to snap pictures.

But some of that came to an end today. Oh yes, the rollers were still there. We even added farms that grow squash and beans and cauliflower and other vegetables for variety. The day was chilly but pleasant for riding. And we had plent to look at with motorcyle tracks, kids, dogs, cemetaries, bakeries and charming little towns like Canal Fulton to ride through. But the big difference was the roads!! We saw a lot of different road surfaces today. A freshly poured 10" thick cement road with no traffic to ride on. Or you could choose the cycle cross dirt rad next to it. Then there was the half mile of brick road to ride on as well as a glass smooth bike path.

But, what we were on most were the roughest roads we have seen all trip. So rough that it was now embarassing to admit this was part of Ohio. Roads that had been patched and rerutted and then patched again. And again. And again. Roads that had been cracked from winter's freezing and thawing cycles. Roads that had patches on patches on patches. Roads that made your teeth rattle and then loosened your fillings. Roads that emptied your bladder and compressed your spine leaving you 2 inches shorter. Roads that made you search for smooth spots at the risk of getting run over. Roads that made 14 miles seem like 40. Roads that made you want this ride to be over but it never seemed to be. And the further into NE Ohio we got the worse the roads got.
But, as I told Gerard at route rap, if all you get is roses, you will never appreciate them.

And after the wheels are trued again and the water bottles are refilled, and the memories of this trip are aired, I believe I will still conclude that Ohio has ome of the best riding in all the US!

Supper was at Perkins, but the special part of that was Sarah and Korey came to enjoy it with me. Great time chatting and catching up on this and them.

Tomorrow is another 90 plus mile day to Erie and then comes our last rest day before the final push to the Atlantic. We are all in need of it as most of us are dragging.

Day 41: Marysville to Wooster - More Special Visits.

2009-07-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 103
Total Miles: 3137
Time: 6:11
Average: 17.0
Max 42
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Flat, rollers and real 15% hills
Weather: Cool, overcast, partly sunny and finally a real Ohio thunderstorm with buckets.

This morning Marcia returned to Columbus. It was so great to have her with me for the past 4 days or so. She is my encourager, calibrator, perspective provider and as someone said -- the wind in my sails. She got a first hand view of life on the road, got to know many of the riders and generally supported, fit in and connected with many of our fellow riders. Thanks, my love, for joining in on my grand adventure!!

Jim and I were first out of the parking lot after load and headed out at a nice brisk pace. Soon Tom and Sean came zipping by and we hooked up behind them at a much brisker pace. My goal was to crank out the first 12 miles as quickly as possible since Les, Joe, Bob, Dave, Chris and Terry were waiting for me at Warrensburg to join in for 20 or so miles. Sean and Tom graciously pulled us along. About 8 miles out, there was Bob already to hook in behind. We chatted a bit and before we knew it we were at the Scioto River where the others were waiting. Got in some hellos and hugs and handshakes in and pictures taken and were soon heading east.
We had a great ride in the cool overcast skies. Everyone got to experience a bit of a double paceline with Judy, Gerard, Bob and Hans joining in as well. Soon Brad, who had ridden from his house in Genoa township joined in too. We rolled on this way to the first SAG stop where we stopped and visited for a while. Soon after the SAG, in Marengo, the gang stopped for breakfast and our paths split as they headed for a loop toward home and I continued on toward Wooster.

Just as we entered Fredrickstown, I caught Bob, Gerard, Jim and Judy and we stopped for lunch at the Taste of Country -- great food again today but no TdF. After lunch we headed into the hills of Ohio. The ups and downs got bigger and bigger with grades up to 15% in short bursts. Lots of chances to climb and then swoop back down again. Another side of Ohio riding that most everyone appreciated.

Plenty more hills after the second SAG stop to tax the legs and lungs. I was hustling to get to Wooster to try to get laundry done, the bike cleaned up and as it turned darker -- hoping to out run the storm that was very obviously heading our way. Well -- 12 miles out and the wind picked up, those huge drops started pelting down, tree branches began to whip to and fro. I headed for the first cover I saw -- a lit garage housing a well used race car. The lights were on and the radio was playing but the owner was nowhere in sight. I hollered several times but noone responded. By that time Alex, Gerard, Judy and Bob had already gotten the same idea and there the five of us were. Jokes, hypothetical scenarios, weather predictions, iphone communication, calls home occupied us the next 40 minutes or so as we waited for the storm to subside. The rain finally stopped and on we rolled on wet steaming roads.

I rolled into Wooster at 3:30. The Best Western had no laundry, so that was out. I showered, cleaned up the bike and as I was getting ready to buy chocolate milk and gatorade to replenish, Pete and Chris pulled up along with Dick and Joan, old GOBA friends. The latter are a very spry mid 80's, full of life and questions and stories.

We enjoyed a very pleasant few hours talking, eating and reminiscing. I had not seen Pete in a long time and it was really good to reconnect and hear what has been on his mind. He's been having shoulder pain and is experiencing some difficulties in getting up when he falls, and pulling himself into cars, bed etc. A number of riders introduced themselves and chatted with us which I very much appreciated.Thanks guys!!

And thanks SO MUCH to those who have donated to PwP in support of my XCountry ride! Pete and I and all the PwP volunteers so appreciate your support for all those who continue to struggle in bodies that don't work.

Day 40: Richmond to Marysville OH: Welcome to OH-IO!

2009-07-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 108
Total Miles: 3031
Time: 6:10
Average: 17.5
Max 33
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Flat with a few mild rollers toward the end.
Weather: Gorgeous! 75 and sunny with mild northwesterly wind.

Wow! What a welcome back to OH. The heavy morning air soon gave way to sunny skies and a northwesterly wind to blow us along when we headed east and appreciate it when we were occasionally pedaling north. The roads were smooth, the grass was green and the skies were blue with puffy clouds as the day moved along.

And to absolutely top it this wonderful time of riding off, I rode with my early on roomie Jim for the first time since he returned to finish up with us. It was as if he had a new motor! Want him to pull at 22 mph? No problem. Want to churn up the inclines? No problem. Want to keep up when Chuck starts getting frisky and pulls going 27? No problem. Want to ride and chat at 18 into a bit of a breeze? No problem for Jim this time around. Absolutely delightful to be part of experiencing this transformation. I always knew Jim was a strong rider when I learned about his accomplishments, the most notworthy to me being the string of double centuries he's bagged. But to now see him ride again at the pace he is used to was very touching. Early on, we had prayed for this and recognize together that it is God's good hand and His great provision in working the particulars of all that happened in the past two weeks. To Him be the glory in allowing Jim to rejoin the group and get the chance to finish the ride!

And, I also had the chance to ride with Rick who had returned. He too was doing very well. Riding strong, enjoying himself and just as Jim had, he too recognized God's hand in the timing and the particulars of his fall, his injury, his leaving, his time at home, his reahabilitation and now his return for the last two weeks. Love seeing you again, brother! And, I love that you are pulling us together for prayer each evening.

And so, between the fantastic conditions and the very enjoyable time riding with these two friends and the number of others I rode with as well, it was a very special day of riding indeed. Even the lunch stop was extraordinary with the great deli sandwhich, the exceptional raspberry smoothie and getting to watch the end of the TdF stage as we ate.

And the delighs of the day did not end there! Greg Huddle, a professional friend and fellow motorcycle touring aficianado who had also done a Xcountry motorcycle trip in his younger years, showed up in the lobby this afternoon to connect and to provide moral support. That was very touching to me to see Greg.

And as if that were not enough, our very dear, long time friends, Mark and Leslie came for dinner this evening. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your very busy schedules to drive up and share the evening with us. It was so great to see you both and to get caught up on CRACK House lunches, the faithful volunteers there and on Meadowbrook Christian Fellowhip updates!

Well, Marcia is returning home tomorrow, but will be picking me up in NH in less than two weeks. Time is flying.

Tomorrow Les, Ben, Dave and Joe are planning to ride with me for part of the century. I am looking forward to that! And then Pete and Chris will be driving down from Kent to Wooster to join in for supper. I am so glad this will work out and fellow riders can get a chance to meet Pete.

Day 39: Indianapolis to Richmond -- RIDE NOTES FROM MARYSVILLE TO WOOSTER

2009-07-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 75
Total Miles: 2923
Time: 4:10
Average: 18.0
Max 28.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Flat with a few very mild rises and drops throught the day.
Weather: Oercast and threatening to rain which it finally did about 2 minutes after I arrived at the motel.

Friday's CUE SHEET follows at the end of this blog.

Yesterday evening was delightful at Jay and Jean Butler's. Jay finished his XCoutnry with the SF to SLC leg this summer and his son Brad accompanied him. The Butlers had the whole gang over for dinner last night on our off day to their very attractive home. The pork loin, potato salad, beans and home made bread were absolutely fabulous. We've had some great meals so far (Lovelock fried chicken, Buffet at the Nevada-Utah border) but this one easily made the top of my list so far. Three healthy servings of everything were testament to what I thought of the food -- and that was after an idle day!

After dinner, Hans included us all in his brithday celebration by providing a Swiss flag decorated cake and champagne. He gave lengthy toast or a short speech depending on how one categorizes this. Whatever it was, is was vintage Hans. The English with accent forces focus, the smile makes the words shine and the gracious, humble delivery makes it easy to receive. Happy 50th, Hans! Gerard's observation when Hans had finished was, "They're SO cute at that age." Funny.

THis morning rolled around rather fast after a late night last night trying to use mapmyride to et in the ride notes for tomorrow's Richmond to Marysville route. (Mapmyride would not let me save the work I had done inputting. Frustrating!)

I started ahead of the group because I did not have to wait to load my bags into the trailer -- Marcia was bringing them for me to Richmond. After a brief pit stop on the outskirts of Indy, Tom adn Sean rolled by me. I managed to catch up with them and the three of us worked a fast pace to SAG 1 about 40 miles out. I sort of went with their 3 minutes in the pits approach, but was a little late getting going and then did not feel like chasing them down and so just kept them in sight the next 25 miles or so. Once we got to Richmond, I stayed on US 40 all the wya to the Holiday Inn while they took the cued route a little south of the Highway. Consequently I beat them in by about 30 seconds and all 3 of us beat the rain by about a minute. Short fast day.

OK -- Here are the ride notes for Friday: Marysville to Wooster
If you let me know that you are riding, I can have hardcopy ride notes for you when I meet you.

Super 8,16510 Square Drive, Marysville, OH 43040
937-644-8821 FAX 937-644-8821

0.0 0.0 L Out of Motel
0.2 0.2 L Rte. 36 (E)
1.8 2.0 L Mackan Rd. (N)
1.3 3.3 R County Home Rd. (E) (T)
0.8 4.1 L White Stone Rd. (T)
0.4 4.5 R Black Rd. (E)
1.4 5.9 L Springdale Rd. (N) (T)
0.1 6.0 R Leeper Perkins Rd. (E)
1.2 7.2 ST Fontanelle (E)
1.7 8.9 L Ostrander (NE) (STOP)
0.3 9.2 R Ostrander goes R at Y Carr goes left)
3.0 12.2 ST Warrensburg Rd. (N) (Cross Bridge)
0.1 12.3 L Warrensburg Rd. (E)
3.5 15.8 R SR 37 (SE) (LIGHT) (T) Delaware - BUSY
3.6 19.4 L Join Rt. 36 (LIGHT) BUSY (Stay left after light for quick left on Bowtown)
0.0 19.4 L Bowtown Rd.
3.1 22.5 L Bowtown Rd. (T)
0.4 22.9 R Bowtown Rd.
2.3 25.2 L N. Old State Rd. (T)
3.1 28.3 ST Worthington New Haven Rd. (NE) Morrow County #24
4.8 33.1 R SR 229 (E) (P/U Cardinal Trail) SAG Stop on R @ Old Closed Store
2.8 35.9 Marengo Line
0.2 36.1 L Rt. 229 to the left. (STOP)
0.1 36.2 R Rt. 229 to the right (stop)
6.2 42.4 L Morrow County #19 Opposite Rte. 656 sign Leave Rt. 229
3.8 46.2 ST Sparta Rd. (NE) SR 656 Becomes Columbus Rd.
5.5 51.7 ST CAUTION: crossing 4 lane hwy (Rt 13)
0.7 52.4 L S. Main St. (Lunch) Fredericktown
0.3 52.7 ST SR95 East - Mishey Rd. Becomes Ankenytown Rd.
0.3 53.0 R Stay on SR 95 Caution: RR Tracks
1.1 54.1 ST SR 95e and CT. (N) Do not turn left on Bicycle Rt. 7. Follow Ankenytown Rd.
8.7 62.8 ST Elm St. cross SR 97
0.2 63.0 L Grant St. SR 95 (STOP) (T)
1.8 64.8 R Butler - Newville (E)
1.5 66.3 L Bunker Hil N. Rd. (T)
0.9 67.2 R SR 95 (E) (STOP)
1.2 68.4 L SR 603
7.0 75.4 SAG STOP on L @ Charles River Park w/Facilities
2.8 78.2 R CR 30-A (E) Mifflin Main St. (STOP)
5.4 83.6 ST Hayesville (Main St.) (LIGHT) (FOOD)
0.7 84.3 R Stay to R at Y (Rt. 179 S. Leave the Cardinal Trail).
0.3 84.6 L At Y on CR 2000
1.1 85.7 L CR 2175 (T)
0.1 85.8 R CR 2000.
2.0 87.8 ST Stay on CR 20000 Cross SR 89.
0.5 88.3 L At Y on Twp Rd. 1990 (rough surface)
0.9 89.2 L CR 175 (T)
0.5 89.7 R CR 1950
1.5 91.2 ST Garst Rd. (Co. #18 becomes Angling Rd. Still Co #18)
6.0 97.2 R Jefferson Rd. (Co #157) (T)
0.9 98.1 L Heyl (WCO #139)
1.5 99.6 R-L Heyl (WCO #139)
1.6 101.2 L Rt. 3 - BUSY
1.3 102.5 R Liberty St. (LIGHT)
0.5 103.0 R/R S. Bever Street )Light) into Motel
(Best Western 243 East Liberty St. Wooster, OH)

Day 37: Crawfordsville to Indianapolis -- Race Day

2009-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 73
Total Miles: 2848
Time: 5:03
Average: 14.4
Max 30.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Fast and flat early, banked fast track in the middle and flat trail.
Weather: Bright, sunny, clear, little humidity, hi low 80's, little wind. Could not be better for biking.
Body: Felt great today!

What an enjoyable and varied day!!! Good riding, great sight seeing, a little friendly competition and meeting up with Marcia.

