On Day 34 I was headed over the next summit to Pollock Pines. I took my time in the morning because I wanted to make sure that I passed the summit during midday so it wouldn't be too cold. On my way out of town I had to stop to fuel up at Heidi's, one of my favorite breakfast places in Tahoe. As I proceeded to demolish two regular size breakfasts, the lady waiting on me expressed her astonishment. As usual, that lead to a long talk about the journey I was on and my reasons for doing so. Jane couldn't believe it and wanted to know every detail. She was one of the most fascinated with my story of all the people that I had talked to along the way. In fact, she pledged to make a donation to St. Jude that month! And to top it all off, she even came out of the restaurant to see me off when I left.
And I was off to tackle another mountain pass! Now, there really weren't many ways to get through the Sierras from Tahoe so I ended up sticking with Highway 50 even though I knew it wasn't the safest. For those of you who do not know this route, there are numerous stretches of road with no shoulder to speak of, blind turns, and falling rocks from the cliffs above. Needless to say, I put in a few prayers before setting out.
It was another somewhat easy climb with some beautiful views. When I reached the pass I was ecstatic. Not only had I finished my final major climb but the temperature wasn't going to get any worse... Well, the temperature didn't get any worse but after I reached the pass, I was no longer going 6-8 miles per hour while putting forth a great deal of effort. No, I was traveling at about 30mph and putting forth little effort at all. It was what I imagine being in a blast chiller would be like. Just over halfway down, I forced myself to stop at a hotel where they had a fireplace in the lobby in order to thaw out. To give you an idea of how cold I had gotten, I was there for over a half hour and I was still shivering when I left.
As I made my way to Pollock Pines I knew I was going to be cutting it close with the weather. Sure enough, when I was about 3 or 4 miles out it started to sprinkle. Fortunately, it remained a light drizzle until I rolled into town. I was about a mile away from the hotel when I realized how hungry I was. I also realized that once I got to the hotel I was not going to want to venture back out for food so I stopped to eat. By the time I got out of the restaurant, the weather had turned into a full fledged downpour. Therefore, I had to ride a mile in thirty degree temperatures while I got soaked by rain that was just shy of being turned to snow. By the time I got to the hotel I was drenched and could barely fill out the paperwork for my stay because I was shaking so uncontrollably. I am very glad that I am mostly out of the mountains. When I got to my room, I immediately turned on the heater and spent nearly an hour with my best friend of that night... the hair dryer. Haha
Looking forward to warmer temperatures tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Day 33
On Day 33 I woke up plenty early in the Walmart parking lot even though I didn't arrive there until about 4am. It's pretty hard to continue to sleep when the sun is blaring in your face. Even though I didn't plan on getting an early start it was good for me to wake up a little early because I had a few things to take care of before setting out. First of all, I needed to find a local bike shop to buy some extra brake pads because I wasn't sure if the downhill portions of the Sierras were going to eat up my brakes or not. Also, I needed to allow time for me to reassemble my bike since it was in pieces in the trunk of the rental car.
I'm so glad that I opted to find brake pads because I was on the fence as to which route to take to get to South Lake Tahoe. Fortunately, the people working at the shop told me that the alternate route to Highway 50 may not be the best because there were points that the shoulder disappeared and at the time there was some construction going on which didn't make it any safer. Therefore, I opted to follow Highway 50 to get to Tahoe.
I also asked them about good diners in the area but there was nothing convenient. However, I remember seeing an In-n-Out in the same shopping complex and it was late enough in the day that it would be open. It was the first In-n-Out Burger that I had seen on the trip so eating there that morning was a must.
Once I was fueled up and everything was taken care of I was on my way. I was very excited for this next stretch since it was my first challenge of getting through a mountain range and it was likely to be a very beautiful ride. Don't get me wrong it was a pretty tough climb, especially with the altitude, but I had built it up so big in my mind that when I reached the pass I couldn't believe I had already made it. Let me tell you, the next 5 miles were incredible! I was flying! It was the longest downhill glide that I had come across yet and it made every bit of the climb worth it. Not to mention the fact that when I got toward the bottom I was greeted with some amazing views of Lake Tahoe.
It was a pretty weird experience staying in Lake Tahoe that night because it was the first familiar place that I had stayed in since the start of this trip. I knew which hotels were the cheap ones, I already knew where the good food was, and I knew my way around. It got me very excited because it kept reminding me of how close I was to home. I tried my luck on a slot machine and won enough to pay for my room for the night, dinner, and had just over ten bucks left over. What did I do with the extra money? I definitely bought a chocolate milk and went to the arcade! I just had an urge to get in touch with the child inside me. Haha.
I had a great time in Tahoe but I was definitely looking forward to the concluding days of my journey.
I'm so glad that I opted to find brake pads because I was on the fence as to which route to take to get to South Lake Tahoe. Fortunately, the people working at the shop told me that the alternate route to Highway 50 may not be the best because there were points that the shoulder disappeared and at the time there was some construction going on which didn't make it any safer. Therefore, I opted to follow Highway 50 to get to Tahoe.
I also asked them about good diners in the area but there was nothing convenient. However, I remember seeing an In-n-Out in the same shopping complex and it was late enough in the day that it would be open. It was the first In-n-Out Burger that I had seen on the trip so eating there that morning was a must.
Once I was fueled up and everything was taken care of I was on my way. I was very excited for this next stretch since it was my first challenge of getting through a mountain range and it was likely to be a very beautiful ride. Don't get me wrong it was a pretty tough climb, especially with the altitude, but I had built it up so big in my mind that when I reached the pass I couldn't believe I had already made it. Let me tell you, the next 5 miles were incredible! I was flying! It was the longest downhill glide that I had come across yet and it made every bit of the climb worth it. Not to mention the fact that when I got toward the bottom I was greeted with some amazing views of Lake Tahoe.
It was a pretty weird experience staying in Lake Tahoe that night because it was the first familiar place that I had stayed in since the start of this trip. I knew which hotels were the cheap ones, I already knew where the good food was, and I knew my way around. It got me very excited because it kept reminding me of how close I was to home. I tried my luck on a slot machine and won enough to pay for my room for the night, dinner, and had just over ten bucks left over. What did I do with the extra money? I definitely bought a chocolate milk and went to the arcade! I just had an urge to get in touch with the child inside me. Haha.
