Kentucky for a few more days... we hope

Well it has been a while, but we are safe and sound. We made it out of Missouri, through Illinois and are now into Kentucky! Yes we skipped a whole state of blogging. Illinois was the friendliest state in that we were given places to stay every night in the state, but the worst for Internet in that they wanted $5 per hour for access.

It is hard to remember all of the places and names, but out of Houston we rode through the hills of the ozarks and saw lots of historical places... from the bike. You get so focused that you often miss out on sights that you might stop at in the car, but then again you see places in a way you can't in a car. We camped in several national and state parks. We got our first significant rain while riding. We ate great BBQ and sat in a river, under a bridge while it poured around us. Missouri was fun.

Illinois was great too. You could feel the difference in culture right away. The history of who settled what and where shaped that. We cruised across the Mississippi into Illinois and made our first stop the 17th street grill in Murphysville. They have won national championships for BBQ a few times and I could see why. We met a very nice man at the grill who asked us to join him for some conversation... Well several hours later we were sleeping in his parents house in town. it was a nice blessing.

The next day we made it like 45 miles when the sky opened up. We were lucky in that we were sitting in a cafe eating lunch. A local man named John sat with us for a while and discussed our trip... little did we know that several hours later we were still pinned down by the weather and john came to our rescue. We had a blast with him. He is a very interesting man who I think enjoyed us as much as we did him. Well he drove us back to the spot where we last had pedaled from and off we went for Kentucky.

We got the river ferry last night and cruised into Kentucky like two guys who have almost 3000 miles under their feet. (maybe because we do!)

Thank you all for the comments and well wishes. Keep them coming they help.

Houston was a blast

So after repeating the six miles out of Marshfield, we pedaled off to Houston, MO... The ride was awesome in that just when the Gatorade or water ran out a gas station appeared. It was blazing hot with hell like humidity, but it didn't seem to be a bother. Missouri has hills. They require you to think and stay on the gears. Nothing yet like the rockies, nevada, california or Utah!, but still there and still requiring the legs to work.

Well last night as we pulled in to Houston we had heard of a must stop at the Houston Hotel... The Owners are PonyBoy and Eya... We had been hearing about them since Kansas... so we made a direct course for the hotel...

Well as it has been the whole trip our luck worked its mojo. There were 14 or so riders all about to sit down for dinner in the front lawn of the hotel... We were greeted with a huge cheer and then handed a bottle of water (beer for Erik) and asked to join them...

They place was a lot of fun... lots of conversations about how hard the east was and we shared how hard the west will be for them... needless to say, we had a blast and will remember Houston for a long time...

Oh and btw... Eya is from Delaware county and knew lots of Conestoga people... how crazy to be in Houston, MO and meet someone who grew up travelling though Wayne and KofP? crazy...

Well to day we are off and hopefully we will be telling you about the BBQ in emminance!

Much love
t

Tough time leaving the Plaza Motel

Well today is our second attempt to leave Marshfield. Yesterday we were about six or so miles out of town, on our way to Houston, when Erik's chain snapped again. We were some fortunate pups... After sorting out that the operator had given us numbers to bike shops in Springfield, Ill instead of Missouri... We were picked up by the Sunshine Bike shop in Springfield, MO... Kay the owner was the perfect hostess. She fed us, gave us gatorade and had her efficent staff fix our bikes... And then Kay drove us back to our home away from home at the Plaza in Marshfield!

We also would like to thank the #2 fire house for giving us dinner. One of Kay's people made a few calls and we were all hooked up. the food was almost as good as the stories and company.

So today we are off to Houston... MO! We are rested... well as much as a half day in Springfield could offer and raring to ride home... (Hopefully before the 12th)

I guess I am sounding like a broken record, but it is the people that we meet that have made this trip amazing. The land is spectacular, but it is the generocity and friendlyness that makes it worth the ride. Everyday is an adventure and a new person to meet.

Good luck to Allison and the group she is riding with... I will try to make links when I have a few more minutes at the computer. (So jonathan... get your Yahoo map going again... the people miss it... I miss it)

Much love
t

Marshfield, MO

So here we are in Webster County... Missouri has been blessed with hills... not the kind that are kind to bikers, but hills that require you to be fast on the gears... its 30 seconds down... and then two minutes up and then down then up then down and then up.... over and over in a mind numbing repitition...

Last night we got into camp around 7ish... there were 12 riders from univ. of Illinois there in town riding to LA... They are riding with van support... that is good for them, becasue the section of the western express they are taking will be brutal in the July heat.

It is Erik's goal to make it home in time for the 12th... So if you are thinking of meeting us at the atlantic to see us finish... get your travel plans started... We still have Ill and Kentucky and Virginia left... oh yea and the rest of Missouri.

