Day 44: Seattle, WA (by Houston)

Mission Control, this is Houston, reflecting on the last week's adventure. I'll also be posting some photographic evidence in the near future.

We certainly had our challenges... unfortunately, the cold-flu that greeted me in Colorado was slow to subside and made it difficult both physically and mentally to put in long days in the saddle. Also, as the Wounded Duck alluded to, hotel accommodations were in surprisingly short supply as we ventured north. The weather, sometimes predictable (like the endless winds in Wyoming) and sometimes just crazy (like snow in Colorado in mid-August), is always a factor. But maybe the biggest obstacle was simply the remoteness of some of the towns we found ourselves in. Sometimes it felt like we were the involuntary contestants in a twisted version of the Amazing Race TV reality show where the goal was to get bodies and bicycles from A to B using any available means of transportation. One example, you need to get from Baggs, WY to Jackson (350 miles to the north). Sounds easy, right? Our solution: hitch a ride, rent two cars and drive them a total of 1100 miles, requiring two days. Whew.

Despite this, we also shared some great memories. We met several amazing folks on the way, like Virgil (our host in Frisco), Mike (TransAm rider from New Jersey), and Helen (proprietor at the Chicken Coop B&B). We experienced a couple famous mountain resort towns (Steamboat Springs and Jackson). We spent untold hours in hotel rooms of varying quality watching the Beijing Olympics and cheering on team USA. And we returned to our former glory as two guys from Idaho, anxious to take in all there is to offer in smalltown USA, at 13 mph.

Wounded Duck, I was honored to ride with you, if only for such a short duration. Your willingness to throw yourself into new experiences, not to mention your perseverance to make it through this trip, are inspiring. Good luck with the remainder of RR2 and I hope we can do it again soon. Houston signing off.

Day 44: Rigby, ID

Houston, this is duck, over. Have made it across the border into the home state of idaho. As per usual, the day had its ups and downs. rolling over teton pass yesterday marked the last major ascent of the trip and she certainly showed some teeth. While hoosier pass might have been the tallest, teton was definately the steepest. With that behind me, i quickly rolled on down to the state line stopping for a minute to dance a little jig at the border while enjoying the spectacular scenery. The winds picked up as the afternoon wore on but did manage to roll into rigby, where my dear cousin patty lives, at around dusk.

Stand by for yesterday's hard count:
mileage: 86
saddle time: 7:32
feet in elevation ascended: oh too many
relatives visited: 4
jack-asses on eastern idaho roadways: many...more than most places across the country

Looking forward to doing more damage today, so better get scootin before the winds whip back up and the thermometer starts shooting north. Wounded duck out, over.

Day 43: Jackson, WY

Mission control, this is wounded duck, over. communication link has been restored. Since last transmission, houston and i have undergone a series of adventures/sorties throughout the state of wyoming, utilizing many modes of propulsion to accomplish mission progress. Unfortunately, houston's bio-med sensors were reporting the symptoms of a fever, congestion, cough, and other cold/flu-like signs of a pretty sick guy since shortly after his arrival in colorado and throughout operation dumbo drop. The operation also ran across an unusually high level of boarded up ports that showed flashing neon "no vacancy" throughout western wyoming and north western colorado, causing the operational status of the nag and the hog to reach a meager 40-50 percent. Due to operational conditions that were faced, we performed a series of maneuvers to successfully extract houston onto an evac aircraft back to seattle and a healthy store of medical supplies, including riding into a chicken coop inn located in baggs, wy where we had to pull in the reigns. The next day did not show signs of improvement of our mission status nor that of houston's. So with the eight ball in our hand predicting further severe complications in both health-related and logistical issues, a decision was made to roll with contingency plan c (charlie). The result, through many ups and downs, including hitching a ride from a sweet but crazy lady who never really seemed to breathe during her 43 mile long one-sided conversation to craig, co, is that houston's medical status is stable and he is now safely residing in a coastal facility recuperating, and wounded duck is safely here in western wyoming staged to re-enter the gem state of idaho and to push through the latter portion of desert and sage to return home. Before setting off, would like to thank helen from the chicken coup inn where our heads found soft beds, our bellies a hot breakfast, and our fingers computer access to get things back on track. Duck out over.

