Happy Birthday to Art!

On the day that he turned 53, Art rode up and over Monarch Pass on the Continental Divide. At 11,312 ft, this is the highest point on their ride across the US. That night the boys overnighted in Salida, CO, where they plan to take a day off.

Some of you who have been following this blog have asked how this idea of riding across the country came about. Others have wondered what it takes to complete such a feat. On the occasion of Art's birthday, this might be a good time to answer some of those questions.

Art has been keen on the idea of riding cross country with Ben for some time now. It was not Ben's choice, but Art was waiting for Ben to get old enough to make the ride and hoping that he'd be up for it. Fortunately, Art got his wish before he got too old and creaky himself. I think Art decided that 15 was the right age, because he heard of another girl who made the same ride when she was 15. The summer that this girl rode cross country, Ben was 7. Her younger sister came to babysit and Art heard about the adventure. At that point, he seemed to set his sights on Ben's summer between 9th and 10th grade.

The details of planning the trip began last November with a subscription to Adventure Cycling. From there, Art obtained printed maps and used the online site (www.adventurecycling.com) to help plan his route. He bought two used touring bikes on eBay. He scoured sales at local bike shops for panniers, biking clothes and shoes, and lightweight equipment. He even drove to a small bike shop, Rivendell Bicycle Works, in Walnut Creek to get a new crank. In case anyone is interested, Art is now well-acquainted with the best local bike repair guy and would be happy to recommend a good local wheel guy.

Due to Ben's busy schedule, there was never much training or conditioning except for the occasional weekend ride. Once the boys rode to Pescadero and back but with unloaded bikes. Quite frankly, I was not in favor of this trip and in denial until the day they left.

"You're going to take how much time off of work?! You're going to spend how much money?! You're going to force Ben to give up his entire summer?!" Those were the types of questions that I was asking Art. Consequently, I don't know much about the itinerary. I don't know the route they are following or what schedule they are on. I am learning about it as it happens, just like you!

Some have asked if Art and Ben are cycling back to CA. They are not. It will take a full eight weeks to ride 3800 miles and they will fly back afterwards. Maryssa and I are scheduled to rendezvous with them on the east coast before they return. We have rented a house for a week on the Outer Banks with my sister and her family from Madison, NJ, Art's sister and her family from Philly, and our friends, the Heins family from DC. We hope that the boys arrive at the beginning of the week (Aug 12), but if they don't, that gives them a few more days to ride. Their final destination is Yorktown, VA. If they arrive after our rental begins, Art's brother-in-law, Larry will drive to pick them up.

Now, for the latest trip updates.

There were no fireworks in Monticello, UT on July 4th. Despite taking its name from the home of Thomas Jefferson, the small town of 1800 didn't put on a show. If they had stopped for the night in Blanding, UT, there might have been more excitement, but by the time he reached Monticello, Art was completely exhausted.

The next day, Art and Ben rode into CO. Somewhere between the towns of Delores and Stoner, they encountered their first bit of rain for about five miles. They spent their first CO overnight in Stoner. The modest accommodation was a cabin, but the dinner was incredible -- all prepared by the mother of the proprietor! For Art the vegetarian, she made homemade beans and a special egg dish. Ben had a meat dish. There was also homemade bread with a strawberry-rhubarb reduction. Delicious!

Temperatures in CO are considerably lower than they were in NV or UT -- much more conducive to biking. When Art and Ben start out the morning, it is in the low 50s and when they finish in the afternoon, it is in the upper 60s. They aren't as concerned about riding early in the day to beat the heat, so they aren't starting at 6 a.m. anymore. There are some hills to climb though. During the 54 miles between Stoner and Telluride, they rode over Lizard Head Pass (10,250 ft). Telluride is at 8775 ft.

Telluride is a beautiful town. Art surmises that there is a lot of "privilege and money" there. He met a few locals who live half the year in Telluride and half the year someplace else like Florida. Art likes to check property prices wherever he goes, so he looked at a listing for $1.4 million and thought that seemed comparable to other resort towns. Then he realized that it was just the price of a 37.5 ft wide empty lot. To get the house on the adjoining lot would cost another $2.5 million!

Our friend Jean drove up from Durango with her 7 yr old son, Ian, to meet them. To tour the area, they walked the groomed dirt trail to the free gondola that runs from 7 a.m. to midnight every day. It was fun to ride it from Telluride to the mountain village to the village parking lot and back. Overnight, Art, Ben, Jean, and Ian all camped in the Town Park. This "park" has tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a 10,000 seat festival theater where Bob Dylan will play on July 21!

At 10 a.m. the next morning, Art and Ben left Telluride to ride 69 miles to Montrose (5806 ft). They arrived at 4:15 p.m. and had a tough time finding a motel on 7/7/07. There wasn't much going on in that working class town. They were glad to be on their way to Gunnison the next day.

To ride from Montrose to Gunnison, they got back on their old lonely friend -- Hwy 50. It was a tough 66 miles with two long climbs. In addition, for the first twelve miles out of Montrose, they experienced a fierce headwind. Fortunately, the wind started to subside a couple of miles into the first four-mile steep climb that began ten miles out. Overall, the ride was harder than they had anticipated. Even Ben developed a stomach cramp, probably from eating lunch, but Art welcomed the excuse to stop and for once, not on account of his old tired body!

Gunnison (7683 ft) is a nice college town, home of the Western State College of Colorado, not far from Crested Butte. It has a cute downtown area and their motel had a microwave and a fridge. Art tried to prepare himself a dinner with a lot of protein. He needed the energy for the long birthday ride to Salida!