USA 2014
In 2014, my stuffed dog French Fry and I did a solo long-distance bike ride to raise awareness on memory diseases. Things didn't turn out quite like I planned...what was to have been a cross-country bike ride along the bottom of the country was smothered in 122F heat in the California desert. I pivoted, flying to cooler climes, loosely following the TransAmerica trail from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to the historic triangle of Yorktown. We managed almost 3,000 miles and 108,000 feet of climbing in five weeks while raising over $10,000 for Alzheimer's research.
In 2014, my stuffed dog French Fry and I did a solo long-distance bike ride to raise awareness on memory diseases. Things didn't turn out quite like I planned...what was to have been a cross-country bike ride along the bottom of the country was smothered in 122F heat in the California desert. I pivoted, flying to cooler climes, loosely following the TransAmerica trail from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to the historic triangle of Yorktown. We managed almost 3,000 miles and 108,000 feet of climbing in five weeks while raising over $10,000 for Alzheimer's research.
9/1/14 - Starting Out...Rolling East
I’ve had some ups and downs so far that extend beyond the 9,000 ft of climbing I did in the first day and a half. I'm pasting in three posts at one time....
My Milwaukee-San Diego flight on Saturday was delayed five hours, putting me at the Fed Ex office with views of the Pacific Ocean in the mid-afternoon. Unboxing and reassembling the bike was a snap, but I didn’t get on the road until after 4PM. I cruised through a seedier side of San Diego heading east and soon started gaining elevation. Three hours and 42 miles later, I found a room in the only motel in Alpine where I hoisted my 95 lbs of gear (35lb bike, 45lb stuff and 5lb of water) up an exterior stairway to a second story room. “Why did you pick such a hot weekend to go biking?” asked an attendant at the nearby 7-11. My Garmin GPS showed a steady climb in temps from 75F to 90F in spite of the elevation gain and the setting of the sun.
I’ve had some ups and downs so far that extend beyond the 9,000 ft of climbing I did in the first day and a half. I'm pasting in three posts at one time....
My Milwaukee-San Diego flight on Saturday was delayed five hours, putting me at the Fed Ex office with views of the Pacific Ocean in the mid-afternoon. Unboxing and reassembling the bike was a snap, but I didn’t get on the road until after 4PM. I cruised through a seedier side of San Diego heading east and soon started gaining elevation. Three hours and 42 miles later, I found a room in the only motel in Alpine where I hoisted my 95 lbs of gear (35lb bike, 45lb stuff and 5lb of water) up an exterior stairway to a second story room. “Why did you pick such a hot weekend to go biking?” asked an attendant at the nearby 7-11. My Garmin GPS showed a steady climb in temps from 75F to 90F in spite of the elevation gain and the setting of the sun.
9/2/14 - One Hundred Twenty Two and Climbing
My aim on Sunday was to get to the town of El Centro, about 80 miles away, by early afternoon. I would’ve opted for a shorter stint, but there were no services apart from a single gas station/grocery store after about 40 miles. I set off before sunrise at 6AM, had several 7%+ climbs pushing me to 4,000 ft above sea level before dropping precipitously for six miles down the In Ko Pah Pass on Interstate 8. Normally, going 40mph down a gorge would be stimulating, but the heat and humidity of the valley I was entered burned my skin and caused me to stop twice to rehydrate. As the road leveled off and with twenty miles to go at 11:30AM, I figured a few hours on gently descending terrain with a slight tailwind would suffice, but I didn’t count on the temps quickly hitting the low 120Fs (see below), nor did I count on humidity levels of 60% or the lack of any cover in a cloudless day. Ouch. When I did my research, they were calling for it to be highs in the mid-90Fs for this time of the year. So despite carrying almost six liters (1.5 gallons) of water and refilling much of this en route, I was overheating and had a poor electrolyte mix causing my thighs to cramp up. So I biked and then walked, biked and then walked and enjoyed the breeze of the occasional car passing me by.
My aim on Sunday was to get to the town of El Centro, about 80 miles away, by early afternoon. I would’ve opted for a shorter stint, but there were no services apart from a single gas station/grocery store after about 40 miles. I set off before sunrise at 6AM, had several 7%+ climbs pushing me to 4,000 ft above sea level before dropping precipitously for six miles down the In Ko Pah Pass on Interstate 8. Normally, going 40mph down a gorge would be stimulating, but the heat and humidity of the valley I was entered burned my skin and caused me to stop twice to rehydrate. As the road leveled off and with twenty miles to go at 11:30AM, I figured a few hours on gently descending terrain with a slight tailwind would suffice, but I didn’t count on the temps quickly hitting the low 120Fs (see below), nor did I count on humidity levels of 60% or the lack of any cover in a cloudless day. Ouch. When I did my research, they were calling for it to be highs in the mid-90Fs for this time of the year. So despite carrying almost six liters (1.5 gallons) of water and refilling much of this en route, I was overheating and had a poor electrolyte mix causing my thighs to cramp up. So I biked and then walked, biked and then walked and enjoyed the breeze of the occasional car passing me by.
9/2/14 - Go Greyhound [Dog Blog]
After lots of research and reflection, Dave capitulated on completing the full Southern Tier route this morning. Going from a summer on simmer in Wisconsin to one that sizzles proved too much for a self-contained cyclist in early September. Six to eight weeks later; viable. With the triple digits expected to stick around for at least another week, we opted to Go Greyhound to get beyond part of the less populated desert and into Phoenix where it’s not much cooler but has various transportation options.
So lacking a car, Dave loaded me and the rest of this stuff and biked to all the stores in El Centro open on Labor Day in pursuit of a bike box. After a few strikes, Wal-Mart delivered with a box that Dave carried upside down four miles to avoid wind shears blowing us over. At the El Centro Greyhound, not only did they lack bike boxes, they also were out of packing tape, scissors and any water for the bathrooms or the water fountains. They did have a/c, but Dave was consigned to disassembling the bike outside for concerns over his safety and their limited liability should he sustain injuries during this hazardous disassembly duty).
A three hour wait led to a eight hour bus ride through some pretty desert scenery. The first leg featured a pullover by the US Border Patrol where they only netted one illegal alien (above) and the second leg had a jittery driver who failed to install confidence in his passengers in the depth of the desert by repeating on three occasions…”the bus is overheating…the bus is overheating” interspersed with “it’s gonna take six hours for the next bus to get here.” When we passed a KO'd Greyhound on the highway, I knew he wasn't kidding. To pass the time in our a/c free bus, the guys in the back engaged in discussions on how best to cool an overheating car (hint: turn on the heat, the engine’s warm air will be sucked into the car, bringing in cooler outside air…but this doesn’t work in trucks…only cars.)
In Phoenix by 10:30PM, we found a hotel near the airport and enjoyed some a/c.
So lacking a car, Dave loaded me and the rest of this stuff and biked to all the stores in El Centro open on Labor Day in pursuit of a bike box. After a few strikes, Wal-Mart delivered with a box that Dave carried upside down four miles to avoid wind shears blowing us over. At the El Centro Greyhound, not only did they lack bike boxes, they also were out of packing tape, scissors and any water for the bathrooms or the water fountains. They did have a/c, but Dave was consigned to disassembling the bike outside for concerns over his safety and their limited liability should he sustain injuries during this hazardous disassembly duty).
A three hour wait led to a eight hour bus ride through some pretty desert scenery. The first leg featured a pullover by the US Border Patrol where they only netted one illegal alien (above) and the second leg had a jittery driver who failed to install confidence in his passengers in the depth of the desert by repeating on three occasions…”the bus is overheating…the bus is overheating” interspersed with “it’s gonna take six hours for the next bus to get here.” When we passed a KO'd Greyhound on the highway, I knew he wasn't kidding. To pass the time in our a/c free bus, the guys in the back engaged in discussions on how best to cool an overheating car (hint: turn on the heat, the engine’s warm air will be sucked into the car, bringing in cooler outside air…but this doesn’t work in trucks…only cars.)
In Phoenix by 10:30PM, we found a hotel near the airport and enjoyed some a/c.
9/3/14 - Repositioning-Day #2
NOTE: Another doubleheader post...plus 90 minutes with my web hoster and we have pictures that display!
With the help of a dog (Greyhound), an otter and a raccoon (Frontier Airline planes), I ended up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming Tuesday night. I opted to exchange dreary deserts for magnificent mountains and aliens for animals in seeking to bike parts of the TransAmerica Bike Trail. So far, so good. I can walk without sweating and the scenery is Wyomwonderful.
It is shoulder season in Jackson, so I’m staying in a fancy condo with two bathrooms, two decks and an electric fireplace with ample room to re-assemble my bike. The cooler temps brought back my appetite, so a Pud Thai and a local 2by4 Double IPA went down well (though I could’ve eaten two more Pud Thais…but one 2by4 more and I wouldn't have found the door.)
NOTE: Another doubleheader post...plus 90 minutes with my web hoster and we have pictures that display!
With the help of a dog (Greyhound), an otter and a raccoon (Frontier Airline planes), I ended up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming Tuesday night. I opted to exchange dreary deserts for magnificent mountains and aliens for animals in seeking to bike parts of the TransAmerica Bike Trail. So far, so good. I can walk without sweating and the scenery is Wyomwonderful.
It is shoulder season in Jackson, so I’m staying in a fancy condo with two bathrooms, two decks and an electric fireplace with ample room to re-assemble my bike. The cooler temps brought back my appetite, so a Pud Thai and a local 2by4 Double IPA went down well (though I could’ve eaten two more Pud Thais…but one 2by4 more and I wouldn't have found the door.)
9/3/14 - Cruel & Inhumane Treatment [Dog Bog]
So since Dave doesn’t like selfies, he puts me in compromising positions with strange backrounds. After riding into Dubois, we stopped first at the National Bighorn Sheep Center where we learned about “the big four” types of Bighorns. Then we visited the World’s Largest Jacalope. Find me in the pictures…it’s a snicker, not a smile, that I’m wearing.
NOTE that Dave is still having picture problems...may need to wait for a faster internet connection.
So since Dave doesn’t like selfies, he puts me in compromising positions with strange backrounds. After riding into Dubois, we stopped first at the National Bighorn Sheep Center where we learned about “the big four” types of Bighorns. Then we visited the World’s Largest Jacalope. Find me in the pictures…it’s a snicker, not a smile, that I’m wearing.
NOTE that Dave is still having picture problems...may need to wait for a faster internet connection.
9/4/14 - An Altitude Adjustment
French Fry and I were able to see the World’s Largest Jackalope today. Wouldn’t have managed that in the desert. For more, read his blog.
Today was an ideal biking day…temps never above 80F, tailwinds part of the way (up to 20mph), a massive 17 mile 6% average grade climb to the Continental Divide and a magic carpet ride down from Togwotee Pass at 9550ft above sea level for thirty miles averaging over 20mph. Plus there were trees. And water. And mountains that turned from snowcapped to the red rock layers as I worked first north and then southeast. And the Jackalope. All told, I did 88 miles with about 4,500 feet of climbing and ended up in Dubois, Wyoming at the Stagecoach Motor Inn in another second story room.
Riding north in the morning, the Tetons were etched nicely into the blue background with the sun showcasing the ridgelines. I encountered my first construction delay…bikes have to wait for pilot cars to hitch a ride to not impede traffic flow. My driver was super nice and acted surprised when I wasn’t upset at having to “miss” three miles. I’m no longer a “pedaling purist” I replied. Having given up a true cross-country route, the TransAmerican route where I picked it up has more net miles than the Southern Tier as well as more climbing and rainfall. The path heads southeast and then east through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and eventually into Virginia (I will re-post a map shortly on the cover page) and exchanges hurricanes of the Gulf for tornados and flash flooding of the plains for wicked weather elements.
The climbing in lower oxygen wasn’t as bad as I feared. Going slow, I paused once at a pond off the edge of the road and had lunch, then opted to walk up a half mile of the steepest stuff when a headwind and an 8% grade made the promenade as fast as the pedal.
Tomorrow is mostly heading south…will be rough if the winds repeat their actions.
Today was an ideal biking day…temps never above 80F, tailwinds part of the way (up to 20mph), a massive 17 mile 6% average grade climb to the Continental Divide and a magic carpet ride down from Togwotee Pass at 9550ft above sea level for thirty miles averaging over 20mph. Plus there were trees. And water. And mountains that turned from snowcapped to the red rock layers as I worked first north and then southeast. And the Jackalope. All told, I did 88 miles with about 4,500 feet of climbing and ended up in Dubois, Wyoming at the Stagecoach Motor Inn in another second story room.
Riding north in the morning, the Tetons were etched nicely into the blue background with the sun showcasing the ridgelines. I encountered my first construction delay…bikes have to wait for pilot cars to hitch a ride to not impede traffic flow. My driver was super nice and acted surprised when I wasn’t upset at having to “miss” three miles. I’m no longer a “pedaling purist” I replied. Having given up a true cross-country route, the TransAmerican route where I picked it up has more net miles than the Southern Tier as well as more climbing and rainfall. The path heads southeast and then east through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and eventually into Virginia (I will re-post a map shortly on the cover page) and exchanges hurricanes of the Gulf for tornados and flash flooding of the plains for wicked weather elements.
The climbing in lower oxygen wasn’t as bad as I feared. Going slow, I paused once at a pond off the edge of the road and had lunch, then opted to walk up a half mile of the steepest stuff when a headwind and an 8% grade made the promenade as fast as the pedal.
Tomorrow is mostly heading south…will be rough if the winds repeat their actions.
