tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83400141839724852582024-03-12T20:26:14.606-07:00.roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-87995432778676425952009-07-28T10:16:00.000-07:002009-07-28T11:36:00.945-07:00The end of the road<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQcgfkgP3QQXK67DbrQl7dJztww1Y_7vV52_jWvCLGBLTJKvMe2ry_LXqpU06zYIUJ5_FYTley-yzeGNozUbr86CMblUhk9Xq5pouoaekeQe6XlNLTguK_nccuU7dBZkEtfW53M2EAEoR/s1600-h/Roxama_A,milia_+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQcgfkgP3QQXK67DbrQl7dJztww1Y_7vV52_jWvCLGBLTJKvMe2ry_LXqpU06zYIUJ5_FYTley-yzeGNozUbr86CMblUhk9Xq5pouoaekeQe6XlNLTguK_nccuU7dBZkEtfW53M2EAEoR/s400/Roxama_A,milia_+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579674071008834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 69<br />Distance: 5,728 km / 3,559 mi<br />Location: Stinson Beach, CA<br /><br />We did it! We biked across America. Yesterday at 12:27 pm Amelia and I jumped into the Pacific Ocean, exactly 69 days 4 hours and 51 minutes after we tagged the water at Revere Beach in Massachusetts.<br /><br />Here's the stories from California:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Lake Tahoe</span><br /><br />We took a day off with Rob, who took us on a fantastic hike up to Lake Dardanelles. Our friend Phil Stevenson and Rob's two dogs also joined us for the hike. Everyone else enjoyed swimming at the lake while I hunted for rocks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUYYPeF2xZEepeUZLzb8m6a9CcGGhDyubAZFjYJ_yf0EyG2RinV5NmkT-btNyS4PUCrqYPfGgDsiMlNcVMYUYd1UuozLwG_gQXpY6olqZ2sb5yTbcB91UXAn3lh8M2kL09QkuYDrts9o9/s1600-h/P1010082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUYYPeF2xZEepeUZLzb8m6a9CcGGhDyubAZFjYJ_yf0EyG2RinV5NmkT-btNyS4PUCrqYPfGgDsiMlNcVMYUYd1UuozLwG_gQXpY6olqZ2sb5yTbcB91UXAn3lh8M2kL09QkuYDrts9o9/s400/P1010082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363577215807831074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHtPDECgWYq5a33rHI1NEEf206v6VFzCE9cg-BT3C5qqTJH0f8YmPjXO9DdJtP808NK8CqBZtm55H53F5PlFuDtTj5yI2IthLC8W43J6CuguaNnvXRwOR6NhDohmHDkapUa3gAuCYJ6dk/s1600-h/P1010078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHtPDECgWYq5a33rHI1NEEf206v6VFzCE9cg-BT3C5qqTJH0f8YmPjXO9DdJtP808NK8CqBZtm55H53F5PlFuDtTj5yI2IthLC8W43J6CuguaNnvXRwOR6NhDohmHDkapUa3gAuCYJ6dk/s400/P1010078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579663824548882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Descent into the Central Valley</span><br /><br />We mistakenly believed that descending 7,000 ft into the Central Valley would be easy. However, we quickly discovered that there was quite a lot of uphill involved in going downhill! When we finally reached the valley floor we were relieved by the pancake-flat terrain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-7NWwSIh3jfb7N3yppt3nlu8Idu4PkeQye6YBatmTAja8Nb-d0VhBEIkJ9BsGNn1-BuRYQShtuDXhD1q7Okr1YWWcTxvS7NFxSbhODa9giLUQxE2PQ2Y-1QCrNxXF9dHG9GI7nIrhzJT/s1600-h/P1010086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-7NWwSIh3jfb7N3yppt3nlu8Idu4PkeQye6YBatmTAja8Nb-d0VhBEIkJ9BsGNn1-BuRYQShtuDXhD1q7Okr1YWWcTxvS7NFxSbhODa9giLUQxE2PQ2Y-1QCrNxXF9dHG9GI7nIrhzJT/s400/P1010086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363577206735331602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We hopped in the American River Bike Trail in Folsom and followed it over 30 miles to Sacramento. Amazingly, the entire Central Valley from Folsom to Winters is connected by bike trails, so we pretty much never even had to ride on a road.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sacramento</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7lFv0Sai7k4nmLN5umIwSZT4tIfEW-nfFSjJGMIsVe2tIGSYiqe9BUEpi5n_vqzQGurKi6PlyNY__JFmeXDJEZSBWaH77CvChuV7u-Q30897dsSA9ISV3URTuT7-EmMOM7-XmgUTNqWN/s1600-h/P1010087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7lFv0Sai7k4nmLN5umIwSZT4tIfEW-nfFSjJGMIsVe2tIGSYiqe9BUEpi5n_vqzQGurKi6PlyNY__JFmeXDJEZSBWaH77CvChuV7u-Q30897dsSA9ISV3URTuT7-EmMOM7-XmgUTNqWN/s400/P1010087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363577203476876050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We stayed with our friend Alex Jordan's family, who live right downtown a few blocks from the capitol building. We wanted to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it turns out the legislature had finally passed the budget the night before and he went home to Hollywood.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wine Country</span><br /><br />The ride out of the valley and into the North Bay was hilly as expected, but the scenery of California's wine country is gorgeous, with golden rolling hills dotted by vineyards and scrub oaks. We stopped to buy some fresh tomatoes at one of California's many roadside produce stands. Yum yum! Even better food came that evening at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Sonoma. And of course we enjoyed some of the local wine as well.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M17F3PkkXnQhuMsLktcRe63_5dLqENIe-Aftump2Z1wc-lnM2GX7idBNOgDIpbKLwhytCHaEjSLHmoENnx_a69Wk0amO_plGE98xlMvk6PLW9xVia-hzKwSSWatjjeIM8qENT7uvBqJh/s1600-h/P1010090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M17F3PkkXnQhuMsLktcRe63_5dLqENIe-Aftump2Z1wc-lnM2GX7idBNOgDIpbKLwhytCHaEjSLHmoENnx_a69Wk0amO_plGE98xlMvk6PLW9xVia-hzKwSSWatjjeIM8qENT7uvBqJh/s400/P1010090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363577200326207474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The ride to the beach</span><br /><br />We left my Aunt and Uncle's house at 6 am and coasted down into the Sonoma Valley. The sun was just rising over the hills, and as is always the case in the morning here, the valley was full of fog.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx99ca8LuNkJaNKwkTz04kfDsFyKXJik7B21KuE0QnqoRQmtrZ7phViPOJ4ChHkGD5iLcG6S7SOE3aL55zaUAY5-_JF6ln6jNbNomPGwGz8NnjrMR8n__5CJogs3eLKSwHaDvbeE0ic0E/s1600-h/P1010091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx99ca8LuNkJaNKwkTz04kfDsFyKXJik7B21KuE0QnqoRQmtrZ7phViPOJ4ChHkGD5iLcG6S7SOE3aL55zaUAY5-_JF6ln6jNbNomPGwGz8NnjrMR8n__5CJogs3eLKSwHaDvbeE0ic0E/s400/P1010091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363577185753322226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The fog got thicker and thicker! It finally burned off around 10 am.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyGNdMb2XM8MaGDwgrYKWN6y3KRnKyjSjSmdDiUZ15U586KoLM46KU7vjyBkcIVO1kuShUAJEr2WysuUIGtyxi8l_z-TK8Wn2LtqBogzAfYbb7jTeCTbAOchbLT3fErf0T5XkfzN-deP0/s1600-h/P1010093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyGNdMb2XM8MaGDwgrYKWN6y3KRnKyjSjSmdDiUZ15U586KoLM46KU7vjyBkcIVO1kuShUAJEr2WysuUIGtyxi8l_z-TK8Wn2LtqBogzAfYbb7jTeCTbAOchbLT3fErf0T5XkfzN-deP0/s400/P1010093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363574694099449426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Beach!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEOlN4knZqNCta161-nhomCPgKyTWF0NvXfkhzEZpTyh7QoU3FvY6aK-wmjovU1xLuc7ve0vbyGzD2Wu8cIXdQG90_Yb8vN0m-ocBij-5J0GvIT3suLy5CbSyKmEHUKltJgiSPTXDMVlG/s1600-h/Roxama_A,milia_+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEOlN4knZqNCta161-nhomCPgKyTWF0NvXfkhzEZpTyh7QoU3FvY6aK-wmjovU1xLuc7ve0vbyGzD2Wu8cIXdQG90_Yb8vN0m-ocBij-5J0GvIT3suLy5CbSyKmEHUKltJgiSPTXDMVlG/s400/Roxama_A,milia_+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363574679985440402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh my gosh, the water is cold!</span><br /><br />Our welcoming comittee included my Aunt and Uncle, my parents, my brother (visiting from Michigan), and Henry Hallam.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHviRy11g8D4AzIFfVUwuZTiTWZAHOiwq0J-XyWhPgIBMDS_DC-nolrH8QSOqNjPJGKWJcDdq-Ag49GasHmNDTLdBQu3DCwBR6ISJvqQgxcs0fa48Um248i40JnPAEoYXQF51KcOB3CcS/s1600-h/Roxama_A,milia_+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHviRy11g8D4AzIFfVUwuZTiTWZAHOiwq0J-XyWhPgIBMDS_DC-nolrH8QSOqNjPJGKWJcDdq-Ag49GasHmNDTLdBQu3DCwBR6ISJvqQgxcs0fa48Um248i40JnPAEoYXQF51KcOB3CcS/s400/Roxama_A,milia_+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363574671127696402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Henry drove all the way up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz in his classic Jetta.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCDqTL4rmwkJJXtboIQa4WcpyWZ9PI6csKMMVIN2Cf61-XJjmu06912l7ulQ3UcrADChJoKuhiOnXWExPHPpeCdXCL5pxeDqkQmgkNfpEK-FJjmHay4D9IwfNW0mgv71CAAH0vWSY0GSC/s1600-h/P1010094.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCDqTL4rmwkJJXtboIQa4WcpyWZ9PI6csKMMVIN2Cf61-XJjmu06912l7ulQ3UcrADChJoKuhiOnXWExPHPpeCdXCL5pxeDqkQmgkNfpEK-FJjmHay4D9IwfNW0mgv71CAAH0vWSY0GSC/s400/P1010094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363574658884341474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Final thoughts</span><br /><br />In some ways our arrival at the beach was bittersweet. While we're excited to have accomplished our goal, it's been an amazing journey, and we're both a little sad that its over. We've seen some amazing places and met so many wonderful people along the way. It's been really interesting experiencing the entire spectrum of culture and geography across North America. Below: Amelia's bicycle odometer, which read 3,559.4 miles at the time of our arrival.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOwC3nsNIpnoQueN6cNutQbkaAr0C4_XOBMGAmca-uIklTGnlgJjouZ1UIO7ggR1G52-dMlUsAUkLaT7COUNaydVKbuyABRtPnUeRbZKTKLCBBmvP5xURM8xncNPq2Xyjp_90ml15ZE0i/s1600-h/Roxama_A,milia_+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOwC3nsNIpnoQueN6cNutQbkaAr0C4_XOBMGAmca-uIklTGnlgJjouZ1UIO7ggR1G52-dMlUsAUkLaT7COUNaydVKbuyABRtPnUeRbZKTKLCBBmvP5xURM8xncNPq2Xyjp_90ml15ZE0i/s400/Roxama_A,milia_+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363574635099482738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'd like to sign off this blog by thanking everyone across America and Ontario who helped us along the way by hosting us, feeding us, giving us directions, refilling our water bottles, and cheering us on. We couldn't have done it without you!roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-87086969417082828622009-07-23T13:36:00.000-07:002009-07-23T16:01:42.791-07:00California!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3vNfBUI2y8J4rmJQTX2mHVbtCMUgBycbkCHdZAP3Men2KYv1EYdJ-w64qRmGHNQtCDBzawE4KdjM6B9DIkL4zbgBKLEHM-v-LilUtJRDBW8QiVH2T-za99GmoRDKKp5Ob1jH4z6PQNhU/s1600-h/01.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361787196734828690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3vNfBUI2y8J4rmJQTX2mHVbtCMUgBycbkCHdZAP3Men2KYv1EYdJ-w64qRmGHNQtCDBzawE4KdjM6B9DIkL4zbgBKLEHM-v-LilUtJRDBW8QiVH2T-za99GmoRDKKp5Ob1jH4z6PQNhU/s400/01.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 65<br />Distance: 5318 km / 3305 mi<br />Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>We're in California! It's a little hard to believe, but we are now only a 3-day ride from the beach, and its all downhill. A lot has happened since we last had internet.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>The Longest Night</strong></div><br /><div>After leaving Provo, we took two days to get to Delta, UT. From there we had to embark on an 83 mile stretch of wilderness in the desert between Hinckley, UT and the Nevada border (where there is a small outpost with a gas station and motel). What's more, this stretch included a 2,000 ft climb. Below: an elevation profile from mapmyride.com of the ride from Delta, UT to the Nevada border.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMxoS3oVHZCpvOHZRZTkfIbdIbeYXKUvNA8Di75BGhJjiAFYXILaBsChzhQLjPOhS-xGwaXx3vIJo0bBm1Lq9w_wk2LNzW31nqA2Cwq2QcfZHPMjfWmmuDne_jGMbnBq_BUwo6LgTVZOS/s1600-h/02.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 46px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361784358593903346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMxoS3oVHZCpvOHZRZTkfIbdIbeYXKUvNA8Di75BGhJjiAFYXILaBsChzhQLjPOhS-xGwaXx3vIJo0bBm1Lq9w_wk2LNzW31nqA2Cwq2QcfZHPMjfWmmuDne_jGMbnBq_BUwo6LgTVZOS/s400/02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(click to enlarge)</div><br /><div>Since we aren't strong enough to carry enough water for biking a whole day in the desert, we had to switch over to night riding. It's quite cool at night here, often down in the 40s. This allows us to carry less water. However, staying awake and biking for an entire night is not so easy!</div><br /><div>We got a motel room in Delta and attempted to go to bed at noon. We managed to get some sleep with a little help from some over the counter sleeping pills. Then, at 9 pm we checked out of the motel and got on our bikes.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m3qk07MuNVaCFAh7YNxO2kZuLIi_5ipTBXnKKwamjOJww4IXWH8XfYClQk5CqBfUwuXwFC8b6-cUtKfirCQWxZbtluPGTZIVGM-IDpjMLc2Bryapu4c9qMyMcDDKFf74aGJhiyNDgIm7/s1600-h/03.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361784351157178514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m3qk07MuNVaCFAh7YNxO2kZuLIi_5ipTBXnKKwamjOJww4IXWH8XfYClQk5CqBfUwuXwFC8b6-cUtKfirCQWxZbtluPGTZIVGM-IDpjMLc2Bryapu4c9qMyMcDDKFf74aGJhiyNDgIm7/s400/03.