Day Twentynine- Done (Over 2105 miles)

August 18th-

I slept in at the campgrounds until after nine. Normally, I sleep more if I feel safe. There was a lot of confusion going on around Salina due to the construction, so I ended up getting on Interstate 70. I figured it would only be for five miles or so. I ended up liking the ride a lot more. It was safer than the roads I was on before, because I had three times as much shoulder to chose from.

I stopped at the next big town I saw, which happened to be Richfield. There was quite a few fast food restaurants and hotels directly off of the Interstate. I went inside a Taco Bell/KFC and ordered one of the degrading meals in a bowl (as if a mini trough is less convenient than a bowl). While I sat there recharging my electronics and myself, a mouse scurried across the floor. The workers there panicked in an attempt to eradicate the building of the tiny mouse. I patiently walked over to the door, opened it, made some squeaking noises, and ushered him out. He waited for me to open the other door in the same fashion. No problem. I soon realized there was no point in saving the scared mouse, as one of the workers went outside and beat it with a broom. I guess they do things differently in Utah.

I left there and stayed riding on I-70 beyond the point where I had an excuse, mostly because I was riding faster. As I was getting closer to I-15 (where I-70 ended), I started experience a high volume of mountains. As a matter of fact, I had risen to two separate, drawn-out summits; 7180 feet and 6600 feet. I was only riding up from the high four thousands, so it wasn't as bad as the Rockies. I made it to I-15 a little beat up from the climb. But, I wasn't going to let that stop me: I had more Freeway to ride on.

I was able to make it all the way to Beaver, UT without being stopped by any police. I was heading for the campgrounds in town when I got a little lost. There was a lady moving some clothes from her car into her house. I asked her if she could point me in the right direction, and she did. Actually, she called the place for me to see what their price was for a tent campsite. It was $24. I thanked her for her help, but told her I wouldn't be staying there because I refuse to pay that much for a piece of land for one night. She offered for me to stay at her pasture which was just a few blocks away. Of course, I accepted.

So, Mary Margaret showed me her land. I set up my tent and headed back to the Subway restaurant I saw about a mile back. When I got in there, not a single person was in the store. Two people outside said that they had been standing there for an hour and saw nobody inside the store. Right away I knew they worked there. I followed their directions though, and went back into the store and yelled for someone behind the counter. After a few seconds, a teenage girl came out to help me.

I typed and ate for about an hour when it became closing time. I had to get out because they were having their monthly meeting. That is why the two pranksters were outside earlier on. I grabbed my things and shuffled over to the McD's to finish writing. As soon as they closed at 11 pm, I packed my things on the bike and rode back to my "campsite."

Daily Lesson: (From picture) No trip starts out at mile 1, that comes after mile 0.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twentyeight- Done (Over 2005 miles)

August 17th-

Normally, when the clock reads 5 something, I'm not up to do anything. But, on this particular morning I was getting ready for a long day. It's rare on this trip that I am able to enjoy an early ride with the sun lighting my way, but not burning my back.

Jerry and I said goodbye as I followed his truck toward the highway. He turned right at the end of the road toward work and I turned left toward, well... work. I looked ahead at a large range of mountains that I had to somehow get through. I saw some misplaced, as I thought, windmills which were soon to be well explained. There was an intense wind tunnel created from the gap between the mountains. The ride was cold, sweaty, and difficult. I didn't realize that the canyon was so long and dangerous.

There was construction being done to the highway which resulted in no shoulder. But, I was stopped before I could make it that far. One of the construction workers had me toss my bike in the back of his truck and gave me a ride for a little over a mile to the other side of the construction site. It was just enough time to warm up before I got back out in the cold.

For those people who don't know already, canyons are formed between mountains and are not often flat. With that said, I proceeded to climb the mountainous canyon toward the summit.

I was successful with the trip through the canyon and rode on through a town which had a sports store with large sale signs everywhere. I went inside to pick up bicycle things if they had them. I only found tubes. So, I bought two of them since they were on sale.

