Pedal On: Coast to Coast for MS

The Final Blog for Coast to Coast

2010-04-29T13:38:00.001-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 3,014 in 60 biking days.

From the Stoker:

If you didn't read our last blog, we arrived in St. Augustine on Sunday, 4/25/2010. We woke early to dark skies and a threat of thunderstorms arriving in St. Augustine by noon. We were determined to arrive and dip our front tire in the Atlantic before the rain came. We biked 46 miles in less than 3 hours.

We arrived at the beach with our nephew, Brad (Carol's son) taking pictures and directing us to the boardwalk that leads to the beach. When we couldn't bike on the sand anymore, we stopped, hugged each other and shared some emotional words and tears, before we began to carry our bike to the ocean. It was difficult in the lose sand and as I looked up to see how much farther we had to the ocean, I saw our daughter and granddaughter running to us from the waters edge. The next few moments are a blank until I was hugging them, crying, and nearly fainting. Behind them stood my sister and 3 nieces, all traveling 21 hours by car. To complete this journey of ours was amazing, but the joy we felt sharing it with family can't be described in words. As we were looking at posters and banners signed by the family members that couldn't be with us, another daughter came running down the beach (a late air flight or Mom & Dad biking too fast for her to get there before we did). I was afraid I couldn't take any more surprises and they assured me no more were coming.

When we are very old and reliving this trip and the day of completion, there will be many moments of the biking that we will probably forget, but the day we arrived on that beach in FL, the picture I see so clearly now, I will see just as clearly then. Thank you family, whether you could be with us or not, for your love and your support. We felt it every day we lived this dream. My sister asked me what was the best part of the trip. I think seeing this great country of ours up close and personal was the highlight for me. The towns, beautiful and not so beautiful, the barren dessert, the lush green country side, how the poor lived, how the wealthy lived. The smells, how I loved the smells of the fallen pine needles and the rivers and the flowers. Thank you Lord, for giving us this amazing opportunity.

We have so much to be thankful for, good weather, health, and arriving safe and sound. We need to thank so many, Mom Sadie and Nancy for making their home ours during some much needed R&R, the biker (Dave) that came to our rescue after our first 20 miles and a broken chain. He directed Carol to us, found a bike shop, called later to make sure we were OK, and then donated to MS. We need to thank bike shops (3 of them) for taking care of our problem immediately and charging half the amount. Thanks to the campgrounds that gave us discounts when we told them we were raising money for MS. We will never forget Jackie and Jim, owners of the Silver City KOA and avid bikers, for their help and support and for getting the newspaper out to interview us. We met so many strangers that offered their blessings for a safe ride and handed us $5.00 to $20.00 for our cause. It was wonderful meeting all the other bikers (15-20) with the same dream, sharing stories and motivating each other to pedal on. Thank you to those that have donated to MS. It is wonderful to know so many care and support our cause. We have raised close to $5,000 for research and will pray every day for some success in finding a cure.

How do we begin to thank Carol, our support driver. She gave up 3 months of her life to be waiting on the side of the road every 15-20 miles to make sure we were safe, had enough water, food, supply Dick with apple fritters, me with oatmeal cookies(she convinced me they were good for me and gave me energy). She made all the campground reservations and bought all the groceries. She made it possible to sleep in a comfortable bed, have a warm or cool dry place to recover and spend the night making it easy to get back on the bike each day. I am not sure I could do the same for anyone. Unless, of course, it was for her. You helped us live our dream and we will never forget that. We love you and thank you so much.

Last but by no means least, I need to thank the Captain (my husband). He steered, braked, dodged, maneuvered, and avoided pot holes, rough roads, no shoulders, rude drivers, and attacking dogs. I know some days were very stressful with the responsibility of keeping us unharmed. Thank you, Honey, for living this dream and being with me on this incredible ride. I love you.

From the Captain:

She pretty much summarized the thoughts and feelings of the last day. It was almost anti-climatic to be done after two months of riding. Our main focus everyday was to get on the bike and get to the next destination and enjoy what was presented to us. It will be difficult to switch gears and get on to the next part of our lives. Almost felt like Forrest Gump like we should just keep on biking!

I also have to thank my wonderful wife who was willing to share an adventure like this. After a hard day of riding she would cook dinner, make up the beds, fix our bike meals, do laundry and many other chores without complaining.

I also want to thank all the contributors. It is a very warm feeling to see so many share our cause and contribute so generously. My colleagues from Ford especially meant a lot to me with their generosity. It is good to belong to such a giving organization.

To summarize the trip I present the following:

1) We biked over 3000 miles.

2)Thru 8 states

3)60 days

4)over 1.9 million rotations of the pedals

5)Lost 15 pounds, Annette 11 pounds

6)my blood pressure dropped so much that I got off my meds

7)Prettiest spots-the hill country of Texas w/the wild flowers and clear rivers

8)Ugliest spot-West Texas between El Paso and Ft. Davis

9)Best Roads- California

10) Worst roads-Mississippi

11)Most dog attacks-Cajun country (E. Texas & W. Louisiana)

12)Biggest adversity-the head winds (it is like continually riding uphill and the constant noise is mentally draining; we probably would have finished a week earlier if we would have had 50% tail winds or none)

13)Most unexpected event-the final day with our family showing up

14)Most discouraging-the jammed chains

15)Most exciting-the people who opened their hearts and handed us money for the cause

16)What amazed us-making it over Emory Pass at 8200+feet

17)Closest call-almost getting "sucked" into the tour bus on the causeway to Dauphin Island

18)Best part of the day-a) getting off the bike, b) the shower, c) the glass of wine!

Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!

Day 60 - April 25, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-26T04:29:00.000-07:00

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!! 60 biking days and over 3,000 miles.....we are in St. Augustine!

And arrived to an unbelievable surprise. As we walked our bike over the sandy beach to the ocean, there stood two of our daughters, a granddaughter, three nieces, my sister, and Carol's son to surprise and greet us. We were in shock and so full of emotion. To end this incredible journey was overwhelming in itself, but to share it with family, there are no words to express the joy. We celebrated all afternoon on the beach, celebrated more at dinner, and then some more celebrating in their hotel room through the evening.

I am posting this Monday morning and we have so much more to share but we are on our way to spend time with the family until they have to leave for home. Please check back to our blog in a day or so for our final thoughts and many pictures.

Day 59 - April 24, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,968.5

From the Support staff: My bikers talk about the scenery, the miles, the winds and the mountains but what has amazed me is the Captains planning and organization and the Stokers boundless energy and endurance. One would think that it was simply a feat of endurance...but in fact, from duplicate copies of our route, to the nightly planning for miles to attempt and where to find a convenient campground, the Captain has missed nothing to make this trip go smoothly. The stoker gets breakfast each morning, packs a lunch, rides all day, vacuums when she comes in the trailer at night, makes recovery drinks, appetizers, wine and dinner does dishes, loads pictures and blogs and gets a shower in there somewhere. No matter how sore their bums or legs or how hot, neither complains or whines. In their own ways--they are truly amazing. Also amazing is that 3 people and two canines can live in 6 square feet of floor space for almost three months and survive the experience. The support teams contribution has been the opportunity to help someones dream come true...a rare opportunity for anyone...and one I know will someday be "payed forward".

From the Captain:

Something we forgot from last night was the birds. Seems the fellow that owns the campground also collects macaws. It was the first time I had ever seen them.....what beautiful birds. I understand they are worth quite a bit of money and he must have had14 to 20 pairs.

Knowing we had to put in over 70 miles today, and that there was a chance of rain, we got up at 6:00am. The first part of the ride, entering Gainsville (home to U. of Florida) was surprisingly hilly. The city, like Gainsville (home to Florida St.) is a very bike friendly city. It was Sat. morning and things were rolling along nicely. At about 20 miles we picked up a beautiful bike path from Gainsville to Hawthorn (16 miles). It was curvy, hilly, passed over streams and supplied a canopy of shade for a hot day. It also blocked the wind which was starting to build.

There were many times while we were riding thru the southeast that I thought about what I would do if a snake was in the grass next to the route and we had seen many dead ones on the road. Well we were riding down this nice trail and a biker passed us and startled a snake right in the middle of the trail. By the time I saw it we were on top of it and it was raised in the strike position! I don't know who was more startled, him or me. I couldn't react and it never did anything. Annette never saw it. The afternoon brought heat and a head wind and the last 20 miles became very gruelling. We did the last 8 miles in 45 minutes and were particularly glad to load the bike up after doing 72.5 miles.

From the Stoker: Hip, Hip, Hooray!!! Tomorrow is almost here.

Day 57 & Day 58 - April 22,23, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,896

From the Stoker: Not sure why I didn't post a blog yesterday, maybe just too late and too tired. We biked a new record of 78 miles yesterday from Waukeenah to White Springs (little towns you probably won't find on the map). We enjoyed some more country roads with many old oak trees with spanish moss hanging from them. When you see these trees, you know you are in Florida. I can remember when our kids were young, they thought a dark country road lined with those trees, was spooky. We also took a picture of the famous Suwannee River when we biked over it. That river is the main attraction in this part of Florida with lots of fishing and canoeing.

We camped at a great campground called White Springs Suwannee Valley Campground and they were generous in their support for our MS cause (White Springs, Florida 386-397-1667). They had a cold pool that we enjoyed after a hot day of biking (actually warmer then Lake Michigan).

Day 58 - We biked 63 miles today from White Springs to Gainesville on nice roads, hot weather, and a headwind. The most interesting thing on the ride was a mobile home with there own observatory. The route was great with low traffic roads and most of them with shoulders. We can't ask for more. We are camping at another nice campground with a warmer pool that we couldn't wait to get in to, very hot day today. Normally we are cool while biking making our own windchill, but not today. With just 2 more days, we can handle anything.

Day 56 - April 21, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,755

From the Captain:
After the rain last night, we had to drive back to pick up the route where we exited yesterday. The temperature had cooled, sun was warm and the winds light. We had to head into Tallahassee, which we had been warned was really difficult and unsafe. We found just the opposite. The city is very bike friendly and we had bike lanes almost all the way. The only negative was that I couldn't find a doughnut shop. Half way thru the city we picked up a super bike path that we were able to ride for almost 12 miles. It was one of those rails-to-trails path and was great to ride....quiet and no traffic. We could really look around and enjoy the ride.
The ride was thru the country side with winding roads and a few hills. We got into the campground early, putting in 58 miles, so we were able to rest, do laundry, etc.
Tomorrow, our campsite that we planned on is full, so we are going to be doing another long day.

From the Stoker: The Captain forgot to mention that our support driver found a donut shop and had a big apple fritter waiting for him when we met her along the route.

Day 55 - April 20, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2697

From the Captain:

I've learned a lot of things on this trip but one thing I knew before the trip was Never Trust the Weatherman! Leaving Pensacola the prediction was for a week of clear weather which we were really excited about. When we finished riding last night the skies opened up and we had to set up in the rain. We stayed in Florida Caverns State Park and couldn't look around till this morning. We were camping near a natural spring which has formed a beautiful blue hole and clear river running out. Also in the park was a swamp with a caution about alligators.

We left with partly cloudy skies, no wind and rode thru some beautiful back country roads. Another thing we learned was that Florida is not flat. We ran into some hills with over 200ft. climbs and we really felt it in the quads after doing 150 miles in the last two days. We rode thru a little town called Quincy which had a lot of big homes in it, contrary to what you would normally expect. We found out that their are more millionaires in this area than any where in the US. Reason being, a local banker told the citizens to buy Coca Cola stock right after it was initially issued.

As we drove thru town, which had the old time court house in the center of town, we found a coffee shop (which meant sweets). We stopped and as we were enjoying our break, a local started conversation with us. He was totally blown away by what we were doing and said we needed to be on the news. We told him that we were disappointed that the MS society did so little to draw attention to the cause. We didn't need it for us, but we thought any attention they could get would increase the donations. This fellow immediately called public radio in Tallahassee. Annette talked to them and they said they would be out in a minute to interview us but were tied up with the happenings in the Florida congress which was making a lot of important decisions. Oh well. Got on the bike and rode off noticing the sky getting dark. We located Carol who was several miles down the road and told her to get the trailer unlocked. We got there just as the sky opened up! Close call. Although we were disappointed we didn't get to our destination, we were happy to be done early. We got in 54 miles.

