Today's blog - read yesterday's blog!

Actually today was a better day than yesterday. The winds were a little lighter even though straight at us all day, the temperatures were a little lower, in the high 80's and the scenery was considerably better. We still had a full compliment of grain elevators about every ten miles and everything was much greener along the way. We passed a large electrical generating wind mill farm but the winds were still a little lighter than yesterday. Usually they mean some really hard pedaling.

We had a couple of occurrences today one a little humorous and one very scary. George Garner missed a turn and did an extra 10 miles today. In his usual good humored way he immediately put his bike up for sale at $50 when he arrived at the hotel. We'll tell you tomorrow if he found any takers or if he is stuck with us until the end of the trip. The scary thing was that a truck driver threw a dead chicken at Brendon and knocked him off his bike. Fortunately he is OK and graciously accepted our applause and chicken dances when he joined us for dinner.

All in all it was a good day even with an ugly 15 miles of new chip seal shoulder to finish the ride into Great Bend. We did 87 miles and only climbed 2500'.

Richard was in a little bit of a funk this morning with all the head winds and Laura almost had to send "Mr Grouchy Pants" home.

More tomorrow after our short 62 mile day with a hour later start so we can sleep in a little!

As we rode out this morning it seemed that the winds were just teasing with us yesterday. We have ridden 21 days and have really only had three days without significant head or cross winds on our crossing. We had 85 miles ahead of us and the winds were howling in our face. This was coupled with a constantly stepping up rolling terrain that put 6000' of climbing in our way. Again the day was spent in Kansas wheat fields punctuated with small towns and grain elevators on steroids. There really wasn't a whole lot of scenery to look at and we spent much of the day with our heads down fighting the winds. In the morning for about 10 miles the road turned with the wind and our spirits brightened but soon enough we were back into the wind struggling.

At the 60 mile mark we were looking forward to having lunch at Tim's, a local barbeque restaurant, but it was closed. We settled for Ma's Cafe down the street for lunch at a perfect example of a "Middle America" diner. After lunch we still had 22 mile of slugging it out with a heavy cross wind to get to Dodge. About this time I started playing mind games with myself and my computer as the miles slowly ground away. I would set up all kinds of goals such as the next tree or the top of a rise to keep from constantly looking at my computer. As we were rolling through Dodge, Darryl bolted out the door of an Applebys and waved to us to come in. Darryl had skipped lunch and was in ahead of us. This led to an order of chips and salsa and and beer to wash away some of the winds before finishing a very tough, almost 7 hour day, in the saddle. Only three days to Abilene now and our next rest day!

After several tough days of winds our trip from Guyman OK to Liberal KS was a laugher. 30ish mph tailwinds pushed us the short 40 miles of today's ride in less than two hours. We even got to sleep in a little and didn't load luggage until 9:00. We were treated to a marked change in scenery. We have moved from the dry cattle ranch land of Oklahoma to the wheat farms of Kansas. We rode through a couple of farm towns each complete with a grain elevators on steroids.

The fun stop of the ride was in Hooker KS. The local chamber of commerce has a shop with fun t-shirts such as "Support Your Local Hooker". We took several pictures here and than went back to having fun in the tailwind. The short ride allowed us to relax a little more than usual and get ready for the next day.

I woke up this morning to see some rather cloudy skies out the hotel window. Damn, rain and wind. Why are doing this to ourselves? I have started going back to Mass! I brush my teeth regularly and keep a semi tidy house. Can we not just get a wee break from the wind before Boston? I switched out my clothes for rain gear after eating a less than stellar breakfast. I am too lazy in the morning to go the designated restaurant and so I get whatever the hotel has to offer. Sometimes it is good and sometimes I eat Hammer Gel for breakfast, espresso flavor of course.

The mood in the hotel is a slight death warmed over. A few more riders have either called it a day or had milder cases of this food poisoning. We are still not sure at which restaurant the epidemic started. Some are saying the Pizza Hut with the Pasta Alfredo. Others are saying the stellar Pinos restaurant back in the booming small town of Dalhart, TX. It was not a good experience and one day you can ask me about it. My bets are on Pinos rather than Pizza Hut. Anyway, there were about half of us that got on our trusty "Iron Donkeys" to take the ride from Dalhart, TX to Guymon, OK.

With full rain gear on, Rich and I left the hotel around 8:15 a.m. Knowing we had 72 miles to go and knowing that the winds were once again not in our favor, we were looking at about a 6 hour ride. Straight out of the hotel we were greeted by the menacing winds. And since I am in the complaining mood, might I mentionTexas gets a big "F" for sucky shoulders. They use this chip seal stuff that shakes your bike and body until you are numb in places I won't mention. I thought, hell, if this keeps up, I will have to check all the bolts on my bike at the end of the ride. And Rich! He was like a man on a mission. This was a route designed just for him. Flat, 800' of climbing over 72 miles and no turns. I had to tell to hold back or ride on alone. Thankfully, or knowing I wouldn't do his laundry until Boston, he held back a little for his darling wife. He is a machine though. We did 2 minute pulls and we really worked well together and it really helped keep our mind off the wind and road.

At 19 miles, there was a huge and I mean big, statue of a cowboy. I think there use to be a store or bar associated with it but now it serves as a picture opportunity for tourists in the area. Of course we stopped and took a few pictures and a breather from the elements. I like having these landmarks to strive for because it ticks off the miles in little chunks and makes the route go faster, especially when the weather is less than stellar.

Then a mysterious phenomenon happened. The road smoothed out a bit and the winds began to shift. Oh, my God! He does listen to my prayers! I will vacuum more than once a week. I will make my bed every morning! Thank you, Jesus! Our pace picked up and before we knew it we were sailing into Oklahoma. We were even racing the rest of the group. After the first SAG at 30 miles, we were riding in first place. Even ahead of the dynamic tandem couple, Trevor and Susan, from Manchester, England. But this isn't race you know. There is no prize for signing in first at the hotel. So when they passed us 15 miles from the end I was even more competitive to chase them down. And chase them we did. The last 15 miles went by so fast. The Kuhlman train was in perfect form with 2 minute pulls and very little wasted effort. Luckily for us, the tandem got caught by a couple lights in town that we didn't and I sailed past them victorious. I ran into the hotel in Rocky Balboa form singing, "I beat the tandem, I beat the tandem". Of course it was all good fun and we invited them to eat some lunch with us at the little Mexican place next door. We ended up eating with Darryl, Jim, Mike, Jim (many Jim's on this trip), Ron and Trevor and Susan. Lots of laughs as the sun came out and we watched the other riders roll into town.

