July 20, 2010 Day 29
Kris Sandgren, Maintenance Crew Leader
in District 8, completed his 2,600-mile bicycle ride to
honor MoDOT's fallen workers and raise money for the fallen
workers' memorial. He began in Washington and traveled
through nine states, ending today in Jefferson City.
Kevin Keith welcomed him and presented a customized "Highway
Hero" bicycle jersey as well as a proclamation from Governor
Nixon honoring his outstanding accomplishment
Reported By: Laura Holloway
Day 28 -- Monday, July 19
Another hot, high-humidity day. Kris is taking his time
heading toward Jefferson City. He will stay the night
somewhere close.
Kris plans to ride to the Capitol and MoDOT's Central Office
by 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 20.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 27 -- Sunday, July 18
Kris is able to cover 115 miles on another hot, muggy day.
The most challenging part is crossing the Laramie River west
of Boonville. He uses a wide shoulder on I-70 for a short
distance but finds no shoulder on the bridge. He tries to
hitch a ride for 30 minutes but no takers. He pedals right
up to the bridge and waits another 30 minutes for a break in
traffic to pedal across. Almost to the east end of the
bridge, he has his first flat tire of the trip. But the tire
holds enough air for him to make it across. He pulls off the
road and replaces the tire. Kris reaches Boonville in the
early evening and spends the night in a nice motel in a room
with a working air conditioner. He' looking forward to
finishing the ride Tuesday in Jefferson City. "It's almost
like I'm going to make it."
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 26 -- Saturday, July 17
High temperature and humidity and hilly terrain make the
going tough. He rides 73 miles between Atchison, KS, and
Holt, MO, northeast of Kansas City. "My eyes were burning
like crazy from all the salty sweat." He often stops, wipes
his face and puts on his reading glasses. He keeps having to
consult a map because of the many different roads he must
follow. He finally stops in a shady spot at about 3:30 p.m.
and lies down to rest. "It was about to cook me." He resumes
riding at 5 p.m. and rolls into Holt where he stops at a
small hotel. The air conditioning in his room does not work.
The day is "not much to brag about."
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 25 -- Friday, July 16
Out of Rock Port, Kris zig-zags on various roads and winds
up having to detour around a flood damaged area and head
back into Nebraska at Rulo, NE. He heads south again and,
traveling about 70 miles, winds up in Atchison, KS. He notes
that Atchison is the girlhood home of famous 1930s pilot
Amelia Earhart. Kris stops at a house on the city's
outskirts and asks permission of a couple to fill his water
bottles from their outside faucet. In easy conversation with
the couple, Kris explains the purpose of his bicycle trek.
The couple take an interest and invite him to stay with them
overnight. That evening, they take him to an outdoor
country-music concert at an annual festival in Atchison.
"It
was .. an offer I couldn't refuse.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 24 -- Thursday, July 15
Less wind today and the heat moderates slightly, so his ride
south out of Omaha on U.S. 75 goes well. He is about to
cross the Missouri River toward Rock Port on U.S. 136 and
spots a Welcome to Missouri sign. "I'm just tickled to
death." He calls it a day and puts up his tent at a KOA
campground at Rock Port.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 23 -- Wednesday, July 14
Kris takes the day off in Omaha, NE, and spends it with the
friends he stayed with Tuesday night. He is the guest of
Greg and Nancy Schuerman and their two children. "It seems
weird to me today to not be pedaling." Instead he
accompanies the family to the zoo. It's a very hot day with
a hot breeze from the south. He's glad he decided to stay
off the road.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 22 -- Tuesday, July 13
Before leaving Tekamah, NE, Kris visits with the editor of
the Burt County Plaindealer. Kris hits the road mid-morning
and encounters strong head winds as he approaches Omaha, NE.
"The wind is tormenting me. It blessed me across Montana.
Now it's cursing me." He plans to spend the night with
friends in Omaha.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 21 -- Monday, July 12
Kris keeps traveling east across southern South Dakota and
hits Sioux City, IA, just after 12 noon. He's riding in
light rain. He skirts Sioux City, pedaling in fast traffic
across a bridge over the Missouri River as close to the
outer railing as he could. He puts his head down and pushes
hard. "I didn't look back." He continues south on U.S. 75
along the west side of the river. He encounters hills north
of Tekamah, NE, and is chased by dogs -- three of them --
for the first time on the ride. He grabs his canine
repellent. "I just gave the lead dog a shot and the other
two quit on their own." He has dinner at a Subway in Tekamah
and checks into a local motel, small but clean. "I seem to
be wearing down on the camping thing." Besides it looks like
rain again and he doesn't want to be outdoors.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 20 – Sunday, July 11
The day dawns clear and sunny and Kris gets on his bicycle
continuing eastward toward Salem, SD, and then south along
U.S. 81. The countryside, with more trees, is beginning to
look like many parts of Missouri. Like home, in other words.
