Update from Pueblo

Did you know it is the Home of the Medal of Honor.
I am preparing to come home the Dr. made it easy when he told me I have something that needs following up and he advised not to ride. That helps me understand why I have had such a lack of zip. Thanks for reading my ramblings! Betsey I pulled out the Chocolate trips (good name for bike trip cookies) at the hospital when my rescue crew told me they were busy and low sugar and those cookies jacked them up. Jake arranged travel for Sunday and I will be home with Wendy and Sandy Sunday night. I have had a great trip and I have riden in places that photos and books cannot quite show the real beauty. I think if I had to pick a favorite place to cycle it would be the 66 mile stretch of the Clearwater and Looksa Rivers in Idaho. However the Tetons man and the wildlife in Yellowstone. David and Linda what do you think? Thank you for all your positive wishes as I rode. Thanks to David, Linda and Terry for joining me. Traveling with David was one of my favorite parts. I do miss Team Brody. Thanks Gary for giving the time away. Wendy has been so supportive throughout and a source of strength that's why she is my honey. It's time to go back and expand the EdGE. I will post some more photos when I get back.
Trek Across Maine? Nah.
Get out and ride!

Charlie
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Hello from Park View Hospital

I pushed my 911 Spot button and it does work, I had an 2 incidents 15 or 20 miles East of Pueblo in the span of an hour. They have a very good Coronary care unit and they are doing a battery of tests. They brought me in because they did not see my Pacer P wave on the EKG. The Doc thinks that things might be out of sink for me so they are pouring fluids into me. I spoke with my travel agent Jake and have decided to come home. My head is not in the game and I miss my honey. So I will let you know what's what.

Emotionally,

Charlie
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Pueblo

Hi all I arrived in Denver around 6:00 and found out I would be there until the next day waiting for a seat on the bus. I gathered my troop 3 folks I met and we developed a plan one way rental and when we walked outside a cabbie helped us with the math and offered to take us and we went and arrived at my hotel late. Today I set my new bike up and road 15 miles and will leave for Kansas tomorrow. Here are things that I know at this point.
* the wind always blows hard in Wyoming.
* I have loved watching the wonderful scenery go by.
* I was looking at my first 14 days compared to the last 14 and my mileage has slipped and prevents me from getting across.
* I ran into a through rider going West the other day and his mileage had slipped as well but he also said the expense has been more than he expected. He did not by a new bike mid ride like this foolish person.
* I will call it quits in the city of my first born Wichita and I hope to see a few folks and will probably head to K.C. To see old buddies.
I will be home Father's day weekend. Sandy move over!
I will give you a spot tomorrow.

Charlie
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Skipping the Colorado Rockies

I made a decision today to skip the Rockies for a variety of different reasons. The West continues to be plagued by bad weather and the high Rockey passes are still snow burdened and I have to detour onto a major highway and the recommendation is to get a shuttle over it. I feel after 3 weeks of passes and long climbs I would like to make some time going East. I believe I have found out that things cannot be rushed and the weather dictates what happens most of the time. I have had tail winds pushing me along, wind from the side blowing me out in the road, head winds holding back progress, rain, light snow, thunder, lightening and marble size hail. I still have had a great ride and no matter how far I get this has been a wonderful trip. I lost my traveling partner Dave Pope I will miss my Geoligist. Wish you all were here.

Charlie
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90 miles for David Pope

After our tour of the 6th Crossing info. Center whichwas about the Mormans pulling handcarts along the Oregon Trail quite a story we started from Sweetwater and we arrived at Muddy Gap at 4:00. We met a man from Maine and he gave us a bad weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday. We decided to do the 50 miles to Rawlins. I started out and because of the elevation I knew I would not make it so I swung around and headed back to Muddy Gap to the General store thinking I would be pinned down until Wednesday. Before I could tell the store owner I was staying a truck driver heard me talking to her daughter and asked where I was trying to go and said he would take me. David had a 90 mile day and did really well and arrived around 8:00. Today was the last day for my recumbent I will begin the Rickies soon. I will be in Rawlins until Wednesday morning most likely.