What started as a real downer day, turned into a rather nice ride. Added bonus was a wonderful spread of cheese, fruits, finger sandwiches, beer and wine provided by Helen and Ray, vets of this ride and real lovers for all the Crossroad riders that pass through Oklahoma. We are glad to welcome back all the riders who fell sick and it looks like most of them will return to their bikes tomorrow. Here we come Kansas!

Tucumcari, NM to Dalhart, TX sucked, excuse the French! I know I should be thanking my lucky stars that I don't have a 9-5 job and I am not punching a time clock or dealing with unruly bosses but today sucked. It was unanimous that we worked hard and long in the saddle. No sunshine, smiley faces on us. Just a bunch of windblown, sunburned, crabby faces as we pulled into each and every SAG stop. Not even a state crossing could make this day memorable. I really just want to pretend it didn't happen but it did and I will let you in on all the gory details.

Rich was still feeling the effects of the leg cramps in the morning. He had been up and down during the night as his legs were reminding him of the previous day's ordeal. He dressed to ride but while waiting for the official start of the day, he decided to bag it and I am glad. It is very hard to make a decision like that because we all came here to ride and missing just one day can be a real bummer. But he did pick the best day to SAG because right out of the hotel it was into these screaming, in your face headwinds. 98 miles was the cumulative miles and at the pace I was going it was going to be a really, really long day.

I rode out with Ken Zika and Bill Wendel after breakfast. We worked together to try to make some kind of wind block. Bill wasn't feeling very well and by the first SAG at 30 miles he decided he had enough. Rich was waiting for us as we pulled in and told me that three people had been taken to the hospital for food poisoning. And then people began dropping like flies. Ken and I waited for Darryl at the SAG and within a few miles of riding, Ken was taken from us. We stopped and offered to call but guess what, no cell coverage. He sat on the shoulder of the road and told us to go on. We did, begrudgingly, and knew a SAG car would be coming along to pick him up.

I tried to keep up with Darryl but he was a bit stronger than I. (Maybe I won't do his laundry to Boston, now!) So it was everyone for themselves. Into the wind I rode. It is absolutely amazing to be standing on the pedals, pushing yourself DOWNHILL! There was nothing to do. Nowhere to hide. I kept thinking, what would Shawn tell me to do? How does one ride in winds like this? And of course I couldn't get comfortable in any position. No fair looking at the computer because at my speed, it was like watching paint dry. What, only 2/10ths of a mile have passed in the last 20 minutes? I have 38 miles to the next SAG? Do you think they will be able to find my body? Of course the first thing to go is the mind. Out there on my own and no one to talk to or scream at, the mind games begin. I did start laughing out loud and I said a few naughty words when the wind began to push me backwards. But hey, I wasn't punching a time clock, right? HAH!

At the 68 mile SAG I called it a day. I had done myself in mentally and knew that the last 30 miles meant another four hours of riding. I felt good that I made it that far without throwing myself in front of a truck or something. Rich had a big hug for me and pried my bike from my hands. I had been holding onto it for so long that I think I finally became one with my bike! I took my helmet and shoes off and immediately felt better.

By the time I reached the SAG, the sick count was up to 13 riders. Some were taken to the hospital in Dalhart to get IVs for dehydration and other chemical imbalances. The crew on this trip is something to behold. They are johnny on the spot and always calm and collected. I cannot say enough good about them. Tracy runs a very tight ship and everyone is ready to do whatever they need to do. Sadly, Mack, one of the staffers, also contracted this food poisoning and has a bad heart to boot. At the SAG he was manning, he went into some severe heart palpitations and is now on his way back home. He is a wonderful man, full of energy and love for this ride. We will really, really miss him.

So the ride goes on as scheduled, just as life does in general. I hope all these people get well and we can get back on track. Luckily, neither Rich or I got the food bug so that means tomorrow, come hell or high water, we are back on our bikes to ride another day and to another state. Oklahoma watch out, here comes the Kuhlmans and the rest of the Crossroads' riders!

It is amazing what a day makes. We knew it was going to be a long day but not this hard. 111 miles, 98° temperatures and terrible winds. I have to laugh with these cue sheets because we always have to tack on a couple extra miles. Either that or our computers are reading fast. But that seems to be the consensus with everyone that the cue sheets are short. But what the hey, a couple miles here and there and we will be in Boston ahead of schedule! :)

We head out of Las Vegas and as I look back there are some wonderful views of the mountains we are leaving. I guess we are saying good-bye to the Rockies as we head into the plain states. It was a real change from what we have been experiencing lately. There are lots of cattle ranches and it looks just like Iowa, complete with rollers. We were having a blast speeding down and rolling up (okay, grinding up) the other side. And then it happened. Our first real terrible crash of the tour. One of the riders was trying to throw his jacket to the SAG car as he passed and a gust of wind caught him off guard and off his bike. We came upon the accident just moments after it happened and it didn't look good. Ron, from Cambridge, MA and a very accomplished rider, was just laying in a heap on the road. Rich, Darryl and I stopped immediately and began to help direct riders away and watch for cars. Ron wasn't moving but he was breathing, thank you, Jesus. Things happened quickly after that as support people came to the scene. But as fate would have it, no cell phone coverage. Darrly quickly got back on his bike and started riding back towards Las Vegas and finally got cell phone connection to 911. Very sad.

Rich and I reluctantly rode away with a very somber mood but we knew Ron was in good hands and there wasn't much else for us to do. The rest of the day we battled a headwind that decided to poke its ugly head. Something around 20-25 mph was reported later that day. The real problem was the lack of services other than the support vans. I really wished I had kept my camelbak for this day. Soon Rich and I were separated due to the hills. We both just have to ride our own ride when it comes to this type of terrain. At 67 miles there was a very steep hill called the Wall. There was writing all over the road from another ride and it kind of passed time as I read the messages as I crawled my way to the top. Rich said it peaked out at a mere 13% half way up. Glad I didn't know that while I was riding. Too much information to make me want to cry!

