Today I rode for LCpl Sean Carroll. Please take a moment and watch his video. LCpl Carrol, you are a hero and we thank you for your service and the sacrifice you made for this country.
My plan today was that I would ride 75-80 miles and get as close to Rico, CO as possible. With all good plans that are made there also has to be the willingness to be flexible and adjust. I was going to start in Monticello, UT, but it was down pouring with strong winds again. We got on the other side of Monticello and the rains had slowed down. I could have gotten out and started but I really didn’t want to start my ride in the rain even if it was just lightly sprinkling. We passed a cyclist riding in the rain and I kind of felt guilty thinking I should just pull over and suck it up too. Kelly could sense what was going on inside my head and asked if I wanted her to stop. I told her to just let me out at the state line which was only a few miles ahead and I would start from there rain or shine.
No rain! Woohoo! I got busy getting myself and Loco, my bike, ready for our day. Once ready for the ride, I just had to get a state line CO boarder picture with her beautiful big sign in the background. As I was climbing on my bike to ride to the sign, the female cyclist that we had past earlier road up to get her photo taken by the sign as well. We stated to chat and I learned Vreny was from Switzerland and cycling across the country. This was her third long distance journey. Impressive. She asked about what I was doing and I told her I had planned to ride across the country with my friend as well starting from San Fransisco but it didn’t work out because her accident. She asked if my name was Kristy Massey. My mouth hit the ground. “How do you know my name?” She said she had followed me on the crazyguyonabike.com journal. She then took me to her bike to show me that she had printed off my “about me” page to show people she isn’t the only crazy woman on a bike out there doing the same thing. What a small world it is. Come to find out it was her that had emailed me 3 months ago and asked me a few questions on the route we were going to take. I had responded back hoping that we could catch up with her and ride with her some. She left for her trip 2 weeks earlier than Donita and I were going to leave, and here we are! Crazy! I asked if I could join her for the day and she was happy to agree. Since she was ending her day and I was starting my day we only rode a short 8 miles together. But those were the best. She was the best part of my day.
Vreny and I parted ways in the cute town of Dove Creek, CO. I could have stopped to have lunch with her to continue our conversations, however I bid her goodbye and pressed onward toward Rico before the rains caught up with me. The countryside was remarkably different from just across the boarder in UT, It is so green and there are so many more trees! I enjoyed the change in scenery from dry scrub brush and canyons to field and green pastures. The gradual undulating hillside was nothing too difficult. I had more head and side winds at the beginning of the ride but they turned to a tailwind by the end of the day! Thank you God! Today it was a mix of wind and a very cold rain. What a difference from California, Nevada and Utah’s hot heat in the 90-100°’s to wearing a jacket and being cold and wet in 55° weather. The temperature fluctuated all day. We started driving from Moab, UT at 10am and it was already 95°. When we got to the boarder it had dropped to a very wet 73°. The temp continued to fluctuate all day, and by the end of the day it was 55°. I was constantly stopping to put on my rain jacket or take it off. I was hot or cold, nothing in-between. Many times I would stop and/or slow down to wait for a storm to pass me up ahead.
When I arrived in Dolores, CO I had only ridden 43 miles. I wasn’t tired at all, just cold. I told Kelly to enjoy the town for me and find us dinner somewhere then to meet me on the route somewhere and I would call it a day. She got some really nice photos of the town and drove to Cortez, CO where there was a Pizza Hut. Thanks Pizza Hut for your gift card donations! I was a happy girl to get that pizza after a long chilly day riding.
I use the app RidewithGPS live track so that’s how Kelly finds me when we don’t have cell service. It has been working beautifully so far. Tonight she tracked me down and delivered me Pizza. We found a quiet spot by Dolores river that was running alongside the Route 145. I really didn’t want to stop riding yet because this ride was only getting prettier by the minute regardless of me climbing gradually. It was gorgeous! I was following Dolores River and I was in heaven. but I knew that it was going to get dark in and hour and it would have taken me a little over an hour to get to Rico. I have great lights on my bike, but on mountain roads I just don’t know if it would have been wise to ride at dusk and in the dark. I chose to be safe and hopped in the car with Kelly.
We got to our Hostel/B&B, the Mine Shaft Inn, in Rico and let me tell you it was a treat. Thanks Jennifer Douglas for your personal donation to help us out tonight! What a little gem of a place it is. If ever we come through Rico again, I am definitely staying here. The host is a super nice guy. We sat with him in the community room and chatted for about 30 mins. The room was very charming. We did share a bathroom but no one was staying in the opposite room so we had it to ourselves for the night. Great place, I highly recommend it!
Update on Donita. It’s been a difficult journey but she feels the grace of God through all your prayers, love and support. We have an urgent prayer request as they found a second blood clot behind the knee. They will quadruple the blood thinners and keep a very close eye on it before sending her home. She said “God has not brought me this far to take me now!” She has been so appreciative and at times overwhelmed with all the love and support from you all and for that we thank you!
That about does it for tonight. Tomorrow I am off to Ridgway. It’s about 60 miles of mountain riding, so I will see how I do in this altitude. I will be going up my first mountain pass and I’m a little nervous about it but I am looking forward to it. I can’t wait to be in the mountains.
Thanks again for all who have supported us through your prayers, encouraging texts, and your donations throughout our journey. You’re the best! We appreciate you so much! Thank you also to those who have supported HFOT. Your donations to them help disabled Veterans, like LCpl Sean Carroll, get a chance at reclaiming some of their personal freedoms in a new home. Many thanks!
Night y’all, stay blessed
