Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

July 7

Yesterday was a rough day.  Actually for me it started on Friday night.  We were camping in a City Park again.  The park was nice, a lot of new, interesting play equipment for the kids.  But I seem to feel somewhat exposed in the city parks.  The wind once again started about 4:00 and did not let up until about 3:00 am.  We were camped by an air handling unit that was constantly running.  The cicadas were singing in very loud chorus most of the night.  And then there were the, I suppose they were young men who had a few too many drinks, hanging out in the park from about midnight until 4:00.  I did not get any sleep that night.  JJJ got up at 5:00 (they all slept well).  I decided that I did not want to hang around by myself so I also got up and hit the road.  Did some grocery shopping and proceeded to our destination for the night – a rest area that allowed camping.  (I miss the RV parks but there are none out here. – not exactly a tourist attraction around here.)  When everyone arrived about 1:00 they decided to push on another 40 miles.

The day was hot and windy to begin with but as it wore on both the heat and wind increased.  I went on to the town on Learnd.  Checking out the local ‘once was’ campground I decided that even we wouldn’t stay there.  So once again the only option was the city park.  I managed to find it and then the police station where we had to get permission to camp there and to sign in.  The park is great.  Ball fields, play equipment, fountains, a duck pond and even a swimming pool with showers which are free to bikers.   I decided to retrace my steps and check on the boys.  Wind and heat and bikes are not a good combination.  I found them in need of water and working hard.  After filling their water bottles I decided that I had time for a local tourist attraction, Fort Learnd.  Not much there but it gave me something to do besides wait on the crazies.  

After that I went back to the park and decided to take my free shower.  Just ready to step in to the delightful water when Jack called and said they needed more water.  My delightful shower lasted about 90 seconds.  Duty called.  When I found them they were beat from the heat and wind!!  I offered them a ride but they are Von Handorfs.  Jerry usually trails behind a few miles at his own pace.  He too was whipped but refused a ride.  So one more water bottle filling contact with them before they arrived at the city park.  Jack and Jeff made use of the pool while we waited for Jerry.

Total mileage = 121 miles.  Add in the heat of upper 90s and the constant wind and you’ll get an idea of just how crazy they are.

We decided on Pizza for supper since we all were too tired to think about cooking.  I’m not going to mention the oh so slow and sloppy service we got at the Pizza Hut here in town.  Not a good way to end the day!  I was grumpy with the pizza hut ladies!

I think we all slept will last evening.  However, here in the park they shut off the water to the bathrooms at night….?  But gladly, that did not pose too much of a problem.

The guys are on the road.  I need to pick up beer, bananas and ice before I leave town, in that order.  And so the day begins….

Wow! What a 4th!

We pulled in to the Sheridan Lake Bible Church early afternoon.  We were greeted by the pastor’s family.  They opened their church and their arms to us.  The church has a hall attached where we slept.  I had the nursery all to myself and the men slept in the large meeting room with a well equipped kitchen attached.  Everything was clean and spotless.  Part of their ministry is welcoming bike cyclists who pass through.  And what a great job they do of that.  First came introductions and then a gift of a stainless steel water bottle and a pack of microwave popcorn.   Conversations lasted for a time and then we unloaded the van of the things we needed.

We were Lucky enough to be here on the 4^th.  No fireworks because of the danger of fire.  But there was a parade that rivaled the Peaselburg Parade. 

After that was a flag burning ceremony done by the boy scout troop.  There were about 10 tattered flags that had been retired and were burnt.  I had never seen this before and it was quite moving, very reverently done.

 After that came the community pot luck supper.  Jack whipped up a rice dish from what we had in the van and we joined in the festivities.  Wow, the food!  Most of us have been to pot lucks before but until you been to a country pot luck you don’t know what you’re missing.  It was great.  We met some very interesting people and also learned a lot.---So they are in this drought for a good  many years.  Last good storm was in 1999.  Conditions are worst that in the 1930s.  No wheat production this season, again.  The railroad doesn’t run anymore, no grain to move.  The community is dwindling since many people have left because things are so bad.   Schools have been consolidated. Many of the houses are abandoned.  It really makes your heart ache.  (of course, earlier I talked to people back home and they said that it was suppose to rain all day-I hope I never complain about the rain again, and think of these people with a prayer.)

It was a fun evening.  

After supper the people brought the flags (US, Flag of CO and Flag of Honor) over to the church and staged a picture with JJJ and me.  Then the men were interviewed for the local newspaper.  I’ll try to post the picture but that doesn’t always work for me.  