Come mile 77 when the SAG stop came I wanted to do myself in. I ate as much as I could and filled up on water. The last 44 miles were difficult. I was going to say torturous but maybe that would be mean spirited. The rollers seemed to get steeper and my legs just that much more tired. And to top it all off I was running out of water quickly and there were no more SAGs and no services until we hit town. My knight in shinning armor came from Darryl. He had a camelbak and an extra water bottle, so he gave it to me. I am now doing his laundry until Boston! But who cares, I had water again. We rode together in semi silence as we put one foot in front of the other. About 4 miles out of town, there was a very steep hill we had to climb. As if we weren't tired enough, here comes a dog after us. Where did he come from? Why can't these people keep their dogs in their yards? Like a gentleman, Darryl keep the dog on his side while squirting him with water. All the while I am thinking, hey, wait, that's our water! We need that water! Damn dog got my water and didn;t even appreciate it, I am sure!

Up the hill we went and the Microtell Hotel could not come fast enough. After a shower to rinse away the day, I went down to check on Rich's status. Down the street I could see a rider walking in and immediately knew it was Rich. I ran up to him and found out he had been plagued by severe leg cramps the last few miles and could hardly ride. It was a long day for him and the combination of heat, hills and 111 miles was a bit overwhelming. He was a trooper though as were all the riders. The Sonic was doing booming business as each rider came into town. WOW! What a day.

A note from Rich on cramping. I was sucking down e-caps all day and it wasn't an electrolyte problem but I have never had cramps this bad. After getting in and taking a shower if I moved in any awkward way one of the cramps would fire. Cramps in my calves, quads, hamstrings, inner thighs, ankles and hands. Finally after walking to dinner things started to subside but my legs were so sore I didn't know about the next day.

After a couple of really nasty weather days and then a much needed rest day, we rode some of the most best miles of the trip so far. Either that or I can hardly remember what we've done and where we've been. Now it wasn't all nice a cozy as we had to climb out of Santa Fe and with the altitude we were at, it was a bit challenging. Then came the rollers. The were quite challenging and plagued us most the day but the views were spectacular!

Around mile 30 we entered the Pecos National Park and took some time off our bikes to visit the ruins of a 16th century church used by early Spanish missionaries ready to covert the Indians to Catholicism. The views of the mountains were breathtaking. Lots of high peaks covered in snow. So interesting to be sweating in the heat and looking at mountains with snow. I am quite sure our cameras could not gather in all that our eyes were seeing.

After the 45 mile SAG we continued with these really cool rollers all the way into Las Vegas. Rich would come flying by me on the downhills and I would chug by him on the uphills. We were having a blast seeing how fast we could go downhill. Rich always won mostly because I would chicken out at 35+ mph and Rich is more of a daredevil. We finished off the day with a little lunch at the Historic Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas with Ken Zika, Bill Wendel, Beverly from NY, Don and Linda. After it was all said and done we rode 77 miles and climbed 5043'. Life is good!

It is hard to believe sometimes that we are ready for yet another stat page but we have passed the last rest day in Santa Fe and are well on our way to the next rest day. So here we go:

Total miles: 399 (913 cumulative since LA)
Total climbing: 14,991 (48,498 cumulative since LA)
Motor Tabs: 20 (50 since LA)
Hammer Gel: 20ish (45 since LA)
Flat Tires: 2 for Rich only (4 total and we still don't like to talk about them)
Beers sipped: surprisingly little, too tired!
Blakes Lotaburgers consumed: 5

We had a great day off in Santa Fe. If you love turquoise then Santa Fe is the place for you!

Richard is writing this update as it was a very challenging day for me. We left the hotel at our usual 7:15 AM time and immediately started a 10 mile stretch of city stop and go lights to get out of town, all on a slight upgrade. It was cloudy and in the high 40's. I knew it was going to be a rough day as I just didn't have any spark in my legs. Our route was on Old Rt 66 basically paralleling Interstate 25. As soon as we left the stop lights behind it started to rain and Laura went on ahead as she was climbing well. I was dressed for the weather with an Under Armor base layer, my cycling jersey, a wind vest, my rain jacket, long finger gloves and knee warmers and I was still shivering in the cold rain. I made it to the 22.5 mile marker where there was a convenience store in a gas station where about 15 of us huddled around coffee and anything with sugar we could eat. After about a half hour the rain lessened to a light drizzle and I started out again. First thing was a long downhill where I had to keep my speed at 18-19 mph as I was shivering so badly from the cold that the front end of my bike was shimmying very badly. Soon it turned back into a climb and I could start generating some heat but my fingers stayed numb.

This is where I started to think about many things. This is a supported tour and all I have to do is hold my hand on top of my helmet when a SAG vehicle comes by and I can get out of this misery. I already can not do EFI (every freekin inch) as I sagged the second day in the Mojave Desert when my cold was so bad, so why not take a ride in a warm van. Then pride came in and I knew I could do it. Maybe wise, maybe not. In any event just as I was pulling into our rest stop at 33 miles the sun broke through and my spirits immediately improved. After refilling my water bottles and eating some fruit, a banana, Cliff Bar and a Hammer Gel I started out again. The next three miles or so were a beautiful canyon climb followed by a downhill I could finally enjoy and then a beautiful winding, rolling New Mexico Scenic Byway.

I traded of leading with Don and Bill as they stopped several times alongside the road to water the local flora and fauna. Unfortunately Mother Nature wasn't finished with us yet and about 9 miles from the end the skies again provided us with a heavy downpour to finish the ride in. 67 miles, 5000+ feet of climbing and 5:00 hours in the saddle to reach a hot shower. The cold and rain today made this one of the toughest days I have ever ridden in. The temperature never got above the low 50's and being very cold was the order of the day. In the end I think about the mind games I played with myself and wonder if it was determination, pride, stamina or maybe a little bit of stupidity that helped me complete the ride today. Probably a little of each. And now I am ready for the rest day to be over and to see what the road has in store for me next. Laura will return to giving the updates tomorrow with our stage two stats as we head into our third segment with 9 days of continuous riding.

