Day 19 - May 9

CSU campus
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Greetings from the bee-yew-tee-ful Colorado State University campus.  Go Rams!  After a restless nights sleep at the flea bag motel in Salina, Kansas (I didn't sleep well and then the migrant workers that have taken over the motel were up at 5:00am making all sorts of racket getting ready for work) - I headed over to iHOP for some fuel. Now I know the iHOP isn't known for its healthy food - but the menu did claim to have fruit, oatmeal and yogurt.  But, in Salinas, Kansas - these types of food are not allowed and so I ate what the locals were eating. Then, back on I-70 for another 500 miles.   Good weather.  Not much traffic.  I listened to a lot of music.  On the Tour de Fletch stereo today were Lucinda Williams "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road", John Prine "Fair and Square", Drive By Truckers "The Dirty South", Ryan Adams "Live in Jamaica" and Son Volt "Live at the Orpheum".  Mostly, I watched cows and wheat fields and the occasional oil drill.  And, I entered Mountain Time - back on my body's natural clock. And, I saw the snowcapped Rocky Mountains again - after a 3 week hiatus.  I rolled through Denver about 2:00pm - and saw a sign for a detour express way around the city.  Cool!  Except there were 3 toll booths each extracting $2 from me. I asked for a decaf skinny mocha latte with the toll but apparently the lady in the booth didn't think that was funny.  I arrived without fanfare at the Hertz rental office in Fort Collins around 3:00pm.  No problem.  My friend Dan Baker had given me excellent directions.  I found a bike shop up near campus that could work on my bike.  You're not going to believe this.  After 1000 miles of bike riding through rural Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois and no flat tires - I get a flat on my bike riding the 3 miles from the Hertz office to Lee's Cycle shop.  Go figure.  At least it happened about 3 blocks from the cycle shop.  Also, after 1000 miles of intensive workout on my back end, I broke down and bought a deluxe cushiony seat - "100% Guranteed" for $39.  After sitting in the soft car seat for 2 days I decided springing for a more padded bike seat wasn't such a bad idea.  Plus, Richard had a comfy seat on his bike and I was a bit jealous - even though I never let on.  I pick up my bike in a few minutes.  Then I head over to Baker's house.  He's got a washer and dryer so I think I'll wash some clothes - Jack's Laundrymat in Berea, KY was a few days ago.  Tomorrow morning I start riding again on my bike for the last 9 days of Tour de Fletch.  I've got roughly 650 miles to Bozeman - about a 75 mile a day average.  Hopefully the balance of Team Fletch will arrive in Wyoming - Dan Martin, Matt McKenna and Joe Cobb - and drag me home the final 3-4 days. Until next time, be good and take care.   

I broke down and bought a deluxe cushiony seat - "100% Guranteed" for $39.