We still havent decided to take Chrissy's plan or Jerry's plan or the Trns Am maps to the sea, but I recon we will have to decide in the next few days... or weeks as it were.

Well off to find a place to sleep for the night and something to eat...

Much love
t

ps someone call dad and tell them we passed the sign for rt 44 to Rolla!

Golden City, MO

Last night we decided we needed one more day in Kansas so we stopped in the home of the Pittsburgh State University... Pittsburgh Kansas that was.

We have met many west bound bikers the last few days... Many of them are 26 days out from Virginia! so.... maybe we are less than a month away from home! Wow that would be a treat!

Kansas was a great state... flat and warm... not to much rain, not to much wind, not to much of anything... except nice people... Well not to much, but just enough... Like the guy who, told us a story about how, when he was born, the only incubator available was one for raising chickens... and being the youngest of four he was teased into not liking eggs for fear of eating a brethren... or the small cafe that was closing, but kept open to feed us... we got fed! it was a good thing we liked everything they fed us, but that is just how it is...

So far MO has been pretty much the same, except Cooky's cafe was closed... we have been hearing about it for days and now its closed...

Well we are off to the grocery to find some lunch and then... well does it really matter? the important point is, it is a few more mile closer to home.

Thank you all for the well wishes for my birthday... I got lots of great calls and Father's day was great too...

Much love all and keep the comments coming.

Almost out of Kansas

Well Kansas has been good to us... Last night we stayed in a city park... the weather held and we slept like babies... The night before we stayed at Jerry and Shirley Smiths... they are an amazing cycling couple... He has done over 200k miles in his bicycling career and she has done a lot with him. They fed us and washed our clothes and sent us on our way... thank you for the hospitality and the prayers.

Well today I was awakened by a rousing rendition of HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! yes 41 years young today... I am not sure how I will celebrate it today, but I bet there will be some pedaling involved... same with tomorrow and Father's Day... I bet pedaling will be involved... maybe a new state tomorrow!!! now that would be a great gift...

Well we have blown way past the half way mark... We are around 2000 miles and are blasting towards home... I have been instructed that I am to keep the playoff beard and not cut my hair until we roll into Wilmington... I am sure it will be a sight!

Jennifer... the bracelet is fine... I currently have it tucked in my bag for safe keeping... it would rot off if I didn't the sun screen has that effect on rubber. I look at it every night and think of why we ride almost hourly.

Well keep the comments coming... keep the questions and suggestions going... We love it and excitedly check the blog when ever we get a chance.

Much love all
t

Kansas is a blur...

I'm not sure if it is the heat that has melted my brain, the wind that blows in my ears to the point where I can't hear or the sameness of the terrain? Don't get me wrong... Kansas has been beautiful and it is the first state where we have seen a concentration of CC bikers. Everyone of them are going the other way. So we have been swapping intel about where to stay etc... (the road is washed away in front of us, but some industrious bicyclist have erected a temporary path across)

Today looks like we will get some rain... It has been raining constantly in Kansas since we have crossed the border, but just not on us... So maybe today we get wet? I'm betting not, but that is up to mother nature. (I spoke to soon. The rain started to pour on our bikes as we were sitting here)

We are fast approaching the 2000 mile mark. We met a man who has ridden 140,000 miles and has been on the road for the past 20 year. He is a comedian and gives concerts to pay for his riding and homelessness.

I think the name of the town in Lerned, KS that we are in... Most are small towns, farming towns with a giant silo and lots of farm equipment. Sometimes they have giant feeding stations for the cows... (soon to be beef) The smell and the bugs are awful... actually amazingly awful!

Well much love from the road...
t

Brooksie... The only nut I have missing is the the coconut rattling around my head... I must be crazy!

Jim... Pull out the maps and pick a place... KS is not a place to visit, but I am guessing the further east we go the better... More mishief opportunity...

So good by Colorado, hello Kansas

Well it has been since Pueblo since I posted last... We stayed at a wonderful woman's house in Ordway, CO. She opens her house to distance bikers every year. Last year she had 83 bikers. I would recommend he hospitality to anyone going her way. She is on west 9th street... ask me for details... my e-mail is on my profile here.

Then next day we made it to Eads, CO... we were able to stay just in front of a rain front all day and pulled into town on the heals of a major wind storm... The topography is flat... well compared to delaware it is hilly, but the hills are miles up and then down... never getting more than a few feet in elevation difference. So not climbing or no coasting either.

Yesterday we made it to state number five. Kansas... Also we made it to another time zone... We are in central time zone... only one more to go! We camped out in the town park of Leoni, KS... it was a nice park with a pool that was closed to us...

The comments are slowing and so is the pace of my posts... Hopefully when we get closer to home it picks up!

Today we have done 25 miles so far... it looks like we might make 90 today...? The weather permitting.

