Cedar Breaks

After a quick pseudo breakfast, we pack up and get ready to hit the road. We say our goodbyes and before you know it, another late start. I don't know how that always happens. The climb from Panguitch was gruelling, right from the start. I started thinking, "How am I going to do this?" The first two and a half miles were really tough, and then it started becoming a little more reasonable. I knew it was going to be a long day and we had 35 miles of climbing to do, so I had to pace myself. There was little traffic, but a lot of signs warning about bears and mountain lions, so that helped me keep up the pace. At 15 miles, I stopped for real food, which I knew would slow me down, but I was hungry. It did slow me down and I still had 20 miles to go before I reached the 10000 foot summit. It was 1:44 when I left the cafe, and it was slow going. At times, I was only going 3 mph. Up, up, up it didn't seem like it would ever end, but like all things it did end. There were a few false summits, but just as the sun was going down, we reached the summit sign. Clive wanted to camp there, but there was no way I wanted to camp that high. It was all downhill to Cedar City, so we decided to go for it. It was 17 miles down and getting late, so we had to use our lights, but we made. This is the first real city with traffic lights and chain restaurants in about 3 weeks. It feels a little weird. And I had a tough time trying to sleep in a bed after sleeping on the ground for so long.

That brings me to where I am now. I woke up at 5:19 and started responding to email, uploading photos and making phone calls. And updating the blog. In a few hours, I will be heading off to Nevada. It'll be nice to have warm temperatures and food options again.

First Entry in Several Days...

Wow! So much has happened since my last entry. Let me see... well, we stayed in Escalante for three glorious days. While we were there, I got my new tent (did I mention that we were camping?) and almost immediatley one of the poles broke. That was a bummer, but I had to make do. I am still working with the company to get a replacement. The reason I stayed in Escalante? Steve Roberts. We were kind of hijacked (in a good way) and he wanted us to stay for their Art Festival. The Art Festival brought artists from all over the country, and it was on the weekend. We had a chance to meet a lot of the artists and spend some time in what Steve called, Small Town America. It was a really good place to hole up for a few days. The only problem is, it's hard to get going after such a long rest. So we were there for 3 days and then we were off to those mountains, that were patiently waiting for us.

From Escalante, we traveled to Bryce Valley KOA. A nice campground and a stunning rainbow awaited us. We tried to capture it, but the photos don't do it justice. We arrived at the KOA just before dark, had a quick meal and headed off to bed. The next day would be a tough one, but a short one. We were going to Byrce Canyon.

The ride from Bryce Valley to Bryce Canyon was all uphill. The views were amazing, like all the other days before. It's difficult to make good time because you want to capture all the beauty before you. So, because of taking so many photos, we got caught in a storm. We found a place to "hole up" called, "Mossy Cave". The cave is famous, not only for the moss, but because it maintains a cool/cold temperature throughtout the year. You can even find ice there in late June. After we were there for awhile, it looked as though the rain wasn't going to let up and it started getting late, so we decided to push on in the rain. Did I mention that my jacket is no longer waterproof?
We still had a several thousand foot ascent to get to our destination. That was tough. About a mile before our stop for the night, there was a Subway restaurant. We stopped there for coffee (I don't even drink coffee), and to warm up. After some soup and sub, the rain slowed up enough for us to ride the last mile and a half in the campground, shivering.

The campground was Ruby's Inn RV Park and Campground. A nice place with a unique history. After we set up the tents (mine is still broken), we noticed that someone left us a nice gift of firewood. It was wet, but I was cold and wanted a fire. This would turn out to be the coldest night of the entire trip. After the fire was good blazing, I tried to warm my cold, wet feet and one of my wet socks caught fire. Did I mention that it was cold? Also, my sleeping bag got wet from all the rain... needless to say, I had a miserable night. The next day I went and tried to thaw out in the hot tub. While I was thawing, Clive decided to go and check out Bryce Canyon. He had never been, so he jumped on his bike and rode into the park. That meant that we would be getting late start today. We would only be going as far as Panguitch, it was all (mostly downhill), but we didn't leave until 4:19. Better late than never.

