We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Well fellow blog followers, I know that Dougie caught you all up on some of the happenings around these parts. Now I just want to fill in the blanks.

During the 4-hour tube river ride that Dougie mentioned, we faced one serious set of rapids in which Boss was pushed into a low-hanging tree branch and went under water for a few seconds. Pick and Dave thought they were going to have to perform a rescue (both of whom are certified to lifeguard in the US and Australia) before Boss popped back up (no need to worry Mrs. Chilcoat, he just had to go under to avoid getting swiped by the tree!)

Jeff successfully joined up with us in Eminence, MO... I haven't been more excited than when we rolled out of that town 5 Zoo-mates deep with bright yellow Zoo jerseys blazing!



Since then we "literally" flew through the state of Kansas. And we all agreed it was by far the state with the nicest people (we had one day where we didn't pay for a single meal!). It was also the state with the best city parks and pools (all of which were free for guys on bikes!). Pick wowed audiences all over Kansas with flips, gainers, and cannonballs (he is fast becoming famous all over the state).
The toughest part of Kansas was the WIND. It really delegated whether the day of bike riding was awesome or miserable. Though, in a week's time the Zoo pulled off 3 different 100-mile days (one of which was 140)! The second 100-miler included us racing a storm for the last 20 miles into Tribune, Kansas. Incredible lightning was lighting up the sky as we cycled the last 20 miles in under an hour and fifteen minutes! We literally rolled up to a shelter (which was actually an open-air cattle auction pavilion) as it started pouring! If there's one thing we are good at, it's making an entrance!


The next day we rolled into Colorado, and approximately .45 seconds after reaching the state line Boss exclaimed, "We aren't in Kansas anymore!" Although for awhile Colorado was still as flat as Kansas.

Last night we rolled into Pueblo, CO as the Rockies began to take shape in front of us. Talk about awe-inspiring, we were stinkin excited! We are now taking our first rest day since Roanoke here in Pueblo to unwind, pick up some warmer clothes, do laundry, and hop on the internet (all those things that the Zoo Tour De America needs)

We have plans to head towards Cripple Creek, an old western gold mining town which has turned into a little gambling town, and soon after to Sanborn Western Camps, where Pick and Jeff worked last summer as camp counselors.

Look out for another update... sometime in the future.