9/5/14 - Whyroaming?
My pedaling picaresque continues across Wyoming. This entry covers Thursday and Friday…I camped Thursday night and am finding blog updating terribly time-consuming due to more horses in the fields than internet “horsepower” in the motels...leading to me having more time outs than a temper-tantrumed two year old. Phone connectivity is also not working...perhaps it is because Rawlins (which is on I-80) is home to the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum and the cell technology here may still be 19th century.
I blog this from Rawlins, near the south central section of the state. Over the last two days, I’ve been blessed with awesome weather and beautiful scenery in logging 214 miles while climbing over 10,000 feet. Along the way, I’ve meet some great people and seen some interesting sights. A couple in an RV pulled along side me…the husband keeping up with my 16mph pace while the wife extended a tray of grapes for me to eat. At each stop (I’m a sucker for brown historical signs), people make conversation with “Where did you come from?” or “Where are you headed?” Mentioning San Diego last Saturday draws some high eyebrows and offers a chance for me to explain the desert debacle, give out my website cards and talk a bit about the purpose for my ride.
The open expanses of fields, occasionally filled with horses, remains pretty even after a few days. I also spooked an antelope out of the ditch as I rode past early Friday morning. I met a couple of nice guys biking westbound, both on Surly Disc Long Haul Truckers like me. Crossed the Continental Divide twice on Friday and spent time learning about the Oregon Trail (Split Rock Pass is photographed above). French Fry will cover the cultural and curios…one you won’t find in the desert is the disputed burial grounds of Sacagawea as well as Who Wins? contest.
I blog this from Rawlins, near the south central section of the state. Over the last two days, I’ve been blessed with awesome weather and beautiful scenery in logging 214 miles while climbing over 10,000 feet. Along the way, I’ve meet some great people and seen some interesting sights. A couple in an RV pulled along side me…the husband keeping up with my 16mph pace while the wife extended a tray of grapes for me to eat. At each stop (I’m a sucker for brown historical signs), people make conversation with “Where did you come from?” or “Where are you headed?” Mentioning San Diego last Saturday draws some high eyebrows and offers a chance for me to explain the desert debacle, give out my website cards and talk a bit about the purpose for my ride.
The open expanses of fields, occasionally filled with horses, remains pretty even after a few days. I also spooked an antelope out of the ditch as I rode past early Friday morning. I met a couple of nice guys biking westbound, both on Surly Disc Long Haul Truckers like me. Crossed the Continental Divide twice on Friday and spent time learning about the Oregon Trail (Split Rock Pass is photographed above). French Fry will cover the cultural and curios…one you won’t find in the desert is the disputed burial grounds of Sacagawea as well as Who Wins? contest.
9/6/14 - Colorful Colorado
My hope of achieving culinary closure by having a make-it-yourself motel waffle in every state was crushed this morning. In my only Wyoming waffle-making opportunity, I failed to coat the insides with enough spray (ok-no spray) and I was left with a crusty mess. I thought it might have portended problems on the road, especially after facing the stiffest headwind of the trip heading southbound out of Rawlins.
After about 40 miles, I stopped for a dip in the Hobo Hot Springs (French Fry has this one) and the winds seemed to moderate. Weather was ideal again (rain is forecast for Monday PM and Tuesday) while the scenery proved more expansive than engaging with widely dispersed ranches and pasture area and limited civilization which makes for long slogs to find warm bedding options.
110 miles today with 4,600 feet of climbing as I crossed into Colorado and am overnighting in the moose mecca of Walden. My hunter orange dry-fit T-shirt fits in well here. (f.y.i.-running totals are now on the main page.)
After about 40 miles, I stopped for a dip in the Hobo Hot Springs (French Fry has this one) and the winds seemed to moderate. Weather was ideal again (rain is forecast for Monday PM and Tuesday) while the scenery proved more expansive than engaging with widely dispersed ranches and pasture area and limited civilization which makes for long slogs to find warm bedding options.
110 miles today with 4,600 feet of climbing as I crossed into Colorado and am overnighting in the moose mecca of Walden. My hunter orange dry-fit T-shirt fits in well here. (f.y.i.-running totals are now on the main page.)
I I had my first flat tire today; a nice sort of slow leak that let me pump up and press on to repair things in the comfort of my Super 8 room. The gas stations were kind. Unlike in Wisconsin where you pay for dairy air, in Colorado its fresh and free.
Today’s ride went through the heart of the Arapaho National Forest, over 9,621 ft Willow Creek Pass and across the Continental Divide for my fourth time. On the south side of the divide, the environs changed from hay fields and sparsely treed terrain to a cacophony of coniferous forests interspersed with poplars already showing their fall colors. Streams meandered along much of one or both sides of the road. Sprinkles showed up today too, but the weather changes fast at 8,000 feet, so they didn’t last for long. Overall, it was a nice change of pace.
After 80 hard miles into a 10-15mph wind out of the south, I pulled into Kremmling, Colorado at about 7,800 ft above sea level. It tomorrow’s weather isn’t a washout, I hope to pass through Breckenridge and over the Hoosier Pass at 11,541 ft, the highest elevation on the TransAmerica route.
Today’s ride went through the heart of the Arapaho National Forest, over 9,621 ft Willow Creek Pass and across the Continental Divide for my fourth time. On the south side of the divide, the environs changed from hay fields and sparsely treed terrain to a cacophony of coniferous forests interspersed with poplars already showing their fall colors. Streams meandered along much of one or both sides of the road. Sprinkles showed up today too, but the weather changes fast at 8,000 feet, so they didn’t last for long. Overall, it was a nice change of pace.
After 80 hard miles into a 10-15mph wind out of the south, I pulled into Kremmling, Colorado at about 7,800 ft above sea level. It tomorrow’s weather isn’t a washout, I hope to pass through Breckenridge and over the Hoosier Pass at 11,541 ft, the highest elevation on the TransAmerica route.
9/6/14 - Brown Historical Markets & AYCE Fantasies [Dog Blog]
On Thursday, Dave biked through the Wind River Indian Reservation and made a five mile detour in Fort Washakie to visit the disputed burial site of Sacagawea, the Native American guide who helped Lewis and Clark on their 1804-1806 expedition. Set in a large Native American burial ground, a tombstone placed in 1963 lays claim to Sacagawea not dying as a teenager but instead living to 96 and expiring with her people. [Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacagawea]
Like all graves on the grounds, the burial dirt seemed more orange and clay-like than the surrounding gray ground and Sacagawea’s burial was unique in being littered with pennies. If anyone knows the significance, please comment…by the way, we didn’t see any gold Sacagawea dollar coins on the ground.
Like all graves on the grounds, the burial dirt seemed more orange and clay-like than the surrounding gray ground and Sacagawea’s burial was unique in being littered with pennies. If anyone knows the significance, please comment…by the way, we didn’t see any gold Sacagawea dollar coins on the ground.
9/7/14 - Fresh & Free Air
Descent from Willow Creek Pass
My fourth Continental Divide crossing in as many days
Interesting slice of rock heading into Hot Sulphur Springs
9/7/14 - The Romans Would Have Loved Saratoga [Dog Blog]
Dave stopped at the Hobo Hot Springs in Saratoga, Wyoming today, so named because they are free and open 24/7. It proved a great diversion once one gets over the green scum on the walls and seats. Three bathing options...a 114F hot pool (caldarium), a cooler 100F pool (tepidarium) where the senior set was hanging out and the outflow into the river area (frigidarium), rocked off to provide an opportunity for an 80F dip or a step over the rocks into the river for a 60F refreshing feel. The Romans didn't come here, but if they were in the area, this would have been a hot tourist attraction.
No sense finding me in these pictures...no dogs were allowed.
Dave stopped at the Hobo Hot Springs in Saratoga, Wyoming today, so named because they are free and open 24/7. It proved a great diversion once one gets over the green scum on the walls and seats. Three bathing options...a 114F hot pool (caldarium), a cooler 100F pool (tepidarium) where the senior set was hanging out and the outflow into the river area (frigidarium), rocked off to provide an opportunity for an 80F dip or a step over the rocks into the river for a 60F refreshing feel. The Romans didn't come here, but if they were in the area, this would have been a hot tourist attraction.
No sense finding me in these pictures...no dogs were allowed.
9/8/14 - Elevation Max
I humped over Hoosier Pass today - the highest elevation on the TransAmerica route at 11,539 ft. - and came down in the rain, settling in at the historic town of Fairplay, 10,000 ft. above sea level. Along today's 80 miles and 5,534 feet of climbing, I passed through beautiful, bike friendly Breckenridge and Alma, the highest incorporated town in the US. There was plenty of scenic Rocky Mountain milieux, cotton ball Colorado lake reflection vistas and lots of trout fishermen on the many waterways along the route.
I'm holed up at a haunted hotel in Fairplay (the Fairplay-Valiton), figuring every long-distance bike ride needs at least one haunted hotel experience. The old town has as many yoga centers (2) as bars and is most famous for its World Championship Pack Burro Race (see the Dog Blog for details).
I'm blogging several photos today in an attempt at a slide show. From reading the blogs of other bikers heading my direction, the scenery will start getting pretty nondescript soon.
I'm holed up at a haunted hotel in Fairplay (the Fairplay-Valiton), figuring every long-distance bike ride needs at least one haunted hotel experience. The old town has as many yoga centers (2) as bars and is most famous for its World Championship Pack Burro Race (see the Dog Blog for details).
I'm blogging several photos today in an attempt at a slide show. From reading the blogs of other bikers heading my direction, the scenery will start getting pretty nondescript soon.
9/8/14 - World Championship Pack Burro Race [Dog Blog]
My Dad loved watching sports of all sorts...but one event he probably missed out on is the World Championship Pack Burro Race held in Fairplay, CO each summer. That's where we are lodging tonight. The goal is to "get your a__ (burro) up the pass!" as they say here...loaded with 33 lbs of weight that includes a gold pan, picks, shovels, the racer can run, walk or carry but not ride their burro up Mosquito Pass at over 13,000 ft and back down again. That's over 29 miles at some pretty high elevation. The picture at left is the memorial to one of the more popular burros and lists winners from the last 60+ years on the burro board at right.
9/9/14 - Dropped a Mile
My Garmin GPS estimated I burned 7,102 calories today in covering 127 miles to get to Pueblo, Colorado. That seems a stretch given a good tailwind the last 35 miles and the fact I dropped a mile in elevation. However, I won't pass up calories and schlep things on the road I wouldn't touch at home (like 880 calories quarts of chocolate milk).
Two noteworthy stops today - French Fry has the McFlier story in his blog. My evening adventure was exploring Pueblo's Riverwalk area for the first time. Meandering by foot around much of the central area of town, affluence is absent. The Riverwalk area was a charming contrast however. I took a claustrophobic-conducive boat trip (the only passenger despite having showered after my bike ride) and found some parallels with San Antonio's Riverwalk but Pueblo's is far less developed. It was refreshing moving around without self-propulsion and I wrapped up the experience with dinner outside on the Riverwalk on a perfect night.
Two noteworthy stops today - French Fry has the McFlier story in his blog. My evening adventure was exploring Pueblo's Riverwalk area for the first time. Meandering by foot around much of the central area of town, affluence is absent. The Riverwalk area was a charming contrast however. I took a claustrophobic-conducive boat trip (the only passenger despite having showered after my bike ride) and found some parallels with San Antonio's Riverwalk but Pueblo's is far less developed. It was refreshing moving around without self-propulsion and I wrapped up the experience with dinner outside on the Riverwalk on a perfect night.
9/9/14 - Too Chicken to be Anything but a Stuffed Dog [Dog Blog]
Day seven of biking the TransAmerican Trail. Meet Bill. Dave and I did, and he is one dog-gone interesting man.
Most of the small western towns we’ve passed have some sort of festival to bring in a little tourism and develop some community camaraderie. Guffey, Colorado tops my oddity chart with its “Chicken Fly” festival. Each July Fourth, participants rent chickens which are placed in a mailbox on an elevated platform and coaxed out “gently” with a toilet plunger. The chicken that flies the farthest is the trophy winner. That’s just fowl.
Or so we thought...until spending an hour with Bill today. He showed us around his barn filled with all sorts of oddities including his favorite - a dried out iguana hanging above his head. In the yard and the nearby town museum are skeletons aplenty, distinctive musical instruments like fart harps (toilet seats with wire strings fashioned like a banjo that creates a distinct sound) and all sorts of old vehicles. Turns out the Chicken Fly festival helped raise funds to re-start the school and to build a firehouse. The record is 138 feet. It was discontinued two years ago as the fox were getting too many of the chickens during the "off-season".
To see a crude video of the contest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs5Ku4a_osg
For more on Bill and Guffey and the Turkey Testicle Festival:
http://vimeo.com/88164089
Most of the small western towns we’ve passed have some sort of festival to bring in a little tourism and develop some community camaraderie. Guffey, Colorado tops my oddity chart with its “Chicken Fly” festival. Each July Fourth, participants rent chickens which are placed in a mailbox on an elevated platform and coaxed out “gently” with a toilet plunger. The chicken that flies the farthest is the trophy winner. That’s just fowl.
Or so we thought...until spending an hour with Bill today. He showed us around his barn filled with all sorts of oddities including his favorite - a dried out iguana hanging above his head. In the yard and the nearby town museum are skeletons aplenty, distinctive musical instruments like fart harps (toilet seats with wire strings fashioned like a banjo that creates a distinct sound) and all sorts of old vehicles. Turns out the Chicken Fly festival helped raise funds to re-start the school and to build a firehouse. The record is 138 feet. It was discontinued two years ago as the fox were getting too many of the chickens during the "off-season".
