Where's Joe?
Colorado, Utah
Stage 6 of the Journey: July 21 - August 24
Colorado
July 21
Joe rode 76 miles from Cheyenne, WY, to Loveland, CO. It was his last day on the grasslands. At 10:00 am, it was 105 degrees. At 3:15 pm, it was 110. He is staying with David Thompson. Earlier, local Kentucky teacher, Jamie Ewen, had asked Joe to research and take pictures of sculptures for the students to study. Loveland is famous for its sculptures. David took Joe to see about 300 of them. They also visited a foundry and saw two bronze sculptures being poured. Altogether, they took 800 pictures. Joe already had over 100 sculpture pictures before he got to Loveland. Hey, Jamie, he's not even half way home! Joe is not forgetting the other teacher requests, either. Teachers: send your research requests to HeyJoe@AppalachianHeritageAlliance.org.
July 22
From Loveland, Joe pedaled to Estes Park. This is the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. If you remember, Joe has already crossed the Rockies once going east. Now, he is preparing to cross over them the other way, heading back west. Then he will turn around and come back over them again to get to Denver.
Circle of Peace
July 23
The "Trail Ridge Road" is the road through the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous paved road in North America. Bicycle riders from all over the world come here, that is to say, drive here, to prove their mettle. Joe has ridden his bike 4,500 miles to get here. The highest mountain pass, Joe's seventeenth so far, was 12,183 feet. He said it was a lovely ride with "awesome" views. He rode 57 miles to Granby.
Trail Ridge Road
July 24
Joe figured he ought to give his body a break before crossing back over the Rockies so he only rode 22 miles to Winter Park. Joe has lost twenty pounds on his trip. He looks great. He says that when he gets back he is going to write a diet book called "How to Eat Anything You Want, As Much as You Want, Anytime You Want and Still Lose Twenty Pounds- Guaranteed!" I wonder when he will get around to telling his readers that all they have to do is ride their bicycles 50 miles every day over mountains, plains, deserts, and swamps in all kinds of weather.
July 25
Joe rode 55 mountainous miles into Denver where he is staying with friends. He got a bit of a break from the heat but it came in the form of a hailstorm. After a pretty good pelting he found shelter beneath an overpass. It has been a hard, hot week of riding and Joe is going to take a day off to let his body recuperate.
Joe's book on his record breaking stiltwalk.
July 26
Joe received an e-mail from his niece, Stephanie, reminding him that twenty-five years ago he was on his big stiltwalk. Some of you may not know that Joe holds the world's record for the longest stiltwalk. It's listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Actually, he made several notable stiltwalks, all for philanthropic purposes. The first was from Eastern Kentucky to Louisville to gather support for his big walk. Next, with the support of the United States Jaycees, he walked on stilts a meandering route of 3008 miles from Los Angeles, CA, to Bowen, KY. This trip, the world record breaker, raised over $100,000 for muscular dystrophy research. He then walked 800 miles from Kentucky to New York City to complete the coast to coast stiltwalk. There, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Next, he was taken to Europe where he stiltwalked in five countries to raise money for various worthwhile projects. He tried to recreate the former record stiltwalk from Paris to Moscow made in the nineteenth century but was thwarted by the Cold War politics of the time. Joe wrote a lovely, inspiring, book about the big walk called "Stiltwalk." It's out of print but you may find one over the internet. It's a good read.
July 27
Joe enjoyed his day with friends and rode a whopping 15 miles to visit some other friends in Evergreen. They took him him to Mt. Evans, the highest paved road in North America, 14,260 feet. Your humble editor can't help but notice that several places make remarkably similar claims regarding pavement and altitude.
July 28
Joe pedaled 40 miles southward to Woodland Park. He says he is temporarily out of the high Rockies but is in absolutely beautiful mountain country. His friend Lloyd See rode with him.
July 29
We are having some telecommunication problems. The information for July 29, 30, and 31 comes from folks who have talked to Joe or talked to people who have talked to Joe. Apparently, he either did or did not make it to Colorado Springs, but either way, he couldn't find a room and ended up, very late, in, or possibly back to, Manitou Springs. Rumor has it that he went to Pikes Peak.
Cog Train to Pikes Peak
July 30
Joe got through to Barbara. He rode 50 miles to Canon City. And, yes, he did go to Pikes Peak. He rode the Cog Train, which was first put into operation in 1891, to the top of the Peak.
July 31
Barbara also said Joe rode 67 miles to Salida where he is trying to find a place to lay out his sleeping bag.
August 1
OK. We are finally back in direct communication with Joe and can fill in a few gaps. Today, he rode 80 miles to Alamosa. This included the 2000 foot climb over the Poncha Pass. Yesterday, he rode over the Royal Gorge suspension bridge. It is the highest suspension bridge in the world- 1105 feet above the Arkansas River. The day before, he rode by Fort Kit Carson. Kit Carson, the famous Army scout who later became a general, was born in Madison County, Kentucky. Joe says he is riding through some mighty beautiful country.
August 2
Joe pedaled to the railhead of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. He is really hoping they will allow his bicycle to ride on the train with him tomorrow.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
August 3
Joe and Rocinante boarded the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for the 70 mile trip to Chama, New Mexico. The train is pulled by two steam engines on narrow gauge rails. It is considered one of the top ten restoration trains in the world. Joe was really thrilled with the whole experience and even joined the "Friends of the Toltec." He sees a potential for Eastern Kentucky to match what those folks have done. Not train wise, but vision wise.
