the yin and the yang: unicycling is about balance

Fortunately, a pack-lightening campaign in Salida, Colorado left me with only 18.6 pounds to carry, including 3 days of food.
Unfortunately, I am left with no tent, no sleeping pad, and no extra riding shorts.
Fortunately, we successfully dodged the many bowhunters in the national forest.
Unfortunately, a bug bit me and left my leg itchy and swollen: a 6"x4" section of my quad was inflamed, itchy, and hard from liquid pressure.

["17": Marshall Pass (10,842')]

["18": Cochetopa Pass (10,067')]

[Matt, riding toward the "dramatic" Coolbroth Canyon opening of columnar basalt.]

[Matt kicks the speed up too many notches on the way into Del Norte, Colorado.]

[Delightful singletrack that paralleled our sandy, washed-out road.]

[Crossing the Rio Grande coming into Del Norte at sunset.]

Fortunately, Del Norte has free camping for cyclists in the city park.

Unfortunately, there is a one-night limit, and we had planned to stay two nights in town.

Fortunately, Heather and Bill Green adopted us, sharing their straw-bale home, excellent food, and the fantastic company of their family - truly a haven in the desert!

Unfortunately, the biggest climb of the trip, Indiana Pass, loomed over our heads.

Fortunately, Mike Tierney of Aspen, CO, joined us for the ride and amped us with good vibes, treats, and Hammer nutrition.

[Matt and Mike cranking up the pass.]

Fortunately, Indiana Pass was the highest point on our entire route: 11,910 feet.

Unfortunately, Indiana Pass does not even count as a Continental Divide crossing.

[Reaching the summit!... thanks, Mike, for snapping this one!]

[A trio of champions. All downhill to Mexico, right?

Matt would like to give a shout-out to fellow Hoosiers - there was no "Indiana Pass" sign at the top for a photo op.]

[Representing a fantastic state at the top of the pass, although maybe we should be holding an Indiana jersey for its namesake.]


[Doris "Paparazzi" and "Cowboy Jim" Garling]

Fortunately, Doris was kind enough to leak a few photos to the press.

Unfortunately, this 48-mile day, with three mountain passes and an EPA SuperFund site, included some of the rougher roads we've faced.

[photo courtesy of Doris Garling.]

Fortunately, the fire was warm and the lounge was comfortable at Skyline Lodge in Platoro, CO.

Unfortunately, we spent more time looking at the maps and counting miles when we should have been making progress riding in the rain.

Fortunately, the overcast skies made for cool riding.

Unfortunately, even brief showers turned the road to unrideable muck.

Fortunately, we learned of the mucky potential of the roads before entering New Mexico.

Unfortunately, most of the route through northern New Mexico is comprised of this soil.

Fortunately, Adventure Cycling Association recommends taking paved alternates when the weather is wet.

Unfortunately, we had daily thunderstorms and were slated for several days of hurricane rains during our time in New Mexico.

Fortunately, the paved alternate went closer to the Continental Divide, and past some very cool sites, including crossing the path of America's longest and highest steam-powered train.

[The Cumbres-Toltec railroad]

Unfortunately, the skies poured rain and large bits of slushy hail.

Fortunately, the weather served as confirmation of our route decision.

[The weather continues in the background.]

Unfortunately, a portion of the route south of Cuba, NM, has been closed because the road became private property.

Fortunately, Adventure Cycling provides an official alternate from Cuba to Grants, NM.

Unfortunately, the alternate is all paved.

Fortunately, we crossed the Continental Divide 4 additional times on the alternate, and rode through incredible mesas and canyons in the region of Chaco Canyon and through the Navajo Nation.

[A diesel "fill-up", in honor of my unicycle's name: "Diesel."]

Unfortunately, we had to negotiate more car traffic than we are accustomed to.

Fortunately, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with some very cool and excited Japanese folks, traveling the world after college.

["19"]

[With Harold Redhouse, who stopped to see if we needed help. He is Navajo and taught us a few basic words in his language.]

Unfortunately, unreasonably angry dogs chased us and tried to attack on several occasions.

Fortunately, we found large sticks to carry for self defense.

Unfortunately, we had a hankering to attempt a 100-mile riding day on our single-speed 29ers.

Fortunately, the moon was nearly full, and past experience had prepared us to interpret the road's shades of grey.

Unfortunately, we needed to take caffeine shots and pills to make it through the night.

Fortunately, they worked.

Unfortunately, they worked too well, and wreaked serious havoc on our digestive systems.

Fortunately, there were more howls of coyotes than barks of domesticated dogs throughout the night.

["20"]

["21"]

["22"]

[Just to prevent our souls from becoming as sleepy as our eyes....]

102 miles in less than 24 hours!!

Onward and southward...

Rock n roll!

Yours truly,

Team Blazing Saddle Sores