Crossing America with Jay

Home again, home again

2009-08-05T09:59:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Ashland, Oregon. I made it back safely (although my baggage and bike failed to arrive with me in Portland...perhaps they will arrive today?) and had a great visit with my parents and Rita Albrich. I think Cobi, my dog, is a bit disappointed to leave his grandparents behind!

I want to sincerely thank family, friends, the crew, my fellow PAC Tour cyclists, and colleagues for all of your support and understanding before, during, and (hopefully) after the trip. I look forward to sharing more about the journey with all of you in person.

Finally, thank you to all of you who made donations to the the Children's Hospital Foundation. At least $800 were raised to help with uncompensated care for children and their families in need. Remember, you don't have to let it end there: take an interest in joining the constructive conversation about how to provide access to quality health care to everyone in the United States.

Signing off,

Jay Reeck

Pac tour day 30 - Metter, GA to Tybee Island, GA

2009-08-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

While riding a 20 mile stretch alone this morning, I noted feelings of anticipation (of the arrival at the Atlantic Ocean), giddiness (of achieving a goal of a difficult physical challenge), sadness (for the end of a strenuous, yet enriching journey), and affection (for the beautiful and drastically different parts of our country I just experienced firsthand...all within 30 days). I also noticed that I felt really strong on the bike, ignoring the fact that we had a tailwind and essentially no climbing at all (save the two bridges over waterways).

In fine form, the last 30 miles were shared with Greg "the finisher" Lester - a common companion of mine for the final 20-30 miles of rides with harsh conditions like headwinds. We worked our way through the streets of Savannah, often with streets lined with overhanging trees adorned with Spanish Moss. Finally, we came to a bridge over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Atop the bridge we were rewarded with views over the wetlands. The miles quickly ticked off as we pushed up the pace to 25 mph for a fun finish at the Welcome to Tybee Island sign, where the entire group reconvened and then rode in the final few miles together in a double paceline with our PAC Tour jerseys proudly displayed.

A mile away from the hotel, I heard "Reecker!" and looked to the left to see Doug Walker in a car a few feet away with a video camera pointed at me. He filmed the peloton, and reappeared as we all rode our bikes under the hotel to the screams of our adoring crew, and then rode right up the wooden walkway to the beach. We ditched our shoes and went straight for the water...dipping our wheels in the water, took a swim in the bathwater-warm ocean, then shot a few more pictures.

Soon enough we were all taking our bikes apart and stuffing them in boxes to take home. The weather was kind to us today, treating us to sunshine and a few puffy clouds here and there...until we finished packing up our bikes. The skies then darkened and the rain hasn't let up yet, coming down in sheets, punctuated by lightning and its accompanying thunder.

Our closing banquet is in a half our, where we'll all join together a final time before we all head off in different directions: North, South, East, West, the UK, Australia, Canada, and perhaps continuing on the Eastern Mountains PAC Tour, from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Maine.

Pac tour day 29 - Perry, GA to Metter, GA

2009-08-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

It was tough to get up an hour earlier today and know that I was missing all of my family and friends gathered on Mercer Island for Seafair today. Those thoughts drifted away as I shifted my attention to the graceful paceline of our entire group leaving the town and slowly picking up the pace on the way East, sans rain. We, of course, got doused with some showers on the quiet roads (Sunday in the South) before lunch.

The afternoon was a race to the hotel...trying to outrun the clouds full of impending doom, I mean rain. The hammerfest from the last sag wasn't in time, as the complete and utter downpour hit us with 6 miles to go. We literally were riding upstream into town, with inches of running water rushing over the roads as the sheets of rain dropped out of the sky. A brief detour into the wrong hotel area took us through multiple areas of about 10 inches of standing water...and then the lightning started...with thunder only a 2-4 seconds behind! Quite the exciting finish to our penultimate day.

Although tomorrow may indeed be cloudy and wet, I'm looking forward to seeing the East Coast (it's been quite a while) and seeing Doug, Melissa, and Will Walker, who happen to be in Hilton Head (right next to Tybee Island).

Day 28 - Eufaula, AL to Perry, GA

2009-08-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

Guess what? No rain today!

Four miles into the ride, I was pleased to see a sign for the Chattahoochee River (in part because of Alan Jackson's song, in part because it's darned purdy, and in part because it marked our entry into Georgia.) I did notice that the water wasn't that muddy, though. I also liked the sign saying "We're glad Georgia is on your mind."

This morning (and in fact all day) was a blast, flying through the Georgia countryside under overcast skies, cruising down and up huge rollers, and, for a while, hammering along with Alan Stokes and Greg Lester.

We had lunch on the grounds of the Andersonville Civil War Prison and Prisoner of War Museum. The beautiful forest and rolling lawns make it incredibly difficult to fathom the atrocities which occurred there.

