pedalpanam

Yesterday marked the 5,000th mile of this journey since starting in Alaska exactly 4 months ago.

After having survived several well below freezing nights, John (he’s got a much more detailed description of our last days together than I’ll ever get around to writing up) and I opted to split a cheap motel on old US Route 66.  The TV in the room has knobs on it…

After a few great weeks of weather and cycling in Utah, I thought to myself, unfortunately, the only place morale could go from there was down if something came up along the road.

While things were still looking good at Jacob Lake, just north of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, I ran into John from England, who has been on the road for about two and a half years.  He cycled from England to Australia, and is now headed east from California across the USA.  We decided to bike together for a few days, as we were both headed to the Grand Canyon.  It has been great having him as a companion!

When it comes to cold weather, I have had a bad record going through National Parks (Jasper and Banff and Yellowstone and Grand Teton being the other chilly ones).  We made it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon two days ago, barely.  The day started with a climb to the East Entrance of the park that would have been doable had it not been for the gusts of wind blowing us off the road.  We were happy to have made it 30 miles.  That night the temperature dropped to about 20F, not too bad, as we had decided to share a tent that night as we knew it was going to be cold.

The next day we made our way along the South Rim, enjoying some spectacular sights early in the day.  Later in the afternoon, we stopped at some viewpoints and could almost not see across to the North Rim because of the clouds and snow.  We made our way south to just outside Valle, AZ last night, where the temperature got down to 10F!  All our water was frozen in the morning, so we could make breakfast or coffee.  So we are eating in a restaurant right now, hoping it has warmed up a little outside.

From here I am headed to Prescott for a few days off and some planning before headed down to Mexico.

I’ve had folks ask me if there is a way to send me things.  I’ve finally gotten my act together and planned ahead enough where I know where I’ll be in a week.  If you send stuff out on Monday, it should arrive in plenty of time.  I should be arriving in Prescott Wednesday or Thursday, and will be there for a day or two.

First and last chance to send me mail while I’m in the USA!

Matthew Kelly
GENERAL DELIVERY
442 MILLER VALLEY RD
PRESCOTT, AZ 86301-9998

(Since it is General Delivery at a US Post Office, you must send it via the US Postal Service!)

Orderville is aparently named after the United Order, a short-lived Mormon communism of sorts.

I am glad to be 2,000 feet lower than last night, which was a little chilly.  I need to get out of the mountains!

Depending on my route, probably my last night in Utah!  On to Arizona.

The first package I’ve received on the trip was sent by my mom and picked up in Escalante.

[Note:  I don't usually eat breakfast outside women's bathrooms, I just happened to be behind a closed rest stop, finding some shelter from the wind]

Made it back to Escalante safe and sound.

A few things:

I still have a few odds and ends of food left over from British Columbia.  I am making a point of eating them up.

I am about 700 miles away from crossing into Mexico.

Did I mention I was out of bear country?  At last!