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>The sun was just dipping below the horizon. A blood red sunset stretched out across the sky in front of us. We left Delta, and five miles later passed through Hinckley. At the end of town was a run down gas station and a sign: "Next Services 83 Miles". We passed the sign. The lights from the town faded into the distance behind us as we rode off into the desert.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePnYS_ty59TrxrQuHqcVL4uhyphenhyphenBk1ssdria10jTJCN6aFDsQbY9xKzdGY9PWi7TS_T3ZVAJbC9PJCuk2SktU3cQfZrKt_NbrHX38KTvYY2LOg-RzKdp1V3374YqPxwdkYGmpCTsVoAQvpl/s1600-h/04.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361784342673989394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePnYS_ty59TrxrQuHqcVL4uhyphenhyphenBk1ssdria10jTJCN6aFDsQbY9xKzdGY9PWi7TS_T3ZVAJbC9PJCuk2SktU3cQfZrKt_NbrHX38KTvYY2LOg-RzKdp1V3374YqPxwdkYGmpCTsVoAQvpl/s400/04.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>Biking at nightime here is beautiful. There are so many stars, and you can see the milky way. Above: sunrise over the desert.</div><br /><div>We reached the summit of the mountain just before dawn. As we coasted down to the border, the sun came up behind us. We reached the border outpost at 7 am. Ten hours of riding!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2o0d8uZDZb6Qt_pvwRlYZW-2VuDDjbnuwRQYS0o9uTdnUbPysvN_aosNLoxK5YFes9R9j2un6jZrK6JnEjY4QEI81J56o9yLw-YP6rkNVpk3cRQ6aac4dsdKrdQxXDlitPRnKXdMG8uC/s1600-h/05.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361784332700486258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2o0d8uZDZb6Qt_pvwRlYZW-2VuDDjbnuwRQYS0o9uTdnUbPysvN_aosNLoxK5YFes9R9j2un6jZrK6JnEjY4QEI81J56o9yLw-YP6rkNVpk3cRQ6aac4dsdKrdQxXDlitPRnKXdMG8uC/s400/05.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Highway 50</strong></div><br /><div>Highway 50 is one of only 3 paved highways across Nevada, and it is also dubbed "the lonliest road in America". The highway includes several 70 mile stretches of wilderness and the terrain is extremely mountainous. There are no natural water sources, so unless you can carry enough water to last two days out there you absolutely have to make it from town to town. Below: an elevation profile of highway 50. There are 13 summits between the border outpost and Fallon, NV.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MeStzLLQRfzBwSje63p1sTXMFE6WmP5ZqGwAWTcmkZU2mHVjJLL4T4FgKjQIGNxwayw87YtK83Hd6XJKfLNHJeK47zvOlg5UI7KH9eGyoQEm3_YORYzfmMsEDUKF9DsTBNBsT1kux55y/s1600-h/05a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 80px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361784330418457554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MeStzLLQRfzBwSje63p1sTXMFE6WmP5ZqGwAWTcmkZU2mHVjJLL4T4FgKjQIGNxwayw87YtK83Hd6XJKfLNHJeK47zvOlg5UI7KH9eGyoQEm3_YORYzfmMsEDUKF9DsTBNBsT1kux55y/s400/05a.JPG" /></a></div>(click to enlarge)<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>We had to pull several more all-nighters to make it from town to town. In spite of riding all night, sleep proved elusive during the day. My body's internal clock simply refused to switch to a night schedule, and I soon found myself suffering from rather severe sleep deprivation.</div><br /><div><strong>Water in the West</strong></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB16-GJnm_-Mj3t6LeGOukbTqZNFYeFzEOn2A3U7kEE63_0DBbXL9i8KTtpQNpu68iC76xSBTTB9lwEYZjKrOkf8qpRpjxoomgkalaDN2z4jayUUG4wihPM59jtWCMzBVHZD73P8wlnC7H/s1600-h/06.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361781659175293138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB16-GJnm_-Mj3t6LeGOukbTqZNFYeFzEOn2A3U7kEE63_0DBbXL9i8KTtpQNpu68iC76xSBTTB9lwEYZjKrOkf8qpRpjxoomgkalaDN2z4jayUUG4wihPM59jtWCMzBVHZD73P8wlnC7H/s400/06.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div>This is actually a serious political issue. Cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles use huge amounts of water, and huge sections of the Southern California desert are irrigated to create farmland. The end result is that there simply isn't enough water. As development of desert regions continues, this issue is becoming more and more serious.</div><br /><div><strong>Ely, NV</strong></div><br /><div>We took a night off in Ely, NV. The town has a cool museum with many relics from the heyday of Nevada's mining industry in the 1800s. Below: an old machine for digging wells.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9QuLztIyjkzgGyclbweSMChnL-Zd7mnYgG94Aibf-jRIc5YoOeohrpE2Hg_f9M3vbBnoB844rd_zF_nuiPegi5Bj2SCcQ1EXxcR6SwAnWo7d8CUrubPBeIFUryi0UdwRFCgxMXr5dWkY/s1600-h/07.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361781649497568866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9QuLztIyjkzgGyclbweSMChnL-Zd7mnYgG94Aibf-jRIc5YoOeohrpE2Hg_f9M3vbBnoB844rd_zF_nuiPegi5Bj2SCcQ1EXxcR6SwAnWo7d8CUrubPBeIFUryi0UdwRFCgxMXr5dWkY/s400/07.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div>Amelia in jail for unruly behavior.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKwPIePsWtLwfRz_VkFBEGd92zuTGh0327klqPYtaBhJ2aUeEg_8fKvsneWkaMXuaVxuP4IYzpWoZuWDTD5qYF9iDVPzbjsSvL4gNMb_2Ai-wQjQviP937AXbq3H2HYlGp9RzglITTkeX/s1600-h/08.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361781644528664146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKwPIePsWtLwfRz_VkFBEGd92zuTGh0327klqPYtaBhJ2aUeEg_8fKvsneWkaMXuaVxuP4IYzpWoZuWDTD5qYF9iDVPzbjsSvL4gNMb_2Ai-wQjQviP937AXbq3H2HYlGp9RzglITTkeX/s400/08.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div></div><div>An old bicycle. I'm sure glad bicycle technology has improved in the last century!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFQ3JjtlJ1KeaFhllKxC3ZEx75t65k0_ZXT15VnWDPtWK-dZ-rVd5fnmQNqnEuzRJmT2xb6RVt4Hbms8v8BPaPhvg5K3DJTzrCSiCGO5SkmkBN1pf9RLHbsfIpiVoaq0YzEMohIM1z60I/s1600-h/09.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361781639595268690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFQ3JjtlJ1KeaFhllKxC3ZEx75t65k0_ZXT15VnWDPtWK-dZ-rVd5fnmQNqnEuzRJmT2xb6RVt4Hbms8v8BPaPhvg5K3DJTzrCSiCGO5SkmkBN1pf9RLHbsfIpiVoaq0YzEMohIM1z60I/s400/09.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Other travelers</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IPkl-R3DAt_qML-qAdGfvzFEDThhKKJkUOp7f41bE8ec09hkPbKLCGO8rWKEfE5K94H_vwAC0l-b6xhnpVqi-AKM8_Y2xHT1My7JH2D2ZYagZVqrpKtSpm0Yo5YWOrlq6rYHpjh4BtRf/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361781631357548658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IPkl-R3DAt_qML-qAdGfvzFEDThhKKJkUOp7f41bE8ec09hkPbKLCGO8rWKEfE5K94H_vwAC0l-b6xhnpVqi-AKM8_Y2xHT1My7JH2D2ZYagZVqrpKtSpm0Yo5YWOrlq6rYHpjh4BtRf/s400/11.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />We have met numerous other cyclists along this desert route. Above: Max, Eric, and Ray, who are cycling from the East Coast to San Francisco. Ray is raising money for a high school music program in Oakland and he has a web page: <a href="http://cyclingbeatjunkie.com/">cyclingbeatjunkie.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Other cyclists we met include Cyndy and Steve (Sacramento to Rhode Island): </div><div><a href="http://greatisland.net/biketour/">greatisland.net/biketour</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another guy named Steve, who is biking <em>around the world</em>! <a href="http://www.ridewithsteve.co.uk/">ridewithsteve.co.uk</a></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Sand Mountain</strong></div><div>so cool!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNjNHZII6QSzVrlOnVJ83PzsC0bFtzeeVwSc-4xpEUyChS6OLVJW5x20xymP1D6VN-fPfDvEU-C23VQc-sBLaWHdv80egKd2YNVs2ix07LxADWR9ts4uCxqWHEhZrcy_gRgqIY-eKcQ17/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361778742571924354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNjNHZII6QSzVrlOnVJ83PzsC0bFtzeeVwSc-4xpEUyChS6OLVJW5x20xymP1D6VN-fPfDvEU-C23VQc-sBLaWHdv80egKd2YNVs2ix07LxADWR9ts4uCxqWHEhZrcy_gRgqIY-eKcQ17/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Fallon, NV</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuDXe70Zsba195o_gjHPUypk8bvhrSYuZj5wX2WRCrvFj1t4Y09Q-IxCS4fshvLUGLkeNyFOjEJVXHUC9ej2HIZpk2vzyMGA40Qb3t3tMav7hFnA4IvM5PyAoiF4DWZfJiNrPh0DBbX_J/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361778730830754978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuDXe70Zsba195o_gjHPUypk8bvhrSYuZj5wX2WRCrvFj1t4Y09Q-IxCS4fshvLUGLkeNyFOjEJVXHUC9ej2HIZpk2vzyMGA40Qb3t3tMav7hFnA4IvM5PyAoiF4DWZfJiNrPh0DBbX_J/s400/13.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br />We made it to Fallon, the end of the empty part of Nevada. Fallon is a cool town because it has a naval air base, and you can watch military jets practicing their moves in the sky above. To our delight, we met Carol at a gas station, and she offered to let us stay the night with her family. They even fed us an amazing dinner! Above: Carol, Mike, Patricia, and Amelia. </div><div></div><div></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>The Sierras</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6pD2MjtIudixr4ksd4tPTwXRvHikihOKhZLZ_PBJj7nH-JaG1PAhyphenhyphensqIWjzsAQ_ufbf79U9B4I27W0D1Ft-2zH0BtLCKm906ikYMvUFuIvndpgT6XaOlRQHum9GrlnzJg28VpjTT2WuZ/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361778722830297394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6pD2MjtIudixr4ksd4tPTwXRvHikihOKhZLZ_PBJj7nH-JaG1PAhyphenhyphensqIWjzsAQ_ufbf79U9B4I27W0D1Ft-2zH0BtLCKm906ikYMvUFuIvndpgT6XaOlRQHum9GrlnzJg28VpjTT2WuZ/s400/15.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is our last mountain range!!! From here we have 7,000 ft to lose to get down to the ocean. We've crossed so many mountain ranges since Colorado I've lost count of them. But now we're done with mountains!</div><div><br /></div><div>We were warned about the bears...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn7i1g4AtTPYm1ngVynddhLyNL_WFlTLESW3yk9f1tUlVEY77wZxlhvzHyIn_FHpuh-Hj_5FMGS7_Vc5opNhfSy-dXFwOpVcK7KxrxIMA7g_HWccX0LPEg5Y7jhySFkWk7ThXEk9nJ7ww/s1600-h/15a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361778721382014210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn7i1g4AtTPYm1ngVynddhLyNL_WFlTLESW3yk9f1tUlVEY77wZxlhvzHyIn_FHpuh-Hj_5FMGS7_Vc5opNhfSy-dXFwOpVcK7KxrxIMA7g_HWccX0LPEg5Y7jhySFkWk7ThXEk9nJ7ww/s400/15a.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Lake Tahoe</strong></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW_irkhwilFgzQB5jT7pxiXCgSJ4qrJHSC5tiMyN675psqY2VPUSmLdvKp-NMTBKfpyXCp1vB8A-UFywavLSHRVajCwpalBhqXXS1i79aIpFYWAcmnQodOtMKVq5xT_fck_KgbESXoQep/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361778711498898146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW_irkhwilFgzQB5jT7pxiXCgSJ4qrJHSC5tiMyN675psqY2VPUSmLdvKp-NMTBKfpyXCp1vB8A-UFywavLSHRVajCwpalBhqXXS1i79aIpFYWAcmnQodOtMKVq5xT_fck_KgbESXoQep/s400/16.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So now we are in California, our last state. We are couchsurfing with Rob, who has a wonderful place not far from the lake. We're going to take a day off here. Then it's onward to the beach, which is only 230 miles away. </div><div><br /></div><div>***AN INVITATION***</div><div><br /></div><div>We will be arriving at Stinson Beach at approximately 11 am on Monday, July 27th! I want to invite everyone reading this who is within traveling distance of Stinson to meet us there for a celebration. Let's call it a potluck: Amelia and I will be bringing a variety of half-finished road snacks. Please feel free to contribute whatever high-calorie foods you want.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next and final blog entry will be from the coast in about 4 days.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-20804964655185747272009-07-12T13:15:00.000-07:002009-07-23T21:19:52.969-07:00Into the desert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIk7t4izQ-QfX2eid_7FN88JoPOWjD8VhPVUhWPwHUaGIjvYCXuX9z32ALQK4_k2GMyZPOXPagITDOwndH7_YLjICANx5-e4Pqxi0UtZ6Mj9xl1yme-fqJy07QeyMmR321KLcAkNOrwt0/s1600-h/P1010031.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357777622132654130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIk7t4izQ-QfX2eid_7FN88JoPOWjD8VhPVUhWPwHUaGIjvYCXuX9z32ALQK4_k2GMyZPOXPagITDOwndH7_YLjICANx5-e4Pqxi0UtZ6Mj9xl1yme-fqJy07QeyMmR321KLcAkNOrwt0/s400/P1010031.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 54<br />Distance: 4456 km / 2769 mi<br />Location: Provo, UT<br /><br />We're here in Utah, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the high mountain desert. Here's a rundown of the past week:<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Steamboat Springs</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEPOTCwfD2nWDcbLppPad_OVnocgr0sl_8wmgXTo__5qPL8YrLgfiHtIBwFHKrr-vsT1AV870a5b-mh_KsnktYMaIF0MoyvEGmaowl92i4n-dKd19Ph7CS19RYYFwsjmQ1fVPEynI5blW/s1600-h/P1010028.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357777613831957986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEPOTCwfD2nWDcbLppPad_OVnocgr0sl_8wmgXTo__5qPL8YrLgfiHtIBwFHKrr-vsT1AV870a5b-mh_KsnktYMaIF0MoyvEGmaowl92i4n-dKd19Ph7CS19RYYFwsjmQ1fVPEynI5blW/s400/P1010028.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We couch surfed with Ray, who is an excellent cook! We enjoyed his home baked pizza, and elk that he hunted himself. Ray also showed us some of Steamboat's sights, including fish creek falls (below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDRhtNtmfG_WXwFYNdTF4YpUidRaBdTjDeBh8Dsc6mIO7AwjmNBjo0lS0tLLpS5NZL-XFShz6xX0rC_l8JxsMlaie9WZW_VNMeqAI7qWOauWnvJDL060p8E-DWQZ_i32Vr6PFr4SVTlqe/s1600-h/P1010030.