AdventureCPA

It has occurred to me that I have omitted a couple stories so here they are: 1) A New Zealand gentleman about my age cycling cross country suggested I visited New Zealand because if you have an accident health care is free. (Sickness is not covered in New Zealand for visitors but accidents are fully covered.) Hmmmm. 2) One gentlemen asked if I would be staying in a homeless shelter when I get to Illinois. Which made me wonder why he thinks the homeless shelters of Illinois are so much superior to the homeless shelters of Colorado that it would be worth a bike trip across the country. 3) Along the same line, while sitting in the shade of a McDonald's restaurant drinking a large sweet tea, a guy was sitting in his car waiting in the drive-thru line. Our eyes met and he asked if I needed money. I'm afraid I laughted (not nice of me) and his response was ,"Well you are traveling and I thought might need $." He was just trying to be nice. 4) The roads of Illinois...

After the marathon of Sunday I took Monday easy and did only about 20 miles to Pere Marquette State Park. Camping was easy and Pere Marquette has a great CCC Lodge which is a smaller version of the Yellowstone and Yosemine Lodges. It was built in the 1930's with labor paid "Three Squares and a Flop." Why are we not doing that now? The first Illinois Great Rivers Ride ended at Pere Marquette State Park with a Jimmy Buffet Tribute band playing at a riverside pavillion. This week the pavillion is under 8 feet of water. Tuesday I was graced with a tailwind and did 80 miles to Beardstown, IL for motel #3. Wednesday another tailwind brought me to Macomb (the destination) about 2PM. Total of about 1,125 miles in 21 days (not counting the bus ride across Missouri.) Next adventure.....back to Denver to meet Denyse for a couple days...then on to Wisconsin.

Gridley seems like a nice place....but no morning Cafe.

This is what a River should look like.

While traveling thru Eastern Kansas I have missed a few days so will try to catch this story up. Traveling East from Gridley, KS I learned that the new tires couldn't be shipped in time to get them on Saturday...so that left me free to go North. After quite a few miles I ran into Corley (?) Kansas and decided that plan B would be to ride to Kansas City, take a bus to St. Louis and then resume riding. That puts me back on schedule for after ride activities. So a little accounting work at a couple different libraries and I ran into a bike rail/trail of about 60 miles headed to Kansas City. After 30 miles of it I spent the night in Garett, KS (Pool still open, got shower) for Thunderstorm on Night # 2. Tires still working so decided to try to get 30 miles on trail on old tire....Saturday I made it 28 miles, then walked bike last two to Ottawa, KS and a Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart had the tire and tube I needed.....rolling again. Those of you who know me well know I defend Wal-Mart voracio...

Well, stuff happens. Another warm day in Eastern Kansas....89 degrees. Last Night I slept in Park shelter in Gridley, KS. Storm with lots of wind in middle of night...then at dawn another storm with lots of wind and about 2 inches of rain. Since I could see the storm siren I figured if it blew I could hid under the heavy picnic tables. Friday I rode 20 miles, did some accounting work, rode 10 miles, finished the accounting work and am now in Colony Kansas. Previous plan to pick up new tires has been scrapped due to coming weekend and post office schedule...and realization that I will not make it to Macomb by bike in time for other stuff that is scheduled. So, new plan is to ride North to Kansas City, Mo, buy a new tire, take MegaBus to St. Louis Sunday or Monday and bike from St. Louis to Macomb. Tonight I will rotate tires as front tire is in better shape than rear tire and that should buy a few more miles. I've noted lack of Homemade pies (and Cafes other than convenience st...

By the way, earlier post of over 700 miles was in error...just too much sun. Well, After Tuesday afternoon in Hesston I continued on to Newton, KS which is a fair size city. Newton has a great city Park where I camped and showered at the new Swimming Pool. After getting everything set up a Fire Battalion Person showed up an invited me and any other bikers (there were none) to come to the firehouse for sleeping (air conditioned), internet, printing, TV, Laundry etc. I did go that evening for a little Internet work. Turns out the East to West TransAm group from Adventure Cycling was also in Newton that night...but they stayed at a motel. On Wed after Newton was the first fiasco day of the trip. Planning to pick up a client package in Madison, KS I attempted a 20 miles gravel road. After the first 5 miles I had two blown tubes. So finally getting a ride back to the pavement I determined I needed to do a 40 miles circle to get to Madison, KS. It worked out with arrival in Madison af...

