Intermittant contact

I have had a lack of cell reception and have a few people comment that I have not updated my blog, don't worry, I am still alive and kicking! I am trying to do my best to keep my blog updated, but its not always the easiest thing to do. So will make more of an effort.

Would Two be Too Many?

Two's a company. I have now been riding with company, Lance (from Iowa) for about 4 days. It's been great fun to have someone my own age that I can get on with that likes being outdoors etc. We've had some great campfires and meals and its been excellent having someone to talk to on the long climbs.

My body is now having to adapt to the rigours of higher altitude life, mainly, the colder weather and the hills! We've had a few days of big climbs, and big descents, we descended into Deadwood along a ridge for about 2 miles, probably around 1,500ft. Then climbed out of Deadwood to a 7% decline over 2 miles that dropped alot. The fastes downhill speed i've clocked so far is 34 mph. I've gotta say I do quite like having the hills and mountains, whilst you have to slog it up them, you really get to appreciated the views. For instance, a lot of ranges in Montana, once you get to the top, it just opens up and you can see for at least 10 miles in front of you, with the road curving away.

We've had our fair shares of fun, we took a break under a tree by the side of the road and when we were getting ready to leave heard gunshots, some guy was shooting from his drivers side witha handgun at something we couldn't see! Last night we managed to stay in someones back yard in Billings, because tehy said people die in the park we were going to stay in! Nice


So change of plans, I am no longer going up tp Calgary/Banff/Jasper. I am in fact, hopefully, going to head down to Yellowstone National Park and do some camping for a bit, then head up to Glacier National Park and do the Going to the Sun Road. Then nip across Idaho, into Washington. Its actually not that far, so I should be about three weeks give or take to my final destination. I'm glad I'm doing it this way, saves me going 600 miles out of my way. And I can always go to places in Canada whilst I'm there. Its unlikely that I'd ever be around Montana in this area again, so might as well do it while I can!

Have hopefully managed to get my parcel forwarded to somewhere along the route, as it gets cold up high, am starting to think that hammock isn't always the warmest thing to use! But at least I can pitch the tarp quickly!

Through the Badlands up, up and up

So I have survived cycling through the Bandlands. It was bloody awful, bonking after having a pretty rubbish buffet lunch in Interior (tiny town kinda in the park) and spent a few hours, felt like i was going verticle, and got a punture, and didn't end up camping. That aside:

Had an absolutely fantastic time staying with Barry and Edna, who paint the signs for wall drug. They are beautiful and make you think of the old west. I got into Wall drug and saw the t-rex and all the memrobiliia and all of the cattle brands aswell.

So after Wall Drug (no 5c coffee for me, mind you!) I cycled on into rapid city, had a bit of hail outside the rubbish bike shop, although did manage to get a new mount for my bike computer (may seem insignificant, but quite important for rationing water on long stretches). So i cycle to keystone, a rubbish little city, created, it seems for the sole purpose of housing the tourists. laughed at a guy who wanted me to pay $25 for a night to camp, and talked to a very nice sherriff, who said i could camp by the old abandoned mine.

so in the morning, schlepped it up to mt.Rushmore, had a walk around, got given a knife by a park ranger. Rushmore is amazing, all of the exhibits and information really add to it. There's no gaudy stuff. Then to crazy horse, which is a tribute to a native american chief, its actually about 20x bigger than rushmore, and its the largest sculpture in the world, its also still incomplete, being funded completely by admissions and donations, no government funding here. met lance, who i have know been cycling with for two days. had a great camp last night, campfire cooked corn and soup and the like, only trouble is, the nights are getting real cold, so may look at pickign some stuff up at a salvation army store, fleece or something, just to keep me going untill my care package.

so, hopefully will be in billings, montana, not to soon, have had some crazy ascents, and hair raising descents, down 7% declines from 5500 odd feet to about 4200ft.

anyway, must go, more soonish.

Week 6 photos

Larry on the motorbike, on his way to Sturgis.




My big mexican combo meal!

Nice tan

What the heck is Wall Drug?!! In Barry and Edna's studio.

Panoramic of the studio, you can see some of the unfinished signs on the left.

