day 36 (random thoughts that started in lander, WY)

porque?

because it's just riding all day.
because of the voices that compete in my head. keep going. tough it out. stop. just quit already.
because it feels so amazingly good to stretch the burning sensation out of my legs.
because i've told so many people.
because so many of those people tell me to keep pedaling.
because i like numbers.
because so many others ride even more miles.

because i don't like to fail.
because it's ok sometimes to ask for help.
because the loneliness makes me appreciate all of them even more.
because my students looked at me like i was crazy.
because my students asked if they could ride with me which makes them crazy too.
because i like taking pictures with my yellow bike.
because that 60 year old was climbing without any hint of struggle.

because i can fly down a pass for 30 minutes without pedaling once.
because so many think it is impossible.
because i hate driving a car.
because those strangers took my picture and shook my hand.
because they gave me money and i started a blog.
because when i was young, i would wander miles from my house on my bike.
because i want to be close to nature.

because i like analyzing maps as i lay under hundreds of stars in my tent.
because my dad rides a bike.
because it feels so good to finally get off your saddle.
because i didn't want to watch tv all day.
because so much happens and time just moves along.
because i want to be closer to me.
because some thoughts have haunted me for too long.

because my brother used to pick me up from school on his bike.
because some emotions just spill out on the road.
because i miss him so much.
because i get to see my family again very soon.
because when i hold her again, my love for her feels like that first time.
because this part of my life needed closure.
because i live for these moments.

because i can.

week 04/05 totals

day 22 50.83 miles
day 23 63.10 miles
day 24 40.94 miles
day 25 86.05 miles
day 26 43.41 miles
day 27 97.68 miles
day 28 81.77 miles

day 29 94.83 miles
day 30 54.38 miles
day 31 110.79 miles
day 32 77.51 miles
day 33 129.07 miles
day 34 89.41 miles
day 35 00.00 miles

math challenge (intended for my students, but anyone can send me their reply!)

07. what is the mean for days 29 through 35? if i wanted the mean of those days to be exactly 90 miles, how many miles should i have ridden on day 35?

08. on day 25, i rode for about 5.25 hours. what is the unit rate for that day? (in this scenario, the unit rate represents my average speed for the day.)

09. based on this data, and looking back at previous weeks' figures, would it be reasonable to expect me to bike 150 miles on day 36? explain.

send replies to jvelazquez1@cps.edu

day 30/31/32/33/34 (riding into kansas sunrises and finally missouri)

well, just as i was finishing my last blog update on day 29, a couple of local newspaper guys walked into the convenience store where i was relaxing and asked about my iPad. good old iPad. it has started so many conversations. well, the iPad led to my trip, and explaining my grant and blog, then out came the solar panel, and the next thing i knew, one of the guys was taking my picture for the hays, kansas newspaper. very strange. if anyone wanders into hays and notices my pic, grab an extra copy for me. didn't break 100 on day 29. the heat put a stop to those plans. only 95 miles.            





day 30. after such a huge ride the previous day, and staying at elaine's bike oasis bed and breakfast, i started off for a short day. larned was the place to be apparently-formerly a booming town on the sante fe trail, and a neighbor to a mental institution and juvenile detention center. it's weird, but i probably would not have noticed anything strange about larned, except, dan, elaine's husband and my previous night's cohost, made it a point to inform me that the people in larned are a little off, and that it wouldn't be smart to stay in the city park. if i had noticed anything strange, i most likely would have attributed it to small town syndrome. so after staggering into larned, a cheap motel provided me shelter from the locals and the heat. (side note. apparently, elaine can really throw down in the kitchen. unfortunately, i couldn't experience her cooking because she only took cash, and i just had enough to cover me staying the night. maybe on the next tour through kansas.)





