friends!!
thank you for following us in this crazy journey! we have finally arrived in san diego!!!!
...woah....
*deep breath*
it is still surreal, and bittersweet, and bigger than words.
we arrived yesterday afternoon, greeted by family, friends, and loved ones at the la jolla shores beach. we spent the afternoon at the beach and the evening at the house of a bike and build alumnus, todd, who graciously hosted our rowdy group with drinks to celebrate. today everyone is enjoying the city we have been dreaming about for months - surfing, visiting the zoo, kayaking in the caves, etc.
tears come as i realize this is the end....
...for this moments sake, i am going to go enjoy san diego and my newest friends.
thanks again for your support.
pura vida
molly
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Quick update!
Hey all--not too much news from the road, but there are a few things I'd like to itemize, as to make the things I need to say flow in a systematic, uncreative way:
1. I just celebrated my 25th birthday in Tuba City, Arizona, which is one of a few towns on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The Reservation is DRY, meaning they don't allow alchohol to be sold there, and as such, I resorted to shots of smuggled Jack Daniels with Molly, Vandy (thanks for providing the JD), and Andy-- a great time, but alas, no birthday Guinness. Sorry I let you down, dad.
2. We rode through the Grand Canyon National Park yesterday and today--simply said, there is no photograph ever taken, regardless of how fancy or neat that photograph my be, that could, can, or will capture the immensity, awesomeness, and beauty of the Canyon. Breathtaking on many levels. I highly suggest you go!
3. We are nearing the end of our journey here--8 days remain. I can't believe how the time has both flown and dragged on. The trip isn't over yet, nor are the posts from this blog, but know that the spirits are high in the group, and we are finally feeling the pull of the Pacific--Pacific time zone, west coast food chains, Southwest heat--it's everything we need to feel like the end is near.
More to come in the very near future,
Eric
1. I just celebrated my 25th birthday in Tuba City, Arizona, which is one of a few towns on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The Reservation is DRY, meaning they don't allow alchohol to be sold there, and as such, I resorted to shots of smuggled Jack Daniels with Molly, Vandy (thanks for providing the JD), and Andy-- a great time, but alas, no birthday Guinness. Sorry I let you down, dad.
2. We rode through the Grand Canyon National Park yesterday and today--simply said, there is no photograph ever taken, regardless of how fancy or neat that photograph my be, that could, can, or will capture the immensity, awesomeness, and beauty of the Canyon. Breathtaking on many levels. I highly suggest you go!
3. We are nearing the end of our journey here--8 days remain. I can't believe how the time has both flown and dragged on. The trip isn't over yet, nor are the posts from this blog, but know that the spirits are high in the group, and we are finally feeling the pull of the Pacific--Pacific time zone, west coast food chains, Southwest heat--it's everything we need to feel like the end is near.
More to come in the very near future,
Eric
Monday, July 16, 2007
It’s getting hot in here!
Yowza!
It is hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement! We rode from Cortez, Colorado to Teec Nos Pos, Arizona today. That means a few things. First of all, it was our first full day in the desert. Second of all, we got to visit the four corners monument and add three new states to our list in one day! And finally, it marks the first day when no one complains about getting up extra early tomorrow - so we can beat the heat.
Four corners!! We’re good at sharing.
Another one.
Proof that the whole group added three new states to their list today.
Just to make it official.
Another formality. Thanks Arizona, for putting so much thought into your state sign.
I also wanted to share an update about our friend Molly P whose accident I wrote about last week. She visited a doctor in Durango for a second opinion and she was told again that it will take a few weeks for the injury to heal, so she is not expecting to get back on the bike this summer. Unless she feels strong enough to ride into San Diego with us – it is our shortest ride of the trip at 30 miles. There is talk of renting a tandem bike for the day so she can finish the ride with us! Please keep her in your prayers if you’re the praying type. The other thing to mention is that although she is unable to do physically strenuous things, she has not lost her dedication to the team and the cause. Her attitude of serving the group and encouraging riders is really helping keep our team united as we continue to stress our bodies each and every day.
