The Long Bike Back

On Monday September 1^st we traveled through a cold rain (our first day of rain) from Casper to Lusk, Wyoming.  The chilly temps were compounded by wind- but it was finally a tail wind! (at least for the first half of the day)

Pearson and Pete rode mountain bikes for 20 miles on an unpaved gravel road (Tank Farm Road) to avoid the interstate. 

Pearson & Pete off-roading on Tank Farm Road in Wyoming (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Just as they turned onto Tank Farm Road Pearson got a flat tire (#9 for those who are counting).  And halfway through the dirt ride Pete was charged by a cow.

Pearson with another flat rear tire (Photo by Julia Wrona)

We stopped in Douglas, WY to warm up, eat and wish the rain away (which worked for a while).  P&P made 101 miles (after the long 137 mile day to Casper!) but had to stop 10 miles outside of Lusk because it was too dark to continue. 

On Tuesday September 2^nd we began again 10 miles west of Lusk and traveled across the Nebraska border to Chadron, NE. 

Julia filming Pearson & Pete riding into Nebraska. (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

As soon as we crossed the border we were greeted by friendly people: waves from drivers, smiles from strangers and people chatting with us every time we stopped.

We found great hospitality and excitement about our project from Annette and her family at the Bunk House Motel.  She even called the local media for us.  Check out the article from the Chadron Record.

On Wednesday Sept 3^rd Meghan, Pearson and I took the day and drove up to South Dakota to briefly explore the Badlands and see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.  We had a great time and can’t wait to return to spend more time in the Badlands.

Julia & Pearson in Badlands (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Thursday Sept 4^th we found a big itinerary snafu.  Chadron to Valentine was listed as a long, but manageable 109 miles, but was actually 139 miles.  To make the day longer and more painful there are large cracks across the road- sometimes unfilled, sometimes covered with loose gravel- every 100^th of a mile.  The unrelenting road condition did quite a number on P&P’s wrists, arms and saddles and really hurt Pearson’s back and knee.

Gravel covered cracks on Route 20 in Nebraska (Photo by Julia Wrona)

When we arrived in Valentine late in the evening (after crossing into Central Time) we met Howard the super nice and hospitable owner of the Motel Raine who very generously put us up for free!

Somehow Pearson and Pete got up on Friday September 5^th and rode 115 miles (which makes 564 miles in 5 days of cycling) to O’Neill, Nebraska. 

Late in the afternoon we passed the halfway point of the country/ trip: Stuart, Nebraska.  We stopped and had a champagne celebration which was bittersweet because while it’s great to make progress, we don’t want to see the trip end.

Pearson & Pete toasting the halfway mark (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Meghan, Julia, Pearson & Pete celebrating halfway!

Today we’re traveling to Randolph, Nebraska and unfortunately it will be our last night in Nebraska.  The people here have been so friendly and hospitable and we can’t wait to return and spend more time!

Thank you to everyone for your comments and support!

Best, Julia

On Thursday August 28^th we left Yellowstone (and the comfort of great home cooking) and returned to the road traveling to Emblem, WY (population: 10).  Just outside of Yellowstone we traveled through a forest fire, the smoke was so thick it blocked the sun and cast a strangely beautiful orange hue over the mountainous desert landscape.

Pearson rides into forest fire (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Friday August 29^th P&P rode through swift head winds to Thermopolis, WY.  Somehow the head wind followed them even after Route 20 turned from Eastbound to Southbound.  Poor Pearson suffered two more flat tires (the total is up to eight) but on the bright side he’s getting better at changing the tubes.

Pearson's Plagued Tires (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Saturday we relaxed in Thermopolis, home of the world’s largest Hot Springs.  Pearson and I are celebrated our 1^st anniversary a few days early by popping a very nice bottle of red wine that Patti & Jeff Evans gave us while we were in Bend, OR. 

Julia & Pearson's 1st Wedding Anniversary Toast (photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson tried out a unicycle at the hotel but decided to stick with two wheels for the rest of this trip.

Pearson learns he needs two wheels (photo by Julia Wrona)

Sunday August 31^st P&P completed the longest ride of the trip: 137 miles to Casper, WY. Their saddle sores worsened, but otherwise it was a successful ride.