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357776317688366626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDRhtNtmfG_WXwFYNdTF4YpUidRaBdTjDeBh8Dsc6mIO7AwjmNBjo0lS0tLLpS5NZL-XFShz6xX0rC_l8JxsMlaie9WZW_VNMeqAI7qWOauWnvJDL060p8E-DWQZ_i32Vr6PFr4SVTlqe/s400/P1010030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Dinosaur National Monument</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HrrmXQHYRB3KbVFldafLj1XSwXC-cHNhfztYgOloE6sIAB3AiCH8VZ4128t_yoxCvug0crEq1igaHauPt_uyIXyB6B3_Y5mbiHvOlFdop4x4-R7cYQqLC28KGt4-FF3HoFMeNZYK0w4P/s1600-h/P1010032.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357776306641158690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HrrmXQHYRB3KbVFldafLj1XSwXC-cHNhfztYgOloE6sIAB3AiCH8VZ4128t_yoxCvug0crEq1igaHauPt_uyIXyB6B3_Y5mbiHvOlFdop4x4-R7cYQqLC28KGt4-FF3HoFMeNZYK0w4P/s400/P1010032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We stopped by the visitor center on the main road. Unfortunately, actually getting to the dinosaur quarry would involve a 32 mile uphill ride, so we decided this is yet another place we'll have to come back to some day. Dinosaur, CO has a fun atmosphere though, with dino statues and themed street names.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSPWWuZ9ATz-i-O0Im70r4u3dN4scoxusAjDsFILc2nNaZphU2zMUzAeL1tFPJDb-q6QmDo6eWFQvNa1Zc01GxZAXkM150EmMfubSyJm6m0WyFCBGh4fGHnsc5s6cTbH2-vSLQkUynprB/s1600-h/P1010033.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357776302508520722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSPWWuZ9ATz-i-O0Im70r4u3dN4scoxusAjDsFILc2nNaZphU2zMUzAeL1tFPJDb-q6QmDo6eWFQvNa1Zc01GxZAXkM150EmMfubSyJm6m0WyFCBGh4fGHnsc5s6cTbH2-vSLQkUynprB/s400/P1010033.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Utah</span><br /><br />We crossed into Utah at about 4:30 am (our first nighttime crossing of a state line). Since the weather is drier here, we have actually been able to camp tentless. We were excited about sleeping under the stars, but unfortunately so far it has been cloudy every night.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoazccxCcayCi7TZNS0_-gaMmU3L1ae5RvfuuN9JQgNpUHJ26UxBAuQNwd45keWuMxgGN9IsxtGhQspbH0uU0PAMyF97WHeUPj9AVTrJwdb_0fM6GVco9i3BwMmnZxjFQlOvOomkliAWJV/s1600-h/P1010037.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357776299579266706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoazccxCcayCi7TZNS0_-gaMmU3L1ae5RvfuuN9JQgNpUHJ26UxBAuQNwd45keWuMxgGN9IsxtGhQspbH0uU0PAMyF97WHeUPj9AVTrJwdb_0fM6GVco9i3BwMmnZxjFQlOvOomkliAWJV/s400/P1010037.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Utah has some pretty awesome geology! We crossed the great basin, where millions of years of sedimentary layers are exposed in roadcuts and canyon walls. The white mineral at the base of this red sandstone is halite (NaCl), otherwise known as salt! I tasted some to make sure.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cE83fK2Do0eak7mB6B1o4P3RH-iV3DmBfu9G_pCkeGD8Gjlq6uAr7hwoQxEIAeHCr3wlrYdDyI7IJQT8q0syTMLdAkWDmKo8uwaMLpuDMJslKEYAFKxFBn-eLInx8pMc2vxnCO3bjH0/s1600-h/P1010038.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357776292292391298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cE83fK2Do0eak7mB6B1o4P3RH-iV3DmBfu9G_pCkeGD8Gjlq6uAr7hwoQxEIAeHCr3wlrYdDyI7IJQT8q0syTMLdAkWDmKo8uwaMLpuDMJslKEYAFKxFBn-eLInx8pMc2vxnCO3bjH0/s400/P1010038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Utah has some pretty impressive mountains too. The mountains are not going away any time soon. From here we'll be crossing one range after another all the way to the Sierras.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfC3cCiyFHUkbKotNo4psUrMXg7pLq0k1ebGxjnjY-2VPHqObtdON0SzOaSp-1v2R-RMYUiTQL-u4D0-5LEvCf1mRpfpdcHTXbi3yKtt07MbcL5niATJWTq7RFM0BV7lKtXBI5g-rZbK/s1600-h/P1010040.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357774682251186242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfC3cCiyFHUkbKotNo4psUrMXg7pLq0k1ebGxjnjY-2VPHqObtdON0SzOaSp-1v2R-RMYUiTQL-u4D0-5LEvCf1mRpfpdcHTXbi3yKtt07MbcL5niATJWTq7RFM0BV7lKtXBI5g-rZbK/s400/P1010040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Provo</span><br /><br />We're currently couchsurfing with Dan and Robyn. Yesterday afternoon we went inner tubing on the Provo River. This is something I had always wanted to try, so I was really excited!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yEOnAd-t50ad6N2j5N7b29Jzvt6hudcpdpbXYalwX5f7SwwheBaToG6OINtVZSbM-jjWuY2-sqMPDTAJgHjci9CxBbZemgq4vs20DZG9ner2o7VbkmdHfOkK5yX-hzo-H6ePH6vhnpYl/s1600-h/P1010044.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357774671981630994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yEOnAd-t50ad6N2j5N7b29Jzvt6hudcpdpbXYalwX5f7SwwheBaToG6OINtVZSbM-jjWuY2-sqMPDTAJgHjci9CxBbZemgq4vs20DZG9ner2o7VbkmdHfOkK5yX-hzo-H6ePH6vhnpYl/s400/P1010044.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, it turned out to not be so great. I was completely incapable of controlling where the tube was going, so I spent an hour and a half on the river getting dragged through sharp branches along the sides and bounced over sharp rocks. At one point I even ran over a beaver. I think I'm putting this on my list of things to not do again.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The end of the Mormon Trail</span><br /><br />Remember way back in New York when we went through Brigham Young's hometown? Well, we've been following the Mormon Trail ever since then, and now we've reached the end of it. Dan and Robyn showed us around BYU. Here we are hanging out with Joseph Smith.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2gOXNyV3wnWJXWdF4CFCHiyEJLkE1D6tZMxghTjHbtcDAubv26OCY-BuioqKHGSnjKWjfj6ScXngPguMgDdYw0jicg2eaTXU7_QsRSov5ypB0YjvvSiNij8-WWueKGKttWCK28ABU_vf/s1600-h/P1010045.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357774662298866594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2gOXNyV3wnWJXWdF4CFCHiyEJLkE1D6tZMxghTjHbtcDAubv26OCY-BuioqKHGSnjKWjfj6ScXngPguMgDdYw0jicg2eaTXU7_QsRSov5ypB0YjvvSiNij8-WWueKGKttWCK28ABU_vf/s400/P1010045.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Action Shots</span><br /><br />When we were in Rocky Mountain National Park we met some cyclists along the way. One of them, Steve, was quite skilled at taking photos with one hand while riding and he was kind enough to email me these awesome action shots.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBfxcx2p710WEY0JbSYybdEnQy79Cl9rdhj6Vss2t95ZODYR2Mu0e5yY6u8Ijqau8EbKElQeaoZosRPW4iQxVxpa_Y10eetB4A3nrrAysz0xJK6M320wTp4R1rFu6wFDILdS57tskIjKb/s1600-h/P7030297.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357774634300991538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBfxcx2p710WEY0JbSYybdEnQy79Cl9rdhj6Vss2t95ZODYR2Mu0e5yY6u8Ijqau8EbKElQeaoZosRPW4iQxVxpa_Y10eetB4A3nrrAysz0xJK6M320wTp4R1rFu6wFDILdS57tskIjKb/s400/P7030297.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ70kr4O9uAN98Z-ukmkDYsAqZfnfdMOO9IMjcPXxrw_wNWFeut4JDf0zMAyVQS3EZ-aKDYzV3YxnOOQn_5HAcL-CBhGiW5TBX-k8w9Lh3gU1I3BEuqldzmmKlV_kLjR2fgZUU9BGg-UNm/s1600-h/P7030298.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357774650797704338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ70kr4O9uAN98Z-ukmkDYsAqZfnfdMOO9IMjcPXxrw_wNWFeut4JDf0zMAyVQS3EZ-aKDYzV3YxnOOQn_5HAcL-CBhGiW5TBX-k8w9Lh3gU1I3BEuqldzmmKlV_kLjR2fgZUU9BGg-UNm/s400/P7030298.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another of the cyclists, Lonnie, has a pretty cool cycling blog you can check out:<br /><a href="http://www.iowacyclist.crazyguyonabike.com/">http://www.iowacyclist.crazyguyonabike.com </a><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The desert ahead</span><br /><br />We're carefully planning and gearing up for the emptiness of Western Utah and Nevada. This next leg of the trip will be challenging because there are several long stretches between towns. Since biking in the afternoon has proven pretty much impossible with the heat and high winds, we are going to switch over to a fully nocturnal schedule in order to be able to get from one town to the next. This means starting at 9 pm and riding until approximately 9 am the next day.<br /><br />I might not have internet again until Lake Tahoe, CA. But if I get the chance I will try to send a quick update from some town in Nevada.roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-6139510662925516022009-07-05T14:22:00.000-07:002009-07-05T15:42:08.527-07:00On Top<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ5OGLsljyp4MyOgSE7ERlsFnY8Er5Pkectca29AhDFDUPS5kLdYXW3bnwGTI07UnWNuUgjpc8kyL8tOfdTyZzMAomQ_2uok703U8q-w7a6ihX0A3YklZ8FR9DSZE20xSUdA5-ALwcoR9/s1600-h/P1010013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103903246719074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ5OGLsljyp4MyOgSE7ERlsFnY8Er5Pkectca29AhDFDUPS5kLdYXW3bnwGTI07UnWNuUgjpc8kyL8tOfdTyZzMAomQ_2uok703U8q-w7a6ihX0A3YklZ8FR9DSZE20xSUdA5-ALwcoR9/s400/P1010013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>Days: 46</div><div>Distance: 3917 km / 2434 mi</div><div>Location: Steamboat Springs, CO</div><div><br /></div><div>We did it! We crossed the Rocky Mountains. Biking through Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely the most awesome experience I have ever had in my life! </div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, it was so awesome that instead of doing this in order I'm going to talk about the mountain first. </div><div><br /></div><div><strong>An Alpine Start</strong></div><div></div><div>We left Estes Park (7,300 ft) at about 4:00 am and began the ascent. It's necessary to leave really early because you have to get over the top and back down below treeline before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in. Lightening presents a severe hazard above treeline, especially to people on steel bicycles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44A1IPDp4qYauZNk3h-xzzej1zVcy-5v3UhPt8bMlN18Kjjxbk5PAQOYmMw6vhzNyaigd59i3F68wCp3XXr-pwdXesLDTtiQWxs9iL9tAyNt7YNroOXJsR3QMPQA4MJEAAyMH7X0cwHNz/s1600-h/P1010007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103143922918002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44A1IPDp4qYauZNk3h-xzzej1zVcy-5v3UhPt8bMlN18Kjjxbk5PAQOYmMw6vhzNyaigd59i3F68wCp3XXr-pwdXesLDTtiQWxs9iL9tAyNt7YNroOXJsR3QMPQA4MJEAAyMH7X0cwHNz/s400/P1010007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>This photo is from Rainbow Curve, which is just over 10,560 feet or in other words two vertical miles above sea level. You hit the treeline about a mile or so beyond the curve. In our case, we also hit a large fog bank at about that time.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>On Top</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlx1FFTJm0_A3Ck7KrOop7pRYYICa8lAadPp__WaYTx_BzSHa9vf4mhBHFMWCcV00eRU4KscmpezEmM2ct_3-jIEsTqMKd4snHOOuCmwn58ulM_zleY3KQ5LxNr1XBDw6ye7a4IBhFGNja/s1600-h/P1010008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103136889256370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlx1FFTJm0_A3Ck7KrOop7pRYYICa8lAadPp__WaYTx_BzSHa9vf4mhBHFMWCcV00eRU4KscmpezEmM2ct_3-jIEsTqMKd4snHOOuCmwn58ulM_zleY3KQ5LxNr1XBDw6ye7a4IBhFGNja/s400/P1010008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The highest point on the road is at 12,163 ft. Unfortunately there is no sign there anymore because it caused traffic jams when people stopped to take photos with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, the views are spectacular.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPvd2DvKVEenjWJxwELnHuu_RU8j2SU-VsBH0E5nViKB3bgeNYkjAH7zGlw8bg6YJOYdOSgUsoEdwy8PCexQLVPEJEF7P6ypKwjR2BL9X435YLfmEVD1_ITGQ7rtNuU8hDrg8P30ok4wL/s1600-h/P1010012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103136024720930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPvd2DvKVEenjWJxwELnHuu_RU8j2SU-VsBH0E5nViKB3bgeNYkjAH7zGlw8bg6YJOYdOSgUsoEdwy8PCexQLVPEJEF7P6ypKwjR2BL9X435YLfmEVD1_ITGQ7rtNuU8hDrg8P30ok4wL/s400/P1010012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, so it wasn't all socked in.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ikhnwAGgFq4tF8k14PcinxhGkHwhmx0U2Amxm5aPZKxpG9BlcTLjg2JeytrPbRFPerOxV3o9OHEBF_vHx9Q4ZMnPq41-0U7KeCmWj9AubeSDAf-zpJDvnF68wCTUE5DUNXNWOtMPzFjg/s1600-h/P1010016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103130232385410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ikhnwAGgFq4tF8k14PcinxhGkHwhmx0U2Amxm5aPZKxpG9BlcTLjg2JeytrPbRFPerOxV3o9OHEBF_vHx9Q4ZMnPq41-0U7KeCmWj9AubeSDAf-zpJDvnF68wCTUE5DUNXNWOtMPzFjg/s400/P1010016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCd_t_W1TYqABkm1EPkIEXve9Yj8RLkQb19ErmalF-cKa_KrD7130reX4ZxrrzjY3BRtmZHvQ3-VaqaX2YklYn3VIUhswCBstAB-_BcFentm0A0kEFngeU41TBVIYZd8J7dDi5RjVrfa-/s1600-h/P1010017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355103121266782034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCd_t_W1TYqABkm1EPkIEXve9Yj8RLkQb19ErmalF-cKa_KrD7130reX4ZxrrzjY3BRtmZHvQ3-VaqaX2YklYn3VIUhswCBstAB-_BcFentm0A0kEFngeU41TBVIYZd8J7dDi5RjVrfa-/s400/P1010017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br />There's lots of snow and ice at the top. The temperature at 12,000 ft was 39 degrees F and it was raining. Brrrr!