Day 17: Grand Junction to Montrose -- Chris pedals with Chris

Miles: 74
Total trip miles:1264
riding time: 5:10
avg speed: 14.3
max speed: 34
weather: sunny in the morning with threatening clouds after lunch, 80's, variable winds in the morning and stiff 20 mph wind from the east (headwind) in the afternoon.
Alt change: +1200' to 5900 in Montrose
Flats 2 today for total of 7. Puts me in 2nd place!
Pictures are here.


This was a day with variety and surprises. My 6th flat of the ride and third "hotel flat" to start the morning should no longer be a surprise but it always seems to be anyway. Getting real good at fixing flats for sure and this fix removed one of my patch jobs -- which is where the leak was coming from said diagnostician and CSI expert, Sean.

The early route involved a bit of Grand Junction traffic but mostly bike path along the Colorado River. Pleasant stretch to loosen the legs at a moderate pace. We had a good sized group moseying along for some time -- until we hit the road again and that first real hill. That spread things out a some. Soon we reached Rt. 50, the road that would take us all the way to Montrose. And that is where we encountered the Bicycle Tour of Colorado as well. A steady stream of cyclists stretched out in both directions as we merged in, very identifiable in our AbB Jerseys which we all wore.

Soon we were carried along by the excitement of it all, going faster than we ordinarily would with so many opportunities to pass others and try to keep from being passed. We got ourselves a little stars and stripe clad pace line going with the Seans out front making the rest of us look better than we were.. The wind was at our back, the day was still cool and road surface was smooth. Perfect conditions for ---yet another flat.

Cranking up a hill trying to at least hold my place in line and suddenly I felt that now all too familier mushy feeling underneath me. Stop, drop the rear wheel, unzip the rear bag, extract the tire tools, pry off the tire edge, pull out the tube followed by the stem, pump the tube to find the leak location at 6 o'clock and then go to that spot on the tire to find that little sliver of glass that I'd run over 10 miles back. Extract said glass, pull out my good tube and blow some air in, insert into the tire and muscle the bead over the rim until you hear the pop. Snap the pump end on the valve and start muscling in the air until the bisceps start freezing up -- that and the 90 lb pressure on the guage say that's all you'll get. Slide on the rear wheel, lock on the quick release, spin to make sure it's still true, collect all the stuff that came out, helmet back on, check the berm lane for bikes cranking up and off I go again. This little routine has become routine -- sort of like blowing your nose.
My sweethearts of riding buddies were waiting at the top of the hill and we rode on to the SAG stop 5 miles down the road. Gloves off, hands wiped and disinfected, initials by our name, water bottles filled, cookies and fruit ingested, and something amusing to say to Gerard whose been bored all morning watching all this craziness from inside the silver van. Soon we're back out, pedaling by BCT AID station #2 with its porta-johns, blaring music, and carpet of laid out bicycles. Still taking pictures and enjoying all of the sights and sounds, Bob and I are cruising in tandem, passing folks on the left as they ride right. But one of these looks a bit erratic from where we are and I am just about ready to yell : "Passing left" when it hits me that this rider has cerebral palsy and is cranking, steering, pushing, straining, balancing as absolutley best he can. I ride around and slow for the guy riding just ahead of him and ask if his buddy has CP -- which of course I know the answer to already.

That opens a whole torrent of bike to bike conversation. Finally we have to stop to get all 3 of us to talk, to get pictures, to share testimonies, to encourage and to swap stories and dreams. I learn that Chris Ray is from NYC, riding his first real organized ride and it's the BTC, of all things! He's made it through the first two days -- tough ones for sure. He's been taken in by Rick and Katie out here in CO and they are loving Chris' spunk, grit and determination. Who does that remind me of??? When we get on the bikes to resume I am suddenly overcome with emotion. Here I am, riding to further the PwP mission and to do what Pete no longer can, with a man who is as determined and gritty and straining to overcome the limitations he was dealt as Pete is. A man who gets on a bike to be just like everyone else out here.

I was so overcome with emotion that I could not stop weeping. It was as sudden as it was surprising. In some strange way, Chris, in that moment, had fulfilled one big reason I was here. Thanks so much Chris. Without that flat, I would have remained ahead of him and our paths would likely never have crossed.