Camp Sumter, commonly called Andersonville, was one of the largest military prisons established by the Confederacy during the Civil War. In existence for 14 months, over 45,000 Union soldiers were confined at the prison. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, and exposure to the elements. The largest number held in the 26½-acre stockade at any one time was more than 32,000, during August of 1864. Today the beauty of the prison site belies the suffering that once took place inside the stockade.

John Lloyd managed to miss this prison and tried to meet us for lunch at the Macon State Prison up the road. Apparently, he couldn't make it past security to the "visitor center."

Melissa, who fell a few days ago and was given crutches, rode her bike just shy of 90 miles today, noting that she feels better on the bike than off it - a common sentiment among PacTour riders, I've found. It actually reminded me of the tough-as-nails and generally upbeat approach of the riders on our tour. A few days ago when we slogged for over 8 hours in complete tropical downpours, I honestly didn't hear a single complaint from anybody. If anything, I saw more smiles and heard more laughs than I had in a while. Nice.

The skies gradually cleared up, and Jason and I rolled into the town of Perry, Georgia. The 111 mile ride took 6 hours today.

Well, we're in the Eastern Time Zone, and about 204 miles from our destination - Tybee Island, Georgia.

Day 27 - to Greenville, AL to Eufaula, AL

2009-07-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

We awoke to thunder, lightning, and a complete deluge, which cleared up right as we finished with breakfast. Today proved to be another day of riding through small rolling hills lined with soybeans, churches, chicken farms ("Disease free"), and almost-defunct towns. The chicken-trucks were out in force today, blasting us with their characteristic smell - which gives me flashbacks to research I did with pigs in college (the pigs were the subjects, not colleagues).

We rode through the town of Honoraville, Alabama, and took pictures in honor of Honora, the hammer. Honoraville may be a secret source of rusted out Mustang cars from every single year of production.

The rains arrived in force at mile 70, but disappeared within about 10 minutes, just in time for a tasty lunch of toasted cheese sandwich and ground beef. The afternoon ride in proved heavenly, with rollers that you could roll over, a bit of a tailwind, and a threatening storm for inspiration. I motored along at 22-27 mph in these conditions, and was picked up a few miles from the hotel by Doug and Jeanine, who were hammering to avoid the storm. I hopped on the train for the 29-35 mph race into the hotel, where we rapidly cleaned and lubed the bikes before another downpour replete with thunder and lightning arrived.

A notable sign today: Wilson's Welding and Erection Co.

Infinite wisdom

2009-07-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Pac tour day 26

2009-07-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Finally, we left a hotel in the morning without the company of rain. The motoring commenced with Jonathan Page at the helm, piloting about 12 of us along at about 22 miles per hour essentially until the first sag wagon. Upon arrival at the stop, we all were completely drenched in persperation - and I mean soaked...it looked more like we got out of a pool than off of a bike.

The rest of the ride through Alabama was very pleasant today, highlighted by a peaceful crossing of the Alabama river. My favorite church sign today was, "God gets knee mail." My most pathetic sign award goes to the Governor-endorsed Alabama public television sign for "Progress thru Education." The assasination of English grammar and spelling continues.

The storms arrived this afternoon to give us cover from the suddenly unbearable heat, and drench us for several minutes. The showers let up as we arrived in Pine Apple, Alabama - a very small town with a post office...and I think that's about it. The ride to the hotel from Pine Apple was made possible by Jonathan Page and Elanore for letting me tag along, seeing as though my mental motivation checked out and left.

On the subject of church signs, I think there is a book of "punny" sayings for pastors...or maybe a web site. Some others I recall: "Forbidden fruit creates bad jams," "The best supplement for a Christian is B1," and "Seven days without prayer makes 1 weak."

Pac tour day 25

2009-07-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

This AM we left Mississippi in another downpour...although it couldn't quite qualify as torrential today. While I did think that the ride to lunch was overwhelmingly marked by the smell of a septic system, the rolling roads and towering trees overrun with kudzu provided a good distraction from the stench. Fortunately, we didn't experience any mishaps like the couple falls yesterday (which didn't send anybody home). After a cheeseburger, a couple helpings of gourmet potatoes, and two slices of cake, I wandered off through the countryside - on completely rough chipseal - through overcast skies and humid air, until reaching our interchange hotel in Livingston, Alabama.

Wildlife sightings today included plenty more dead armadillos, and a group of turkey vultures feeding on a fresh 'dillo. We also came across several more frisky canines looking for some exercise...fortunately for me they didn't seem to like water being squirted at them from my bottle.

No pictures today or yesterday in order to keep the camera running...and there wasn't even an Alabama state sign.

Forecasts continue to call for more thunderstorms, and likely we'll be in rain for the rest of the trip. For me, it's better than severe heat and humidity without any cloud cover.