To see a crude video of the contest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs5Ku4a_osg
For more on Bill and Guffey and the Turkey Testicle Festival:
http://vimeo.com/88164089
9/10/14 - Carry On Weathered Son
In deference to Kansas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_2IdybTV0), the Wicked Witch of the West seems more in play on my last two days. Bad weather and mechanical breakdowns are part of the experience and bring me closer to the purpose behind my ride. Here's a summary:
I had a long ride on Thursday, managing 117 miles in getting from Pueblo, CO to Eads, CO. The TransAmerica route is generally through small town America. That's good and bad...less traffic on the roads but greater distance between services. So it was at 11:30AM that after a rainy but 70F morning that I had to choose between calling it a day at 53 miles or pushing on to the next bit of civilization at 115 miles. A roadside camp out was unlikely as cattle fences were tight to the road and what shoulder existed was occupied by nasty, pointy, prickly shrubbery. As I enjoyed my fine dining experience of Pop Tarts and an Arizona Tea on the only picnic bench in Ordway, the sun came out...surely a sign to carry on. I listened, but ran into two flats, had one of my rear panniers blow a covering bolt and popped a screw on my sunglasses. So with a one ear hook pair of sunglasses (looking rather pirate-like if I do say) and a bungeed pannier, I rolled into Eads at 6PM. Ate at the only game in town...featuring the AYCE salad bar (which I consumed) but bypassing the whiteboard specials that included 14 different types of pies ($2.75 a slice) and four flavors of jello shots ($1 each). I opted instead for an airplane-size bottle of Merlot for $2.25 from the reception of the only bed bug free lodging in town.
The weather forecast for today was 70F with a 10% chance of rain, modest wind in the face. After 700 feet of climbing all of yesterday, I knew it would be a flat (oopps, don't use that word) experience but figured conditions would be good enough. I ended up getting a mechanically sound day but it drizzled constantly and created a drip line pouring off my helmet visor onto my GPS. The temps never ramped above 51F and the Wicked Witch gave me consistent headwinds of 15-25 mph such that going 10 mph on my bike left me huffing and puffing. No trees, hills or curves in the road to buffer the wind. So I called it a day after 58 miles and am staying in Tribune, KS's only lodging, contemplating if tomorrow will be a rest day as the forecast calls for conditions akin to today, only cooler with frost warnings overnight. By Saturday, things warm up and the sun is supposed to shine. Carry On Weathered Son.
I had a long ride on Thursday, managing 117 miles in getting from Pueblo, CO to Eads, CO. The TransAmerica route is generally through small town America. That's good and bad...less traffic on the roads but greater distance between services. So it was at 11:30AM that after a rainy but 70F morning that I had to choose between calling it a day at 53 miles or pushing on to the next bit of civilization at 115 miles. A roadside camp out was unlikely as cattle fences were tight to the road and what shoulder existed was occupied by nasty, pointy, prickly shrubbery. As I enjoyed my fine dining experience of Pop Tarts and an Arizona Tea on the only picnic bench in Ordway, the sun came out...surely a sign to carry on. I listened, but ran into two flats, had one of my rear panniers blow a covering bolt and popped a screw on my sunglasses. So with a one ear hook pair of sunglasses (looking rather pirate-like if I do say) and a bungeed pannier, I rolled into Eads at 6PM. Ate at the only game in town...featuring the AYCE salad bar (which I consumed) but bypassing the whiteboard specials that included 14 different types of pies ($2.75 a slice) and four flavors of jello shots ($1 each). I opted instead for an airplane-size bottle of Merlot for $2.25 from the reception of the only bed bug free lodging in town.
The weather forecast for today was 70F with a 10% chance of rain, modest wind in the face. After 700 feet of climbing all of yesterday, I knew it would be a flat (oopps, don't use that word) experience but figured conditions would be good enough. I ended up getting a mechanically sound day but it drizzled constantly and created a drip line pouring off my helmet visor onto my GPS. The temps never ramped above 51F and the Wicked Witch gave me consistent headwinds of 15-25 mph such that going 10 mph on my bike left me huffing and puffing. No trees, hills or curves in the road to buffer the wind. So I called it a day after 58 miles and am staying in Tribune, KS's only lodging, contemplating if tomorrow will be a rest day as the forecast calls for conditions akin to today, only cooler with frost warnings overnight. By Saturday, things warm up and the sun is supposed to shine. Carry On Weathered Son.
9/12/14 - Central Time Zone
Two milestones achieved today...I crossed over 1,000 miles on this trip and pedaled into the Central Time Zone which rests one county into Kansas coming from the west. I wanted to take a picture of the Time Zone sign, but my fingers were so cold, the camera phone wouldn't acknowledge my movements. I thought about trying my nose but that wasn't any warmer.
Parts of the Kansas plains had record-breaking cold temps last night. It was 90F here on Tuesday but hit only a high of 44F today with no sun in sight. Wind chills were in the sub-freezing zone until about noon. Thankfully, of the trifecta of natural tribulations for bikers (temp, moisture and wind), only 1.5 were a challenge today. No rain and a wind that blew hard but out of the North by Northeast (least not directly in my face all the time on my dead east direction).
There's not much variety in this part of Kansas which is probably why they call it the Great Plains. There was some rattlesnake road kill...the chilly willies make the snakes seek the warmth of the roads where they often get planked. My most interesting observation pertains to road traffic. When a westbound truck crossed my path, the cold breeze felt like a slap in the face, so I kept my head down and held hard to the bike. Eastbound vehicles were a blessing. Livestock lorries, those semis of stench, would give me 1 to 1.5 seconds of drafting (being pulled along with minimal effort). Despite no oncoming traffic, one eastbound hog hauler slowed up for a few seconds as he passed me, gifting me with almost three seconds of effortless riding. Bless you food trough whopper delivery dude!
I'm in Dighton, Kansas tonight in a motel so old it took 45 minutes for the boiler to warm up enough to start heating the room. It's so retro it rocks. No dog blogs lately...I asked the motel attendant about the town and she gave the glaring review "This town is so old, just like this motel. We got a grocery store, a liquor store, there's the gas station on the corner and I can't forget the post office." So I will spend Friday night planning a day off on Monday where I hope to rent a car to do some bike repair errands and take in a few Kansas sights too far north for the TransAm route.
Two milestones achieved today...I crossed over 1,000 miles on this trip and pedaled into the Central Time Zone which rests one county into Kansas coming from the west. I wanted to take a picture of the Time Zone sign, but my fingers were so cold, the camera phone wouldn't acknowledge my movements. I thought about trying my nose but that wasn't any warmer.
Parts of the Kansas plains had record-breaking cold temps last night. It was 90F here on Tuesday but hit only a high of 44F today with no sun in sight. Wind chills were in the sub-freezing zone until about noon. Thankfully, of the trifecta of natural tribulations for bikers (temp, moisture and wind), only 1.5 were a challenge today. No rain and a wind that blew hard but out of the North by Northeast (least not directly in my face all the time on my dead east direction).
There's not much variety in this part of Kansas which is probably why they call it the Great Plains. There was some rattlesnake road kill...the chilly willies make the snakes seek the warmth of the roads where they often get planked. My most interesting observation pertains to road traffic. When a westbound truck crossed my path, the cold breeze felt like a slap in the face, so I kept my head down and held hard to the bike. Eastbound vehicles were a blessing. Livestock lorries, those semis of stench, would give me 1 to 1.5 seconds of drafting (being pulled along with minimal effort). Despite no oncoming traffic, one eastbound hog hauler slowed up for a few seconds as he passed me, gifting me with almost three seconds of effortless riding. Bless you food trough whopper delivery dude!
I'm in Dighton, Kansas tonight in a motel so old it took 45 minutes for the boiler to warm up enough to start heating the room. It's so retro it rocks. No dog blogs lately...I asked the motel attendant about the town and she gave the glaring review "This town is so old, just like this motel. We got a grocery store, a liquor store, there's the gas station on the corner and I can't forget the post office." So I will spend Friday night planning a day off on Monday where I hope to rent a car to do some bike repair errands and take in a few Kansas sights too far north for the TransAm route.
9/13/14 - Wind Therapy
In reading biker blogs and in chatting with cross-country riders on this trip, most will say "I survived Kansas". "How bad can it be?" I thought to myself. People say she's beautiful, has huge tracks of land...what more could one ask for?
Absent the wind (blowing 10-20mph consistently out of the south by southeast), it would be a great state to bike through. Nice shoulder on the road, relatively flat with minimal traffic, people are friendly....
Turning into the wind the last 15 miles heading into Great Bend, KS today, I decided as part of my wind therapy that I would strike back. No matter how good Kansas is, they will get blown away early and I will not, repeat will not, pick them to win the NCAA tournament. Ever.....unless of course I manage to get a tailwind (unlikely)...then I might let them get into the Final Four...or perhaps I get a few days where the winds are under 10mph and I get a tailwind so I can regain the feeling in my fingertips from overgripping the handlebars...then maybe the championship game. But never, repeat never, will they be my NCAA champion pick.
There. I feel better. On to Newton tomorrow, weather permitting of course.
Absent the wind (blowing 10-20mph consistently out of the south by southeast), it would be a great state to bike through. Nice shoulder on the road, relatively flat with minimal traffic, people are friendly....
Turning into the wind the last 15 miles heading into Great Bend, KS today, I decided as part of my wind therapy that I would strike back. No matter how good Kansas is, they will get blown away early and I will not, repeat will not, pick them to win the NCAA tournament. Ever.....unless of course I manage to get a tailwind (unlikely)...then I might let them get into the Final Four...or perhaps I get a few days where the winds are under 10mph and I get a tailwind so I can regain the feeling in my fingertips from overgripping the handlebars...then maybe the championship game. But never, repeat never, will they be my NCAA champion pick.
There. I feel better. On to Newton tomorrow, weather permitting of course.
9/13/14 - Letter to Toto [Dog Blog]
Toto,
I hope things are well with you and that you are keeping your biting under control.
Three hours into Kansas and I get the whole "human owner knocked out by wind" thing. Three days into Kansas and I'm still not feeling the "no place like home" love. The people are nice enough in a quiet and unpretentious way. It's the wind...the wicked wind...
Dave thinks he has an answer and it goes back to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. He recently read "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan, et. al., which talks about the poor land management practices of the Plains farmers in the 1920s leading to the huge loss of soil in the early 1930s. One of President Roosevelt's grandiose ideas was to plant 300 million trees in the Plains to combat wind-related erosion and help alter the micro climate. Roughly 30 million trees were planted by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp), but when the rains returned and WWII spiked demand for grains, most of the farmers plowed over the young trees, leaving the mostly denuded landscape. Occasionally, Dave and I would pass a row of trees and think "Thank you CCC!"
There's still time to feel the love...despite 97 miles today, we're a little less than half the way across this long state.
Pawsonly yours,
French Fry
I hope things are well with you and that you are keeping your biting under control.
Three hours into Kansas and I get the whole "human owner knocked out by wind" thing. Three days into Kansas and I'm still not feeling the "no place like home" love. The people are nice enough in a quiet and unpretentious way. It's the wind...the wicked wind...
Dave thinks he has an answer and it goes back to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. He recently read "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan, et. al., which talks about the poor land management practices of the Plains farmers in the 1920s leading to the huge loss of soil in the early 1930s. One of President Roosevelt's grandiose ideas was to plant 300 million trees in the Plains to combat wind-related erosion and help alter the micro climate. Roughly 30 million trees were planted by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp), but when the rains returned and WWII spiked demand for grains, most of the farmers plowed over the young trees, leaving the mostly denuded landscape. Occasionally, Dave and I would pass a row of trees and think "Thank you CCC!"
There's still time to feel the love...despite 97 miles today, we're a little less than half the way across this long state.
Pawsonly yours,
French Fry
9/14/14 - Playing Russian Roulette with Papa Tartski
I've made peace with the winds. They aren't giving me peace yet, but I'm seeing more scrub brush the further east I get (thank you Roger the Shrubber) and am past the half way point of Kansas after today's 104 mile effort. Not much new to report...so permit me to respond to a question on how I eat on the road:
One might think "It must be cool to eat all you want!" but I've found it to be more a pain than a pleasure. How so? Three reasons:
1. The Dilemma of the Dollar Stores
The grocery store of small town western America tends to be a Dollar Tree or a Dollar General. They offer up snack foods, a few frozen items and candies...almost nothing in the way of fruits, vegetables or dairy. Makes the hospitals happy. Not a very exciting line-up if you don't have a car to drive the 30+ miles to a metro market.
2. Chug it or Lug it
Good food tends to be bulky and is hard to carry. I love bananas, but they take up lots of space and brown and bruise easily on the bike. No ice packs in my panniers either. So when I cross a real store, I need to chug the chocolate milk 'cause I can't lug it for long without it going bad.
3. Repetition....Again & Again
Eating so much means it seems like yesterday that I just had that item...and often it is. I rotate through breads, bagels, tortillas, cereals, etc and then start over again.
So how do I make it interesting? During the day on the bike, I play a little Russian Roulette with Papa Tartski. This involves buying a few packages of those inexpensive off-brand toaster pastries and one package of the good stuff (real Pop Tarts - the chocolate peanut butter with graham cracker crust...yum, yum, yum). To save space, I ditch the boxes and intermingle the silvery foiled packages, stuffing them in my front food pannier. Snack time? Reach into the stash and see if I drew a lucky sleeve! Dinner time is often a Chinese place or a truck stop with a buffet. Quantity and variety trumps quality.
