(Click HERE for Day 1 of Ride)

Distance to Date: 19,994 km / 12,343 mi

We're learning that whining about riding in the cold doesn't get us anywhere, so we have embraced it! Cold - love it!! LOVE IT!! Right up there with our friend, Headwind.

Bend was AWESOME! During the couple of days in Bend we met amazing people -- really nice folks! When we let Bend today, light snowflakes fell on us. The road ahead had 14 mph headwind... but the hardest part about leaving Bend (like so many of the places we've been) was leaving people we had met. Thank you, all, for letting us cross paths with you!

Special thanks to Jake's Diner and the Lions Club for hosting our presentation. Read Lyle's (owner) blog on our visit -- click HERE. We got lucky and met Rachael Scdoris. She's a professional dog musher who, in 2006, became the first legally blind person to complete the Iditarod Race (Anchorage to Nome, Alaska)! Her dad and her soon-to-be hubby took us out sledding. These dogs LOVE to run! Once the lead dog is harnessed up, it's all a go and the sled shoots off like a rocket. Off they go! These dogs can RUN! And they are so sweet to be around! Thanks, Jerry (Rachael's dad), and Nick (hubby-to-be). Rachael (not wearing hat) will be doing a bike race next week in South Carolina -- Go Rachael! And special thanks to our hosts in Bend. Dewey and Bonnie are "cool dudes". Speedy recovery from your ski accident, Dewey! You need to get on your bike and catch us before we reach Deadhorse, AK in July. A moment of advertisement for Hydro Flask. Thanks for supporting us. The thermos of hot chocolate kept us warm today as we rode to Madras (temperature: 40's). And thanks to Sonny's Motel for supporting us for a night in Madras with a big discount. We really appreciate it!