Tony and Molly
Thanks SuperMolly for your attitude and presence as we continue this journey across the states!
It is hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement! We rode from Cortez, Colorado to Teec Nos Pos, Arizona today. That means a few things. First of all, it was our first full day in the desert. Second of all, we got to visit the four corners monument and add three new states to our list in one day! And finally, it marks the first day when no one complains about getting up extra early tomorrow - so we can beat the heat.
Four corners!! We’re good at sharing.
Another one.
Proof that the whole group added three new states to their list today.
Just to make it official.
Another formality. Thanks Arizona, for putting so much thought into your state sign.
I also wanted to share an update about our friend Molly P whose accident I wrote about last week. She visited a doctor in Durango for a second opinion and she was told again that it will take a few weeks for the injury to heal, so she is not expecting to get back on the bike this summer. Unless she feels strong enough to ride into San Diego with us – it is our shortest ride of the trip at 30 miles. There is talk of renting a tandem bike for the day so she can finish the ride with us! Please keep her in your prayers if you’re the praying type. The other thing to mention is that although she is unable to do physically strenuous things, she has not lost her dedication to the team and the cause. Her attitude of serving the group and encouraging riders is really helping keep our team united as we continue to stress our bodies each and every day.
Tony and Molly
Thanks SuperMolly for your attitude and presence as we continue this journey across the states!
Rocky mountain High, Take III
Day four was the day I was waiting for. We had the most beautiful, vast, surreal views all day. The day started with a 13-mile climb in which we gained about 4,000 feet. Of course every uphill must be followed by a downhill, but, as it turns out, they aren't as enjoyable when they are on well-worn roads, with spitting rain in 60-degree weather. But we made it down to the van where we warmed up with hot chocolate and heat vents! Continuing on, we had two more mountain passes ahead of us, and we pushed hard to the top of each one where we celebrated our victories over the summits. And, to finish off the day in style, we coasted (at 40mph) into Durango for 32 glorious miles! Thanks again to Molly’s dad, Mr. P, for riding with us; it was quite humbling. At the end of the day, we were lucky enough to be treated again to some unexpected and very generous hospitality. Bob and Mary opened their house to our group and, along with Mr. and Mrs. P, provided us with a wonderful evening of dinner, drinks, and good company.
Celebrating the end of the first climb!
The re-warming vehicle... with a view.
It’s hard to be mad about climbing when you have views like this!
Tough…
…and strong!
For some reason I thought I had enough energy left to do a pull-up after climbing three passes…
At the end of the day we enjoyed a night out in Durango and took a herse/limo/’ru home!
After four hard days, we enjoyed a well-deserved day out of the saddle in Durango. We spent the morning working with Habitat for Humanity both landscaping in front of one of their housing units and helping the local chapter move their ReStore to a more desirable location. They thanked us for our hard work with lunch and sent us on our way for some free time(which we couldn’t thank them enough for). The afternoon brought many adventures for our group… To name a few adventures, we went tubing down the river in a rainstorm, we visited downtown Durango for shopping, food, and internet, we did some requisite maintenance on our bikes, we saw Harry Potter 5, and we went to a rodeo. At the end of the day, some generous souls from Habitat came to our campsite with dinner for our group. Thanks again!
Finally: day five in the Rockies. We climbed ten miles up and out of Durango before we officially rode out of the mountains, all the way to Cortez, Colorado. We only lost about 300 feet of elevation overall between Durango and Cortez, but as we looked east from Cortez we could see the range behind us and we could finally claim that we rode over the Rockies!
Celebrating the end of the first climb!
The re-warming vehicle... with a view.
It’s hard to be mad about climbing when you have views like this!
Tough…
…and strong!
For some reason I thought I had enough energy left to do a pull-up after climbing three passes…
At the end of the day we enjoyed a night out in Durango and took a herse/limo/’ru home!
