TX 4000
A life changing journey from TX to AK
In the summer of 2005, I joined a team cycling from Texas to Alaksa to raise money and awareness for cancer patients across the country. The team wound its way around the Rockies, raising over $100,000 along the way. More importantly, we connected with cancer patients and events that still bring a tear to my eye 15 years later.
Overview
An introduction to the ride and why I did it
First Entry
My Original Introduction
Day 1: Cedar Park to Lampasas
The big kick off
Day 2: Lampasas to Stephenville
Still feeling the initial excitement
Day 3: Stephenville to Ft. Worth
Beginning to understand some of the realities
Day 4: Ft. Worth to Sherman
Direction chaos and the extreme edges of humanity
Day 5: Sherman to Ardmore
An evening I still think about fifteen years later
Day 6: Ardmore to Norman
The power of teamwork
Day 7: Norman to Blanchard
The hospitality is too much
Day 8: Day off in Oklahoma City
A host provides insight into why so many people are helping us
Day 9: Blanchard to Watonga
Everyone starts to get sick
Day 10: Watonga to Buffalo
Riding past the limits I thought I had
Day 11: Buffalo, OK to Dodge City, KS
Girls get hit by a semi, I get hit with a cold, and an evening on the town
Day 12: Dodge City to Syracuse
Self care on various levels
Day 13: Syracuse, KS to Las Animas, CO
Into Colorado and stranger's homes
Day 14: Las Animas to Pueblo
Cancer becomes more personal
Day 15: Pueblo to Colorado Springs
Unexpectedly driving and our first night without hosts
Day 16: Colorado Springs to Denver
A great Father's Day ride and my sister visits
Day 17: Denver to Boulder
Biking slowly into a familiar place
Day 18: Day off in Boulder
A day off with friends new and old
Day 19: Boulder to Ft. Collins
Enjoying the ride makes for a short day
Day 20: Ft. Collins, CO to Laramie, WY
Up, up, and up so we can go up some more
Day 21: Laramie to Medicine Bow
A casual day into the Old West
Day 22: Medicine Bow to Casper
Casually busting out 95 miles and watching a small town on a Saturday night
Day 23: Casper to Shoshoni
The winds of Wyoming and my first big crash
Day 24: Shoshoni to Thermopolis
Downhill all day to warm springs and cold ice cream
Day 25: Thermopolis to Cody
Driving in no particular hurry
Day 26: Cody to Yellowstone National Park
A wet and beautiful journey into Yellowstone
Day 27: Day off in Yellowstone National Park
A mostly solo day around the park
Day 28: Yellowstone National Park to West Yellowstone, MT
A casual tourist day
Day 29: West Yellowstone to Bozeman
A century through a canyon
Day 30: Bozeman to Helena
A good, rough, great kind of day
Day 31: Helena to Great Falls
A spectacular 4th of July
Day 32: Great Falls to Dupayre
A long struggle through pretty country
Day 33: Dupayre to Glacier National Park
Biking "Going to the Sun Road" for fun
Day 34: Day off in Glacier National Park
Meandering around and seeing our first bear
Day 35: Glacier National Park to Claresholm, Alberta
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Day 36: Claresholm to Calgary
Broken plans and collar bones
Day 37: Day off in Calgary
Deciding to go solo for a day
Day 38: Calgary to 2/3 way to Banff
A solo ride gives me time to think
Day 39: 2/3 way to Banff to Banff
Moment of kindness on the road
Day 40: 1/3 way to Jasper to 2/3 way to Jasper
All the beautiful scenery makes me mad
Day 41: 2/3 way to Jasper to Jasper
Civilization is starting to become sporadic
Day 42: Jasper, AB to McBride, BC
A close call with a bear
Day 43: McBride to Purden Lake
Lots of bears, Stephen is lucky, and an extended day
Day 44: Purden Lake to Prince George
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Day 45: Day off in Prince George
Just a blurb about what I remember about this day
Day 46: Prince George to Vanderhoof
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Day 47: Vanderhoof to Burns Lake
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Day 48: Burns Lake to Smithers
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Day 49: Smithers to Kitwanga Lake
A lesson about moving finish lines
Day 50: Kitwanga Lake to Meziadin Junction
A day of snippets, demonstrating the sometimes meandering nature of the ride
Day 51: Meziadin Junction to Bell II
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Day 52: Bell II to Tattoga Lake
Low gears and rutted roads and cabins save the day
Day 53: Tattoga Lake to Dease Lake
Powering up and down bad roads into an awesome party
Day 54: Day off in Dease Lake
A day off in an oasis
Day 55: Dease Lake to Jade City
My left leg feels injured and I chug along to a golden evening
Day 56: Jade City, BC to Alaska Highway Junction, YT
Riding with one leg to the border and another birthday
Day 57 through to the end
My thoughts on the last two weeks and beyond