After a nice Lunch in Sterling, KS I worked the additional 10 miles to Nickerson, KS. Arrived early but weather in upper 90's. Ended up camping at a decent park in Nickerson along side two 20-something guys who were traveling together as they had met on the road. Talked to an elevator employee about the wheat coming in...he said yields were pretty good. Tuesday AM had a good breakfast at cafe and TAILWIND to Hesston, where I am now. Will some continue on as cloud cover keeps temps down and don't want to waste the TAILWIND. Now about 730 miles behind me...still on schedule for 50 miles per day so must have been on road for 15 days.

I've been without librarys lately so here is a little catch up. Saturday I stopped at Elaine's Bike Hostel in Balzine, KS throughly tired of the headwind. Although not feeling well Elaine let me camp outside and join them for dinner. Nap and talk of Farming (Haying) with Elaine's husband finished the day. As a two inch storm blew in they invited me to sleep on the floor inside which is good since the storm flattened the tent. Sunday was more headwind but with an early start I managed a little over 50 miles and actually paid for a motel room in Great Bend, KS. Dinner at a great Bar-B-Que place and shopping at Wal-mart!!1 Great Bend is in a sweet spot with both agriculture and oil services booming. Sunday Night my favorite show was the weather channel predicting wind from the West on Monday....but Monday Morning came and wind was from the South. (Direction I was partly going.) But not bad. I'm now in Sterling, KS with only 15 miles to go for the day at it's onl...

Friday Night joined at City Park by Adam, college student from Rutgers who is doing 100 miles a day. Decided to be up on the road early Saturday...but wind was up early too. So now in Ness City, 30 miles down the road with plans to do another 12 or so miles today. Again this morning met a number of cyclist heading West with the nice tailwind. One group greeted me with, "Another Giezer" and the other group of 3 were 20 somethings from England. Best Radio Commercial Heard: Old Guy # 1: My Hearing isn't so good anymore. Old Guy # 2: I got a hearing aid from Midwest Hearing. I hear everything now. Old Guy # 1: Your family must be happy about that. Old Guy # 2: Nope, I haven't told them I got hearing aids. I just listen. I've changed my will three times now.

How time flies faster than my miles. Thursday I rode to Scott Center, Ks and Friday went only 30 more miles to Dighton, KS. I camped in Scott Center in city park, planned to motel it in Dighton for first time....but only single story motel wanted $49 for a cinder block room...needless to say I opted to camp in park...swimming pool is open so shower will soon be forthcoming. Wind still from the NE, waiting for a Westerly to make up some miles. Still I am at about 450 miles total which meets the goal of 50 per day. Now meeting numerous Trans-Am riders, old and young. one 20 something girl I saw today had panniers older than her....she said her Dad had used them for his bike trip in 1977. Cool. Trying to keep track of expenditures: Thursday Night Dinner at Wendy's $5.00 Groceries $10.00 Camping Free Breakfast in Scott City $4.00 (with tip) 32 Oz Coke in Dighton $.73 I plan on a nice pasta dinner tonight ...

On Tuesday I did my bad decision to continue on to Lake Sheridan, CO once I learned it had a convenience store. It turned out ok, but Tuesday night a Front came through resulting in 20-25 direct Headwinds. So I spent most of the day in Lake Sheridan old School House which is now post office and community center (complete with bowling alley) or the convenience store. This did give me the opportunity to talk to other cyclist who stopped by and locals drinking coffee. Two Cyclist are soon to be college grads who wanted to see the country.....one was a gentlemen from New Zealand (about my age) who reports traveling all over Europe by bike but wanted to see the US. Also conversation with locals, several of which attended ASC and remembered Tom Gilmore! By 4PM temps had cooled off so I worked the next 30 miles to get to Tribune, KS, still with the Headwind. Wind continued all night and now out of the North and cold. (50 degrees.) Will decide later Thursday on next move as Tribune has ...

