So here we are in Pierre, at the end of map number 2. It's been an arduous week, and it looks like it will continue to be so...cold weather, rain, wind. Today was especially bad. In the 50's with rain and hills the whole 60 miles here. We made it though and managed to stay relatively positive. We stayed at a campground just outside of West Brule last night. Today we saw almost no sign of civilization until we got here! A few cars on the road, a house here and there and fences. The road we were on was the only one within sight, besides that it was all hills and grass and horses and cows! About halfway through our ride we found an old abandoned church to eat lunch in (it was only a little bit creepy). There was a tiny little cemetary outside of it with a couple newish graves covered in flowers and things-one had a lasso and a bunch of unopened cans of beer!
South Dakota has been pretty, but I have a feeling our memories of it will be marred by all this bad weather. We've had 2 good days out of our week here. We'll have to come back in a car someday when the weather won't affect us so much!
It looks like after we leave this town we don't have much for a little while, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to blog next. The farther northwest we go the less there is...i think we have one ride in Montana thats 90 miles between town! (don't worry mom and dad, theres a campground with water halfway...we'll be ok :)) So for now, adieu and don't let the rain get you down! We aren't!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Burke, South Dakota
Hello all! We're here in Burke taking a day off due to the weather. It was freezing and rainy when we woke up, now its sunny and warm. Silly weather. We'll be in Pierre in a couple of days, then its onward and upward into North Dakota and Montana! It's beautiful here. So many hills (which are actually quite easy to climb) which means a lot of big views and so much sky! Besides the crappy weather we've had we're loving it. I keep trying to take pictures, but through the camera it just looks bad. It's like taking a picture of the ocean. We'll describe it all in great detail to everyone when we get home :). We've also had some nice tailwinds swooping us down the roads.
The veggie restaurant in Omaha was just wonderful. Dylan had a reuben (which gives the Chicago Diner some competiton) and I had eggplant parmesan, followed by a slice of chocolate tofu cheesecake. Yum! We didn't get to see too much of Omaha unfortunately. We ran out of time after doing all the necessaries (including laundry :)) and went back to our campground for dinner. Iowa was pretty and fun to bike through-very flat-with the exception of Sioux City, where we got extremely lost and the wind attacked us. After a very long stressful day we elected to stay in a cheap motel instead of bike 15 more miles to the next campground. Since then we've been a lot stricter with our budget-watching our food expenses and we've had great luck on free camping. I don't think we've had to pay for camping for the last 5 nights! We keep running into Justin! We have very like minds when it comes to camping spots. We got to bike with him for a day a couple days ago, then played a few games of rummy. Last night we happened to meet AGAIN at the campground here! Today he went off trail to see the badlands, so unfortunately I think our time together might be over. But who knows, at this rate I'm sure we'll see him at least one more time.
Dylan and I both can't wait to get back on the trail. While we like our break days, We'd always rather be biking. I can't imagine what it will be like to get home and NOT be required to bike every day. I'm sure we still will, but we've gotten so accustomed to going at least 50 miles in a day It'll be wierd to change those habits. We've also begun to dislike cities. It's rare that we get somewhere with over 1,000 people, and we've started to like it this way. We're also loving being able, no, required, to eat the amount of food we've been eating. It is rad.
Ok everyone! It's picture time! I finally got some pictures on a cd and sent it off to my mom, now here they are for your eyes! (they're kind of out of order, unfortunately)
Heres me running through a field on our first day
We forgot silverware, so we ate with bike tools the first day.
Our bikes with Lewis and Clark.
Dylan by a field on his birthday.
We made it!
Elly On the road.
Dylan on the road.
Trail food.
Fixing a spoke.
Bike hostel in Tebbets.
Armadillo skeleton.
Dylan and Justin.
Kansas!
Dylan building a fire.
Iowa!
Lunch on the Missouri.
These signs keep us company along the way.
Nebraska!
Loess Hills.
Bike superhero.
Klaus und Heidi.
Ok thats it for now. There are a lot more on the flickr page...link at the toip of this page!
we love you!