an early rise on day 31 and i set out for newton, KS, which at one point rivaled wichita, KS, but just couldn't keep pace. it's always interesting to hear locals describe the town history. all stories are filled with buckets of pride, and through their perspective, history always has a way of making the town become exactly what it was meant to become. newton is 110 miles away from larned. having failed to reach a century a few days prior, i wouldn't settle for anything less than 100. 7.5 hours later, the last 2 hours in 100 degree heat, i rode victoriously into town on my faithful steed, eager to tell any stranger what i had just accomplished and looking for newton's secret. a couple bicyclists i met about 20 miles outside of town informed me that the firehouse beat any other lodging option. so i limped into the station, put on my look of desperation, and asked, "is it possible to stay here for the night?" out came two firefighters, practically carrying me and my bike inside. instantly, i had a towel in one hand, a cold drink in the other. "make yourself at home," jerry, the battalion chief, told me. i lost track of how many times he asked if i needed anything, as he whisked me through town in his fire station pickup to get my bike tuned up, catch some dinner, and give me and tom, another cyclist staying at the firehouse, a tour of his city. an amazing experience, that perfectly capped a day of riding milestones-my second century day and also 2,000 miles on my bike!    





two centuries in a row? no way. i'm crazy, but my body would have none of that on day 32 especially not in this intolerable heat. also, for the past two days, i've had a weird pain in my right ear. kind of like a headache. not excruciating, but irritating, especially as my head bobs from side to side as i "pedal faster" for my wife. since i left pueblo, CO, the wind has been coming consistently from the south. and whenever i turn in that direction, it's like riding into a furnace that has a huge fan blowing the heat right in your face. in a crosswind, i can maintain a decent speed, but riding into a headwind can slow me down almost 10 mph, and make the heat even more unbearable. well, the heat, riding south for about 20 miles (i thought chicago was east? what the.....?), the emergence of hills, and my headache made day 32 one i'd like to forget. it was the type of day that produces thoughts of calling it quits. but i persevered, and made it to eureka. i felt awful, not even having the desire to eat or watch bad tv in my motel. i called it a day at 7pm, hoping tomorrow would come quickly to ease my pain. 

i awoke on day 33 in eureka, KS, refreshed and energized at 5am. the previous night i heard another guest at the motel yell "tornado" in the middle of the night. so apparently there was a storm and a power outage, as the alarm clock was blinking. nothing was going to wake me up, though, and it was almost like the downpour cleared my ailing mind and body. i rode, and rode, and rode. bridge out? detour? 100 degree heat again? no problem. i was going to break a century, no doubt. a hundred came and went. i zoomed through my original destination, girard, took out my next map, and kept pedaling until pittsburg, KS, just 5 miles shy of MO. 129 miles. typing that number only makes me relive the amazement of that day. when i left the rugged mountains of the west and entered the plains, i thought i might be able to catch a huge tailwind one day, and pull out a huge number that would maybe carry me all the way to chicago. well, the tailwind has yet to happen, but 129 did. at some point, i just stopped looking at my bike computer and just pedaled, losing myself in thoughts of being home, hugging my wife, seeing my family and friends, and trying desperately to retell all these swirling stories in my head.

day 34. as i cross into missouri, the fact that this trip is almost over is finally starting to register. similar to the days leading up to this trip when i was filled with emotions of anxiety as i left the comforts of home, the reality that this will be over soon is filling me with a sense of emptiness. "a once in a lifetime experience," is how many other people have described my journey. really? just once? i don't know if i will tour again, although my mind is already secretly planning tours down the pacific coast, the great lakes, and the yucatan. zenia? e? pa? but a part of me has a hard time accepting that these moments are meant to be singular and an exception in life. i would never describe myself as a thrill seeker. actually, i'm too calculating and meticulous to really ever take a risk. but as soon as i stop pedaling, i know i'm going to think back to being on my bike. riding into sunrises. following rivers that wind through imposing forests. climbing to a peak and surveying the landscape below me. working out the stiffness in my knees every morning. saying a quick prayer and checking my breaks before flying down descents. screaming as loud as i could to break the silence of the nature around me. once in a lifetime. that really doesn't make any type of sense right now, and i hope it never does.   