Well, I ended day 5 with a bad decision. Instead of staying in Ordway for the night where there is a Hostel for Bikers, I decided the crosswind would not be a problem and headed out on the road about 4PM. The Crosswind was a problem and I was tired after about 10 miles. So I wild camped under a bridge that was under construction out in the middle of nowhere. Actually it worked well, out of the wind, not visible from traffic, new concrete floor. Had a nice dinner of pasta and mushroom gravy (from a packet). Tuesday Morning the wind was to my back so I made about 50 miles in 4 hours. I'm now at Eads and the wind has slowed so I think I will stay here the night, then do the next leg into Tribune, Kansas. Maps say 47 miles with no services. If Easterly winds tomorrow I may stay here until they change! Additional Costs so far: Milk Shake before leaving Ordway $3.16 Chips in Harzwell $1.00 Reading Glasses (Cant find mine) $10.20 Bill

After a great dinner and the ability to wash clothes and back yard camp in Canon City on Saturday Night I had a nice conversation with Tim and Terri Madigan. Tim is a biker who casually does 20 miles up and 20 miles back down from Canon City as often as possible. Terri is the Area Director for the Canon City end of the proposed Christo project known as "Over the River" in which they hope to put cloth over the Arkansas River between Salida and Canon City. Both are great people who even put fruit and energy bars out for my early Sunday departure. Sunday I arrived Pueblo about 9:30AM. Ate a big lunch meal at Texas Roadhouse and spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the AirConditioning at Home Depot and Barned and Noble. Then rode another 22 miles or so about 4PM to 7PM camping in Boone, CO. Camping in Boone is free but is listed as no services. Turns out the VFW was open so visited them before retiring at the city park. 32 Oz Ice Tea at Loaf and Jug $1.07 Steak, Sa...

Sorry about previous Post. Here is the second phono. Cabin near Bonanza.

Here are a couple pics from the trip. The first one is the cabin we are planning to buy near Bonanza. The second one is of rafters on the Arkansas River, Saturday was a busy day for raft companies. The Arkansas River is the most popular rafting river in Colorado. Best Rafting trip is suppose to be thru the Royal Gorge near Canon City.

I'm not raising money for any cause, but a good friend, Amy is. She sent me this message and I'm happy to pass it on. "Hey Bill! The children's adventure center I'm working on (La Selva "The Jungle") is being voted on to receive a $50,000 grant to build it. Please go to my profile, click on the Pepsi Refresh Grant link, read about the project, and if you like it, vote for it. Then if you don't mind, share the link on your page and spread the word. We have 1 month to get as many votes as possible and the project with the most votes wins the money. Please spread the word with us. Thanks" I don't know anything about this but the San Luis Valley needs all the help it can get! P.S. My good friends Jim Ostrenga and Steve Cline also raise money for great causes so I invite them to post too!

Well, after the last tough hill of the trip made it to Canon City by 2PM. Chatted with some friendly folks and was given a name of another cyclist who might let me camp in their back yard. Called and yes, come over and you can sleep in the camper! Canon City actually has a nice main street if you get off the highway. Tomorrow wind from the West so will go to Pueblo and maybe farther...depending on the wind. But Temps are forcast to be above 95! Costs for trip so far: Day 1 - Soda, Energy Bar $2.60 Camping $8.00 Day 2 - Smoothie $4.25 Wal Mart $14.50 Bike Adjustment Free Camping $10.00 Found on Sidewalk -$20 Day 3 - All you can eat Breakfast $5.10 Salty snack $1.57 Most traffic nice, more willing to pull over than I remember 35 years ago. State Trooper saw me going uphill and later stopped to see if I was ok. (Yes, I was fine, just slow) Three days to date $147 miles.

Thursday fierce tail/side wind. Left at Noon, arrived at camp 57 miles away about 6PM. Friday Morning on the road at 6AM, arrived Poncha Springs at 9:30. Then spent 4 hours looking at cabin in Bonanza we intend to buy (during my trip) and into Salida for Wal-Mart, Safeway, Bike Store and Library. I think I'll ride a few miles later Friday to camp along Arkansas River. Achilies (?)Tendon sore so stopped at bike shop and received confirmation saddle too high...lowered it and should be better now.

Wed 6/1 Almost ready to head out for 1,100 mile bike trip from Alamosa, CO to Macomb, IL. Bike is packed, few chores at home need to be done but will head out Thursday 6/2. Looks like route will be from Alamosa North to Salida, then East to Pueblo and join the Trans Am Trail which I last rode in July of 1976. Here's a pic of the bike. Guess I'll need a truck scale to determine how heavy it is!