As we ride through this last gasp of Utah (State Motto: "We're sometimes kind of hot, we don't like booze and there are too many flies"), the primary thoughts I have are about the future.  Specifically, I've discovered that not only do I really enjoy randonneur (long distance cycling), I seem to be pretty good at it.  I'm under no delusions that I'm going to be world-class or anything, but still, I'm not bad at it.  So I've started really thinking about where I could go with this.  So I'm going to use this entry as a placeholder for some of the ultra cycling events I've found out about and have thoughts of doing in the future: 

RAGBRAI - Register Great Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa.  This one is a week long, the last week in July.  It costs $175.  Ragbrai.org
BRAN - Bike Ride Across Nebraska.  June 4-10.  Again, about a week and about $200.  bran-inc.org.
STP - Seattle to Portland.  207 miles, which you can do in one day.   July 16.  Www.cascade.org
Bike the US for MS Northern Tier - 4285 miles.  June and July and parts of May and August.
Bike the US for MS Pacific Coast - 1850 miles, roughly.  August.
Iceland Cyclothon.  Wowcyclothon.is.  About $250.  6/20-6/23.

There's undoubtedly going to be more, but this is a good start!