Day 57 / Oregon the last state

Made it to Oregon today! The heat out here is blazing. The past two days have been 102 and it's only supposed to get worse, calling for 108 on Tuesday. I'm forced to get up early and get on the bike as quick as possible before the heat hits. I can't believe it but I will be biking onto the Pacific Ocean on Saturday July 6th. At this point I'm really not sure how to think about what I have experienced. It's been a long way. The U.S. is actually extremely large haha. 

What have I learned so far? Don't bike near geese. West Virginia is in fact wild and wonderful. It's windy as hell in Wyoming. Iowa is not flat and actually produces more corn than Nebraska. Put more than the recommended amount of cream on to avoid chafing (you probably didn't need to hear that one). It's not possible to replace 5000 calories in one sitting, no matter how hard you try. Indiana and Illinois are both full of crop fields with a grid of roads running through it. Idaho really does smell like potatoes. And Ohio well Ohio is just Ohio. 

But I have also learned that you never know what you'll find or who you'll meet. I shared experiences with some great people that I hope to see again someday. Sometimes it would be hard to leave a place because I wanted to get to know the people there more. 

Anyway I know that I'm not quite finished yet but I'm close now and I'm starting to feel it. I can't help but to begin to reflect on all of this. I just barely scratched the surface on what I've been through. This Saturday when I pull up on the beach I can guarantee I will cry like a little girl. So if anyone wants to watch that in person fly out to Eugene Oregon. If not I'm sure there will be a video thanks to my mom and dad. Speaking of mom and dad without their support this wouldn't have been possible to thanks and I love you guys. 

Remember it's like Zach would say: REFUSE MEDIOCRITY. If this isn't proof that you can accomplish your dreams I don't know where else you'll find it. 

Crossing the Oregon-Idaho border 

Day 56 / Boise Idaho!

Made it to Boise today! Been going 11 days straight now since Cheyenne Wyoming. I'll be rolling into Oregon tomorrow my last state! Only about 500 miles left to go.

Biked through more desert today:

Boise

Started the day by climbing this monster

Canyons

Planning to finish next Sunday July 6th!! It's unreal, been a long journey.

Days 54 + 55 / Back to the desert and it's HOT

So yesterday and today the landscape has progressively switched back to desert. And today was the high point of this record setting heat wave, 102 degrees! I still managed to do 88 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes, not too bad. Not too many pictures to share everything looks the same, you aren't missing much. Tomorrow I'll be in Boise and then the next day I'll be in Oregon!! Under 600 miles to go now and I passed to 3,000 mile mark.

Flat Tire number 2....

"Snake River"

Random pond with a pelican

Day 53, The Land of Potatoes

Idaho has been beautiful to ride through so far. I made it another 83 miles to Pocatello today. Apparently a record setting heatwave is coming for this weekend which should make things interesting. Enjoy these pictures of the land of potatoes!

Descended that mountain at around 35 mph, felt great after climbing it on the other side

In the middle of climbing that mountain in the picture above

Day 52 / Nine planets round the sun, Only one does the sun embrace

Today was hands down the most beautiful cycling I have ever done in my life. Idaho is amazing. Green meadows and streams with mountains everywhere. For about 2 miles I was winding my way through huge mountains. If anyone has the chance to bike on U.S. 30 west of Kemmerer DO IT!! It will be the best 75 miles you ever bike in your life. Just check out these pictures

IDAHO

Wild Horses!!

Finally out of Wyoming and with this landscape I couldn't be happier about it. Out of the windy dry desert. Wyoming you were fun but now only two states between me and the Pacific Ocean! Tomorrow I go 85 miles from Montpelier to Pocatello ID.

Here's a video I took today:

Days 49, 50 + 51/ Am I right side up or upside down? Is this real or am I dreaming?