My camera begain to beep insistently when I tried filming Chris, so had to stop and disengage the batteries to make it stop. By that time, Rick and Chris had turned into BCT AID station #3 and I could not spot them easily in the press of riders all over the place. As I was leaving, a lady stopped to ask about our XCountry tour and of all people, it turned out to be Rick's wife Katie. So I got to exclaim and exhult with her and her friend Jane that we had run into each other. I pedaled on, had lunch and then hung onto a fast pace line until I caught up with Chris and Rick again so I could ride the last 20 miles with them. We talked some more and I just enjoyed the many memories of riding with Pete all this evoked.

I got to share my day at route rap and then we all walked way up the road to a very overfilled restaurant where we waited for some time for an absolutely delicious spaghetti dinner and pie for desert. When I got back to the room well after 8:00, Jim and I both changed our rear tires to put on our spares with every expectation that this would reduce the flats we were both experiencing. We shall see about that. These roads are very hard on tires and on tubes!

Tomorrow is a 5000' climbing day as we climb to 8000+ feet in several ups and downs stages before reaching Gunnison. The BCT does the same route plus an additional leg from Gunnison to Crested Butte. Today, I could truely say as the psalmist did:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Day 16: Green River to Grand Junction - I70 Exacts its due

Miles: 99
riding time: 6:02
avg speed: 16.3
max speed: 40
total trip miles: 1189
weather: sunny, high upper 80's, moderate wind from the west
Alt change: +500' to 4700 at Grand Junction,
Pictures are here.

Cool, blue skies and prospects for the upper 80's with the wind from the southwest forecast. Great day for biking the final stage of the jaunt across Utah. I70 would take us through the gorgeous east Utah landscape and what better way to enjoy that except from a bike.
I had access to a pump late yesterday and was tempted to just pump up and get it done with. I decided against it and just stick with my routine of pumping right after loading my bags. So when I did, I found the pressure had dropped to about 50psi which was half of what it should be. I could pump it up and hope it would last or just change the tube right there. The latter was the sensible option so that's just what I did while the others in our little group stood by and waited before pushing off. That was to be a harbinger of what this day would hold.

A rest stop 19 miles out was a welcome sight for several of us who needed to reset fluid levels. Additional enticement was a great overlook view. Gerard and Sean soon showed up. Sean riding no hands and Gerard doing his usual back and forth trick riding. They hung around because they enjoy riding with us. So when we finally shoved off , we were again at the end of the parade. That always presents opportunity to pass some of the more leisurely folks, say hi or more and encourage others along the way. Soon 7 of us were happily buzzing along at a good clip. I got a good chance to share about one of my favorite topics -- the Bible. One of the guys was interested in reading it for himself and I encouraged him to do so with a searching heart and its author would reveal Himself to him personally.
Grace, one of the SLC adds, rode with us for a good while as well. She has done a XCountry jaunt herself and was on this tour to reconnect with others of the group she'd done it with. The tour she was on, was 3 weeks shorter and twice as expensive. Made me feel like I had gotten a huge bargain for all we were getting. Again, I cannot say enough good about AbB. They continue to be helpful, enthusiastic, supportive and generally an absolute delight to travel with.

In the midst of all this great chatting and cruising along, my bike started bobbing a bit -- first sign of a flattening tire. Sure enough, the front one was goign soft. Since I'd used my one unpatched tube on the back, I had only a patched second one left to put on the flat front. The fix went quickly with Gerard to do the mop up and soon we were rolling again. Gerard had a water bottle shaped speaker and ipod set that was blasting out tunes for our pace line. Other riders began to join in, some with more chaotic riding styles than I like. So, next time I led the line, I begain stepping on it some and was soon well ahead of the group catching up to Jim.

I slowed down to ride with him and we rode together for some time before he flatted and mounted his good tube. The others caught us and then passed on and went. I stayed with him and we rode together through the second SAG, past the Colorado State line and on toward Grand Juntion. On one of the day's steepest descents, Jim slowed and stopped at the bottom for another flat, his second. Ed, my triples roomie stopped and provided the long stem tube that Jim needed. He jokingly said Jim would likely be repaying him with his short stem tube within 3 miles -- how prophetic.

