A break from Biking and a reminder...

8/14/2007

As Brent said in the last post this is the section of the trip where we leave the bikes for about 10 days and do some “other” activities. It’s hard to believe this section of the trip is here. We left our bikes in Monticello, UT on the 9th and will pick them back up again the 20th to finish out the 1200 miles left to San Francisco.

Niki met up with us again in Moab, UT and the three of us headed to the Grand Canyon. The Canyon was with out a doubt spectacular and we thought about how crazy it must have been to be one of the first pioneers exploring the west and stumble upon the canyon: DETOUR. After seeing the Canyon we headed back North to southwestern Utah and Zion National Park, which really feels like you’re on another planet with all the beautiful red rock. Yesterday we hiked the famed “Narrows” up the Virgin River. Basically you walk up the actual river through the canyon and the further upstream you walk the narrower the canyon walls get, only 10 feet across in certain sections. The hike was staggeringly beautiful, however the blisters on Brent’s feet at the end of the day from his one size too small, $4 thrift store Nikes were not. Fortunately my $4 Asics held up ok and caused no serious damage. The Narrows took us the entire day to hike about 6 miles in and 6 out. We’re planning to do the “Angel’s Landing” trail today, which supposedly has the best lookout over Zion Canyon.

Tomorrow Niki and I will drive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to meet up with my wife Melissa and the rest of her family for a bit and Brent will head to Denver to meet up with some of his friends and climb Pyramid Peak, a 14er in Colorado. Brent and I meet up again in Denver the 18th and then race the Muddy Buddy Race in Boulder on the 19th. We then make our way back to Monticello, UT to pick up the bikes and finish out the ride to San Fran.

Also we wanted to put a reminder out there for why we’re actually doing this bike trip. 1. To raise money for a great Charity, The Lance Armstrong Foundation. 2. Because Brent and I both have “Bike Across the Country” on our Life-Lists and 3. To encourage others to create their Life-Lists on eLIFELIST.com and be aware and invigorated about all the things they want to do, see and experience in their lifetime.

Please help us in reaching our fund raising goal of $20,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Thanks to everyone that has been following us so far and donated to LAF, we promise to continue to constantly update the blog with as much content as possible. Pictures and videos from Zion will be up soon. Cheers!

-Lee and Brent

8 Comments

Frank James

8/14/2007 04:25:26 am

I am vicariously enjoying your ride across America. You are having an amazing trip. I especially liked the bit about the three Engish men ages 72, 67 and 65 making the reverse trip across the USA. Enjoy your R&R and keep on peddling.

Frank J.

Ann Atkinson

8/14/2007 04:44:46 am

hey Brent!
glad to see your site, pretty amazing...
you look wonderful,

be safe.. miss ya kiddo!
Ann

Becky

8/14/2007 08:15:29 pm

Safe travels today guys & Niki (glad you have been able to join the trip for a few days!) Enjoy the rest of your time-off from the trail. We'll look forward to the next edition of the adventure from Boulder. Thanks for the reminder about Armstrong Foundation - and eLIFELIST!! Congrats on all you are doing - we are proud of you. Love Mom

Lynn

8/15/2007 12:59:49 am

Wow, another WILD "day off" for you guys! Found this description of the trail online. Also a link below with photos. No R&R for you!

"The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion's pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest."

http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/zion/angels_landing.html

cliff h link

8/15/2007 02:53:24 am

Awesome trip, guys, and great blog! Hope the wind is with you...

Uno

8/15/2007 05:46:50 am

I fully expect to see pics of rob engaged in those "other" activities - particularly the night out in Boulder. . . Sorry I can't meet up w/ you guys in Aspen.

Tucker and Melissa link

8/15/2007 06:09:17 am

You have inspired us, gentlemen. You're ambition and high asperations have made us want to, above all else, copy you exactly. However, that is impossible, because we are far too lazy to physically bike the distances you have. We have compromised our means of travel, but managed to copy you in most other aspects. I guess there is no good cause for what we are doing either, so that might be one other difference.

www.eJonesBlog.weebly.com

Brent

8/15/2007 11:33:52 am

Thanks for all of the encouragement and support and harassment(uno). We are glad that you are enjoying the blog and we enjoy sharing and working on it. Hopefully the amazing time we are having is translating over to the blog well and showing some of the great people we have met along the way. We should be back in a few days.

-Brent

eLIFELIST.com Bike Trip