My TA has begun

[Tim]

So i started my TA ride.  166 miles so far.  Left Bridgeport MCMWTC (marine corps mountain warfare training center) 3 days ago.  Great conditions along the route.  I took the 395 south to 120 east.  Gained Benton Crossing on day 2.  Slept on Montgomery Pass and dropped down into the NV desert (sweet downhill for 30 miles).  Riding was pleasent until 10 miles out of Tonopah NV.  Spirit CRUSHING headwinds, a grade into Tonopah with day time temps 98 degees.  Folks telling me this was a record heatwave.  I collapsed and had to be taken to the ER for 3 water bags (IV).  All was good after that...  Rest day today and I'll start night riding tomorrow.





My life savers.


Watch your heat out there. 

I'm off tomorrow for another 60 and then off to Rachel (Alien country)

click here to follow along.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0czmuvpr6othV24m8yUyZOOINpDHzYalt

[Ronn]

Goood Luck !! Take it easier   out their 

[wpotts]

Right on Brother

[BikeFreak]

Great report and great pics. But why does your SPOT GPS only show data for a very short distance? I will also be carrying a SPOT device on my tour which starts in roughly 35 days and I'm very happy to see how well your device works.

Lucas

[John Nelson]

why does your SPOT GPS only show data for a very short distance?

Did you notice in the lower left of the screen there is a "Page 1 of N" display? Look at the other pages.

[BikeFreak]

Did you notice in the lower left of the screen there is a "Page 1 of N" display? Look at the other pages.

Off topic:
No, I did not. But now it works. I have to admit: The device itself is beautifully engineered, but the online services are extremely poor. I'm a bit worried that all my friends and relatives will never grasp how the data points are displayed once I give them the link. I mean: If I can't figure it out - how should they?
Lucas

[SFGary]

Hi Tim,

Don't be Mr. Superman, take care of yourself, you need to complete the ride.

Gary

[Tim]

SFGary thanks buddy and will do.  But today my body came on line.  Rt93 through NV was AMAZING today.  But what a difference a day makes. 

http://youtu.be/Wo_ZpCOTFbU

Re: SPOT.  This device is awesome!!  DO NOT! Use their Adventure Spot site.  They will be making bchanges to the site in May.  For now use their Follow me SPOT site (the one you see on my site).

LOVE TOURING!!!!

As stoked as I am in this video, I think this picture says it all about the 25 mph soul crushing headwind I hit 40 miles from the Alien Inn at Rachel NV (a must visit).  Took me all day to gain Rachel.  The owner told me about bike tours that come though during the summer...  INSANE!

[tsteven4]

Tim,

Congratulations on reaching Colorado.  If you decide to head uphill from Cortez some of the most beautiful mountains in the state await you, lizard head on 145 or molas,  coal bank, red mountain on 550.  Best wishes whatever way you choose.

Steve

[Tim]

Steven
Just got into Cortez.  Tomorrow is a rest day...  A much needed rest day.  After that I'll pick up the WE to Pubelo.  So yes I'll be heading to Dolores to Lizard to Rico, to Montrose and on to the big hill at Monarch Pass.  Today's heat across the 160 (Mexican Water to Teec Nos Pos to Cortez) was mean.  Like I said earlier "I have no clue how people would tour across the WE After April".  Todays temp was a searing 97 degrees - pizza oven! I'll post up pics soon.  The 4 corners was really nice.  Tail winds into Cortez. 

For anyone heading into the WE, plan your water supply points & services carefully or ride at night.


Taken just north of St George UT on Rt18


Lake Powell (Page AZ)

[Cowboy Bill]

Hello Tim,
Have a great ride!  I would be heading your way right now...TA E/W...but I made the mistake of seeing a doctor first!  I've got a little fibrillation to take care of, then I'll be out there!
Sitting here amidst maps and panniers, all I can say from one Marine to another is....Semper fi!!

Cowboy Bill

[MrBent]

Hey, Tim:  Way to hang in there.  Of course we'd expect nothing else from a Marine!    Truly brutal heat.  You've gotten some bad luck in that area for sure.  It shouldn't be so hot this time of year.  Now think of all the wonderful humidity you have to look forward to in the Midwest and East.  Ah, the truth is found in the turning of the pedals.  I'm heading out on a tour myself in a couple of days, even raising a few bucks for the Wounded Warrior Project.  I totally respect the commitment and sacrifice you make for us.

Ride well and keep the rubber on the road.

Scott

[Tim]

Wanted to update this group..  So far I got hit with a pretty heavy snow on Lizard Head.  Glad to have ALL of my storm gear.  Used every piece (Gortex Jacket, Arterex Pants, Synthetic jacket, Winter gloves, & Booties).  Freakin cold out of Rico CO.  The climb was pretty mild.  But once I was 5 miles from the summit all hell broke loose. 

http://youtu.be/esxv3OXYegs

After stripping down to the skin I jumped into warm DRY gear and huddled in the NFS shack at the summit.  Waited for the storm cell to pass and then hauled ass down hill.  THANK GOD for my goretex gloves.  If you ever ride in these conditions I cannot stress how important a good set of gloves can be.  Got into Telluride and settled in.  What a great town.  Because I'm riding for wounded Marines and sailors the Brown Dog Bar treated me like a king.  Left the next morning and rode allllllllllllllll the way downhill to Ridgeway CO.    Stopped in at the True Grit cafe (Movie True Grit was filmed and settled in for the night.  Up the next morning for a casual ride to Montrose (28 miles with a grat tailwind).  Left the next day for the grind up the Ciero Pass (8,000ft).  1 word SUCKED!  Long long grade and it was hot boxing most of the way up (No wind just the wicked solar heat).  Down into Cimmarron CO and a bite to eat at this tiny cafe (Pleasant Valley) for a killer double hamburger.  Great guy at the cafe and former Marine (Tim).  Next came the sneaky grade from hell.  Climbing out of Cimmeron was a bitch.  I made it to Sapinero CO and stayed at this great Gen Store / Bar / Cabins.  Jim and Gerry are great people and put me up in...  The Love shack.  Thats the name above the door way.  No shit.






Today I got up p at 7am and took off hoping to make Sargents.  Right now I'm sitting in front of the General Store using their wireless to up load this.  Temps are expected to drop below freezing with a slight chance of snow.  Tomorrow I will wait for a weather window to attack Monarch Pass.  Suppose to be clear in the morning....  Its storming on the summit right now.  No one said it was gonna be a fair fight.   

Gotta go set up my bivy for the night.

Stay tuned, its gonna be a good one.

[Tim]

Kansas sucks big time!!!  Yesterday - 30 mph (gusting to 40) headwinds between Cassoday and Rosalia KS.  5mph avrage speed.  Temps in the 90's.  Getting into Eureka KS was like driving the bike into a jet turbine.  I was 10 ft from the guy riding with me and we couldn't hear shit.  SSE winds all through the state.  NOT ONE FRIGGEN TAIL WIND.  Worst part of the ride hands down.

If I have to drink hot well water and eat from a Sinclare station one more time, I think I'll....  I'll be in MO tomorrow.  Thank god.  Chanute is the only real town in KS on the TA.  Everything else is boarded up and depressed.  Fly over this miserable state before riding one foot.

note:  do not drink the water on rt 96 unless it comes from an RF tap.  The owners of the stations will tell you first. 

[John Nelson]

I rode the TA through Kansas east to west in 2010. It was wonderful. Tailwinds and friendly people across the whole state. Camped in lush city parks and swam for free in swimming pools in every town. Visited some great little museums and ran into interesting community events. Sorry your Kansas experience was not as good.