rain rain go away

Hello true believers-

Thought I'd get you up to date -- I was way to exhausted when I posted last to do anything but whine - so here goes with some hard core facts.

Newton, KS to Toronto, KS

The others from our group - Kev, Nix, Derek and Linus -- ended up passing through Newton the day before to camp in a campground about 7 miles out of town - so we ended up running into them at one of the small towns along the route. They were delighted to see us - I think. We rode along with them until it started pouring and I mean pouring -- Karli, Dave and myself -- continued to the campsite at Toronto Lake State Park and I believe the others stopped to catch some lunch and shelter - however, we didn't see them that night - so we don't really know.

Speaking of that night -- I hate raccoons almost as much as cats now! I don't know where my head was as I prepared for bed/tent -- but it was probably the first night I did not secure my food in the tent with me. ERROR. Maybe even an ID10T error. I have no idea what time it was when I first woke up to a rustle by my bike, but it was early morning when I first chased that fiend away. It ended up eating 3/4 of a loaf of bread - a gigantic Vegan cookie (very scarce in these parts - purchased way back in Colorado) - and a Little Debbie's apple pie (also vegan) ---- so I pulled the rest of my food into the tent. Did it go away?? I wouldn't be going into such detail if it did -- so no, it didn't go away -- in fact I believe there were at least 2-3 of those scoundrels -- I kept hearing noises from my bike -- than Dave's bike -- I'd get up and chase them off ---- trying to wake up Dave to let him in on our predicament --- alas, I couldn't wake him (he was off sleeping under the stars somewhere -- but I kept trying to wake him because I had no idea) --- they masked bandits had already eaten his bread and chewed into his tent. That's right, chewed into his tent -- they ripped into one of my waterproof pannier covers -- but luckily not my tent -- although they tried. What a sleepless night -- Dave and I are out for revenge! Karli on the other hand wasn't even bothered by the little rascals --- they must have know she is a true Vegan.

p.s. to that Raccoon story --- I've been Vegan for all of Kansas and most of Missouri (until today!)

Toronto, KS to Pittsburg, KS

Another rainy day -- fortunately it is a warm rain and is actually nice to ride in if it isn't too hard and biting -- although it turns out people in Kansas (and Missouri) don't really like to drive with their lights on when it's raining and sometimes it's hard to see them coming up behind us. We met up with a fair number of other cyclists today -- going our way and the other way - one of them Brian from NJ - rode out the last part of the day with us.

Got a text from the other group letting us know they made it to Erie, KS and would be spending the night there --- we've had little to no cell service going through Missouri - and that's the last we've heard from them --- we'll try later today.

Pittsburg, KS to Ash Grove, MO

Today started off with easy hills and ended with rolling hills/mountains.

Some of the spokes on my rear wheel were extremely loose, so I had my rear wheel trued before leaving Pittsburg. I also had a flat on my front wheel at the end of the day at our campsite.

Ash Grove, MO to Hartville, MO

This was the day of my last post -- please refer to it for how hard it was.

Hartville was a little odd -- I would have to say that it is the first of many creepy towns to come -- go easy on us Kentucky.

Hartville, MO to Eminence, MO

Stilly very hilly -- but not too terrible -- however we were told there was a tornado watch in effect for the county we were in and the surrounding ones. Not so bad - just watch the clouds... right? Then came the thunder -- distant -- then closer. We're almost to Eminence -- then comes the pouring rain -- and lightning/thunder -- and just as the weather is getting worse -- the hills really turn into mountains! Steep as hell --- I was scared shitless going down and begging for mercy going up - fortunately they were few - the rest we left for tomorrow's ride.

Eminence, MO to Centerville, MO

Thank the gods of Kobol it was a short day -- and lets just say I'm glad it's over and I'm now focusing on happy thoughts. (Bryan -- and all those behind us... Good Luck!)

Centerville -- very creepy town -- the city officials/dispatchers that let us camp in the courthouse were awesome -- but the other locals - scary.

Centerville, MO to Farmington, MO

Much easier day ride, but I'm getting tired and looking forward to our rest day when we get to Chester, Illinois tomorrow.

------


Bex - I don't have any more news for you right now -- send me a comment with your email and I'll let you know what I come up with

Mindy - you rock

Jared - you live anywhere near Newark

testmonkey - I haven't seen any checks in the mail for a long time -- maybe you could look into that for me (http://www.washco.state.ut.us/departments.php?whichDept=11)

Cricket - thanks for the b-day wish -- answer your phone!

Mark - I'm not sure how things are going to turn out - but if I'm not with Nix when you arrive - best of luck.

Shayne - no, you rule

Matt - it's coming back, but too slow -- I need a raging beard to look cool in Kentucky

Everyone Else -- comments make me happy :)

Bye-bye everybody!

-pictures next time I hope -- I haven't been taking too many (Kansas/Missouri)

what's the dillio?