Day 38: Craig, CO

Rest of mission control: houston and wounded duck have made hard dock in craig, colorado, over. Due to a lack of docking ports in baggs, wyoming, we were forced to pull the reigns in before setting into the route north of the colorado-wyoming border. So after a relatively short day, we have found unique accommodations at the wayward inn... again sporting a pink bathroom testing both style and our masculinity. The riding conditions were absolutely delicious with just a wee nip of a breeze and temperatures finally above freezing. Fingers are crossed that similar conditions will reign the skies tomorrow while this gruesome two-some continues to head north into cowboy country, attempting a goal to complete a century ride.

Today's hard count: 50 miles
hours in the saddle: 3:13
waves by the vehicular fan base: 6
shoulder along the road: wide and and nearly complete from point a to b.

Time for these gents to grab some winks so for all of you out there good night. wounded duck out, over.

Day 37: Steamboat Springs, CO

Mission Control, this is houston, over, trasmitting for the first time. Today the duck and I deviated from the prescribed route, heading northwest to the resort town of Steamboat Springs. The morning fog lifted as we pedaled out of Kremmling, revealing the beautiful Colorado landscape. Our sortie involved summiting three passes, Muddy Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, and West Summit, before descending down to Steamboat.

standby for today's hard count:
mileage: 52
time in the saddle: 4:01
highest elevation: 9400 ft
max speed on the descent to Steamboat: 46.5 mph (by wounded duck)
average grade on the descent: 7%
number of roasted whole chickens consumed at dinner: 2

Before I sign out, just a quick thanks to those who helped with operation dumbo drop... Bryna for the ride to the airport, Austin and the Andreasen family for the ride up to Frisco, and Virgil for hosting us at his house. Your generosity is much appreciated! Although I've been feeling less than 100% due to sleep and oxygen deprivation, I think I may have turned the corner this afternoon and am now getting my riding legs back.

Day 36: Kremmling, CO

Operation dumbo drop has been successful, mission control. Houston and wounded duck are back to our old antics, fighting severe head winds and "enjoying" every minute of it. We departed frisco around eleven when the temps finally rising out of the thirties to reach 47 degrees at departure. Fortunately the sun was out and as the it climbed from behind the mountains in the early dawn, it lit up the freshly snow-draped peaks with a succulent spectrum of color. we said farewell to our kind host virgil and set off to endure the blustery up-mountain drafts making it to kremmling, colorado while slip-streaming that would make even the most veteran race car driver proud.

Today's hard count:
mileage: 45 miles
hours: 3:03
winds: 15-20 knots
houston's legs: tested
houston's lungs: tested

overall a good day and looking forward to the next. wounded duck and houston out over.

Day 36: Frisco, CO

Houston, we have you secured. For the rest of mission control and the general public, flight director dan christiansen has blasted off from sea level in seattle and has made a successful rendevouz with wounded duck at above 9000 feet here in frisco, colorado. My friend, it's good to have you on board. Today's stage represented the apex, at least with respect to elevation, of race from responsibility part deux. Mileage-wise and time wise the day was short in comparison to friday's sortie. however, the duck, finding a little snow, reached the top of hoosier pass at over 11,500 feet and managed to steer clear of the weather's biggest teeth. The bod held up to the altitude change pretty well... i think as it's been getting used to it gradually. Rolling down the other side i had a good lunch and conversation with the folks of breckenridge before traversing the last ten miles to meet up with the flight director in frisco. Looking out of the window of Virgil's house (father of dan's coworker juliet in seattle), the storms of yesterday and last night dropped quite a bit of the white stuff. almost makes me want to trade in the nag for a day, grab some skis and head up the chair lift.

