andy reagan only the interesting stuff

To DENVER!

Over the past two days, we biked 190 miles from St. Francis, KS into Denver, CO and the riding has been spectacular.  Our stop on the way was supposed to have been Akron, but was actually 24 miles out of Akron, and the church was 5 miles from the nearest building! The closest town was Anton, population ~40.  Riding into Denver was beyond words, seeing the rockies rise out of the horizon as we got within 50 miles gave me chills.

Riding to our host Sunday, in "Anton," we crossed the state line into Colorado but not much changed in terms of scenery.  In fact, it was the flattest and most open we have seen yet.  I was sweeping, which means that I was one of two riders that rides at the back and makes sure everyone gets in.  It was a long day to sweep, at 87 miles, but Jen Hock and I gave everyone a head start and had a great day riding.  The first 82 miles were straight on route 36, and then we turned left at the town of Anton and went 5 miles into nothing to find the church.  Jen and I were caught up with Jesse and Alyson by the time we took the left, and we saw the van at the store on the corner so we stopped.  Turned out they had some delicious chocolate milk! We met an older man named Larry who was biking from Denver to St. Francis that day as well, which was cool.  We got passed a couple times by these huge things, and I think they are the bases to windmills! I'm impressed that he made the corner.

Riding into Denver was just so amazing and seeing the rockies rise out of the horizon after weeks of riding through plains gave me chills.  Getting closer we could see the skyline of Denver below the rockies, and rode right into town.  I love the city, and we had a good dinner of Lasagna after getting shuttled to showers, hung out with some bike mechanics, and then went to a Bike and Build alumni's house to hang out for the night.  I got up early this morning, and explored the church and found a way onto the top of the steeple! The view is unreal of the city and the mountains.

I have lots of pictures of everything, but I'm not going to have time to insert them before our fundraiser today, they'll be up in not too long!

I'm excited for the fundraiser today, we're going to be riding the new bike share cruiser bikes, Denver is launching the biggest bike share in the nation, and then we're getting dinner at a Brewery and I'm going to check out the flagship REI and see the sunset from the steeple of the church hopefully!!

Pics into Denver (6.28)

coming!

Pics from fundraiser (6.29)

coming!

St. Francis, Kansas

Today we rode 70 miles through blistering heat (the bank said 106) and a stiff headwind to our final stop in Kansas. The riding went well, our hosts were again spectacular with dinner, and we got to bowl for free!

I'm writing from my phone now but I got pictures for when we get internet and stuff!

UPDATE 07/26/11: Found this in a word document: "

to st. francis

Today the riding was a little less exciting, but despite the lack of scenery and scorching heat it was another great day! The temperature reached 106F, and I rode pretty fast all day to try to beat the heat into town.  I finished the day with 71 miles of riding, watched the world cup game, showered and bought an outfit at the thrift store, ate, talked to Lauren, and bowled!

Early on I started with the “Hold Me Love Me” chore group, and Mark, but that group didn’t stay together for very long.  I ended up riding more quickly with Mark and Noah, and after a little while Tio and Mark and I took off.  Lunch was nice at about 36 miles, and I ate quick to head out with the first group.  Joe, Tio, Sarah G, Mark and I were the first out, but in a mile or so it was just Mark and I.  We were facing a pretty stiff headwind all day, but Mark and I set a nice even pace that we held for the next 35 miles straight.

We passed through two towns during the ride, distinguished from the landscape with towering grain elevators.  This northwestern part of Kansas has actually been the flattest."

Oberlin, KS

Today was a nice, very hot, 70 mile ride into Oberlin.  We enjoyed nice roads all the way here, and a tailwind for the first 20 miles, then fought the heat and headwind into town.  I splurged a little today and got a cone of ice cream during lunch at DQ, and got a root beer float at A&W in Oberlin, they're $.99 on Friday! Riding with Aileen for the first time was really nice, getting to knoew her better was nice.  We were the first ones into lunch, and I took a nap haha so I was like the last to leave.

To make the miles go by after lunch we shared stories about how we got to know our gf/bfs and that was fun hearing from people.  There wasn't too much to see for scenery on the ride today, the beauty of the flatness and farm fields is waning haha.  Showers were great (a perfect cool temperature) and I'm about to take a nap!

I don't think I got too many pics today but here's what I got haha:

Mark and Derrick enjoying the teeter totter at lunch haha

Lunch! Looks the same every day haha, Alyson did find a nice park though

And apparently our lunch spot was also halfway to the Denver gold fields back in the day haha

I'd also like to wish a happy 20th birthday to one Lindz Forte!! You're getting old haha.

Thanks for reading y'all.