After four hard days, we enjoyed a well-deserved day out of the saddle in Durango. We spent the morning working with Habitat for Humanity both landscaping in front of one of their housing units and helping the local chapter move their ReStore to a more desirable location. They thanked us for our hard work with lunch and sent us on our way for some free time(which we couldn’t thank them enough for). The afternoon brought many adventures for our group… To name a few adventures, we went tubing down the river in a rainstorm, we visited downtown Durango for shopping, food, and internet, we did some requisite maintenance on our bikes, we saw Harry Potter 5, and we went to a rodeo. At the end of the day, some generous souls from Habitat came to our campsite with dinner for our group. Thanks again!
Finally: day five in the Rockies. We climbed ten miles up and out of Durango before we officially rode out of the mountains, all the way to Cortez, Colorado. We only lost about 300 feet of elevation overall between Durango and Cortez, but as we looked east from Cortez we could see the range behind us and we could finally claim that we rode over the Rockies!
Rocky Mountain High, Take II
Our second day in the mountains was from Buena Vista to Gunnison. The high point (pun intended) of the day was Monarch Pass. We reached 11,312 feet at the summit which was also where we crossed the continental divide! The expectation was that the rest of the day would be downhill. And it was mostly downhill and flat, but the wind was out of this world. We were pedaling our hearts out, riding downhill and only going 8mph. It was probably the most frustrating stretch I have ever ridden.
Some pics:
We rode along this range to get to a manageable pass through them!
If this isn’t an intimidating sight when you’re climbing, I don’t know what is.
But we make our way steadily up the pass!
Whoo hoo!!!
Molly and Andy at the top!
The crew at the top!
Our third day in the Rockies was a jerk. It was my personal hardest day of the trip, for sure. The first ten miles went smoothly, riding up a beautiful canyon, enjoying great company. But then we regrouped for the terrible news that our 85-mile day was going to be rerouted and we would be riding 105 miles. The rest of the morning was tear-filled and stressful, but I was blessed to be riding with Eric because he helped me keep my head up - AND pushed me to keep a good pace of 18mph... uphill. The middle of the day was more enjoyable as I rode out my frustration on some killer climbs. After lunch we took shelter in a gas station for about 2.5 hours as we waited for a hail storm to pass. Ah, the unpredictable mountain weather. The delay wore on our patience a bit, so the rest of the ride was more about endurance than enjoyment. Especially as we struggled through exhausted riders, a flat tire, and a three-rider pile up (no one was hurt!). But as we approached Ouray, our hearts were calmed by the beauty. The vibrant red rocks and deep, river-cut canyon that was host to the small town was breathtaking. We finished the day with an 8-mile climb into Ouray, ate some grub, and crashed.
Eric takes a break to climb the mountain.
The river we were following up the canyon opened up into this beautiful reservoir.
“No summits today” my patootie
We chose a beautiful place to stop for a break from the wind, right?!
The final stretch toward Ouray.
Hooray!!
Some pics:
We rode along this range to get to a manageable pass through them!
If this isn’t an intimidating sight when you’re climbing, I don’t know what is.
But we make our way steadily up the pass!
Whoo hoo!!!
Molly and Andy at the top!
The crew at the top!
Our third day in the Rockies was a jerk. It was my personal hardest day of the trip, for sure. The first ten miles went smoothly, riding up a beautiful canyon, enjoying great company. But then we regrouped for the terrible news that our 85-mile day was going to be rerouted and we would be riding 105 miles. The rest of the morning was tear-filled and stressful, but I was blessed to be riding with Eric because he helped me keep my head up - AND pushed me to keep a good pace of 18mph... uphill. The middle of the day was more enjoyable as I rode out my frustration on some killer climbs. After lunch we took shelter in a gas station for about 2.5 hours as we waited for a hail storm to pass. Ah, the unpredictable mountain weather. The delay wore on our patience a bit, so the rest of the ride was more about endurance than enjoyment. Especially as we struggled through exhausted riders, a flat tire, and a three-rider pile up (no one was hurt!). But as we approached Ouray, our hearts were calmed by the beauty. The vibrant red rocks and deep, river-cut canyon that was host to the small town was breathtaking. We finished the day with an 8-mile climb into Ouray, ate some grub, and crashed.
Eric takes a break to climb the mountain.
