tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80877977015239783832024-03-13T11:19:50.094-04:00Cycle Across USAPaul Moran and Ryan Dennis are cycling unsupported from Boston to San Francisco in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-24212339004869316422010-09-04T23:50:00.006-04:002010-09-06T00:04:56.840-04:00Day 60: Napa, CA - San Francisco, CA<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIPw0iZcAhI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/hCxtzvTmUK0/s1600/DSC00302.JPG"></a>Time: 6:06:41<div>Distance: 97.06km</div><div>Average Speed: 15.8km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We started our day cycling through the wine area of Napa Valley stopping to eat the sweetest grapes I've ever tasted on the roadside every now and again. It was possible to use bike paths for most of the journey today aswell as a few quiet roads. My back tire started to warp a bit as we were passing through San Rafael where we stopped to eat. We were in a Mexican restaurant eating Burritos when a loud explosion went off outside. The whole restaurant went silent and the people outside stopped moving. I was pretty sure it was my tire and I was right. It had torn a 3 inch hole and the tube had an even bigger one. I used my last spare tire and tube and headed for Sausalito, the last town before the Golden Gate Bridge. Crossing the bridge is a really fitting way to end such a long cycle. It takes a good while to cross as it is nearly 3km long so it really hits you in the most obvious way that the cycle is complete.</div><div><br /></div><div>We did this cycle to try to raise a grand for The Irish Cancer Society. To donate to the Irish Cancer Society please click <a href="http://www.mycharity.ie/event/cycleacrossusa/">here</a></div><div>Thanks to everyone who has donated already.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZw8LEhjI/AAAAAAAAAfI/dYQs5p-sD1U/s1600/CIMG4307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZw8LEhjI/AAAAAAAAAfI/dYQs5p-sD1U/s400/CIMG4307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278697408595506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZwu6SwaI/AAAAAAAAAfA/Gw8j6rqV_Z4/s1600/CIMG4320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZwu6SwaI/AAAAAAAAAfA/Gw8j6rqV_Z4/s400/CIMG4320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278693848564130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZwLoDevI/AAAAAAAAAe4/wltY2ra1ox0/s1600/CIMG4322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZwLoDevI/AAAAAAAAAe4/wltY2ra1ox0/s400/CIMG4322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278684376824562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZv48XcPI/AAAAAAAAAew/Tyk7Z9O4n4U/s1600/CIMG4342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZv48XcPI/AAAAAAAAAew/Tyk7Z9O4n4U/s400/CIMG4342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278679361745138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZvShDGaI/AAAAAAAAAeo/xAxyIxZMLJ4/s1600/CIMG4343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIMZvShDGaI/AAAAAAAAAeo/xAxyIxZMLJ4/s400/CIMG4343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278669046618530" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIPw0iZcAhI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/hCxtzvTmUK0/s400/DSC00302.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513515154208981522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyjSkMA7mYTMfuBMLAEfDlQbWCPROtB5W5ixuV8BevPnm5Wv86WQCcgUxgoGj3A-XJ3A8cPfwW3SIr8MtDXSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqCn81oTwuace4TIwJ2c76Kh54b20VvCKke1WGY22OhpBGTUc-JnrFacs3bsCJXvnu6-isYu98zV8nhmLb7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-62447449235301653402010-09-04T01:49:00.003-04:002010-09-04T02:18:10.199-04:00Day 59: Rio Vista, CA - Napa, CATime: 4:36:48<div>Distance: 77.64km</div><div>Average Speed: 16.8km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>Today was supposed to be one of the shorter days of the trip but we ran into a few problems. We tried to take Highway 12 out of Rio Vista but quickly found out that there was no shoulder on the road so we asked for directions for a detour. We took a quiet country road flanked by windmills for about 30km before we got onto a part of Highway 12 that had some shoulder. On our way we stopped in a bar to ask for directions and ended up staying there nearly an hour listening to the 83 year old owner tell stories. We were the only 3 people in the pub. The ground was covered with peanut shells which added to the charm of the place. Just outside Suisun City my front tire went flat. It managed to stay up for just long enough to get inside the city limits and off the highway. When I turned the bike upside down to fix the puncture I noticed a thorn in my back tire so I pulled it out and heard that familiar hissing sound. After repairing both tubes we ate in Suisun. We arrived in Napa an hour or 2 later where we met our couchsurfing host Lena who took us to her house. As soon as we arrived we noticed that Ryan had a flat too.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkgfdz1vI/AAAAAAAAAeg/fkXet32z3XI/s1600/CIMG4289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkgfdz1vI/AAAAAAAAAeg/fkXet32z3XI/s400/CIMG4289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512938665731675890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkf879F9I/AAAAAAAAAeY/Yn698up6ikE/s1600/CIMG4291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkf879F9I/AAAAAAAAAeY/Yn698up6ikE/s400/CIMG4291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512938656462870482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkfPk-4gI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Oez5E2cU234/s1600/CIMG4293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHkfPk-4gI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Oez5E2cU234/s400/CIMG4293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512938644286923266" /></a><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-86133888038778639582010-09-03T03:51:00.004-04:002010-09-04T02:13:20.935-04:00Day 58: Pioneer, CA - Rio Vista, CA<div>Time: 5:46:04</div>Distance: 120.67km<div>Average Speed: 20.9km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>The first hour of the day was almost all downhill in intense heat. When the terrain flattened out we cycled through farms of yellow grass and a few vineyards. We arrived in Rio Vista just before dark and managed to find a motel straight away. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjXytmacI/AAAAAAAAAeI/4pw4kdLb6vM/s1600/CIMG4271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjXytmacI/AAAAAAAAAeI/4pw4kdLb6vM/s400/CIMG4271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512937416767728066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjXT2DyBI/AAAAAAAAAeA/h92cYoH8TM4/s1600/CIMG4275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjXT2DyBI/AAAAAAAAAeA/h92cYoH8TM4/s400/CIMG4275.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512937408481708050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjW89G-dI/AAAAAAAAAd4/SxiXoKUx0P8/s1600/CIMG4285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TIHjW89G-dI/AAAAAAAAAd4/SxiXoKUx0P8/s400/CIMG4285.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512937402337262034" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-33489229293647274502010-09-02T03:24:00.007-04:002010-09-02T12:49:37.277-04:00Day 57: South Lake Tahoe, CA - Pioneer, CA<div>Time: 5:46:41</div><div>Distance: 107.71km</div><div>Average Speed: 18.6km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>Katherine thought it would be a shame for us to get so close to Lake Tahoe without seeing it so in the morning we put our bikes in the car and she drove us up. We had a walk around the beach first and then started cycling from South Lake Tahoe as we would have covered the same amount of miles had we started in Gardnerville. We first reached the Luther Pass which took almost an hour to climb. After a descent and some flats we started the Kit Carson Pass, our last big climb of this trip. The climb doesn't go straight up and there are a few flats on the way up but you can reach points as high as 8,500ft and it is very demanding. The good part is the steep descents on the way down and I managed to reach over 70km/h today which I don't think I've done before. We stopped tonight in the town of Pioneer and are staying in a motel.