I had a great time in Tahoe but I was definitely looking forward to the concluding days of my journey.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Drive
On day 32 I woke up and got going to get to the car rental place in time to pick up the car I will be in for the next two days.
I rented a full size sedan so hopefully my bike could fit in the trunk. Fortunately it did but it was definitely a tight fit even with the wheels and handlebars taken off.
And I was off! It took a little time getting used to driving a car. I kept feeling like I was going over the speed limit but usually I was under it. Haha one of the best things about being in a car was finally being able to listen to music and they even gave me satellite radio for free. It was AWESOME!
My first stop was Seven Falls. It was an amazing place to see. Unfortunately though a lot of it was shut down because of slippery steps. Also, it was kind of touristy for me. They decorated a lot of it for the holidays but all I saw were ugly decorations blocking gorgeous rock formations. If I'm going to check out nature's beauty I want it to be just that.
Next, I was off the Colorado's Garden of the Gods. It was quite a place to visit. If my bike wasn't all broken down, I would have loved to have ridden around it. Next, I had a bunch of miles to put behind me. I was headed to Cortez, Colorado to stop for the night. I drove well into the night and ended up pulling into a Walmart to crash. For as much as I was paying to rent that car it was definitely going to double as my motel room for the two nights I had it.
The next morning (day 33), I was off to check out Mesa Verde National Park. If anybody is ever near this park I would HIGHLY recommend it. There are some amazing views and the ruins are incredible. It was one of the best things I have come across in this entire journey and one of the major reasons I'm not feeling any ounce of regret for taking a car part of the way because I would have never gotten to experience it if I hadn't. Also, because of the geological makeup of the area, there's no telling how long some of the ruins will be around.
Next, I was on my way to Carson City, NV. Although I did have a little extra time so I decided I would try to stop near Moab, Utah to check out the Delicate Arch.
On my way I saw a large rock formation that looked like it had an opening you could drive through so I wanted to go check it out. When I approached the turnout for it I wasn't sure if I should have been going in there because it was a small opening in a fence that had a gate that almost looked like someone had busted down. But I saw somebody else that had just gone in so I decided to go for it. The road leading to it was a dirt road that definitely wasn't meant for a sedan. At one point I wasn't sure if it would make it. However there was no way of turning around and doing it in reverse seemed impossible so I trekked on. Fortunately I made it but unfortunately the "tunnel" I thought I saw only went about five feet in. It was still pretty cool to see up close though.
When I got into Moab, I stopped by their information center to find out exactly how to get to the Delicate Arch. If I was going to get any sleep that night I was going to have to make this next stop fairly short. When I inquired about the arch I also asked how long it would take to get there. The lady at the center told me it was about an hour drive into the park and an hour and a half hike to the arch. That seemed a bit extreme so I wasn't sure I was going to go. However, I decided to get a second opinion so when I got to the park I asked the lady at the gate. She told me it was only a half hour drive and an hour walk. I decided to go for it!
The drive was very scenic and had a lot of things to stop and check out but I had to make it to the Delicate Arch. The drive was the expected half hour. When I got to the hiking part I was off! Not only did I need to make good time to get some sleep that night but there were also some storm clouds rolling in that looked menacing. I'm proud to say it only took me a half hour to reach the top.
One thing people always seem to do is tell you about the destination and neglect to give any details of the journey. When I was reading about the Delicate Arch, I got nothing but details about how magnificent the arch was. What came to my pleasant surprise was that the trail leading to it was incredible in and of itself. In the end it was totally worth the time to stop and another place I would highly recommend, Arches National Park.
About two minutes after I got in my car it started raining and I was immediately thankful for how fast I was able to complete the trail. On my way out of the park I got an opportunity to pay it forward. A middle-aged couple was stuck walking on the side of the road in the rain so I offered them a ride. They were very grateful and even joked that I may have saved their marriage (the husband had wanted to take the long way around).
Next, it was full speed ahead to Carson City. Along the way I got caught in a pretty hairy snow storm but was able to drop in elevation before it got too bad. At one point I stopped to take a quick cat nap in the middle of nowhere. When I woke up I realized how far I was from any lights and how clear the sky was so I got out to check out the stars. I could pretty much see every last one of them!
Finally, I made it to Carson City and once again slept in a Walmart parking lot. Tomorrow I'm tackling those Sierras!
I rented a full size sedan so hopefully my bike could fit in the trunk. Fortunately it did but it was definitely a tight fit even with the wheels and handlebars taken off.
And I was off! It took a little time getting used to driving a car. I kept feeling like I was going over the speed limit but usually I was under it. Haha one of the best things about being in a car was finally being able to listen to music and they even gave me satellite radio for free. It was AWESOME!
My first stop was Seven Falls. It was an amazing place to see. Unfortunately though a lot of it was shut down because of slippery steps. Also, it was kind of touristy for me. They decorated a lot of it for the holidays but all I saw were ugly decorations blocking gorgeous rock formations. If I'm going to check out nature's beauty I want it to be just that.
Next, I was off the Colorado's Garden of the Gods. It was quite a place to visit. If my bike wasn't all broken down, I would have loved to have ridden around it. Next, I had a bunch of miles to put behind me. I was headed to Cortez, Colorado to stop for the night. I drove well into the night and ended up pulling into a Walmart to crash. For as much as I was paying to rent that car it was definitely going to double as my motel room for the two nights I had it.
The next morning (day 33), I was off to check out Mesa Verde National Park. If anybody is ever near this park I would HIGHLY recommend it. There are some amazing views and the ruins are incredible. It was one of the best things I have come across in this entire journey and one of the major reasons I'm not feeling any ounce of regret for taking a car part of the way because I would have never gotten to experience it if I hadn't. Also, because of the geological makeup of the area, there's no telling how long some of the ruins will be around.
Next, I was on my way to Carson City, NV. Although I did have a little extra time so I decided I would try to stop near Moab, Utah to check out the Delicate Arch.