Well, we just finished our second ride day in Missouri -- and I feel like I just got my ass kicked - and everyone we've passed says it only gets worse. Didn't we just conquer the Rocky Mountains!!? I've been to Missouri - St. Louis only - but I've never heard anyone EVER talk about the rolling mountains of Missouri - it's crazy! And I know you are all in suspense about this one -- but I've never sweat so much in my life --- we had rain the last 2 days in Kansas - which turned out to be super sweet --- and now it's just completely muggy.

Before I go -- and I know it was short, but I just told you I feel like my ass has been kicked -- but I'd like to give a shout out to my hommies at Red Rock Bicycle in St. George Utah --- they totally rebuilt my front wheel and sent it to me in Colorado -- so, now I'm rolling on a sweet new wheel. Thanks guys -- and for the bonus tubes!

Peace, Blue Skies and Tailwinds

Newton, Kansas

Did you know that the Arkansas River is pronounced R-Kansas here in Kansas -- what a conundrum -- I'm going to start pronouncing Kansas -- Can-Saw -- while I'm here --- just to see how that goes over.

Hello faithful blog readers -- and any newbies that might have stumbled by -- we are now taking Kansas by storm.

When last I blogged, we were staying with Gillian (to your right with her puppy, Tigger) -- very cool - not only did she let us borrow her car to get groceries, she also took Linus and Derek horseback riding! Way cool -- so, here is a blog shout out to her and for any bikers looking for a stop over in Ordway -- she is located at 413 W 9th Street --- check her out.

OK - from there we took off to Eads, Co - met up with the Adventure Cycling group (15 riders) heading west (Adventure Cycling publishes the route maps that we are using for the trip www.adv-cycling.org/) -- they were very cool and let us stay with them at in the auditorium at the fairgrounds in Eads - even had us join them for dinner. Sorry to say, but they are all kind of suckers -- trip cost: $4,000.

Anywho, in Eads we were also reunited with a fellow rider - David Y. - that had camped with us WAY BACK in Oregon. Dave is from Ann Arbor, Michigan - where he worked as a bike mechanic. Dave ->

It was an early start the next morning - the AC group turned the lights on at 5am -- good thing they're heading in the opposite direction -- who wants to get up at 5am? Kev,Nix, and Linus took off early - Derek was MIA since he decided to sleep outside (somewhere) - Karli and I took off shortly after - around 6:30. It was mega foggy - and by mega, I mean REALLY foggy and luckily we had a good shoulder for most of it in the morning.

Karli and I had talked about breaking ahead of the group for a few days to do some long rides -- then meeting back up in Newton, KS on a rest day. So, we put in around 103 miles to Scott City, KS. The ride went well - no major hills but we did have the wind to contend with - as well as the heat. We got into town and stayed in the city park -- where, fortunately for us, they had their sprinklers on -- and proceeded to cool down in them.

Off to Rush Center --- oh, but wait -- Great Bend is only 32 miles further ---- off to Great Bend for a 119 miles! We had just passed into Central Time Zone the day before, so Karli and I got up a little later than planned - but it was still early and cool. Dave actually rolled in late that night and ended up sleeping on one of the playground equipment in the park - and met up with him later in Rush Center. The 32 miles from Rush Center to Great Bend were tough -- heavy cross and head winds -- it seemed like we were riding 10 miles and the next thing I knew we passed a mile post indicating we had gone 3 -- oh buddy! We eventually rolled into Great Bend and got a room for the night.

Great Bend to Nickerson --- this was a much shorter day -- we got up late and took it easy -- around 50 miles. This was another night in the city park -- gotta love those free camp nights! The park was sweet -- lots of playground equipment -- even a seesaw! They were having a baseball tournament that evening and we stayed up to cheer on the home team - ages 10-12. Reminded me of little league and playing for Geigertown!

Nickerson to Newton -- this was another short day, but while in Wyoming we caught wind of a sweet health food store where a couple of cyclists that worked there would put us up for the night. It turns out that Heidi and Liz both rode the TransAm last year and were housing bikers as they came through Newton -- so we decided to stop in. And have a rest day to wait for the others. And have another rest day to wait for the others - who should be here today (Monday, June 25th).

cheerio

Mark - pruchased your tickets, that's smashing! We're all looking forward to riding with you old chap.
-cheers

a Bee Foster tribute

May 7 - first ride day on the Oregon coast

Eugene, Or -- hard at it


chillin by some lake just after climbing over the Cascades -- as you can see, we weren't too close then
short hair - no side burns -- in jail
somewhere in eastern Oregon

somewhere

Yellowstone - touristYellowstone - cyclist (notice the buffalo)taking a picture of Bryan taking a self picture

sick as hell -- new pair of trousers ---- notice the burns and fro

just before we ditched him in Breckenridge

hello flatnessss

Wow, it seems like I was just telling you all about getting to Colorado... oh, I guess I was just telling you that -- well, we are 1.5 days away from leaving Colorado and entering Kansas!!!

