Tuesday, July 27
We’re in wine country! California has been beautiful and sunny. This morning we slept in a little and went to the Jelly Belly Factory. David managed to score us some free water bottles and Sports Beans, which are electrolyte- and caffeine-filled jelly beans. We took a tour of the factory with Stephanie, our super enthusiastic guide, and got free samples. It was loads of sugary fun.
After we got back, we rode a whole 17 miles into Napa. My team, which consisted of Andrew, Amelia, Terence, and me, was the last to leave the church. The wind was pretty strong but not unbearable, and we were moving at a decent pace. After getting lost for a bit, we found ourselves at this awesomely busy intersection where a nice man let us in. We biked past picturesque hills and vineyards. For a while, there was a nice tailwind. As soon as we turned into the host’s driveway, we ran into Pooja and Sara, who were on their way to downtown Napa. We joined forces and made our way to the visitor’s center. We found bars and coffee shops, grabbed a quick snack, and perused some stores. Pooja introduced me to falafel, which tasted like fried hummus. We picked up a bottle of wine from a small wine shop and headed back to the church for dinner.
Later that evening, we made a run to the shopping center to pick up a few things. I had my first In-N-Out burger—a double-double, animal-style—which was a delicious experience. I later came to regret this meal when it sat, like a brick, in my stomach for the remainder of the night. We headed back to the church, had ourselves a little wine and cheese party and played some games. A locked gate thwarted our plans to go downtown, but we had fun nonetheless.
- Erica Lai
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day 54: Fallon, NV to South Lake Tahoe, CA
Thursday, July 22
“We’ve been on the run, driving in the sun, looking out for #1, California here we come, right back where we started from”
The day into Tahoe was probably the most exciting days of the trip thus far. Not only were we biking out of the desert and into the beautiful green mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, but we were about to cross into the last state of our journey: CALIFORNIA! The morning wake up music consisted of “Californiacation” and “Dani California” by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the opening song to the OC, “California Love” by Tupac and my personal favorite “Hotel California” by the Eagles.
It was a very hot morning but Pooja and Erica were awesome and managed to get us free Slurpies from 7-eleven at one of our water stops in Carson City. I was on team California that morning and we were determined to get our hands on a juicy In and Out burger so we decided to take a little detour from the 2nd water stop and went half a mile out of the way just to satisfy our craving. It was well worth it!!!! Dan, Charlie, Terence and I were very happy and immediately after our lunch started our first and only climb of the day. On the way up we spotted the first ever “Bear Crossing” sign of the day. That definitely made me pedal a little faster up that mountain!
The whole team waited at the top of Spooner Summit until everyone completed the climb because we all wanted to reach the California state sign at relatively the same time. The descent into Tahoe was absolutely breathtaking. Right as we turned the corner we saw nothing but blue and green. It was unbelievable. It was perhaps one of the most beautiful descents of the trip. Finally we reached the California-Nevada state line… I’m not going to lie, it was a bit anti-climactic… and small… but we were all filled with excitement either way. We took various team photos and hung out at a busy intersection for about half an hour.
That night and the next night we stayed at a lovely church across the street from restaurants and an art fair in the city of South Lake Tahoe. Everyone enjoyed their day off by going to the beach, shopping, watching movies and of course… eating!
-Adali Martinez
“We’ve been on the run, driving in the sun, looking out for #1, California here we come, right back where we started from”
The day into Tahoe was probably the most exciting days of the trip thus far. Not only were we biking out of the desert and into the beautiful green mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, but we were about to cross into the last state of our journey: CALIFORNIA! The morning wake up music consisted of “Californiacation” and “Dani California” by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the opening song to the OC, “California Love” by Tupac and my personal favorite “Hotel California” by the Eagles.
It was a very hot morning but Pooja and Erica were awesome and managed to get us free Slurpies from 7-eleven at one of our water stops in Carson City. I was on team California that morning and we were determined to get our hands on a juicy In and Out burger so we decided to take a little detour from the 2nd water stop and went half a mile out of the way just to satisfy our craving. It was well worth it!!!! Dan, Charlie, Terence and I were very happy and immediately after our lunch started our first and only climb of the day. On the way up we spotted the first ever “Bear Crossing” sign of the day. That definitely made me pedal a little faster up that mountain!
The whole team waited at the top of Spooner Summit until everyone completed the climb because we all wanted to reach the California state sign at relatively the same time. The descent into Tahoe was absolutely breathtaking. Right as we turned the corner we saw nothing but blue and green. It was unbelievable. It was perhaps one of the most beautiful descents of the trip. Finally we reached the California-Nevada state line… I’m not going to lie, it was a bit anti-climactic… and small… but we were all filled with excitement either way. We took various team photos and hung out at a busy intersection for about half an hour.
That night and the next night we stayed at a lovely church across the street from restaurants and an art fair in the city of South Lake Tahoe. Everyone enjoyed their day off by going to the beach, shopping, watching movies and of course… eating!
-Adali Martinez
Monday, July 19, 2010
Day 50: Day off in Ely; and Day 51: Ely, NV to Eureka, NV
Sunday, July 18; and Monday, July 19
Today was a 77 mile day, not terribly steep or long. The scenery looked a lot like the small mountains crossing from Utah into Nevada, and wasn’t particularly spectacular… but then again we’ve been spoiled by states like Colorado.
Our day in Ely, Nevada was far more eventful. David, our new 4k Executive Director, joined us. He is 40, has a wife and a baby girl, has worked and lived in Central Asia, run non-profits, and led outdoor expeditions. Most importantly, he has personal ties to our cause that cause him to be devoted to this organization. He fit right in, joking around with us and chatting. We spent time talking with him about the future of the 4k on our day off, and it’s clear that he has great ideas. Eventually, I envision the 4k growing to something much like Teach for America, something that is prestigious, effective, and in high demand. I am confident that in a few years, I will be proud of how much the 4k has grown thanks to him.
We attended the first Relay for Life where I felt what I expected and wanted to feel. The people were incredibly nice, offering us food and kind words of encouragement. We enjoyed a few games of Bananagrams (a competitive cross between scrabble and crossword puzzles), a dinner of fried chicken and potato salad and delicious free cupcakes (I am very picky with my cupcakes, these had chocolate buttercream frosting inside so they were particularly good and I had to have at least four of them). Jose, Adam, and Mariadina participated in a chocolate pudding eating contest (Jose won but everyone did an impressive job), and Andrew did impressions of our team introductions for David.
We watched as a train went through the mountains, with a wedding reception and a huge cake aboard. I guess in Nevada, that’s the coolest place for a reception. A rainbow lit up the sky, a seemingly appropriate sight for Relay for life. We had seen two full double rainbows once, and it was tempting to chase the pot of gold at either end.
I walked a few laps around the track with a friend whose mother has battled breast cancer several times, and it was at this point that the power of Relay for Life hit me. As I looked at the decorated names on the luminaria bags around the track, I realized how lucky I was not to see the names of anyone I knew. I felt how difficult this event, and these laps must have been for my friend. Krystina is an incredibly strong person, and I admire her ability to smile through the hard times and be a pillar of support for other people every day, despite how draining and difficult it is to bike this much. Thinking of her strength in battling life’s difficult situations keeps me going on days where I would prefer to lie down and fall asleep on anything, even a flight of stairs (this has happened).