I've realized that all I have written about is the riding aspect of this adventure. While it is what consumes pretty much all of our day, there is so much more going on than just riding. As I said at the very beginning of this trip, there are people here from all walks of life and each with their own special reason for taking on such an epic trip as riding a bicycle across the USA. Everyday is something new and wonderful. I think that this ride is not for the faint of heart or the casual rider. We have all been tested in ways that had we been at home, we might have just skipped the ride in favor of something less challenging. But here, we put on the bike shorts and jerseys and take on whatever comes our way. As Lon Haldeman once said to me, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger"! We have experienced that and come out the other side patting each other on the back. At the end of the day there are lots of hugs and congrats for a good day's effort.

The crew is magnificent. One could not ask for a better support system. Tracy has this ride down to a science. Never once have I ever felt alone on the road. Never once have we come into a SAG stop and there not be loads of food, water and Gatorade waiting for us. The staff is always there with a friendly smile ready to help you in any way. They are always encouraging and ready to give a lift if needed. It is nice to see them on the road knowing they know where you are and how you are doing (or struggling). At the end of the day there is a mechanic, Rick, who is ready to fix just about anything or tweek a gear. They even have a couple of the guys riding with us. One time Rick and Pat came upon Rich and I (well really just Rich) fixing a flat and they stopped to help. Our bags are in our hotel room at the end of the day and the air conditioner is turned to a cool welcome. It is just a real treat.

The cast of characters on this trip is also amazing. We have some nurses, engineers, business people from all over, triathlets, endurance athletes and representatives from Germany, Ireland, England and Canada. We have a youngster that is 28 years old and a rider from England that is 75 years young. All of these guys are so fun to hang around with and ride with. Darryl English, from Park City, Utah, has become a dear riding partner (and beer consuming partner) and by the end of this trip I know we are going to have a whole new group of friends. I just cannot imagine tackling a 3400 mile trip on a bicycle with 30 other people and not forging new friendships. I will try to write more about each of these guys so you can get to know them too.

We are having a great time even when the riding gets tough. I think about how lucky I am to have this opportunity and the joy of having Rich by my side experiencing this trip with me. So when I write about the hardships of the ride, don't feel too bad for us because when the day is done, the clothes are washed, the beer is empty and our tummies full, we could not have asked for a better time than we just had today! "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!"

Today we lost three riders. Laura Sands is going back to work and Peter and Rick are leaving to do other rides in US. We all said good-bye and wished them well on their adventures to come. The rest of us bundled up for what was going to be a very interesting day of weather. Leaving the hotel in Grants, the sky was looking rather turbulent. We knew that there was a possibility of rain but hail, too? I sure was glad we packed gear for this. Rich and I were the only ones with full finger gloves and rain booties. Now really, seven weeks on a cross country trip and not think there was going to be some bad weather? Well, actually, there is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices. And many in this group found that out quickly.

Just a few miles from the hotel the heavens opened up on us and dumped not only rain and winds but hail. Now I thought sand hurt but hail stings. I almost started crying. People were bailing left and right. Do you think Rich and Laura would do that? No. We came to ride and ride we will. We covered our faces with our neck scarves and pushed forward. The clouds were moving fast and furious and over my right shoulder I could see a sliver of blue sky. Would the good Lord look down upon us? Did he hear my prayers? Did he hear my screams?! It did stop raining and hailing and we made a turn north which put the cold winds at our backs. I thought to myself, just make it to the 30 mile SAG and then you can jump in the truck.

At mile 19 there was a little store and many were stopping there to dry off and get their toes warmed. At least that was what I was doing. The folks inside were so nice to us. They gave us free coffee and a lady came up to me and offered to turn up the heat in the next room for me. She was so concerned for us. Rich bought a pair of brown work gloves because he left his long fingered gloves in his duffle. One of the SAG drivers came into the store to see that we were okay and said all the vans were full but we could hitch a ride at the 30 mile mark if we wanted.

Sure as I was riding, the sun began to poke out from behind the clouds, the skies calmed and it was actually getting warmer. The road was absolutely beautiful as it rolled over some little hills. We were actually beginning to have some fun. By the time we got to the 30 mile SAG my spirits were much higher and we decided what the hell, let's go on. And I am glad we did, even if it meant getting back onto the interstate. This part of the interstate was great because the shoulder was much, much larger and 100% cleaner. Rich did catch a flat or a poke as the English guys say. That makes four for him thus far. I think Ken Zika has the record right now with 7 or 8 but don't quote me on that.

We rolled into Albuquerque and glad to be at the hotel. I pulled up behind the truck and asked if I could get a lift. (A funny that could only be enjoyed if you were there!) Darryl had beat us to the hotel by 10 minutes and had already picked a place for lunch since none of the rooms were ready. About 9 of us piled into a cab and had lunch at a most wonderful local mexican joint called Sadies. Darryl grew up in Albuquerque so we got to meet his mom, too. Boy those Margueritas tasted great! 77 miles today with a mere 2145' of climbing. Tomorrow we make our assault on Sante Fe. Shopping!

On 21 May, we traveled from Gallup, NM to Grants, NM. It was to be 70 miles with a nice subtle tailwind. Well, that lasted about half the ride. The best thing about the ride was we were no longer on the interstate. We were on Historic Route 66 and loving it. For a short bit we returned to the interstate to crawl, and I mean crawl, to the Continental Divide. It wasn't an extremely hard climb but the shoulder of the interstate was in terrible shape. The Continental Divide is nothing like Colorado. There were hardly any mountains to speak of and it didn't seem like we were straddling the divide. But there was a monument and many photo opps.

The next ten miles were great as we sailed down the road. The gentle tailwind was whipping up to 35+ mph and we figured, hell, we'll be in to Grants before noon. Boy, were we mistaken. Those nice southwesterlies turned on us in a brutal way. We also changed direction and headed right into the raging winds. Darryl, Rich and I tried the best we could to paceline but really to no avail. The next 20 miles seemed to drag on forever as we battled Mother Nature. We still made it to the hotel by 1:00. We signed in and turned back around and rode to Blake's Lotaburger for some much needed lunch. It really is amazing how a nice cold Dr. Pepper can erase memories of pain so quickly.