day 24/25/26/27/28/29 (kansas and the central time zone)

i've been dreading day 24 for a while now because of what i was to confront- an 11,542 foot monster named hoosier pass, the highest point on my trip. 11,542 feet! not good. luis, my ride from day 23 had already brought me up about 1,000 feet to an elevation of 8,500 feet, but the last three thousand feet was on me. and so up i went, climbing slowly, but moving. the most amazing bike path, nestled between the towering mountain tops and overlooking a lake, took me halfway up my climb. i've never ridden such a scenic bike path, and plans of returning quickly started to formulate in my head. as soon as the bike path ended, everything changed, however. i got really tired, the climb seemed steeper, and i was getting light headed. i tried to push through on my bike, but all the switchbacks got the best of me, and i was forced to hike the last mile and a half. somewhat disappointing. early on, walking was typical protocol for climbs, because of my bike at first, but also because once i did it, it became easier to stop riding and just walk. my riding companions had pushed me to keep pedaling the past few days, even when my legs were burning. alone, i was no match for hoosier pass. i reached the summit, and other tourists were amazed that i had made it up on my bike. i informed them that i walked the last bit. they were still impressed, but as i flew down to my camping spot for the night, i kept wondering if i could have made the climb with some support. either way, i am going to miss flying down descents at 40 mph, but i will definitely not miss those insane climbs!          





day 25 was a smooth 86 miles, mostly downhill. i recorded my fastest average speed for the trip at 16.45 mph. doesn't seem like much, but as a cyclist, being able to knock out more than 15 miles in one hour is awesome. as i start to leave the rockies behind, i have a feeling more of these days are ahead of me on the plains. i spotted a wendy's today, and of course i could not resist. i hung out there, waiting for the day to pass so i could head to florence to camp in the city park. when i was planning this trip, i was under the false impression that camping in city parks was the norm all over the states, but apparently, that isn't the case in the northwest. almost all campsites charged a decent amount, and the national forest campsites even charged about $10. i didn't allocate anywhere near the amount of money i needed for lodging expenses, but now that i am approaching the midwest, free city parks might be more common which is great news to my food budget! it was somewhat awkward setting up a tent at 5pm, with families and kids around playing and enjoying picnics. but there i was, waiting for a decent hour to crawl into the big agnes. i slept somewhat uneasy. there were still a bunch of teenagers out close to 10, and at some point, some motorcycle guys rolled up to the park, swearing and drinking apparently, as i laid listening to them inside my tent. i wasn't worried about my safety, just didn't want anyone to have fun at my expense. besides a dog sniffing near my tent, nothing eventful happened that night.     





day 26 started much earlier than i'm used to being awake. the previous night the sheriff had warned me that the park sprinklers turned on at 5.30am. i was going to try to sleep through it, but i woke up at 5.15am without having set my alarm, and, in a frenzy, i got up, packed, and rode away. it was close to 6 when i left the park and no sign of sprinklers. i left feeling the sheriff had pulled a fast one on me. well, sprinklers or not, i rode a quick 40 miles into an amazing sunrise, and reached pueblo, CO, my final destination, at 9am! this was a perfectly executed motel/hotel night. a full 24 hours to chill, so i decided to live it up and i splurged on a room at the marriott. i walked in, sweaty and unfresh from two nights of camping, and retired to my room for the next 24 hours. besides coming out to get some dinner, a quick trip to walgreens and the post office, i laid in bed all day. it was the best "rest" day.   





day 27 was the designated full rest day. but a full 24 hours at the marriott was enough, so i opted out of an extra day in pueblo. one day shaved off the trip thanks to the great sprinkler hoax of day 26! i left, with no clear end point. i was refreshed, the elevation was dropping into the 4,000 ft range, and all i could see were plains ahead. 80 miles? 90? another century? everything was flying smooth until a chunk of barbed wire got me. there on the shoulder was a clump of tangled wire, and before i could swerve away, it got caught in my rear wheel, kicked up into my gears, and wound itself tightly into my rear wheel. i braked just in time to avoid flying off. out came my tools, as i flipped my bike over and started taking out the tangled mess. i was able to get most of it out, but two pieces were really caught in my gears. i pulled with no success, until a woman and her grandmother stopped and asked if i needed help. with the temperature rising into the 90's, i accepted a ride into town to see if someone could fix my bike. after an hour of, "well, there used to be a bike shop in la junta, but not sure if it exists anymore," i politely asked if they could just take me back to the road where they picked me up, and i was going to try to hitch a ride to the nearest town that showed a bike shop on my map. they took me to the nearest intersection, where a car mechanic was able to pry out the last two pieces of wire. now, i'm not sure if the wire getting caught or if the car mechanic caused this, but as i reattached my rear wheel, it was so lopsided. i took off the rear brake, and rode with a squeaking noise for another 67 miles to eads, CO. 97 total for the day! i wasn't planning on riding so far, especially after the wire incident, but a looming storm behind me for my last 20 miles motivated me like nothing else. as i entered the local diner, it began to pour outside, and i heard the staff say that there were tornado sightings just east of eads. the city park was drenched, and the only motel in town had no vacancies. i walked around, trying to figure out what to do, when another cyclist came out of her room and told me that there was a cyclist by himself in the room next door. i asked if i could crash on his floor, and without hesitation, he was clearing some space for my bike and belongings. thanks johnny. a difficult day, that could have been ten times worse.    





so apparently there is a heat wave in the states. i'd been in the mountains so long, battling cold morning rides, that i had almost forgotten what hot temperatures felt like. well, day 28 was a great reminder. it was already 90 degrees when i started my ride for the day, and from what the locals said, it was going to climb to 102 degrees. yikes! i've caddied and backpacked through mexico in blinding heat before, but i've never biked. it was a beast. the sunscreen i slathered on my body quickly turned into an uncomfortable, powdery white residue. two additional sunscreen applications later, i had ridden 82 miles in the blazing heat and was enjoying a refreshing cold shower at the local pool in leoti, KS. kansas! a new state and a new time zone. central time zone never felt so good! when i left chicago, i never reset my watch just for today. for the first time in weeks, i also looked at a map, and stared in disbelief at how far i've traveled. i really am crazy. i played basketball with some local kids, who gravitated toward me at the local convenience store, asking about my trip, and then proceeded to follow me to the city park. they were all latino, living in this tiny town, and they assaulted me with questions for a good two hours. "what's chicago like?" "why are you riding?" " you speak spanish!" "will you be out of kansas by tomorrow?" it was wild. i had so much fun hanging out with kids half my age, shooting hoops, sharing family stories. "more bang for my buck," is how marc described it. i still wonder sometimes what kind of impact i can have if i taught at a latino school in chicago. but don't worry, mrs. campbell, my heart and efforts are deeply rooted in howe for the foreseeable future! go jets!

(special shout out to monty from sheridan lake, who trued my rear wheel and got rid of that horrible squeaking noise. just in time, apparently, as he said the side of my tire was getting worn down and might have burst from the constant friction.)  



day 29, and i'm sitting in a convenience store, hiding from the 103 degree heat outside. this heat is intense. well, today, my anti-heat plan was executed flawlessly. i woke up at 5.30am, without a threat of sprinklers, but very much aware of the midday heat index. i rode frantically for 82 miles, taking only a 15 min break at mile 49, as i tried to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures. it worked amazingly well! i'm super sleepy, but i've been resting now for about 4 hours in AC, waiting to regain my strength to tackle my final 20 miles. i'm going to try to break a century again. in 103 degree heat, on top of that. this next week is probably going to be all morning/evening riding, because i don't see a cool down in the forecast. plenty of liquids and careful planning will have to get me through this week.    

day 19/20/21/22/23 (companions into colorado)

this trip has been a roller coaster of emotions, just as i expected. i'm riding strong for a week or so, then the weather or bike problems hamper my efforts, and my energy and enthusiasm levels fall dramatically. i've been riding a huge upswing lately, and a great deal of the credit goes to my riding companions. i've had riding company for the past five days, which has been a pleasant change, especially considering how barren and windy wyoming was. drag. you have to appreciate the science of aerodynamics.





day 19 was a brisk 70 mile day into lander, WY. it was the first day i've had warm weather and riding companions in a while. i enjoy the freedom of being able to decide when to start, how fast to go, when to take a break, and how far i want to ride. but i'm not even going to front. having someone to talk to really makes the miles fly and makes some of these long, desolate stretches much more tolerable. i'd been passing andrew and sam for the past few days and after some introductions, we talked and rode together into lander. it's definitely nice talking to someone other than myself. lander was the biggest town i've traveled past in quite a bit. it's not chicago, not even quite a chicago neighborhood, but it sure was a great change of pace from these small towns of 300.     





day 20. andrew and sam did some couch surfing, something i've yet to try, but have been considering lately. perhaps one day. i was prepared for another day of solo riding with no music (headphones broke a couple days back), when i ran into some bicyclists i had met in wisdom, MT, back on day 11. andy, heidi, emily, and jared introduced me to the concept of dragging, and quite honestly, i don't know how i managed to ride so many miles into the wind by myself. taking turns plowing through the wind with the others riding behind makes a huge difference. they were kind enough to let me tag along and be a fifth wheel, sharing their food, but more importantly their company. even though i've met so many people who've been kind enough to offer me coffee, rides, or a conversation, i'm still amazed at the generosity and hospitality from complete strangers.   





day 21 started in muddy gap junction. not really anything there except a gas station and convenience store run by a friendly family. and off we went, inching closer to colorado. the plan was to push for 80 miles or so into saratoga, WY. my new riding crew, team bannf (it's the best i can do heidi and emily!), had already pushed me beyond my previous day's schedule. and today was no different. rawlins was my goal, but it soon began to change. i split up from team banff to enjoy some mcdonald's. (team banff is self-sufficient, carrying and preparing most of their meals. i didn't even bring the stakes for my tent, let alone any cooking gear. my trip has the perk of being funded by a Fund for Teachers grant, and a food budget has given me a freedom that most other cyclists don't have. thank you so much FFT!) this almost became the end of "javage", as they named me, and team banff, because i left rawlins prematurely, thinking that they had already left without me. but as fate would have it, my yellow bike reunited us in saratoga, as they spotted my strategically placed bike outside a diner. i thought we would be off to camp, but they had different plans, and i was more than happy to join in on the fun. a quick trip to the local hot springs in town, a dip in 120 degree water, and then off to reach the century mark! the century mark. i've thought about it so much, but i've never been able to muster the strength to do it. 109 miles! the last twelve miles completely in the dark. it wasn't the safest of situations, and definitely not the best decision, but it was amazing riding with a flashlight guiding our path and the stars overhead. unreal. luckily, i've had experience with late night rides in forests with flashlights before, so riding on a paved road was no problem. we coasted into riverside, WY, close to 10pm,





day 22 was a light day, but just as exciting. a huge breakfast set up a late start, but we only needed to cover 50 miles to escape wyoming, cross into colorado, and reach our destination for the day. what started as a beautiful day, soon became overcast, and the raindrops followed. i fell behind team banff as i put away my camera and took out my jacket. when i caught up to them, they were on the side of the road. i thought they were waiting for me, but they were actually getting ready to crawl into a culvert under the roadway to wait out the storm. definitely not a big city type of experience, but off we went. besides some wet feet, the plan worked perfectly, and we rode into walden as dry as we left riverside, if you don't count our sweaty riding clothes.

day 23 was the end of me and team banff. after riding together for 50 miles, jumping into a creek, and enjoying a last lunch together, we parted ways. the continued to denver, their destination, and i continued south to pueblo, CO. the rain got us today, and i was soaked as i rode alone toward kremmling, CO. the weather started to improve, and i was just 17 miles short of kremmling when i spotted a burger shack. nothing beats a burger and milkshake after 60 miles of riding. perhaps it was fate, but just as i finished my burger, and hopped on my bike, the storms returned with thunder, and once again, i was left to make a decision. ride through the thunderstorm, stay in the small town 17 miles short of my goal, or take out the thumb. i rode, then a bolt lit the sky and i quickly turned around and out came my thumb. i looked stupid holding my thumb out in a thunderstorm, as my body shook with each cold gust. i was about to head to a motel, when someone pulled over. even before i could ask if he was heading to kremmling, he was helping me load my bike into his station wagon and asking me what i was doing out in this weather. luis. a pastor from peru, working with different immigrants in the colorado area. it was meant to be. as we drove to kremmling, he asked where i would head the next day, and when we discovered that he was heading all the way there, he was taking me one day ahead of schedule to silverthorne, CO, and i took a motel day two days earlier than planned.

