Day 28 Abilene to Topeka.

Going to breakfast this morning it really did look like our weather luck had finally run out. It was cool, very overcast and although it had stopped raining it looked like it could at any time and the forecast was for rain on our route. Again I started with a rain jacket on that got pretty splashed from water thrown up by wheels in front, but it did not actually rain and by the time the first SAG came along I was to take it off.
As our now familiar 5 started and overtook other groups Deb joined us and for a short while Jerry and Rob, then we caught a group with George in and he joined us as well. The 7 of us pushed on at a good pace, each taking a turn at the front, and the morning started to open out into a nice day. The terrain was rolling with many roller-coaster hills, some small and some quite a drag.
The first SAG was at a little town called White City after 35 miles and the SAG was set up in a little Gazebo in a little park. The town was pretty down at heel (trying not to be too unkind) and its claim to fame is that it has 'tandem' toilets, cosy. At 53 miles we crossed the county line into Morris County, but I could not take a photo as we were travelling just below the sound barrier. A little later we came across a herd of buffalo, not exactly 'free range,' but certainly with a large area in which to roam. This qualified as a photo opportunity.
The second SAG was at Eskridge at 76 miles and I still felt that I had a little bit in my legs, but the new bottom bracket was playing up. The chainrings were too far into the frame of the bike and it was making changing between the front chainrings anything but smooth.
The approach to Topeka over the last few miles was with a tailwind so we flew in and when we were within a couple of miles of our Holiday Inn we saw a Holiday Express Inn and mistakenly thought that was our hotel. We tried to head for it but got stopped by the police and turned around as we were heading onto the freeway. We retraced our steps and in a desperate measure actually read the cue sheet properly and so found our way easily.
On arrival we were greeted with iced water from the hotel and the board and map were set up in the lobby. I strolled out side to take some photos of the hotel and area and a girl with a hand held camcorder wanted to know why all the cyclists were arriving. I explained. A little later in the entrance hall Steve George and I were standing in front of the board when a lad with a full blown, shoulder mounted TV camera and microphone came up to us and asked us if we were prepared to be interviewed. Shyly we agreed (!) He took interviews from all three of us and said we could be on the news that evening. At 6.00pm Steve and I watched the news and by the time three or four item of mind blowing mediocrity had gone we were convinced that our moment of fame had passed us by. Then it came on, an opening shot of Al stretching by the side of a sofa and coming very close to getting arrested, Steve and George made an appearence studying the map, then Steve inspecting it even more closely, then cut to the interview with me, great. There is a rumour that there may be a possibility of an Oscar nomination, but I'm playing that one down, well for now anyway. I took a still shot of the TV which came out OK, but fortunately Steve was watching a later broadcast and it was repeated so he got a video of it.
That night we celebrated with a couple of beers in a bar and were just about to leave when offered a free round, it would have been rude to refuse so we didn't. Hope we don't regret it tomorrow, still its not every day I'm on the telly.
Today's distance was 108.94 miles.

Day 27 McPherson to Abilene.

You would have suspected that the 4th of July had come early as nature provided a lightening display that made the one a few nights ago look like a damp squib. It was accompanied by torrential rain and I for one was confident that we would need outriggers fitted to the bikes, I think Shimano do one. Greg our resident meterologist predicted that the front would have passed over by morning, but going to breakfast was a squelch and the lightening display was still going on. Talk was that our 'weather angel,' that had done such a great job since leaving San Francisco, had deserted us. Probably struck by lightening. However, by the time breakfast was over Greg prove himself as the rain stopped and the storm could be seen to be moving away. It was quite windy so the roads dried quickly as well.
We did not rush to start and when we did our 3 plus Bill moved off at a leisurely pace. I was resplendant in my bright yellow rain top, but soon regretted it as it was too warm. After about 11 miles of a severe southerly wind whistling in through my right ear and emerging at the same speed through mt left ear, while the bike was keeled over at a 45 degree angle, the most amazing left turn in the history of cycling occured. At this point, the town of Canton, the wind was now directly behind us as we travelled north towards Abilene. The difference was stunning and the world was suddenly a perfect place. The road was a 'country road' (another John Denver song) and not a highway so there were picturesque farms and houses, loads of nodding donkeys and we bowled along with virtually no effort, pushed by the wind. I felt like we were cheating and kept looking behind to see if anyone was looking.
As a group of gallant chaps we assisted Sue with a front flat (one more for the stats) and at about the 30 mile point we reached the mark on the road that was the official halfway point of our ride. There were the usual photos and Steve had his taken lying in the road by the mark. There was more chance of him being run over by members of the group than by other traffic as the road was so quiet. Other riders arrived and there was a real school outing atmosphere as everyone was in good spirits because of the wind direction and now we were halfway through. The Sag was in the town of Gypsum (twinned with Cement in Moldovia) and there Al showed us his prowess on a borrowed BMX. Told you it was like a school outing. I bought stamps at the local Post Office and the postmistress (are they called that in America?) wanted to know all about the ride. We were taking it so easily that the 'Day Care' group caught us and at one point Steve Foley on his semi-recumbent overtook me and said, 'I've never overtaken you before!' It didn't last long though as I stuck my pump in his spokes (not really).
Abilene is a name I remember from the days of matinee black and white cowboy films and the old part of the town was quaint, though it still had the 'Kansas Cathedrals,' huge grain silos, in attendance. We left that area for the retail/hotel strip which is like every other American town and had a bit to eat in a 'Subway.' Later had a nice dinner in a diner that was dedicated to baseball, but don't start me on that!
I have now added comments to many of the early sets of photos on Flickr. Click the link on the blog to go to Flickr, click on 'sets,' choose the set of photos then click 'details' and the photos will open with the comments. Haven't done them all yet, but I will.
Today's distance was 64.5 miles.

Day 26 Great Bend to McPherson.