Today was pretty much like yesterday but a bit slower. We didn't have the advantage of elevation descent but we did have a gentle tailwind. We also climbed twice as much as yesterday. Lots of rollers. But we were again on the interstate and as used to it as I am to riding with traffic, these 18-wheelers and motor homes are loud. And with it being a weekday, there were loads of trucks on the road. Today more than yesterday, the group experienced lots of flats. There are these tiny wires from the steel belted radials that are left at the side of the road and they are the most bothersome for us. Before we left the hotel this morning, Rich went over our tires and found wires in both bikes. Luckily he got to them before they could cause a flat. We don't like to talk about flats because you don't want to tempt the Flat Gods. Rich must have done something wrong because he got two today. And that is why we travel in groups, so we can help each other with the flat changing. Well, actually, I just stand there for moral support and hand tools while the guys do all the manual labor. You know I have watch out for my nails and I hate it when my hands get dirty!

About two miles from the New Mexico border we were directed off the interstate with a bicycle detour and what a treat! We were directed to historic Route 66 and what a real treat. Nice road, quiet and we could ride side by side and actually talk to each other. Of course we had to stop and take pictures of this momentous occasion. Crossing a new state line is big, especially when traveling by bicycle. For the next 10 miles we road chatting it up and enjoying the scenery. Lots of wonderful rock formations. And then it happened. We had to return to the interstate for the last 6 or so miles. Damn! Rich and Darryl said I was on a mission because they were having a hard time keeping up with me. I was on a mission! I wanted to get off the interstate! I was very glad to see the exit for Gallup and started singing the Route 66 song to myself. Luckily no one cold hear me because I know about two lines.

We ended the day with 89 miles and 2759' of climbing. Our average dropped to 16.9 mph but we were satisfied with our efforts. Enjoy the pictures and feel free to email us or comment on the blog. It is fun to hear from any and all of you. Makes us feel missed! :)

We have spent a lot of time on the interstate these last two days. Yesterday, 19 May, we rode from Flagstaff to Holbrook, AZ all on I-40. There is a real art to riding on the interstate. It is called keeping your eye on the road only because there is so much garbage in the shoulder. We were all laughing that we could build a car with all the parts we have to dodge along the road. I had talked to my coach, Shawn, about my riding and we decided that the ride to Holbrook I was going to concentrate on my cadence and try to keep it higher. I am a grinder and I need to spin a bit more. Well, right out of the hotel we blew that plan apart. I am not sure if it was the layover day in Flagstaff or what, but Rich, Darryl and myself took off and never looked back.

We formed the very first real paceline of the trip and were having a ball. A nice downhill from 7,000 feet to 5,000 added to the merriment. We picked up riders here and there but by the end of the day it was just Rich, Darryl and myself. We came into the 41 mile SAG with a 23 mph average. By 10:30 we were 61 miles into our 95 mile day. What fun we were having. At this point we found ourselves "standin' on a corner in Winslow, AZ" taking loads of pictures. They have a statue of Glen Frey of the Eagles and a flatbed Ford on one of the corners. We were having a blast. Unfortunately, we were going to have to find our way back to the interstate and our cozy little paceline.

The last 35 miles were very hot. One of the girls said her thermometer on her bike read 122. So it was hot. We didn't linger at any place for any length of time. We barreled into Holbrook with 96 miles, 1768' of climbing and an AV mph of 19.8. If we had the energy to do four more miles it would have been the first sub 5 hour century I have ever done. Fun today!

With seven days of riding under our belts, or should I say on our legs, here are the stats:

Manhanttan Beach, California to Flagstaff Arizona
May 11-17, 2008

Total miles: 514
Total climbing: 33,507'

Motor tabs consumed: 30
Hammer gel consumed: 25
Number of flat tires: 2 (but we don't talk about this out loud)
Jack-in-the-Box tacos eaten: 8...okay 10
Beer sipped: too many to count
Friends made along the way: many

Loved having the day off in Flagsaff. We did some walking to keep our legs loose and ready to be back on the road tomorrow.

You have ben enjoying Laura's eloquence since the start of the ride and she does a much better job giving you the flavor of the ride as opposed to my great climbs and even greater descents reporting. Since this is a rest day I will add a few comments. First Laura has let you know I have a miserable head cold. It is a hacking congested monster and the dry air out here parches my throat all day while riding. Enough whining! I will add that this has been much more physically challenging riding these distances every day than I thought it would be. The climbs have been spectacular and the descents very reminiscent of the ride down from Figuora in Solvang, fast tight switchbacks. I have some video of the downhills I will get edited and up on the site hopefully soon.

For the bike geeks out there you have probably noticed I am doing the ride on Hed H3's. My logic being that 75% of this ride will be flat to mildly rolling and this would be the perfect wheel for those conditions. Now cross and gusting cross winds are another thing. The day into Palm Springs in the 35+ mph cross winds was a real trip!. On the two days with mild straight uphills into 30 mph winds they were fabulous. I am still learning them on the fast downhills and as such I am probably not letting the dogs out as much as I usually would on the way down.

Next on tap, Holbrook, AZ, Gallup, Grants, Albuquerque, NM and then our second layover day in Santa Fe. My legs have been surprisingly strong and aside from carrying a couple of donuts too many in my midsection, I have been doing pretty good. I'm riding a 34/50 compact double with a 13/29 campy cassette. All in all the guys at the Bike Shop, Glen Ellyn built one incredible ride for both of us. Check out today's one picture in our photos section to see what 500+ miles with two days in the desert and several climbing in one week will do to you. More to follow and thanks for following our grand adventure.

Oh boy, I am looking forward to this day and then having a day off. A couple days ago I was wondering if we had bit off a little more than we could chew. This ride has been a bit more physically demanding than we thought. Our leader, Rick, told us that today was going to be one of the most spectacular of the trip and he was absolutely correct. I could see the fatigue in people's eyes and faces as we gathered for the official sign out at the loading truck. We all made our way down the road together and it was fun to see the clump of flags wavin' in the wind. But there was no real wind to speak of and what a nice change.

Today was picture day. We entered the Red Rocks State Park around mile 13 and we were not disappointed. There were some riders that were hell bent on being the first to the motel but for the most part people were stopping everywhere for pictures. The red rock formations are breathtaking. It was just downright hard to pedal through and not just sit up and look. I am quite sure our pictures will never tell the full story.

