"Lucky in love unlucky with fruit."

We made it to dang Utah. 2 more states to go. FYI I've abandoned the Nevado route and will now be going north to Idaho and west to Oregon. I'm glad I traveled fast and did those 100+miles days so I was able to make it to the 178th annual General Conference and listen to the words of the Prophet and Apostles of the Church. I also missed the blizzard that hit the Rockies. Another Bonus.

Here I am by a waterfall going down Provo Canyon. This was all fun to ride down and the colors and the trees and shrubs were neat. Come into the trees amongst the bushes. Come into the trees a monk eats the bushes.

This was Dad's final wave to the camera and packed his bags put it into reverse and left me with no company on this section corner of the trip.

I had to become a little begger cuz I didn't have a ticket to the Priesthood Session of General Conference, but right when I pulled out this sign someone gave me a floor seat ticket which got me a lot closer than Ben and his Daddy were sitting. FYI this is the backstabber that we've all come to know and despise, Ben.

We did another rondevoo with Uncle Paul and Aunt Nancy and this time Amy graced us with her presence. they've been following me literally on this trip. A lot more than others can say that won't even volunteer a small part of their life to join me. Where there's a will there's a way right? Also today I found some words to live by from Jan Levingston from the Office, when she said "You can always find a million reasons not to do something." I've been kicking back with Ben and he has the Office on DVD so I've been catching up on the last 3 years so I can be more like Micheal Scott. I already look like him when I have longer hair.

Uh would you like to put on your uh seatbelt uhhh?

This man had been following me for a few days, haulin' oats I mean windmill parts. His name was Larry. When he saw my Dad, they said "Hey Larry." "Hey Larry." It was kinda neat.

This was a big ol' oil refineryfor Sinclair. complete with a giant torch that burns the airplanes when they pass. It reeked when I rode passed it.

They had advertised this Hotel for about 100 miles on the freeway. That was the majority of the billboards I saw, and when I got to it, it was a hotel alright. Pretty rich though. But don't worry if you passed it, there's another one in Salt Lake.

If people want to know what I've seen the past week. This is it. Sagebrush and those wooden fences to block the snow when it blows all hard. Note to self: Don't travel through southern Wyoming again, go through the northern part.

These are a few behind the scenes pictures. People want to know what it is we do after a hard day's work- kick back den!

This is a classic shot of me bumming on the computes/posting on the stupid blog. It's nice to be able to re-wind after a long day of biking with a headwind and traveling along side of shaq-a-clauses for 10 hours on I-80. Yes Jeremy I'm wearing your shirt don't get all happy. Well now this week went by relatively fast and short. And I'm not sure why. The tradition is that I let the fellow companion right a few words and now the honors go to 2 Pop Security as Mckay calls him.

"I was able to accompany Kimball through Wyoming this week but I couldn't pedal because my foot was swollen and inflamed from a flare-up of Reiter's Syndrome which strikes me at random. Two of my kids have inherited this syndrome; Kimball who is now having a bout of Rider's Syndrome and Janalee who has chronic Writer's Syndome (See her Blog).

We saw many, many antelope grazing on the range along the highways acting like cows. Kimball did some tough days, four out of five were hundred+- milers with strong headwinds. I was fortunate to be with him and part of the great adventure."

And I've been really fortunate to be with Dad also on this crucial part of the US, where I was able to deposit my bags and bike really light to be able to go over the beep Rockies. I guess I've had kinda like an Onstar Roadside assistance, when I've had multile flats and needed quick bike repairs and supplies.

"I thought the rockies would be a little more rockier than this....."

Erin was a little upset cuz her airplane was delayed and she had to wait a while. It was nice having her as company for while, but as in the words of Haulin' Oats, "She's Gooone"

Here's Dad right off the airplane. He didn't get a lot of sleep, but he's excited for the upcoming week to join me on the trek.

It's a lot colder here in dang Wyoming, it's also a lot more barren. Look closely to see the wild deer behind me.

This is us in front of the neat windmills. Kinda like the ones on the way to San Diego.


At one of the rest stops right before I got onto the freeway They had a neat dinghy dedicated to cool Abraham Lincoln. We all remember his famous quote when he said "If you are a racist I will attack you with the North." Yep that's how he won the civil war. And we should all do the same.

We stayed the night at this neat family's house. They fed me a delicious fresh-caught fish dinner. And it was all good! They were very friendly and talkative and nice to be around. In the near future I hope to have a beard like Johnny as shown in the photo.

