Soda Pop

Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,197,816
El. 430 ft.
Temp. 77 F

Big howdy from Dallas, Texas.  We arrived Tuesday evening after a long day on the road (81 miles for all you bean counters out there).  Some rolling hills, some inevitable flats and a whole lotta mean highways.  Freeways, expressways, loops.  You name it, they got it.  We were doing pretty good until our nice wide shoulder evaporated in the midst of construction.  Hmm, nice wide shoulder sounds a little too clean and pretty.  Add a heap of highway shrapnel to that image and you have a more accurate picture (think shredded tires, roadkill and miscellaneous debris).

You may have heard the rumour that Texans are friendly.  Yep, it’s true.  We stopped at a church one day, looking for some shade and a break from riding.  Nobody around until a golf cart pulls up about 10 minutes later.  We anticipate getting the King Soopers heave-ho but instead they invite us in and give us free Cokes.  From the fridge, even!!  King Soopers, listen up.  This is a very classy move.  You could learn something here.  And if that’s not proof enough, we met Frank who’s been servicing trucks for 23 years.  We chatted outside the Exxon where he works, trying to plan our route into Dallas.  He hooked us up with some free showers.  It always makes me want to cry when people are so unbelievably kind and generous.  Seriously!  I get a big lump in my throat.  Thanks, golf cart cowboy church couple!  Thanks, Frank!

We’re staying with our friends in Northwest Dallas.  I spent the day downtown, walking and using some non-cycling muscles.  Hit up my usual faves: coffee and donuts, the post office, central library and the art museum.  These are the crux of my Utopian city.  I did see a couple of bike route signs which seems encouraging.  I was gnashing my teeth a little as I walked from the train to our friends place, nary a sidewalk in site.  Has a shoulder-hungry monster descended upon Dallas and inhaled 4 feet strips of pavement like so many nacho chips?  If there’s so much money for highways (that’s infrastructure, right?), why is the love so thin for pedestrians and cyclists?  Where are the quirky, rich philanthropists to throw some cha-ching at this situation, if the governments aren’t going to?  Sponsor a sidewalk.  For five hundred bucks you can write your name in the fresh cement with a stick!  Immortality at last!  That being said, I still like Dallas.  She’s a fun town.  Tomorrow night, checking out the poetry slam which is sure to invoke memories of East Van.

Ryan’s out for a ride, exploring and taking the city by storm, no doubt.  I have four avocados on the counter just waiting to become guacamole.  Better go since I don’t want to disappoint them.  In case you haven’t heard, my guac totally rocks.

Hugs,
Andrea

 

Airport Sunflowers

Hugo, CO
Pop. 885
El. 5,039 ft

We’re back on the road after enjoying 4 days off in Boulder   We were hosted by Phil and Marlys, spunky retirees that we met in Bannack State Park, Montana.  They had urged us to come stay with them when we got to Boulder so how could we refuse?  It’s always nice when people enjoy where they live and want to share it with others.  We had a great time getting to know them better!  I’ll forever remember Phil outwalking me on our hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Thank you both so much for your incredible hospitality!  We also managed to squeeze in a day trip to see a Colorado Rockies game which they won 7-6 in the 10th inning.

After much deliberation, research and trips to REI, we decided to upgrade our tent.  We went with the Half Dome Two Plus which seems like Graceland compared to our previous Asolo Micron 2.  It served us well for the first 56 days of the trip but is now retired to the gear donation bin at REI.  We haven’t had any solid rainstorms yet to test out our new beauty but she is just perfect in my eyes.  Roomy!  Structurally sound!  Yellow!

We’re boycotting a large grocery chain, King Soopers, after they reported us to the local sherriff for waiting out the rain behind their store.  After we spent a whole $9 dollars there!  The sherriff was about as nice as can be (like they found the cutest, most likeable guy in town and stuck a badge on his chest).  He recommended we try the No Man’s Land beef jerky when we roll through Boise City, OK.  That’s normally when I would pipe in ‘actually, we’re vegetarian’ but somehow I sensed this wasn’t the right time.  He suggested we camp at the rest area about 6 miles away which turned out to be a pretty good spot, although not really intended for overnight camping.  Wink, wink.  This is also where we confirmed that I am lousy at reconnaissance.  Ryan sent me on a fact-finding mission to scope out the water and bathroom situation.  I return and report, ‘nope, nothing’.  He takes this under advisement but then does a little recon of his own and guess what?  There’s a big huge building that I somehow missed.  I maintain that it wasn’t well lit.  Night vision exploring ain’t really my thing and I am okay with that.

We’re currently waiting out the heat in Hugo, Colorado before heading to Kit  Carson.  This tactic worked well yesterday in Agate so we’re giving it another try today, hoping for some cloud cover late in the afternoon.  This is not a bad little town.  If the population is 885 than I would wager a guess that the fly population here is at least double that.  As witnessed at the Loaf n’ Jug wiener roller.  So if you happen to find yourself in Hugo and you’re the least bit hungry, I recommend anything in a sealed package.  Just a little tip from me to you.

 

 

Supermarket Sunset

Rawlins, WY
Pop. 8538
El. 6834 ft.