Following the ceremony, a breast cancer survivor spoke about how not cancer itself, but all too often fear, kills patients. She shared the moment that her doctor told her it wasn’t a question of if she was going to get cancer, but instead, when. At that point, she decided to be proactive in preventing cancer from attacking her, and was lucky to consequently catch it at an early stage by opting for a biopsy even though her breast tissue appeared normal. I thought about how terrible it must be for girls who are told they have the BRAC gene, who are forced to accept the reality that they will some day have to face cancer. I thought about my mother, and how thankful I’ve been that she’s recently started taking better care of herself, and seeking preventative measures. However, she still hasn’t gotten a full skin cancer screening, which frightens me because I don’t think she knew what sunscreen was until I was born, and nevertheless neglects to use it. Skin cancer is an especially preventable disease, yet if measures aren’t taken, your name could end up on a luminaria bag at Relay for Life. That is something no one should ever have to see.
We attempted to sleep in tents at Relay despite the constant music, many of us to no avail. Luckily, I had earplugs, which were fantastic. I did lose my sleeping mask, though, but my sweatshirt proved to be effective enough. I’m an extremely light sleeper, so however ridiculous earplugs and a sleeping mask may look, I find them to be necessities. However, I still heard them announce ‘It’s 3 am, and we’re going to keep playing the music!’ before blasting country music and heavy metal. I thought it was actually 7 am, and spent the following hours confused, and half awake.
When it finally was 7 am, we awoke to a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and ham donated by the Lions Club. We were so tired that many of us returned to the middle school we were staying at to catch up on our sleep. I cleaned my bike, and David helped me fix my derailleur, teaching me more about bike mechanics in five minutes than I had learned on the entire trip. I was ready to trek to the bike shop for repairs and hefty fees, but thanks to him, I didn’t have to.
Some of the team went to explore the caves in Baker, Nevada, and others to the hot springs/natural pool in town. Instead, I slept for two hours, got a Mcflurry and sweet tea from McDonalds with Chris, and made a trip to the pharmacy. I felt lazy not taking advantage of the surrounding area, but sleeping sounded more appealing than swimming or traveling an hour and a half each way to visit caves.
Lunch that day was donated by a couple who helped organize Relay for Life, and put together a meal for us out of the kindness of their hearts. I still find it incredible that we’ve had free lunch every day, and that people are so generous.
Tomorrow’s a 70 mile day into Austin, which has hot springs, followed by 110 miles to Fallon (downhill!). I’m supposed to drive on the 110 mile day, but since I’ve driven five times already, David kindly agreed to drive for me. I can’t believe we only have 9 biking days and 4 days off left… this trip has gone by far too fast!
Natalie Draisin
Today was a 77 mile day, not terribly steep or long. The scenery looked a lot like the small mountains crossing from Utah into Nevada, and wasn’t particularly spectacular… but then again we’ve been spoiled by states like Colorado.
Our day in Ely, Nevada was far more eventful. David, our new 4k Executive Director, joined us. He is 40, has a wife and a baby girl, has worked and lived in Central Asia, run non-profits, and led outdoor expeditions. Most importantly, he has personal ties to our cause that cause him to be devoted to this organization. He fit right in, joking around with us and chatting. We spent time talking with him about the future of the 4k on our day off, and it’s clear that he has great ideas. Eventually, I envision the 4k growing to something much like Teach for America, something that is prestigious, effective, and in high demand. I am confident that in a few years, I will be proud of how much the 4k has grown thanks to him.
We attended the first Relay for Life where I felt what I expected and wanted to feel. The people were incredibly nice, offering us food and kind words of encouragement. We enjoyed a few games of Bananagrams (a competitive cross between scrabble and crossword puzzles), a dinner of fried chicken and potato salad and delicious free cupcakes (I am very picky with my cupcakes, these had chocolate buttercream frosting inside so they were particularly good and I had to have at least four of them). Jose, Adam, and Mariadina participated in a chocolate pudding eating contest (Jose won but everyone did an impressive job), and Andrew did impressions of our team introductions for David.
We watched as a train went through the mountains, with a wedding reception and a huge cake aboard. I guess in Nevada, that’s the coolest place for a reception. A rainbow lit up the sky, a seemingly appropriate sight for Relay for life. We had seen two full double rainbows once, and it was tempting to chase the pot of gold at either end.
I walked a few laps around the track with a friend whose mother has battled breast cancer several times, and it was at this point that the power of Relay for Life hit me. As I looked at the decorated names on the luminaria bags around the track, I realized how lucky I was not to see the names of anyone I knew. I felt how difficult this event, and these laps must have been for my friend. Krystina is an incredibly strong person, and I admire her ability to smile through the hard times and be a pillar of support for other people every day, despite how draining and difficult it is to bike this much. Thinking of her strength in battling life’s difficult situations keeps me going on days where I would prefer to lie down and fall asleep on anything, even a flight of stairs (this has happened).
Following the ceremony, a breast cancer survivor spoke about how not cancer itself, but all too often fear, kills patients. She shared the moment that her doctor told her it wasn’t a question of if she was going to get cancer, but instead, when. At that point, she decided to be proactive in preventing cancer from attacking her, and was lucky to consequently catch it at an early stage by opting for a biopsy even though her breast tissue appeared normal. I thought about how terrible it must be for girls who are told they have the BRAC gene, who are forced to accept the reality that they will some day have to face cancer. I thought about my mother, and how thankful I’ve been that she’s recently started taking better care of herself, and seeking preventative measures. However, she still hasn’t gotten a full skin cancer screening, which frightens me because I don’t think she knew what sunscreen was until I was born, and nevertheless neglects to use it. Skin cancer is an especially preventable disease, yet if measures aren’t taken, your name could end up on a luminaria bag at Relay for Life. That is something no one should ever have to see.
We attempted to sleep in tents at Relay despite the constant music, many of us to no avail. Luckily, I had earplugs, which were fantastic. I did lose my sleeping mask, though, but my sweatshirt proved to be effective enough. I’m an extremely light sleeper, so however ridiculous earplugs and a sleeping mask may look, I find them to be necessities. However, I still heard them announce ‘It’s 3 am, and we’re going to keep playing the music!’ before blasting country music and heavy metal. I thought it was actually 7 am, and spent the following hours confused, and half awake.
When it finally was 7 am, we awoke to a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and ham donated by the Lions Club. We were so tired that many of us returned to the middle school we were staying at to catch up on our sleep. I cleaned my bike, and David helped me fix my derailleur, teaching me more about bike mechanics in five minutes than I had learned on the entire trip. I was ready to trek to the bike shop for repairs and hefty fees, but thanks to him, I didn’t have to.
Some of the team went to explore the caves in Baker, Nevada, and others to the hot springs/natural pool in town. Instead, I slept for two hours, got a Mcflurry and sweet tea from McDonalds with Chris, and made a trip to the pharmacy. I felt lazy not taking advantage of the surrounding area, but sleeping sounded more appealing than swimming or traveling an hour and a half each way to visit caves.
Lunch that day was donated by a couple who helped organize Relay for Life, and put together a meal for us out of the kindness of their hearts. I still find it incredible that we’ve had free lunch every day, and that people are so generous.
Tomorrow’s a 70 mile day into Austin, which has hot springs, followed by 110 miles to Fallon (downhill!). I’m supposed to drive on the 110 mile day, but since I’ve driven five times already, David kindly agreed to drive for me. I can’t believe we only have 9 biking days and 4 days off left… this trip has gone by far too fast!
Natalie Draisin
Day 43: Green River, UT to Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Sunday, July 11
There are times we encounter roads better suited to mountain bikes. We began the day with such a road – a monstrosity of loose gravel on which we fought for balance with every pedal stroke. Riding on this road became a game requiring the utmost concentration to find the firmest patches in the road. Of course, this area also happens to be thick with gnats and mosquitoes that form clouds behind riders in an almost cartoon-like fashion. Luckily, the road ended after about four miles.
