The Amazing Journey Pt. 1

Somewhere in Indiana.

There is nothing in Kansas. Nothing.

Crossing the state line into Colorado.

My first Colorado sunset.

Merckx

Devi

Beginning the climb, looking East. Denver skyline in the distance.

A place called Red Rocks. There's a theater there. You may have heard of it.

Snow-capped peaks in the distance

Mount Falcon summit

I am seated at a desk beside a cat named Merckx. A wood burning stove is humming behind me. A spare bedroom is full of bikes. I am in Denver. I left New Jersey and a lifetime of memories four days ago. And four days were spent inside my van, whether it being in the drivers seat or buried beneath every blanket I own, and whether gazing out at the endless expanse of I-70 or up at the halogen glow of the lights in a Wal-mart parking lot.

Not much can be said about driving through the heartland, which is, in a way, why I have started this entry once I reached the Rockies. I can sum up the experience in just a few sentences. After Pennsylvania, there really isn't much to see until St. Louis. The Arch was pretty cool and so was crossing the Mississippi River, although it was already dark out and it came and went rather quickly. The only other thing left to say is that Kansas is the worst state I have ever driven through. At first, it's actually quite amazing and I thought, "Wow, I can't believe how vast and endless it is." Nine hours later, I was saying "I can't believe how vast and endless this is!" but in a much more exhaustible tone. The entire time, I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the Rocky Mountains to first emerge on the horizon. Unfortunately, it never happened.

The sun had set just as I crossed the Colorado state line and I was still looking at a flat line. Darkness. I exited off I-70 for the first time in over 1,000 miles onto Rt. 24, a curvy highway that seemed to be gaining elevation, or at least it felt that way. I imagined that the road was tree-lined and that I was entering a more mountainous area, but once in a while the lights of a distant town proved that the sky was still as massive and the landscape was still as flat as before. With 20 miles to go after 12 hours at the wheel (such a long stint was partially due to the adrenaline rush of reaching Colorado Springs that night, but also because I had not seen a Wal-mart since Topeka) the tell-tale signs of an approaching storm had proven positive and I was greeted with snow. I was smiling ear to ear.

Finding a Wal-mart in this town was easy. There was not one, but three to pick from. I settled in for the night and the morning sky revealed what had been hidden from sight the night before. Somehow, as in magically, as I slept, the snowy mountains silently grew from the flat horizon that I was sure was there only yesterday. I guess John Denver wasn't so full of shit after all.

Having arrived two days ahead of schedule, I decided to take up an offer from a friend whose only ties were that of cyberspace and a passion for cycling. Ken rides for the same team as me, but this was the first time we've met. I have followed his travels with his girlfriend, Sarah on their blog and have admired their outdoorsy lifestyle, so I was excited to finally meet them and also have a warm bed and a hot shower.

It is now the first day of December and I am back in Colorado Springs. I have been reunited with my friends from High Gear who arrived here this morning. We are headed to the first session of classes. Stay tuned for part 2!