Welcome to Tom Dunn's Cross-Country Cycling Trip 2005 website!

I am sitting on the balcony of a Royal Carribean Cruise ship.

The last miles into Boston were beautiful and uneventful except for a nasty encounter with a car which turned in front of the rider ahead of me. I avoided hitting him and the car only because I was small enough to creep between the car and rider. The rider in front was furious and started screaming and swearing at the driver but I thought he was screaming at me. It totally unnerved me. Only time I cried on the whole tour. Several of the men started after this poor driver and one relly got in his face. I think they were sad it was over and afraid for the two of us in the lead. The guy ahead felt terrible that he had made me cry. So it was a poignant end.

They had champaign at the beach and a local TV station.

So few of us did EFI. Which surprised me. I really had my only problem of consequence two days ago with hypothermia. They wanted to call 911 ("They" being the very large shop lady who couldn't imagine how anyone could be cold in June and thought my shivering was a seizure).

Still so many strong riders were less fortunate and fell or were ill. Some of the sucess is just luck.

I miss you all and most of you on this list help train me and made this possible for me. To you all I am so grateful.

So now I am sitting on this opulent ship having. dined in a gilt ballroom in a chiffon ballgown and for all the world I just want to be sitting Indian style on the side of the road watching one of my ridIing companions swear as he is changing a tire.

Victoria

PS. I am the skinniest person on this ship.

So close and I almost foundered today. It was a climbing day and the group leader announced hot humid weather. It rained most of the day and I was fine though I did have to stop for plastic bags to stuff in my clothes. 4 miles from the end we had a steep descent where some were going 50 mph. I became hypothermic and was eratic enough that someone asked me if I was OK. I said “no” and pulled off and fell. They dragged me onto the curve and dumped hot coffee down me. When I could stand I went into a ladies room and hugged a hand dryer for about 10 minutes. I was fine then and able to finish. Tomorrow I am wearing all my clothes and plastic bags. The temperature was 78. I didn't know one could get hypothermic at that temperature but when I got in my temperature was 94. I have lost a little weight.

But tomorrow is another day and only 2 days to go.

Lost a great rider today from Ireland. He fell when the guy ahead of him fell on some gravel. Broken vertabra they think, but he is still in the ER. If it is only a rib or contusion he may be able to come back.

A little rain today but a pretty nice day. My husband flew out last night for just 1 day which was nice but a lot like getting a visit one evening while at boot camp. One is greatful for the companionship....but needs sleep more.
Which is what I am going to do now.
Victoria

Yesterday was a terrible day. Everyone was saddened by Tom's departure. Then Barry fell breaking his finger, wrist and collar bone. He is still in the hospital and Wendy is not yet offically withdrawn but is with him now.

Then we had a terrible lightening and hail storm. We had to wait in barns and garages.

Latter Mac, a staff member fell badly spraining his ankle.

Today, we did the 148 hills....a better day.

I was in a hurry to get to Abilene today so that I could call Robin in France for the first time.  I have missed talking to her for the past week.  It is a 7 hour time difference to France from the Central Time Zone.  Turned out she was not in for about 3 hours after I got to Abilene and she asked me to call later in the day (night for her).  She is doing well and glad to concentrate on her art instead of teaching it.

The SAG was at a nice park with an adjacent bakery.  Many riders, including me, had a yummy cinnamon roll.  Shortly after leaving the SAG, we came to our first roadblock of the ride.  We waited about 20 minutes and then it was off to the races for many riders in a hurry to start a rest cycle.  We had about 8 to 10 miles of car free riding after the delay before the next batch of cars were released from the roadblock.

Many riders had dinner at the Kirby House, an 1885 restored mansion. The house was wonderful and I wish I could say the dinner was.  My salmon was overcooked and the service was slow as the riders overwhelmed the staff.  Jim, Al, and I had a couple of beers watching game 7 of the Pistons-Heat series.  Al is from Michigan and was delighted at the game's outcome.

Kim, Kendee, Jim, and I played nine holes of golf. We took a taxi to the course. We were the first players there at 8:20. No one in sight until a worker rode a cart in from the course after spotting us. The staff was delighted to hear our tale of taking time out from the ride to play their course.