He pedals 115 miles to Vermillion, SD. "I hit it pretty
hard, but I didn't kill myself." He stops at a motel for the
night. He's glad he did. It rains all night, but he and his
gear remain dry.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 19 – Saturday, July 10
Kris rides south out of Pierre along U.S. 83 and turns east
on the north outer road of I-90. He keeps his eye on ominous
looking clouds on the north side of the interstate. He slips
over to the shoulder of eastbound I-90, trying to skirt the
storm, but he gets caught in a downpour west of Chamberlain,
ND. He quickly puts plastic over his saddlebags and slips
into his raincoat. “It just unloaded on me.” He has ridden
80 miles this day but now -- for "self-preservation," as he
puts it -- he sticks out a thumb. He gets a ride from a
couple in a pickup truck to Mitchell, SD where he springs
for a motel room. Severe weather warnings are all over the
TV that evening. His room is a pleasant, safe refuge from
heavy rains overnight.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 18 – Friday, July 9
“The head wind is killing me,” Kris says at mid-day, heading
south between Selby, ND, and Pierre, the state capital of
South Dakota. Progress is slow. “When the grass is leaning
toward you, it’s bad. When the corn is leaning toward you,
it’s real bad.” He continues along U.S. 83, busy with truck
traffic and very narrow shoulders. “The grain haulers are
rolling through here hot and heavy.” He is interviewed for a
story by the Onida Watchman, a weekly newspaper, north of
Pierre. Kris makes Pierre and plans to camp in a park near
the Capitol building. But Kristi Sandal of the South Dakota
DOT and her husband, Todd, invite Kris to their home on a
hill overlooking the Missouri River. Kris has a homecooked
meal, gets his laundry done and sleeps soundly. Wonderful
hospitality, he says.
Kris stands in front of the South Dakota State Capitol in
Pierre. Photo/Kristi Sandal, SDDOT
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 17 – Thursday, July 8
In Hazelton, ND, Kris meets a man who rides a
Harley-Davidson motorcycle and who is fascinated with Kris’
story about his long trek on a two-wheel vehicle powered by
legs. He insists on buying Kris lunch. “He wouldn’t take no
for an answer.” For the day, Kris covers 110 miles along
U.S. 83 through fairly flat countryside in southern North
Dakota, passing through Lawrence Welk’s hometown of
Strasburg, ND, and reaches Selby, SD. He orders a steak and
baked potato for dinner at the downtown Cloverleaf
restaurant in Selby. He stays in a campground with an
“exceptionally clean” shower room. “It doesn’t take much for
me to go to sleep.” He is 1,502 miles into the ride.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 16 – Wednesday, July 7
Kris covers an "easy" 67 miles from Garrison to Bismarck,
ND., starting at 7:30 a.m. and finishing at 2:30 p.m. He is
interviewed by a local TV station and a radio station in
Bismarck, set up by Jamie Olson of the North Dakota DOT. “I
talked about the (fallen workers) monument. I mentioned it
was all donations, not taxpayers money. I also mentioned
work zone safety.” He spends Wednesday night in a campground
at General Sibley Park in Bismarck.
Missouri Man Rides Across US
KFYR-TV
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 15, Tuesday, July 6
After leaving Ray this morning in northwestern North Dakota,
Kris pedals south to New Town, ND, where he visits with the
weekly New Town News on Main Street across from the Jack and
Jill market. His progress slows a bit. "I'm in really hilly
country now." It's a rolling, grass-covered landscape. He
notices an increase in big-truck traffic related to an oil
drilling boom in the region. He catches sight of the
Missouri River. Late afternoon, he's fatigued and chilly on
an overcast day and decides to hitch a ride. "I cheated. ...
I just put my thumb out when I saw a pickup truck coming."
The truck stops. An oil field construction inspector from
Wyoming gives Kris and his bicycle a lift about 30 miles to
Garrison, ND. Kris then pedals 12 miles to the Totten Trail
campground east of Garrison. He pitches his tent and turns
in. He looks forward to an "easy" 67-mile push further south
to Bismarck, ND, on Wednesday, July 7.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Photo/New Town News
Day 14, Monday, July 5
Kris starts from Wolf Point, MT, on Monday morning, July 5,
and rides into North Dakota, through Williston to Ray, ND,
in the northwest part of the state. He covers 120 miles.
Kris stops Monday evening at Three D's RV Park in Ray and is
treated very kindly by owners Clarence and Caroline Volz.
For $5, Kris is fed dinner and is put up in an old office
building now used for storage. He unfolds his sleeping bag
and places it on his air mattress and sleeps comfortably. He
gets a shower and is fed breakfast Tuesday morning, so he
volunteers another $10. He's southbound now.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 13, Sunday, July 4
On the morning of July 4, Kris takes time to shower and do
laundry. He talks while transferring clothes from the washer
to the drier. “I’m in the plains now. All you can see is
two-lane road that ends in the horizon and nothing else.” He
finds himself on good road, though -- straight and flat U.S.