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYZmxvZLF-1n0WwceN48Vd1WXmxEAEhpIve_tYgibFK_6NgqtInKEWGgS_zvcdve94epnxiXTjhVxZBbJ9SSL78iTaRF2gy7ihaaNBKGrDt79diM66_ft0V8uDF0B6slypVG_IBuKS4Sb/s1600-h/P1010011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355101387954259634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYZmxvZLF-1n0WwceN48Vd1WXmxEAEhpIve_tYgibFK_6NgqtInKEWGgS_zvcdve94epnxiXTjhVxZBbJ9SSL78iTaRF2gy7ihaaNBKGrDt79diM66_ft0V8uDF0B6slypVG_IBuKS4Sb/s400/P1010011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong>Continental Divide</strong> - kind of an anticlimax considering we'd already been descending for 1500 ft by the time we reached it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTtsjHDPhdKUI479Ya45wqnG48vodS0tYoWhr4AbRrEq2KDoq7WkWLdZxSK-GHv0-CGUhyphenhyphenGkxT1HQl7U6Osqnl4aSpnQpsQNRC4hMbdNiXp5xv2ghC8oVUz_bst4A3YDdB3Luy3rb5qqi/s1600-h/P1010018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355101383701012338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTtsjHDPhdKUI479Ya45wqnG48vodS0tYoWhr4AbRrEq2KDoq7WkWLdZxSK-GHv0-CGUhyphenhyphenGkxT1HQl7U6Osqnl4aSpnQpsQNRC4hMbdNiXp5xv2ghC8oVUz_bst4A3YDdB3Luy3rb5qqi/s400/P1010018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Once we got down from the mountain, our plans hit a snag. We had planned to camp in a US Forest Service campground at Shadow Mountain Lake, but because it was 4th of July weekend the campground was full. Fortunately for us, Audrey and Irv generously offered to share their campsite with us. They even made us hot dogs! Thank you Audrey and Irv!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslIgXmoAxR9e9HUqffUyy5zTbV3A1NRJC1WZlVaEf6TFJSiboqFZiRnUb2ky0Xhnu4_93c4oa-cfgWrIQnxOFMCqZiqteFtcKQxshNvsJjYztB6LH_AtCl9gXRhcRg114ebGUy8KzjvPZ/s1600-h/P1010019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355101376930624210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslIgXmoAxR9e9HUqffUyy5zTbV3A1NRJC1WZlVaEf6TFJSiboqFZiRnUb2ky0Xhnu4_93c4oa-cfgWrIQnxOFMCqZiqteFtcKQxshNvsJjYztB6LH_AtCl9gXRhcRg114ebGUy8KzjvPZ/s400/P1010019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Okay, now the other stuff:</div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Boulder</strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggzJpEDYChxncRlrGzWoelK1vZ4n_U_iskA6uaTp-Dabmz1qFvRalUfnX4LKgP3oPe7rRlL9hgQ2eoIxDJx51LiiTGXFSO53KXNMYbz2Prkgwc1uUNvrumi-NI5xyZlqLIYrljY9Hj2UX/s1600-h/P1010003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355101366942437650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggzJpEDYChxncRlrGzWoelK1vZ4n_U_iskA6uaTp-Dabmz1qFvRalUfnX4LKgP3oPe7rRlL9hgQ2eoIxDJx51LiiTGXFSO53KXNMYbz2Prkgwc1uUNvrumi-NI5xyZlqLIYrljY9Hj2UX/s400/P1010003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>We stayed in Boulder for three days to visit relatives and friends. I went hiking with my former MIT geology buddies Andy and Mariela, as well as current student Elizabeth and the dog Mia. Mia very much enjoyed this creek. </div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Estes Park</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoxcS4n2fvoDgcRZANWDmjoRXht1V3ZhW0aaqZqFmv5ceAWsvzQXKjus-wuooW_FT1ze1mWxgZygnINP4dnLx16Kevg0BC74v_x7fApCl9_LYb3p4DgeLk6Ktdr0EN6nXqTi7ifj5F2sz/s1600-h/P1010004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355101364763281618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoxcS4n2fvoDgcRZANWDmjoRXht1V3ZhW0aaqZqFmv5ceAWsvzQXKjus-wuooW_FT1ze1mWxgZygnINP4dnLx16Kevg0BC74v_x7fApCl9_LYb3p4DgeLk6Ktdr0EN6nXqTi7ifj5F2sz/s400/P1010004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br />Highway 36 to Estes Park. I think this photo speaks for itself.</div><div><br /><strong>Road to Kremmling, CO</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOpfqnP_59nDlJZGjKtrTAtYZzBMKpOtGFOQIyajIVdS58gif-9cYmtqJ_-qcpiMp9SQiuzVYrI31SnjDwEAhOpTEzAbXIZGh2lQ38h9QkZQV5ZbGtNXPb_egaoW0KkVQNR3IjrfS7sFE/s1600-h/P1010020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355097299334366226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOpfqnP_59nDlJZGjKtrTAtYZzBMKpOtGFOQIyajIVdS58gif-9cYmtqJ_-qcpiMp9SQiuzVYrI31SnjDwEAhOpTEzAbXIZGh2lQ38h9QkZQV5ZbGtNXPb_egaoW0KkVQNR3IjrfS7sFE/s400/P1010020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>US 34 through a canyon alongside the Colorado River. This ride is mostly downhill for 40 miles. Quite seriously the most fun I've ever had on two wheels!</div><div><br /><strong>4th of July</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDnB1Xg1xZE1Vp1a2lI1v1dDR7pKIPADIYVFrzJCfMza9uJUUBK5AiaGKs_agFNjpvCXetvdF15MGe1owsCibWOjsSgRlIQFj8EMLt4zDNyi6XySLU7ZhdMNOa-KPgjl197p6NBxs-QRy/s1600-h/P1010021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355097292745260258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDnB1Xg1xZE1Vp1a2lI1v1dDR7pKIPADIYVFrzJCfMza9uJUUBK5AiaGKs_agFNjpvCXetvdF15MGe1owsCibWOjsSgRlIQFj8EMLt4zDNyi6XySLU7ZhdMNOa-KPgjl197p6NBxs-QRy/s400/P1010021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>We spent 4th of July in the small town of Kremmling, where we attended a town BBQ and watched fireworks that were launched from the top of a nearby mesa. </div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Rabbit Ears Pass</strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECKV2Azq0H0zgcoJRgtZX0GsqrN0ptA-4qKVVEn_yaOdnDx8ng8yfedLc441Halm6ZO4dyaa21yeJG-7w3h_YrlpNGuGWJMI5jc13EA_CguI280s7RT5pn7ZTgyKbPi5zk6ajsHEF4F1X/s1600-h/P1010024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355097289773697282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECKV2Azq0H0zgcoJRgtZX0GsqrN0ptA-4qKVVEn_yaOdnDx8ng8yfedLc441Halm6ZO4dyaa21yeJG-7w3h_YrlpNGuGWJMI5jc13EA_CguI280s7RT5pn7ZTgyKbPi5zk6ajsHEF4F1X/s400/P1010024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What's over the mountain? Another mountain of course! This is the 3rd (and last) time we crossed the Continental Divide.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Most rediculous flat tire ever</strong></div><div>Less than a mile outside of Steamboat Springs Amelia's rear tire suddenly pops. Upon inspection we find a small piece of metal imbedded in the tire. So Amelia pulls on it with a pair of pliers and...out comes a two inch long nail!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjvvAb9iJK4-HjZCGKjDzhXbt9T5clJe3vcohJPcOzAUrEUivHwkfn_MzeB3lJ1uXAwUEHivaGFxA6e-ogj8x9gq10FMVHv-HacvWItXXDSzcGFjTD7EA1TjFuCDb1MPqJb65ZsC4WPRR/s1600-h/P1010025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355097284551745938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjvvAb9iJK4-HjZCGKjDzhXbt9T5clJe3vcohJPcOzAUrEUivHwkfn_MzeB3lJ1uXAwUEHivaGFxA6e-ogj8x9gq10FMVHv-HacvWItXXDSzcGFjTD7EA1TjFuCDb1MPqJb65ZsC4WPRR/s400/P1010025.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aAA-0ns5Uc2oC12bBwiwOG__SGYWj5Y5TJyEHXdU2mNMaKbiwqpIz0d5VkZ6SZje6aBWkWH_f5AoqmHgitrYWw18oG_Ea3inkScmH8_47N3FGhLvx4aWJcTM6iJUtmaYu6gjiGKN5EcN/s1600-h/P1010027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355097270900231906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aAA-0ns5Uc2oC12bBwiwOG__SGYWj5Y5TJyEHXdU2mNMaKbiwqpIz0d5VkZ6SZje6aBWkWH_f5AoqmHgitrYWw18oG_Ea3inkScmH8_47N3FGhLvx4aWJcTM6iJUtmaYu6gjiGKN5EcN/s400/P1010027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Amazingly this is only the second flat we've had on the entire trip. Other than that we've had a broken chain and a few broken spokes. The bikes are holding up amazingly well. And so are we :)</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Next update will probably be from Provo, UT in about a week. We are looking forward to drier weather in the desert.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-31059960376000242532009-06-28T14:16:00.000-07:002009-06-28T15:58:07.562-07:00And when you're only halfway up...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_IL_0AyWfmwkhIRKDRqgggsRXVvFmYCH3VP7HnLXYG_5ZrBGR4gYzOO58aKtf61CDscMFffLAfvB9hWd0g6bO1fkeoCjmLeGL7CpB2ZVaTNU_ht9fbLldouSY-QioOi1DPUtsfZRNM4b/s1600-h/P1010257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_IL_0AyWfmwkhIRKDRqgggsRXVvFmYCH3VP7HnLXYG_5ZrBGR4gYzOO58aKtf61CDscMFffLAfvB9hWd0g6bO1fkeoCjmLeGL7CpB2ZVaTNU_ht9fbLldouSY-QioOi1DPUtsfZRNM4b/s400/P1010257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352510559388714114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 40<br />Distance: 3588 km / 2229 mi<br />Location: Boulder, CO<br />Elevation: 1646 m / 5400 ft<br /><br />We're done with the plains, and now we're sitting in the shadow of some pretty impressive mountains. I can't wait for the new terrain and the scenic views of Rocky Mountian National Park. Crossing the Fall River pass at 12,183 ft will be the absolute highlight of this trip for me, and the continental divide will also be an exciting landmark.<br /><br />But for now we're not even halfway up! Boulder is at 5400 ft. We've been ascending about 10 feet per mile for the last 400 miles or so across Nebraska and eastern Colorado. It feels like to whole thing was totally flat, but its actually a very gentle ramp. So you get up to 5400 feet without ever even realizing you were going up. That's about to change when we ascend another 6,000 feet in 40 miles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cycling at night</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAt9CFuZp83FIOu6G49VZU9qMexuwDGVr1PXh6iHptoWHXDnOm2Hru-3deWj6f2Qc_jYMWMbF_3vZ3EGyTSvmmKBciK983cSghK5Q1TZWYFFZ8LSN6AY1HZz_9wX4IxQFm4EFWrybJdz8/s1600-h/P1010228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAt9CFuZp83FIOu6G49VZU9qMexuwDGVr1PXh6iHptoWHXDnOm2Hru-3deWj6f2Qc_jYMWMbF_3vZ3EGyTSvmmKBciK983cSghK5Q1TZWYFFZ8LSN6AY1HZz_9wX4IxQFm4EFWrybJdz8/s400/P1010228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352510555751963890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have some pretty awesome flashing lights too, but they don't show up in the photo. This nightime schedule has been great. There are almost no cars on the roads as we pedal away under the stars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oceans of grass</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSIwxdCXU5gEQNSx-ND2iFWuC8xxKM8nM4rUn2x-sqd3mPz4z62LxUOFWvLFLW4fN1UpbJza7KD4BFOpsf1N4aDcYAjjJvu65g0qZw1BMLgQuu6XpGiXYcPet0w-Lpl8vbUerzt1kpch/s1600-h/P1010229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSIwxdCXU5gEQNSx-ND2iFWuC8xxKM8nM4rUn2x-sqd3mPz4z62LxUOFWvLFLW4fN1UpbJza7KD4BFOpsf1N4aDcYAjjJvu65g0qZw1BMLgQuu6XpGiXYcPet0w-Lpl8vbUerzt1kpch/s400/P1010229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352510550335951586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Yeah. Pretty much. This is Nebraska.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trains</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1MhtfYFx2IQ7uqm5VnfxHlFY4dKZhh21O4PTQCrWmo6K4xNsQNqmcEe3Qk1efDr4QUkApJG0RfgFL61rN40Dge1qZneeAH7pFOtqZyoLyVHL6yLB7k-M9sqTWnyIhuIpQT2hxsLBBhkO/s1600-h/P1010236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1MhtfYFx2IQ7uqm5VnfxHlFY4dKZhh21O4PTQCrWmo6K4xNsQNqmcEe3Qk1efDr4QUkApJG0RfgFL61rN40Dge1qZneeAH7pFOtqZyoLyVHL6yLB7k-M9sqTWnyIhuIpQT2hxsLBBhkO/s400/P1010236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352510541832824882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are a ton of trains out here. Most are carrying either coal or gravel, or large freight containers. The railroad we were following in Nebraska is the original First Transcontinental Railroad built across the US in 1869.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Somebody more hardcore than us</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWKFe8VITn-C6Sfv4ejPBh3njmBdd5W3Mf7DOU-hDVkEEoKDUy6FflY6Cu4YNUGhRZH2h_Ce7BdlGPhs_Npi61p0PqlgUpN-ZogpMf-skKvsLzhUAknsJEXY0_kzD1S2EUmUsXRdEJej/s1600-h/P1010238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWKFe8VITn-C6Sfv4ejPBh3njmBdd5W3Mf7DOU-hDVkEEoKDUy6FflY6Cu4YNUGhRZH2h_Ce7BdlGPhs_Npi61p0PqlgUpN-ZogpMf-skKvsLzhUAknsJEXY0_kzD1S2EUmUsXRdEJej/s400/P1010238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352506968603883474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is Eric and his donkey, Moses. Eric is walking barefoot with his donkey from Ohio to Seattle to meet Bill Gates and talk to him about education. Eric told us about his philosophy on life and recited poetry to us, while Moses quietly openned my rear panier and tried to eat some of our bread. The large thing on Moses' back is a solar panel used to power video cameras which record every step of their journey. They have been on the road for over a year. Eric told us he is not in any rush.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Lake McConaughy</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9CYoGorPorGaYr4pJ9MNblZANLTjAeCtp9YW2zqwWDi3g8AL-WNcDlV_ZBvE8dy9mJdk3eWDOiwAZ-dvw2sTwk9IQqlFOZjY3LfXSAfAEkbXiXoKxv50IhsAtLOVo7ND4QEq0uW2SyDV/s1600-h/P1010245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9CYoGorPorGaYr4pJ9MNblZANLTjAeCtp9YW2zqwWDi3g8AL-WNcDlV_ZBvE8dy9mJdk3eWDOiwAZ-dvw2sTwk9IQqlFOZjY3LfXSAfAEkbXiXoKxv50IhsAtLOVo7ND4QEq0uW2SyDV/s400/P1010245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352506958884205538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a large lake in Nebraska just north of Ogalalla. We camped in a nearby state park and took a day off at the lake to go swimming and relax!