Ha!  It must seem like we always have days off since that’s when we get around to posting here.  We rode 33 miles from Lamont to Rawlins today so that counts for something.  In Lamont we stayed at a bike camp we heard about, run by a really sweet woman named L.B.  Her grown kids thought she’s nuts living out in Wyoming, running this camp for cyclists but they happened to come visit for the first time earlier yesterday.  We missed their visit but it was touching to read their entries in her guest book, now that they can see this beautiful place she’s created.  Being there made me think a lot about our friends Barbara and Shaun back in Nelson.  They both share a certain magic.  Being surrounded by land – not by houses or buildings or cities – the kind of land that leaks in every direction you look.  Just wow.

Tonight’s our first night at a motel.  Guess whose idea that was?  Yeah, mine.  Sometimes you just need glasses that come wrapped in paper.  Where else are you gonna go for that?  Ryan’s on the phone with Jenny, wishing her a happy b-day (it was yesterday but phones are hard to come by).  Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear is on tv.  Bobby DeNiro at his sinister best.  There’s probably some practical stuff we could be doing, like laundry or bike maintenance, but we’re in Relax Mode for the night.

More riding tomorrow.  We’ve been on the 287 South but tomorrow we’ll be on the I80 for a stretch.  Have heard that can be a bit of a hell ride depending on the wind.  So far, the winds have been going our way.  Once we get to Walcott, we get back on the 287 and loop around to Laramie.  Searching for a Warm Showers host there if you happen to have any Wyoming connections.  :P  Colorado soon.  Time to bag another state and add to our growing handshake.  Yep, we have a secret handshake.  If you’re good, we’ll show it to you.

 

 

 

Peaches for Breakfast

Lander, Wyoming
Pop. 6867
Elevation 5358 ft.

Things I Love Wholeheartedly on this Trip:
-sleeping inside!  on a mattress no less
-cherry Kool-Aid
-Ramen noodles when I have no appetite and Ryan reminds me that “Food is fuel”
-days off in fun places like Lander
-discovering that one of The Doobie Brothers has a ranch in Dubois
-my aqua hoodie that keeps me bug-proof, warm, and occasionally camoflaged in front of Honey Buckets
-small town libraries and their unpredictable mixture of sometimes surly, sometimes sweet librarians
-watching Breaking Bad in the tent on battery power; the perfect blend of techie decadence and hobo life

Unbelievably, we got an early start yesterday.  On the road by 7 am.  35 miles by noon.  Arrived at our Warm Showers host in Lander around 3:30 pm.  Thanks Paul, Kathryn and Emilene for taking in these grubby (yet lovable) cyclists.  Spending most of our time here on their incredible back porch.  Birds chirping.  Lawn mowers gnawing at the grass nearby.  And best of all, the rest of the day to explore Lander.  We head toward Sweetwater Station and Jeffery City tomorrow.

Bear Box Food Bank

So it’s Day 2 in Grand Teton National Park.  Taking a day off before heading out of the park tomorrow and climbing what will likely be an epic pass (Togowatee Pass – El. 9658).  Ryan’s excited and I’m puking in my mouth a little bit.  We are taking US Hwy 287 to Boulder, which we can then continue on all the way to Dallas, TX.  Unless we decide to change it up.  We are crazy spontaneous like that.

We met up with some friends from the road, Tong and Shao from China.  Good times around the picnic table with dinner and PBRs.  We found some organic green beans in our bear box which would be a sweet score except that like mountain passes, they also make me puke in my mouth a little bit.  Ryan will attempt to sneak them in our dinner, I KNOW IT.  Some bikers (the motor kind) gifted us about 10 bottles of ice cold spring water, as well as some Diet Cola this morning.  Zero calories but why look a gift horse.

Dora, I Expect You’re a Treasure

Hey hi and hello,

Greetings from our new blog.  I grabbed the reigns while Ry-man catches up on sleep at bike camp.  Will he like the blog I set up?  Dunno but I sure do.  Inspired by Saul Bass’ Vertigo poster?  Can I get a hell yes or an amen?  Whichever you heathens or angels prefer.  We are taking another day in Twin Bridges, Montana.  Some much needed relax time after days in the saddle.  Ryan did point out that one of our friends rode as much as we’ve ridden in 76 hours or some sick figure like that.  (You know who you are.)  Randonneurs we are not.

Loving the humble bike camp they’ve got set up here in town.  Stay any place for more than a day and it can start to feel like home.  More miles to come as we head to West Yellowstone – or as they say around these parts, West.  Yup, talking like a local but sure not foolin’ anybody.  Outside the post office this morning an old cowboy asked me if someone stole my bike.  Hunh?  Oh yeah.  Bike shorts.  Nobody wears those just for fun.  Well, probably that is some kind of weird fetish or Internet site but let’s leave that for consenting adults.  Was doing a little research this morning.  Not too many Warm Showers or Couchsurfing hosts around here.  Found a couple of potential people to stay with in West Yellowstone and Jackson, WY.  Great if it works out but if not, there’s always our tent which seems to droop more by the day.  Or is that just in comparison to the stalwart uber-tents that neighbour us?  We all have our moments of gear envy, don’t we?  I can’t believe it but I am actually itching to get back on the bike and rack up some more miles.  I used to be Rest Queen.  Remembered in certain States for my epic Ditch Fits.  Whatever that conjures for you, yes that is correct.

Check out our new YouTube channel for road warrior updates and profiles of folks we meet along the way:

http://www.youtube.com/user/lazyriders2011

Hugs,
Andrea

Montana…the Treasure State.