Ed left and Jim and I did too when we finished collecting all of the repair related acoutrements and stuffed them back into their little containers. Within only a few miles we passed two of the new riders at the roadside fixing yet another flat, casualty to I70 roadside debri. They waved us on when we asked if they had what they needed.

Not 2 miles later, there was Ed, busy taking his rear wheel apart to fix a flat. Jim's short stemmed tube was going to work for Ed. As Ed was wrapping up, I suggested we might check our tires for protruding stuff that could lead to flats. Sure enough, my rear tire had gone flat while we were watching Ed fix his! But now we had no tubes left between the 3 of us.

Just then the 2 riders we just passed stopped for us and after some deliberation, we took the punctured tube they had just replaced and patched that so I would have something. And that, was the last flat before we arrived at the motel! We soon learned that most everyone had had one or more flats -- we figured between 20-25 of these annoyances among all of us including several who had 3 like me.

Zero greeted us in our triple. He had gotten in earlier and had conferred with his film crew who wanted to do an interview with me about Pedal-with-Pete. They want to feature other riders on the 5 30 minute shows they were putting together for Korean TV. So, before supper they set up a little outdoor studio and I had a great time telling their viewers-to-be about Pete, the genesis of PwP, its purpose and its accomplishments. They asked about C.R.A.C.K. House Ministries as well and specifically asked about what could be done to curb the growing drug use among Korean-American kids. I told them a strong home with present and engaged parents was critical and that faith in the Freedom Giver was important from my experience.

They were very receptive and after the interview were interested in re-joining the ride through Ohio so they could meet Pete and do some additional shooting and interviews then. I am going to provide them with the dates we are in Wooster when Pete would most likely be present.

Well, tomorrow's ride will be in midst of the 2000 rider Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Our AbB staff are a bit apprehensive about the logistics of all of this, but we are confiden they will work this out as they have all the other unexpecteds that have have arisen this trip. Not too too much climbing and only 70 or so miles.

We're hearing the east has been hit with blazing heat. We are hoping this will not drift our way too much and that when we hit the heart of the Midwest, cooler weather will return. As we head into the Rockies, some verses from Psalm 121 seem especially applicable:
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. ...
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Day 15: Price to Green River: Just desert for dessert

Miles: 67
riding time: 3:51
avg speed: 17.6
max speed: 40
total trip miles: 1090
weather: overcast changing to mostly sunny, 10 mph headwind from SE
Alt: -1500’ up to 4000’ Pictures are here.

Today’s ride was absolutely glorious. We started on wet roads and a little chilly and ended with dry roads and 80 degrees at Green River for Subway and chocolate milk. What else by now?
It is Father's Day and so it was only appropriate that I should thank my heavenly Father for this beauty He's created and made me so I would enjoy it. Evidence to me that He is not only God of creation but a God personally interested in delighting us with what He has created!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from theFather of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Everything in between cannot be described in words so take a look at the pictures. I absolutely love these western landscapes. The many textures dominated by muted browns, grays and reds. The infinite shapes of the mountain silhouettes framed by sky and clouds. And the sky with its changing light and clouds setting the whole scene’s mood. First light and airy and just a little later, heavy and brooding.

Our first activity on arrival at the motel after this glorious ride was getting the morning’s road grit left by still wet roads off the frame, the chain, the sprockets, the shoes and anything else exposed to the spray. And then I waited for the room to be ready—for 2 hours since there was only one guy doing rooms. He hustled, but there are limits.

As many as would fit into the vans were trundled off to Arches for sight seeing. There was a raft trip option offered and then canceled when the heavy rains, so uncharacteristic here this time of year, washed out the road that leads to the launching site.

Supper was at the restaurant across the street overlooking the river. We had a delicious buffet with choice of all sorts of barbecued stuff, great salad bar and wonderful apple pie.

Tomorrow it’s close to another century. Forecast is for hot and more headwind.

Day 14: Provo to Price

NOTE: Yesterday's (Day 13) pictures are now updated properly for those who read yesterday's blog. Yesterday's pictures are here.

Miles: 78
Riding time: 5:31
Avg speed: 14.1
Max speed: 32
Total trip miles: 1023

Weather: Overcast, spitting rain, mostly headwind

between 10 - 40 mph
Alt change: 4500 - 7500 -5500'
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
Today's Pictures are here.