We want to thank Big Oak RV park in Tallahassee for their generous help. They have a really nice park with helpful staff. They are located at 4024 N. Monroe ST. 850-562-4660.

Day 54 - April 19, 2010 - Coast too Coast

2010-04-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKE: 2,643 (370 left)

From the Stoker: We headed out this morning about 8:30 with cloudy skies, cool, and a threat of rain. By noon it was partly sunny but still in the low 70's and no rain until we had arrived at the campground. The Good Lord has not been too helpful in the headwind category but has blessed us with very good weather for the past 54 days of biking. I think we mentioned before how we have had only 4 days of bad weather that prevented us from biking.

We biked on US 90 for 72 miles from Mossey Head to Mariana. Occasional rolling hills and, of course, a headwind that we try very hard to ignore.

I sent a picture yesterday of Carol and her roommate Nancy and forgot to mention what a great 2 days rest we had at Nancy's house in Milton. They fed us like kings and treated us to some great wine. We really needed the time off from biking and that was a great place to rest. Thank you both.

Day 53 - April 18, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,571

From the Captain: After two days rest, we left Pensacola with fresh legs and a beautiful sunny day. The route ran along Scenic Hwy. which is a high bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay. It was surprisingly hills but at this point in the trip, we handle them well. We passed two very unusual houses overlooking the bay. Note all the security cameras on one of the houses. After traveling back roads with little traffic and crossing Blackwater River several times, we ended up on US 90. We ended up in Mossey Head after biking our highest mileage day of 77 miles.

We are 14 miles from starting our last set of maps which means St. Augustine is 442 miles away. At 60 miles per day, our trip will be complete in 7.5 days. At 70 miles per day, we will be done in 6.3 days.

We're into the countdown phase now and if there is anything I've learned on this adventure, it is how to countdown. The 7 day weatherforecast is for clear and dry with the days in the high 70's and the nights in the 50's. How lucky can we get. If we don't have any mishaps, our trip should end by next weekend.

From the Stoker: As we get closer to St. Augustine, some of you following our blog and the map wonder why we have 442 miles when the Florida map shows something less that 300 miles. Unlike every other biker we have met traveling this directions, we have followed the map exactly as it is written. The bike company that made these maps keep us off main highways and expressways as much as possible. It is safer, less traffic, and so much more beautiful and interesting. BUT, it puts quite a few more miles in the saddle for us

Day 52 - April 15, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,494

From the Stoker: Can you believe it......we are in Florida! We biked 59 miles from Dauphin Island, Alabama to Pensacola, Florida. We had to take a ferry to cross Mobile Bay. It landed in Fort Morgan where we began to bike. It was a difficult ride due to the very strong headwind and the fact that we biked many miles along white sandy beaches and the ocean, therefore, no wind break at all. BUT, it was a beautiful ride with many memories. We brought our children to these beaches and rented a house on the ocean during Easter break for many years. Then we brought our grandchildren for a few years for the same fun in the sun and memories. Talk about grandchildren, the Mirabella condo picture was taken for our sweet little granddaughter, Mirabella.

We convinced Carol that we would not need her for this leg, so sent her on home to Milton, just outside of Pensacola. She dropped the truck off in a parking lot right on our route and her roommate, Nancy, came and picked her up. When we arrived at the truck after 59 hard hot miles, there sat on the front seat, a cooler with wine and 2 glasses, a baguette, salami, and cheese to help us celebrate our arrival into Florida. I was crying too hard to eat much but Dick sure enjoyed it. And, we all enjoyed the bottle of wine before a wonderful dinner Carol prepared. Thank you, thank you.

We will stay in Milton Fri. and Sat. to get the oil changed in the truck, go through mail, do laundry, and catch up on computer work. Also, for two much needed days of rest. We have biked 25 days with only one day of rest. We plan to leave here on Sun.and hope to be in St. Augustine, FL by Monday (weather permitting).

Day 51 - April 14, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

From the Captain:
A short day, 33 miles to get to Dauphin Island! Felt good to have a relaxing ride for a change and we were even tolerant of the head winds which at times had us slowed to 8 mph. We had to climb a pretty high bridge to get to the island. The climb was really steep but the buffeting of the wind was what made it really tough.

Quite a view of Mobile Bay and the sandy beaches coming over the bridge. As soon as we got on the island, I spotted a sign for a fresh bakery and we made a quick turn and enjoyed a fresh baked cinammon roll. Something I would have liked to have done a lot more but it always seemed that we were behind schedule and pushing.

We had a pretty good scare on the causeway approaching the bridge. We had a strong wind blowing from our left side so we we were constantly steering hard to the left to counteract the wind. A big tour bus came by and never moved over in his lane. He momentarily blocked the side wind which sucked us right towards the bus! Just as I was responding to the suction the bus passes and we get the gust that almost pushed us into the side rail. I would like to find the driver!

We explored the island for awhile. The west side has a lot of very new homes built on the "stilts" to withstand hurricanes. It was pretty obvious that most of the homes on that side had been destroyed by Katrina. Even the land was void of trees and vegetation. As you got to the center of the island and east side it looked like it had not been touched at all. Even our campground has full size mature trees and is really nice right on the Gulf.

We catch a ferry tomorrow that takes us across Mobile Bay and drop us off at Ft. Morgan on the other side. We'll ride on the coast for awhile and then enter into Pensacola Florida. Carol is really excited to get home and see her roommate and the other dogs, sleep in her own bed, and shower in her home. We wanted to try making her home but it would have been an 80 mile day which would have been doable with a tail wind but we just found out the weather report is calling for an east wind at 10-15mph which will make it tough to get in 60 miles. Oh well.

Sorry, problem sending pictures. Will send them tomorrow hopefully.

Day 50 - April 13, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,402.5

From the Stoker: Forgot to send Mississippi sign yesterday.

Another beautiful day and we are getting close to our finish. We have biked for 24 days with just one day off and we are tired but still pedaling on.

We biked 61.5 miles from Saucier, Mississippi to Dee's, Alabama. Again, we had a 15-20mph wind in our face. Not really complaining because our route was flat which makes the wind easier to deal with.

The country roads were, once again, pretty and interesting. All these back roads add miles which could be reduced if we stayed on main highways but we would never have seen this country as we have seen it.

We still are hoping to be in St. Augustine in about 12-13 days from now (need couple days in Milton, FL for car service and mail sorting). We will pray we continue to get great weather.

Day 49 - April 12, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,341

From the Captain: Anoth er day of sunshine and warm weather. It's amazing the string of nice days that we have had, days in the high 70's and nights in the 50's, good riding and good sleeping.

Started biking on the Mississippi state line this morning to Saucier, LA (64.5 miles). The route was curvy and hills on country roads. Very light traffic made for a relaxed day of riding.

We ran into another couple, looked to be our age, riding east to west. They had ridden 12 days averaging 60 miles a day. We are beginning to get an idea of how many more days we have to reach St. Augustine, FL.

Day 48 - April 11, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,276.5

From the Stoker: We have met the nicest people on this trip. It has been really fun this past week.

We entered Louisiana 6 days ago with Diane and Bill from CA. We had just met them that afternoon along the route. Last night they had dinner with us in the campground. They have biked around Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

A couple of days ago, we met another couple on a tandem on the ferry. They were from Arizona but lived in northern MI for 7 yrs.

Today we met a young man traveling east to west. He lives in Lansing and has a friend that lives in northern MI near us.

We entered Mississippi today with Diane and Bill and took pictures. We were all so disappointed entering LA because there wasn't a sign. Guess where we found the LA welcome sign.....across the street from the MS sign coming into LA from that direction. They continued to bike another 20 miles further (50yrs. and 58yrs.). If we don't catch up to them, we will see them in Milton, FL. They should stay about a half day ahead of us.

From the Captain: We traveled from Easteyville to the MS state line through some very pretty areas today. Winding andolling hills with more giantazaleas bushes blossoming. Several of the rivers in this area are clear and fast moving with sandy bottoms and shores, probably great canoeing/kayaking.

We felt good getting in a 64 miles day. We have really been limited with availability of campgrounds (it's either a 100 mile day or a 50 mile day). Today would have been the same if Carol hadn't found a motel that had RV spots in the back.

We entered MS today and will be heading south through Alabama in 1 1/2 days to get down to the gulf. We will take a ferry across Mobile Bay fromDauphin Island. Should be some pretty biking.

Day 47 - April 10, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker: What a beautiful sunny, cool morning for a bike ride. After we said good bye to the couple from Sweden, we were on our way. Only 50 miles today from St. Francisville to Eastely, Louisiana. The next campground looks like about 80 miles from this one so we were forced to stop.

We crossed the Mississippi River yesterday and only biked 5 miles to the campground. When we started this morning, we were amazed at how different this side of the river is from the other side. Rolling hills, beautiful woods sometimes making a canopy over the road, old plantation homes, azaleas that don't end, and much better roads. The other side was flat, more barren, and so much water everywhere. It was like we were in another state.

Shortly after we set up the camper, Daine and Bill, a couple wenmet a couple daysd ago on the road, came into the campground. After they set up their tent, they joined us for dinner and an evening of visiting. It's so much fun to share stories and find out what motivates others to take this bike trip.

2010-04-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2010

From the daughter (Yvette): Mom and Dad asked me to check in for them. They have been without service for 3 nights so unable to blog. They are fine and doing well. They made it to Mississippi yesterday....getting closer. They will catch up here as soon as they can find service.

Day 46 - April 9, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

From the Captain: We biked 55.5 miles from Simmesport to St. Francisville, LA. We left Simmesport with sunshine and finally no wind. Immediately had to climb a bridge over e top of thAtchefeleya River. I was surprised that we had never heard of the river when we say the size of it. We are in Cajun country with many bayou's, swamps, and water.

The road were most;u back country roads with very low traffic. We rode alongside a grassy high (40-50FT.) berm for quite some time. You could see the tops of trees over the berm. My curiosity finally got the best of me and I walked up to the berm. It was a levee that contains the migjty Mississippi. The trees were in the flood plain between the levee and the river. It was flooded big time. It must be the water from the spring snow melt.

Carol met us on the way to the ferry with a fresh cooked cajun meal called Etouffee, which was crawfish and rice with a great sauce. What a treat.

We had to take a ferry across the Mississippi River to get to St. Francisville, LA. You have no idea how fast and wide the river is until you get on it.

We had biked flat roads for several days and after landing in St. Francisville, we were immediately into hills. We have heard it is like this through Mississippi.

We met another tandem couple, Gary and Peggy, from Arizona. He had worked 7 years for the National Park Service at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. He confirmed that cougars DO exist in the area in spite of the DNR's denial.

We settled into a nice campground and met 2 other couples biking east to west. One couple from Sweden, were on their way to Portland, Oregon to visit a friend. They were both working on Phd's and were able to get the time off.

The other couple, a nurse practitioner and a writer had just recently became full time RV'ers. She is doing the riding and he provides support. She had had some interesting experiences in Alaska.

We want to thank Peaceful Pines Campground in St. Francisville, 225-635-4903, for supporting our cause.

Day 45 - April 8, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 2,109

From the Captain: Last night we had a quick moving cold front come through with a lot of rain and lighting. It's surprising how few bad weather days that we've had on then trip. Once in Calif., 2 in Phoenix, and one snow day in Silver City, NM. This storm moved through overnight, pushed out the heat and humidity and by 9:00 a.m. we were heading out on dry roads. The forecast is for a week of good weather. The winds switched from out of the south to out of the northwest. Of course, our route was turning to the north. The ride was flat and curvy through nice farm lands and wooded areas. We biked 56.5 miles from Washington to Simmesport, LA.

