Heading eastbound from Walden, Colorado, the Eastern Express Connector crosses the southern Rocky Mountains only once at Cameron Pass, compared to the three high-elevation passes on the traditional TransAmerica route. The route then descends the scenic Poudre River canyon into the bicycle-friendly college town of Fort Collins, the only significant population on the entire section. Things start to dry out as you get into the eastern part of Colorado and cross into the southwestern corner of Nebraska. Carrying extra water is a good idea here - this is hot, barren country and services are limited. You might have to do some early morning and early evening riding to escape the midday sun. Many of the small towns along the way have public swimming pools to help to beat the heat, so pack your swimsuit! The route through Kansas continues to be rural in nature, with not a single town’s population over 2,000 until the section's end in Atchison, Kansas.

More information about this route is available here.