Singletree Campground

59.5 miles. I know the rides are technically more challenging but I
feel like I reached a new level. Things feel easier.

Hanksville, UT

Went 74.8 miles today and caught up with Chris. We are camping in
Hanksville, UT. Also spending the night is this dude that's been
riding around the desert for a month now. He's a fun guy with some
good stories. I aspire to be like him when I grow up.

Planet Utah

It is so strange out here. Around every bend I want to stop to take
pictures.

This Didn't Happen

This part is completely fictional.

A few days ago these guys told us about closed motel. They explained
how one could enter and that they enjoyed a night there.

So yesterday 52.7 miles into the middle of nowhere we found it. Chris
decided to push on (we'll most likely meet up again) but I spent the
night.

New Planet

Utah is unlike anything I've ever seen.

Cheese and Raisins

73 miles to Blanding, UT. Getting very dry. Drinking a ton more water.

The photo is of some lake along the way that they must be using BLUE#4
on or something.

Camping tonight at a RV park. Tommorows ride has nothing at all as far
as civilization for 75 miles.

Utah Yeah

Next state.

The Great Outdoors

69.6 miles today over some pretty good climbs. Camping just outside of
Dolores, CO. Rough place to camp, I ripped my tent a little. And the
holes are wearing out bigger. I think this will be the first and last
journey for my lil tent.

Thanks Mary

Last night was great. Huge thanks to Mary for letting us stay and
using her kitchen. You have an amazing view. It was nice hanging out
with you and Rob.

If that wasn't enough to make Telluride awesome, her neighbor gave us
two huge trays of rice and beans.

Made up for getting my first flat since Richmond.

Telluride, CO

53 miles. This is a cool place. Chris and me are staying with someone
here in town who offered us their livingroom, cause the city park
which normally allows camping was being used for a jazz festival.

Lame photo.

Ridgeway State Park, CO

Still riding along with Chris. 68.9 miles to a state park. 14 dollar
camp fee cut in half. Shower.

Blue Mesa Reserve

62.7 miles today. And this is the view from the picnic shelter we are
staying at tonight.

Highest Spot

Went over Continental Divide at Monarch Pass this morning. At 11,312
feet it'll be the highest point of the entire trip.

Freezing cold. Fun going down.

Chris

That's Chris, he's from Hamburg, Germany. We are both going to San
Fransisco.

Nice Place

I have a feeling this place takes in a lot more than 50 bucks a room
during ski season. Indoor pool and hot tub overlooking the mountains.

Only four guests tonight, very The Shining.

Snowing

Today I only made it 19.7 miles. Heading up to Monarch Pass I had to
pull over cause of snow. I ran into another guy riding, who was also
waiting on the snow. We ended up spliting a $50 motel about 2000 ft
from the top.

Walmart

All the campgrounds around wanted 19 bucks and up for me to tent.
Salida like most places has a Walmart and I've heard of them letting
people sleep in their cars in the parking lot.

Couldn't hurt to ask and Regina at customer service gave me the thumbs
up.

Salida, CO

56.3 miles of an amazing ride to Salida, CO. The whole day was through
a tight vally along the Arkansas River, with mountains on either side
of me.

Good ride.

Really Long Ways Down

None of the photos I took really explain how high up it felt on that
thing.

Royal Gorge

1053ft. Straight down.

Canon City, CO

It really is amazing out here. 60 miles today to Canon City, CO. I'm 2
miles from Royal Gorge so first thing in the morning I bike across the
worlds highest suspension bridge, which I've been looking forward to
since before I left.

Camping free. In some state park. Thinking I might sleep out on a
picnic table. The ground is all rocks.

Busted Blog

For whatever reason posts from my phone stoped working. Hopefully it fixes itself, like it did last time. Which only lasted a few hours. As of the past 2 days I can only make text posts from my phone or find a computer.

From blogspot's help forum it seems other people are having the same problem. I should be pedaling instead of doing this.

And I was just thinking how well blogspot was working, oh well.

Warmshowers.org

First day back on the road went great. 65.7 miles from Denver to Colorado Springs.

For the first time I'm taking advantage of a warmshowers.org, which is
a network of people sharing places to stay. I found Warren on there
and thanks to him I enjoyed a shower, great dinner, great company and
soon to enjoy a bed.

Thanks Warren!

Sure Gonna Miss Them

Tough to leave another home. Thanks again guys, hopefully I'll see you
again soon.

Mile High City

Time to hit the ol' dusty trail. I've had a amazing time out here in
Denver with my sister, brother in law and niece. I like it out here
more and more everytime I visit.