I've made peace with the winds. They aren't giving me peace yet, but I'm seeing more scrub brush the further east I get (thank you Roger the Shrubber) and am past the half way point of Kansas after today's 104 mile effort. Not much new to report...so permit me to respond to a question on how I eat on the road:
One might think "It must be cool to eat all you want!" but I've found it to be more a pain than a pleasure. How so? Three reasons:
1. The Dilemma of the Dollar Stores
The grocery store of small town western America tends to be a Dollar Tree or a Dollar General. They offer up snack foods, a few frozen items and candies...almost nothing in the way of fruits, vegetables or dairy. Makes the hospitals happy. Not a very exciting line-up if you don't have a car to drive the 30+ miles to a metro market.
2. Chug it or Lug it
Good food tends to be bulky and is hard to carry. I love bananas, but they take up lots of space and brown and bruise easily on the bike. No ice packs in my panniers either. So when I cross a real store, I need to chug the chocolate milk 'cause I can't lug it for long without it going bad.
3. Repetition....Again & Again
Eating so much means it seems like yesterday that I just had that item...and often it is. I rotate through breads, bagels, tortillas, cereals, etc and then start over again.
So how do I make it interesting? During the day on the bike, I play a little Russian Roulette with Papa Tartski. This involves buying a few packages of those inexpensive off-brand toaster pastries and one package of the good stuff (real Pop Tarts - the chocolate peanut butter with graham cracker crust...yum, yum, yum). To save space, I ditch the boxes and intermingle the silvery foiled packages, stuffing them in my front food pannier. Snack time? Reach into the stash and see if I drew a lucky sleeve! Dinner time is often a Chinese place or a truck stop with a buffet. Quantity and variety trumps quality.
9/16/14 - Day Off and Day On
This doubler post covers my day off the bike on Monday as well as another eight hours in the saddle day on Tuesday.
I rented a car Monday and have a new found respect for internal combustion engine-powered four wheelers. I drove north to Abilene to visit the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Museum, then east to Kansas City to exchange some broken bike parts at the only REI in Kansas, take in a behind the scenes Smokestack Beer Tour at Boulevard Brewery and capped it off with some IHOP free birthday pancakes before driving back to Newton, KS. Five whole biking days compressed into one with ample time for fun. Sweet.
I won't bore you with lots of details on the excellent Eisenhower complex, but suffice it to say that he's in my top three favorite presidents...he had a temper and made some mistakes, but his handling of the Soviets in the 1950s looks impressive compared to the two subsequent decades and he was good at not wasting money within the military. He was also an oil painter, something I dabble (albeit poorly) in. One of four presidents to paint. Without googlecheating, who are the other three? Lots of pictures today provide more explanation and read on for the answer to the question.
The winds were so bad on Sunday afternoon, permit me to repeat a conversation with the Econo Lodge receptionist which shows how the winds are messing with me. I've pulled off the highway outside Newton, a town large enough to have multiple exits leading into the city. Short on energy after a hundred miler, I called the lady and attempted to tell her where I was and to ask what exit to take...
Lodge Lady: "Sir, I can't hear you. Please roll up your windows and repeat the question."
I cup the phone to reduce the wind noise and repeat my request.
Lodge Lady: "Sir, please pull over and close all openings and repeat your question."
I'm getting frustrated, not at her but at the winds...so I step off from straddling my bike, rest it by a signpost, bend down to double check and then get in a fetal position and bark out "I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER. I'M WEARING BIKE SHORTS SO THERE'S NOTHING TO CLOSE UP AND I'M ALSO WEARING BIKE SHORTS BECAUSE I'M ON A BIIIIIICYCLE!"
Lodge Lady: "oh. sorry" and with this and thanks to basically being in a ball, I was able to get directions.
Today (Tuesday) was another eastbound day. Managed 110 miles, the first half pretty much directly into a wind but it was only 8-12 mph. Manageable. Last half it even turned a bit so it was only partially in my face. My biggest challenge today was in breathing. The two "injuries" or "aches" on this trip so far are numb fingertips (making typing challenging) and a sunburned lower lip. On the latter, my lip balm wasn't of a high enough SPF early on and it requires lots of attention. I'm a mouth breather and today I had to find that sweet spot between getting enough air without making too big an opening for the grasshoppers, crickets and BOUS's (Bugs of Unusual Size) that I stirred up and that had a tendency to bounce off my arms, chest or sunglasses.
Staying in Yates Center tonight. I hope to be on the Kansas/Missouri border tomorrow.
The other three oil painting presidents? Grant, Carter & G W Bush.
I rented a car Monday and have a new found respect for internal combustion engine-powered four wheelers. I drove north to Abilene to visit the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Museum, then east to Kansas City to exchange some broken bike parts at the only REI in Kansas, take in a behind the scenes Smokestack Beer Tour at Boulevard Brewery and capped it off with some IHOP free birthday pancakes before driving back to Newton, KS. Five whole biking days compressed into one with ample time for fun. Sweet.
I won't bore you with lots of details on the excellent Eisenhower complex, but suffice it to say that he's in my top three favorite presidents...he had a temper and made some mistakes, but his handling of the Soviets in the 1950s looks impressive compared to the two subsequent decades and he was good at not wasting money within the military. He was also an oil painter, something I dabble (albeit poorly) in. One of four presidents to paint. Without googlecheating, who are the other three? Lots of pictures today provide more explanation and read on for the answer to the question.
The winds were so bad on Sunday afternoon, permit me to repeat a conversation with the Econo Lodge receptionist which shows how the winds are messing with me. I've pulled off the highway outside Newton, a town large enough to have multiple exits leading into the city. Short on energy after a hundred miler, I called the lady and attempted to tell her where I was and to ask what exit to take...
Lodge Lady: "Sir, I can't hear you. Please roll up your windows and repeat the question."
I cup the phone to reduce the wind noise and repeat my request.
Lodge Lady: "Sir, please pull over and close all openings and repeat your question."
I'm getting frustrated, not at her but at the winds...so I step off from straddling my bike, rest it by a signpost, bend down to double check and then get in a fetal position and bark out "I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER. I'M WEARING BIKE SHORTS SO THERE'S NOTHING TO CLOSE UP AND I'M ALSO WEARING BIKE SHORTS BECAUSE I'M ON A BIIIIIICYCLE!"
Lodge Lady: "oh. sorry" and with this and thanks to basically being in a ball, I was able to get directions.
Today (Tuesday) was another eastbound day. Managed 110 miles, the first half pretty much directly into a wind but it was only 8-12 mph. Manageable. Last half it even turned a bit so it was only partially in my face. My biggest challenge today was in breathing. The two "injuries" or "aches" on this trip so far are numb fingertips (making typing challenging) and a sunburned lower lip. On the latter, my lip balm wasn't of a high enough SPF early on and it requires lots of attention. I'm a mouth breather and today I had to find that sweet spot between getting enough air without making too big an opening for the grasshoppers, crickets and BOUS's (Bugs of Unusual Size) that I stirred up and that had a tendency to bounce off my arms, chest or sunglasses.
Staying in Yates Center tonight. I hope to be on the Kansas/Missouri border tomorrow.
The other three oil painting presidents? Grant, Carter & G W Bush.
9/17/14 - Meandering in Missouri
As if Mother Nature of Kansas opted to say "No hard feelings Dave, Come Again," I was blessed with a lovely moderate tailwind this morning, taking me to the Missouri state line. Appreciated, but no better than Final Four, Jayhawks. I will miss the people. I've had farmers in bib overhauls come to sudden stops on the roads, pop out of their trucks and say "Can I help you, young man?" as I tinker with my derailleur adjustments and senior ladies who see my forlorn face tell me to stay put while, despite polite rejections on my part, they run home to come back with ice cold water.
The southeast corner of Kansas has its own versions of many of the locals I hold dear in Wisconsin...there's a Franklin, Whitewater, Columbus and Fall River. On the Missouri side of the state line, there was also a sign for "Eve 1 mile" and I wanted to get a picture of Adam next to Eve but it was too small to justify an unincorporated sign.
It averaged 81F today, hitting a max of 90F but the humidity was over 90%. The good news is I could feel myself sweat. Sounds gross, but that didn't happen in the California pre-desert. That's not good. Rolled through another 109.6 miles today with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Leaving the Plains has meant more interesting biking with the modest up and downs (called "rollers" in bikespeak). They also tend to moderate the intensity of the winds.
French Fry and I are staying in the family suite at the super nice Super 8 in Lamar, MO. Only room left. To give you a sense for where I am, the motel directory lists 19 different churches located within the city proper. The town has 4,900 people and there's not much to draw from in the environs.
Today's interesting stop was Fort Scott, a National Historical Site on the Kansas side of the state line. It was one of several 1840-1860's frontier forts meant to enforce a "permanent Indian frontier" which was redacted around the time of the Civil War as America's manifest destiny pushed the Native Americans further and further west. The grounds were laid out with nearly 7,000 flags to honor each individual who has given their life in the War on Terrorism. On Saturday, they will read off each individual's name. To those men and women, to those of the Greatest Generation who fought for the rights of people everywhere to self-rule (reinforced through powerful exhibits at the Eisenhower site in Abilene), and to all other military personnel who served our country, I tip my helmet to you and offer my profound thanks.
The southeast corner of Kansas has its own versions of many of the locals I hold dear in Wisconsin...there's a Franklin, Whitewater, Columbus and Fall River. On the Missouri side of the state line, there was also a sign for "Eve 1 mile" and I wanted to get a picture of Adam next to Eve but it was too small to justify an unincorporated sign.
It averaged 81F today, hitting a max of 90F but the humidity was over 90%. The good news is I could feel myself sweat. Sounds gross, but that didn't happen in the California pre-desert. That's not good. Rolled through another 109.6 miles today with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Leaving the Plains has meant more interesting biking with the modest up and downs (called "rollers" in bikespeak). They also tend to moderate the intensity of the winds.
French Fry and I are staying in the family suite at the super nice Super 8 in Lamar, MO. Only room left. To give you a sense for where I am, the motel directory lists 19 different churches located within the city proper. The town has 4,900 people and there's not much to draw from in the environs.
Today's interesting stop was Fort Scott, a National Historical Site on the Kansas side of the state line. It was one of several 1840-1860's frontier forts meant to enforce a "permanent Indian frontier" which was redacted around the time of the Civil War as America's manifest destiny pushed the Native Americans further and further west. The grounds were laid out with nearly 7,000 flags to honor each individual who has given their life in the War on Terrorism. On Saturday, they will read off each individual's name. To those men and women, to those of the Greatest Generation who fought for the rights of people everywhere to self-rule (reinforced through powerful exhibits at the Eisenhower site in Abilene), and to all other military personnel who served our country, I tip my helmet to you and offer my profound thanks.
9/17/14 - School Mascots [Dog Blog]
The variety of school mascots through Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and now Missouri is interesting. Many are named after western animals (e.g.-Bulls, Mustangs), others after birds (e.g.-Eagles, Hawks, Prairie Chickens) and some even take after weather elements (e.g.-Tornadoes, Lightnings). Yet the most frequently seen thing on our road trip so far are the dead animals on the road. Must have seen over a hundred today alone...which gets me thinking (and I have plenty of time with Dave on the bike eight hours a day)...is there a school system insane enough to parody this? Picture the fictional town of Riley, Mo. Their mascot could be the "Riley Road Kill" and the baseball team's slogan could be "We will tire you out".
9/18/14 - Scottish vs. Irish Hills, Signage, Castles, etc.
After severe thunderstorms overnight, the day proved muggy but dry. I biked 76 miles today, segued south off the TransAm to Springfield, MO and some civilization. I'm in the northern Ozarks and it is a stark contrast to all scenery to date. By way of example, one stretch had 1,500 feet of climbing in about eight miles without any material change in net elevation. The locals call there Scottish hills...defined as very steep ups and downs...somewhat analogous to Scottish music which can jump an octave in the same measure. In contrast, Irish hills (and Irish music) move more gradually up and down. However defined, they kept me engaged and a few of the rises proved to be walkupems.
There was a gas station in Ash Grove, northwest of Springfield, that contained some interesting signage that is included below. This includes a whiteboard record of the area's largest tomato (sliced with a chain saw) and greatest yield on field corn. There's also a sign from the next town over for an Alzheimer's Support Group...got me thinking now that I'm in the Show Me state. For those of you who have donated already to help the Fisher Center seek out the causes and a cure for memory diseases, Thank You! We are around $3,400 before match. That is GREAT! I will reach out to each of you once I'm done riding. For those who haven't given yet, no worries. If you choose not to give, perhaps at least pass along this web site to friends, family and co-workers. I'll do my best to keep it entertaining and the cause will strike a cord with some as these diseases influence many of us in one form or another in time.
There was a gas station in Ash Grove, northwest of Springfield, that contained some interesting signage that is included below. This includes a whiteboard record of the area's largest tomato (sliced with a chain saw) and greatest yield on field corn. There's also a sign from the next town over for an Alzheimer's Support Group...got me thinking now that I'm in the Show Me state. For those of you who have donated already to help the Fisher Center seek out the causes and a cure for memory diseases, Thank You! We are around $3,400 before match. That is GREAT! I will reach out to each of you once I'm done riding. For those who haven't given yet, no worries. If you choose not to give, perhaps at least pass along this web site to friends, family and co-workers. I'll do my best to keep it entertaining and the cause will strike a cord with some as these diseases influence many of us in one form or another in time.
