divide and conquer

I did it i biked over the continental divide. That's right folks from here on its all about the east coast. it was a tough 10 mile climb to 11300 ft but the downhill was worth the effort. My host last night Christine was again an absolutely lovely person, and a fine cook to boot. What is it about the hosts that I have that they are all good cooks?and almost all are environmentally aware. I am beginning to think it is more than just a coincidence. On the road today I met a bunch (12 or so) motorcyclist who were going through the back country roads from Canada to Mexico. It was funny because they were bitching about how hard it is and rough the roads are and how their motorcycles were getting flats. I was just sitting enjoying a cup of coffee before the climb began and one of them just looks at me and laughs. I sort of gave a quizzical look and he told his friends that they need to stop whining that people who bicycle can complain and if I could sit contentedly then they had nothing to moan about. It made me smile. Then near the top of monarch pass as I was exhausted about 7 or eight cyclists can screaming down hill, they had reached the summit and were cruising down, each of them yelled encouragement as they whizzed passed. It was great and instead of taking a break i continued to pedal. I gave the same love to their compatriots that had yet to make it to the top on my way down. A grand day of riding, wouldn't trade it for the world. Feels like I really accomplished something today.

the hills have

bears...
Slept stealth last night again and after a dinner conversation with a bartender who talked about the bears in town (telluride Co) I was more than a bit nervous. As I wandered around looking for a good spot to tuck in for a few hours winks I noticed that every trash can was bear proofed, every single one of them. Needless to say as I tried to sleep every little noise made my skin crawl. I really don't like bears. They terrify me. Got up without much sleep and put in 65 mile today. Only one hill a 2000ft climb, no problem at all.The hills here in Colorado are super nice, they go on for miles and miles and are just slightly uphill the whole time. unlike Utah where they are 2 miles long but steep like a crazed monkey paved the roads. I feel like I am making good time across Colorado. Tomorrow to Gunnison and then over the highest point I have to get up to. The winds coming into town today were blistering, just took a lot to keep up any momentum. Will sleep well tonight.

long time

it has certainly been a long time since i have sat at a computer. I am now in telluride colorado after riding through the vastness of utah. The place is wonderfully beautiful but not built at all for bicycles. the roads have 8-14%grades that go on for miles. It is unreal. have thus far in colorado scaled one of the two 10000 ft passes that i need to get over the other will be in about three days it stands at 11000+ looking forward to that. I am holding up fine have been sleeping in some choice spots (picnic tables in the park, rocks in national parks, grassy areas on the side of the road) only the best for me. I am keeping to the 60-70 miles per day and it is getting easier, not that the roads are better if anything it should be harder, through Utah every day I climbed 3000-5000 ft. and so far the same is true of colorado. I am really looking forward to being bored in flat kansas. I should be there in about a week. Utah was the most beautiful state that I have ever been in trly just remarkable in so many ways, I wish I had the chance to put up photos but the library wont let me. When I get the chance I will. All in all this is really fun, now I just need to find some food an a place to sleep for the night, I wonder if there are any abandoned homes in telluride?

rough

made it into cedar city and through the last part of Nevada. I was fooled by the time change at the border, I am usually really good about that sort of thing but I am also not normally on a bike when I change time zones. At any rate the next morning I awoke in Milford (slept on a picnic table in the park) and got what i thought was an early start. It was however an hour later than anticipated. The ride from Milford to Cedar city was by all measures uneventful, pretty standard stunning hills, and passes, desolate empty desert, a few cattle (dead and alive) the typical assortment of rode kill. I made it to Cedar City and called my hosts here. Again truly nice and generous people. This is the first family I have stayed with and it is great. They eat dinner together, have a good rapport with one another and are friendly and chatty. I was going to head out in the morning and try to make it to the next town but when I woke up at 430 this morning I started to throw up, I don't think it is serious just my body needs some time so I will spend the day wandering through the city and will get some rest tonight and tomorrow will be back underway. Starting to really get hot now during the day time, it is supposed to be 109 in this city today. I hope it is just a passing heat wave if not the next states will be more brutal than expected.

desert

just rode what I hope is the hardest portion of the journey. I have been told by two other riders that it is indeed the case. I had 84 miles from baker to milford uphills and in the heat of the desert. I am dirty hungry and tired. two of the three I will take care of here in milford, the other will have to wait until the next city. It was about 103 today and climbing took forever I am just not a very good hill person. I did get out of Nevada and I must say I really enjoyed it. The weather is pleasant enough in the morning and the scenery is amazing. I hope after Utah I can say the same, however as an introduction into the state today is not making me hopeful.

hills

have been looking at the elevation profiles at the next few day and weeks of riding and it is not a pretty site. I have loads of passes to get over coming up including two at over 7000 ft tomorrow and then 3 the next day and then I have a 10000 ft climb just after entering utah which is full of little 2000 ft climbs. All this before colorado home of the Rockies. I am nearly through nevada and it has been about what i expected. If you put in the time on the bike and are entertained in your own head it is not a bad state to ride through. I suspect that there will be more places and states that I will be able to say that about. I am looking forward with fear to Utah. Just after Cedar city I have to climb to 10000+ ft which seems daunting right now. I know that the climb up to 8500 at Carsons pass was brutal I cant even begin to imagine how hard the final 2000 fet up will be. I hope that the new chain and adjustments are fine as any trouble after tomorrow means another 100 mile to a bike shop and I really dont want any more trouble with the bike it is hard enough to ride for these distances without a nagging worry about mechanical problems. At any rate I have to believe it will be ok and press on. Tomorrow Baker and then Milford then Cedar City.