</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9XnpcGjYI/AAAAAAAAAdI/xsUW7Fk5DrY/s400/CIMG4227.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512220807575014786" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KPyo4X3I/AAAAAAAAAdw/uHK1qT3ZeHA/s1600/DSC00260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KPyo4X3I/AAAAAAAAAdw/uHK1qT3ZeHA/s400/DSC00260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512346841564864370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KOzTxLPI/AAAAAAAAAdo/npdl4to91Xc/s1600/DSC00267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KOzTxLPI/AAAAAAAAAdo/npdl4to91Xc/s400/DSC00267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512346824564878578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KOeo0G3I/AAAAAAAAAdg/Oi33mxO-Z48/s1600/DSC00271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KOeo0G3I/AAAAAAAAAdg/Oi33mxO-Z48/s400/DSC00271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512346819016006514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KN8EuWTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/sojk-3HlqFY/s1600/DSC00278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KN8EuWTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/sojk-3HlqFY/s400/DSC00278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512346809737828658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KNJc1TVI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/tcZG8gmKCow/s1600/DSC00282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH_KNJc1TVI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/tcZG8gmKCow/s400/DSC00282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512346796148739410" /></a><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9XmUxgcQI/AAAAAAAAAc4/rO9nOd6XxLU/s1600/CIMG4234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9XmUxgcQI/AAAAAAAAAc4/rO9nOd6XxLU/s400/CIMG4234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512220784847778050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9W0wF989I/AAAAAAAAAcw/GY5pdpCD96U/s1600/CIMG4236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9W0wF989I/AAAAAAAAAcw/GY5pdpCD96U/s400/CIMG4236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512219933187896274" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9Wy4DZU5I/AAAAAAAAAcY/wIUYU3z5DhU/s1600/CIMG4260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9Wy4DZU5I/AAAAAAAAAcY/wIUYU3z5DhU/s400/CIMG4260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512219900964852626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9WyI4VrSI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/q3W3zMrRzBM/s1600/CIMG4267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9WyI4VrSI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/q3W3zMrRzBM/s400/CIMG4267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512219888302009634" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7Kg2ReKaUIkot9zZHI1cr2OE4izVZma08eIzUjI8OK3370N9_VrbPaLMxhQavFpWl4NDxURrnJYCi90H2AQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzayAuBw2L79nyxddEtDmqU7ebxlbMzFx0NNPoo7gJhxxzHgn-ustW9hubgWA46LkCnsFcvzBXUXvW9poxFiQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-40903668589150923792010-08-31T20:12:00.006-04:002010-09-02T03:30:12.638-04:00Day 56: Stagecoach, NV - Gardnerville, NVTime: 3:50:04<div>Distance: 71.90km</div><div>Average Speed: 18.7km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>Setting up a tent last night was tough as we were camping on sandy desert land. We had to pass through thorn bushes on our way out of our camping spot so we spent the first few minutes of the day pulling thorns from our skin. We made it to the Nevada state capitol of Carson City after about 2 hours and stopped in the Bike Smith shop for some air and tubes. They directed us to take route 88 to California followed by route 12. We stopped for supplies in Minden before setting out for Route 88 which would take us through the Sierra Nevada mountains and through the El Dorado Forest. We had planned to stop at a campground about 30km down route 88. After a few minutes we were flagged down by a woman standing beside a car so we stopped. She said she had always wanted to bring some touring cyclists with panniers to her house to help them out. Who were we to deny her this dream? Her house was 2 miles down the road with the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains shooting up just a few hundred meters from the back garden. We got a much needed shower, Katherine cooked a great dinner for us and her husband Roger gave us his home brew beer, wine and limoncella which were all top class.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9L-7QtI4I/AAAAAAAAAcI/6XQLpnTDCYI/s1600/CIMG4220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9L-7QtI4I/AAAAAAAAAcI/6XQLpnTDCYI/s400/CIMG4220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512208013356508034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9L-QrHDlI/AAAAAAAAAcA/jMI5aGlpFiM/s1600/CIMG4224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9L-QrHDlI/AAAAAAAAAcA/jMI5aGlpFiM/s400/CIMG4224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512208001924533842" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-69216947948419584492010-08-31T20:10:00.005-04:002010-09-02T12:50:37.746-04:00Day 55: Lovelock, NV - Stagecoach, NVTime: 7:56:07<div>Distance: 144.77km</div><div>Average Speed: 18.2km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We woke at 5.30am for what was going to be a 150km cycle to Reno. The first few hours after Lovelock were pretty barren apart from a male doll caught with his pants down on the road shoulder and the head of a jack rabbit with no body in sight. When we arrived in Fernley Mitch had left us a message saying he was in town. We met him for lunch in a casino hotel just off the I-80 which we've been cycling on since Utah. Things are looking up for Mitch. He managed to get a Burning Man ticket off a local who lives near the festival site. When we tried to get back on I-80 we saw a sign which read "No bicycles". We had another 50km to go so we detoured south on a terrible road to Highway 50. We managed to make it as far as the town of Stagecoach and found a camping spot just off the roadside before dark.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I9FSczkI/AAAAAAAAAb4/GeyJ3tTicEk/s1600/CIMG4204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I9FSczkI/AAAAAAAAAb4/GeyJ3tTicEk/s400/CIMG4204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512204683153559106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I8nVHTHI/AAAAAAAAAbw/NGEEMK6hQCc/s1600/CIMG4205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I8nVHTHI/AAAAAAAAAbw/NGEEMK6hQCc/s400/CIMG4205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512204675111668850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I8KiDWXI/AAAAAAAAAbo/uZ_U_YW8CB0/s1600/CIMG4207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I8KiDWXI/AAAAAAAAAbo/uZ_U_YW8CB0/s400/CIMG4207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512204667381307762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I7rc7UgI/AAAAAAAAAbg/oxmT4dtiy3U/s1600/CIMG4211.JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I7rc7UgI/AAAAAAAAAbg/oxmT4dtiy3U/s1600/CIMG4211.