Jim and I walked to the Eisenhower Museum in the afternoon. Dwight Eisenhower was raised here. His boyhood home still stands and we walked through it. Jim thought it looked like his grandmother's home. The museum traced Eisenhower's life. It was mostly positive, as one would expect. The former president had a number of his art works displayed. He was quite an accomplished artist.

Dinner at the other recommended place, the Brookville Hotel, was wonderful.

Today marked the start of the humidity tour. Temps were above 90 degrees with humidity nearly matching that mark. The ride was on the most rural roads to date and it was quite nice to have less traffic. We went back south into the wind from Abilene for about 9 miles. The headwind was quite strong for that stretch. However, we experienced the wisdom of long-ago residents who planted trees as windbreaks. For about 3 stretches, we had some relief from the wind.

The ride through the Flint Hills was simply gorgeous. Big ravines, flowing water, trees, and lots of greenery. This area has the only tall grass prairie in Kansas and is preserved territory for the most part. We are not in the flat part of Kansas anymore. There was 2500 feet of climbing today.

We reached the half way point. Many of us stopped to take pictures of the sign in the road and celebrated the milestone. I snapped a photo of the Dunn Variety Store in Eskridge.

A big storm surrounds us tonight. A nice-looking sunset was between big storm clouds. I was too tired to go out and take a picture, but saw several others doing so.

Not much to report today. We finally left Kansas after 7 nights (including one rest day). This was our longest in any state. The traffic outside of North Topeka was much busier than entering Topeka from the southwest side.

I finally took off the long tights today. The humidity is tremendous now and my chafing and heat rash increased. It feld weird to feel the wind on the bare skin of my calves.

We crossed into Missouri today. From other riders' web blogs from previous years, I knew that Missouri's roads were very rough. The reputation is well deserved and starts from the border. We had a beautiful ride down the SW Parkway in St Joseph. The trees were large and numerous. It seems as if crossing the Missouri River at the border changed the density of trees automatically.

I do not believe that during my notes of this ride that I mentioned the tremendous beating my hands are taking. They were very sore on many days, mostly on days of rough roads. My preparation for the trip could not take this into account. My left hand has experienced numbness since the first week when we rode at 30+ miles per hour into Palm Springs down a rough road.

Knowing that the road situation would not improve throughout 3 more days in Missouri and keeping to my vow of safety and health first, I decided to end my ride here. I shed tears many times today saying goodbyes to the other riders and the tour staff, and explaining the decision to my family.

I do feel as if this adventure was a great success. I did not make it all the way, but I saw America at a pace that very few experience in this day and age. I made many great friends that I hope to keep up with in the time to come. Thanks to all of my fellow riders and the staff for your great support over the past four weeks.

I still plan to go to Boston to watch the remaining riders complete a successful trip across our great country. I will be with them in spirit until then.

Nick and Jim inquired on Friday night to see if I made it home safely. They had some sad news to report. Barry Clark crashed and is out for the remainder of the trip. He broke his collarbone, a wrist, and a finger. He had surgery that night. Barry, best wishes for a quick recovery. I do not know at this time if his wife Wendy will continue but she was considering it. Hope to see them in Boston. My first day away from the ride also brought bad weather for the first time. The thunderstorm was apparently worse than what we experienced after all were safely at the hotel in Las Vegas, NM. Many riders took the van to the hotel rather than risk it. That would have been my decision.

My final trip statistics: 23 days of riding, 1816 miles, 113.5 hours in the saddle, 16.0 mph, 5 century rides, 79 miles per day (80 is the average for the entire trip), 5 pounds of weight loss and 4 percentage points of body fat loss, two very sore hands (and some other sensitive areas), a great time, and many new friends.

Thanks to all of you who followed this website and for your support leading up to the ride. I will be talking to you soon.

May God continue to bless America.

Forgive my radio silence. It was due to lack of reception in these little towns. Today we had a rest day we hardly deserved after several lovely days of fair winds and amber waves of grain. One is tempted to make this sound grueling but it has been delightful apart from the enui of much of Arizona, the relentless sun of the desert and the hades like entry through the manure fields of Dalhart, TX.

