iridescent on the horizon.

The clouds were resting to large and ominous in the sky (and a gigantic sky at that) in Kansas. Even into the most eastern part of Colorado the clouds clung to the horizon: beatific and grand they slowly flew up from the western horizon as we followed the maps west. But one day there was that same distant iridescent blue growing from the sight line. We rode on but the blue just grew through the blueness and bigger into the view until, finally, the realization came that this was not clouds but mountains in the distance. Finally we reached the (much younger than the Smoky Mountains) Rocky Mountains.

Ever since visiting my father while he was working in Helena, Montana I fell in love with the incredibly humbling view of the mountains. The incredible power of continents colliding. Plates from the earth pushing together so violently making such beatific scenery.

I write these words from the Cafe Dawn in Salida, CO. I am getting ready to climb up towards Monarch Pass (which reaches an elevation of about 11,312 while we are between 7000 and 8000 here in Salida). Monarch Pass will be the highest point we reach on our trip. I am filled with satisfaction and joy when I look at any map and see just how far we have come already. Sure I was sick and was forced to ride in the van for a few days while I waited for my medicine but I will not get caught up in all that now. I'm in Colorado... and that is pretty swell! No matter what direction I look I see beauty. I see peaks of silent history and the tree line's where shades of brown and green to grey and blue kiss the sky with clouds carrying the weight of so many bodies of water that, perhaps, I have passed. And beyond it all: the west. And past that the pacific.

It is hard to believe we have come so far as a group already on the power of our own bodies to fight the disease that tried to take cycling from me already. It's impossible for me to truly see all the faces of those we have touched on this trip but hopefully one day I will be able to see the difference that the $175,724 that we (as an organization) have raised so far. And as my climb to my highest summit is just starting my climb to the top of my fundraising is also just beginning! I have almost reached my fundraising goal of $6,000... but almost is not quite enough. I am sitting at $5,185 and with all your help I can reach my $6000 goal! So please give anything you can at www.bauserbikesms.com to help make a difference in the lives of those affected by MS.

Peace and love,
~David