It was a very relaxed start to the day and the usual 3 with Alan and Bill, which was rapidly becoming the usual 5, were not actually the last to leave. It was Highway 56 again and although the shoulder was OK to start with it quickly became rough again and the vibration drove you mad. Some riders were riding on the road which was very smooth, but when the vans came along they were moved onto the shoulder, nice try though.
Navigation consisted of, 'right out of the motel, 64.3 miles on '56' and left into the motel', I don't think anyone got lost. The SAG was early at just under 27 miles and was in a very pleasant open building in the shade. The main scenery was fields of wheat or corn with 'nodding donkey' pumps that have been used in the past in the oilfields, but now were employed to pump up water for irrigation.
We slowed our pace a little through Conway and were all together again as we hit the metropolis of McPherson (not sure if it's the home of the strut!!) Someone told me that the founder was someone called, something Birdseye McPherson, but I couldn't take that seriously. Not a bad little town and we did a tour trying to find a DQ. It was hidden about a mile north of our route, but we still found it. Caramel shake is rapidly becoming addictive.
Our hotel was in the retail area so I again went to Walmart for a few bits to replace the bits I left behind in Pueblo. Shopping twice in less than a month is too much, I needed a lie down.
Watched the second semi-final and Spain crushed Russia 3-0.
At Route Rap, Gary, who is an accountant and likes number crunching, gave a very entertaining stats rundown as far as the halfway point that is coming up tomorrow. Alan is in the lead on the puncture front with 11 so far and there are two people, whose names were not released to protect their safety, that have yet to have one. I'm still on one. (touching wood, or at least laminated chipboard). Total amount climbed is somewhere around 10 miles vertically, no wonder I had a nose bleed!
Today's distance was 68 miles.

Day 25 Dodge City to Great Bend.

Our hotel in Dodge City was on Wyatt Earp Boulavard, so it really was like being in the 'wild west.' The alarm didn't go off this morning and we woke only 5 minutes before breakfast was due to start, but we still made it OK. The loading was at 6.45am and it was only then that Steve and Al were going to breakfast, so there was no rush. We finally got started and were 'run out of town' heading east (at least there was no posse after us!). Out on the highway the pace got right up and we were flying along and as we passed Bill he jumped on the train. The shoulder was rough and the vibration through the bike was sapping. I was glad to get to the SAG for a rest. Soon after that we got to the official halfway point of the route between San Francisco and New York, the little town of Kinsley. It is not quite our halfway point. It was a quaint little place with a farm implement museum, a 'Sod House' and a museum of American memorabilia which included a cycle that was riden by a 17 year old from New York to Kinsley, don't recall when, but it may be on the photo I took. There was also a huge locomotive that had been used on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line but was long since retired. It was immense and the main wheels were taller than me. Can't imagine driving one of those. Various daft photos taken, some with the ladies lying on the track in front of the train like Mary Pickford in the old black & white films.
After that the southerly wind was helpful as we went onto Highway 56 which was quieter and we tended to cruise at less than the speed of sound. The scenery was still flat and the shoulder still rough. Reached the second SAG in just over an hour and by now it was hot. There were one or two 'options' again today, but didn't take them as they didn't seem too inspiring, one was a rock from which it is reputed you can see 400 million square miles of Kansas (not to mention the Brecon Beacons), well it was some figure with a 4 in it. We gave that a miss.
Got to Great Bend (so called because the Arkansas River takes a sweeping turn and shoots off towards the Mississippi), and having showered and changed went to an Applebee's to watch the Germany - Turkey semi-final. Al was pleased as Germany won, though they left it late. Set a new record today for the 'Room furthest from reception award,' just over 6 miles. Had a drink or two in the bar and tried out Heineken Dark while Steve tried to revive youthful memories on the juke-box.
Today's distance was 85.7 miles.

Day 24 Garden City to Dodge City.

After the electrical storm and torrential rain of last night it was a relief to open the door and find the world was more peaceful. It was a lovely morning again with high cloud. Today was a short ride so it should be a 'recovery' ride, but the wind is always a factor.
The usual 3 with Alan set off and after a mile or so found ourselves going south and we wondered if we were going the right way, but we were and soon turned left to go east on Highway 50. We kept the pace down so that we could really recover after the last two days and the scenery was pretty much the same as before, flat and featureless. As Gerrard the mechanic said, 'The only interesting thing on the horizon is the horizon.'
There were more huge cattle pens near processing plants and the smell was awful. Lucky it was dry or the stuff on the road would have gone everywhere. Huge farms now with crops of wheat and corn and long irrigation gantries, some about a quarter of a mile long. Huge grain silos also dominated the skyline.
We only stopped briefly at the SAG, which was after 28 miles, and on we went. After the town of Cimerron we stopped at an Historical Marker which gave information about the Santa Fe Trail as used by the early pioneers. There were still grooves visible where the wagon trains had passed and information boards that were very, well, informative.
The next highlight was just short of Dodge City when we found the 'Dodge City' marker with the cowboy sillouettes (is that spelt right or is there an h in there?). Usual photos and then a couple of miles later we were rolling into town and exploring Boot Hill, but only after we had hit a DQ. The road in town, especially near the hotel was terrible and we had to 'dodge' about to avoid potholes that had families living in them. I was leading and ended up pointing out the good bits.
Didn't go to the show that night down at Boot Hill in Miss Kitty's as I spent the time on the computer. Reports were mixed about the show.
Had news about Bob in that he had a fracture to the base of his skull and spent a good deal of time in ITU, but he is making a recovery and has posted an e-mail to us on his web site. He recalls that he hit something that made him fall, so at least it was not a medical reason. He should be out of hospital before too long and hopes to meet us when we go through Ohio, but not to ride.
Today's distance was 55.5 miles.

Day 23 Lamar to Garden City.

After yesterday's long day the prospect of another century did not seem entirely appealing, but the profile was for flat terrain, so if the wind was in the right direction we should be OK. There was no more news of Bob today so we all kept on hoping for the best. Our usual 3 plus Bill and Alan left town and as soon as we got on Highway 50 the pace started to crank up as the wind was helping, though not exactly a tailwind. We were travelling at a steady 24 to 25 mph and each taking a turn at the front and changing over so that each got a rest in turn. We were so intent that we missed the entrance to the first SAG and had to do a swift U turn to go back.
Soon after restarting we were at the Kansas state line and of course the usual photos were taken. The scenery was not exactly inspiring, but it was changing. There were now large farms, far more cultivation with large amounts of irrigation. The road was rolling rather than flat and we often came across huge cattle pens next to the road, the smell from these was not pleasant. Also each little town seemed to have its own skyscrapers, large grain silos that dominated the town right next to the railway. The town name was usually written large on these monsters.
Kept the speed up through Coolidge and Syracuse to the second SAG at Lakin which was after 78 miles and right next to a DQ, had to make a stop in there, be rude not to!
After that my legs were suffering and there was no way I was going to keep that speed up for over 100 miles so the pace mercifully slowed. I wasn't glad Alan got a front flat, but I was glad of the rest. The last 20 miles were a bit of a grovel and I for one was glad to get in. Our average speed was 19.3mph - crazy.
That evening we had a tremendous electrical storm with torrential rain, the first I had seen since San Francisco. Sarge and I watched the lightening for a bit and hoped it would be over before morning.
Today's distance was 104.8 miles.