Tomorrow looks more challenging as I sit here on my hotel balcony and watch the trees bow low to the setting sun in the wind. Perhaps it will turn by morning.

Hope this finds you all well.
Victoria

Today is 3 states in 3 days and just what the doctor ordered. After 2 very difficult days, we had strong prevailing winds all day. Everyone was very happy. Two alumni from last year's ride (Don and Helen, greeted us at the Oklahoma border, their home state, with home-grown strawberries and fresh baked cookies and brownies. It was a great SAG stop. At the hotel, they had beer and wine! We had a great gathering around the hotel pool.

We had only 150 feet of climbing today, the least amount of the ride. This area was originally know as the staked plains. When the original settlers came through here, there were no landmarks for them to use as a guide. They pounded tall stakes into the ground and used them. You can literally see for miles across the plains. The grain elevators stand tall and you can use them as your guide as to where you are going.

Another easy day. Only 43 miles. Jim Heller and I rode with Karen Hurley today. Karen may be the slowest rider on the tour, but she is also the steadiest. Everyone admires her perserverance. We chatted the whole way. Jim and I went to the air museum in Liberal. The museum has 130 airplanes, most oldies. You wondered how some of them flew. After dinner, we went to the Dorothy museum. Think Wizard of Oz. The museum was closed, but we wandered around the outdoor part. Liberal is another in a long string of towns that focuses on agriculture and livestock. Some of the trucks that roll by have a certain strong odor to them.

When I saw Dorothy last night, I asked her for a favor from the man behind the curtain. We were rewarded by a huge tailwind today. It was over 25 mph, gusting to over 35. Consequently, the big mph today. And that was without even trying. Jim and I took our time getting in, though we got a little worried when we saw many storm chasers going in the opposite direction. The storm chaser vehicles look funny with antennae and radar sticking out from them. Think about the movie Twister.

We had a quartering wind today that slowed us for the first 45 miles. After that, it was a slight tail wind and we picked up speed. Many of the small towns that we pass through have a marked elderly population. You can tell when you stop at a store or restaurant. It makes you wonder what will happen to these towns when the elderly residents begin to pass on. We have the same phenomenon in Colorado in the eastern plains region that has focused on agriculture.

Great Bend is named after a bend in the Arkansas River. I did not see the river here or on the previous day. As you know, Kansas is largely flat. We stopped at Pawnee Rock, a large outcropping of rock that was perhaps 50 feet tall. The top 20 feet or so had been quarried away, but an observation deck was put in to mimic the original height. It was a great view in every direction.

I bought a phone card today to call Robin in Aix-en-Provence. Will call on our off day on Tuesday. It will be the first rest day after 9 days of cycling, the longest stretch of the ride across America.

Another easy day today. For the first time, I deviated from the cue sheet. I rode thru some of the residential streets in Ellinwood and McPherson. Ellinwood was settled by German immigrants who resettled from Chicago. The street names were mostly German surnames. When they built the town in the late 1800s, they constructed an underground city. It is being restored now. We tried to get a tour, but the operators were away when we called. The Bike across Kansas group, some 850 riders, will get a special greeting in Ellinwood tomorrow. We were just a day early. We talked to some BAK riders a couple of days ago. They were naturally curious about what we were up to. It was great to meet some other dedicated cyclists.

Another day of riding to Abilene tomorrow, then our rest day. Four of us will play golf. Only 9 holes and we will ride. Have to save the legs for a 105 mile ride to Topeka on Wednesday on what looks to be a mid-90 degree day.

Love to all!

Click here for Tom's Trip Statistics

There was over 3,000 feet of climbing today. Always a hill within sight to climb. The scenery was beautiful. We got to the high point of the trip today at over 7800 feet. And we were off the interstate for the rest of the trip. Four of us stopped at Pecos National Monument. The Indians were present at this site over 1200 years ago. We wandered around taking pictures and admiriing the view that they had.