The first 30 miles to SAG #1 were behind us in no time as Chuck and I traded leads at 20+ mph. We wanted to have plenty of time to enjoy what lay ahead. First stop out of the SAG was Roark Custom Titanium Bicycles. Very interesting tour and discussion of the back part of the shop where the bikes are made. The rest of this metal fabricating shop with about 100 employees is mostly dedicated to defense contracts, but Ed Roark, the owner, loves bikes. He decided that if he's already got everything in place to make frames, why not make frames and sell them? So, he set up a small group of guys whose main job it is to run this little side business. They manufacture about 100 road bikes per year (no recumbents or tandems), crafted to your specs and fitted with the components and wheels of you choice. They have a model that dissembles to fit into a airplane sized suitcase. We had a great time there learning about frame building and some of the subtleties that go into it.

Next stop was the Indy Motor Speedway. It was the first time I had seen it. The size of the place really surprised me. It seemed like the stands went on for a mile. I guess with a 2.5 mile track they would go on for a mile. When we finally got to "the front" of the track there was nothing there except 4 gaping tunnel entrances, so I rode right down the one ramp and into the tunnel and then back up the other side. Only then did I realize that I had just pedaled under the race track. I pedaled a bit further toward a little guard house that stood between me and the decorative fountains, the Speedway museum, the rest of the gigantic infield and most importantly, the Pit Stop restaurant and lunch. A little elderly lady guard stood gauard and stood her ground as I got ready to ride past me and pulled me up short.
"Stop" she said. "You cannot ride your bicycle in here. You have to walk it" she said as several cars drove past me toward the parking lot.
Then she asked how many were coming behind me.
"Twenty or so" I replied.
"Oh no." she said. "Our bicycle rack only has room for three."
I tried to assure her. "We'll figure that out, I'm sure."
She raised her voice a bit because I was already walking my bike as instructed toward the rack 50 yeards away. "You won't have have any room for more."

This lady was obviously intent on doing her job thoroughly and I got the distinct impression she did not like bicyclists. Bob, who followed a few minutes behind me, got the same treatment but was more quick witted than I when told to get off his bike and walk. "Do you make the motorists get out of their cars and walk them to the parking spot as well?" he asked her.

As it turned out, the bike rack easily accommodated all the bikes that showed up.

After lunch, viewing the museum and telling the many folks that asked what we were doing, we were off again to our next attraction of the day -- the Major Taylor Velodrome. Gerard was waiting dressed to ride and ride we did. For the next hour we spun and circled and cycled our way around the quarter mile Velodrome track. We gradually got the feel of riding on the steeply banked track. First low, then higher, then all the way up, then in pairs drafting and then riding high and zooming down low. It was great fun!

After some time at this, Gerard mentioned that Sean and Tom had done some rolling start timed laps earlier. That was all we needed to get out the watches and begin doing timed laps. Zero, Bob, Leigh, Hans, Chuck, Gerard and I took turns trying for the best time we could and the best time of the day. On his second try, Gerard got a 25 second lap which was about 1 1/2 seconds faster than Bob and Hans who were about a second faster than Chuck and I. Leigh about tied Sean's time at 29.1 seconds and Zero was close to that. Judy was only wishing she had her bike and shoes. She is more competitive than she will admit -- especially for a chance to beat some guys.
The last 6 or 7 miles in were easy bike path miles along the river towards down town ending with a jaunt along the very scenic canal that connects a variety of museums, the NCAA headquarters, sports complexes, stadiums and other attractions. We found our way to a very nice new Comfort Suites motel right across from the Colts Stadium in the heart of downtown. Great way to spend our off day.

Marcia arrived shortly after I did and we have had a relaxing day sightseeing along the canal, checking out the very extensive Indiana Museum and watching an excellent heart stopping IMax called "The Alps" -- which chronicled an ascent up the most difficult route of the Eiger Face -- the Alps most difficult ascent.

Tomorrow it's off to Richmond IN and if the weatherman is right, it will be in the rain.

Day 36: Champaign to Crawfordsville IN -- Carole, Meiri and the MacTrek lead the way

2009-07-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 82
Total Miles: 2775
Time: 5:06
Average: 16.1
Max 28.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Pretty flat again today.
Weather: Bright, sunny, clear, little humidity, hi low 80's, little wind. Could not be better for biking.
Body: Dragging -- actually everyone is starting to drag. Back side staying tender. Rest day coming!

The threat of rain was long gone. We had the promise of great biking weather with cool, clear skies in the early morning here at the eastern edge of CDT. Breakfast at Bob Evans a quarter mile down the road. We had one waitress for all 25 of us trying to get orders straight, serve up OJ and coffee, bacon, oatmeal, keep rye vs wheat vs white straight and then serve it up to the right people. Only one order dropped in the process and she got us all out the door by close to 7:00.

About half our group started riding out of town together on this quiet Sunday morning, chatting and just enjoying the moderate pace. Meiri led the double pace line with Chuck. Two days in a row for her leading out of the gate. She was feeling better after a mild case of food poisoning back in St. Jo and demonstrating that by making her McTrek go fast again. After enough miles had gone by such that most were feeling the pressure of all the BE OJ and coffee it was agreed that it good to stop and water the corn fields. And that is just what we did. Great privacy with little effort and great fun for photo ops. Check out the pics.

Another state line and time zone as we pedaled into IN soon after SAG #1. Sadly right on the state line, we encountered yet another penitentiary which made at least 6 -- on our route alone. Lunch was right across from SAG #2 at the Busstop Cafe in Veedersberg, a lively place with friendly waitresses, good food and good prices. Defintely worth a stop. The last 25 miles after lunch went by fast as Hans, Bob, Chuck and I paced it in.

Tomorrow is the Major Taylor Velodrome, the Roark Bicycle factory and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lots of sight seeing to cram into a 64 mile ride. But then, it's Indy, our next rest day so we can afford to leave it all on the Velodrome track. Also, tomorrow, Jim and Rick rejoin the tour. Yeah!!! Will be very nice to reconnect with them. But best of all, Marcia is meeting me. Have a safe drive, my Love!

Day 35: Springfield to Champaigne -- Visitors from near and far

2009-07-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 103
Total Miles: 2693
Time: 6:21
Average: 16.2
Max 28.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: Pretty flat again today. A few hills to get us close to 2000'.
Weather: Damp cool day. Never really rained because my socks stayed dry, but the spray off the roads made for bike cleaning session at end.
Body: Recovery day with almost no hammering. Back side still tender, but legs feeling pretty good.

Breakfast at Bob Evans! What a treat. And just another visual that we're getting close to OH. After four long days with hills and lots of pushing I told Leigh as we were starting not to let me out of her sight today -- I was riding her pace all day and was not going to hammer. And that is exactly what I did except for a brief chase Chuck started to track down Gerard toward the end. More corn fields all day long again. Tall corn, short corn, close to the road corn and far as the eye could see corn. Green corn, tasseled corn, straight corn, evenly spaced corn. When Bob had taken his 5th straight corn photo, Gerard posed the question: "What do we call this activity?" Answer: Cornography. Groans all around.

SAG stop 1 came quickly at 31 miles at Lincoln Trail Memorial Park. Missed the Lincoln cabin there somehow, but did not miss the many Zero visitors that were present in and on various vehicles. Lots of pictures, Korean conversations, and some bike fixing. After entering into some of all that with smiles and waves and some age related conversations (I have the sense that Koreans are very interested in how old folks are and how old folks think they are based on my small sample of conversations the past month) we headed out again into -- yup, you guessed it -- the Illinois corn field lined roads toward SAG 2.

Once there, we met Gene, former XCountry rider. Gene had driven a couple of hours from Wisconsin with fresh water melons to serve us at the SAG stop. Very neat touch. Turns out that Gene is also an expert on -- yup you guessed it -- corn! He shared a little of his expertise at route rap with a hand out and a brief discourse on how corn mating works. Quite a nice add to our usual L,R CR, US78, SAG#2 etc. discussion.

We continued in intermittent sprinkles, over some graveled roads, one re-direction due to construction, conversations about this and that until we reached Champaign and its city traffic for the last few miles to the Days Inn. As we rolled into the driveway, we were greeted by cheers and clapping. A good number of Zero's friends and family including sister, daughter and son-in-law with newly walking grandson in tow, had come down from Chicago to wish Zero well and celebrate his accomplishment. They were warming up on every rider that rolled in. Zero normally is in among the first wave of riders but today he and several of his riding companions had made a wrong turn taking them 20 miles out of the way. When he did arrive, he was greeted by a champagne dunking over his chrome dome, lots of cheers and well wishes. Kind of neat. I got to meet several of the folks and recorded them in the photos.

The rest of the afternoon was spent tracking down a Wal*Mart to get chocolate milk and a hair cut, clean and floss the bike after today's wet roads and hand wash some socks for tomorrow's ride. By that time it was ready for route rap followed by the dinner shuttle to Hometown Buffet. I missed the first shuttle while dropping the route sheets in the room. Shortly after I returned to the lobby to wait for the second shuttle run, I heard a familiar voice behind me say, "Hi Chris" When I turned to see who that was, there stood Joe and Peggy!! What a NEAT surprise that was. They joined us for dinner, met a number of the staff and riders and exchanged cycling stories. Turns out, they had come for a McIntyre family reunion and at the last minute, checked to see if they could connect. Them arriving 5 minutes later or me leaving on the shuttle 5 minutes earlier and we would have missed each other. Thanks Joe and Peggy for making the effort to look us up making my day!

The icing on the day, of course was my evening chat with Marcia who is hanging out with Steve and Leigh in VA at Danny Rules's wedding. Congratulaions, Mr. & Mrs. Danny & Nicole Rule!!!

Day 34: Quincy to Springfield -- Day of Discounts in the Land of Lincoln

2009-07-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 110
Total Miles: 2590
Time: 6:23
Average: 17.2
Max 42
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: 1700' of climbing. Inclines were more gradual than they've been and second half of ride was flat. Made for close to 18mph average for first 100 miles today, until we got into Springfield.
Weather: Scattered TS forecast that never came
Body: Rode harder than I had intended. Legs were mush at the end and backside is a bit tender.

First let me share an email I got yesterday from Chris Ray, the fellow beating his CP by taking on the challenge of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Here is his note after he had to drop out because of how sore he was where seat meats seat.

Chris-

Unfortunately, I was not able to ride anymore. After stage 4 I saw the medics. A doctor looked at my saddle sore, tried to lance it to no avail. He advised me not tor ride until it healed,. Jane wound up not finishing either due to an upper respiratory infection. Once it was clear we weren’t going to finish Rick & Kate decided to abandon the tour as well. We were very disappointed, so we went back to Rick & Kate’s in Boulder. What’s so frustrating is all the work I put in and to lose out on something unexpected like a saddle sore. But life goes on. On back home training again. I have every intention to go back to Colorado next year and finish the whole tour!! It’s been a dream of mine to ride across the country to raise awareness for CP. I was thinking maybe 2011. I’d like to do a supported tour like you’re doing but they are expensive. I see your ride finishes in Massachusetts. When do you plan on finishing?

Take care, Chris

Determined and gutsy guy for sure!

Not too much to report regarding today's ride since it involved a workman-like 100+ miles that I did by trading pace line leads with Chuck and Judy. The hills we've been on since the Missouri River, gave way to flat farm roads. The overcast cool of morning with threats of rain and a spitting sky gave way to a warm sunny afternoon. And the monotony of endless miles of corn everywhere you looked gave way to urban Springfield. Springfield, capital of Illinois, has a real bike shop, a stately capital building, tree lined streets, some run down urban neighborhoods, as well as several Lincoln historical parks.

I found my way to the bike shop but not to any of the Lincoln Landmarks. By the time we got to Springfield my biking shorts had a large hole worn in the left leg. This was the result of repeated contact at every pedal stroke with the small piece of stray Velcro around my seat post holding on my bike repair bag. Eventually, the rubbing produced a small hole and by the time I realized what was happening the riding shorts were ruined. Fortunately we passed a bike shop on the way into downtown that had a good selection of shorts and I bought two pair. Got the special XCountry riders discount.

But by the time we had checked out the bike store and chatted a bit with folks there, we were altogether too ready to be done riding for the day and just wanted to get in to the motel, rehydrate, get out of our biking duds into clothes with no salt, no sweat, no holes, no pockets in the back, no padding in the seat, no clunking cleats and no bike seat to return to. Consequently we passed by the Lincoln Home & Tomb and the Lincoln Memorial Gardens.

When we got in at the Days Inn, we were ready to head across the street to the Steak and Shake for a cold ice cream based drink and a little lunch with real food instead of the crackers, bars, fruit and crackers we had consumed at the two SAG stops. Misty, our waitress who also managed the Steak and Shake, kept asking us about our trip and stuff associated with it. Finally, when it came time for the bill she said she had to make this one on her. She had never heard of anything like this and felt we deserved a free meal. We did not argue, but we did tip her generously. Similarly at Bob Evans for supper, the manager waved us off even though our desert had put us well over the $12 food voucher Michelle gave us. Nice folks here in the Midwest!

Should be ready to go again tomorrow for another century (97 miles are advertised) with a non trivial amount of climbing. It will get me that much closer to Indy where Marcia meets me!

Day 33: Kirksville to Quincy IL -- Across the Mighty Miss

2009-07-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 99
Total Miles: 2480
Time: 6:17
Average: 15.7
Max 36.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: perhaps 3000' of climbing -- picked up where yesterday left off -- this ride had its ups and downs too.
Weather: Misted in the morning, cloud cover which kept it very comfortable for most of the day Little to no wind. Perfect conditions.
Body: Stepped on it again today. Legs felt good again, but it was a long day. I will pay for it tomorrow.

Three tough days in a row has the all of us dragging a bit. I was among the early arrivers today and it was 3:00 already. That meant that some did not arrive until 4:30 or later, which in turn means they get even less time to recuperate and recover for tomorrow's 106 mile ride. The profile for tomorrow's ride looks a lot like a 24 point hand saw blade again.

Today's ride again took us through the pastures, farms and woods of Missouri. Wild flowers continue to abound along the roads. Muddy streams with one lane bridges marked the transition from the 30+ mph down hill rush to the 8 mph grind and grunt climbs back up the next ridge. And after cresting, now winded with legs burning we repeat this routine again and again.
Feeling stronger after yesterday's rather logy day, Chuck and I pushed right along, catching the front group, Tom, Sean and Jack, perhaps 40 miles in. We rode with them for a few miles before a loud ping interrupted the rhythm of the downs and ups. At first I thought Jack had kicked up a stone and it pinged off his frame. But soon I noticed the wobble in his rear wheel. A spoke had snapped. We stopped, we pondered, we looked, we inspected. The verdict. Call the silver van which would eventually lead to Gerard.
Chuck and I pedaled on, knowing we could do nothing useful there, while Sean waited with Jack. Soon the Silver van passed us with Jack's bike on the rear rack. Another few miles down the road, the van was parked, the bike was out and Gerard had pliers and spokes in hand. I stopped to watch in awe as he fabricated one spoke from two spares.