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TH9I7rc7UgI/AAAAAAAAAbg/oxmT4dtiy3U/s400/CIMG4211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512204659038310914" /></a></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvbRlPVVzgUTbgMcuB5oifH4m8I4wtjUSUUJBSqsEsslppYUpY81SDj_FzrikPFC0XNBCJtm6659DUspf-' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-8048843503347377172010-08-30T00:53:00.004-04:002010-08-30T11:09:12.866-04:00Day 54: Winnemucca, NV - Lovelock, NV<div>Time: 5:11:24</div><div>Distance: 152.57km</div><div>Average Speed: 22.1km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We were warned yesterday that today would be stormy. In the morning it rained a lot and the skies were covered in dark grey clouds. Yesterday, everything started to go wrong for Mitch. His saddle kept breaking during the cycle. He started developing a coldsore and an eye infection. When he called the person who had agreed to sell him a ticket for burning man her mother answered and said she had already sold it. He also got a flat tire. So today Mitch decided to hitch a lift as close to burning man as he could in the hope of finding a ticket. I really hope he finds one. If anyone deserves a ticket for the burning man festival it's this man. The strong winds of yesterday were replaced by gentle but very cold breezes. Ryan got a flat after about 15 minutes and a while later my back tire grew a testicle (see photos below). I have never seen a tire do this before and ended up having to replace the tire with my last spare. The roads today were flat and smooth and we ended up in the town of Lovelock a bit earlier than we expected.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7DSes4KI/AAAAAAAAAaw/N2kkBHo3JQg/s1600/CIMG4194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7DSes4KI/AAAAAAAAAaw/N2kkBHo3JQg/s400/CIMG4194.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063496704188578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7C5Jo6aI/AAAAAAAAAao/9t1QwR49pwE/s1600/CIMG4197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7C5Jo6aI/AAAAAAAAAao/9t1QwR49pwE/s400/CIMG4197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063489904961954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7CWNRyHI/AAAAAAAAAag/vvjivJ8KqeE/s1600/CIMG4199.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7CWNRyHI/AAAAAAAAAag/vvjivJ8KqeE/s400/CIMG4199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063480524982386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7CPh8o7I/AAAAAAAAAaY/5wxClsCq30I/s1600/CIMG4200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7CPh8o7I/AAAAAAAAAaY/5wxClsCq30I/s400/CIMG4200.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063478732628914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7Be__m1I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/i9-2FMjoIHM/s1600/CIMG4202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs7Be__m1I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/i9-2FMjoIHM/s400/CIMG4202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511063465705315154" /></a><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-21359919059350464832010-08-29T04:01:00.008-04:002010-08-30T00:16:13.344-04:00Day 53: Battle Mountain, NV - Winnemucca, NV<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div>Time: 5:54:59</div><div>Distance: 88.58km</div><div>Average Speed: 14.9km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>From the start the wind was very strong today. We had to work for every mile and our average speed for the day ended up being quite low. We only had 1 big climb, the Golanda pass, which took over half an hour to climb. We're staying in typical Nevada town tonight called Winnemucca. The state of Nevada has surprised me so far. Every town is like a poor man's Las Vegas. They even have mini-casinos in petrol stations where you can see about 50 slot machines. Most bars in Nevada are full of slot machines too, which limits the amount of conversation in each place. 1 nice part about the bars is that if you're gambling you don't have to pay for your beer, even if you gamble just a dollar every hour or so.</div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXo6NJmII/AAAAAAAAAZg/IRkX6bZlDc4/s1600/CIMG4179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXo6NJmII/AAAAAAAAAZg/IRkX6bZlDc4/s400/CIMG4179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510743085627840642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXoQg40lI/AAAAAAAAAZY/EANFH1dOPOY/s1600/CIMG4181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXoQg40lI/AAAAAAAAAZY/EANFH1dOPOY/s400/CIMG4181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510743074436338258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXn7UgNgI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/MVzx3LQEUMI/s1600/CIMG4184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXn7UgNgI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/MVzx3LQEUMI/s400/CIMG4184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510743068747249154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXnQRE5aI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Wp_COEc8cTk/s1600/CIMG4190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THoXnQRE5aI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Wp_COEc8cTk/s400/CIMG4190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510743057190151586" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-21784691329358762782010-08-28T04:26:00.006-04:002010-08-30T11:09:30.101-04:00Day 52: Elko, NV - Battle Mountain, NVTime: 6:08:56<div>Distance: 115.41km</div><div>Average Speed: 18.7km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>On our way out of Elko we met Mitch (the man in the top hat on his way to burning man) outside the bike shop replacing his tires. We ate breakfast with him after in an all you can eat buffet. We cycled together for the day and the addition of a 3rd man to the group really gave us a lift as cycling through the desert can get very boring. After an hour David, who we stayed with last night passed us in his car on the way to work and stopped to talk for a while. Mitch spent most of the day educating us on the great times to be had at the burning man festival and it's now on my to-do list. It was almost dark when we arrived in Battle Mountain. We got a motel and went for food and beer up the street in a pub with 2 sleeping dogs.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9TUIRCcI/AAAAAAAAAbY/PGhmZ5mnPBw/s400/CIMG4161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065971048122818" /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9SyOHMkI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/0rn9pQ_jUbs/s1600/CIMG4164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9SyOHMkI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/0rn9pQ_jUbs/s400/CIMG4164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065961945838146" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9SKPZSwI/AAAAAAAAAbI/EzcP588Hcpw/s1600/CIMG4168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9SKPZSwI/AAAAAAAAAbI/EzcP588Hcpw/s400/CIMG4168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065951213800194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9RQ__tAI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yMz-Pqqxj9c/s1600/CIMG4175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9RQ__tAI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yMz-Pqqxj9c/s400/CIMG4175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065935848387586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9Q4SpHgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/R_TAkYCrS6E/s1600/CIMG4177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THs9Q4SpHgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/R_TAkYCrS6E/s400/CIMG4177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511065929215712770" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div></span></div></span></span>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-7506954621573011892010-08-27T01:49:00.006-04:002010-08-30T00:07:22.219-04:00Day 