June 14th. Provo to Price UT

June 14th. Provo to Price UT. Elevation 5,547 ft. 75.2 miles. One of the worst days, I started the the day with a back wheel blow-out. We had two big climbs and the headwind was unforgiving. I decided to ride by myself because I was having a very rough day. (2591) road towards Price, (2592)movie of the first SAG stop, (2593) beautiful Rest Area rides soak their feet in the cold brook, (2594) altitude of Soldier Summit, (2595) Skip at Soldier's Summit, (2596) a canyon on way to Price, (2597) a carbon processing plant, (2598) Gary, Debra and Forrest.

June 13th. Salt Lake City to Provo,UT.

Elevation 4,571 ft. 65miles.

This was a beautiful day, nice and sunny, the route had wonderful country roads. I Took several photos before arriving in Provo. Take a look

Forrest (from Florida) and myself.

Movie of the Wasatch Mountains around Provo

Beautiful Wasatch Mountains

Me with Wasatch Mountains backdrop

on our way to Provo.

Lavell Edwards Stadium for BYU.

My Bike with the BYU Campinille in the background... Provo is a beautiful college town.

June 12th My First Day of Rest

Today is my first rest day on my journey. We've made it 20% of the way and it's been absolutely amazing so far. From California through Nevada and Utah this has been a great journey so far.

I had a chance to finally catch up on some emails to Tomas and took the opportunity to patch up some tubes.

My great friend from childhood, Jess Agraz came to visit me. Meeting my friend was the high light of the day. It brought back so many good memories from my childhood in Laredo Texas.
Jess and I took some pictures together


Jess ran for the Mayor of Salt Lake City.

W inter Olympic Building in Salt Lake






Jess thank you for the donation!!

You can donate too, just click here

June 11th. Wendover to Salt Lake City, UT

Elevation 4,,390 ft. 117.4 miles. Part of Wendover is in Nevada and part in Utah. Crossing into Wendover, UT. we found ourselves in t;he Great Salt Lake Desert which is also where the Bonneville Salt Flats (known for speed records) are located.

This stretch of the rode has no vegetation -so there is no shade, the sun just beats you down. Morton has a salt processing plant here which seems very appropriate. Often you see tire tracks on the marsh and salt due to falling asleep behind the stearing wheel (very boring scenery).

Even though I had 3 flats and Don 2 flats we made it to Salt Lke City at 2:00 p.m. Very often we were crusing at 26 miles/hr.(strong tailwinds).

The Wasatch mountains make a beautiful backdrop as we approach Salt Lake City. At this point we have traveled 812 miles (20%of the way), average 74 miles/day and elevation gain of 32,380 ft.

Amy & John (a couple from Buffalo, NY. ), Skip, Don and I stopped to take pictures of the Salt Lake. The site should be familiar to my family due to a previous vacation (15years ago).


This Muslim looking building overlooks the Salt Lake - Jelica ,Margarita, Tomas and Danica do you remember this building?


Peace... on the Salt Flats in Utah.

Don and myself with Salt Lake in the background

June 10th. Elko to Wendover, NV.

Elevation 4,570 ft. and a total of 107.6 miles.

The route followed the Emigrant Trail to Well,NV (the origin of Humboldt River).

We had two Summits to climb today (Pequog summit-6,97 ft. and Silvefr Zone Pass-5,940 ft.).

Hetty from Holland had an accident due to strong cross wind which blew her off her bike. She is a very tough lady, received some stitches on chin, but rode the following day.

Today was the beginning of a double century.


The morning sky as we departed.


Looming clouds as we ride.

Skip and Don with some snow cap mountains behind.

Downhill we go.

A video from our group on the side of the road.

June 9th. Battle Mountain to Elko. NV.

Elevation 5,0060 ft. 72.1 miles.

We started the day with a huge climb ( 12 miles) of 6% grade to Emigrant Pass. What a way to start off the day! We got off I-80 and took the Exit 280 SR766 to the town of Carlin,NV. Took photos of Emigrant Pass (6114 ft.) and of Carlin Canyon which culminates with three tunnels.


It was a climb to Emigrant Pass



A nice little view.. Notice the snow on the mountains in the background.

June 8th. Winnemucca to Battle Mountain,NV.

Elevation 4,507 ft. 55.6 miles.

Today I rode with Skip,King and Don Chism (from Las Vegas). The terrain is like huge bowl with mountains on both sides--there is still snow on the high peaks. Sunny and a bit windy.

At Battle Mountain, I ate a huge lunch at the Aguila Real Restaurant. Battle Mountain was named by a miner, who supposedly fought some Indians in 1857. Battle Mountain is known for mining,railroad and agriculture.

Before getting to the hotel we had a 6 mile climb (Golconda Summit).



Here's a picture from our morning SAG stop on the side of the road.


Just a small little climb... :-)

Here's a picture from our afternoon SAG stop.

A few of us taking a little rest.