For those uninitiated in the fine art of bicycle repair, it is important to note that there are many many different wheels available and each one has slightly different spokes. Different lengths, different spoke nipples to attach to the rim, different shape, different material, different tensile strength for different number of spokes per wheel, etc. So what Gerard did was equivalent to taking two generic key blanks and fabricating the key you need to start your car. While Gerard was doing this, Jack and Sean were back on the road again with Jack riding Gerard's bike.

By the time we had ordered lunch at Canton on the River's Primo local restaurant, Gerard, Sean and Jack rolled in for lunch as well, each riding their own bike again. Gerard's spoke fix and subsequent wheel truing had worked! Check the pics for visual evidence.

Also at Primo's was a news reporter/photographer from the Canton Press News Journal. He interviewed several of us and will be doing an article on the AbB ride across America which is scheduled to appear online next Wednesday at www.press-newsjournal.com.

Just by way of further evidence of Gerard's mechanical wizardry, one of our other riders, Norbert, lost use of his front derailleur about a week ago. It was stuck in the big (highest) gear. That works OK in the flats, but is a recipe for sore knees and walk-it-up hill climbs in this terrain. The derailleur had to be special ordered to fit Norbert's bike and the first attempt at that failed to get it to the hotel where we were. So, Gerard comes up with a fix involving rubber bands. Since the return mechanism on the derailleur has failed, why not spring it externally with wide rubber bands?, Gerard reasons. And sure enough, that works like a champ. Norbert has ridden that way now for some time without a missed shift. We now all believe that Gerard could fabricate an entire bicycle from road debris, recycled aluminum cans, duct tape and chewing gum.

Today's ride is illustrated with the pictures. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And so I continue to ride in awe of this God of creation who has created me to be the beholder of what He's created. Psalm 36 captures this in the words of King David.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. ² From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. ³ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
⁵ You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: ⁷all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, ⁸ the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. ⁹ O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Day 32 Chillicothe to Kirksville, MO -- Wholly Rollers

2009-07-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Pictures Here
Miles: 86
Total Miles: 2381
Time: 5:47
Average: 14.9
Max 37.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: perhaps 4500' of climbing, rollers as well as real hills
Weather: Cloud cover most of the day which kept the temperature in the low 80's. Little to no wind. Perfect conditions.
Body: Took it easier today -- legs felt the day yesterday & developed a slight twinge in my right thigh. We still have a long way to go!
What a great day this was again!!! If yesterday was mostly rollers, then today was, as the title indicates, wholly rollers. Great riding if you like the ups and downs and I typically do. Lots of great midwestern scenery if you like woods, farms, streams, flowers and lots of green. Which I do. And good variety of things to see along the way in the small towns we pass through if you like historical stuff. And I do. And SO many flowers in full bloom. Wild ones to decorate the countryside and domesticated ones to decorate gardens and homes along the way. Great if you like flowers and I sure do! And got to spend some leisurely talk time with a variety of folks as well All that in near perfect weather -- warm enough to be comfortable riding but cool enough to let you climb without dripping and overheating. Check out the pictures for more on the ride.

Now for a little humorous and humbling incident from last evening. After dinner on my way in
the building we were staying in I noticed that the lone washer was actually free. I had lots of laundry to do as I had not done any on our rest day in St. Jo, wanting to get unsynched from the rest of the group. My plan was obviously working, clever guy that I am. So lickety split I headed for my room and gathered about all of my clothing in a bundle including every shirt I brought. That left me wearing only biker tan above the belt. I grabbed my bottle of tide concentrate and my zip lock bag of quarters and bustled back down stairs to the washer. Still free!! In went the tide followed by dirty clothing. Four quarters in the slots, punch the color clothes setting button, slam in the quarters and the washer flows and lurches into action.

I head up the flight of stairs deep in thought about what I have left to do that evening, ready to plop back down on my bed with my computer to finish up. The door is still ajar as I had left it and I walk in. What is this??? Seattle Bob is lying in MY bed. Is he serious or is he playing some dumb joke on me? He looks as if he thinks he belongs in that bed. He feigns surprise to see me. I am genuinely surprised to see him. Then slowly, very slowly, it dawns on me. I have only come up one flight of stairs, not two. I have turned into room 157, not 257. This IS Bob and Tom's and Sean's room. Ed, Zero's and my room is right above theirs.

Bob, of course almost immediately begins to regale me with wisecracks, picks up his camera and records the bonehead move and then begins composing it into his blog. Tom, whose been sick three days, emerges from his the bathroom where he's spent more time than he'd like. He wonders if I have come to claim his bed. Sean is out so I am mercifully spared his quick witted Brit commentary. Soon, but not soon enough, I slink back out of the room. I did do the wash, but was not nearly as clever about it as I set out to be.

Tomorrow is a 90 plus miler that gets us across the Mississippi River by ferry and into Illinois where we will spend the first of our 3 nights there in Quincy.

Day 31: St. Joseph to Chillicothe -- Mostly Rollers

2009-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles: 91
Total Miles: 2295
Time: 5:09
Average: 17.3
Max 35.5
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Climbing: 3600 feet of mostly rollers
Weather: Mostly sunny with high of 90 and very little wind -- gorgeous day!
Body: Legs had some pep back, especially in the morning.

We had another wonderful day of riding following yesterday's rest day in St. Joseph which was relaxing, productive and unusual.

Relaxing involved hanging out with fellow riders including a Cracker Barrel Dinner with Bob and Carole. It also included watching the Tour's third stage and catching up on some phone calls with special folks like my sweeties (Marcia and Sarah) and good friends John, Mitchell and Cathy. The productive stuff was finishing up my backlog of blogging, getting the bike cleaned up, chain checked and serviced and having Gerard take the creak out of the bike.
The unusual was taking in the Psychiatric/African American/American Indian museum which was most unusual. This triune museum was located over a number of old rooms across several floors of some institutional-like building. It was a hodge podge of artifacts perhaps loosely connected if you used some imagination. Some of the old psychiatric stuff they had was very much in use in medical offices I distinctly remembered from the 50's and 60's -- did not seem so very old to me but I guess that all is relative.
Also unusual, for those who know me, was wandering through a large mall. After observing very usual mall stuff like teen aged girls screeching and guys in low slung shorts shuffling along and clothing stores with rows and rows of racks of stuff that makes you wonder "who will ever pay that for this?" I happened to stumble on most of the AbB team keeping Gerard company while a hairdresser hacked away at the hair on top and at the bottom of his head. I contributed to the kibitzing, of course.

But back to today's ride. Lots of rollers that added up to 3600' of climbing. Some of the rollers could be powered over without shifting. Others required a drop in gears and a standing climb, while a few qualified as full fledged hills and had to be approached that way. Nothing real serious since I never got into my small sprocket up front. Scenery continued to be eastern rural as we are used to in OH. The rollers and lots of photo ops made it difficult to stay together as a group so things got pretty fragmented and I rode with, passed and got passed by lots of folks.

Along the way we passed good stuff for pictures including a variety of large farm implements, amish buggies, horses, blond bison and other rural relics. A delightful day to launch us into the eastern half of the US, on through Missouri and closer to OH.

Tomorrow is another medium long day with even more climbing than today. If I enjoy it half as much as I did the ride today it will be great!

Day 29: Topeka to St. Joseph, MO -- Kansas in the Kan, Misserie Ahead

2009-07-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles Today: 91
Total Miles: 2202
Avg Speed: 14.8
Max Speed: 31.5
Total Time: 6:08
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Weather: Morning drizzle, then clearing. Temps in the 70's, 10 mph headwind from the NE
Body: Feeling good for 27 riding days of 29.
Climbing: About 3000' of climbing.
We rolled into St. Jo's yesterday negotiating the last 10 miles through the city on a beautiful tree shaded parkway through the city and to our hotel with the prospect of a rest day. Great feeling. This morning, as I am writing the day's blog, I am sitting in my room trying not to be too distracted by the TdF live on our Versus channel at the hotel. First hotel that had Versus as far as I could tell. It does not get much better than this!

Yesterday a bunch of us watched the exciting finish of yesterday's stage in the lobby together. Mark Cavendish stormed up the line in the last km or so and won the sprint going away by 20 yards. Great finish to that stage and great finish to our 3d phase into this rest day.

Yesterday at dinner, Joe Wihelm, who joined us with his sister Rose, for this leg and is leaving to return to his home in northern OH today, handed me $20 contribution to PwP. Very nice -- Thanks Joe! I have had the chance to talk to lots of folks about Pete and PwP the last 4 weeks. Pete and I talked last night and it looks like he will be able to join us in Wooster and meet folks for supper that evening. That would be great!

Also, learned last evening that my doubles roomie, Jim Keysor has purchased a plane ticket for Indy and will be rejoining the tour on Monday June 13, one week from today. Great news, that is! So, both Rick and Jim now plan to be with us the final two weeks.

The ride yesterday was a gorgeous one with lots of variety in scenery, roads and weather. But it was also a tough one, especially for some of our slower riders who don't do pace lines. The first 70 miles or so were relatively flat with only mild 2-3% inclines when they came. So a pace line into the wind was quite effective and that is what about 10 of us did for much of the morning. Pull to the next mile marker and when it arrives, pull out left and drop slowly t0 the back as the line passes by. Keep the pace at a level all can keep, encourage those coming off the front, keep a look out back for gaps or cars and if gaps form, pass it up to the leader.

We had some variation in riding strengths but most everyone hung in there and so it went for the first 60 miles or so until we crossed the Missouri River and left Kansas. It soon got more hilly -- reminded me a bit of the terrain east of Columbus towards Utica and Newark. Large rollers some of which could be stamped out and some that required shifting down and spinning up. We got a bit separated on those sections, but always eventually recollected at intersections.
As we were getting closer to St. Joseph, we climbed up onto a ridge and rode it for a long while with wonderful views on either side for miles. Again, very reminiscent of sections in Ohio south of Canal Winchester or out toward Coshocton. Everything was green and lush with small farms and country style residential areas intermingled.

Six of us from the original group finished together -- Steve, Jack, Leigh, Bob, Chuck, and I. When we pulled in, the hotel staff had a hose and rags ready for us in the parking lot to clean up the bikes. The drizzle had spotted them up and my chain and rear sprocket needed to be cleaned and flossed. Great to take the wheels off and shine the trusty Cannondale. Gerard later measured the chain for me -- within spec still so it may hold to the end. He also got that annoying creak I was hearing when I bore down on the pedals. Turned out it was the front wheel which needed a drop of oil at spots where plastic met metal. Great diagnostician, that Gerard.

Tomorrow it's off again toward Indy on a series of long days -- 89,83,97, 106, 97, 82, 62 to get us to Indy. The AbB description of what awaits is:

With another state under our belt, we’ll begin the roll through Missouri. This state will really get your attention with its rural beauty, Amish charm and extreme roller coaster terrain. You’ll get the picture as we cycle through Thousand Hill State Park. After we roll down into the Mississippi River Valley, cross the Mississippi River, the east is at hand. You’ll notice how much more vegetation and how green everything is here compared to the western half of the country. We’ll stretch out our legs again and hit the town Abe Lincoln made famous, Springfield, Illinois. The terrain settles down and the wheat fields turn to corn as we spin across Illinois and into Indiana. The farm lands gives way to the big city as we arrive in Indianapolis and our fourth day off. You’ll get a chance to see Indianapolis Motor Speedway, take a lap on the Major Taylor Velodrome and generally take in the sights

Day 28: Abeline to Topeka -- A century of rolling hills Ohio style

2009-07-04T13:42:00.001-07:00

Pictures are here.
BOB, THANKS FOR MOST ALL PICTURES TODAY!!!
Miles Today: 112
Total Miles: 2110
Avg Speed: 17.4
Max Speed: 38.5
Total Time: 6:23
Flats Today: 0;
Total flats:8
Weather: Overcast and in 70's with wonderful steady tailwind from the west all day long Body: Really sluggish and tired.

Gorgeous riding today! What more could you ask for? Beautiful rolling green countryside on low traffic rollered smoothly paved roads. Temperatures in the high 70's due to the cloud cover but not a spec of precipitation. And, perhaps best of all, since I was feeling really sluggish today, a steady tailwind that pushed you along even on the ups.

We passed through several towns which were typically devoid of much life because of the Holiday except for the spot of our second SAG. There the town park was the site of a community 4th of July picnic, complete with games for the kids, barbeque pits and a gazebo occupied by a couple of local guitar players and crooners. Great fun!.

My camera ran out of juice and I had forgotten to take on spare batteries so I got only a few pictures of my own. But I did down load a bunch of Bob Horn's pictures from the previous days which precede the ones from today's. And, I downloaded some of his from today as well which fill in the holes for me.

The Holiday Inn we are staying at tonight has one of those elaborate indoor pool recreation areas including a large water slide, ping pong tables and other stuff. Nice place to relax and recoup. Dinner was Pasta buffet at the motel. After dinner Chuck and I shot a game of pool until the ping pong table freed up and then we swatted the celuloid about for a few games. Great fun.

Another long day tomorrow but we leave Kansas!

Day 27: McPherson to Abeline - Kansas shows us another side

2009-07-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

New Pictures are here.
Miles Today: 67
Total Miles: 1998
Avg Speed: 15
Max Speed: 30.5
Total Time: 4:27
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Weather: Partially cloudy in 80's. Stiff 15-20 mph winds from SE. Headwind when we went east, tailwind when going north.
Body: Sluggish today

For a minute I thought we were back in Ohio already. Green fields, slight rollers, corn about knee high, barking dogs, clumps of trees to divide up the fields, much smaller sky, cute little towns -- and, best of all, low traffic country roads where you could ride 2 or 3 abreast if you felt like it. That is, until an AbB staff rolled by and asked us if we thought this was just a wide bike path. It is good they are interested in our safety and make sure we dopn't get careless since there are so many different and changing riding conditions that emerge regularly. We need to stay on our toes.

One especially valuable piece of safety related advice today came from Gerard. Chuck and I had come upon another of those endless western freight trains paralleling US Rt. 40, the road we were on. It very slowly pulled ahead of us. Wehn we came to a dirt road south that crossed the tracks, I took a right a few feet toward the train and then a left onto a minimal two track section of dirt road that paralleled the tracks a little more than an arms length away from the rumbling train. I then began to "race" the train much to Chucks amusement who was taking pictures.

Pretty soon Gerard rolled up with his camera and began shooting some video of this tom foolery. The train had started slowing by that time -- I think the engineer saw he was fighting a losing cause and just gave up. When I got back out on US40 and we resumed our ride toward Abeline, Gerard looked over at me and said:"You know, that was irresponsible, what you did back there. That engineer could have easily missed you in his mirror and turned left right in front of you." Once again, I was grateful for the insightful and timely advice.

When we rolled into Abeline after really cranking into the stiff wind the last 10 miles, Bob, Leigh, Chuck and Gerard and I stopped into a quaint little downtown Abeline cafe to enjoy the local fare -- tasty sandwiches and some spicy pasta salad with as much ice tea as they could pour at us. Refortified and refreshed we headed over the the Eisenhower memorial library, museum and the house where he grew up all rolled into a campus like area. They had a 25 minute video of Ike's life and times along with some memorabelia. The house was the original including the furnishing. Reminded me a bit of the home Marcia's grandmother kept in her latter years.