51: Wells, NV - Elko, NV<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;font-size:15px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time: 4:24:47</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Distance: 81.73km</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Average Speed: 18.5km/h</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After eating the free breakfast of doughnuts and muffins at the motel we set out for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Elko. As always we pedelled through the hot sun for most of the day but after a few </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">hours there was a heavy shower of rain. We were lucky enough to be near a bridge at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">the time near a petrol station/casino and managed to avoid most of it. We couchsurfed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">with David tonight who had spaghetti waiting for us when we arrived. He had a great </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">collection of bikes and bike parts and had hosted a british cyclist a few weeks ago </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">who was cycling west coast to east coast. The easy way.</span></div></span></span></span></div></span>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-20193141835861480272010-08-25T22:29:00.006-04:002010-08-27T02:29:58.676-04:00Day 50: Wendover, UT - Wells, NV<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;font-size:15px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Time: 5:22:41</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Distance: 96.28km</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Average Speed: 17.8km/h</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3 huge climbs, 3 descents and 3 flats (the 3 flats were mine, I'm trying to catch up with Ryan). We left the Utah Salt Flats and casino town of Wendover to enter the Nevada desert. We didn't pass any towns, shops or petrol stations along the way. After a few hours we saw a big M sign in the distance. We were thinking "Why would they build a McDonalds in the desert?" and we were right. It was just a sign saying next McDonalds, 1 hour. After another while we saw a sign for a rest stop. We read a sign saying "last rest stop for 114 miles". There would be a water fountain here surely! When we arrived at the rest stop all they had was a hole in the ground toilet. No water, not even to wash your hand's. As Ryan pointed out, if you were driving through the desert for 114 miles what is the first thing you would like to see at the rest stop? A WATER FOUNTAIN! After I fixed my second puncture of the day we were passed by a man wearing a top hat cycling through the desert. Once we got to a hill we passed him. He had headphones on so we didn't get to ask him how far he was going with just a backpack and a top hat. When we arrived in Wells we sat down to eat and just happened to be a the table next to the top hat man. His name was Mitch and he was cycling to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert from Salt Lake City. He had a tuxedo in the backpack and had posted his tent ahead to the festival. </span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYiy7cW4QI/AAAAAAAAAZA/oa3j2n4sT6k/s1600/CIMG4143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYiy7cW4QI/AAAAAAAAAZA/oa3j2n4sT6k/s400/CIMG4143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509629452479815938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYiyXK6fDI/AAAAAAAAAY4/HLoE-O5jC6A/s1600/CIMG4145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYiyXK6fDI/AAAAAAAAAY4/HLoE-O5jC6A/s400/CIMG4145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509629442742975538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYix571TJI/AAAAAAAAAYw/JrC_1HhSa9M/s1600/CIMG4146.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYix571TJI/AAAAAAAAAYw/JrC_1HhSa9M/s400/CIMG4146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509629434895092882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYixQzxfCI/AAAAAAAAAYo/9a6tFVeqVfI/s1600/CIMG4148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYixQzxfCI/AAAAAAAAAYo/9a6tFVeqVfI/s400/CIMG4148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509629423855434786" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-39879546098091625442010-08-25T02:01:00.005-04:002010-08-27T02:29:38.051-04:00Day 49: Lake Point, UT - Wendover, UT<div>Time: 7:26:19</div><div>Distance: 152.57km</div><div>Average Speed: 20.4km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We hit the road shortly after 9 and cycled for nearly 2 hours without seeing a shop. Eventually we got to a petrol station where a sign said "Next services 66 Miles". We stocked up on food and water and continued the journey. Today we covered our longest distance of the trip cycling all day through the Utah Salt Flats. Along the way we passed the Bonneville Speedway, an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah, that is used for land speed records. We stayed in Wendover which is a Casino town near the Nevada border.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeYiQxe7I/AAAAAAAAAYg/_wT9WIqlvc4/s1600/CIMG4121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeYiQxe7I/AAAAAAAAAYg/_wT9WIqlvc4/s400/CIMG4121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509624600997231538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeYKVsMoI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Ihq1vcrwB7Y/s1600/CIMG4133.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeYKVsMoI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Ihq1vcrwB7Y/s400/CIMG4133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509624594575405698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeXxibtXI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/wn6NOQbx5VQ/s1600/CIMG4135.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeXxibtXI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/wn6NOQbx5VQ/s400/CIMG4135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509624587917964658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeXTV_lVI/AAAAAAAAAYI/vpwQ5I6Qjis/s1600/CIMG4138.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THYeXTV_lVI/AAAAAAAAAYI/vpwQ5I6Qjis/s400/CIMG4138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509624579812726098" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVz9w9gldJ7EBcGhWHoXtUyFv9nqIaA-vUhU4dGks9-9gTo6pDR78F7IPZV7xMb0b-aY2q7BMLrKaz4XWBrQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtEA7RGup519yWnLnVmgWTQANduccJrFHeNPqYW1Qy6tu3WvJxNxaWQhoA9yz1LlEnyahf7EBkAmuhwEeZrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-85557593092207935532010-08-25T01:01:00.008-04:002010-08-27T02:29:19.066-04:00Day 48: Salt Lake City, UT - Lake Point, UT<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:15.8333px;"><div>Time: 3:07:24</div><div>Distance: 53.97km</div><div>Average Speed: 17.2km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>It took a long time to get out of Salt Lake City. We stopped in the worlds first KFC restaurant on the outskirts of the town where I had a bacon sandwich that instead of bread used chicken. The roads coming out of Salt Lake are probably the most scary we've been on during this trip. We were cycling on a road with 3 lanes and passed a lot of entrances and exits. When we passed the airport the road got a bit calmer. A while later Ryan got a flat. It took a while to fix as we are still getting used to the new pump. We passed the Great Salt Lake where the city derived its name. We camped on what looked like the last piece of grass just before the Salt Flats near Lake Point.