Utah and Nevada are beautiful

God willing, I will reach my destination this Saturday. It's a bitter-sweet realization, that I'll soon be done with my epic trip. I'm going to miss the road, the expectation of seeing new things, dealing with my bike and my camping gear--I'll miss camping almost every night. The independence, the wild sense of freedom you get from touring on a bicycle. Soon I'll be back to the world of job, car, rent.

Enough emoting. Three more days of riding left. Here are the new pictures: Utah/Nevada; Nevada. Enjoy.

On the edge of the big desert

Well, I've arrived at the last stage of my journey: the Loneliest Road in America, aka Highway 50 from Hinckley, Utah all the way through Nevada. It's all desert, and there are like six towns. Yesterday I rode from Heber City to Hinckley, a 150 mile marathon starting at 7am and ending at 2am. I'm taking it easy today, in Delta, about five miles east of Hinckley. Tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning I will begin the 83 mile trek from Hinckley to Border, and maybe further. We'll see how I feel.

In Heber I met up with a friend my brothers and I met in Beijing (click the link and scroll down), Carrie Mehr. She and her sister hung out with us at our hostel, played poker and hunted Easter eggs. It was fun to catch up and meet some of her friends, Mike, Brittany, and Stephanie especially. Mike fed me and gave me one of his bike lights "just in case." Brittany used to be a pro golfer, and she was fun to hang with. Stephanie put me up in her house, and let me hang out there while she was at work, before she had even met me. Good people, all. Carrie's quite the outdoor enthusiast: she trail runs, bikes and skis. Her mountain bike is always in her car, except when she rides it which is often. She bought me dinner. It was good times.

New pictures here.

Two States Left...

Yesterday I conquered Colorado at last. I'm now in the beginning stages of conquering Utah. I'm writing this from the Duchesne (du-SHANE), Utah public library. Tomorrow I should be halfway through the state.

Here are pictures for your viewing enjoyment: new and newest.

That's all for now. As soon as this thunderstorm moves on, so will I.

Hotchkiss to Fruita

Western Colorado is something else...

...and it's taking it's toll. I'm pretty tired today, after having climbed Monarch Pass, ridden the toughest 20 miles in my life from Sapinero to Hotchkiss, and taken a very difficult scenic detour to the Colorado National Monuments, a fantastic series of redrock, sandstone canyons (see the pictures).

I'm going to take a day off tomorrow, then head north through Colorado for a bit to avoid riding on the interstate through Utah. Which, if I tried, would result in unwelcome police attention. So, north for a bit, then west again.

I know I've resorted to abbreviated posts lately, and I do apologize. I'll try to catch you all up on the highlights of my trip soon. Until then, peace unto you...

More New Pictures

Sorry for the silence! I survived the Rockies and am about to brave the desert. Here are new pictures: Oldest; older; newest.

I'm in Delta, CO, and will be in Utah hopefully tonight or tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

Thanks for all the comments! Keep 'em coming. I'll write in more detail when I get time (30 minute time limit at this library).

Those of you in California, I'll see you soon!

Minneola, Kansas

...is where I'm at currently, in the home of Reed and Carol Hindman, some very kind, hospitable, retired wheat farmers. Minneola is about 40 miles from the Oklahoma border, and about 20 miles from Dodge City. I rode here yesterday from Laverne, Oklahoma. Zoom out on the Google map of Minneola and you'll get a sense of the distance between towns in this part of the country. It's a little daunting.

Anyway, daunting or not I'm going to ride it.

To get back to my list of hightlights:

In Walthall, Mississippi, I stopped at a little gas station/restaurant for lunch and got to talking with the owner, a very nice guy named Pat. I told him my story, about Korea and my trip, and he didn't charge me for the meal.

In Grenada, Mississippi, I met Alison Moore at the library (her picture is here). We started chatting and discovered that we had a million things in common: She's from California (Sacramento, too, if I remember correctly); her husband Jonathan is a musician (originally from Britain, and my drummer Dan is British...stretching it a bit I know); her foster son's name is Ethan, my youngest nephew's name is Ethan; they're involved in prison ministry, my dad is a retired correctional officer...the list went on and on. She invited me to stay at their house for the night and I gladly agreed. I was very impressed with their family and the welcome I received. They made me feel instantly at home, and I was sorry to leave the next day.

I broke a chain as I left Grenada. An easy fix, but still a bummer.

Then I took a wrong turn and went 30 miles south, out of my way, down to Greenwood, MS. I was on Highway 7/8, and didn't notice where they split into separate roads. I stayed on 7, much to my chagrin when I realized it 30 miles later. But I did ride past Avalon, the home of Mississppi John Hurt (picture here).

And I met Marvin and Becky Sheffield, whom I wouldn't have if I'd taken my planned road. As usual it was getting late and I was tired. I was on a very lonely stretch of highway with vast cornfields on either side. I needed water and had determined to beg or "borrow" water at the nearest house or barn I saw. I pulled up to the Sheffield's house, they were home, and I asked for water and if I could camp somewhere out in the fields. They said yes to both, and asked me to stay for dinner. They were young, probably very close to my age. Marvin was the manager for Shellmound Plantation. After a very tasty dinner they took me out to a grass airstrip in the middle of one of their cornfields, and I set up camp. And I think I set a record in how fast I pitched my tent -- the mosquitos were viscious. Even when I was safely in my tent I could hear them whining all around it. A chilling sound.

To be continued...

(Pictures)