Day 22 Pueblo to Lamar.

The loading was at 5.00am so the alarm going off at 4.30am was a bit of a shock. Breakfast was slow so we didn't actually get the brisk start to the longest ride of the tour that we may have wanted. Bill joined the other 3 of us and we were the very last to leave, in fact we were holding up the support staff. It was a lovely morning, warm even at this time and clear skies. Being Sunday the roads were quiet as we headed out of town and back onto Highway 50. We soon started catching others of the group and Rob joined us until the first SAG. The scenery was flat and so different to what we were used to. We made good time as we travelled alongside the railway and one engine driver that overtook us gave us a good blast on the horn to say 'good morning,' probably woke up most of the good people of Pueblo. Later had a dog run out of a roadside farm and run alongside barking for a while, but it didn't do anything and finally got bored.
We were just short of the first SAG when ahead of us we saw a police car with lights flashing, an ambulance in attendance and bikes on the ground. We feared the worst and stopped at the scene. The ambulance was about to leave so I spoke to the state trooper who informed me that one of our group had gone down and had a serious head injury. He was being taken to a hospital in Pueblo. It turned out to be Bob from Ohio who had been riding behind Larry and the reason why he went down was not known. We carried on to the SAG and the mood was a little subdued.
On the undulating road we made good time and were going so well that I nearly missed the second SAG.
At the SAG Bill discovered he had a flat so repaired it and then we carried on, but only for another half a mile before he got another one. As he blew up the replacement tube the tube exploded, so had to put another one in. Before the ride was over he was to get two more punctures and was not a happy bunny. The miles ticked by and we treated ourselves to a visit to a DQ in Las Animas after about 85 miles. The wind was quite strong by now and off the right shoulder and swirling so didn't help us at all. We finally reached Lamar, but it was not the sort of place that you would buy a postcard of and our hotel was called The Cow Palace. It was vast and actually quite nice. Best part was it had two computers so I was able to do a bit of admin. and download some photographs. Even though the route was flat the distance was heavy in the heat and I was ready for a rest.
Today's distance was 123.9 miles.

Day 21 Rest Day in Pueblo.

When we told people that we were to get a day off in Pueblo we were treated to a certain amount of sympathy as perhaps it was not the place most people would wish to spend the day if they had a choice. However, our needs were different and the morning was spent doing my laundry and going shopping (at this point several members of my immediate family are in deep shock). I only needed a couple of bits and having got them, left them in my room when we left Pueblo, so that was a waste of time. The afternoon was dedicated to watching the Holland v Russia quarter final of Euro 2008. We got reception to ring the Applebee's bar, as we had spotted large tellys in there the day before that absolutely nobody looks at, and they agreed to put the game on when we arrived. We watched the game with Piet and Hetty who being from Holland gave us the excuse to support the Dutch, but as we all now know, Huw in particular as he had Holland in his office sweep, Russia were the better team and won 3-1. Didn't stop us enjoying the odd beer or two though.
After that it was back to the hotel to check the 'mule' over and then get horizontal as I was taking this rest day seriously. Today was the longest period of daylight hours (not the longest day, they are all the same length) and tomorrow will be the longest ride of the tour so an early night was called for.
Today's distance was 0, if you don't count the fact that the room was about a mile from reception.

Day 20 Salida to Pueblo.

Today was definately a game of two halves, but firstly the team news. David, a lad who had been riding with his dad, was badly dehydrated from yesterday's ride so both of them left this morning for home rather than ride on to Pueblo which was to be the end of their trip. Piet didn't ride again but his wife Hetty did. Bill was back in the saddle as well. We all loaded at 5.30am and then went to Patio Pancakes (they also do sliding doors), where we had probably the best breakfast of the trip. We left town and soon entered Bighorn Sheep Canyon, riding gently downhill alongside the Arkansas River which was pretty lively and at its peak annual flow. The first SAG was after 38 miles and the ride had been easy up to then.
About 8 miles later we took the optional detour, don't we always? to see The Royal Gorge, which we were told meant a short climb and some extra miles. A couple of miles in Alan, who was riding with the usual 4, got a puncture and then discovered his rear tyre was shredding, so he turned to go back to the main road and get help from the van. We carried on and then discovered that the short climb was about a 1000' and in parts was very steep. We had also been told that the entrance fee would be about $8, so we were not amused when sweating and cursing we arrived at the entrance booth to find it was $23. Al and Steve immediately entered into negotiations with the bloke in the booth and got it down to $17, I chipped in that we were going across the country and raising money for charity and he got on the phone, after more persuasion from Steve and Al, to someone and eventually we got in (and all those following)for $9, result. While we were waiting at the booth there were bird feeders hanging from its roof and brilliantly coloured hummingbirds were coming to feed, hovering and putting their long beaks in to drink, only feet away, amazing. It was a this point that the batteries in my camera ran out!! However, being a former boyscout, I had new ones in my back pocket, but after I had changed them the hummingbirds decided to go on strike and as the others were waiting for me I had to go.
In a small zoo we saw Mountain Elk, Bison with young and white Bison. The gorge itself was spectacular and the suspension bridge is the highest in the world. I don't know why it's called the 'Royal' gorge, which royal? America has only had one 'king' and there was no mention of Elvis anywhere. Crossed over that and managed to force an ice cream between my lips on the other side. Saw Sarge and what is affectionately known as his 'Day-Care Group' arrive as we were about to leave. More of them later.
We dropped back down to Highway 50 and looking back west saw the last views of the rockies, the character of the landscape was about to change dramatically. The road was undulating, the temperature was climbing rapidly and the wind was getting up. We missed the second SAG at Canon City so had to call the van for more water. The second half of this ride was not as easy as the first half. The last 20 odd miles into Pueblo saw the wind get very strong and was coming off the right initially, but then a huge storm away to our left meant the wind was over our righ shoulders and progress was slowed. Also the roller-coaster character of the road was sapping. We were all glad to get into the hotel. In just a couple of hours we had left the mountains and were now on the Colorado plains, a practise run for Kansas.
At route rap we said goodbye to several riders who were only going as far as Pueblo and 'au revoir' to Gary who we hoped would join us later in the trip.
The wind by now had shifted again and Sarge's group, who had stayed at Royal Gorge for a good while, didn't get into the hotel until after 6.00pm. At one point they were down to 5 or 6 mph against the headwind. Lucky its a rest day next.
Dinner that night was at a chain of eateries known as The Golden Corral, where having paid to go in you eat as much as you want. It was Friday night and most of Pueblo was in there for what can only be described as a feeding frenzy, it made pirhanas look genteel. However the food was very nice and I only had 7 steaks. (Made that bit up). Then had a farewell drink for Gary in Applebee's.
Today's distance was 103.4 miles. (Total to the end of this tour 1491.45 miles)

Day 19 Gunnison to Salida.