</div><div><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7PnCu9FI/AAAAAAAAAYA/GpdmJF-m3GA/s1600/CIMG4113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7PnCu9FI/AAAAAAAAAYA/GpdmJF-m3GA/s400/CIMG4113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509374858522195026" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7OAaQ0uI/AAAAAAAAAXo/1WliQ5xcIEQ/s400/DSC00221.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509374830972031714" border="0" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7OnFn-xI/AAAAAAAAAXw/dlqCqOX72mM/s400/DSC00223.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509374841354451730" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7PKSvZVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/1BV_BHLYo9A/s1600/CIMG4120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THU7PKSvZVI/AAAAAAAAAX4/1BV_BHLYo9A/s400/CIMG4120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509374850804704594" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-38154488169060510652010-08-23T14:01:00.005-04:002010-08-27T02:29:00.426-04:00Day 47: Rest DayOn our final rest day Amanda drove us into town and dropped us off at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The Mormon Church). Salt Lake City is home to the headquarters of the Mormon church and almost half the city is Mormon. We were greeted by 2 girls, 1 Brazilian and a Californian who offered us a free tour. The Mormon buildings were very impressive and the girls answered any questions we had about the Religion. In the end they kind of tried to convert us and offered to send the Book of Mormon to our houses. Ryan gave a fake address and I said I didn't have an address and was wandering across the USA. After the tour we ate and had a walk around downtown Salt Lake. We heard music in the distance and saw girls with bikini's running around so we decided to go see what was going on. It was a Sunday pool party where bikini's for the girls and waxed chests for the men were mandatory. I was tempted to whip off my t-shirt and display my farmer tan but I thought as the only 2 bearded men at the party we stuck out enough already. After the pool party we met Amanda and some of the Salt Lake couchsurfing community in the Bayou bar.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuR8rhCkI/AAAAAAAAAWg/K3Ln6miw080/s1600/CIMG4062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuR8rhCkI/AAAAAAAAAWg/K3Ln6miw080/s400/CIMG4062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509360605038971458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuRW-pFzI/AAAAAAAAAWY/lYyYW7pVaYw/s1600/CIMG4057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuRW-pFzI/AAAAAAAAAWY/lYyYW7pVaYw/s400/CIMG4057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509360594918643506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuQkqjDeI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/Vvyo2XVZx3A/s1600/CIMG4055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUuQkqjDeI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/Vvyo2XVZx3A/s400/CIMG4055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509360581412589026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7Rxh553QZ2IYHMTdcW6HQQmEGf93lic0_PDKEFInkasAavfvVJ2dPt6HIc6KJTYJpcbazqJwEm5vmetrJuA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-52159320233224976052010-08-23T13:45:00.005-04:002010-08-27T02:28:36.329-04:00Day 46: Fruitland, UT - Salt Lake City, UTTime: 6:23:05<div>Distance: 131.18km</div><div>Average Speed: 20.5km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>A wise man once said "If its not broke don't fix it". Another wise man said "Prevention is better than cure". I didn't sleep much last night because of the cold but in the morning I noticed 3 of my spokes were loose. If the spoke is loose it can lead to the wheel buckling so using the "Prevention is better than cure" theory I tightened the spokes to prevent a wheel buckle. It turns out I'm not very good at tightening spokes and I ended up making the wheel buckle badly. I tried for an hour to get the wheel straight again but I just kept making it worse. It was so bad I had to remove the back brakes just to make the bike move. We climbed Daniels Peak which stands at an altitude of over 8000ft. At the summit there was a shop and the woman behind the counter told me about a bike shop in Heber City, 20 miles downhill. The owner of Brothers Bikes (<a href="http://www.brothersbikes.com/">http://www.brothersbikes.com/</a>) in Heber took almost an hour to undo the damage I did to the back wheel and needed to replace 5 spokes. He charged only 30$ for it and on hearing about my pump misfortune the other day threw in a free pump. The climb out of Heber into Park city was as tough as anything in the Rockies but on the upside there was over 20 miles of a descent into Salt Lake City. We arrived at our couchsurfing host Amanda's house before 8, got cleaned up and taxied into town.</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUzfXlivQI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/ppC9nfVBs2Y/s400/CIMG4034.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509366333158112514" border="0" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUzf6V0esI/AAAAAAAAAXY/n9mVClx2ZYE/s400/CIMG4041.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509366342487407298" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUzgWLoKDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/GHM7M6jFetc/s1600/CIMG4051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUzgWLoKDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/GHM7M6jFetc/s400/CIMG4051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509366349960849458" border="0" /></a>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-29720174037255541692010-08-23T13:35:00.004-04:002010-08-25T11:25:15.628-04:00Day 45: Vernal, UT - Fruitland, UTTime: 7:26:27<div>Distance: 143.53km</div><div>Average Speed: 19.2km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We set off from the bike shop in Vernal quite early with our new pump in the bag. It needed to be used after just 2 hours. My back wheel got a flat in the town of Roosevelt. I replaced the tube but when I tried to pump it up the pump wouldn't work properly. It broke the valve off 2 tubes so when I put the 3rd tube in I put a schrader connection on the valve and used the other side of the pump. This managed to work and I was back on the road again. At the town of Duchesne we stocked up on food since there was no other town for the next 50 miles and we would be camping on a mountain. We had found a campsite on google maps but when we arrived at where it was supposed to be no campsite existed. It was getting dark so we just pitched our tent down a quiet road just off the highway.</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyAKCuHUI/AAAAAAAAAWo/l3JoseelmhY/s400/CIMG4016.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509364697434824002" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyAU8A90I/AAAAAAAAAWw/cZKMD13lLUw/s400/CIMG4020.