Good morning from Colorado Springs, CO

Today is the first of two R&R days.
I'm staying at the Five Star, Sells Ranch that features spectacular mountain views and great home cooking. Thanks to Mike, Cammie, and their son, Scott for hosting me.

Kicking Back & Enjoying a Rocky Mountain High (R&R day #1)

Thanks to John Denver for accurately describing those Rocky Mountain feelings that envelope you.
What a powerful force, the sheer majesty, and all encompassing passion surrounding us. You can't escape the grip of this beauty. From every compass point you see, smell, and touch something truly remarkable.
Yes, being this close to these mountains brings out all that is good in mankind.

"The journey is my home." Muriel Rukeyser perfectly described what I have been feeling the past several days.
This particular journey has transcended all of my previous years on this planet. How, you may ask? Well, it's a quilt work of faces, personalities, and interesting experiences. The days blend in a way I have never experienced. To say this is Day #17 of a 42 day trip just doesn't describe what is happening.
Each day blends with others in a unique continuum of living experiences. In reality, this is just a one day trip that goes on and on, with new people and new blessings.

A lot has happened in the past forty-eight hours. Let's step back to Friday night. I stayed in the small town of Anton at a fine Mom & Pop motel owned by Jason and Dana. Farming is their primary business and the motel just a sideline. Dana welcomed me into their living room (motel office ) and introduced me to their four beautiful children. The children's names are Carson, Kate, Grayson, and Kyla. Talk about smiling loving children with a surplus of enthusiasm! They all proceeded to go bicycling in the parking lot, showing me just how fun bicycling is for a kid. (Keep in mind we are all just kids when we go bicycling)
Dana (a University of Iowas graduate), was home schooling the children. Little Kate showed me her "classroom", and in visiting with these children I could see a bright future for our country.
Youthful zest and a belief that anything is possible could be felt in this loving home. Keep up the good work kids. The world awaits you.

Leaving Anton, I realized it would be at least forty miles to any services. About twenty miles out I arrived at "Last Chance" , perfectly described as an intersection at the bottom of a hill. No services were available, and suddenly I realized my water supply was almost exhausted. I did the only thing possible, and that was to gingerly walk up one of about six driveways and place myself at the mercy of the home owner. Good news was I had picked the home of Brad and Traci, and their four children, Joe, Anna, Eli, and Amy. Traci stepped outside and extended a friendly hello. I explained my predicament and she responded by filling all of my water bottles and offering other possibilities for water and support twenty-five miles down the road.
Once again as I left their home, the kids on their bicycles rode with me to the street. A grand send-off, if I don't say so myself. Thanks again, Traci and kids. (and two other cousins, John and James, who were visiting that morning.

I rode another thirty-five miles and ended up having a very late lunch in Byers.

Consulting my detailed trip directions, it appeared Jay and Kristi's home was about twenty-two miles southwest of my present location. Then, all of a sudden I realized the roads were all gravel. Gravel is fine for trail riding but doesn't work well on a fully loaded bike. The risk of flat tires is significant.
So, I phoned Jay and he worked out a slight "detour". This detour added at least twenty miles to the trip and took me far north and west of their home. They live "in the country", and this is a "really big countryside".
Bottom line, I bicycled until darkness fell, yet I was still ten miles from their house. So, Jay came and picked me up, and then returned me to that same exact spot on Sunday morning.
In the end, I still had a flat tire, but I enjoyed a fine evening with Jay, Kristi, Kayla, Josh, Mercy, and Melissa. Thanks to you for sharing your home with me. Interestingly, Kristi also is home schooling their children. Kayla already has finished college and will be married early next year. Josh is well on his way to a career in music, and the two youngest girls are so beautiful and respectful.
Once again, these wonderful kids represent hope for a bright and purpose driven future.

Now, let's talk about yesterday in more detail.
You saw all those hills, but maybe you missed that powerful wind blowing from the south? What a belligerent and relentless wind! After starting the day with a flat tire, I immediately faced the strongest winds of the journey. I pedaled for more than eight hours and finally arrived at Mike and Cammie's Colorado Springs home. Average speed for the sixty-two miles was about seven miles per hour. My body was taxed to the limit but I did arrive safely and in one piece.
Now don't misinterpret this, but strong headwinds are part of bicycling. You just go with the flow and make the best of whatever conditions you face. Then, add the dimension of climbing to a powerful headwind.
It's hard to imagine any road steeper than "Flying W Ranch Road". This road is the final hurdle before you reach Mike and Cammie's home. Thankfully, I made it to the summit of this road and the next stop was Mike and Cammie's home.

After arriving and enjoying a much needed shower, we were off to dinner at "Tres Margaritas".
We met Mike and Cammie's dear friends Phil and Peggy. All of us enjoyed a superb meal and fun conversation. Mike and Cammie, and Phil and Peggy have been friends for over twenty years. Phil and Peggy are transplanted Texans with a warm and embracing openness. They also are RV'ers.
Based upon what I learned about their Alaskan RV trip, they could write a book about traveling. We plan to see their "camper" on Tuesday. Hey Phil, can you really classify RV'ing as camping? I mean, heat and air conditioning, running water, flush toilets, big screen TV, pop-outs, etc?

Mike and Cammie's son, Scott, is a talented and creative young gentleman who presently resides in Burbank, CA. This was my first opportunity to meet Scott, and I'm really impressed. He works for Dreamworks, and is involved with technical and artistic aspects of computer generated animated films.
It's really fun to talk with Scott and learn about his work. What a neat and exciting career!
I see Scott and I recognize all the potential that is inherent in youth. Reach for your dreams, Scott!

And there you have it, a synopsis of the past forty-eight hours interspersed with high winds, detours, and a flat, but also great people to share it with.
Talk to you later.