Mexican Fuel

2009-07-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Day 24 - Rain, rain on me

2009-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

I didn't sleep that well last night, hearing the rain outside the room and rushing through the downspout. When I finally awoke, it was indeed raining...and it was warm. I headed out a couple minutes after most riders, and soon encountered the beginning of the flat parade - within 5 miles of the hotel. Soon enough, we rode out of town into the countryside filled with cotton and soy, and the rain started coming in waves upon waves. Each time you thought the rain couldn't come down any faster, it did. Soaked through and through, I found solace in the fact that at least it was warm today. Fortunately, my flat occurred during a brief break in the action, and then it really dumped; we could see the waves of the storm approach us as the road ahead was demarcated by an advancing line of moisture. Basically, it looked as though we were riding up a river as we climbed hills through the storm that severely limited visibility...and cars passed slowly with their hazard lights blinking.

Of course it was dry as a bone at the hotel, which was useful for cleaning the bike, sipping a fine single malt whiskey, drinking a recoverite beverage, and putting on a new tire (and weeping as I through away my slashed front tire which had been ridden approximately 3 days).

We headed out for mexican food, and I could only muster up enough appetite to eat chips, salsa, beans, rice, a taco, a chile relleno, a tamale, a chalupa, and an enchilada. I also managed to stuff down a twix ice cream bar for good measure. Now, it's time to sleep and dream of a little less rain.

Day 23 – Pine Bluff to Clarksdale, MS 134 miles

2009-07-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Speed seemed to be the name of the game this morning, as a big paceline ticked off the first 55 miles or so at about 22 miles per hour. We even were buzzed by a cropduster.

I finally dropped off when I felt the road was getting a bit rough for me to be completely safe in the fast group, and cruised solo until coming across Greg Lester changing a flat. We sailed into lunch together as the heat and humidity cranked up. There really wasn’t much to see today except for corn, the Arkansas River, and the Mississippi River. After the last sag, I rode into Clarksdale with Greg L. and Jonathan Page, the Wonder from Down Under. Clarksdale appears to be another spread out Southern town past it’s prime, with boarded up blues houses and broken down homes. I ate my chocolate shake, chicken nuggets, changed out my saddle (we’ll see how that goes tomorrow), and cleaned up my bike just in time to get inside before the afternoon thunderstorm hit. I predict a buffet dinner and a whole lot of sleep tonight.

Day 22 – Arkadelphia to Pine Bluff, AK 91miles

2009-07-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

The big boys in France are rolling into Paris and finishing up today. Not us! We’re ceremoniously rolling from Arkadelphia to Pine Bluff, Arkansas –recently voted the worst place to live in the United States.

0630- Hot and humid!

0700 - Jason (my roommate) said, “Do you hear that thunder?” “Aw, that’s just someone rolling their bag past the room,” I responded. Then he opened the door to reveal dark thunderstorm clouds and a total downpour. Despite the precipitation, we all loaded up our bags and jumped on the bikes with just jerseys and shorts, and enjoyed the rain (and fogged up glasses), knowing that cloud cover meant lower temperatures.

0800 – The group enjoyed pretty smooth roads with very gentle rollers and made good time with moderate effort…good for resting up for the days ahead.

The roads today wound through lush wooded areas (and some clearcut areas beginning to sprout some growth), and past numerous small towns (Faith, for one) with humble (or boarded up) homes with heee-uge lawns. It was a particularly plentiful day for canines who wanted to join us on the road, but they mostly proved mild-mannered and responsive to some vocal commands.

Again, it is quite a reality check riding through these depressed areas which are sparsely populated. Honestly, for the last three days we have seen more churches and cemeteries than anything else. In fact, it is an honest assessment that (other than homes) 75% of the buildings we pass are churches. This fact came in handy, as today (Sunday) there were hardly any cars on the road.

After a solid 2 hour nap, we walked across the street to the mall…replete with approximately a 50% vacancy rate. We’re all locked up tight, thanks to the stories of Pine Bluff’s reputation as the murder capital of the states as well, and looking forward to a snooze to rest up for the next couple days.

Day 21 - Arkansas

2009-07-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

We departed the Grand Queen Wilhelmena Lodge just after daybreak…and had some refreshing cool breezes. The refreshing cool breezes lasted about 30 seconds on the first whipping descent out of the lodge before we started a couple more climbs like yesterday and I remembered that the heat and humidity here know no bounds.

The ride quickly turned into a descent off the end of the ridge into Mena, Arkansas, and then we meandered for miles and miles through greenways lined with trees and front yard ponds, churches, boarded up towns, churches, boarded up houses, and churches. It seems that the churches are just about the only businesses left in these depressed parts.

The heat and humidity just kept creeping up as the day progressed. Given the prevailing weather, I was particularly amazed at Karl’s ability to work diligently over the stove at lunchtime, creating another pasta and meat or tofu miracle. Some of Karl’s other talents include flying glider planes and creating Windows operating systems (in a past life).

I enjoyed the rest of the ride in from lunch with Walt and Russell, who noted a similarity between the area in which we were riding and some areas of forest in England (formerly Sherwood Forest) – except for the heat. After passing by a dammed up lake and casting longing glances at the people frolicking off of their boats and innertubes, we headed to our interchange of the day in Northern Arkadelphia.