The veggie restaurant in Omaha was just wonderful. Dylan had a reuben (which gives the Chicago Diner some competiton) and I had eggplant parmesan, followed by a slice of chocolate tofu cheesecake. Yum! We didn't get to see too much of Omaha unfortunately. We ran out of time after doing all the necessaries (including laundry :)) and went back to our campground for dinner. Iowa was pretty and fun to bike through-very flat-with the exception of Sioux City, where we got extremely lost and the wind attacked us. After a very long stressful day we elected to stay in a cheap motel instead of bike 15 more miles to the next campground. Since then we've been a lot stricter with our budget-watching our food expenses and we've had great luck on free camping. I don't think we've had to pay for camping for the last 5 nights! We keep running into Justin! We have very like minds when it comes to camping spots. We got to bike with him for a day a couple days ago, then played a few games of rummy. Last night we happened to meet AGAIN at the campground here! Today he went off trail to see the badlands, so unfortunately I think our time together might be over. But who knows, at this rate I'm sure we'll see him at least one more time.
Dylan and I both can't wait to get back on the trail. While we like our break days, We'd always rather be biking. I can't imagine what it will be like to get home and NOT be required to bike every day. I'm sure we still will, but we've gotten so accustomed to going at least 50 miles in a day It'll be wierd to change those habits. We've also begun to dislike cities. It's rare that we get somewhere with over 1,000 people, and we've started to like it this way. We're also loving being able, no, required, to eat the amount of food we've been eating. It is rad.
Ok everyone! It's picture time! I finally got some pictures on a cd and sent it off to my mom, now here they are for your eyes! (they're kind of out of order, unfortunately)
Heres me running through a field on our first day
We forgot silverware, so we ate with bike tools the first day.
Our bikes with Lewis and Clark.
Dylan by a field on his birthday.
We made it!
Elly On the road.
Dylan on the road.
Trail food.
Fixing a spoke.
Bike hostel in Tebbets.
Armadillo skeleton.
Dylan and Justin.
Kansas!
Dylan building a fire.
Iowa!
Lunch on the Missouri.
These signs keep us company along the way.
Nebraska!
Loess Hills.
Bike superhero.
Klaus und Heidi.
Ok thats it for now. There are a lot more on the flickr page...link at the toip of this page!
we love you!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Omaha, Nebraska
We don't have much time, so here's just a quick check-in blog. We finished our first map! Yippee! Our legs are finally ready for some real miles. We've been averaging 60-70 miles a day. We have a little bit more of Iowa, then it's on to the big states-South and North Dakota, Montana, Oregon! 'Bout to head off to our first vegetarian restaurant since we've left Madison. It will be epic.
Love vibes and hugs and kisses to everyone!!! More next time!!!
Love vibes and hugs and kisses to everyone!!! More next time!!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Atchison, Kansas
Kansas! At last! we rolled in this morning, went to the visitors center, got insid and old train, went to an awesome bike shop, pet a cat, went to the library and after this we'll be getting food and some supplies. We like Atchison.
Here are a few pictures (from awhile back, but thats ok!)
Dylan with Mom and Pop
Dylan and I just before starting the big ride!!!
It's been 17 days since then, we've crossed missouri, gained stink and lost weight.
We've had a few hard hilly windy days so far. It was a challenge to keep our heads up and go forth but we did! we have a few more days of hills, then we get a quick rest in Iowa and Nebraska, then some mountains, then more flat, then more mountains. I think by our next batch of hills we should be good n' strong and it'll be easy as pie. My ankle is slowly getting better. We've done a lot of easy days and resting, and We plan on taking a longer break in a few days once we hit Council Bluffs. Maybe we'll find a vegetarian restaurant there! Since I last wrote we've stayed in a dumpy little campground outside Henrietta, MO (big train town...I thought about you, Ashley!), the Watkins Mill State Park (a really nice place that I have to advertise here...we biked up a giant hill to the campground to be told that they didn't have any spots left...BUT...they never turn away touring cyclists so the ranger found us some grass to pitch our tent! awesome!), and the Lewis and Clark State Park (where we met our new friend Justin who started in NYC and is doing the same route as us. We'll probably keep on seeing him along the way!). I got to pet some horses and we got chased by LOTS of dogs, including 3 tiny little yorkies who chased us about 1/4 of a mile. All the cows we pass stare us down. it's very strange. Dylan even got about 6 to chase him down a hill (in their fence, of course)
So things are going great, we're happy and having fun! We've met nothing but friendly wonderful people so far. And as usual, we miss you and love you!
*Quick thing I forgot to talk about in my last post...along the Katy Trail we stayed at the Turner Katy Trail Shelter in Tebbets. It's a hostel especially for bikers that has a DIY bike shop, ping pong tables, lots of beds, a fridge and a microwave. It was wonderful! If any of you happen to be on the Katy Trail in the future (which I would highly reccomend) make sure you stop there!
