Day 2 - wind please go away!

 provided a break.On a frigid night, the temperature dropped below 40°F. I only had a 55°F sleeping bag, while Jordan had a 35°F sleeping bag and zipped it entirely due to the cold.

We awoke at 6:00 a.m. and spent approximately an hour dismantling the campsite and packing our belongings. To our disappointment, the campground did not provide water as advertised. Fortunately, a neighboring camper noticed our predicament and generously supplied us with all the water we needed (1.5 gallons). We faced a 60-mile journey through desolate Colorado, where there were no available water sources. We successfully evaded capture by 7:26 a.m.

We were traveling east with a 12-14 MPH wind blowing from the southeast. I decided it was best for me to continue driving the trailer, while Jordan broke the wind and allowed me to draft. We averaged 12.4 MPH, but we encountered numerous steep hills. With the headwind and the incline, the uphill walking provided a respite. At approximately 40 miles, I required a rest as Jordan was exhausted. Londell laid next to the road, and passersby stopped to inquire about my well-being.

Is he OK?

Hill looked small, but it was not!

Crook, Colorado - The best building we saw!

During our cycling expedition, we encountered a challenging downhill section spanning approximately 45 miles. Although the photograph may depict it as a relatively short descent, the actual distance extended over a mile and presented a significant incline. Despite attempting to utilize the brakes, the resulting shimmy caused the bicycle to lose control. To decelerate, I maintained a firm grip on the handlebars. However, I reached a speed of 45 miles per hour before the Garmin device malfunctioned, rendering its readings unreliable.

Upon reaching the base of the hill, we paused to alleviate the severe cramps in my hands.

Our journey ultimately led us to Steeling, Colorado, at 1:30 PM. Initially intended as our daily rest stop, a strong southeast wind, originating from Sterling and moving northeast, prompted us to continue our progress. The extent of our remaining distance remains uncertain, but once we perceive that our day’s exertion has been sufficiently fulfilled, we will seek a suitable location to establish camp.

As previously mentioned, we experienced a favorable tailwind and opted to accelerate our pace. However, this decision proved to be ill-advised as the wind conditions shifted abruptly, and ominous signs of an approaching storm became evident. In a state of urgency, we diligently searched for secure locations to set up our tents and shield ourselves from the impending heavy winds and rain.

Upon reaching Crook, Colorado, we had yet to identify a safe and appropriate site. We considered establishing our camp behind a church, but this location was situated near our residence, raising concerns about potential objections from the church authorities regarding our impromptu camping arrangement.

Despite the challenging conditions, including strong winds and exhaustion, we persevered. I was managing to prevent the charley horse in my right leg, but I knew I was nearing the end of my journey. At 90 miles for the day and 200 for the first two days, we were approaching the end of our trek.

Just past Crook, Colorado, approximately 30 minutes before sunset, we realized we couldn't find a suitable campsite. We passed Monty Anderson’s house, which I did not know, and he was setting up his homemade putting green and sand trap outside. He appeared friendly, so I approached him to inquire if we could set up our tents on the side of his driveway. He offered to provide us with his garage. We gratefully accepted his offer, as wind gusts exceeded 30 MPH, and the rain intensified around midnight.

As a side note, Monty shared that he and his wife were teachers. One day, while hanging Christmas lights along the roof of their house, his wife untangled the string of lights and fell backward, resulting in paraplegia. He suggested that we consider staying in his house, but we assured him that the garage was adequate. This was a wise decision, as he was already demonstrating such kindness.

We set up our tents for the night, and Jordan prepared another dehydrated meal. The Jet Boil proved to be an effective cooking device. He also prepares his own coffee in the morning. While the indoors provided a comfortable environment, the concrete floor was less forgiving than the dirt ground. Another advantage was the ability to charge all our electronic devices.

Initially, Jordan positioned himself as far away from me as possible due to the snoring. However, he moved closer when the moths became so prevalent that the center of the garage offered the best protection.

Summary of Day 2:

The total distance covered was 90.6 miles, with an average speed of 12.7 miles per hour (excluding breaks). The total riding time was 7 hours and 10 minutes. The day’s duration was slightly under 12 hours, with a temperature range of 42°F at the beginning to nearly 93°F at the peak.

According to Garmin Connect, the total ascent was 1,018 feet, while the descent was 1,881 feet. The net decrease in elevation was 778 feet, transitioning from 4,738 feet to 5,100 feet with a climb, ultimately resulting in an overall elevation of 3,960 feet.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

0-10 in 0:53:00 - 11.6 mph

10-20 in 1:05:31 - 12.2 mph

20-30 in 0:46:22 - 13.7 mph

30-40 in 1:17:04 - 11.8 mph

40-50 in 1:08:36 - 12.8 mph

50-60 in 0:48:37 - 12.6 mph

60-70 in 3:28:18 - 13.4 mph

70-80 in 1:00:14 - 13.4 mph

80-90 in 0:53:34 - 12.7 mph

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

wildknitsMay 18, 2014 at 9:11 PM  You are off - and to a good start it seems!  Be safe, have fun and enjoy this time together.   I understand about wind, it is what finally "broke" me this winter.