I have been training since February 2009 with the goal of completing a cycling tour from Portland, Oregon, to Tybee Island, Georgia in 30 days. The PAC Tour group embarked on July 5th and we are traveling about 3600 miles and climbing approximately 124,000 cumulative feet. Please enjoy sharing my journey across America.
I am asking friends, family, and anybody else interested in following the trip to consider supporting this trip by making a donation to Seattle Children's Hospital, Research, and Foundation. Art and Kristin Reeck have made Children's a priority in their philanthropic efforts over the years, and I laud their achievements. I encourage donations to the Uncompensated Care Fund, to help pay the bills for children without insurance, or with inadequate insurance to pay their bills...lifting the financial and emotional burden from the children and their families. Indicate Jay Across America as the occasion for the donation so we can total the money raised.
Hopefully, someday, we won't have to raise money for causes like this. For now, however, I thank you for your support.
The donation total will be updated occasionally...Consider a donation per mile or vertical foot climbed...and follow on the GPS link, where you can see the route, the speed, the ride profile, the weather, and-yes-my heart rate.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Today was my kind of day...until the last 20 miles. We left Brigham City (north of Salt Lake City) and rolled south along the mountains for about 17 miles with a warm tailwind and views of the Great Salt Lake (I believe). Then we turned east into Ogden Valley (and were slapped in the face with a fierce headwind for about 10 minutes until we were in the safety of the narrow canyon entrance.
We climbed for 40 miles...and it was beautiful. Ogden Valley opens up near Snow Basin ski area (site of the olympic downhill). Wildflowers adorned the fields to the right and left, and we often were riding next to a river. The climb ended at lunch - at 9000 feet elevation.
The descent from lunch, 20 miles, allowed for some digestion of food and some digestion of the views out toward Wyoming - our destination today.
The final 20 miles or so were across plains that were more grassy than scrub-covered...and the winds were whipping at a good clip from the side.
The day proved to be quite relaxing for me, despite the climbing and altitude (noting that Evanston, WY is at 7000 feet.) This is good, because tomorrow will be one of the most challenging days...149 miles, 8550 feet of climbing...and a max elevation of around 8400 feet.
That's why I probably ate between 8-10,000 calories today...and will probably wake up in the middle of the night and eat more. We depart at 6am tomorrow...time to sleep, again.




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3 comments:

  1. Christopher MannJuly 13, 2009 at 8:57 AM

    I sincerely hope that you stopped near Snow Basin to pay homage to an epic powder day - among the best that can be had in-bounds (or at least sorta in-bounds).

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  2. UnknownJuly 13, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    sounds awesome, jay!!! i am envious of all the moutain views you've been having--and are going to have! i can't believe you can write things like, "today we are cycling to wyoming..." How hard core;) I have to admit I am also envious of your ability to eat 8-10k calories a day...yummmmmmmmmm Be sure to get in some bison and venison while you're out on the plains! Good luck on the climbing today. Hope your massage is scheduled for tonight?

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  3. deniJuly 14, 2009 at 12:01 PM

    Oh man, I can't wait to hear about the big day. Those boys riding the Tour de France got nothin' on you Jay . . . they actually took a rest day yesterday! I haven't compared your mileages and elevation gains directly, but then again, they're getting paid to ride the TdF. Jay nips 'em at the line!

    Cheers,
    Jonathan

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