Last night's route rap was replete with route changes to get us around construction and a whole page of written gotchya-watches like: "Walk behind barrier on dirt road." "Do not ride on left shoulder against traffic" or "No shoulder 2 lanes tight behind concrete barriers". And Ed and his wife, who are from this area chimed in with helpful advice like "Utah drivers ignore bikers on a good day and go after them on a bad one." and "Don't even think of riding left of the white line or one of those motor homes towing a jeep will flatten you ."

Jim's alarm went off at 4:40 so we could get ready for 5:00 breakfast and a 5:45 load. When I got to breakfast, the area was already congested with riders trying to get their toast to pop, squeezing the last dregs of coffee from the urns and grabbing a spare banana for the road. The new folks were huddled in groups, wondering what they had gotten themselves into after their first day consisted of turns and construction detours and now the prospect of their second being concrete barriers with the narrow shouldered, rumble strip laced, truck infested US Rt 6 to take us most of the 75 miles to Price. Soon someone reported they'd just been out and felt the rain starting.

Just about then one of the Cleveland guys that I'd ridden with yesterday and given a PwP brochure came up to me and said that the light went on while he was awake last night. He remembered exactly who Pete was from the late 90's GOBA rides he'd done. That was a real encouragement to me! Thanks for sharing, Gary.

By then everyone was eager to get rolling and so the loading, tire pumping, and "what are you wearing discussions" were dispensed with rapidly and off we went. Our little group of Bob, Leigh, Chuck, Jim and Zero and I left in the middle of the pack and soon we were pedaling out of town in formation. Bob wryly observed "Maybe it will rain, but at least we have a hefty head wind". And "Maybe there is a lot of construction, but at least the Utah drivers are agressively bad".

We managed to navigate our way through the early route changes OK with only one missed turn and were soon pedaling east on Route 89. I stayed back with Jim for a bit to see if he was going to be OK and when he said he just needed to get warmed up at his pace, I picked it up a bit to catch the others. That meant going from about 8.5 mph into the 30-40 mph head wind to perhaps 10 mph. The wind was so strong and shifty that drafting was really not workable anyway.

Our soon left onto Route 6 turned us right into the teeth of the wind that howled down the narrow canyon. Wonderful for the wind farm just up ahead, but every cyclist's nemisis. I thought the prevailing winds were westerly! Soon we were climbing on the narrow berm. Fortunately traffic was light. Construction spots forced us to repeatedly climb over the concrete dividers to ride to the right of them so as not to get crushed. At one point I stopped to use a construction porta-john. Once in the thing it started to shake in the wind.

The climb eventually got steeper as the road stretched toward the huge gash cut though the top of the highest rise. Parked at that highest point was the white sag van with Michele and Judy handing out water and bananas. My riding companions from earlier were there as well so I was able to rejoin them for the ride down and over to the real climb of the day. We paced along into the wind, glad for the respite when riding behind. The road paralleled several sets of tracks and soon a train as long as I've seen, overtook us slowly and rumbled past one car at a time until two hundred or so had passed us by over the course of many miles. The end of the train was marked by two "helper" locamotives to keep the thing rolling along through the climbs. That was how the town down the road came to get its name -- it was the point the locomotives were attached or detached at the start or finish of the long climb to Soldier Summit.

About 40 miles out Chuck and I stopped at the silver van parked next to the road to get our jackets since the temperature had dropped. The others rode on to the SAG stop as it turned out, but Chuck and I somehow missed it and continued up to Soldier Summit and once crested began the lengthy descent toward Helper and Price beyond. More construction sites, a litle cycle cross over the dirt road paralleling Rt 6 and frequent looks up and over our shoulder to see how close the rain was getting.

Gerard had alerted us to a quaint old store and an eaually quaint 78 year old owner that was worth stopping in to see. The gentleman had pictures of his grandad with Butch Cassidy and was eager to show and tell anyone that stopped by. The rain closing in on us and the climb over more barriers to get to the store helped us to decide we would roll on down the valley. Soon we were down in Helper and stopped for a sandwich and a quart of chocolate milk. When we left it was just starting to spit outside but the wind had picked up in our favor this time. Chuck shot off like a thoroughbred bolting for the barn and I just hung on his wheel. We finished the last 8 miles in 20 minutes so eluding the rain by minutes.