We are having problems with our "bottom sides". It was one of the advantages of the hills, we would stand on the downhill and give it a rest. While riding in the flats, we're finding we have to stop frequently to rest our bottoms and resort to Motrin. Luckily, we don't have much further to go. It looks like about 15 days left to bike on this adventure of ours.

Day44 - April 7, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker: We biked on many different roads for 53. 5 miles from Oberlin to
Washington, Louisiana. Unfortunately, our miles depend often on where the next campground can be found. We can dry camp but it has gotten hot and we NEED the air conditioner which means we need electricity. The one tonight is awful but it is a place to hookup, turn on the air, and eat and sleep in comfort.

Carol's son, Brad, showed up around 4 p.m. (he works in LA) for dinner and a very nice visit.

We are biking through more populated areas, many little towns and communities, some beautiful and some poor and not so nice. No matter the area, the azaleas in front of the homes and churches are beautiful. How I wish we could grow azaleas this size in Michigan. There is water everywhere in LA so everything is very green. We passed many flooded fields where they are harvesting crawfish with a flat bottom boat called a Pirogue. Different times of the year, they use the same flooded fields to harvest rice.

There are many cemetery's along our bike route and very interesting. The bodies are buried above ground under cement slabs or huge slabs of granite due to the high water table in LA.

I used a whole can of Halt due to all the dog attacks. It's hard to tell if they are going to be friendly while they are barking and running and nipping at my heels, so before they take a bite, I spray them.

Day 43 - April 6, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-06T18:15:00.000-07:00

From the Captain:

Left Merrysville real early this morning to beat the heat and rode fairly fast with a tail wind until 5 miles where we turned east and started getting a strong cross/head wind. We were hoping to get in 80 miles to get to a camp ground but by 3:oo we had only gotten in 57 miles so we decided to start looking for some alternatives for the night. None of them seemed good so we decided to stay at a motel in Oberlin. Carol was real nervous about that because the newly weds that we had met a couple of nights ago had told us a horror story about checking into a motel that was infested with bed bugs. When we drove up to the motel we saw a sign about a free shuttle to the "casino". Asked around and drove 5 miles to the casino and they had a great RV resort. Everything turned out great except we didn't win anything. We put in 57.5 miles which brings out total to 1999 miles. We would have ridden one more mile if we knew we were that close to passing the 2/3 point!

Day 42 - April 5, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker: We are celebrating tonight. We biked 65 miles from Kountze, TX to Marysville, LA. We are out of Texas and as happy as every other biker we talk to. Texas is just too big and you feel like you aren't accomplishing anything by not entering a new state for 21 days of biking.

We crossed the Louisiana border with another couple, all of us so anxious to take a picture welcoming us into LA. All we got was a little sign telling us what parish we were entering. We celebrated anyway with a picture of the dumb sign and by swatting the bugs away.

We don't tell Carol often enough and we don't mention how much we appreciate her in our blog. Every biker we have met (at least 15) are all hauling their gear on their bike and tenting most nights with occasional stops in crummy motels. Here we are, no gear to carry, seeing our camper and trailer sitting on the side of the road every hour or so, a warm or cool place to eat and sleep, and most importantly, somebody worrying about us.

She's had a couple stressful weeks getting lost, getting stuck on a road with no turn around and finding it difficult to back the rig up and a lady running into the corner of the cargo trailer. She almost bought a ticket home but I guess her love for us keeps her going. She loves it when we go through a town with a McDonald and a Walmart. Unfortunately, there aren't many of them. We could not being fulfilling this dream of ours without her because tenting just wouldn't happen. Thank you Carol and we love you.

Day 41 - April 4, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!

From the Captain:
After climbing 4000' in Calif., climbing two 6300' peaks, going over the continental divide, climbing Emory pass at 8300', climbing 6200' to McDonald Observatory, going through multiple steep hills in the Texas hill country, and many more rolling hills too numerous to mention, it looks like we are finally into the flat lands! The results are that we set a record for distance today at 70.5 miles bringing are total to 1876miles. We went from Pumpkin to Kountze Texas. We left the campground this morning with thick, cloudy sky and moisture over everything and verging on a fog. The roads were wet till after lunch and then the sun came out and dried things out. We had several dog attacks today, one with four dogs at one time. We carry Halt on the bike and Annette is getting really good at aiming. They peel away pretty quick after one shot. For an Easter Sunday things were really quiet and our bottom sides seemed to be the biggest problem with the continuous biking (no coasting, pics, etc.)

We met a young couple last night. They were just married and had bought a recumbent tandem for their trip across the US. They planned to spend one month to bike to San Diego and then they were going to spend 6-7 months to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. They were really enthusiastic and excited about their trip. They were 12 days out of St. Augustine which means they're doing about 100 miles a day. They had just had the bike built and picked it up to start the trip and never really had a chance to shake things down. The bike was enormously long, probably close to 9 feet. They were carrying 70 lbs of gear on the rear bike rack and when they would pedal the rear of the bike would swing side to side quite a bit, to the point I would worry about fatiguing the frame. I wish I had thought to tell them to line their pedal cranks at 90 degrees between the front and back. It might de-couple the side to side motion. We'll be anxious to hear how their trip progresses.

We want to thank Red Cloud Rv Park (2351 hwy. 96, Silsbee,Texas) for their support of our cause. It is a really nicely run park with nice facilities.

Day 40 - April 3, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-03T18:15:00.002-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 1,806

From the Stoker: Wow! It's getting hot, 89 today. We biked 56 miles from Navasota to Pumpkin, TX. Still many hills but such beautiful country. We biked many of the miles through Sam Houston National Forest (again reminding us and Carol of Michigan). We passed Conroe Lake which is huge and was very busy with boat traffic. I have to admit, I got a little lonesome for home. The flowers are still beautiful. The pruple/lavender Wisteria tree/vine was growing in abundance along side the road, some as high as 50 feet or more. I could smell them before I even saw them.

We should have another day or two of hills and them be out of Texas and biking on some flat roads. We just finished talking to a young couple that are traveling east to west and informed us about the terrible roads in Louisiana. You know what, we'll take rough roads instead of hills. It's funny how we complain, I truly think we are getting used to them. We averaged over 12 mph today over constant rolling hills for 56 miles. Not bad for us old folks.

Day 40 -

2010-04-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

Rest Day - April 2, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

From the Captain:
60% chance of rain, 20-35 mph winds, tired legs (really tired after 12 straight days of riding) and we had to spend time with Terry and Amy ( minus Amy, she had to go be with her mother who is battling cancer). So we took the whole day off and it felt good to recover a bit.
Terry and Amy are biking friends that we met on a tour in Colorado over Vail pass. They are good friends and we haven't seen them in quite a few years. They are getting ready to retire in January and are starting to build their retirement home in the hill country around Austin. We spent some time going over their plans. Had dinner and drove back to Navasota to start riding in the morning.

Day 39 - April 1, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-04-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

From theCaptain:

Hills, hills, and more hills. We ended up putting in 66.5 miles from La Grange to Navasota. What was significant is we have completed 4 of the 7 maps that we have. Also the next maps no longer show any elevations so I think we are finally through with hills. Now if we could get rid of the wind we could really make time!

We had a hard time finding a campground last night. We were told it was because of an antique show in the area. Well, we ended riding right through it. Twelve miles of it around Round Top, Texas. It was on both sides of the roads and created a ton of traffic which, luckily was travelling very slow because of the congestion. For those of you that are into antiques, I think this is bigger than Shipshawana in Indiana.

Did I mention hill?

From the Stoker: I sure hope when we bike out of this "hill country", I will remember the beauty and forget all about the hills!!

Day 38 - March 31, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker: I will answer the question the Michiganders will ask when they see the first few photos I post. NO, we are not back in Michigan biking in the northern woods. Although, we sure felt like we were.

We biked from Bastrop to LaGrange, TX today on a few different farm roads. Still no shoulders but much lighter traffic. The best part of the trip was the first 20 miles biking through Bastrop and Bueschlar State Park. That's the part that looks so much like MI. It was extremely hilly but well worth the miles. We only biked 45 miles today due to the hills and wind once we got out of the parks. We couldn't have gone another mile. Part of the fatigue could have come from all the times I got off the bike to take photos. We had to load up and drive all the way back to Bastrop because all of the campgrounds were booked due to an antique show.

The flowers are absolutely beautiful. I can't believe they will get any better but the Texans say they will as we continue to travel east.

Day 37 - March 30, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker: I can't believe the beautiful weather we are having day after day. We left Lockhart on Farm Road 20 and biked 27.5 to Bastrop, TX. We needed a short day to have time for normal every day chores (laundry, shopping, paying bills, changing bike tires, etc.). We are still in the "hill country", still biking through a lush green country side and ranch land, over many hills, still on 2 lane roads with no shoulders, and enjoying more and more wildflowers every mile. The traffic was a little better but still pretty heavy. That makes for a stressful day, especially for the Captain, so the short day was a blessing.

We would like to thank the Bastrop RV Park, 512-321-4404, for their generous support to our cause.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. It's going to be hard to get many miles in if I have to stop so often to take photos. The meadow full of blue flowers are "Texas Blue Bonnets" and we feel fortunate to be traveling thru this part of Texas during blooming time.

Day 36 - March 29, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day. We left with temps in the 40's but quickly warmed to 75. We are still biking in the Texas hill country and the scenery is beautiful. We left Blanco state park which was a very nice park heading to Lockhart, TX. We are continuing to bike in rolling hills which we can handle well. The Texas wild flowers are blooming and we expect some nice displays as we head further east.

We went thru a neat quaint town called Wimberly. We would have stopped but felt we are running behind schedule and should continue a full day of biking. Carol tried stopping but had driven down a dead end road and was having trouble turning around and getting out. The local constable was less than helpful and gave her a very hard time as she tried to get the truck and trailer out.

We made it to Lockhart and checked in to another great state park. It was 61 miles of riding and we are both niticing the fatigue in our loegs. It's been 9 straight dayts without a break so we decided to put in a short day tomorrow to rest our bodies and catch up on some much needed chores (laundry, bill paying, etc.).

The roads were probably the most stressful we have had. They were narrow 2 lane ranch roads with no shoulders and heavy traffic. The drivers seemed very impatient. At one point, I glanced in the mirror and saw a big truck bearing down on us. With oncoming traffic, he couldn't move over and I couldn't go anywhere because the edge of the road had broken up. The truck managed to slow down and passed us after we crested the hill. Tough Day!!!

Day 35 - March 28, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 1,550 (half way)

From the Stoker: Another beautiful sunny day for a long 63 mile bike ride from Kerrville to Blanco, TX. The route took us on the most beautiful small country roads through unique little towns with constant turning and twisting. We said over and over again that we felt like we were biking in northern Michigan along one of our rivers. It felt so like home.

We deserve bragging rights today. We are biking in the "hill country" and 63 miles of hills deserves bragging about. We had a tailwind for probably 50% of the day which was a real treat. We were quite tired at about 50 miles but decided we could go the last 13 because the map showed about 5 miles of climbing and the rest downhill. Of course, that was not quite true. We finished our day with 10 miles of climbing and enjoyed 3 miles of down hill into Blanco, TX. I'm not complaining, it was a beautiful day of biking.

From the captain:

What a surprise, driving down a one lane road, in the middle of nowhere, to come across an F8U fighter jet sitting behind a farm building. It was the workhorse aircraft for the Navy to land on aircraft carriers. Couldn't imagine how the owner got it, moved it there, and what in the world would he possibly do with it. Brought back memories for me. When I graduated from college I hired into LTV Aerospace and had the option of working on that aircraft.

Day 34 - March 27, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

From the Captain: What a day!! Started out from Lost Maple State Park Campground (no city, just the middle of nowhere) and immediately started climbing the 4th (and last) of the really steep hills. We thought with fresh legs we might have a chance. No way, the hill must have been 10-12% grade and you couldn't even see the top, so back to a little bike hiking. After cresting, we were having some really nice riding with pretty scenery.

After 25 miles, we jammed the chain again. This time the jam was between two sprockets as well as between the frame. We were really disappointed because we were really rolling and the weather was great.