On my way I saw a large rock formation that looked like it had an opening you could drive through so I wanted to go check it out. When I approached the turnout for it I wasn't sure if I should have been going in there because it was a small opening in a fence that had a gate that almost looked like someone had busted down. But I saw somebody else that had just gone in so I decided to go for it. The road leading to it was a dirt road that definitely wasn't meant for a sedan. At one point I wasn't sure if it would make it. However there was no way of turning around and doing it in reverse seemed impossible so I trekked on. Fortunately I made it but unfortunately the "tunnel" I thought I saw only went about five feet in. It was still pretty cool to see up close though.
When I got into Moab, I stopped by their information center to find out exactly how to get to the Delicate Arch. If I was going to get any sleep that night I was going to have to make this next stop fairly short. When I inquired about the arch I also asked how long it would take to get there. The lady at the center told me it was about an hour drive into the park and an hour and a half hike to the arch. That seemed a bit extreme so I wasn't sure I was going to go. However, I decided to get a second opinion so when I got to the park I asked the lady at the gate. She told me it was only a half hour drive and an hour walk. I decided to go for it!
The drive was very scenic and had a lot of things to stop and check out but I had to make it to the Delicate Arch. The drive was the expected half hour. When I got to the hiking part I was off! Not only did I need to make good time to get some sleep that night but there were also some storm clouds rolling in that looked menacing. I'm proud to say it only took me a half hour to reach the top.
One thing people always seem to do is tell you about the destination and neglect to give any details of the journey. When I was reading about the Delicate Arch, I got nothing but details about how magnificent the arch was. What came to my pleasant surprise was that the trail leading to it was incredible in and of itself. In the end it was totally worth the time to stop and another place I would highly recommend, Arches National Park.
About two minutes after I got in my car it started raining and I was immediately thankful for how fast I was able to complete the trail. On my way out of the park I got an opportunity to pay it forward. A middle-aged couple was stuck walking on the side of the road in the rain so I offered them a ride. They were very grateful and even joked that I may have saved their marriage (the husband had wanted to take the long way around).
Next, it was full speed ahead to Carson City. Along the way I got caught in a pretty hairy snow storm but was able to drop in elevation before it got too bad. At one point I stopped to take a quick cat nap in the middle of nowhere. When I woke up I realized how far I was from any lights and how clear the sky was so I got out to check out the stars. I could pretty much see every last one of them!
Finally, I made it to Carson City and once again slept in a Walmart parking lot. Tomorrow I'm tackling those Sierras!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Style!
If you can spot the two climbers in the second picture, it will give you a good idea of how massive these things are. 
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Day 30 and 31
So after a miserable night of trying to sleep in temperatures in the mid twenties I woke up and tried to get going. I say tried because it takes such an effort to do anything when you're that cold. As I was almost done packing up, a semi pulls into the rest stop and as it passes by it gives me a honk. Over the past month I've gotten pretty used to this so I don't pay too much attention and give a quick wave.
A quick tangent... As great as it is to get the support from total strangers when they give me a quick honk, I personally also freak out a tiny bit when it happens. A honk can mean too many different things. It could mean that something fell off my bike, I have a flat that I may not have noticed or that a grizzly bear is charging at me and they're warning me. So each time it happens I tend to run through a quick check to make sure. All I'm saying is, maybe throw a wave out the window just to be crystal clear. Haha
Anyway, back to the semi that was honking at me. Come to find out it was Lance from the previous night! We got to chatting again and he ended up offering me a ride about 20 miles up the road. I was a little bit behind so I accepted. And don't worry I took precautions to protect myself.
It was a weird experience being in a motorized vehicle and traveling so fast. We even stopped to grab some coffee and he still managed to shave about an hour off. Lance was a really great guy and I was so grateful for the ride.
As the day wore on, I stopped for lunch and to charge my phone. Since I was getting closer to the Rockies I decided to take the time to check the weather and try to work out the logistics. Let's just say that I was trying to figure out a way to make it work for about two hours and things weren't looking good.
After that, I got caught up in conversation with a father and son for a while. All this time spent on my "lunch" break meant that I wasn't going to make it as far as I had hoped. I ended up stopping in Las Animas, CO.
When I got there I asked the guy from the motel I was staying at where a good place to eat was. He referred me to a Mexican-American place called Carmen's. They had good food and everyone was so friendly. I swear the staff probably knew everyone's name in the restaurant but mine.
When I got back to my motel room. I was sitting back thinking that the room was REALLY nice for what I had paid for it. I was thinking "what a steal!" and then I was snapped back to reality by two cockroach looking bugs crawling across the ground. I don't know what it is about bugs but out of all the dumpy places I have stayed at during this trip, I found the bugs the grossest thing of everything I've come across. I've even come across a used towel with curly hairs still in it and it didn't bother me as much as the bugs. Haha And these bugs kept popping up. Needless to say, I was very careful when getting into bed that night.
On Day 31 I got off to a really late start but my ride for the day would still be manageable. Before heading out, I stopped for some food and this is where I met Dianne and Gary. They were a really nice couple and we talked for a little while about my adventures. After I was done eating I had to say my farewells because I needed to get on the road.
I was a couple miles outside of town and I was calculating the number of miles I had to put in and how many hours of daylight I had left. I figured as long as I hustled and didn't run into any significant snags I would probably make it to Pueblo just after the sun went down. At most I would have to ride in the dark for maybe an hour. And guess what... That's when I noticed I had a flat. Wonderful!
As I was going through the motions to fix it, I was running through all the possible adjustments I would have to make. Just after I had gotten the wheel off, a truck pulls off the side of the road and who was it? Dianne! She figured it was me and pulled over to see if everything was ok. I was fine with changing the inner tube but I was even further behind schedule now so I asked where she was headed. She was headed 15 miles down the road in the direction I was headed! When I asked if I could get a lift she didn't even hesitate in saying yes. I was elated!
I was now back on track and even gained a little bit of time.