Here are a few pictures (from awhile back, but thats ok!)
Dylan with Mom and Pop
Dylan and I just before starting the big ride!!!
It's been 17 days since then, we've crossed missouri, gained stink and lost weight.
We've had a few hard hilly windy days so far. It was a challenge to keep our heads up and go forth but we did! we have a few more days of hills, then we get a quick rest in Iowa and Nebraska, then some mountains, then more flat, then more mountains. I think by our next batch of hills we should be good n' strong and it'll be easy as pie. My ankle is slowly getting better. We've done a lot of easy days and resting, and We plan on taking a longer break in a few days once we hit Council Bluffs. Maybe we'll find a vegetarian restaurant there! Since I last wrote we've stayed in a dumpy little campground outside Henrietta, MO (big train town...I thought about you, Ashley!), the Watkins Mill State Park (a really nice place that I have to advertise here...we biked up a giant hill to the campground to be told that they didn't have any spots left...BUT...they never turn away touring cyclists so the ranger found us some grass to pitch our tent! awesome!), and the Lewis and Clark State Park (where we met our new friend Justin who started in NYC and is doing the same route as us. We'll probably keep on seeing him along the way!). I got to pet some horses and we got chased by LOTS of dogs, including 3 tiny little yorkies who chased us about 1/4 of a mile. All the cows we pass stare us down. it's very strange. Dylan even got about 6 to chase him down a hill (in their fence, of course)
So things are going great, we're happy and having fun! We've met nothing but friendly wonderful people so far. And as usual, we miss you and love you!
*Quick thing I forgot to talk about in my last post...along the Katy Trail we stayed at the Turner Katy Trail Shelter in Tebbets. It's a hostel especially for bikers that has a DIY bike shop, ping pong tables, lots of beds, a fridge and a microwave. It was wonderful! If any of you happen to be on the Katy Trail in the future (which I would highly reccomend) make sure you stop there!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Marshall, MO
Now I'm at the Marshall library! this one cost me $1 to use the internet :(
Dylan and I have been camped out here for a couple days at a very icky motel. My ankle has been hurting and I'm worried about it so we decided to stay in one place for a little while to give it some. I think ultimately it'll take awhile to heal, but I changed my saddle position and we've been doing easy days so hopefully it'll be ok soon. It actually feels a lot better on the bike today, but I've only biked a couple miles from the motel to here.
We're finally off the Katy Trail which is good and bad...bad because now we're on roads with cars and we're forced to bike up hills, good because we're on pavement so it's a lot easier to bike and we get some nice views. We'll be out of Missouri in just a couple days and in South Dakota in just over a week! It's all very exciting for us. We've clocked in about 300 miles so far. It has been a slow start what with the ankle, but we'll start making good progress soon, I just know it :)
Good memories of Hartsburg, MO. It's an adorable little town with an awesome diner and really nice people. We camped for free in a city park and made friends with a little girl named Heidi. We were all very sad to part at the end of the night! For Dylan's birthday we cheated a little and had some non-vegan pie (there weren't any co-ops!) to celebrate. Today we're planning on doing an easy 30 miles and camping in Higginsville.
We miss you and love you!!! More soon!
Dylan and I have been camped out here for a couple days at a very icky motel. My ankle has been hurting and I'm worried about it so we decided to stay in one place for a little while to give it some. I think ultimately it'll take awhile to heal, but I changed my saddle position and we've been doing easy days so hopefully it'll be ok soon. It actually feels a lot better on the bike today, but I've only biked a couple miles from the motel to here.
We're finally off the Katy Trail which is good and bad...bad because now we're on roads with cars and we're forced to bike up hills, good because we're on pavement so it's a lot easier to bike and we get some nice views. We'll be out of Missouri in just a couple days and in South Dakota in just over a week! It's all very exciting for us. We've clocked in about 300 miles so far. It has been a slow start what with the ankle, but we'll start making good progress soon, I just know it :)
Good memories of Hartsburg, MO. It's an adorable little town with an awesome diner and really nice people. We camped for free in a city park and made friends with a little girl named Heidi. We were all very sad to part at the end of the night! For Dylan's birthday we cheated a little and had some non-vegan pie (there weren't any co-ops!) to celebrate. Today we're planning on doing an easy 30 miles and camping in Higginsville.
