Day 9, May 20th

Slept great last night. I spread one of those thin metal blankets over my sleeping bag and I was toasty. I'm ready to roll. 

Had some issues with my toes yesterday. They was arguing or something. Cleaned them up and trimmed them and put vaseline on them. I believe they will get along better today. 

The way I push the bike, one leg groweth, and the other does not. I'm going to look like a one legged popeye pretty soon.

I'd better get breakfast going and get on the road. Looks like my hand found scrambled eggs with ham. Ummm.

I'm stuck for the time being. The grade is steep and I've been fighting a head wind all day. The wind has picked up so that I cannot make progress. I've backed Laura off the road. I'll wait for the wind to diminish. She's a rocking, but I believe she's safe for now. Sitting here for a while, I'm glad I stopped. This wind would have blown me back down the hill. I'm sitting with my back to Laura, keeping her from twisting. I'm glad I stopped. I've made 3 miles in 4 1/2 hours so far. No riding, all pulling.

I was back at it for some time when a fellow (Lee) stopped. He offered to haul me over the summit. Instead I accepted a Milkyway candy and asked him to call my wife when he got to civilization. Such a nice fellow. He offered me gloves. We discussed the grade on the other side and decided I'd need a drag. Later his daughter and family arrived with two old tires for my drag.

Keven, who visited with me yesterday, arrived when I was 3 miles from the summit and was getting ready to call it a day. He was concerned about a series of tight curves ahead with no shoulder and tandem oil trucks descending. He took me to have a look and we decided I could easily cause an accident there. We put the bike in his truck and I held on to Laura from the tailgate and we got past the bad area.

Later, when I was a ways down the other side, Lee's kids arrived with the tires. What a great family.

A Mrs. Barns turned around and gave me some water. If I need anything, I'm to stop when I get to Hanna. Kevin brought me two bananas for potassium. We may celebrate my birthday together when I get to Hanna. 

I had a good meal and am ready to sleep. Nine hours of pushing today. I'm holding up well. Wish I could talk to my family. Still no phone service. Four or five feet of snow beside the road, but not very cold. Only partially froze the water.

Day 8, May 19th

I was cold last night. I got up and put on my plastic rain jacket. The arm was ripped so repaired it with tape. I spent some of the night thinking about how to make a drag so that going down the other side of the mountain will be safer. Guess I better get up the mountain first.
I was getting ready to travel and 5 geese landed in the field next to me. They went right to eating.
Ennis and Geri Gibbs brought me an egg salad sandwich for breakfast. Earlier Mr. Gibbs drove by and turned around. He thought I was an ice cream wagon. We had a great visit. Wonderful people.

It is amazing the different view points one gets from people concerning how far a place is away or how steep a hill can be. One fellow told me a town was not on that highway. The next fellow told me the highway runs right through that town. I guess I'll find out when I get there. Everyone is doing their best to help me.

Came into a section of the canyon and watched 4 ducks fly from one end to the other and back again. They had to be playing. When I arrived at my parking place I was greeted by a ground squirrel. Ground squirrels and me go way back. I used to lasso them out of their holes when I was a boy. I would put a loop in the hole along with a few blades of grass. When the grass moved I gave a yank and out came the squirrel. 

This country is quiet when the traffic is gone. the wind and the water talk and an occasional bird. Maybe I'm just deaf. 

When I was parked for the night a young fellow, Kevin Harrison (43 years with six children), came and visited a while. He's coming back tomorrow to check on my progress. Said he'd help me over the summit if I needed it. He says it is steep up there. He filled up my water jugs. Nice fellow. Works with Basin Electric in Lehi. He's doing a job in Hanna, Utah, a town I'll get to in a day or two or three.

My daughter, Jennifer, called today. Brody, her son, asked her for some money. When she asked later what he had bought he told her nothing, "there was a man who looked like he needed it." What a wonderful thing the boy has learned. His mom and dad are like that . I have a great family.

I think I'm sitting on an ant pile. I better move. 

I wonder if the quaking aspens and the evergreens (pines, firs??) had a set to long, long ago? There are great stands of them here but they don't seem to intermingle much.

It is supposed to freeze tonight. I'm ready. No phone signal here.

Day 7, May 18th, Sunday

Got some miles out and came to a church in Oakley. Went in for services. Met Jane and Mark Davis. What remarkable parents they are. I met two of their children (Claire and Christian). They are accomplished musicians at 13 and 19. I just finished a sandwich Mrs. Davis made me for "later". 

Road to Woodland and got permission to park in the grass beside a driveway. The sun is going down and it's windy. I did 14 miles today. Tomorrow I start up Wolf Mountain on 35 out of Francis. I may loose phone reception for a few days. I think it is about 70 miles to the next town. That might be 4 or 5 days for me in this country. I'm just guessing. Looking forward to the solitude. My wind and my pedalers are getting stronger.