Yesterday's hard count: mileage: 37
time in saddle: 3:03
elevation increase: 1700 in twelve miles
snow line reached: yes
people whom also found their way to the top while i was there: 2
descent into breckenridge: absolutely a hoot
people whom have graciously invited up to stay in their hacienda: 1, virgil robinson (thanks virgil)
members of mission and/or operational control that have docked here at the station in the sky: 2 - again welcome aboard houston.

This is wounded duck signing off while houston continues to sleep in his altitude adjustment chamber. Out.

Day 35: Frisco, CO

Houston, wounded duck coming back on line after yesterday's ride had frozen up my comm link. The duck found hard dock yesterday evening in fairplay, colorado at the western inn. As predicted, yesterday was to be a rough one and by the end of it, fighting hypothermia, the sortie did not disappoint giving both ups and downs literally and figuratively. Fortunately, the operation concluded without casualty but it did necessitate a one hour power shower during debriefing to return the body's core temperature back to normal status, return the color of my skin from blue back to a rosey hue, and thaw the icicles off of my eyelashes. It started with yesterday's launch time being delayed in order for climatic conditions to warm up, a battle that would underwrite the day's script. The climb was going well, especially after equipment adjustments were made to adapt to the conditions. Once made, riding was going well until finally, at mile 1413 into the trip, the rubber on the aft burner went flat.

My reaction was one of utter disbelief for with these specific specialized kevlar-reinforced models, flats have been few and far between. The last one requiring maintenance occurred in 2006 while riding from moscow to boise. After making necessary repairs, on the side of a pretty decent slope, the nag and duck rolled back into operation. The rest of the assent went relatively well. The rain wasn't pleasant as it again soaked the gear and the bod, but the unusual cold front from our friends in canada caused the wind to blow up mountain where normally it would blow down thus giving wounded duck a nice little breeze from the back all day and probably staved off catching a cold as i rode with the wind instead of against it which obviously would have only caused the wind chill factor to worsen. So eventually the nag pulled itself over the crest of currant creek pass after a juicy 4000 foot climb and headed back down towards civilization at one point reaching a maximum velocity of 45.9 mph. As i began to descend, the skies began to turn dark and with a few miles to go to shelter in the town of hartsel, it began to hail. Wounded duck managed to roll in before it really got bad for in time the size of hail reached marble size-that would have left a mark. Finally with lunch in and about six cups of hot tea the last 18 miles into fairplay were wet but at least not conducive to conditions where a concussion would have been imminent.

Yesterday's hard count:
mileage: 74.7
hours in the saddle 7:03
total elevation ascended: 4300 feet finishing around 9800 feet above sea level
Elements that played a factor: many
icicles that formed on facial features: yes
ambient temperature difference in the last two and one half weeks: > 80 degrees
temperature when arriving into fair play yesterday afternoon: 40 (according to the bank sign)

Today's stage will include the highest peak of the trip - hoosier pass at 11,550. just waiting for the lighting and thunder to pass - duck out.

Day 33: Canon City, CO

houston, wounded duck has docked in canon city, colorado,over. today's stage had a few climbs but the true test will be uncovered tomorrow during the 75 mile ascent into the clouds with hopes of reaching fairplay, co. houston, we have a last minute weather advisory. it appears a coldfront will be rolling down into the area tomorrow with predicted temps of high 50's to low 60's in denver with a potential chance, according to pueblo's weatherman, that wounded duck might be rolling through a snow storm up top. needless to say from record highs in the south to potential record lows in the mountains, it remains obvious the duck is rolling through highly varied climatic conditions that will make the next couple of days, with the severe altitude increase, a rather large hurdle to overcome.

stand by for today's hard count:
mileage: 52 miles
hours: 4:01
historical stops visited: 1, the remains one of many ghost towns- hardscrabble
fans who cheered the nag on route: 5

see you on top. Duck out.