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip36Qiw9JCVdmP4mxv_Idv2QYlO_iYl6_nYd_oKEWIT3S8exbqoYjsEUp2VjZ_es7Uwc9-iAoXYRLHQRLw1phBO-zFDWBm6rsUrPz17bcTv7Pb8uTCfm0T6uPpPTmZfvqN2BUj3BnkETv_/s1600-h/P1010240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip36Qiw9JCVdmP4mxv_Idv2QYlO_iYl6_nYd_oKEWIT3S8exbqoYjsEUp2VjZ_es7Uwc9-iAoXYRLHQRLw1phBO-zFDWBm6rsUrPz17bcTv7Pb8uTCfm0T6uPpPTmZfvqN2BUj3BnkETv_/s400/P1010240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352509898912205298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Fishing is also a popular sport at the lake. Above: A woman shows off filets from her fresh catch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colorado</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1pFH8iYOy_hq19shPSVTH5YuztEvxRzYM5CPXEnsx-xEgn_SyEQbigRmGm1yFV3z-EJZ_ys-dHm8-ZCAM9OrFCR41orqaN0Bfh-XuI3dYTfGoqPmQKQ4uZqkHHs4uSC-Q4MGYQRTXnDi/s1600-h/P1010249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1pFH8iYOy_hq19shPSVTH5YuztEvxRzYM5CPXEnsx-xEgn_SyEQbigRmGm1yFV3z-EJZ_ys-dHm8-ZCAM9OrFCR41orqaN0Bfh-XuI3dYTfGoqPmQKQ4uZqkHHs4uSC-Q4MGYQRTXnDi/s400/P1010249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352506953898665378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another day, another state.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tornado Warning</span><br /><br />On Friday afternoon we rolled into the tiny town of Wiggins, CO and got permission from the police to pitch our tent in the city park. We could see a large storm coming, so rather than set up camp right away we decided to hang out under a covered picnic area and wait for it to pass. We were sitting and chatting with Tammy, a local resident, when she got a cell phone call from her husband telling her to get out of the park. A tornado warning had been issued for the area!<br /><br />Tammy took us back to her house and let us hide out there while the storm passed. Soon the wind was roaring and rain beat against the windows so hard you could barely see out. Fortunately, the storm passed without dropping any funnels, and the sun came out again. Aside from massive mud puddles on the dirt roads, not a sign remained of the storm, and we returned to the park to camp for the night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Mountians Approach</span><br /><br />The next morning we got up and the horizon was for once entirely clear of storm clouds. We could just make out a line of mountains on the horizon! The following is a series of photos starting at approximately 70 miles out and ending at the foot of the mountains just outside Boulder. It was so immensely satisfying to watch the mountains approach all day long.<br /><br />(click photos to enlarge)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdoWLxY6fvfN90uLZMIfIXgzT6jLFGkSQdayXaVMvLqtPfS4k5EOu3Aa5bMDaBwMSdBohSicB4_2x6yUyO0rsegNstQ0nRe5-1UlCTj8k-N0-R-mjZyMffMTUhWfEwH4ZshhgG7DRAJzq/s1600-h/P1010251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdoWLxY6fvfN90uLZMIfIXgzT6jLFGkSQdayXaVMvLqtPfS4k5EOu3Aa5bMDaBwMSdBohSicB4_2x6yUyO0rsegNstQ0nRe5-1UlCTj8k-N0-R-mjZyMffMTUhWfEwH4ZshhgG7DRAJzq/s400/P1010251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352512984613331522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKwhZ_MCxG_1cEXxtgoZWFRaJB4iz-mOdQ0XgSuJa-2PFQfTFCPa1Nt5hBbZ79ip89w9qg63WMnoM8G18VhM43C0EgWvooDWAuCesJtye7ZvL57DhF24e6oGWSeEqUkMyZfviLk0UzK7A/s1600-h/P1010254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKwhZ_MCxG_1cEXxtgoZWFRaJB4iz-mOdQ0XgSuJa-2PFQfTFCPa1Nt5hBbZ79ip89w9qg63WMnoM8G18VhM43C0EgWvooDWAuCesJtye7ZvL57DhF24e6oGWSeEqUkMyZfviLk0UzK7A/s400/P1010254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352505518699157698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyHlo-B5UuRfAommcpYIX4voNUdti4d5NtgD0FFFytVNNQu19qgmTRaqYfZvEbD_stobTsM9oRsHeu5tdeEcpTwEryoU-i2hIqU5H038HHUMV0gtey8T-PpDEojtCmVP92E6Gy4ORoqVz/s1600-h/P1010255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyHlo-B5UuRfAommcpYIX4voNUdti4d5NtgD0FFFytVNNQu19qgmTRaqYfZvEbD_stobTsM9oRsHeu5tdeEcpTwEryoU-i2hIqU5H038HHUMV0gtey8T-PpDEojtCmVP92E6Gy4ORoqVz/s400/P1010255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352505514494028530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUCPTfa9cU30pimFE1cd-FvK-VGKBKv5rC3rKw05XuNWqzyvgqCV5x-XSIZ_Rjlot5mUmdh3nRDpo03VbfGxmBAf9lSXiaPfCI6mtMXSufk4bim322QioON6iFmrNzXwAj2mZ64_yhFfQ/s1600-h/P1010256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUCPTfa9cU30pimFE1cd-FvK-VGKBKv5rC3rKw05XuNWqzyvgqCV5x-XSIZ_Rjlot5mUmdh3nRDpo03VbfGxmBAf9lSXiaPfCI6mtMXSufk4bim322QioON6iFmrNzXwAj2mZ64_yhFfQ/s400/P1010256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352505506254134322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9NfAVPceYbYm6Mj5WXOesnZV1sXVSSVI35BFtc3VEyEtFalOoIgctJ0XENgj8aKNGJW78ssj2me20OVIs1C6Kkh9vcAIHpFT2-ClBip4r6mx56uGrLvlQhlRHSWZ7kbAMmEwitnv3-7d/s1600-h/P1010257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9NfAVPceYbYm6Mj5WXOesnZV1sXVSSVI35BFtc3VEyEtFalOoIgctJ0XENgj8aKNGJW78ssj2me20OVIs1C6Kkh9vcAIHpFT2-ClBip4r6mx56uGrLvlQhlRHSWZ7kbAMmEwitnv3-7d/s400/P1010257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352505504034424226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next update will be in a week or so after we cross those beautiful snowy peaks!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmwtza96gdXO91_78iQVAUjvGSeASWopzDBT61k6UqX5WiWRV84GBSiEMXs6XGhQ4wHHwlajjULm3Hau9MEvLq1YeHNjjFWVLnLMuEnUOadzDLo-x-LtH68xo-4kU9j8rBj2UVPDhx377/s1600-h/P1010254.JPG"><br /></a>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-78216051071342893522009-06-19T16:00:00.000-07:002009-06-19T20:02:05.458-07:00Moooovin' Along<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAJASrjdRFnhlvOSOr9oZSlzxrKiRcxMWbQ6s4Y7JEZi1j8wRRoCH0iRxd7VyjAayltTD-GQ5OoN8zqTzKzKiVuNLbtwIg44bp1LuUeT8KHeGzg3KW7KFJpwSOixkdKYzkFejIYoB_4JI/s1600-h/P1010221.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAJASrjdRFnhlvOSOr9oZSlzxrKiRcxMWbQ6s4Y7JEZi1j8wRRoCH0iRxd7VyjAayltTD-GQ5OoN8zqTzKzKiVuNLbtwIg44bp1LuUeT8KHeGzg3KW7KFJpwSOixkdKYzkFejIYoB_4JI/s400/P1010221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349181594288582754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Days: 31</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Distance: 2462km / 1530 mi<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Location: Omaha, NE</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">We just crossed the state of Iowa, and now we are couchsurfing with Lisa and Brendan in Omaha. Iowa is a beautiful state! Here's some of the sites:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">John Deere Pavillion</span></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGNXzrodepMcb7WsYZ-X0NzDaIdhy1i6FhntENxng2GG8M-1RAQMGegqKi-rqShSTjTnoyZtNAO8KepUskgDPqOwN8OZu4EVyR-aaGXEVUzK5dEGuqgTqvYa_zgtpkB0tEtq3q5vdi4vH/s400/john_deere_pavilion.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349199431706927730" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">The visitor center at the John Deere headquarters is full of antique tractors and plows. Plenty of new equipment on display too. Did you know modern farm equipment uses GPS to map fields for yield rates and apply the right amount of fertilizer? It's a new age!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Some of these tractors have some pretty scary warning labels...</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZiF9WFl11Lb1OHdC1dLyyTeB_oMgNscOa3ScTo-3-tImbvTvhRFR8K11oeVHljhHr3rm1ueUo7gNAJjWaxgIZ8AwyCEU7CCkmoiIMJFbyABzcNdqxi1QI8pYQScVCG7VNRU0DttJ5WVN/s400/2946236416_9e8fe9dc05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349199424791843506" /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Water Ski Stunt Show</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">Eric took us to a water ski stunt show in Rock island, Il. Some of these stunts are crazy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Jumps!</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbNBM4bvUR33g9BBMrb4yM3YouCYomjNO2z94oT-o99yZ4xPTmi5rJf2MJpmdF4ukbm47_qN-fuiD0eatHJL2DLDlOZskks7jz9iGisu2KojSYhP5d1xhBxsaq5HrltWjFRHe8KUFOec1/s400/P1010210.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349197988434438370" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Dances</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvxLAi9bRUzznVrSyoTVKKu4Vd8SYJBj1Q4P-YOSaO4yfNxipKKUb4smNuUCLHDWnvzwjI2LP-v9z4MxWMMmxF99Q_rCszyvtcMhFBqJaYtPBwRMdgoicWdSsazFJphGj-oHXuS5F1OTt/s400/P1010212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349197983944924594" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Four person pyramid (could you even do this on land?)</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6_75bBLFug3d0aibCI2A-7eLZA7PhQfGkM_yh8MuGi5MLRBKP-062M8alK0dWm6QUalN8yvMT9-LveRPSLj0rC6RLTVxb_q6f8bzCcMFN47BztQToEAl_TQUL47ppnKSx9W3SDiHMVNo/s400/P1010208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349197994360940770" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The open road</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; text-decoration: underline; ">This is pretty much what we've been seeing for the past few days.</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jH7ZXGgah0Fklc6-OQPY1u9QhGop3-XTiCKmHGO1h3nqQYTNBEfZmdnSnRaDTKXssRSSyZ_6gKcta-6AUxrRk8Qvmf-vlMq2MqmVWBUI385HnQCw9TkxkHK6hzmqGVEpJUOX7uphyphenhyphenMcD/s400/P1010218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349199061255429042" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Did I mention John Deere?</span></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49bzdzyRvAgHZbV2YP9ocjA7aPLx70DhP-_dtvxW4gRwnZAKjUcQLVzoNr5SNfMX69L56hRd8Y2B8p227runH4_JWmxNILPM7UXDyTtMVO6gbkgTWR8FcoJ7SMza9hmbkTMzruSt0P__T/s400/P1010222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349201432476415314" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Nothing so fun as being overtaken by a huge combine on the road. Sometimes you have to get off the road just to let them pass because they are so huge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Des Moines</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">I forgot to take a p<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">hoto, but we couch surfed with Monkey and Lara. (yes, her name is actually Monkey. How cool is that?) The city has some fantastic bike trails, one of which we followed for about 30 miles out.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;">Site of the first train robbery in the West</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI9LFlsqirLHWclBXLcBvVHS9Ut-KVnAtC3ia1tZp9c3Yr5JR9tHDz96QBNA8OAPQPHP7wBXVWG72Sthl2NJkd6Poc5A6Rs2EK-WkvqhVjOEJJETcf_ue_ZxwhlnEZ6YQ-y8nVoQKeRA-/s400/P1010223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349193854423848914" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hailstorms and Tornados</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">While camping in a state park in Anita, IA, the ranger told us about a tornado warning. Apparently tornados always start with a h<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">uge thundestorm, then it turns into hail, a<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">nd then after it stops and gets really calm a tornado starts to form.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">We could see a huge thunderstorm coming, so we dove into the tent. Soon lightning and thunder was roaring all around us and the tent shuddered in the violent wind. And then the sound of the rain changed, and we realized it was hailing.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">And then it stopped, And got very calm.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">And we were afraid.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">But we were also really tired, so we just went to sleep.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Crossing the Missouri River</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">A pedestrian bridge.</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlckpbDuJInUBhUWBXSjCgIVTwUPkNhqCyk7q6R3MiqFZx_lZbPlR5lqwjpXm8TEHAS79wYrX9G0oyn2l-vwizaPsx9bkSOgJs-_EmLZ1vsn-9gM48LVEFhIM_HKCtmTL_d_bcC3Z_vIKd/s400/P1010224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349193123260088082" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Replete with fountains to cool off after </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">an 80 mile ride in 90 degree heat.</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gk2NrwIj656O7nuywXJOWSMT5vQXxnl_J3-naIpo_u8kWasL77M2OQGTQnRShzyP3E-yHcy2EwnNdftJ2Z317vqSAiskS0q5v5LeBfcyOAkAgGGge-iIw6vfmk1iYTPXNvUHrBPaav58/s400/P1010225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349193124002073810" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">Beating the Heat</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">It's become a real problem. Trying to bike in this weather is just miserable. For example, when the temperature reached 94 yesterday with 70 % humidity, we crawled into a Dairy Queen and took refuge for several hours, waiting for things to cool off. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;">We've got to beat the heat. So, starting tonight, we are implementing a new strategy: biking at night!</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FtRJJoS02UENpMxxn4wfvQ2myx3x8EXWDlMKz4biuok99IlSWYwJIKnLZFlQmMjATgohHtkwUNcETi7iCPoqV-r62Y0a0cSJAKGroi108xclu0dafLh2lQWcRTpSt96Dkfal9FIrnY-J/s400/P1010227.