I then made it into a town called Mt. Pleasant. I stopped at a locally owned gas station and parked my bike up against the building. I went inside and bought a corn dog, popcorn, and Arizona Grapeade. By the time I got back outside to my bike, the rear tire was as flat as the road behind me wasn't.

I wheeled the bike out behind the store where the sun wasn't searching for something to bake, and proceeded to change the tire. I stuffed one of the new tubes in and inflated it all the way. When I pulled the pump off the nozzle, the nozzle broke rendering the tire useless. So, I patched up the one I had just taken out and put it back in there. It was much better. I left Mt. Pleasant feeling that the name was deceiving.

As I continued on my quest for a hundred miles, I passed through a town called Manti; home of a gigantic Mormon Temple. I continued toward Salina, but stopped in Gunnison for water. Gunnison has a small theater that was showing a PG-13 movie at 7pm promptly. I could have waited forty minutes for the show, but kept riding into Salina to avoid a storm I saw overhead.

It was still somewhat light outside, even though the sun had set fifteen minutes earlier, but I made it to Salina. I saw an American Legion with a few cars outside, so I went in to say hello. I walked downstairs as the top floor was completely vacant. As I turned the corner, I heard one voice speaking from a room filled with people. A gentleman told me, "This is the AA meeting." I apologized for any interruption, but then thought about staying because I hadn't a drink in over a month. I ended up leaving though out of respect for the people there.

I headed for the Butch Cassidy Campground. I noticed that they only charge $5.95 for AAA members. Lucky me. When I set up my tent in the tent area, there was only one other person there. His name is Tony. Tony was on a motorcycle trip across the US and was talking to his wife on the phone. After he got off the phone we talked some more. Soon, it was time to call it a night and I settled down inside my tent. I have another long day of riding tomorrow.

Daily Lesson: The products that break the most are the ones on the best sales.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twentyseven- Done (Over 1910 miles)

August 16th-

Well, I woke up to my alarm and decided that it was still too early. I was going to reset it, but just fell back asleep instead. I woke up around 9 am (thirty minutes before breakfast was over) to a loud bang next door. The family staying in the room next to me was apparently in a hurry to get out of there. Who knows why? But, I hustled downstairs to grab some hot and cold breakfast and brought it back up to the room. I spent the next two hours writing with a shower thrown into the mix as the pictures downloaded to the webpage.

I left the hotel around 11:30 am ready to ride. I realized that the road I was heading on was being used for a bike race a week later. They put up a nice sign that read, "Bike Race August 22th." How odd! I could've sworn that it was the 22nd. Oh well, Utah. After riding along Highway 189 for about fifteen miles, I found out that there is a trail that parallels the road. I rode over to that and continued my trip a lot safer. I passed by campgrounds, parks, and even a waterfall. It was quite a trail.

I got off the trail in Provo to see how beautiful the town is. There were dozens of hang gliders floating down to earth from the mountains that protected Provo. I passed through Provo and arrived in a town called Springville. It seemed like a small town, but they have a rotary club. As a matter of fact, there was a banner hanging in the center of town that pointed me in the direction of their Annual Picnic/Car Show.

I rode eagerly toward the site where they were celebrating. I didn't know that I was heading approximately eight miles up the side of a mountain. There is a nice bike/walk path located on Canyon Road, but it didn't get rid of the incline. I made it to the picnic just as they were finishing up. However, I was welcomed just the same. I explained what I was doing and word spread quickly as people walked over to me to shake my hand. I answered the normal questions again, and met some very nice people. One of the gentlemen I met, who is a rotarian, is Jerry Bately. He invited me to stay the night at his house in town. Although I had only riden about thirtyfive miles that day, he talked me into it. Jerry told me that he and his wife (I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten her name even after asking Jerry a second time for it) both left early in the morning for work, so I could get an early start. Plus, dinner was going to be homemade. I couldn't pass that up.