Day 32: Pueblo, CO

houston, this is wounded duck, over. made hard dock yesterday in pueblo, co around 1100 hours rolling into another 1/2 star gem - the bramble tree inn. have been spending the day at around 4800 feet performing a variety of procedures to prepare for the upcoming climb into the clouds. tomorrow will begin the ascent into the rockies with a target of reaching canon city.

stand by for the hard count:
mileage: 54 miles
hours riding towards the oasis in the high desert: 4:01
hours slept since arriving: many
hours spent on the massage table smoothing out ruffled feathers today: 1.5
public transit systems mastered: 1
weirdos freshly out of prison that are 1. staying two doors down from me, 2. wants to talk about everything under the sun to the point that the door of room 224 is shut in his face, and 3. thinks it would be a great idea if i decided to live here in the 1/2 star for the next two months: 1 - named mike.

I like all walks of life but looking forward to an early start time.
D out

Day 30: Ordway, CO

houston, this is wounded duck over. It turns out to be a push. yesterday's kind breath of wind from my six was trumped by the same from my twelve today. Regardless, aside from the services being not easy to come by, or shade for that matter, the day again has ended with the duck safely in the pond in Ordway, Colorado just outside of Pueblo. I got a call from a member of the Philly squad about this gal, Gillian, who puts up weary bikers here at her house in Ordway. Well, as it turns out, it's a spectacular little piece of heaven out here at the end of 9th street where a cool shower and a warm bed met a bedraggled soul this afternoon. Gillian is also a bit of a traveler, who has unfortunately had a bit of bad luck this year. A wildland fire swept away her house and many of her outbuildings this spring, burning everything she had "except the clothes that she was wearing". A tragic story, but as I look outside the doorway where a cool breeze currently is whipping at my face, she is tending to her flock and working to bring things back. From here I can see horses, geese, a dog who apparently refuses to leave her side, and perhaps a myriad of other creatures that are currently out of sight. As it turns out, this hospitality is all by word of mouth, to the philly squad... I tip my hat to ya fellas. Well, it's about time to start up supper, might even kick back a cocktail with the hostess tonight as she, like me, has been blessed with the gift for gab and who am I to let someone drink alone especially considering she's been ever so kind to open her doors to the likes of us grungy two-wheeler types.

Today's hard count:
Miles: 64
hours in the saddle: 4:45
structures of any kind between Eads and Sugar City that was 57 miles down the road: 4
(0 habitable)

Good day. wounded duck is looking forward to a good meal, some good jab, and entering Pueblo where I'll be rollin in and taking a day off to cool the heals before the big boys that I can just make out in along the vista. Houston, Wounded Duck out.

Day 29: Eads, CO

houston, wounded duck has had a day that has left a smile on the bill. sunday rides are always kind, but this one ranks pretty high on the charts. actually had a couple of climbs, and although i'll soon find many opportunities to be out of the saddle once i reach the rockies, it was nice to climb out a little today for it's been awhile. wasn't much wind this morning, but had a little breeze from behind that helped keep the motor running and the wings flappin. the weather managed to stay in the 70's and overcast - perfect riding weather. all helped get the nag across the border of colorado into the little town of Eads after rolling 56 miles (the next signs of civilization lie another 56) in 3:40. a spectacular buffet lunch, a dip in the tub, and a chance to cool the heals for the afternoon was just what the doc ordered. met up again with two groups of fellas from philly (the philly five) whom i've been leap frogging for the past couple of days after lunch to hang out and take pictures, after which we decided to hopefully meet up in pueblo for a cocktail or two. all in all a nice little cruise and one that again managed to stay dry in the midst of showers all around the area. ran into another solo rider, Bill, that was heading east while enjoying a sabbatical from life coming from oregon and heading to virginia. he used to be on mt hood's ski patrol so got a chance to jab a little about the rocky mountain powder which is always kind to think about. other than that, slowing down the burners a bit to link up with you, houston, in the rockies for operation dumbo drop, over. projected date of capture, according to instrumentation, is the 16th of august. duck will be waiting in camp with a warm fire and a stiff cocktail. with that wounded duck is heading to the nest. over and out.