We miss you and love you!!! More soon!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Hello from Hermann
What up...Dylan and I are at a libraray here in Hermann, MO. Our first few days have been difficult but still pretty awesome.
We left from Hartford on Sunday around noon after a big plate of hash browns from the Waffle House. It started raining on us about an hour in (just a sprinkle...nothing got too wet) and rained the whole way until we stopped at the Pere Marquette state park to camp. The campground was technically closed, so we got to just pitch our tent for free! On our way there we stopped in Elsah, IL which is an adorable little town. Unfortunately it was Sunday so nothing was really open and it was raining so it was kind of a ghost town. The campground was really pretty and we were one of 2 tents in the whole place which was nice. We woke up early Monday morning with the intention of biking a long way, but due to Dylan and I both feeling a little sick (Illinois gave us colds!), the cold weather and the eventual rain and hail that started up in the morning we elected to stay one more night at the campground. The weather cleared up a little bit later in the afternoon and we wandered around, but most of the day was spent in the tent playing cards and reading. Tuesday gave us perfect weather and we got our stuff together quickly in the morning and left the park. We had to take 2 ferries that day-one across the Illinois river and one across the Mississippi into Missouri. The first onw went fine, but the second one was closed beacuse of all the flooding in this area. We biked about nine miles down a very hilly road to another boat, and the detour put us back about 30 miles (most of that on highways and busy hilly frontage roads). We FINALLY found our way to the Katy Trail about 4 hours later than we had anticipated getting there. We biked about 30 miles down to the Klondike State Park and fell fast asleep. It was a long day, but the Katy Trail is beautiful and we met some nice mountain bikers along the way who gave us tips on where to stay and what to see along our way. Yesterday was an easy day, all on the Katy Trail (which is an old railroad bed so it's really flat) with the wind at out backs.
And thats it so far. We've gone about 150 miles. Our legs are just a little sore and we got sunburned yesterday (oops) but the scenery is awesome and we're enjoying every minute...even the bad times are good!
Today we have a short ride to Tebbets, where theres a hostel especially for cyclists equipped with a DIY bike workshop. We'll tune things up on our rides and grease up our chains and sleep in a real bed for one more night.
We miss everyone back home and are thinking of you all. Postcards and letters will be in the mail soon!
We left from Hartford on Sunday around noon after a big plate of hash browns from the Waffle House. It started raining on us about an hour in (just a sprinkle...nothing got too wet) and rained the whole way until we stopped at the Pere Marquette state park to camp. The campground was technically closed, so we got to just pitch our tent for free! On our way there we stopped in Elsah, IL which is an adorable little town. Unfortunately it was Sunday so nothing was really open and it was raining so it was kind of a ghost town. The campground was really pretty and we were one of 2 tents in the whole place which was nice. We woke up early Monday morning with the intention of biking a long way, but due to Dylan and I both feeling a little sick (Illinois gave us colds!), the cold weather and the eventual rain and hail that started up in the morning we elected to stay one more night at the campground. The weather cleared up a little bit later in the afternoon and we wandered around, but most of the day was spent in the tent playing cards and reading. Tuesday gave us perfect weather and we got our stuff together quickly in the morning and left the park. We had to take 2 ferries that day-one across the Illinois river and one across the Mississippi into Missouri. The first onw went fine, but the second one was closed beacuse of all the flooding in this area. We biked about nine miles down a very hilly road to another boat, and the detour put us back about 30 miles (most of that on highways and busy hilly frontage roads). We FINALLY found our way to the Katy Trail about 4 hours later than we had anticipated getting there. We biked about 30 miles down to the Klondike State Park and fell fast asleep. It was a long day, but the Katy Trail is beautiful and we met some nice mountain bikers along the way who gave us tips on where to stay and what to see along our way. Yesterday was an easy day, all on the Katy Trail (which is an old railroad bed so it's really flat) with the wind at out backs.
And thats it so far. We've gone about 150 miles. Our legs are just a little sore and we got sunburned yesterday (oops) but the scenery is awesome and we're enjoying every minute...even the bad times are good!
Today we have a short ride to Tebbets, where theres a hostel especially for cyclists equipped with a DIY bike workshop. We'll tune things up on our rides and grease up our chains and sleep in a real bed for one more night.
We miss everyone back home and are thinking of you all. Postcards and letters will be in the mail soon!
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