State # 4

Well I'm re-hydrated and back on the road. Yesterday we rode into Colorado and for a moment I shed a few tears for Utah. I figured I had left some blood and lots of sweat... maybe she needed some tears to make her whole? Well To re-cap Utah.

What a beautiful state. We saw it in a very intimate way. I would recommend Utah to anyone who wants to see natural beauty at it's best. I bet every season is unique and wonderful... but... do it via something motorized! Or at least have someone follow you with a cooler of Dr. Pepper and spicy pork rinds.

Colorado... What can I say. We have been watching the snow capped mountains grow each mile we pedal. Colorado is greener than Utah and a little cooler. The roads are a series of ups and downs. Rolling hills so far. Yesterday I got my second flat tire. I had a wire, that looked like it came from a truck tire, embedded in my back tire. I have worn the tread down to nothing, so I was convinced that it was a tire related flat, not a puncture. Thank goodness it was a simple wire. Well we stayed in Dove Creek in a hotel owned by a fiber artist. I was able to fix the flat and patch the two inner tubes for later use. (the second tube was from my flat into Blanding)I am going to replace my tires in Telluride.

Today we got to ride right in the middle of a cattle drive. They were pushing the "doggies" right up the middle of the road. I loved watching the expressions of the horses and the cows. They seemed to be spooked by these, funny new creatures. At one point I was put in between a calf and it's mother... Thank goodness I was able to scoot out of the way in time. I am not sure the mother was going to stop.

We have made it to Dolores. This was supposed to be our destination, but I think we may eat and then push on to camp out somewhere past town. We have a few big climbs before we reach the pass at Monarch... so send us your energy... We will need it.

Much love all and thank you for all of your e-mails and comments. They really do help and keep the home sickness at bay.

Much love
T&E

PS... for those of you who are counting... 1219.5 miles and counting

Blanding... Gateway to adventure

So hello everyone from Blanding Utah! I will be so glad to get out of Utah... Well except for what's waiting for us next! The Rockies...

Utah has been so amazing. It has to be the most diverse terrain in the world. We have been in alpine and aspens... to lunar surfaces.

We camped in Boulder Utah a few days ago out of Bryce. It had been a long day and all of the motels were way to expensive so we hunkered down in a camp that was right out of a horror movie. We actually did a smudge to clear all of the bad vibes there. There were animal skeletons and all sorts of weird remnants of previous campers. I think if I ever get back this way I will skip Boulder!

Then we went on to Luna Mesa... (I think the town has a different name) The luna was right out of the Capital Reef National park. The luna was a quirky place, where the owner mentioned that it was common to see UFO's there all the time.

Capital Reef.....GO THERE! yes GO THERE and fast... it was amazing. We were on Bicycles and I felt like we were rushed. 50 million years of earth history there. The rest of that days ride was nice too.

We travelled to Hite on lake powell next. Hite was listed as a resort, restaurant, etc... on our map, but instead it was a ranger station with a closed down gas station. I've been to lake powell... dont go to Hite. That days ride was filled with at least four different kinds of landscape. The desert flowers we in total bloom and were very colorful.

Yesterday we rode into the rest of glen canyon and the whites. I got severely dehydrated and had to call for help to get me into town. A nice couple from Colorado drove me into Blanding and I started drinking fluids... Erik made the impressive, aw-inspiring ride in the dark and met me there around eleven last night. What an animal! Today I am still pretty sick, so I apologize for the brevity and lack of passion for Utah. I may edit this later.

We both needed a zero day and hopefully I'll be ready to ride tomorrow.

Well keep the comments coming... We appreciate the love.

T

Escalante Dreaming

Yesterday, We mosied into Ruby's inn around 1:00... We knew it was going to be cold so we got a room at the inn and Erik un-loaded to BOB and rode off to Bryce for a little. I hunkered down for a nap. Red canyon was amazing as well as all of the wash land. The whole ride was nice as much of it was on bike trails

Well we woke up this morning... We knew it was going to be cold, but we didn't know it was supposed to snow! Yes it was a blizzard, almost white out conditions... well it seemed that way. We stayed indoors until 11:00 and then headed out for Escalante.