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509364700359489346" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyBtfoc9I/AAAAAAAAAXI/sCtyG9BJCbI/s1600/CIMG4031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyBtfoc9I/AAAAAAAAAXI/sCtyG9BJCbI/s400/CIMG4031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509364724131197906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyBJODeXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/iFlwYKEWzm8/s1600/CIMG4024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyBJODeXI/AAAAAAAAAXA/iFlwYKEWzm8/s400/CIMG4024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509364714393794930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyAyXFeCI/AAAAAAAAAW4/zqFcE1CcYBY/s1600/CIMG4023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/THUyAyXFeCI/AAAAAAAAAW4/zqFcE1CcYBY/s400/CIMG4023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509364708257658914" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-10150274278649867472010-08-22T17:00:00.000-04:002010-08-22T17:00:01.274-04:00Observations from a Cheap Yellow Bicycle<div><b>The Growing Celebrity Status of a Haggardly Bicycler</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In Boston, Massachussets we set out from our hostel with our loaded panniers and camping gear on the back racks. Our first picture was of us smiling, groomed, and enthusiastic. Within one hundred yards joggers asked if we are cycling across the country. They were friendly, but not impressed. as a significant coastal city they have likely seen many start out the same optimistic way, and have assumed most never made it. They wished us goodluck, and we began the trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>In New York a kid outside a gas station asked where we were biking to. We told him across the country. He said that was cool and then he told us about the BMX biking he did and pointed out various parts of his bike he wanted to improve. People glanced at our bikes leaning on the wall of the building when they went in to pay for gad or cigarrettes. </div><div><br /></div><div>We were only in Pennsylvania for a few hours. By then a beard began to become defined around my jawline. Occassionally someone beeped as we navigated through Eerie. Most of the time it was friendly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of Ohio we took highway 20. My arms had grown thin and were extrememly tan, bleaching the hair on them. My eyes looked smaller in my new dark face. Most of the time 20 was crowded and unpleasant. We found relatively little open space until we turned off it to head towards Hicksville, a small rural town on the western border. The lady we stayed with was a national Scrabble champion and had travelled to 65 countries. She took our picture and put us in the Hicksville Tribune.</div><div><br /></div><div>Indiana was the first state that seemed reasonably far away from Boston. Most people seemed to agree. They remarked that it was "Quite a ways" and that we still had "Quite a ways to go." They told us that it seemed like an exciting way to spend the summer. We were caught in a rainstorm under a tree in a family's lawn. The husband offered to drive us to shelter and then took pity on our wet and unfortunate state and let us spend the night. I often had grease marks on my shins and arms that lasted for days.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went through Iowa the same time was the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, although in a different direction and 100 miles south. Every gas station clerk and truck that pulled along us on the road asked if we were doing RAGBRAI. We told them we were going from Boston to San Francisco. "That's a long ways," a woman said, shaking her head. She stared at me blankly and said it again, and then repeated it going out the door. We slumped over a beer in a German restaurant in Council Bluffs, the last town in Iowa. There was one other man in the bar. He told us how much he respected us for doing this and talked about the importance of following dreams when you're young and how that time has passed him up. After he left we were told our tab was picked up by an anonymous person.</div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhere in Nebraska wsa our halfway point, although we didn't know where. My eyes retained red veins even after I woke up. The skin on my nose peeled continually. We left the city limits of Lincoln t osee a woman on the shoulder, holding out two water bottles. She shook our hands and told us she appreciated what we were doing even before we could tell her what it was. She was visibly excited for us and told us as much, and we promised to send her a postcard from San Francisco. In Lexington my bicycle broke and we had a passerby drop us at the local tavern to think through the situation. A quiet, red haired Nebraskan asked if we were biking for chairty, and then bought us a few pitchers. In North Platte the bottoms of my shoes fell out. I wrapped them with electrical tape a few times to hold them together. Three out of the next four meals were paid for by strangers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Southern Wyoming has seen its share of cyclists trying to get through the mountains, except a backyard campground whose sign was hidden in the weeds. We signed the guestbook of an older woman whose oxygen tank made gunshot sounds every five seconds. When we opened the book we discovered we were no more than the 5th group that stayed there in the year 2010. Her son came out of a shed to greet us. He had long hair, glasses, and was missing a front tooth. "Holy sheep shit," he said, when we told him how far we've been. "Holy sheep shit indeed," I thought to myself.</div>RyanDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261495828797064804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-50086123990011794002010-08-20T17:00:00.000-04:002010-08-20T17:00:00.937-04:00Observations from a Cheap Yellow Bicycle<div><b>In Defense of Nebraska</b></div><div><br /></div><div>There was no state that we were warned against more than Nebraska. "It's boring," many have said with a disgusted look. "And so flat!" Nebraska had garnered the scorn of many who had driven I-80 through it at some point of their life, and from those who had heard of others traversing it. I once saw a student describe it as a dotted road he drew across a blank page. Even residents in Iowa found it to be an unattractive neighbor that they held little goodwill towards.</div><div><br /></div><div>In my mind as well Nebraska existed only as a slow transition from the homogenous, yet pleasant cornfields and farmhouses of Iowa to the aggrandized mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. The road was flat, much like lines in notebook paper, but after we left lincoln we began to see a state and its people take on character. The red-brown pavement stretched on without any shrubbery or trees next to it and every 15 or 20 miles it led into a small town. Each town began with tall grain silos on the left that you watch for miles while you approach and a few storefronts across from them. Trains carrying coal or grain pass along the town, reportedly every 7 minutes, their full length evident in the open land. A breeze would pass through our spokes and carry the smell of distillers with it. It was the first place we saw cowboy hats and a change in people's demeanors towards a reserved, friendly conservatism and sometimes TV-like down-home idiosyncracies. It was the subtle beginning of the west. </div>RyanDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261495828797064804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-2626727671938825872010-08-20T00:49:00.002-04:002010-08-20T00:52:46.226-04:00Westmeath ExaminerThe Westmeath Examiner have written an article about the cycle. <div>Click <a href="http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/people/articles/2010/08/18/3999394-pauls-usa-coast-to-coast-bike-trip-is-to-help-cancer-society/">here</a> to read it.