PKU Cycle America 2008

OK, so you want to know about the wind.  Read yesterday’s post.  It was the same today and will be the same tomorrow.  One good thing about the wind, it cools us off.  Otherwise we would slowly cook as the day goes on as the days are in the upper 80’s and lower 90’s, as it was today.

We started today with a 30 mile stretch on a lonely road as saw only a handfull of cars during the morning.  Part of this serene setting was a huge wildlife refuge with several salt marshes.  As it turns out there is a significant rock salt mine in the area in Hutchinson, KN.  One can be transported 650 ft down into the mine.  Randy Pace and I visited Hutchinson a few years ago to play Prairie Dunes golf club as part of our Top 100 quest.  LIttle did we know we were playing over a huge inland rock salt mine.

This area is populated by a large number of Mennonites who migrated here in the late 1800’s from the steppes of Russia.  We wondered why we didn’t see anyone working today and realized it is Sunday and they don’t work on Sunday.  The farms are very successful with a mixture of cattle for feed lots and milk cows.  Plus soybeans and corn for crops.

This was another big mileage day as we are trying to stay on schedule and anticipate we will lose a day or more once Gustav hits and penetrates into Kansas and Missouri.  We were in the saddle 6 hrs and 13 mins today and climbed 710 ft.  Pretty flat with some rolling hills.

Ok, now I know why Tom Watson is such a good golfer when the wind is up.   We jumped on the bikes at 8:30 and at 9:00 the south wind picked up to 15 -20 mph.  Since we were headed East this was a cross wind initially.  But we turned South for 20 miles in the middle of the day and that was a long 20 miles since we had to climb three hills too.  And it is supposed to be more windy tomorrow.  OK Slater, I am whining!!

We also noted the first day of humidity since Oregon.  As it turns out this part of Kansas is at 2,000 ft elevation and at least 1,500 ft below the high plains.  This allows the weather from the Gulf to work its way into this area.  This area has twice the rain fall of the high plains and it shows with lots of trees and the bridges have water running under them here.  This climate change contributes to the higher humidity.

We stopped twice to explore local historic sites.  Fort Larned is an intact 1850’s fort used to provide protection to those traveling on the Santa Fe Trail.  We also stopped at the Santa Fe Trail Museum.  As it turns out the Santa Fe Trail was used for trade from the Missouri River to Mexican products in what was then Mexican territory in the current state of New Mexico.  This trade was very lucrative to all concerned and merited the protection of the US Infrantry. The use of the trail ceased when the railroad came through in the 1880’s.

Can anyone identiry the major milestone we will be celebrating tonight?

We were in the saddle for 6 hrs and 13 mins and climbed 630 ft.  The weather was clear with persistent winds and temps in the low 90’s.

We were so pleased when the wind was milder today although on our noses all day.  The wind built during the day to 10 - 15 mph.  As we move further into Kansas the flatness turns into rolling countryside.  Each huge farm and each town on the route has a tall set of silos for storing grain.  The farm machinery is huge too and when on the road with us we have to squeeze off the shoulder.  We did notice that most nice farm houses were surrounded by trees to cut down on the wind factor. 

Met a young cyclist on the road today - going with the wind, he was happy.  Justin is headed from Chicago to San Francisco to find work.  We see several cyclists going the other way each day.

We were in the saddle for 6 hrs 10 mins and climbed 300 ft.  The weather was partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 80″s and persistent wind on our noses.

As I opened my Econo Lodge room door yesterday morning the dust was whipping across the parking lot.  It was our first day in the high plains (3,000 ft elevation) and we were wondering what the wind would be like.  We found out.  The wind was 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph and cross our path the first part of the day.  There is nothing to stop the wind in Kansas, it is so flat.  I cycled 20 miles and then Tod cycled the next 40 miles.  When the wind direction shifted to on our noses, I cycled the last 20 miles.  Gusting cross winds are dangerous while winds on our noses is not dangerous just slows us down and longer time in the saddle.  Jim, nickname Road Warrior, cycled all the miles.

We had a couple of milestone events during the day.  We crossed into Kansas and we entered the Central time zone.  The scenery was mixed with grain crops and cattle feed lots.  These are huge farms covering the plains.

I want to thank the Kansas sponsors for their support of PKU research.  Bryce and Kathi Blair have a son who attended college in Kansas.  Bryce is the Chairman and CEO of AvalonBay.  We worked together for 17 years before my retirement.   The Los Cabos Children’s Foundation is the brain child of Tom Walsh,  a great friend from Cabo.  The Foundation supports childrens’ issues.

We were in the saddle for 6 hrs 45 mins and climbed 1,050 ft.  The weather was partly cloudy  with temps in the mid-eighties and with fierce winds

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Our first day on the plains and we were met with a persistent wind that kept us working hard all day.  But the scenery was interesting for the plains lay before us for miles in every direction.  Sometimes the farms had irrigation and crops like corn, beets and beans were being grown.  Some farms raised cattle who were spread out on hundreds of acres to get enough to eat.  Other farms without irrigation grow winter wheat where the snow will provide the moisture to grow the wheat which is planted in September and harvested in June.

Every small town we encountered had a 100 ft silo group which we could see as far as 8 miles away.  Each town is promising for meeting locals and stopping for hydration and food.  But having flat land and seeing the silos so far away was frustrating since at our speed it took over a half hour to actually arrive.