Route 2 in eastern Montana. With help from a gentle tail
wind, he covers 120 miles from Malta to Wolf Point, MT.
“Kind of cruisin’ along.” He meets up with five other
bicycle riders, including one from the Czech Republic riding
with a friend from California. Kris camps in a city park
that night.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 12, Saturday, July 3
It's Saturday evening and darkness is approaching. In
typically understated fashion, Kris observes, “Mosquitoes
are just very intense." How bad? After covering 150 miles in
9-1/2 hours from Chester to Malta, MT, he skips a shower,
puts up his tent in a campground and quickly closes the flap
behind him to escape the stinging pests. Besides, “I was
ready to get off that (bicycle) seat.”
Reported By: Robert Edwards
Day 11, Friday, July 2
Kris leaves East Glacier, MT, at about 11:30 a.m., on
Friday, July 2, after waiting out a rainstorm. A tail wind
helps him cover 112 miles to Chester, MT. “It was like a
gift from God.” Minimal traffic along U.S. Route 2. In
Chester, he comes across a celebration of the 100th
anniversary of the town’s founding. He has a barbecued pork
chop and beans and listens to festival music. He springs for
$20 for a small motel room with a shower. A simple cot
provides a sound night’s sleep Friday into Saturday.
Reported By: Robert Edwards
July 1, 2010
Day 10 of 2,600-mile trek from Anacortes, WA, to Jefferson
City, MO:
Today, Kris Sandgren is pedaling across the Continental
Divide on U.S. Route 2 at the south edge of Glacier National
Park. This is rugged country in northwestern Montana. His
legs are feeling much better after experiencing soreness
over the weekend. "I'm in the groove now," he said late
Wednesday afternoon. He spoke while sitting outside the
Super 1 Foods grocery store in Columbia Falls. He had just
replenished his food supply, buying an apple, bananas,
granola bars and orange juice.
On Tuesday, June 29, Kris spent the night near Fortine, MT,
in an air-conditioned RV. He had asked a couple if he could
pitch his tent on their property. They said absolutely not.
They told him he could stay in their fifth-wheel travel
trailer, having been prepared for out-of-town guests
arriving later in the week. "They wouldn't take any money
from me," Kris said. A good night's sleep and a hot shower
boosted Kris' spirits and energy level. The night before,
Kris had been stuck for three hours inside a campground
restroom -- wide awake -- where had taken refuge during a
severe thunderstorm.
On Wednesday (June 30), Kris made the ski resort town of
Whitefish, MT, where a friendly photographer at the
Whitefish Pilot newspaper, Matt Baldwin, took Kris' photo on
downtown's Central Avenue. Matt also told Kris of a shortcut
out of town, saving Kris a few miles on his way toward West
Glacier, MT.
Kris plans to travel about 65 miles into East Glacier Park
by the end of today.
Reported By: Angela Eden
June 28, 2010
MoDOT Maintenance Crew Leader Kris Sandgren has made it to
Montana.
He is pedaling toward Libby, MT where he will camp for the
night. Everything is going well except for some sore knees
and an ankle that is giving him a little trouble. If the
ankle swelling doesn't go away, he may have to take a day's
break from his trip to give the ankle a rest.
Last night, he stayed on the lawn of a little motel near the
Idaho-Montana border. The owner of the motel was a retiree
from the Idaho Department of Transportation. The gentleman
would not let Kris leave this morning until he gave him an
Idaho DOT hat.
Kris has taken the opportunity to talk to many people along
the way about the reason for his trip -- raising awareness
of work zone safety and raising money for MoDOT's Fallen
Workers' Memorial.
Please keep Kris in your thoughts as he makes his way toward
Jefferson City.
Reported By: Angela Eden
June 26, 2010
MoDOT Maintenance Crew Leader Kris Sandgren just called from
the road.
He is now leaving Wauconda, WA on Route 20 and headed up
Wauconda Pass (EL. 4310). He is averaging about 100 miles a
day. Yesterday was a little slower of a day and he didn't
get as far is he wanted.
He is doing well and the temperatures have been cool.
Wauconda is approximately 189 miles from the
Washington/Idaho state line.
Reported By: Angela Eden
June 22, 2010
MoDOT Bicyclist Update: Kris Sandgren to Leave Washington
State Today en-route to Jefferson City
MoDOT Maintenance Crew Leader Kris Sandgren is leaving
Anacortes, WA today on his 2,600 mile bicycle trip to raise
awareness about work zone safety and to raise money for
MoDOT's Fallen Workers Memorial.
Kris' plan is to make it to Newhalem, WA by tonight.
Tomorrow he'll start up Rainy Pass in the Cascade Mountains
and overnight tomorrow night in Twisp WA.
We'll keep you updated periodically on Kris' trek from
Washington state to Jefferson City. He plans to average 100
miles a day on his bike.
Reported By: Angela Eden
Reported By: Angela Eden