This was it the day that a lot of people had been waiting for, or dreading depending on your point of view, the day we go over The Rockies via Monarch Pass and in doing so crossing the Continental Divide (every raindrop on one side goes west, on the other side goes east. Not that we've seen any rain at all so they could be making it up). Despite the fact that breakfast didn't start until 6.00am I was there at 5.45ish and was not the first. When it filled up I felt there was a tangible sense of anticipation. The stomach bug that was starting to find victims amongst our number claimed Piet and later Bill had to retire after battling through ten miles. Piet's wife did not ride either as she had been up all night looking after Piet.
Our 4 was back together, but we had to wait for Steve to complete a 'live to air' interview with a Sydney radio station. Any excuse for a late start.
The Mule's new bottom bracket seemed to be working OK, but I was keeping my fingers crossed as there weren't many bike shops where we were going. The road out was very pretty and we continually climbed gently towards a wall of rock and snow that frankly didn't look like it was going to allow us over. The first SAG at about 29 miles was reached without putting in too much effort as everyone was saving themselves. Not long after that we were travelling along the valley floor when the road decided to turn right and the tarmac turned up, this was it, 9 miles of climbing that would take us up to 11,312 feet.

Day 18 Montrose to Gunnison.

It was a very early start today and 'Sarge' and I were up at 4.50am and straight into breakfast. There was a lot of climbing involved today, yet at Route Rap last night I found myself volunteering with Bill and Al to go on an optional ride to Black Canyon, which meant a 7 mile climb of 2000' extra, clearly failed another sanity test. As we loaded and set off the sun was turning the snow on the Rockies pink, took a photo, but don't think it will do it justice. Al, Bill and I launched ourselves into the endless stream of 'Ride the Rockies' riders and judging by the speed some of them were going up the first drag they were in for a long day.
Just short of the 7 mile mark we turned off left towards The Black Canyon and the climbing started immediately. Parts of it were about 10% with the general gradient being 6-7%, but it was a nice morning and we saw deer prancing about in the meadows.
It seemed a long climb and when we got to the top we had to pay $7 to get in, luck I had money on me! On the campgrounds notice board there was a 'Bear Warning', nobody mentioned that!!!
The Canyon lived up to its billing and was spectacular. From the lookout point we took the obligatory pictures and saw an eagle soaring from one side to the other below us, stunning.
After staying long enough to justify all the climbing we had to go and then disturbed another deer right by the road. Went back the way we came in and then rejoined the stream of cyclists that would go all the way to Gunnison with us. We were wearing our 'America' shirts to help us stand out for our support staff. There was a lot of climbing and it was made more difficult by the sheer number of 'Rockies' riders. Got to the SAG at the top of The Blue Mesa climb and I was glad of a break. A nice descent brought us to a very nice lake/reservoir which was looking pretty low. Later Al & Bill went straight past the last water SAG as they were OK, but I stopped for water and so spent the last bit wheeling gently into Gunnison. I saw the hotel in the distance and as I drew level with it there was a grinding noise from the bottom bracket area of 'The Mule' and it sounded terminal.
As soon as I got in I got out my tools and took the cranks off and at once could see that the bottom bracket was virtually seized. I wheeled the bike to a local tyre fitters and borrowed their half inch drive to take the bracket out, then borrowed Alan's shoes and bike (he has 'Look' cleats, for those who don't know what that means you'll have to ask a biker), then rode into Gunnison, found a decent bike shop and the bloke described the bracket as 'toast'. Bought a new one and rode back to replace it. By dinner The Mule was back in business and hasn't put a hoof wrong since.
Today's distance was 76.5 miles (including the 14 mile option to Black Canyon).

Day 17 Grand Junction to Montrose.

Today was supposed to be a 'recovery' ride over reasonable terrain, but it didn't quite work out that way. Breakfast was at 6.00am and we were there early. I'm amazed at the amount I can now pack away whereas normally it's a cup of tea and a cereal. Pumped my front tyre up properly and hoped that I was not going to get unlucky with punctures. When everyone was loaded we all set off together, which was unusual, and we were led out by Sue, the lady who welcomed us into Colorado with an ice lolly, who is local and led us along a bike path beside the Colorado River. The river was swollen and last week it flooded part of the path, but it was dried out for us to go through. Highway 50 is to be our road for a long time and I hoped it would be more pleasant than the Interstate, but it isn't really.
The temperature was rising and it was quite warm by the time we got to the SAG at 33 miles we had climbed a number of decent hills. The scenery was parched and rugged and the snowcapped Rckies were looming in the distance. Just after the SAG I saw a sign for Rattlesnake Gulch, but it as not appropriate to get a photo. Eventually dropped into the little town of DElta and saw a Dairy Queen (known as a DQ and never knowingly passed), so we were straight in there for a delicious, cold chocolate milk shake. By the time we got to Montrose it was in the high 90s F and later got to 103F. Around the town there were loads of cyclists as the 'Ride the Rockies' event was crossing our path and tomorrow we would ride the same route as them to Gunnison. They do a 7 day ride which basically goes up and down the Colorado Rockies, mad, and there are 2,300 approx of them.
Got a nice lunch in a real eatery with no processed food and then I tried to get money from a Wells Fargo office, but they didn't have any!! Perhaps the stagecoach had been held up. I then went to a drive-thu bank, or in my case a cycle-thru bank and got my card to work. Went for dinner at 7.30pm and it was still over 90F. There was a little anxiety around the group tonight as the next two days see us going over the Rockies with plenty of climbing.
Today's mileage was 74.2 miles.

Day 16 Green River to Grand Junction.