Later on in the day, shortly after stopping for a late lunch, disaster came very close to striking. As a truck pulling a trailer was passing by I heard something unfamiliar. Then, in the corner of my eye, I see a piece of plywood flying at me. It was a sizable piece, measuring about 2 feet by 5 feet. The thing was coming right at my head when in the last second the wind caught it and pulled it down. At this point it was no longer going to hit me but it still could possibly cause me to crash because it was positioned right in front of my bike. I don't know how it happened but it ended up just falling flat, I ran right over it, and all I ended up with was a banged thumb. And it wasn't even hit hard enough to bruise. Talk about a sigh of relief/flip the bird type of moment (I didn't actually flip him the bird).
I got to my destination in Pueblo just as it was getting pretty dark. Thanks again Dianne! When I got to my room I looked over everything again regarding the weather in the Rockies. And with a heavy heart I decided to rent a car. Therefore, the next couple days I will be in a car. I will still keep you all posted but I almost don't want to post anything from those two days since I feel like I'm cheating. Anyway, until next time!
A quick tangent... As great as it is to get the support from total strangers when they give me a quick honk, I personally also freak out a tiny bit when it happens. A honk can mean too many different things. It could mean that something fell off my bike, I have a flat that I may not have noticed or that a grizzly bear is charging at me and they're warning me. So each time it happens I tend to run through a quick check to make sure. All I'm saying is, maybe throw a wave out the window just to be crystal clear. Haha
Anyway, back to the semi that was honking at me. Come to find out it was Lance from the previous night! We got to chatting again and he ended up offering me a ride about 20 miles up the road. I was a little bit behind so I accepted. And don't worry I took precautions to protect myself.
It was a weird experience being in a motorized vehicle and traveling so fast. We even stopped to grab some coffee and he still managed to shave about an hour off. Lance was a really great guy and I was so grateful for the ride.
As the day wore on, I stopped for lunch and to charge my phone. Since I was getting closer to the Rockies I decided to take the time to check the weather and try to work out the logistics. Let's just say that I was trying to figure out a way to make it work for about two hours and things weren't looking good.
After that, I got caught up in conversation with a father and son for a while. All this time spent on my "lunch" break meant that I wasn't going to make it as far as I had hoped. I ended up stopping in Las Animas, CO.
When I got there I asked the guy from the motel I was staying at where a good place to eat was. He referred me to a Mexican-American place called Carmen's. They had good food and everyone was so friendly. I swear the staff probably knew everyone's name in the restaurant but mine.
When I got back to my motel room. I was sitting back thinking that the room was REALLY nice for what I had paid for it. I was thinking "what a steal!" and then I was snapped back to reality by two cockroach looking bugs crawling across the ground. I don't know what it is about bugs but out of all the dumpy places I have stayed at during this trip, I found the bugs the grossest thing of everything I've come across. I've even come across a used towel with curly hairs still in it and it didn't bother me as much as the bugs. Haha And these bugs kept popping up. Needless to say, I was very careful when getting into bed that night.
On Day 31 I got off to a really late start but my ride for the day would still be manageable. Before heading out, I stopped for some food and this is where I met Dianne and Gary. They were a really nice couple and we talked for a little while about my adventures. After I was done eating I had to say my farewells because I needed to get on the road.
I was a couple miles outside of town and I was calculating the number of miles I had to put in and how many hours of daylight I had left. I figured as long as I hustled and didn't run into any significant snags I would probably make it to Pueblo just after the sun went down. At most I would have to ride in the dark for maybe an hour. And guess what... That's when I noticed I had a flat. Wonderful!
As I was going through the motions to fix it, I was running through all the possible adjustments I would have to make. Just after I had gotten the wheel off, a truck pulls off the side of the road and who was it? Dianne! She figured it was me and pulled over to see if everything was ok. I was fine with changing the inner tube but I was even further behind schedule now so I asked where she was headed. She was headed 15 miles down the road in the direction I was headed! When I asked if I could get a lift she didn't even hesitate in saying yes. I was elated!
I was now back on track and even gained a little bit of time.
Later on in the day, shortly after stopping for a late lunch, disaster came very close to striking. As a truck pulling a trailer was passing by I heard something unfamiliar. Then, in the corner of my eye, I see a piece of plywood flying at me. It was a sizable piece, measuring about 2 feet by 5 feet. The thing was coming right at my head when in the last second the wind caught it and pulled it down. At this point it was no longer going to hit me but it still could possibly cause me to crash because it was positioned right in front of my bike. I don't know how it happened but it ended up just falling flat, I ran right over it, and all I ended up with was a banged thumb. And it wasn't even hit hard enough to bruise. Talk about a sigh of relief/flip the bird type of moment (I didn't actually flip him the bird).
I got to my destination in Pueblo just as it was getting pretty dark. Thanks again Dianne! When I got to my room I looked over everything again regarding the weather in the Rockies. And with a heavy heart I decided to rent a car. Therefore, the next couple days I will be in a car. I will still keep you all posted but I almost don't want to post anything from those two days since I feel like I'm cheating. Anyway, until next time!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Day 28 and 29
So day 28 started a lot better than yesterday. All of a sudden my pump decided to start working again. Also, I stopped by a local auto place to see if they had the right adapter just so I could top the tires off. Sure enough one of the guys dug one up so I had them put a little more air in.
I was on my way, FINALLY! it was a beautiful day with very little wind and I made it to Garden City in no time. When I got there I stocked up on bike gear and food. I tried getting a new pump but the adapter on the new one didn't want to work so I had to return it. I also bought some hand and foot warmers which will definitely be coming in handy. Thanks Linda!
After that I pretty much turned in for the night.
On Day 29, I was determined to get to Colorado. I had just been in Kansas way too long and at that point I was convinced the state had it out for me. Haha
Another day of smooth sailing. I got just across the border when I noticed a rest stop. I didn't have much more time before it got dark and really cold so I decided to stop there. I looked everywhere for something saying I couldn't camp there but there was nothing so I went for it. As I was setting up my tent a guy named Lance pulled up and sparked a conversation. He told me of his two years riding around the country on a bike. It was really great talking to him but it was starting to get really cold and dark so I had to get back to setting up camp.