The men had a tremendous meal last evening and got to bed late.  They hit the road at 5:30 to avoid the heat of around 100 today.  It will be interesting to see how they do.  Their hope is 70 miles before noon.  Light day today.  Camping is scarce in KS and planning is needed.  They did cross the ½ way mark yesterday.  Officially it is in Eads CO.  As I’m typing this they will have left me behind in CO as now they should be in KS.  Another time change and one more state closer to their goal.  

Happy 4th to everyone

 Enjoy your holiday.  Out here there is a band on fireworks of any kind due to the risk of wildfire.  Yesterday I bought some brats (no metts in this park of the country and some bean and chips in order to celebrate.

At present I am sitting out in the middle of nowhere-pretty literal on that.  I pulled in to the town of Ordway yesterday in search of a campground that was listed on the guy’s map.  I found the campground-maybe if you were in an RV it might have worked but there was only dirt and no restrooms.  I drove down the road a bit only to find a stockyard with a couple thousand cows.  Didn’t want to dwell on that too much so I turned around and drove through town in search of a place to stay. (When I showed Jerry the campground later in the day he said that the smell from the stockyard was over whelming.  Good thing I chose wisely.)  I thought I’d found a motel but it turned out to be a rest home.  I remembered seeing a camping sign about 3 miles out of town when I drove in so I back tracked and a mile and a half down a dusty road I found the Saw Mill Campground.  There are about 16 sites.  Nothing level.  No drinking water.  Saying there was  sparse grass is being very generous.  Nice picnic tables and a port-a-potty that looked brand new.  I waited for the guys to arrive before assuming that this was where we would stay but since there was nowhere else around-we stayed.   The operator of the campground lives up a road that is gated off with a no trespassing sign on it.  Oh yea, there is also a state correctional instate in the near distance.

Jerry, Jeff and I took a ride in to town for a couple of items – like a slurpy.  Came back and had our usual supper of pasta.  I was so tired that I ended up under the sleeping bag at 7:00.  It was a clear night so we all decided to leave the rainfly off our tents.  Jack had been doing this for some time.  Our tent however is mostly netting so from bout 18 inches on up we could see the sky.  Did I mention that there was no one else in the campground.  Actually it looked like there had never been anyone else in the campground – ever.  Anyway, it was really wonderful to look up and see the constellations  and the milky way.  About 1:40 the tent started to leak – it was raining- but the stars were still out.   All of us were up in a heartbeat with our headlanps on putting on the flys as fast as we could.  I swear I could hear God in his masculine voice belly laughing.  Things didn’t get too wet so we crawled back in to the tent.  6 minutes later the rain stopped.  The drizzle did wake up some night sounds like crickets and I think I heard a tree frog.  Thankful for the water I suppose.

Earlier in the evening the owner biked down from his house with his dog, Snowball.  He was a good guy.  Had lived in NYC but moved out here 32 years ago and farmed until ‘the big cities took all the water’  He said that the last good storm they had was in ’99.  Believe me the land looks it.  He invited us up to his gargen to pick lettuce or anything we wanted.  We all walked up and picked some onions and beets.  The lettuce looked past prime. His wife had did this past January.  You could tell he misses her.  Must be lonely our here.  (I know I am.)

The guys got an earlier than usual start this morning, trying to beat the hear and the headwind.

Oh, I haven’t mentioned the wind?  It’s crazy out here.  Early evening (last night it was 6:45) it kicks up and doesn’t let up until about 10:00.  I’m not talking breeze here I talking WIND – enough to make you wonder if the tent is going to stay on the ground, even though you are in it.  Just Crazy!

Well, tonight we have out spot reserved.  Sheridan Lake Bible Church floor.  Seems that the pastor there welcomes biker (and hopefully me) with open arms—what a concept, sheltering the homeless. 

Almost the 4th

Couple of days have gone by since I’ve had time to blog.  If I think hard enough I would be able to tell you where we were and what we did but its 8 in the morning.  Too early for heavy thinking.

We did meet up with cousin Ken & Kate on Monday.  That was a real treat.  Our visit began in the tire place while waiting for our one tire to be fixed – the one tire turned in to 4 new tires.  Oh well,  hopefully no more tire problems.  We also enjoyed a nice Mexican dinner while catching up with the relatives/friends.

