Jim Hall Bike Across America
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "unchall" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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10:20 pm
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Great Bend, KS to McPherson, KS - 2007
Distance 64.47
Riding time 3.25
climbing 956 ft
Weather Warm, Sunny, Slight headwind
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A beautiful day was marred be two separate accidents. There were five of us in a pace line going 20-21 MPH. The five riders were Jim Sproull, Jim Olsson, Joanna Mirrington, John Keen, & myself. To make a long story short Joanna's wheel touched the wheel of the bike in front of her and she went down. After a couple of bounces and skids she ended up about a foot from the center line of the road. To our horror as we looked back, a tractor trailer truck was right on her. The truck was already in the process of moving over for us and had to go in the oncoming lane to miss her. Luckily there was no other traffic coming in the other lane. How Joanna ended up with only road rash and bruises (major bruise on hip for sure) I will never know. Joanna got back on her bike and finished the ride to McPherson.
The other accident involved 2 riders running into a stopped cyclist on the side of the road. Both riders, Tom Hoffman & Ray Siwinski, went over the handle bars. They both only ended up with road rash and bruises. Ray did go to the emergency room to check for broken ribs. This was a very memorable day for all the wrong reasons.
JOANNA & JIM AT THE SAG AFTER THE CRASH
DON & PEGGY FRITSCHEL FROM BOULDER, CO. PEGGY IS KNOWN AS THE "LITTLE ROCKET"
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10:47 pm
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Dodge City, KS to Great Bend, KS - 2007
Distance 86.74
Riding time 4:44
climbing 620 ft
Weather Warm, Sunny, Slight headwind
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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A very delightful ride today. The only hiccup today was one flat by Jim Sproull. We bypassed Santa Fe Trail's Pawnee Rock because we saw it last year. The pictures below are from last year. I didn't take any pictures today. We just enjoyed the beautiful day and riding our bikes.
MIDWAY POINT
IN KANSAS WE RIDE FROM GRAIN ELEVATOR TO GRAIN ELEVATOR
SMALL CHAPEL AT ONE OUR OUR SAG STOPS
PAWNEE ROCK OVERLOOKING THE SANTA FE TRAIL
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03:31 pm
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Liberal, KS to Dodge City, KS - 2007
Distance 84.62
Riding time 5:23
climbing 1444 ft
Weather cool rain hail thunder lightning headwinds
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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We hit the trivecta today - cold wet headwinds. The two attractions today were the Dalton Gang Hideout and Boot Hill in Dodge City. The only attraction I wanted to see today was the hot shower at the hotel. As you can see in the pictures below we would see clear skys to our left or storm clouds to our right. We never rode under the clear skys. Either we followed the storm or the storm followed us all day. We had to stop twice because of the lightning.
Jim Sproull & Jeff at the hideout
One of two flats for Jeff
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09:58 pm
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Guymon, Ok to Liberal, KS - 2007
Distance 40.7
Riding time 1:48
climbing 531 ft
Weather Cool & Tail Winds
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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Great ride today. Today was the shortest ride of the tour. We were afraid that we may not be able to ride today because of severe weather. The storm held off until tonight. I can hear the hail on my window now and hear the thunder booming. I hope it passes through the area tonight. We had our 5th state line crossing today (Kansas). When we arrived at the motel in Liberal at 11:00 there were 2 vans in the parking lot getting ready to pull out. They were storm chasers just like in the movie "Twister". They had a bunch of antennas on the roof and the computer in the passenger seat to monitor the position of the storms and the conditions. That was much cooler than the Land of OZ Museum. Hopefully we will be able to ride tomorrow.
The 3 Jims and others crossing the 1000 mile mark earlier this week
Morning in Doubt
Before the Storm Tonight
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08:36 pm
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Dalhart TX to Guymon, OK - 2007
Distance 73.64
riding time 5:26
climbing 491 ft
Weather Cool & strong headwinds
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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Today was just about survival. With the strong headwinds everyone just wanted to get to the next hotel as soon as possible. We had our 4th state line crossing with Oklahoma. Don & Helen, Crossroads tour veterans from 2002, set up an excellent SAG (rest) stop at the state line. I had 3 brownies and a cookie. I could have eaten more but Jim Olsson was rushing me as usual. Don and Helen also set up a social time for all of us at the hotel. The are one of the nicest couples you will ever meet.
Windy Morning. This is what it looked like when I got up in the morning.
Oklahoma State Line
Jim Olsson taking a real rest
Riders enjoying the refreshments Don & Helen set up
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04:03 pm
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Tucumcari to Dalhart, Tx - 2007
Distance 95.7 (My stats show a 2 miles less because I dropped the computer and had to reset it)
riding time 4:14
climbing 2247 ft
Temp Perfect
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
You may also click on any picture to enlarge it.
