Bike the US for MS

In the introduction I mentioned past and future adventures. The majority of  this blog over the next 9 months will revolve around updates on my next adventure. This adventure will be cycling the Adventure Cycling Associations Northern Tier route with the organization Bike the US for MS. This means not only will I be spending 69 days cycling almost 4300 miles. I will be fundraising money for research and awareness efforts for Multiple Sclerosis. We will also have stops along the route where we will perform service projects for people who have been diagnosed with MS.

My fundraising goal for this trip is $4300 by 20 May 2014. I am going to need all of your help to pitch in just a little for this great cause to help me reach my goal. Please visit
My cyclist profile page
on the Bike the US for MS website to learn more about donating. All donations are tax deductible, Bike the US for MS inc. is a 501c3 tax exempt organization with a tax ID# 27-2192426.

I will be posting updates on fundraising, so check back occasionally to see how I am doing. I also hope to as time draws closer post my progress with getting myself back into shape prior to this adventure. I finished my last bicycle tour in August of 2012 and have let myself get out of shape since then. I blame it on buying a car and not using my bicycle to commute everywhere. As for training now, its almost non existent. The weather here has been in the teens and single digits. As I write this it is 15 degrees F (-9.4 degrees C) and snowing. Not much bike riding today.

Fundraising as of 08 December 2013

$70 of $4300 ... $4230 to go
Thanks for those two who have donated ... but I am going to need a lot more help.

Deciding to Start Again

There really isn't anything special about a random Sunday that happens to fall on the eighth of December in 2013. For me anyway. It just happens to be the day that I find time to sit down and begin typing. I considered waiting and starting a blog on New Years Day or on my birthday or some day of significant change but I have tried that and the blogs of the past never ended up following through. So I sit here on a random day starting a new blog to tell my side of the story.

Because in the end that is all we are ... Stories, and while we can, we might as well make them good stories. I stole that from the doctor as I will others I am sure. One thing I am sure you are aware of already in the second paragraph of the first post, I lack grammatical expertise. I understand this and apologize in advance. However, I am starting this more as a way to put updates on "paper" and not at all to be considered an actual "blogger".

Through the first couple weeks, a lot of things are going to be changing both with layout and appearance but hopefully by the new year everything will have been settled. I am new to this so please be patient.

The main reason I am starting to blog again is that after playing around with other social media, I found that I really wasn't interested in using any of the others to post updates on my adventures. Two of my previous adventures were posted on Trailjournals.com and crazyguyonabike.com but this time I wanted a place where I could continue on after the adventure ended.

16.07.2012 Salmon, ID

Day 53: LRFS to Salmon, ID

Monday July 16, 2012, 100 miles (161 km) - Total so far: 1,716 miles (2,762 km)

Not the earliest of starts, but I hit the road heading north. It felt great being on the bike again but at the same time I learned real fast that my climbing legs had deserted me. I reached Challis, ID and it was a perfect stop for a restroom/stretch/water break. While coming out of the grocery store I met a guy traveling around the west coast with his dog and was currently hopping around the different hot springs in Idaho. We got to talking and he was kind and bought me some lunch. We chatted for awhile sharing stories and then I realized I better get going since I had no idea where I was going to stop for the night. It was my first day back so I did not want to push it too hard.

The route north on 93 provided some beautiful riding but at the same time some questionable stretches through narrow canyons. I was lucky and hit minimal traffic so it made it to be a pleasant ride. Had I hit traffic it would not have been nearly so. I rolled into the Salmon River RV Park and it was getting to be time to start planning on where I would find a place for the night. I decided that it was early enough that I would push on for Salmon, it was only another 22 miles or so. 