Finally got to the Best Western about 3:30. First order of business was to replace the left cleat (my unclipping cleat) on my biking shoe, since the one I had was completely worn down. I was surprised it was still working at all. A close second order was getting the laundery done so I'd have a clean AbB jersey to wear, since we are all going red-white&blue for the 4th tomorrow as we roll over 108 miles of mostly country roads to Topeka. Dinner was a last minute rearrangement Michelle pulled off. The planned for place had shut down until July 6 even thought they had signed a contract with AbB so Michelle got us a very fancy place that served wonderful full dinner family style with fried chicken, mashed potatos, and lots of side dishes of all sorts. Scrumptious! She said "Don't get used to this".

After dinner was the highlight of my day as it is every day -- my call to Marcia to get caught up and reconnected. Tomorrow is Topeka by mostly country roads again. We are all very much hoping for some sort of westerly winds to push us along.

Day 26: Great Bend to McPherson -- A flat Kansas Stage Race

2009-07-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures today are here.
Miles Today: 64
Total Miles: 1931
Avg Speed: 18
Max Speed: 27
Total Time: 3:36
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Weather: Overcast and cool with highs in low 70's
Body: Felt good, but legs are tight and feeling it after hard ride

Last night after route wrap, we celebrated Bruce's birthday by eating cake his wife had ordered to surprise him. And then we bade Sean the wrench good-bye and sent him off on his great 'round-the-world adventure. He will be sorely missed for his even disposition, his readiness to help in every situation, his cheerful and patient encouragement to all and his expertise in diagnosing and fixing about any problem anyone threw at him. Gerard took him out to the airport well before daylight. We will be getting another wrench, Tom, at the St. Joseph rest day on Monday.

Second successive night of dinner at Montana Mike's. Had salmon that Seattle Bob who's had lots of salmon, generously rated 6 (out of 20 he said). We have two more nights at Montana Mikes. Some are already jumping ship to go to places of their choosing. I'll stick with what's included.

Gray skies, just past thunderstorms and cool temperatures greeted us as we loaded and pumped and prepped to roll out. Chuck and I had talked the night before of a strategy to get us to the next motel first and so we rolled out in the middle of the pack. Bob joined us as well and the three of us alternately pulled a mile each. When we reached Tom and Sean's rear wheels, we loudly yelled "slowing" then "really slowing" as we came upon them. That promoted an exchange of good natured insults.
Tom moved over to let us go by, but we told him we liked the arrangement and were happy to just stay there. So Tom got it rolling and gamely started pulling all of us. Sean's back was acting up so he dropped, but the four of us moved along into a pretty stiff breeze until about a mile from the SAG stop at 26 miles. At that point, Chuck jumped ahead of Tom and then the pace began to pick up. I jumpd ahead of Chuck who stayed put, but Bob did not. A few hundred yards later, Bob jumped out and I could not stay with him as he pulled into the SAG stop first followed by the rest of us. Judy noted that she smelled a whiff of something in the air -- oh yes, it definitely was testosterone she concluded.

After resetting fluid levels and some friendly banter, the four of us -- Tom, Bob, Chuck and I rolled back out having decided we would all work together into the stiffening headwind, exchanging pulls every mile. And that is what we did for quite some time. The pace varied between about 19 and 22 depending on who was leading. About 15-20 miles from the end, we hit a series of grades up -- perhaps 2-3%. Chuck and I began to pick it up at that point. Tom struggles a bit on the inclines and so gaps began to develop. We would wait for Tom to catch up and then moved on.

Finally we encountered a long series of ups, with some pitch to them. I began to crank on these and Chuck sat right on my wheel, incenting me to push all the harder. By the time we reached the top a couple of miles along, my legs were jello. Chuck was a little way back but gaining and Bob and Tom were too far back to see. I slowed slightly and Chuck was right there. We decided we would continue to execute our strategy and just take mile long pulls for the last 15 miles. The wind persisted and we rarely got to 20 mph, but it was enough to widen the gap and get us to McPherson & the Best Western by 10:30, 20 minutes ahead of the others.

When Tom, Bob and Sean rolled in a while later, we all went to Braum's Dairy for chocolate milk and a burger. Nice to have the afternoon available now! Tomorrow is another modest day. We're getting through Kansas.

Day 25: Dodge City to Great Bend - Getting out of Dodge to Discover Kansas

2009-07-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles Today: 87
Total Miles: 1867
Avg Speed: 15.6
Max Speed: 25
Total Time: 5:40
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Weather: Overcast and cool early with sun and high 80's later
Body: Hit a scale tonight and found I lost close to 10 lbs since starting on this trip. Bit of a surprise.

Enjoyable and varied day. Left Dodge with some photo ops and then got into taking lots of pictures of typical Kansas stuff in this land of flat. Silos -- many sizes and configurations sticking above the flat like lone skyscrapers. Collection points for the fall harvest with clumps of trucks parked close by bringing stuff in and out. Windmill farms to leverage the everpresent winds in this flat land. Seems to be from the Southeast most often as it was today. Long freight trains hauling coal to power plants elsewhere. John Deere dealerships displaying equipment of all types. Irrigation systems that stretch on for miles. Small towns like Wright, Spearsville, Kinsley and Larned which always have the silos and sometimes have a gas station and a store and maybe a rest area.
Spent 10 or 15 miles riding with Carole and chatting about her position as special ed teacher and some of the kids and situations she encounters. Very much like what Haide has worked with these many recent years. Quite interesting to hear of Carole's challenges, conscerns and triumphs. It was good riding with her.

Our first SAG stop was at Kinsley, home to Midway USA -- the center point between SF and NYC. It also boasted a park with a retired locomotive put out to pasture. Inside there was steam punk junk to admire while the outside was a great group photo-op. Past the grass, trees, shelters and painted block facilities was a little musem displaying tools of life from 100 years ago. A bike that had been ridden from the Atlantic to Kinsley, collections of small pitchers, period jewelry and clothing, kitchen implements and many other interesting things. A sod house had been built replicating those that sprang up to house incoming settlers. A simple plain church building had been restored. It was all very interesting.

After spending well over an hour there, several of us rolled along and soon I found myself riding with Chuck and Bob. Leigh observed earlier that this group always seems to collect when there is a head wind and we need to put together a pace line to make better progress. Actually, Leigh jumped off at a silo just out of Midway, before we even started to pace -- to inquire about the goings on at silos from those who knew. Her blog tells what she learned.

Chuck, Bob and I then began to move along at an organized 3 man line with 2 minute pulls. Chuck was our conducter and we operated efficiently between 19 - 21 mph. At 62 miles we agreed to stop for Subways. I extracted my wallet and camera from my front bag as usual and walked in with both in hand. Before I could even get to the ordering line a 9 year old approached me and pointed at the camera asking loud enough for all there to hear "Mister, why do you have a PINK camera?" I had to chuckle over that one as I explained that it had everything I wanted at a very cheap demo sale price when I bought it, but since it was the only one Wal*Mart offered like that, I could not choose the color. I said I'd show him that it worked regardless of color by snapping him and his buddies.

The last 22 miles after lunch were pretty quick and uneventful. The motel works well as always with Ed, Zero and me sharing a room. My turn for the roll away. Hope I sleep better on it than I have on the regular beds recently. Tomorrow is a short 60 some miles that we may try to finish before noon.

Day 24: Garden City to Dodge City -- Short Days are nice too

2009-06-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Photos are here.
Miles Today:54
Total Miles: 1778
Avg Speed: 15/1
Max Speed: 26.5
Total Time: 3:33
Flats Today: 0; Total flats:8
Weather: Sunny & about 90 with mild head wind
Body: Tired from yesterday's push, but feeling good

Leisurely describes the ride today. Knowing we had only 54 miles to ride made it easy to come along side Bob and Carole for the first half and chat a while. Great fun talking to Bob about past trips. At 73 he is has lots of gumption and energy. Bob lives in Virginia, but got to know Jack and his brother Rick (who left day 2 with shoulder and collar bone damage) and the three of them went in on a triple together.) Bob is fondly known as "young Bob", so dubbed by the other Bob who is just short of 40 and dubbed himself "younger Bob".
Bob shared that he did a self contained camping trip last year with 4 friends from norther FL to the keys. Pretty impressive in my book. He said he very much enjoyed the freedom and independence that brought. Young Bob also did a cross country trip a few years back, and is now back for more. Day after day he has hung back with Carole who is doing her first trip so she always has someone to ride with. Great guy, that Young Bob.

After a rather brief SAG stop at mile 22 we shoved off for the Malt Shop in downtown Cimmaraon. Great place! The pictures show it much better than words ever could for what it is.

While at the Malt Shop, I called my now departed roomie, Jim on his cell phone. We had gotten very hopeful news at route rap last evening that it looked like it was indeed Jim's pacemaker that was malfunctioning and that by "rebooting and resetting" it Jim's slow heartbeat could be remedied. He was now hoping to rejoin the ride in Indy, 2 weeks from today. Wouldn't that be great!!! His test of the new settings and his heart's response to that was to climb up Diablo, which apparently is a steep long climb in the Sierras, close to Jim's home with a heart rate monitor and see what his heart does. If that goes well, the way should be clear for him to rejoin the trip.

On another note, tomorrow is Sean the wrench's last day with us before he leaves on his round the world by plane jumps excursion. He starts in Europe and will be gone for two months or so. Great ride, Sean! You've been a huge asset to te group and you will very much be missed!!! All the best to you on your travels.

Tonight its Montana Mike for dinner and then for any that wish, a wild west sort of honky tonk show for any that want to take that in.

I also want to especially thank the amazing Thursday lunch team at C.R.A.C.K House ministries. I have heard nothing but glowing reports of what you have all been doing in fixing and feeding close to 100 hungry folks the past number of weeks. Thanks so much Ron, Les and Tom for the leadership and for each of you who have faithfully come to help! Terry, Alene, Deb, JohnM, Katie, Myrt & John, Sandra and others I know I have missed. My heart is often in Columbus, though my legs are on the bike and my brain occassionaly becomes mildly mushed.
Those of you who know me, know I easily lose track of stuff and this trip has been no exception. So far I have managed to lighten my baggage by leaving behind my dental floss and losing a pair of riding socks. My riding windbreaker that conveniently converts to a vest has also come up missing. I dropped it in the drop box on a warming morning recently. When I checked the box the next morning it was gone. I still wonder if it blew out of the box in the high winds from the day before or if someone unintentionally or otherwise removed it from the drop box. I'll probably never know.
More Kansas tomorrow as we roll on eastward.

Day 23: Lamar to Garden City -- Flying along in the flatlands

2009-06-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here
Miles Today: 105
Total Miles: 1724
Avg Speed: 19.7
Max Speed: 31.5
Total Time: 5:20
Flats Today: 0; Total flats so far: 8
Weather: Cool and little wind in the morning, adding heat and southwesterly 10-15 mph (tailwind) as the day wore on. Altitude change: 800' drop to 2800' Garden City. Body condition: Feeling the ride for sure, but overall still good to go.

Second of our back to back centuries today and official entry into Kansas and central time zone. Ever eastward we go! Colorado and Kansas were FLAT today until we got toward the end of the ride when we did get a few gradual biggie sized rollers to change things up a bit. There was a bit of competitive racing type drama on today's ride -- these flats will bring some of that out, especially among our Floridian friends who feel right at home in this terrain and weather.

Three of our foursome started out together, though Chuck was missing. His bike was out front but no CHuck so we pushed off without himj thinking he would come along. Gerard and Judy alos pulled out about the same time so Bob, Leigh and I rode with them for some time in the early morning cool on very smooth roads with very little wind. We moseyed along at about 17-18 mph for the first 33 miles to the SAG stop.

Not long before we reached the SAG stop we saw a flash of blue and white roar by at what seemed twice the speed we were moving. Chuck was a man with a mission! He was down on his aerobars and cranking smoothly and efficiently. By the time we got to the SAG stop, Chuck was well on his way out already, having stayed only long enough to sign in and rest fluid levels.

We took our time at the SAG. I was approached by a couple in a car who asked me about our ride -- usual stuff. At the end the 30's something guy gave me a round of applause. The rest of the group questioned me pretty closely about my little exchange, wondering what I had told him that would elicit that kind of response. I told them I had paid him a buck for the standing ovation. -- but it was worth it.

Eventually the Gerard, Leigh, Bob and I motored out of the SAG stop back up to the highway. As we ere leaving I got to thinking. This is a rare century that was flat with a nicley growing tail wind of 10 mph on very smooth pavement with little traffic and no turns. Should I try for a sub 5 hour century on this day? After weighing the possibilities I decided I would go for it and so I took off form the group at a good clip hoveing between 23 & 25 mph down Rt 50. Mostly I stayed on the road surface, though I would have to dive over the rumblers and onto the wide berm to get out of the way of the occasional semis that roared up and by using all of the road.

I had good energy and the miles clicked by. I knew I would have to really crank to overcome the those first 33 slow miles so that is what I did. After about 15 miles of this, I saw Rose, one of our two new adds to the trip at the side of the road with a flat. I stopped to help her out. My pump is a sought after item for roadside flats and this one was no exception. Gerard rolled up in the middle of all this and took over the fix while Leigh and Bob motored on. We eventually got the thing put together and Rose was on her way and Gerard and I took off as well to catch up to Leigh and Bob. Gerard began to hammer and I tried to stay with him. Fortunately we soon came to a town with a traffic light where I could regain his rear wheel. Pretty soon Gerard had it up to 28-30 mph and I was hanging on for dear life. I think he kept thinking I was going to drop because I told him to go on earlier. When I was still there after about 2 miles he looked around and gave me the elbow flap signaling : "It's your turn to pull for a while, buddy" I looked at him with a "You've got to be kidding me" look. He pulled over and I pulled out into the air stream and cranked it up as best I could to 26-27, which was all I could muster. After Gerard had had a chance to recover a bit he again he pulled in front and raised the level a mile or two. We soon caught Leigh and Bob.

Once back the pace slowed down to about 20, but since I had to make up time if I was going to get that 5 hour century I began to crank it again and pulled away. Our next stop was SAG 2 in front of the heavily advertised DQ at 78 miles. Visions of a rootbeer float kept the legs churning, made the bathwater warm liquid in my bottle drinkable and kept me churning at 20 plus miles to raise the average to that magic 20mph mark. By mile 68 I was really feeling it, had no water and was questioning my sanity for trying this. The midday temperature had risen to well over 90 degrees.