Once everything was set up I got to enjoy a warm meal. Thanks to Kayleigh and Trevor that gave me an MRE (meal ready to eat) before leaving Dayton. It was actually pretty good! A little complicated of a process but good. Haha
When I went to crash out I got set up with my hand and foot warmers. I almost opted to sleep in the restroom (it was heated). It was another below freezing night. In fact, in the morning my water bottle was frozen all the way through. The warmers really helped but it was still hard to get good sleep.
I was on my way, FINALLY! it was a beautiful day with very little wind and I made it to Garden City in no time. When I got there I stocked up on bike gear and food. I tried getting a new pump but the adapter on the new one didn't want to work so I had to return it. I also bought some hand and foot warmers which will definitely be coming in handy. Thanks Linda!
After that I pretty much turned in for the night.
On Day 29, I was determined to get to Colorado. I had just been in Kansas way too long and at that point I was convinced the state had it out for me. Haha
Another day of smooth sailing. I got just across the border when I noticed a rest stop. I didn't have much more time before it got dark and really cold so I decided to stop there. I looked everywhere for something saying I couldn't camp there but there was nothing so I went for it. As I was setting up my tent a guy named Lance pulled up and sparked a conversation. He told me of his two years riding around the country on a bike. It was really great talking to him but it was starting to get really cold and dark so I had to get back to setting up camp.
Once everything was set up I got to enjoy a warm meal. Thanks to Kayleigh and Trevor that gave me an MRE (meal ready to eat) before leaving Dayton. It was actually pretty good! A little complicated of a process but good. Haha
When I went to crash out I got set up with my hand and foot warmers. I almost opted to sleep in the restroom (it was heated). It was another below freezing night. In fact, in the morning my water bottle was frozen all the way through. The warmers really helped but it was still hard to get good sleep.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Day 27
So day 27 didn't go nearly as smooth as I was hoping. I got ready and was on my way out of town when I noticed my rear tire was looking a little low. So I stopped to fill it. When I unscrewed the valve cover the entire valve core came with it which caused the tire to completely deflate. Then I came to discover my pump was broken. Therefore, I was stuck in a town with no bike shop and likely no way of pumping my tire up since it has a presta valve instead of a traditional schrader valve. The rest of the day I spent trying to find some way of solving my problem. Looking for a place to rent a car/truck, checking hardware stores for pumps, trying to fix my pump. By the end of the night it was looking like I was going to have to either hitchhike to the nearest bike shop or have a pump overnighted to Dighton. I just hope everything works out...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Day 21 through 26
I'm just going to get all caught up here because there hasn't really been much going on lately. Mostly the typical routine: wake up, try to find a nice cafe, ride, eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, sleep.
Day 21 I made my way to Council Grove, KS. That night it was freezing so I called a pizza place and said right in the beginning I wanted to place an order for delivery. We get through the whole order and then it comes up that they don't deliver! I already had my order in so I decided to just ride down there. It was like being in a blast chiller when I was flying downhill.
Day 22 I was off to McPherson. Today, the winds started dying down a bit which was great. McPherson was a cool little town with some really nice people.
As I was getting ready to head out of McPherson on day 23, a man named Brent actually stopped me because he saw I was touring and wanted to hear my story. Really great guy and really enjoyed talking with him. After that I was off to Great Bend, KS.
Nothing much else to tell other than the fact that day 23 was the least amount of wind that I saw while in Kansas so far.
Day 24 I had high hopes for where I was going to ride to but the weather and my legs had other plans. Today the wind picked up like crazy and my legs just weren't having it. Only being able to go 8-9 mph while traveling over flat terrain really takes it out of you both mentally and physically. So I called it an early day and stopped in La Crosse, KS. in fact, I decided to take the next day off to give my legs a rest.
Day 25, I did just about nothing. The only time I got out to do anything was to run to the grocery store to get some more food. Boy did that feel good.
Day 26 I was headed to a state park about 99 miles away. As I was headed there I started second guessing my route. When I looked again at the map I realized that it would be likely that I would run into few if any facilities along the way (food, restrooms, water). So I stopped in the next town to contemplate a change in route. That was when I noticed my rear tire was flat. After changing my inner tube, I adjusted my route and was either going to stop in Dighton or Scott City for the night.
Let's just say that events during the day would decide that for me. Two more flats later there was no way I was going to make it to Scott City. Yes that's right THREE FLATS in a single day. One of the flats was my fault because I didn't look hard enough for what caused it and the same thorn caused a second flat.
Anyway, stopped in Dighton and just hoping for a smooth day on day 27. Beside the rain that's supposed to be rolling in.
Day 21 I made my way to Council Grove, KS. That night it was freezing so I called a pizza place and said right in the beginning I wanted to place an order for delivery. We get through the whole order and then it comes up that they don't deliver! I already had my order in so I decided to just ride down there. It was like being in a blast chiller when I was flying downhill.
Day 22 I was off to McPherson. Today, the winds started dying down a bit which was great. McPherson was a cool little town with some really nice people.
As I was getting ready to head out of McPherson on day 23, a man named Brent actually stopped me because he saw I was touring and wanted to hear my story. Really great guy and really enjoyed talking with him. After that I was off to Great Bend, KS.
Nothing much else to tell other than the fact that day 23 was the least amount of wind that I saw while in Kansas so far.
Day 24 I had high hopes for where I was going to ride to but the weather and my legs had other plans. Today the wind picked up like crazy and my legs just weren't having it. Only being able to go 8-9 mph while traveling over flat terrain really takes it out of you both mentally and physically. So I called it an early day and stopped in La Crosse, KS. in fact, I decided to take the next day off to give my legs a rest.
Day 25, I did just about nothing. The only time I got out to do anything was to run to the grocery store to get some more food. Boy did that feel good.
Day 26 I was headed to a state park about 99 miles away. As I was headed there I started second guessing my route. When I looked again at the map I realized that it would be likely that I would run into few if any facilities along the way (food, restrooms, water). So I stopped in the next town to contemplate a change in route. That was when I noticed my rear tire was flat. After changing my inner tube, I adjusted my route and was either going to stop in Dighton or Scott City for the night.