Thanks goodness for Carol and our support vehicle. We loaded the bike and headed to Kerrville (20 miles away) and luckily the mechanic was available (even on Sat.). He made some adjustments and sent us on our way with theadvice to do the shifts easy and slow. We don't have a very good feeling that it won't happen again. I bought the tools that I need to be able to take care of the jams myself.

Since it was around 2:30 and we had a really good tailwind, we decided to go back and pick up the route at the point that we broke down. What a ride! Back into Kerrville, 1 1/2 hours to ride 24 miles. The ride was absolutely beautiful along the Guadalupe River. It really is a beautiful part of Texas and the locals say the wildflowers we be out soon. After a day like this, we decided to treat us ourselves to dinner out (sure makes Annette happy).

From the Stoker: The Captain is right, What a day!! The weather was perfect, the green meadows and trees, and the rolling hills are beautiful. The homes and the landscape were amazing coming into Kerrville. This is called "Texas Hill Country" and they are telling us we will see some gorgeous wildflowers soon. I could have biked many more miles today but I bet we have some long days in our future.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and don't forget, to view them in a larger format, just click on the picture.

Day 33 - March 26, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

P.S. from day 32 from the Captain: It was surprising how the vegatation has changed in such a short distance. In Del Rio, it was still the desert look, brown with mostly cactus. As we headed east, you started to see small trees, then flowers, and soon, trees large enough of to give shade. By Cooksey Park, the only cacti were prickly pear. The flowers were abundant and green grass was everywhere.

From the Captain: We headed out of Campwood knowing we would have to tackle the steepest grades (not the longest grades as in the mountains) of the trip. They were steep!!! Probably 10-12% grades but luckily they were short. The longest climb was 700 ft. We have refined the fine art of "bike hiking". One downhill was so steep, we had to stop and let the rims cool so we didn't have a blowout.

The scenery was beautiful with all the hills, valleys, and rivers. Trees are blossoming out and the pastures made for nice photos.

We went thru a small town called Leakey, population 307. Every motorcyclist in the state chose to ride to Leaky today. No wonder, the twisty roads and steep grades and fine weather make for good biking. They had 2 restaurants that catered to the bikers, "Hog Heaven" and "Bikers Grill." There must have been 2-3000 of them.

We made it to Lost Maples Natural Area. Nice Campground with large lots, grassy areas, river and waterfalls. It really is a nice part of the state.

We're continuing to have shifting problems with the bike. We jammed the chain again today buyt was able to dislodge it without tools. It is making for very tentative shifts. We are hoping to get to a bike shop tomorrow.

Day 32 - March 25, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

We are way behind in posting. We didn't have service the past 3 days and tonight it is weak. Hopefully I can catch up.

From the Captain: The first thing this morning, Annette exited the camper and ran into the slide out so hard it knocked her to the ground! We're waiting to see if it turns black and blue.

From the Stoker: It did not! A beautiful sunny day for a 46 mile ride. We left Fort Clark on Hyw 334 to 55 to Campwood, TX, still 2 lane, a little rough, but light traffic. We took pictures of the stream from the pool at the campground on our way out.

The scenery was beautiful, so green, many trees, and beautiful wildflowers along the road and in the meadows. The first 32 miles were fairly easy. The last 14 were up hill and into a strong headwind but we are getting stronger and didn't have too much difficulty.

We met 4 bikers today. The first young guy was a college graduate out of work so was taking his time to complete the trip. He said he would be happy if he found a job anywhere. The next 2 men were near retirement and do a section of the route every time they get a weeks vacation. The 4th young man was in grad school and on spring break. He was traveling so light, he looked like he was our for a short pleasure ride. All he had was a credit card. I asked how he was finding motels and restaurants close enough for each night stop. He said no problem because he was biking 140 miles a day which allowed him to get to motels. He left San Diego 10 days ago and will be done in 10 more days (pro level).

Every biker we talk express their sympathy for us knowing how much more difficult it is to climb hills with a tandem vs. a single bike. We remind them how much faster we are downhill and on the flats.

We arrived in Campwood, TX and staying at Cooksey Park on the Nueces River. We are camped right on the river and it is beautiful. We would all love to stay here for a day or two but our desire to finish this trip is keeping us pedaling on.

Photos from Day 31 - March 24, 2010

2010-03-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Photos I couldn't send with tonights post. Amistad Reservoir and wild flowers.

Day 31 - March 24, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

CORRECTION IN TOTAL MILES BIKED - 1,323

From the Stoker: What a great day! Drove back to Comstock where we broke down yesterday and started biking under dark thick clouds and a light mist falling BUT NO WIND, no head, no tail, no cross wind, just still and enjoyable. By noon the sun was out and became almost hot. We biked 30 miles back to Del Rio passing the Amistad Reservoir. It is huge and beautiful and formed by the backing up of the Rio Grande and the Pecos River. Del Rio is a large town on this reservoir and a great place for snow birds that love lake living, boating, and fishing. The winter months are the busiest due to the warm weather. The owner of the campground we stayed in last night says the summer is very slow due to the heat.

Once we biked through Del Rio we continued on Hwy 90 for 30 more miles to Bracketville, TX. The terrain became green with trees and wild flowers which made for a nice ride.

From the Captain: The good side of jamming the chain yesterday....our legs really enjoyed the short day and the winds died today when we went back to Comstock to pick up the route. We made the 30 miles to Del Rio in under 2 hours.

We made it to Bracketville, a small town whose main attraction is Fort Clark. It was established in 1852 to provide protection for the route to El Paso and was a training base for many generals including George Patton. It was closed in 1946 and turned into a recreation facility.

The barracks have become private homes. The association boasts the 3rd largest pool in Texas which is spring fed and stays at 68 degrees year round. They have golf courses, hiking, riding, trails, and a fresh creek that flows through the property. Fish abound and no license is required. Several golf courses that are free, plenty of wildlife (we had 2 deer by our camper while eating dinner).

The campground is very nice and could be a winter destination with Del Rio and Amistad Recreation Area only 30 miles away.

Having trouble sending photos. Will try later or send tomorrow.

Day 30 - March 23, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED - 1,283

From the Captain: Not a good day! Sunny and warm when we left Langtry and headed immediately into hills and headwinds and could feel the fatigue in our legs. We were doubting that we would make Del Rio 61 miles away. With rest, stretch, and eating stops it took us 4 hours to get us to Comstock 31 miles from Langtry.

Leaving Comstock, which should have started a downhill, we jammed the chain. It was jammed so bad that I couldn't begin to budge it without damaging the frame or sprockets. The only choice we had was to load up the bike and drive to Del Rio for repairs.

Hopefully when we drive back to Comstock to pick up the route, the winds will have changed. The legs are enjoying the rest tonight.

From the Stoker: Not a totally bad day. We did get 31 tough miles out of the way and besides ranch land, we saw wild Evening Primrose flowers along the sides of the road, we crossed the Pecos Rivfuer which was very pretty, and we met another young man today, Bryan Gattis, traveling in our direction. He is riding to raise money for a health clinic that he had worked in in Kenya. AND we ended up finding the Broke Mill RV Park in Del Rio, 830-422-2961. It is a beautiful, clean campground and they were very generous in supporting our cause.

Day 29 - March 22, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED - 1,252

From the Captain: We biked 61 miles from Sanderson to Langtry, TX. It was 35 degrees this morning with bright sunshine and a slight tail wind. A beautiful day for riding and we shed clothes as the day warmed. By noon the wind switched around to a strong headwind with gusts at 10-20mph. Along with the wind we started to hit rolling hills. We felt pretty proud of our hill climbing ability since we were able to handle all of them and sometimes without getting into the lasat 2 gears. Good news for us since we heard we are in store for some 10% grades between her and Austin, TX.

From the Stoker: We are still traveling on Hwy 90 with little traffic. There wasn't much to see most of the way but open ranch land. As we got closer to Langtry, the terrain turned rocky with cliffs and buttes to give us a little scenery.

We met a young man named Keith Jackson traveling east to west across the U.S. He is biking to raise money for Aplastic Anemia. He had the tailwind so hoped to bike 120 miles today. Oh, to be young. It's really enjoyable to talk to other bikers and we all stop and do just that when we see each other.

We pulled into a full hookup RV park in Langtry for $15.00. This town is 2 blocks long and is the home of the Judge Roy Bean Museum. He was known as "the law west of the Pecos". The owner came to collect the fee and Carol asked where we could go eat so I wouldn't have to cook. He said we could order barbecue sandwiches and have them delivered. Anything not to have to cook. Actually, they were pretty good. I'll send pictures of this top notch campground and of the owners to pets.

Day 28 - March 21, 2010

2010-03-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

TOTAL MILES BIKED: 1,190

From the Stoker: A perfect day for a bike ride. Sunny, cool (almost cold), morning but the sun warmed us up by noon. We biked 54 miles from Marathon to Sanderson, TX with a slight climb out of Marathon but a nice northwest breeze that made the day easy. Our miles are a little restricted by camping spots. The next camping spot is 61 miles from here and that is even dry camping.

We biked through mainly open ranch land on a two lane road (Hwy. 90) with a good shoulder and very little traffic. As we neared Sanderson, the land became rocky with cliffs rather than open land. We met 3 young men heading west from Florida to San Diego and camping along the way (poor guys, thank you Carol). We also met a father and son traveling west from FL and mote ling it more than camping. The father is 68 and hadn't been on a bike for years. They started the trip in January and plan to be done by May. They all envied us with our support vehicle and I can't blame them.

From the captain: We got stopped for the first time by a Texas Sheriff, no not for speeding! We were biking on a two lane road with a full shoulder and a white line designating the shoulder. He asked if we knew what the Texas law was? We of course told him we were from Mich. and didn't know the law. He told us that we were supposed to ride on the right side of the line and if we crossed it he would write us a ticket. Well Texas has more glass on their roads then we have ever seen in all of our travels. So I had to tell him that I was tired of changing flat tires and that I think they need to do something with their litter if they really expect us to ride on the shoulder. We couldn't wait to get out of that county so that I could go back to riding in the traffic lane and moving over when traffic approached.

Big Bend National Park - March 19,20, 2010

2010-03-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker:

For not loving the desert very much, Dick and I loved Big Bend National Park. The ruggedness of the mountains, the rock formations caused by erosion, the glow the setting sun cast on the mountains, the shadows, the beautiful trees and pines that were at the base of the mountains when we climbed to the Chisos Basin, and so much more made our cameras click and click. The Rio Grande River is very dirty and they advise everyone not to swim but it was beautiful running through the Santa Elina Canyon and the Boquillas Canyon. The Santa Elina Canyon was comparable to Zion with canyon walls 2000 ft. high.

I photographed illegal Mexicans crossing the river on horses to sell their walking sticks on the trail through the Boquillas Canyon. There is a sign that says it is illegal for us to buy them but many people ignored the warning.

We will begin biking tomorrow and start clicking off miles. We are praying hard for no rain and winds that help rather than hinder.

I'm sending photos of the past 2 days and may need to send them in a couple different posts.

Day 27 - March 18, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

From the Stoker:

We never forget to mention the bad weather we experience, but forgot to mention the wonderful weather we had yesterday and it was a repeat today. We only biked 32 miles today from Alpine to Marathon, TX. We loaded up the bike and drove south about 60 miles to Big Bend National Park. We will spend a day or two hiking and taking photos. We have a goal to visit ever National Park in the U.S. and knew we would never be in this area of Texas again and wanted to give Carol something else to see and do besides supporting us.

None of us are crazy about the desert, too brown and too much dust but all the literature promises more than that. Once we set up camp in Big Bend RV Park just outside of the N.P. in Terlingua, TX and had dinner, we headed out for some sunset pictures. We took a few but were not overly impressed.

We have a day of hiking and driving tomorrow and are hoping to get a good look at this huge park and see some beauty.

Once we leave here on Sunday, we have some heavy biking to do. No more family to visit, sights to see, and NO MORE RAIN AND COLD.