Did you know that a small chocolate Wendy’s shake has 410 calories? Me either. And, a McDonald’s medium chocolate shake has 580. Dinner at Crackerbarrel – with ham, chicken ‘n dumplings, meatloaf, fried okre, slaw, biscuits and cornbreadl; like the heat, humidity, and smell of pinetrees; gave me flashbacks to life in North Carolina, back in the days of medical school.

Pac tour day 20

2009-07-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

Off to the Talimena Parkway!

We had a gentle roll out of McAlester with most everybody in the entire group…until we came to a detour sign and learned that a bridge was out ahead. Lon then asked, “What kind of river are we talking about?” Visions of PAC tour riders forging the river with bikes hoisted over their heads ran through my mind…and then I noticed the group was pressing on past the detour signs to see what we would find ahead. This isn’t the first time we’ve entered a construction site on our trip. We came to the end of the pavement and started riding across the dirt and gravel, cyclocross style, but then switched to foot travel for a few hundred yards before finding some quiet pavement on the other side of the quagmire passing as a waterway.

After about 50 miles, the road started tilting up, and at 58 miles we started up the Talimena Parkway, a road that runs along the ridge of some improbable mountains jutting high above the rest of the land in this part of Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. The first sign warned trucks of grades of 13% for the next 21 miles. Nice.

Indeed, the roads didn’t disappoint. If you get a chance, check out the profile under the elevation selection on the GPS site…we had significant climbs with grades well OVER 13%, and significant descents with speeds into the 40s (for me) and 50s for others, followed again by steep climbs. It was odd when 11% felt like a time to recover on the climb! The views off of the ridge were spectacular, overlooking an endless sea of trees to the North and South. Despite the hard work getting up the climbs, I saw tons of smiles on people’s faces due to the fun nature of the climbs, descents, and views.

The temperature was certainly hot during the climb, leading me to soak my head, back, legs, and feet with ice water. I did push it a bit on a section or two, and found that I could still get my heart rate into the mid 160s…which is pretty good (I think), considering that most people note the inability to achieve higher heart rates during extended endurance events such as this trip.

Pleasantly, we arrived at the Grand Queen Wilhelmena Lodge, and the Arkansas side of the Parkway, after 99 miles and over 7000 feet of climbing. The Lodge sits atop the ridge with views for miles and miles over the horizon…and is actually part of an Arkansas state park.

We enjoyed a pleasant southern buffet meal while enjoying the view, and hearing more about the cause that Brian (who left the tour) was riding to support. You can learn more at www.nevus.org regarding giant hairy nevus and, in particular, neurocutaneous melanocytosis – the condition which lead to the death of Brian’s son.

After enjoying the pleasant view from the deck of the lodge, I’ll join some other riders to nibble on some treats that Brian kindly sent to the group, and then snooze all night long, dreaming of a couple easy centuries ahead.

And yes, Greg did eat all of those deserts.

Pac tour day 19

2009-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, today was so nice compared to yesterday. While the sun started rising, we rolled out of town and enjoyed gentle rollers (with nice pavement) all day long. More armadillos and turtles were sighted along the road...unfortunately, not fairing to well. I mostly took it easy, but did meet up with Doug and Jeanine after lunch...so I had to increase the pace a bit to hang with them for the 45 miles to town...which was fun for sure. Before going to the hotel to clean and lube the bikes, we took a detour to McDonald's for a chocolate shake (and a few McNuggets for good measure) to make sure our recovery nutrition needs were met. I don't know if the temperature was actually over 100, but the thermometer in the parking lot at the hotel was reading 111 while I cleaned my bike. Whoa, time for an ice bath!

Pac tour Day 18

2009-07-22T17:26:00.001-07:00

We rode backroads today that were pretty rough (understatement of the day – bunny-hopping and cyclocross skills came in handy), but didn’t have much traffic. I chatted with Jeanine between the first and second sags, and then rode solo for the rest of the day. The backroads consisted of rollers with a pretty strong 45 degree headwind to “keep it real.” I did see a turtle crossing the road and another pancaked armadillo…and that’s about it. My legs felt a bit sluggish today, so I’m aiming for 10 hours of sleep tonight…and I promise to avoid chicken fried steak (last night’s meal). Fortunately, it didn’t top 100 today either, so the hydration is up to snuff. Oh, this is a big town, so I finally got the haircut I meant to get before departure.

Pac tour Day 16

2009-07-22T17:12:00.001-07:00

Today was a recovery day, lollygagging east along I-40 frontage roads from Amarillo to Shamrock, Texas…often on Old Route 66. We did see the (allegedly) largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere, and went to the Devil’s Rope Museum (Devil’s Rope = Barbed Wire). Did you know that ranchers used the upper wire of the fence to conduct telephone signals? If you see resistors inserted into fencing, that’s what was going on! If you do make it to the museum in McClean, Texas, don’t forget to check out the cowboy hat made of barbed wire.