Pearson & Pete in the Desert (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On a more personal note—now that we’ve returned to the sparsely populated desert, with 50+ miles between gas stations, stores and rest stops, it’s again become a challenge to find restroom “facilities”.  I’ve never been picky, but shallow ditches and low shrubs don’t work easily on the trafficked Wyoming roads like they did in Oregon: where we didn’t pass another car for half an hour or more.

Today we’re off to Lusk, WY—a small town that I’ve heard a lot about and am excited to check out.

I’m sitting in Thermopolis, Wyoming, in an old Holiday Inn, that has a gun display in the lobby.  My body is sore this morning, but I’m itching to get on my bike today.  Tonight we’ll stop in Casper, Wyoming, 134 miles down the road. 

All in all though things are going well, thanks for everyone’s ideas about my flat tires, although a few flats are nothing shocking, what is, is the awful condition of the roads.  The shoulders are full of jagged rocks, trailer spikes, endless broken glass and miles of worthless rumble strips. That said I would say that my bikes have held up well to the brutal punishment.

I have been keeping a riding journal, which I intend to share here, although today is not the day. 

I will mention that we’ve ridden through nothing short of amazing country.  Idaho blew my mind, Yellowstone was remarkable and peculiar with the last seven miles to the east entrance being the best cycling so far in the trip, all down hill for 3000+ feet at 40 mph.

Shortly after we crossed through the North Absaroka Wilderness, part of the Shonshone National Forest where the Gunbarrel Forest Fire coated the sky with an enormous smoke canopy for the remaining 60 miles to Emblem, Wyoming.  It was a stunning sight, incredibly beautiful yet destructive and horrifying, a sight I will not soon forget.

Currently I’m thinking about New Orleans, thinking about the future of our country and hoping nothing but the best for every person in this great land. 

Best –

Pearson

On Saturday August 23rd we started the morning with an interview for KIDK, the CBS affiliate in Idaho Falls http://www.kidk.com/news/27335964.html.  Pearson and Pete then cycled to West Yellowstone along the heavily trafficked, but beautiful Route 20.  Again facing a head wind, (who said that the wind always travels west to east?) so both P&P tried out The PAT.

Julia filming Pearson & Pete riding with "The PAT" (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Towards the end of the day P&P crossed continental divide, entered Montana, rode the entire 10 miles of Route 20 in Montana and crossed into Wyoming.

Pearson & Pete Entering Montana (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Sunday August 24th we took a rest day from riding and drove to Jackson WY, through the Grand Tetons (where we spotted a grizzly bear), through Yellowstone National Park and landed in Gardiner MT.  My Dad, Len, and his wife, Lisa, rented a huge house for us just outside the North entrance to Yellowstone and brought Lisa’s father, John, to tour Yellowstone (his lifelong dream). 

View of Jackson, WY along the drive from Idaho Falls (Photo by Julia Wrona)

On Monday August 25th P&P rode from West Yellowstone to Pumice Point on Yellowstone Lake.  Meghan, Erin and I trailed them, filming and photographing their progress through the park and across two continental divides.  We stopped to have lunch and walk around the truly one-of-a-kind Grand Prismatic Spring.

Pete at the 2nd Continental Divide (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Tuesday August 26th we took another day off to catch up on some work and tour the beauty of Yellowstone.  We witnessed many Bison in the road, blocking/ leading traffic and a herd of Elk crossing the road at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Elk crossing road at Mammoth Hot Springs (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Elk along the road in Yellowstone (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Pearson and I took a brief bike ride around Gardiner, MT and somehow Pearson found himself with another flat rear tire.

Julia & Pearson after a bike ride in Gardiner, MT

Pearson and his constantly flat tires (Photo by Julia Wrona)

On Wednesday August 27th Pearson and Pete cycled from Pumice Point to the east entrance of Yellowstone- a windy ride up the mountain and speedy 39mph decent.

Pearson stops to look at (and try to fix) a bus along a mountain pass in Yellowstone (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Tomorrow we will travel (riding and filming) 85 miles to Emblem, WY.

All best,

Julia

Sunset Friday August 22, 2008

On Friday Aug 22^nd  Pearson & Pete rode from Butte City to Idaho Falls.  After Pete stopped in Idaho Falls to meet Erin (his girlfiriend) at the airport, Pearson continued on towards St. Anthony, Idaho. 