Where to begin?

Well, way back in Jeffery City, Wy we adopted 2 other cyclists - Linus and Derek - who we had previously met in Yellowstone NP. Most recently they both hail from Bend, Oregon - where they worked as snowboard instructors.

Linus C. (left) - is 28 years old and is looking to move to Montana or Colorado after the trip -- he is looking for better mountain biking and snowboarding.

Derek B. (right) - is 25 years old and will be moving back to Illinois - where his family is from, to figure out his next move.

Both very cool gents and make good additions to the group.

Speaking of Jeffery City, Wy -- what a crazy place - basically abandoned - it was a uranium mining town which fizzled out in the mid-80's. Huge barrack style housing - bowling alley - gas stations - churches --- all deserted. There was a single cafe/bar/gas station -- run by a single family -- the woman at there claims that there are 50 residents in town and another 100 in the outskirts. We pitched our tents/hammocks at the local Lions Club pavilion/meeting hall --- which topped off the Michael Crichton imagery with an old newspaper on a desk with some guy's glasses sitting next to it -- and a six pack of Pepsi-COLA! - the paper was dated 1985.

So, I've already mentioned how windy Wyoming was -- probably still is -- so I won't go into that again.

We had a rest day in Rawlins, Wy - which didn't prove to be an interesting town at all -- most of us (except Bryan) went to see Shrek the Third (highly recommend - it was very funny - especially puss-n-boots) and some of then bowled a game or two.

off to Colorado - Walden and then Kremmling

In Kremmling I had the opportunity to meet up with my good friend from massage school - Tara. She and here fiance came down from Grand Lake (about 30-45 min) for dinner. It was great to see her - the last time we'd seen each other was maybe 2003-ish. -- again, I feel foolish - no pictures :(

From Kremmling it was off to Breckenridge - where we stayed in a lovely hostel.

It was a sad morning at the hostel, because Bryan decided to leave our group and stick around in Colorado - he has friends in Colorado Springs and Durrango -- and plans to go to the Bluegrass Festival in Teluride. It's sad to see him go -- but it's something he has been looking forward to for a long time. (unfortunately Bryan has been under the weather since Rawlins, Wy and also needed another rest day in Breck - but what a great town to do that in!)

Group pic before Bryan takes off.

After Breck (9600 ft according to Wikipedia) we had the big climb up Hoosier Pass - 11,500+ ft elevation! That was our last crossing of the Continental Divide -- and it's all down hill from there... right? We were scheduled to stay at a small town called Guffy, but Karli and I were feeling good and decided to push out a century ride (100 miles) -- all the way to Canon City. We treated ourselves to a hotel room (there wasn't any camping) -- which was probably good, because the city was a bit ghetto and the people were rude.

Off to Pueblo, Co -- where we stayed at the city park - behind a barbed wire fence in the maintenance compound -- also a scary/ghetto city. I was later informed that it is considered the armpit of Colorado -- and unfortunately we had a rest day here.

But to spruce up the experience - Ashley and Geoff came down from Manitou Springs and Brian came down from Denver -- sweet!! We chilled out in the park - had some Wendy's - and thought long and hard as to whether we were going to play horseshoes or not --- not. Ash and Geoff had just moved into a new flat the day before and took off early so they could unpack a bit and prepare for Monday. Brian, having just quit his job of 8-ish years got a room and spent the night - leaving Monday am. AGAIN -- no pictures of Ash and Geoff on my camera --- but Ash got at least one :) --- here is one of Brian and I... or, wait - who is that with Brian????

Today we rode 50 miles to Ordway, Co - and are staying at a Gillian's - a nice woman from New Zealand who takes in cyclists -- gives us a place to sleep - do our laundry - and take showers. Sweeeet!

pics:
Kev and Nix topping Hoosier Pass

Karli and I in Canon City after kicking Hossier Pass's ass and riding 100 miles!

South Park Cows Rule!!!

Just made it into Colorado today -- finally --- Wyndoming was driving me crazy. Karli and I are currently at the library in Walden, CO (in North Park) and waiting for the rest of the crew to see if they want to stay here or maybe go another 25 miles --- or maybe Karli and I will just split off and make our own group :)

We have been really lucky with the weather overall on the trip, but woke up today to the pitter patter of rain drops on our tent (1st time) -- not the greatest sound when you have to get up and pee. Luckily it was a light rain and kind of fizzled out - now it's just over cast with a little spit here and there. So much better than the crazy winds we've been having in Wyoming.

I think some of you have been slacking on your Blue Skies vibes -- let's keep them coming people!

In the immortal words of Bryan --- "Mmmm, water"

Peace and Happiness to all