Day 11 - Dalhart Texas

Made it to Texas! Rode 96 miles today and with 30 mph tail winds we averaged 26.5 mph. We did 800' of climbing. The temp when we left this morning was 45 degrees. It reached 80 degrees by the time we finished.

Our hotel is next to a slaughterhouse - I may become a vegetarian!

The travels continue! New Mexico has brought many different types of weather. The morning starts at about 45 degrees and then gets warmer in the afternoon. Each day has brought headwinds.

Monday was a grueling day with 135 miles and a 7,800' climb. The headwinds made it even more difficult. We cycled for 10 hours!

New friends! Yep - that's a gun you see!

Kind of a resemblance there!


Some beautiful sights in New Mexico. The weather was nice - 50 degrees, windy (tail wind).

We rode 134 miles and climbed 3400'. 2 flat tires and very tired at night!

Day 5 - Winslow, AZ

On to Winslow Arizona! Another day of some snow but not like yesterday. Cold and slightly windy. 35 degrees at 6,000'.



The scenery was beautiful in Flagstaff / Sedona area!

2 flat tires today but all is going well!

Skull Valley

At 7,000' it was cold, snowy and sleeting. A plow actually passed by us. One person suffered by hypothemia and had to be put into an ambulance to warm up. She rode in the van for a while and then actually finished the ride. As we desended it got very warm so layers had to come off.



Dinner when we were almost finished with the ride.

Finished the "big climb" day! 103 miles and a 10,000' climb. Biked for 10 hours. Average speed 14.4.

3 Days down....

Day number 2 and 3 were a success!

Day 2 was HOT! About 95 degrees on the ride from Palm Springs CA to Blythe CA. The ride was 130 miles with a total climb of 2,600.

Didn't receive any pictures from day 2, so I am guessing that Dad got a little tired and had to put more focus on biking!

This picture is from Day 3 which brought the riders into Arizona - 1 state down, 8 more to go! Today was a cooler day of about 85 degrees. Paul rode 115 miles at an av speed of about 17 mph with 3,300 ft of climbing. Tonight they are in in Wickenbury AZ.

Today the ride was on "rt 10" for a little bit then most of the ride was a straight road with lots of cactus. Desert riding!

Apparently the group has had a few run ins with a few people going to the hospital for dehydration and another guy had a broken chain. Geez, it's dangerous out there in the west!

Tomorrow they take on a 103 mile ride with 10,000 feet of climbing. Sounds like Paul's style! They will end up in Cottonwood AZ.

More to come!

115 miles down, 2797 miles to go!

Paul made it through the first day of cycling to reach the first destination of Palm Springs. The trip was 115 miles with 4,150 feet of climbing. They started the day out cycling at 8 am and finished around 4. It was a hot dry day in California. Palm Springs was beautiful and worth all of the pedaling it took to get there!

Before the ride all smiles!

4-18-10

Paul made it to CA!

After a great send off ride last weekend, Paul flew out to San Diego Friday morning to start his journey across America!

Here is the cake from last weekend, yum!!


Dean, Vinny and Rob digging in post- ride!

Karen swiping some cookies and Monica smiling post-flat!

Thank you Michelle from the American Heart Association for making the trip to Granby!

Post-ride, where is that cake?!?

More pictures to come!

Paul beings his journey today! He starts in Costa Mesa CA and cycles to Palm Springs CA. Exact millage and climbing numbers to come!

Send Off Ride 4-10-10

Gary, Paul and Bob after riding the 50 mile kick off ride.