Wanted: One dang person to come with me through Nevada please.

"What we got here is failure to communicate. Some folks you just can't reach, and you take what we got here last week which is the way he wants it, well he gets it. I don't like it anymore than you do." Name that quote. give up ok. But yes what we got here is failure to communicate like Cool Hand Luke once said after he was shot. Now as you are all aware by now, I've been biking my bike across America, I mean this is what I do. this is my job, my career. I prefer to share it with someone and not be greedy like Ben's greedy fingers. Right now I am in Cheyenne, Wyoming. My Dad will accompany me to Salt Lake City, Utah where General Conference will be held during the 4th and 5th of October. Dad leaves, I hang out for a few days, see the sights, old friends, companions, go on a hot date, fill up my tank.... then I'm back to the trip. The thing is that I have a poor ol' bicycle that's lonely that doesn't have anyone for enjoyment and entertainment. I extend the invitation to all that is willing, commited and dedicated to embark with me on this section of the journey. We will be traversing and conquering the harsh desert and climate of Nevada. Your life is not guarenteed but if you make it out alive the rewards and possibuildities are endless. Similar to when Jeremy D and I escaped from Gary, Indiana. A really successful, better than coach Dallas, Coach Schenks once said, "There is a difference between interest and commitment, when your interested in something you only do it when it's convienent, when your commited you accept no excuses only results." We later won state that year in football. That is the type of ship/business that I run here in Bike Across America. You can be like the chicken and only get involved in the breakfast sandwich or you can be commited like the pig. If you don't come, your loss, and you'll regret it and be kicking yourself like thousands have and will be doing for rejecting this once in a lifetime offer (ie: Ben). Or you can humble yourselves and join me. Now your either with that or your not. If you want to call me to tell me your commited and serious my number is (480) 415-6234. Dates aren't posted yet but somewhere between the 6th-12th of October or 8th-15th of October. Plane ticket is required to buy if coming from far away or you can just drive. Clothing is demanded that you bring and some treats. Cuz we are like the treats truck when I worked with Josh D for a year. Bring your game face too, and a gun for the bears. And an empty brain to fill up with a life-time of memories.

*Note: Multiple riders can participate only that one standard junky ol' kip bicycle is provided on a first come first serve basis. Other riders wishing to participate will need to bring bicycle equipped with the right equipment.

Go Big Or Go Home.

"I see things as they are and you say no, wait, you see things as they are and you say...no, no, what do you say when you see things?" Well what I see right now is a new company record. We did the unthinkable and rode 126.2 miles into the dark and into Cheyenne to our destination. Jeremy D is furious right now.

This was how we looked after calling it a huge day of real actual work and we checked ourselves into a well-deserved hotel and the softest beds and pillows ever. I slept all good.

I thought all the buffalo got extinct by the indians 200 years ago. We saw John Dunbar herding the buffalo afterwards.

I had a flat and as you can see there was no shade for miles. But one nice guy stopped and asked if we needed help. We politely declined.

We sat ourselves down under a tree and near some cows and had a tasty tunafish sandwich complete with triscuits and carrots and the
"trick of the day, a great banana."



This was a neat oil rig in the middle of the grasslands in Colorado.

After all day of traveling and long miles in the dark we finally made it to the Wyoming indian border. You can barely make out the sillouettes and Erin's reflective jacket if you look close. Now that Erin has successfully completed her 9 day adventure and did exceptionally-well I will let her entertain the readers and we'll share her thoughts and views and how she really thought of the trip. Your time now Erin.

"Okay. First of all, I am really excited for Kimball and this opportunity he has made happen for himself. I think he will forever be grateful of this experience. I'm so glad his friends and family have been able to make sacrifices and enjoy the journey along with him. I am especially grateful that Taylor and I could work together and make the trip possible for each of us. It wasn't a "piece of cake" like I was lead to believe by Taylor; and was cursing him my first day of 90 miles of rolling hills. Each day was an accomplishment for me and a treat to be in the solo company of Kimball. I learned quickly that Nebraska is indeed not all flat and does not consist completely of brown corn fields. It also has a lot of green scenery and quaint little movie-set-like towns. I also learned that I will, in fact, not die by drinking gas station, bathroom sink water for a week (so there, Jana). I also learned a lot about Kimball. I learned his diet doesn't consist solely of sugar and soda. He eats and enjoys lots of vegetables. He eats his Starbursts with the wrapper on....every single one of them. He brushes his teeth twice a day, EVERY DAY, not observing nights, weekends and holidays like some the elder Hansen brothers. I am not a morning person, but Kimball is very motivating to be around. And no, I never tire of his Kimball-isms. I laugh every time as if it's the first time I've heard of a cup-movement. I also learned that we both share a hatred of "Nasty Pulse". I learned that no matter how starving I thought I was; the strong gag reflex and strong dislike was still there. (Sorry)