The fun did not stop there, however. It’s said that Highway 50 is the “loneliest road in America”, but the next stretch of this road was definitely less traveled. The right lane of the road was overgrown with grass, and the roughness of the pavement, while not easily seen, could be felt with every jolt through our saddles. We had rolling hills similar to what we saw in Missouri, but riding slowly was not an option, for the cloud of gnats would engulf us at speeds lower than around 10 mph.
The majority of the day was hot, dry, and gnat infested. There was, however, little traffic in the roads, and today Kieran decided to ride no hands for 43 miles with Henrik supporting him with water and food. These two continued on as the rest of us stopped for a delicious Subway lunch at an RV park.
In the last 20 mile stretch, we ran into these two stopped at a small store that has supposedly appeared in travel guides for CruiseAmerica. After a short break we entered into the canyons as a brief but strong storm caught us on a climb. The entry into Capitol Reef was rather scenic but also repetitive. It was a great relief to finally roll into the campground. And thus began the first of three straight days of the team’s first true camping experience!
-Charlie Ouyang
There are times we encounter roads better suited to mountain bikes. We began the day with such a road – a monstrosity of loose gravel on which we fought for balance with every pedal stroke. Riding on this road became a game requiring the utmost concentration to find the firmest patches in the road. Of course, this area also happens to be thick with gnats and mosquitoes that form clouds behind riders in an almost cartoon-like fashion. Luckily, the road ended after about four miles.
The fun did not stop there, however. It’s said that Highway 50 is the “loneliest road in America”, but the next stretch of this road was definitely less traveled. The right lane of the road was overgrown with grass, and the roughness of the pavement, while not easily seen, could be felt with every jolt through our saddles. We had rolling hills similar to what we saw in Missouri, but riding slowly was not an option, for the cloud of gnats would engulf us at speeds lower than around 10 mph.
The majority of the day was hot, dry, and gnat infested. There was, however, little traffic in the roads, and today Kieran decided to ride no hands for 43 miles with Henrik supporting him with water and food. These two continued on as the rest of us stopped for a delicious Subway lunch at an RV park.
In the last 20 mile stretch, we ran into these two stopped at a small store that has supposedly appeared in travel guides for CruiseAmerica. After a short break we entered into the canyons as a brief but strong storm caught us on a climb. The entry into Capitol Reef was rather scenic but also repetitive. It was a great relief to finally roll into the campground. And thus began the first of three straight days of the team’s first true camping experience!
-Charlie Ouyang
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Day 46: Bryce Canyon, UT to Cedar City, UT
Wednesday, July 14
I felt really sick that morning and stayed on the van. We were camping a night before at Bryce Canyon. We woke up at four. Although I really enjoyed seeing millions of stars, it was not fun waking up so early that sun is not even up. It is hard to gather all my belongings together and therefore take significantly longer to pack. Also, it was so cold in the morning. It started with nice descent until the first water stop at least. But after the second water stop, we were faced with eight percent grade-mountain. Mountains were not as bad as the ones we have climbed before, but it was pretty long. What made things worse was that there were some miscommunications with the lunch van. We have decided to have lunch at mile 63, which, according to the elevation chart, seemed correct. But it happened that the summit came few miles before. People waited for hours for lunch van to come and were starving. It finally came around two. After that summit, it was downhill till the host and it seemed that bikes went a lot faster than the car. We were all so excited to have finally a day off, since previous couple of days has been so difficult. We stayed in a dorm and it was nice to sleep on the mattresses.
-Chorong Song
I felt really sick that morning and stayed on the van. We were camping a night before at Bryce Canyon. We woke up at four. Although I really enjoyed seeing millions of stars, it was not fun waking up so early that sun is not even up. It is hard to gather all my belongings together and therefore take significantly longer to pack. Also, it was so cold in the morning. It started with nice descent until the first water stop at least. But after the second water stop, we were faced with eight percent grade-mountain. Mountains were not as bad as the ones we have climbed before, but it was pretty long. What made things worse was that there were some miscommunications with the lunch van. We have decided to have lunch at mile 63, which, according to the elevation chart, seemed correct. But it happened that the summit came few miles before. People waited for hours for lunch van to come and were starving. It finally came around two. After that summit, it was downhill till the host and it seemed that bikes went a lot faster than the car. We were all so excited to have finally a day off, since previous couple of days has been so difficult. We stayed in a dorm and it was nice to sleep on the mattresses.
-Chorong Song
Day 44: Capitol Reef National Park, UT to Escalante, UT
Monday, July 12
Expectations can be friend or foe. Sometimes we go into days expecting the worst, and at the end of the ride find that things weren’t quite as bad as we’d expected. Other times we head in unprepared for what lies ahead, and become devastated with each new obstacle that rears its ugly head. Today’s ride fell squarely into the latter of these two; we went in expecting a few tough climbs, but what we got was nothing less than the hardest day of the trip so far.
We started off with a climb out of Capitol Reef National Park, and quickly realized we’d have to add a couple of miles onto the original total. Not the best way to start the day. We weren’t given much time to get warmed up; once we left the park we immediately hit a steady climb out of the canyon. My group, which dubbed itself Team Testosterone (in light of our high concentration of Y chromosomes), had some pretty strong climbers in it, and we quickly made our way to the top of the first hill. At this point I stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break, telling my group I would meet them at the top of the climb. As fate would have it the directions were wrong, and my group missed the turn and added yet more miles onto the day. I was the lucky one who stopped behind to figure out what was up, and had a good laugh as I watched them make their way back. Still, they should be thankful they didn’t go as far as Kieran, who got a nice tour of a Utah grist mill before realizing he’d gone ten miles out of the way.
Eventually we got back on track, and started on the long climb we’d all been waiting for. Dubbed “Hog’s Back,” this climb was extremely frustrating because every once in a while we’d start making our way back down the hill, essentially wasting some of the ground we’d arduously climbed up. I stopped at what I thought was the top- where cows were parading across the road, no less- to wait for the rest of my group. There we celebrated being done with the toughest part of the day, and talked a bit about what we’d thought of the ascent. It was here that Kevin said he thought it was the toughest climb of the trip so far. If only he’d known what was in store ahead. After descending for about a minute, we rounded a bend to see a steeper grade than any previously encountered. Worse yet, we could see the road winding its way up the mountain for many miles to come. If we’d thought that climb so far had been tough, the rest of it was basically the state of Utah trying to beat us into submission. I kept looking up around each corner for the water stop, only to be rewarded with more of the mountain in front of me, almost as punishment for getting my hopes up. I finally made it to the top, and at this point I didn’t even have enough energy to be excited about getting there. I wordlessly grabbed some food and sat down to await the rest of the team.
We were given a bit of a reprieve over the next fifteen miles, as we reaped the benefits of our long climb. Considering we start and finish at sea level, one of my mottos for this trip has been, “what goes up, must come down.” Or at least, that’s what I tell myself when we’re going up tough hills. On this day, however, we weren’t even given much of a break on the descents, as a pretty strong headwind came to impede our progress. Nevertheless the miles downhill went by pretty quickly, as my group enjoyed making our way out of the mountains. The day’s elevation chart had essentially told us we were done with any difficult climbing, and so we looked forward to a comfortable ride into Escalante. Alexis, who had driven the van ahead, told us that there were some hills in store, but nothing too difficult. I would later learn she was trying to protect us from the truth, because what she had seen along the rest of the way was so difficult she had no idea what to say.
