Correction. Yesterday we were in Mount Ayr, Iowa...

...and today we are in Centerville, Iowa. The ride today seemed very long although it was only 75(ish) miles. I can't believe I am saying "only 75 miles" but it has truly come to that. In fact, we've grown to consider days under 60 miles as rest and recovery days! The ride consisted of gently rolling hills, one after the other, for the duration of the ride. I actually enjoy Iowa's hills over the flatness of Nebraska. The hills have a way of breaking up the monotony and give me little goals throughout the day.
My hand is bruised nicely but healing quick and save for the pounding its receiving from the bumpy roads, tomorrow I should be close to 100%.
We ride to Fort Madison tomorrow and then receive another day off. After our eight day trek, two days off within in a seven day stretch feels like spring break. I'm not quite sure what is in Fort Madison but as i said in the past, if it has a bike shop and a cafe, we're happy!

Ayr, Iowa

Words can describe the hospitality, patriotism, and over all kindness of the folks from the midwest. The people of Ayr invited us to a wonderful dinner at the American Legion. They went out of their way to ensure that we were well fed and taken care of. Every few miles we were greeted by supporters waving flags and cheering us on. It seems the word has gotten out that we are coming!
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What a day!!!

Here are the damages: bruised glute, strained back, and sprained right hand. That is great news considering there are no breaks! My bike seat took the brunt as the bike flipped with my feet attached.
Shenandoah, Iowa is yet another town which has utterly surprised me with the level of patriotism, gratitude, and support for our team. The town folks bought every room in the local hotel for us (The Shenandoah Inn), cooked us a great meal, and even invited us to a free movie in the town theater.
This trip will never cease to amaze me. Now, time for bed to recover from my injuries.
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Xrays

Xrays of wrist and spine... Might have busted my hand! Let's hope not because I still have 2,000 miles to go!
Oh, my bike seems fine!
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Woops!

Well... I wiped out... Hard! At ER... Will update!
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Day off in Lincoln with my sweetie!

We had a great day in Lincoln! Lots of good food, good coffee, good ice cream, and good company! We ate breakfast with Sen. Ben Nelson and that was fun.
We head out tomorrow to Iowa and will hopefully be accompanied by some winds out of the west. I can't believe there is only 4 weeks left. This trip has been amazing and I can't believe we're more than 1/2 way there.
I'll report from Iowa tomorrow.
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Fat Tire Bicycle

Okay, so Cara and I were wandering the streets of Lincoln, NE and checking out the town when we saw The Mill coffee shop which was recommended to us by a State Farm agent. We went in and had some coffee when I noticed a 'for sale' flier and a picture of a Fat Tire bicycle... THE Fat Tire bike made famous by the popular micro-brew beer of the same name. At first I shrugged it off, then I found out through some cell-phone-googling that the only way to get your hands on one of these gems is to work for the company or win it during one of Fat Tire's raffles. Well... after a few moments of consideration, I contacted the seller, saw the bike in person, and bought it!
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I actually ate ice cream made in this... I'd rather just enjoy and not think of it's origins!

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Corn... Corn... Everywhere Corn!!!

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Arrived in Aurora, NE

We are staying at a FFA (future farmers of America) leadership center. It is like a hotel but has a bunch of conference rooms for group meetings and stuff. Tomorrow we get into Lincoln and I get to see Cara! We're getting a rental car and checking out the town. It will be a nice reward after an eight day push!
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Wray, CO to McCook, NE to Holdrege, NE

I completely forgot to update my blog yesterday! I did add the photo of the old WWII T-6 Texan that kept us company on the long and boring stretch of midwest roads.
The wind seems to be our number one nemesis! Every push with our legs seems to be matched with an equally and somewhat morally crushing counter-active burst of momentum destroying wind. I have found nothing seems to defeat it; not screaming, cursing, or crouching into the smallest possible profile to streamline your body into an aerodynamic form... not unlike a standing fetal position (which has a sort of ironic match to our mental state at this time).
8 days was a BAD idea. Although we are motivated to press on, our bodies are greeting us in the morning with adamant protest! Every point of contact with the bike is sore and my bike is groaning with pleas of ''oil me!"
Press on! I'll update when we reach Holdrege!
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We had a visitor on our ride today!!!

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Wray, CO

We had a hard day of riding and we are all beat. We rode 88 miles with a head wind and that can take a lot out of you. We are due for a major tail wind at some point!
We are 3 days into our 8 day marathon push. Just 5 more days and we arrive in Lincoln, Nebraska for a day off and a visit by Cara!
I didn't have any good pictures today so I took one of my new beard!
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We are definitely out of the Rockies!

Take a look at these two pictures and you will have an idea of our view for the next few weeks! At least it is relatively flat and our trend is down hill. Yesterday was great, save for the head-wind. The police and local State Farm group treated us like kings!!!! Thanks to all!!!
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ABC News 7

I was live on ABC 7 in Denver this morning. As always I had a great time! I actually said "batmobile" at some point! WHAT?
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We're being introduced at the Rockies game!

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8 Day Marathon!