Thank you jim for the post... It was a great time that weekend. It meant a lot to us... Hopefully it was fun for you too... (I know it was!)

Tell me if you have any questions out there... keep the comments flowing. It makes us fly to know you all are watching!

Much love
T

The Scariest Dudes of All Time

Having finally mastered this fakakkida posting-pictures- to-the-blog thing, I present to you recent photos of Tom & Erik, taken late one evening around the campfire outside a cabin where we spent the night near Gunnison, CO. Can you hear them singing Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song"? These photos were taken shortly before we agreed that it would be entertaining to blow bourbon onto the fire from our mouths. Above you can see the (expensive) bourbon "bloom" erupting from Erik's mouth a split second before it "fwooofed" into a fireball. More fun (and safer) than it looks, I assure you.

In the picture at top left, Tom has his Rocky Mountain Elf groove goin' on. Not sure exactly what that look is about, but we can agree he looks suitably devilish for the circumstances. Thinner too, eh?

More photos coming in the next post. Keep on bikin', boys.

--Jim

Another Mile Stone... onto the flat portion of the show

So yesterday we left Cotopaxi, knowing that we would be leaving our beloved Rockies. We also knew that it would be the end of the Western Express portion of our trip. I was left a little teary and sad, but the promise of the transamerica is looming.

We met several cross country bikers yesterday on our way into Pueblo. One couple were raising money for bikes for Africa and another was crocheting hats to support his year long tour of the country. I had no idea of the bicycle culture and how much people are seeking adventure... well let me tell you bicycle touring is an adventure.

Last night as we pulled into town a truck pulled us over and a couple offered us their back yard to camp. Dennis had done a fair amount of long distance touring and knew the value of his offer. They opened up their yard, as well as their shower.... It was nice knowing we had a soft place to sleep.

We went to a kind of fancy restaurant, looking like hardened bikers, and ate a celebratory dinner and then hit the sack.

I don't quite know how to say it, but the kindness and support that we have received so far has been touching and has changed me inside, I'm sure. I miss home tons, but I miss riding even the few short minutes I have been sitting here keeping you all updated. So thank you. thank you to all who have wished us well and have offered us help and encouragement. I am hoping I am living up to your expectations.

Much love
T

'Playoff Beard" at westcliffe, CO

That is a great description Peter! yes that is what it is... a playoff beard!

Well Colorado is having a huge wind storm right now and the pedaling is kind of tough. We made it into Cotopaxi last night and choose a room at the KOA vs a tent site due to the 60 mile an hour gusts. There were 90 mile an hour gusts up at monarch and it was 19 degrees only a few hours after we summited... The boy scouts who were staying at the KOA had their tents destroyed by the wind and falling debris. The wind caused lots of the rocks on the cliffs that line the highway we were travelling to fall. fortunately not on us!

today we are trying to go the 75 or so miles into pueblo... we still have about half of the 45 miles up hill climb left to go to today and then the long cruise down into the plains... (with the wind's permission....)

I am hoping to get a tune up on my bike in pueblo to be set for the long haul across the rest of the country. Erik and I are working on sails to assist us across. i have a huge sheet of Tyvek, and hopefully we can fashion something safe enough to assist us with the 2200 miles we have left.

thank you all for the comments.

much love
T

As the water does, so do we...

We made it! We are over the rockies... Well we haven't made it into Pueblo yet, but we are close! Last night we stayed in the beautiful and scenic town of Sargents CO. We camped in a cabin at the base of Monarch pass at the only building in town... or so it seemed.

Sargents actually ended up being fun. We met a family driving from Denver to Telluride and were staying at the half way point. (Don't worry we wont forget you!) I was thinking we would get to bed early and then hit the road at the crack of dawn... well the last half came true. We sat up late talking and I think some mischief occured... (wait until I get the photos downloaded)

Well at 5:15am Erik popped up and was ready to go... (Maybe he was concerned the owners might see the handy work?) By 5:30 we were climbing the ten miles and almost 2,500 vertical feet to the pass. Around 8:30 I was jumping up and down at the summit. Not because of the accomplishment, but because it was soooooooo cold... OK I was a little over joyed, but who wouldn't be?

After the summit we coasted for about 20 some odd miles and ate breakfast in the town of Selada... After we were hit smack in the face with 40-50+ mile an hour winds! It was the longest and hardest 45 miles I have ever pedaled... down hill that is...

Tomorrow we are going to attempt to make it to Pueblo... wind willing.

Happy Birthday Michael! I wont say how old... but it is a biggie!

Much love and keep the comments coming!

T

Rolling on and soon to be over.

Today Erik and I were saddened to see Jim go. I think he got enough pictures and video to make a short documentary. I am hoping he got enough... of what ever he needed, while with us...to feed his soul for a while.