9/18/14 - The Bark Stops Here [Dog Blog]
Dave got time with one of his favorite Presidents earlier in the week. This morning was my turn. In Lamar, MO is the birthplace of the humble haberdasher Harry S Truman, 32nd President of the US. Truman's parents bought this property for $685 in 1882. It came with six rooms, a well, smokestack and outhouse and was Harry's boyhood home only until he was 11 months old.
Why is Harry my favorite president? Why, for his most famous saying of course..."The Bark Stops Here". Dave says it really was "The Buck Stops Here", but caninely, methinks that's just the human media acting to keep us dogs down.
Tomorrow we hope to take in another birthplace, this one that lead to a famous 1970s TV series that was a combo of Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Game of Thrones...except it lacked action, plot development was far weaker and the acting pale in comparison. After all, this was the era of All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore and Grizzly Adams. Any guesses?
Why is Harry my favorite president? Why, for his most famous saying of course..."The Bark Stops Here". Dave says it really was "The Buck Stops Here", but caninely, methinks that's just the human media acting to keep us dogs down.
Tomorrow we hope to take in another birthplace, this one that lead to a famous 1970s TV series that was a combo of Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Game of Thrones...except it lacked action, plot development was far weaker and the acting pale in comparison. After all, this was the era of All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore and Grizzly Adams. Any guesses?
9/19/14 - Biking Through the Land of Long Vowels
I'm halfway through Missouri, having logged 93 miles today. At the fringes of the Mark Twain National Forest in Willow Springs, Mo, the environs are interesting with ample sandstone bluffs (think the Dells, the Wisconsin Dells) and sweeping vistas of tree-filled valleys wrapped around small lakes.
My Midwestern short vowel accent sticks out in this long vowel land. City names in particular require some recalibration. I recently passed Nevada, MO, pronounced NA (rhymes with hay) VA (rhymes with hay) Doh (Homer Simpson). I'm heading to Cairo, IL which is pronounced CA (rhymes with hay) ROW. At times when I am having difficulties being understood, I need to learn to slow it up and long vowel it out.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. Kathy (wife) was so sweet in offering to drive down to meet me but I tend to not know where I will end up each night. In some respects, I'm a cowboy and on a steel horse I ride. She then offered to pay for a massage wherever I ended up, but there surprisingly isn't much time for that. I'll provide more details in a typical "Day in the Life" of biking on the road tomorrow.
My Midwestern short vowel accent sticks out in this long vowel land. City names in particular require some recalibration. I recently passed Nevada, MO, pronounced NA (rhymes with hay) VA (rhymes with hay) Doh (Homer Simpson). I'm heading to Cairo, IL which is pronounced CA (rhymes with hay) ROW. At times when I am having difficulties being understood, I need to learn to slow it up and long vowel it out.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. Kathy (wife) was so sweet in offering to drive down to meet me but I tend to not know where I will end up each night. In some respects, I'm a cowboy and on a steel horse I ride. She then offered to pay for a massage wherever I ended up, but there surprisingly isn't much time for that. I'll provide more details in a typical "Day in the Life" of biking on the road tomorrow.
9/19/14 - And the Answer is... [Dog Blog]
I have to throw out yesterday's question...the secret site visited today was not a birthplace of an individual leading to a famous 1970s TV series but was where the lead character spent much of their life. The answer?
If you guessed Ork, the planet that Mork from Mork & Mindy hailed from, congratulations! You win a creativity award. Truth to be told, the internal combustion engine on this two wheeler runs during the day on Pop-Tarts, chocolate milk and bananas and doesn't have the horsepower to get to Ork and back to a free Wi-Fi zone in a day for Dave to keep up with his blogging.
If you guessed the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, writer of the books leading to "The Little House on the Prairie" series, congratulations! You win. Now stop that...stop that...there'll be no crying around here. No tears of joy, please. Heaven knows enough saline detritus dribbled down the cheeks of the show's stars each episode.
Laura and her husband Almanzo lived on Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Mo (pictured above) while raising their daughter Rose (a successful author in her own right) and stayed until their deaths. Ms. Wilder was actually born in Pepin, WI...I had forgot that. The house was something of a shrine, kept with mostly original furnishings from the 1950s (she died in 1957). It reminded me of seeing the Liverpool childhood homes of McCartney and Lennon, except that furnishing and accoutrements were rightsized to accommodate Laura's height of 4'11''. Pa's fiddle was on display in the museum as well....I didn't recall that from the series. I do remember lots of crying.
If you guessed Ork, the planet that Mork from Mork & Mindy hailed from, congratulations! You win a creativity award. Truth to be told, the internal combustion engine on this two wheeler runs during the day on Pop-Tarts, chocolate milk and bananas and doesn't have the horsepower to get to Ork and back to a free Wi-Fi zone in a day for Dave to keep up with his blogging.
If you guessed the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, writer of the books leading to "The Little House on the Prairie" series, congratulations! You win. Now stop that...stop that...there'll be no crying around here. No tears of joy, please. Heaven knows enough saline detritus dribbled down the cheeks of the show's stars each episode.
Laura and her husband Almanzo lived on Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Mo (pictured above) while raising their daughter Rose (a successful author in her own right) and stayed until their deaths. Ms. Wilder was actually born in Pepin, WI...I had forgot that. The house was something of a shrine, kept with mostly original furnishings from the 1950s (she died in 1957). It reminded me of seeing the Liverpool childhood homes of McCartney and Lennon, except that furnishing and accoutrements were rightsized to accommodate Laura's height of 4'11''. Pa's fiddle was on display in the museum as well....I didn't recall that from the series. I do remember lots of crying.
9/20/14 - A Biker's Day
If I had a say in the Scottish referendum, I would have voted to keep the Scottish hills in Scotland and not have them exported to the oblique off-roads of Missouri. I managed 112.5 miles today in getting to Poplar Bluff, Mo. passing through more of the Mark Twain National Forest and positioning myself for a ride into Illinois or Kentucky tomorrow.
At the advice of several local bikers, I've not followed the Trans Am in this part of Missouri, opting instead to ride US 60, a divided highway with a wide shoulder and a rumble strip separating car from shoulder. That worked well until I took additional advice that led to a scenic short-cut and ran head on into some Scottish hills for four miles; walkupems that were so steep I had to rest to catch my breath while pushing the bike along. After viewing the pretty Big Springs in the Ozark National Scenic Waterway, I had to double back as the next section of the shortcut proved not paved. That cost me over two hours. At the end of the day, more a lesson than a loss as US 60, with its Irish hills, was pleasant pedaling.
Now for a bit on a typical day on the road. I've been mostly motelling over camping, favoring convenience and breakfast over the starry nights (128 hrs on the bike in 19 days of riding has made me a softy). I wake up around 6AM and do some stretching/yoga if there's room in my room. My calves remain really tight, and French Fry is not a good yoga partner (he only does Down Dog). I then inhale breakfast, eating an embarrassingly lot (my GPS says I've pedaled off 89,359 calories on the road), trying to find 1,500 calories of things I can't easily transport on my bike, things like eggs, yogurts, milk, fruit and fill in with some starch. Next, the bike is packed, sunscreen is layered in and my four water bottles are filled. Around 8-8:30AM, it is on the open road where I let conditions and attractions drive the day's direction. I try to find one stop-worthy spot to break up the ride. If not, I will picnic in a shady, scenic overlook if possible. As the day wears on, so do I and more shorter breaks, convenience foods from my pack stash and water bottle refills at gas stations are in order. Between 5-6PM is typically lodging look-out time. After check-in, I shower, wash my clothes and hang them to dry and set up a recharging station where the GPS, phone and MP-3 player all plug into the laptop to replenish their batteries. Concomitant, I walk around to replenish my stored energy reserves. Sometimes that's a restaurant if I can find an AYCE buffet, but more often than not, it is a grocery store. That's because a "meal" needs to be tripled to get me feeling satisfied. Back in my room between 7-8PM, I address issues with my packs, bike, etc. and then contact my family, respond to E-mails, blog and do some research on the next day(s) path and pursuits. I try getting to bed by 11PM. Hope that provides some perspective.
At the advice of several local bikers, I've not followed the Trans Am in this part of Missouri, opting instead to ride US 60, a divided highway with a wide shoulder and a rumble strip separating car from shoulder. That worked well until I took additional advice that led to a scenic short-cut and ran head on into some Scottish hills for four miles; walkupems that were so steep I had to rest to catch my breath while pushing the bike along. After viewing the pretty Big Springs in the Ozark National Scenic Waterway, I had to double back as the next section of the shortcut proved not paved. That cost me over two hours. At the end of the day, more a lesson than a loss as US 60, with its Irish hills, was pleasant pedaling.
Now for a bit on a typical day on the road. I've been mostly motelling over camping, favoring convenience and breakfast over the starry nights (128 hrs on the bike in 19 days of riding has made me a softy). I wake up around 6AM and do some stretching/yoga if there's room in my room. My calves remain really tight, and French Fry is not a good yoga partner (he only does Down Dog). I then inhale breakfast, eating an embarrassingly lot (my GPS says I've pedaled off 89,359 calories on the road), trying to find 1,500 calories of things I can't easily transport on my bike, things like eggs, yogurts, milk, fruit and fill in with some starch. Next, the bike is packed, sunscreen is layered in and my four water bottles are filled. Around 8-8:30AM, it is on the open road where I let conditions and attractions drive the day's direction. I try to find one stop-worthy spot to break up the ride. If not, I will picnic in a shady, scenic overlook if possible. As the day wears on, so do I and more shorter breaks, convenience foods from my pack stash and water bottle refills at gas stations are in order. Between 5-6PM is typically lodging look-out time. After check-in, I shower, wash my clothes and hang them to dry and set up a recharging station where the GPS, phone and MP-3 player all plug into the laptop to replenish their batteries. Concomitant, I walk around to replenish my stored energy reserves. Sometimes that's a restaurant if I can find an AYCE buffet, but more often than not, it is a grocery store. That's because a "meal" needs to be tripled to get me feeling satisfied. Back in my room between 7-8PM, I address issues with my packs, bike, etc. and then contact my family, respond to E-mails, blog and do some research on the next day(s) path and pursuits. I try getting to bed by 11PM. Hope that provides some perspective.
9/21/14 - The Triple Stater
I was blessed with excellent weather again today and managed 96 banana pudding flat miles in biking through three states (MO, IL, KY); ending up in the little hamlet of La Center, Kentucky.
I enjoyed Missouri...the best motel breakfasts so far, nice people, manageable winds and mostly rolling hills. Crossing the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers into Kentucky (via Cairo, IL) has been an even more pleasant contrast, though I know the hills will come as I work eastward. Trees stretch high and hang over the road, long vowels are even longer, hon and sugar are tossed around more than as table sweeteners, catfish is king and peach cobbler and banana pudding are meals in themselves.
A few noteworthies on today's ride. My back tire got nailed this morning, hooking into my tube. Despite this being my fourth, I am far from a fast flat fixer. It doesn't help they've all been on the back. By the time I take everything off the bike, flip it over, take off the tire, diagnose the situation, replace the tube, reattach all parts and reload the bike, at least 45 minutes goes by. The other sad thing of note is on road kill. Eastern Colorado and Missouri has been full of it, but today I noticed less of the scattered carapace from armadillos, so frequent a find on the shoulders. Instead, I must have seen thirty caterpillars on the road...and super sadly, all but two were heading into the road, not towards the grass. Why did the caterpillar cross the road? I surely don't know. If you do, enlighten me.
I've touched on food on the ride, tomorrow I'll tap into hydration so you can hear my liquid lamentations. It surprised me how much I drank yesterday in the 90-90 afternoon (90F and 90% humidity). Thankfully today seemed a little less humid.
I enjoyed Missouri...the best motel breakfasts so far, nice people, manageable winds and mostly rolling hills. Crossing the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers into Kentucky (via Cairo, IL) has been an even more pleasant contrast, though I know the hills will come as I work eastward. Trees stretch high and hang over the road, long vowels are even longer, hon and sugar are tossed around more than as table sweeteners, catfish is king and peach cobbler and banana pudding are meals in themselves.
A few noteworthies on today's ride. My back tire got nailed this morning, hooking into my tube. Despite this being my fourth, I am far from a fast flat fixer. It doesn't help they've all been on the back. By the time I take everything off the bike, flip it over, take off the tire, diagnose the situation, replace the tube, reattach all parts and reload the bike, at least 45 minutes goes by. The other sad thing of note is on road kill. Eastern Colorado and Missouri has been full of it, but today I noticed less of the scattered carapace from armadillos, so frequent a find on the shoulders. Instead, I must have seen thirty caterpillars on the road...and super sadly, all but two were heading into the road, not towards the grass. Why did the caterpillar cross the road? I surely don't know. If you do, enlighten me.
I've touched on food on the ride, tomorrow I'll tap into hydration so you can hear my liquid lamentations. It surprised me how much I drank yesterday in the 90-90 afternoon (90F and 90% humidity). Thankfully today seemed a little less humid.
9/22/14 - Playing Flat
All things considered, I was happy to have moved 71 miles eastbound today after more tube and tire tribulations. I had three separate flats (all on the front, thankfully), pointing to a need to get some new tires. I'm cleaning my channel tracks and trying to go a little low on the psi as Kentucky has less shoulder and more rumble strips than any other state biked in to date, but I know the bike had taken a beating and it is starting to show. I started off this trip with three new tires and have been rotating them, but after over 1,900 miles, they appear to have worn out their welcome.