The river we were following up the canyon opened up into this beautiful reservoir.
“No summits today” my patootie
We chose a beautiful place to stop for a break from the wind, right?!
The final stretch toward Ouray.
Hooray!!
Rocky Mountain High!
It's been an incredible few days.... We aren't simply riding our bicycles through the Rockies, which would be challenge enough, but we are riding centuries through the Rockies. We rode 118 miles to Colorado Springs on our eighth day of riding in a row (and our second century in three days0. Not only was this our longest mileage, but it was extra challenging because of the terrain - there was a 15-mile stint in the middle of the day on a gravel road, aka a breeding ground for horseflies. And our final 20 miles were on Academy Blvd, where no cyclist should ever ride for fear of busy streets with impatient drivers and construction. Luckily, we had a day off to recover - except that Eric’s sister Liz, her friends Gina, Jill and Jonathan and my friends Greg and Mike Vogel, Dave Lund and Krista came to visit - so we didn't exactly take it easy.
But we left Colorado Springs stronger than we arrived and ready to conquer some serious mountains!! Our first day through the Rockies was a beast, as you can probably imagine. We were gaining the initial elevation to get into the front range, which was no easy task. Also, no one was quite sure what to expect out of these large hills nor the drivers that chose to seee them via car/bike/motorhome. And, certainly, no one expected to bike three passes the first day! It was quite epic, and I'm not sure words can do it justice so pictures follow:
Our day started at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs...
...with some beautiful views...
...at sunrise.
Our first elevation sign!
Our first summit!
Our second summit of the day!
Climbing...
...and descending...
Our third summit!
What a beautiful end to the day!
I love mountains!
Descending...
...still descending!
Buena Vista, literally, and the Sawatch Range
But we left Colorado Springs stronger than we arrived and ready to conquer some serious mountains!! Our first day through the Rockies was a beast, as you can probably imagine. We were gaining the initial elevation to get into the front range, which was no easy task. Also, no one was quite sure what to expect out of these large hills nor the drivers that chose to seee them via car/bike/motorhome. And, certainly, no one expected to bike three passes the first day! It was quite epic, and I'm not sure words can do it justice so pictures follow:
Our day started at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs...
...with some beautiful views...
...at sunrise.
Our first elevation sign!
Our first summit!
Our second summit of the day!
Climbing...
...and descending...
Our third summit!
What a beautiful end to the day!
I love mountains!
Descending...
...still descending!
Buena Vista, literally, and the Sawatch Range
Random Photos!
Welcome to Kansas!!
Is that beef jerky chew in your mouth?
Cuties!
I am SO allergic to hay!
Sweet!
Why aren’t we flying and building?!
Friday, July 6, 2007
We still ride west...
last night was bittersweet.
first: we celebrated the completion of our first official century. (some people have already riden 100+ miles on this trip, but usually because of poor directions or over-ambition). but the bad news was that our dear friend molly pederson returned to us from the hospital - broken collarbone, torn ligament and no bike riding for 4-6 weeks. she took a spill over her handlebars after hitting a rock and managed to tuck and roll into the ditch, but not without consequence.
second: we were excited to hear that our ride today would be shorter - almost ten miles shorter (a total of 59 miles)! unfortunately, that makes tomorrow's ride 130 miles. yes. 130. into colorado springs, a gain of 2,000 feet from la junta.
so we celebrate when we can, and we persevere through the rest.
we are really excited to get to colorado springs tomorrow because we've got family and friends to celebrate with! eric's sister, liz, and my friends, dave, greg, and mike will welcome us to the beautiful city of colorado springs and stay the night to share stories and hugs. and a new belgium brew, or two. maybe this will help us realize what we're doing and what we've already accomplished. some days it seems so unreal... biking over 2,000 miles in five weeks?! wow. these last 1,000 miles have flown...
i wish i could end this post with a funny story, but as you have all experienced at one time or another, some stories are only funny the moment they happen or if the listener knows the people involved. so i will spare you a long, mediocre story and instead thank everyone who has written and called - it has been nice to hear from everyone while we've been on the road. please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare to climb some big mountains, starting tomorrow!