We got back to their house and I examined my bike to see if it was alright. It was. I got to meet nine year old moose, who is a six pound dog. Moose was focused on my every move as I ate the chicken leftover from the picnic. It was much the same with the burger, corn, and vegetables that Jerry's wife made for all of us. But, "Moose doesn't eat people's food."

Everyone headed off to bed so I made some phone calls, unconciously watched a western called "McCabe and ??," and got ready to head to bed early. I had to be up and ready to go by 6 am. A little earlier than I'm used to, so for that at least, Jerry and his wife have my respect.

Daily Lesson: Don't be afraid to change your plans, especially if it doesn't effect anyone but you.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twentysix- Done (Over 1875 miles)

August 15th-
I woke up ready for a nice warm day. I wasn't lucky enough to get it though. About ten miles into my morning it started to rain. It was the same flavor rain as the night before; ice cold. I kept pushing forward a little disgruntled like an employee who is harrassed on a daily basis. I was fine with the cold rain, but the wind was trying to kill me. As an eighteen wheeler was barrowing toward me the wind decided to push me sideways almost into the far lane.

I realized that the odds weren't in my favor and set myself and my bike up between two short trees. I passed ten minutes in those trees. I started to realize that the storm was not going to pass by quickly and I needed to be somewhere else. So, I walked out across the road and walked my bike. I hoped that someone would stop.

Sure enough, the very next vehicle was a truck with an open bed. Bill pulled off to the side and Teresa jumped out to help me. They offered to take me into the town after the next, but as the rain cleared and my hopes rose I turned them down. They did drive me over 20 miles through the storm though. Thank God for that. I don't think my body was ready for another attack that close to the first. They dropped me off at a market in Dinosaur, CO.

I went inside and filled up my water bottles and bought myself lunch. I sat down and ate at the only table in the gas station (market) with another guy who was just passing through. The rain drizzled off and on for the next twenty minutes as people came in from the west asking, "who is on the bicycle?" Most all of them told me about the storms that were ahead on the route I was taking.

Lucky for me the guy I was sitting at the table with was heading toward Salt Lake City by way of my destination. Abdullah Rahman and I talked for a few minutes while he filled out his Powerball cards. He offered to drop me off on his way. I gratefully accepted. We rode and talked about everything from politics to religion. I don't think we argued once. It seems to me that it is possible to talk about those two topics civilly.

I didn't take many pictures of the things we passed by because I was engaged in the conversation, but it was beautiful. He dropped me off in Heber City, CO.

I walked into the Holiday Inn Express and showed them a letter my mom had given me to explain the whole situation. The lady working at the front desk, Jackie, gave me the best deal possible without a question.

I brought my bike and things up to the room and seperated out everything that was wet and dirty from the rest. I washed my clothes, wrote some things down, and got ready for bed. I set my alarm for 7 am so that I could enjoy the first rush for breakfast and get some writing done thereafter.

Daily Lesson: Just because you can't ride, doesn't mean you can't ride.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twentyfive- Done (Over 1855 miles)

August 14th-

Well, let's just say that I didn't have the best wake up. I'll leave it at that until the book. But, after I got up and going, I said goodbye to Alex and headed out.

I rode up the street until I was further out of town and came across a farmer's stand. Unfortunately, the peach that I wanted to buy cost about two dollars. I don't think it was farmers selling them. Rather, I think it was con-artists. Oh well. The peach was delicious. I rode for a little while further when I saw a cyclist behind me. I didn't know if I should slow down to let her catch up, or keep my pace. I kept my pace and she caught up anyway.

Her name is Julie. I think I called her Julia once on accident and played it off quite horribly. She isn't the type to hold something like that against a person though. She was riding from work to home, which passed through two towns. Lucky for me, they were two of the towns I was heading through that day. So, we rode. We talked. We had about thirty or so miles to occupy. We stopped in one of the towns to fuel up. She offered to buy my food, I refused, and she bought it anyway. After we made it to her town, we high fived goodbye on the bikes. That's when I went into McD's and sat out a small rainstorm.