We entered what the group called “Devil’s Backbone,” which may or may not be a name the 4K made up, but it certainly seems appropriate for the hellish environment we had to work our way through. It began with a steep descent into a canyon along a very narrow pass, with no rail guards or anything for protection along the sides. I went along pretty slowly, not wanting to risk anything for a little bit of extra speed. I would later learn, almost as a fun fact, that this part of the ride along Highway 12 is considered one of the most scenic drives in America. It’s funny how this was lost on me, as I was forced to focus squarely upon keeping my bike from veering off a cliff in light of the strong winds present on top of the pass. The way out of this canyon was filled with some very steep hills, and it finally finished with a two mile climb at steep grade to get out. Once we reached the top, it was almost like entering another planet, as there were no signs of life or civilization stirring under the hot desert sun. It took a bit more climbing to get out of this eerie wasteland, and to at long last be done with climbing. We slowly made our way down to the town, and figured it was appropriate to stop and celebrate with a round of drinks for surviving the worst day so far. It was all we could do to keep ourselves from going insane. I’m proud we all made it through the worst day so far, but I can’t say I’d jump at the chance to go through this day again.
-Chris Tait
Expectations can be friend or foe. Sometimes we go into days expecting the worst, and at the end of the ride find that things weren’t quite as bad as we’d expected. Other times we head in unprepared for what lies ahead, and become devastated with each new obstacle that rears its ugly head. Today’s ride fell squarely into the latter of these two; we went in expecting a few tough climbs, but what we got was nothing less than the hardest day of the trip so far.
We started off with a climb out of Capitol Reef National Park, and quickly realized we’d have to add a couple of miles onto the original total. Not the best way to start the day. We weren’t given much time to get warmed up; once we left the park we immediately hit a steady climb out of the canyon. My group, which dubbed itself Team Testosterone (in light of our high concentration of Y chromosomes), had some pretty strong climbers in it, and we quickly made our way to the top of the first hill. At this point I stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break, telling my group I would meet them at the top of the climb. As fate would have it the directions were wrong, and my group missed the turn and added yet more miles onto the day. I was the lucky one who stopped behind to figure out what was up, and had a good laugh as I watched them make their way back. Still, they should be thankful they didn’t go as far as Kieran, who got a nice tour of a Utah grist mill before realizing he’d gone ten miles out of the way.
Eventually we got back on track, and started on the long climb we’d all been waiting for. Dubbed “Hog’s Back,” this climb was extremely frustrating because every once in a while we’d start making our way back down the hill, essentially wasting some of the ground we’d arduously climbed up. I stopped at what I thought was the top- where cows were parading across the road, no less- to wait for the rest of my group. There we celebrated being done with the toughest part of the day, and talked a bit about what we’d thought of the ascent. It was here that Kevin said he thought it was the toughest climb of the trip so far. If only he’d known what was in store ahead. After descending for about a minute, we rounded a bend to see a steeper grade than any previously encountered. Worse yet, we could see the road winding its way up the mountain for many miles to come. If we’d thought that climb so far had been tough, the rest of it was basically the state of Utah trying to beat us into submission. I kept looking up around each corner for the water stop, only to be rewarded with more of the mountain in front of me, almost as punishment for getting my hopes up. I finally made it to the top, and at this point I didn’t even have enough energy to be excited about getting there. I wordlessly grabbed some food and sat down to await the rest of the team.
We were given a bit of a reprieve over the next fifteen miles, as we reaped the benefits of our long climb. Considering we start and finish at sea level, one of my mottos for this trip has been, “what goes up, must come down.” Or at least, that’s what I tell myself when we’re going up tough hills. On this day, however, we weren’t even given much of a break on the descents, as a pretty strong headwind came to impede our progress. Nevertheless the miles downhill went by pretty quickly, as my group enjoyed making our way out of the mountains. The day’s elevation chart had essentially told us we were done with any difficult climbing, and so we looked forward to a comfortable ride into Escalante. Alexis, who had driven the van ahead, told us that there were some hills in store, but nothing too difficult. I would later learn she was trying to protect us from the truth, because what she had seen along the rest of the way was so difficult she had no idea what to say.
We entered what the group called “Devil’s Backbone,” which may or may not be a name the 4K made up, but it certainly seems appropriate for the hellish environment we had to work our way through. It began with a steep descent into a canyon along a very narrow pass, with no rail guards or anything for protection along the sides. I went along pretty slowly, not wanting to risk anything for a little bit of extra speed. I would later learn, almost as a fun fact, that this part of the ride along Highway 12 is considered one of the most scenic drives in America. It’s funny how this was lost on me, as I was forced to focus squarely upon keeping my bike from veering off a cliff in light of the strong winds present on top of the pass. The way out of this canyon was filled with some very steep hills, and it finally finished with a two mile climb at steep grade to get out. Once we reached the top, it was almost like entering another planet, as there were no signs of life or civilization stirring under the hot desert sun. It took a bit more climbing to get out of this eerie wasteland, and to at long last be done with climbing. We slowly made our way down to the town, and figured it was appropriate to stop and celebrate with a round of drinks for surviving the worst day so far. It was all we could do to keep ourselves from going insane. I’m proud we all made it through the worst day so far, but I can’t say I’d jump at the chance to go through this day again.
-Chris Tait
Day 42: Moab, UT to Green River, Utah
Saturday, July 10
So begins the first day of the third leg. A 5 a.m. wake up had us staggering around with forever shocking efficiency for such an indecently tired crew. As we cruised out a red dawn greeted us with what we thought was the promise of a sizzling day. Did I mention that we ate? No that’s because we cruised out of the church parking lot and headed for the diner. Yes the DINER! The pastor who had so kindly given of the church space had ALSO donated 25 breakfasts each to the riders own discretion, delicious I had buckwheat pancakes, hash browns and coffee. Does it get any better? Yes! Happy Birthday baby Kieran! The staff brought him an encore of ice cream in celebration! Needless to say no one felt like moving after the massive meal, but we hoisted ourselves up and formed a slightly bloated morning circle. After morning circle the usual herding cats/ making groups for the day ensued (a short one of 51 miles or so...and the elevation chart, a work of art (all down hill)) my group was team new jersey, as in new bike jerseys. Coincidentally many of the speed demons had new jerseys so we averaged a seamless 21 mph! Nice! Team New Jersey quickly came upon Green River and were wondering where it was until we reached the epicenter, just kidding there was no epicenter. Green River may I mention is the only town within a reasonable distance (100 miles) from Moab and ( ) aside from our other options, Solitude Utah and Desolate...Green river does sound a little more inviting although the surrounding landscape was doubtless no less stark than the afore mentioned.
Getting in early was fantastic and we were greeted by a selection of sandwich fixings, ants on a log and home made jelly! The coolest part is that it all was provided by folks our age! Every one was surprisingly wiped out by such a short day after a day off. The napping was brought to an abrupt end when we were summoned to a walking tour of town lead by one of the volunteers. The volunteer explained what was around in town, their aspirations for the town and the booms and busts of the past. After the walking tour the group was split and some of us were talked to rake up glass, batteries and the like and others were delegated to the consignment shop to sort and organize clothes, weeding was also a quintessential part of the days tasks. Giving back was a very cool thing to do but we were all exhausted by the end of the hour and a half. The daily showers were definitely what the doctor ordered. Once refreshed by the interestingly mineral laden water much of the team wondered into a super cool coffee house...the only one actually. Bedecked with a record player, native art, interesting furniture and an impressive book collection, not to mention marvelous coffee drinks etc.! Diner at 6:30 summoned us to our hosts where we scarfed down delicious burritos and then tried to fall asleep at 9 (sun still shining) in lue of the next mornings 4 am wake up.