I re-connected with the TransAm trail in Marion, KY in the late afternoon and am staying at the local United Methodist Church...part of their outreach efforts is to put up cross-country bikers as there is no other lodging in town (or for 37 miles in the vicinity). Once in the church, the setup in almost hostel-like with a large sofa-filled fellowship room used to bunk down, a shower within the furnace room and really good cold water from the fountains. The Pastor is very nice and even offered to drive me an hour south to get some replacement gear (as I'm getting low on tubes too). I'm the only one here too as it's a little late in the year to be biking this route.
I promised to offer some insights into hydration today. Like the ennui of eating (quantity * frequency * being alone), drinking enough liquids can be a chore and one I'm not very good at. It's very important however, especially on the long, hot and/or humid days. So I kept track of my 112 mile effort on Saturday (afternoon temps peaked at 90F with humidity also around 90%), definitely a high consumption day. I ended up taking in 2.5 gallons of liquids...broken down as follows:
8 oz Green Tea (breakfast) 8 oz Orange Juice (breakfast) 16 oz Water (breakfast) 44 oz Electrolyte water (AM) 20 oz Water (AM) 24 oz Water (midday) 12 oz Diet Coke (midday) 48 oz PowerAids (midday) 52 oz Water (afternoon) 32 oz Chocolate Milk (dinner) 16 oz Water (dinner) 16 oz Herbal Tea (night) 24 oz Water (night).
What I wouldn't give for a kombucha from Tapuat or a craft beer every third day or so...yet stores here don't sell kombucha and beer is either 24oz Bud singles or six packs (which is far more than I want). So I stick to mostly water.
I re-connected with the TransAm trail in Marion, KY in the late afternoon and am staying at the local United Methodist Church...part of their outreach efforts is to put up cross-country bikers as there is no other lodging in town (or for 37 miles in the vicinity). Once in the church, the setup in almost hostel-like with a large sofa-filled fellowship room used to bunk down, a shower within the furnace room and really good cold water from the fountains. The Pastor is very nice and even offered to drive me an hour south to get some replacement gear (as I'm getting low on tubes too). I'm the only one here too as it's a little late in the year to be biking this route.
I promised to offer some insights into hydration today. Like the ennui of eating (quantity * frequency * being alone), drinking enough liquids can be a chore and one I'm not very good at. It's very important however, especially on the long, hot and/or humid days. So I kept track of my 112 mile effort on Saturday (afternoon temps peaked at 90F with humidity also around 90%), definitely a high consumption day. I ended up taking in 2.5 gallons of liquids...broken down as follows:
8 oz Green Tea (breakfast) 8 oz Orange Juice (breakfast) 16 oz Water (breakfast) 44 oz Electrolyte water (AM) 20 oz Water (AM) 24 oz Water (midday) 12 oz Diet Coke (midday) 48 oz PowerAids (midday) 52 oz Water (afternoon) 32 oz Chocolate Milk (dinner) 16 oz Water (dinner) 16 oz Herbal Tea (night) 24 oz Water (night).
What I wouldn't give for a kombucha from Tapuat or a craft beer every third day or so...yet stores here don't sell kombucha and beer is either 24oz Bud singles or six packs (which is far more than I want). So I stick to mostly water.
9/23/14 - Bluegrass Biking
I put a nice kink in crossing Kentucky today as I passed through the lands of bluegrass, blues and BBQ. Sadly, mid-week, mid-day music is not a scene and many of the BBQ places operate Wed-Sat. So I pedalled on and on, working through a 5-9mph wind out of the east and hundreds of hills that worked my full gear stack, managing 124 miles and 4,000 feet of climbing to end up in Leitchfield, KY as dusk was settling in. The vicissitudes of today's scenery were few but pleasant all the same - fields, forests, churches and coal trucks dominated the day.
French Fry, who gets cooked and a little crisp in the heat and humidity, is back today with an entry on the earliest cross-country bikers. There are more brown signs ahead, so he will likely be more active.
French Fry, who gets cooked and a little crisp in the heat and humidity, is back today with an entry on the earliest cross-country bikers. There are more brown signs ahead, so he will likely be more active.
9/23/14 - Our Forecyclists [Dog Blog]
Whenever I complain to Dave on how bumpy the rumble strip roads are in this part of the country, he reminds me we are in the lap of luxury compared to the earliest cross-country bikers.
The first male coast-to-coast bike trip was completed in 1884 by a British man named Thomas Stevens who left San Francisco on April 22nd 1884 (foreshadowing Earth Day?), riding a penny-farthing bike with a big front wheel and a tiny back wheel. He biked 3,700 miles across wagon trails, canal towpaths and public roads, arriving in Boston on August 4th, 1884. In his bike bag he carried only a spare shirt, a pair of socks and a rain slicker that doubled as a sleeping bag.
Twelve years later, a lady named Margaret Valentine Le Long biked from Chicago to San Francisco in two months, mostly following railroad tracks. She carried a pistol in her Spartan packings. Not cross-country, but impressive all the same.
The first male coast-to-coast bike trip was completed in 1884 by a British man named Thomas Stevens who left San Francisco on April 22nd 1884 (foreshadowing Earth Day?), riding a penny-farthing bike with a big front wheel and a tiny back wheel. He biked 3,700 miles across wagon trails, canal towpaths and public roads, arriving in Boston on August 4th, 1884. In his bike bag he carried only a spare shirt, a pair of socks and a rain slicker that doubled as a sleeping bag.
Twelve years later, a lady named Margaret Valentine Le Long biked from Chicago to San Francisco in two months, mostly following railroad tracks. She carried a pistol in her Spartan packings. Not cross-country, but impressive all the same.
9/24/14 - My Old Kentucky Hotel
I entered the Eastern Time Zone today on a really rural road that made no mention of this timely news. Another beautiful day with temps close to 80F, full sun and only a mild headwind rarely felt due to thick tree cover. There was a gentle downhill for two miles today on US 84 where the forest canopy acted as an umbrella over the road and let in no light. It was sublime. In total, 107 miles with 4,100 feet of climbing put me in Danville, KY where I have a redwood deck outside my room at a Comfort Inn & Suites and a retro keypunch accessible room. The inside is quite nice and the deck proved a nice place to watch the sunset while eating my Subway sub.
I am hoping to take my second rest day tomorrow...aiming to get my bike tuned up for the Smokey's and the home stretch and intent on experiencing some of the sights, culture and tastes of central Kentucky. I just need to round up a car. Enterprise is the only game in town and all their cars seem to be on five year missions exploring strange new worlds.
I am hoping to take my second rest day tomorrow...aiming to get my bike tuned up for the Smokey's and the home stretch and intent on experiencing some of the sights, culture and tastes of central Kentucky. I just need to round up a car. Enterprise is the only game in town and all their cars seem to be on five year missions exploring strange new worlds.
9/25/14 - Barking About the Bourbon Trail [Dog Blog]
Kentuckians make a big deal about bourbon, so Dave and I did a little investigative work (purely for posterity) on our day off. In full disclosure...Congress declared bourbon “America’s Native
Spirit” in 1964 (sorry Wisconsin brandy fans). We learned that all
bourbon is whisky but not all whiskey is bourbon. How so? Bourbon has to have a
grain mix of 51% or more corn, must be made in the US, distilled at less than 160 proof, be free of additives except water to cut the proof and must be aged in new, charred, white
oak barrels for at least two years. Rather complicated, but high standards help ensure a high quality product.
We stopped at Wilderness Trail, co-owned by a mechanical engineer and a biomolecular scientist, where Jared gave a great technical tour that expanded my knowledge of yeast...this company even has yeast in the International Space Station and someday hopes to make a Space Bourbon. In the interim, they are stuck shipping 40 tons of yeast a month to brewers (and to think home brewers need only a few ounces to make two cases of beer...) We then saw the hottest of tours - Kentucky Cooperage - where they make the barrels that are used to age the bourbon and later used by brewers to add bourbon flavor to stouts, porters, etc. A decade ago, these barrels were being given away after their bourbon days were done...now used barrels sell for as much or more than what the bourbon makers buy them for. Our last bourbon bop was to Maker's Mark, a high end, sweet mash maker of bourbon where the tour mixed tradition and technology, featured the only Dale Chihuly glass piece tied to alcohol and the only piece within Kentucky on a ceiling of a storeroom that houses some of the aging bourbon.
Interesting stuff to be sure, but Dave didn't like the bourbon one bit. Maybe if they made chocolate milk flavored bourbon...
We stopped at Wilderness Trail, co-owned by a mechanical engineer and a biomolecular scientist, where Jared gave a great technical tour that expanded my knowledge of yeast...this company even has yeast in the International Space Station and someday hopes to make a Space Bourbon. In the interim, they are stuck shipping 40 tons of yeast a month to brewers (and to think home brewers need only a few ounces to make two cases of beer...) We then saw the hottest of tours - Kentucky Cooperage - where they make the barrels that are used to age the bourbon and later used by brewers to add bourbon flavor to stouts, porters, etc. A decade ago, these barrels were being given away after their bourbon days were done...now used barrels sell for as much or more than what the bourbon makers buy them for. Our last bourbon bop was to Maker's Mark, a high end, sweet mash maker of bourbon where the tour mixed tradition and technology, featured the only Dale Chihuly glass piece tied to alcohol and the only piece within Kentucky on a ceiling of a storeroom that houses some of the aging bourbon.
Interesting stuff to be sure, but Dave didn't like the bourbon one bit. Maybe if they made chocolate milk flavored bourbon...
9/26/14 - Another Off and On Entry
I took a "B" day (and a half) off on Thursday/Friday while my bike was getting worked on. By the time I got back in the saddle and left Danville, it was after 12:30PM Friday afternoon and I ended up with a flat rear tire three hours later and only 36 miles into my ride. It was those pesky little steel threads in car tires that get through the puncture-resistant, kevlar strip, blah, blah, blah bike tires. That's okay. I was debating biking on into a Friday afternoon touristy crowd into lands without motels and the flat offered me an excuse to bunk down in the last bit of civilization where Dollar General's are E Pluribus Unum and the waffle mix flows freely at the breakfast stations.
On my "B" day, I got the bike fixed by the helpful team at Danville Cycle (never mind the flat), viewed books and art and all sorts of neat stuff at the Boyce County library in Danville, toured a techie and a traditional bourbon making facility (French Fry has this one), toured a working cooperage that makes wooden barrels, saw some Abe Lincoln birthplace and early childhood sites (nice chatting with you Bob) and toured Bardstown, denoted the best small community to live in by USA Today. Then this morning (Friday), I took in the site of the largest Civil War battlefield in Kentucky which makes me glad I live when I do. Jeepers, a tip over and a knee scrape caused by erratic clip-in pedals could have led to an amputation back in those days.
I'll let the pictures do the talking. Tomorrow's route is through the Danial Boone National Forest past what some bike bloggers say is the least cycle-friendly stretch of the Trans Am trail. I see aspects of this already - blinker usage seems to be extra credit in Kentucky driver's exams and some pickups appear to get a kick out of creating black plumes of smoke as they accelerate on passing cyclists heading up the undulating hills in this part of the state. Lodging is limited, so blogging may be backed up and bundled together for a few days.
On my "B" day, I got the bike fixed by the helpful team at Danville Cycle (never mind the flat), viewed books and art and all sorts of neat stuff at the Boyce County library in Danville, toured a techie and a traditional bourbon making facility (French Fry has this one), toured a working cooperage that makes wooden barrels, saw some Abe Lincoln birthplace and early childhood sites (nice chatting with you Bob) and toured Bardstown, denoted the best small community to live in by USA Today. Then this morning (Friday), I took in the site of the largest Civil War battlefield in Kentucky which makes me glad I live when I do. Jeepers, a tip over and a knee scrape caused by erratic clip-in pedals could have led to an amputation back in those days.
I'll let the pictures do the talking. Tomorrow's route is through the Danial Boone National Forest past what some bike bloggers say is the least cycle-friendly stretch of the Trans Am trail. I see aspects of this already - blinker usage seems to be extra credit in Kentucky driver's exams and some pickups appear to get a kick out of creating black plumes of smoke as they accelerate on passing cyclists heading up the undulating hills in this part of the state. Lodging is limited, so blogging may be backed up and bundled together for a few days.
9/27/14 - The Tornado Got 'Em
The weather continues to be great for biking in Kentucky. I worked my way eastbound on back roads, past curious cows (at left), determined dogs (in French Fry's blog), through thick forests and up and down many hills. The morning haze/fog/mist was intense and didn't burn off until almost 11AM, requiring me to ditch the sunglasses after spending the first hour wiping off the condensation off the lenses to improve visibility.
I had intended to stop after about 105 miles in Salversville, KY, a small town that had two motels based on printed literature and the internet. After another hour delay due to more tire troubles, I pulled into Salversville at 5PM and asked locals for their lodging locations. "The Tornado got 'em and they ain't been built back" was the same answer received from two different townsfolk. Must have been a doozy. Yikes...I had to hightail it another 20+ miles to Paintsville, KY as the sun was setting and opted for a Days Inn on the east side of town. Another 125 miler with over 5,000 feet of climbing was more than I wanted and I arrived too late to take advantage of a Saturday evening church service from the many small community churches in the area.
Tomorrow I hope to cross into West Virginia and aim southeast for Virginia and a date with the Smokies early next week.