We were in the saddle for 5 hrs 3 mins today and climbed 500 ft.  Even flat land has some roll to it.  The weather was clear and temp in the high 80’s.

Tomorrow we exit Colorado and enter Kansas.

Many thanks for all the comments.  We read them all and they provide motivation to get back on the bike each morning.  Keep them coming.

We visited the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park first thing this morning.  It is an amazing feat, building the world’s highest suspension bridge in 1929 over 1,000 ft above the Arkansas River.  This is the biggest attraction in this part of CO.

Then we headed east toward Pueblo.  A few climbs and more descents and we were out of the mountains and into the plains.  This change after 22 days of mountains and climbing is due but not exactly welcome.  We enjoyed spectacular scenery and great accomplishments as we climbed famous passes.  Plus the opportunity to visit Jim’s ranch and our home in Vail made it seem like we were home for a bit instead of some cheap motel.

The plains are flat and easy to negotiate as long as the wind is not in our face.  Although we didn’t get on the road until 10am this morning, we covered 86 miles.  If the weather holds up we should make good time through Kansas.  We noticed many derelict farms along the way.  It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to operate.  Most are for sale.

Also the photos will suffer for a while.  But we are getting close to half way across the US.

We were in the saddle for 5 hr 33 mins and climbed 1,730 ft.  The weather was clear and temp after lunch was 96 degrees.

After another lovely breakfast prepared by Ginny for the team and our house guests, Terry and Kathleen Golden, we headed for Breckenridge.  Terry asked if  they could sponsor a state but they have all been sponsored.   So we decided they could sponsor the following:  Butt Butter, Biting Black Fly Repellant, Pit Bull Pepper Spray and Antibiotic Wipes used when we change from biking shorts at the end of the ride each day.  What a wonderful expression of support for our ride.

We were joined today by George Vail.  George is a strong cyclist.  We started the day with a ten mile climb to Hoosier Pass at 11, 540 ft, the highest pass of the whole ride.  This pass was extra meaningful to George since he is from Indiana.  This pass is also another crossing of the Continental Divide - our fifth crossing.  Then we headed south for 86 more miles and descended 6,000 ft to Canon City.  This was a day with a lot of variety including,  the highest pass, the long descent, wide open plains with huge ranches, then remote sections of derelict smaller farms encroaching on the road and set in the hills framing the road. 

After lunch the weather became a focus and dark clouds surrounded us.  But we were headed toward the only patch of blue all afternoon and just missed the rain.  As George stated it, “we threaded the needle”.

Tomorrow we clear the mountains and head into the plains.  I believe we are ready for the change.  We’re going to start the day tomorrow by touring the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.  It looks awesome.  Can anyone tell us how many feet above the river the bridge was built and what year it was built?

We were in the saddle for 5 hrs 50 mins and climbed 3,500 ft today.

We had a full field of guest riders today.  Paul Reinarz, Jeb, Tom and Jane Healy all joined us on one of the prettiest rides so far.  We were in alpine country and rode past two long and very active and scenic lakes - Green Mountain Lake and Lake Dillon.  Some of the scenery with lovely chalets in the foreground and mountains rising far above the valley reminded us of some lovely European valleys.  After lunch in Breckenridge we headed to Vail to sleep at my home.  Ginny cooked up another delicious and nutritious meal and we were joined by our great buddies Terry and Kathleen Golden. 

We were in the saddle for 4 hrs today and climbed 2,300 ft. 

Tomorrow we tackle Hoosier Pass the highest pass on the whole trip.  We gain 2,000 feet in eight miles and then we descend 6,000 ft over the next eighty miles.  We expect other guest riders including George Vail (who biked across the US with Bill Rahe three years ago for PKU) and Tom and Jane Healy.

Well done Dara.  Yes, a mudpuppy is a salamander and not a fish.  It even had two feet.  Not a very edible catch.

We started the day with a five mile climb to Willow Creek Pass at 9,700 feet.  Then we had a long down grade run against the wind to Kremmling.  Since we are in Colorado mountains we are starting to see more weather we have to plan around than before.  We are in alpine zones now and sadly 90% of the pines have succumbed to the pine beetle.  This is a huge forest fire ready to happen.

We were impressed by a most unusual rock formation today.  A photo of it will be posted today.  So, the question for the day is “What is one probable cause of this unusual rock formation?”

I want to thank the Colorado state sponsors.  Papa and Sassy are Tia’s fraternal grandparents - Bob and Kathy Piziali from Redwood Shores, CA.  Mack Nichols is from the Vail Valley and is a wonderful supporter of many worthy causes.  Mack just finished a term as the Chairman of Habitat for Eagle and Lake Counties.  Thanks to both families for your support and encouragement.

Jeb cycled today with us.  We want to thank Kristin and Dylan for loaning Jeb to us for the past four days.

Tomorrow we enjoy the company of other guest riders.  Paul Reinarz worked with Alison in Vail over a decade ago and has taken it upon his self to promote the PKU cause with all the old employees of Eagle River Interactive.  Tom and Jane Healy will join us as well.  They are great personal friends from Vail.

Today we were in the saddle for 3 hrs 45 minutes. climbing 1,960 ft.  The weather was good but adverse winds.  We dodged a thunderstorm using Jim’s laptop and tracking weather cells in our local area.