That’s all for now.
- Amelia Lindbergh
PS Miss you Kristine!
So begins the first day of the third leg. A 5 a.m. wake up had us staggering around with forever shocking efficiency for such an indecently tired crew. As we cruised out a red dawn greeted us with what we thought was the promise of a sizzling day. Did I mention that we ate? No that’s because we cruised out of the church parking lot and headed for the diner. Yes the DINER! The pastor who had so kindly given of the church space had ALSO donated 25 breakfasts each to the riders own discretion, delicious I had buckwheat pancakes, hash browns and coffee. Does it get any better? Yes! Happy Birthday baby Kieran! The staff brought him an encore of ice cream in celebration! Needless to say no one felt like moving after the massive meal, but we hoisted ourselves up and formed a slightly bloated morning circle. After morning circle the usual herding cats/ making groups for the day ensued (a short one of 51 miles or so...and the elevation chart, a work of art (all down hill)) my group was team new jersey, as in new bike jerseys. Coincidentally many of the speed demons had new jerseys so we averaged a seamless 21 mph! Nice! Team New Jersey quickly came upon Green River and were wondering where it was until we reached the epicenter, just kidding there was no epicenter. Green River may I mention is the only town within a reasonable distance (100 miles) from Moab and ( ) aside from our other options, Solitude Utah and Desolate...Green river does sound a little more inviting although the surrounding landscape was doubtless no less stark than the afore mentioned.
Getting in early was fantastic and we were greeted by a selection of sandwich fixings, ants on a log and home made jelly! The coolest part is that it all was provided by folks our age! Every one was surprisingly wiped out by such a short day after a day off. The napping was brought to an abrupt end when we were summoned to a walking tour of town lead by one of the volunteers. The volunteer explained what was around in town, their aspirations for the town and the booms and busts of the past. After the walking tour the group was split and some of us were talked to rake up glass, batteries and the like and others were delegated to the consignment shop to sort and organize clothes, weeding was also a quintessential part of the days tasks. Giving back was a very cool thing to do but we were all exhausted by the end of the hour and a half. The daily showers were definitely what the doctor ordered. Once refreshed by the interestingly mineral laden water much of the team wondered into a super cool coffee house...the only one actually. Bedecked with a record player, native art, interesting furniture and an impressive book collection, not to mention marvelous coffee drinks etc.! Diner at 6:30 summoned us to our hosts where we scarfed down delicious burritos and then tried to fall asleep at 9 (sun still shining) in lue of the next mornings 4 am wake up.
That’s all for now.
- Amelia Lindbergh
PS Miss you Kristine!
Day 29: Arapahoe, NE to Benkalman, NE
Sunday, June 27
It’s rare for us to have a pretty uneventful day, but today seemed like just another 93 mile ride. It started with an early rise and sorrowful farewell to our wonderful hosts in Arapahoe, NE, and no one wanted to leave. But to San Fran we must go; with a gradual climb the entire day and a strong crosswind in the morning, it seemed that we would never reach Benkelmann, NE. Our only saving grace was that the temperature stayed in the warm 80s, and as the day wore on we seemed to actually gain more energy. Henrik and Kristen were ecstatic at Germany’s defeat of England in the World Cup, and Pooja and Sara were able to amass a hearty and delicious lunch in a cool, shaded spot. We finally arrived at the Elementary School where everyone had enough energy to play a game of basketball before hitting the showers and sitting down to a delicious dinner of fruit, pasta and beef. The best part of the day: We’ve finally crossed into the mountain time zone, so we have an extra hour to sleep tonight!
-Adam Ammar
It’s rare for us to have a pretty uneventful day, but today seemed like just another 93 mile ride. It started with an early rise and sorrowful farewell to our wonderful hosts in Arapahoe, NE, and no one wanted to leave. But to San Fran we must go; with a gradual climb the entire day and a strong crosswind in the morning, it seemed that we would never reach Benkelmann, NE. Our only saving grace was that the temperature stayed in the warm 80s, and as the day wore on we seemed to actually gain more energy. Henrik and Kristen were ecstatic at Germany’s defeat of England in the World Cup, and Pooja and Sara were able to amass a hearty and delicious lunch in a cool, shaded spot. We finally arrived at the Elementary School where everyone had enough energy to play a game of basketball before hitting the showers and sitting down to a delicious dinner of fruit, pasta and beef. The best part of the day: We’ve finally crossed into the mountain time zone, so we have an extra hour to sleep tonight!
-Adam Ammar
Day 4: Greensburg, PA to Butler, PA
Wednesday, June 2nd
We stayed at YMCA and my eyes were open at five thirty. I was surprised to find myself with getting used to wake up so early. I tried to pack as fast as I could and get ready to hit the road. I stayed on the van a day before and I could not get more excited to get back on the bike after one day’s rest. The ride was only sixty two miles and after climbing Appalachian Mountains, nothing could be harder. Although there were some hills in between, there were many down hills as well. I never thought biking could be exciting sports, climbing down the hills after struggling to go up that high is definitely so much rewarding and exciting. I started as one of the weakest riders, and I was much concerned that I would not be able to catch up with the group, but I could already feel that my legs got much stronger. The ride did not go as smooth as we thought. Although the course itself was not very challenging, due to so much traffic, we always had to extra careful especially when there are so many gravels on the shoulder of the road. Also, I am not much of a big eater, however since the trip started, I started binging during the water stops and lunch knowing that I won’t be able to keep up unless I am full of energy. We had burgers for lunch. Normally, I would hate to eat burgers, however, after biking miles, I could not wish for more. It is actually amusing how adaptive humans including I can be to the environment given. Also, it made me think that I have not been grateful enough for what I was given. The main reason I started the trip was to fight the cancer along with my dad who is going through chemotherapy. I have to admit that I could face the dad as sick as he is. I just could not bear to see him in so much pain. In my memory, he has been always so strong and supportive for me. Maybe, I was selfish to begin with. However, as I meet more cancer patients, generous supporters and other riders along the with the demanding nature of the ride itself, I am learning to be a better person; it helps me cope with my dad’s illness and I am not alone in the world who is afraid and full of fear.
-Chorong Song
We stayed at YMCA and my eyes were open at five thirty. I was surprised to find myself with getting used to wake up so early. I tried to pack as fast as I could and get ready to hit the road. I stayed on the van a day before and I could not get more excited to get back on the bike after one day’s rest. The ride was only sixty two miles and after climbing Appalachian Mountains, nothing could be harder. Although there were some hills in between, there were many down hills as well. I never thought biking could be exciting sports, climbing down the hills after struggling to go up that high is definitely so much rewarding and exciting. I started as one of the weakest riders, and I was much concerned that I would not be able to catch up with the group, but I could already feel that my legs got much stronger. The ride did not go as smooth as we thought. Although the course itself was not very challenging, due to so much traffic, we always had to extra careful especially when there are so many gravels on the shoulder of the road. Also, I am not much of a big eater, however since the trip started, I started binging during the water stops and lunch knowing that I won’t be able to keep up unless I am full of energy. We had burgers for lunch. Normally, I would hate to eat burgers, however, after biking miles, I could not wish for more. It is actually amusing how adaptive humans including I can be to the environment given. Also, it made me think that I have not been grateful enough for what I was given. The main reason I started the trip was to fight the cancer along with my dad who is going through chemotherapy. I have to admit that I could face the dad as sick as he is. I just could not bear to see him in so much pain. In my memory, he has been always so strong and supportive for me. Maybe, I was selfish to begin with. However, as I meet more cancer patients, generous supporters and other riders along the with the demanding nature of the ride itself, I am learning to be a better person; it helps me cope with my dad’s illness and I am not alone in the world who is afraid and full of fear.