I had intended to stop after about 105 miles in Salversville, KY, a small town that had two motels based on printed literature and the internet. After another hour delay due to more tire troubles, I pulled into Salversville at 5PM and asked locals for their lodging locations. "The Tornado got 'em and they ain't been built back" was the same answer received from two different townsfolk. Must have been a doozy. Yikes...I had to hightail it another 20+ miles to Paintsville, KY as the sun was setting and opted for a Days Inn on the east side of town. Another 125 miler with over 5,000 feet of climbing was more than I wanted and I arrived too late to take advantage of a Saturday evening church service from the many small community churches in the area.
Tomorrow I hope to cross into West Virginia and aim southeast for Virginia and a date with the Smokies early next week.
9/27/14 - Who Let the Dogs Out? [Dog Blog]
Fellow bike bloggers report that eastern Kentucky is known for loose dogs. We've only had two dogs get pavement on us (i.e.-chase us on the road) prior to today, so we figured it was hound hyperbole...but changed our view shortly after taking some backroads leading out of Berea to Irvine. 16 dogs romped on the road after us...mostly onesies and twosies, and at least twice as many barked from behind fences or hedges. No bites and only once did a pack push Dave into the other lane of traffic.
It was stressful...I had to have a Ale 8.1 ginger ale afterwards (shown at left). This is the local drink Dave's brother Mike (who used to live in the area) recommended and it proved good enough to give chocolate milk a run for its money.
It was stressful...I had to have a Ale 8.1 ginger ale afterwards (shown at left). This is the local drink Dave's brother Mike (who used to live in the area) recommended and it proved good enough to give chocolate milk a run for its money.
9/28/14 - Cycling Through Coal Country
I'm in Welch, West Virginia this evening after another long day of biking - 118.5 miles and 6,136 feet of climbing. The latter is a PR (Personal Record) and included several walkupems in both KY and WV.
The most noteworthy observation today was the KY/WV border. The Kentucky side featured several discount tobacco shops, I'm guessing caused by low state taxes on nicotine products...which reminded me how much smoking took place in restaurants, motel lobbies and most everywhere outside. Cigs and canines will be what I miss least about KY - the people and scenery were quite nice. Then on the bridge crossing into West Virginia stood a couple of panhandlers in the middle of the road creating a minor traffic jam on a late Sunday morning. The drivers seemed irate at being held up and those looking for handouts seemed angry that nobody was helping them out. Bold and Beautiful and Begging..not a great first impression of the state.
I tried to schedule the long-haul ride through West Virginia on a Sunday when coal trucks would (hopefully) be less active and the Blue Ridge Parkway for early during the week when the weekend tourists are gone. So far, so good. West Virginia is blanketed with some of the best and worst people interactions on this trip. There's a genuine curiosity without inhibition here - I've had more people come out of their double wides to waive, more drivers who pull over to start up a conversation with "Mighty nice bike...what that set ya back?" (which I usually respond with some really low trashy figure and complain about how bad the bike is) and others that ask "Where ya from?" and "Where ya headed?" Then there are those who seem to revel in blaring their horns as they pass. One seemed to get such a kick out of it that it turned around and hammered on the horn coming at me. Head-on horners aren't an issue...it's the heading my way horners that jump me out of my seat a bit.
The most noteworthy observation today was the KY/WV border. The Kentucky side featured several discount tobacco shops, I'm guessing caused by low state taxes on nicotine products...which reminded me how much smoking took place in restaurants, motel lobbies and most everywhere outside. Cigs and canines will be what I miss least about KY - the people and scenery were quite nice. Then on the bridge crossing into West Virginia stood a couple of panhandlers in the middle of the road creating a minor traffic jam on a late Sunday morning. The drivers seemed irate at being held up and those looking for handouts seemed angry that nobody was helping them out. Bold and Beautiful and Begging..not a great first impression of the state.
I tried to schedule the long-haul ride through West Virginia on a Sunday when coal trucks would (hopefully) be less active and the Blue Ridge Parkway for early during the week when the weekend tourists are gone. So far, so good. West Virginia is blanketed with some of the best and worst people interactions on this trip. There's a genuine curiosity without inhibition here - I've had more people come out of their double wides to waive, more drivers who pull over to start up a conversation with "Mighty nice bike...what that set ya back?" (which I usually respond with some really low trashy figure and complain about how bad the bike is) and others that ask "Where ya from?" and "Where ya headed?" Then there are those who seem to revel in blaring their horns as they pass. One seemed to get such a kick out of it that it turned around and hammered on the horn coming at me. Head-on horners aren't an issue...it's the heading my way horners that jump me out of my seat a bit.
9/29/14 - Entering the Last State of the Ride
I'm rather relieved to be in Blacksburg, Virginia tonight. It was a slog today...96 miles and apparently 8,561 feet of climbing according to my Garmin GPS. "Google Maps - Bicycle version" is hereby on probation for leading me down a gravel road (Hwy 325 at left) and underestimating by a few thousand feet the climbing total. As the day wore on with continuous climbing intermingled with rapid drops, my knees offered a crescendo for Kansas. No chance, but after 340 miles and 19,900 feet of climbing in the last three days, I could use some of Lance Armstrong's vitamins. I ended up plea bargaining with my legs for a short day tomorrow if they give me a cramp and leg spasm-free evening.
My apperception of western West Virginians as friendly in a freaky way is reflected in an interaction this morning. I'm climbing the umteenth hill, breathing hard and out jumps a man from behind a car parked along the road. He shouts "Take care biker. Dem rabid dogs up ahead gunna getcha" and then he smiled and waived as I passed. Gee thanks. I won't say anything more except to mention there were large swaths of human habitation in western West Virginia that lacked a dollar store. Enough said.
I'll miss the West Virginia roads for they had shoulders....thank you Senator Robert "pork barrel" Byrd. Virginia lacks that so far and made today a bit stressful. Crossing into the state, there was no "Welcome to Virginia" sign that I saw to get a picture of. I guess you're just supposed to be thankful you've arrived. I'm at a Holiday Inn that has shampoo in the bathroom (it's a concept with some merit, West Virginia) adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. Lively night scene, even for a Monday, and I opted for the buy one-get one free burger at Sharkey's on North Main. Not to be a pig, I had the second burger to go and we'll see if it lasts until morning.
About 300 miles to go and 7,000 feet of climbing to Yorktown on the Atlantic coast.
My apperception of western West Virginians as friendly in a freaky way is reflected in an interaction this morning. I'm climbing the umteenth hill, breathing hard and out jumps a man from behind a car parked along the road. He shouts "Take care biker. Dem rabid dogs up ahead gunna getcha" and then he smiled and waived as I passed. Gee thanks. I won't say anything more except to mention there were large swaths of human habitation in western West Virginia that lacked a dollar store. Enough said.
I'll miss the West Virginia roads for they had shoulders....thank you Senator Robert "pork barrel" Byrd. Virginia lacks that so far and made today a bit stressful. Crossing into the state, there was no "Welcome to Virginia" sign that I saw to get a picture of. I guess you're just supposed to be thankful you've arrived. I'm at a Holiday Inn that has shampoo in the bathroom (it's a concept with some merit, West Virginia) adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. Lively night scene, even for a Monday, and I opted for the buy one-get one free burger at Sharkey's on North Main. Not to be a pig, I had the second burger to go and we'll see if it lasts until morning.
About 300 miles to go and 7,000 feet of climbing to Yorktown on the Atlantic coast.
9/30/14 - Blue Ridge Sunsets
After taking the morning off (French Fry's Dog Blog has more details), I tried taking the Google route eastbound but found the recommended route often shoulder-less and too busy (Note: I have great maps for my initial route through the southern US; this middle path could use some enlightenment). I de-Googled things and sought advice at a bike shop. In the words of the very helpful bike shop worker, the Google route was "full of red-neck, hillbilly, tobacco spitting, trucker types" and he directed me to a longer route which will cover 110 miles in a northeastern direction on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It also added climbage, 5,500 feet today and perhaps another 7,000 feet tomorrow. "Climbage" may not be a word but it's close to cabbage and both are roughage in my mind. I've had enough of it over the last four days, so it is a word for purposes of this blog. Don't try using it at home without adequate supervision.
My mid-day start, another back tire flat and the re-route took me along a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the end of the day, providing great views along the ridge line in both directions. Pictures didn't do it justice. I ended up at the Peaks of Otter Lodge after 72 miles of biking. Tomorrow I hope to finish the Parkway and will continue in the subsequent days to head around the north side of the major cities of central Virginia, dropping into Williamsburg and concluding in the Yorktown area.
My mid-day start, another back tire flat and the re-route took me along a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the end of the day, providing great views along the ridge line in both directions. Pictures didn't do it justice. I ended up at the Peaks of Otter Lodge after 72 miles of biking. Tomorrow I hope to finish the Parkway and will continue in the subsequent days to head around the north side of the major cities of central Virginia, dropping into Williamsburg and concluding in the Yorktown area.
9/30/14 - A Hokie Pokie Morning [Dog Blog]
Dave and I took the morning off and found lots of hokie things walking around Brandsburg this morning. Hokie burgers, hokie haircuts, hokie shirts, etc. I suppose that makes sense given it’s the Virginia Tech campus and their mascot is the Hokie. So just what is a Hokie? Today it is equivocated with a turkey, but its origins go back to the late 19th century when O.M. Stull won $5 in a contest to determine the school's spirit yell. In case you are wondering what that spirit yell is...
Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
Techs, Techs, V.P.I.
Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Later, the phrase "Team! Team! Team!" was added at the end, and an "e" was added to "Hoki." If a school as smart as Virginia Tech comes up with something like that, it sort of makes you wonder what your school has, doesn't it? For more details, please check out: http://www.vt.edu/about/traditions/hokie.html.
Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
Techs, Techs, V.P.I.
Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Later, the phrase "Team! Team! Team!" was added at the end, and an "e" was added to "Hoki." If a school as smart as Virginia Tech comes up with something like that, it sort of makes you wonder what your school has, doesn't it? For more details, please check out: http://www.vt.edu/about/traditions/hokie.html.
10/1/14 - Blown Away by the Blue Ridge
The Blue Ridge trail blew me away today with the intensity of the climbage – 8,642 feet of ascent in 90 miles. I could say the uphills are getting old but it is more likely me that is getting old. The mini-mountains increasingly looked the Scottish sort and there were so many walkupems I set a new low for average mph. On the plus side, the scenery was spectacular with great valley views to the east and west along the ridge line, the early fall colors added to the picturesque palette and my bike behaved. It did rain in the late afternoon, but that’s the first rain since western Colorado, so no complaints.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is so special in that no billboards, McD's or Super 8's clutter the view. The speed limit is 45 mph and there is limited ingress and egress; factors that led to my long day. Just trees, great views and lots of birds and small animals creating background noise. There was one spot where in the distance I saw what looked like an oversized, dimple-less golf ball resting on a tee (see below). It brought back memories of my Dad, an avid golfer, and suddenly I pictured him on the Parkway, sag-wagoning me in a golf cart, perhaps even running up ahead to set up camp to cook me some of his famous crepe-thin pancakes. Odd how that works...those who've lost a loved one know how little things can bring the past back to life. For me, it was a nice, warm feeling on a tough day and it reinforced my hope that progress can be made on memory-related illnesses so all of us can have those special moments where we can re-connect with the past and look forward to more memorable times in the future.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is so special in that no billboards, McD's or Super 8's clutter the view. The speed limit is 45 mph and there is limited ingress and egress; factors that led to my long day. Just trees, great views and lots of birds and small animals creating background noise. There was one spot where in the distance I saw what looked like an oversized, dimple-less golf ball resting on a tee (see below). It brought back memories of my Dad, an avid golfer, and suddenly I pictured him on the Parkway, sag-wagoning me in a golf cart, perhaps even running up ahead to set up camp to cook me some of his famous crepe-thin pancakes. Odd how that works...those who've lost a loved one know how little things can bring the past back to life. For me, it was a nice, warm feeling on a tough day and it reinforced my hope that progress can be made on memory-related illnesses so all of us can have those special moments where we can re-connect with the past and look forward to more memorable times in the future.
I took more pictures today and have annotated them below...anything for a break from climbing!
10/2/14 - Meandering Under the Weather
Exiting the Appalachian Mountains off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Wednesday, I felt a fever coming and it carried throughout the day on Thursday. The high humidity had me sweating on the uphills while the cool temps and steep downhill grades created a cold rush that gave me brain freezes without the custard creaminess. I tried the jacket off-jacket on thing, but gave up after a half dozen of the thirty or more peaks and valleys. When I finally pulled into an inexpensive motel off the Parkway, I was in a “bicycle island”, five miles from civilization. That meant a ten mile round trip to food or drink, not feasible given the lateness of the hour or my energy level. So my only option was Dominos delivers…and although I enjoyed my two medium pizzas for dinner, it wasn’t the sort of chicken soup recovery food probably needed.
So Thursday started in the hole and I hoped to cycle through the sickness to some civilization. High traffic and lack of safe shoulders encouraged me to try following the TransAmerica trail. This is also known as the 76 Trail for it was initially created as a scenic, backroads cross-country bike path during our bicentennial. I struggled, ending the day biking 80 miles but getting only 40 miles as the crow flies to my end eastern destination of Yorktown. Despite now having a state highway map and a state bicycle map, missing signage (and probably some of my ineptitude) led to getting lost far too often. I found myself after 4PM with three lodging options – risk camping in someone’s backyard (not feeling well, so not a great choice), going 44 miles southeast to Richmond or backtracking ten miles northwest. Disappointed but realistic, I opted for the latter and made it to a Best Western.
