Long Haul Trucker

Update 9/11
> Time in saddle as of 9/11: 190 hours, 10 minutes
> Miles ridden as of 9/11: 2, 648 miles
> Flats: "In the early morning on Sept. 10 I was looking at a historical site marker and didn't notice I was about to hit a big rock. I pinch flatted and patched it. Four miles later I sliced open the sidewall and got a new flat. Then I changed the tube."

Ryan called today from Rawlings, Wyo., en route to Yellowstone (or at least in the direction thereof, he wasn't sure when he would get there). He crossed the Continental Divide on Sept. 7 and then spent the night in Breckenridge, Colo. He rode into Breckenridge wearing tights and a short-sleeved jersey, then woke up to really cold weather the next day. "I had to end up wearing tights, jersey, sweatshirt, rain pants and rain coat. It was really cold!"

He was excited to tell a story about some good luck he had in Walden, Colo., population 734. The day before arriving in Walden he got super wet in a rainstorm, and arrived there with really damp gear at about 5 p.m. He got permission at the Sheriff's office to sleep in a city park, but didn't want to set up camp just yet. "I don't like to set up too early because I don't want potential thieves to know I'm there. So I had like four hours to kill before setting up camp." Ryan said he could hear motorcycles and wanted to find out what that was all about -- it turned out there was a motocross track set up at a lumberyard in town. A guy pulled up next to him and asked if he need any help, and Ryan explained he was just watching because he rides motorcycles and was curious about all the noise. The guy offered to let Ryan take a ride on the track, but Ryan explained that he didn't have any gear because he was riding his bike across the country. Next the guy offered to let him stay at his house, where a bunch of other motocross guys were staying. So, in addition to scoring a nice dry place to stay, Ryan go to do his laundry, take a shower and talk motocross with a bunch of dudes. They even took him out to dinner at a fancy restaurant and bought him beer. "I actually got kind of drunk. And it was FREE!" (Let's hope he really means it was only "kind of" vs. Ryan in his prime.)

Ryan even provided a short MOVIE with this installment of photos. Click here to download it (beware -- it's 8+ MB so you better have a good connection).

— Meredith

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images.

> Back to the main Where's Curtie? page

> Back to the main Where's Curtie? page