-Chorong Song
Friday, July 9, 2010
Day 40 and 41: Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT
Thursday and Friday, July 8th and July 9th
It was 4:00am, the birds weren’t chirping, the sun wasn’t shining but our cell phone alarms sure were blasting. Today was our earliest wake up yet, but for good reason. We had a 100 mile day ahead of us with an expected high of 94 degrees! Welcome to the DESERT 4k!!!! To make matters worse, we stayed on actual beds in Grand Junction! Mattresses are rare but wonderful commodities on the 4k. Leaving the comfort of a mattress is a struggle. But of course we all woke up and went on with our regular morning routine. For breakfast we had about 100 bagels to choose from thanks to the generosity of Grand Junction’s own Main Street Bagels. The sun was barely peaking over the horizon as we dedicated our ride at our morning circle.
The first 20 miles of the ride were a bit terrifying. Apparently it’s NOT illegal for cyclist to ride on the I-70 in Colorado or Utah. This is the first time we intentionally ride on an interstate… key word: intentionally! It was difficult to get used to cars and trucks speeding past us at 75 miles an hour, but we survived. The tail winds helped us get through the interstate quickly. Tail winds are also a rare luxury for us and we like to take advantage of them when we can. One of the highlights of the say was going 25 mph up a hill.
It was bitter sweet to leave Colorado today. It definitely lived up to its name “Colorful Colorado”. The best word to describe the past week in Colorado is MAJESTIC! It’s sad to leave such a beautiful state, but exciting to finally get to Utah! Utah’s state sign read “Life Elevated”. Only 3 states to go!
I am always amazed as to how quickly the scenery changes from one state to the other. At around mile 70 we began to bike alongside the Colorado River (in Utah). Surrounding the river were 30-story-high mesas (flat top mountains) that are difficult to describe. The contrast between the clay red of the mesas, the deep blue sky and the greenish-blue river was spectacular. I felt like we were riding through a story book. The only down side to today was the heat: after lunch the temperature quickly shot up to close to 100 degrees. The one thing that kept me going was Chris’ narration of Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows (book 7). His dialogue was right on point, although his British accent began to sound more and more like a mix between a Scottish, Irish and Swedish accent. He kept it going for about 90 out of the 100 miles… I was on the edge of my saddle with suspense.
The heat started to get to us, so Meghan, Kieran, Dan and I decided to take a little swim in the Colorado River. We only had 5 miles left in the day but it was completely worth it. It was a great way to cool off and really experience the beauty of Moab.
We were able to dry off quickly with the heat and we finally we rolled into Moab. It’s always great to walk into an air conditioned church after a long day, especially when the congregation greets us with ice cold pink lemonade (my favorite). Dinner was fantastic! We had Navajo tacos with beans, beef and an assortment of toppings. I’m familiar with regular tacos held together by a tortilla, but these were held together by fried bread. I don’t want to admit it… but I have to say that fried bread is definitely tastier than a tortilla. It was great to talk to all the community members. They were all so excited to have us here for two days. We are all ready for a day off here. We have plans to sleep in, shop around for bike gear and explore the beautiful Arch’s National Park.
- Adali
It was 4:00am, the birds weren’t chirping, the sun wasn’t shining but our cell phone alarms sure were blasting. Today was our earliest wake up yet, but for good reason. We had a 100 mile day ahead of us with an expected high of 94 degrees! Welcome to the DESERT 4k!!!! To make matters worse, we stayed on actual beds in Grand Junction! Mattresses are rare but wonderful commodities on the 4k. Leaving the comfort of a mattress is a struggle. But of course we all woke up and went on with our regular morning routine. For breakfast we had about 100 bagels to choose from thanks to the generosity of Grand Junction’s own Main Street Bagels. The sun was barely peaking over the horizon as we dedicated our ride at our morning circle.
The first 20 miles of the ride were a bit terrifying. Apparently it’s NOT illegal for cyclist to ride on the I-70 in Colorado or Utah. This is the first time we intentionally ride on an interstate… key word: intentionally! It was difficult to get used to cars and trucks speeding past us at 75 miles an hour, but we survived. The tail winds helped us get through the interstate quickly. Tail winds are also a rare luxury for us and we like to take advantage of them when we can. One of the highlights of the say was going 25 mph up a hill.
It was bitter sweet to leave Colorado today. It definitely lived up to its name “Colorful Colorado”. The best word to describe the past week in Colorado is MAJESTIC! It’s sad to leave such a beautiful state, but exciting to finally get to Utah! Utah’s state sign read “Life Elevated”. Only 3 states to go!
I am always amazed as to how quickly the scenery changes from one state to the other. At around mile 70 we began to bike alongside the Colorado River (in Utah). Surrounding the river were 30-story-high mesas (flat top mountains) that are difficult to describe. The contrast between the clay red of the mesas, the deep blue sky and the greenish-blue river was spectacular. I felt like we were riding through a story book. The only down side to today was the heat: after lunch the temperature quickly shot up to close to 100 degrees. The one thing that kept me going was Chris’ narration of Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows (book 7). His dialogue was right on point, although his British accent began to sound more and more like a mix between a Scottish, Irish and Swedish accent. He kept it going for about 90 out of the 100 miles… I was on the edge of my saddle with suspense.
The heat started to get to us, so Meghan, Kieran, Dan and I decided to take a little swim in the Colorado River. We only had 5 miles left in the day but it was completely worth it. It was a great way to cool off and really experience the beauty of Moab.
We were able to dry off quickly with the heat and we finally we rolled into Moab. It’s always great to walk into an air conditioned church after a long day, especially when the congregation greets us with ice cold pink lemonade (my favorite). Dinner was fantastic! We had Navajo tacos with beans, beef and an assortment of toppings. I’m familiar with regular tacos held together by a tortilla, but these were held together by fried bread. I don’t want to admit it… but I have to say that fried bread is definitely tastier than a tortilla. It was great to talk to all the community members. They were all so excited to have us here for two days. We are all ready for a day off here. We have plans to sleep in, shop around for bike gear and explore the beautiful Arch’s National Park.
- Adali
Day 35: Estes Park, CO to Granby, CO
Saturday, July 3rd
The fro.
How would he fit it in his helmet? That was the question running through most of our minds as we awaited breakfast, accompanied by Dave Luongo (owner of the fro) a director from ’05 and Chris and Tom, directors from last year. It was a welcome distraction from the 22 mile climb awaiting us just a short distance away.
To describe the climb of Trail Ridge would to be to take away from the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, so prepare for the underestimation of the summer. Arriving at the toll building at the entrance to US-34/Trail Ridge Road, we were each asked to contribute $10 as we passed GO. Ascending the weaving road that would lead to a total altitude of 12,300 feet left our team breathless not only due to the thinning air and physical exertion, but also with the panoramic views that came with each clearing in the trees and lookout point along the road.
Our second day of climbing in the Rockies along Trail Ridge was less steep but longer, yielding more opportunity for photos and more views that encouraged the team to stop more often. Around 5 miles from the summit, most 4Kers pulled to the side of the road for a water stop and photo opportunity at the “4K Rock,” which remained exclusive to the 4Kers even as the Bike-and-Builders tried to approach (Thank you, Chris Louie). Unfortunately, Trail Ridge Road was unpaved, and the harsh headwinds we encountered on the end of our path up the hill nearly pushed some riders off the cliff, if not off of their bikes for a break. The icy peaks above the tree line and the sparse forested areas below that speckled the landscape provided ample reason to stop and take a breather, and left us all exuberant as we stopped for lunch at the Rocky Mountain National Park lodge.