We rode into Sedona around mile 19 and I could have gotten off my bike for the rest of the day. What a wonderful town filled with magnificent homes, little boutique shops (my favorite) and scrumptious sounding restaurants. There was a pile of bikes at a little bakery and Rich and I added ours to the pile. There was a super overlook off the patio and everyone was having their picture taken. So many photo ops all during today's ride.

Of course, with beautiful views come the pain of obtaining them. Into the Coconino National Forest we climbed. First there was a nice 8 miles winding, semi flat road that took us by the Slide Rock State Park. One could go sliding down the slippery rocks but I chose not to do so. Being wet and riding isn't something I look forward to doing. (Not to mention the chaffing but we won't go there.) At mile 32 there was the infamous 2.2 miles of steep switchbacks that Rick had mentioned the night before. The road was full of traffic because it was Saturday and a very popular stretch of road for tourist. Most all the cars were very gracious as we all crawled up the mountain pass. I followed the line of the road to keep on the high side and most of the cars let me roll along. I don't think they could go much faster. Some of the switchbacks were only 10-15 mph.

At the semi-top there was lookout point and we all stopped to take in the views. I had done that earlier on the climb to see if I could get some good shots of the road below but frankly it was pretty scary. There were no guard rails to speak of and most of you know how much I love heights. Up on top was the safer viewing area and loads of pictures. The last 8 miles were a benign climb into Flagstaff. Lots of rock and rollers and a mile scream into town. I did stop and buy some buffalo jerky from a man at the side of the road. It was all vacuum sealed with professional labels so I think I will be okay.

We mailed back a few things we didn't want anymore and had a bite to eat. Tomorrow Rich is going to a doctor to see about some medicine for his cold and I am going to find a massage therapist and get a five hour massage! It is good to have a day off!

Can we say "survival pace lines"? Can we imagine winds blowing so hard that we could only pedal 5-6 mph on the flats? Well, we encountered this on our ride to Cottonwood. Luckily for us, it only lasted 15 of the 49 miles that we pedaled. Rich and I have found a partner in Darryl English from Park City, Utah. He is a great rider and loads of fun to hang with and enjoys a brew and the end of the ride! Just our kind of guy! Thanks to the three of us blocking the wind for each other, we managed to get to the foot of the mountain pass with some semblance of sanity. At one point I just had to laugh out loud. It was either that or start crying!

It was another magnificent climb. Loads of switchbacks as we made our way through Mingus Mountain canyon pass. Thanks to my trusty iPod, I kept my cadence high and was the third person to the crest of the climb. Not that this is a race by any means. I have really found my climbing legs and they are doing me well. There are two recumbents and one semi-recumbent and I know they are struggling up these mountains. But you know, one cannot tell a book by its cover. Everyone is making it up and over. As Floyd Landis once said to us, he suffers just as much as we do on a ride, the only difference is that he does it at a higher speed!

The second half of this ride was all for Rich. It was a screaming 12 miles down hill. I could smell my breaks at times and had to just let go so they could cool off. About half way down we stopped in a beautiful town snuggled in the mountainside, called Jerome. It was packed with people and we waited semi-patiently for a table at the "Haunted Hamburger" before taking in the rest of the sights in town. I got my fill of a little retail therapy and purchased two pieces of handmade jewelry. Very nice and light to carry on the bike. Because there were so many bikes around, people were stopping to ask us what we are doing and where we are going and most cannot believe we would do something like this. One man told me to be sure and share my story because it was something very special. It really is. I could be punching a time clock but instead I am riding my bike across the USA with some wonderful people.

The last part of the day we spent at the Tuzigoot Indian Ruins that date back to 1000 AD. Very interesting and wonderful that the National Park system has taken the land into their fold. But it was getting really hot and I could tell my sunscreen was no longer protecting me. Off we went to the hotel with 49 miles and 4990' of climbing on our legs.

Hello to everyone. A big thank you to all of you that are following us across the US through our blog. It is a bit hard to keep really current because after a long day on the bike, I am a bit too tired to sit in front of the computer and tell you about our day. So, right now we are in Flagstaff, AZ and it is a much needed day off. Watching everyone get ready and head out yesterday, I could tell everyone was looking forward to a little R&R. Sometimes its just nice knowing that we don't have to pack up the duffle bags, get the water bottles filled, check the tires, blah, blah, blah.

So a little recap of the last couple days. Moving into Arizona has really changed up this ride. On 15 May we rode from Wickenburg to Prescott, AZ. It was our first mountain stage and what a ride. Pretty much right out of the hotel we began to climb. Nothing steep, just a steady incline with a head wind that sucked everything out of your legs. And then came the climb. Right up the side of the mountain for 7 miles. Every once in a while I stopped to take in the views (actually it was to catch my breath but I would never admit to that!). It really is hard to take pictures of what the eye sees and takes in. It was fun to look over the railings and see other riders coming up the road. Al these little flags bobbin' in the wind.

The last part of the day was the absolute best. We climbed a little Alp d'Huez in Arizona. It was 13 miles into Prescott and one of the locals told us it was over 180 turns in the road. Oh, it was grand! Not all of it was up. We sometimes had these screaming downs that lead us right into another up but it was fab. The landscaped changed from cactus to Pine trees and the smell was just heavenly. I did manage to miss rolling over a snake that was sunny itself on the road. I was busy looking around when I came upon him and just missed his head.

The hard fact stats we 60 miles with 7265' of climbing.

Rich has a full blown cold now. It started in LA and he tried to stave it off with NiQuil but it is here to stay. No kissie face for us! I tried to talk him into taking a day off but of course he came here to ride and sagging is not an option. Today was going to be long and hot. This would be our last desert ride, thank you Jesus! No more sand on the gears and chain. It is just such n enjoyable sound to hear that grind in the gears! Right out of the hotel I knew this was not going to be a good day for RIch. Five miles up the road we crossed our first state line. We are now officially in Arizona and off the interstate, thank you Jesus again!

We had some difficulty with our computers which is really aggravating. Those that know me, know I hate it when electronics don't work like they are suppose to. And when you are relying on them to keep track of where you are on a 115 mile day of riding, it is SUPER aggravating. Mysteriously the computers started working as we made our way up a 7 miles climb. I seemed to be having a great day. My legs were strong, my iPod was jammin' and I was passing people left and right. I knew Rich was struggling from the cold but he was going to have to make his own decision to bag it or not. By the 40 mile SAG, I was far enough ahead that he said to just go on.