I had to ride about 35 miles to get to the next town, so I loaded up my water bottles and was fed up (meaning I was full). I started to ride towards the storm. It got worse as I got into it. It didn't stop raining for over two hours. The temperature got down into the 40's and it hailed a little. I couldn't find anywhere to stop, so I just kept riding. My hands started to lock up because they were slowly being frozen, My arms soon followed, along with my legs. I had to stop a couple times to refuel because of the distance I had to travel. It was extremely difficult trying to open up a package with no feeling. I got back on the bike and kept riding.

I made it into the town of Mullberry. The rain had stopped, but it was still in the 40's. So, I was shivering. I asked the hotel how much it was to stay there just out of curiousity. They were charging fifty dollars. How expensive! For a town in the middle of nowhere that made no sense and a world of sense all at the same time.

I camped at their local park which allowed camping and also had hot showers. It was cheap, too. They only charge ten dollars for a site (fifteen if you are using one with electrical outlets) and two dollars for a shower. The campgrounds is where I met David and Debbie (sp?). They passed me early on in the storm when it wasn't so cold. Debbie offered me some of their homemade beef stew, which she accompanied with a banana, butterfinger bar, and ritz crackers. I couldn't turn her down, not because I was trying to be kind, but I was too weak to fight at all. My body took a little over an hour and one increasingly hot shower to recover. The beef stew helped as well.

I set up my tent at one of the sites and was ready to sleep. Right before I was done though, a dog came cowering over. I pet him a little and he started to walk away. Well, atleast that's what I thought. He actually went over to mark the corner of my tent as his territory. "Hey, hey, hey," was all I could think to say. Well, I cleaned off the pee and got ready for sleep.

I don't know if I've ever said what I do inside the tent to get ready for bed, so I'll say it now. I unroll my fleece sleeping bag diagonally in the tent because the tent is the same height as me. I take out my sweats and put them over my clothes. I take the socks I wore that day, and place them over the shoes. I set up my two water bottles next to my waist so that I can grab them for a midnight drink if I wake up. I use my towel as a pillow most of the time, unless it's hot outside, in which case I also use my sweats. I set my alarm on my phone (which will sometimes be the actual time I get up). Then, I lay there thinking about everything that happened that day and all my friends and family. That's about it.

Daily Lesson: Just because you paid for it, doesn't mean someone else won't think it's their land.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twentyfour- Done (Over 1775 miles)

August 13th-

I did wake up in the middle of the night a couple times. One time, I was so thirsty that I had to finish the last drops from my water bottle. Another time, it was so cold outside that I had to use the trusty thermal blanket. I'm not sure if I used it right, but I'm still alive, so it's all for the better.

I packed up my things in the bitter cold of 6 am in the hills (Rockies). I had no water, so breakfast wasn't a good idea. I didn't want to dry out my body with digestion. I figured I had about ten miles until I reached a place I could get water, so I rode.

The ride was still uphill, but was beautiful. I kept wondering when I was going to get some water though.

After it seemed like too long, I went over to a creek and tested the water. There was no strange smell or taste, so I took one sip to get me the rest of the way. Right after the summit of the "hill," I had to stop at a point in the road where there was construction. The construction guy said, "I brought an extra bottle of water today. You can have it." Who could ask for anything more?

They let me ride down behind the other cars going about 30 MPH into part of a valley. There is a visitors' center there which I stopped at to fill my waters. I realized I had a little glimpse of phone service, so I made some calls.

Following the phone calls, I met Kristen. She works at the Moose State Park State Recreation Visitors Center (I'm not 100% on the name still). She gave me some tips for my travel and I asked her to follow along on the trip.

I rode mostly North into a small town by the name of Walden. There wasn't much to this town, but it was a nice stop before the many empty miles I was about to travel. I got an extra water bottle and some food to eat for dinner in the middle of nowhere.