If Kimball would have told me that I'd be riding 126 miles in one day, I would have never agreed to accompany him. Attitude is everything and this week is proof. Kimball constantly has a light and fun-loving spirit and never once did I see him get frustrated. I just took this trip hour by hour and my spirits were kept high by the constant flow of ridiculous things Kimball says. But, I love it all. I don't know if I could do this journey with anyone else. Thanks for having me Kimball, I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Thanks for the "treats"!Have fun, Larry!"

All right good stuff right there ladies and gentlemen we will wrap up this post now. "say good night Kevin, Goodnight Kevin"

A Small Gift.

My bike had a few prollems and the mechanic was off-duty, so I became the mechanic and got half of it fixed. It still needs major repairs.

We made it through Nebraska in one day, we were riding pretty fast. and now were in the Rockies.

Finally got to Nebraska.



This is Rich's favorite place to eat at. He recommended MAc's drive inn. A neat little place where you order at the booth with a telephone as shown in photo on left. The food was so good and the shakes were real for once.

This is the McMurtrey family. Rich told us about them and they graciously invited us to their home where they treated us well and cooked a nice treat in the morning and snacks for the road. It was all good.

This is the Gift Family. They were a reference from the McMurtrey family in McCook. They invited over to sleep at their

Answers

First I would like to answer Jana's questions. While I'm on my bicycle 16 hours a day, my thought begin to wander and I'd say it is d) all of the above, I think a lot about the mission, high school, work, and also the future. Like I kinda have a thought on a career that i'll persue. I also like the scenery. and always have in the background the clown song playing on low. Sometimes I think about the ladies past, present, and future. I also have thought of 3 bicycle inventions. I'd say I get tired of biking 5 percent of the time while i'm out here, I enjoy mostly all of it, if I didn't then I'd throw in the towel and just go back to the office. and Yes I'm thinking that I would like to do it again. I've thought of 3 other adventures that are frying in the back burner, details will be explained further down the road. And finally no Erin isn't driving me crazy. We're enjoying each other's company. and she's not a girly-gril.
i love lamp, I would appreciate it that Channel 5 news follwed me. I'd feel I was cool.
plummer, you got prollems if you can't get the toilet flushed you can always clog it like I always do. Works great.
mckay, no I wasn't nekid in the picture.
little boy from big business, a cow plop is something eatable, and edible.
lindsay, I dont take suplements that's only Talmage, I drink SODA!
stock investing newsletter, dang it I dunno when I'm going on online, and I haven't got honked at yet.
Mindy, yes my legs look like the hulks, and I haven't tried to get out of Mindy's yet.
fox 10, I'm riding so that Obama loses.
Rashes Magazine, the rash still hasn't healed. I'll do an interview but please no photos.
Joe, I didn't have my knife or gun to pull on anyone. josh and Jeremy are old co-workers of mine and they signed up for the trip when they found out that I had a back stabbing friend that ditched me to get married. Dad will be with me next week, then I'll be alone for a week then Lindsay will finish it off.
anonymous, I don't cry myself to sleep.
paula, yes my trasero hurts in the morning then it gets lean as the day goes on.
anonymous, my face doesn't hurt.
anonymous, the family jewels don't hurt tampoco.
Ok that's it, we'll do round 2 later. Thanks a bunch Milton.

Ok uh, here we go!

This is all you see in Nebraska. That's it.

I like this foto. It's a little town but right next to is a grain mill. Makes you think huh?
As we were traveling down Highway 34 a man and his wife pulled over and asked if we were the ones coming from Maine. Then they told me they were Rich's parents. so that was pretty neat. I meet all kinds of people on this trip.

This Picture is self-explanitory.

.


In Seward we found on old time machine. Inside it contains a brand new 70's car and motocycee and other crap. I also saw the flux-capacitor.

Photo courtesy of my bicycle.