The next 15 miles were absolutely horrendous because the road condition was extremely bumpy with lots of cracks and potholes. And yeah, did I mention it was all up hill. A nice gentle 2% grade but uphill none the less. There was a store at the 55 mile mark and I was praying for a support van. When I got there and there was no van I thought I was break out in tears. I went into the store, bought some water and got back on my bike. The road condition improved 200% and I enjoyed the next 15 miles, sort of. Because I was so far ahead of all the other riders, I was out there all by myself. There were two other riders ahead of me and far enough that I couldn't see their flags. So, me and my iPod just traveled on down the road. At one point was was counting road markers and that is not good. Never count road markers because they never come fast enough. I would also tell myself I couldn't look at the computer until a song was over. Adding insult to injury, the road was completely flat and straight. No curves, nothing.

Now before you get the wrong idea about this ride, it really has been fun. I was going to bag it at 66 miles and ended up riding 90 out of the original 115. I knew the next day was going to be big climbing and I wanted to have something left in my legs. I felt bad about bagging but happy that I rode farther than I had thought I would. Rich made it 55 miles before calling it a day and I am glad he did. Darryl was "King of the Road" and made it in first. There were people still coming in at 7 pm. I was the third person in and would have finished about 4 had I kept on. It is not a race but there is a bit of competitiveness that has sprouted its head. It makes the day fun. So final stats are 55/90 miles 3586' feet of climbing. Darryl, Rich and I found a nice little Mexican restaurant and enjoyed some chips, salsa, guacamole and beers to celebrate a great day of riding and saying good bye to the desert.

Tuesday, 13 May, found us taking our first true ride across the Mojave Desert. I am not sure where the Mojave started as I never saw a sign for it. We had a long meeting last night about the trails and tribulations of desert riding. I think Tracy had me so scared to ride that I wasn't sure I wanted to attempt this ride. Rich and I rolled out of the hotel with Jim, Ron and Darryl and made out way to I-10, which would be our home for the next 90+ miles.

Our first challenge was an 11 mile climb. It wasn't as bad as yesterday but it was long and boring. It is very hard to ride hills in a group because everyone climbs differently. We all regrouped at the rest area on top and I was proclaimed "Queen of the Climb". I can't keep up with these guys on the flats but I can ride the hills! The trucks on the interstate were very nice to us. We have these flags poles on our bikes and one trucker told us that he was able to see us better because of them. It is killing Rich to have it on his cool bike but when you are pedaling on the interstate, safety is better than looking cool!

Tracy wasn't wrong about the desert. We were fortunate not to have as hot temps as usual but we did have cross and head winds. Darryl got a flat and Rich and I stayed with him while Jim and Ron went on ahead. Not too far up the road I got a flat. When we went to put in the tube, we discovered that we got 650 tubes from the bike shop instead of 700. Luckily Rich had two tubes in his seat pack. We also knew that the support van would have more and we stocked up.

The rest of today was just a down right slug fest. Every once in a while I had to remind myself to look up and enjoy the scenery. Of course 100 miles of cactuses isn't exactly exciting. At one point I was thinking of bagging it but Tracy said no way and I was glad she talked me into riding. We got to see some more very cool "dust devils" that were the size of actual tornados. It was amazing to watch them develop and then we tried to time our pedals so we wouldn't get caught in one. We did get the residuals and I am telling you, sand hurts!

It seemed like we would never make it to Blythe but we did of course and I was never so glad to see Jack-in-the-Box! Rich went to the hotel and Darryl and I got some greasy tacos and a six pack of beer to finish of the day in style! 102 miles, 6233' of climbing and all is good.

It has been a wild ride so far. We've had a bit of everything, including a little drizzle. On Monday, 12 May, we rode from Riverside to Indigo. The day started cloudy and that is where we had a bit of drizzle. We also had the first of some climbing on this ride. Right out of the hotel we did a 1.5 mile climb as a warm-up to things to come. After some 15 miles we were finally out of city traffic and we could actually pedal for more than 5 minutes. The second climb came around sooner than I wanted. Since we come from the flat lands of Illinois, it is kind of hard to train for climbs like these. But, oh, well, I paid for this pain and I scampered up the 5.4 miles to the top of the canyon pass.

We descended into the windmill farms just out of Palm Springs and now I know why they are there. It was the windiest stretch of road I have ever encountered. The skies had turned sunny, the temperature rose, and we had an absolutely fabulous tailwind. It was blowing so hard that I couldn't keep up with the cadence. I actually ran out of gears! The downside of all this was the sand storm that we ran into and that was not fun. The wind had changed up (along with our riding direction) and it was now a cross wind. I wish we could have pictures because it was absolutely wild. Up ahead I could see this cloud across the road and then riders disappearing into it. By the time we got there it was howling. Several times I got pushed out into the traffic lanes and luckily no one was coming. I didn't know how to ride. Most of the time was clipped out of one side just for balance. We had sand all over us.

Fun like that only last a good 15 minutes or so and then we moved out of the raging sand. But the tailwind had returned and we flew, and I mean flew, into Indigo with 86 miles and 3702' of climbing. Rich spent the next hour cleaning our bikes and I did laundry. Now doesn't that sound way too domesticated!

Rich's technical take - Hed H3 wheels are not the hoops of choice for gusting 35 mph crosswinds.

Okay, so it is now official. We have finished the first day of riding. The stats are 79 miles and 2300 feet of climbing. It was a rather urban ride. Los Angeles and the surrounding suburbs are packed full of people and cars. It wasn't a particularly exciting ride but we had to get away from LA somehow. If this was the worst, then I can live with that.

Yesterday we had the big meet and greet. Tracy Leiner is the owner of CrossRoads and she is quite a powerhouse. She is passionate about this ride and she is passionate that we all the best experience possible. It was interesting listening to all the stories from each of the riders as to why they are here and on this ride. There are 30 of us making the full trip and another 15 that will drop off here and there and join us later in the ride. We have three folks from England, one from Ireland and two from Germany. Most everyone is around 50-65.

Like a well oiled machine, Tracy had us in front of the hotel by 7:15 a.m. to line up for the escorted ride, in mass, to the Manhattan Beach pier. After a brief pep talk, we lined up behind the trucks and headed out to the ocean. It was fun to look back and see the group riding together. We all have these flags on our bikes and we are all wearing the "official" team jersey.