Day 26 - March 17, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Impressions from the Captain: Woke up to our water line frozern. We were told the low would be 37 degrees but with the clear sky, it dropped well below that. Luckily nothing broke, but the first thing I had to do was get the hose unfrozen.

Had to work on the bike chains before we could start our day. They had started to rust and wore badly because of riding 2 days in the rain. We had decided to only ride 38 miles because of our late start. We hadn't ridden 3 miles when we got our 6th flat. So frustrated because our Kevlar tires should stop punctures that cause flats.

The ride into Fort Davis and to AlPine, TX was absolutely gorgeous. This has to be the prettiest part of Texas (at least what we have seen so far). We took so many pictures that we weren't sure we get to Alpine before dinner.

Thank you to Pecan Grove RV Park, Alpine, TX, 432-837-7175, for their generous discount to support our cause.

Day 25 - March 16, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

From the Captain:
We left Kent, Texas under a cloudy misty sky. We dressed in full winter clothes knowing that we would be climbing to 6300 ft. elevation with the temperature dropping as we reached the peak. Although we rode 38 miles up to the peak, it was virtually all climbing because of the continuous rolling hills.

At the peak was the McDonal Observatory which has public viewing thru their telescopes at dark. Unfortunately, this is spring break week and the show was so crowed that we had to settle for looking through their smaller telescopes. It still was exciting to see Saturn, Mars, and other constellations. The sky was crystal clear and we have never seen so many stars.

We want to thank Prude Guest Ranch in Fort Davis, TX, 432-426-3202 for their generous discount to help our cause.

I have already posted the pictures. Sorry, maybe too tired and little unorganized (from the stoker).

Pictures - Coast to Coast

2010-03-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

March 16 - Kent to McDonald Observatory - cloudy, foggy, but a beautiful road. Wish we could have biked it in sun but took some pictures anyway.

Pictures - Coast to Coast

2010-03-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

I am sending pictures from the last few days. I promise to add them to the day we blog from now on. I am sure they make more sense that way. Days without service and days using the public computer when we can and lack of time is making it difficult to post, load pictures, and send all in one night.

This was March 13, biking from El Paso to Sierra Blanca. Not much to see until the mountains came in view.

Day 24 - March 15, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

From the Captain: What a difference a day makes!!! Yesterday we were riding in shorts and tees, enjoying a strong tailwind covering 44 miles in 2.5 hrs. Overnight, a cold front came through and we woke to dark skies, cold temps, a strong headwind, and that special smell in the air when rain is around the desert.

We only had to go 35 miles to our next stop so we took off in long pants and our wind jackets. It wasn't long before we stopped our support vehicle and threw on our cold weather gear.

Initially, we were able to make about 13 mph into the wind but things deteriorated from there. By the half way point, we were in the granny gear going between 6-8 mph. Before long it started to rain lightly and Annette was getting colder as she got wetter. We were able to make it to Kent, our destination, and very happy to be there.

Tonight is our first night dry camping (no hookups). Should be a real experience. Tomorrow we tackle the last climb of the trip,m 6300 ft. into Fort Daves, TX. The fun part is that the McDonald Observatory is there. There will be a Star Gazing Party and we will be able to look through one of the largest telescopes in the world!

From the Stoker: I'm wet, cold, and tired. We are camped in the parking lot of a Mercantile Store in a town that only has this store in the whole town. We are camped 50 feet from a train that goes by and blows the horn about every 30 mins. It will be a long night. Are we having fun yet? Tomorrow is another day and will be a better day I am sure.

Day 23 - March 14, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

From the Captain: We left Sierra Blanca under a clear sky and perfect temps and finally a strong tailwind. We biked 43 miles to Van Horn in about 2 1/2 hours. Our distance today and tomorrow are limited by the distance between towns and campgrounds. Tomorrow we will only ride 35 miles abecause the day after will be a 58 mile day with 2000 feet of climbing.

It was nice getting in to Van Horn early because we ended up with two time changes today (daylight savings and Central Time Zone). We were able to get some relaxation in and attended to some minor repairs.

No comments from the stoker, rushing to get this posted before power runs out.

Day 22 - March 13, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-15T15:38:00.001-07:00

From the Stoker:
After 5 busy but restful days in ElPaso, TX we began our journey east this morning. It was wonderful being at Mom Sadie's house. We had a bed we didn't have to crawl in to on our hands and knees, a bathroom big enough to dance in rather than barely be able to turn around, comfortable sofas and chairs, a kitchen that more than just me can work in, and we had Mom taking such good care of us and trying to made us rest and relax. Our bodies truly did need these few days and we had many things to take care of, computer and etc. We also spent time visiting and eating with family and friends. Thank you Mom for all you do for us and for making your home ours.

We got a late start this morning (10:30 a.m.) but managed to bike 68 miles with 55 of them in a headwind and repairing a flat tire. We began biking at our stopping point last Sun. which was the far east side of ElPaso. Hwy. 76 to 20 to 192 to Interstate 10 stopping about 9 miles from Sierra Blanca, TX. We biked thru pecan orchards and farm land and many poor little towns. Once we got on Interstate 10, the mountains were more visible and we began to climb and enjoy the scenery.

Days like this are very long for Carol. No cities, no shopping, no parks to walk the dogs and no garage sales. She is always a welcome sight when we turn the corner or come over the top of a hill and she is waiting for us.

Impressions from the Captain:
The day was clear and bright and we were finally able to bike in summer clothes. It felt good to ride on fresh legs.

We had our 5th flat, which always seems to happen late in the day and when we are the most tired. It was particularly discouraging since we had just installed a liquid (based on recommendation from a bike mechanic) that was suppose to prevent flats. I was hoping that we had solution to our flats. We couldn't find what caused the flat even after removing the tire, so we installed a new tube and held our breath.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hatch, NM to Mesilla to El Paso, TX - Could not post all the pictures we have taken. I only sent a few for each day. For our family, I will send all of them to Kodak Gallery to be viewed by you and saved for us.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hatch, New Mexico - The Chile Capitol of the World - Hatch Smithsonian Institute - Etc.- March 6th blog.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

The big, big climb - Emory Pass - March 5th blog.

Sightseeing Day in Silver

2010-03-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

Gila Cliff Dwellings in Siver City, NM. I wrote about the dwellings in the March 4th blog.

Rest and Sightseeing Days

2010-03-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Catwalk in Silver City, NM. I wrote about the Catwalk in the March 3rd blog.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Continental Divide climb outside of Silver City, NM, our snow day in Silver City, and entering New Mexico.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T17:39:00.001-07:00

I thought I could post all the pictures on one blog but not possible. Sorry for the separate blogs.

Our first difficult climb from Three Way, AZ to Silber City, NM - 6300 ft. elevation.

Coast to Coast Pictures

2010-03-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

Snowcapped mountain from Thacher, AZ to Three Way.

2010-03-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

March 13, 2010

From the Daughter (Yvette) again: They were able to get the computer fixed but now found themselves without a strong enough internet signal to post. However, they are back in business.....they have all the pictures ready to post, and said they will upload them here as soon as they can.

They rode 68 miles today through Texas. And of course with headwinds the whole way...... imagine that. :)

They asked us all to please stay with them. They will be back to posting regularly and get us all caught up very soon.

Rest/Work Day - March 9, 2010

2010-03-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying our time here in El Paso, Texas. Relaxing but getting many odds and ends taken care of, broken watch, dog grooming, hair cuts, computer fixed (the crash was the hard drive) Costco restocking, washing clothes, cleaning camper, etc. We are very lucky about the computer. Mom Sadie's computer guy just told us what to buy and he is reloading it for free. Sure beats buying a new laptop. So anxious to get it back so I can download all the pictures and put them on a blog.

We had an interview with the Silver City, NM newspaper. If you would like to read it, just google "Annette Buonocore" and it is the first item to come up. If you have any trouble, just let me know. There is another way to get on the link, but more confusing. Our grandaughter is the one that tried googling my name and it worked. It is a good article but we would have like her to write more about our cause, raising money for MS. We hope it will generate some activity.

Day 21, - March 7, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Impressions from the Captain: After the third hard day, we have landed in El Paso Texas and a much needed break. Today was the highest mileage yet, 67 miles (I won't even mention the winds). It's hard to imagine that three days ago we were anticipating the climb over Emory Pass and now we are in El Paso.

We've put in 900 miles to date and the mountains are behind us. We do have a 6,000 ft. climb around Fort Davis, TX but we think we should be able to click off some good fast miles.

We left Mesilla, NM, one of the earliest settled cities in the US. The weather was partly cloudy but warm enough to ride in shorts and short sleeves. The Mesilla Valley is mostly farming cotton and pecans.

The climb over Anthony Gap was tiring but noticeably easier than when we tackled it during our training in January.

Carol and Mom Sadie waiting for us was a welcome sight and it meant we had El Paso behind us and we are ready to start the next leg of our trip.

From the Stoker: We took Hwy 28 out of Mesilla, NM then Hwy 186 over Anthony Gap switching to Hwy 404 as we entered Texas. Hwy 375 took us to the east side of El Paso.

Carol and Mom Sadie picked us up and served us cheese and crackers in the truck as we drove to Sadie's house on the west side of El Paso where we will stay. She served us champagne and took pictures to celebrate our arrival and our accomplishment.

It's been a difficult but exciting and rewarding 900 miles and we are proud and feel blessed to have traveled so far so safely.

From the Support Staff: Besides the opportunity to see the snow , the scenery and cheer my Olympians on for all that they accomplished, I did get to see another unexpected sight: A camel standing in the back of a pick-up truck being transported down the highway. Who knew?

Day 20 - March 6, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-07T19:07:00.000-08:00

From the Stoker: It was a very nice day for biking, cool then warm then almost hot. We biked on Hwy 187 out of Caballo, NM to Hatch then on Hwy 185 to Hwy 28 to Mesilla, NM. It was a pretty easy 62 miles with a great 2 hour lunch and sightseeing visit in Hatch. Mom Sadie and her niece and our friend Molly, came from El Paso to show as around Hatch where Mom grew up. What a treat!

The little town of Hatch is the Chile Capital of the World and attracts people from all over the U.S. when it holds its Chile Festival each year. We had a great tour and a great lunch before we continued our miles to Mesilla through orchard and orchards of pecan trees and along the Rio Grande River.

Impressions from the Captain: An early morning start with a tailwind made it fun putting in fast miles. We were riding down the Rio Grande Valley with mountains on each side. Farming is the main industry with mostly cotton and chiles. The road was good and traffic light so it was easy to enjoy the scenery.

After lunch in Hatch, the wind switched out of the south causing us to be able to ride the last 17 miles at only 12mph.

Tomorrow, if we can make it, we'll try making the by-pass around El Paso, which will be a 67 mile day with a mild climb thru Anthony Gap. We'll be poised to pick up our trip in 5-6 days with El Paso behind us.

Day 19 - March 5, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the posting delay. Computer still down and daughter Yvette (our support blogger) got a new job in Michigan and very busy packing to move from St. Louis back home. Yea! Yea! Welcome home! Wish we were there to greet you.

Impressions from the Captain: We made it! We made it! We made it! We got over Emory Pass, 8200 ft. elevation, the highest point on our whole trip. I've been anxious about this climb since we got the maps. We don't mind admitting that we went bike hiking (pushing the bike) a few times. We were having difficulty with breathing as we neared the summit rather than the legs giving out. The reward of the climb was outstanding scenery.

After celebrating at the pass, we put on warm clothes and started down the east side which was very steep. On a tandem, with rim brakes, you have to watch out that you don't overheat the rim and cause a blow out (you have twice the weight on a tandem but the brakes of a single bike). We had a blow out about 4 miles from the top of the pass. We were walking the bike to take a little break. The blow out sounded like a rifle shot. No idea of the cause.

Because of the 18 miles downhill, we were able to get in 52 miles riding for the day. I was amazed at how much two days rest or the pasta loading last night had on our legs. (From the Stoker: How about 52 miles because we are getting stronger).