pura vida,
molly
ps - i've learned on this trip that camping is not as glamorous when 30 people are involved. cooking, cleaning, tenting, packing in the morning, etc. i've been inspired to go on a small group backpacking trip to reignite my love for camping! you in?!
first: we celebrated the completion of our first official century. (some people have already riden 100+ miles on this trip, but usually because of poor directions or over-ambition). but the bad news was that our dear friend molly pederson returned to us from the hospital - broken collarbone, torn ligament and no bike riding for 4-6 weeks. she took a spill over her handlebars after hitting a rock and managed to tuck and roll into the ditch, but not without consequence.
second: we were excited to hear that our ride today would be shorter - almost ten miles shorter (a total of 59 miles)! unfortunately, that makes tomorrow's ride 130 miles. yes. 130. into colorado springs, a gain of 2,000 feet from la junta.
so we celebrate when we can, and we persevere through the rest.
we are really excited to get to colorado springs tomorrow because we've got family and friends to celebrate with! eric's sister, liz, and my friends, dave, greg, and mike will welcome us to the beautiful city of colorado springs and stay the night to share stories and hugs. and a new belgium brew, or two. maybe this will help us realize what we're doing and what we've already accomplished. some days it seems so unreal... biking over 2,000 miles in five weeks?! wow. these last 1,000 miles have flown...
i wish i could end this post with a funny story, but as you have all experienced at one time or another, some stories are only funny the moment they happen or if the listener knows the people involved. so i will spare you a long, mediocre story and instead thank everyone who has written and called - it has been nice to hear from everyone while we've been on the road. please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare to climb some big mountains, starting tomorrow!
pura vida,
molly
ps - i've learned on this trip that camping is not as glamorous when 30 people are involved. cooking, cleaning, tenting, packing in the morning, etc. i've been inspired to go on a small group backpacking trip to reignite my love for camping! you in?!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Welcome to COLORFUL COLORADO!
It feels more real than ever today, this whole biking across the country thing...I think the reason might be that we're now in Colorado (a mountainy state, and I know that mountainy isn't a word, but that's what everyone says that Colorado is), and although Eastern CO is flat as a board, just like the rest of the Great Plains, it FEELS west. We'll be here for 10 days, climbing the Rockies, taking a day off in Colorado Springs (when Andrew will rejoin us, we'll celebrate two riders' birthdays, AND get visits from my little sister and some of Molly's very best friends), and doing a little construction in Durango. It should be a challenging, but rewarding and exciting leg of the trip.
Today was a great ride--101 miles from Garden City, Kansas to Lamar, Colorado. Molly and I both felt really strong today, and swore we could have ridden 30 miles more (though, now that I'm rested a bit and showered up, you couldn't get me back on a bike today). Tonight, we'll enjoy carpeting and all the fixings (dinner AND breakfast) at the United Methodist Church of Lamar. Also, we have an extra hour today, because we crossed into the Mountain Time Zone, so although we were in the saddle for about 5 hours (which is a really good pace), we got here sooner than expected. Nice.
It's hard to believe that this trip is six weeks over tomorrow. Time passes so fast, it's almost alarming. Even though today was a century day, and we rode a long time and a long way, after it was over, I kind of looked around and thought to myself, "done already?" I think that as I ride into San Diego, I'm going to feel like things just got started...I still remember faces and names from our first hosts. Maryville, TN doesn't seem that long ago. And, we practically rocketed through Oklahoma and Kansas. I look at a map and really can't grasp what we've done so far. There's only three more states to ride through (six, if you count all four corners), and in only three weeks, San Diego. Crazy. I'm just starting to like biking, too.
I'll keep this short today, because I'm also responsible for our group journal tonight, but I can say this: I've had ups and downs throughout the trip, and even wondered if I'd be glad it was over when it's over--but, no matter how many emotions I've had, good or bad, I will be telling and celebrating this story and experience for a long time. Thanks to anyone reading for sharing in it with me. More to come, and pictures soon--I promise.
Have a cold one for Molly and I--or three or ten. I miss Madison bars most of all. Just kidding.