But I still have a ways to go, so it's back on the road in the morning.

Rockies

We went up into the mountains the other day. I'm anxious to bike it. I
plan on getting back on the road Monday.

Bike Tweaks

I swapped out the rear wheel of my bike with my Denver ride.

Crossing Paths

By chance, a couple friends of mine from home were touring through the area, and I caught the Denver show. What are the odds?

Uncle Duck

I'm having a great time out here with the family. My niece Eden is
adorable. My sister's been trying to get her to call me Uncle Mike but
so far I'm Duck.

My Sister's

So yesterday was a pretty rough ride 84.4 miles to my sister's place
in Aurora, CO just outside Denver. I'm going to visit here a little
while and take care of some stuff. It feels good to take a break.

In the photo it's hard to tell but some of those low clouds are the
Rocky Mountains. In person it was much more intimidating.

Last Night

So I was pretty fed up with the $25.66 plus tax campground. And the
park that had baseball practice til 11. So while waiting for the
scrimage to finish I found a hotel that hooked me up for 20 even.

Should be able to make a long haul to my sister's. Like 80-90 miles.
Ugh. Ha.

Off Route

So I started heading towards my sister's in Denver earlier than I
planned. 77.2 miles face first into the wind to Limon, CO. It would
have been 4 miles more but there was a stretch of construction they
wouldn't let me through walking or riding. It would have been
unthinkable to go around and they said they ride pedestrians through.
Kinda upset to do it even if it was only 4 miles.

There is a campground here that won't bend on 25$, so I'll see what I
can do.

Not a Whole Lot Out Here

I changed my shorts on the side of the road this morning.

Fang

Such a friendly dog. She couldn't get enough lovin'!

Eads, CO

59.9 miles to Eads, CO and I'm lucky to stay with the parents of a
friend of a sibling.

Gary and Cheryl Davis were so kind and after spotting me in towm and assuming I was the brother of their daughter's friend, let me stay with them
and shared a amazing dinner. Their dog Fang was too much.

Colorado

By far the biggest state sign yet.

I used my timer for that shot.

Not In Kansas Anymore Toto

I've been waiting to say that for so long.

Tribune, KS

46.9 miles

I ended up today at the same place as Ken and Sue from over a week
ago. The town pool here open today so I got to swim again.

It's Mountain Time

Well actually it's still flat, but at least it's the right hour.

Able to Help

These guys were stuck with two busted spokes on the hub side. The
spares I had were long enough to rig something up and get them moving.

Been running into more people riding.

Pool

So I had to wait for a kids swim class to finish before I could swim,
but then the owner told me it's against the law for me to use the pool
after every went home. I assumed this was for insurance purposes and
what he was really saying was go nuts!

What I've Noticed About Kansas

Towns form around these huge silos. Every town has one and a lot of
towns have nothing else. I was told they are farmers co-ops and a
bunch a farms work together. It is so flat and open that you can see
these things from miles away. The closest these towns ever are is
maybe 15 miles, but you can actually see from one to the next. It's
so wide open you get this strange feeling. Odd.

Atheleticlub!

On my way to find a park in Scott City, KS (56.8 miles) I found out
about this gym that let's bikers sleep on their pullout couch for 10
bucks. Plus they have an indoor pool!

Ness City, KS

65.7 miles

Towns are few and far between.

Pro Suburban Sprawl

Today was 61 miles of absolutly nothing but fields. There is plenty of
room out here for at least a couple hundred years.

More Snakes

I wish I knew which ones are friendly.

Mr. Demitt

Mr. Demitt uses a bike to collect cans off the road, and along with
his social secruity check he does alright.

I talked with Mr. Demitt over an hour. He was real smart and gave me
an inside tip of the upcoming civil unrest and other interesting
facts. On short wave he's been hearing about civilian armies. America
is the new Babylon.

Nickerson, KS

52.8 miles.

The wind is nuts.

Check out this snake.

Newton, KS

75.4 miles of suckin' wind. It's getting real desolate out here.

I just passed up a guest bedroom offer and I'm already kicking myself.
In my mind I was thinking how awkward it would have been if I showed
up with them to their parents place on Mother's Day like a stray
dog. ...yea I'm an idiot.

Happy Mother's Day!

Guilty Pleasure

64.3 miles to Eureka, KS

In my defense there is a tornado warning til 9 tonight.

Out of curiosity I wanted to see what this motel would charge me.
After whining them down to $26 no tax I gave in.

I figure I could use a shower. Plus I can make ramen with their
microwave.

Chanute, KS

45.2 miles to Chanute, KS.