So many states, so little time!

Well Bike and Build continues to be a whirlwind tour, especially now that we've left lovely Colorado and passed quickly through northeastern Utah and into Wyoming.  Despite the fact that we were in Colorado for almost a week and a half, it went by extremely quickly with more wonderful views and rides than I can recount.

After the 4th of July, where we camped in an RV park in Kremmling, CO, we had two nights and a day off in Steamboat Springs.  What did I do with myself on my day off?  That's right! Riding bikes!
I got to rent a really sweet mountain bike for the day for way less than the shop normally charges and explored the network of trails in the immediate vicinity of town.  After Steamboat it was back to camping, so now a quick photo tour:

In Maybell, CO, we were faced with ferocious winds and the need to cook/serve dinner, so after cooking in the back of our trailer we went and sat under the awnings near the bathroom just to stay out of the elements.  After the storm passed, sunset was absolutely amazing and the whole campground was lit up with the colors of the sky. 

After leaving Maybell we passed through Dinosaur, CO where Dinosaur National Park is located and into UTAH!  It was a long day, about 92 miles into Vernal, and the state sign was conveniently located at around the 60 mile mark--perfect for a second lunch stop.  We got our obligatory state sign photos then battled hot headwinds the rest of the way into the church.

From Vernal we had a short day to Flaming Gorge, Utah which just so happens to be in Ashley National Forest!  (For those of you that don't know, this is a shout-out to my sister).  We expected to be closer to the reservoir so we could go swimming, but as it turned out our campground was still up the hill a few miles.  The weather was warm and calm, so we were able to get all set up, nap, and have the best evening camping of the trip so far.  Given the favorable weather, our evening included the obligatory elements of any good campout: a fire, s'mores, and good company.

Two short days in Utah were all we got, but that also means more fun state sign photos!  The Wyoming border was about 15 miles into our ride today, after one of the big climbs but it definitely was not the last. 

Lunch was at the top of a good long climb, where the views out over the valley were spectacular and the clouds in the sky surreal.  A group of horses seemed to be snacking on the hillside right above us enjoying the same view we were afforded by 3+ hours of climbing and descending throughout the morning.

After lunch it was all downhill into Rock Springs, WY, but that doesn't mean it was easy.  It seems that more often than not the winds pick up, as does the temperature, and always manages to make us fight to reach our hosts.  Once we were within a few miles some much needed fast food helped boost morale, but confusing directions kept us guessing right up until we reached the host.  Warm showers, a nap and dinner provided washed all of our worries away.  Tomorrow's another century!  Eeeek!  We're headed for the Tetons in the next few days which means more beautiful views and lots of climbing!

Boulder, CO (Day....still unknown)

We're into Colorado and the Rockies are in sight!  In fact, from Denver up to Boulder is still a sizable climb, but once we were there we had plenty of time to walk around and explore Pearl Street Mall.

One of the best parts of the ride from Denver was having a few B&B alums ride with us and tell us about their trips.  Anna Parker and Sonya Hirsch hung out with us in Denver, got us a sweet discount at the bike shop they work at, and invited us over to their house after dinner one night.  Since the days ahead include lots of climbing up to Estes Park and the Trail Ridge Pass (elev. 12, 183 ft.), I picked their brains about what to bring and how to not fall off the side of the mountains. 

I was so excited to be in Boulder because in addition to having a day off the bike to build with Habitat, I got to see my friend Hattie who's living in Ft. Collins, CO this summer.  We had talked earlier in the summer about meeting up in Colorado, but it just came together that she was able to drive down our first night there.  She got to meet some fellow riders and it was such a great chance to catch up since we now live far away from one another.

Our build site was a four-family house, where four small units are a part of one larger building.  The Boulder Habitat chapter is able to do some pretty cool things for their homeowners like putting up solar panels which can help pay as much as half of the tenants electricity bills.  It should be mentioned that Boulder has over 300 days of sun a year--I'm so jealous.  I was with a team putting up the rim boards and then floor joists for the second floor of one unit.  All of the lumber was marked with labels that corresponded to their placement on the plans.  This made the process of putting them in place much easier and it was neat to see how well coordinated the construction could be.  We didn't have to cut any pieces, they were all just delivered ready to go. 

In a few days we'll be camping so it's back to radio silence, but the riding after the mountains will hopefully be easier than climbing 7000+ feet in two days. I can't wait!