Let's just say that events during the day would decide that for me. Two more flats later there was no way I was going to make it to Scott City. Yes that's right THREE FLATS in a single day. One of the flats was my fault because I didn't look hard enough for what caused it and the same thorn caused a second flat.
Anyway, stopped in Dighton and just hoping for a smooth day on day 27. Beside the rain that's supposed to be rolling in.
Day 21 and 22 Pictures
Picture 1 was of a gorgeous sunset at the end of day 22.
Picture 2 was taken as I was going over a bridge. The entire bridge was lined with bras for breast cancer awareness month. It was quite an interesting display of support.
Picture 2 was taken as I was going over a bridge. The entire bridge was lined with bras for breast cancer awareness month. It was quite an interesting display of support.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Day 19 and 20
Day 19 was a short stretch to a campground just outside of KC. I officially made it to Kansas today! On my route today I discovered that a lot of the back roads in Kansas are unpaved so I decided after today to stick to bigger highways.
On the way out of KC I was just pedaling away when my nose made me stop. There was a little Mexican bakery that had smells coming from it that were phenomenal. When I got in there I didn't know where to start. They had a really cool setup too. The way you picked out what you wanted was by walking around with a pizza tray and some big metal tongs and load the tray up. Obviously I went a little crazy given that opportunity. Needless to say it was delicious and I definitely got some extra to enjoy that night.
As I was just about to the campground I noticed a Walmart and decided I would check to see if they had a good air mattress. I almost didn't because I had checked at several Walmarts before this but they never had anything that was right for what I needed. They always had queen size mattresses which were too big and a little pad that cost $40! At this one though they finally had a twin size one the was only $10. I was so excited to finally be able to sleep on something halfway decent while camping.
When I got to the campsite I could tell it was primarily an RV site because the tent sites were not well taken care of. But I was excited because there was some leftover firewood at one of the sites. It was already really cold and I've been wanting to get a campfire going since the start of this trip. So I started it up and sat by it for a while before turning in for the night.
Day 20 I was setting out for Topeka, KS. I had to take a few rough roads and I got checked on by a cop again to make sure I was alright. Other than that it was a pretty straightforward day.
As soon as the sun went down it got real cold real fast. Luckily I wasn't too far from the campground but I knew I was in for a rough night. I love the sleeping bag that my amazing friends Anthony and Leslie gave me because it's lightweight and it fits perfectly on the back of my bike but it definitely isn't built for cold nights. So I made sure to bundle up as you can see in the picture. I even kept my shoes on to try to keep them a little bit warmer. Even so it wasn't the best night of rest. When I woke up in the morning it was 29 degrees! I decided then that I was going to get a motel that night (was going to be about the same temp).
On the way out of KC I was just pedaling away when my nose made me stop. There was a little Mexican bakery that had smells coming from it that were phenomenal. When I got in there I didn't know where to start. They had a really cool setup too. The way you picked out what you wanted was by walking around with a pizza tray and some big metal tongs and load the tray up. Obviously I went a little crazy given that opportunity. Needless to say it was delicious and I definitely got some extra to enjoy that night.
As I was just about to the campground I noticed a Walmart and decided I would check to see if they had a good air mattress. I almost didn't because I had checked at several Walmarts before this but they never had anything that was right for what I needed. They always had queen size mattresses which were too big and a little pad that cost $40! At this one though they finally had a twin size one the was only $10. I was so excited to finally be able to sleep on something halfway decent while camping.
When I got to the campsite I could tell it was primarily an RV site because the tent sites were not well taken care of. But I was excited because there was some leftover firewood at one of the sites. It was already really cold and I've been wanting to get a campfire going since the start of this trip. So I started it up and sat by it for a while before turning in for the night.
Day 20 I was setting out for Topeka, KS. I had to take a few rough roads and I got checked on by a cop again to make sure I was alright. Other than that it was a pretty straightforward day.
As soon as the sun went down it got real cold real fast. Luckily I wasn't too far from the campground but I knew I was in for a rough night. I love the sleeping bag that my amazing friends Anthony and Leslie gave me because it's lightweight and it fits perfectly on the back of my bike but it definitely isn't built for cold nights. So I made sure to bundle up as you can see in the picture. I even kept my shoes on to try to keep them a little bit warmer. Even so it wasn't the best night of rest. When I woke up in the morning it was 29 degrees! I decided then that I was going to get a motel that night (was going to be about the same temp).
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Day 19 and 20 Pictures
Picture 1 was of a fortune I got in a fortune cookie. I thought it was quite appropriate.
Picture 2 was me braving my first below freezing night. Not so much fun. Haha
Picture 2 was me braving my first below freezing night. Not so much fun. Haha
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Day 17 and 18
I got off to a fairly early start from Ethan's on day 17 and had my eyes set on Kansas City.
For those of you that don't know, I have a mount on my handlebars for my phone. Also, I get ESPN updates on it with the scores for my favorite teams. Well, as I was truckin it toward KC I see that the 49ers are doing quite well against Detroit. So obviously I look up the nearest Buffalo Wild Wings. It was just close enough that I would probably be able to catch the last quarter so I turn on the turbo and actually make it there before the end of the third. Well, we all know how that game ended. Woohoo! The best part was that big fans of both teams were there and a lot of friendly trash talking was going on. More so on the Detroit end. Haha
Well after that awesome time, I was on the the final stretch to KC. When I got there I was very excited to check it out. I was planning on sticking around the next day so I kept it pretty low key the first day. By the time I got all cleaned up and everything most everything was closed anyway.
Although I did find a place that was open 24 hours and had karaoke going on so I stopped in for a bit. A bunch of stuff was two for one so I was able to get two beers and two appetizers for less than $20, thanks Melissa :). After that, it was back to my place to crash out.
Day 18 was pretty fun. I was just disappointed because a lot of the stuff I wanted to check out was closed. I road down 18th & Vine which is a historic Jazz/Blues place but everything was closed. I was able to go to the KC Federal Reserve where there was a free self guided tour. The vault there was nine stories tall and took 30 cement trucks to complete but I think I can still crack it. Haha It was a pretty interesting tour overall. After that I went to a BBQ place that was recommended to me by a local and it was delicious.