I did get a flat…but it was a slow one, so I could ride until I found a bit of shade under a (rare) tree to change it out. The arrival in Shamrock, of course, was marked by temps over 100 degrees – again.

One theme of the trip I haven’t talked about much is the death of small town America that we seem to be witnessing. These tiny cities off the beaten path have boarded up theaters, banks, grocery stores, gas stations, insurance agencies, houses, and motels. We’re not talking about the outskirts of a city – I mean right on “Main Street.” You can just imagine the scene on the streets when the farming and route 66 traffic, for instance, were making for boom-times. Now, literally, tumbleweeds set the scene.

Pac tour Day 15

2009-07-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Epic day today. Imagine riding 146 miles into a hot headwind with temperatures topping 100 degrees across the Texas landscape (read: flat with nothing to look at save a bit of scrub, dry river beds, and some corn). The winds out of the South pounded us in the face, mostly limiting our speeds (working together in a paceline or echelon all day long) to between 14 and 16.5 mph. The day was really about mental fortitude: getting through the concept of very slow progress, relentless winds, a sore butt, a saddle that feels like a concrete slab, and ever increasing heat…not to mention the fact that we were doing this after a couple rather strenuous and long days. Fortunately, I rode all day long with companions, working together to get through the wind and monotonous miles. For nearly the last 50 miles, a group of four to five of us took turns pulling (riding at the front of the group to break the wind) for one mile at a time. They say everything is bigger in Texas…and the miles seemed bigger too. Oddly, I had the only functioning bike computer in the group, so I got to call out the switch every mile…which gave me something else to think about other than the strain.

The heat was tough too, and I felt fortunate to have my camelback full of icewater that stayed cold. This came in useful for hosing myself down to cool off. Funny, I guess my ipod (not used) is waterproof.

After getting a flat at mile half a mile from the hotel, we arrived at the Big Texan in Amarillo. We proceeded to stuff ourselves silly in the kitchy restaurant, and even saw a young man successfully eat a 72 ounce steak, 6 fried shrimp, a salad, a roll, and a baked potato in one hour. Phenomenal!

Today was very challenging, and many sags were required. Also, Ann and Brian are departing, as the first half of the trip has come to a close. Good night.

Roadkill

2009-07-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Oh, the roadkill has changed. Out West we mostly see deer, and moving through the desert, you can throw in an occasional snake. Rolling through Texas, we come across porcupine...and the armadillos have started to appear in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma day 17

2009-07-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Ooops, left my computer in the van...so I'm using the phone to post. Guess what? More wind...crosswind AND headwind. Temps didn't get over 100 today, however.

We are currently following old Route 66, and today we visited two Route 66 Museums. Of course, we entered Oklahoma today, and instantly noted more lush countryside than in Texas.

106 miles today, and a few more tomorrow before the ride in Arkansas along the Parkway.

I put some new tires on the bike today, and the new rear wheel has performed well for two days...on some fairly rough roads too.

Hopefully I will post with some photographs tomorrow.

Texas

2009-07-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

I still don't have any internet access, but am alive and well in Shamrock, Texas. I will update you when I can access the information superhighway somewhere along historic route 66...hopefully tomorrow in Oklahoma.

pac tour day 14- july 17

2009-07-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a long day. To be honest, it was very reasonable until the last 20 miles where...you guessed it, wicked winds whipped up with hefty gusts. Basically we had a really strong tailwind and were sailing along at 30mph, and then-boom-the wind shifted 180 degrees as thunderstorms formed and the barometer dropped drastically.

I did have a great time riding with Lon this morning, and hearing his tremendous stories about the progression from a teenager riding his bike, to setting transcontinental records. I also had a chance to ride with Susan a bit today as well. There's no doubt about it, they're quality people.

Three different people had sidewall flats this afternoon. My mechanical occurred early in the day when a pebble wedged in between the chain and the lower jockeywheel in the rear derailleur...effectively jamming the drivetrain. The odds of this happening are astronomically low. Fortunately, a couple very experienced cyclists were able to help me take the wheel out of the cage in order to remove the rock...and I was back on the road.

Another big one tomorrow...better rest. (156 miles today...and we're in New Mexico). Tomorrow: Texas!

2009-07-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

The board at breakfast noted we would depart at 0630, and lunch (mile 72) would be open from 1030 to 1230. We assumed some downhill and tailwinds...and got that, with some uphill too. Beautiful views of the Collegiate Range (Mt. Princeton, Harvard, Yale, etc)...and another range heading South from the Collegiates stayed on our right until just after lunch today. Many of these are 14,000 foot peaks.

Unfortunately, the wind slapped us in the face for the final 40 miles, just for a bit of a reality check. Also unfortunate, was Larry, who apparently fell while turning into the final sag of the day. The latest news is that he broke his hip joint. Larry is an incredibly talented rider and an especially nice individual. He will be missed by the group.