Everybody has been nice on my journey. Met some nice people at the Davies who emailed a picture home for me. I can't remember a name. The people here brought a complete meal of ribs, salad, potatoes, and rolls. People are great. As a closing note, a nice but rather intoxicated lady stopped to say I was welcome anytime. She gave me several motherly pats to assure me I was welcome. Then she drove away. I hope she makes it to where she is going.

Day 6, May 17th

Sunny day. I'm having bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Police visited last night but let me stay. I had a very good nights sleep. Heading into Coalville for groceries, water, and information as to the best route to Heber. I'm starting at 94 miles.
What a nice day. People were helpful all day long. One young man caught up to me after he got off work at the grocery store where I made purchases. People in the front yard went for water and money to help on my journey. Some bikers from Ogden saved me from an extra hill with a better route and a little money as well.
When I got to the end of my day I arrived in Peoa, Utah. They gave permission to stay in the park and my neighbor for the night (Kelly) fixed me dinner. We had a good conversation. She lived in a teepee for 2 years. She will email pictures home.

I made 20 miles today, half push half ride. It was a good days work. My window looks out over a mountain and I can still hear the robins singing or arguing perhaps. I have some horses for my neighbors on the other side. Life is great. I thank the Lord for mine. It's a half a day bike ride to a grocery store from Peoa. 

I was strong all day, but 20 miles seems about all I can do for the shape I'm in. Tomorrow?? I talk to the wife and some of the kids everyday. I'm at 114 miles. Great sunset this evening. 

P.S. Kelly is an artist and gave me a special set of cards. They are the Golden Rule story starter cards. Twenty-two hand drawn images to color. Each accompanied by an historical quote. I feel like she gave me a part of her life. I will treasure it.

Day 5, May 16th

Left Morgan, Utah early and rode/walked to the Devil's Slide on I-84. Took a picture. The devil must have a hard hind end.

I'm traveling along a river. When the semi-trucks have gone by it is quiet except for the soft sounds of the current and occasionally the soft rattle of the quakies in the wind. There is a lot of what I think are cottonwoods. Hold it. Four deer walked up. All does, no bucks. What a wonderful country we have. There are pines or firs along the river and higher up. 

I'm sitting on the ground in front of my bicycle eating a peanut butter sandwich with my wife's homemade bread. Hard to beat that.

Yesterday I decorated Laura and the bike with reflector stuff given by a fellow and his daughter. We look like a Christmas tree.

A crane flew by. He looks so lazy with his long legs dragging. I'm the only one here at the view area. 

I put a walmart bag on my seat and have had no soreness. Maybe that's a biking solution?

Laura just floats along behind me. I cooked two meals today. There were no stores in two towns (Hennifer and Echo). 

Took a bath tonight in a reservoir. Felt great. I'm parked about 30 feet from a frontage road. The sun is about down and I'm sleepy. Good night.

Day 3 & 4, May 14th & 15th

Today I tried the sail brakes. On a given slope they will let me reach a certain speed. It felt good to feel them working. Much of the day the wind was at my back. The sails are a help.

Had a little dizziness today so I got a hamburger. No more dizziness. I'm learning about this life. A lady stopped ahead of me and gave me $10, then she gave me another $20. I had the biggest most caloric thing Subway had to offer. I crave calories. The body quits without them.

Sardine Canyon seems like weeks ago. At the rate I'm going I'll be out of the Rockies in a month. I talked with a fellow today. I have to go over a pass in Colorado that starts at 4000 ft and goes to 10,000+ ft. I'll probably die there. I've gone up Weber Canyon headed for Heber.

I got some special tubes for the house wheels in Ogden this morning. I travelled from 10am to 7pm today. Sleep will be good. This is where I stayed in Morgan, Utah.

I am resting on day 4, May 15th.

Day 2, May 13th

Made 22 miles so far today. It is 5:00pm, so traffic is bad in Ogden, Utah. I'm at a Fresh Market parking lot leaning against a light pole. Nice and sunny and warm.

I was pedaling along and I saw, at the edge of a field, that a large pipe had broken so I took a shower. Paul, my father-in-law, stopped and asked me if I needed anything. Nice to have family. 

I went a ways farther and a nice lady, Julie Milton, pulled me over and was happy with my journey. Later I had a flat tire. I was laying down beside the house at one point so someone reported and injured or dead man. When I got back with the tire 3 police cars and an ambulance were there. The tire was still flat so the police took me to get it fixed and one car stayed there and watched my stuff (the Harrisville police). They were very nice.

As I was writing this days doings a fellow stopped and showed me the best way to get to highway 40. The Lord takes good care of me. Without that fellow's directions I would have gone way out of my way. Not much energy today.

I decided to have dinner (mixed vegetables, chicken, and powerade). I have 4 seagulls to share with. I think one of them said, "Is this cardboard?" I ended up at a church and got a wipe down bath and did some laundry in the sink. Did 22 miles today.