The ride to Panguitch was AWESOME. We rode through Red Canyon... beautiful. We took a lot of photos, but we were racing the sun. It was getting dark and cold again, so we picked up the pace and arrived just as it was getting dark. We stayed at the Panguitch KOA (I love KOA) as guests of Kim and Bob. When we arrived, we met Roy and Linda from Las Vegas. They were riding their Harley to Telluride, back the way we came. We talked to them for awhile, made a quick dinner and headed off to bed. We were still at just about 7000 feet, so it would be cold again tonight. In addition to the cold, the coyotes got started howling and made it almost impossible to go to sleep. At least that's what I thought. The next thing I know, it's 6:30 and time to get up. We have the toughest climb of this entire trip waiting for us...

Escalante Grand Staicase and... Escalante Outfitters

Today, after leaving Boulder we cycled through Escalante National Monument. This has been some of the most scenic areas of the country, thus far. Stunning plateaus, panoramic vistas and muti-colored cliffs as far as the eye can see. We had plans on going at least 60 miles today, but this was not going to be the case. We only made it as far as the town of Escalante. Once we arrived here, we were welcomed at Escalante Outfitters where, Steve, Holly, Vicky, Dennis and Dana made us feel at home and let us stay the night for free. Escalante Outfitters is a "desert haven for outdoor adventure set right in the heart of Utah Canyon Country." Once inside, you will find the Esca Latte Cafe, a store for all your outdoor needs, lodging (Vagabond Inn, cabins, RV hookups and campsites for tents), hiking, mountain bike rental, and guided fly fishing tours. Whatever you happen to need, or want you can find at Escalante Outfitters. Tomorrow, we will back on the road, in the desert drinking lukewarm water and eating energy bars, but tonight its real food.

Boulder Mountain

Today, we set out from Boulder Mountain. I have to say that I have been a little intimidated by the thought. 9600 feet to the summit. Up til now, the mountains have been brutal and every seems to get a lot of joy out telling me how difficult this one is going to be. I've put it off long enough. Here we go, I'll write more from the other side of the mountain.

Well now, that wasn't so bad. I guess it's like a lot of things in life. The thought of a thing is a lot worse than the actual doing of that thing. There was only a little wind, and that was only occasionally. What I thought would take us all day only took a couple of hours. And now that its done, we have to find a place to stay here in Boulder. What few motels they have are all booked and there is absolutely no camping allowed in here within the town limits. It looks like we have to go back the way we came and do some more wild camping. I don't like camping in the wild so close to a town, but it's getting late so that'll have to do.

Tot ziens!

Greetings From Torrey, Utah

It's been a few days and several hundred miles since I last posted anything. I have cycled through the desert and back into the mountains of Utah. Now I am taking a rest day here in Torrey.

Many people have asked, "Why are you doing this?" I guess the simple answer is, that we thought that this would make a big enough statement about the problem of teen homelessness in the United States, not just in our little corner of the world. Most people are so busy in their day to day lives that they may not even be aware of the problem.

In truth, I didn't know that this journey would be as difficult and rewarding as it has been. I did the research, bought the books and the maps, but I still wasn't sure what to expect. I am still on an old bike, I don't have the proper pedals or shoes, and I am seriously overloaded. But, I am just a few hundred miles away from my destination. I can almost smell the ocean... almost.

The important thing is that "we" not lose sight on why we are here. In reality, it does take a village. I would not have been able to make it this far without the love and support of all you wonderful people. I am continuing on, through more deserts and over more mountains, but I will come back with a renewed strength and purpose. God has put all of us here for a reason and this ride, crossing the country by bike, has been part of that reason for me. The lives that have touched mine, the barriers that have been broken (both by me and for me), all of that contributes to that purpose and will trickle down and touch the lives of the teens that we work with.

I know I am rambling, but I just wanted to share my thoughts with you before I get back on the road.

Dolores, CO

Yesterday, I left Telluride and got back on the road. I stayed in the town of Dolores, just a little under 900 people. It's warm down here, as opposed to up there in Telluride. I was freezing coming down the mountain, but it didn't take long to warm up in the lower elevations. Soon, I will be in the desert and will have other issues to concern myself with. Water, water, water. I hope that I will have enough. I will be traveling US 50, it is called the loneliest highway in America. I am kind of looking forward to it. I've heard that it is BEAUTIFUL, and I am that much closer to California. Right now I am off to Utah... at least I hope to be there by the end of the day.

