Yip yippity haawww in the mountains

Overlooking "Flaming Gorge" UT

Top of our first mountain pass in WY 11,000 feet. (We say "wrists of power unite" because we think we're some type of super hero with our thumb sleeves....weird, but fun).

Christie: It's been just 7 days since we left Cheyenne, WY and we've crossed 2 state borders. The border crossings are always fun. I like to raise both of my hands (one for me and one for E) and give a "Yeah!" The first day of altitude biking quickly humbled me, with shortness of breath, heart racing, and upset stomach. The following days felt better, after a container of iron filled raisins and our bodies making the extra necessary hemoglobin our oxygen starved lungs cried for. We made it over an 11,000 ft pass in the Medicine Bow National Forest near Laramie, WY, our first mountain pass of the trip (really our first mountain pass ever on bike) and first snow sighting of the journey as well. The same day, the next mountain pass was the continental divide. E had fun by blessing this country with a river of sweat from his brow sending a stream to both the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Continental Divide blessing of Eric's brow sweat to the Atlantic and the Pacific.

The downhills, I must say, have been slightly frightening and exhilarating at the same time. At times, crossing the 50 mph mark (while braking) - I was only informed of that after the fact. The "Yip yippity hawwwws" abound from the captain, and then I joined in once I got used to my cheeks flapping back in the wind.

Mountain lake rest.

The camping has been phenomenal, beautiful scenery, and we continue to be in awe of God's creative masterpieces in our backyard. We were at the end of a long day of climbing in the mountains, decided to pull off the road to what appeared to be a flat place to lay our tent (perfect), hiked in about 50 yards and happened upon a small waterfall and mountain lake (awesome)! Another day, we ended up getting a "Community use of school facilities and equipment" permission slip from the head of maintenance to camp under the Craig, CO Junior High bleachers. When we asked to camp there, he said in a matter-of-fact kind of way..."No body has ever asked me that before" and we chuckled. The request, as the official permission slip states, "use of area under bleachers", the type of activity "camping out of the rain" and the insurance required "none" and fee charges "none." Our entertainment that evening was the first football practice and then the cross country runners. Our final random camping event was in Dinosaur, CO in which the information center ladies told us there were showers across the road at the city park and "I think people have put tents there before"...that was enough to convince us that was our spot (after a 95 mile day I didn't care, really, where I was going to sleep, I wasn't pedaling anymore anyways). Aaahhh...the shower was lovely.

Treating mountain stream water with UV light.

Mom and Dad Strecker met up with us on 8/23 with the 5th wheel in tow after being in Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks. We affectionately call them "Central Command" back from the Appalachian Trail days. It has been a blast having them roll with us, exploring the area more than we would have, and spoiling us with a roadside lunch, and camping together. We took a day with them to go to a natural hot spring pool and then to Flaming Gorge. We plan to pedal another 4-5 days before we camp with them again in southern Utah to explore Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. A roadside lunch with "Central Command". It's not the size of the trailer that counts!

Hobos at the "Hobo Pool" hot spring

Hot spring for aching muscles

We met John Wayne ("that's my real name") outside a grocery store. He suggested a motor for our bike (thoughtful). He also told us his secrete on how to remember names...so we are now Christie Brinkley and Eric Estrada. Fun guy. When asking a fellow biker in Centennial, WY about the climb of our first mt pass, he said, "You'll sweat no matter which way you go." He was right.

Mrs. Moon in Baggs, WY.

Biker who took a few minutes at a slower pace to discuss our trips. His 8000 miles in 26 days, ours 1,300 in the same period of time.

A blog follower asked if there was anything we've learned about each other these past 3 weeks of traveling 24/7 together that I didn't know from our previous 9 years of marriage. Let's see....he sweats way more than I ever knew...the kid streams sweat from the brow endlessly. His shirt and camelpack have salt deposits that flake off when dried. It is truly an amazing gift. (He also craves potato chips now which we never ate before...little salt depleted? or pregnant? Salt depleted I'm pretty sure.) We are also enjoying the devotion "Love Dare" that has challenged the way we express love in our marriage (highly recommended for all you couples out there).

E - Christie can eat more than I've ever seen a girl eat. I think she's actually putting down more food than I am. It's impressive.

E- So with that we leave on another week or two of cycling and exploring before the next post. In speaking with a few co-works over the past few weeks, one asked if we needed a ride - not yet. We are continuing to have a wonderful time and the legs are feeling better by the day. As far as feeling guilty about not working....that hasn't really crossed our minds. The price is sometimes sleeping under the bleachers or struggling up a hill, but each day is new and we continue to enjoy, and be amazed by the world around us. Life is good!

Body, Mind and ......People

An early morning stretch across the badlands.

We've seen plenty of road construction and no speeding tickets yet!

Lunch at the SD Capital. Gov. Rounds wasn't able to join us.

Christie trying out a different mode of transportation. Decided against as she thought she might get saddle sore.

Body, Mind and People

Body parts, check - they are all sore, so they must still be attached. The good news is callouses are starting to form where they are needed most......where the body meets the bike! Health continues to be good as we work with the weather and cycle accordingly. E is down 15 lbs in 15 days and C is down 5. We'll probably loose the weight of the trailer before we cross the Mexican border.