The rest of the day was just spent drinking delicious coffee and pedaling around taking everything in. That is until the weather turned south which is when I turned in for the night.
For those of you that don't know, I have a mount on my handlebars for my phone. Also, I get ESPN updates on it with the scores for my favorite teams. Well, as I was truckin it toward KC I see that the 49ers are doing quite well against Detroit. So obviously I look up the nearest Buffalo Wild Wings. It was just close enough that I would probably be able to catch the last quarter so I turn on the turbo and actually make it there before the end of the third. Well, we all know how that game ended. Woohoo! The best part was that big fans of both teams were there and a lot of friendly trash talking was going on. More so on the Detroit end. Haha
Well after that awesome time, I was on the the final stretch to KC. When I got there I was very excited to check it out. I was planning on sticking around the next day so I kept it pretty low key the first day. By the time I got all cleaned up and everything most everything was closed anyway.
Although I did find a place that was open 24 hours and had karaoke going on so I stopped in for a bit. A bunch of stuff was two for one so I was able to get two beers and two appetizers for less than $20, thanks Melissa :). After that, it was back to my place to crash out.
Day 18 was pretty fun. I was just disappointed because a lot of the stuff I wanted to check out was closed. I road down 18th & Vine which is a historic Jazz/Blues place but everything was closed. I was able to go to the KC Federal Reserve where there was a free self guided tour. The vault there was nine stories tall and took 30 cement trucks to complete but I think I can still crack it. Haha It was a pretty interesting tour overall. After that I went to a BBQ place that was recommended to me by a local and it was delicious.
The rest of the day was just spent drinking delicious coffee and pedaling around taking everything in. That is until the weather turned south which is when I turned in for the night.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Day 17 and 18 Pictures
Picture 1 is of the Kansas City skyline.
2 & 4 are of a couple of fountains around town.
3 was taken right as I was getting into the heart of KC.
5 was of one of the best (if not THE best) white mochas I've ever had. It's amazing how incredible coffee can taste when done right.
2 & 4 are of a couple of fountains around town.
3 was taken right as I was getting into the heart of KC.
5 was of one of the best (if not THE best) white mochas I've ever had. It's amazing how incredible coffee can taste when done right.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Day 15 and 16
Day 15 was probably the toughest day so far. The morning was great. It was a short stretch to Jefferson City where I explored for a little while. I found out that Jefferson City was a big target of the South during the Civil War and that it had to be defended against several major takeover attempts.
After exploring, it was time for me to hook up with the Katy Trail which was just north of the city. That's where I met the people that were taking their dog along for a ride. They were really friendly and I wish I could have stuck around for a while longer to talk.
The Katy Trail was a great type of trail that I think all states should have. I'm fairly certain that it used to be a railroad track that they just paved over. It spans most of Missouri and follows some very scenic parts of the state. Huge bluffs and most of it trailing right alongside the river. It was also a route that Lewis and Clark followed quite closely so there was a lot of history to be told along the way. The only problems that I had on this trail were the strong headwinds and the trail surface wasn't the smoothest.
That morning my aunt asked if I was going to be anywhere near Midway which is where a travel channel show takes place at a local truck stop. Well, in traveling on the trail I was on I noticed that Midway would only be 5-10 miles out of the way so I went for it. Getting there was pretty tough with big hills and ridiculous winds. The truck stop was pretty cool but I didn't see any cameras around and didn't recognize anyone from the show's webpage.
Getting back to the trail was the toughest 5 miles I've been on yet. Not only were there hills and a lot of wind but most of the way back was terrain that my bike isn't really suited for. I was cursing this five miles the entire way. Haha when I finally got back to the trail, nearly an hour later, I was very relieved and planned out how much further I was going to be able to ride and where I would stop.
I had my sights set on Boonville. The winds were dying down, I was making pretty good time, when only five miles from Boonville I get my first flat. I wasn't sure if it was just a slow leak or an actual flat so I tried pumping it up to see if I could limp on it the last five miles but it wasn't happening. Of course this had to happen on my rear tire and with only about 30 minutes of daylight left. Regardless, I was able to take care of it and continued on. When I got to town I found out there were no vacancies anywhere in the heart of town so I had to ride another five miles to get to the nearest place to stay and upon getting there I find out they had nothing but smoking rooms. Not happy about that but I was just relieved to have a place to stay.
Day 16 I was back to the Katy Trail for a short stretch and on to Warrensburg. My buddy Phil knew somebody that lived there and was willing to let me crash. While still in Boonville I stopped at a local bike shop where I was helped out by a really friendly old man that gave me a quick tune-up and a long talk involving many random stories and advice. One of them was about a man that visited his shop once that had designed a recumbent bike that he could hit 65 mph in. Might look into that for my next trip.
The rest of my ride was pretty straightforward. When I got to Warrensburg, Ethan and his roommates welcomed me warmly into their apartment. Ethan took really good care of me while I was in town and we had a good time. I am very grateful for his hospitality. Tomorrow I'm off to Kansas City!
After exploring, it was time for me to hook up with the Katy Trail which was just north of the city. That's where I met the people that were taking their dog along for a ride. They were really friendly and I wish I could have stuck around for a while longer to talk.
The Katy Trail was a great type of trail that I think all states should have. I'm fairly certain that it used to be a railroad track that they just paved over. It spans most of Missouri and follows some very scenic parts of the state. Huge bluffs and most of it trailing right alongside the river. It was also a route that Lewis and Clark followed quite closely so there was a lot of history to be told along the way. The only problems that I had on this trail were the strong headwinds and the trail surface wasn't the smoothest.
That morning my aunt asked if I was going to be anywhere near Midway which is where a travel channel show takes place at a local truck stop. Well, in traveling on the trail I was on I noticed that Midway would only be 5-10 miles out of the way so I went for it. Getting there was pretty tough with big hills and ridiculous winds. The truck stop was pretty cool but I didn't see any cameras around and didn't recognize anyone from the show's webpage.