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-14446338072016511272010-08-20T00:31:00.003-04:002010-08-23T12:43:17.987-04:00Day 44: Masadona, CO - Vernal, UT<div>Time: 2:34:49</div><div>Distance: 47.1km </div><div>Average Speed: 18.2km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>Ryan's tire had went flat overnight somehow and when we tried to fix it we realised the pump was missing. I must have left it on the road yesterday when I was replacing my tire. We managed to get a pump off John, who lived in the trailer park but we were going to have to get to Vernal to find another bike shop. We passed through a town called Dinosaur on the way where all the streets are named after Dinosaurs. Not long after Dinosaur we crossed the border into Utah. The road's in Utah were pretty poor and we were worried about punctures. Sure enough, my back tire popped and we were stranded. We decided Ryan should cycle on and I would hitch into Vernal which was about a 15 minute drive. I managed to flag down a family car in a few minutes and they took me to the bike shop in Vernal. We picked up Ryan along the way. When we arrived at the bike shop one of the men working there invited us into his house, made us coffee and said we could wash our clothes and shower. We are camping by his house tonight.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I74IqR9I/AAAAAAAAAWA/UepnbWwpAuU/s1600/CIMG3998.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I74IqR9I/AAAAAAAAAWA/UepnbWwpAuU/s400/CIMG3998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507349219094710226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I7aBaI2I/AAAAAAAAAV4/315SS7ivIVw/s1600/CIMG4000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I7aBaI2I/AAAAAAAAAV4/315SS7ivIVw/s400/CIMG4000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507349211011228514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I64e3T-I/AAAAAAAAAVw/HCdl_abA47k/s1600/CIMG4004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I64e3T-I/AAAAAAAAAVw/HCdl_abA47k/s400/CIMG4004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507349202007969762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I6bS9c4I/AAAAAAAAAVo/ZePYN0Uj07Y/s1600/CIMG4005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I6bS9c4I/AAAAAAAAAVo/ZePYN0Uj07Y/s400/CIMG4005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507349194173412226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I58pE5lI/AAAAAAAAAVg/QMPbe0dRoog/s1600/CIMG4007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4I58pE5lI/AAAAAAAAAVg/QMPbe0dRoog/s400/CIMG4007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507349185944675922" /></a><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-24797271806244342842010-08-19T23:51:00.005-04:002010-08-26T04:29:00.356-04:00Day 43: Craig, CO - Masadona, CO<div>Time: 6:32.39</div><div>Distance: 109.73km</div><div>Average Speed: 16.7km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>I have never cycled into the wind for so many hours. Most of the day was through barren desert land up and down hill. At times today I questioned why I was doing this cycle. It was probably the toughest day as the distances between towns was so great, the wind never stopped and the climbs kept throwing themselves at us. A big piece of glass managed to slash my front tire also. Luckily, I now carry a spare as well as a few tubes. We stayed in a trailer park miles away from anywhere. I got talking to some of the people who lived there and they invited us to beers at their bonfire. It was a long night but good fun.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DkB7A8lI/AAAAAAAAAVY/PdPJZYvZqEE/s1600/CIMG3932.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DkB7A8lI/AAAAAAAAAVY/PdPJZYvZqEE/s400/CIMG3932.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507343311846830674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4Djl9C_6I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/iOYJKs_whQU/s1600/CIMG3947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4Djl9C_6I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/iOYJKs_whQU/s400/CIMG3947.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507343304339160994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DjPL1zFI/AAAAAAAAAVI/PMJESZu54II/s1600/CIMG3931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DjPL1zFI/AAAAAAAAAVI/PMJESZu54II/s400/CIMG3931.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507343298227194962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4Dij7VPfI/AAAAAAAAAVA/EOTvVGuqGmI/s1600/CIMG3962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4Dij7VPfI/AAAAAAAAAVA/EOTvVGuqGmI/s400/CIMG3962.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507343286615227890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DiT-ITOI/AAAAAAAAAU4/VnoN7l5GGkc/s1600/CIMG3963.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TG4DiT-ITOI/AAAAAAAAAU4/VnoN7l5GGkc/s400/CIMG3963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507343282331995362" /></a><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwlWkSY2mki3yC4PKXTDjnm4hY1OCgikEkT8k3oGB1QT7PV4g4kMOsfQP42cb20r2xFf3Hr1n3c-i4J2LtW8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-64340430369957566912010-08-18T02:56:00.004-04:002010-08-18T11:36:43.111-04:00Day 42: Slater, CO - Craig, COTime: 5:04:48<div>Distance: 98.40km</div><div>Average Speed: 19.3km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>We left our Wyoming campsite and entered Slater, a town with just a post office, for a few minutes. Another few miles took us to Baggs for our first proper food of the day where we ate in a Mexican place. It was 40 miles of mogul roads from there to Craig where we got a motel for the night having camped for the last 3 nights.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9CtXj33I/AAAAAAAAAUw/CT1JFlpUCAQ/s1600/CIMG3929.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9CtXj33I/AAAAAAAAAUw/CT1JFlpUCAQ/s400/CIMG3929.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506773192370544498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9B05_0bI/AAAAAAAAAUo/hSgxYNcW0Wo/s1600/CIMG3928.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9B05_0bI/AAAAAAAAAUo/hSgxYNcW0Wo/s400/CIMG3928.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506773177214161330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9BjXCalI/AAAAAAAAAUg/NNBibkww-D8/s1600/CIMG3927.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9BjXCalI/AAAAAAAAAUg/NNBibkww-D8/s400/CIMG3927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506773172504128082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9BRFmuJI/AAAAAAAAAUY/Oq1UipSncNw/s1600/CIMG3924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv9BRFmuJI/AAAAAAAAAUY/Oq1UipSncNw/s400/CIMG3924.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506773167599171730" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Paul Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15339361776748667760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-81743389190700548652010-08-17T23:31:00.007-04:002010-08-18T11:27:10.844-04:00Day 41: Saratoga, WY - Slater, CO<div>Time: 5:20:24</div><div>Distance: 102.28km</div><div>Average Speed: 19.1km/h</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The rain delayed us from leaving Saratoga but we managed to get out at around midday. Before we left Saratoga we met a man called David who has been cycling around America for the last 5 years. He's covered 8,000 miles now but stays in towns a little longer if he finds work. Just after lunch a pretty bad storm started. We were cycling uphill straight into strong wind, thunder and lightning. We had a few rain showers but got some shelter in the woods. The rain eased off towards the top of the climb and we eventually crossed the continental divide at almost 10,000ft. A long descent took us to a campsite just outside Slater, Colorado on the Wyoming border.</div></div><div><br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv7ZurJAdI/AAAAAAAAAUA/XsIapMe-eC8/s400/CIMG3910.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506771388834841042" /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv7aIgEcxI/AAAAAAAAAUI/4leJEArk43U/s400/CIMG3912.