Today we begin our eight straight days of riding. The reward at the end is a visit from my wife and a day off in Lincoln Nebraska. Nebraska marks part II of our trip, the midwest and a new time zone. Geographically, we'll be making real progress.
Off we go to the Air Force Academy, then to Denver!
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Team USA wrestling room! I sneaked in... Shhh!

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These guys hooked us up! Visit them if you ever get to Moab, UT.

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Brian's sweet tattoo!

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Rest, whenever we get the chance!

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Close... It was the thought that counts!

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My roommate Scott

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Which one is Chad and which is the wooden statue? Look close!

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Chief making his documentary

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Flag Day/Army B-Day Ceremony. What a crowd!!!

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Olympic Training Facility

The OTC was an amazing visit! What a place! It is truly motivating to visit the facility which trains the best athletes in the world!
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USA... USA... USA!!!

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Riding behind Stu

We arrived in Colorado Springs this afternoon around 4:00 pm local time. We were greeted at Fort Carson by (what seemed like) thousands of troops! We were hosed down by an arch of icy water complements of the base fire department. Not a bad touch considering the 90+ temps.
We have a day off tomorrow and I can't wait to sleep in, although we're pretty much programmed to wake at 5:00 am. We're heading to the Olympic Training Center for a tour of the facilities. I can't wait to check it out and hope I can get a chance to take some shots on the heavy bag.
Friday night we're being introduced onto the field at the Colorado Rockies game! Are you kidding?! Being on a major league field during a game has to be every American kid's dream. I'll be sure to post pictures.
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Our highest climb!

Today's ride was a challenge. The temperature this morning was around 35 degrees and the chill made it hard to warm the muscles. We climbed around 11,500 feet today over the continental divide. The funny thing is, I'm not sure what the divide is! I think it has something to do with the flow of rivers. The toughest part of the climb was the lack of oxygen at the high altitudes. I was gulping for air with every push of my legs, looking like a fish out of water!
The ride was about 40 miles up hill, followed by 25 miles down hill. The down hill was well worth the climb! We also figured out that since this was the highest point of our trip... the rest is down hill to Virginia!
The Elks club of Salida hosted a lasagna dinner for us at the hotel. They were so friendly and hospitable. I am blown away by the reception some of these towns are giving us. It makes us realize how much they support us!!!
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Gunnison to Salida

We rode into Gunnison yesterday to a town celebration of Flag Day and the Army's birthday. We were all a bit tired but appreciated the hospitality. I was so tired when we arrived at the hotel, I fell asleep before I could update the blog.
Today we head out to Salida, CO. Our trip today will take us to our highest elevation (around 12,000 I think) and across the continental divide. I am currently trying to summon the will to get me over today's climb. I woke up this morning sore from the waist down. My calf muscles are burning and feel as tight as piano wire! I keep telling myself that after 60 or so miles today and 100 or so tomorrow, we arrive in Colorado Springs, a day of rest, and sports massages!
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Montrose, CO

Our first taste of the Rockies was great! We managed to stay away from rain and arrived at the hotel before any thunderstorms could ruin our day. The climbs were pretty easy so far but I don't know if that is because we are becoming better conditioned or if the good conversation I was having during the climb distracted me enough.
I have seen more wildlife in the last few days than we have in the first 2 weeks. Today along the foothills of the rockies we were greeted by prarie dogs, elk, cows in the road, and (the highlight) a brown bear!
Tomorrow we head out again, bright an early. It is nice to have a change of scenery and the Rockie Mountain backdrop has the power to ease the pain of a hard climb.
I was interviewed a few days ago for the Montrose Daily Post and here is the link if you want to read it:
http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2010/06/13/news/doc4c13f72a7a24b592684411.txt

Lunch in the trailer in the shadow of the Rockies

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Starting the Rockies... This one's for Todd

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A Long Day

Hmmm... How can describe today without sounding too negative? Have you ever had one of those dreams where you can only move in slow motion? You might be running away from something or trying to reach something but the harder you try to move, the slower you seem to move! That is exactly how today went. We left Moab bright and early in a cold drizzle. That drizzle turned to rain and as we approached the 36 mile climb out of town we were greeted with a stiff head wind! Although, the wind didn't just feel like a nuisance, it felt more like a personal attack against our 3000 foot climb. It seemed the harder we pushed, the harder the wind would push back! The higher we climbed, the colder the wind felt. If you turned your head and leaned to the right, it would try and knock you over but changing directions and blowing from the left. After lunch, the flat tire fairy came and visited many of us (a few got more than one visit). And we even sent a rider to the hospital for some stitches. (Don't panic... He's fine, I wrapped his finger myself!)
Finally, in the end, most of us arrived in Naturita, CO in one piece... just a little hypothermic, hungry, tired, and cranky. I for one, will be hitting the hay early and will sleep well knowing tomorrow couldn't possibly be worse!
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Uranium Bicycles Moab, UT

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Todd Brunkhorst

I am dedicating my upcoming climb over the Rockies to my friend and former squadron-mate Captain Todd Brunkhorst. He passed away earlier this year after a hard fought battle with cancer and is missed very much by those who knew him. After talking to his wife, Maryanna, also a former squadron-mate, I decided to take on this leg of the ride in his memory. Once a Blackcat, Always a Blackcat!
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Moab

Welcome to the land of outdoor sports. It seems this town was built around mountain biking and rock climbing. I'll be happy if I can find a good coffee shop!
Today was a day of eating, biking, eating, napping, eating a lot more, then blogging! I can't believe how much I want to sleep on my days off. I guess the constant abuse our bodies are taking on these long rides is not normal! My toes are constantly numb but my legs feel stronger than ever.
Cara has been great through this whole thing! She has been my number one supporter. When I get up early and my legs feel like jello, I know the day's ride will bring me a few more miles closer to home.
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Double Century; 100 miles/100 degrees!

