Colorado, from Denver to Eads

On Tuesday our crew set out from Denver to ride to Deer Creek, CO. Brant and I left much later than Reid, Hannah, and Dave, getting all of our stuff organized and waiting for one last UPS package to arrive. On other tours, riding in the afternoon was no problem, and I knew that I could smash out an 80 mile day if I needed to, so going 53 felt like no problem--that was all in on the temperate California coast...woops...The heat of this country coupled with the weight of my new expedition loaded bicycle made for a challenging 53 miles.
   We got in to Deer Creek around 6pm, just in time to meet our counterparts at the local park making burritos with cold beans from the gas station, and they were good. Dave, Hannah, and Reid had already spent the afternoon at the pool and the library, and local guy had invited them to Bingo Night at the Elk's Lodge across the street. Things were looking up. After scarfing my mini burrito we moseyed down the dirt road and parked our bikes  in the back patio of the Elk's Lodge. An older man in faded jean overalls sipped a beer and the biggest bug zapper I have ever seen buzzed in the background. As he watched our little circus pull up, he said, "You guys oughta be crazy to be riding in this heat." We always laugh at this statement, understanding its truth. 

   We strolled in and found our way through the lodge to the Bingo room. People were fixing an old swamp cooler and the place felt like what Kentucky is probably going to feel like in a few weeks. There was only six people there, but they welcomed us with so much excitement and interest. The old 1960's bingo machine reved up and popped, and the little bingo board lit with nostalgia, it was awesome. 
   We played ten games of Bingo with three cards, and three Bingo's later we had the room inviting us back.  In the end, old Dutch and Robin fought over whose yard we should sleep in. Dutch, the local newspaper and printing press owner for the last forty years, won, and we walked our bikes across the street to sleep next to the Deer Creek Tribune and Printing Press in a lawn in front of Dutch's old trailer.
   Dutch came to check on us in the morning with a pad of paper in his hands. He wrote down our names and where we were going so he could feature us in next week's tribune. We said our goodbyes and cycled off around 7am, happy we went to Bingo night. 50 miles later we got in to Hugo, and it was hot, so what did we do?

 Found the local pool and lounged for a few hours. Reid made a few friends with some local twelve year old boys who informed him of the happenings in and around Hugo. These boys informed us that Eads (our next days destination) had a sweet pool, and that Kit Carson (47 miles down the road) was nearly a ghost town, and we took note. We hung out with the librarian who invited the night marshal over to give us her blessing on sleeping in the park. We made burritos with avocado and hot sauce and went to sleep early. 
   Hannah (the other lovely lady of our crew), had only ridden 35 miles in a total day before this trip and has been pushing us to leave early and avoid the heat, and I am ever thankful for the encouragement. We woke up the next day at 5 and were riding by 6:30; the temperature was in the sixties and lovely. We rode 47 miles to Kit Carson by 9 o'clock and took a breakfast burrito break at the one local establishment. Ar which, we found out that Obama Care got passed, freaked out, and then freaked out again that the wait staff may have over heard us and subsequently poisoned our food...hopefully not.
   Now I am sitting in the library in our destination for the day, Eads, CO. We rode 70 miles today by noon, and everyone else is taking a nap out front.
Eads is quite literally in the middle of nowhere but has a public swimming pool, nice librarians, one coffee shop, a grocery store open till 5:30 pm, and sheriff's who are willing to turn the sprinklers off so we can sleep in front of the Kiota County Courthouse. This is luxurious and totally exciting because it has giant trees and lush squishy grass.
   So although I said that Eads was in the middle of nowhere, this place is quite  an oasis in this high elevation plain of Eastern Colorado, a place where trees are sparse, the temperature outside is 102 degrees, and many "towns" don't even have gas station let alone a grocery store. So, we're taken advantage of the amenities, hanging out in the library, going to the swimming pool, and making stew for dinner with fresh veggies, thanks to the local market.
   When I lived out of a station wagon with 4 girls three years ago in New Zealand, we did the same thing, public pools and libraries. It's interesting to be doing it again. I think when your on the road, you realize the  value of so many public services, and Eads is kicking public service butt.
   We have about 180 miles of riding under our belt since Denver. With the heat, if we try to wake up at 5am, and get on the bikes by 6 so as to get most of our riding out of the way by noon before the heat wipes us out, I think we will be good (how will we handle humidity?!)

