I’m currently on the TransAm in eastern Kansas heads to Canon City to rendezvous with two friends who are doing exactly what you are, finishing what they started.

I’ll be passing through Pueblo, of course. I’m posting my progress on my blog, Rootchopper.com, because that’s where my family expects to see updates. I’ll make the posts into a journal once I’m done.

I’m about two weeks from Canon City so keep an eye out for me.

Hi Keith,

Hopefully the weather cooperates but this time I am pushing forward no matter what.

If I am honest I think about 5% of last year's decision was that I was feeling bad about leaving the dog last year. It wasn't an ideal situation for her and it was tugging on me a bit. This year my brother will have her so I don't have that little nagging in the back of my mind. The heat was the main thing but the dog sort of swayed me over the top...

Anyway I am leave earlier in June and I am super excited.

We will both have a great trip!

I hope the weather this year is a bit less extreme, as I will be covering this same route- and staying in some of the very same places- starting in early July.

I'm relatively heat-tolerant, up to a point, but it's not ideal and as you pointed out can be outright life-threatening if not carefully managed. So I hope to have the weather gods simply make it a non-issue for me.

And for you too, as you'll be a week or two ahead of me...

You were in Terrebonne, and this is your photo?? Where is Smith Rock??? 😑

I’ve been up there to the observatory—it’s an interesting place inside.

How cozy is that!

Great photo of a very cool place to stop over…

😆

Yep—13 in/yr

Really kind of them.

Hi Karen

Something similar in Australia was in the media yesterday.

Mike

Thanks, Scott. That's life, eh?

Glad to hear this. I’d been worried for you but hadn’t spoken up about it.

Thanks Kathleen. I think so. That's life, eh?

In fact I heard the heat is moving east to Idaho and Montana now.

Actually I have been thinking of a trip where I ride to all the California Missions for years so I am going to a modified version where I chunk them into groups and do mini trips. Will start with the Bay area ones next week and work my way down. Should be fun enough alternative ;-)

Glad you made that decision. I was wondering if you would be able to get ahead of it. Apparently not. So now you’ll live to ride and write another day.