We gorged at a steakhouse in town, and as is typical, the staff was overwhelmed with the additional load to its regular clientele. I expended a bit more effort than planned on today's 131 mile ride with 4200 feet of climbing, so I plan on trying to get lots of rest before our 6 AM departure for tomorrow's 156 mile journey into Northeast New Mexico!

Pac tour day 12 - July 16

2009-07-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Today is the one day of the tour I have been most excited about since I signed up for the tour several months ago...and it did not disappoint. We rolled out of our swiss chalet motel in Glenwood Springs (49 degrees) and rode 40 miles on a bike path along the White River to Aspen. The sky was blue, the water clear, and the river banks and hills were green as can be. I only wish I had more time to spend here, exploring the valleys and peaks by foot; finding alpine lakes; following streams; and, sure, eating in Aspen.

We followed route 82 East out of town and climbed 22 miles up to Independence Pass, at 12,095 feet. The climb was beautiful and the road was great. Temps were in the 80s and winds were favorable. We did have a lunch stop 8 miles from the summit where, against my better judgement, I threw back 2 hotdogs, an avocado, some baked beans, and a coke. Despite the gut-bomb, the climb to the top was enjoyable...and it was great to see Lon Haldeman headed toward the summit on his single-speed (with a 42x17, I believe).

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...knowing that they never really do justice to the real scene.

Finally, we had a tailwind for our final 25 miles...and probably averaged over 30mph for the final stretch. I'm trying out a new wheel tomorrow to see if I can determine where a bit of slipping/noise is coming from...no biggie.

You know, the people on this trip are just incredible...So many people with ridiculous accomplishments on the bike (Race Across

America Finishers, Elite Tour Finishers (this is a 17 day crossing of the USA) (multiple times), regular 200 mile race riders, Fireweed 200 competitors (after knee replacements), a rider with a prosthetic hip, riders who also (?completed) 12 marathons in 12 months last year, riders who completed

multiple ironman length

triathlons last year...

And...everyone is so respectful, cordial, supportive, and helpful. There isn't a sense of malignant competition or arrogance. This is pretty amazing, considering the underlying (or maybe not underlying) compulsiveness of the people on this trip. I continue to be amazed by the country, the feats our bodies can accomplish, and the complexity and transparency that many people are willing to share while undertaking such a (physical and mental) journey.

OK, time to rest quickly and leave at 0630 for our 131 mile trip to Walsenburg, CO.

2009-07-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

I felt like a new man today...after yesterday's recovery. Also, I started using Sustained Energy in one of my waterbottles between every sag/lunch/etc which provides sugar/amino acids/calories/a bit of protein, etc. Before lunch I rode with a few different groups: someone who had 2 major surgeries last year-including a new knee, a father-son pair who are both accomplished racers, and a couple composed of a current racer and a former multiple state-championship holder and essentially pro-racer. The pace was up.

We rode through increasing vegetated valleys with increasingly proportioned waterways, very slightly gaining altitude. We were rewarded with a several mile downhill before turning up the last valley (and getting blasted with wind in the face for about 15 miles). Fortunately, I teamed up with Greg Lester to battle our way in through the last 20 miles. I did note 103 degrees on the thermometer while cleaning my bike and putting some new cleats on my shoes this afternoon when we arrived in Glenwood Springs. 125 miles.

After 2 glasses of chocolate milk, a 360 calorie recovery drink, an ice bath, a massage, and a meal of a cheeseburger with guacamole, mashed potatoes, sausage links, and hashbrowns, everyone joined up for an ice-cream and brownie social. Now I'm going to eat my slice of pie and hit the sack...and dream about 40 miles on a bike path into Aspen, then climbing over Independence Pass - which tops out just over 12000 feet.

Pac tour day 10 - July 14

2009-07-14T18:11:00.001-07:00

This morning we slept in, ate a cooked breakfast in the motel diner, and rolled out at a leisurely pace around 830, knowing that lunch after 52 miles (and at our destination) wouldn't even start until noon. After saying goodbye to the big pink dinosaur of Vernal, we spun down the road having good conversation and watching young Greg (16 years old) collect a couple more license plates.

We passed through Dinosaur, Colorado and saw many stone dinosaurs, like the big green one in front of the Town Hall.

Entering Colorado, our 5th state, didn't provide much change in scenery until we crested a ridge and began our descent into Grangely. The area to the left and right was covered with power lines, pipes in the ground, and very small Chevron signs. Eventually, some bigger signs noting that this was Chevron Sands grounds and even some oil derricks (only 1 moving) appeared.

We were able to have a lazy lunch in a small park next to our hotel before cleaning the bikes, lubricating the chains, doing laundry, and EATING again.

Overall, today was for recovery...for the body and mind. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that the last 5 days have all been over 100 degrees!