This post will hands down have the best pictures of the entire trip so far. Wyoming is beautiful but it is extremely difficult to bike through. The terrain is unpredictable and the wind is powerful. Crosswinds of 30+ mph throw me to the side and headwinds of 30+ mph cause me to struggle to go down hill. It's brutal out here but the views are worth it. The past three days we went from Rawlins to Rock Springs to Green River to Kemmerer. I managed to run over a tiny brass nail which popped my tube and then I hit a bump and dented my rear wheel. Luckily Rock Springs is home to the store Bike and Trike! The guys there hooked me up and fixed my tire and I was back on my way! Huge thanks to Blair a SigEp alumni from Wyoming Alpha who treated us to breakfast at the restaurant he owns, The Krazy Moose! He also told us to check out the Flaming Gorge Reservoir about 70 miles south of Green River and we are so glad we made the trip down there. It was amazing. We also made a trip 40 miles north of Green River to Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuse where we swam in the clearest river I've ever seen. We also saw a moose which was a first for me. We also had a great time in Rock Springs, met some pretty awesome people!

Tomorrow I'll finally enter into Idaho!! Then only two states separate me from the Pacific Ocean. Getting close now I can feel it.

The Flaming Gorge Reservoir

The Green River we swam in

Driving to Flaming Gorge

This is what your hands look like after changing a tube

Riding to Rock Springs

Riding to Green River

Driving to Flaming Gorge

Days 47 + 48 / The Virginian Hotel and The Great Continental Divide

The past two days have been filled with amazing views and empty land of southern Wyoming. There is hardly anything out here. Yesterday we stayed in Medicine Bow a town of only 285 people. However, they had a 102 year old hotel that has become famous over the years. The people were very very nice and the food was phenomenal. It was definitely a weird experience spending a night in a town that has half the amount of people of my high school senior class.

Then today we went on and passed through the town of Rawlins. About ten miles west of the town I passed the Continental Divide which was a much needed confidence boost. The past two days I've been battling 20 to 30 mph headwind. A few times today  I had to shift up to go downhill... it's a struggle but slowly but surely we keep going. Because towns are so sparse out here I've had to bike further than the town then hop in the sag and drive backwards to stay for the night. If it wasn't for Joe this part of the trip would be dreadful. So tomorrow I'll have about 75 miles to get to Rock Springs, WY and I'll be dealing with more strong headwinds. Long days ahead but only about 1,000 miles left!!

Snowy mountain tops in June

East Allen lake in Medicine Bow

Big Nose George wanted for $1,000

Joe and I at the Virginian. The manager said grab a bottle for the picture haha

The original bar built in 1911

Days 45 + 46 / Day off in Cheyenne and University of Wyoming SigEp

Had a fantastic day off in Cheyenne. It was much needed after the 495 miles or so from Omaha to Cheyenne. My Brother Steve drove up from Denver to visit me! We had an awesome time. Carolynn flew back home and now my buddy Joe from high school is driving the sag vehicle until we finish!

Today I biked from outside Cheyenne (due to the hail) to Laramie where the University of Wyoming is.  It was the most beautiful 67 miles I have ever biked. I biked through forests and up mountains winding my way to this awesome college town. I had to climb a total 4,432 feet but the views were well worth it. Over the next few days I'll be biking through the southern part of Wyoming until I get to Idaho. It should take me about 4 days to get there. We are forced to go a sort of indirect route because there are so few towns out here and finding a place to crash for the night is tough. But it's all part of the adventure!

Me and Steve enjoying well deserved Guinness

The elevation here was about 8,800 feet

Before the climb

Univ of Wyoming SigEp

Days 43 and 44, Traveling through time and only 3 states left!!

The past two days have been awesome and I'm finally out of Nebraska. Yesterday I did 126 miles and today I did 85... I was supposed to do 100 but I had to stop 15 miles short due to hail (video below) and my first experience with hail haha. On Wednesday I'll start from where I took shelter and bike to Laramie, WY. 9 states down and only 3 to go. Pictures and videos below will tell you all you need to know about the last 200 miles in Nebraska. It's time for Wyoming!

After 126 miles

6324 calories burned

Let the climbing begin

Exhausted after 126 miles

Views of the west

Storm building

Leaving Nebraska

Wyoming-Nebraska State Line

Stuck on a dirt road...cmon Garmin