It was due to be a long hot day today, not too much climbing, but if yesterday's temperatures were anything to go by nobody wanted to be out in the heat too far into the day. We couldn't load until 7.00am so it wasn't exactly early and it was warm then. We didn't need Marco Polo for the navigation today as we went out of the hotel, onto Interstate 70 east (what else), then get off into the hotel in Grand Junction. Our group of 4 were almost last out again, but we weren't far behind the field and soon caught up. On the interstate the shoulder was 'chipseal', basically throw chipping into tar and let the traffic do the rest, so it's not only British councils that are cheap. This meant that there was a good deal of vibration through the bike and my left foot (good name for a film) went numb, (like most people who watched the film).
The first SAG at 24 miles was welcome as we were all drinking water like it was going out of fashion and needed more. By then it was hot. Several miles later we were stopped by one of the vans to take on more water as the temperatures rose. By the time of the second SAG at 66.5 miles we were all pretty tired as it was now seriously hot, but fortunately the stop was under a bridge of the Interstate so we were in the shade, good move. The nicest part was a tub full of iced water with soft dinks in it, a Diet Coke never tasted so good. While we were there we saw two of our riders miss the turn off and carry on past. We shouted waved and whistled, but they did not see us and probably couldn't hear us because of traffic noise.
Starting off again the temperatures were now in the mid 80s at only 11.30am. After about 4 miles we came across Jose and Don stopped on the shoulder, they realised by now that they had missed the SAG and were virtually out of water. We shared our water with them and they were able to carry on. A short distance later we crossed the state line to enter Colorado, our fourth state. There were the usual photos in front of the sign and I crossed the road to get the Utah sign as we did not see the sign when we entered it.
A couple of miles into Colorado we were stopped by a lady called Sue who had previously ridden with AbB and who proceeded to welcome us to Colorado and give us each an ice stick. She was parked in the shade under a bridge so it was a nice touch. It was very hot and I was still trying to drink all the time, but by this time the water is luke warm and not pleasant. The wind was like someone aiming one of those heater from a tyre fitters operating at full blast. Ventured into a McDonalds for a milk shake and even had something to eat, can't describe it, it was advertised as chicken something, but the chicken clearly escaped.
As we neared Grand Junction we dropped onto the side of the Colorado River and rode alongside for some miles. By the time we reached the hotel the temperature was 96F and I was showing just over 96 miles so I did the inevitable for another century.
Later in the evening I found that my front tyre was squashy, my first puncture, but at least it was in the hotel room and the tube was quickly changed. It turned out to be a small thorn in the sidewall.
On a general note, I feel that my American is coming on pretty well and by the end of the tour I could well be fluent, nice to be fluent in a foriegn language, a first for me. I've been picking up some phrases from the telly, like the commentators description of the Turkish winner against the Czech Republic in Euro2008, 'That was a great onside go-ahead goal.' With such in-depth language education I can't fail.
Today's distance was 100.7 miles.

Day 15 Price to Green River.

There was a very early start today despite the fairly short distance involved, but there was a side trip in the van to the Arches National Park during the afternoon and I was on it and looking forward to it. It was Sunday, Fathers Day and the traffic on the road was very light so early in the morning. The weather was fantastic right from the off and it was perfect conditions for the 'Sunday Club Run'. Gary was back on the road so our 4 was complete. As we progressed the scenery was very dramatic with the mesa area coming to the fore. That's the flat topped land with scree down the sides, just like in the cowboy films. The SAG after 33 miles was welcome and a chance to take in the scenery.
After that the scenery became even more dramatic and we had some good downhill sections to keep our average speed up and overall we lost height today. We got to Green River about 11.00am, quite early and passed over the Green River which, given the arid area it passes through, I imagined was going to be something akin to the Gavenny after several weeks of drought, but no it was quite impressive and full. Fed by melt water coming down from the mountains. Green River town makes Battle Mountain look big, the population is only 946 and declining, though it can boast two laundramats and the world famous 'West Winds' restaurant, though I must admit it hadn't crossed my radar. I had my picture taken with my Heart Foundation T-shirt on by the Green River, so called because it eventually joins the Colorado River and it seems that from a hill near the confluence the Colorado looks red due to the fact that its passed through a decent chunk of red sandstone, whereas the Green River looks, well, green, or at least not red.
After lunch I went to the Arches National Park which frankly was mindblowing. I will not try to describe it, I could not do it justice, just look at the photos.
Today's mileage was 66.2 miles.

Day 14 Provo to Price.

There was a relaxed start to the day as loading was not until 7.30am, chance to pinch a little lie-in. It was flag day today in a little community that we were due to pass through, so the staff asked us to wear our 'America by Bicycle' tops to show the flag. That was OK for most but it wasn't the flag of some, so I wore my Wales top, Alan wore his Union Jack top, Richard Walsh from Ireland was in his national colours and 'sarge' was in his Trinidad and Tobago top, it added a bit of colour. Gary did not ride today because of his pneumonia and wanted to give the antibiotics chance to work. So the three of our group joined by Alan started off and seemed to be towing a large group behind us. Navigation was easy and we were soon out of town and the first climb reduced the group to just our 4. We headed for a narrow valley and the wind was really strong and against us. Steve dropped off, Alan and Al pulled away from me as we started to overtake groups that had started earlier. We were all struggling in the wind. The wind didn't last too long and we climbed most of the way to the first SAG, which was after 32 miles. From there the next 6 miles was a serious climb to the Soldier Summit at 7477 feet.
Everyone was looking forward to the descent but the wind blowing up the valley meant it was almost as hard as going up, plus the shoulder was poor and there were road works, apart from that it was fun. Got to Helper, a town named after the special trains that used to 'help' the normal trains over the mountain. I was with Al by now and we went off the main road into Helper to look for lunch, but it was all closed down with derelict buildings and I was surprised not to see a tumbleweed blowing down the street. Went to a supermarket in Price and made up our own lunch, the healthy option of course. The hotel was posh, but the service was very poor and people were losing the will to live in the dinner queue when the food ran out. Mis management of the first degree.
On a general note, I have now done over 1000 miles (1003.07 roughly) and am feeling pretty good. More than one Land's End to John O' Groats done and only three more to go. Got some pain in my right knee during the early climbing days, but that has gone. Got some nose-bleeds during the climbing days, but they wern't serious and I put that down to the altitude, the dry air and the effort. The rear end got a little tender in the first 4 or 5 days, but a personal tanker of Savlon running behind us has sorted that out. The training I did before the ride was good, but the 'match fitness' has now kicked in to the point where 65 to 70 day rides are now regarded as recovery days!!
As far as the photos on Flickr go they seem to be coming out in reverse order, scroll to the bottom and work your way up. I have not had time to add comments on many of them yet, but I will.
Today's distance was 75.6 miles.

