The end of round 1:: the start of round 2

For the last couple weeks I have been poor about keeping up with delivering events that happened during that time. 

July 9th was the last day i rode. Since then I have been in 5 states: nebraska( where I left off riding), Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. 

What was I doing for so long??? Taking a breather from riding- hanging out having fun and catching up with family.  Thank you Uncle Lee!

Thanks to uncle lee I was able to visit my cousins jake and Katie, meet their friends and more family, spend time making memories with Uncle Scott and Aunt Jenny, and meet a bunch of new people- all at the same time. The cool part is just being here in coeur d Alene, Idaho in the summer time. The last time I can remember being here in the summer was over 16 years ago. Where does the time go? 

The breakdown of events is: 

July 10- get picked up from Kearney, Nebraska by uncle lee and drive to Fort Collins, CO. 

July 11- kept driving, stayed in Big Timber, MT. Visited Marilyn Monroe at the Thirsty Turtle. Good grub! 

July 12- arrive in Couer d Alene, ID. 

July 13- pack up and get gear ready to camp and raft down the lower salmon river and part if he snake river. 

July 14 & 15- on the river having fun and making memories. 

July 16- relax back in Couer d Alene 

July 17- boated, wake boarded, waterskiied & paddle boarded on the lake

July 18- on the Clark fork river with Everyone. Don and mark swam tumbleweed rapid after flipping Dons cataract raft. Serious enough rapid not to flip. 

July 19- relaxed, par 3 golf  w/ lee, James, & jake. 160 yd drive with a putter.  , overshooting the Green about 20 yards. (Yes, there were witnesses!)

July 20- rafted te Clark fork again. This one I went swimming in the Tumbleweed rapid. That was exiting. 

So I don't have many pictures to include here except a couple from riding the Hiawatha trail in Montana on uncle Scott's Rigid Schwinn MTB.  The bridges and the tunnels were crazy awesome to ride on and through. 

At this point I have been on the road since May 25. 

So here's my progress report for part 1 of this adventure: 

38 days of riding time

+ 27 days of R&R

--------------------------

= A great Summer!!!!!

Recap of week 5 (6/29 to 7/5):::::::Today I start week 6

Sunday 6/29

Chicago, IL to Loves Park, IL = 83 miles

Monday 6/30

Loves Park, IL to Oregon, IL = 35 miles

Tuesday 7/1

Oregon, IL to Eldridge, IA = 88 miles

Wednesday 7/2

Off Day ( hung out in Eldridge, IA with Rick and Mary: I can't thank them enough, that was a lot of fun!)

Thursday 7/3

This day began with a helping drive to Tiffin (west of Iowa City) and then riding the rest of the way.

Tiffin, IA to Grinnell, IA = 62 miles

Friday 7/4

Grinnell, IA to De Soto, IA = 81 miles

Saturday 7/5

De Soto, IA to Atlantic, IA = 78 miles

Summary: 

427 miles actually ridden

64 mile vehicle head start 

491 miles total 

Today's plan:

7/6/14 - Sunday 

Ride 50 miles to Council Bluffs, IA, then ride another 20 to 30 miles combined through Council Bluffs and Omaha, ending the day in Nebraska. 

Here's some pictures that I believe sim up my experience through Iowa: 

Monday June 30

Start: loves park, IL

End: Oregon, IL

So today I was overwhelmed by the humidity so I didn't make it as far I planned. I was planning on making it to a campground west if Sterling, IL. That didn't happen. The humidity slowed me down to the point that when I reached Oregon, IL, storms were a brewing and hail was nearby. Found a place to stay for the night, the "Chatteau Inn." Crazy winds, rained cats and suburbons! Power went out and felt like I was in a tornado, or so I thought because the wind was so strong. After midnight, the weather calmed as was finally able to fall asleep. Woke up early the following morning and started towards Iowa. Ultimately, Monday I did about 40 miles.

View of the rock river from castle rock state park in Illinois.