The map shows roughly the route from Yorktown, Va to Anacortes, WA.
- Trans America Trail – Chester, IL
- Katy Trail – Booneville, MO
- Santa Fe Triail - Larned, KS
- Trans America Trail – Missoula, MT
- Northern Tier – Anacortes, WA
End of the Trail
I feel like that warrior in the sculpture End of the Trail. Fought the good battle but lost the war.
The last day’s climb set me back on my heels to let me know that I’ll never be a bike climber and that what you do in life has consequences.
Once in Guffey I could hardly walk a block and have to stop and catch my byreath. I had told Bill of the Guffey Garage Gang that I might need a lift out if I wasn’t doing better the next day.
Then I do something stupid and fall hitting my head pretty hard. And having Bill patch me up. The head strike was a good solid blow and I had no idea what the internal damage might be. I decided that if there was a chance of serious injury I didn’t want to be in Guffey.
So I walked back up to the Garage and asked Bill if he knew of someone that could haul me to Canon City. He called Holly and without any hesitation on her part said she said she would do it.
Holly is an angel and drove me and my gear to Canon City. She wanted to take me to the emergency room and sit with me. I have a thing about emergency rooms and would rather make sure there is a real emergency first.
After a few hours I do have a large welt but no other negative signs. Morning should make things clearer I hope.
If I feel okay I’ll rent a car and drive home.
How I fell.
I had put my helmet in a rear pannier as I moving everything a block or so and just packed up eveything quick like. When I swung my leg to mount the bike I got hung up on that rear pannier and fell.
Day 44 Royal Gorge to Guffey 23 miles
Tough day as I had to walk up the big wall as the lack of oxygen is a real killer for me. 15 miles in I was resting on a rock in the shade when Bill from the Guffey Garage asked if I wanted a ride. At that point there was no other answer but “yes” and we loaded up his Camino with my bike and gear. If you don’t know who Bill is just do a journal seach on CrazyGuyOnABike and you will be enlightened. Arrived at the Garage and Bill gave me a cold one which really hit the spot at that point.
Everyone else was way ahead of me so if not for the ride I would probably still be on the road. I am really hurting because I am not a great climber and the thin air is killing me. Hope tomorrow is a better day from that aspect.
Ate at Rita’s, another iconic place on the TransAm. We rented the Assay Office for tonight.
No cell service and doing the post at the nice Guffey Library.
Day 43 Pueblo to Royal Gorge 47 miles
Rode US 50 all the way. Heavy traffic and not scenic at all to Canon City. Heavy climb out of Canon City for about nine miles.
In cabin at Royal View RV campground. No Verizion service and no place to eat or buy much food. Looks like I better get use to peanut butter and bagels for the next few meals.
It was warm most of the day but no significant wind. Tomorrow it is on up to Guffey for 23 miles. Farther depending on how I survive the climb to Guffey.
Was able to see the mountain ranges. Still have snow on most peaks. Pikes Peak to the north of us most of the day.
Day 42 Pueblo Rest Day
Fixed handlebar tape, oiled the chain, and did an inspection of the bike. More laundry today.
We walked a mile and a half to Dillard’s and bought shirts that might be a bit cooler the the bike jerseys.
Met the “BOB’s” downtown for pizza using a cab both way. Good conversation and Mike’s wife Paula had flown in for the weekend.
Tomorrow will go off route and take US 50 to Canon City. A shorter, safer, flatter route than ACA’s route. Probably miss some good scenery and an awesome climb:(
Day 41 Ordway to Pueblo 55 miles
Easy day so no hurry to hit the road until 7:00 am. Wind did not help much today like it was thought to. None the less made good time. Seeing the mountains now so that is a great change form Kansas and eastern Colorado.
Rode with Hank and Dave into Pueblo. Hank is headed to Seattle and Dave is riding the Western Express and Sierra Cascade segments.
Tomorrow is a rest day and not sure what I’ll be doing yet.
Day 41 Eads to Ordway 62 miles
Hot and windy. Just another normal day of riding the TransAm. 106 noted on the bike computer temperature reading. We left at 5:30 am and had a tough ride against the wind and heat. Nothing to note about nothing. Few services.
Staying at Ordway Hotel which like the Eads motel is full of bicycle tourists.
Tomorrow Pueblo and a rest day.
Day 40 Leoti to Eads 80 miles
Big day. Changed state and time zone and rode 80 miles. Wind god was with us today albeit hot.
Tomorrow looks bad with another terrible headwind and no options but do 65 miles. May be a no go for me.
Day 39 Dighton to Leoti 48 miles
Good ride today. "Camping" in Susan's to be yoga studio. She and her mother painting. With Hank, Lee, and Joyce (Lee's wife).
Day 38 Ness City to Dighton 31 miles
On the road at 5:00am with lights running. 75 and steady wind blowing SSW. Wind continued to shift around to WSW as I rode west to Dighton 31 miles away. Speed dropped off continuously as the wind picked up. At the end I was stopping every mile to ease the arms and shoulders from fighting the wind. Stopping one time I fell as a gust (30 mph) hit the bike just right to dump me. The wind is now 21 out of WSW and gusting to 30.
The three “bobs” made it in but three others and myself were sweep up by a couple of pickups. I was out 4 miles and the others were picked up earlier.
Today was a day not to have four panniers hanging off your bike. The quartering headwind made it a billboard jib that with gusting winds just whipped the whole bike around. The three “bobs” had some of the side wind effect but nothing like those of us with panniers. BTW all the “bobs” rode the distance having started 25 minutes after me. That includes 78 yo Mike.
Tomorrow’s options are 32 miles to Scott City, 48 miles to Leoti, or 70 miles to Tribune. We’ll see what Mr. wind says.
Day 37 Great Bend to Ness City 63 miles
Up at 4:30 am and fixed oatmeal and coffee for breakfast. Packed and was on the road at 5:30 am with lights on. Fast ride to Rush Center with first a tailwind and later quartering wind pushing. Some hills before Rush Center but nothing bad with the wind assist.
After Rush Center the wind slowly turned onto a head wind and temperatures steadily rose to the mid 90s. Was done just around noon and checked into motel.
Made a stop at the Alexander rest stop. Otherwise did the 10 mile butt breaks but no cafe/gas station stops.
So far eight other riders in town so far and it is early in the day.
Tomorrow could be brutal with a very strong quartering headwind and 105 high. 55 miles and hoping for a 7 mph average. That is an 8 hour day. To get done before noon means a 4 am start.