Tag: monument valley

Ross Del Duca posted an excellent and thoughtful review at VeloReviews here.

Here’s a little bit that I really appreciate:

“The book is well written and a pleasure to read, conveying the sense of journey and discovery throughout. Cyclists such as myself picking this up for the bicycle connection will come away with much much more – possibly without even realizing it. Others picking it up for the journey may find a little taste of the joy cycling can bring. The two perspectives are skillfully woven together in a way that is enjoyable, and left we anxious for the conclusion in the next book.”

Thanks Ross!

Looking forward to an appearance at the Ft Collins REI tonight!

Pilgrim Wheels Giveaway
June’s a great month. My birthday PLUS Father’s Day!! In honor of June and Father’s Day, I’m giving away free copies of Pilgrim Wheels. Every 20th entry in this giveaway will receive a free autographed copy of the book, plus every entry will receive a free copy of The Pilgrim Way!

Sign up now!

Please share the link to this post and giveaway information with anyone you feel would enjoy the writing! I appreciate it!

Day 15 – Pagosa Springs to Alamosa, Colorado

Saddled up and pedaling in the pre-dawn moisture-laden air, we meander through sleepy Pagosa Springs toward a bright mountain sunrise. We stop on the east side of town to calorie up a bit. Scarfing something down that’s loaded with calories but probably terribly unhealthy, I watch a couple cowboys fuel up their truck and come in to pay.

Of course, I don’t know how much real cowboyin’ these fellas do, but they’re dressed the part, with spurs and the whole shebang. They’re not the first cowboy types we’ve seen along US 160 through southern Colorado, and I find myself wondering about how much the fancy duds are to help the fellas show off and play a part, and how much they really add to the practicality of their day.

I’ve met a couple real cowboys in my life, and I’ve seen an awful lot of fellas who like to dress the part without any real need. Drugstore cowboys we used to call them. The real ones tend to be a lot less flash and sparkle, and tend to carry themselves with a lot more humility. I suppose the real work that cowboyin’ involves helps a fella grow accustomed to the taste of humble pie. Continue reading “Cowboy Up”

A glorious tailwind pushes us across the last 30-something miles for the day. We pass Four Corners Monument screaming down a wonderful descent, cross a river, and start a gentle uphill grade that will last the rest of the day. Even a gentle uphill grade is a delight when there’s a wind at my back. In fact, I think a gentle uphill grade with a tailwind might be my favorite riding condition. I get to find a nice steady rhythm in the pedals, which falls into harmony with a good healthy heart rate. I feel like I’m putting in a healthy workload, and get to enjoy the beauty around me. My head’s up, the scent of the desert is pouring through my nostrils, the sounds around me are sweet. I’m making solid progress across the pavement.

Life is good.

Hozho.

Mr. Consistency seems as unaffected by this glorious tailwind as he was by the evil crosswind. I’m off and running down the road with the wind at my back, while Dave clicks along at what seems the exact pace he sets no matter what’s happening around him. Continue reading “Slot Machines and Milkshake Debacles”

I’ve been delighted by the results of “book award season” for Pilgrim Wheels. It’s continued to win awards — generally in the “Narrative Non
Fiction” category, but occasionally in a category like “Sports”. The latest is the International Book Award in the Narrative Non-Fiction category.

Winning book awards is a big deal for an author. Sure it helps us sell a few more books, (or theoretically it should), but the bigger deal is the recognition it represents from book industry experts. It’s their way of saying that, “hey, this is really good stuff.”

And I appreciate it.

Truth be told, it carries even more weight when I hear that same thing from an everyday reader — somebody who was just looking for a good read, picked up my book, and really enjoys it. Continue reading “Pilgrim Wheels Wins Another Award”

[fullwidth backgroundcolor=”” backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”left top” backgroundattachment=”scroll” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”” borderstyle=”” paddingtop=”20px” paddingbottom=”20px” paddingleft=”0px” paddingright=”0px” menu_anchor=”” equal_height_columns=”no” hundred_percent=”no” class=”” id=””][two_third last=”no” spacing=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]We pick up water and snacks at Red Mesa, about 13 miles down the road. Dave and I both find ourselves pretty self-conscious about how different we are from those around us. There’s a certain amount of difference that comes with riding a bicycle down the highway anyhow — dressed in spandex and cycling gear as we are — but the difference runs deeper than spandex today.

We’re white. Nobody else is.

We’re the only non-Indian folks at the combination grocery/gas station where we’re gathering food and drink. I imagine it’s a bit uncommon for white folks to ever stop here — a little hole in the wall place in a little hole in the wall town in the middle of the dry and dusty high desert. White folks who are wearing wild cycling gear steps it up yet another notch on the “different” scale. Continue reading “We’re White, Nobody Else Is”