Cycling through depression Ed Bradley's Bicycle trip around the world

07/13/2017

Hoping to be laying my head down in Vermont tonight

07/12/2017

I am suspending my trip at this point. The heat is one of the reasons, it has really taken its toll. There are several issues other that have lead me to this decision. It is/was a painful choice

07/10/2017

Day 26, July 9th Superior, MT to Missoula, MT 60.9 miles total 804. Up before the crack of dawn. So nice and cool first 7 miles flew by, steady climb, but low grade. Notice around then that rear tire rolling a little rough. Checked and air seemed a little low. I was a couple of miles so I muscled on. 50 feet later flat as a pancake. Changed the tire and was back on the road. Amazing how much easier it is to bike with out having to dodge solar flares. Was going to to 50 today, but felt good at 45 miles and decided to shoot for 60. Last 10 miles were rough as the sun started in earnest to fry me. Made it into Mussoula and am tucked in for the night.

07/09/2017

Day 25, July 8th Superior, MT Weather just to hot, another day reaching for 100 degrees, Ate, slept, ate some more.
"Cooling "off tomorrow to 90.

07/08/2017

Day 24, July 7th St. Regis MT to Superior, MT 14.4 miles. Did not sleep well last night. Decided on a sort day, and made it a very short day. Just could not get going early enough, heat was way to much for me

07/07/2017

Day 23, July 6th Wallace, ID to St. Regis MT 46.6 miles. Up early to beat the heat. Cool enough that I considered wearing a sweat shirt at the beginning of the day. Started with long steady climb up I-90 to Mullen, Idaho. After that the climbing began in earnest. The climb up to lookout pass was challenging. I would bike as long as I could, push the bike, find shade, eat and drink. Lather, rinse, repeat. The sun did it best to stop me, but I finally made it to Exit Zero, the summit. I took my pictures and started down, into Montana. The decent was steep and fast. After taking forever I was down in what seemed like a heart beat. I pulled into the first Montana rest area and staked out a piece of shade to rest. I laid my head down on my sweat shirt/blanket and started to doze off. I realized pretty soon I was resting in the middle of a small prairie dog village. The gave me the eye, put really did not seem to care I was there. Fell asleep for 15 or 20 min, then back on the road. The afternoon sun got more and more intense. I book a room in a small motel in St. Regis, I really wanted the A/C. Arrived at the office for the motel. The owner/clerk said "Wow it really is hot.. inside and out. They had no A/C. Cooled of in the tub, and used the fan, but had a rough night sleeping

07/07/2017

Day 22, July 5th Coeur d'Alene ID to Wallace, ID 52.3 miles. 21.4 by bicycle.
Chris took me down the road over through construction and over Fourth of July pass. The day was hot again, 90 plus. Even though I only covered 21 miles I was done in by the time I reached Wallace. I town that bills itself as the center of the universe. Stayed in the Stardust motel. The hotel and down was very reminiscent of something you would see on Route 66. Plan for tomorrow is up early, ride over lookout pass and enter Montana.

07/07/2017

Day 20 and 21, July 3rd and 4th Coeur d'Alene two full rest days.
I had a great time with Chris and Lynne Fish at their beautiful home. They took me in like I was a long lost family member. Feed me and made me feel so at home. The rest was just what my body and soul needed. Pictures are from the deck of their house

07/06/2017

Day 19, July 2 Cheney, WA. to Coeur d'Alene 47.5 miles. Up early. Joel made me a great breakfast, which energized me for the day. Biked two exits on I-90, and then got off just before Spokane. Winded my way through the street of Spokane, had a little confusion on the East side of town, but was through fairly quickly. Rode Spokane Valley on secondary roads, picked up. Washington SR 27 to WA State 290 which turned into Idaho SR 53, then on to Prairie Road the brought me into Coeur D Alene. When I crossed the Washington/Idaho border I stopped to take a picture of the welcome to Idaho sign. While I was taking my pictures a mini-van pulled up and a family spilled out. They all put sprinted to me, to ask me to take a picture of them at the sign.
The last 10 miles were rough. The heat came up, and my energy dropped. I manged to muscle my way through to my destination.When I arrived in Coretcheur d'Alene I pulled out my phone to call my friend Chris who was going to pick me up, to take me to his house for a few day. My phone was dead. After some head scratching, and looking around I found a Version store that charged up my phone. I called Chris who picked me up. Chris and his wife generously had invited me to stay with them for a few days.

07/04/2017

I have a blog on the web site Crazyguyonabike that has more detail for those interested. Will lag behind this page.
Link
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=19538&v=1Z

An around the world attempt

07/03/2017

Day 18, July 1. Ritzville, WA to Cheney, WA. 50.2 miles. Again up with the birds and on the road early. Biked about 7 miles on a back road and was amazed at how good ,I felt. Back on I-90 after that for the rest of the day. The interstate is really not bad to ride here. Ton of room on the shoulder and drivers give you plenty of room. And the rest areas, they are just amazing, like little parts of heaven. Just cool and refreshing,and today free cookies on top. Stayed at my first Warmshowers host today. Warmshowers is a social network of people that open there their homes to bikers on tour. Joel and Jane were great hosts. They feed me (great chicken!) and regaled me with stories. Including a hair raising one about coming down a mountain pass on a tandem recumbent trikes that had a front tire blow out. After dinner got to help feed their sheep and lama.

07/03/2017

Day 17, June 30 Moses Lake, WA to Ritzville, WA 45.1 miles, 532.1 total miles. Got out very early 6ish to beat the heat. Being to the ride was amazing, making great time. Felt like I would be able to just blow by Ritzville. And then the heat smacked me back to reality. Had to slow down and make frequent stops. Got off the exit for Ritzville around two, and was glad to call a halt there. Just as I got into down noticed my trailer tire was flat. A pretty rare occurrence. Brings flat total to 3. Stayed at the Colwell, motor Inn, just had to get out of the heat. Monster sized room.