About ten or so Miles we met a fellow Cross Country Trekker. He had started a few day before us, but has taken several small trips with friends and his family. Len was welcomed company today and he is camping with us tonight.

As far as some of the questions... BROOKSIE!!!!! My Saddle is well broken in now, so some days I am a little more sore than others, but for the most part... Things there are fine.

The weather is going to start getting warmer, so I am looking forward to shedding the leggings and the parka. Brrrrrrrrrr.

Keep the comments coming and Don't forget to keep us in your prayers.

Much love
T

Panguitch was calling

Well today the graces were with us. We had amazing weather and luck. It started with the trip to the bike shop. Erik squeaked out with a $50 part and some labor. They were able to get it done by 11. We went into town searching for breakfast and a ride up the mountain when we lucked out on both. We met a policeman at the polaris dealership (yes that is where you go for rides up mountains in Utah... who knew?) He was coming back at 1:00 to pick up his ATV and offered to take us back to where we stopped Saturday night.

I went into town and bought a few things for loved ones and Erik went to the hardware to fix his BOB trailer... Well at 1:00 sharp we loaded our bikes onto the kind policeman's flat bed and drove up 25 minutes what took us 6 hours on Friday.

Filled with vitamin Dr. Pepper we rode off after many thanks and headed here to Panguitch. The ride was spectacular. We saw volcanic residue from millions of years ago (ok like I know how long ago?...) The ride was beyond words... we saw it all. The national forest is called Dixie... land of many uses... well that is a great description. Even the snow was pretty!

We stopped for a tasty Burger at the Burger Barn... Solid food has been making me feel sick, and this was no exception. It tasted great and I am sure was top quality, but my stomach can't stand solid food. We will keep you posted.

So another KOA tonight and then who the heck knows tomorrow? lol I think it is Bryce canyon or something like that... you know... more spectacular scenery... ho hum...

Really it is some of the most breathtaking natural land I have ever seen. I've been in Utah before, but never this way... Try it...

Keep the comments coming. They help us. Really.

Much love
T

Cedar Break we went bust!

OK! yesterday we climbed a little mountain out of Cedar City... 10,350ft! We stopped near the summit at a place called Cedar Break to see a national monument and then camp about a half mile down the hill... Well all day Erik's bike had been giving him trouble in the lower gears... Well as we started off the path onto the road away from the break, there was a loud bang and some clicks and clacks...

Erik's rear derailleur disintegrated and bent up his rear wheel a bit... Well what the heck do you do then? Well we started to talk to the people who were there to see this amazing place and some of them took in their hearts to help us. One nice family offered to pick us up this morning and drive us back down that mountain and bring us to the only bike shop for the next few hundred miles. So last night, we camped in the national park amongst the snow and the cliffs waiting until the morning.

So that is where we are. At the KOA, in Cedar City, waiting for the bike shops to open tomorrow (or today if we can enroll them in opening up for us) I have no idea how expensive this will be, but my hope is that after it's fixed some kind soul will drive us back up that 10k hill!

Much love all!
T

The hills got nothing!

Well we got stuck in Ely one more night. We stayed in the "El Rancho". We did civilized things liked wrote e-mails and saw Spiderman 3. Our bikes needed some serious cleaning and it took several hours by the bike shop mechanic. If you need work done on your bike get it done in Ely. Only 5 bucks! Well after our wonderful night at the El Rancho we pedaled off towards Baker and the State line. We got to Baker around 4. Baker is an old town along the pony express line. It is also the headquarters for the Great Basin National park... We camped on the lawn of the Silver Streak Hotel. We played cards and drank a few beers with a public defender from Illinois. Baker was filled with characters. It seems that most of these small towns, quality.... hmmm how to say this... relations are hard to fine. Not that Erik and I were made any offers..., but they sure like to talk about it alot. Not good for two men on the road for 60 days away from their wives?

