Sunday, July 4 - Day 21 - 105.6 Miles - 1535.3 Total Miles

Wow!!!!! Last night was brutal. Heavy downpours (camped by a river where neighbors still had sand bags in place by a recent flood), lightning (the kind where flash and thunder are simultaneous), and warning sirens (note: warning sirens that you do not know what they are warning you about are scary). On a positive note: no one was out shooting off fireworks all night.



The ride today was our first of the trip over 100 miles. It also had its ups and downs. We changed a couple flats, changed a tire, and got chased into the support van by a storm. Speaking of the support van....props to them....they leapfrogged with us for 100 miles today. How exciting would that be? It made our ride possible today. The lack of amenities and threatening skies was made easier, knowing they were never too far away.



Speaking of amenities, there was a store in Muddy Gap Junction. In the only store we had seen for hours and the only one we would see again for hours, one of the funniest things from this trip happened. Here is the dialogue that I had with the cashier when he noticed we were from Ohio:



Cashier: Where about are you from in Ohio?

Me: 80 miles north of Cincinnati



Cashier: Oh....around Dayton

Me: Yes...you know about Dayton? We are actually about 25 miles north of Dayton



Cashier: Yes...I used to live in Greenville

Me: Dude...we live in Covington



Cashier: I know Covington. I used to run Market Fresh Foods

Me: Kim, get over here. You are not going to believe this.



We are in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming, and I run into the guy that ran the grocery store three blocks from our house. That is weird!!!!! He asked about Lane (the owner of the store), Bonnie (if you are from Covington, you know Bonnie), Vic Maier.....it was quite a strange conversation. Then, just like that, I am back on my bike, cycling off into the distance. It was kind of like I was just in a Twilight Zone episode.



Well, we just finished up our third week and are actually a little ahead of schedule. We are real happy with the way things are going. We are staying in Rawlins, Wyoming in a hotel tonight and will sleep in a little tomorrow. We are getting close to Colorado and are getting excited about a new state.





Jimmy Chaulan (the owner of the store in Muddy Gap) with The Dunns

Saturday, July 3 - Day 20 - 93.6 Miles - 1429.7 Total Miles

Our plan for the day was to make it to Lander, Wyoming. We planned to hook up with the Stacy's, as I mentioned yesterday. The ride to Lander was about 73 miles, so we figured on an easier day. When we rolled into town, it was only 1:30 in the afternoon so we decided to ride a little further down the road so that tomorrow's ride would be shorter. The beauty of having a support van is that you can do something like that and have the van drive you back to where you are staying. Now, our ride to Sunday's destination will only be 105 miles or so, instead of the 125 miles.

We are camping tonight in the town park. It is really nice-it looks like people tent here a lot. There are tents set up everywhere, and only some of them are bikers. More towns should do this...it is a real laid back, friendly atmosphere. While we were relaxing in the shade, a couple cross country bikers came over to us and struck up a conversation. It turns out that one of the two guys is doing the same route we are....on a UNICYCLE. Here is his website, if you are interested: http://thirtysixer.com/ (Disclaimer: I have not checked out his sight yet, so if it is offensive, I am not held liable.) He was real interesting and had already traveled extensively in his young life.

After talking to these guys, we loaded up the van in search of showers, but struck out. So, prior to visiting with Les, Cindy, and Luke, we did the best clean up we could with a drinking fountain, a washcloth, and moist towelettes. Ahhhhhh...the romantic side of cross country cycling. Our dinner with the Stacys was a great time. We went to a pizza place that had outside seating on top of the building. It was great to see familiar faces and have conversation with someone other than Bobby and Kyle. No offense guys. It sounds like Luke is really enjoying his internship out here. There is so much to do if you like the outdoors. Thanks again for the meal Les and Cindy!!!

I am laying here in my tent writing this knowing that sleep will probably not come easy tonight. Public park and July 4th weekend......what do you think? The 6:00 am wake up call might come awful early tomorrow. We are hoping to make it to Rawlins, Wyoming tomorrow, but it will require us to do a 100+ mile day. I think we are up to it.


The View Outside of Lander


Les and Cindy.....Thanks For The Pizza



Luke, Bobby, and Kyle Catching Up

The Whole Crew With Full Bellies