Bob Alessio Run Across America-For Enduring Freedom

The Jackpot

The Bull

Note Worthy

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Hi friends and family,

I'm issuing this update from the broadcast studio of KSNO (think SNOW!!) radio station in beautiful Aspen, Colorado. I was interviewed live yesterday, and the station manager offered me use of his PC to read and send mail.

As I write this update, the news room is aggressively covering a brand new mountain and mesa fire 20 miles west of Aspen that started soon after I arrived here this afternoon. Very interesting to listen to Fire, Sheriff and Police scanner reports, property loss updates, evacuation orders, live on-radio interviews with observers, and the radio staff scurrying about to stay on top of the story. Airplane water and slurry bombers are now en-route to knock the fire down before it becomes another major fire.

The West has been experiencing a damaging drought with excessive heat which together have caused many fires and loss of life. I have seen several of these fires (flames and smoke, large and small) in Nevada, Utah and Colorado during my run.

Since my last update, I have run though Utah and halfway through Colorado, and am now in the heart of the beautiful Rocky Mountains at 7,815'. I've been at 5000' or higher since entering the Sierra Nevadas 2-1/2 months ago. Tomorrow (Thursday), I begin my ascent over Independence Pass (12,095') and over the Great Divide.

On Saturday, I plan to climb (hike, not run) Mt. Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433') as I pass by the trailhead near Twin Lakes, Co.

This morning, I visited the John Denver Memorial along the Roaring Fork River in Aspen. The memorial is located on a one acre setting with views of Aspen Mountain and Red Mountain, the river and the canyon leading to Independence Pass. The memorial consists of about 30 large white rocks along a stone walkway. The titles and complete lyrics of John's most popular tunes on about ten of the larger rocks, including, "Rocky Mountain High", "Annie's Song", "Sunshine on My Shoulders". I must confess, I was a bit choked-up.

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I'd like to relate a few events that occurred over the last month:

"The Jackpot"

As I crossed the Nevada/Utah border on US50 (the "Loneliest Highway in America"), I stopped at the only building within 50 miles...a gambling casino on the Nevada side and gas station on the Utah side (lower gas taxes in Utah). Two days later, as I was approaching Delta, UT, a pick-up truck went by me traveling east. I watched it do a U-turn in the highway and come back on the right shoulder I was running on. As it pulled up, I noticed a lady driving and two men in the front bench seat. The lady asked why I am running with a flag. I explained, and she said "well this is our lucky day!, you can have $20, a Bud, or a Mountain Dew". I explained that I was taking donations for the Brain Center. As she reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of $50 dollar bills, she said she had just hit the jackpot for $1600 back at the border.
She gave me a $50 bill while the man in the center asked if I now wanted a Bud or the Mountain Dew. I explained that I save my beer drinking for the end of the run and accepted the Mountain Dew (it was hot, about 115o F). We talked a bit more, I asked them to stop at my camper about 8 miles down the road to get a flyer describing my Run. We said good-by, they U-turned back east honking and shouting Patriotic messages. Later when I got to my camper, I learned that they had stopped, picked up the flyers and left two Buds!!

Back to Top

"The Bull"

While running east through beautiful Salina Canyon in central Utah on parallel frontage and fire roads, I approached a concrete tunnel under pass under I-70 (I had previously passed thru 6-8 such tunnels with no incident). As I approached the tunnel entrance from the north, I noticed a bull walking back and forth in the light at the south side of the tunnel. I stopped briefly to see if the bull would leave the area; it did not. I gathered my courage and continued running into the tunnel, just at the time the bull decided to run towards me at at a fast gallop. I stopped, he then stopped, and we both froze about 30' apart inside the tunnel. I started backing up (I really want to complete this Run Across America), and shortly later the bull backed out at the south end. I again gathered courage and ran through the tunnel only to find the bull on the dirt road fenced in on both sides (I-70 fencing on the left and mountain canyon fencing on the right). The bull lowered its head, stared at me, and began the right foot routine I'd only previously seen in the movies and on TV. At the same time, a big brown cow started down the mountain slope towards us bellowing like she was calling for others to assist her bull friend. The bull decided to run east about 70-80 yards, so I continued east. He stopped, I stopped. He started running east again, I followed. This continued for 10-15 minutes for over a mile. At this time, I'm thinking that the bull is probably more scared than I am (but not by much). It stopped again and the rest of the herd (bulls and cows) were coming at me down the mountain from the southwest. Now I'm really concerned. My options were to try to run past the bull, retreat west (I really want to finish this Run running east without repeating much of the route), or climb the 5 foot barbed wire fence between the dirt road and I-70. I chose the latter, and climbed the barbed wire with minor scratches, climbed the embankment to the highway, ran along the eastbound left shoulder past the bull down below. A couple in a car on I-70 stopped and asked if I needed help, I explained that I thought everything was under control. The lady gave me a bottle of water, they wished me well and drove off. I ran back down the embankment, back over the barbed-wire fence, and looked back at the bull (finally behind me!!) staring at my every move. My Polar heart rate monitor indicated 160 BPM, far higher than usual!!

