Days 11 - 15

I just got over the phone with Marilyn and there is alot to write about because it has been so many days. I will do my best not to ramble....

Marilyn is in Green River UT and rode 67 miles today. They got in early afternoon so they had a van take the group to Arches National Park http://www.nps.gov/arch/ Every site is more beautiful than the last. It was so windy the van was being blown all over the road.

So you can imagine what it has been like on the bike. The roads are so dangerous with construction, very narrow, wet and bad weather. Yesterday (Sat) was rain and 40 degrees, trucks zooming past you and rumble strips. Marilyn rode most of the day and finally gave in to the van. When she got into her hotel, Carol had previously got a ride in, her room was very warm and a hot shower waiting. This trip is definitely a team effort, so tonight when I talked to Marilyn she was doing Carole's laundry while sitting on ice and icing her knee.

In the beginning of the ride there was a film crew following them. This group is trying to raise money to have Korean art work under one roof in Chicago. So they are making a film about this ride in hopes to raise funds. So today the film crew is back and they were all watching the rough cut of what they filmed in CA. Tomorrow they will film again. So we might see Marilyn on the BIG SCREEN....

Over the past few days with the dangerous riding they had to climb over and under a fence, over jersey barriers and then there were those rumble strips. She has had 5 flat tires so far, 2 I spoke about a few days ago and 3 in one day. They finally found a very thin wire which was causing these flats. Flats are so time consuming.

Day 12 was a day off in Salt Lake City. She started with a trip to a chiropractor who was recommended by her chiropractor from home. This was a great help. Then it was off to a day of sightseeing. To get into the city is a 6 lane highway so you can imagine the traffic & tourists that visit the Mormon Temple & Convention Center & all the other SLC sites http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/saltlake/ & http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/history.htm. They listened to an organ concert for about 20 min and visited this mining center where there was this roof top garden. It was so green filled with gardens, trees etc. Of course at the end of the tours they were looking for names & addresses so they can send you information. It was a great day off.

And then it was back biking up at 6 and on the road at 7:30.

In Salt Lake City they picked up 12 new bikers but they are only with them until the next leg, day 21.

On Day 17 they will be meeting up with about 2,000 bikers riding across Colorado. Marilyn's group will all wear their America by Bicycle shirts so they can stay together. This group is riding one week and 380 miles, that's nothing compared to what Marilyn's group is doing.

I let Marilyn know that many in church today told me they are reading this blog and enjoying the stories. She feels all of your energy and good wishes.

That's all for tonight, enjoy reading.