Five miles down the beach bike path we found ourselves at the pier. First order of business was to dip the back wheel of our "Iron Donkeys" into the Pacific Ocean. Lots of pictures and trying to stay out of the water. We have posted some of the pictures, so be sure to check them out. After the wheel dip, we took a big group picture and then headed off on today's route.

We traveled in small packs which changed throughout the day. Each of us had our own riding style and agendas. As I said earlier, it was a very urban ride and hard to stay together because of all the traffic lights. The cars were pretty good to us but the occasional motorist in a hurry found our presence disruptive. I am glad and sad to know that Illinois is not alone in the rude motorist category. It was a rather flat route until about 46/47 miles and then we had some fun on some rollers and a bike path. CrossRoads had three vans out on the route keeping track of us and setting up two rest stops during the day.

The last 10 miles of the route were the best. It was a quiet road into Riverside that was lined with towering palm trees, cypresses and rose bushes. A magnificent ride. When we turned onto University and had only one mile to go, Rich informed me that he was having Cytomax recovery drink for lunch. I decided that was just not going to do for me and it was way, way past my feeding time. I saw a Jack-in-the-Box and I knew my tummy was going to be happy.

I am a bit red from the sun. I will have to gauge my sunscreen better tomorrow. And my eating and drinking. We are headed towards the desert and the last thing I need is to be dehydrated. So as my friend Jamie and my coach Shawn have said to me over and over, drink, drink and then drink some more! Water that is, of course! Tomorrow is another day and I look forward to soaking it all in. Life is good...

We had a rather interesting start to our journey. While doing an online check-in for our flight, Rich gets a call from the airlines and they cancelled our flight. They rescheduled us for a 2 p.m. flight. Oh, well, nothing we could do but wait. My friend, Arlayne, was kind enough to reschedule her plans to take us to the airport. True to their word, American Airlines got us in the air at 2:30 p.m. and we arrived in LA safe and sound. Our bikes we waiting for us and I was itchin' to ride.

I woke up this morning at the crack of 4 a.m. Hey, that is 6 a.m. Chicago time! Nothing to do but bother Rich with questions of how to work the computer. He was trying to sleep of course. After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we saddled up and headed to the ocean beach bike paths. What rushes of memories. Rich and I rode these bike paths back in 2001 when we made or first epic trip from Vancouver to Mexico. Rich has a better memory than I about all this. When we meandered into Venice Beach it all came streaming back. It is like going back to the 60's, head shops, tie-dye, long hair and scantily clad persons. What a blast.

We stopped to ask some directions in Santa Monica. There was a shoe store I was dying to visit. While talking to a local, a rider in the infamous Rock Racing outfit came by and there went Rich. He yelled he would be back. I was doubtful. After using all the energy he could muster, he chased the rider down only to find that he had his iPod blaring and not interested in making small talk with a local. I guess when you are Michael Ball, owner of the team, you can do whatever you like. Despite the cold response, Rich is still going to buy the team kit when becomes available to the masses.

We made it into Santa Monica but not before having to climb a rather steep hill. I guess that is why we buy these bikes with lots of gears. Rich's computer read 12% in the tightest spots. I know my heart was pounding when we got to the top. The ride home was rather fun. First we stopped back at Venice Beach to breath in the local atmosphere and have a bite to eat. Then the winds off the ocean blew us back to El Segunda and Starbucks. I am hoping those are the same winds that will blow us across the USA!

More and more riders are coming in. We met several in the "bike shop" workroom. The Germans are here and I promised not to practice my language skills on them. The nodded agreeably! Lots of nice people and I am looking forward to the ride more and more. Tonight we are going to Michi, a Japanese-Mediterranian fusion restaurant. Only in California. Life is good!

Hello Everyone! We are three hours and counting to our walking out the door and leaving this all behind. The lists have been checked, the bags have been packed (and repacked), the cats are fat and happy, and there is no turning back. But who would want to?! A chance to do nothing but get up everyday, ride my bike and take in all that is the USA. I think I am most excited about riding through the small towns of America because they remind me to keep it simple. I love meeting people along the way, too. Everywhere I have been on my bike I meet interesting people. And they are interested in what we are doing, too!

A lot of people have a hard time wrapping their heads around a bicycle ride across the USA. Friends have said, "Man, I'm tired just thinking about it!" or "Won't your butt hurt?" I am sure it will! But we ride anyway. To coin a phrase, this is a check off the "bucket list" for us. On her retirement, my mom wanted to sell all her worldly possessions and drive the USA. She's not here to do that so I ride for her. I ride for the adventurer in all of us. It is so scary this unknown and I am ready to face it all.

Hey, that is way too philosophical for a Wednesday morning. Weird! Back to useless info. It is amazing how little 30-lbs of stuff is. I have packed, unpacked, repacked, taken stuff out and still I come very close to that 30-lb mark. I wanted to keep a couple pounds free just in case I find a pair of shoes I can't live without! :) Who knows, I might be shipping back a ton of stuff I find I don't need. So far the weather is looking good for our first few days. Sunny and 75 on the way out of LA. Who could ask for anything better. The next day jumps to 95 and sunny, so it is looking like the desert crossing is going to be warm.

We tracked our bikes out to LA and they made it to the hotel. Yahoo! Always a bit nerve racking. Nothing worse than getting out to LA and no bikes. Now, just as long as out luggage makes it on the plane with us. Well, Rich is asking me lots of questions so I better sign off for now. Looking forward to telling stories and taking pictures. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride....ah, life is good!

So much to do and so little time left. Going away for two months really requires a lot of planning. Paying bills, making arrangements for taking care of our cats, keeping BicycleGifts.com running smoothly and on and on. We did pass one milestone yesterday and that was shipping our bikes to LA. They are due at the Marriott Courtyard we are starting from on May 6th the day before we arrive. We had special BicycleGifts riding kits (jerseys, bibs, wind vests, arm warmers) made for the trip and they arrived yesterday as well. Only one slight glitch, Rich ordered his one size too small. Looks like I'll be on the bread and water diet for the trip! We are now packing our two duffels each and working on keeping under the 30 pound limit for each of us. Less creature comforts and more biking outfits! More to come.