There are many other stories I could relate, but I'll save them for a book I just may write.

Back to Top

Note Worthy

Also since my last update, Nike signed on as a sponsor, providing running shoes (I'll go through 10 pairs) and running apparel including the water resistant breathable suits that I'll need as I run through the fall and winter.

Something that I've not previously mentioned: as I run on the shoulders of roads I see American Flags, mostly tattered and torn, that have blown off cars. I just cannot leave them lying in the dirt and weeds. To-date, I have picked up eleven flags of all sizes, cleaned them up, and have them hanging in my camper (27-1/2' Class C RV).

Also, at the suggestion of the Fire and Police Chiefs in Boulder Creek, CA, I have been collecting fire, police and sheriff office patches at the stations I have stopped at to express my thanks and support for their work; I now have about 40 patches hanging in the camper. I'll show the WDC and NYC emergency relief organizations the patches when I run through their cities next January and February, and express the thoughts and support of the emergency relief folks and citizens I've met with along the way.

Ray, my daughter Sheryl's friend who was with me for 2-1/2 months from L.A. to Green River, UT had to return to help with his dad's landscape and nursery business. Ray was a great help during the early portion of this Run and was a key motivator in having Sheryl join us for a week in Nevada.

When I came into Grand Junction, CO I heard that John Sommers (John Denver's fiddler and writer of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy") was performing at a local vineyard and winery. I attended, an met John Sommers who asked me to speak about my Run during his second set. I then met Bruce Crumley and Judy Game (Bruce's sister-in-law) who showed great interest in my Run and it's objectives. They offered to support me from Grand Junction through Aspen (they have been Aspen and Aspen area residents for 20 years). They have now offered to support me to at least Colorado Springs, and possibly beyond.

Through their contacts, Bruce and Judy have arranged about 20 radio, TV and newspaper interviews over the last 10 days.

Albert Brien and Tabby, friends from Albert's "Fiddlers' Loft" in Kingston, NH are planning to visit me in Colorado Springs for a few days as I rest and recover from my planned running of the Pikes Peak Marathon.

Well for those of you still reading, thanks for your support and e-mails. Feel free to forward the attached and updated Word document to friends.

I'm off to carbo-load for my Independence Pass ascent tomorrow morning. I'll send along another update when I get to Colorado Springs.

Best Regards,

Bob

P.S. See www.nevadaoutback.com for periodic updates (click on 9/11 Run)

Back To Top

Hi friends and family,

I'm issuing this update from the broadcast studio of KSNO (think SNOW!!) radio station in beautiful Aspen, Colorado. I was interviewed live yesterday, and the station manager offered me use of his PC to read and send mail.

As I write this update, the news room is aggressively covering a brand new mountain and mesa fire 20 miles west of Aspen that started soon after I arrived here this afternoon. Very interesting to listen to Fire, Sheriff and Police scanner reports, property loss updates, evacuation orders, live on-radio interviews with observers, and the radio staff scurrying about to stay on top of the story. Airplane water and slurry bombers are now en-route to knock the fire down before it becomes another major fire.

The West has been experiencing a damaging drought with excessive heat which together have caused many fires and loss of life. I have seen several of these fires (flames and smoke, large and small) in Nevada, Utah and Colorado during my run.

Since my last update, I have run though Utah and halfway through Colorado, and am now in the heart of the beautiful Rocky Mountains at 7,815'. I've been at 5000' or higher since entering the Sierra Nevadas 2-1/2 months ago. Tomorrow (Thursday), I begin my ascent over Independence Pass (12,095') and over the Great Divide.

On Saturday, I plan to climb (hike, not run) Mt. Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433') as I pass by the trailhead near Twin Lakes, Co.

This morning, I visited the John Denver Memorial along the Roaring Fork River in Aspen. The memorial is located on a one acre setting with views of Aspen Mountain and Red Mountain, the river and the canyon leading to Independence Pass. The memorial consists of about 30 large white rocks along a stone walkway. The titles and complete lyrics of John's most popular tunes on about ten of the larger rocks, including, "Rocky Mountain High", "Annie's Song", "Sunshine on My Shoulders". I must confess, I was a bit choked-up.

I'd like to relate a few events that occurred over the last month:

"The Jackpot"

As I crossed the Nevada/Utah border on US50 (the "Loneliest Highway in America"), I stopped at the only building within 50 miles...a gambling casino on the Nevada side and gas station on the Utah side (lower gas taxes in Utah). Two days later, as I was approaching Delta, UT, a pick-up truck went by me traveling east. I watched it do a U-turn in the highway and come back on the right shoulder I was running on. As it pulled up, I noticed a lady driving and two men in the front bench seat. The lady asked why I am running with a flag. I explained, and she said "well this is our lucky day!, you can have $20, a Bud, or a Mountain Dew". I explained that I was taking donations for the Brain Center. As she reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of $50 dollar bills, she said she had just hit the jackpot for $1600 back at the border.
She gave me a $50 bill while the man in the center asked if I now wanted a Bud or the Mountain Dew. I explained that I save my beer drinking for the end of the run and accepted the Mountain Dew (it was hot, about 115o F). We talked a bit more, I asked them to stop at my camper about 8 miles down the road to get a flyer describing my Run. We said good-by, they U-turned back east honking and shouting Patriotic messages. Later when I got to my camper, I learned that they had stopped, picked up the flyers and left two Buds!!