These mountains are so challenging that the pro's come here in late April for the Tour-de-Gila. Lance Armstrong and his team will be here to prepare for the Tour-de-France.

From the Stoker: Yes! We did it and not ashamed to be patting ourselves on the back and thanking the Good Lord for a little tailwind the last 4 steepest miles.

For those of you following us on a map, we biked on Hwy. 152 just outside of Silver City, NM. to Caballo Lake State Park in Caballo, NM. The highway was very narrow, 2 lane with no shoulders, and very winding and beautiful. The canyon was gorgeous and the the huge pine tree forest and flowing river reminded us so much of home (northern Michigan). I am so sad that I can't download the pictures yet. Our last few biking days have been through the prettiest scenery of the trip so far.

I am still overwhelmed and can't find the right words to express how it feels and smells and looks when you are traveling so close to nature and to what this country of ours has to offer.

Rest Days - March 3,4, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-04T19:02:00.001-08:00

We had two warm sunny days to enjoy some great sights and hikes in Silver City, NM. Yesterday we walked along The Catwalk. A metal causeway clings to the sides of boulder-choked Whitewater Canyon, which is some places is only 20 feet wide and 250 feet deep. The metal causeway becomes dirt, steps and rocks and takes you 1.1 miles into the canyon. Whitewater Canyon was a central point in the mining saga. A 3-mile, 4-inch metal pipeline provided a continuous water supply to the town and its electric generator. A large 18" pipeline was built in 1897 to run a big, new generator. Today's catwalk follows the route of the original line.

We took so many pictures, I can't wait to download them to my computer when fixed and post some of them with the blog. The snowmelt is heavy and the flowing water was amazing.

Today we hiked up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. It was 3 miles round trip, with a fair amount of climbing and Carol was so proud she made it up and so happy to enjoy the dwellings. Built late in the 13th century, there are 42 well-preserved rooms within 5 natural caves. We walked thru the caves where the Mogollons once lived. Rooms contructed of stone and mud mortar, the timbers seen are originals, placed there 700 years ago. A sense of the past is strong, imagine the life of the Mogollon Indian farming, hunting and gathering food. Again, we took many pictures and hope you can appreciate the rooms when you see the pictures.

Tomorrow is the big day, our highest elevation climb.

Day 17 - March 2, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-02T18:57:00.001-08:00

From the Stoker:

A cool sunny day for our last biking day in preparation for climbing Emory Pass (8,300 ft. elev.).
We biked 22 difficult miles to the base of Emory Pass and the returned by car to our campground. We climbed 800 ft. which shouldn't be too difficult but our legs are begging for time off.

We will rest and sight see for 2 days before returning to the base of the pass and begin our climb.

Silver City is an old mining town with many things to see and do. We could probably spend a few weeks here and not run out of things to see and hikes with views.

The couple (Jackie and Jim) that own this KOA we are staying in have been so helpful and enjoyable to spend time with. The bike and hike so we have a great deal in common. Jackie has arranged for a newspaper editor to interview us tomorrow morning and publish an article in the local newspaper. We hope to bring attention to our goal to raise money for MS.

We have met many good and helpful people on this adventure of ours and are so thankful for their support and prayers.

Impressions from ther Captain:

We rode by the Santa Rita copper mine whicn is the oldest one in North America. It was first discovered by the Apaches who noted the "fern" like growths on the sufrface. A large mining town was developed in the early 1900's to support the mining operation. However, the geologist realized that a large amount of copper was in the ground under the city. They ended up moving the whole town. The mining operation has literally destroyed a mountain which can be seen in the pictures which we'll send after the computer gets repaired.

Two days off and sightseeing here are a welcome diversion.

Day 17 - March 1, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-03-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Impressions from the Captain:

After one days rest, we tackled the 3rd of 4 climbs. This one was over the Continental Divide at 6,230 ft. elevation and 45 miles of biking. We were both a little down, wondering why we were so tired. We thought we had 2-3 miles of climbing left to reach the Divide. Within a 1/4 of a mile we crested the Divide feeling pretty good about our accomplishment.

We have one major climb left, over Emory Pass at 8,300 ft. elevation. Tomorrow we will ride from the city tot he base of the pass, which is an 800 ft. climb and rolling hills. Then we will take 2 days off for sightseeing before tackling Emory Pass.

From the Stoker:

It may be hard to follow our route, a little confusing. We are still in Silver City because we traveled here by car when we quit biking on Day 16 45 miles from here. Today we traveled by car back to that point and began biking. Our bike route tomorrow will have us driving back to the city and began biking from there to the base of the pass. We will drive back to the campground for our 2 day rest and sightseeing.

We are so excited to have just one more major climb. There will be hills thru Texas, but not this kind of elevation.

I am so looking forward to our 2 days of rest. Our bodies sure need it.

Day 17 - March 1, 2010 - Coast to

2010-03-01T19:40:00.001-08:00

Snow/Rest Day - February 28, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are camping and resting in a snow storm in Silver City, New Mexico at 6,000 ft. elevation. I am using the campgrounds public computer so daughter, Yvette, has a couple days off.

This weather is very unusual according to the owners of the campground and promise mid 50's to 60's for the next few days.

Luckily, we are staying in one of the nicest campgrounds we have ever been in. Comfortable, clean, and many amenities. Thank you Jim and Jackie Blurton, avid bikers and owners of Sliver City KOA (575-388-3351) for the camping discount and the donations to MS. We will spend a couple days here using it as home base for a day of biking tomorrow and then a day of sightseeing and hiking.

Day 16 - February 27, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

From the Captain:

Highest elevation of the trip so far, 6,300 ft. over 14 miles. We were overly optimistic and thought we could get a 50+ mile day in since are maps showed a long downhill. What the maps didn't show was the numerous dips that we encountered. By the time we got to 37 miles, we were exhausted, partly because this was our 5th day of biking in a row.

Carol picked us up when our legs quit and drove to Silver City, NM. We are expecting another storm tonight with snow and Silver City is a good place to savor a rest day.

From the Stoker:

A very difficult and strenuous day but we are feeling satisfied and proud. We have worried about this climb since we got the maps months ago, hoping we could make it without vehicle support and WE DID!!! Our vehicle support was waiting on the peak as we arrived to cheer and take pictures.

The climb to the peak was beautiful through the canyon with many rock formations. I can't wait to post pictures when our computer is fixed. Once we started downhill, we entered New Mexico and enjoyed biking through gorgeous pine forest and along rivers We are so lucky to have the opportunity to see this wonderful country so up close and in detail.

Day 15 - February 26, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-27T07:13:00.000-08:00

From the Captain: Rode from Thatcher to Three Way, AZ on Hwy. 70 and 191. We are entering the highest elevation of the trip. We did the first of four climbs today climbing from 2000 ft. to 4800 ft. It was a long gradual climb; one of those that kept you saying to yourself......"that must be the peak", then you would round the corner and realize you had more climb ahead. We biked 38 miles and decided to quit early since the next climb is from 2600 to 6300, our highest elevation of the trip. We were riding through Gila river valley and the scenery was nice. Although we're climbing, we're looking forward to arriving in Silver City, NM. Its in the Gila wilderness area at 6000 ft. elevation. It should be beautiful.

From the Stoker: After 38 miles of climbing (yes, gradual, but still climbing), Carol was on the peak of the pass shouting and cheering us on for our accomplishment. It's so nice to have her helping and supporting us. We couldn't do it without her.

Day 14 - February 25, 2010

2010-02-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

From Yvette Lepore (the Daughter): I'm standing in for my parents for a few days to do their blogging. They are fine, the bike is fine, the truck is fine.....but their computer crashed. They won't be able to get if fixed for another week or so. I will do my best to keep up and translate their telephone updates. Bear with me though, taking shorthand over the phone is not my strong suit. I can't post pics but they will post them later when the computer is back up and running.

From the Stoker: Great day today with beautiful weather. We rode 66 miles in 4 hours. We finally had a tailwind today. We traveled through an Indian reservation on Highway 70 to Thatcher, AZ. Not much to see but a mountain range on our left and snow capped mountain on our right. The rest was just desert and a littered highway. I guess it can't always be beautiful. Remember when I said every day is a good day? Well today was better than the rest. It felt so good to ride and feel like we were flying.

From the Captain: Warm sunshine and gentle breeze today. The tailwind gave our tired legs a great assist. The pavement was smooth and the shoulder good. I got several good photos of a snow capped mountain. The nice thing about this trip is that every day is different. There are new views around every corner.....unlike the three routes we bike in our summer and fall home in Manistee, MI. The campground we stayed in was free. The owners were very supportive of our cause as their 28 year old sister has MS. A big thank you to Red Lamp Mobile Home Park in Thatcher, AZ. 928-428-3382.

Day 13 - February 24, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

Day 13 - February 24, 2010 - Coast to Coast

Impressions from the Captain:

What a grueling day! We left Superior knowing we had to climb to 4600 ft. and had to go thru the Queen River tunnel. We immediately started to climb and reached the tunnel (which was 2-3 miles out ) pretty tired. We only mention the tunnel since it was pointed out in our literature as dangerous, and we met a biker on the road that said he had been hit in the tunnel. Scratched up, but destroyed his bike. We decided to wait for our support vehicle and let her follow us thru the tunnel with flashers going.

We were battling, yes, another strong head wind and it was draining us so fast that we could only go from one turn out to the next. The good news was the canyon was beautiful and we got many good pictures at each turn out. When we got to the top of the major climb we found out we were pedaling up a 7% grade! We had to continue to 11 miles to reach the summit but we were pretty whipped and only put in 33 miles. Optimistically we had planned the day before to put in another 20 miles but that was based on the info that the climb was only a 3% grade.

From the Stoker:

Yes, another difficult day but we are sooooo proud to have accomplished such a feat. I think it was fortunate that we had to pull off at every turnout. The views were wonderful and we had fun taking pictures. It is amazing what we are seeing that could never be seen while driving a car through this canyon.

We have found that we are strong enough to tackle almost any climb, but need so much more strength to tackle the wind with the climb. It took us 1 hour and 30 minutes of biking time to climb the first 8 miles and that included a short walk we gave our favorite bike.

We left Superior, AZ on highway 60 to Globe. We picked up highway 70 in Globe and continued east about 8 miles to an Apache Indian Reservation. We are camping in a RV Park that is part of the Casino owned by the Apache Tribe. We treated ourselves to the Italian Buffet Night at the restaurant. Then we decided to treat ourselves to a little gambling. Carol lost $5.00, Dick lost $10.00, and I won $51.00. A great end to a great day.

Day 12 - February 23, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

Day 12 - February 23, 2010 - Coast to Coast

From the Stoker:

Today was a cool but clear sunny day. We did 48 miles. I think I made a mistake on the post 2 days ago. We biked to Mesa, AZ, had Carol pick us up due to the second flat tire. We drove to Apache Junction to camp. Carol drove us back to Mesa this morning to begin our day.

The first 20 miles were on small city streets until we reached Apache Junction again. We got on Highway 60 for the rest of the 28 miles. It was a gradual climb the next 10 miles with a headwind but not difficult. The last 15 miles was a very difficult climb to 2900 ft. and a strong headwind. There was a short downhill section and we had to pedal to travel at 15 mph. Normally, it is difficult to keep our speed below 25 to 30 on a downhill.

We have a couple very difficult days ahead of us but the scenery is beautiful. I hope you enjoy the photos. We are staying in Superior, AZ at Superior RV Park owned by Howard and Linda Clark. We thank them for a very generous discount to support our cause.

Impressions from the Captain:

When we left Mesa this morning we had strong head winds and I thought “not another day” but as we got South of Superstitious Mountains the wind was a tail wind. I thought our prayers were answered awfully fast! But, as we got further down the road, it was back to the head wind. Evidently, we were in an eddy coming around Superstitious!

The highway had an awful shoulder with a rumble strip about 2 ft. wide on a 4ft shoulder. That would not have been bad to contend with if the strip had remained equally spaced. Not so! Seems the rumble strip “installer” must have been drinking that day because the strip wandered back and forth over the 4ft width. Because you can’t stand on a tandem, it made for a very rough trip as I constantly had to cross over into the traffic lane. At all the culverts, they put up guard rails which ended up deleting the shoulder all together forcing us on to the traffic lane. A little nerve racking.