June 7th. Lovelock to Winnemucca

Total Elevation 4324 ft. We rode 73.5 miles today and rode along the Humboldt River for almost 60 miles against a very strong headwind that was relentless. To combat the wind we decided to form a double pace line of 17 members and constantly rotated the lead rider every 3 tenths of a mile.

Winnemucca was having a Basque Festival and we observed several dances, a tug of war and ate a chorizo (suasage) hot dog- the best ever!

Drying out our shorts


Some women engaging in traditional Basque dances

Basque Festival!!!

Here's a video of the group on the road today.

June 6th. Sparks to Lovelock, NV

Elevation 3900 ft. 91.5 miles. Today flew by as we finished the ride in 6 hrs. 15 minutes. The first 30 miles were very scenic and we followed the Truckee River Valley.

Most of the ride was on I-80 East and I rode with Skip and Don today.

After 70 miles on the I- 80 we transitioned to route 401 where the landscape was very arid. There was an endless salt bed on the right side.

Here are some photos from the day.


Skip and Don on the road in front of me...

We're almost there.

Don't let love pass you by.

June 5th: Down the Hill to Sparks, NV!

Today we had a beautiful ride in the Tahoe area. We rode a total 69.9 miles and had to climb Mt Rose. Truckee was 25 degrees in the morning!!

We proceeded to Lake Tahoe and took photos from different sites along the shoreline. Here are a few pictures from Tahoe.

Here's a picture that I tool of a scenic pier stretching out into the Lake.

At the Squaw Valley Entrance, Skip,Don, Fred(Atlanta,Georgia)and myself took group pictures.


Welcome to Nevada... I've crossed the state of California!!

Just when I thought it was all down hill I had to climb Mt. Rose. The ride to the Summit of Mt. Rose is 8.2 miles long with a 6 or 7% grade. The descent is 16 miles long and gained speed of 43 miles/hr. Mt. Rose Summit is 8,991 ft. We couldn't have had a more beautiful day.

Some Video Scenery of Beautiful Lake Tahoe.

What an amazing day.

June 4th: Truckee, Here we Come!!

Wow.. Today we gained 5,820 ft. in elevation and rode 79.7 miles.

Brian Cox (Alhambra, CA.)and I got lost at the 21.8 mile. Took a wrong turn and descended 3 miles; it put us 40 minutes behind. I-80 East has to much traffic plus it has a lot of debris. We stopped at the 58.1 mile at a Burger King for a cup of hot chocolate, due to fact that it was too cold. As we climbed Emigrant Pass and Yuba Pass, we saw our first site of snow, high in the mountains. The climb to Donner Pass was a challenge; the descent and the view were magnificent! Amy and John ( couple from Buffalo,NY.)and I took pictures of the Donner's Party Monument.

Here are some pictures and video from the days journey.

Donner Pass was beautiful and such a reward after the long climb.

My Son & Daughter come up here to go Snowboarding but never on a bike!!

Yes... We're riding next to 18 wheelers on I-80 East.

June 3rd. Sacramento to Auburn

Today was road from Sacramento to Auburn We gained a total Elevation of 1,255 ft. while riding 5l.1miles. Shortly getting on the road we road an a beautiful bike trail call the Jebediah Smith Bicycle Trail. This trail was along the American River and it was beautiful scenery. Here is a picture of the river from the bike trail.

Along this path we were able to see the Folsom Reservoir and the Folsom Prison from a distance.

As we rode through the foot hills approaching the Sierra Nevada Mountain range the scenery began to change. Here is a picture from the road with the SAG vehicle stopping in front of an arch.

Today was an easy day :-)

Tomorrow we go to Truckee.

I'm Back on my Blog

To all who are following along... my apologies for the week of silence. It's been a bit hectic trying to get all the images and videos uploaded from the road but I'm back with several exciting experiences and photos.

51 Miles to Sacramento

With the first day behind me, I awoke rested and less nervous to continue my journey. It was much warmer than yesterday which suits me well as I enjoy taking long rides in the summer heat. The course was well mapped this time and I had a strong ride keeping up with all the riders at the front of the pack.

The landscape was filled with wheat fields and other agricultural establishments. On the way we stopped in Davis, CA and went through the campus of University of California, Davis.

Compared to yesterday it was a much shorter ride measuring 52 miles. I completed around 1:45 pm and decided to walk around the area near our motel before dinner. Although the ride was easy I know that the next two days will be much more challenging as we begin our ascent up the Sierra Madre mountains.


View Larger Map

Tomorrow we ride to Auburn, Ca

and We're Off!

The first day of the American by Bike Cross Country Challenge was very exciting and challenging at the same time. We got on the road early and almost immediately we were presented with a challenging clime over the hills of Milbrae, Ca to reach the Pacific Ocean. Once we reached the Pacific I took the opportunity to dip my read wheel into the water as I started my journey to the Atlantic.



All of the riders also posed for a group picture.