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Today was all about riding. We went 95.7 miles and averaged 22 MPH. Another personal best. We only stopped for 12 minutes during the ride. The only items of significance were crossing into Texas and seeing and smelling the huge cattle feed lots in Dalhart. I may have to add some pictures from last year because I only took one picture today and that is not worth putting in the journal.
Dalhart Feed Lots
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07:00 pm
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Las Vegas to Tucumcari, NM - 2007
Distance 110.09
riding time 5:46
climbing 4154 ft
Temp Perfect
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
You may also click on any picture to enlarge it.
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I forgot to mention that yesterday was a great day because it was a 2 Dairy Queen day - once on the way to the hotel and once after dinner.
Today was all you could ask for on a riding day - blue sky, warm weather, no head winds. Supposedly the second worse day on the tour was fairly easy. We averaged over 19 MPH for 110 miles. Because of the speed and distance I didn't get to take many pictures.
"The Wall" was not as dificult this year because it was a lot cooler.
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07:21 pm
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Santa Fe to Las Vegas, NM - 2007
Distance 75.06
riding time 5:18
climbing 4988 ft
Temp Perfect
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
You may also click on any picture to enlarge it.
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Most of the day was absolutely perfect. You could not ask for a more perfect riding day. I spent most of the day riding easy and enjoying the views. We rode through the highest point on the tour, Glorieta Pass, 7275' above sea level. Of course we had to dodge another thunder storm at the end of the ride.
This gentleman opened his store on Sunday just for us.
Thunderstorn on the way
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06:00 pm
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Rest Day In Sante Fe - 2007
Tom Hoffman and I spent most of the day walking around Santa Fe. Below are some pictures.
Oldest Mission in North America
Tom Hoffman from Maryland in front of the oldest house in North America
View from the restaurant where we had lunch
View from our hotel
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10:31 pm
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Albuquerque, NM to Sante Fe, NM - 2007
Distance 68.43
riding time 5.22
climbing 6007 ft
Temp Pleasant
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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You have some good days and some bad days. Today was a bad day. If you get above 5000 ft elevation and have a lot of climbing, I do not do well. Today we started with a 20 mile climb out of Albuquergue and head winds. My only goal today was to ride every mile and not get in the SAG van. You can tell by my time that I wasn't burning up the road. This was my worst day last year also. Tomorrow is always a better day.
On the plus side we did see some beautiful countryside and had a very good lunch at the Mine Shaft Saloon. The buffalo burger was great. We just missed some rain and hail going into Sante Fe.
New Mexico Countryside
Tom Erceg riding into Madrid
The Mine Shaft Saloon
You can tell that this dog has begged for scraps before. She would stand at the door and look at you with thoses sad eyes.
Rain might be in our future
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09:21 pm
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Grants to Albuquerque - 2007
Distance 79.5 miles
riding time 4:35
climbing 2554 ft
Temp COLD COLD COLD
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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I forgot to include one inportant fact from yesterday's BLOB. I had another flat and a sliced tire. I also had another flat today. That makes 4 flats. After we got to the hotel it was a trip to the bike shop for a tire and tubes.
This morning was cold. When I got up at 5 AM it was 31 degrees. It wasn't much warmer when we took off a 7:15.
Today was the most apprehensive as I have ever been on a bike. We had a stretch of 5 miles where the intersate went to one lane with about 2 feet of uneven, trashy shoulder with a guard rail on the right and buses and tractor trailers on the left just a few feet away.
Given all that it was still a great day. After the second sag stop we had a 5 mile climb. That I could have done without.
Scene on the road to Albuquerque
Overlooking Albuquerque
Jim Sproull & Jim Olsson
Six people have planned on leaving the tour tomorrow. Their pictures are below.
Dave and Felicia from Lakeway, Tx
Clark & Pat are 2 staff members that we are really going to miss.
Boris and Cary are leaving tomorrow also. Cary is my friend from last year.
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06:56 pm
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Gallup NM to Grants, NM - 2007
Distance 67.25 miles
riding time 4:37
climbing 1431 ft
Temp Cold & Wet
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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This was not my favorite day. In fact it is one of my least favorites. When we took off this morning it was 44 degrees with a wind chill of 39 and raining. Hopefully the pictures will tell some of the story.
Late morning we stopped at the Continental Divide (7275 ft above sea level). The afternoon was much warmer but strong cross winds.
Getting Ready to Ride
Rain Rain Rain
Jerry is Ready
Winners of the rain cap contest
The Continental Divide
The Three Jims at the Divide
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05:36 pm
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Holbrook AZ to Gallup NM - 2007
Distance 87.96 miles
riding time 4:05
climbing 3322 ft
Temp perfect
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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This was the fastest riding day ever for me. We averaged 21.6 MPH for about 88 miles. Today we crossed into New Mexico, saw some of the painted desert & petrified forrest, and changed time zones. There were 21 flat tires today.