Impressions from the support team:

I have finally learned to back the %#$&* trailer and told my bikers that the truck was beginning to feel like an extension of my arm (not) but the anxiety level is greatly reduced to about ¼ the “loo” breaks I previously took. The bikers are going so fast that the support team frequently is behind them on the planned meeting spots. They have therefore consented to cycle slower so that I can get my chores done and the canine support team can have longer walks.

Remember, if you would like to view the pictures in larger format, just click on them.

Rain/Rest Day - February 22, 2010 - Coast ro Coast

2010-02-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

Rain/Rest Day (again) - February 22, 2010

This is been a record breaking year in this part of the country for rain, unfortunately for us. It has made the desert almost beautiful and we are hoping we will enjoy some desert flowers as our journey continues. It looks like we will be able to start our climb tomorrow with sun and four good days ahead of us.

Rob, Thank you and love to you and your beautiful family.

Yvonne, Thank God we have you to remind us He is always watching over us.

Joe, No snow yet and hopefully not in the mountains when we get there.

Tom & Linda, Good to hear from you and congrats on all the success. Save the newspaper for us. Thanks for your generous donation.

Debi, Thank you for your support and see you in the spring.

We have some request to post our itinerary. We are going thru many little towns on many different roads but I have done my best to give you an idea.

We are in Apache Junction AZ now
Globe AZ
Safford AZ
Mule Creek just inside New Mexico
Silver City, NM
Over Emory Pass at 8200 ft.
Las Cruces, NM
Anthony just inside of Texas
El Paso, TX
Van Horn, TX
Fort Davis, TX
Marathon, TX
Del Rio, TX
Kerrville, TX
Small roads between San Antonia & Austin, TX
The Hill Country east of Austin, TX
Continuing east to De Ridder just inside of Louisiana
Ville Platte, LA
St. Francisville, LA
Into Mississippi for just a short distance through many small cities
Into Alabama to Mobile
Across Mobile Bay to Pensacola, FL
Milton, FL (Carol’s hometown)
De Funiak Springs, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Finally dipping our front tire in the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine, FL

Day 11 - February 21, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-21T20:50:00.000-08:00

Day 11 - February 21, 2010 - Coast to Coast

From the Stoker:

We did it! We made it through Phoenix. It was quite stressful, especially for the Captain. Lots of traffic the first 10 miles, then just plain city biking with a million stop signs and lights and turns. I spent most of the 51 miles with the map in my hand giving directions. We finished our day in Mesa, AZ and camping at a KOA, nice but expensive.

We weren’t sure we would be able to bike today after listing to the weather report last night, rain expected on and off all day. We left with a threatening sky but enjoyed a good amount of sun and got spit on only a couple times.

I left my camera in the camper worrying about rain and I am so sorry. The pictures I did not take was rows of beautifully shaped orange trees in peoples front yards loaded with oranges and the ground covered with them and many displays of colorful flowers. We biked on a beautiful bike path for about 13 miles and could have taken many pictures. I also would have taken a picture of Dick changing a flat tire.

I will respond to comments on our daily post. Mick, it is not a fish story but we did fail to mention that today was no wind and sometimes a tailwind. How about that!

Elliott, the water pictures were of the Colorado River in Ehrenberg, AZ. We never change place on the bike, Captain is always the captain, stoker always the stoker. The bike is sized for us that way. When a semi passes us, it pulls us along for a 100 yards and we love it. Yes, a tandem saves energy. You have the power of 2 and the air drag of one bike. I will make a list of the cities we will be going through and post it tomorrow. Thank you for your support and we are glad you are enjoying following our progress.

Impressions from the Captain:

Getting thru Phoenix was tough! Probably the most mentally tough day we have had. Constant stop and go, got lost 4 times, and then had to deal with two flat tires all while dodging the rain drops. We wanted to get thru today, being Sunday so we wouldn’t have to deal with rush hour traffic on Monday. When you have a flat tire you need to inspect the tire and tube and locate the cause of the leak so that you can remove it. Both of us went over the tube and tire with a fine tooth comb and couldn’t locate the cause so we assumed we had ridden over something that pulled back out. After about 10 more miles it was obvious that we had a slow leak so we called for Carol to come get us. She got lost and we had to wait awhile for her to find her way! Stressful for her.

The weather tomorrow is predicting another front coming thru that will probably ground us another day so I’ll spend the morning and replace both the tire and tube and look for the problem when we land in EL Paso. We are heading into the toughest part of the whole trip. We have several major climbs in the next four days much of it above 4000 ft. with one pass coming out of Silver City over 8000ft. The good news is we should be seeing some really pretty country in the Gila Wilderness area.

2010-02-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Rain/Rest Day - February 20, 2010

We are not happy that it is raining. We were very anxious to get the trip thru downtown Phoenix done and over with. We thought about heading out anyway, but then considered biking thru traffic and with rain was not a good idea.

We have spent the day restocking the refrigerator and shopping at Target. This is the last big city we will be in until we get to El Paso TX about 2 weeks from now.

I guess we will just have to spend the evening at Margarita Night at the club house. We did get to enjoy “all you can eat” breakfast with our friends, Jim and Cheryl, at the club house. It sure beat the very healthy breakfast we have each morning before we head out on the bike.

We have made sure to thank everyone that has helped us through this journey. We need to thank our daughter Yvonne and husband, Randy, for introducing us to Nutrilite Nutritional Products. They are keeping us very healthy and energetic and helping us to pedal on. www.forbesenterprise.net

Just got back from Margarita Night and what fun. Karaoke night also with lots of very good singers. The $1.00 margarita’s were wonderful and all the snow birds were so friendly and fun and we got these tired bodies up and dancing. Back to the camper at 10:00 and on our way to bed. Biking tomorrow, rain or shine. Pray for us.

Day 10 - February 19, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-20T20:56:00.000-08:00

Day 10 - February 19, 2010 - Coast to Coast

Impressions from the Captain:

So much for the theory of prevailing winds out of the west. We had head winds again today but we managed to do 55 miles. The legs are starting to feel stronger and we finished feeling pretty good (except for the bottom sides). We have arrived at the outskirts of Phoenix. Not looking forward to going thru Phoenix tomorrow but luckily it is the weekend and traffic should be down. It’s amazing how green everything is from all the rain they’ve had.

This morning we were getting ready to leave and a woman in the site next to us, from eastern British Columbia, walked over and handed me a $20 bill and said it wasn’t much but she wanted to support our effort. It is really good to see people share our cause and make a contribution, little or big.

We ran into an older man on the side of the road this morning who was off his bike and seemed to be having some problems. He said he was fine but starting to cramp and was trying to shake it off. Turns out he is riding around the periphery of the country and had left Bozeman, Mt. He was hauling a trailer with 200 lbs in it and was having to work really hard on the hills. He said he had picked up his wife’s ashes in San Diego and was taking them to Phoenix for the memorial. He felt that once he had dropped the ashes and some other items in Phoenix he would shed 100 pounds.

From the Stoker:

Those of you that are sending prayers, work on no wind and getting us thru the city of Phoenix. I am pretty proud of our strength though, 65 miles yesterday in 4:41, and 55 miles today (with 1800’ elev.) in 4:12 of biking. Isn’t it amazing how many people we have run into doing this same trip. The couple was my age but the single men were Dick’s age. So, those of you that think we are too old for this, not so.

We met our same friends for dinner that we met here on our way to San Diego. We are camping in Pleasant Harbor RV Park. It is beautiful with many amenities. I can see why Jim and Cheryl stay all winter.

In case you haven’t noticed, I have learned how to comment on the comments. I comment on the same day I received them and I’m thinking that I should reply on the following day (the next post you will read). Again, thanks so much for the encouragement you are sending on to us.

Sending picture of the decal we have on the cargo trailer and on our biking shirts.

Day 9 - February 18, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-18T20:11:00.000-08:00

Day 9 - February 18, 2010 - Coast to Coast

Impressions from the Captain:

Wow, cooking today! We did 65 miles with an 1800 ft. elevation gain. A day of rest on the legs made a big difference. Woke up to clear skies and warm sunshine. Its amazing how much more you notice when you’re biking thru the desert than when you’re driving. They’ve had some strong storms (blew down some Saguaro cacti) here in the past month and the desert is very green. It’s surprising, but there are huge Black Eye Susans bushes growing right along the road. After a day of doing maintenance the bike is riding nice and a lot quieter. We should make Phoenix tomorrow and meet up with the Noteboom’s again.

Impressions from the support staff:

Someone asked what I do all day while they cycle. I do chores, get the camper fixed, buy supplies for the trip, close up camp, contact the next campsite, sit in remote areas waiting for them, worry, walk dogs, and catch up on my reading. The canine support staff insure that no creature sneaks up on us (like killer rabbits) and make friends along the way. Truthfully, the bikers often beat me to the next rendezvous and am I ever happy to see them. They are pretty phenomenal!

From the Stoker:

It was a great day! We need many more of these. We met a couple in the middle of the desert at a fruit and veggie stand that were good friends with the Noteboom’s. What a small world. We also met an older man biking the same route as we are. He is hauling his own camping gear and eating cold food. What would we do without Carol?!

I am sorry that I haven’t learned how to comment on the comments. I will try tonight to figure it out. We are overwhelmed with the enthusiasm, support, and prayers we are receiving from many of you. Thank you so much. It is a very nice way to end our day and certainly helps us get back on the bike and pedal on.

Day 8 - February 16, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

Day 8 - February 16, 2010 - Coast to Coast

From the Stoker:

It is finally more than a warm day, it is a hot day. We only had 21 miles to bike to get to Quartzsite, AZ. We are getting stronger or the climb just wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. We could have made it easy yesterday, but glad we didn’t, our time on the Colorado River was wonderful.

We arrived in Quartzsite and staying at 88 Shades RV Park. We arrived early afternoon, set up camp and walked about a mile to the flea market. Dick and I only spent an hour or two but Carol never got back to the campground until dinner time.

We enjoyed time sitting in the shade with our glass of wine and thinking about the steak dinner we were going to have. We will enjoy tomorrow (if you can enjoy washing clothes and paying bills and fixing bikes) but be anxious to get back on the bike Thursday morning.

Impressions from the Captain:

It was an easy day to get to Quartzsite, climbing 1000 ft., which seemed to go relatively easy, in spite of another day of head winds. The only highway available here is I-10 so we had to deal with the noise and traffic. Luckily, the shoulder is wide and smooth so I could concentrate on road hazards. I used to dislike the big trucks but when you’re going into a head/cross wind they block the wind and, surprisingly, they’ll pull you along for 100 yds. or so. Sometimes our speed would increase 2-3 mph. Love it!

Starting to have slight knee tenderness….something that was fairly common with my running and biking but it would usually go away with stretching the quads. Hopefully the day of rest will help.

Day 7 - February 15, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

Day 7 - February 15, 2010 - Coast to Coast

From the Stoker:

What a beautiful hot sunny day today. Only biked 25 miles, flat with some headwind. We decided to make a short day out of it due to it being our 5th day of biking without a rest day. We have left CA and are one mile across the Arizona border in Ehrenberg. We have 18 more miles to Quartzsite and they are all up hill. We will have a rest day there while Carol enjoys the biggest flea market in the US.

We are camping on the Colorado River in River Lagoon Resort. There isn’t another camper in sight. We have a gazebo to ourselves, picnic table, and a gorgeous view. We had crab legs on the grill (thanks to Carol) with our wine and a great dinner. It was wonderful finishing the day early and enjoying the rest and relaxation.

The picture of the Arizona state line is for our grandson Joey. He’s having a hard time believing Grammy and PaPa are traveling state to state on our bike.

