Up early, like 4:00 am and on the road by 5:00 am. Sherri at the wheel, with me navigating. That works really well! Decided not to stay on the I-70 and go through Denver, but to cut across to Castle Rock on Colorado Route 86.

Very windy area, as trees had a definite lean to them. Some seemed to arch nearly half-way across this two lane road. I have lived in Colorado since 1977 but had never been on this road.

Passed through Kiowa (with a Sonic and a Wal-Mart) and on through Elizabeth and Franktown. No longer on the Plains, but in the suburbs. Got on the I-25 North towards Denver. The map atlas I was using is really old, as there were about 4 exits from the I-25 that weren't on my map! Took the C-470 beltway Northwest to the I-70 where we turned West., and headed up the foothills West of Denver. Stopped at the McDonald's in Idaho Springs for breakfast, with an easy exit and re-entrance to the Interstate.

Up through Georgetown and through the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels (at the Continental Divide) and down into Frisco, then up over Vail Pass, through Eagle and Gypsum. Pointed out to Sherri where our friend Sara and her family live (Sara and her then 6 year old daughter Cassie rode the last two days of the Rockies to Plains ride to Oklahoma in 2007.) Drove through Glenwood Canyon and Glenwood Springs. Now just 1 1/2 hours from Grand Junction.

Sherri contacted her sister Mary Ann's son-in-law Matt who is a smoke jumper on contract to the BLM. Matt is stationed right now at the Grand Junction Regional Airport so we decided to stop to see Matt before heading to my home (about 10 miles from the airport). Cleared the security with saying we were there to visit a relative. Matt is a very personable young man. He gave us a tour of their plane, their gear, etc. Matt and his wife Leslie are expecting a baby girl in August!

I drove the last leg of the journey, since I knew the back roads, etc. Got to my house about 12:30 pm. Charlotte arrived about 15 minutes later to claim her bike and gear. Sherri was very anxious to get her bike and gear loaded into her Subaru and be off for Salt Lake City, where she will spend the night with a cousin. Then she will drive from Salt Lake to her home in Lewiston Idaho on Thursday.

It was hard to say goodbye to Sherri but I knew how anxious she was to get home to Dustin, his wife Molly, and their 4 year old son Boyd. Sherri is very involved with them, and especially missed her grandson.

Later on in the early evening, Heather and Hope came to the house to get their bikes and gear.

It was quite an adventure this year, with 8 of us riders. Right now, we are at $31,200 and hoping to reach $32,000. I had set a goal of $51,000 but it looks like we will need to fundraise and ride yet another year to reach $600,000.

Thanks to each person who contributed to the success of this year's ride. Monetary donations, prayers, arranging for accommodations ... it was all appreciated. Donations are still being accepted by mail, in person, or on our www.firstgiving.com/bikeforcure website.

Mileage today was 393. The return trip from Jacksonville to Grand Junction was 2241miles. Total mileage for the whole round trip was 4,879 miles, which also included running some errands (to Laundromats, grocery stores, getting "lost," backtracking, etc.

With love from home,
Marie