I appreciate the conversion of Gatorade and water into price per gallon. 👍🏼

"Finally, since I'm the guy who comes behind you, I really appreciate all the terrors you've put into the dog's head. All of us who come after you are the beneficiaries of your abusing the dogs."

I certainly disagree with how you characterize my advice about dogs.

I definitely do not "abuse" dogs. I like dogs. But I don't want them to run out into the road and cause me to crash if they get in front of my wheel (that's the primary danger - getting bitten is much less likely.) Also, I don't want them to develop the habit of running into roads where they will inevitably be run over by a car at some point.

Spraying them with the mild pepper spray that mailmen carry is not abusing them. It causes no permanent damage.

You don't say where you live, and ride. I live in rural Kentucky, and believe me: If someone followed your advice they would spend more time slowing down, stopping, and distributing treats than actually riding.

My advice is based on about 100,000 miles of riding in the last seventeen years, much of it in Kentucky and other rural states likes Mississippi, Missouri, and Alabama.

I'm an old guy and have been riding bicycles for 60 years, some 10,000 miles over all. I have never been bitten by a dog - I've encountered some vicious dogs. I understand that they are protecting their territory, and when I ride I'm looking out for dogs, cats, racoons, bears, and other varmints. When I see movement I immediately slow down - bike, thinking, voice - and begin to interact with the dog talking calmly and slowly and softly. Trowing a few treats on the ground in front of it, rather than at it. I need too I get off the bike and walk slowly, talking gently.
I find slow and steady, helps the dog not to react to the speed and chatter of the bike. The tires put a whine, that may engage something in the dog's head that is threatening. If there is more than one, I try to put a tree behind me and the bike in front, and try not to exhibit fear - though I've been terrified several times. Treats in front of them and not at them. (One problem has become on one route, they come out not to attack, but they want more treats, they've become friends.)
Finally, since I'm the guy who comes behind you, I really appreciate all the terrors you've put into the dog's head. All of us who come after you are the beneficiaries of your abusing the dogs.
I try to be careful how I act when riding - courteous, careful, friendly - not only with animals, but with people too. That might lessen dog bites, and dodgy drivers attacking us too. I try to never do anything that is going to hurt someone who comes after me. I'd appreciate if you did that for me. Again, just an old man thinking about the great wonder of riding slowly through the wonder of nature.

Westward ho!

Thanks. Yeah, I saw that it was closed but have not given it any real thought yet, because planning my days heading into Denver has been about as much planning as I can handle at the moment. When I'm stationary in Denver next week, I may have to start rethinking the next phase of this tour. Hope everyone in the area is okay.

Chris, you may not be up on the news since you are traveling. Be aware that Yellowstone is closed with no hope of reopening soon - cyclists are being rerouted - full discussion is available in the forum

Good for you, making it to Colorado! It's all uphill from there!

Oh, I believe it. Did something similar when backpacking across the Grand Canyon. I'll be keeping this idea in mind when the need arises.

The heat is definitely the most formidable challenge you will face from now to the end - and it will get worse in the high plains. The heat is capable of doing some serious damage to you. I get up at 4:00, sometimes even 3:30, when touring out west in the heat. It's great to reach your destination by noon and not have to endure the crazy afternoon heat. Try it once and you'll be a believer.

I've added Salt stick electrolyte capsules to my handlebar bag goodies. Used them on an overnight trip last week. Not enough data to say for certain but early indication is they helped.

Excellent point. That must be a factor here. I'll be hydrating (and taking in salt and electrolytes) more aggressively from here on. ("That's right, water, you'd better watch out!")

Yes! Yucca is the word I was struggling to remember. They were too far away for Seek. Thank you!

Those look like yuccas to me, but if I were there I would use Seek to find out!

I wonder whether dehydration sneaks up on you more easily as the humidity level gets lower? You're entering a region that has notably lower humidity levels in general than where you (and I) live, so it's good to be extra vigilant against getting parched.

Yeah, I've still got almost four weeks before reaching Yellowstone because I'll be stopping in Denver for several days. So it's too soon to say. I'm going to try to wait a week before thinking too much about it because it sounds very hard to predict.