Impressions from the Captain:

It will be good to get to Quartzite and some much needed rest and a chance to do some maintenance on the bike. We notice the fatigue setting in earlier each day. The head winds and the hills are taking their toll. One thing we don’t want is an overuse injury, especially this early in the trip. We are finding one of three things dictates the distant we travel each day. The difficulty of the ride (hills, wind, etc.), the availability of campgrounds, and how we feel (particularly our bottoms). Today it was the first and the last.
The bike is making a lot of annoying noises and it is ready for some general maintenance. I’ll probably have a full days work on it and the trailer before we head on towards Phoenix.

If you would like to view the pictures in a larger format, just click on it.

Day 6 - February 14, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-15T20:18:00.001-08:00

Day 6 - February 14, 2010 - Coast to Coast

From the Stoker:

Happy Valentine to All! We drove back to the dunes to pick up the bike route and took a couple more pictures before we took off. Unfortunately, the first 30 miles were climbing with very strong headwinds. The climb was moderate but the winds made it seem severe. We were sandblasted the whole time we were biking along the dunes. The last 16 miles were suppose to be downhill. It was downhill with many, many huge dips (down and up). I guess each up was at a lower elevation therefore classified as a downhill. We never had a break from the wind all day and we are toast tonight. We are staying at an awful campground in Palo Verde, CA. We can’t even thank anyone for their support because there is no one here. We just put money in an envelope and drop in a box. We can’t blame Carol for this one. Every day is good, some just better than others. Tomorrow will be better.

Impressions from the Captain:

Woke up last night with heavy winds blowing. Hoped they would be tail winds but no such luck. The legs weeeling fatigued after only a short time so we thought we would be lucky to make it half way to Palo Verde but as the ride progressed we got into thedownhill and the winds started to ease we realized we would make it.
We ran into a another tandem on the route and made some new friends, Don and Marilyn. They are from Colorado and this is their second trip across the US. They went from San Francisco to Virginia. It was good having someone to ride with to keep your mind off the uphill and stiff wind.

Day 5 - February 13, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-15T20:09:00.001-08:00

Day 5 - February 13, 2010 - Coast to Coast
Impressions from the captain:

Woke up to bright sunshine and warm weather. The first day we got to ride in short sleeve shirts. Before we got on the road we ran into a problem with the camper, couldn’t get the valve closed on the black water (poop) tank. Not a show stopper unless you’re dry camping, and of course, because things are so far apart here, we thought we would dry camp! One of my concerns on this trip was how maintenance and repairs would interfere with our riding because I was responsible for the truck, camper, cargo trailer and of course the bike. We did some quick calling and found an RV dealer that was willing to squeeze us in on a Saturday, when he found out what we were doing. So we got underway on the bike while Carol took the camper over to get repaired.
We rode into a head wind towards the Imperial Sand Dunes. Being a three day weekend it was packed with off roaders. We had never seen such an array of custom dune buggies, ATV’s and motorcycle. And the toy haulers……some $500K motor homes pulling double deck trailers! It would make Silver Lake look like a sand box.

From the Stoker:

The Dunes were unbelievable. They were 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. I took many pictures of all the craziness and thought about our kids and how they would love it.
Only 46 miles today but the headwinds sure slow you down. You feel like your climbing all the time. Carol decided she wanted to go to a campground with hot springs. It was 54 miles from the Dunes and the hot springs was 4 small bath tubs. And she never got in them. We were the only vehicle and RV without an ATV (many ATV’s), and they were allowed to ride them until 11:45 p.m. Carol has lost the privilege of picking a campground.

If you are interested in viewing the pictures in a larger format, just click on the picture.

2010-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Day 4 - February 12, 2010 - Coast to Coast
From the Stoker:

What a glorious 56 mile day. Beautiful sun and warm weather, a few rolling hills, a pass to climb which was more difficult then it should have been due to headwinds, AND a 12 mile downhill on Interstate 8 through In-ko-pah Gorge, AND many miles of flat road. Days like this sure make it easy to “pedal on”.

The very best part of the day was that wonderful downhill with unusual scenery and the feel of warm wind on our face. Of course, putting 12 miles on the odometer in a very short period of time was a treat after all the climbing we have done.

What a great job our Support Driver and her two best friends our doing to make this trip possible.

We are in El Centro, CA and would like to thank Country Life Mobile & RV Park (760-353-1040) for their support.

Impressions from the Captain:

Last night we camped with-in 2 miles of the border. The campground had to put up barriers and lock the rest rooms because of the illegals coming across the border. You could even hear helicopters during the night out searching for them. Today we kept seeing border patrol all over the place and at one point had two separate vehicles stop to see what we were doing. The local post has grown from 30 to over 500 in three years and they patrol 24/7, in jeeps, on horseback, ATV’s and on bikes. We saw them at one point dragging tires down the dirt roads parallel to the border so they could look for footprints.

We descended from the mountains into the Imperial Valley which supplies most of our produce year around. It is reclaimed desert and irrigated from the Colorado River. Really green!

February 11, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

Day 3 - February 11, 2010 - Coast to Coast
Impressions from the captain (the one in front):
Woke up to clear skies and warm sunshine. When we got to the higher elevation we were really glad we had waited a day (so were the legs), they had 4” of snow and black ice on the road yesterday. In the desert sunshine, you’re hot on one side and cold on the shady side. Same thing with the hills, sweat going up and need are coats going down. The highlight of the day was that we crossed both passes (over 4000’ each) today and arrived in the campground with very tired legs. Early dinner, motrin and off to bed.

Impressions from the Stoker (the one in the back):
The highlight to me is that we have just about completed the 3 most difficult days that we will have in CA and we are still standing. We just have one more pass to cross, a great downhill, and then some much needed flats for a few days. It’s driving us crazy just biking about 30 miles a day and can’t wait to put on some real miles.

We are camping east of Live Oaks Springs, CA in Sacred Rocks Reserve (619-353-5020).
Once again we are thanking wonderful people for their generous support.

2010-02-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2010 - Coast to Coast
We had an unplanned day of rest today. It started raining yesterday around 3:00 p.m. and was still raining lightly this morning. It started to clear up about 11:00 a.m. but the weather report said it was snowing at higher elevations. Our plan today was to continue climbing the mountain over 2 passes and another 2,000 ft. elevation. It didn’t take long to pick this day as a rest day.

We are staying in a campground about 8 miles east of Alpine, CA on an Indian Reservation. It’s surrounded by rocky cliffs and has very unusual trees. It has large campsites and many amenities. We would like to thank Ma-Tar-Awa RV Camper Park on Browns Rd., 619-445-3275, for their very generous support.

Forgot to mention, we are traveling with our Picco (on the left) and Carol's Milo.

2010-02-09T19:45:00.000-08:00

February 9, 2010 - Day 2 - Coast to Coast

Not many miles today, 28.5, but a whole lot of elevation gain. We started climbing after 11 miles of easy rolling hills. We climbed to near 3000 ft on our way up the mountain and that doesn’t include all the ups and downs in between the major climb. We got in about 3:00 just before the rain started and the legs sure were complaining. It seems like all the training still doesn’t protect you from cramping legs. We’re hoping the weather will co-operate tomorrow, although they’re predicting snow. We’re anxious to tackle the last part of the climb. Scenery was beautiful and the bike is working well. We’re optimistic and happy!

We forgot to mention the great people that helped us yesterday. While we were standing on the street corner with a broken chain, a biker (Dave) stopped to ask if we needed help. He was from the area so helped give Carol, our support, directions to pick us up. He couldn’t think of a bike shop near where we broke down but called us 30 minutes later. He had gone home and went on-line to find one for us. He called again today to make sure we got the bike fixed and were on our way.

The two men that helped us at the bike shop, the owner and a mechanic, went out of their way to take care of us. When they found out we were biking across the US, they dropped everything and spent an hour replacing the chain and adjusting the gears and charged us only $29.

We have also received many emails expressing words of support and prayers. People so willing to help certainly keep us “pedaling on”.

February 8, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

Day 1 - February 8, 2010 - Coast to Coast
Would like to report we had a long day of biking and uneventful. It didn’t happen that way unfortunately.

We dipped our back wheel in the Pacific Ocean about 10:30 a.m. on Ocean Beach. Dick didn’t want the wheel totally in the ocean due to the salt water so Carol took our picture in wet sand until a huge wave almost buried it.

The ride out of San Diego was beautiful along the San Diego river and some bike paths thru the canyons. California is very bike friendly and should be an example for other states. Things were going great until we were out about 20 miles and the chain jammed and got bent between the granny gear and the middle sprocket. We were dead in the water! Thank goodness for Carol providing support. We called her and she came back and picked us up.

Some quick calls and we located a bike shop near-by who said they would take the bike right in. What a lucky call! These guys were very good and had the bike repaired in less than an hour. Besides replacing the chain they found out the source of he problem (some shims that didn’t belong) and adjusted the shifting. We headed back to our breakdown spot and finished biking into the campground. The shop is Inky in El Cajon. Tomorrow will be a new day.

February 1, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-02-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2010 - Coast to Coast

After a month in El Paso training, we are finally done and ready to head west to start our trip. We decided that we had good endurance (long rides) but were still weak on our strength (hills). We’ve concentrated the last week on hills and feel a lot better about our conditioning. Today we did 54 miles which included two major hill climbs and we felt that our training has paid off.

We’ll leave here Wednesday for the West coast and plan to start our trip next Monday. We’re really anxious to get started but also anxious about what the trip holds for us. It seems like the preparation has been all encompassing for the past 6 months. Between buying the truck camper and prepping it, buying the cargo trailer and prepping it, updating the bike, and all our training it will be fun to just start riding. The bike is finally right, our bodies are ready, and the equipment is ready.

We have had 10 shirts printed with a logo and two large decals for the sides of our cargo trailer. The Sign Bros, (Ike and Nate) in El Paso, TX (915-855-8000) did a wonderful job and gave us a great deal. We are so thankful for their help, kindness, and support.

Many of our friends and family have donated to the MS Society and yesterday we were surprised to receive a $500 donation from a anonymous donor. It is great to see others share in our cause. Thank You!

2010-01-20T18:49:00.000-08:00

January 20, 2010 - Coast to Coast

We have had 16 days of training, 363 miles, and 3 trips up Trans Mountain (1300 ft. in 5 miles). We have not had any serious injuries, just mild aches, pains, and stiffness that is taken care of with a couple motrin (we should buy some motrin stock).

We still have some small problems with the bike and Dick spends most of our rest days trying to solve them.

We have had sunny days, some warm and some cool, actually cold if we start riding too early in the morning. Yesterday was the hardest training day we have ever had. It was sunny and warm but the wind was gusting so severly it would move us sideways two to three feet. We spent a great deal of the 64 miles in the smallest (granny) gear we have and couldn't travel any faster that 6mph. Our trips up Trans Mountain are easy compared to yesterday. We were both recovered this morning so decided to do a short 20 miler. It turned into an 18 miler because the wind was worse than yesterday. Tomorrow we will have a well deserved rest day.

January 10, 2010 - Coast to Coast

2010-01-12T06:28:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2010 - Coast to Coast
We landed in El Paso on January 3rd to start our month of training. We have two goals while we’re here, get used to the altitude and get used to climbing hills, neither of which is available in Mich. We know that when we leave San Diego, we have about 30 miles of flat riding and then we climb nearly 5000 ft. over the next 30 miles!
Our training has to run a tightrope of training hard but not so hard that we get injured. It has become even more critical since we missed two months of riding in the fall due to a death in the family and me going thru hernia surgery. During our first week we have ridden 166 miles with one 50 mile day and climbed the highest road here in El Paso another day (which we had tried several times in the past and never made it). We’re both carefully watching our knees and our ITB (a tendon/muscle that runs from the hip to the knee). So far so good.
Additionally we had the bike completely overhauled before we left but couldn’t ride it before we left so besides training we are having to check out and adjust all the new equipment including the new clothes. Most of it is going well but we are certainly happy to have the month to get the bugs shaken out. Dick

Pedal On

2009-11-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

Check back here to follow our biking adventure acoss the U.S We will be training in El Paso, Texas for the month of January and then begin our journey from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL the beginning of February, 2010.