Day 28: Horace, KS

houston, wounded duck has found a safe haven and is back on the mountain clock, over. Passed into the home time zone just before lunch, finding a fresh pond to clean the feathers in the wee town of horace, kansas. if you can't find it on the map, don't be alarmed... it's one that if you blink, you'll miss it even when traveling at ten miles an hour. the inns in tribune were booked so i shacked up in a hunting lodge of all places with the mount of a four point mule deer peering down on me while i rest my weary bones. the inn keeper is out of town, so for the evening i am on my own with thirty rooms, a stocked kitchen, and a laundry to wash the filthies. have to say the people of kansas are right on top of the list for all around spectacular human beings. from sleeping on stage to wedding reception invitations where the stuart clan (not kitsap) even got up early this morning to send me off with the fan favorite 'happy trails' as i rode off in the early dawn, to a couple whom bought me lunch today... being the king of the hunting castle for a night. what can i say for now? kansas tops the list on hospitality. rolled well today in spite of a breezy head wind, houston.

stand by for today's hard count.
mileage: 75 miles
time in the leather throne: 5:50 (like i said, the conditions were not friendly)
musical send-offs: 1
flys who caught a ride on both me and the nag to take a sip of sweat: lost track at 50
grain elevators that passed by the way side: 23
mosquito bites: 15
new time zones entered: 1 - mountain

tomorrow the duck will be entering the state of colorado and soon after will link up in pueblo to start the trek north. that's it for now, houston. looking to grab another hour of shut-eye - wounded duck out.

Day 27: Dighton, KS

houston: wounded duck rode across the plains of kansas with a fire under the feathers today landing in dighton, kansas before turning the burners off.

stand by for today's hard count:
clicks on the odometer: 97
time atop the saddle: 6:57
miles ridden before finding anything outside of a vending machine: 65
people who waved at the flightless duck on the hard top: seemingly the whole western population of western kansas
people who invited me to their family reunion/wedding reception: 1 clan (i believe it was kitsep) but unfortunately had to decline for i'm thinking they'll be up till the break of dawn.

wounded duck is signing off to grab a few winks before tomorrow. should be in colorado in the next couple of days. catch ya on the other side of the moon, houston - out.

Day 26: Larned, KS

houston, the duck is out of the storm and in the pond. cooler temps were a thing of dreams just a few days ago, and today those dreams came true. unfortunately they came as a package deal with complete and utter saturation. managed to side step a few lightning bolts as i rolled through the shower room that is western kansas on a two-wheeled lightning rod. to be honest houston, i'd take 50 miles of rain then a heat wave any day of the week and twice on sunday. managed to make good time out of the underground theater stage making it to larned, kansas by one o'clock this afternoon, finding a luke warm shower at the one-half star shanty - the country inn.

stand by for today's wet count:
mileage: 74 miles
time in the tub: 5:02
dry items left in the saddle bags: not many
people who were in the audience when i awoke this morning: none, but the light upstairs was on so perhaps a ghost or two
today's birthdays: one, sister, happy birthday angie!

tomorrow's another big one houston - wet duck out.

Day 25: Hutchinson, KS

houston, the duck has docked in the fine town of hutchinson, kansas nestling my revived little feathers downstairs of a church that moonlights as a bikers hostel for weary two-wheeled travelers. the accommodations are unique as i rest tonight on an air mattress located atop their community stage in front of an area that seats fifty. this arrangement makes one feel somewhat like an exhibitionist with an uncertainty of who might be seated when i wake, but you really can't beat the price as these good kansas folk are kind enough to shack us up for no charge. so as i prepare for the nighttime act of this off-broadway play, i bid you all goodnight. before i go, as the nag was undergoing maintenance at the nearby bike shop, wounded duck managed to venture to the smithsonian-sanctioned cosmosphere. it is the 2nd largest space and aeronautical museum in the country, and was 1st class in every sense. i highly recommend it to all those that venture here. with that, it's back to business - duck out.