A few miles down the road I met Kurt and Krista (see picture). They took some time off to cycle around Colorado. It seemed to me that he was carrying all their stuff, but I'm sure they worked out some deal. We told eachother of what was to be expected in the other directions. Kurt gave me a pair of gloves saying, "it gets cold in the mornings, especially if you spend the night in Rabbit Ears Pass." It was that sentence which made me decide to ride faster and farther to avoid having to sleep in Rabbit Ears Pass.

Rabbit Ears Pass was a beautiful climb of up and up and up. But, like I said before, going up a mountian means you get the downhill. What a downhill it was. I flew down the hill with a top speed of 35.5 and an average of 33 MPH. The descent lasted around ten minutes as it was about 5 miles long. I would've loved to have taken some pictures, but the ride was too exhilerating to stop.

I rode into Steamboat springs which is where I asked a guy by the name of Travis a million questions about the area. He works at the Gas Station/Ski shop there. After hearing my story, he bought the food for me that I was about to buy. I gave him the blog information, so hopefully he reads my thank you!

I ate some hot, fatty food at the McD's in town and typed until they kicked me out at 11 pm. I rode over to the camp sites that Travis and Kurt had told me about and was surprised to see the $29.54 charge for camping there. I think I stayed at a hotel for cheaper than that back in Lincoln, NE. Well, I rode over to a campsite where the people were still awake and asked if I could camp in the corner of their site for the $18 cash that I had. Alex (see picture) said I could camp there for free.

The two of us stayed up until about 4 am talking. He kept offering me a beer everytime he grabbed one, but I stayed true to my goal: no alcohol on the trip. We enjoyed the campfire until we let it die out and went to bed.

Daily Lesson: Memories come in two speeds; fast and too fast.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Day Twenty Three- Done (Over 1685 miles)

August 12th-

It was truly an early morning. I woke up to dogs barking in the trailer park which was 100 yards away from my tent. I started packing everything up when I thought to check around me to see what there was to do until Clair came back for me. Lo and behold, there was a McDonald's just three buildings away. So, I waited and ate breakfast.

When Clair got there, we put my things in the van and headed over to the bike shop; "Full Cycle." The shop didn't open until 10 am, but there was a coffee shop called "Mugs" right across the street. That is where I passed the time until the shop opened. Clair ended up coming back from his meeting very quickly, because the lady was out of office until 1 pm, even though she scheduled their meeting for 9 am. Oh well.

We sat and talked some more until the shop opened up. I went in and had my rear rim looked at and replaced within fifteen minutes. The guy who worked on it was a little abrupt (yeah, that's the word I'll use), but he got the job done. I rode it around for awhile to make sure it was better before heading into the rockies (or the hill, as the locals call it).

Clair gave me a ride up to a camping area. We said our goodbyes, and off he headed back to the meeting. As I was setting my bike up, I met two more people; Dave and Christy (sp?). We chatted for about fifteen minutes or so as I got my bike ready and relaxed by the water for a bit. They gave me some almonds that were well taken. Dave and I (see picture) came up with a good idea for a bike part. I cannot disclose the information contained within that conversation at this time.

I left from there slowly climbing the mountain. The roads were a bit dangerous, but the drivers were mostly kind enough to give me room. Along the thirty mile trek for the day, I went through a small "town" called Rustic. It was more of a tourist's stop. But, it served me quite well. I reloaded my water bottles and had lunch.

I passed many scenic areas. I took a lot of pictures.

I found my destination to be a little too far away, but heard about a nice camping area which is free just twenty miles sooner. I decided to set up tent there, and get an early start to make up the miles. The place is absolutely beautiful. Picturesque (see picture)! There are some ice capped mountains off in the distance, a huge lake, tall pines, and a free campsite. I set up for the night excited for the downhill I was about to receive.

It started to get a little chilly outside, so I got the thermal blanket that my uncle gave me ready to be used if I needed it.

Daily Lesson: Sometimes it takes longer to climb a mountain than it does to go around, but around has no downhill.

To donate, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/endpolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx