We Leave For Deming Today and Antelope Wells Tomorrow!!!

Today is the day!!! I still have to load everything into the Xterra, and then we will pick up Cas at the airport around 12:30. The wind was blowing too hard yesterday to change out the belts, but I think they will make the trip okay. The wind is going to pick up again today and it is suddenly 40 degrees cooler. It is great riding weather. Hopefully we will get through the desert before it warms up again. This is it for now. We are passing through Silver City on Memorial Day weekend so I do not think I will find a computer to update this blog. My wife has promised to help transcribe updates. Adios. Vayan con Dios.

It Is Getting So Close

Despite a year and a half of preparation it still feels like the last minute details are going to overwhelm me. However, closing out the end of the school year is always an exhausting and time consuming process. Nevertheless, I really hoped to be totally packed by now.

The last two boxes arrived this afternoon. One was the last shipment of freeze dried food from Nito-Pak, and the other contained rechargeable batteries and a charger that will work off my Solio solar charger for my Garmin GPS and my camera. The third box in the picture is some coffee for my wife.




Figuring out the logistics of the menus and the drop boxes has consumed an inordinate amount of time and effort. I posted that information as a service to those who might not otherwise be willing to invest as much energy into the process.

New Mexico is the biggest challenge logistically, and I am kind of cheating by having my wife meet me in Grants and in Cuba. However, that is something she really wants to do, so let's let her do it. It is definitely not cheaper for her to drive, but she wants to bring one of my granddaughters out to see what I am doing. That's great! I can't wait to see them out there on the trail.

My wife is much relieved about the trip since I started using the SPOT to track my location. She is also glad that I am not traveling alone; especially since a 5 year old was attacked by a young mountain lion (cougar) in the mountains near us this past weekend. He was only 20-30 feet ahead of his parents when he was ambushed. He will live, but it is going to take a lot of reconstructive surgery to restore his facial features.



I have decided to go with my "holey" tires. I don't see much point changing them out until I get to at least Cuba, NM or maybe even Del Norte, CO. The heavy monsoon rains last summer produced a bumper crop of thorns and goatheads. I am not trying to start a new religion, but I BELIEVE in sealant. Apparently I am the only one in my group who is using sealant. In fact, I think I might be the only one going tubeless too?



I got my "summer haircut" right after work today. I also need to finish packing. If I still have any time and energy left, then I will drop the skid plate on my Xterra and change out the belts. They are starting to dry crack. I really don't want my wife breaking down in the 100+ heat of the Chihuahuan Desert after she drops us off Friday morning. I want her to put the pedal to the metal and get the heck out of there post-haste. It's no place for a woman to be alone. Actually, Naran's friend will be driving his truck back to Arizona, so I am going to ask them to stick together until they get back to I-10.

Tomorrow at this time I will be picking up Cas at the airport and we will be heading down to Deming, NM. Meanwhile Naran and Dave will be making their way from Arizona to Lordsburg, NM. Tomorrow they are also going to try find time to hide a cache of water for us to pick up north of Separ on the second day.

A week from now we should be past Wall Lake, and have eaten lunch near Beaverhead Work Center in the Gila National Forest. In the afternoon we will push on far enough to put Pie Town within two days riding distance. It is amazing when you can start thinking in terms of "a day's ride." It puts a different perspective on life. That's a good thing!

If we have some tailwinds like there were today, then we will be in Banff in no time. Fat chance!

Post Office Drop Boxes

Post Office - Mimbres
3084 Highway 35 N
Mimbres, NM
88049-9800

Phone: (575) 536-9810

Business Hours
MO 08:00-02:30PM 03:00-04:30PM
TU 08:00-02:30PM 03:00-04:30PM
WE 08:00-02:30PM 03:00-04:30PM
TH 08:00-02:30PM 03:00-04:30PM
FR 08:00-02:30PM 03:00-04:30PM
SA 10:00-12:30PM

Post Office - Pie Town
17 Frontage RD
Pie Town, NM
87827-9998

Phone: (575) 772-2638

Business Hours
MO 08:00-12:00PM 12:30-04:30PM
TU 08:00-12:00PM 12:30-04:30PM
WE 08:00-12:00PM 12:30-04:30PM
TH 08:00-12:00PM 12:30-04:30PM
FR 08:00-12:00PM 12:30-04:30PM
SA 08:00-10:00AM

Post Office - El Rito
1134 State Road 554
El Rito, NM
87530-9998

Phone: (575) 581-4482

Business Hours
MO 08:30-12:30PM 01:30-05:30PM
TU 08:30-12:30PM 01:30-05:30PM
WE 08:30-12:30PM 01:30-05:30PM
TH 08:30-12:30PM 01:30-05:30PM
FR 08:30-12:30PM 01:30-05:30PM
SA 09:30-12:30PM

Post Office - Del Norte
590 Columbia AVE
Del Norte, CO
81132-2200
Phone: (719) 657-3155

Business Hours
MO 09:00-04:30PM
TU 09:00-04:30PM
WE 09:00-04:30PM
TH 09:00-04:30PM
FR 09:00-04:30PM
SA 09:00-12:00PM


Post Office - Kremmling
701 Park ST
Kremmling, CO
80459-9997

Phone: (970) 724-3771

Business Hours
MO 08:30-05:00PM
TU 08:30-05:00PM
WE 08:30-05:00PM
TH 08:30-05:00PM
FR 08:30-05:00PM
SA 08:00-12:00PM


Post Office - Rawlins
106 5th ST
Rawlins, WY
82301-9998

Phone: (307) 324-3521

Business Hours
MO 07:30-05:30PM
TU 07:30-05:30PM
WE 07:30-05:30PM
TH 07:30-05:30PM
FR 07:30-05:30PM
SA 09:00-12:00PM

Post Office - Pinedale
413 Pine ST
Pinedale, WY
82941-9050

Phone: (307) 367-2650

Business Hours
MO 08:45-04:45PM
TU 08:45-04:45PM
WE 08:45-04:45PM
TH 08:45-04:45PM
FR 08:45-04:45PM
SA 09:00-11:00AM

Post Office - Moran
1 Central ST
Moran, WY
83013-9901

Phone: (307) 543-2527

Business Hours
MO 08:30-01:00PM 01:30-04:30PM
TU 08:30-01:00PM 01:30-04:30PM
WE 08:30-01:00PM 01:30-04:30PM
TH 08:30-01:00PM 01:30-04:30PM
FR 08:30-01:00PM 01:30-04:30PM
SA 10:00-11:30AM


Post Office - Macks Inn
4110 S Big Springs RD
Macks Inn, ID
83433-9998

Phone: (208) 558-7070 Toll-free: (800) ASK-USPS

Business Hours
MO 09:00-05:00PM
TU 09:00-05:00PM
WE 09:00-05:00PM
TH 09:00-05:00PM
FR 09:00-05:00PM
SA 10:30-02:30PM


Post Office - Polaris
96 Billings Creek RD
Polaris, MT
59746-9705

Phone: (406) 834-3505 Toll-free: (800) ASK-USPS

Business Hours
MO 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM
TU 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM
WE 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM
TH 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM
FR 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM
SA 09:30-11:30AM 03:00-04:00PM


Post Office - Butte
701 Dewey Blvd
Butte, MT
59701-9998

Phone: (406) 494-2107

Business Hours
MO 08:30-05:30PM
TU 08:30-05:30PM
WE 08:30-05:30PM
TH 08:30-05:30PM
FR 08:30-05:30PM
SA 09:00-01:00PM


Post Office - Lincoln
237 Main ST
Lincoln, MT
59639-9702

Phone: (406) 362-4523 Toll-free: (800) ASK-USPS

Business Hours
MO 08:00-12:00PM 01:00-04:30PM
TU 08:00-12:00PM 01:00-04:30PM
WE 08:00-12:00PM 01:00-04:30PM
TH 08:00-12:00PM 01:00-04:30PM
FR 08:00-12:00PM 01:00-04:30PM

Post Office - Whitefish
424 Baker AVE
Whitefish, MT
59937-9998

Phone: (406) 862-2151

Business Hours
MO 08:30-05:30PM
TU 08:30-05:30PM
WE 08:30-05:30PM
TH 08:30-05:30PM
FR 08:30-05:30PM
SA 10:00-02:00PM

Post Office - Eureka
155 14th ST
Eureka, MT
59917-9701

Phone:(406) 297-2132

Business Hours
MO 08:30-05:00PM
TU 08:30-05:00PM
WE 08:30-05:00PM
TH 08:30-05:00PM
FR 08:30-05:00PM
SA 11:30-01:30PM

Drop Box #2 Mailed

Today the drop box to El Rito, New Mexico was picked up by my postman from my front porch. Again I did it all by Internet clicking and credit card. It was actually slightly cheaper to mail it by Click-N-Ship and have the postman pick it up than to take it to the post office. Obviously they are trying to promote the service and to compete with other shipping companies. I called several other post offices along the route today in order to find out their policies on General Delivery packages. Everyone I talked to was very friendly and helpful. We will see how it turns out in real life when I actually get there to retrieve my packages.

I also went to a post office near my work during lunch to mail a can of propane/butane to Pie Town and another can to El Rito. It was kind of an experiment. At first I was told that I could not ship the gas, but after some checking and a phone call the boxes were accepted. You have to have them available for inspection. So don't tape them up until they tell you to close up the box(es). They also have to mark a hazardous material code on the boxes in a couple of places. I don't remember the code right now, but I am sure it is in the regulations. They can only be shipped by ground, so send them early. You cannot use Priority Mail with hazardous materials, and there are strict size and quantity limits per box, as well as packaging requirements to ensure everyone's safety. If you decide to ship propane/butane then plan ahead. New Mexico is the main place where resupply is a major problem. The alternative is to carry more fuel, or use some other type of stove. Of course, you don't have to cook.

I don't expect as many problems finding it outside of New Mexico. My gas usage is one of the few details I never quite figured out. I am going to have an alcohol stove as a backup. I think I will be able to find something to burn. You can use rubbing alcohol or Heet (yellow bottles), which is methyl alcohol. You might find some air brake line anti-freeze (methyl alcohol again) at a truck stop, and then you are good to go.

There are four post offices in Montana whose physical addresses from the www.usps.com site are not recognized by the Click-N-Ship part of the system. However, someone from the Whitefish post office offered a work-around that I will try. The worst case scenario is that my wife will have to take those four packages to the post office here to ship.

There is still a ton to do and very little time to get it done. The air conditioning in my Xterra acted up today, and the belts look like they should be replaced before we head down to the Chihuanhan Desert. I will pick up the belts on my way home from work tomorrow, and my son-in-law is going to check out the ac tomorrow evening too. I don't think I will have time to change the belts before we leave, but at least I will have them with us in case one of them breaks.

I was going to post my list of post office drop addresses and pertinent information for later reference, but it is time to hit the sack. A week from tonight we will be in Mimbres. On Tuesday morning (next week) we will pick up our first drop boxes from the Mimbres post office and begin our four day journey to Pie Town. Stay tuned ...

The French Chef

I just called Cas to ask him a couple of questions about his bike and the first question he had for me was: "How are you going to carry the French chef?" He said that he had just reviewed the menu on my blog and he was wondering how I was going to prepare all that food?

It is simple, I heat up a little water and pour it into the foil bag, stir, wait a few minutes, and then eat. After I am done I roll the empty bag tightly and place it in my garbage zip lock bag. The freeze dried food is delicious, has good color and texture, and the clean up is a cinch. Admittedly eating ice cream in the desert for dessert is a little extravagant, but hey dude, its my ride!

Even with shipping my total cost per day is close to $20. I don't think I can do much better than that even if there were lots of places to buy good food. I think I have a better cuisine, and by supplementing with the fruit and vegetables I dehydrated myself I will have good fiber too. I will seek out some salads (Pizza Hut, Wendys, etc) and fresh fruit wherever they can be found, but on the whole I am well prepared. The average weight of 4-5 days of freeze dried food is only 6-7 pounds. Add a few Cliff bars and some powders for rehydration drinks and it is still only about 9-10 pounds.

I am not racing! I am touring. I know the strategies of my ride are the antithesis of other people's strategies on the GDMBR. So what? It is my ride. If someone wants to eat peanut butter and tuna fish sandwiches for two months; go for it. If you don't mind being real hungry for a couple of days at a time, that is fine too. Whatever you decide is okay with me. The main thing is to enjoy your ride. That is my hope for you. Enjoy it. I plan to enjoy my ride too.

Anyway, I called Cas to find out whether he is planning to carry any extra spokes and whether he was using sealant in his tubes. I thought he was using a tubeless front tire and I was not sure about the rear, but it turns out that he is using thorn resistant tubes front and rear without sealant. So I asked him how many tubes and patches he was carrying? He told me he was carrying one tube and thirty patches. I told him that the extra tube and the thirty patches will probably get him through the first morning, but I wonder what he is going to do in the afternoon?





I am running tubeless front and rear. Right now I have at least a dozen fresh thorn holes in each tire. How do I know? Because I can see where the Stan's sealant has stopped each flat. On my morning commute in the dark there is a stretch of trail where it always sounds like I am making popcorn as I ride over dozens of thorns and goatheads. I just ride on with a smile as the Stan's seals each hole instantly. Over the course of a hundred miles I might drop from 40 psi down to 30 psi, which still very rideable.

The problem I have had using tubes is that when the air pressure gets low the sealant either doesn't work and/or you get "snake bite" (pinch) flats. Unless you have a Cannondale "Lefty" (front fork), then you have to pull the wheel off to patch or replace the tube. All I have to do is add a little more sealant from time to time. That is as long as I don't tear a sidewall. I can intentionally run lower pressures to help increase my traction in the sandy/loosey goosey stretches without worrying about pinch flats.





I have been told that there are no cacti above 4,000 feet elevation. I live at 5,500 feet above sea level and there are plenty of cacti. I have run over cacti at 8,000 feet. Let me show you a few pictures of what I am talking about. Then you decide what is best for you.




Thorn resistant!!! Seriously, who writes your jokes?

Itinerary and Bob's Menu

Here is the latest revision of my plans (including my eating plan). The money part is a rough guess. If you have any information or suggestions, then please let me know. I week from now I will be sleeping somewhere between Separ and Silver City.

Day 1 Friday, May 23
AW to Hachita (46 miles)
B: $10 Deming
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Black Bean Tamale Pie
Chocolate Cheesecake
Camping free ??

Day 2 Saturday, May 24
Hachita to Butterfield Trail (39.3 miles)
B: Huevos Rancheros
Clif Bar and LaBar
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w Rice Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Fudge Mouse
Camping free

Day 3 Sunday, May 25
FT to Silver City (38.6 miles)
B: Granola
Clif Bar and LaBar
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: $20
Camping/Laundry $20

Day 4 Monday, May 26
SC to Mimbres (23 + 2miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Chicken Cashew Curry
Three Berry Cobbler
Camping $20

Day 5 Tuesday, May 27
Mimbres to Black Canyon (31.6 + 1 miles)
Post Office #1 on Tuesday morning in Mimbres
Gila NF Ranger station check in
B: Granola? / $10
L: ProPak - Stroganoff w Noodles Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 6 Wednesday, May 28
Black Canyon to Collins Park (60.8 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak- Mexican Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: Katmandu Curry and French Vanilla Mousse
Camping free

Day 7 Thursday, May 29
Collins Park to Valle Tio Vences (34.3 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Beef Stroganoff Peaches and Crème Pie
Camping free

Day 8 Friday, May 30
VTV to Pie Town (29.5)
B: Granola
D: ProPak - Lasagna w / meat sauce Ice Cream
D $20
Resupply - Special with Naran in Pie Town
Camping free

Day 9 Saturday, May 31
Pie Town to CDT (44.2 miles)
B: $15
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Oriental Spicy Chicken and Raspberry Crumble
Camping free

Day 10 Sunday, June 1
CDT to Grants (44.2 +5)
B: Granola
D: ProPak - Lasagna w / meat sauce Ice Cream
D: $20
Resupply - Vicki in Grants
Camping $20

Day 11 Monday, June 2
Grants to San Lucas Spring (27 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes Veg Medley
Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 12 Tuesday, June 3
San Lucas Spring to Ojo Frio Spring (45 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Beef Stroganoff w / Noodles Ice Cream
D: Oriental Spicy Chicken and Chocolate Mudslide Pie
Camping free

Day 13 Wednesday, June 4
Ojo Frio Spring to Cuba (46.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chili Mac w / Beef Ice Cream
D: $20
Motel $30
Resupply Vicki in Cuba

Day 14 Thursday, June 5
Cuba to Polvadera Mesa (56 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Mexican Style Rice/Chicken Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes Veg Medley
Camping free

Day 15 Friday, June 6
Polvadera Mesa to El Rito (40.4 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Pasta Primavera Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Camping free??
PO Resupply #2 El Rito 575-581-4482 8:30-12:30/5:30 9:30-12:30

Day 16 Saturday, June 7
El Rito to Cisneros Park (50 miles)
B: Granola LaBar Clif Bar
L: ProPak - Hearty Stew w / Beef Ice Cream
D: Chicken a la King/Noodles Cherry Blast
Camping free

Day 17 Sunday, June 8
Cisneros Park to Apache Creek (39.2 miles)
B: Granola LaBar Clif Bar
L: ProPak - Chili Mac w / Beef Ice Cream
D: Pasta Primavera Cinnamon Apple Crisp
Camping free

Day 18 Monday, June 9
Apache Creek to Platoro (38.3 miles)
B: Granola LaBar Clif Bar
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w/Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Cheesecake Decadence
Camping $15
Extra Food
Beef Stoganoff, Cliff, Ice Cream, Scambled Eggs w/Bacon

Day 19 Tuesday, June 10
Platoro to Del Norte (48.9 miles)
B: Granola LaBar Clif Bar
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
D: $20 Alt
Camping $20;
PO Resupply #3 Del Norte 719-657-3155 9 - 4:30 / 12

Day 20 Wednesday, June 11
Del Norte to FR720 mile 113 (39.4 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Pasta Primavera Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Fudge Brownies
Camping free

Day 21 Thursday, June 12
FR730 Mile 113 to Upper Dome Resevoir CG (33.3 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Chicken Stew Mocha Mousse Pie
Camping free

Day 22 Friday, June 13
UpperDome Resevoir to Marshall Pass (48.7 miles)
B: Spinach Cheese Omelet
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Sweet and Sour Chicken Choc Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 23 Saturday, June 14
Marshall Pass to Salida (26.5 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w / Rice Ice Cream
D $20
Trail Angel camping - free??
PO Resupply #4 Salida 719-539-2548 7:30-5 8:30-12

ay 24 Sunday, June 15
***Salida Rest Day***
B: $10
L: $10
D: $20
Trail Angel camping - free??
Laundry $5

Day 25 Monday, June 16
Salida to Hartsel (46.5 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w / Rice Ice Cream
D: Chicken Enchilada Raspberry Crumble
Camping free

Day 26 Tuesday, June 17
Hartsel to Selkirk Creek CG (36.3 miles)
B: Spinach Cheese Omelet
L: ProPak - Mexican Style Rice/Chicken Ice Cream
D: Seafood Chowder Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $15

Day 27 Wednesday, June 18
SCCG to Blue River CG (37.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: Beef Stroganoff Peaches and Cream Pie
Camping $15 ??

Day 28 Thursday, June 19
Blue River CG to Kremmling (44.8 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Turkey Tetrazzini
French Vanilla Mousse w/Raspberries
D $20 (Alt)
PO Resupply #5 Kremmling 970-724-3771 8:30-5 8-12
Camping $20

Day 29 Friday, June 20
Kremmling to Lynx Pass CG (40.3 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Hearty Stew w/ Beef Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Camping $20

Day 30 Saturday, June 21
Lynx Pass CG to Steamboat Springs (38.4 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Polynesian Chicken
Banana Crème Pie
Camping $20

Day 31 Sunday, June 22
Steamboat Springs to Steamboat Lake State Park (33.2 Miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Pasta Primavera Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $20

Day 32 Monday, June 23
SBLSP to Wyoming outhouse (46.3 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: Chicken Polynesian Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping free

Day 33 Tuesday, June 24
Wyoming Border to Rawlins (52.9 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D $20
Camping $20
PO Resupply #6 Rawlins 307-324-3521 7:30-5:30 9-12
BLM check in for H2O

Day 34 Wednesday, June 25
Rawlins to A & M Reservoir (56.1 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w / Rice Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes/Green Bean Almonde
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping free

Day 35 Thursday, June 26
A & M Reservoir to Diagnus Well (54.1 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Hearty Stew w/ Beef Ice Cream
D: Spaghetti Marinara / Mushrooms
Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 36 Friday, June 27
Diagnus Well to Atlantic City CG BLM (26.2 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chili Mac w / beef Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
French Vanilla Mousse w/Raspberries
Camping free

Day 37 Saturday, June 28
Atlantic City CG to Big Sandy CG (35.9 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Beef Stroganoff w / Noodles Ice Cream
D: I Can't Believe It's Cheese Pizza
Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 38 Sunday, June 29
Big Sandy CG to Pinedale (50.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w / Rice Ice Cream
D: Chicken Polyneasian
Banana Crème Pie
Camping/Motel $30

Day 39 Monday, June 30
Pinedale to Union Pass (65 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: Chicken Polynesian Hot Apple Cobbler
PO Resupply #7 Pinedale 307-367-2650 8:45-4:45 9-11
Camping $15

Day 40 Tuesday, July 1
Union Pass to Turpin Meadow CG (54.4 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Mexican Style Rice/Chicken Ice Cream
D: Sweet and Sour Pork Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping free

Day 41 Wednesday, July 2
Turpin Meadow CG to Colter Bay Village (24.8 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Pasta Primavera Ice Cream
D: Sweet and Sour Pork Hot Apple Cobbler
PO Resupply #8 - Moran Junction 307-543-2527
D $20 (Alt)
Camping $20; Laundry $5

Day 42 Thursday, July 3
***Colter Bay Village Rest Day***
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chicken Teriyaki w / Rice Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breasts / Mashed Potatoes
French Vanilla Mousse w/Raspberries
Camping $20

Day 43 Friday, July 4
Colter Bay to Warm Spring CG (63.1 miles)
B: Eggs w/ Bacon
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Turkey Tetrazzini
French Vanilla Mousse w/Raspberries
Camping $20

Day 44 Saturday, July 5
Warm Spring CG to Big Springs USFS CG (31.1 miles)
B: $10 Flagg Ranch
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
Chicken Breasts w/ Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
PO Resupply in Mack's Inn #9

Day 45 Sunday, July 6
Big Springs USFS CG to Lima Reservoir (57.2 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping free

Day 46 Monday, July 7
Lima Reservoir to Disp CG @ Mile 80.3 (49.7 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Hearty Stew w/ Beef Ice Cream
D: Long Grain & Wild Rice Pilaf
Chocolate Smores
Camping free

Day 47 Tuesday, July 8
Disp CG to Bannick State Park (66.1 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breasts w/ Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $15

Day 48 Wednesday, July 9
Bannick State Park to Pattengail Creek CG (43.6 miles)
B: Eggs w/Bacon
L: ProPak - Rice and Chicken Ice Cream
D: Sweet and Sour Pork
Hot Apple Cobbler
PO Resupply #10 Polaris
State Park Camping $20

Day 49 Thursday, July 10
Pattengail Creek CG to Beaver Dam CG (25.8 miles)
B: Eggs w/Bacon
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Smores
Camping - free

Day 50 Friday, July 11
Beaver Dam CG to Butte (36.5 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Polynesian Chicken
Banana Cream Pie
Camping $15/Motel $30
PO Resupply #11 Butte

Day 51 Saturday, July 12
Butte to Basin (28.3 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Polynesian Chicken Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $15

Day 52 Sunday, July 13
Basin to Helena (TOUGH 39.2 miles)
B: $10
L: ProPak - Chili Mac w / Beef Ice Cream
D: Noodles & Chicken
French Vanilla Mousse w/Raspberries
Camping/Motel ??? $30

Day 53 Monday, July 14
Helena to Lincoln (62.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping ???
PO Resupply #12 Lincoln (Tuesday morning)

Day 54 Tuesday, July 15
Lincoln to Seeley Lake (61.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Beef Stroganoff w / Noodles Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping

Day 55 Wednesday, July 16
Seeley Lake to Peck Lake (54.9 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Chili Mac w / Beef Ice Cream
D: Noodles and Chicken
Chocolate Smores
Camping $15

Day 56 Thursday, July 17
Peck Lake to Big Fork ( 47.8 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Beef Stroganoff w / Noodles Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
Banana Cream Pie
Camping $15

Day 57 Friday, July 18
Big Fork to Whitefish (43.6 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Lasagna w / Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Katmandu Curry French Vanilla Mousse
Camping $15
PO Resupply #13 Whitefish

Day 58 Saturday, July 19
Whitefish to Polebridge (47.7 miles)
B: Eggs w/Bacon
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D $20
Camping $15/ Motel $30

Day 59 Sunday, July 20
Polebridge to Eureka (55.8 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: Classic Three Cheese Lasagna
Blueberry Cheesecake
Camping - free?
PO Resupply #14 Eureka (Monday morning)

Day 60 Monday, July 21
Eureka to Kikomun Provincial Park (37.7 miles)
PO Resupply #14 Eureka (Monday morning) (8:30-5 11:30-1:30)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Spaghetti w/ Meat sauce Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $15

Day 61 Tuesday, July 22
Kikomun Provincial Park to Sparwood (47.4 miles)
B: Eggs w/Bacon
L: ProPak - Pasta Primavera Ice Cream
D: Beef Patties w / Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Smores
Camping $15

Day 62 Wednesday, July 23
Sparwood to Elkford (34.4 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Hearty Stew w / Beef Ice Cream
D: Chicken Breast w / Mashed Potatoes
Banana Cream Pie
Camping $20

Day 63 Thursday, July 24
Elkford to Elk Pass (44.7 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Sweet and Sour Pork w/Rice Ice Cream
D: ProPak - Hearty Stew w / Beef Ice Cream
Hot Apple Cobbler
Camping $20

Day 64 Friday, July 25
Elk Pass to Spray Lake (47 miles)
B: Granola
L: ProPak - Stroganoff w Noodles Ice Cream
D: ProPak - Chili Mac w / Beef Ice Cream
Camping $20

Day 65 Saturday, July 26
Spray Lake to Banff (17.9 miles)
B: Granola
L $20
D $30
HI $30

Boxed In

Today was "Bike to Work Day," and I definitely saw a fair number of rookies out there. I hope they enjoyed it enough to try it again, and again, and again. I suspect that the spike in fuel costs has inspired a few to try bicycle commuting. Although I did not see any wildlife today, my pheasant buddy gave a war cry as I passed by on the nice rain packed gravel this morning. The balloons cruised low over the trail after they made a quick drop across the Rio Grande. Everyone in the gondolas looked like they were having a lot of fun.






Just before dinner the Fed Ex truck arrived with three more boxes from Cas. It was the same driver as yesterday with the bike, and he asked me how we were going to carry all this stuff on the bikes? I had to admit that it was a mystery to me. So, after my granddaughter and I hauled the boxes on a dolly into the library I called Cas to ask him how he planned to carry that much stuff. Cas did about half of the GDMBR four years ago, which means he is the most experienced rider of the group for this route. I know New Mexico fairly well, but Cas knows more about points north. We had a few good laughs and he claimed that the boxes were much larger than the contents inside. I said that was good, because I could not figure out how we were going to get that much volume down to the Mexican border next week and still have room for us. Tomorrow I will open the boxes and release the genies inside.




While I am on the topic of shipping boxes, I received an email today that my first drop box arrived in Mimbres at 12:15 pm today. How cool is that? Now I need to finish getting the rest of the drop boxes ready and call the various post offices to find out about their General Delivery holding policies. Apparently some will hold a package for a month, while others will only hold it a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, it looks like the last shipment of freeze dried food has been delayed and probably will not arrive at the house until after I am gone. I have tried very hard to minimize the impact of this trip on my wife. However, it looks like distributing the food of this last shipment into the appropriate drop boxes will fall entirely on her shoulders. Remarkably, based on shipping notices it looks like everything else will arrive in time.

A week from tonight day one of the trip will be complete, and we will be sleeping in Sam Hughes' backyard in Hachita!!!

Cas's Bike Arrived

I totally spaced the fact that Cas's bike would be arriving either today or tomorrow. I stopped at Costco on my way home to get a few more supplies and I was thinking about running a couple more errands. Fortunately I decided to head home instead, because as I drove into the driveway the Fed Ex truck was pulling up. I was expecting a couple of UPS packages today, but not a Fed Ex one. So, when they started dragging a big box up the driveway I asked, "What is that?" Then I remembered that Cas had shipped his bike on May 10th.



So, I popped the lid open and started assembling the bike.



Inside was one large Cannondale F1000.



About an hour later I had the bike back together and ready to ride.



We decided to go out for a spaghetti diner, and when we got home Cas had returned my call. Unfortunately, by the time we got home it was too late to call him in Philadelphia. Anyway, Cas, as you can see your bike made it in good shape. A week from today we will be be picking you up at the airport and driving south a couple hundred miles to Deming, New Mexico. A week from tomorrow morning we will be on the route!

Hot Air Balloons on the Rio Grande

FINALLY!!! It uploaded and processed!!!

If at first you don't succeed ...

Click-N-Ship: First Drop Box Mailed!

Hopefully, the mailman will pick up my first drop box to Mimbres, New Mexico today. I logged in to the http://www.usps.com/ site and did a "Click-N-Ship" online; including scheduling a free pick up at my front door. If all goes well, then it will make it a lot easier for my wife to get my drop boxes to me. For 11 pounds by Priority Mail it was only $11.05. I have about 10 more boxes to ship. Right now it is figuring out to be about $20/day for food including shipping. That's not bad for the quanity and quality of food. It was a real chore to make up menus for 9+ weeks and buy all the food. In fact I am still waiting for three more shipments to arrive. It is turning out to be an equally big chore to pack it up and ship it out. By the time all is said and done it will be between $1400-$1500 for the trip. I will eat out some, but not all that often. The weight with the dehydrated and freeze dried food is less than half of grocery store food. That is the choice I have made. Each person has to make their own choices.







How much easier could it be? Buy the postage and schedule the pick up on the Internet, then set the box on the front porch.

WHAT THE HAY$^&%$#@!!

Honey!!! They shrunk my drop box!

Hot Air Balloons on the Rio Grande

I used up another personal day today. I left the house at the usual time in hopes of seeing some wildlife or some balloons. I was not disappointed.



These balloons descended to skim the surface of the Rio Grande. The breeze blew them up stream.



Unfortunately I did not have a clear view of the channel where they dipping their gondolas.

I love the colors!

I have been waiting for almost six hours for Blogger to post my video of the hot air balloons skimming along the Rio Grande. I have got to believe that it is not going to post. Sorry it is a cool video, but six hours is a little bit ridiculous!!!

Peace on Mother's Day

We have a giant, out of control, Peace Rose that I planted in our front yard in 1993, that is in full bloom right now.




It has been a weekend of honey-do's that I don't regret. Two weeks from now I will be be in Silver City, and getting ready to make our four day ride to Pie Town.




I've been called a "Mother ..." enough times that I kind of expected a card or two, but none arrived. Oh well. Sigh.



I hope your Mother's Day has gone well too.

Peace!

Love At First Flight

This fellow was quite distracted by .... true love!




She was high up in a tree and making a lot of noise.



Meanwhile about a dozen hot air balloons were not far away and taking a little dunk in the Rio Grande. I could not get close enough to get a clear shot of them bouncing their baskets on the water.



That is until my batteries were low and I was out of time. Unfortunately I had to get to work post haste. Maybe next time? Immediately after touching the water they would fire their burners full blast before the weight of the water in the gondola could swamp them. It was a perfect day for things that fly, and not a half-bad day for biking.



Two weeks from today I will be riding from Antelope Wells to Hachita! I called the post office in Mimbres, New Mexico today to let them know that I was sending a General Delivery package to pick up just before our ride 3-4 day ride to Pie Town. The lady I talked to said that they were accustomed to receiving General Delivery packages for the GDMBR and for the CDT. She took my name and the date I expected to be there.

I asked her about a RV Park and campground I had seen there exactly a year ago. I was unable to find it on the Internet. She gave me a number and told me that if that was not the correct number, then they would be able to redirect me. Sure enough, with two more calls I had the Mountain Spirits RV Park and Storage. I told the gentleman what I was up to and he assured me that they would save camping space for us. He assured me that we would be real pleased with the facilities; including showers, and Internet hookup if we had computers. How much? Five dollars apiece!

For The Birds

This post is totally for the birds I saw on my commute today. The pheasant below was getting psyched to defend his territory from another pheasant about a 100 feet away. They were hollering at each other when I rode by this morning.



This shot is a little grainy due to the zoom and the low light (early morning).



I was thrilled to discover the pair of geese I have been seeing on my afternoon commute still have three out of the original five chicks. They are getting big quickly.

There Must Be A Better Way ...

Prior to getting bogged down with Senior Final Exams and their grades, I was waylayed putting drop boxes together. That forced me to recalculate my itinerary. However, not that long ago I was lamenting about how difficult it was to delete Waypoints on the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx.

Which takes me back to the navigational challenges on the GDMBR with a GPS. Remember, we are traveling in the opposite direction from the instructions on the ACA maps and Michael McCoy's book. Fortunately Scott Morris of TopoFusion and of Paula and Scott's 2004, northbound (nobo) GDMBR GPS mapping trip has a wealth of GDMBR Tracking data available. I have been a loyal TopoFusion licensee since I discovered Scott's information over a year ago.

He has developed some exquisite GDMBR GPS data, but unfortunately I have been unable to download some of it. My computer would automatically convert his robust gpx files to weaker (worthless) xml files. I did not realize what was happening until last night when I discovered that only some people had this issue. Others could download to their desktops and the Garmin and TopoFusion software would merrily accept Scott's gpx files. My computer insisted on converting them to the useless xml version.

Once I finally realized that it was my computer and not the data I went to work to find out how to remedy the problem. I searched some forums for xml to gpx conversion issues, and in the process I learned of some freeware that could remedy the situation. I crossed my fingers, grit my teeth, smiled, and downloaded "Perl." After I ran it, my machine started accepting Scott's valuable data without further ado.

Scott has adjusted the Tracks so that the whole USA portion of the GDMBR fits into the Garmin GPS. Hooray! The 2319 Waypoints from ACA are still too much for the memory, but now I have a series of Tracks to use for navigation purposes. Thank you Scott. If you have not checked out TopoFusion, then you are missing out. Although you cannot load TopoFusion maps into the Garmin GPS, TopoFusion has a much larger variety of maps available. I have found them very helpful for planning purposes. The Garmin MapSource Topos pale in comparison with the TopoFusion maps.

One of my GDMBR riding partners, Dave, emailed me last night about my issues with the Waypoint deletion process. I could not find a way to delete them either as a group, or en mass. I spent several hours a couple of weekends ago deleting a thousand Waypoints with a six step per Waypoint process. Dave told me that "after many hours" (and calling Garmin twice) he found a way to delete them more efficiently. I confessed to him that I had even gone against the basic male genetic code by actually reading the Garmin GPS manual. I seldom even consider going to such extremes, but I was desperate. Sorry guys!!

Not to worry though, because the Garmin GPS manual is sorely lacking in useful information - like how to delete Waypoints en mass. So, I probably will not be tempted to do something as foolish as reading the instructions again for a long while. Of course the whole GPS thing is so that I will not have to ask for directions - just kidding. I love talking to people.

We are still trying to figure out how to upload new Waypoints as we dump the old ones during our trip. Hopefully, we will find someone with a computer who will let us do the data swapping. The worst case scenario is that we do it manually, one button push at a time. However, that definitely does not sound like fun.

Two weeks from Thursday and we are on the way to the border! I had better get my first drop box mailed soon.

Support Arizona Lion Patel On His Bike Trek Through The Rockies.

Naran Patel is one of the people who responded to my ad for GDMBR companions through Adventure Cycling Association (ACA). Although I was a bit leery when he told me he was thinking of doing this expedition on a folding bike, he has since purchased a hardtail and BOB trailer. From the descriptions of his physical training I think he is going to kick my butt for the first week or two.

I will be knuckle dragging my way through the first week or so as I recover from the intense output from my end of the school year duties. I will literally leave the classroom at noon, pick up another fellow, Cas, at the airport at 12:38, and then drive a couple hundred miles south to Deming, New Mexico. Early the next morning we will drive another hundred miles south to Antelope Wells in order to meet up with Naran and Dave around 8 am. After introductions and a few obligatory photos we will immediately start riding north. Hopefully, before the Chihauhaun Desert starts to cook us too badly.

A little later in the day Howard and Judi will start from Antelope Wells to make their way north on a tandem. We are only going about 46 miles to Hachita, so they should be able to catch up in short order. In fact I would not be surprised if we did not meet on their way to be dropped off at AW. That is how it is suppose to begin.

Anyway, getting back to Naran, he is raising money for the Lions to help save the sight of 2500 people. I have copied and pasted his brochure on his fund raising campaign below. I hope you will consider donating to this very worthy cause.


Arizona Lion Aims to Save the Sight of 2500 People

Imagine pedaling a mountain bike 2668 miles from Mexico to Canada through the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide - the ridge dividing the eastern part of the U.S. from the West. Imagine spending 68 days straight on that bike, travelling around 40 miles per day - at elevations up to 12,000 feet. And imagine that you will be pulling a trailer carrying your tent and food and water weighing 70 pounds with you - no supply caravan on this trip.

Most of us get tired just thinking about it - but Tucson Rincon Lions Club president Naran Patel is game to go - to raise funds for Campaign Sight First II. Patel aims to raise $15,000 - enough to save the sight of 2500 people or one person for each mile he rides.

A 67 year old retired international banker from Chicago, Patel has run marathons and biked cross country but never tried mountain biking before. He will leave Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the Mexican border May 23 - and plans to arrive in Banff, Canada on July 30, 2008.

He will be riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and another 215 miles into Canada. The GDMBR is the longest mountain bike dirt route in the world and crosses the Continental Divide 29 times. About 80% of the ride is on dirt roads through the Rocky Mountains.

Elevations for the ride range from 2500 feet in Montana to 11,910 feet in Colorado. Temperatures will range from 100 degrees at the start of the ride in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico to 30 degrees at night in the Rockies of Colorado.

Patel will make the trip with three other men ranging in age from 55 to 65. The group includes a teacher from New Mexico and two riders from Phoenix and Philadelphia. Patel is the only Lion in the group and has dedicated his ride to raising money for Campaign Sight First II.

Clubs or individuals interested in helping to save the sight of one person for each mile of the ride may send checks to Tucson Rincon Lion Sally Moffett at 8987 Tanqe Verde #309-310, Tucson, Arizona 85749. Additional information is available from Sally at 520 760-0152 or scmoffett@Yahoo.com

Support Arizona Lion Patel on his bike trek through the Rockies.
Send your tax deductible donation to
Sally Moffett, 8987 Tanque Verde #309-310, Tucson, AZ 85749
Make checks payable to LCIF.

Dealing With The Conditions

I was really hoping to get out of town this weekend, but I have hours of grading to do. Seniors will be taking their final exams on Monday and Tuesday, and I must have their grades ready to submit by Wednesday morning. I also gave my Algebra 2 classes a test on logarithms this week, and I need to get those graded as well. Yuk! Maybe I will get lucky and get them graded quicker than I expect. I hope so, because I really want to get out of Dodge for at least one overnight this weekend.

Next weekend is Mother's Day, and I would not think of not being home on Sunday. Last year I did a two day tour out of Silver City with the New Mexico Touring Society over Mother's Day weekend, but since I will be gone for about 9 weeks this summer I want to spend the time with my wife instead.

Besides grading logarithm problems I need to inventory, label, and pack the drop boxes. Also, practicing gear packing and unpacking a few times will help iron out any potential issues ahead of time. Unfortunately that only leaves the weekend of May 17-18 for finding the spring north of Grants, which I think may be a better stop than the San Mateo spring.

The good news is the time is near! The bad news is that the Cumbres Toltec narrow gauge railroad tracks that run from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado is still snow packed! The GDMBR crosses those tracks a couple miles north of the New Mexico border. Also, there have already been 7 fires in the Gila National Forest. Six of them were man-made (abandoned campfires) and only one due to a lightening strike.

New Mexico is packing both extremes in the conditions this year. I told my wife over diner tonight that I plan to pack my Bogs, which are a great mud and snow shoe, in northern New Mexico. Probably I will have them shipped to Cuba, New Mexico, and hopefully mail them home at Del Norte, Colorado. I wore my Bogs for four days on my Ignacio Chavez Grant shakedown in March, and they kept my feet warm and dry in the mud and snow on Mesa Chivato at 8000 feet.

I am glad that I discovered an interest in the Iditarod Invitational race this year, because it has helped me learn to adopt a respectable hike-a-bike psychology when the conditions dictate. It has also helped encourage me to lighten my load. It is all coming together nicely, which is exactly what needs to happen.

Getting the Xterra Ready for the Trip to Antelope Wells

Strawberries are coming in to the grocery stores. My Excaliber dehydrator will hold about 7 lbs on the five trays per load. I love strawberries!



The wind has been howling for two days now. It has worked out okay, because I took a personal day on Wednesday to run errands that required driving around in the Xterra. In the process I discovered that a hose on my air conditioning has blown out and I need to replace it. As much as I hate to spend money on the vehicle, I do take care of my equipment.

Besides, I need it to drive about 300 miles south to Antelope Wells in three weeks for the start of my GDMBR ride, and there is no way my wife is going to tolerate not having the air conditioning working in the Chihauhaun Desert. I also ordered some new tires. Although mine still have good tread, they are six years old and are starting to dry crack. I drive slowly and carefully, but I know once she drops me off she will be running at much higher speeds than I do. I do not want her to have a problem on the drive home by herself.

I received a postcard from the local dealer claiming that they were going to be competitive on the tires. So I stopped by to price some tires and to get an estimate on the charges to fix the air conditioning. The tire prices were astronomical and I was told that it would be $85 to "diagnose" the air conditioning problem. So I walked out to the parking lot and popped the hood. I glanced at it and went back in to find out how much it would be for a new discharge hose and a recharge. Guess what? It is the same price regardless of the problem! That is: between $350-$400 for the ac repair.

So I ordered a new discharge hose for about a $100, including the shipping, on the Internet. The dealer wanted $150 for the hose, which is probably from the same Who-Flung-Dung Chinese factory. I suspect that I could have just gotten the actual hose replaced onto the old fittings locally for a lot less, but this time I will go the full route on the parts. However, I will save the old hose and fittings and have it fixed locally the next time it blows out. I already have the refrigerant from another ac hose blowing vehicle from a couple of years ago, but I still need to either buy my own gauges or borrow my son-in-law's. I think I will check for gauges at Harbor Freight first.

As I finish the school year and tidy up the loose ends for the big trip, the days are ticking off faster and faster.