Meet Tuck

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Who is Tuck?

We’ll tell you in a moment.

But first, a glimpse of today’s travels.

What we saw of Chubbuck wasn’t much to look at. Imagine this Google Earth image, filled with chain stores and whizzing cars.

We stayed the night down there.

Yet we saw something memorable. This morning a motorized parasail roared overhead.

These modest Pocatello houses have a nice view to the west. To the east is noisy I-86, from which Jeffrey took the photo.
Fifteen miles later, on I-15, we stopped to look back.
In another ten miles, we left the Interstate and took US 30 the rest of the day.
This has been a road for a long time.
A brief tailwind.
In a first for this Ride, Jeffrey removed some of his warm clothing as he pushed us up a four mile grade . . .
. . . to a 2-mile downhill, after which the road flattened, an unceasing cross-wind battered us, and the temperature plummeted.
This was a gold-seeker’s idea of a short-cut.
Not everyone out here struck it rich.
A golf course and RV park are somewhere beyond these farm fields.
LDS (“Mormon”) pioneers too poor to buy wagons and draft animals came this way with wheelbarrows.
We stopped for the night in Soda Springs.
Brigham Young had a summer home here.
LDS church members are encouraged to store at least a 3 month food supply. Perhaps that’s why a section in Broulim’s Supermarket is devoted to survival foods. This was our first exposure to a 36-serving can of dehydrated cross-cut celery.

At dusk, we explored the town. We arrived at the Soda Springs Captive Geyser (created by accident in 1937 by drilling intended to find hot water for a commercial bathhouse) just in time for its hourly eruption. It’s impressive. And reeks of sulfur.

The Dinkey Engine, a locomotive drowned in a reservoir in 1924, was retrieved for restoration in 1976.
Someone’s idea of a public ornament. We didn’t see a plaque.

Now, who is Tuck?

Tuck lives in Soda Springs.

Tuck follows the Ride.
Tuck doesn’t ask to see papers before deciding to like you.

And, although it pains me to say it—kangaroo puppets do not like dogs—Tuck is cuter than Jeffrey and me put together.

Just because Tuck is a dog.

L to R: Jeffrey, Joey, today, in Soda Springs. The chauffeur is losing weight from all that pedaling. Me, I haven’t lost an ounce!

Jeffrey and the Ride have a doggy history. When Jeffrey was Channel 1 New Yorker of the Week for our 2012 Ride to Nashville, he told the videographer that it wouldn’t go to his head because he knew the previous week’s honoree was Wally, a dog. The videographer got a faraway look and dreamily said how cute Wally was.

That’s OK. Jeffrey knows his place.

Which brings us to the point.

Tonight, Jeffrey’s place is indicated by the purple arrow.

Seattle to Ogden. 956 miles so far. Soon this Ride will be a wrap.

The Rides have two main purposes.

One is to talk about refugees, asylum, immigration, and Human Rights First, with people who aren’t ordinarily exposed to these topics.

The other is to raise money for Human Rights First, so they can leverage our contributions to defend human rights, increase justice, and help repair the world.

Our talking has been behind where we want it to be, due to the Mountain West’s sparse population and motor vehicle culture. We’ll keep talking for the next few days.

That part is entirely up to us.

Donations too are behind where we want them to be. Human Rights First says that with the end of the Ride in sight, we’re not yet at a quarter of our modest $50,000 goal.

That part is up to us. And it’s up to you.

We would love to return to NYC next week having made major progress on both our goals.

If you are inclined to donate, the coming few days would be a wonderful time.

Donors of any amount will be mailed a souvenir Beatles postcard, signed by Jeffrey and me.

One of the many cards that could be yours.

Come back tomorrow as we cross another state line!

2 thoughts on “Meet Tuck”

  1. A singular tale of cycling the American West, Jeffrey! Is there room on your trike to bring home a jumbo can of cross cut celery to your deserving spouse? Be well, stay safe.

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  2. Growing up in Texas, I distinctly remember Luling – home of oil and gas wells. Sulphur permeated the town. I can’t imagine an entire geyser of the stuff! Keep on pedaling! Stay safe and both of you will be hopefully well rewarded….

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