Day 13 Salt Lake City to Provo.

Today was always going to be an 'ify' day as getting out of a major city is never easy and the Cue Sheet was pages long with many many turns and resulted in slow progress. You may recall that Gary did his big toe in and had to cut his road shoe, well that worked well and when we started at around 8.00am it was a glorious morning and fairly quiet. His adapted shoe was OK, but as we wound our way slowly out of Salt Lake to the south-east he was struggling and progress was becoming painfully slow. After 15 miles and getting worse with each pedal stroke he stopped the van that was passing, (to stop the van you put your hand on your head !!) and got on. He later went to a hospital in Provo and they found that he has bacterial pneumonia and has probably had it since before the ride started in San Francisco, no wonder he was struggling. After that the three of us were now last on the road by a long way and started to speed up a lot.
If it wasn't for the amazing backdrop of the mountains that surround Salt Lake City then the ride could have been described as tedious. The SAG after 29 miles was a short stop and then we were off again for a long slog uphill through roadworks, but were rewarded with a great view of Lake Utah. Dropping down from there we entered a big area of new development and the road layout did not correspond to the instructions and we got lost, but carried on in the general direction and when we went into The local version of 'Kwik Fit' for directions the staff could not believe what we were doing, but they gave us good directions and soon we were back on track.
Started catching other groups who had also got lost and then went through Brigham Young University which is vast and has some of the most amazing facilities I've seen on a campus, their football stadium would rival Wembley. Temperatures were nicely in the mid 80's. Finally found the hotel which was very nice and then went out for lunch. Later found that the hotel had a computer that worked properly and I was able to download loads of photos.
On a general note, the road kill over here is far more interesting than I'm used to (I avoid the diners that advertise 'You kill, we grill'), with dead racoons, chipmonks and even rattle snakes. Not seen a live rattler yet, hoping to.
Today's distance was 66.5 miles.

Rest Day in Salt Lake City.

Got up late, 8.30am, and it was great. Took time over breakfast and then the 4 of us went with Gary's niece, Meredith, and her fiance, Ed, picked us up to take us rafting. We went over the Wasatch Mountains, stoped at a supermarket to get goodies for a pic-nic and the went past the Jordanelle Reservoir to the Provo River, inflated a huge raft anf then the 6 of us under Meredith's steerage went down what was quite a lively river, not the quiet drift we had been promised, we had to work hard, got drenched, hit rocks and logs and finally pulled in for lunch in a good spot. Carried on down to the end of the run and then lay about in the sun drying off.
It was a great day and we later went for dinner with Meredith and Ed who are a great couple and getting married in October. The rest day was not exactly 'restful,' but very relaxing and we all enjoyed it a lot.
Today's distance was about 10 miles down a river!!

Day 11 Wendover to Salt Lake City

I forgot to mention re yesterday's post that we also crossed our first time zone. I would like to think that I was going so fast that I did the Dr. Who bit and just leapt forward in time, but in reality Wendover is just in the Mountain Time zone and we were now one hour ahead of Pacific time. I thought that was quite cool until it dawned on me that I had just lost an hour, probably an hour of sleep. This is going to happen again, a couple of times before the journey's end.
As today's ride was one of the longer rides everone was in a state of frenzy to make sure that we left early enough and at 'route rap' the previous evening it was decided to have breakfast betwen 5 and 6 and load up at 6.30am. I could not be considered as a morning person, so my single vote for a leisurely breakfast and amble out about 11am was overwhelmingly defeated, as it has been every day up to now. So it was up at 5.00am, walk through the casino to see the old dears frittering away the kids inheritance and end up in McDonalds for breakfast. I know what you are thinking about McDonalds, but at least I wasn't asked to supersize. The hotel was only about a mile from the Utah state line so in the absence of signs about the states I took a photo of the state line drawn across the road with the names of the states on either side. The difference was like flicking a switch, the casinos stopped immediately and instead the side of the road was populated by gas stations (petrol stations in English), food outlets, estate agents and normal businesses. Again it was a little cool and cloudy, but the wind was in our direction as we dropped gently onto the salt flats and what a sight. flat as a pancke for as far as you could see ahead and white. the road, old faithful Interstate 80, was absolutely dead straight for over 40 miles. The sky was cloudy and there were even one or two large dark clouds floating about, but it didn't come to anything as usual and we ended up with a sunny day. The shoulder was really dirty with more delaminated tyres than you could shake a stick at and this debris is the worst kind because the wire in the little bits of debris stick in you tyre and are difficult to find when you get the inevitable puncture, so then you may get multiple punctures. We found David first as this had happened to him and he had no tubes left, got him going and on we went. The dead straight road through the salt flats was just incredible.
Eat up the miles at a good pace with a tail-wind and got to the first SAG at 42 miles ready for a rest. It was a long hop to the second SAG and we had a long drag up after the salt flats, but a long downhill and more flat meant we got to the second SAG in good shape. Al had a puncture in his rear wheel just before the SAG and we saw many other groups that had stopped with them, this was the worst day for punctures up to now all due to the dirty shoulder.
After rounding a point the Great Salt Lake was stretched out in front of us and looked just like a sea, it's not called 'Great' for nothing. Got off the interstate and road alongside the lake in towards the city. Looks impressive in the distance. The city is the state capital and the mountains surrounding it are incredible and still snowcapped. Glad to get into the hotel after a long day and looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Utah seems like we have returned to civilization after being in Nevada.
Today's distance was 116.3 miles.

Day 10 Elko to Wendover.