"The Bull"

While running east through beautiful Salina Canyon in central Utah on parallel frontage and fire roads, I approached a concrete tunnel under pass under I-70 (I had previously passed thru 6-8 such tunnels with no incident). As I approached the tunnel entrance from the north, I noticed a bull walking back and forth in the light at the south side of the tunnel. I stopped briefly to see if the bull would leave the area; it did not. I gathered my courage and continued running into the tunnel, just at the time the bull decided to run towards me at at a fast gallop. I stopped, he then stopped, and we both froze about 30' apart inside the tunnel. I started backing up (I really want to complete this Run Across America), and shortly later the bull backed out at the south end. I again gathered courage and ran through the tunnel only to find the bull on the dirt road fenced in on both sides (I-70 fencing on the left and mountain canyon fencing on the right). The bull lowered its head, stared at me, and began the right foot routine I'd only previously seen in the movies and on TV. At the same time, a big brown cow started down the mountain slope towards us bellowing like she was calling for others to assist her bull friend. The bull decided to run east about 70-80 yards, so I continued east. He stopped, I stopped. He started running east again, I followed. This continued for 10-15 minutes for over a mile. At this time, I'm thinking that the bull is probably more scared than I am (but not by much). It stopped again and the rest of the herd (bulls and cows) were coming at me down the mountain from the southwest. Now I'm really concerned. My options were to try to run past the bull, retreat west (I really want to finish this Run running east without repeating much of the route), or climb the 5 foot barbed wire fence between the dirt road and I-70. I chose the latter, and climbed the barbed wire with minor scratches, climbed the embankment to the highway, ran along the eastbound left shoulder past the bull down below. A couple in a car on I-70 stopped and asked if I needed help, I explained that I thought everything was under control. The lady gave me a bottle of water, they wished me well and drove off. I ran back down the embankment, back over the barbed-wire fence, and looked back at the bull (finally behind me!!) staring at my every move. My Polar heart rate monitor indicated 160 BPM, far higher than usual!!

There are many other stories I could relate, but I'll save them for a book I just may write.

Note Worthy

Also since my last update, Nike signed on as a sponsor, providing running shoes (I'll go through 10 pairs) and running apparel including the water resistant breathable suits that I'll need as I run through the fall and winter.

Something that I've not previously mentioned: as I run on the shoulders of roads I see American Flags, mostly tattered and torn, that have blown off cars. I just cannot leave them lying in the dirt and weeds. To-date, I have picked up eleven flags of all sizes, cleaned them up, and have them hanging in my camper (27-1/2' Class C RV).

Also, at the suggestion of the Fire and Police Chiefs in Boulder Creek, CA, I have been collecting fire, police and sheriff office patches at the stations I have stopped at to express my thanks and support for their work; I now have about 40 patches hanging in the camper. I'll show the WDC and NYC emergency relief organizations the patches when I run through their cities next January and February, and express the thoughts and support of the emergency relief folks and citizens I've met with along the way.

Ray, my daughter Sheryl's friend who was with me for 2-1/2 months from L.A. to Green River, UT had to return to help with his dad's landscape and nursery business. Ray was a great help during the early portion of this Run and was a key motivator in having Sheryl join us for a week in Nevada.

When I came into Grand Junction, CO I heard that John Sommers (John Denver's fiddler and writer of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy") was performing at a local vineyard and winery. I attended, an met John Sommers who asked me to speak about my Run during his second set. I then met Bruce Crumley and Judy Game (Bruce's sister-in-law) who showed great interest in my Run and it's objectives. They offered to support me from Grand Junction through Aspen (they have been Aspen and Aspen area residents for 20 years). They have now offered to support me to at least Colorado Springs, and possibly beyond.

Through their contacts, Bruce and Judy have arranged about 20 radio, TV and newspaper interviews over the last 10 days.

Albert Brien and Tabby, friends from Albert's "Fiddlers' Loft" in Kingston, NH are planning to visit me in Colorado Springs for a few days as I rest and recover from my planned running of the Pikes Peak Marathon.

Well for those of you still reading, thanks for your support and e-mails. Feel free to forward the attached and updated Word document to friends.

I'm off to carbo-load for my Independence Pass ascent tomorrow morning. I'll send along another update when I get to Colorado Springs.

Best Regards,

Bob

P.S. See www.nevadaoutback.com for periodic updates (click on 9/11 Run)