We did some research in Seward, NE about this strange sign. turns out there was a guy that hitch-hiked from Seward, Alaska to southern Canada, then he bought a bicycle and rode around America and on the way came to Seward NE. This was in the late 80's. his name might have been Pierre.....

Questions and Responses

What I have here is for all the readers. Now there are lot's of people who like to indulge in my blog and as Bilbo Baggins once put it "I know less than half of you, and I like less than half of you half as well as you desearve." Then he disappears. O sea I don't have a clue how many people have questions wanting to know about whatever thing that concerns me or the trip, but I "have proposed a plan to beep with you" or a plan to have questions that demand to get answered. Now is your chance to be like Arnold Swarzeneggar and "ask a bunch of questions, and I want to have them answered immediately." Especially the strangers and new comers and people I don't know and it can be people I do know. So ask in the comments and I will openly answer in a post in a few days after thunking like a monk. So Run!

good stuff

We stopped at a roadside church to worship and sing praises. it was a neat little place along the highway of Iowa.

Bad luck day of braking 4 spokes in one sitting. Good thing I know what I'm doing and I repaired them.

I've never had cheese curds but we bought them from an Amish lady and they were so dang good. They came in variety of flavors. They squeak when you eat them.

This was a classic shot of the riding into the sun. Kinda like the ghost riders in the sky.


After a long day's work it's nice to kick back in the jaccuzi. "One's in danger of getting bubbles up one's woops-a-daisy."

Mom and I in front of the Winter Quarters Temple in Ohama, Nebraska. I didn't know there was one till we went around the corner and saw it.

Here's Erin all happy and giddy to start her trek through the plains of corn.

Poor Mom had to leave us all. Now I have to start cooking and washing the dishes again and not be lazy.

Now I will turn the time over to Mom so that she can say a few last words about the trip. Your time Mom. Make me proud.

"I have alot to say about this past two weeks but I have to get to the airport. What a great thing this bike trip has been for six-weeks. As we've ridden the long Illinois and Iowa backroads I have heard about the previous four weeks before it was my turn. Kimball is an excellent navigator and map reader and direction finder and his confidence is inspiring. We have seen amazing sights and wonders in this part of the country. For over half the route we followed, and saw, the routes that theMormon Pioneer's took on their trek West and the things we saw in Nauvoo and Carthage and Winter Quarters were very faith promoting and moving. I loved it all and the country is beautiful beyond description and I know I'm too wordy but it was a great experience so good luck to Kimball and company for the next several weeks, and thanks to you interested readers for keeping up his morale. Susan (Kimball's mom)"

Ok and that's a wrap. I wanted to mix things up and start to have comments from the riders. Jeremy was the first one the other week we'll continue like that in an orderly fashion. "Work will go on and you will pay your bills."(no one can figure out which movie that's from).

Half-way there, I think.

Here we are eating lunch at a bridge-covered wagon. The sun finally came out now that the Hurricane finally disappeared. Now I was wondering who would win in a matchup, the Hurricane vs. Ditka. ok Ditka that was easy, but hold on the name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka. Makes you think huh?

Guess why I took this picture? or I mean guess what's in the dang picture that I took of. whoever gets it first wins. I figgure I have to start doing guessing games for someONE to leave a dang comment on my posts. I won't have anymore of that.

I didn't know that there were any Amish, but a horse-drawn wagon came flying down the hill and it's a neat sight and all. The guy with the thick beard and top-hat with a plain dressed wife. Then on the back of his black wagon is a bright flourescent triangle reflector. That's when the music stops and you get a reality check and you realize you buy what you pay for.

This was a cool ol' family. The familia Reittinger. They invited us for dinner after church and we chuckled and exchanged stories. They also gave me a lot of tips on life and they told me abou the facts of life, you see.

Animal Antics

This Raccon had a hard day and decided to take a rest.

Now I don't know who keeps killing the deer and laying them on the side of the road, we haven't seen anyone do it yet. If you look closely you can see it breathing.

Clauds will get excited for this one. We traversed along and we saw about 4-5 camels and 1 dorky llama. It was neat. for a mintue I thought I was in Africa, as the famous song goes" Beep blessed the rains down in Africa!" that was mine and Josh's theme song that week he was with me.

If you look closely you can see that the house is built into the hill. We knocked on the door and Bilbo Baggins came out. He was resting from his latest vacation and said mine tops all the ones that he did. We had a good chuckle and talked about old times.