Take good care, all.
E
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Good News!
The first, and most important news for today's blog is in regards to our fellow rider, Andrew Martin. He's coming back!! He is currently securing a bike and helmet (from Greenville, NC) and buying a plane ticket to meet us in Colorado Springs on July 7! Can't wait to have you back, friend!
We really enjoyed the state of Oklahoma - the long, rolling hills, overcast skies, hospitality, and neverending land. It seemed as if we could ride forever and keep coming over hills to see more of the same. But it was beautiful! And we would have been wrong, because we left Oklahoma yesterday and entered Kansas. Much like we would have expected, we have seen a lot of flat land, hay fields and way less cows. There were a few interested things about today to keep us intrigued. First, some of us rode through Greensburg - the city where, only a few weeks ago, a tornado touched down and devastated the community. Not only was the tornado fierce and unyielding, but it leveled the town. The force of the storm required a number off the charts to describe it. Next, a few riders visited a town that has a sign designating it as the central point of the U.S. - equidistant from New York and Los Angeles. For the rest of us, who didn't take the opportunity to see those special places, we stopped and took pictures with hay bales. That's right. They're all over the country. But we stopped in Kansas to take pictures with them.
Well, the computer lab is closing NOW so i must cut this off.
We hope everyone is enjoying the summer and that we'll hear from you soon!
Pura vida!
Molly
We really enjoyed the state of Oklahoma - the long, rolling hills, overcast skies, hospitality, and neverending land. It seemed as if we could ride forever and keep coming over hills to see more of the same. But it was beautiful! And we would have been wrong, because we left Oklahoma yesterday and entered Kansas. Much like we would have expected, we have seen a lot of flat land, hay fields and way less cows. There were a few interested things about today to keep us intrigued. First, some of us rode through Greensburg - the city where, only a few weeks ago, a tornado touched down and devastated the community. Not only was the tornado fierce and unyielding, but it leveled the town. The force of the storm required a number off the charts to describe it. Next, a few riders visited a town that has a sign designating it as the central point of the U.S. - equidistant from New York and Los Angeles. For the rest of us, who didn't take the opportunity to see those special places, we stopped and took pictures with hay bales. That's right. They're all over the country. But we stopped in Kansas to take pictures with them.
Well, the computer lab is closing NOW so i must cut this off.
We hope everyone is enjoying the summer and that we'll hear from you soon!
Pura vida!
Molly
Sunday, July 1, 2007
OK in Oklahoma!
I've noticed a few interesting things about this trip--first of all, the United States is BIG and HILLY. Per the BIG, we've gone nearly 1800 miles, and we're just halfway there in mileage. Per the HILLY, we had two flat days in the coastal plains of Carolina, and what I would call one flat day today in Oklahoma; other than that, there are elevation changes galore. Would you believe that tomorrow, from OK to Kansas, we will gain 900 feet of elevation? I sure wouldn't. But, that's the land, and that's what we're doing--biking over it. Anyone who ever thought this trip would be a breeze is wrong.
The second thing I've noticed is how darn hospitable these folks across the country are--especially now, here in OK when we need a good feeding and rest before the Rockies. Molly and I said over dinner that it may have been the best meal yet (and we have had some incredible meals--Swan Quarter, Belhaven, Chapel Hill, Bartlesville, Grove, and the list goes on--also, I still say that the BEST thing I've eaten is fried Catfish on day one in Swan Quarter). Green Bean Caserole, Corn Bread Caserole and muffins, great BBQ, salads, and cake for dessert...woah. Good stuff. And, it's been this way all through OK--truly a refreshing place to be for us. Though, my weight loss of ten pounds is on the fence because of these meals. Oh well--I wasn't small when I left, why would I want to be upon my return? Life is good.
It's difficult to see and hear about the damage being caused by the flooding here right now--19 days of rain in a row, just before the wheat harvest...the Pastor here in Cherokee said that until 2 weeks ago, the wheat harvest was looking to be the best ever--now, the crops are nearly destroyed...we rode past houses that were flooded today, and the fields beside these homes looked like lakes, not wheat fields. We complain about the rain as riders because we're cold and wet--but it's not doing nearly as much damage to us as it has to the farmers in this state...something to think about as we ride on tomorrow into Kansas, our sixth state on the trip.