Day 24: Wichita, KS

houston, the duck has landed in kansas over. operation bravo underwent various transitions and will complete maneuvers by tomorrow. to achieve capture with the u-haulian vessel rolling nest, the duck had to journey 15 miles north to bonne terre (meaning good land in french). once we had capture, rolling nest traversed much of the planned route through the ozark mountains. just before noon, rolling nest stopped to assess elemental road conditions where hand held instrumentation recorded 106.5 degrees. obviously these readings would put wounded duck straight into the oven and onto the dinner table. continuing on, rolling nest was successful in entering ft. leonard wood's atmosphere and landing on the front steps of my former home during boot camp. while reminiscing about my youthful experiences of yester year, two buses rolled up on my six filled with a sorry lot of trainees whom, according to a most amiable brown hat (drill seargent), had just wrapped up a twelve mile hump... memories. after wrapping with the guy for a few minutes, and being glad for once on this journey through the southern furnace that is america that i was in my own shoes, rolling nest left the army base in its side view mirror and found refuge in springfield, missouri.

today, rolling nest continued onto pittsburg, kansas to pass operational control to another vessel: enterprise 1. after successful capture of the new craft where instrumentation was reading 104 degrees at high noon, enterprise 1 left the worthy rolling nest and pittsburg in the rearview mirror and continued west. as the duck continued to traverse the kansas plains, temps continued to rise, finally finding hard dock in wichita, kansas at motel six where fortunately they left the light on for my approach. currently the duck is cooling his heals in anticipation of linking back up with the planned route tomorrow. according to the weather gurus, the heat streak should be snapping soon and we'll be back in business. duck out, over.

Day 22: Farmington, IL

houston, the duck has docked over. the foothills of the ozarks took a bite of this winged creature yesterday as did the atmospheric elements. waking up yesterday, after spending a delicious evening with the gurus from bicycle adventures club, I have found refuge here in farmington, mo after crossing the mighty mississip. the steamy conditions that are predicted to worsen did not treat wounded duck kindly. after many hours of both consideration and deliberation with myself and the houston hotline, a decision has been reached to roll with contingency plan bravo. due to elements out of my control, and those within, the decision has been made to fast forward to kansas utilizing means other than self-propulsion. The weight of this deviation from plan alpha has not come lightly; however, to continue on with the therapeutic spirit of RR2 "from barstool to bike saddle" while keeping my bod in the green zone, initiating plan bravo has been authorized and will be implemented at 0900 hours tomorrow morning. the plus side will be a slight deviation from the original flight path to visit the apex of another former life-changing adventure and a place i once called home many years ago. this unscheduled sortie will send wounded duck past fort leonard wood, missouri (or better known by those stationed there as "fort lost in the woods, misery") where i entered the u.s. army and underwent basic training (boot camp) and advanced technical training. should be fun, that is if the military police don't throw me in the clink for driving a u-haul onto the post without identification. come to think of it, in the context of homeland security, contingency plan bravo might be a little dicey, so if transmission from duck is lost could someone contact idaho's u.s. representative to come bail me out, over?

standby for yesterday's hard count: mileage: 52
time in cockpit: 4:15
insects that swarmed my sweet scent on every climb: 1 large mass
gallons of water consumed: many

Wounded duck out

Day 20: Chester, IL

Houston: Wounded Duck has found a soggy port on the eastern side of the ol' Mississippi River in Chester, Illinois. Unfortunately due to the elements that resemble riding in a wet sauna, the next watering hole was determined to be a bridge too far for today. Managed to link up with a group of riders numbering eleven that are riding from Seaside, Oregon to St. Augustine, Florida whom all were eager to find out whether or not the Ozark mountain range was over and done with. After giving them the news they wanted to hear they invited me to join up for a little afternoon snack and pow-wow here at the Best Western this afternoon, which will be starting here in a couple of minutes, so time to transmit is minimal.

Today's hard count: 33 miles
Hours in the hot box: 2:23
Locations of minimal flooding along the route: 2
Coal trucks that managed to avoid me in this morning's dense fog: many (thanks to my latest acquisition of a pair of riding lights in Carbondale, IL)

The environmental factor is definetely putting the body to the test. All through the midwest lies heat advisories including the state of Missouri. It's not as bad as it appears to be south of here but further advancement will proceed with caution. Time to sit in on the afternoon briefing, Houston. Wounded Duck out.