We had a heartwarming story on the trip today. Marcia Baar rides a recumbent. She had 2 flats today and no spares. She caught the SAG van to the next stop hoping to get it repaired and then go back to where she stopped riding. However, it could not be fixed. Debbie Long is not riding all the way and loaned Marcia her bike. After some adjustments, Marcia went back 24 miles and rode in from there. She arrived a long time after everyone else. Most of us were there to cheer her in. This is how dreams become success stories. All of us were touched by her determination and Debbie's self sacrifice.

A little bit about our routine. We typically meet for breakfast at 6:15.

After chowing down a meal of eggs, sausage, pancakes, and fruit, it is back to the room to get the last stuff ready for the day. We now can load our gear on the truck at 7. We then pump our tires and initial the sign out sheet. We are off for day of riding. We typically have 2 sags for a day of 70 to 100 miles, 1 sag for less than 70, and 3 for 100 or more. The Crossroads staff (Tracy, Mack, Margaret, Tom, and Lynn) take great care of us. Rick and Pat ride on the course helping riders in trouble.

After getting to the hotel, most of us clean our bikes. We meet at 5:45 for a discussion of the next day's route. Then it is off to dinner together. I try to get into bed by 9 for a good night's sleep.

Today's ride started off in the fog. The previous night was the worst thunderstorm I have been. Constant lightning centered over the hotel. After 6 miles, there was a herd of horses galloping along side riders who were ahead of us. Given the fog, the sight was spectacular. Once again the scenery was spectacular. We had this ride's version of the wall today. Also a terrifying 3 mile, 9 percent grade descent for me. I prayed all the way down.

Robin leaves for France tomorrow. I know that she will have a great time in her painting class. I will miss our nightly conversations. I was crying when I said good bye.

This was the second day of no or tiny towns between start and end points.

The day started off promising with a strong tailwind. It lasted all of 3/4 miles. Then it was a headwind the rest of the way, including a vicious one for the last 30 miles. It was the second day in a row that I was so glad to arrive. A few miles outside of Dalhart is acre upon acre of cattle feedlots. The cattle are everywhere. There were several hundred thousand head of cattle there.

We have now been on the bikes for 1,206 miles over 15 days of riding.

I hope that all of you are well. Love to all.

We ran into a closed road and could not get on the interstate. Most riders simply rode across the interstate and got to the other side.

Sticking to my rule of safety first, 7 others and I rode back 3.5 miles to the previous onramp. A great tailwind today and consequently the good average speed. Stopped at the famous corner in Winslow, Arizona. The hotel burned down in April.

The entire day was on the interstate. Two more wire flats today, bringing the total to 6. All flats have been on the interstate. I called Lauri to sing happy birthday and cried my way thru it. I miss my family.

Most of the day was off the interstate today. Rode on old Route 66. We sagged at the continental divide at 7,275 feet. A little lower than in Colorado. The scenery today was much improved. Lots of red rock formations and mesas.

Our streak of tailwinds ended today. It was a big headwind for the first 25 miles. The top riders were in a paceline that went by me at a pace I thought I could handle. I jumped on the back and took a couple of turns at the front to the first SAG at 32 miles. They (and I) were impressed I could stick with them. There was a big descent out of the SAG and they dropped me. If I only had the guts to ride fast downhill. I rode the rest of the way by myself into Albuquerque.

Today was another big climbing day. About 4,500 feet. The weather turned about 12 miles outside of town. We fought headwinds riding at 10 mph. One of the riders ahead of us shot a picture of a funnel cloud. It was very nasty weather.

Until next time. Love to all.

Today we did a lot of climbing which for some of us did not seem as bad as anticipated..

Ten miles from Santa Fe several of us saw a small funnel cloud form. A couple of us got pictures. We then rode into town through high winds, beating the rain.

We say, “Goodbye” to three riders today who are leaving and will be sorely missed.

Tom Dunn always wears long sleeves and grey tights...the color of the road. We call him the “Stealth Road Ghost”. He can sneak up on you on any climb.

The whole group rode 5 miles to Manhattan Beach Pier from the hotel.
Everyone walked their bikes to the ocean and dipped the rear wheels. After several group photos, we were off to Riverside. This ride was almost entirely on urban and surbaban streets. Very boring with lots of stoplights. The last bit into Riverside was the prettiest, riding through old orange groves. I took a cab to the Riverside National Cemetery to see Mom and Dad's gravesites. It was a good moment for me.