Photos of Telluride

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. - Helen Keller"

OK, I am now nine states into my journey. A little tired, but still good to go. Right now I am in Telluride and I have been here for three days now. Julie has done an excellent job as "Eye in the Sky", and had things set up by the time I arrived. What a fabulous person she is! Accommodations were made for us at the Telluride Mountain Lodging. They allowed us to stay for 2 nights... for free. It has been amazing to see how supportive people can be when you take the time to talk to them.

Right now in Telluride there is a "Blues and Brew" Festival going on. Lots of music and lots of beer. I have taken in some of the music... none of the beer. I have spent the days riding the gondola (the free gondola), up to the mountain and taken walks on the trails and to the nature center. I have also walked the streets of Telluride, taking candid shots of the people and the town. It is a very interesting place with a lot of interesting people. This is a place I could learn to love.

In the beginning, I had no plans on coming to Telluride, I was moving on to Delores... but as I started up the mountain, I thought to myself "I have never been to Telluride and I am sooo close, so I should go". So, I turned around and headed back into town. It has turned out to be a very good decision. This place is great. The people here have gone out of their way to be helpful and welcoming.

Right now, I am staying at the Fire Station in Telluride. 'Met up with Gary Whitfield (the district fire chief) again and he opened up the fire station for a couple of days for us. Sleeping on the floor, but I've found that on this ride it's easier to sleep on the floor than in a bed. What I mean is that it's easier to get up and get going... maybe even more comfortable. I do have a good sleeping mat.

Tomorrow... on the road again. Even though I love it here, I am looking forward to getting back out there. I can hardly wait for the adventures that lie ahead.

I Caught Up With Clive

I caught up with Clive today. It’s kind of funny that the very next day after I wrote about him I tried to send him on his way. I had to ride an extra 30 miles to catch him, but I’m glad I did. I don’t want to ride this alone anymore.

Back to today’s ride. It was hard. I started off this morning at 6:00 am and it was raining then. It rained and rained and it was only 46 degrees, up ahead of me on the mountain where I would be going I could see the snow from last night and this morning. It was the most miserable I have been on this entire journey. I was trying to catch up with Clive (who was in Ridgway) before 10:00 and it wasn’t looking good. I had a several thousand-foot climb, it was raining, I had a head wind, it was cold and there was almost no shoulder. I was losing the desire to ride today. The map said that it was only 26 miles to Ridgway, but it was more like 30. When I did arrive, all I wanted to do was get some breakfast (which I did) and some hot chocolate (which I didn’t).

Clive came down and met me at a restaurant called the “Galloping Goose”. It was an interesting place. The menu (at least the breakfast menu) had only individual items. If you wanted a complete breakfast, you had to order for example eggs, sausage, toast, and hash browns all separately. I have never seen that before. Anyway, while we were inside, we took a look outside and the weather looked ominous, to say the least. The clouds were almost black and we had a serious climb ahead of us, the temperature was only supposed to get up to 54 degrees, and it was raining. We considered staying in Ridgway, we actually talked about it for about an hour. While I was paying the bill, Clive went outside to take a look at the sky and came back very excited to tell me that the sky was blue where we were going. So, we decided to head off to Telluride.

The ride from Ridgway to Telluride has a couple of climbs. The one out of Ridgway was tough. It took us over 2 hours to travel the 12 miles up the mountain. Because of the fresh snow, we both got some really good photos. The descent was a long one as far as descents go, but there was a head wind, again. So the 11 miles down didn’t go by as fast as I would have liked. But they did go by. At the bottom of the mountain, I was ready for some hot chocolate. I was still cold from this morning and I couldn’t get warm, so I stopped in the village of Placerville. It has the distinction of being the smallest town (population) in Colorado… 27.

We are staying at the fire Station in Placerville. We were trying to figure out where we were going to stay (by the way that is half of the adventure) when I saw a vehicle with a fire fighter sticker on it. I approached the owner and he turned to be the chief of the fire department and a cyclist, as well. I told him we were traveling cross-country and needed a place to stay for the night and he ended up opening up the entire fire station for us, washer and dryer, kitchen, shower… and food. His name is Gary Whitfield and he is a very nice guy.

I have discovered that as much as I love Colorado, It has been my least favorite state to cycle in. A lot of trucks (pickups and others) have been getting very close to me, even though I am riding on the shoulder. Today, with the rain and the climbs I don’t think I needed the extra abuse from the traffic. Anyway, I am here now and I am safe.