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349194557830261538" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">We're going to leave at 3 am, when </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">the traffic is hopefully about as calm as it can get, and bike until noon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"> Hopefully we'll adjust to the new schedule quickly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;">And yes, we do have bright lights and lots of reflective stuff. We are probably much more visible now than we ever were during the day. Above: Amelia sports her new nighttime gear.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Probably no more updates until Boulder, CO. It should take about 8 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>PS: Last weeks mystery photo was of inside the Davenport Skybridge:</div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_Skybridge">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_Skybridge</a><br /></div></div></div>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-86456325067012726192009-06-14T08:43:00.001-07:002009-06-14T09:41:35.900-07:00The Mississippi River<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamf4lxi_ZXy4xjLAGVIQploFIKsPJGa6_eM-1X-INrJZaMVx4z1M8040LX5GmjJnydw03AxfErscUKa5l32Z2wrgOYLP2rBUOxIOsR38bNopc1hyphenhyphenifjH8litI3jNNT0H5HiRLdQIOdzkG/s1600-h/P1010203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamf4lxi_ZXy4xjLAGVIQploFIKsPJGa6_eM-1X-INrJZaMVx4z1M8040LX5GmjJnydw03AxfErscUKa5l32Z2wrgOYLP2rBUOxIOsR38bNopc1hyphenhyphenifjH8litI3jNNT0H5HiRLdQIOdzkG/s400/P1010203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211706065504050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 25<br />Distance: 2046 km / 1279 mi<br />Location: Davenport, IA<br /><br />We crossed the Mississippi River on June 13th, which is also my Dad's birthday coincidentally (Happy Birthday Dad!). We are now couchsurfing with Eric, a mountain biking enthusiast who actually came out and rode the last 25 miles to the river with us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B81_N6G791KK_3JXJNez-KoOPB4-d7CNJwYGoBfEpyI29vlub1sx8aSvx2RRvpGthkwKMt5KqTM0zXrqdFuKn2zUfxwYNDeAuPjQfwm-mrXbAlMatT4Kl92q6v6Tv4cYqKXmRISCSz6-/s1600-h/P1010199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B81_N6G791KK_3JXJNez-KoOPB4-d7CNJwYGoBfEpyI29vlub1sx8aSvx2RRvpGthkwKMt5KqTM0zXrqdFuKn2zUfxwYNDeAuPjQfwm-mrXbAlMatT4Kl92q6v6Tv4cYqKXmRISCSz6-/s400/P1010199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211719774480258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the day out of South Bend we stopped at the lakeshore near Michigan City for some fun on the beach. Unfortunately the weather wasn't exactly what you would describe as a "beach day", but it was still beautiful.<br /><br /><a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu227AZfOwKu2DBLLucLApBZoB7u1yKWRlNYKzBSHzGDD_fn-tzDC2FfbFJDfl_QzFIObpXBZmkcaF1bje6j5Vm_2ApxLKDB8AhnSrZJD98LkV00qsd3_WCjNQRkiVzG1zhEwxKtmw9Ebr/s1600-h/P1010200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu227AZfOwKu2DBLLucLApBZoB7u1yKWRlNYKzBSHzGDD_fn-tzDC2FfbFJDfl_QzFIObpXBZmkcaF1bje6j5Vm_2ApxLKDB8AhnSrZJD98LkV00qsd3_WCjNQRkiVzG1zhEwxKtmw9Ebr/s400/P1010200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347212540602669650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a nice photo of Amelia, but what's even more important is what you can see in the background. Indiana Dunes is probably the only National Lakeshore (or National anything) that comes with it's very own scenic view of a nuclear power plant.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Best High School Mascot Ever</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp944BrBx6kFNIrUt2ZkY551YM_SFgZwcs6ARwyKUmQV36dEPinsflrLvg2ohAMFa9zbcjBM08lFTZQB-gCTkJunrrM8QTTP-eTmF0kdWH-vTWqo7WUbwPLHy4obpybbPYfhfJ9vJzCCTf/s1600-h/P1010195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp944BrBx6kFNIrUt2ZkY551YM_SFgZwcs6ARwyKUmQV36dEPinsflrLvg2ohAMFa9zbcjBM08lFTZQB-gCTkJunrrM8QTTP-eTmF0kdWH-vTWqo7WUbwPLHy4obpybbPYfhfJ9vJzCCTf/s400/P1010195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211847718805538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Chicago<br /><br /></span></span>We got in to Tinley Park, which is a suburb of South Chicago, and couch surfed with Dave, a high school science teacher. Dave took us out bowling with a group of friends in the city, and we got to see the skyline at night.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mendota</span><br /><br />A day after Chicago we stayed with another couch surfer, Nick, in a rural town called Mendota, Il. I am impressed by how beautiful rural Illinois is! Once we got away from the Chicago area sprawl we were treated to hours of quiet roads surrounded by cornfields as far as the eye can see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C3sjRn5ULMeWqW-A7b6SThl6xRcAnGbup68Lm0K21huzIaG0ediu-s_1h4XFmDSNmO6biRkomNtCvGtzuBtuP0SqmBpV1NosrEPreBFrj0iZnnMv-wf1Y1zhSu2w2lVDBXyTavLIY3me/s1600-h/P1010201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C3sjRn5ULMeWqW-A7b6SThl6xRcAnGbup68Lm0K21huzIaG0ediu-s_1h4XFmDSNmO6biRkomNtCvGtzuBtuP0SqmBpV1NosrEPreBFrj0iZnnMv-wf1Y1zhSu2w2lVDBXyTavLIY3me/s400/P1010201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347218508626041106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nick took us to an all-you-can-eat buffet in town. I think we put them out of business!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ronald Reagan's Birthplace<br /></span>He was born in a cornfield?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTkmQmVHBZ72HuygKYiK8G8SQf-iYSUeuWBnTqvGSfRyAgp4NE3aYYR8dTWK0NGsqqSymOW8pcG6PYyKh_VfNZZc5luaTlRUFmC62gyatX5RKC7pHUGRbH7q6tqzvIyhDnyjIRuF0k1am/s1600-h/P1010202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTkmQmVHBZ72HuygKYiK8G8SQf-iYSUeuWBnTqvGSfRyAgp4NE3aYYR8dTWK0NGsqqSymOW8pcG6PYyKh_VfNZZc5luaTlRUFmC62gyatX5RKC7pHUGRbH7q6tqzvIyhDnyjIRuF0k1am/s400/P1010202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211724230992738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Crossing Over<br /></span>It was pretty exciting to make it to the Mississippi. Crossing the river felt like we entered a new phase of this journey. I feel like one of the Oregon Trail pioneers who set off to explore and colonize the west! Except with paved roads and grocery stores, and without the cholera or starvation.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />What is this?<br /></span>First person who can correctly tell me gets a prize!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl9qT1XKL1MZLPl71nhOLcy55yig_-x-EAxNdoreaelDX9k99sK3NJRKIAKqV_ubuMUdOmAAHNii80BbqOoph0ZEqi4GVVyMWt9D8tGy7BnITbVai4GkteiNy2oBOavpzYE8ZiII15xq8/s1600-h/P1010207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl9qT1XKL1MZLPl71nhOLcy55yig_-x-EAxNdoreaelDX9k99sK3NJRKIAKqV_ubuMUdOmAAHNii80BbqOoph0ZEqi4GVVyMWt9D8tGy7BnITbVai4GkteiNy2oBOavpzYE8ZiII15xq8/s400/P1010207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347211729754790930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Davenport, IA<br /></span>So, we are now taking a rest day in Davenport, IA. Eric (our couchsurfing host) took us to a minor league baseball game last night. Unfortunately Davenport lost to Cedar Rapids. But we had good popcorn!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOCjEpf0Ik3Rusi0g8prIxUvG8v4nRzzl0RC9ljgh1srT5c2q2sYxl81liK909jvYKB3qg5ahsWTcXtbf3VNTblMf75e0SXWuR1Zp5H0dH5BzvNAuduQA1Nu6pSd9FElgfYlRz2uuhHa1/s1600-h/P1010205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOCjEpf0Ik3Rusi0g8prIxUvG8v4nRzzl0RC9ljgh1srT5c2q2sYxl81liK909jvYKB3qg5ahsWTcXtbf3VNTblMf75e0SXWuR1Zp5H0dH5BzvNAuduQA1Nu6pSd9FElgfYlRz2uuhHa1/s400/P1010205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347218736323926130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next update will come from Omaha, NE.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-4177689041480764262009-06-09T18:03:00.000-07:002009-06-10T18:27:45.619-07:00Back on the road again<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div>Days: 21<div>Distance: 1641 km / 1020 mi</div><div>Location: South Bend, IN<br /><br />Well, now that graduation is over, we hit the road again! First we got our bikes tuned up at the Two-Wheel Tango Bike Shop in Ann Arbor. The mechanics let us watch as they rebuilt Amelia's back wheel with stronger spokes (which hopefully won't break all the time like her old spokes). They also replaced my derailleur cable and gave us a bunch of maintenance tips. I give them 5 stars!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michigan International Speedway</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJvPV3JqiUGNy_j3oxRPW_CfxXfQcdlZycj_-PnGic2WINzw6CrfQwiY4oUKq93w6MmwpgaKMlZmV_HsiFJbXeATiFx3cl2j24p4JUF5k-B7tC5Ab0Q9sxRmKQ0MeEroa4f7G-zhLd8fn/s1600-h/P1010196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345501384246623778" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 103px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJvPV3JqiUGNy_j3oxRPW_CfxXfQcdlZycj_-PnGic2WINzw6CrfQwiY4oUKq93w6MmwpgaKMlZmV_HsiFJbXeATiFx3cl2j24p4JUF5k-B7tC5Ab0Q9sxRmKQ0MeEroa4f7G-zhLd8fn/s400/P1010196.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(click photo to enlarge)</span><br /></div><br />We made it to South Bend in two days, where we are now staying with Amelia's aunt and uncle. On the way we passed the Michigan International Speedway (above). It was closed, but some guys were fixing the gate and had it open. We asked if we could go in and they let us, so we got to climb the bleachers for a spectacular view of the 1.5 mile track.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walmart Distribution Center #6043</span><br />So huge it won't even fit in the photo! I measured it with my bike and it was half a mile long.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh304gtDPLp045vdG_s7njBCuE2541DBm6PEiPfumkM-uVjdKzYn5HHlrmGCqMmHDycAji0oJO2iG2r-zHMLlIUHua9lBiuYWaFzq8HrocqE5aRCx7P6VbUoKU1_7bYZeFAup07pGpOYfCn/s1600-h/P1010187.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345502731040880130" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh304gtDPLp045vdG_s7njBCuE2541DBm6PEiPfumkM-uVjdKzYn5HHlrmGCqMmHDycAji0oJO2iG2r-zHMLlIUHua9lBiuYWaFzq8HrocqE5aRCx7P6VbUoKU1_7bYZeFAup07pGpOYfCn/s400/P1010187.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Power Tour 2009<br /></span>We noticed a large number of beautiful hot rods on the road. We met a few of the drivers at a rest stop, who told us about the Power Tour. This is an annual tour of hot rod owners who drive for eight days around the central states. They were headed from South Bend to Detroit. Several thousand cars participate! So for the next few hours we were treated to a long stream of gorgeous cars passing us in the other direction. Below: A Power Tour driver with his classic hot rod.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZq9CUonnif_tO6iIXtrMgRHZpOAi0vIktG1BtGmKenU4qd3REOgVM-bKQtVra-14Zar7xdadpY1UrpntZFBmY7ZFRjrmpSlQnHT8n9NL3LiAOSNSbqTkzj0jms9vMumKiCZAj-Ho-QhF/s1600-h/P1010191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345502722965802082" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZq9CUonnif_tO6iIXtrMgRHZpOAi0vIktG1BtGmKenU4qd3REOgVM-bKQtVra-14Zar7xdadpY1UrpntZFBmY7ZFRjrmpSlQnHT8n9NL3LiAOSNSbqTkzj0jms9vMumKiCZAj-Ho-QhF/s400/P1010191.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Indiana, our fifth state/province</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS3rjlS_hk1fK15rkzZ_xTjoYzL1b2_Q624MTf1L8jC6qZgH_TlIGDZX5RlY5jFiblLtXNEGzvvPnighPLvOVXz3z0Zz3lRwezxh3lYvET-rqIZ1VX-AIlJXnZdU7m7XEsUUnSnQwMIBG/s1600-h/P1010194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345504636108484578" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 300px; height: 400px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS3rjlS_hk1fK15rkzZ_xTjoYzL1b2_Q624MTf1L8jC6qZgH_TlIGDZX5RlY5jFiblLtXNEGzvvPnighPLvOVXz3z0Zz3lRwezxh3lYvET-rqIZ1VX-AIlJXnZdU7m7XEsUUnSnQwMIBG/s400/P1010194.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Camping on a bicycle<br /></span>Some of you may be wondering just how we do this biking/camping thing. Below is a photo of the back of Amelia's bike. She has a tent (large gray bag), a sleeping pad (orange roll), and two saddle bags to carry her sleeping bag, clothes, food, and a camping stove.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qfIRrc8FUwqOcJqqx2uUCGqI9BTO9roHNTVdmmvT0VBK0jAdPpiRUq8jFJybkHTaTTfusZwX4Gg-U98SEdj2IfifM0r75tU4jiiL4xaqOwJ3wxNny639g-RaPPJSNXjhyJYBHJhp7JgE/s1600-h/P1010193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345502726771849634" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qfIRrc8FUwqOcJqqx2uUCGqI9BTO9roHNTVdmmvT0VBK0jAdPpiRUq8jFJybkHTaTTfusZwX4Gg-U98SEdj2IfifM0r75tU4jiiL4xaqOwJ3wxNny639g-RaPPJSNXjhyJYBHJhp7JgE/s400/P1010193.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When we get in to camp, the first step is to set up our tent. We have to do this first in case it starts to rain!