It was an early start today, up at 4.50am because we had to go over to the casino for breakfast, get back , load up and be ready for the first century ride. There are 4 people in the group that have yet to ride 100 miles in one go and Steve the Australian in our group is one of them. Amazingly enough there were still people in the casino playing the machines at 5.00am, I don't know if they were left over from the previous night or if they were early risers. It looked like the wind was going to be favourable for us as our group of 4 assembled and became 5 when Bill decided to join us. He's a strong rider so we were happy with that. It was cool, around 60F and for the first time there were black clouds and the threat of rain, in fact it actually spotted with rain for about 30 seconds but that was it. We soon got on the Interstate and we merrily eating up the miles with a favourable tailwind.
By the time we reached the first SAG at 40 miles our average speed was around 20mph so the wind was definately helping. The weather had cheered up and the clouds dispersed, but the breeze was still chilly. There were a couple of long drags for 5 or 6 miles at a time with great downhills. It was cold at the top of the Pequop Pass waiting at the SAG for some of our group to arrive.
Heading from the second SAG we had our group's first puncture when Gary got a rear flat, but we soon changed the tube and cruised to the top of a ridge abouve Wendover with about a mile to go to the hotel. From the ridge there was a fine view of the Utah salt flats and the road disappearing into the distance arrow straight. We were now only about a mile from the state line. The downhill into town would have been nice, but there was a very strong crosswind and we were being blown about quite a lot. We later learned that the Dutch lady had fallen on this hill due to the wind and cut her chin quite badly, but she will be OK to ride. The hotel we were staying in was enormous with 1400 rooms and it was, by now quite naturally, a casino. The same group of geriatrics had clearly been bused in from Elko and brought a load of their mates with them. The place was really a little tacky. The century ride was completed and now everyone has done one.
Today's distance was 107.1 miles.

Day 9 Battle Mountain to Elko.

Woke up in Battle Mountain and the place was buzzing, there was a dog barking and a train was trundling slowly through the town. After a good breakfast in a casino our group of 4 met up and was ready to leave before 8.00am. We weren't quite last this time, there were two people behind us. We left town via Mule Shoe Road for 21 miles on another sunny morning that was warmer than previous days. We passed other groups of riders and then caught one of the support crew, Christine, who is from Canada and a very strong rider. She joined our group and soon we had put her on the front to tow us along, no shame, though we all took turns. The Nevada scenery didn't change much though when we got close to the Humbolt River there was more greenery and it almost looked pretty. Going under the Interstate via a short tunnel we disturbed hundreds of swifts (or similar) who had nests in the roof and thay were swooping all around us like a scene from a Hithcock film. Back on the Interstate we climbed up the Emmigrant Pass and then flew down the other side. I managed to get up to 46mph and could have gone faster, but caught up with another rider and there was not enough room on the shoulder to overtake safely. There was another climb up to 6000' and from there a great view of the snowcapped mountains in Utah, we are running out of Nevada. Running into Elko was easy and we arrived at the town early so stopped at a Dairy Queen for a milk shake, it was very hot by now. Elko has a great deal more about it than Battle Mountain (not tricky). It was once voted the best small town in the US and is the home of the annual cowboy poetry festival, unfortunately we are going to miss that. Bing Crosby and James Stewart had big ranches in the area in their hay-day and some of the richest gold mines in the US are in the area.
Strangely the hotel was a casino and we had to go for dinner in a sister property, a casino. It is like a geriatric ward has released its inmates into the place and given them all $10 to play with. Not to worry, most of them will soon be recaptured. The buzz today at dinner was the impending 'century ride' tommorrow. Lets hope the wind is in the right direction or it could be a long day. If you want further information go to the America by Bicycle website, at the bottom of the home page is a selection called 'ride journals' (or diaries), click on that and then go to Cross Country Challenge 2008. The support staff are keeping the journal and it is fairly up to date and contains photos.
Today's distance was 73.4 miles.

Day 8 Winnemucca to Battle Mountain.

Today's ride was shorter than the last two in the desert and everyone was hoping to treat it as a bit of a recovery day. We got up later than usual, loaded the trailer later and didn't leave the hotel until 8:15am, last as usual. Gary was back with us today after 'medication' so our group of 4 was back. We left town straight onto Interstate 80, it's like an old friend now. The wind direction was not helpful again, but was much reduced in strength and we were moving along well with each taking turns on the front. After several miles of flat smooth road we encountered our only hill of the day a 4% climb for about 2 to 3 miles, it seemed easy after the stuff we have already done. The only SAG of the day was at the top of the climb and by now the day had warmed up and again the sky was a cloud free zone.
After the stop was a great downhill into the Pumpernickel Valley, quite a sight from high up. We made great time at an easy pace into the town of Battle Mountain, its main claim to fame is that it has a great laundramat (I took a picture of its sign) and frankly it makes Fochrhiw look like Las Vagas. We had a great lunch in The Owl restaurant which is one of the original buildings and had some real character. The hotel was OK and the owner was resplendant in his pony tail, cowboy shirt and sported the largest belt buckle I've seen in a while (or ever). Dinner was in a Mexican restaurant and I'm not sure what I had, but it came with rice and beans (not as we know them), and was very nice.
The short day, just over 4 hours and easier conditions, gave everyone a chance to get themselves back together. Fettled the bike a little before bed to keep it running smoothly.
Today's distance was 55.6 miles.

Day 7 Lovelock to Winnemucca.

The big talk after yesterday's ride was the strength and direction of the wind, would it be as strong and in the same direction as yesterday? 'Yes' was the simple and slightly depressing answer to that. We were still in our group of 3, but started of with a number of other for the first few miles. We were on a smaller, quieter road that parallels the Interstate and again it was sunny, but cool at this time of day, 7:45am. The scenery did not vary much from yesterday and we again worked hard together to make headway against the wind, though the rest of the group fell back and the 3 of us carried on. At the first SAG we met up with three other riders who had left before us and were also riding strongly so we left as a group of 6 and it was easier to shelter from the wind as each took their turn at the front. The second SAG, like the first, was in a truck stop (lorry park in English)and going to the restroom (toilet) meant going through a mini casino and brought a new meaning to 'spending a penny.' After the second stop we were back on the Interstate and going well, but having come off it some 10 miles from Winnemucca I felt really tired and probably hadn't eaten enough, so our 3 slowed while the other 3 carried on into the hotel.
Winnemucca may not have a great deal going for it, but this region has a great number of Basques and each year they have a festival and it was on this weekend. We witnessed loads of American blokes dressed as Basques and doing such things as weight carrying and tug-of-war. Unfortuntely it was not the spectacle that we envisaged, but they were having a great time. Took a photo of a 1956 Thunderbird, will upload it when I can. Dinner was in a casino, where else, and after that I did a little on the computer before a late night, 9:30pm. After two days of hard climbing and two days of fighting the wind everyone was looking a little jaded.
Today's distance was 72.2 miles.

Day 6 Sparks to Lovelock.