Since he was facing a head wind Pearson decided to try The Personal Air Transference System (The PAT).  Inspired by an idea from Pat Sheridan he attached at a golf club to the front of his bike (in order to split the wind around him) and increased his speed by 2.5mph.  His ride ended just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Pearson using The PAT (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Wind on the Moon

On Thursday Aug 21^st P&P rode with 25mph+ tail winds to Butte City, Idaho passing through Craters of the Moon.  We all walked to the top of a hill at Craters where winds toped more than 50 mph- it was like being in a wind tunnel at the top of the world.

Pearson at the top of Craters of the Moon in windy Idaho (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson suffered 2 flat tires on his on Raleigh Bike.  Tired of changing tubes he cracked out his mountain bike, only for it to go flat as he approached Butte City.

Pearson fixes yet another flat tire

Beauty, Ease & Speed

On Wed Aug 20^th Pearson and Pete cycled to Fairfield, Idaho in cooler weather with a tail wind- making for a speedy ride time.  The Idaho high desert is beautiful and the low clouds were made in photography/ filming heaven.

Route 20 Idaho

Pearson & Pete Entering Idaho (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

We arrived in Boise Idaho last night and had a nice rest day today– we finally got some sleep.  

Flat #2 at the Snake River on the Oregon/Idaho Border

Pearson had another flat tire just before entering Idaho and this time changing the tube went much more smoothly.  Unfortunately, his back rim was bent and the 3rd day of 110+ degrees fried his bike computer- so we made a trip to Pedersen’s Sports in Boise today and Michael Weiser was fabulously helpful: tuning up both Pearson and Pete’s bikes!

We’re off to Fairfield Idaho tomorrow- through a long detour around US 20s merge with I-84.

All best, Julia

Pearson & Pete ride through the High Desert (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

We’ve spent two days traveling through the Oregon desert on Route 20.  On Friday Pearson and Pete rode 106 miles from Bend to Riley in 110 degree heat, fighting the wind most of the way.  Saturday they faced an even more severe head wind for the entire 68 miles from Riley to Stinking Water Pass, but the heat relented to 103.

Pearson & Pete Filling Water Bottles with Ice (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Saturday the gravelly road gave Pearson the first flat tire of the trip and he found changing the tube to be quite a challenge on his new Raleigh Bike.

Pearson Fixing a Flat

The diversity of landscapes (mountains, lakes, desert, city, farms…) through Oregon has made for beautiful shots of Pearson and Pete riding and the sunsets have been breathtaking.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on the progress and hopefully add some video soon.  Thanks for all the support and comments!  

Best, Julia

Pearson & Pete at Route 20's Beginning in Newport Oregon

Pearson and Pete began their cross-country bicycle trip on Nye Beach in Newport Oregon at sunrise on Pearson’s 30th birthday (Tuesday Aug. 12th), they cycled hard and fast for 96 miles to Sweet Home Oregon. Meghan Sheridan (our amazing driver and photographer) and I followed/chased them in our van filming every step of the way.  

Meghan, Pearson, Julia & Pete at Nye Beach in Newport Oregon

After a brief birthday celebration and a short rest we continued our trip on wednesday through the grueling 96 miles of Cascade Mountains from Sweet Home to Bend Oregon.  Pearson rode like an animal,  killing the 4250 foot, 4650 foot and 6400 foot mountain passes in just over 7 hours of pedaling!

Pearson on a brief food break in the Cascade Mountains

Our rest day today in Bend Oregon was great.  We had two media interviews, one for KTVZ Channel 21 and one on KBND Radio News.  We toured the Deschutes Brewery and hung out with Jeff and Patti Evans, two terrific and generous local cyclists.

In addition to touring this incredible country we’ve been receiving a good deal of media attention here are a few links to recent articles:

Gazette Times - Corvallis, Oregon

Newport News Times - Newport, Oregon

Skaneateles Journal - Skaneateles, New York

Auburn Citizen - Auburn, New York

We begin moving again tomorrow, 108 miles into the Oregon Desert in what are anticipated to be record high temperatures.

From a stop in Little America, Wyoming

We’re one day away from Oregon and three days away from the start of the cross-country bike ride!  We’ve been driving across this incredible country- seeing by car the diverse landscape and people.  It’s been eye-opening and has further built our anticipation to truly experience this vast country at 15-20 mph and meet the people in the places we’ve just buzzed through.

All best,

Pearson & Julia