Frank Steffey, from Salt Lake City, has the first semi-serious injury. Frank fell into a cattle guard while walking across it out of a sag stop. He wrenched the knee but did not break anything.
I had to take the picture crossing the state line while riding because Jim & Jim couldn't stop for a picture.
Looking out of hotel in Holbrook
Jim & Jerry - Two Air Force Academy Graduates
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11:13 pm
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Flagstaff to Holbrook - 2007
Distance 95.66 miles
Climbing 1705 ft
Riding time 4:54
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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The high point of the day was the chocolate cake from a coffee shop in Winslow, AZ. I didn't see the Eagles again this year. The Dairy Queen in Winslow has to be one of the originals.
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11:25 pm
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Cottonwood to Flagstaff, AZ - 2007
Distance 48.92 miles
High Temp 80 degrees
Flats none today, 1 total
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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Most riders agree that this is the greatest day of the tour. We leave Cottonwood, stop in Sedona, climb out of Oak Creek Canyon, and then proceed on to Flagstaff. The weather for the ride this year was absolutely perfect. It was overcast and cool most of the day. It was still tough leaving the coffee shop overlooking the red rocks of Sedona. Hopefully the pictures below will do some justice to the scenery.
The first picture is of Cary Paulin crossing the bridge over the canyon. Cary is the other person that rode on the tour last year.
Joanna Mirrington is from Chicago and Lisa Searies is from Indianapolis. Everyone stops at this coffee shop overlooking the red rocks of Sedona.
Zack & Rick resting at the coffee shop.
Photos of Oak Creek Canyon (click on any photo to enlarge)
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07:32 pm
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Day 6 - Prescott to Cottonwood - 2007
Total miles 42.88
Riding time 2 hr 52 min
Climbing 4032 ft
high temp 85
no flats today
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD".
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Another great day. A short ride, but I believe the most spectacular sights on the tour. We had one long climb up Mingus Mountain and then a great descent into Jerome where we had the best hamburger on the tour at the Haunted Hamburger. After the Haunted Hamburger we went to the English Kitchen for pie. After the pie we only have 4 miles to the motel. Jerome is a mining town , turned ghost town, & resurrected as a quaint "artsy" village. This is one of my favorite days.
Robert Wichers and Rick Wardell. Robert is the second oldest rider at 72 and Rick is a Crossroads staffer doing his 9th US crossing.
Climb up Mingus Mountain
Eating lunch at the Haunted Hamburger with Jim Olsson, Lynn Mushorn, & Richard Mushorn. Jim is next to the window.
Looking back at Jerome
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12:27 am
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Day 5 - Wickenburg to Prescott - 2007
Distance 59.04 miles
Climbing 7368 ft
High Temp 93
Time riding 4 hr 57 min
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD". You may also click on any picture to enlarge it.
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Below is a picture of the youngest and oldest rider. Nick Wethington is 19 and Jerry Wethington, Nick's grandfather, is 80. Jerry turned 80 the day before we started riding.
We had an interesting change in weather today. About 4 miles from our hotel we ran into a rain, sleet, & hail storm. We went from heat to freezing. You can see the storm coming below.
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08:02 pm
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Day 4 - Blythe to Wickenburg - 2007
Distance 115.89 Miles
Elevation Climbed 4221 feet
Time on bike 7hr 1 min.
High Temp 104 degrees
Flats 1
Directly below is a link that will take you to a page that will give you all the statistics about the day's ride. It will give you the distance, elevation gained, average speed, map, etc. When you get to the web page click on "DASHBOARD". You may also click on any picture to enlarge it.
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WE DID IT. We finally crossed the desert and completed the part we missed last year. I was beginning to worry because as I was rolling my bike in the parking lot of the hotel, I had a flat. I was able to change the flat before we started the day.
The picture below is of the "Three Jims", Jim Olsson, Jim Hall, & Jim Sproull. Jim Olsson is from San Antonio, TX & Jim Sproull is from Kirkland, WA (outside of Seattle). All three of us rode cross country last year.
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11:26 pm
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Indio to Blythe
Miles 100.67
High Temp 107 Degrees
Climbing 3054 feet
First day in the Mojave Desert and the first 100 mile day. Everything went very well today and it was much easier than last year due to the lack of record heat and headwinds.
The DESERT GHOST
The picture above is Gil Langley from Fairfax, Va. When Crossroads said to wear white in the desert, Gil took it to heart.
Click on any picture to enlarge.
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11:53 pm
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Day 2 - Riverside to Indio - 2007
78 miles
Temp - 50 to 107
no flats
A very good ride today. We went across the San Andreas fault & through Palm Springs today. We also hit the lowest point of the tour at 14 ft. below sea level.
The picture below was the best part of the day for me.
Downtown Palm Springs
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