Thank ya kindly, Mark. I look forward to your upcoming tour too. When does it start? Nevermind, you don't have to tell me. I'll wait til you announce the date publicly.

I had a similar nervous experience once in Montana. I was charged by a cow. Luckily, the only had enough stamina to chase for about three seconds, but that was enough to get its point across.

Now you've thrown an ethical dilemma at me: Not eatin' beef durin' my bike trip vs. supportin' the hard workin' Kansas ranchers. I'm goin' to have to give my pledge a second thought.

Holy cow, Bill! That's some pretty good eatin'! You probably could have given Joey Chestnut a run for his money at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eatin' Championship.

I remember a past bike tour we were on in western Colorado when we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of a cattle drive! There were some nervous moments when we got between mama and her calf!

Lookin' forward to another fine installment of yer journal, pardner!

I guess you could say Denis T-boned a T-bone and ended up with a taco?

Don't feel too bad about missing out on the chance of getting a free 72-ounce steak. What they don't tell you is that it's the worst cut of the entire cow, with a lot of gristle and cooked until it becomes the texture of hardtack. The only reason to eat it all is for bragging rights and/or to get your name on The Wall.

All of the ranchers in Kansas would be happy if you ate extra beef, to help their bottom line!

Watch out while riding with your bovine friends. A cycling friend, Denis, T-boned a cow outside of Missoula. He ended up with several broken ribs, and a tacoed front wheel. The cow? Who knows - it ran off!

72-ounce steak!

Back in the days when I was a big eaters, (Big? not "me," I was 5'10" 125 pounds) I really wanted to consume one of those free giant steaks, but, alas... Nobody would stop and I was a mere passenger, but I have no doubt I could have done it...

As a student at ASU, I consumed 18 tacos, plus beans and salad on each plate in the cafeteria, so they were real, hefty football player type tacos and not wimpy, thin little TB tacos.

Oh yeah, and I consumed 6 foot long fully load submarine sandwiches during one challenge and had my name added to the wall, making me the 4th person to do it. They said it only happened about once every other year. There were lots of 5s.

I've come to enjoy winter cycling, but just for an hour or so at a time. No 40-mile days when it's below zero, that's for sure.

Yes, I miss Colorado a bit but not enough to move back there! We enjoy living in AZ which is always surprising us and traveling in our Airstream during the summer. We've even gotten bit by the cruising bug and are doing 4 this year!!

I’m glad to hear you’re planning another trip! I’m amazed you bicycle in such weather. I need the temperature to be 50 degrees or more and definitely not have ice or snow on the road.

Thanks, Marilyn. So, I take it you live in Arizona full time now--except for when you're traveling in the Airstream. Do you ever miss Colorado?

Looking forward to your always entertaining reads! But I'm sure happy to be able to spend the winters here in snow-free AZ (at least where we live!)