Just about the time I was passing Dan, who was on the road ahead of me, Michelle and the white SAG drove by. Hand to helmet signaling STOP! Dan and I were out of water and Michelle rescued us. We drank and filled and chatted a bit. Then the bad news from Michelle. The DQ was shut down. Out of business. Closed! What to do? Dan adn I gamely pushed on. THe next 10 miles were tough ones, with the advertised late ride rollers starting to appear. I kept it over 20 as much as I coudl but was still below that magic 20mh average I needed to have.

When we got to SAG 2 we got several interesting pieces of news. There was a Subway in town even if the DQ had closed. Lunch in air conditioning never sounded so good. And, Chuck had come through right after Tom. Chuck's mission was to leave last and still be first to the motel! He was on target to do just that. Go Chuck!

Dan and I and ALex, Michelle's son ate our sbuways and several refills of softt drinks together. Soon Gerard, Bob and Leigh rolled in and joined us. We left together wondering how Chuck, our teammate was faring on his mission. As we rolled out I invited the others to join me in trying to get the next 22 miles in at over 20mph, but they all declined. Too hot and too much work. So I struck out on my own, again trying to stay over 20mph. I soon reached the magic point where my average was right at 20, so now I had to keep it there for the last 20 miles.

I played all sorts of games, breaking up the remaining distance into pieces, figuring time left if I could keep this pace, seeing how many minutes each mile took etc. The temperature kept rising -- 95 per weatherman, 105 measured on several Garmins. Hot by any measure. My ice filled water bottles from Subway were soon bathwater again. The remaining miles clicked by ever so slowly but that magic 100.00 finally arrived not far outside of Garden City. I stopped the bike and clicked the Cateye over to time. Four hours and 57 minutes. I had completed my first sub 5 hour century. Having done that, I crawled in the last 5 miles to the motel. Thankfully the Gerard, Leigh and Bob threesome showed up at the very end to keep me from a wrong turn off the highway that would have sent me off in the wrong direction just when I least needed it.

When we arrived at the motel, Tom, Sean and Chuck had already checked in. But who had checked in first? Turned out it was Chuck. He had completed his century in 4:37 at 22+mph and had overtaken Sean and Tom both in the process coming from dead last in the process. GREAT JOB, Chuck!

Others straggled in over the course of the afternoon, which was timezone change shortened to begin with. And it was an especially long and arduous day for both the Jacks and Steve who missed the rides only real turn right out of the gate and put in 20 additional miles. Two back to back double metric centuries for them.

Dinner was at the Golden Corral which was an excellent choice for this crew. Should be an easy day tomorrow with what we hope will be a quick 51 to Dodge City with plans for a bicycle rodeo and a visit to Miss Kitty's wild west show. Not to mention the excitement of laundry.

Day 22: Pueblo to Lamar -- Trading "Purple Mountains Majesty" for the "Fruited Plain"

2009-06-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles Today: 124
Total Miles: 1619
Avg Speed: 17.8
Max Speed: 32
Total Time: 6:57
Flats Today: 0; Total flats so far: 8
Weather: Nice in the morning with little wind. Warming to 95 or more in the afternoon with 15 mph wind varying between 1:00 and 5:00 off our right side (wind from South)
Altitude change: Drop from 4900 to 3900 feet over the course of the day.
Body condition: tired after long day of riding.
With 120+ miles ahead of us and a day of rest behind us; 2 new folks joining us (Joe and Rose are a very nice brother & sister combo from around Norfolk OH) and 12 folks leaving us; the mountains a wonderful memory and the great plains a soon to be experienced reality we were definitely entering the next phase of this adventure. Gerard had noted at supper a couple of nights ago that this is when folks can tend to get grumpy. It's Kansas where the shine wears off and the grind begins. The novelty is fading rapidly, the scenery can't carry you along and the relationships can go from forming to storming.
I had had pretty much of a do-nothing day wanting to get all in order in again. Like doing the wash, cleaning the rear sprocket and chain on the bike and catching up on blog and pictures. Having done that, I did very little else besides relax, watch some Wimbledon and catch up a little on sleep. I also discovered that I did not have my trusty windbreaker that can be converted to a vest. Wear that all the time as you can tell in the pictures. I had dropped it in the drop box at SAG stop 1 and when I went to the lobby the next day (yesterday) to get it, it was gone and has not showed up since. After some sluething and asking and reviewing pictures to verify when I wore it last, I came to the conclusion that it either got blown out of the drop box by the 40+ mph winds that kicked up at SAG2 OR, someone helped themselves to it from drop box between 4:00 pm Thursday and 10:00 am Friday. I loved that very versatile jacket and will have to replace it with a windbreaker of some sort somewhere along the line. No rush since I don't expect riding temps under 60 for quite some time and if it rains, it will likely be warm.

Load this morning was at 5:45 and breakfast at 6:00. That was as early as this day could begin. We rolled out through a very quiet Sunday morning Pueblo and were soon rolling along in a pace line just under 20. The mountains faded fast and the road led us into the flat of the plains. We added some to the line along the way and some dropped off. When we got to SAG 2 Leigh's front tire had a nasty bulge growing out the side and she had to dip into her spare tire for Gerard to fix that one. 50 yards out of the rest stop, her rear tire flatted and she walked back to get Gerard to fix that one and waved us on. So the 4 of us worked together to move us along to SAG2 and then to the DQ in Las Animas where we chilled out and I got to call home to catch up with everyone enjoying Marcia's Sunday dinner. Really enjoyed that.

When we went to leave, Jack discovered he had flatted and it took him 2 attempts (exploded the first tube with CO2 cartridge before Judy showed up in the van with a real pump.) A nmber of riders passed by during this little 45 minute hiatus including Leigh on her aero bars meaning business. I thought the DQ would be the siren that pulled her in, but she was on a mission to get done.

Not far down Rt. 50 beyond the DQ we came upon Joy who was running across the USA with 30 miles per day, and planning for 120 days from LA to NYC. She was doing it to raise funds and awareness for heart disease cure and prevention.
After a third SAG stop and some more photo stops, we had dawdled our way to a close to a 4:00 arrival time. Longest day in every way and one that sucked the fluid and energy out of all of us. Dinner was somewhat subdued in view of the day behind us and the one ahead of us tomorrow -- another century in the heat as we leave Colorado and mountain time for Kansas and central time. We will then be only one hour behind everyone back home.

Day 20: Salida to Pueblo -- Moseying down the Arkansas River Canyon

2009-06-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures are here.
Miles Today:97
Total Miles: 1494
Avg Speed: 18.8
Max Speed: 44
Total Time: 5:08
Flats Today: 0; Total flats so far: 8
Weather: Gorgeious clouds early, then sunshine followed by thundershowers late. Steady then strong tailwind.
Altitude change: Drop 2500' from 7100 to 4600 with one 700' climb thrown in for good measure.
Body condition: aching back -- used magnet all day. Backache substantially gone this evening!

The morning light and cloud show was absolutely gorgeous when we stepped out of the motel room with packed bags. And so it went for the first 60 miles -- gorgeous mountains in the background crowned with mist, fog and clouds. We paralleled the Arkansas river all day which ran quite high with the runoff and recent rains. Made for excellent rafting form the looks of it along the way. The road wound its way beside the river and at spots, squeezed through the narrowing canyon with it.

Everyone was absolutley loving the ride that took us steadily down, pushed along by a gentle tailwind making 22 mph an easy cruising speed. Some of the riders normally towards the back of the procession could cruise along easily and love every revolution.

Most folks were stopping regularly to take pictures or just enjoy the scenes, leapfrogging each other and waving as they went by. A few were cranking through just for the sheer enjoyment of being able to go so fast so effortlessly. I rode and chatted with a number of folks, passing and getting passed.

The first SAG stop came at about 38 miles. Jim was there so I talked to him for some time about this and that. Marilyn, whom I'd just passed for at lesat the 3d time rolled in a while later with a large scraped bruise on her thigh, the result of having to bail into the rocky off berm strip when a truck came way to close to her. Leigh and Judy showed up eventually as well, having gotten a late start from being the last table served at breakfast. I joined them when all of us were finally ready to roll and we rode together at a leisurely pace to Canyon City at 56 miles out where they had huge milkshakes at the mom and pop shake shop and I had a Subway and a Dr. Pepper mixed with lemonade -- one of my favorite lunch drinks. Several other of the riders were there as well so we enjoyed lunch together.

Since Judy was called to help Michelle, Leigh and I rolled out together. The scenery changed drastically as we rolled out of Canyon CIty. Dry, flat, barren -- actually a lot like Kansas before we even get to Kansas. We got out to the second SAG at about 70 miles where AbB had set up a canopy at the side of the road. Jim was there -- bless him -- making tuna or egg salad sandwiches from stuff he had picked up in Canyon City.

Sean and Jack were still at that SAG stop -- big surprise since they usually make short work of these flat routes. Turns out that while in Canyon City, Sean did a sudden turn for a hair dresser to get a hair cut and Jack ran over Sean's rear wheel in the process, bending the thing. Sean had to finish the day on the AbB rear wheel until Sean the wrench could true it. Pretty funny story.

The wind kicked up, first coming from the south as a strong cross wind and then shifting to push us in at monstor speeds, allowing us to beat the storm the winds brought as well. We turned into the Holiday Inn Express with strong winds blowing in our face and thr rain threatening imminently. Our four riders who went to see Royal Gorge, had an interesting time of it, having to hole up in a dust storm and then a rain storm. They made it back fine eventually, riding a huge tailwind in. I was glad not to have gone, already seeing the very commercial and glitz-rich character of this thing in the signs leading up to the turnoff. Plenty of natural Colorado beauty to take in.

Tomorrow is a rest day here in Pueblo. Yeah!!! We all need one. Especially since the day following will be a 120 mile monstor day -- the longest of the tour. Hoping for moderate temps and tail wind that day. We'll see soon enough.

Day 19: Gunnison to Salida on the Alp de Monarch stage climb

2009-06-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Miles Today:67.5
Total Miles: 1397 (1/3 of the way to the Atlantic!)
Avg Speed: 15.6
Max Speed: 40
Total Time: 4:19
Flats Today: 0; Total flats so far: 8
Weather: Overcast and 50's in the morning warming later. Little wind to deal with.
Ibuprofen: 3 for aching morning back.
Pictures are here.
Note: Posted a day late because Internet Access in Salida was not working so posted from Pueblo.

This was the last real mountain stage of our ride. For the most part, I have been doing pictures, experiencing the country, the people and all that goes with it. Hammering has been limited to pace line work pulling or occasional late in the day pushes to get to where we are staying to end the day's riding. Donner pass was one exception where I worked hard and was able to crest first on that day . I was able to out climb Tom who is always first to the hotel. And by a stroke of good fortune (for me :-) ) Sean from UK lost a chain on the last mile or two so I beat him up too.

My goal today was to see if I could crest Monarch second behind UK Sean today. Things were going to have to work just so if that would happen. This stage had a classic TdF profile over about half the TdF stage distances. Leaving Gunnison, Rt 50 had a slight incline to it for the first 33 miles out and then the 9 mile 3000' plus climb to Monarch would begin cresting at 43 miles before the last 20 miles down to Salida. Our SAG stop was at the 28 mile mark, about 5 miles before the climb.

As expected, Tom left first this morning as most mornings and he wasted no time cranking down the road. I was able to get off earlier than usual because I was intent on doing that AND, I had no hotel flat for the first time in 4 days. Going through Salida I passed most of the riders that had left before I did by keeping a steady 17-18 mph pace. I rode with Sean UK for a bit and then he picked it up more than I cared to go just then. Jack caught up with me and the two of us worked together changing lead until he peeled off at 20 miles for a pit stop -- which I did not have to make because I was careful to drink only decaf that morning for just that reason. :-)

A couple of miles before the mandatory SAG stop at 28 miles, I noticed another rider way behind me. Periodic rear view mirror checks showed that he was steadily gaining ground. Jack this fast? No, it was Sean our mechanic who got his turn to ride today. Sean is 25, races and weighs about $1.50 and goes at whatever speed he wishes. He passed me and rolled into the SAG stop before I did. Sean UK was already there bantering with Gerard and Tom was on his way out as I pulled in, making only a cursory stop. He knew that with Sean UK behind him, the only chance was to get going asap. I did the routine of taking gloves off, pit stip, cleanse hands, sign in, down a Clif bar and some water. I did not refill to minimize the weight I had to carry up the climb.

Then I pushed off just ahead of the Seans. They soon passed me with Sean the wrench leading and UK Sean close on his wheel bent on catching Tom asap so they could honk at him as they passed. Since it was still flat, I thought perhaps I could hang on for a while and conserve some energy I would need for the hill while making up time on Tom at the same time. Sean kept it at about 19-20 into a mild wind and grade up for 5 miles to the place the road began to tilt up noticably. Tom was well within range now having started the climb, which fueled the Sean's pace on the grade.
I dropped off at that point, resolving to ride within myself at my pace. It's all to easy to overextend, break and then take forever to recover back to equilibrium -- especially with the thinning air. The rythm for me on this 6% average grade was to ride about 8mph in my lowest gear (34x27) and then shift up 2 or 3 gears every quarter mile or so to stand for 10 or 15 strokes. This helps the back, stretches the legs and keeps the speed up. The signal to sit is when the wind starts running out. The Seans soon caught Tom and just stayed there with him. Not sure what the conversation was as I was still 300 yeards back. I figured that I could gradually gain on Tom if I just stuck with my plan and sure enough, the gap began to close.
Before long, the Seans continued up the hill beyond Tom. About 2 miles into the 9 mile climb my gap to Tom had closed and I was passing him. I asked him why he climbed standing in his high gears and he told me it was what he always did -- easier on the knees. The Seans and I continued up at about the same pace for a while. Then Sean the wrench begain opening some distance and my distance to Sean UK began to narrow until we were riding in tandem for some time. At about 5 miles in, Sean noted that his legs were no longer responding to his brain so he stopped for a break. I continued to trudge up, now at closer to 6 mph than the 7.5 I had been. But now I had a gap between Sean and me and if I could keep up what I'd been doing, maybe, just maybe I could hope to crest ahead of him. I continued to do my sit in the 27 and then stand for 10 strokes 3 gears up. WIth 2.5 miles left, Sean was about 200 yards behind me but I was starting to lose enerrgy. The Clif bar had worn off and I was running low on fuel.

At that point, I asked that if the Lord would, would He give me the energy to finish this thing for His glory. And that is just what He so graciously did. I literally felt a surge of strength, my pace picked up again to 7.5 as I thanked Him for his provision even in this, the smallest of things. Meanwhile, Michelle drove by in the white SAG van and started yelling out the window cheering me on. I could tell she never would have thunk that I would be the leading rider (apart from the staff) at this stage of the climb. Michelle stopped up the road a bit and so did Sean the wrench, so for a little while I was leading the whole thing. Sean then resumed and soon caught me again and settled in behind encouraging me to keep it up. I told him to get himself and his bike around me which he soon did. But I kept him in view for the last mile or so as he crested and I followed a few hundred yards behind, well ahead of Sean UK who was some good way ahead of Tom.