We traveled on Monday and Tuesday – mostly like all the other days we’ve been out here.  We did cross the highest peak on route yesterday 11,+.  All went well.  The guys did 98 miles yesterday except Jerry who did 101 because he took a little side trip to a town of Guffy thinking that I might not have gotten his voice mail and ended up there.  Actually, I also did the little side trip just to check out a B+B.  What a town.  So many places out here were apparently large prosperous towns during the gold rush days but are now hanging on to populations of about 50 or so.  Guffy looked like a town out of a 50s western movie.  Not much action there now.  I would have taken some pictures but being the only car in town I felt like I was being watched.  The B&B had a no trespassing sign up so I didn’t stop there or anywhere.

Found a nice campsite last night.  Not sure what the name of the town is but it west of Canyon City.  The site is on a hills nestled among pinon trees and 2 types of cactus, site was all gravel.  We also had a humdinger of a storm last afternoon – lightening, thunder, rain – a lot of all three.

The men took off before 6 as usual this morning.  We really do not have a clear idea of just where we’ll be camping tonight.  I’m one who likes to know what is happening and when so this is a stretch for me (as if the whole trip hasn’t been).  We will be leaving the mountains, which is probably good.  The high altitude affects my attitude – not always for the better.  Also, I’ve had headaches for quite a while a few days now.  On to Kansas!  (oh, boy!...)

On to Pueblo and beyond today.  They tell me that is the halfway point.  Been on the road for 4 days short of a month and target for the Atlantic is one month from now.  Things Seem to be going well.

Woke up last night and thought I was in my bed at home.  It took a few seconds for reality to hit but at least it was a good night sleep.

Time to get on with the day.  Hope all is well where you are.   

Hiccups in the road

We hit a few hiccups in the last 24 hours.  We were camping in the City Park in Walden CO last evening.  City Park camping is usually free to tenters.  That’s a plus.  There were also about 20 other cyclists there last evening.  That’s a minus.  One of the toilets was out of order so there was only one available.  That’s a real minus.  In a sleepy little town like Walden I guess the place to be on Saturday night is the City Park.  At least that’s what a bunch of teenagers feel is true.  Also, I would bet that all the mosquitoes in town were there in the park with us.  It was a noisy night and in to the wee hours of the morning.  Another minus.  We did treat ourselves to a stake for dinner.   Steak, potatoes, onions, mushrooms and salad.  That went well.  

After dinner Jeff noticed that one of the tires on the van was low.  I’m still thanking God that he noticed it.  It could have blown so easily on me on a mountain road.  I would have really been up a creek or down a valley.  Literally.  Off they went to a gas station in town.  Being Saturday evening the one tire place in Walden was not open nor would it be until Monday.  But the guy assured us that there was one in Steamboat Springs that was open on Sunday.  Jerry and Jeff changed the tire.  Sunday morning Jeff and Jack took of on the bikes.   Jerry and I were riding on the spare to Steamboat, about 60 miles away.  When we got there the store was not opened nor were any of the other tire places in town.  Not until Monday.  What now???  Jerry thought a stop at Starbucks might help.  Well, it didn’t get the tire changed so on we went about 60 miles again to meet up with J & J in Hot Springs.  Meet up we did and had a light breakfast at a café.  Jerry then joined the other 2 and rode to Kremmling where here we sit waiting for time to pass until supper.

We did see some antelope today and a herd of cows being moved down the road.  Again it is so strange to see cows and cowboys/girls on the road in front of you.  We did see prairie dogs again today.  They act just like our squirrel at home when it comes to crossing roads.  Yesterday I hit one of them.  Looking in my rear view mirror I could see that I did not kill the little thing.  He seemed to be on his back struggling to flip over.  At least that’s what I want to think.

Monday morning will find us bright and early at the tire place.  I hope they have our size and can do it for us.  

Hoping Monday afternoon to meet up with cousin Ken and Kate for an early dinner.  Looking forward to that.

We’re almost at the half way point Pueblo CO.  I’ll let you know what that happens.   

Windy Wyoming

6/28

Goodbye to WY and it's strong winds.  Again last night we had a wind storm that I thought was going to take the tent apart.  The bad thing about that is the fact that we were in the tent.  It seemed to last for about an hour.  Don’t think I’ll miss them as we move in to CO in a day or two.

6/29/13

I’m tempted to just copy and paste Jeff’s blog here.  He does a really good job.  But….Thursday night we stayed at the nosiest campground I’ve ever been in.  We were so very close to the expressway and the noise continues all night.  And then there was the wind again.  Friday night we found ourselves in Riverside WO.  Okay campground but it is truly the land of cottonwood trees (that shed so much it looks like snow) and mosquitoes, many, many mosquitoes.  We all hit our tents early last evening because of them. 

