I heart Telluride

Ready to leave Utah

We left the rain of Utah behind us and arrived in sunny, cold Colorado on April 28th.  Colorful Colorado did not disappoint.  We loved the Oregon Trail monoliths in Utah, but welcomed green rolling hills with open arms.

We love Colorado!

In Dolores, Colorado, we found ourselves in our first small town microbrewery with charm, character, and delicious beer.  We presented information on the ride to a small church that rewarded us with at least five days worth of chili and a nice prayer to send us through their beautiful state.

Great Brewery

The ladies... blogging

Really pretty little church

After Dolores came Telluride, where I type now.  We're staying in a nice condo, donated to us by a local supporter of the Ride for World Health for our two-night stay.  Our first evening in Telluride on Sunday was spent creating a prom for our 18 year-old rider Skylar, who decided to leave all formalities of high school behind to join a bunch of rough and tumble med students and me, the future student.

Ben and his boutonniere (crayons, index card, safety pin)

Skylar, Blair, and Jess

We spent Monday, today, giving presentations to kids at Telluride Mountain School.  I took part, giving an inspirational speech on following your dreams and incorporating action and volunteerism into your life.  One of our riders, Daniel, presented on his trip to Mexico.  He asked the audience, "Hey kids, how many of you have been to Mexico?"  Half the audience of K - 8th graders raised their hand. 

Following the presentations, we explored the city of Telluride, and I ate kale for the first time... in a while.  The group also discovered a yummy bakery and a fantastic mechanic at a local cycling shop.  The mechanic complemented me on my chain-lubricating skills.  It was a special day. 

Tomorrow, half the riders leave at 8 am to ride with the kids from downtown Telluride to their school three miles away.  The rest of us are leaving at 7 am (Brrrr...!!!) to make it to Montrose in time for more presentations.  We're teaching kids about health, fitness, and a thing or two about bicycles. 

I'm in love with the Rocky Mountains...

Just pictures this time... Nevada to Utah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris and Ben R. taking a beef jerky break on our way from Alamo, Nevada to Panaca, Nevada.  We were so sick of desert by the end of the day!

Who thinks it's a good idea to name a motel this?

Just another place in Nevada

Nevada motel with a great view

Things get prettier once we enter Utah

Pretty Utah

More pretty Utah

We made Nutella pie... who does that?  Skylar does!

Last Chance Saloon in a town with a population of 8 people

Another building in the "ghost town"

My biking group, otherwise known as Team Ben Sandwich

Pretty windmill in Utah

At the top of our second big climb of the day.  The term "rolling hills" could be used loosely today... but man was it beautiful!

Our second snack stop in Utah

Check out that view

Beautiful Utah

Sheep hanging out in Utah

Three Days in the Desert

We started with a 92-mile ride from Barstow, CA to Kelso, CA.  At Barstow, we stayed at a fire station, where the fire fighters generously shared their Girl Scout cookies.  At Kelso, we spent our first night camping... without showers!  The crew made mac and cheese, hot dogs, and s'mores.  It was an amazing meal after a terrible climb at the end of the ride.  It was the type of climb nightmares are made of!

The next day we rode 102 miles from Barstow, CA to Kelso, CA.  I have to admit, at mile 81, I threw the towel in.  I got three flats on my front tire and one flat on my back tire within a one hour span.  I also had toe cramps.  I sound like a huge wimp...   

Kelso, CA (Mojave Desert)

Our expertly set up camp site.  I shared a tent with 3 young guys.
One might call some of them heavy breathers...  

Mojave Desert!  This was our stopping point in Kelso.

I don't have any pictures from Shoshone.  I think it may be because I called it quits early on the 102-mile day.   I had a slightly bruised ego, but I was much fresher for the 89-mile ride from Shoshone to Las Vegas.  The climb to Las Vegas was tough, but the views going down to the valley were incredible.  

My time in Las Vegas... spent doing laundry

Laundry can be fun with new friends!

 On top of all that, I got to see the Steinmetz clan in Vegas.  I am enjoying my time with my 22 new friends, but there's nothing like time with family.

Day 3 - CREW

I was going to wait another week to post, but today was just one of those days that should be blogged about.

It started out nicely.  I marked the road with hot pink spray paint, which is "technically illegal," set up Snack Station 1 with Power Bars, bananas, and water - and sent each rider on their way - cold, but full.

Upon the recommendation of some of the fellow riders/crew members, I backtracked a few miles to check out an old Route 66 Bar, got some free postcards, and stopped by this amazing bottle garden.  I took several pictures, and then pulled the giant passenger van towards the road.

Unfortunately for the van, on the way out I hit a pole.  It did some damage to one panel on the door and I was immediately reminded of my Toyota Corolla scraping from 2008...  I was reassured that the team has excellent insurance this year...

Luckily, Tomorrow, Day 4, I ride a bike again.  I've gotten pretty good at that.  Knock on wood.

After a really cold 20 miles on the bike!

Old Route 66 bar

Signage

Really neat bottle garden

Dent in van that I sincerely wish did not happen today!

More fun bottles that look like screw drivers

A random tricycle

Prettier than flowers

To the right is the pole I will not forget anytime soon

Ride for World Health - San Diego - LA

WEEK 1

This was the first week of the Ride for World Health bike ride across the country.  The start of the trip began on Sunday when I arrived in San Diego and was picked up by two members of the leadership team.  The 12-person passenger van had 8 bikes on the top and the leaders drove it like a Honda Civic. 

The first two days involved bonding over high-carb meals, education lectures, and a few training rides.  I was so excited to get back on my bike, I almost burned out my legs the first two training days.  I definitely felt the burn yesterday on our first "real" ride, when we traveled from San Diego to Huntington Beach.  It was pretty amazing... after riding 76 miles, we pulled up to Huntington Beach, where our CEO had made a delicious meal on the beach with only a propane tank and a couple pots and pans.  She joked that when she pulled up in the Budget Cargo van and began cooking on the beach, next to multi-million dollar homes, the neighbors thought she was homeless.  Someone in the group decided that was only natural - for the next two months, we're all homeless.

We will be sleeping in churches, schools, friends' couches, and one special night in Las Vegas, the Excalibur.  The night of the Excalibur, however, will most likely still involve sleeping on air mattresses, roll aways, and carpet floors.

Below I've included a few pictures... I will try to post every week.  I should have a better track record than my posting in Tanzania and Costa Rica.

Again, if you haven't checked out the website - please do:  www.rideforworldhealth.org.  It's a pretty special organization supporting some really fantastic causes.  MANA, SOIL, and Louie's Kids.

One of the two Ben's securing bikes on top of the van before our maiden voyage from San Diego to Los Angeles, CA!

 It was cold and raining at the start of the ride...

Our youngest team member, Skylar, 18, and our oldest team member, Larry, 70.  What a crew!

 A picture along the coast.

Two of the three Jessica's on the trip.  We've designated one Jessie, another Jess, and I go by Jessica.  The system doesn't actually seem to be working just yet...

 By the end of the ride, at Huntington Beach, the weather had improved!  It turned out to be a beautiful day.

Our first lunch stop - many to come!  I hope they're all this beautiful!