A heavy fog was over Riverside when we left. Six of us got 5 miles off course. Don't want to do that too often and add mileage to a 3400 mile trip. We had the first big climb of the trip. Photos later. The ride from Beaumont to Palm Springs. It is a very gradual downhill. The tail wind was tremendous. We rode a consistent 33 to 35 miles per hour for miles on end.
You can see why there are hundreds of windmills here. I was able to visit in Palm Desert with old friends from the Department of Revenue.

The first day of crossing the desert and my first century ride. Two other riders also completed their first century. It was hot but some 7 degrees cooler than usual. I have seen since that Palm Springs in near 110 some 15 degrees warmer than when we went through. Fortunately we had a tail wind the whole way today. The words 'tail wind' are forbidden to be spoken here for fear of jinxing the ride. Nonetheless, they make long rides much easier. Most of the ride was on Interstate 10. It is not too bad riding on the Interstate if you stay well to the right. The biggest hazard is from the hundreds of blown radial tires. They have little wires in them that break off and puncture bike tires. I had my first flat, standing on the side of the road for a little break. Sleeping is difficult with the great conversations I have with my roomie Nick. We say lights out at 9 but we stay up until 10 talking. Nick is from England and we have much in common.
He is the strongest rider in the group. The anticipation of the next day's ride keeps me awake as well.

Today is the longest day of tour at 116 miles. It took me 7 hours 30 minutes. Once again we had favorable winds that helped with the heat. We had 2 long climbs on the Interstate at 7 and 10 miles. After getting off the highway, it was a gradual 1 to 2 percent climb for 30 miles. The road was straight as an arrow. I had the best spaghetti dinner tonight.

Star Wars opened today. The town theater in Wickenburg is across from the hotel. No lines here and no surprise there. Today's ride was all about climbing. A total of 5500 feet, the most on the tour. Two big ones, separated by a 10 mile ride of false flats and false summits. Everyone thought the middle section was the more difficult than the two big ones.
Eight of us went to a steak house for dinner tonight. We have free nights everyone once in a while.

I did not complete the ride today. Those of you who know my riding style know that I do not like steep and long downhills. I decided last night that I would not ride down from the summit. After riding in the SAG van, it was a good decision for me. It was a 3500 foot descent in about 12 miles. Lots of hairpin turns and no guardrail in many a spot. I told myself (and Robin) that I wanted to have fun and come home safely and in one piece. Other riders said that it was indeed very scary.

I have many friends who rave about Sedona. I can now see why. A very beautiful place. For those in Colorado, think Colorado National Monument.
Sedona is a reputed power center on the earth. I have the reputation in the group of being the guy from Colorado. Outside of the 'A' team of six or so riders, I am the strongest on the hills. I can just go and go. Part of it is that the elevation has not been as high as home and it seems low for me.
For everyone else here but Kim from Albuquerque, it is much higher. I challenge myself on each long climb. Tomorrow is a day off and I plan to rest all day after taking care of laundry and transferring my photos to a disk that will eventually be on this website. Tonight, 10 of us are going to the Lowell Observatory. This entire group is fun to be with. Love to all!

Manage to escape the desert OK, but did get sun poisoning and had to wear tights today to keep my rash encrusted legs out of the sun. Today was a climbing day - almost all up and it got to 100 degrees. Tights weren't too bad if you keep wetting them down.

Everyone seemed pretty energetic. A few had major mechanical things and had to be sagged. I already had to replace a tire from a cut but didn't need to be sagged.

My cousin fell at mile 11 coming out of LA and ended up with a dislocated shoulder. They can't seem to get it to stay relocated. I Fear he won't be able to rejoin the ride...don't know yet.

It was 103 degrees yesterday and after waiting for the ambulance I came in late afternoon. Rode alone.

Today was better - tailwind for 30 miles

Tom and a few other and I went out to test the bikes and got lost yesterday before the ride started. It is a curse that follows me everywhere.