Kansas @ 2208 miles

We were published in the Patriot News @ this link --

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=121A9FC7192A1BB0&p_docnum=1

7/7 - Newton KS: After an easy 119 mile day set up camp in a city park. We setup then invited to spend the night in the Newton fire station. Packed up the tent, went to the fire station, were shown around, showered, eat their food, slept in their training room. They have done this for many bikers in the past.
7/6 - Larned: This 66 mile day felt more like 150 mile. Ended day with a 25 mile head wind for 22 miles. Yea this is fun. Pasted 7 pairs of bikers heading West.
7/5 - Ness City: 103 miles today in >100°F. Road with one person going East. Camped in the city park, showered in the city swimming pool. Everyone is so generious.
7/4 - Tribune KS: 100 miles 95° and hot.
7/3 - Hasty: 119 miles @ 100° Eastern CO is lots of nothing. Route 10 is 50 miles of NOTHING as far as you can see, nothing in every direction. Camped in a state park which was full when we got there, but we looked like we really needed a plot of dirt so they let us in.

Happy Trails....... Steve -

Last 7 days

7-2 Wed - Walsenburg CO - 158 Hours & 1689 miles;
Computers are few and far between, but here is the latest:
Finished the BTC on Saturday 6-28 and said goodbye to my latest 2000 new friends.
house.
6-29 Sun Pagosa Springs CO: Finished the ride in a hail storm but made it to Joni Shirks daughters where they put us up for the night in their new house, they moved in three days before. soaked in the hot springs for 2 hours.
6-30 Mon- Del Norte CO: 73 mile day, tough 8 mile climb 2 hour over Wolf Creek Pass @ 10850 ft. Rain on the way down then camped near town.
7-1 Tuesday Fort Garland CO: 70 mile day, 20 miles of straight road to Great Sand Dunes NP
7-2 Wed - Easy 48 mile over the last pass of the Rockies. Now comes the several ? days of FLAT and windy CO & KS. The next week will be as exciting as doing time in a lockup.

Later, Steve

BTC

6-26 Telluride CO - Fourth day of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado BTC, This is a day off after three days of riding today is rest in Telluride. We (Harry, Joe & Tom in picture ) and me, went for a hike from Telluride 8745' up to 1100'. What a view, thru snow fields and above the tree line. Beautiful flowers, clear cold water falls, intense sun frost on the tent in the morning. Plenty to eat and drink and super people on the tour.

First picture in Mesa Verta three days ago from top of mesa.

To many pictures to show at one time

More later, there is a party going on.

Steve

6-14-08 Friday Durango: Made it this far in the trip, one mile stone down only 300 miles to go.

6-15-08 Sunday - Kaynta AZ, Not a very exciting day across the desert 76 miles of more heat and dry Navajo land.

6-16 Monday - Bluff AZ 4340', picture was in Monument Valley AZ 105°. Beautiful tall red mountains. Miles of Forest Gump type roads, long, straight, and hot. 71 miles today.

6-17 Tuesday - Ute Casino 5752'; road 50 Miles across hot windy roads with NO services at all available to stop. Visited 4 corners, then press on in to the wind. total for today 79 miles, 852 miles to the next ocean.

6-18 Wed- Mesa Verta @ 7850' - only 31 miles today then camped in the park.

6-19 Thursday - Durango 6700' I biked out to Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, then on to Durango. Total 81 miles today 966 for the trip. This place is beautiful.

Later, Steve

Last 3 days Prescott to Tuba City

6-14-08 Saturday Tuba City AZ;
** 6-12-08 Prescott to Sedona: After a day off in prescott, started a 12 mile climb from 5300' to 7030' then down into beutifull Jerome, an old mining town. Road with a very friendly member of the Luxenburg team for about 5 miles, he wore me out. Right behind him came Bob of the Lancaster team #414, well that lasted about 3 secounds till he went flat out. Camped in the Sedona hills. 80 mile day
** 6-13-08 Sedona to Flagstaff: 8:15 left the camp site with no breakfast and climbed to 6400', finally at 11:00 breakfast in Flagstaff. Short 34 mile day followed by a 3 mile hike over looking Flagstaff. Camped in a KOA.
** 6-14-08 Flagstaff to Tuba City: Huge breakfast lasted all day. 78 miles over several climbs over a few 7000' hills. Very beutiful, colorful desearts, finish with 2 hard hills.

Later,

Day off in Prescott

6-11-08 Prescott AZ- Last three days from Blythe to Prescott:
** 6-8 Blythe - Salome- 65 miles hi lites 20 miles on I-10 in AZ riding with 75 MPH trucks we were mostly fast to Quartsite then 15 miles of straight, flat, hot, 106°.
** 6-9 Salome - Congress - 60 miles: Meet up with RAAM riders, road with the Brazilian rider for about 20 miles, very friendly crew. 40 miles of straight, flat, hot. Also meet a rider from Australian ( Daniel ), he is riding from San Fransisco to Canada. He is still traveling with us and will leave us in Flagstaff.
** 6-10 Congress - Prescott- 46 miles: Left the RAAM time station ( manned by the Bull Shifters Bike Club ), 7 mile climb @ 7%, followed by a 10 mile climb to 6100'. Ended the day in Prescott 5600'. It's hard to breathe, will spend day here the get more use to this altitude.

You can view all of my pictures from Oceanside to Prescott from the below link

http://picasaweb.google.com/2geezers/StartOfUSATrip

I'll enjoy the day off and send you more later,
Steve & Joe

CA desert

6-7-08 Blythe CA - 247 miles so far - Started our trip at 5:10pm on 6-5-08 from Oceanside CA after visiting the RAAM headquarters. Set out on the 13 mile RAAM that followed the parade route then ended in Escendido CA 30 mile. Spent the night with my brother Jim's friends. ** Friday 6-6 to Westmoreland CA 113 miles, up 4000' to Julian then back down to 300' in 95 Degs. Beautiful desert, great vistas, 6 MPH uphill, 45 MPH down hills. *Saturday 6-7-08 to Blythe CA 100 miles very flat 'cept for the sand dunes, most of the ride was around 100 Degs. We needed more than the 2 gallons of water available. My brother Jim was our crew, and a life saver ( yea really ) by following and supplying water as needed. We learn something new everyday. The desert is not to be taken lightly, and is not forgiving. But we made it this far. More later, Steve & Joe