Tomorrow, Telluride!

Where's Rob?

View Larger Map

Here I am!

Clive Rogers

Let me tell you about Clive Rogers. I met Clive in the town of Eureka, KS a few weeks ago. I was at the Pizza Hut in Eureka, just relaxing with 3 other cyclists who were also riding coast to coast when I saw Clive ride by towing a "funky" looking trailer. I motioned for him to come over and join us and he totally ignored me and rode riyght on by. About a half hour later, he came back and he did indeed join us.

Clive is the main reason I have made it so far in such a short period of time. He comes from Poole, England, and he is a "real" cyclist. Just recently, he completed a cycle tour of Cairo to Capetown. He sets a good pace and it takes all that I have to keep with him. We have gone almost 1000 miles and we have every intention on finishing in San Francisco together.


Today, we have more mountains to climb. We left Gunnison (home of the world's smallest Walmart), and we headed west on Highway 50. We were shooting for Montrose, CO, a town 66 miles away, but we had to fight the head winds again... and the scenery once again so beautiful that we kept stopping to take photos. There was no way we were going to make it to Montrose, so we decided on a campsite just outside of a town called, Cimarron. The site is a really good one, its right on the bank of a river and I am sure that the sound of water will help me sleep tonight.

I have a really slow connection, so I have to go. I will write more later.
'Just wanted everyone to know about my new "brother".

I Made It Down The Mountain!

Today, I made it down the mountain. I am in the city of Gunnison, CO. A college town with the distinction of having the world's smallest Walmart. I will be going there tomorrow for a visit, to get a few things before I head back into the wilderness of Colorado. Gotta go for now!

Thank God for Angels

Today was the most difficult day of my journey. Once I got to 9000 feet, I started feeling it. I could only go 30 yards or so before I had to stop and catch my breath and the road ahead kept going up and up. Monarch Pass is one that I will never forget, the summit is 11,312 ft./3448 m. In addition to the altitude, I had another flat tire. After I repaired my flat tire, I sat down on the ground and had an orange, just as I was about finished with the orange, an angel showed up in a white pickup truck. Her name is Debbie Gallagher and she lives in Salida. She asked me if I was OK and told me to throw my bike into her truck and she could take me up the road to Monarch Lodge. I complied, how could I argue with an angel. Once I arrived at Monarch Lodge, they gave me a room and dinner. I met some of the most wonderful people there, most of all... an angel.

In the Rockies II

This is the 2nd day of me being high up in the Rockies. It is so beautiful up here that is has taken me all day to make it the 47 miles to my destination. Just today I have taken several photos. It seemed that every mile or so there were numerous photo opportunities. I am still looking for a bighorn sheep, no luck yet.

I am in the town of Salida, looking forward to several more days of being here in the Rockies.

The topography has changed so much, just since Pueblo. It is absolutely amazing. I think back to all the states I have been through, the terrain. The Ozarks, the Appalachians, the Praries... this is something that all of us should take the opportunity to experience for ourselves. This is a life-changing event.

Rocky Mountain High

Tonight I am in the Rockies, in my tent, cold and tired. I didn't plan on coming this far today, but it ended up being more miles under my belt. I am staying at a campground called, "Fort Gorge", it is just outside of Royal Gorge where the famous suspension bridge is. I don't think I am going to make it to the bridge, its 4.5 miles away and it looks like it is all uphill. I need to save energy for the ride to Salida tomorrow. I am at about 6000 ft right now, so I will have to climb to 9012 ft by the time I stop tomorrow. It won't be easy. Having said that, I will be signing off so I can get some rest before tomorrow.

The sunset tonight over the Rockies was absolutely beautiful. I will post some photos later, but for now I have to conserve my batteries... all of them.

Congratulations and Thanks to Joanne Francis!

Congratulations and thanks to Joanne Francis, our new director of maps and trip planning! You make it all possible.

Feel Free to Make a Donation.

I have finally arrived in Colorado! I have the wind to deal with, as I have for the past 3 days, but at least I am here. I am determinded to continue this journey, but I can only do it with your help. Make a donation today so that we can have a better tomorrow. Click on the Donate Button below to make a donation.