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZdb3LTCCMwnl7aeg6s1Qw5w1CNt4UjEEPEzDR8ZseqBnX6Qr_iV4CXsnd-ubzARidO7mZFcG8M8zIIib09BmDKEyEWdi-PNGh1UFqH15avCjEFazmNArjKRu4yFldLyhzMl2x7_lS1e5/s1600-h/P1010188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345502715675553234" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZdb3LTCCMwnl7aeg6s1Qw5w1CNt4UjEEPEzDR8ZseqBnX6Qr_iV4CXsnd-ubzARidO7mZFcG8M8zIIib09BmDKEyEWdi-PNGh1UFqH15avCjEFazmNArjKRu4yFldLyhzMl2x7_lS1e5/s400/P1010188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The next step is to change out of our dirty cycling clothes, and into our less-dirty camping clothes. Then we cook dinner on the camp stove. Our favorite meal is instant rice and beans, because it is nourishing and uses very little fuel to cook. We also have to eat at least one vegetable every night to avoid scurvy. Below: Enjoying a hearty meal a-la-campstove.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGud9uUEGimt8l7wIwE3vvS_RhOhCard9Psv4eBc9_Mo4_bqVRAlFaiNSfsvNZog5ZX-ejxYwWxr6H5B3pSEmU99Ap-PiCbCDGmYDySbE5DTW1mXSsANO9dvDtFXvFiUFFgooZDiKhIT1/s1600-h/P1010189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345502719084410290" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGud9uUEGimt8l7wIwE3vvS_RhOhCard9Psv4eBc9_Mo4_bqVRAlFaiNSfsvNZog5ZX-ejxYwWxr6H5B3pSEmU99Ap-PiCbCDGmYDySbE5DTW1mXSsANO9dvDtFXvFiUFFgooZDiKhIT1/s400/P1010189.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When we've been camping for several days in a row, we have to wash our clothes. This is easily accomplished with the portable washing machine, otherwise known as two ziplock bags. First you fill one bag with water and soap. Then you stuff in some clothes, zip the bag, and squish/slosh it around for a while. Remove clothes and rinse them in the second bag with clean water. Then ring them out and hang them up to dry on a clothes line fashioned from p-cord. If they aren't dry by morning, you can tie them to the back of your bike and let them dry in the wind as you ride!<br /><br />(Note: this washing method is not recommended for winter trips. Frozen clothes are no fun. Ask me how I know)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time zones</span><br />Tomorrow we are headed on to Illinois, and we will cross over into Central Time! This is a fun landmark, although it means it won't be broad daylight at 9 pm anymore.<br /><br />Next update will come from the west side of the Mississippi River!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-75160969418445597072009-06-04T07:05:00.001-07:002009-06-04T13:38:59.022-07:00Oh, Canada<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIPsjlam7AAZTLHy5jKEmTnphXwjhVmROFZYOoifnlA87VT5ShqbIfAvXbsAiM8waV6XNJr8bJ-SBRAjZJu0kfQr3NLcymAYWDc4UNLcnQ6lpoith9ri3yMG3Mhr_sNN4i6SkgowrrBRi/s1600-h/P1010178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIPsjlam7AAZTLHy5jKEmTnphXwjhVmROFZYOoifnlA87VT5ShqbIfAvXbsAiM8waV6XNJr8bJ-SBRAjZJu0kfQr3NLcymAYWDc4UNLcnQ6lpoith9ri3yMG3Mhr_sNN4i6SkgowrrBRi/s400/P1010178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343474520178718098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Days: 14<br />Distance: 1350 km / 838 mi<br />Location: Ann Arbor, MI<br /><br />So, we made it to my brother's coop house in Ann Arbor! Here's the latest list of adventures:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Niagra Falls</span><br /><br />We biked from Rochester to North Tonawanda, a town right near the falls. There we stayed with Corey, a couchsurfer and skydiving pilot (how cool is that?). Corey showed us around town and helped us find our way to the falls in the morning. We crossed the "Rainbow Bridge" to Canada. The toll collector got so excited about our trip that he let us cross the bridge for free, and the Canadian customs officials let us jump the line in front of all the cars. After crossing over we relaxed and enjoyed the view for a while.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRDsvU9QQYxURHUxWfU1SHEVEC9RMwHO__fgSewphU8SNWUCALImPzqlI1QTcNzlVTPHvST_Kb9QCHBA3Di-hdpQ-HidkYx04WauktIm_kgmjZdyU1gM0W7oPTLBXGuIdLiHoHHvPnQGs/s1600-h/P1010165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRDsvU9QQYxURHUxWfU1SHEVEC9RMwHO__fgSewphU8SNWUCALImPzqlI1QTcNzlVTPHvST_Kb9QCHBA3Di-hdpQ-HidkYx04WauktIm_kgmjZdyU1gM0W7oPTLBXGuIdLiHoHHvPnQGs/s400/P1010165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343475999883562418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hamilton, ON</span><br /><br />We had another fantastic couchsurfing experience with Alicia and her parents in Hamilton, ON. They took us out to dinner and fed us goat at a caribbean place. I've discovered a new food that I like!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Magic Gazebo</span><br /><br />We bike in all weather, and rain doesn't bother us. In fact, we thought we'd seen the worst when we got drenched biking out of Rochester. But there's one thing we don't do: lightning. Riding a steel bike across open fields in a lightning storm just seems to us like a recipe for a Darwin award. Unfortunately, it turns out this part of the country has thunderstorms pretty much daily in the summer.<br /><br />The ride to London was tough. We faced extremely harsh head winds all day. We had to pedal hard just to even go downhill, and progress was very slow. Dark coulds began to gather in the late afternoon, and by evening the sky was looking ominous. Exhausted, we arrived in a tiny town called Thamesford and decided we needed a large snack break.<br /><br />I was looking for a place to sit and eat when all of a sudden up ahead I could see a large gazebo by the side of the road. There was no apparently obvious reason for it to be there. About two seconds after we sat down in the gazebo, the sky openned up and it began to pour. Of course we were nice and dry in our magic gazebo!<br /><br />At first the thunder was only in the distance and we weren't worried, but by the time we finished eating the lightning was directly overhead. We decided it wasn't safe to bike, so we had to wait until the storm moved farther away. We called a friend who checked radar images online and informed us that this storm was moving away, but several more were on the way!<br /><br />After about half an hour the lightning was far enough away that we deemed it safe. We put on all our rain gear and headed out. To our delight, we discovered the horrible headwinds had finally calmed, and we raced to London ahead of the second storm!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Springbank Snow Countess</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT53zWKjSZULEBVnVj8zBnqS4socBIXqLqQ1az0SGw_XJye2gs5AT5fyGMXt0cF53dxVhs9N2X2jGRSIPdwfEahFpcpm27e_iM3YrOk8Khxh2xMJneMJpjnQ4d-JNkD6DNCs-GcgSRFKU/s1600-h/P1010169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT53zWKjSZULEBVnVj8zBnqS4socBIXqLqQ1az0SGw_XJye2gs5AT5fyGMXt0cF53dxVhs9N2X2jGRSIPdwfEahFpcpm27e_iM3YrOk8Khxh2xMJneMJpjnQ4d-JNkD6DNCs-GcgSRFKU/s400/P1010169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343479862607287058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The inscription reads:<br /><br />In honor of<br />Springbank Snow Countess<br />World Champion Lifetme Butterfat Producer<br />9062 Lbs Butterfat and 209.505 lbs milk in 10 lactations. Average test 4.37%<br />Born Nov 8th, 1919--Died August 9th, 1936<br />Errected by the Holstein-Friesian Association<br />of Canada August 4th, 1937 on Springbank Farm<br />Where her lifetime was spent in the service of her breeder and owner<br />T.R. Dent<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">London and Ipperwash Beach</span><br /><br />My Grandmother's friend Ian hosted us in London, and he took us up to his cabin on the south shore of Lake Huron. We had a relaxing day, letting our muscles recover.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2naxUoRx7hwbm9PjaE0MOhN4vkjm8mOCT4sH6jvI_aH7mzGsLYdkvWrVVeSxAE1sIgBH4rmtijmcyIjz1lxWcMpD_ZxzhViHs9XHvs7gdfxi0nq7QT28SehWEqi5-pW-KtJQ_QTe5Qir/s1600-h/P1010172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2naxUoRx7hwbm9PjaE0MOhN4vkjm8mOCT4sH6jvI_aH7mzGsLYdkvWrVVeSxAE1sIgBH4rmtijmcyIjz1lxWcMpD_ZxzhViHs9XHvs7gdfxi0nq7QT28SehWEqi5-pW-KtJQ_QTe5Qir/s320/P1010172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343481942941254770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lqcKvlCOfvuieKhqSXEE18Y7Edg27utOsRcy_tRO33nJGhwItSYTXD9mlPW6H5FfwmcTLx7BSzA0fJiKeWCTUOVsl84P9aPJqYkKSgw6JrteZklbyLWvTMAIhSFXBOgXFydRbpHdo_B8/s1600-h/P1010173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lqcKvlCOfvuieKhqSXEE18Y7Edg27utOsRcy_tRO33nJGhwItSYTXD9mlPW6H5FfwmcTLx7BSzA0fJiKeWCTUOVsl84P9aPJqYkKSgw6JrteZklbyLWvTMAIhSFXBOgXFydRbpHdo_B8/s320/P1010173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343482608695239570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crossing the Border to Michigan</span><br /><br />Our original plan was to cross back into Michigan via the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor to Detroit. However, another cyclist we met at Niagra Falls warned us that the bicycles are not allowed either on the bridge or in the tunnel. (The bridge has a sidewalk, but it's been closed ever since September 11th due to "security concerns"). We decided to cross the border north of Lake St. Clair via the ferry from Sombra to Marine City.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-xO6LpRLcbOqr1CHj93yCZh5cWRHRKQ6YIMty9v6xrpkq_dTlfylPlZdVOiCmmVnIbAGOe_fLXLOLRKZhLyg1-sF8d4Jnu9CrXTRqOgQ35m5MfYX_YPwlfUnqIU8mApMZruQC0yM7uHS/s1600-h/P1010180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-xO6LpRLcbOqr1CHj93yCZh5cWRHRKQ6YIMty9v6xrpkq_dTlfylPlZdVOiCmmVnIbAGOe_fLXLOLRKZhLyg1-sF8d4Jnu9CrXTRqOgQ35m5MfYX_YPwlfUnqIU8mApMZruQC0yM7uHS/s400/P1010180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343483701359624898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have to admit my first thought after getting off the ferry on the Michigan side was "I want to go back to Canada". Let's just say Marine City, MI has seen better days.<br /><br />While trying to change our Canadian dollars back to US dollars at the local bank we were approached by a drunk guy named "Don". Don was facinated by our loaded bikes and the explanation of our trip. His hand was also bleeding very badly, but he refused my offer of a bandage. "I'm a tough guy" Don told us, and then went on to brag about all the fights he's been in.<br /><br />"Do you girls know how to fight?" Don asked.<br /><br />I admitted I don't fight often.<br /><br />"You should know how to fight, cuz on a trip like this someone might try an' kidnap you," Don slurred. "Do you carry any weapons? You should carry weapons!"<br /><br />Don offered us his protection and wanted to give us his phone number, but we just told him to have a nice day and biked away. We never did get to change our money!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Empty City</span><br /><br />We were a little afraid of biking through Detroit, but it turned out to be an easy city to bike through. Why? Well, frankly, the whole place is practically empty! We were biking through on a Tuesday at noon. In any other city the streets should have been bustling with traffic, but not Detroit. It looked like Boston would look at 7 am on a Sunday.<br /><br />I asked my brother about it, and his response:<br />"Of course it's empty. Why would anyone go there?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Graduation Hiatus<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span>So, a day after arriving in Ann Arbor, my brother and I drove all the way back to good old Cambridge, and tomorrow I'll attend commencement. It took a full 13 hours to drive back, and for the first time I fully realized just how far we've biked!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>We'll make the drive back to Michigan on Saturday, where Amelia and the bikes are waiting. We'll probably start biking again on Monday, June 8th. So stay tuned for part II.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-89421395034043310712009-05-27T07:52:00.000-07:002009-05-27T07:52:26.370-07:00250 miles on the Erie Canal<div><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWA0icg-pe_ZFlqiUG7ndHx0jOoB1eCSyGwbSoYpHNoK39doPwTEnoA5hXrEd-wk76pxmM65Sp8QRcXm2NaAW5q-A6ZA5sl1us15xJmgBaQCApqttWlNgIa0SI1yAHJOqLkNHOtzwsJbM/s1600-h/P1010157.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340502116601322274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWA0icg-pe_ZFlqiUG7ndHx0jOoB1eCSyGwbSoYpHNoK39doPwTEnoA5hXrEd-wk76pxmM65Sp8QRcXm2NaAW5q-A6ZA5sl1us15xJmgBaQCApqttWlNgIa0SI1yAHJOqLkNHOtzwsJbM/s320/P1010157.JPG" style="float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><br />
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Days: 7</div>Distance: 716.7 km / 445.3 mi<br />
Location: Rochester, NY<br />
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<div></div><div>Well, we made it through our first week, and now we're taking a well-earned day off at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Rochester, NY. Central New York has been beautiful, and surprisingly much more empty than we expected. Here's some highlights from the New York experience:</div><br />
<div>The Erie Canal<br />