All who rolled in after us came in drenched including Jim. He had finished, felt good and was ready to do it all over again tomorrow. I am very grateful for that! We shared a load of wash -- great to have all clean clothes again. Then he showed me how he cleaned his rear cassette and I got the bike clean, prepped and oiled up for tomorrow. Even got a brief cat nap in before supper. Delicious spaghetti and salad buffet with all the the brownies and cream puffs you cared or dared to eat afterwards.

Tomorrow is a 60+ miler, all down hill. Arrival for most will be noonish. There's a van trip to Arches National Park planned as well as an optional raft trip down the Green River if there are enough takers. Then it's over to Grand Junction Colorado and our 4th state. We will meet the 2000 or so Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) riders there and our routes merge for a couple of days. Should be interesting!

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

that you established your faithfulness in heaven. Psalm 89:1-2

Day 13: Salt Lake City to Provo -- Route Reconstruction

Miles: 66
Riding time: 4:40
Avg speed: 14.1
Max speed: 30.5
Total trip miles: 945
Weather: sunny, high 70's, 10-20 mph S wind
Alt change: flat
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
New Pictures are here

My day started with Psalm 19 which starts with words that lift my heart to heaven in view of all that I have been reveling in.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Today's ride provided us with great natural beauty again, even though it was a day full of city streets, abundent traffic, fully loaded trucks passing closely by and lots of consturction and detours. But to our left for the entire ride were the the majestic snow covered Wasatch mountains under a deep blue cloudless sky, towering over the towns and roads between Salt Lake City and Provo Utah.

The route sheet was up to multiple pages again since we had to travel from SLC's north west edge around the western edge of the city and then out the south east side to Provo. Provo also lies in the morning shadow of the Wasatch range and is the home of BYU. It's a neat clean college town from what we saw coming in.

The challenge today was not the distance, an abundance of flats, figuring out how best to re-balance fluid levels, the weather or even the rather brisk 10-20 mph wind. Rather it turned out to be navigation. The first 20 miles went by easily with Gerard and Judy leading a long string of riders through the first column of today's 3 column sheet. But then Gerards phone rang and we stopped. He conferred with Michelle for some time as he consulted a rather cryptic map of the area. He pulled pulled Bob in with his iphone and online map system for consultation. He graciously endured a steady stream of wise cracks from the 20+ riders who were now milling about. And after 15 minutes or so, decided we could in fact continue to the SAG stop because there was a detour around the 8 mile section of impassably rough torn up road.

So the train started moving again, turn by twisting turn until we pulled in at the SAG. Michelle and Sean had already come up with a considerably complicated alternate route that they recorded on the white board. After some further deliberation, Gerard thought it best if we waited for all the riders to arrive at the rest stop and then he would lead the whole crew over the 14 mile detour to get us back on route.

That worked quite well for the first 5 miles or so until Steve, one of the boys from Cleveland got a flat. I was with them so rode ahead to alert Gerard who woahed the wagon train while they wrestled with the flat. Sean the wrench soon rolled up in the silver van and took over. He quickly found that the spare tube also had a hole and so got all that squared away. Judy hung out with the 4 of us, sent Gerard and his charges along and took over lead dog duties when all was fixed since she too had those complex rerouting instructions.

All was well until Gerard circled back to tell us we were back on route at the 43 mile mark. Not clear if we were or not, or if our cue sheets had some errors, because the next 5 miles required some interesting loop backs and some spontaneous navigation because the cue sheet led us to some dead ends including one out bridge over I15 that was really all the way out.

When we finally did get back on course at about mile 48, the 6 of us decided lunch was in order so we stopped at a Kneaders -- sort of the Utah version of Panera. After lunch we continued to meander back and got into the Fairfield Inn at a very tardy 3:15-- later than yesterday's arrival with twice the miles.

As noted, every day is different and this on had it's delights on top of the beautiful mountain scenery. One of those for me, was seeing Jim, my roomie, champing at the bit to ride this morining and then waiting for me at the Fairfield when I rolled in feeling very chipper, already showered and with chocolate milk for me in hand! It was so great to see him back to feeling good and full of enthusiasm to continue. The two of us had prayed together as we trudged along I80 3 days ago, that God would restore his strength and He certainly did that today. We are grateful!