As I started getting closer to Salmon the sky took a turn for the ugly. Huge black clouds were blowing in fast behind me and I found myself racing the storm to Salmon. I really didn't think I would make it and was desperately looking for adequate cover. Luck would be on my side today, I spot a gas station to on the side of the road and rush for the canopy. Within 5 seconds of pulling under the canopy the sky just opened up and the hardest rain I had seen in a long time just emptied on the town. I waited around under the canopy for a little over a half an hour hoping it would let up. Eventually it did ease up and I ventured the rest of the way into town. Still in a light rain I start looking for a place to stay. The choices, several motels or a campground. Being the first day back on the road, tired, hungry and wet I just say screw it and get the motel. 

I wasn't planning on doing a hard day right out of the gate but once the sky starts turning like it did it is quite the motivator to turn miles in a hurry. 

11.07.2012 to 15.07.2012 LRFS

Day 48-52: Getting Back to My Bike

After some fun filled adventures with Tas, it was time for me to resume my ride. She dropped me off at the Greyhound station in Las Vegas, NV and we said our good byes, she to head back to Texas and me back to Idaho. During the short time I waited for my bus there was one drunk couple thrown out, 2 ambulances and one additional dispute as well as a family who couldn't read directions and decided to cause a scene showing their ignorance. The drama that is Greyhound.

I took the Bus back to Pocatello, ID. I spent a couple days visiting with some of my new friends that I met at LRFS. While there I found an awesome barber to get a nice hair cut and shave. I then got a ride back to Idaho Falls, ID to my friends house. She gave me a ride to ARCO, ID and my friend Kathy picked me up there and I rode back to LRFS with her. So after a Greyhound bus and 3 rides I have made it back to LRFS and my bike.

I spent one more night at LRFS visiting with the Central Washington University crew that was there and tomorrow I am back on the road heading towards Missoula, MT and then the coast.

02.07.2012 to 10.07.2012 Adventures with Tas

Day 39-47: Adventures with Tas

When one of my new friends from the 2012 class at LRFS told me she was heading down to southern Utah, I took the chance to head down with her. We drove down to Moab, UT where we went for a short day rafting down the Colorado River and visiting Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. From there we drove over to Bryce Canyon National Park and then on to Zion National Park and finally to Las Vegas, Nevada. Again, I am not going to list a detailed description of this here, since it isn't exactly bike touring related (though I did see a lot of bicycle tourists going through this area), instead I am going to just post a couple photos.

21.06.2012 to 01.07.2012 LRFS

Day 28-38: Time off at LRFS

What started out as a couple of days off turned into 10 days off. It is truly hard to leave this place with its beautiful scenery, wonderful people, and amazing food. While here at the field station I helped out around the camp and in the kitchen, went out into the field with the students (a lot more fun when you don't have to do the academic work) and went on a few excursions around central Idaho (visiting Hot Springs,  Redfish Lake, and Sun Valley).  

I am not going to do a lot of detailed descriptions of the fun that is central Idaho, instead I am going to just post a couple of photos.

20.06.2012 Lost River Field Station, ID

Day 27: Idaho Falls, ID to Lost River Field Station, ID

Wednesday June 20, 2012, 101 miles (163 km) - Total so far: 1,616 miles (2,601 km)

Got a good start, cheating and taking a ride to the west side of town to avoid morning traffic. The day rolled by with no wind to speak of and easy terrain. The route today (hwy 20) crosses the INL, so it is several miles of just nothing, but also with light traffic. I reached Arco, ID just after 13:00 for lunch. Stopped at the Pickle Place, its a nice place to stop if you are passing through. As I was getting ready to head out Emily started rolling by and stopped and we chatted for a good while. She is heading from San Francisco to D.C. with stops along the way to see National Parks and Friends. I was surprised, I didn't expect to see any other cyclists in this area.

I felt foolish that I was just at my friends house and forgot to ask for directions to where I am going. It has been 7 years since I have been here and I knew the general direction but couldn't remember the exact way to get here. I just followed what I thought was right and ended up getting here just fine. Lost River Field Station is home to the Idaho State University Geology Field Camp (as well as other field camps) I love it here. I got to visit with PKL, Scott and was really happy to see Cathy again. I will be staying here for a couple days before continuing north.