Dispatch from America's Breadbasket

I am going to attempt this Dispatch, but the Achilles heel will be that WiFi in the majority of the country thus far has been a joke. I think that if the cell phone company's can speed it up then their devices might be worth the greenback.

Abby and I have exited Colorado into Kansas. The last 2 weeks were cold and more than the freezing temperatures was the WIND! We all know head wind v. tail wind, but until I had spend weeks fighting a moderate to strong head wind/side wind that wants to push me into oncoming traffic I had under estimated wind's ability to unravel the nerves. We have been fortunate to meet some great people on this trip and Lander, WY was really the pinnacle. Don, Dot, Jake and Tori(pictured above), of the Newton Clan put us up for 2 nights, opened their house to 2 stinky bikers and then drove us out of their way to get beyond the winter weather. THANK YOU!

With the wind pushing us aside we rode through the remainder of WY, a desolate state. In Saratoga, WY there is a hot springs. Once called Hobo Pool because of the proximity to the train tracks and who frequented the hot and relaxing waters. We were awakened at 1:30 am by the local peace officer for camping in a "no camping" site. He proceeded to make us pack our bikes and go else were. We took in another soak then shoved out of town with our hobo binndle's of bikes. 10 miles later and a near miss with a scared badger, we found our new campsite.

Our original route was slapping us in the face with winter weather, "Why are you still here?" it chided. We took Cameron Pass at 10,276 ft. into Ft. Collins, CO. Damn near 40 miles of downhill with a tail wind and we were back in the land of t-shirts. We spent the night in Ft. Collins, checking out New Belgium Brewing and visiting Tom and Michelle, some of Abby's extended family.

So for the past few days Abby and I have been picking our way Southeast through Colorado to get back on route. As a friend of my Dad says, "everything in this part of the country is square with the world". Hot days abound but a storm is coming in from the West. Abby walks in with a gas station biscuit and some coffee and smiles, "wind has changed, and it's a tail wind" with a grin from ear to ear.

Time to ride!