August 4
Today, Joe bicycled 50 miles from Chama, New Mexico, to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Rolling countryside, lots of hay, cattle and horses. He saw two cowboys on horseback driving a herd of cattle. The temperature was a pleasant 77 degrees. Joe wants to impress on all of us the glorious fact of the natural, wholesome, goodness of the American people.
August 5
Joe pedaled 60 miles through beautiful, rolling countryside to Durango. He's pretty excited about going to Mesa Verde tomorrow.
Mesa Verde
August 6
Joe woke up in Durango to pouring rain. This thrilled the locals but certainly posed a problem for getting to Mesa Verde. Joe weighed the dilemma of getting further off schedule against a specific teacher request to research this area and decided to rent a car for the day. (The Project Budget Director, upon hearing this, went into shock.) Joe explored Mesa Verde and The Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. This area has the highest density of prehistoric and historic archeological sites in North America. Joe gathered a lot of educational material for the students and drove back to Durango. Tomorrow, he and Rocinante will pedal the road he drove today toward Cortez. This is a 14,000-mile bicycle trip and Joe only counts actual bicycle miles.
August 7
Joe pedaled 47 miles to Cortez- a ride through beautiful country. Mountains to the north and Mesa Verde rising 1500 feet above the valley floor to the south.
Joe standing in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado at Four Corners.
August 8
Joe began his four corner circle by riding 67 miles to Four Corners. It is the only place in the U.S. where four states come together; Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. He also went to Ute Mountain.
August 9
Joe rode 60 miles to Farmington where he searched, unsuccessfully, for a Navajo friend of his. On the way, he stopped at Shiprock, a site sacred to the Navajos, to show his respect.
August 10
The circle was complete with Joe's return to Durango. The local paper interviewed him for a story. Tomorrow, he will take another Railroad ride on a different restored, narrow gauge train. This time, to Silverton.
August 11
Joe really, really likes restored steam engine train rides on narrow gauge tracks through beautiful, rugged countryside. Rocinante enjoyed the day off. They spent the night in Silverton.
August 12
Joe pedaled 60 miles from Silverton to Montrose. He went through Ouray without being arrested, unlike the the last time. But he can tell you that story. I guess those folks have lost their sense of humor.
August 13
It was an easy 28 miles today to Delta.
August 14
Joe pedaled 53 miles through Grand Junction and on to Fruita. He met a couple of bicyclists who work for the Chaco athletic shoe company (chacousa.com) in Tonia, CO. Their boss gives them a bonus for riding their bicycles to work. Cool! They had a great time talking to Joe and said they would send him a pair of shoes. Tomorrow is a long ride through the desert to Moab.
Utah
August 15
Today, the middle of August, was Joe's first full day of riding in the desert. He left Colorado and the often crossed Rockies behind and wheeled straight into the Utah desert. 91 miles, 95 degrees, full sun. Yep, he's sunburned. 40 of those miles were through the Red Rock Canyon on the Colorado River. The canyon walls are 600 feet on either side. He pedaled to Moab where he is staying with friends. There is a lot to see in this area and Joe will hang around for a few days.
Arches National Park
August 16
The two largest concentrations of natural stone arches are in Moab, Utah, and the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. Since Joe grew up on the Red he decided to visit the other area. And he was very impressed. No trees, though. Or water.
August 17
Joe is staying with friends and will explore around Moab until Saturday or Sunday. I forgot to tell you that he passed the 5,000 mile mark of the trip before he hit the desert.
August 18
Joe's nose is peeling.
August 19 - 20
Joe has been staying in Moab with friends he made on the first bicycle trip in 1967. It was with these friends that he, first, and next, they, water skied behind an airplane. This stunt almost cost "Tex" his pilot's license. Joe also revisited Schafer Trail. This trail is one of the top five mountain bicycle trails in North America. It gains 2,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile (as the crow flies.) Joe was the first to ride it 38 years ago. On the trail is an arch called Musselman Arch. Joe was the first (nut) to ride over it. It is so dangerous that it is illegal to do so now. Joe describes this area of our country as "mysteriously beautiful." Tomorrow, it's back on the road.
Always a leader in Fashion Design
August 21
To protect himself from the desert sun, Joe is wearing a straw hat under his bicycle helmet. Or maybe it is just a fashion statement. He left the scenic wonders of Moab and pedaled 55 miles southward to Monticello. He gained 2700 feet of elevation which means he basically rode uphill all day. He is now on what is called the "high desert."
High Desert
August 22
Joe rode 24 miles to Blanding. He enjoyed a visit to the "Edge of Cedars Indian Museum" where he collected educational material for the teachers asking him for information on Native American cultures. He also met an interesting and adventurous couple from Switzerland who are touring the U.S. in a two-seat ultra-light airplane.
August 23
Jo Schmidt, a friend Joe met in Denver, knew of a place in Bluff called the Desert Rose Inn where she thought Joe would enjoy staying, so she booked him a room there. Thanks, Jo! Joe sat on his balcony overlooking the red cliffs of the San Juan River and did some writing. He also met an interesting person and fellow bicyclist from Holland named Arwin Vriend. Mr.Vriend's company is one of the world's largest producers of bean and spinach seeds. He was particularly interested in the educational aspect of Joe's ride.
August 24
Joe pedaled 29 miles to Mexican Hat, which got its name because of a large rock that looks like- well, you guess. Joe says this is some really beautiful country.