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We've been following the Erie Canal ever since Albany. (Below: Rhiannon and I when we first crossed the canal!) We like this route because it is very flat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtprSWzjBhXiawb3beja2Oha8hmexdLnB53stVzurXUauxxyDI5meVBW3AXM6KY2GsT3Gd1xKatYcAfHqfMyhP-bi07-LjE6X9OaTeeEHfj4riLsj92ety1fz93MdEiF_Kxh2ANjrdWNvw/s1600-h/P1010156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtprSWzjBhXiawb3beja2Oha8hmexdLnB53stVzurXUauxxyDI5meVBW3AXM6KY2GsT3Gd1xKatYcAfHqfMyhP-bi07-LjE6X9OaTeeEHfj4riLsj92ety1fz93MdEiF_Kxh2ANjrdWNvw/s320/P1010156.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf5E6zRIWyhF1FyvGPRad1sP0S7BxgOrgfJ6YORMIEUdK1yLVhPoDyS32iox-PZ2RTcZOb7SmTaDADE-SL0KlSG-dA2cy1wiHQbbzveskWdeSlS9TNjIbZoNN7sLeYrdNkqjwhficx2lG/s1600-h/P1010159.JPG"><br />
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Missy and Mike<br />
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At the end of day 5 we were about halfway between Albany and Syracuse, in a very rural area of central New York. We decided to camp by the side of the road, so we knocked on the door of the nearest house to ask for permission to camp on some nearby land.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuLzGPrucLnWxctNXduKoK5-aZck1RL99Klc1JOkjseyEoG2A7z7mLruAz_Pu7LDdG4aKZGJQUl9-fz914P7E78NM6Db1JPqAmt1V2GIeBeSuHDbeLBgV5416vZQhH2iwByTlQ3sVy5oW/s1600-h/P1010158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuLzGPrucLnWxctNXduKoK5-aZck1RL99Klc1JOkjseyEoG2A7z7mLruAz_Pu7LDdG4aKZGJQUl9-fz914P7E78NM6Db1JPqAmt1V2GIeBeSuHDbeLBgV5416vZQhH2iwByTlQ3sVy5oW/s320/P1010158.JPG" /></a></div>That's how we met Missy and Mike, and their family, who to our delight invited us into their home and fed us dinner! They also let us camp in a shed in their yard (Above), and join them in their Memorial Day weekend bonfire. This was our first taste of rural America's incredible hospitality. Thank you, Missy and Mike! <br />
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Fort Stanwix<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBbRqMbEejB-Fw5v_iqccfQw-qqJ4jXoC6hrmb92tckZ8CgGz397DJWO_KE766Ib4UiIcihBgbLpzS1x6OYkz-WYwL7kq_YhJF4EA8X8lf7PdMvBOKZLArykfbGM4pP1lRY_sGEDrJ7CO/s1600-h/P1010159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBbRqMbEejB-Fw5v_iqccfQw-qqJ4jXoC6hrmb92tckZ8CgGz397DJWO_KE766Ib4UiIcihBgbLpzS1x6OYkz-WYwL7kq_YhJF4EA8X8lf7PdMvBOKZLArykfbGM4pP1lRY_sGEDrJ7CO/s320/P1010159.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately I was more interested in devouring my peanut-butter-and-nutela sandwich than in reading the placards, but apparently this fort was important during the American Revolution, or the French Indian War, or both. Anyways, nice place.<br />
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Christine's Family<br />
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We stayed the night with the family of a friend from MIT. They fed us steak! This was the perfect thing after an 85-mile day. Yum yum.<br />
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Brigham Young's Hometown<br />
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Turns out Mormonism was born not in Utah, but right here in New York.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuAFaXZlwHn8xaLP9DSMoPr_7GMPCfN1TOthyphenhyphenCn_oiJDM-EXUv7z7F9AnuHoshHHQ8TbZ809pxICldIA5NFskxvVX0wVKdGOUMHMC2HS8Ob5DAaQThUgjXk3QJoX8nroHeJxTH1JePH5V/s1600-h/P1010161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuAFaXZlwHn8xaLP9DSMoPr_7GMPCfN1TOthyphenhyphenCn_oiJDM-EXUv7z7F9AnuHoshHHQ8TbZ809pxICldIA5NFskxvVX0wVKdGOUMHMC2HS8Ob5DAaQThUgjXk3QJoX8nroHeJxTH1JePH5V/s320/P1010161.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Gun Raffle: Are they raffling the tank?</div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbMUchkw_7FGM52G7CyhdC78YsBkn9QDdST8n_rGuGtTcdKEtMv4hwgTIz2b2MwlGZUvrilO4t1CsrvQnZ_vNFHvN6q4QD-nDy0-i2_G5g7pxbcA4qCCHWXo-olrbdWd3Yz0MjWJo1Pkp/s1600-h/P1010163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbMUchkw_7FGM52G7CyhdC78YsBkn9QDdST8n_rGuGtTcdKEtMv4hwgTIz2b2MwlGZUvrilO4t1CsrvQnZ_vNFHvN6q4QD-nDy0-i2_G5g7pxbcA4qCCHWXo-olrbdWd3Yz0MjWJo1Pkp/s400/P1010163.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Aunt Kitty and Uncle Sarge<br />
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It rained for the last two hours in to Rochester. The rain was actually quite refreshing, although it means we have to clean our bikes now! <br />
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Rhiannon continued on this morning. She's going to try going solo until her friend recovers. If you want you can follow her blog at <a href="http://bostontoseattle.wordpress.com/">http://bostontoseattle.wordpress.com</a>. She's headed through Ohio and then on to Seattle.<br />
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Amelia and I are looking forward to a relaxing day off with Kitty and Sarge. First we're going to clean our clothes, dishes, tent, and bikes. And then we'll do a bit of sightseeing. After that, its onward to Canada!roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-28797027371179460682009-05-23T16:13:00.001-07:002009-05-23T17:15:29.951-07:00Goodbye, Massachusetts.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zz_Jzfhm0g7kaGtA2jgCh3ep58jdWZJeJwHZHbZVBTfbiVdpfOTQRiQUWuytyQvyUNxeYpwHSYxizeAKBiTXK6T6uHuJH39Jvr34GoqZetGbNSiQPibBdszNvl1Ax32Q08Y67ZVd5f7x/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339162909046610386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zz_Jzfhm0g7kaGtA2jgCh3ep58jdWZJeJwHZHbZVBTfbiVdpfOTQRiQUWuytyQvyUNxeYpwHSYxizeAKBiTXK6T6uHuJH39Jvr34GoqZetGbNSiQPibBdszNvl1Ax32Q08Y67ZVd5f7x/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zz_Jzfhm0g7kaGtA2jgCh3ep58jdWZJeJwHZHbZVBTfbiVdpfOTQRiQUWuytyQvyUNxeYpwHSYxizeAKBiTXK6T6uHuJH39Jvr34GoqZetGbNSiQPibBdszNvl1Ax32Q08Y67ZVd5f7x/s1600-h/003.JPG"></a></p><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlKbzHpplossm7vZzKQUszUG-n5piw3QKBl0eDr6oZngxIlHDoWHMY7-NETDQ5YYa59jZ8VB3jrE1SHsLW9_ITlLhZfjVcK_83N0MkCaDHIZDJm-9xRtHk5u78FeUP53Kg8UVP56Z9YDh/s1600-h/008.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><div></div><div>Days: 4<br />Distance: 322.9 km / 200.6 mi</div><div>Location: Albany, NY</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we made it to New York! Biking across Massachusetts is a nice benchmark, although a small one compared to what we are trying to accomplish.</div><br /><div>Here's a brief rundown of the past few days:<br /></div><div>Day 2:</div><br /><div>We were followed for the first half day out of cambridge by a "posse" of friends, who came with us all the way to a nice ice cream stand at mile 30. The temperatures reached over 90 degrees, so we found frozen lemonade to be quite a refreshing treat!</div><br /><div>But the heat began to take its toll on us, and by late evening we were forced to admit we weren't going to make it all the way to Amherst. Some locals in West Brookfield suggested a nearby park for camping. It had cool rock formations, including this granite cave (below) which we slept in!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg60du8h-uTjfNSpzj1lVeQSTiQjTbqsEdhBo37EST9A2Imey4cA-ovbanwqIAjgJ9Sz9i9MDRL8U7HEX3HAQjoJ_iq0HL5DmJgxon3iYEphiyhG4MwW9h6lOMsL6HDI0OiWLQI3I7F-i/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339173899338983794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg60du8h-uTjfNSpzj1lVeQSTiQjTbqsEdhBo37EST9A2Imey4cA-ovbanwqIAjgJ9Sz9i9MDRL8U7HEX3HAQjoJ_iq0HL5DmJgxon3iYEphiyhG4MwW9h6lOMsL6HDI0OiWLQI3I7F-i/s320/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Day 3:</div><br /><div>Another hot one, this time with good hills. I have a newfound respect for the Berkshire Mountains!<br /></div><div>We made it to Amherst around 10:30, where we stopped by the coop house of Amelia's friend Jack. Jack gave us a quick campus tour, and showed us the Amherst museum, which has lots of fossils and mineral specimens (are you noticing a theme here?)</div><br /><div>After Amherst, we had to climb out of the valley. Yikes! We were aiming to get all the way to Pittsfield, but by late afternoon we were exhausted and had to admit defeat. We draged ourselves into a tiny grocery store in Worthington and asked about camping options. The clerk directed us to a nearby campground with hot showers! Sudenly everything was all better :)<br /></div><div></div><div>Day 4:<br /></div><div></div><div>The temperatures finally cooled off, which was a welcome change! Furthermore, we discovered that we had nearly reached the top of the Berkshires. We passed through the highest point near Peru, MA, and from there the whole day was mostly downhill all the way to New York!</div><div></div><div>Below: resting by a lake on route 143 west of Peru. You can se a rather large hill in the backrground. One of the many.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cjjVW5pyv4d3yklJdGiR90CaIj7UnH6uBznqIaJMAiR1mZosL13u65LkqW_3sqFccbSjZEHJ-yHRbK-THy4oBUSvoxyZEgG2M9bhnIBioLEiglB16q1Qkm1LWIar0n034SjE-K_5oIBE/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339173900204772594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cjjVW5pyv4d3yklJdGiR90CaIj7UnH6uBznqIaJMAiR1mZosL13u65LkqW_3sqFccbSjZEHJ-yHRbK-THy4oBUSvoxyZEgG2M9bhnIBioLEiglB16q1Qkm1LWIar0n034SjE-K_5oIBE/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>We arrived in Albany, where we are currently having our first experience with couchsurfing. (For those who don't know, couchsurfing is an online community of people all over the world who invite travellers to stay in their homes for free!) I was a little nervous knocking on the door since I had never tried this before, but the family is extremely welcoming and friendly. They even let me use their computer to update this blog.</div><br /><div>There are two oher staying cyclists here, students from Yale university. They are following the same route as us, but had to stop because one got sick. So the other one, Rhiannon, has decided to cotinue on with us tomorrow while her friend recovers. Our numbers are growing!</div><br /><div>And our journey coninues...</div></div>roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-79174862889257648162009-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:002009-05-20T12:04:33.136-07:00The journey begins!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpS_hTydIeR_o5EOwG1mi6_EdXI60klf1SVmxmVUY7DjfQRAucFT-ONgy998FwdoOTjnJZvM-YjbRh4phNMn_ak_fOeu4hmQOvRxZlx968tQLpFjpBdGOzzHO3Z8Cw_NAOWjau3hCJ-2e/s1600-h/P1010148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpS_hTydIeR_o5EOwG1mi6_EdXI60klf1SVmxmVUY7DjfQRAucFT-ONgy998FwdoOTjnJZvM-YjbRh4phNMn_ak_fOeu4hmQOvRxZlx968tQLpFjpBdGOzzHO3Z8Cw_NAOWjau3hCJ-2e/s320/P1010148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337978601606848594" border="0" /></a>Days: 1<br />Distance: 17.0 km / 10.6 mi<br />Location: Cambridge, MA<br /><br />Today, at exactly 10:36 am, Amelia and I tagged the Atlantic at Revere Beach in Massachusetts. It was a beautiful, sunny day, if not a little hot. After posing for this photo, we sat in the sand and enjoyed the beach for a while. And then...the journey began!<br /><br />Of course this first leg of the journey was not very exciting, because our fist waypoint is our coop house in Cambridge, where we are currently frantically packing and preparing for the "real" beginning of the trip. We will leave tomorrow morning and head west through Worcester, then follow route 9. If we can, we'll try to make it all the way to Amherst in the first day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdMCUrXeBiPJLORzGVtmHpc25uDQnuSWuc8o4Kiqcx8R6Rjj7DnINg1eZPZg1D0Dq2n_tFTaOuk4p5FmWpt_r9a5ts3xlc80AQqH4KdiGzcVFiQidLKZC-BgTfm8QQUgANDyXlQ4j6PLa/s1600-h/P1010147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdMCUrXeBiPJLORzGVtmHpc25uDQnuSWuc8o4Kiqcx8R6Rjj7DnINg1eZPZg1D0Dq2n_tFTaOuk4p5FmWpt_r9a5ts3xlc80AQqH4KdiGzcVFiQidLKZC-BgTfm8QQUgANDyXlQ4j6PLa/s320/P1010147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337981086810106050" border="0" /></a>I can't predict how often I will have internet access, but I will try to update this blog whenever I can. I hope you enjoy the opportunity to follow us on our journey!<br /><br /><br />Above: Amelia contemplates weather she really wants to go swimming with her bike. You can see Nahant in the background, which is geologically cool because it is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombolo">tombolo</a>".roxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340014183972485258.post-87045771445671167802009-05-03T11:50:00.000-07:002009-05-03T12:01:39.160-07:00An Epic Journey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv10LmJWTKpM1X4ya8icpcVH4JDPVyKNexxSK9DCimSbDCxyqZ-gPk3CKTMc0gUIL-xJlZ9XpmMp3uVhxIstX_tGeB2IyQofb6MIVrsq8J9UsY7b5n80IiBB5Z6wGTaPLjX_wRVBkE8pte/s1600-h/loaded+bikes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv10LmJWTKpM1X4ya8icpcVH4JDPVyKNexxSK9DCimSbDCxyqZ-gPk3CKTMc0gUIL-xJlZ9XpmMp3uVhxIstX_tGeB2IyQofb6MIVrsq8J9UsY7b5n80IiBB5Z6wGTaPLjX_wRVBkE8pte/s320/loaded+bikes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331672337929119666" border="0" /></a>The Plan: A ~3,500 mile bike ride from Revere Beach in Massachusetts to Stinson Beach in California.<br /><br />The Route: Central New York, North Shore of Lake Erie, Ann Arbor MI, South Bend IN, Omaha NE, Boulder CO, Rocky Mountain National Park, Provo UT, many miles of desert, Carson City NV, South Lake Tahoe CA, Sonoma CA...a final push to the beach!<br /><br />The dates: May 21st to early Augustroxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061434721363940822noreply@blogger.com1