Dave, Cathy, Tom, Ted and the rest of your group -- thanks for the training miles you let me log with you this Spring to stretch me -- they certainly paid off. Especially some of those long rides into those stiff Ohio winds. And Dan, thanks for the friendly competition on our Monday and Wednesday rides, especially charging up the hills forcing me to try to stay on your wheel.

When I got to Salida and checked in, I found I was going to be in with my doubles roomie, Jim tonight. Jim had very gamely set out to conquer Monarch today but I knew it would be a long hard day for him with the problems he was experiencing with his heart beat and his pacemaker. When he arrived about 3:00 he told me that he had taken his pulse climbing up Monarch and even with the exertion involved, it was 56. Clearly something was seriously off. He planned to head for the nearest medical facility to have things checked. The facility here in Salida had no means with which to test his pacemaker. The best they could do was take an EKG. After checking with the insurance provider etc. Gerard drove Jim to the Salida Hospital ER where he spent the next few hours. Jim called me after supper to let me know that the doctors wanted him to seek immediate medical attention but relented to let him get home first if he did not exert himself.

So, bottom line is, that Jim will be sagging to Pueblo tomorrow and leaving the tour Saturday in Pueblo to fly home. A friend he is meeting there, will drive his bike home and Jim to Denver to catch a flight. Dr. Sean UK thought that it was a pacemaker malfunction when he saw the EKG results. Still a chance that Jim may be able to rejoin before the end. I was very impressed with Jim's view that God had allowed this and knew best -- though it's been his dream to cross the country on a bike since he'd been 12. When he was finished sharing with me I asked him if he minded if we talked to the Lord about and so we prayed together. It was a bittersweet time.
Jim has become a good friend. We shared a number of experiences, have much in common professionally as we grew through the formative years of computing with similar careers and share a love of biking and the outdoors. I have appreciated Jim's connection to God and in the way he lives out his life. Jim also reminded me so much of my good friend in Columbus, Dave Mondiek. Both have such an engineering approach to life, ride Merlin bicycles which they keep fastidiously clean and well maintained, know all about the strengths and weaknesses of all items bike related and both really enjoy those long endurance rides. Jim completed 6 double centuries in one year for example. Right up Dave's alley. I was very much hoping to have them meet each other and ride together for a stretch when the tour goes through central Ohio.

So, tomorrow the beat goes on. It's a 95 mile ride to Pueblo with an optional side trip to Royal Gorge for anyone interested that tacks on 15 or so more miles and a very steep pitched climb. Not sure about that -- we'll see if I go there.

Day 18: Montrose to Gunnison : Rocky Mountain High and going higher

2009-06-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Miles:66 Total trip miles:1330 riding time: 5:11 avg speed: 12.8 max speed: 34 weather: sunny, high in high '70's with stiff headwind at first and then clear sailing. Alt change: 5000' climbing, Flats 1 today for total of 8 -- still one behind Hans but gaining! Pictures are here.

Last night's route rap made it plain we would be doing plenty of climbing today and the first of it would be into a hefty headwind so we were prepared for what lay ahead. The "magnificent 7" of us who rode the '06 BCT, rode this stretch in reverse: Gunnison to Montrose. That way it's mostly down hill and with a tailwind as I recall.

The day started very interestingly at breakfast already as I got a chance to talk with Carole from Gettysburg. She told me about her sister's family of 5 kids including Carole's niece Kendra who has severe case of CP. Kendra is in her mid 20's and living at home with her family. Carole's sister has been unable to let Kendra go to live in a home and Carole has been an integral part of the care structure for the family over the years. The challenges of caring for Kendra, who needs to be lifted and fed and is bound to a wheelchair that she can control through a head controlled device are considerable. She also has a head controlled device she uses with a computer to communicate as she is unable to speak. She is very aware and understands. I found it so touching when Carole told me that Kendra was in a relative's wedding. Kendra is fitted with a baclofin pump which helps her considerably -- the kind that was pioneered at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital by Dr. Albright and his team -- funded in part through PwP raised funds! Pete, you and the many volunteers who work so hard to keep this going, should take note and be gratified around your accomplishment!!!

Soon breakfast was over and we were back in the midst of the morning routine. Pack up the suitcases making sure all is in its slot and spot so nothing stays behind and thumpety bump the bags and bike down the stairs from the second floor and out to the front of the motel. Then find a pump and get the pressure in both tires up to 115 lbs -- especially important this morning since I had changed my rear tire the night before with hopes of reducing the flats. My rear tire had been showing signs of wear after the first 1200 miles and had some good nicks in it. I had one spare with me. Then load the luggage when the trailer opens at 6:45 sharp and initial the sign out sheet. Get out the mirror from my front bag along with the sun glasses and clamp them in place and drop the windbreaker into the drop box since it feels plenty warm already. In the midst of all that there's a loud BANG, a little like a gunshot and everyone looks startled for a moment. Someone's tire has blown -- and yes, you guessed it. Mine.

As it turned out, I had pinched the tube with the stiff new tire and when I had pumped it full this morning, it did not take long before this infraction was reported to all within earshot. I realized I should have used the anti monkey butt talcum powder to smooth out the new tire as Jim had when he changed his. But I had not and now paid the price. Sean came to my rescue, both by assuring me this was easy to have done and by very carefully installing a new tube. Great guy in spite of the picture he took of himself. To further soothe my bruised ego, Brian and Bob the younger also had flats so I was not completely alone in this. And I did find a "goats head" (tiny thorn) embedded and barely visible in my front tire which I extracted with the tweezers Michelle always has handy.

Finally I was on the road again -- pretty much the last one to leave. Our little group had decided to leave on our own today since it is very hard to travel together with the wind, the climbs, the heavy flow of bikes and the gorgeous photo ops that awaited us on this route. After only a few miles, I encountered my new friend Chris by the road side with a Motorcycle Trooper marking his place with flashers. Chris was on his cell phone calling for a BCT SAG. He had stopped more times than the miles he'd ridden that morning trying to find relief for his ailing derriere -- to no avail. He does not have the luxury the rest of us have to stand on his bike and take the pressure off and was really hurting and feeling conflicted about what to do. I told hm he'd already accomplished a huge amount and affirmed his decision to add today to tomorrow's already planned tour rest day so he could finish the last two days. I pushed on just before the SAG came.

Chris was definitely not alone in DNFing this day as we saw numerous BCT vehicles laden with bicycles and riders. They had a tougher day than we because our Gunnison end point was only a turn arrow on the road for them. Their destination was Crested Butte which lay 30 miles and a long climb beyond Gunnison.

The ride was gorgeous with green, mountains, buttes, and the beautiful lake along the GUnnison river. The headwind subsided after the first climb just as Michelle said it would and even turned to a bit of a tailwind over the last 2 miles or so. My very heavy legs and tired body found enough energy to pick up the pace from the mid teens to the low twenties when the pace lines started zipping by and I attached myself to one for most of the last 20 miles.
When I passed Chuck and Zero in the last 5 miles before Gunnison, I backed off and rolled in with them. After checking in at the Days Inn, we got back on the bikes and rode in to Gunnison for lunch. Another great day of riding in the Rockies!

Tomorrow it's on to Salida a mere 60-some miles off -- BUT Monarch Pass at 11,200, stand between us and our destination. Climb on!

Day 17: Grand Junction to Montrose -- Chris pedals with Chris

2009-06-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Miles: 74
Total trip miles:1264
riding time: 5:10
avg speed: 14.3
max speed: 34
weather: sunny in the morning with threatening clouds after lunch, 80's, variable winds in the morning and stiff 20 mph wind from the east (headwind) in the afternoon.
Alt change: +1200' to 5900 in Montrose
Flats 2 today for total of 7. Puts me in 2nd place!
Pictures are here.

This was a day with variety and surprises. My 6th flat of the ride and third "hotel flat" to start the morning should no longer be a surprise but it always seems to be anyway. Getting real good at fixing flats for sure and this fix removed one of my patch jobs -- which is where the leak was coming from said diagnostician and CSI expert, Sean.

The early route involved a bit of Grand Junction traffic but mostly bike path along the Colorado River. Pleasant stretch to loosen the legs at a moderate pace. We had a good sized group moseying along for some time -- until we hit the road again and that first real hill. That spread things out a some. Soon we reached Rt. 50, the road that would take us all the way to Montrose. And that is where we encountered the Bicycle Tour of Colorado as well. A steady stream of cyclists stretched out in both directions as we merged in, very identifiable in our AbB Jerseys which we all wore.

Soon we were carried along by the excitement of it all, going faster than we ordinarily would with so many opportunities to pass others and try to keep from being passed. We got ourselves a little stars and stripe clad pace line going with the Seans out front making the rest of us look better than we were.. The wind was at our back, the day was still cool and road surface was smooth. Perfect conditions for ---yet another flat.

Cranking up a hill trying to at least hold my place in line and suddenly I felt that now all too familier mushy feeling underneath me. Stop, drop the rear wheel, unzip the rear bag, extract the tire tools, pry off the tire edge, pull out the tube followed by the stem, pump the tube to find the leak location at 6 o'clock and then go to that spot on the tire to find that little sliver of glass that I'd run over 10 miles back. Extract said glass, pull out my good tube and blow some air in, insert into the tire and muscle the bead over the rim until you hear the pop. Snap the pump end on the valve and start muscling in the air until the bisceps start freezing up -- that and the 90 lb pressure on the guage say that's all you'll get. Slide on the rear wheel, lock on the quick release, spin to make sure it's still true, collect all the stuff that came out, helmet back on, check the berm lane for bikes cranking up and off I go again. This little routine has become routine -- sort of like blowing your nose.
My sweethearts of riding buddies were waiting at the top of the hill and we rode on to the SAG stop 5 miles down the road. Gloves off, hands wiped and disinfected, initials by our name, water bottles filled, cookies and fruit ingested, and something amusing to say to Gerard whose been bored all morning watching all this craziness from inside the silver van. Soon we're back out, pedaling by BCT AID station #2 with its porta-johns, blaring music, and carpet of laid out bicycles. Still taking pictures and enjoying all of the sights and sounds, Bob and I are cruising in tandem, passing folks on the left as they ride right. But one of these looks a bit erratic from where we are and I am just about ready to yell : "Passing left" when it hits me that this rider has cerebral palsy and is cranking, steering, pushing, straining, balancing as absolutley best he can. I ride around and slow for the guy riding just ahead of him and ask if his buddy has CP -- which of course I know the answer to already.

That opens a whole torrent of bike to bike conversation. Finally we have to stop to get all 3 of us to talk, to get pictures, to share testimonies, to encourage and to swap stories and dreams. I learn that Chris Ray is from NYC, riding his first real organized ride and it's the BTC, of all things! He's made it through the first two days -- tough ones for sure. He's been taken in by Rick and Katie out here in CO and they are loving Chris' spunk, grit and determination. Who does that remind me of??? When we get on the bikes to resume I am suddenly overcome with emotion. Here I am, riding to further the PwP mission and to do what Pete no longer can, with a man who is as determined and gritty and straining to overcome the limitations he was dealt as Pete is. A man who gets on a bike to be just like everyone else out here.

I was so overcome with emotion that I could not stop weeping. It was as sudden as it was surprising. In some strange way, Chris, in that moment, had fulfilled one big reason I was here. Thanks so much Chris. Without that flat, I would have remained ahead of him and our paths would likely never have crossed.

My camera begain to beep insistently when I tried filming Chris, so had to stop and disengage the batteries to make it stop. By that time, Rick and Chris had turned into BCT AID station #3 and I could not spot them easily in the press of riders all over the place. As I was leaving, a lady stopped to ask about our XCountry tour and of all people, it turned out to be Rick's wife Katie. So I got to exclaim and exhult with her and her friend Jane that we had run into each other. I pedaled on, had lunch and then hung onto a fast pace line until I caught up with Chris and Rick again so I could ride the last 20 miles with them. We talked some more and I just enjoyed the many memories of riding with Pete all this evoked.

I got to share my day at route rap and then we all walked way up the road to a very overfilled restaurant where we waited for some time for an absolutely delicious spaghetti dinner and pie for desert. When I got back to the room well after 8:00, Jim and I both changed our rear tires to put on our spares with every expectation that this would reduce the flats we were both experiencing. We shall see about that. These roads are very hard on tires and on tubes!

Tomorrow is a 5000' climbing day as we climb to 8000+ feet in several ups and downs stages before reaching Gunnison. The BCT does the same route plus an additional leg from Gunnison to Crested Butte. Today, I could truely say as the psalmist did:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Day 16: Green River to Grand Junction - I70 Exacts its due

2009-06-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Miles: 99
riding time: 6:02
avg speed: 16.3
max speed: 40
total trip miles: 1189
weather: sunny, high upper 80's, moderate wind from the west
Alt change: +500' to 4700 at Grand Junction,
Pictures are here.

Cool, blue skies and prospects for the upper 80's with the wind from the southwest forecast. Great day for biking the final stage of the jaunt across Utah. I70 would take us through the gorgeous east Utah landscape and what better way to enjoy that except from a bike.
I had access to a pump late yesterday and was tempted to just pump up and get it done with. I decided against it and just stick with my routine of pumping right after loading my bags. So when I did, I found the pressure had dropped to about 50psi which was half of what it should be. I could pump it up and hope it would last or just change the tube right there. The latter was the sensible option so that's just what I did while the others in our little group stood by and waited before pushing off. That was to be a harbinger of what this day would hold.

A rest stop 19 miles out was a welcome sight for several of us who needed to reset fluid levels. Additional enticement was a great overlook view. Gerard and Sean soon showed up. Sean riding no hands and Gerard doing his usual back and forth trick riding. They hung around because they enjoy riding with us. So when we finally shoved off , we were again at the end of the parade. That always presents opportunity to pass some of the more leisurely folks, say hi or more and encourage others along the way. Soon 7 of us were happily buzzing along at a good clip. I got a good chance to share about one of my favorite topics -- the Bible. One of the guys was interested in reading it for himself and I encouraged him to do so with a searching heart and its author would reveal Himself to him personally.
Grace, one of the SLC adds, rode with us for a good while as well. She has done a XCountry jaunt herself and was on this tour to reconnect with others of the group she'd done it with. The tour she was on, was 3 weeks shorter and twice as expensive. Made me feel like I had gotten a huge bargain for all we were getting. Again, I cannot say enough good about AbB. They continue to be helpful, enthusiastic, supportive and generally an absolute delight to travel with.

In the midst of all this great chatting and cruising along, my bike started bobbing a bit -- first sign of a flattening tire. Sure enough, the front one was goign soft. Since I'd used my one unpatched tube on the back, I had only a patched second one left to put on the flat front. The fix went quickly with Gerard to do the mop up and soon we were rolling again. Gerard had a water bottle shaped speaker and ipod set that was blasting out tunes for our pace line. Other riders began to join in, some with more chaotic riding styles than I like. So, next time I led the line, I begain stepping on it some and was soon well ahead of the group catching up to Jim.