Happy Memorial
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Sweetwater Station

We are 40 miles from from Lander on the Sweetwater River which the wagon trains on Oregon trail had to cross 3 times. This campground is free of charge provided by the Morman Churcha, it is a place where people were rescued by folks from Salt Lake City sent by Brigham Young. Today was a windy day with wind 25 and greater my bike had big problems with the wind coming on an angle from the rear it kept blowing out in the road so I walked a lot. We went up for 28 miles today. We decided to take 3 days to Rawlins because of the long weekend. I seem to not ride well today after having a massage to get rid of a sore hamststring and I was toast all day. It has been 3 weeks of riding and I have felt the affect. No cell out here we have not seen a store in 30 miles. We will resupply in Jeffrey City tomorrow. Bob Hoefer sent some great things that will be very useful and the beef jerkie was part of lunch and it will go in the Pilaf tomorrow night. Wendy your meals were very good. The Mountain House meals are very handy especially when the store that is listed is closed. I hope you are having or had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

Charlie
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Shopping around Lander

Took it easy today, bought a Bear barrel to hang food, I have been concerned about other animals getting after some of my food. We walked around the 3 NOLS buildings they have great facilities. We are staying in their hotel. We will visit with Dave's cousin tomorrow. I will check in tomorrow night.

Charlie
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Greetings from Lander

What a night and what a day with a have you ever. Last night we had a storm roll in that both Dave Pope and I thought was going to blow our tents were over. We got up a little soggy but ready to ride. We did suggest hanging in Dubois to assess the weather but we took off. Crowheart on the Indian reservatIon was our lunch spot 30 miles out and that's all there is for another 30. Dave always arrives before me and I was being chased down by a storm. I arrived in time and we sat under cover for three separate rounds of hail,thunder, lightening and torrential rain. We decided that maybe we should go for it and as we rolled we could see we were going to have some massive weather stress. All of sudden a tractor trailer pulled over and said we needed a ride. Mark had made a U turn to come back and pick us up. I have had a number of these things that have just happened. What a storm we rode into in Mark's rig (have you ever) . Thankfully we where not riding. How about this, checking into the KOA last night, we were talking to Brian from Vancouver, B.C. And he tells me that he was sharing drinks with Team Brody in Idaho Falls. How about that? I will be in Lander for 2 days while the weather straightens out. Wayne I might spend tomorrow night at the NOLS hotel. Since I am a week early I will get my new rig at a different spot. Les if the Rockies do not kill me this extra week could get me to Yorktown. We will see! Hello and congratulations to Tim Schneider for getting his Law Degree.

Charlie Rainman
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Towgotee Pass to Dubois

David and I got shuttled to what Jeanine Karns thought was the top of the Pass but we quickly found out that according to my GPS we had another 1,000' and 8 miles of climbing. Due to the road work we got ferried on a pickup for a half mile of it. We had a great down hill and then we roilled up and down for 40 miles. David is great to travel with and he has a big interest in geology and he points out the different landscapes that we pass. I had a big dinner tonight our P.B. and J sandwiches did not hold up. We are 71 miles from Lander, WY and we will do them in two days. I should have a signal tomorrow to send this. Folks were grabbing gear this morning and I assumed that we had my stove but it was left in Jackson. I will get it in Lander. We had a warm but good ride today rain will chase us down for the next three days. The warm riding has been great. I hope all is well where you are. Enjoy.

Charlie Togwotee
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Jackson Hole

Greetings from wonderful Jackson Hole. We came down from Yellowstone last night. Most of the Campgrounds where closed so we motored out of the Park after seeing great things. The wildlife included many Bison, elk, moose. Old Faithful gave us a show but not as high as usual some said. When we got to Grand Teton National Park the views were spectacular (check the Blog for photos) all but one campground was closed and when we arrived they said that they were telling tenters not to stay there because of a Grizzly Bear problem. It is not unusual to have bear around but this spring the bears have stayed down low longer because of the snow. I have heard a number of bear stories and they are frightening. It will only be David Pope and myself tomorrow as Terry heads back to Moab and Linda flys out of Salt Lake City. Dave and I will get a shuttle over the 9,500' pass tomorrow in order to get away from possible snow Wednesday. I will be back pulling my trailer tomorrow and will be in Lander, WY. to pick up my new bike in 3 days. I hope you are all well and people have asked what I need and what I need is some company through Colorado come on out and ride some 10,000 to 14,000 foot passes. Be kind!