The beautiful and speedy descent lasted several miles down the mountain and was a welcomed follow up to the miles of climbing that had preceded it. Riding toward Granby, we were exhausted but proud to be part of a team that had undertaken such an enormous challenge and succeeded…welcomed at the church by a mandatory van-cleaning session after the largest climb of our trip. Welcome to the 4K.
-Kieran Coleman
The fro.
How would he fit it in his helmet? That was the question running through most of our minds as we awaited breakfast, accompanied by Dave Luongo (owner of the fro) a director from ’05 and Chris and Tom, directors from last year. It was a welcome distraction from the 22 mile climb awaiting us just a short distance away.
To describe the climb of Trail Ridge would to be to take away from the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, so prepare for the underestimation of the summer. Arriving at the toll building at the entrance to US-34/Trail Ridge Road, we were each asked to contribute $10 as we passed GO. Ascending the weaving road that would lead to a total altitude of 12,300 feet left our team breathless not only due to the thinning air and physical exertion, but also with the panoramic views that came with each clearing in the trees and lookout point along the road.
Our second day of climbing in the Rockies along Trail Ridge was less steep but longer, yielding more opportunity for photos and more views that encouraged the team to stop more often. Around 5 miles from the summit, most 4Kers pulled to the side of the road for a water stop and photo opportunity at the “4K Rock,” which remained exclusive to the 4Kers even as the Bike-and-Builders tried to approach (Thank you, Chris Louie). Unfortunately, Trail Ridge Road was unpaved, and the harsh headwinds we encountered on the end of our path up the hill nearly pushed some riders off the cliff, if not off of their bikes for a break. The icy peaks above the tree line and the sparse forested areas below that speckled the landscape provided ample reason to stop and take a breather, and left us all exuberant as we stopped for lunch at the Rocky Mountain National Park lodge.
The beautiful and speedy descent lasted several miles down the mountain and was a welcomed follow up to the miles of climbing that had preceded it. Riding toward Granby, we were exhausted but proud to be part of a team that had undertaken such an enormous challenge and succeeded…welcomed at the church by a mandatory van-cleaning session after the largest climb of our trip. Welcome to the 4K.
-Kieran Coleman
Day 37: Kremmling, CO to Glenwood Springs, CO
Monday, July 5, 2010
After celebrating the 4th of July in Kremmling, Colorado we were awaken at 5 am to continue on our journey. At the town square’s showing of fireworks the night before, we met a fellow long distance cyclist – David. The night was getting cold, and since he normally camps out every night, we invited him to join us in the warmth of the church. At the breakfast table he shared his tale: he is singlehandedly traveling the Continental Divide (from Canada to Mexico) with just the bag on his bike and a few maps –nothing planned in advance nor food guaranteed. He made us all really think how the gig we’ve got isn’t half bad.
David and the 4K parted ways around 6:30 and we headed outside for morning circle – those on the team still sleepy were brutally awakened by the bitter cold temperature of 38 degrees that met us that morning. We decided to instead hold morning circle inside, and geared up with leg warmers and as many layers as we could and we set off into the sunrise.
Team Mucus consisted of Dana (team captain and hence the name), Erica, Andrew, Kristine and myself. We encountered what looked to be fog, but ended up being clouds considering how high up we were. We made one of our first turns and encountered the major feat of the day: a thirty-mile, hill-infested dirt road. We were all fairly warm after we reached the top of the first big climb, and surprisingly Andrew’s ThickSlick tires (which normally do not hold well to the ground) served him well on all the gravel and dirt.
Many more climbs and descents followed on this horrific road and there were even times when there were bits of pavement in between all the dirt/gravel. Fortunately for us, Kristine remembered where some of these were from last year, but while that prior knowledge kept her safe from the dangerous changes in terrain, it did not help her against the somewhat suicidal deer that ran in front of her. Luckily neither she nor the deer was harmed during the course of the day. The most memorable descent by far was the almost three mile descent between two mountains, only to see on your way down that you had to make a left turn at the bottom and climb right back up the adjacent mountain. It was after this climb that poor Dana had to leave Team Mucus for all the mucus in her lungs inhibited her ability to breathe. Kevin reassured us that the top was near, and we trekked on for a ridiculous amount of time before it became clear to us that Kevin was lying and the top was not soon at all.
When we finally reached the top, however, the descent was awesome. The majority of the rest of the day was downhill/flat, and it was truly amazing to see the transition from the tree-filled mountains turn to red rock and stone. Yet another reminder that we are definitely on our way out of the Rockies!
We moved lunch up to the 50 mile mark because the mountains were deceptively long. It was here that Terence and Amelia went for a dip in the Colorado River and Kieran “craiged” the van by backing it up into a tree. Woops!
Probably the most rewarding part of the day was the end, but not for the obvious reason of almost being done – but instead the beautiful bike path that took us along the Colorado River. (Pictures will be posted soon). It was here that I got my first flat tire, and as a result can no longer say that I’ve trekked across the country without a flat. Luckily Kristine changed my flat in record time (one that may rival Henrik’s record – this is to be determined) and we entered Glenwood Springs a little past 7pm.
Quite a long day, but a gorgeous one at that!
-Krystina Laucik
PS – For those of you who are concerned about our valiant team captain Dana – she went to the doctor and found out she has a sinus infection and is currently on antibiotics!
After celebrating the 4th of July in Kremmling, Colorado we were awaken at 5 am to continue on our journey. At the town square’s showing of fireworks the night before, we met a fellow long distance cyclist – David. The night was getting cold, and since he normally camps out every night, we invited him to join us in the warmth of the church. At the breakfast table he shared his tale: he is singlehandedly traveling the Continental Divide (from Canada to Mexico) with just the bag on his bike and a few maps –nothing planned in advance nor food guaranteed. He made us all really think how the gig we’ve got isn’t half bad.
David and the 4K parted ways around 6:30 and we headed outside for morning circle – those on the team still sleepy were brutally awakened by the bitter cold temperature of 38 degrees that met us that morning. We decided to instead hold morning circle inside, and geared up with leg warmers and as many layers as we could and we set off into the sunrise.
Team Mucus consisted of Dana (team captain and hence the name), Erica, Andrew, Kristine and myself. We encountered what looked to be fog, but ended up being clouds considering how high up we were. We made one of our first turns and encountered the major feat of the day: a thirty-mile, hill-infested dirt road. We were all fairly warm after we reached the top of the first big climb, and surprisingly Andrew’s ThickSlick tires (which normally do not hold well to the ground) served him well on all the gravel and dirt.
Many more climbs and descents followed on this horrific road and there were even times when there were bits of pavement in between all the dirt/gravel. Fortunately for us, Kristine remembered where some of these were from last year, but while that prior knowledge kept her safe from the dangerous changes in terrain, it did not help her against the somewhat suicidal deer that ran in front of her. Luckily neither she nor the deer was harmed during the course of the day. The most memorable descent by far was the almost three mile descent between two mountains, only to see on your way down that you had to make a left turn at the bottom and climb right back up the adjacent mountain. It was after this climb that poor Dana had to leave Team Mucus for all the mucus in her lungs inhibited her ability to breathe. Kevin reassured us that the top was near, and we trekked on for a ridiculous amount of time before it became clear to us that Kevin was lying and the top was not soon at all.