La Casa Contenta

Thank you, Hana, Lee Ann, and Neal!

Today, Hannah Minter, Papa Dave Haflich, and I begin cycling with Brant and Reid. Our first stop is Deer Trail, CO. According to encouraging Dave, they are few trees on our path today, but we are still excited.
For the past few days we have stayed at the house of Eileen's best friend since elementary school, Lee Ann. Her family has been entirely generous and has put up with some eclectic lawn decor, five bicycles, fourteen exploded panniers,  tools and wool socks sprinkled across the grass.  This house, however, has been entirely an oasis, not just because of the ever refreshing swimming pool in 102 degree Denver heat, or the shower, but because of the kindness and generosity felt around the table, of being able to have a place to cook, share food, and share stories (really, they have been doing all the sharing). In moments like this, I remember why we host people and welcome friends (sometimes strangers) into our doors,  a feeling of home is rare for a traveler, and when you have felt the unexpected generosity of a home, you know that someday it will be your turn to pass on the kindness (and coffee). So as we pack up today I am taking generosity notes, and soaking up the last few moments of good morning conversation and air conditioning.

We'll keep you posted.

Onward Ho

There have been many goodbyes over the last two weeks. And starting tomorrow morning, our lives will be mostly full of hellos, the hellos of new roads, new cities, new mountains, new faces. But tonight, we'd like to honor those we've had to say goodbye to.

How many century rides to Colorado?

The Land Of Plenty

Today is day eight of our epic journey to Denver.  We have been keeping a blistering pace of about 100 miles a day, some days less, but most days more.  Last night Lauren and her mom surprised us by setting up camp for us in Green River Utah State Park.  Never heard of it, don't worry, neither have we, but it is the only thing out here other than the austere beauty of Utah's red towers. There are only 70 miles before we reach the much anticipated Colorado border, which will hopefully bring an abrupt end to endless days in the desert on unending straight sections of road.  Excited to climb rather than desiccate. 

Sorry for the sporadic updates, I promise to get a journal...

Surprise!

Saying Bye.

Lauren and her mom drove past us as they left town for Moab.

Utah!

First day

We began our first day at the south gate of Yosemite (hwy 41). Yosemite is a sentimental place in all of our hearts and is where I grew up, so it felt like a perfect place to begin our adventure. The dearest of family friends shuttled us to the gate AND carried most of our gear to set up camp ahead of us.

The ride kicked our butts, and for Reid and I, it was full of the most intense climbs we have ever pedaled.

However, the 13 mile descent down Tioga Pass was beyond epic and ended in fish tacos.

We are going to sleep tired happy campers.

Send Reid and Brant your safety thoughts as they pedal through the forsaken state of Nevada.

A Monumental Day

After staying up all night (literally), Brant participated in all of the ceremonious activities of graduation. It was awesome to honor Brant's hard work.

Immediately following, we had to move out of our home. We packed, swept, mopped, and left feeling entirely overwhelmed.

We are in Brant's dad's truck on our way to Yosemite to start riding tomorrow. We've shed some tears in this here back seat. And I am sure we will shed some more.

To leave home is a dreamy but very scary thing.

Here we go!

Wheel Exciting

As departure draws nearer we are finding less time to update as we scramble to get all of our gear together, and for me, graduate.  Below is my first attempt at a stop motion video, and something like my 15th wheel built.  This is my front wheel, which carries the the dynamo that I will talk about in more detal in a later post. I am getting good enough now that I can build wheels no hands.  Enjoy and have a good weekend.