Teton Charlie
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Jackson Hole

The Team - Morpoppophar

The Tetons

Yellowstone

Virginia City, MT

No Passes today but we did climb to our campground late in the 58 mile day. We started the day in Dillon @ 5,000' feet and by mile 26 we were down to 2,600' and then we started up for 32 miles to 6,200'. I had some trouble during one 8 mile leg it was 85 degrees and we had just started climbing and I felt lousy. I took a break in Sheridan in a air con church and hit the road and felt much better. We traveled through gold country and they still do the placer mining which is stripper the hills. The rock piles are amazing. We went Rock Hounding in the late afternoon and found something for my honey at home. We will travel by car to Yellowstone tomorrow we have heard that things are closed like camping and biking is not happening either we will see what we find out. Linda has to be in Jackson Hole by Monday the 19th and David and I will start for Lander WY on the 21st and we will have lost both Terry and Linda and we will be self contained again. My lessoned learned for today; step back take a time out and relax.

Your pal,

Charlie
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Big Hole Pass

I rode my two highest passes today one was Big Hole Pass 7360' and Badger Pass 6700'. Come on Montana is that all you have? Oh yeah I walked the last mile on each pass. Boy was the air a little thin. Wait till I get to Colorado and try some of those big mountains. Great weather today got a little burnt but I was pouring on the sunblock. We stayed in Jackson, MT last night because we skipped over a day to give the Popes time. I wanted to say hi to the students at Columbia Falls that have been checking my progress. See you at Summer Camp. Sandy ( the dog)and Wendy made it home and they are doing very well. Until the next time I have a cell, be safe.

Charlie
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Re: Sandy comes home!

What a cutie!!!  He looks so innocent with those eyes!

I can't wait to snuggle with him, I know Max is excited too, we talk about Mimi's doggie and you being in Maine!

Love,
Katy

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:18 AM, Wendy Harrington <wharringtonster@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Hi everyone,

Here are a few of the photos of Sandy on his first two days in Addison.  He slept through the night and has only had two accidents which were my fault because I didn't get him out fast enough after waking in the morning and after our ride to work.

He is sweet, gentle, playful, cuddly, and very low key (like Charlie but not a replacement for him).  His favorite room is our bedroom and he's sleeping in a rubber storage bin.  It's very snuggy for him.  He feels safe in there.  I'll transition him to the crate in the next few days.

 

Wendy

--
Wendy Harrington,
The EdGE / Maine Sea Coast Mission
Adult and Community Coordinator
Phone: 546-4466 Fax: 546-2209
PO Box 428
Cherryfield, ME 04622

Sandy comes home!

Hi everyone,

Here are a few of the photos of Sandy on his first two days in Addison. He slept through the night and has only had two accidents which were my fault because I didn't get him out fast enough after waking in the morning and after our ride to work.

He is sweet, gentle, playful, cuddly, and very low key (like Charlie but not a replacement for him). His favorite room is our bedroom and he's sleeping in a rubber storage bin. It's very snuggy for him. He feels safe in there. I'll transition him to the crate in the next few days.

Wendy

More Pictures

Dad sent along some more pictures - he's riding out of Missoula today.

Track Charlie's Progress (5/15)

Just a quick map update on Dad's progress - he took a much needed (and deserved) rest day yesterday.