When we finally reached the top, however, the descent was awesome. The majority of the rest of the day was downhill/flat, and it was truly amazing to see the transition from the tree-filled mountains turn to red rock and stone. Yet another reminder that we are definitely on our way out of the Rockies!
We moved lunch up to the 50 mile mark because the mountains were deceptively long. It was here that Terence and Amelia went for a dip in the Colorado River and Kieran “craiged” the van by backing it up into a tree. Woops!
Probably the most rewarding part of the day was the end, but not for the obvious reason of almost being done – but instead the beautiful bike path that took us along the Colorado River. (Pictures will be posted soon). It was here that I got my first flat tire, and as a result can no longer say that I’ve trekked across the country without a flat. Luckily Kristine changed my flat in record time (one that may rival Henrik’s record – this is to be determined) and we entered Glenwood Springs a little past 7pm.
Quite a long day, but a gorgeous one at that!
-Krystina Laucik
PS – For those of you who are concerned about our valiant team captain Dana – she went to the doctor and found out she has a sinus infection and is currently on antibiotics!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Day 36: Grandby, Co to Kremmling, CO
Sunday, July 4rth
What better way to celebrate America‘s Independence Day than a lazy, 28-mile downhill ride into Kremmling, Colorado? We started the day by sleeping in until 6:30 am (I’m not being sarcastic) and cruised out of Grandby. Last night, we watched the fireworks in Grandby after the rodeo and several of us continued the celebration of the 4th today by wearing American “flair” on our bikes. All groups took their time getting into Kremmling by exploring what Hot Sulpher Springs had to offer and their curiously named local establishments. We rode through beautiful Byers Canyon with horses on the left and deer jumping along to the right just as a train wound around the steep canyon walls above the river; tumbleweed was blowing across Main Street, Kremmling and the only thing missing to make this a real Western was dueling cowboys.
Groups arrived early into Kremmling and more or less took it easy afterwards. Tonight everyone plans to watch the fireworks over the cliffs that hang above Kremmling. Happy 4th of July everyone!
- Kristen Schubert
What better way to celebrate America‘s Independence Day than a lazy, 28-mile downhill ride into Kremmling, Colorado? We started the day by sleeping in until 6:30 am (I’m not being sarcastic) and cruised out of Grandby. Last night, we watched the fireworks in Grandby after the rodeo and several of us continued the celebration of the 4th today by wearing American “flair” on our bikes. All groups took their time getting into Kremmling by exploring what Hot Sulpher Springs had to offer and their curiously named local establishments. We rode through beautiful Byers Canyon with horses on the left and deer jumping along to the right just as a train wound around the steep canyon walls above the river; tumbleweed was blowing across Main Street, Kremmling and the only thing missing to make this a real Western was dueling cowboys.
Groups arrived early into Kremmling and more or less took it easy afterwards. Tonight everyone plans to watch the fireworks over the cliffs that hang above Kremmling. Happy 4th of July everyone!
- Kristen Schubert
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Day 34: Boulder, CO to Estes Park, CO
Friday. July 2nd
FINALLY, The Rocky Mountains.
Longingly awaited by some, feared by others, suspiciously eyed by all during our ride into Boulder and during our day-off in this beautiful resort of liberalism in the heart of Colorado. Reinforced by two 4K alumni we left the First Baptist Church between 6.30 and 7.00, heading north. They suggested not to take Lee Hill Road, as originally planned, but to take the flatter and 5 miles longer detour around the steepest part of the mountain. All 4kers except the fearless Kristen, Amelia, Abhishek and Henrik opted for the longer route and enjoyed a rather gradual ascent. Meanwhile, the quartet was greeted by a 14% incline already after the first switchback but was compensated for their efforts with a marvelous descent. Only Abhishek got unlucky. He jammed his chain and was set back for several minutes but caught up quickly without breaking into sweat.
All riders met again on Lefthand Canyon Road on their way across the first real mountain pass of this trip. The views were fantastic, the roads predominantly in excellent condition and the weather ideal for a nice ride. The roads weren't too steep, but sometimes averaged 7-8% for a long stretch which can be tedious in high altitude. Several of us complained about the thin air, only Amelia couldn't stop babbling how nice it smells and how clean it is.
After around 18 miles we arrived at the tiny city of Ward. What was formerly a mining settlement seemed to have turned into a hiding place for the last hippies in America. But to our surprise, they were serving great espresso, which was a rare treat in the farmlands of the Midwest. From Ward, it was only another half mile to the mountain pass where we took a water stop and regrouped.
After the pass, we had another 32 miles of wonderful descents, short climbs and spectacular views. Especially overseeing the valley of Estes Park was breathtaking. This was real road-biking! Especially those that have never been in the mountains, not to mention on a bike, were amazed by the beauty of Colorado. Overall we climbed almost 2000 meters (>6500 feet) over 50 miles in around 4 hours and 30 minutes and most of us agreed that it has been the best day on this trip so far. Trail Ridge Road - we are coming!
- Henrik Bläute
FINALLY, The Rocky Mountains.
Longingly awaited by some, feared by others, suspiciously eyed by all during our ride into Boulder and during our day-off in this beautiful resort of liberalism in the heart of Colorado. Reinforced by two 4K alumni we left the First Baptist Church between 6.30 and 7.00, heading north. They suggested not to take Lee Hill Road, as originally planned, but to take the flatter and 5 miles longer detour around the steepest part of the mountain. All 4kers except the fearless Kristen, Amelia, Abhishek and Henrik opted for the longer route and enjoyed a rather gradual ascent. Meanwhile, the quartet was greeted by a 14% incline already after the first switchback but was compensated for their efforts with a marvelous descent. Only Abhishek got unlucky. He jammed his chain and was set back for several minutes but caught up quickly without breaking into sweat.
All riders met again on Lefthand Canyon Road on their way across the first real mountain pass of this trip. The views were fantastic, the roads predominantly in excellent condition and the weather ideal for a nice ride. The roads weren't too steep, but sometimes averaged 7-8% for a long stretch which can be tedious in high altitude. Several of us complained about the thin air, only Amelia couldn't stop babbling how nice it smells and how clean it is.
After around 18 miles we arrived at the tiny city of Ward. What was formerly a mining settlement seemed to have turned into a hiding place for the last hippies in America. But to our surprise, they were serving great espresso, which was a rare treat in the farmlands of the Midwest. From Ward, it was only another half mile to the mountain pass where we took a water stop and regrouped.
After the pass, we had another 32 miles of wonderful descents, short climbs and spectacular views. Especially overseeing the valley of Estes Park was breathtaking. This was real road-biking! Especially those that have never been in the mountains, not to mention on a bike, were amazed by the beauty of Colorado. Overall we climbed almost 2000 meters (>6500 feet) over 50 miles in around 4 hours and 30 minutes and most of us agreed that it has been the best day on this trip so far. Trail Ridge Road - we are coming!
- Henrik Bläute
Mail Drops for the Third Leg
Wed July 14:
c/o SUU Housing
351 W. University Blvd
Cedar City, UT 84720
Attn: Lee Chamberlain
Tues July 20:
Austin Baptist Church
P.O. Box 183
Austin, NV 89310
Sun July 25
Episcopal Church of St. Anne
1020 W. Lincoln Road
Stockton, CA 95207
c/o SUU Housing
351 W. University Blvd
Cedar City, UT 84720
Attn: Lee Chamberlain
Tues July 20:
Austin Baptist Church
P.O. Box 183
Austin, NV 89310
Sun July 25
Episcopal Church of St. Anne
1020 W. Lincoln Road
Stockton, CA 95207
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