Our last 10 days were filled with changes in weather and terrain combined with a significant amount of sweat and very few showers! Our 1st 100+ degree days were encountered while rolling across SD. We biked early, biked late and took long siestas when we found shade. We climbed out of Rapid City in the rain and had cool weather through the Black Hills. The first significant winds hit as we approached the Wyoming border. As we rolled into the wind at 5 mph, we felt at one with the grasshoppers. Sharing a shoulder of the road, they would try and jump out of our way only to be carried in the opposite direction by the wind-poor souls. We have moved past good days and bad days....now there are just days, each one exciting, new, different and to be experienced. Slowly we are learning to roll with the weather.

There's a storm moving in. Garth might have said that as well.

All roads lead to Wall drug. We took advantage of the free ice water.

Sleep? - Wherever and whenever we can. The night time challenge of coming up with a place to stay is turning into an adventure. From sheep pastures to hayfields, county fairgrounds to national forests, wayside rests to orthodontists offices (thanks doc!) our little tent has provided a shelter and a place for rest.

Finding rest....and a great view in the sheep pasture. Frozen veggies. Almost cooked by the time we found the hayfield campsite.

The most important part of this journey is the people. We enjoy the opportunity to connect with others and share in their experiences. There is something so rich about meeting a stranger, sharing smiles and laughter, and learning about their journey. The small towns (small....like pop. 100) have been fun to discover-3 girls in Midland, SD said they had 14 kids in their K-8th grade school with 4 total teachers. The ACE hardware owner basically kept the town afloat with the traffic he got for farm necessities and told us about the concerns associated with increasing farm sizes. The Scheels crew in Rapid City took great care of us as we rolled our "parade" into the back of the store barely flinching at our stench! It was also fun to get to know the people using the 110 mile Mickelson Trail through the Black Hills, though we did not ride on the trail, we stopped at a number of the picnic areas and met many travelers enjoying their time in the great outdoors. The Minneapolis mother who's excitement for everything she saw, from a babbling brook to the buffalo spread quickly to her kids and husband. The Detroit family who took the opportunity of the auto industry downsizing to explore together. Then there was Larry, a middle aged gentleman who called his camper home, and invited us for cereal and eggs at the wayside rest we had called home.

Former SD Tech football player Eric played ball with. Working for SD DOT near Pierre. Calling on all technical experts to get the job done.

We continue to be very blessed by the opportunity to re-connect with people from our past and to meet new people as they are. A way that can only happen when the pace of life is slowed down and we experience God and others in a new light.

Christie getting a lift in Cheyenne, WY as we crash with Donny Volcano - Eric's collage roommate. Drying out and getting some rest. Thanks Don.

Thank you for your continued support. Please drop any comments with questions you'd like us to answer in the next blog.

Rolling in Corn and Beans

Thank you for a wonderful sendoff on Monday night. We appreciated seeing so many friends and preparing for the next step of the journey. Your excitement will be our fuel for these aching weeks ahead!

Mom Nelson rode out of the driveway with us, down the Red Jacket Trail. The traffic was a little scarry as she weaved around trying to take pictures and ride at the same time.

Rolling in corn and beans, southwestern MN

We have completed 1% of our journey rolling through the flat lands of MN and into Brookings, South Dakota. One of our goals has been to meet people where they are at in ways that we can't when travelling at 60 mph. That definately came true at our first rest stop in Hanska. There are now a few 5th and 6th graders who think it would be great to do a similar bike trip, asking about a 3-seater. They were inspirational to us, and hopefully we inspired some dreams for them. Then there were the lovely ladies at the Tracy Vet Clinic who in the process of giving us directions, turned our trip into an article for the local newspaper. Meanwhile the neighbor who saw the commotion, picked an arm full of cucumbers from his garden and walked across the street to give them to us. God Bless small town USA! We then realized the impact of our celebrity status when I (Christie) overheard 2 older men belly laughing as they stood in line at the grocery check-out line...saying "and they're going to Argentina!....and there's half of them right there" as I walked out of the restroom. I gave a friendly wave and double checked to make sure the paporatazzi wasn't following (just kidding).

Our Tracy Vet Clinc fans and photographer

We feel like kids...so free....taking each moment as it is. Our first night we tented at a tiny country church in the middle of nowhere after getting permission from the farmer nearby (who's brother and sister-in-law also rode to Argentina by bike in their younger years! "And still talk about it today". The second night we tented in the Tyler fairgrounds, chatted with the fair secretary about his 100% danish herritage, splashed our sweat off in the barn spigot, ate dinner in the deserted grandstand, overlooked the sunset and a softball game. We are now enjoying our time with the Nelson crew in Brookings, went with grandpa to run some farm errands, were introduced to praire golf, and of course had to stop to get fresh ice cream at the SDSU dairy bar. A CHERISHED time with family!

We'll visit MN again, for now...on to SD.

Grandpa and Eric on the farm.

Praire golfing with the Nelsons (Darred, Darren, Eric, Darrell, G-pa the caddie, Dana). Aim for the alfalfa tuft.

Beware of hazards (ie. marshland, groundhog holes, and Eric's swing)