View Larger Map

A day in Missoula

I spent the day in Missoula doing a little bike repair and visiting Adventure Cycle which is the Organization that prints the Trans America. The Popes and their friend Terry arrived around six o'clock and we set the route for the next 14 days so I will be off my printed schedule for a variety of travel reasons. While doing my cardboard pros and cons today I will change bikes in Lander, Wy the bike will not cost as much as Sandy but.... I will need something upright and I chose a bike in Eugene that will work for my body parts. We were notified today that we received another grant for $300,000. I had hoped I would hear about this later in the trip but we do good work and the EdGE will grow fall 08. I am hoping that Wendy will send pictures of Sandy onto the site when he arrives home on Friday. That's all, we will ride local and then we are off to Jackson, MT skipping Darby Dave's bike will not be ready until 4:00. I will not pull my trailer for a week yahoo.

A rested Charlie
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Missoula, MT

How about the Blog, Jake is the best. I just got cell reception back and our plan was to send my Spot location and for whatever reason it did not work and my family was quite concerned. Here I am in Missoula a day early in need of some bike repair and I will ride with folks for a few weeks which will be great.
I came over the Pass this morning and dropped down for an 1 hour soak in the Lola Hot Spring if was good enough for Lewis and Clark it is good enough for me. Since the elevation was dropping I went for Missoula and tried a group I had heard about in Eugene called Warm Showers. Tonight I am at the home of Gini and Tom Sullivan and their 3 kids. Wendy I will do this for cyclers in the future. Here are my lessons learned thus far:
* a shower is not a shower unless it has hot water
* do not forget the PB and jelly
* if I have not worn or used it, go home (2 mailings home)
* I love talking to Wendy everyday and wished she could see this part of the country
* when you are tired walk there is no hurry! This is a big one.

I will be in Missoula tomorrow waiting on the Popes and getting things fixed. I heard from team Brody 4 flats in one day. They should have bought Swalbes.
Ta Ta
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4,100 Feet

I have positioned myself for Lola Pass. I have learned to end the day before a high climb as close as you can and start fresh. One surprise was that as I got above 2500 there was more and more snow. When I was 15 miles out I ran into 2 rangers and told me that the Campground was closed. They said to camp on any piece of grass anywhere and I could find none. Which worked out best for this very tired and very cold biker. 4100 feet is cold and I rode about three hours in a cold rain and was on the road longer than I would like to admit. Boo hoo, I road along the Lochsa River for 60 miles and I will miss it, today I had a moose in the road ahead of me, when I was talking to a bear baiter a large deer walked out behind us. This guy was telling that the ranch he works for has 250,000 acres, who cuts the lawn? Finally as I worked to finished my day a Bald Eagle came over no more than 20' above I also crossed the Lewis and Clark trail. Man that was a group of tough people. I had the best of days and one of my hardest as I went up hill for 60 miles. I will ride and walk Lola Pass tomorrow.

Lochsa River

Self contained again. The car gave me a chance to see things off the route and definitely help improve my conditioning. Sunday my 59 miles were a bikers heaven! I started at 3400 feet in Granville and dropped 1100 feet in 10 miles which means a big downhill. Once I got to the Clearwater River I stayed at 1300'. My legs needed today and I went 14 miles further than originally planned. My Spot will show Lowell but I am 7 miles east in a National Forest campground. Monday is an interesting day 65 miles with no services. There is no water saw I stocked up in Lowell. Powell next and 5,200 up Lolo Pass the first time over the Continental Divide. I will probably send this in a couple of days. I will meet Linda and David Pope in Missoula. Linda was our Administrative Assistant @ Kieve. Dave is a retired teacher and a avid geoligist (rock hound). I look forward to traveling with them I had a wonderful day.

First Set of Pictures!

Hey Everyone - Dad sent along some fantastic pictures from his journey. Hope you enjoy!

Oh the People You Meet

I have met some great folks doing some special things;
* the Brody father and son from Salem, OR. going to St. Louis for a wedding and then biking to Maine to pick up Ross' stuff, he just got his PHD in Physics. I enjoyed traveling with them for 4 days. 
* Mathias from Nova Scotia who has been walking the Oregon Trail pulling a Child's Bike trailer loaded with gear in a chest harness. He brighten my day with his smile and enthusiasm.
* the Sisters from Little Rock, Akansas on motorscooters from Portland, OR to home. They need to get back for summer camp.