Our rides for the next six days should be tougher than usual--tomorrow is nearly 90 miles, and we should have two centuries after that--one into Lamar, CO, and one into our rest stop at Colorado Springs. After that day, we begin the rough part of our Rockies passage. We're not certain, but Molly and I talked with a woman who thinks we'll be taking the Monarch Pass, which connects Ouray to Durango, and happens to be the highest pass in the Rocky Mountains. So, we already made this highest pass in the Appalachians, and now the rockies? Again, I'll say that if anyone here thought this would be easy, they were wrong.
I must say, though, that Molly and I are more than up for the challenge. I can't speak for her, but I'm suprised how well my body has held up so far, and I'm amazed that, although it has tested me greatly, I've had the patience to ride so much. The bike is something I'm slowly getting used to, and it feel better and easier each day to ride. So that's good, right?
Quick note about Andrew Martin, our fallen biker--he's not too sure yet as to what he is going to do--he wants to ride, and all of us want him back. The doctors need to give him the ok though--if nothing else, we'd love to see him with the van, or on the beach in San Diego.
That should do it for now--sorry for the quick post, but it's bedtime, and like I said, 90 miles tomorrow. Goodnight, and take good care everyone.
Eric
The group is doing well--our systems of operation are smoothing out quite a bit
The second thing I've noticed is how darn hospitable these folks across the country are--especially now, here in OK when we need a good feeding and rest before the Rockies. Molly and I said over dinner that it may have been the best meal yet (and we have had some incredible meals--Swan Quarter, Belhaven, Chapel Hill, Bartlesville, Grove, and the list goes on--also, I still say that the BEST thing I've eaten is fried Catfish on day one in Swan Quarter). Green Bean Caserole, Corn Bread Caserole and muffins, great BBQ, salads, and cake for dessert...woah. Good stuff. And, it's been this way all through OK--truly a refreshing place to be for us. Though, my weight loss of ten pounds is on the fence because of these meals. Oh well--I wasn't small when I left, why would I want to be upon my return? Life is good.
It's difficult to see and hear about the damage being caused by the flooding here right now--19 days of rain in a row, just before the wheat harvest...the Pastor here in Cherokee said that until 2 weeks ago, the wheat harvest was looking to be the best ever--now, the crops are nearly destroyed...we rode past houses that were flooded today, and the fields beside these homes looked like lakes, not wheat fields. We complain about the rain as riders because we're cold and wet--but it's not doing nearly as much damage to us as it has to the farmers in this state...something to think about as we ride on tomorrow into Kansas, our sixth state on the trip.
Our rides for the next six days should be tougher than usual--tomorrow is nearly 90 miles, and we should have two centuries after that--one into Lamar, CO, and one into our rest stop at Colorado Springs. After that day, we begin the rough part of our Rockies passage. We're not certain, but Molly and I talked with a woman who thinks we'll be taking the Monarch Pass, which connects Ouray to Durango, and happens to be the highest pass in the Rocky Mountains. So, we already made this highest pass in the Appalachians, and now the rockies? Again, I'll say that if anyone here thought this would be easy, they were wrong.
I must say, though, that Molly and I are more than up for the challenge. I can't speak for her, but I'm suprised how well my body has held up so far, and I'm amazed that, although it has tested me greatly, I've had the patience to ride so much. The bike is something I'm slowly getting used to, and it feel better and easier each day to ride. So that's good, right?
Quick note about Andrew Martin, our fallen biker--he's not too sure yet as to what he is going to do--he wants to ride, and all of us want him back. The doctors need to give him the ok though--if nothing else, we'd love to see him with the van, or on the beach in San Diego.
That should do it for now--sorry for the quick post, but it's bedtime, and like I said, 90 miles tomorrow. Goodnight, and take good care everyone.
Eric
The group is doing well--our systems of operation are smoothing out quite a bit
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