BTW.... the picture is of ERIK!!!!!

We left Baker around 8 hoping to make it into Utah and then maybe even make it the 83 miles to Milford UT.... Well we made it to Garrison UT only a few minutes into the ride, but the strong winds in our faces made the possibility of 83 doubtful at best. The wind did keep the temp down, but the three huge mountains added to our dilemma. Do we go for it or not? So around 5:30 or so we had one more 7000 foot mountain to climb and about 40 miles to go... so we decided that it was worth the ride in the dark to make it into town. WE DID IT! at 8:30 we glided into Milford. It was dark, but the lights of the town guided us home for the night.

We ate at the all night diner and got a room at the adjacent hotel. The shades in the room were so good we slept in to 10:41! so here we are... riding along and are in the little horse town of Minersville... hoping to make it to Cedar City sometime tonight or early tomorrow.

A few questions answered: Yes I'm on the same socks. I did by a pair of socks to wear as my town socks. Going barefoot was keeping me out of the better establishments. We have been told we are insane by enough people that I am beginning to believe it.

So three states! Only a few minor physical anomalies... and close to our first 1000 miles since San Fran.

Hopefully all of you will spread the word of our trip. Hopefully it will continue to move you as much as your support has moved us... Thank you all.. we really do thrive on your support and love.

T&E

Thoughts from the road

Well Erik and I are in Ely Nevada. We will be crossing into Utah maybe tomorrow. We had hoped to make it today, but our bicycles needed some attention.

So let me re-cap the last few days. We made it into Austin, NV from Middlegate. The day was filled with a huge climb and long stretches of open valleys. We chose the more senic and more challenging alternate route and were given a scenery bonanza. Who knew that Nevada was so mountianous? we made it into Austin around 6.

Austin was where we took our first zero day. We hunkered down in a hotel and rested and rested and skipped meals becasue we were busy resting. lol

So after our rest day we took off for Eurika... We had more mountians and more valleys. You can really get the sense of the ocean that covered this area a few million years ago. The geology is amazing. There were a few ranches, but for most part it was devoid of people. (They don't call highway 50 the loneliest highway for nothing!)

The night was cold! we slept in a rest station on the side of the road. The only phone available was at the county jail so I called home from jail... kind of funny.

Yesterday we had four big climbs and four long downhills. We did big miles and made it into Ely. I am guessing we are either getting stronger or crazier. We covered more vertical feet yesterday than we did in four days in the sierra's. There is not much to report as far as things we saw other than nevada is: say it with me... big mountians and bigger valleys...

Today we have to get some work done on the bikes and then we are off to see how far we can get out of Ely tonight. My body is tired but seems to be holding up.

Why I called this thoughts from the road is that you spend a lot of time thinking while grinding out the miles. I asked Erik about it and he seems to be thinking about the future alot. I can get that, given what he has ahead of him when he gets back. As for me... Well I covered a lot of my past... I have replayed many good and not so good times with all of you... over and over. I have also thought a lot about the future present and the possibility it brings.

One of these days I will remember to bring my camera in with me and see if I can add photos. If there is anything you have questions about leave a comment or e-mail me.

lots of love to you all. I can feel your energy and it has really helped me cover all of these miles.

try: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100166537273525461929.000001126873bbd7261f1&om=1&ll=38.852542,-121.393433&spn=3.020056,5.141602&z=8

Middlegate Station

Well last night we did not make it to Fallon. We slept along the banks of a lake 20 miles out. It was beautiful! We had our Raman noodles up at the privy, becasue that is the only place that the wind was reasonable enough to use the stove. I fell asleep with the big dipper right over my head and the good soreness of a hard days work.