hey hey

sorry I have been away for so long. I think my last post was just as I crossed into nevada and now here I am in Ely. getting on towards the boarder of Utah. I have met some amazing people along the way and want to take the time to say thanks. All of you are really making this a most grand ride. I did encounter my first major setback. Riding uphill as I came into the last town I downshifted, the gearing skipped and the chain jumped off. That would have been ok but a link bent in the process. I took out the tools which I carry for such an event and set to work in the blazing hot sun along the side of the road(yeah for no trees. I removed the offending link and reconnected my chain and off I went. In all only an hour or so lost. The bike rode fine for the next 25-30 minutes but as soon as I hit the last hill it jumped again and another link broke. I knew then that either my repair left much to be desired (most likely) or my rear derailer was screwy. I limped into town and slept in the park on a picnic bench. I had a serious decision to make. I had two repairs and zero confidence in my ride so I needed a bike shop. Unfortunately there was and is no bike shop for about 100 miles. Without a new chain and someone to inspect my rear derail er I wasnt going anywhere. I pondered this for the evening and woke early to find a solution. I roamed the streets asking if anyone knew of someone going to Ely(there is a bike shop here) and no one was going or knew of anyone. I asked the sheriff the same and they said they could give me a lift 125 mile north to another city but that was the best they could do. No deals there either. So I did what any reasonable person would do. I hitchhiked to Ely. I thumbed down a passing motorcade of trucks, after 4 hours of trying ,with trailers and asked if they could schlep me along and they said sure. We stopped for lunch and they wouldnt let me pay. I tried but they insisted on not only not allowing me to buy them lunch but they went and paid for mine. Talk about people and their ability to surprise. We had a good conversation along the ride and they dropped me at the bike shop. The driver even got out and made sure that they were going to be able to fix my bike, he was going to give me parts from his bike if needed. Luckily the bike shop replace the chain and adjusted the derailer and now I am back in working condition. It is fortunate because I have another 63 mile tomorrow and then 84 after that. I took a hotel and showered for the first time in days and it was divine. Will go look around town now and find a place for dinner. Moral of the story today. People kick ass. Be nice to those in need I may be one of them. Thanks again to everyone who has been so nice and helpful. Y'all are what makes this a great country.

1/10

On the route that I have chosen I have a total of ten states to go through. Some are the complete state(looking at you Nevada) and some are just cutting the corners but in all I will pass through ten. I have crossed into state 2. I made it over Carsons pass after a long and dificult climb. My knee is killing me and I am not really looking forward to crossing the desert as it will be hot and dry. Water is my biggest concern and I hope I have enough to get me through. The pace will be slow and I will need to get very early starts something which a job interview has prevented me from doing today. I will have to ride for a few hours in the heat today to make it to my destination. I am hoping to cross without too much trouble. My bike is in good shape I had the brakes adjusted and the whole thing generally checked out I feel like I can do this. I am sure it will be really tough but I think I can. After nevada comes Utah which is not much better then the mountains in Colorado. These next weeks will be some of the toughest that I can think of but I will not look too far ahead. Two days. 60 miles a day. I can do that.

death

I killed a lizard on the road. Saw it and swerved to miss and it ran under my tire. Horrible popping sound. have arrived into placerville ca after an ardous ride from Davis. the hills and the heat were rough. I am taking a day off today to rest before the mountains. The hosts I have stayed with have been above and beyond what i hoped for just truly lovely and smart interesting people. (thanks for helping to restore my faith in people). I still feel good as far as my body goes but the next few days will be rough as I climb and camp. I ditched some weight from my bags. going with the minimum and will wash at night and dry. I will check out town today and relax wont get a break again until after carsons pass. Nevada here I come.

against the wind

rode my first leg of this journey today. it should have been a quick 41 miles but it seems like everything conspired against me. First it was the weather I can not complain about the actual temperature but my god it was windy. I stopped pedalling for a moment and watched my speed decrease with alarming rapidity. The next thing working against me was google. Now i love me some google products(gmail,picasa) but the biking directions leave just about everything to be desired.I was sent to non_existant roads. An army depot that was well fortified among other places. Eventually I made it to vallejo and the host for the evening has been great. He is a professional classical musician as well as beer brewer. Good times. Waking up early tomorrow to head to davis. My host for this evening will wake up and ride about half way there with me just because he loves to ride a bike. people are amazing.

17 kph

so far my average speed is 17 kph which is ok. if that holds true for the duration of this journey i will be able to cover the 5000 km of road that i have before me in roughly 300 hours. which is not that much when it comes down to it. though those hours will be brolen down into 6 hour stints but if you sit and think about what 300 hours is and how it could be spent I think that these are a good way to spend then. I am sure that the average rate will drop in the mountains and will incresae on the plains but I am shooting for finishing somewhere at about that rate. mervous right now and my mind is racing. do i have everything, did i forget anything? time will tell and I will let you know.

another training day

went for another 30-40 miles today. fully loaded and all. My body feels fine I didnt get tired and thus far I am not sore at all. I need to adjust my handlebars a bit to make them more comfortable but thus far all has gone well. I arrived back at the house I am crashing at before 11 am. I wake up at 5 and today took my time getting going and all and was out the door at 7:15. I have already found a host at my first stop in vallejo and another in the second city davis I will try to keep up the backyarding as much as I can and keep the expenses down. I am looking forward to tomorrow when wheels meet dirt for the first real leg of this epic undertaking.