So day 8 started out amazing. Big breakfast and cool weather that gradually warmed up to sunny skies and a nice temperature.

Nothing too exciting until I got to Gilcrest, CO I gave the gas station attendant my website address and right after I walked out the door he came out with a couple packages of cookies. He told me that he hoped this helped.  To that man, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. They were delicious.

About an hour later filling up my camelback, an older man gave me an orange triangle to attach to the back of my bike so that I was more visible.  I zip tied themy to the rear panniers and when I was cutting the excess off of the time I sliced my hand real good. The picture below is from later in the day after I took the gauze off.

The man felt bad because I was bleeding pretty good but I assured him it was my own stupidity. He helped me wrap it and I was on my way.

I knew it was going to rain in the afternoon, so I was trying to haul my but to Denver as quick as I could.

On the way a fox or coyote was about 300 feet ahead of me on the trail.  He stayed pretty far ahead of me, so much so that I couldn’t get decent video. It was a cool experience though.

The storm was heading towards me faster than I could make it to Denver. I started to feel raindrops and took shelter.

It got even worse

After it died down a bit I knew I couldn’t wait all night for the rain to let up so I rode a few miles and had to hit a hotel. I cannot keep doing that because for one night in a hotel could potentially be a weeks worth of food.

On the way to the hotel I noticed the rear of the bike rode funny, sure enough, the goat heads got me and got another flat tire.  Putting the new thorn resistant tube in tonight.

Tomorrow is sunny and I should be in Colorado Springs, no problem.

Adapt, overcome, and ride hard.

-Jeff