Today we got up at the crack of sunlight. We did over 20 miles before 8:00am! We had breakfast in Fallon and then tanked up and headed off into the Nevada back country. Well after more than 70 miles and several 1000 ft elevation climbs... we made it to Middlegate station... When I say one horse... I am being generous! It is a beautiful saloon and hotel. They have free internet... so that is why I have been able to update so soon.

I am hoping to enroll Erik to stop these 12 hour days!

I miss all of you soooooo much and I think of the ride into Wilmington often!

Much love
T & E

Carson City!

Well yesterday we summited the Sierra's and we made the white knuckle ride down into Nevada. So for those who were keeping track... Over 200 miles and now one state completed.

We left Folsom and into the mountians. We made the seven up ranch around 8pm. It was either poison oak on the left or $140 at the B&B on the right. We chose the right. Well they had pity on us bikers and let us use the room for the shower and the kitchen for cooking and let us set up the tent in a freshly mown lawn. It was heaven. They shared their dinner and cooked us breakfast. We left around nine and took off up into the mountian further.

We only made it to cook's station but luck was with us and we tented in the back of this rough biker bar. The diesel generator was loud but the big tree we slept under provided a nice soft bed.

We made it to silver lake the next day. Only 20 miles of grueling elevation. yes that is right 20 miles in 10 hours of pedaling. but we were rewarded with a waterfall and huge iron bear boxes. It was breathtaking, but my sore ankle kept me pedaling on one leg for the whole day.

That brings us to yesterday. We summited around 12. The weather was perfect. There was snow everywhere except the road so it was... well word escape me. We met a nice family who took pictures of us at the sign and hopefull merc will have them soon. My camera is not working and I have a B&W camera katie gave me so my photo ops have been limited.

Well my time is almost up here at the carson city library... so I'm off to fallon Nevada.

Much love all!

"so many miles to go Tom"

So it has begun! We made it to San Fran and with terror in my heart we started. We made it to the beach around 10am and dipped our tires in the ocean and then made our way out of town. I could tell you all of the amazing stories that we have already experienced in the three days... like having the police arrive at the camp site tazers drawn... to the hundreds of serendipitious things that have happened, but I will only bore you with that if you if you want?

Ok I'll bore you.

We made it out of San Francisco and did about 40 some odd miles. There were plenty of hills climbing out of the bay area, but they were all ok. We made it to the outskirts of Cordillia and decided to camp. The best we could come up with was the on ramp to I-80... (it was a cozy field with pine trees etc... Thats when the police showed up... Well needless to say it is illegal to sleep along the highway...after asking the police a few times what that meant... they just said it was illegal. It was a nice camp site. We ate cheese and salsa burritos and slept like babies.

Yesterday we rode almost 60 miles to Davis. California is so beautiful. They have it right with the bike trails everywhere and it seems it is required to have a really tricked out bike if you want to live in the region. It was almost demoralizing to be passed by so many riders, but when the guy with the two giant bags of empty tin cans buzzed by... Well lets say I almost quit... for like a second. Then a coyote ran by and it was all good. Lets just say the stories are endless... so I will stop on this day.

Today we rode into Sacramento around 10 and we were met by Katie... she hooked us up with breakfast and then a place to sleep tonight. For those who don't know who Katie is... she has posed for me and then moved to california via a few places along the way... The trails today were even more amazing if that is possible. We saw coyote, quail, blue birds, woodpeckers, tons of squirrels. I could keep going, but I might be here typing when I should be sleeping.

I spent hours thinking about all sorts of clever things to say. Profound things to say, but what do you say or what to you leave out? Maybe I'm exhausted and should start over in the morning....?

OK that is the gist of it... I think what I am saying is so far the road has been kind to us. We are being spirited on by love and it feels pretty amazing. There are so many thanks to be handed out so far, but I know they know who they are... and if not... thank you and I love you too.

The next few days we will be climbing around 8000 vertical feet and then coasting back down. I am choosing to think about the coasting part...

Thank you all again.

Much love