A few of the folks I have enjoyed meeting.

Moved forward 200 miles to drop my car. Will take a bus from Lewiston, ID back to Grangeville.
Wendy sent some great Freeze Dried meals.

Have a great weekend!

Greetings from Idaho

I am moving on up to drop the car tomorrow. I will take a day or two to get back on route. Email will be few and far between I am losing cell service in the Mts. Doing well. Went to the Oregon Trail Museum today.  I miss my sweetie!

Greetings from Unity

Moved Off the route to stay at an Oregon State Park on Unity Reservoir. I wanted to see what three 5,000' climbs in a row look like. My route calls for three passes tomorrow. Being a car camper I will ride what I can. Saturday I will travel to Lewiston, Idaho to drop the team car and then ride south to get back on the route. I am still working on the details on where I will get back on. Great views today while riding. Strawberries to the South and the Cascades to the West. I have stayed in a State Park two nights in a row. Legs are toast from riding hundreds of feet up and down. Weather has been great, cold mornings and great biking weather (cool and sunny).
I hope you are all fine. Please send an email to my gmail account because I am losing cell coverage often and I will continue to update all from the local libraries and sending GPS locations. Bye for now.

Greetings from Mount Vernon

I picked up my part and moved on for Mitchell about 100 miles remember I am now car camping for 2 more days. I caught up with team Brady the gentleman and son I met the other day. I put my bike back together Tuesday night. The part came from Florida and it is called  a riser and it holds the handlebars, I found the hard way how   important it is. Stayed in a Baptist church last night with the   Brodys. Pastor Carl Naas cooked us a huge hunter's breakfast with  biscuits and gravy, elk sausage, eggs. Great hospitality. We rode 60 miles with a 6 mile climb today. I will lose the Brodys tomorrow as they turn East toward Wyoming and I head for Idaho and Montana. I will miss them. I will meet the Popes in Missoula. 50 tomorrow no climbs. Friday over 5,000' toward Baker City. Saturday Idaho. Bye for now.

Hello from Sisters

Highest point today was Santitum Pass at 4800 feet. I actually did it twice once on my bike and then I rescued a cycler at the top in a car and brought him to Sisters. I had met his son at the campground and he told about his Dad stuck 28 miles from Sisters. Yes I now as of 4:00 have a car because I have a bike problem and of course it is the stem tube that is only for a recumbent. Thank God for duct tape or I would have needed a rescue like Eliot. The Pass was scary today and that will be a story for another time. I will know if I will be a car camper for a few days tomorrow. Back to Eugene, although in a car it will take 2 hours Vs two hard days biking. If I become a car camper you will hear from me again when I am up and running.

The highlight of the day,  over the pass and I had dinner with my rescuee and his son. I love hearing from you all.

McKenzie Bridge

After leaving Eugene the shoulder narrowed until Vida. Great weather and a beautiful ride along the McKenzie River there were a number of hazelnut groves. I arrived at 6:00 after about 5 hours of peddling. Started from about 500 feet above sea level and finished at 1300' above sea level. Sisters tomorrow.

Greetings from Eugene

Arrived @ 12:30 and was going to bike from the Airport but had a chain and seat issue. I took a cab to the bike shop and issue solved. I spent a couple of hours exploring Eugene's bike lanes and bike path. Fitness friendly town and folks have been helpful. Start East tomorrow weather was dry today but that is not seasonal. Temp was a warm 65.

I had a great send off yesterday from the folks from the EdGE and the Thrift shop. They had worked hard at creating some very funny gifts. Allison send me those pictures please. The staff really made it a memorable send off thank you so much.

It was not easy saying goodbye to Wendy this is the longest we will be separated since Kansas. I will check as long as I have service.

Welcome

Hi Everyone - follow Charlie's progress as he rides across the USA!