Tomorrow is another shorter type day with only modest climbing and hopefully modest traffic as well.

Day 11: Wendover to Salt Lake City -- Surreal Scenes on the Salt Flats

Miles: 119.5;
Riding time: 7:12
Avg speed: 16.6 ;
Max speed: 28;
Total trip miles: 877
Weather: clouds, overcast, threatened rain,
Alt change: flat
Flats today:0; Total Flats 2;
Ibuprofen: none
New Pictures are here.


The strain of successive hard days, amplified by the hour we gave back to Mountain Time when we arrived, showed as we straggled through the casino maze past an occasional all night player, into the Rainbow Cafe for 5:00 breakfast. Not much chatter, lots of coffee, short breakfast orders and the urge get a jump on today's long ride. Jack, Ricks brother sat alone at the counter with a light green tinge, having been up sick all night. Brad and Jay wanted to especially enjoy this, their last day and leave it all on I80. Jim, my doubles roomie, knowing he would not ride, was more relaxed and joking with the staff since he was spending the day with them in the van. Carole and Bob, who have gamely been sweeping the course loaded early and were given Gerard's blessing to roll out as soon as it was light enough to see since it would be an especially long day for them.

In the midst of the brisk luggage loading, laughter erupted and Gerard shouted something about "being shot from a cannon" as Zero appeared wearing a shiny chrome plated bicycle helmet. What a hoot ... and on this of all days! Our pace group from yesterday re-assembled and we added in staffers Sean the wrench and Judy as well as UK Dr. Sean and Leigh and were off. A few miles of soft pedaling and soon we were back with our old fickle friend, I80, knowing she would string us along, puncture our tires, and finally drop us in SLC.

The first 40 miles were through the salt flats. Absolutely spectacular landscape looking just like those computer generated scenes in some of today's movies. Stark mountains, perfectly flat white salt plains, low hanging dark clouds which separated sun beams pushing through. There was a rest stop 10 miles out with an observation platform overlooking the stark landscape, two locked rest rooms and a "pet area". Got our pictures there and took care of additional business and were on our way again 2x6 with a rigorous 1/2 mile rotation cycle enforced by our road boss, Chuck. The steady 10 mph wind from the southeast made pulling somewhat of a chore and kept the speed to 16-17 mph.
The miles following brought a series of at least 6 flats in this group. Great to have Sean our wrench along as he fixed them all in 1/3 of normal rider time. Finally Sean got one himself and he just waved us on. Cranking at 24 mph by himself he rejoined us in less than 10 minutes and then had the nerve to ask to skip a turn at the front. We passed a number of riders that had skipped the stop including Hans from Switzerland who climbed on the passing train. Hans had never ridden in a pace line before so this was all new to him. That makes sense since I'm not sure Switzerland has enough flat land to make that attractive. He very quickly caught on and was rather enjoying the experience.

At about 60 miles we hit the day's climbs -- gradual two mile 3-4% inclines that provided the natural excuse for a little catch-me-if-you-can between the two Sean's who took off like a couple of pointers retrieving a downed duck with rest of the pack scrambling to follow. I managed to hold off a late charge from Brad to crest behind those two, wildly out of breadth and legs screaming for relief. We all regrouped at the top and set off in neat array only to repeat this nonsense at the next grade up. This time, Jack was the man on a mission and stayed on the Sean's wheels to top out right behind them with Brad not far behind. The SAG truck was waiting for us at the top of that climb and we recollected and refueled with already fixed PB&J sandwiches, compliments of Jim. Sean the wrench traded rides (a bike for a van) with Gerard so now we had both Judy and Gerard to critique our riding, stopping, fixing, merging and exiting style. :-)


Once on the road again, our group of about twelve continued along, watching the dark low hanging rain cloud angling toward us trying to gauge pace, road direction and wind velocity and direction and so see if rain gear was going to be needed. One more flat forced some recalibration but in the end we managed to stay out of it entirely.