The miles today weren't as bad as the temperature! We had a nice tail wind and cruised an average of 18-20 mph. A few times my body and my will to finish were in disagreement. Luckily, my will prevailed. I haven't seen some of the hand cyclists and recumbent bikers yet. I can only imagine how hard they worked today.
The photos below are of an old school house in the middle of a canyon. It couldn't have been more than 15x20 feet, held 26 kids and served as the Saturday night meeting hall.
Tomorrow we head into Moab. I've heard a lot about the town and can't wait to visit. As for now, rest, eat, sleep...
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Taking a break

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Inside (shot through a window)

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An old school house from the 1800's

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Just climbed out of that valley

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Ridge line road

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Torrey, UT

We arrived in Torrey around 12:45 and made a beeline straight for a sandwich shop we saw at the end of the route! We passed through a small canyon and climbed a really steep grade out. The route took us along a steep ridge-line-road with cliffs along each boarder. There were no guard rails and a slip during a fast turn would have spelled disaster. So far, most of us have made it in!
We then churned our way up our final hurdle of the day, a 9,600 foot summit. This giant rock stood between us and lunch, so we put our heads down and tackled it one crank at a time!
I'm pretty beat and need rest for tomorrow's 105 mile dash. First I have to head to a cookout put on by the folks of Torrey. Pics to come!

Waiting to Ride to Torrey, UT

A bit of a delay for a 5:30 am launch! My watch is slowly ticking past 6:00 am and farther and farther from my 4:30 wake up. Our well oiled machine needs some grease every now and then!
We are heading 65 miles today with 5,000 feet of climbing. The roads are very dangerous and caution is the word of the day!

Escalente, UT

We had our shortest ride yet, a whopping 38.5 miles! I am counting this as another rest day. Tomorrow we have a 60 + mile trip with some killer climbs, so today is a good day to get prepared for that. We follow up the day of climbing with a 105 mile ride. This will be our third century ride out of six, so we're showing progress. I have my eyes set on Colorado. I've never been there and I heard it's nice.
Utah has surprised me as far as it's beauty. If you enjoy hiking and camping, I'd recommend it.
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The State Farm guys are always there for us!!!

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Cliffs of Utah

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Cliffs of Utah

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Bryce Canyon Hike

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Only a few miles from the desert and we have this:

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Some Red Cliffs in Bryce Canyon

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Utah

We just arrived in Tropic, Utah. Don't try and find it on a map! The ride was fantastic. The mountains out of Cedar City were snow capped and covered with evergreens. It was a nice break from the desert. We then headed through Bryce Canyon which is very pretty. My only complaint about Utah is the roads! They aren't compatible with road bikes going over 40 mph. The bumps rattled our bones and knocked a few screws loose on our bikes. We have the day off tomorrow and I'm not sure what to do in this town. I might just use it to recover.
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Cedar City, Utah

We reached a few milestones today. First, we reached Utah and second, we moved ahead to mountain time zone! In a few days we should be nearing 1,000 miles.
The folks of Cedar City were fantastic. They had a program for us at the local memorial park and brought dinner to our hotel. The people we have been meeting have made this trip unforgettable!
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My two best friends that I miss more than anything!

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Mule Foot or Hoof or something Ridge. The photo doesn't do it justice!

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Windy Windy Day

120 miles into the wind... OUCH! I am beat. This is how it felt: peddle peddle peddle... S L O W... peddle peddle peddle... S L O W... At one point we were heading down a huge hill and I had to peddle as if it were a steep incline. We're spending the night in Caliente, NV then head to ... somewhere? I don't have the itinerary in front of me. Unfortunately, I have only one picture to post of a beautiful ridge line called Mule Foot or something like that. The rest of the scenery has remained unchanged since entering NV. Can't wait for Utah and a time change!

Ely Cookout (L to R, Jerry, Allen, Bruce, and Stuart)

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Scott and Brian

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State Farm Cookout in Ely

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Riders

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Long Lonely Road

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Busy Day Off!

I tried to sleep in but couldn't. Once again, the people of this community are treating us so well! They planned a ride on an antique train, a cookout, and hired massage therapists for us! Unfortunately, after this past week of abuse, I feel like laying in bed recovering. I'm going to try and go to everything since they went out of their way to plan the day.
Below are some pictures taken by Van (one of the riders). They are better than my blackberry pictures!

Me

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Robin Williams on the Ride in CA

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High Fives

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