July 27, 2009 smccormick

Today we woke in beautiful setting.  A little cold for Cyndy and just right for Steve.  The scenery was great we’re actually relaxing and enjoying our environment and looking forward to our ride demands since we have 13 days to cover only 200 miles. We have reached this point about 10 days ahead of schedule…

July 26, 2009 smccormick

Today was a true touring day.  There was no rushing but it was lot of chatting with locals and ducking rain showers. We got up at 8 am or so ran down to the coffee shop to get breakfast so Cyndy could have her precious coffee. (by the way it was a very cute place…

July 25, 2009 smccormick

Set the alarm for 5:30 this morning but that didn’t stop us from delaying our departure until 7:30.  The morning was warm but as we move away from the desert, warm becomes relative.  Left town via a published bike route and got a new view of the city.  Very nice section with classic architecture that…

July 24, 2009 smccormick

Today was a rest, errand and eat day.  Haven’t done much of the rest part.  But we have some time reserved when we’re done writing this to lounge. Just after leaving Ely, NV Steve discovered that the click in his pedal that he thought was a loose cleat was actually a loose bottom bracket (the…

July 23, 2009 smccormick

Up at dawn… then we turned over and ignored it.  So much for a 6am start. This was our first night of wild land camping so we crawled out of the tent and got to feeding ourselves and packing up.  The landscape was Utah’s’ usual sand and brush. We shook the fine powder off our…

July 23, 2009 smccormick

Decided to sleep in this morning after our long, hot ride yesterday. It still seemed surreal what we did. So we got up late and messed around Green River doing some errands.  Stopped at the John Wesley Powell Museum, where we at least watched a great movie about exploring the Green River & Colorado rivers. …

July 22, 2009 smccormick

The distance from Salina, UT to Grand Junction CO is 205 miles and there is only one town between the two for water, Green River.  This town also happens to be close enough to the middle to be called that.   Steve wanted to break up the ride in thirds, using Green River as a provisioning…

July 20, 2009 smccormick

After a long day yesterday and our expectations of hot weather today, we set our alarm for 4:30am.  Hopped up in the morning and started getting ready then we noticed that 2 things were out of place: the sky was brightening and the guys on the motorcycles we spoke to yesterday were up and on…

July 19, 2009 smccormick

Early start (still late in Curt’s book), alarm at 4:00 out before 4:45 am.  Guess the delayed start may have been part breakfast and part Cyndy’s trepidation about travelling in the dark.  Come to find out it was really a good thing… lighting worked well and by the time the sun had risen and we…

July 18, 2009 smccormick

The weather is warming up for the next 3 legs, so up at 5 and out the door at 5:45.  Had nice cool start while we followed the rolling valley bottom south for 20 or so miles.  Stopped for a snack break 12 miles out at an elk viewing spot.  Like so many other wildlife…