Day 13: Crook to ~North Platte

learning about vulcanization

Oh and looks like I should cross into central time zone from mountain time later today, or I already have, I’m not sure where the line is exactly. Haven’t seen any road signs mentioning it

Oh, and in Nebraska!

More wheel issues earlier. Seems like it’s resolved for now. Will make it to North Platte this afternoon - hoping to get a new spare tube there, maybe Walmart?? Quick stop to eat, rest, and charge phone

not what you want to see before you start a ride. Both tubes out, hopefully fixed . Pumped now. Sorry for terse update but just get me out of Colorado. Hopefully get to the border before noon

Second puncture of the day at dusk! Oof. Was about 6 miles from potential campsite. Popped the front light on and carefully rode in. The nice lady at trucker stop gas station said I could pitch tent next to the big semis. Time to patch some tubes and sleeeeep

Rain! Thunderstorm! Not my first one of the trip, but I managed to duck into a gas station just minutes before it picked up. Guess gas station dinner it is, then have a bit more before calling it a day. Rain should let up within the hour

Couple snacks at Safeway and lil meal at Taco Bell to start the day

Starting my day! Wet feet should dry up soon. Nice temperature this morning. Not sure my end destination today, but I mapped out if I hit around 130miles/day for the remainder, I’ll finish at the end of day 26, so that’ll be my new target mileage. Excited to see what no climbing feels like today :)

Currently having dinner in Fort Collins. Got rained on coming down from the Rockies and made it into town a short while ago. Found a campsite on Google Maps and heading there in next few minutes to get some rest

Oh! The CBS Sacramento piece was published last night and I watched it this morning. Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet!

Update from this morning got lost :/ Stopped in Walden for some breakfast - huevos rancheros and some tacos. Wanted to get a cinnamon roll but they were all sold out. Then set out for tallest peak on the trip and summited around 2pm

Okay! So that extra 10 miles today turned out to be the first big climb for tomorrow! Tomorrow is now looking leaner than ever, and I’m sleeping at 9,300ft tonight. I’m bundled up! Met these 2 guys on touring motorcycles who zoomed by me in the climb up and are at the campsite over from me. They’re on day 55 of a 60 day trip. They took their bikes from Indiana all the way up to the Arctic Circle! Going to prioritize a good night’s rest again. Hopefully up and going by 7 tomorrow. Tomorrow we hit 10k and then are done with mountains - bittersweet

Holy shmoly. Just finished interview with CBS Sacramento. Getting dinner and ditching town Airs 10pm tonight pacific

Made it to Steamboat Springs. Currently at library charging up and editing some vids. Need to get dinner, clock a few more miles, and find a place to pitch tent before nightfall. Gonna try and get some good snacks to fuel for morning tomorrow. Also might end up doing 10 extra miles later to cut down tomorrow by 10, looking out for my future self. How does my hair look?

Slept mucccch better last night. I almost didn’t pitch the rain fly and it did rain last night so I’m happy I did. Lunch stop in Craig today - about the midpoint between Dinosaur and Steamboat Springs. Quick recharge and sandwich before hopping back on the bike. Would like to get camp setup on the earlier side since I’ll want an early start tomorrow morning, so no dilly dallying. I ran into Elliot, @rollingonfoot, a few minutes into my ride this morning. He’s walking across the country from Nashville to Seattle. Today’s he’s on day 103.

Oooooooo!!!!! Okay. I think tomorrow flat 100 to Steam Boat springs and then FRIDAY: Steam Boat Springs to Fort Collins. Will be a big day

Crossed over into Colorado earlier today - it was a real doozie riding east across from Utah into a headwind, but can’t complain as I’ve been treated fairly from the wind gods nicely thus far. Had dinner in Dinosaur and pedaled on for a bit until making camp. Going to try and get more sleep tonight to see if that helps with eye puffiness. In sleeping bag now, and will have lights out by 9, alarm set for 6. Will make it through Craig tomorrow and need to now plan how far I’ll go past Craig. The next few days touch the highest elevation on the whole route, so I want to make sure I’m not camping in a spot that’s too cold or load too much elevation onto one day if I can split it up. I tried to find a postcard in Dinosaur, but the gas station attendant told me no one sold them - seems like a missed opportunity.

Puffy eyes this morning. Best sleep I’ve had recently. Stopped in Roosevelt for quick breakfast before continuing on to Dinosaur, CO

Made it to Duchesne. Nice steady climb up to Daniels Pass - meh drivers. I thought it was gonna be a straight shot down after summit, but more rolly hills at 7k feet which meant I planned timing poorly. Would’ve liked to finish earlier than I did, but it actually worked out alright - I was stressing a little about daylight when I was still 50 miles out at 5pm. It didn’t help that a thunderstorm that was on my coat tails much of the ride down from the top. Made a camp down by the river, shhh don’t tell anyone. Raining a bit; hopefully clothes dry a little by morning. Looks like heat wave is gone and now maybe rain for next few days as I enter Colorado. Need to get some better sleep tonight