Pac tour day 9 - July 13

2009-07-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I felt (and looked) pretty rough this morning. I think I was even a bit stressed about the ride ahead and was wondering if my body was up to the task. Arriving van-side for breakfast in the dark in the wet parking lot, I noticed that I wasn't alone in my rough appearance and state. After a little food and brief conversation (including saying goodbye to another cyclist returning home--claimed by pressing business), I hit the road at 6 AM.

We headed east out of Evanston (the home of weekly horse-racing during the summer) on I-80, and I felt like a million bucks at about mile 5. This is a phenomenon I noticed during training...you start to feel better on the bike than off of it. So weird.

The winds felt fairly favorable (despite the forecasts of gusts up to 30-40 mph). The terrain began to change as we re-entered Utah, and were greeted with sandstone and tons of signs about the rock formations, oil formations, and fossilized squid. Yes, fossilized squid. Additionally, you could also see the giant plates of earth shoved out of the ground, displaying their

sedimentary layers.

We descended into Flaming Gorge (yes, Flaming Gorge) for lunch, around mile 90 something. Yes, lunch at 90 miles. Again, beautiful rock formations.

After lunch, the climbing began in earnest (see GPS data for confirmation). It was beautiful climbing (5-12% grades) punctuated by brutal headwinds around many of the corners (yes, the

wind did rear it's head today), dropping speeds to mid-single digits at times. Even the couple descents amongst the climbing demanded attention to balance and many times pedaling to keep moving. At one point, I was getting a bit demoralized by the wind...fortunately Jeannine and Lori came along for some company and distraction from focusing on the wind.

The big descent (5-8% with 10 switchbacks over 9 miles) at about 130 miles yielded expansive views of the valley, mining projects, rocky canyons...and an exercise in riding into very strong winds. After passing a major Simplot phosphate mining project, we (Lori, Jeannine, Walt, and me) shared pulls through the wind into the city of Vernal, Utah. 149 miles and about 9000 feet of climbing later.

While today was arguably more challenging than any other on this trip so-far (and perhaps any day on this trip at all), I certainly felt stronger at the end of the day than on the last few. As Lon said, we will become tougher as the tour progresses.

Interestingly, about 4 days ago many people were suffering from saddle sores (read: raw, open wounds on the buttocks, legs, or worse), but everyone seems to have healed them and made proper adjustments. Some of the aids for cures including every salve, ointment, cream, or powder you could possibly find in a Walmart; moleskin; wearing 2 pairs of cycling shorts; getting a huge foam or gel pad to put over your saddle; or getting a huge squishy saddle. Just a few hints for those out there looking to string together multiple 100+ mile days in the saddle.

2009-07-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today was my kind of day...until the last 20 miles. We left Brigham City (north of Salt Lake City) and rolled south along the mountains for about 17 miles with a warm tailwind and views of the Great Salt Lake (I believe). Then we turned east into Ogden Valley (and were slapped in the face with a fierce headwind for about 10 minutes until we were in the safety of the narrow canyon entrance.

We climbed for 40 miles...and it was beautiful. Ogden Valley opens up near Snow Basin ski area (site of the olympic downhill). Wildflowers adorned the fields to the right and left, and we often were riding next to a river. The climb ended at lunch - at 9000 feet elevation.

The descent from lunch, 20 miles, allowed for some digestion of food and some digestion of the views out toward Wyoming - our destination today.

The final 20 miles or so were across plains that were more grassy than scrub-covered...and the winds were whipping at a good clip from the side.

The day proved to be quite relaxing for me, despite the climbing and altitude (noting that Evanston, WY is at 7000 feet.) This is good, because tomorrow will be one of the most challenging days...149 miles, 8550 feet of climbing...and a max elevation of around 8400 feet.

That's why I probably ate between 8-10,000 calories today...and will probably wake up in the middle of the night and eat more. We depart at 6am tomorrow...time to sleep, again.

July 11th - Day 7

2009-07-11T18:27:00.000-07:00

One week down and about 840 miles on the books. You gotta love the fact that I wake up in the middle of the night hungry and snack on the cookies, bars, etc. that I've stashed next to my bed. Regardless, I got a solid 9 hours of sleep...and could've kept sleeping.

We took off from Burley, Idaho about 630 this morning, and enjoyed some gentle rolling roads along the Snake River without wind for about an hour. Given how fatigued I felt at the end of yesterday, I was pleased to feel mentally and physically ready to have an enjoyable day of 148 miles. The climbs early in the day rewarded us with views of expansive valleys. The winds and temperature picked up as we entered Utah and crossed HUGE valleys 15 miles across. A few of us were treated to a sighting of some antelope right before lunch...where we learned that it was 97 degrees in the shade.

Pretty much everyone drank liters of fluid with minimal output, if you know what I mean. The elevation for much of the ride was approximately 5000 feet, I believe. As we approached Brigham City, UT, we took a long bend in the road around a gigantic rocket facility, complete with display of some rockets.