I slowed down to ride with him and we rode together for some time before he flatted and mounted his good tube. The others caught us and then passed on and went. I stayed with him and we rode together through the second SAG, past the Colorado State line and on toward Grand Juntion. On one of the day's steepest descents, Jim slowed and stopped at the bottom for another flat, his second. Ed, my triples roomie stopped and provided the long stem tube that Jim needed. He jokingly said Jim would likely be repaying him with his short stem tube within 3 miles -- how prophetic.

Ed left and Jim and I did too when we finished collecting all of the repair related acoutrements and stuffed them back into their little containers. Within only a few miles we passed two of the new riders at the roadside fixing yet another flat, casualty to I70 roadside debri. They waved us on when we asked if they had what they needed.

Not 2 miles later, there was Ed, busy taking his rear wheel apart to fix a flat. Jim's short stemmed tube was going to work for Ed. As Ed was wrapping up, I suggested we might check our tires for protruding stuff that could lead to flats. Sure enough, my rear tire had gone flat while we were watching Ed fix his! But now we had no tubes left between the 3 of us.

Just then the 2 riders we just passed stopped for us and after some deliberation, we took the punctured tube they had just replaced and patched that so I would have something. And that, was the last flat before we arrived at the motel! We soon learned that most everyone had had one or more flats -- we figured between 20-25 of these annoyances among all of us including several who had 3 like me.

Zero greeted us in our triple. He had gotten in earlier and had conferred with his film crew who wanted to do an interview with me about Pedal-with-Pete. They want to feature other riders on the 5 30 minute shows they were putting together for Korean TV. So, before supper they set up a little outdoor studio and I had a great time telling their viewers-to-be about Pete, the genesis of PwP, its purpose and its accomplishments. They asked about C.R.A.C.K. House Ministries as well and specifically asked about what could be done to curb the growing drug use among Korean-American kids. I told them a strong home with present and engaged parents was critical and that faith in the Freedom Giver was important from my experience.

They were very receptive and after the interview were interested in re-joining the ride through Ohio so they could meet Pete and do some additional shooting and interviews then. I am going to provide them with the dates we are in Wooster when Pete would most likely be present.

Well, tomorrow's ride will be in midst of the 2000 rider Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Our AbB staff are a bit apprehensive about the logistics of all of this, but we are confiden they will work this out as they have all the other unexpecteds that have have arisen this trip. Not too too much climbing and only 70 or so miles.

We're hearing the east has been hit with blazing heat. We are hoping this will not drift our way too much and that when we hit the heart of the Midwest, cooler weather will return. As we head into the Rockies, some verses from Psalm 121 seem especially applicable:
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. ...
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Day 15: Price to Green River: Just desert for dessert

2009-06-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

Miles: 67
riding time: 3:51
avg speed: 17.6
max speed: 40
total trip miles: 1090
weather: overcast changing to mostly sunny, 10 mph headwind from SE
Alt: -1500’ up to 4000’ Pictures are here.

Today’s ride was absolutely glorious. We started on wet roads and a little chilly and ended with dry roads and 80 degrees at Green River for Subway and chocolate milk. What else by now?
It is Father's Day and so it was only appropriate that I should thank my heavenly Father for this beauty He's created and made me so I would enjoy it. Evidence to me that He is not only God of creation but a God personally interested in delighting us with what He has created!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from theFather of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Everything in between cannot be described in words so take a look at the pictures. I absolutely love these western landscapes. The many textures dominated by muted browns, grays and reds. The infinite shapes of the mountain silhouettes framed by sky and clouds. And the sky with its changing light and clouds setting the whole scene’s mood. First light and airy and just a little later, heavy and brooding.

Our first activity on arrival at the motel after this glorious ride was getting the morning’s road grit left by still wet roads off the frame, the chain, the sprockets, the shoes and anything else exposed to the spray. And then I waited for the room to be ready—for 2 hours since there was only one guy doing rooms. He hustled, but there are limits.

As many as would fit into the vans were trundled off to Arches for sight seeing. There was a raft trip option offered and then canceled when the heavy rains, so uncharacteristic here this time of year, washed out the road that leads to the launching site.

Supper was at the restaurant across the street overlooking the river. We had a delicious buffet with choice of all sorts of barbecued stuff, great salad bar and wonderful apple pie.

Tomorrow it’s close to another century. Forecast is for hot and more headwind.

Day 14: Provo to Price

2009-06-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Yesterday's (Day 13) pictures are now updated properly for those who read yesterday's blog. Yesterday's pictures are here.

Miles: 78
Riding time: 5:31
Avg speed: 14.1
Max speed: 32
Total trip miles: 1023

Weather: Overcast, spitting rain, mostly headwind

between 10 - 40 mph
Alt change: 4500 - 7500 -5500'
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
Today's Pictures are here.

Last night's route rap was replete with route changes to get us around construction and a whole page of written gotchya-watches like: "Walk behind barrier on dirt road." "Do not ride on left shoulder against traffic" or "No shoulder 2 lanes tight behind concrete barriers". And Ed and his wife, who are from this area chimed in with helpful advice like "Utah drivers ignore bikers on a good day and go after them on a bad one." and "Don't even think of riding left of the white line or one of those motor homes towing a jeep will flatten you ."

Jim's alarm went off at 4:40 so we could get ready for 5:00 breakfast and a 5:45 load. When I got to breakfast, the area was already congested with riders trying to get their toast to pop, squeezing the last dregs of coffee from the urns and grabbing a spare banana for the road. The new folks were huddled in groups, wondering what they had gotten themselves into after their first day consisted of turns and construction detours and now the prospect of their second being concrete barriers with the narrow shouldered, rumble strip laced, truck infested US Rt 6 to take us most of the 75 miles to Price. Soon someone reported they'd just been out and felt the rain starting.

Just about then one of the Cleveland guys that I'd ridden with yesterday and given a PwP brochure came up to me and said that the light went on while he was awake last night. He remembered exactly who Pete was from the late 90's GOBA rides he'd done. That was a real encouragement to me! Thanks for sharing, Gary.

By then everyone was eager to get rolling and so the loading, tire pumping, and "what are you wearing discussions" were dispensed with rapidly and off we went. Our little group of Bob, Leigh, Chuck, Jim and Zero and I left in the middle of the pack and soon we were pedaling out of town in formation. Bob wryly observed "Maybe it will rain, but at least we have a hefty head wind". And "Maybe there is a lot of construction, but at least the Utah drivers are agressively bad".

We managed to navigate our way through the early route changes OK with only one missed turn and were soon pedaling east on Route 89. I stayed back with Jim for a bit to see if he was going to be OK and when he said he just needed to get warmed up at his pace, I picked it up a bit to catch the others. That meant going from about 8.5 mph into the 30-40 mph head wind to perhaps 10 mph. The wind was so strong and shifty that drafting was really not workable anyway.

Our soon left onto Route 6 turned us right into the teeth of the wind that howled down the narrow canyon. Wonderful for the wind farm just up ahead, but every cyclist's nemisis. I thought the prevailing winds were westerly! Soon we were climbing on the narrow berm. Fortunately traffic was light. Construction spots forced us to repeatedly climb over the concrete dividers to ride to the right of them so as not to get crushed. At one point I stopped to use a construction porta-john. Once in the thing it started to shake in the wind.

The climb eventually got steeper as the road stretched toward the huge gash cut though the top of the highest rise. Parked at that highest point was the white sag van with Michele and Judy handing out water and bananas. My riding companions from earlier were there as well so I was able to rejoin them for the ride down and over to the real climb of the day. We paced along into the wind, glad for the respite when riding behind. The road paralleled several sets of tracks and soon a train as long as I've seen, overtook us slowly and rumbled past one car at a time until two hundred or so had passed us by over the course of many miles. The end of the train was marked by two "helper" locamotives to keep the thing rolling along through the climbs. That was how the town down the road came to get its name -- it was the point the locomotives were attached or detached at the start or finish of the long climb to Soldier Summit.

About 40 miles out Chuck and I stopped at the silver van parked next to the road to get our jackets since the temperature had dropped. The others rode on to the SAG stop as it turned out, but Chuck and I somehow missed it and continued up to Soldier Summit and once crested began the lengthy descent toward Helper and Price beyond. More construction sites, a litle cycle cross over the dirt road paralleling Rt 6 and frequent looks up and over our shoulder to see how close the rain was getting.

Gerard had alerted us to a quaint old store and an eaually quaint 78 year old owner that was worth stopping in to see. The gentleman had pictures of his grandad with Butch Cassidy and was eager to show and tell anyone that stopped by. The rain closing in on us and the climb over more barriers to get to the store helped us to decide we would roll on down the valley. Soon we were down in Helper and stopped for a sandwich and a quart of chocolate milk. When we left it was just starting to spit outside but the wind had picked up in our favor this time. Chuck shot off like a thoroughbred bolting for the barn and I just hung on his wheel. We finished the last 8 miles in 20 minutes so eluding the rain by minutes.

All who rolled in after us came in drenched including Jim. He had finished, felt good and was ready to do it all over again tomorrow. I am very grateful for that! We shared a load of wash -- great to have all clean clothes again. Then he showed me how he cleaned his rear cassette and I got the bike clean, prepped and oiled up for tomorrow. Even got a brief cat nap in before supper. Delicious spaghetti and salad buffet with all the the brownies and cream puffs you cared or dared to eat afterwards.

Tomorrow is a 60+ miler, all down hill. Arrival for most will be noonish. There's a van trip to Arches National Park planned as well as an optional raft trip down the Green River if there are enough takers. Then it's over to Grand Junction Colorado and our 4th state. We will meet the 2000 or so Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) riders there and our routes merge for a couple of days. Should be interesting!

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

that you established your faithfulness in heaven. Psalm 89:1-2

Day 13: Salt Lake City to Provo -- Route Reconstruction

2009-06-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Miles: 66
Riding time: 4:40
Avg speed: 14.1
Max speed: 30.5
Total trip miles: 945
Weather: sunny, high 70's, 10-20 mph S wind
Alt change: flat
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
New Pictures are here

My day started with Psalm 19 which starts with words that lift my heart to heaven in view of all that I have been reveling in.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Today's ride provided us with great natural beauty again, even though it was a day full of city streets, abundent traffic, fully loaded trucks passing closely by and lots of consturction and detours. But to our left for the entire ride were the the majestic snow covered Wasatch mountains under a deep blue cloudless sky, towering over the towns and roads between Salt Lake City and Provo Utah.

The route sheet was up to multiple pages again since we had to travel from SLC's north west edge around the western edge of the city and then out the south east side to Provo. Provo also lies in the morning shadow of the Wasatch range and is the home of BYU. It's a neat clean college town from what we saw coming in.

The challenge today was not the distance, an abundance of flats, figuring out how best to re-balance fluid levels, the weather or even the rather brisk 10-20 mph wind. Rather it turned out to be navigation. The first 20 miles went by easily with Gerard and Judy leading a long string of riders through the first column of today's 3 column sheet. But then Gerards phone rang and we stopped. He conferred with Michelle for some time as he consulted a rather cryptic map of the area. He pulled pulled Bob in with his iphone and online map system for consultation. He graciously endured a steady stream of wise cracks from the 20+ riders who were now milling about. And after 15 minutes or so, decided we could in fact continue to the SAG stop because there was a detour around the 8 mile section of impassably rough torn up road.

So the train started moving again, turn by twisting turn until we pulled in at the SAG. Michelle and Sean had already come up with a considerably complicated alternate route that they recorded on the white board. After some further deliberation, Gerard thought it best if we waited for all the riders to arrive at the rest stop and then he would lead the whole crew over the 14 mile detour to get us back on route.

That worked quite well for the first 5 miles or so until Steve, one of the boys from Cleveland got a flat. I was with them so rode ahead to alert Gerard who woahed the wagon train while they wrestled with the flat. Sean the wrench soon rolled up in the silver van and took over. He quickly found that the spare tube also had a hole and so got all that squared away. Judy hung out with the 4 of us, sent Gerard and his charges along and took over lead dog duties when all was fixed since she too had those complex rerouting instructions.

All was well until Gerard circled back to tell us we were back on route at the 43 mile mark. Not clear if we were or not, or if our cue sheets had some errors, because the next 5 miles required some interesting loop backs and some spontaneous navigation because the cue sheet led us to some dead ends including one out bridge over I15 that was really all the way out.

When we finally did get back on course at about mile 48, the 6 of us decided lunch was in order so we stopped at a Kneaders -- sort of the Utah version of Panera. After lunch we continued to meander back and got into the Fairfield Inn at a very tardy 3:15-- later than yesterday's arrival with twice the miles.

As noted, every day is different and this on had it's delights on top of the beautiful mountain scenery. One of those for me, was seeing Jim, my roomie, champing at the bit to ride this morining and then waiting for me at the Fairfield when I rolled in feeling very chipper, already showered and with chocolate milk for me in hand! It was so great to see him back to feeling good and full of enthusiasm to continue. The two of us had prayed together as we trudged along I80 3 days ago, that God would restore his strength and He certainly did that today. We are grateful!

Tomorrow is another shorter type day with only modest climbing and hopefully modest traffic as well.

Day 11: Wendover to Salt Lake City -- Surreal Scenes on the Salt Flats

2009-06-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Miles: 119.5;
Riding time: 7:12
Avg speed: 16.6 ;
Max speed: 28;
Total trip miles: 877
Weather: clouds, overcast, threatened rain,
Alt change: flat
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
Ibuprofen: none
New Pictures are here.

The strain of successive hard days, amplified by the hour we gave back to Mountain Time when we arrived, showed as we straggled through the casino maze past an occasional all night player, into the Rainbow Cafe for 5:00 breakfast. Not much chatter, lots of coffee, short breakfast orders and the urge get a jump on today's long ride. Jack, Ricks brother sat alone at the counter with a light green tinge, having been up sick all night. Brad and Jay wanted to especially enjoy this, their last day and leave it all on I80. Jim, my doubles roomie, knowing he would not ride, was more relaxed and joking with the staff since he was spending the day with them in the van. Carole and Bob, who have gamely been sweeping the course loaded early and were given Gerard's blessing to roll out as soon as it was light enough to see since it would be an especially long day for them.

In the midst of the brisk luggage loading, laughter erupted and Gerard shouted something about "being shot from a cannon" as Zero appeared wearing a shiny chrome plated bicycle helmet. What a hoot ... and on this of all days! Our pace group from yesterday re-assembled and we added in staffers Sean the wrench and Judy as well as UK Dr. Sean and Leigh and were off. A few miles of soft pedaling and soon we were back with our old fickle friend, I80, knowing she would string us along, puncture our tires, and finally drop us in SLC.

