Run Diary Week 5

Monday 30th April 2007

Today’s schedule was from Winter park to Idaho springs, which sounds like a dramatic section, with a climb of 11000 feet at Berthold pass, hair-raising hairpin bends and crossing the continental divide being noteworthy. The latter is a ridge, where water that lands on the east side of it drains to the Atlantic and water that lands on the west side of it drain to the Pacific, so a significant landmark.

Tuesday 1st May 2007

Amazingly Martin is still on schedule as detailed in route schedule, despite covering an extra 180 miles or so due to the route change in California. Today he was heading into Denver with the Rockies behind him and 1000 miles of flat route 36 ahead. What a difference that will be after the amount of climbing in the past three states. This evening Martin was staying with friends of Rebecca’s aunt who live just south of Denver city. He had a bit of zigzagging to do to avoid motorway again, but finished the day at Morrison, S.W of the city centre. .

Wednesday 2nd May 2007

Morrison (southwest side of Denver) to Watkins (east side of Denver) covered today. Almost forgotten about the noise and traffic of city life in the last few, often solitary weeks. Might be the last motel stop for a few days.

Thursday 3rd May 2007

Jennifer is three years old today, but while she enjoyed a family tea party, Martin had a difficult day. He felt battered by strong S.E winds, was attacked by tumbleweed and had a daunting distance of 55 miles to cover. He reached Last Chance late in the evening and then struggled to put up his tent in a gale, while a glowing sky threatened above. It was either E.T returning, or an electric storm, but thankfully no lightning strikes.

Friday 4th May 2007

Today is Michael’s 8th birthday (yet more cake) and Martin celebrated by having an easier day. He phoned just as we were singing happy birthday, around lunchtime for him, and had decided to rest up at Anton, where he could stay in a self-catering unit for the night and cook himself something. This was very welcome after last night.

Saturday 5th May 2007

Martin phoned at 11am his time and had already covered 21 miles to Cope (a tailwind today, so making the most of it). He hopes to reach Idalia not far from the border with Kansas.