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506771395767726866" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv7aYA0EiI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/MUM3VR53Kok/s1600/CIMG3914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGv7aYA0EiI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/MUM3VR53Kok/s400/CIMG3914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506771399931597346" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwnbEGTgf34Zo2LUlHmZz0pqmf7AYmkC1_3rzw8v6ZWuqHZ3E54WSq4LOKAqY2aLfuO-6vAzDf_v5Q_o9pbvA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxupH1O-_KSfCUYle8d_tdHKjIIdBzqMkdPJBOmMGrW4r3JlJm34Oq5G0ugJtKpOYn4CwYv_LQi_Mynfp10Rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzs1atYJIo9NbLd81580J0WL8EAy2G3LWIF0UDQORoilGfoDTMkuZ1W_SUdOhl48Cx8zMmbOv4qU6Fv6Mc5nQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>RyanDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261495828797064804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-9197719971905554522010-08-17T22:56:00.001-04:002010-08-17T23:01:13.488-04:00Observations from a Cheap Yellow Bicycle<div><b>RV America</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Campsites make up about a third of our accomodations, and a few of them fulfilled the expectations of the term fully. The Thomas Mitchell Park in Mitchville, IA had scenic walking bridges, a fishing pond, and other amenities its visitors could enjoy. A day later we found the Springbrook State Park to be much in the same mold, maintained by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and two older caretakers who decided to stay committed to their regular schedule of grass cutting, despite mandatory cutbacks from the state office. Both sites appeared to be a logical place for a young family to spend a weekend, and it seemed many did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most campsites we walked the bicycles into, however, were not like Springbrook or Mitchell Park. They did not have swimming areas, basketball courts, nature trails or were next to dams. There were no lawn to throw a frisbee or pavillions to have a picnic under. We peddled slowly into the Cottonwood Campground in Ligonier, Indiana because the driveway was gravel and hard on the tires. The grounds was no more than an acre or two along the road with a loop made with crushed stones, a shack designated as the bathroom, and four RV campers. We knocked on the camper that was next to the sign "Manager." A woman with long gray hair and a wheathered face stepped out holding a cigarrette away from her. "What can I do for you, Honey," she asked. She would call us that often before we left the next day. She only charged us for one tent because ours were both small and and her boss was away and be none the wiser, she explained. It was an offer made by every such campsite host, each of which was older, tired looking, and mildly intrigued at the sight of us. Rain was on its way that night, and if the lightening was too much we were to go into the bathroom and wait it out. In the end, Paul dealt with it by turning on his iPod, eating Gobstoppers and drinking whisky from a naggin while he got wet, while I slept soundly enough a few feet away in my own tent. </div><div><br /></div><div>The four RVs were quiet as it grew dark, offering little clues about the people inside them. I did not know if they were people who bought a camper and pulled it into the Cottonwood Campground to get away for the summer, because I did not know what they would be getting away from in a pulloff on the edge of Ligonier, Indiana. I did not know what staying in a condensed living space in a condensed community offered them, of if it was enjoyable. I could not state that buying a camper was getting something of their own and that living in it for the summer was proof to them that they still had some control over the world they lived in. The only thing certain was that they, unlike Paul and myself in our small tents, did not get wet as the rain continued.</div><div><br /></div><div>I awoke to find Paul staring at his drooping tent with his arms limp at his side, the empty naggin in his back pocket. We shook out the rainflies the best we could, getting the front of our shirts wet again. "A big storm is on its way," the camp manager said, stepping gingerly through the wet grass. "The weather channel shows it getting here in an hour and a half. Honey, maybe you can stick around until it passes." Paul and I looked at each other. After reasoning through various scenarios with our host in the end we headed into town to eat breakfast, leaving half of our clothes in the dryer and 50 cents on top of it so the manager could put the second load in while we were waited out the storm in a cafe. While we loaded our bikes a tall, round shouldered man with bleached hair all the way around his body came out without his shirt. "Big ass storm on its way," he said. "You're going to get soaked on those bikes."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Bigger than last night's?" I asked.</div><div><br /></div><div>"It will make last night look like a sprinkle," he said, laughing. "Do what you want, but..." He walked away, shaking his head and smiling to himself. As we left the driveway another man emerged from his RV in a greasy ball cap.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Hell of a storm on its way," he said. He grinned, exposing heavy plaque on his teeth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Paul and I sat in a Subway, using their free wi-fi to plan our route for the day. Empty sandwhich wrappers were pushed to the side of the table, with a few piece of lettuce and half-eaten tomato that fell out of the bread rollls. A young girl was at the cashier, looking over at us often because we were her only customers. She energetically brought us a pen and sub wrapping paper to write on when we asked for them, and filled our water bottles from behind the counter. It began to sprinkle, but it did so through sunshine, and then the timid rain stopped. When we mounted the bikes again I almost felt bad, because I knew the people at the Cottonwood Campground in Ligonier, Indiana in some way needed that storm, much worse than we needed to avoid it. </div>RyanDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261495828797064804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087797701523978383.post-74723901533559972892010-08-16T12:38:00.005-04:002010-08-16T13:12:53.637-04:00Day 40: Centennial, WY - Saratoga, WY<div>Time: 5:21:07</div><div>Distance: 89.33km</div><div>Average Speed: 16.6km/h</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't get much sleep last night because of the cold even though I was wearing nearly all the clothes in my bags. We spent over 2 hours climbing to an altitude of over 10,000ft in the Snowy Mountains and were lucky enough to see some moose on the way up. This has been the most scenic day so far. After the climb there was a descent of around 3000ft which brought us into the town of the hot springs, Saratoga. We spent the evening in the public hot springs before camping beside Saratoga Lake.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGlxGHAVi7I/AAAAAAAAATo/4_RRL5klS7E/s1600/CIMG3894.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGlxGHAVi7I/AAAAAAAAATo/4_RRL5klS7E/s400/CIMG3894.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506056369210756018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGlxHRWndII/AAAAAAAAAT4/PnOWr2fP03Q/s1600/CIMG3875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGlxHRWndII/AAAAAAAAAT4/PnOWr2fP03Q/s400/CIMG3875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506056389168428162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dOLrfMKvNdY/TGlxGotZ63I/AAAAAAAAATw/Yr7rLArhl4w/s1600/CIMG3888.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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