The first 40 miles were through the salt flats. Absolutely spectacular landscape looking just like those computer generated scenes in some of today's movies. Stark mountains, perfectly flat white salt plains, low hanging dark clouds which separated sun beams pushing through. There was a rest stop 10 miles out with an observation platform overlooking the stark landscape, two locked rest rooms and a "pet area". Got our pictures there and took care of additional business and were on our way again 2x6 with a rigorous 1/2 mile rotation cycle enforced by our road boss, Chuck. The steady 10 mph wind from the southeast made pulling somewhat of a chore and kept the speed to 16-17 mph.
The miles following brought a series of at least 6 flats in this group. Great to have Sean our wrench along as he fixed them all in 1/3 of normal rider time. Finally Sean got one himself and he just waved us on. Cranking at 24 mph by himself he rejoined us in less than 10 minutes and then had the nerve to ask to skip a turn at the front. We passed a number of riders that had skipped the stop including Hans from Switzerland who climbed on the passing train. Hans had never ridden in a pace line before so this was all new to him. That makes sense since I'm not sure Switzerland has enough flat land to make that attractive. He very quickly caught on and was rather enjoying the experience.

At about 60 miles we hit the day's climbs -- gradual two mile 3-4% inclines that provided the natural excuse for a little catch-me-if-you-can between the two Sean's who took off like a couple of pointers retrieving a downed duck with rest of the pack scrambling to follow. I managed to hold off a late charge from Brad to crest behind those two, wildly out of breadth and legs screaming for relief. We all regrouped at the top and set off in neat array only to repeat this nonsense at the next grade up. This time, Jack was the man on a mission and stayed on the Sean's wheels to top out right behind them with Brad not far behind. The SAG truck was waiting for us at the top of that climb and we recollected and refueled with already fixed PB&J sandwiches, compliments of Jim. Sean the wrench traded rides (a bike for a van) with Gerard so now we had both Judy and Gerard to critique our riding, stopping, fixing, merging and exiting style. :-)

Once on the road again, our group of about twelve continued along, watching the dark low hanging rain cloud angling toward us trying to gauge pace, road direction and wind velocity and direction and so see if rain gear was going to be needed. One more flat forced some recalibration but in the end we managed to stay out of it entirely.

The last SAG stop was not quite 30 miles from the Comfort Inn. We agreed we would break into two separate single lines since the traffic was heavier and there was a growing amount of debris along I80. It's very hard to avoid berm gravel, scattered glass, truck tire carcasses and other vehicle junk in a double line. And, it's more dangerous as well. So, Brad, Dr. Sean, Jack, Chuck, Judy and I left together and soon had a brisk 20+ mph pace going, intent on beating the rain and getting off those saddles asap. I80 traffic picked up as we approached SLC and we had a few tricky spots at merge points, busy exits and narrow bridges. What a relief to get to our I80 exit point at the Great Salt Lake beach resort, that had flourished in the 1920's but was now a museum and gift shop -- a remnant of a bygone era.

From there the last 10 miles were on a zero traffic frontage road, still wet from the recent rain. We rolled into the Comfort Inn at 3:00 as the first group in after Tom, who is ALWAYS first to the motel. He'd been there since 1:00 already. On flat days like today, Tom gets on his aerobars and just goes like he's riding on an iron man tri-athalon -- which is exactly what he's training to do. Dr. Sean usually rides with Tom, but knew he had no chance of staying with him today. When we get into the Rockies, Sean, at 29, 130 lbs and quite fit will be first to the top again, but now it's all Tom on these flat long days.

The evening's route rap was very neat. Each of the 5 riders leaving here in SLC was given a certificate and the opportunity to share their impressions. Sam, Aldo, Brad, Jay and Dr. Dave all were sorry to leave, highly complimentary of the staff and unified in their sense that this had been one wonderful experience. I had grown especially fond of Brad and Jay having spent some time getting to know them both. Jay invited the whole group to his home for a cook out when we pass through Indy here he lives. And Brad lives in Columbus so I am very much hoping to get to ride with hims some on Wednesdays or the weekends. Sam and Dave's wives met them here before they return to Florida and Gettysburg respectively.

And Aldo -- well Aldo is one where God threw away the mold when He fashioned him. Aldo was born in Italy and founded, owns and still runs his fence manufacturing business in NYC with his two sons and staff. At 68 he rides 10,000 miles a year (I do have the right number of zeros) and rode strong and consistently on this tour. He is never at a loss to confer pithy advice through real life illustrations to all who will hear him out. Whenever I asked him how he was doing before, during or after a ride the answer was always "Not too bad". His parting advice to us was to take 15 minute lower body ice baths (4-6 buckets of ice) every night, followed by a hot shower, followed by a denatured alcohol derriere dousing.

Now it is SO great to have an off day!! The body needs a break -- especially the touch points to the bike. Clothes need to be washed which I took care of early. So nice to have clean stuff again. I patched both my punctured tubes in case I need them -- though everyone says the flats will cease once we get of the Interstate tomorrow. The bike case I had borrowed from Dave needed to be shipped since we have 12 riders joining us for ths next stage to Pueblo. For sure I do not want Gerard on my case.

In SF I realized that this case was not going to ship reliably from there. I was struggling to trust the Lord in this interruption to my well laid plans. Everyone else with a case to ship had done so easily. But it became clear why I still had that case at breakfast today when the thought hit me that Brad needed to ship his bike back to Columbus. Why not use the empty case to do that? I had already called UPS for a pick up yesterday, so Brad and I took off the bars, pedal and wheels and sandwiched all that into the hard case. At 11:15 the UPS lady arrived just as Brad was boarding his airport shuttle. Both of us felt quite relieved!

Dave and Cathy - thanks so much for coming to my aid once again for this trip with this second hard case application. Hope you guys get the chance to connect a bit with Brad when he delivers the case to your house next week. He will make a great add to any Wednesday evening group. Enthusiastic, strong and getting stronger new rider, eager to learn from old (as in experienced of course) pros that you both are. No problem trusting his wheel. Brad was also eager to ride "Ride for Pete's Sake" so expect to see him there". And Cathy, THANKS for knowing this effort is in your capable hands. I am praying you give it over where needed to His hands. :-)

And Pete, I got a chance to brag on you again this morning at breakfast! Wish you could be here!

Tomorrow it's on the road again to Pueblo with 12 new riders to greet and meet, new scenes around every bend, new views over every hill and new challenges each day! What privilege and a joy to be able to experience this!

Day 10: Elko to Wendover -- Century One

2009-06-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Miles: 109; riding time: 6:54 avg speed:15.8 ; max speed: 44; total trip miles: 757 ; weather: clouds, & sun, 70's; Alt change: -500 climb up 2000’ and then back down to 45000' . Flats 1 for total of two. Ibuprofen: none yet but getting close. Pictures are here.

The day started out a bit unusually. I woke at 4:00 and by 4:30 was ready to get started on the day but did not want to wake Jim. So, I grabbed my glasses and went in to shave, take pills and do all that morning stuff. When I looked into the mirror I was a bit startled at my blurred vision – I had not worn sunglasses that bright day and so was quite concerned. I blinked and put in drops but it did not clear up. Another failing body part on this ride, I thought. I even looked at my glasses to make sure I had picked up mine and not Jim’s. I lay down again in the dark and put the glasses down – right on top of another pair that turned out to be mine after all. Jim’s looked exactly like mine and were pretty close in prescription but not quite the same. What a relief that was! And you can be sure I will be wearing sunglasses from here on in regardless of the morning light.

The day held plenty of variety. The scenery was again dialed on fabulous. I absolutely love this rugged changing desert terrain. Sage rejuvenated by the regular rains blanketed the lower elevations while the snow splotched Ruby mountains rose up to our south. Rocks and sand tie it all together. Nothing boring about his even though I80 stretches endlessly through it. The day began with a few rose colored clouds in the east and then cleared off entirely. As the day progressed those tall clouds began to form all over the horizon settling in over the mountains. The wind was with us in the morning but shifted as the day went on until we had to fight into it some toward the end. We had long gradual inclines and one 4-5% climb over several miles to get us up to the 7000’ level 70 miles out.

Load time was early – 5:45 with breakfast at 6:00. Everyone was antsy to roll knowing a long day lay ahead. After yesterday’s pace line discussion, Jack and I got one organized adding in Brad, Zero, Seattle Bob, Chuck and Jim. We got rolling and set a medium pace to the I80 entrance 8 miles out. It soon became evident that Jim was struggling. I hung back while the others rolled on. The accumulation of miles over 9 days was taking its toll on him. His pacemaker and heart were not supplying him the oxygen he needed, slowing his pace, especially on the ups. I hung with Jim and we chatted and moseyed as others passed by. I climbed on ahead to the 40 mile SAG stop and when Jim rolled in he decided he would take the van for a while. I set out with Leigh from there and we chatted and rolled along comfortably until the long climb before the 70 mile SAG stop. She's a free lance political research consultant in Seattle, loves to garden and to travel -- especially to out of the way places like Viet Nam where she bicycled not all that long ago. She has recently taken up triathlons and biking more seriously. We wound our way up through the hills with orange barrels separating us from the singled lane of I80 traffic.

When I crested, the SAG van was at the top with Gerard snapping photos as he often does on the days he doesn’t ride. Our original pace line guys were there ready to roll on and Jim was there as well, having sagged in earlier. Brad, Zero, Chuck, Jack and Bob graciously waited for this old guy to get some pbj and bananas in him and inspect the local facilities before shoving off for the long descent. Once at the bottom the 6 of us regrouped and rode the next 15 miles in formation. About that time I began bouncing in the saddle whenever I stepped on it and thought that this was not a good sign. Ever observant Bob soon warned me of a low rear tire. So, everyone stopped for me and we had a flat fixing session. One little thorn was the culprit but at least I found it. When we resumed there was mention of a double pace line which we thought we should try. This amiable bunch agreed quickly on the particulars including a counterclockwise rotation every mile or so. This all worked very well for us as we were now able to talk, keep the line tighter, and ride in the front more often.

Soon we were at our destination. Turned out this is a casino with some hotel rooms attached. Acres of slots, blackjack tables and roulette wheels and other stuff I love to hate arranged to keep you trapped as long as possible, lit so you can’t tell night from day, arranged so you can’t get anywhere you want to go without passing dozens of places to drop money, surrounded with upbeat music to make you think you’re enjoying yourself and ringed with ATM machines to make it so convenient to spend money you don’t have. Registration was at one end of this maze and the rooms at the other so that you had to pass through. And no wifi in this hotel – it might keep folks from the casino.

Dinner was exceptional with a buffet like nothing I’ve seen in some time. Every imaginable appetizer, salad and main dish topped by a desert counter that would make most Austrian Konditorei’s jealous.

And now it’s off to bed early. Jim has decided not to ride tomorrow again and so get two rest days before resuming. Good choice, probably given how he’s feeling, but also a tough choice to make, I know. Am praying for him and hope some others might as well.

Day 9: Battle Mountain to Elko -- Scenery & Stories

2009-06-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

Miles: 75 riding time: 5:12 avg speed: 14.5 ; max speed: 42; total trip miles: 647 ; weather: clouds, & sun, 70's; Alt change: 1600' climb and then back down to 5000' . Pictures are here.

Great leisurely day with lots of scenery, good company, varying terrain, tall clouds and greening mountains and present to but one flat. Started the morning ride realizing that I had run out of juice on my new camera from taking so many pics so I picked up batteries and got started a bit late. After passing a few riders I settled in with Dave, Meiri, Bob and Chuck including a lively discussion on a number of life and God issues as we pedaled comfortably along. Once we hit the day's rather lengthy gradual 12 mile climb, the group strung out.

I climbed and chatted with Chuck whose pace matched mine comfortably. The one nagging ailment I've been experiencing was becoming more noticeable the longer we slogged up the hill. My left toe gets to hurting and then throbbing as we get deeper into the day and this climb seemed to bring it on sooner and more intensely than ever. I told Chuck I would need to stop and take a break. Not long after I took my shoe off and flexed the toe, the pain began to subside, feeling began to return and soon I was ready to roll again. I had some issues after that, but at today's more leisurely pace the toe held up OK. Not sure if the change to my spd shoes with magnetic inserts may have helped here as well.

After the SAG stop we glided down a very long descent and cranked it up a bit to the lunch stop where several of us headed to the Subway for lunch. The conversation soon turned to Pedal-with-Pete as the glossy give away trucker magazine featured Dick and Rick Hoyt on its front cover. Rick, the son, looks a bit like Pete and so I pulled out the PwP brochures and ride entry forms I am carrying and passed them out to Chuck and Bob. Been wearing my PwP Jersey as often as I can wash it and getting good reactions from it. Everyone is always very interested when I get the chance to launch into Pete's story and what has been accomplished through the PwP rides and fund raising. The night we were in Winnamucca, we had a local reporter inquire about the ride and specifically about those raising funds in conjunction with their rides. So I got a chance to talk with her and pass on one of the brochures with all that info.

Bob flatted a mile before the Elko exit so we all huddled around peppering him with suggestions, advice and “maybe you should try thises”. Then the white SAG van pulled up and Alex and Judy came over to add to the flow of advice. Bob did get the tire off and went into Nevada CSI mode to find that little pesky half inch length of thin wire that had wormed its way through the tire and the tube. Chuck produced a pair of tweezers with which to extract it and soon we were on our way toward the already visible exit to Elko. News of this litte incident spread quickly and by supper my reputation as present to most flats had been cemented and there is little chance I will be riding with anyone again all trip.

Before reaching the High Desert Inn I stopped at a bike shop similar to Northland Cyclery –a sort of mom&pop shop that carried a little of everything and lots of a few things. The owner was by himself and scurrying around like a one armed paper hanger selling axle bolts to 12 year olds to fix their skate boards, stopping to hear out the gentleman who had recently bought a pink mountain bike and pink helmet from him about his latest racing ventures and answering a lot of questions from a rather corpulent mom about sizing a bike for her 4 year old. Then he ran down into the basement to scrounge up an old wheel with a Shimano hub for our wrench Sean who was trying to work up a fix for rider Jack whose brand new free wheel had failed – turned out the Shimano hub had the wrong bearing set for Jack’s wheel. In the midst of all that he managed to get my rear wheel on the truing stand, find a tool for my Mavic Ksyrium wheel spokes so he could true the wheel from the pounding it’s taken on the scraped free way sections we’ve traversed.

I eventually did make it into the High Desert Inn to very nice accommodations with doubles roomie Jim. My absented triples roomie Ed showed up for dinner at the casino banquet room after having been gone since Reno to attend his mother’s funeral. Apparently it was a question of which day of the tour she would pass, not if and so he knew he would miss some days going in. Glad to have him back on board.

Got one final burst of exercise as I sprinted back from supper to the motel through a hard and cold rain. Very unusual for these parts this time of the year. But with the rain come cooler temps and better riding conditions – if we can avoid the forecast scattered showers tomorrow during our first century and first of two in a row. If I don’t get out a report tomorrow you’ll know I was too tired or too late getting in.