i've traveled 1,428 miles to date by bicycle. i've traveled almost exactly 100 additional miles by car. i like that number. 100. in the early days, i might have been upset at myself for accepting help. but I've come to realize that i can't plan everything perfectly. plans are made to be changed. these ups and downs have led me to so many new experiences. i now realize this trip will become what it is has to become. and i'm grateful this week for having shared a few of these experiences with such amazing individuals.      

week 02/03 totals

day 08 31.74 miles
day 09 95.23 miles
day 10 76.56 miles
day 11 58.02 miles
day 12 45.61 miles
day 13 00.00 miles
day 14 84.60 miles

day 15 50.13 miles
day 16 56.13 miles
day 17 66.13 miles
day 18 37.11 miles
day 19 76.02 miles
day 20 82.68 miles
day 21 109.49 miles

math challenge (intended for my students, but anyone can send me their reply!)

04. between which consecutive days was there the least difference in miles traveled?

05. if you were to use the data from weeks 02 and 03 to create a line graph, what would be an appropriate scale to plot the miles traveled?

06. in total, i covered 869.45 miles. how many yards does this equal?

send replies to jvelazquez1@cps.edu

day 16/17/18 (wyoming and the national parks)

the new tires have made all the difference the past three days. prior to getting them, i always felt i had a flat, even when the bike was fine. constantly stopping to feel the air pressure, or looking down to see if the tire was low was starting to become annoying. three solid days of riding have taken me into the heartland of wyoming, where the wind is not playing. chicago and boston apparently don't compare to the gusts i will encounter as i continue southeast through wyoming the next several days. all i can do is keep pedaling.





day 16 took me into yellowstone national park. i've always wanted to visit. it's odd, but my interest in many of the places in the northwest was sparked by the 5th grade curriculum i taught at claremont for four years-the dalles in our native american unit, and even yellowstone from our reading series. recalling the fire of 1988 from that story, it was crazy to see firsthand the damage that it caused in the park. despite the acres of bare forest, it was still amazing to witness the sheer magnitude of wilderness even without leaving the main road for too long (only to go see old faithful). definitely an area that requires further exploration on my part. it was a light day of riding, except for crossing the continental divide a few times.





day 17 saw me leave yellowstone through the south entrance and enter grand teton national forest. wow. i really can't describe what i saw, so hopefully some of the pics can better capture grand teton. riding along the teton range for most of the day set up the final day's challenge. my original plan was to camp at the western base of togwotee pass, a 9,658 foot climb. but a strong western wind made me start climbing. and up i went for two hours, hoping the campground indicated on my map existed and was open. 8 miles of climbing later, i reached a lodge and was informed that the campground was just a mile or so down a gravel road. it was there, and open, and completely desolate. i really haven't been scared as i go to bed since i was younger, but all those signs stating that i was in grizzly country, and the pitch darkness, and the weird night noises really messed with my mind. after laying in my tent a few hours imagining any and all situations of me running/fighting/playing dead if a bear approached my campsite, exhaustion took hold and i fell asleep for the night at about 12.30am.





day 18. no grizzly bear visits, although some of the tracks on the road were neither mine nor my bike's. being terrified made a great morning alarm, because i was up and out of my campsite before 7.30am. and then it was on to complete the task from the previous day. another 9 miles of climbing and escorted truck rides through construction zones took me to the highest point of my trip, togwotee pass at 9,658 feet above sea level! people say this elevation makes one dizzy and short of breath. after this many days of riding, i can't really notice any difference. maybe as i begin my decent east from colorado something will feel different.

i'm constantly meeting different bikers now and hearing their stories. i didn't have a chance to talk to anyone today, because everyone was heading the other direction it seemed as i was descending down the pass, but even with a brief, "it's only 3 miles 'til the top!" an instant bond is formed. the "hello's" and smiles seem so sincere, and fuel my pedaling. even the tourists in their trucks and RV's who approach me with complete shock, as they shake my hand and shake their head in disbelief, give me the strength to make it to my next destination. and all the great messages, emails, texts, comments on FB help me keep going, especially on those tough days. so thanks to everyone for the words of support.