The last SAG stop was not quite 30 miles from the Comfort Inn. We agreed we would break into two separate single lines since the traffic was heavier and there was a growing amount of debris along I80. It's very hard to avoid berm gravel, scattered glass, truck tire carcasses and other vehicle junk in a double line. And, it's more dangerous as well. So, Brad, Dr. Sean, Jack, Chuck, Judy and I left together and soon had a brisk 20+ mph pace going, intent on beating the rain and getting off those saddles asap. I80 traffic picked up as we approached SLC and we had a few tricky spots at merge points, busy exits and narrow bridges. What a relief to get to our I80 exit point at the Great Salt Lake beach resort, that had flourished in the 1920's but was now a museum and gift shop -- a remnant of a bygone era.

From there the last 10 miles were on a zero traffic frontage road, still wet from the recent rain. We rolled into the Comfort Inn at 3:00 as the first group in after Tom, who is ALWAYS first to the motel. He'd been there since 1:00 already. On flat days like today, Tom gets on his aerobars and just goes like he's riding on an iron man tri-athalon -- which is exactly what he's training to do. Dr. Sean usually rides with Tom, but knew he had no chance of staying with him today. When we get into the Rockies, Sean, at 29, 130 lbs and quite fit will be first to the top again, but now it's all Tom on these flat long days.

The evening's route rap was very neat. Each of the 5 riders leaving here in SLC was given a certificate and the opportunity to share their impressions. Sam, Aldo, Brad, Jay and Dr. Dave all were sorry to leave, highly complimentary of the staff and unified in their sense that this had been one wonderful experience. I had grown especially fond of Brad and Jay having spent some time getting to know them both. Jay invited the whole group to his home for a cook out when we pass through Indy here he lives. And Brad lives in Columbus so I am very much hoping to get to ride with hims some on Wednesdays or the weekends. Sam and Dave's wives met them here before they return to Florida and Gettysburg respectively.

And Aldo -- well Aldo is one where God threw away the mold when He fashioned him. Aldo was born in Italy and founded, owns and still runs his fence manufacturing business in NYC with his two sons and staff. At 68 he rides 10,000 miles a year (I do have the right number of zeros) and rode strong and consistently on this tour. He is never at a loss to confer pithy advice through real life illustrations to all who will hear him out. Whenever I asked him how he was doing before, during or after a ride the answer was always "Not too bad". His parting advice to us was to take 15 minute lower body ice baths (4-6 buckets of ice) every night, followed by a hot shower, followed by a denatured alcohol derriere dousing.

Now it is SO great to have an off day!! The body needs a break -- especially the touch points to the bike. Clothes need to be washed which I took care of early. So nice to have clean stuff again. I patched both my punctured tubes in case I need them -- though everyone says the flats will cease once we get of the Interstate tomorrow. The bike case I had borrowed from Dave needed to be shipped since we have 12 riders joining us for ths next stage to Pueblo. For sure I do not want Gerard on my case.

In SF I realized that this case was not going to ship reliably from there. I was struggling to trust the Lord in this interruption to my well laid plans. Everyone else with a case to ship had done so easily. But it became clear why I still had that case at breakfast today when the thought hit me that Brad needed to ship his bike back to Columbus. Why not use the empty case to do that? I had already called UPS for a pick up yesterday, so Brad and I took off the bars, pedal and wheels and sandwiched all that into the hard case. At 11:15 the UPS lady arrived just as Brad was boarding his airport shuttle. Both of us felt quite relieved!

Dave and Cathy - thanks so much for coming to my aid once again for this trip with this second hard case application. Hope you guys get the chance to connect a bit with Brad when he delivers the case to your house next week. He will make a great add to any Wednesday evening group. Enthusiastic, strong and getting stronger new rider, eager to learn from old (as in experienced of course) pros that you both are. No problem trusting his wheel. Brad was also eager to ride "Ride for Pete's Sake" so expect to see him there". And Cathy, THANKS for knowing this effort is in your capable hands. I am praying you give it over where needed to His hands. :-)

And Pete, I got a chance to brag on you again this morning at breakfast! Wish you could be here!

Tomorrow it's on the road again to Pueblo with 12 new riders to greet and meet, new scenes around every bend, new views over every hill and new challenges each day! What privilege and a joy to be able to experience this!