Colorado has been magical. The amazing natural beauty, the fun, the gentle incline of the hills... Don't get me wrong... the miles have been tough, but for some reason Colorado makes them all feel ok.

We made into Gunnison today. The skies threatened, but with a little patience we have seemingly avoided the rain... for now. Erik is at the bike shop getting a tune up. I am hoping to wait until Pueblo (in three days) Today's ride followed a river and crossed a beautiful lake/reservoir. We met Jim at the top of one of the passes and sat and had lunch looking at the valley below and the Elk in the distance.

I'm a good tired right now, but that leaves me short for words... know that I have been thinking of you all and that it makes me smile...

Much love
T

In the clothing optional hot springs with Little Debbie

Before you go blaming him for this posting, I should tell you that this is NOT Tom writing. Nor is it Erik. Nor is it any of the local talent we met in the clothing optional hot springs in Ridgway, Colorado last night. But then that's another story.

No folks, the truth is, this is Jim Donahue doing the guest blogger today. I just happened to be cruising down Highway 50 out of Grand Junction last Friday night and who should I run into but Tom and Erik on their cute little bikes. And it's a good thing I spotted them when I did because the scenery out here is so fantastic that anyone could be forgiven for driving past a train wreck! The purple mountains majesty are definitely all that. Actually they're snow-capped mountains, and I'm talking lots of it too.

But I digress. First, here's your on-the-spot report on Tom and Erik: they both look fantastic, somewhat slimmer, definitely hairier, and lving large in the U.S. of A. They are in GREAT spirits and quite obviously having the time of their lives. They're a little unhappy with their forward momentum to date--not covering as many miles each day as they'd like--but if you could see the size of these hills you'd understand. Frankly, I think it's amazing they've come this far this fast.

They press on toward very definite goals each day, usually 40-60 miles depending on terrain, and are normally setting up camp or tucking in to some roadside motel around 5 or 6. How to describe living conditions? Let's see: think of a frat house without the house.

Last night was so beautiful that we literally slept under the stars. We set up the tent because it looked like it might rain, but we ended up around a campfire with the full moon shining. We laughed ourselves stupid making up a new game that we haven't quite named yet but which we will be patenting and selling to Parker Brothers (or maybe MTV) in the next few months, so keep your eyes open. There are many variations, but the main theme is to come up with oddly juxtaposed pairings. Like: timid bookeepers and drunken archers. Endlessly entertaining and highly adaptable to all sorts of variations. Food marketing spokescharacters were another topic. Imagine Little Debbie in a switchblade fight with the Pillsbury Dough Boy. The funniest part is to wait until everyone is almost asleep and then blurt out a new pairing. Hilarious.

If Tom and Erik are having as much fun on this whole trip as I've had with them in the last three days, then we all have reason to be jealous. Everyone we meet is friendlier than the next person and they are all fascinated with the cross-country aspect of this effort. I will miss being with them when I return to Philly on Tuesday.

I have lots of pictures and video, so if you'd like to see them, give me a shout--or your email. I will be making a photo album for Mercedes--as soon as I finish the Costa Rica one.

Tom and Erik send their love and hugs to everyone ; if any of you would like me to hug you for them when I return, please call or write. I promise to shower first.

I'll try and squeeze in one more posting before I head home.
Best to all,
Jim

Telluride from Dolores

Well we had to stay in Dolores afterall. I got another flat and I was running out of day light and inner tubes so we camped along the Dolores River. It was beautiful. The almost full moon crested right over the mountain on the other side of the river. The river glowed in the moonlight. We had a camp fire and then rested for the hike up Lizzard Head.

Yesterday we enjoyed the gentile climb out of Dolores. We were saw that we were lucky not to have pushed on the night before as the place we had planned to stop was closed. We ate lunch almost at the top of the pass at Rico.

The climb was set in a wonderful valley that had the Dolores River running along our side, pretty much the whole trip. Erik and I both missed the climb on the map that was right after the summit and had to put our aching legs back into climbing gear.

Last night we stayed at a friend of a friend of Erik's. Walter and Erin were generous hosts. They gave us a condo to sleep in and fed us. I think it was the company that made the night.

Today we are stuck in Telluride waiting on my bike to be fixed and for Jim to fly in and follow us for a few day in a car. It will be nice to have some company from home.

So one Rocky mountain down... several more to go...

Much love
T

UPDATE: Chrissy Donahue was able to move mountains and got me my tires here, on time. It is a good thing, the bike shop told me that the tires I had on the bike were severely dry rotted and could have caused problems... whew! Besides that they made a few adjustments to Erik's bike and we should be good to go for a while. Jim is on his way and should arrive in Telluride late and tomorrow we should be off into the Rockies!

T