Hi there everybody! Today marked our first day of completely EASTWARD travel, and it is pretty much like that the rest of the way to the Atlantic coast! Today also marked the day we left the mountains behind and entered the plains of the West/Midwest states…. and let me tell you, we could tell! We went from enjoying mildly warm temps over the last several days to 98 degrees, flat roads, and NO tree cover. Actually, about the only time you do see trees, you also find tiny communities within those trees.....obviously the city engineers were thinkers!!! It is hot, dry, and pretty boring now for the next week or so.
We leisurely left Pueblo and our nice hotel this morning at 11:00 a.m. The bikers were only putting in a half day today and using it as recovery. We all enjoyed a full breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 a.m. Then, while the four guys watched the Tour de France “live” coverage, Anna and I hit the treadmill and elliptical machines, followed by a nice dip in the indoor pool. After a stop at Walmart and a gas station, the bikers hit St. Rt. 96 and headed east around noon. About 11 miles into their ride, Kyle had his first of TWO flats! It was at that point that Bobby also discovered some brake issues, so things weren’t starting out quite as smoothly as they would have liked….all out in the mid-90 degree weather with no cover! That’s when the support van was called!!
I was in the middle of scoping out a couple of different tiny towns on St. Rt. 96 for food and shelter when Steve made that call. He informed me that they were going to need water farther back down the road then they thought! So….. back about 20 miles the kids and I headed!! After getting them their liquids, we drove forward to the town of Ordway, paid for our camping spot, scoped out the area for some internet service, and called ahead for lodging tomorrow.
The guys rolled into the campsite around 3:30 (instead of the predicted 2:30), and we all immediately commenced into lunch mode…some opting for ham or peanut butter sandwiches, and others getting some quick food inside the little gas store/deli right beside our campground.
As I sit here now typing this entry, we are listening to constant updates from our weather radio…supposedly some weather with stiff 60 mph winds, hail, and lightening is headed our way! Yippee! Welcome to Tornado Alley, right???? That’s okay….I have already cut a deal with the gas station/deli beside us…..we have their permission to sit in there and ride out the heat and any weather that pops up today and tonight. Not too shabby…they used to have a restaurant inside the same building, so we have plenty of seats/booths/tables. Now….if I can just figure out a way to get the temps in the van to go below 90 degrees tonight while trying to sleep! Oh well, what should I expect for a $15.00 lodging fee??
Tomorrow, the plan is to head out nice and early to beat the heat and possible storms in the afternoon. We would like to get somewhere around Chivington, Colorado (about 75 miles away), and then backtrack to stay in Eads. There is NOTHING, and I mean absolutely NOTHING, in Chivington, or anywhere else for many, many miles east of it….thus the reason for the backtrack.
One last thing…….we Dunn’s, as well as Bobby and Kyle, would like to give a “shout out” to today’s journal entry sponsor…..American Eagle (a construction/contracting business in Rogers, Minnesota. They also happen to be very cool relatives of mine!!) Thanks to their hospitality the very FIRST and SECOND night of our adventure! This explains the final picture below!
Wanna sponsor a journal entry for yourself or your business? Call/email/comment to us and we’ll cut you a SWEET deal for some airtime! Hey…..we have to gain something out of your advertising space! Until tomorrow…..
Played a Little 3 on 3, Then Swung a Little At the Campground
Our Sponsors....American Eagle
No comments:
Post a Comment