As we rode up along the coast and through San Francisco California, it was very cold and several people had trouble staying on the course. The directions provided for our route that day were difficult to follow and I ended up getting lost in San Francisco. While I was attempting to find my way back to the course and the rest of the group I ran into a woman with a straw hat who was also riding a bicycle. She told me she knew the area very well and helped me back to the route I was supposed to follow. What amazed me most was that this woman who was very nimble on her bike was 75 years old. It was great inspiration for the rest of us youngsters. :-)

I was by myself for most of the route as I made my way to Golden Gate Park. From there we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge (Video Below) and headed North to Sausalito, Ca.



It was a clear beautiful day and I was so excited to be on my way for such a great cause. The route continued North East through San Rafael, Ca along HWY 37 to Fairfield, Ca which a the North most point of the San Francisco Bay.


View Larger Map

I arrived around 6:00pm and learned that several other riders had also lost their way. My daughter Margarita and son Tomas drove out to meet me around 8:00pm and I was so happy to see them and share the stories of my first day.

It's going to be a long journey but this was a great first day.

The Day Before

Today the America by Bike group met for orientation at the Holiday Inn Express in Burlingame, Ca. This was just south of the San Francisco International Airport and it was chilly outside.

The orientation was good but a bit repetitious with a heavy focus on safety. We have a very diverse group of riders with representation from across the world. There are two Brits, one Irish, one from Trinidad & Tobago nicknamed "Sarge", two Australians, two Germans and a cute couple from the Netherlands who never rode hills before.

America by Bike staff gave us our packages today which contained a jersey and a riding cap. Here's a picture in the hotel room.

Tomorrow the challenge begins!!

You Can Still Donate!

To all that have donated... Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

To those who are interested, donations will be accepted until July 22, 2008


Here is a guide if you are considering donating to this worthy cause,

First of all give what you can afford.
All donations, small or large are equally welcome!

If you want to make your donation commensurate to total mileage, 3,836 miles, you may want to consider by starting with the lowest amount: a penny a mile--$38.36. Or you may want to consider 10 cents per mile!

Whatever you donate please do it with love and from the kindness of your heart!

Ways to Donate

CHECKS:

• Make checks payable to HELPS INTERNATIONAL, include Project 747 on the memo line.
• Send checks to; HELPS INTERNATIONAL, 15301 Dallas Parkway, Suite 200, Addison, Texas 75001, Project # 747

CREDIT CARD ONLINE:

• Go to https://secure.helpsintl.org/donations/online_donation.php?program_ID=1
• Make sure to enter “Project 747" in the comments box in the Donation Program section of the form.
  

CREDIT CARD by PHONE:

• Dial 1-800-41-HELPS(43577), specify donation for Project 747.
  

For any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

The Big Ride for a Small Group

The ride starts in San Francisco and ends in New Hampshire; it will take 52 days (May 31 through July 22, 2008), averaging 80 miles per day. Please support this humanistic endeavor in helping our forgotten brothers by donating to this worthy cause. Donations will be utilized for medical services and the purchase/installation of vented concrete block stoves. These stoves will burn wood very efficiently, thus conserving the forest, environment and restoring health by eliminating toxic fumes. Each stove costs just a little over $100.00.


Let us all rally under the flag of "Humanitarianism" and assume a compromise to listen to the silent voices of our needy brothers and sisters. Please see below for how you may donate to this cause. The fund raiser is in effect now through July 22, 2008. I assure you it is for a great noble cause. The gratitude displayed on their faces is something that melts your heart.


Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

"Yo quisiera que un puñado de HUMANIDAD todos tuvieramos

Y que nadie niegue a nadie un rayo del sol en Primavera!"

Hello / Hola

Welcome.

My name is Jose Maria Campos.

My odyssey began as the result of a medical mission to the highlands of Guatemala with the Bakersfield, CA. HELPS INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TEAM.

HELPS INTERNATIONAL is a non-denominational, Christian non-profit organization based in Texas. They are involved in several special projects dealing with heath, education and economic development. I am so thankful to HELPS for sponsoring the fundraiser, and financing my ride across America. Without their support this endeavour would not be possible.



Our neglected brothers and sisters, the decedents of the ancient Mayans, spurred me to humanitarian action. And now here I am, asking God almighty to heighten my challenging and adventurous personality to meet this very worthy cause with love, joy and dispatch.


I am a recently retired educator and high school counselor. I've always enjoyed helping others and giving people the knowledge, tools and support to achieve their goals and advance their purpose.

I have the pleasure of being 69 years young and was born, raised and educated in my loving city of LAREDO,TEXAS.

I am a proud father of three beautiful children. My loving wife, Jelica, my pillar of strength has always supported me in all my journeys and in many many ways, she has even trained with me.

Thanks to all my riding friends from Mcdonalds in Seal Beach on PCH for their encouraging words and my good friend Stanton Lum for his long hours in helping me train.





I am brand new to this "Blogging" thing and this is the first entry in my new Blog. I will be keeping this Blog up to date with the chronicles of my experiences.

In about 2 weeks I will begin my journey across the United States of America on my classic Masi Bicycle.

Please check back here often for updates on my itinerary and frequent journal updates.

Sincerely,

Jose Maria Campos