From my hotel room I saw the sun rise over the Nevada desert and it promised to be another sunny day. Going to breakfast at a local Denny's it was quite cool in the breeze. One of my riding companions is going to have to sit out the next two days and ride in the van because two days of climbing has taken it toll on his 'butt,' to use an American phrase.The route today won't be pan flat, but a lot less climbing. We started as a group of 3 with a strong steady tailwind and flew the first 37 miles to the first SAG, on the shoulder of Interstate 80, at an average speed of over 20 mph. However the road then started to turn and we found that the wind was now off the left and sometimes swirling to be head on, so the speed reduced and it was tough going. The desert is desolate, covered in sage brush and very arid with many salt pans. The road follows a wide valley but there are mountains on both sides some going up to 9000' and still with snow on the peaks. We caught up with many of the other groups riders as we usually leave the hotel last. Towards the second SAG one of my group had a slight problem so we had to slow a little, but we still made good time into the SAG. With thirty miles to go we took it at a reduced pace and sauntered into Lovelock where our hotel was part of a casino (even the toilets have slot machines in them, for gambling that is!). On the way into Lovelock I lost the Welsh flag off the back of my bike, but fortunately one of the other riders coming behing found it and returned it. No computer in the hotel to download photos. Very warm by the end of the day, mid 80'sF, but it is unseasonally cool for this area, last year on this ride it was over 100F.
Todays distance was 91 miles.

Day 5 Truckee to Sparks.

We left Trukee alongside a lovely river and saw the entrance to Squaw Valley where a winter olympic games was held, but goodness knows when, took a photo of the sign and the olympic flame though. Then onto a bike path and ahead we could see more of the snowcapped Sierra ranges on another sunny day with a cloudless sky, the weather gods are being kind up to now, but it's costing an arm and a leg in sunblock. Climbed steadily to 6200' and then arrived at Lake Tahoe, what a sight, amazing views, and if only I could find a computer that worked properly I could download the photos so you could see for yourself, but that will have to wait. From Tahoe we crossed the state line, said goodbye to California and entered the gambling state of Nevada. The casinos started as soon as the line was crossed. We then had to climb up to summit of Mount Rose, which meant an 8 mile climb to 8900 feet, it was cold up there as we were above the snow line. Photos at the top then a 16.7 mile descent at speeds up to 40 mph with breathtaking views. It was nice to feel the air getting warmer as we dropped down to the town of Sparks which is not too far from Reno. Glad to get into the hotel after 2 days of really hard climbing. we've been promised that Nevada is a lot flatter. Todays distance was 64.8 miles.

Day 4 Auburn to Truckee.

This day was being viewed with some trepidation by a good number of the party as it meant we were going over the Donner Pass, which is the highest pass over the Sierra Nevada mountains and tops out at more than 7000 feet. I was not particularly anxious, but only because I did not know what was coming!! The day was sunny and cool at loading and there was plenty of use of the vans to carry extra clothing for the descent later. The climbing started early through pine forests and went on for miles at about 6 to 8% with ramps of 12%. After a break we got on Interstate 80 which is basically like our motorway, but you are allowed to ride on the shoulder. It was busy but a smooth surface. We climbed for mile after mile counting off the 1000' markers. Stopped for lunch and then climbed steadily for another 7 miles. Then off the Interstate and continued to climb on ordinary roads so that we were now above the snow that had been on distant peaks earlier. Finally reached the top of the Donner Pass at over 7000'and frnkly it was chilly. The total amount of climbing today was over 9200 feet. Another break and a then a great descent, after putting on warm clothing, in a thirty mph run all the way down to 6000' in Truckee, where we had a well earned pizza and a 'bud' while watching the Redwings win the Stanley Cup. Today was 72.4 miles, by very hard with the amount climbed, the bad news is that there is more climbing tomorrow.

Day 3 Sacramento to Auburn.

We were up early and loading the trailer by 6.00am on a day with shortish ride, this was to give us plenty of recovery time in the afternoon in preparation for day 4 which is going to be hard. Watch the sun rise over Sacramento and it was cold in the breeze. After a good breakfast we left at about 8.00am. After only half a mile we got on the American River Bikepath which is the best path I've been on, wide, smooth,and very scenic. The day warmed up with clear blue skies as we saw eagles, wild turkeys and Fulsom Prison. We left the bike path after that and were on ordinary roads climbing through a nice forest, but the hill got steeper and the last mile and a half into Auburn was tough. Stopped in a coffee shop and I had an American lady introduce herself to say that her husband was Welsh and she recognised the flag on my bike, he was from Bridgend. Temperture was in the high 80's F when we got to the hotel after 51.4 miles, very pleasant. Managed to down load the photos as the computer in the hotel worked. Then off for an early night.

Days 1 and 2

Wow where do I start? Firstly the flight was good and coming into San Francisco airport there was a great view of the Bay, but the Golden Gate Bridge was in fog. The following day we started by checking the bikes and getting signed in. Everyone was itching to start, again it was grey, overcast and cool. The following day we were up at around 5.00am to get everything ready for loading our luggage on the trailer and then setting off. Early on a Sunday morning the city was quiet and we wound our way over the hills to the San Adreas Lake, I was hoping the Fault would hold out for a little longer! Up to Ocean Beach for the wheel dipping and a group photo and we were off on our own to Fairfield. The Golden Gate Bridge was amazing on this clear sunny day, we were lucky. Marin County was very nice, THE place to go. All towns have bike names! Then away from S-F a small group of us diverted to see the vineyards and then ended up in Fairfield 96.6 miles later. Great day and everyone was happy to get there in one piece.
The second day was shortish, only 63 miles and was very flat into Sacramento. Saw endless flat fields of wheat, peach and apple orchards, walnut groves and there were irrigation channels everywhere. Huge trains and we were forever bouncing over tracks. Sacramento was like a cowboy town in the old part and we had a walk into town for a snack and a Bud! The weather was again very warm and was in the high 80's F.The hotels are great and there is quite a cosmopolitan make up of riders, 2 Aussies 1 Kiwi, 2 Dutch, 2 Brits, 2 Germans and 1 Trinidadian. The riding is fast when we get going in the group that has naturally formed that I am in, but we are all in favour of seeing the country and the inside of coffee shops and diners. Go to Flickr and see the photos that are there. One or two are in the wrong set, but I'm doing my best. Thanks for your messages,keep them coming and more news later.