Tour Divide Blog 2008

Update: Thursday 3rd of July @ 7am

Racer update about:
Update: Thursday 3rd of July @ 7am Matthew Lee is the 2008 Tour Divide winner, but we are still waiting on his finishing time. The rest are moving well through wind, mud, lightning and hail with Mary Collier and Stephen Gleasner still to come over Indiana Pass, the last big climb in Colorado. Leighton White and Adrian Stingaciu have caught Domenik Scherer and Alan Goldsmith, but it is uncertain whether they are all riding together after Dominik split his rear rim. Dominik has had offers of help from Albuquerque and Tuscon, but he is raring to get it finished. Racers seem to get a lift riding into New Mexico, the final state, a quater left with no more major climbs. You can be sure that they are counting off the rest of the climbing feet to go, most only now realising that they may finish this thing after all. by Alex Field

Dominik Scherer's Wheel Replaced

Racer update about:
Hello, this is Dominik Scherer calling in, #13,, Its 4:45am on Thursday, 3rd of July. My rear wheel issues got solved yesterday evening. Bob Morgan from Albuquerque drove all the way out here to Abiquiu and brought me an almost brand new rear wheel. Had to no problem. Put it on. Ready to go again. That's what we are going to do now. Yesterday evening we had a little gathering here. Alan and me were sitting at dinner about 7 o'clock, Leighton White, pulled in. Then we went to bed around 10 o'clock, then Adrian came in. So it was the four of us all in one little room in Abiquiu Inn. We all are just about to go now towards Cuba. All you guys out there be safe. Take care. Have a good time. Bye. Dominik (recorder time: 2008-07-03 05:46:48 EST)

Alan Goldsmith's TD Party in Abiquiu

Racer update about:
Hi this is Alan, Tour Divide Racer # 5. Its 20 after 9 on Wednesday evening, the 2nd of July. I’m in Abiquiu at the Abiquiu Inn. I’m with Dominik and Leighton. He caught us up. We sorta had a short day, a very short day, a 12 o’clock finish. I’ve had three meals. A lot of water and I’m ready to go. The strategy is to leave early, get over the last big hill, rest up in Cuba for a little bit then head out in the cool of the evening into the desert night. Today was easy about 58 miles to year. Yesterday was tough over Brazos Ridge, thunder and lightening. I actually got off my bike and lay on the ground at one point. Maybe I was overreacting but I thought I could feel the air tingling. Prior to that we met the Webe family who seemed to be really happy to meet us. They took our photo, gave us a few snacks. I think we made their week and they made my day. Its good to meet people who are interested. Last night we camped at the Hopewell Lake Campground. They were good to us. They gave us some coke when we got there. So its all good stuff.. I had dinner with John Nobile who is leading the Great Divide race. He is nearly on record breaking schedule but needs to really go for it now to match JP’s time. He is planning to get up at 2, I think. The film guy from Britain, Gerald, is here to. So it was a bit party tonight in the restaurant. All good. Anyway, talk to you from Cuba or Grants, somewhere down the road. (recorder time: 2008-07-02 22:26:51 EST)

No Pie for Ardie Olson in Pie Town

Racer update about:
This is Ardie Olson calling in from a payphone in Pie Town, NM. It is July 2nd, Wednesday, 8:27 pm. Looks like everything is closed up around here, both restaurants, no pie tonight. They sure like to close up early around here. Guess I’ll eat what I got and try to stay at the Toaster House. I haven’t went by there yet. Hope I can get in. Other than that everything went pretty good today. Looks like I am going to have a long day tomorrow to try to make it to Silver City. We’ll see what happens from there. This is Ardie, Bye. (recorder time: 2008-07-02 21:29:51 EST)

Dominik Scherer needs a Rear Wheel - If you can help, call him in Abiquiu

Racer update about:
Hello this is Dominik Scherer again calling from Abiquiu, NM. I just found out that my rear wheel is decapitated. The rim is cracked pretty badly. I’m in dire need of a rear wheel. The problem is I tried to call all of the bike shops in the area. There was just one which number was OK. They didn’t have anything in Santa Fe. If anyone on the route, has something for me, feel free to reach me here in Abiquiu in the Abiquiu Inn, the 505-685-4378. Otherwise, I’m just trying to ride tomorrow morning over the hills. Just hope that the rim that holds up. Just hoping that the bike holds up because the body feels good and the mind is set for the Mexican Border. So let’s hope that the wheel holds up. I’m trying to be light on my rear wheel to not give it too much stress. Hope that God will help and the whole things going to hold up. That is the situation on my bike. I just wanted to let you people know. You guys out there be safe. Message back home: (rest of message in german) (recorder time: 2008-07-02 18:21:58 EST)

