Hi To All,

I thought we were going to "coast to the coast" but I just got back from the route rap after dinner and we have two very big climbing days ahead of us so the party isn't over yet!

Mike said the good news is that we should be stronger than when we did the Teton Pass and the Togwotee Pass so I'll just give it all I've got and that got me to the top of the others .

A special thank you to all of you for your e-mails and phone calls concerning all of the unplanned drama we have had to deal with concerning the van.  It still doesn't seem real and when I"m riding alone mid-day I still expect it to appear with a handsome man in there with his beautiful white smile. It's going to hurt for a long time--I sure wish they would catch up with whoever did it but that probably won't happen and it certainly won't bring our beloved "Love Machine" and all of our goodies back.  Monday night when the tour is over we will start working on what to do next.

My bruises were so sore this morning but when I got on the bike it was easier today than yesterday and of course much easier than the day before so I'm headed in the right direction.  Believe it or not I almost hit a railing again today when we suddenly appeared on a bridge and the "fencing" went right down to the bridge floor so there were no base boards for the fencing to sit on so when you looked at it and your eyes went "through" the fencing, you almost didn't see the fencing--only the river hundreds of feet down. So of course I pulled over to the left (close to the railing) and the space was so narrow, I could barely get enough courage to walk across but did make it.  Didn't want a redo of a couple of days ago!!

Celebrated the morning by having a flat tire--hadn't had one since Oregon so my luck finally ran out but the good news is that I was riding with a buddy, Ted, so he changed it for me--it was the rear tire so I just can't figure out all the gears yet. 

The last 30 miles was on a bike path that wove in and out of the small towns so that were awesome.There were times when we rode through trees that covered over us like a canopy and it looked like we were riding in green lace.  It has rained here the entire month of July according to the locals, so everything is so green and lush.  In fact today was at least 10 degrees below normal temperature-wise so we really rode in style and comfort   Lots of clouds this afternoon but none caught up  with us.

It's kind of hard for us to comprehend that we only have three more days to ride--in some ways it is more scary because we're so close to completing the ride but anything can happen to anyone. 

One of the best riders on the tour clipped a parked car today and got scrapes and bruises but luckily no broken bones.  Instinct wants you to put out an arm or a hand to break the fall when you're going over and of course that's the worst thing to do because it usually breaks a wrist or arm bone and then you're out--period!

When we stop during the day to get a bite to eat the people we talk to think it's unbelievable that we have ridden over 3300 miles at this time--and many of us look just like ordinary people--not Lance Armstrongs. We did have 13 extra miles on our route today because we were put on the Bike path and routed to Troy instead of Albany. 

Tomorrow has 5 less miles so I guess that puts an extra 8 in the "kitty" (which already had 16 1/2 miles in it--you can tell we've been on a few detours and I've been lost a few extra times.) 

The extra bike in the sag wagon finally became available for tomorrow so if all goes as planned, Gabriel will ride the next few days.  And, as he said at the beginning of the week, it'll probably happen on the days when there is the most climbing and Guess what--that is exactly what is happening.

We're thinking of all you Santa Barbarians this week as you celebrate Fiesta.. It seems strange to not be there celebrating with you but "Viva la Fiesta" to all.

Love, Patricia