The lack of better choices this far east has surprised me. I figured thicker population density would have meant more options for supplies and sleep….but it reflects on how "carified” the country has become in the last forty years. Think about it. Small town America used to have grocery, department and hardware stores and sometimes small motels but the Wal-Marts and Lowes located along Interstate auto-arteries have displaced them. Gas station mini-marts and dollar stores are now bonuses along the route. That leaves the TransAm/76 Trail a bicyclist’s boonies – scenically satisfying but short on services.
All was not lost. I enjoyed biking through the U of Virginia with its colonial architecture and the swords representing the Cavaliers (their mascot) emblazoned on the campus roads. I stopped at Michie Tavern, an historic 18th century eatery now serving pricey buffets to tour bus traffic. The area boasts the homes of three presidents – Jefferson’s magnificent Monticello (which I had previously seen), Madison’s Montpelier (too far north) and Monroe’s Ash Lawn Highland (on the TransAm route). I opted for the latter and found it wanting. It lacked context and could have been much more. History fans note that Monroe ran unopposed for reelection in 1820. Unopposed! Also, the Monroe Doctrine was never debated or signed into law…yet TR Roosevelt drew upon it to build the Panama Canal and Kennedy used it to justify the Bay of Pigs Cuban operation.
So Thursday started in the hole and I hoped to cycle through the sickness to some civilization. High traffic and lack of safe shoulders encouraged me to try following the TransAmerica trail. This is also known as the 76 Trail for it was initially created as a scenic, backroads cross-country bike path during our bicentennial. I struggled, ending the day biking 80 miles but getting only 40 miles as the crow flies to my end eastern destination of Yorktown. Despite now having a state highway map and a state bicycle map, missing signage (and probably some of my ineptitude) led to getting lost far too often. I found myself after 4PM with three lodging options – risk camping in someone’s backyard (not feeling well, so not a great choice), going 44 miles southeast to Richmond or backtracking ten miles northwest. Disappointed but realistic, I opted for the latter and made it to a Best Western.
The lack of better choices this far east has surprised me. I figured thicker population density would have meant more options for supplies and sleep….but it reflects on how "carified” the country has become in the last forty years. Think about it. Small town America used to have grocery, department and hardware stores and sometimes small motels but the Wal-Marts and Lowes located along Interstate auto-arteries have displaced them. Gas station mini-marts and dollar stores are now bonuses along the route. That leaves the TransAm/76 Trail a bicyclist’s boonies – scenically satisfying but short on services.
All was not lost. I enjoyed biking through the U of Virginia with its colonial architecture and the swords representing the Cavaliers (their mascot) emblazoned on the campus roads. I stopped at Michie Tavern, an historic 18th century eatery now serving pricey buffets to tour bus traffic. The area boasts the homes of three presidents – Jefferson’s magnificent Monticello (which I had previously seen), Madison’s Montpelier (too far north) and Monroe’s Ash Lawn Highland (on the TransAm route). I opted for the latter and found it wanting. It lacked context and could have been much more. History fans note that Monroe ran unopposed for reelection in 1820. Unopposed! Also, the Monroe Doctrine was never debated or signed into law…yet TR Roosevelt drew upon it to build the Panama Canal and Kennedy used it to justify the Bay of Pigs Cuban operation.
10/3/14 - Starting My Homework
For the first time on this ride, I popped some Vitamin I (Ibuprofen) this morning to quell my fever and pushed off a little before 9AM in a drizzle. The TransAm route felt like it was taking me to Reykjavik, Iceland, down to San Gimignano, Italy and back to Richmond, so I opted for the straight route on a shoulder-less US 250. Thanks to the exit-intensive interstate running parallel, most drivers opted to go 70 over 55 with stops, so the ride was as pleasant as it could be in the rain.
After 50 miles, I reached the outskirts of chaotic western Richmond and found a car rental willing to do a one way. Riding a Toyota Prius for the first time, I loaded the bike and drove through the too-petrified-to-pedal city to the eastern edge where a lovely parallel bike path to US 5 snakes into Williamsburg. I ditched my panniers, packed some emergency gear and road energy-efficiently back towards Richmond and doubled back, making up most of the bypassed mileage. Even with a steel bike with fat tires, I was riding effortlessly. Surrealy easy. Fairly flat, woodsy off-auto path, light bike...my smiles-per-miles ratio was off the chart and I didn't want to stop.
Tomorrow I will bike south to Jamestown, then east to Yorktown for the Atlantic Ocean dip and then back to Williamsburg, making up for the rest of the lost mileage. Then the "home"-work continues, getting my bike and my butt back to Wisconsin. Oh, French Fry is still mad about having to pose for the Patriot scone hat thing, so I let him take today's pictures.
After 50 miles, I reached the outskirts of chaotic western Richmond and found a car rental willing to do a one way. Riding a Toyota Prius for the first time, I loaded the bike and drove through the too-petrified-to-pedal city to the eastern edge where a lovely parallel bike path to US 5 snakes into Williamsburg. I ditched my panniers, packed some emergency gear and road energy-efficiently back towards Richmond and doubled back, making up most of the bypassed mileage. Even with a steel bike with fat tires, I was riding effortlessly. Surrealy easy. Fairly flat, woodsy off-auto path, light bike...my smiles-per-miles ratio was off the chart and I didn't want to stop.
Tomorrow I will bike south to Jamestown, then east to Yorktown for the Atlantic Ocean dip and then back to Williamsburg, making up for the rest of the lost mileage. Then the "home"-work continues, getting my bike and my butt back to Wisconsin. Oh, French Fry is still mad about having to pose for the Patriot scone hat thing, so I let him take today's pictures.
10/3/14 - Signs Nearing the End of this Bike Time [Dog Blog]
I'll let the pictures do the talking. At left is the nice bike path north of Williamsburg that parallels US 5. This was head and shoulders above what the rest of Virginia offered.
10/4/14 - Yorktown
I finished the ride this morning, biking first from Williamsburg to Jamestown and back and then to Yorktown where I did the ceremonial tire dip (at left) in the squishy sand before biking back to Williamsburg.
I'll have a wrap, some reflections and some geeky stats to share in a few days for my last entry. In the interim, I'll continue my "home" work in getting myself and my stuff back to the arctic Midwest. After 80F and 100% humidity yesterday in eastern Virginia, Sunday AM is starting out at 43F...quite a change!
I'll have a wrap, some reflections and some geeky stats to share in a few days for my last entry. In the interim, I'll continue my "home" work in getting myself and my stuff back to the arctic Midwest. After 80F and 100% humidity yesterday in eastern Virginia, Sunday AM is starting out at 43F...quite a change!
10/6/14 - Wrap & Recollections
This will be my last blog entry for my 2014 USA Pedaling to Preserve Memories adventure. For those just joining the ride, you may find it helpful to skim from the beginning by using the Archives section at right and working forward chronologically. Ditto for the Dog Blog. Donations are still very much appreciated and will be acknowledged both by the Fisher Center and me. This website will remain up and I'm reachable if you have questions or comments through the form on the bottom of the "Donate" tab. For those who have hung in there, kudos to you for putting up with my sense of humor.
I am heading back to Wisconsin today (Monday) after making travel arrangements for my bike and myself. After attending church in the only location in town with a parishioner pedal rack, I spent yesterday in Norfolk visiting the Douglas MacArthur memorial, touring the USS Wisconsin battleship and in taking in some excellent art at the Chrysler Museum. This morning I will wrap up with a visit to Historic Jamestown before flying back.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to many for making this trip a success – my whole family for supporting me; my co-workers at Johnson Financial Group for permitting me to take time off and for filling in during my absence; those who followed this blog, have donated to the cause and prayed for my safe travels; as well as the helpful and entertaining people I’ve met along the way. I finish more impressed with the kindness and goodness of humanity than when I started.
Some have asked what I’ve learned along the way. Given the season, permit me to speak in a football analogy by breaking life down into quarters. The first quarter of one’s life is comprised of physical and mental growth while the second leads to application of learning and (if so blessed) the joys of raising a family. The third quarter is the synthesis of accumulated learning and experiences applied while the fourth quarter sees the waning of faculties but the opportunity to impart wisdom and cherish life’s memories. With my two sons off to college, I sense now more than ever I’m playing in the second half. How much time is left of the clock, only God knows.
A major goal of my ride was to raise awareness for memory illnesses to enable a pleasurable and memorable fourth quarter for as many as possible. A selfish objective of mine was to take a “time out” from the routine to assess my game plan and to hopefully make my third quarter as productive and meaningful as possible in an altruistic sense. I think that is what my father would have wanted. I didn’t come away with a grand plan of how to execute this, but I was aided by insights and ideas along the way and time will tell if it gels well. For example, I learned to adjust my expectations quickly after flaming out in California but found the middle way through the US much to my liking. I met people with family and friends suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia that gave me strength to press on. I learned from the lives of some of our great leaders who will inspire me to make a difference…an example is the plaque written in Latin kept by President Eisenhower on his desk that read “Gently in Manner. Strongly in Deed.” That speaks volumes to me.
I have an IOU to all the donors out there…although the miles covered were almost as many as my original Southern Tier route, it wasn’t a true coast-to-coast ride as was my goal. That’s okay…French Fry is making plans for pounding out the Oregon to Wyoming dog leg at some point in the future. I suppose he’ll have me tag along. Hopefully by then somebody will have invented some new flavors of toaster pastries.
Oh, I almost forgot about the stats....some are on the front page but here's a synopsis:
* 28 full days and 4 half days of biking with two rest/sightseeing days and two transition days
* 2,915.2 miles covered by spending 12,880 minutes on the bike
* 151,429 calories burned off while on the bike
* 108,006 feet of elevation
* Untold number of good memories. Thank you!
This will be my last blog entry for my 2014 USA Pedaling to Preserve Memories adventure. For those just joining the ride, you may find it helpful to skim from the beginning by using the Archives section at right and working forward chronologically. Ditto for the Dog Blog. Donations are still very much appreciated and will be acknowledged both by the Fisher Center and me. This website will remain up and I'm reachable if you have questions or comments through the form on the bottom of the "Donate" tab. For those who have hung in there, kudos to you for putting up with my sense of humor.
I am heading back to Wisconsin today (Monday) after making travel arrangements for my bike and myself. After attending church in the only location in town with a parishioner pedal rack, I spent yesterday in Norfolk visiting the Douglas MacArthur memorial, touring the USS Wisconsin battleship and in taking in some excellent art at the Chrysler Museum. This morning I will wrap up with a visit to Historic Jamestown before flying back.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to many for making this trip a success – my whole family for supporting me; my co-workers at Johnson Financial Group for permitting me to take time off and for filling in during my absence; those who followed this blog, have donated to the cause and prayed for my safe travels; as well as the helpful and entertaining people I’ve met along the way. I finish more impressed with the kindness and goodness of humanity than when I started.
Some have asked what I’ve learned along the way. Given the season, permit me to speak in a football analogy by breaking life down into quarters. The first quarter of one’s life is comprised of physical and mental growth while the second leads to application of learning and (if so blessed) the joys of raising a family. The third quarter is the synthesis of accumulated learning and experiences applied while the fourth quarter sees the waning of faculties but the opportunity to impart wisdom and cherish life’s memories. With my two sons off to college, I sense now more than ever I’m playing in the second half. How much time is left of the clock, only God knows.
A major goal of my ride was to raise awareness for memory illnesses to enable a pleasurable and memorable fourth quarter for as many as possible. A selfish objective of mine was to take a “time out” from the routine to assess my game plan and to hopefully make my third quarter as productive and meaningful as possible in an altruistic sense. I think that is what my father would have wanted. I didn’t come away with a grand plan of how to execute this, but I was aided by insights and ideas along the way and time will tell if it gels well. For example, I learned to adjust my expectations quickly after flaming out in California but found the middle way through the US much to my liking. I met people with family and friends suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia that gave me strength to press on. I learned from the lives of some of our great leaders who will inspire me to make a difference…an example is the plaque written in Latin kept by President Eisenhower on his desk that read “Gently in Manner. Strongly in Deed.” That speaks volumes to me.
I have an IOU to all the donors out there…although the miles covered were almost as many as my original Southern Tier route, it wasn’t a true coast-to-coast ride as was my goal. That’s okay…French Fry is making plans for pounding out the Oregon to Wyoming dog leg at some point in the future. I suppose he’ll have me tag along. Hopefully by then somebody will have invented some new flavors of toaster pastries.
Oh, I almost forgot about the stats....some are on the front page but here's a synopsis:
* 28 full days and 4 half days of biking with two rest/sightseeing days and two transition days
* 2,915.2 miles covered by spending 12,880 minutes on the bike
* 151,429 calories burned off while on the bike
* 108,006 feet of elevation
* Untold number of good memories. Thank you!
I'll let the pictures do the talking. At left is the nice bike path north of Williamsburg that parallels US 5. This was head and shoulders above what the rest of Virginia offered.
10/4/14 - Yorktown [Dog Blog]
"Hey Waiter! Fetch me a bowl of Mad Dog and another of puppy chow. Oh, while you're at it, see the big sweaty brat with a fever over there? Bring him some chocolate milk and your Top Shelf pop tarts. We've arrived!"
In 2014, I did a solo long-distance bike ride to raise awareness on memory diseases for the Fisher Center. Things didn't turn out quite like I planned...what was to have been a cross-country bike ride along the bottom of the country was smothered in 122F heat in the California desert. I moved to cooler climes, loosely following the TransAmerica trail from Jackson Hole, Wyoming eastward and managed almost 3,000 miles in five weeks. My blog and that of my stuffed dog contain more stories and impressions and offer you the opportunity to help support the cause if you so choose - through finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and Dementia.