Getting back to the trail was the toughest 5 miles I've been on yet. Not only were there hills and a lot of wind but most of the way back was terrain that my bike isn't really suited for. I was cursing this five miles the entire way. Haha when I finally got back to the trail, nearly an hour later, I was very relieved and planned out how much further I was going to be able to ride and where I would stop.
I had my sights set on Boonville. The winds were dying down, I was making pretty good time, when only five miles from Boonville I get my first flat. I wasn't sure if it was just a slow leak or an actual flat so I tried pumping it up to see if I could limp on it the last five miles but it wasn't happening. Of course this had to happen on my rear tire and with only about 30 minutes of daylight left. Regardless, I was able to take care of it and continued on. When I got to town I found out there were no vacancies anywhere in the heart of town so I had to ride another five miles to get to the nearest place to stay and upon getting there I find out they had nothing but smoking rooms. Not happy about that but I was just relieved to have a place to stay.
Day 16 I was back to the Katy Trail for a short stretch and on to Warrensburg. My buddy Phil knew somebody that lived there and was willing to let me crash. While still in Boonville I stopped at a local bike shop where I was helped out by a really friendly old man that gave me a quick tune-up and a long talk involving many random stories and advice. One of them was about a man that visited his shop once that had designed a recumbent bike that he could hit 65 mph in. Might look into that for my next trip.
The rest of my ride was pretty straightforward. When I got to Warrensburg, Ethan and his roommates welcomed me warmly into their apartment. Ethan took really good care of me while I was in town and we had a good time. I am very grateful for his hospitality. Tomorrow I'm off to Kansas City!
Day 15 and 16 Pictures
Pictures 1 and 2 are of the sunrise and sunset on Day 15.
Pictures 3 and 5 are of the capital building in Jefferson City.
Picture 4 is of an awesome tunnel i got to go through when traveling on the Katy Trail.
On day 15 I met a couple and their German Sheperd "Jenny". They were on the Katy Trail too and Jenny got to lounge out in one of those little pull trailers you normally see children in. Haha you can see it in picture 6.
Pictures 3 and 5 are of the capital building in Jefferson City.
Picture 4 is of an awesome tunnel i got to go through when traveling on the Katy Trail.
On day 15 I met a couple and their German Sheperd "Jenny". They were on the Katy Trail too and Jenny got to lounge out in one of those little pull trailers you normally see children in. Haha you can see it in picture 6.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Day 13 and 14 Pictures
The first two pictures are just some photos of the picturesque rides I've been able to take in lately.
The last one is of Mill's Pond. If you look way in the back you can see a tiny cave entrance where the water is coming out of. This was where the people that discovered Onondaga Cave had to enter as it was the only way in back then. Imagine entering that tiny opening and discovering something as grand as Onomdaga Cave.
The last one is of Mill's Pond. If you look way in the back you can see a tiny cave entrance where the water is coming out of. This was where the people that discovered Onondaga Cave had to enter as it was the only way in back then. Imagine entering that tiny opening and discovering something as grand as Onomdaga Cave.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Day 13 and 14
Day 13 started off with an amazing cave tour of Onondaga Cave. I wish I had a good flash on my phone because there were some amazing shots I couldn't get because the lighting was too dim. Even so, I still got some good ones. Before I went on the tour I was given the choice to go on the tour solo (nobody else was in at that time) or with a school group for half price. I was about to go with the group but then saw it was a really young elementary school group so I decided to go solo. Man am I glad I did because I got such an individualized tour and later we saw the other group and the guide was pointing out rocks that looked like witches and animals. I was happy to have avoided that. Haha
A quick tangent... In learning of the history of the cave I found out that there were many times the cave was almost destroyed by mining companies for its flow stone (a stone that is gorgeous when cut and polished). I am so very grateful that never happened and am now even more supportive of state parks and what they have to offer as I hope many others are. Natural beauties like these should never be destroyed to make for some pretty countertops.
I then set out for Owensville, MO. It was a nice day and a very scenic ride and I was enjoying it thoroughly. Later on in the day I was riding past a house with a dog in the yard. Of course the dog started barking and chasing after me but it was gated in so I wasn't worried. Shortly after the dog started barking I hear the owner's voice calling the dog. The dog didn't respond and just as I was getting far enough away that the dog would have stopped barking anyway... POP! The owner fired off a gunshot! I'm pretty sure they were doing it to shut the dog up but still almost had me bailing off the bike to find cover. Haha
After dinner I was making plans to find a place to set up my tent when off to the west I saw an amazing light show. It was a tremendous looking thunderstorm rolling in and even though I braved one well the previous night I wasn't in the mood to push my luck so I stopped for the night at the local motel. Luckily the owner understood my situation well and offered me a great rate.
There isn't much to tell about day 14. I made my way to a campground just outside of Jefferson City. Pretty normal day, good ride, can't complain.
A quick tangent... In learning of the history of the cave I found out that there were many times the cave was almost destroyed by mining companies for its flow stone (a stone that is gorgeous when cut and polished). I am so very grateful that never happened and am now even more supportive of state parks and what they have to offer as I hope many others are. Natural beauties like these should never be destroyed to make for some pretty countertops.
I then set out for Owensville, MO. It was a nice day and a very scenic ride and I was enjoying it thoroughly. Later on in the day I was riding past a house with a dog in the yard. Of course the dog started barking and chasing after me but it was gated in so I wasn't worried. Shortly after the dog started barking I hear the owner's voice calling the dog. The dog didn't respond and just as I was getting far enough away that the dog would have stopped barking anyway... POP! The owner fired off a gunshot! I'm pretty sure they were doing it to shut the dog up but still almost had me bailing off the bike to find cover. Haha
After dinner I was making plans to find a place to set up my tent when off to the west I saw an amazing light show. It was a tremendous looking thunderstorm rolling in and even though I braved one well the previous night I wasn't in the mood to push my luck so I stopped for the night at the local motel. Luckily the owner understood my situation well and offered me a great rate.
There isn't much to tell about day 14. I made my way to a campground just outside of Jefferson City. Pretty normal day, good ride, can't complain.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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