Eads, CO to Scott City, KS 102 miles

Big weather front came through last night. High winds and much cooler. 

As we head into Kansas there is a big cross wind which has slowed progress. 

Glad to be riding with Brian and Britney (we have been riding together for about 2 weeks) to share the lead position. When the road is wide enough, we ride in the chevron formation. 5 miles on, 10 miles off. Makes a big difference. 

Resting at mile 65

Riding into new time zone. Central time. 

The good folks of area 96 nondenominational church in Scott City allowed us to shower and sleep at the church. Real nice folks. 

Cable housing failure, having to ride in the big ring until I get to a bike shop. 200 miles so far, several more days to go. 

Wedged in a stick to keep it in the big ring. Down to a 5 speed bike. 

Boone to Eads, CO 92 miles

Crazy night last night. The sprinklers soaked our tents in the middle of the night. On a timer. And several trains blew their whistle as they passed through town around 2/3 AM in the morning. The tracks were 50 yards from the park. 

The landscape has flattened out with no climbs. Very hot 98 degrees. 

Arrived in Eads town pool for a swim and shower. Very nice to cool off.

 Set up the tent in the town park and heading over to the laundromat. Very exciting life. 

Eads, CO represents the 1/2 way point of the route. Tomorrow I head into Kansas.

 The good news is a front is heading in so it will cool off considerably. 

Not many cyclists today. 2 guys heading west and glad to be out of Kansas. One guy said, take a good look at your pictures before you enter Kansas because there is nothing to look at for a while. 😁

Florence to Boone, CO - 62 miles

July 4th. 

Big day in Florence, CO, it's the wet dry parade. Depending on where you stand, the floats wet the spectators as well the spectators wet the floats. Looks like some heavy artillery on both sides. My fellow  younger, on a tight budget bicycle riders are excited, free shower and clothes wash. 

Met Jeff yesterday who has traveled from Anchorage Alaska and heading to Miami! He shared some pictures of the cold snowy day early in the trip. 

The band of bicycling brothers were heading to the wet/dry parade with our supersoakers loaded. We knew we were outnumbered but our spirits were high. 

As we rolled down Main Street were heard, "get the bikers" and the fight was on!

This was 30 minutes before the parade started. What a blast, everybody soaks everyone. 

Starting to feel like a real adventurer cyclist, over 2000 miles and 25 days sleeping on a air mattress. 

New map, heading to Kansas. 

Eastern CO, the mountains are gone. 

For you Tom. 

Arrived in Boone, CO - pop. 320. the evening of the fourth. Only place open was the VFW. Budweiser and corndogs. 

Fairplay to Florence, CO - 84 miles

The folks of Fairplay were so kind. The town hall folks for allowing me to pitch my tent behind town hall. Even offered up the fire pit if I cared to use. Thank you. 

A rainbow is shining over this town!

The Recreation Center for a warm shower. Sorry, I didn't get the front desk attendants name but thank you for the conversation, most insightful. 

So this is the town where the ideas came for the South Park show. The creators spent time here while in college. 

Met Laurie at breakfast. From Chicago and was a Librarian for 12 years. Sold everything and is looking for new home via bike touring. Shared with me she carrying a titanium rod from her deceased grandmother's. A leg injury while bicycle many years ago. Riding with her grams in spirt. Learned to ride a bike at age 41 and fell in love   and never stopped riding. 

Met an older couple who were slowly turning over their pedals. Since 2001 they have been "playing." Home is an RV locates in FL but don't spend much time there. They have both through hiked the AT twice! They now feel biking is easier on the legs. They have cycled all over the U.S.  

Cool sign. No such route. They call the TransAm trail the Bicentennial Trail because it was created in 1976. These signs just appeared and will continue regardless of the road/route you're on. 

Visited with Bill in Guffy, Co who has been running a biking hostel since 1976. As you can see, a real character. Only stayed for lunch but would have liked to camp here. 

For you Tom. Hartsel, CO 

Kremmling to Fairplay - 85 miles

Most interesting conversation with Al the ranch hand last night. 68 years young. Works 6 days a week 4:30 to 7:00. Would not want to be doing anything else. Shared with me about fence mending, shoeing horses, looking for predators, birthing breached calfs, how to manage fields for grazing 

Al works CO in the summer months and Arizona in the winter. Interesting to hear about his way of life. 

Asked me to read Steve Ambrose, Undaunted Courage.  

Most interesting road conditions today, 6 miles of loose, wet dirt then 20+ miles of bike trails. You can ride from Dillon to Breckenridge on a nice bike trail. 

Needed the super size fix for the big climb. 

Breckenridge 

Bob going east to west. Shared places to stay. 

Climbed the highest elevation of the trip - 11,539! What beauty. The ride down was special. 

Time to reload, running low. 

Walden to Kremmling Co - 79 miles

So have I introduced you to my navigation team? Below is a picture of my handlebar bag with a map holder. Note that my copilots are both holding beers😁

Dinner in Walden with biking buddy's 

Thunderstorms lingered into the evening in Walden.  The thought of pitching a tent in the rain wasn't very appealing, so we all setup in the town gazebo. Bikes and tents crazy. 

Morning looks more promising. Early start to avoid t-storms. 

Long stretch of riding w/o services today, someone was kind to leave us water. 

Nice view in CO. 

Second highest altitude of the tour. Willow Creek Pass. 9683'

I think they should call this the divide, don't you think? It was about one mile away from the sign. 

Dropped through a nice pass after lunch. 

Met these guys heading west on the TA (transAm) Emily, Colin and Sorin.  Emily joined the guys about 4 weeks ago a very strong rider. From Kansas, the other two from Canada and Seattle. Shared some trail stories and what to expect coming up.