Felix Wong in Del Norte

Racer update about:
Hi this is Felix Wong, calling at 12:45 on Wednesday, July 2nd, from Del Norte, CO. Yesterday, I had a great day. My legs were feeling good. I rode about 113 miles. I even enjoyed going up Marshall Pass and Cochetopa Pass. Nice gradual climbs with great scenery. In the evening, I ended camping half-way up the Pass after Cochetopa Pass. Today hasn’t been going quite so well. My legs are quite tired. Especially after coming down into Del Norte. I was expecting it to be all downhill. In fact there are some pretty significant although short climbs. The road to Del Norte was not good at all. Way too much sand. Virtually unridable. I did not enjoy that at all. I’m glad to be into Del Norte because I was completely out of food and water. I was hungry and tired. I just restocked at a grocery store. Now I am looking forward to going up Indiana Pass. Actually, not looking forward to it. I’m actually quite apprehensive about it. Its 4000 feet of climbing and 25 miles long. But I guess I’ll see how it goes. I’ll talk to you later. Bye. (recorder time: 2008-07-02 13:47:59 EST)

Dominik Scherer resting up in Abiquiu before the Last Big Climb

Racer update about:
Hello this is Dominik Scherer, # 13 calling in. I won’t say Racer # 13 anymore. Alan and me have switched to touring mode from that fresh on. So # 13 calling from Abiquiu on Wednesday, 2nd of July, its 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We arrived just 2 hours or something ago. We had some very, very delicious lunch here in Abiquiu Inn. We are going to spend the rest of the day here in Abiquiu. Doing some groceries and getting proper rest before we head out for the last big climb of the whole tour. Resting up, getting stocked up, getting fueled up. So we gonna last the few days. I hope everyone out there is good. Matthew is going to be finished maybe today, maybe tomorrow. I don’t know. Man this guy is fast. That is for sure. All the rest is with us, not far behind us. Leighton and Adrian, you are doing really, really good boys. Hangin’ in there. Maybe Leighton can catch up. Who knows.. Maybe we meet out there in the dester. It would be really cool to ride the last few miles with you Leighton. All the others be good, be safe. Love to all my family and friends at home, back in Europe. You are giving me so much support and it helps me so much. I really appreciate that. Love, Dominik. Bye. (recorder time: 2008-07-02 15:14:01 EST)

Ardie Olson Headed for the Border

Racer update about:
This is Ardie Olson. I’m calling in from Grants, NM. It is 10:39 AM, July 2nd. I had a good ride last night. I had the wind in my favor coming out of Cuba. Then, had a good ride, all of it on paved road, so that helped me make up some time. I’m going to get a meal and some supplies here in Grants and head out for Pie Town. Hopefully make it to Pie Town tonight and stay at the Toaster House. Have breakfast and Pie in the morning if all goes well. The weather has been nice so far. I missed the rain yesterday. I got to the paved road before it started raining so I avoided getting stuck in the mud so that was good. So everything is going well. I’m headed for the border and I’m looking forward to it. Again, this is Ardie. Bye. (recorder time: -07-02 11:42:02 EST)

Adrian Stingacui Thankful Thoughts

Racer update about:
Hi this is Adrian Stingacui calling in from Horca, CO, July 2nd, 6:42 am. Feel really really happy. Yesterday was a really good day. Got caught in a really good size thunderstorm just after coming over Indiana Pass at around 11,000 feet. I'm so happy to be alive. Really great. Emotions out here are really amplified. Its like - I'm laughing hysterically while crying tears of joy at the same time. I'm just really happy. Thank you God, thank you Jesus, thank you Buddha, thank you Krishna, thank you Allah, thank you everybody. Thank you even to the mosquitoes who help me climb a little faster on the uphills. See how far I can get in today. Try to put in another 100 miles, 130 miles maybe. Try to get to Abiquiu, NM. Still have a long way to go at least the names are starting to sound Mexican. Still in CO. Passed through Del Norte yesterday, Platoro, Poncho Springs the day before. Really looking forward to getting into New Mexico and the Mexican Border. Last night I stayed in Conejos campground about 10 miles short of Horca. Slept on a picnic bench. Got up at 5 o’clock in the morning and started riding out in 37 degree weather. Nothing like putting all of your layers on and still have numb fingers and toes while snot icicles are hanging from you nose. (recorder time: 2008-07-02 07:43:42 EST)

Mary Collier ending a Good Day in Silverthorne

Racer update about:
Hey Everyone, its Mary. I’m calling in from Silverthorne, CO. Today, was an absolutely wonderful day. It was good day. I felt great today, physically and mentally, everything. The whole game just kind of came together today. It was good. I ran into Dave Nice out on the trail. The route goes pretty close to his parent’s property where he is working right now and it sounds like he is recovering. It was really good seeing him. He cheered me on for a couple of miles. We some good conversation. Dropped down to the CO River which was absolutely beautiful. Made it feel like I was in the southwest. Which was great, because that means I am in the south so I’m getting closer to Mexico. I really feel like I am going to pull this off now. Things are going great. I got in early tonight so I’m going to take off early in the morning. Have a good night. (recorder time: 2008-07-01 23:01:14 EST)
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