Week 6 Photos

'Turtles in a half shell, turtle power.' (from the Ninja Turtles Theme Tune) Actually he's in a full shell, cos i didn't want him to get run over by cars. He was bobbing his head (see video)



Leon and me, had a great night, beer, steak and great conversation. Thank you for the great jersey, it keeps me so much cooler than my other one!

Yehaaa, big cowboy

Tour de Etats Unis dans le jersey jaune!

In the church in Miller.

Week 5 photos

Getting ready to leave Mike's house. All decked out in black for some reason...






The cool chair in the cafe, I forget where. Take a look at the third one!

Carina and overloved cat!

Kim and Bob's beautiful house

Entering South Dakota.

Mid-Western Hospitality

Over the last week I have enjoyed mid-western hospitality to its fullest, as my bulging belly will testify. I have spent a great time recuperating and getting ready for the next leg of my journey.
At Kim and Bob's I was given provisions for the journey and lots of advice about how not to be knocked dead by hail or picked up by a tornado. I spent alot of time playing with Carina (Marla's youngest sister) and being introduced to her toy cats (for example Pokey-nose).
The country fair I went to was fun, had a corn dog and got to watch a cow competition, (kids sell cows they've raised after they've been judged).

At Mike's I got introduced to the game of kickball and had a great game of monopoly, although i'm not quite sure if my tactics were right, and was going to end up practising some of that 'supply and demand' I learnt in economics. The impromptu massage was a great suprise and I managed to do a good 94 mile day, the following day, with close to no pain!!

The only thing I need to do is get some new cycling shorts, mine have got two holes in them!!

My odometer now reads over 2k miles and it will soon surpass my daily calorific expenditure. Amongst trying to figure out routes and using maps given to me by gas station attendents (who blew off the dust first!) I have been attempting to apply for some jobs in Vancouver, some look promising, I just hope I look good on paper.

In aid of my trip out west, I have shaved myself a cowboy moustache in the hope that the cowboys will take me for one of their own!
Within the week I will leave Minnesota and have pressed on through South Dakota to Rapid City where I will see Mount Rushmore, among other things.

Now I know how Mark Beaumont feels

I have had a great few days in Madison, WI with Marla's sister, Elisa, who sleeps so much it makes me tired! Chilled out on the Terrace with beautiful sunset and watched people try and windsurf as well as seeing 7-Bags and getting some great food, like Ian's 20" pizza!

So... being who I am and liking a challenge, I thought I would try and get to Baldwin, WI in a fairly short time. Luckily I had rails to trails to aide me, i probably cycled about 80miles of the way on them alone. So... The first day I pushed it to Sparta, a 110 mile in total. Yesterday, thinking that that wasn't enough, I somehow, managed to cycle over 130miles to Marla's mum's house. It pretty nackering and means you have a lot of time on your seat. But I did get to see a bald Eagle as well as the Missippi and a massive turtle. I just don't think I could do a 100 every day, but at least I now know that its possible, which means that I can do it again if I need to. Its nice to know that I can really push myself when it is required of me.
My legs feel a bit tired now, but its nice to be here a bit early, and I had a lovely tour of the Hei's many acres of orchards, and vegetable gardens, had a lovely fresh apple, berries, cucumber!

Going to go through all of the stuff I sent here and to think about what i need for Montana etc. Bob has helped me to look at a good route (212 for any of you interested).

Tunnels and Turtles

What the heck kinda animal is this? Look at the tail!!!!

Rails to Trails

This is a sign that shows the rails to trails, basically old railway tracks converted to bike paths. Really good to cycle on and met a few people along the way.




Funny named river, for all the boys out there




Filling up, this was after my 110 mile day. It consists of (eventually) two burgers, fries, a mountain dew, a vanilla milk shake and an ice cream. The place was cool cos it had waitresses on rollerskates.

Massive turtle thing, check out its tail!!! It was alive, kinda barely.

Stocking up on my bigger day. Fuelled by bananas, ice cream and two helpful people. The guy in the bike shop gave me some good advice and two energy bars. Then I stopped for a drink later and was just on the side of the road, a young guy (with a bike in the back of his car) pulls up and asks if I need anything. He then threw me an energy gel, first one I've had, think it made a difference!