Author: johnschilder

   •A 3,000 foot climb to start the morning.    •Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument     •The Hogback, a 4 mile stretch of cliffs with no guardrails and 14% grades up and down    •A long uphill and 12 mile decent in to Escalante.     •Ending the day drinking water like a fish, eating … Continue reading Day 36 (66 mi.) Escalante National Monument & The Hogback

Monday's ride was from Hog Springs through Capitol Reef National Park and up to Torrey. Not the easiest day but the most enjoyable. Some steep climbs but long and easy descents, all with amazing views. Highlights include a store built in to the side of a mountain, crazy rock formations, meeting a crew from Quebec … Continue reading Day 35 (85 mi.) Reef  National Park & Beating The Hail

The evening was filled with rain, but it looks like I have finally figured out how to properly place my tarp. At least this time.    Once the rain lightened up we set off to a very brash start to the day. An immediate 2,000 foot climb over 9 miles to Salvation Knoll Summit. From there … Continue reading Day 34 (78 mi.) Lake Powell & Hog Springs

Saturday, August 1 and it's now down to Utah, Nevada, and California.    We left the RV park where we left camp around 9am. Once again, I confused another RV park owner when I told him that I just had a hammock, no tent. He was kind enough to let me stay under his 2nd story … Continue reading Day 33 (101 mi.) Utah And Everything After . . .

   The morning began with an unexpected start. Our hosts Max and Hillary suggested we take the gondola (free public transit in the town of Telluride) to the top of the canyon to get us back on route while cutting out a forty minute climb. I am not much for heights and as I was … Continue reading Day 32 (67 mi.) Flying Bicycle!

Another rest day and more info about the reason I decided to begin this endeavor, the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti.  Please watch this video and help in spreading the word! “Every penny you donate to the St. Luke Foundation goes directly to the Hatian programs led by these amazing Hatian people. We raise funds through a grassroots … Continue reading Day 31 (rest) St. Luke’s Needs Your Support, Your Friendship. The Work Is Too Important, The Need Is Too Great

Wednesday start off MUCH better than Tuesday.  No wind and although there was some traffic there was plenty of shoulder.  The ride from Montrose to Ridgway was quite easy, although I had to change my leaky tube which was then punctured by a pinch-flat, which then turned in to another flat thanks to a staple.  … Continue reading Day 30 (64 mi.) “To Hell You Ride” AKA: Telluride

Tuesday was by far the most trying of the trip.  Four weeks and one day in I thought for a bit that I had reached my limit. Although the scenery was beautiful I had trouble taking it all in, which in retrospect is a shame.  The day began with exhaustion from the day before and a … Continue reading Day 29 (61 mi.) A Great Finish To A Rough Day

      Departure from Salida was at just before 9am, and I was a bit nervous because I decided to pull a Michael Scott the night before and eat nearly two boxes of whole wheat pasta. When we started the ride I was not feeling great. However, once we reached the first big climb … Continue reading Day 28 (65 mi.) The Contenential Divide

  Sunday we took it a bit easy.  Waking up just before 9am, having a bite to eat around a picnic table, and slowly pushing down though downtown Westcliffe.  It is a small but beautiful down with an amazing view of the Rockies, very friendly people, and from what I hear there is great fly fishing. … Continue reading Day 27 (48 mi.) The Day Before The BIG Climb at Monarch Pass