After the men left this morning I went back to sleep for a few minutes only to be awaken by the cound of what I thought was a crop duster plane.  Yuck, I could see the chemicals coming from the plane.  I did not want to breathe.  I come to find out that really what they were spraying was really to kill the mosquitoes.  Now I don’t like the little things but I think they would win over the chemicals.

Hats off to Jeff and Jack.  Every evening they are there offering to help prepare supper – cutting bread, preparing the salad, - I really think they are just hovering until supper is ready but they are willing to be helpful.  And after supper they can be found doing the dishes.  They even caught on as to how to stack things so that everything fits in to our little white kitchen bin.  I only had to give them 2-3 inservices on the subject.  They are very helpful.  Needless to say Jerry also contributes in oh so many ways.

I am going to paste Jeff’s blog here.  I know it’s cheating but he kind of says it all.  On to Walton WY today, short day of 50 miles.

June27 and 28

Did not do an entry yesterday. Very strange day.  The night before, I asked Jack what time we were starting the next day, and he said about 8:00.  And they call me the Princess.  Anyway, he is up and atem at about 7:00 and doesn’t wake me up.  He instructed me that 8:00 means7:00 in camping.  Anyway, we got off a little later than usual.  We left Landor and headed toward Muddy Gap.  There is nothing between Landor and Muddy Gap. No coffee today.  Scenery was a different kind of purdy.  Nothing outstanding, just typical of what you would expect the West to look like.  Prairie land and a lot of desolate areas. Kind of like a moon landscape.   But still very purdy.  Ran into some  gentlemen heading West along the same trail and they gave us some info about what is ahead of us.  Not all good stuff, but they did recommend a place to stay in Latimore.  We continued onto our destination of Muddy Gap.  We got there and there is not a place to stay.  So we rode 10 miles more to a place called Latimore which those guys talked about.  Well, words cannot describe what we found.  Either they bamboozled us or we go the wrong message.  The place was a like a garbage dump.  Shtuff all over the place.  Some lady lived there by herself and had been trying to clear the place out for four years.  Cannot get a dumpster delivered.  Sue got there first.  The lady told her not to camp in certain places because there were rattlers.  She had a bunk house and an outhouse with a skyview.  Sue has pictures.  Needless to say.  We moved on.  Our next option for a campsite was in Rawlins, about 30 miles away.  The road between Latimore and Rawlins had construction that “those guys” said was not really passable by bike.  Not safe.  So we racked up the bikes and rode through the construction using good discretion and got a place in Rawlins, a city of almost 9,500.  We stayed in an RV Park, but we didn’t get there until about 6:00.  A long day.  We were whupped again, so we decided to go out and eat rather than cook.  Went to a place called Bucks, where everything on the menu had the word “Bucks” in it.  It was a Wyoming décor and had menus that were 24 inches by 14 inches.  Food was good.  Back to the campsite around 9:15.  All went to bed.  Very windy at night but no rain.  Total of about 85 miles today.

On the 28^th, we left around 7:10 headed for Riverside, total of 60 miles.  We got to our campsite in Riverside about 12:20.  Like an offday.  Population 52.  But they have two cafes, an RV Park, a grocery/hardware store, and a church.  Not sure how 52 people support all the services.  The place was recommended by a guy we met going West from New Joisey.  He was alone and unsupported headed for San Diego.  Twenty-five years old.  Just winging it.  We met him at our coffee stop in Saratoga at Lollipops.  Also there was a girl from Portland traveling alone with her dog who had a basket on the front of her bike.  No she was not really from Kansas.  Ride was pretty good.   Saw some antelope and some white pelicans flying in formation.  They are black and white; and when they turn, they disappear.  Jack couldn’t see the pelicans and will to his grave say that I was making it up.  I’m sure Jack’s family will find this hard to believe.  Our day at the campsite included naps, beers at the café, trip to the hardware store, and of course dinner.  Jack made some friends at the café.  He had a book out on the table he was reading.   A young motorcyclist walked by and said he had done a book report on that book.  Jack got into a reading conversation and another motorcyclist who did not fit the typical reader type (like I am) chimed in that he had read the same book and recommended another book entitled “Stumbling Upon Happiness”.  New book club in the works it sounds like.  Tomorrow, we head to Waldon to see if Ralph is still at the pond. 

Odds and ends.  There was a city near the Tetons where lot of moose have been sighted.  Guess what they call it?  You guessed it, Moose.  A black bird with an orange head.  An orange headed black bird.  Jimmy Durante came up today.  Again, Jack had no clue.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue

Guest Blogger

Summons

Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I'm half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I'm not too hard persuaded. 

Robert Francis

kind of says it all......