We also passed near the Golden Spike Historical site (where the west and east railroads met). Since the site was 5 miles up a side road...and the golden spike itself is allegedly in a museum at Stanford University, I took a pass and headed into town. Yesterday was 8:45 in the saddle, and today was 9:07 in the saddle.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's ride to Evanston, WY...a 100 mile ride up and over some mountains with about 7000 feet of climbing and ending up at 7000 feet elevation.

July 10th - Day 6

2009-07-10T19:07:00.002-07:00

Today was extremely tough. We repaid the wind gods today with an all day effort into the winds. Pacelines this morning were key to help share the work of heading into the wind for 138 miles. It seems that everyone agrees today challenged the bodies. Definitely one of the most difficult days on the bike for me...and it's just beginning. We did stop for some ice cream (including vanilla potato-it is Idaho, after all). The aero bars were key for me getting through the wind on a solo effort for the last 20 miles or so...and made it easier on the arms and shoulders. Good night!

Connection is slow. I'll try posting pix tomorrow.

Thanks for the encouragement, everybody!

day

2009-07-10T19:07:00.001-07:00

July 9th - Day 5

2009-07-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

We had a hot breakfast by the red van today, including eggs and sausage. This was very exciting for me...is a cup of scrambled eggs, 6 sausages, yogurt, fruit, orange juice, and tea too much to eat right before you get on a bike? No.

Today was a kind day winding along the Snake River from Caldwell, Idaho to Mountain Home, Idaho, home of the Mountain Home Air Force Base. We were mostly treated to tailwinds and mildly rolling hills. Fields of onions, corn, and unknowns lined the roads that weren't flanked by endless scrub. A small wild dog of sorts dashed in front of me today (baby coyote in the daytime didn't make sense...but that's what it looked like), some red tail hawks were being fought off by a brave tiny bird, tons of cows were being fed...I mean TONS, and fighter planes were taking off and landing from M.H.A.F.B..

At lunchtime, we were pleasantly surprised by some accordion selections played by none other than Rebecca Haldeman...accompanied on vocals (in German?) by her boyfriend, Christopher.

Today was the easy 100 miles I anticipated (thanks to the wind), allowing us to have an active recovery day. I switched to my old saddle today...and enjoyed its added "squishiness." We also raised my bars a bit to take some stress off the neck and shoulders...and it certainly helped.

I'm loosened up after a good massage, and now we're headed off to fuel up at another interchange restaurant.

Dinner conversation on PAC Tour tonight ranged from broken spokes to saddle sores. The latter subject sparked passionate discussion and suggestions...all while gobbling up dessert. Just a little flavor of the culture for you...

July 8th - Day 4

2009-07-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

This morning was sponsored by the letter T...as in Tandem. We rolled out of town (and Art headed for the airport) and after watching Lon spin his huge legs at high speed behind the tandem piloted by his daughter, Alan and I jumped in behind the tandem and were whisked away at 30-37 mph until the first break at 25 miles. I spent the rest of the day mellowing out, looking at the Snake River, watching people change flats, sightseeing, and chatting with Larry from Nevada (a previous PAC tour transcontinental finisher) as well as Russell from Nottingham (another PBP finsher). Things were beautiful today...and I'm looking forward to a mellow century tomorrow to help "rest up" for the big days ahead. I'm headed to bed, so here are some pictures to contemplate.

July 7th - Day 3

2009-07-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

After fixing my rear tire (twice) before breakfast, we headed out on a pleasant morning across wheat fields and climbed steadily away from Pendleton, seeing deer charging up ridges, and being watched by bulls. We "braved" a 1/3 mile gravel road for a scenic overlook, which you see behind me and my roommate (Jason, a 37 year old a couple years out of a marriage without children, whose dogs are staying with his parents while he's on this trip...sound familiar?).

Beautiful wooded gently rolling roads stretched along parts of the Oregon Trail with some nice historical markers and a wagon, which Lisa was particularly excited about.

Unfortunately, Lisa took a spill shortly thereafter. She suffered a concussion and a broken pelvis, but she's doing well and is "weight-bearing-as-tolerated" as they say in the business. This means she can walk as much as she can, limited only by discomfort. She's headed home tomorrow, but will ride again.

The rest of the ride to Baker City, Oregon was uneventful. We did cross the 45th Parallel (that's Jonathan from Australia, a major Pac Tour veteran), and had views of the Wallowas and the Blue Mountains.

My dad, Art, flew in from Seattle this afternoon and we're bunking together after a great dinner with a bunch of riders at the local brew pub in Baker City.

Oh, today was 100 miles.

July 6th - Day 2

2009-07-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today was a gift from the cycling Gods. Imagine being pushed along all day long under sunny skies with views of rivers, rolling hills, and an occasional fluffy white cloud and somebody waiting with food and drinks for you every hour and half. My reality was clicking off 100 miles in under five hours with an average heart rate of 110, then finishing up the 133 miles with the same effort. Lon proclaimed today the strongest and longest sustained tailwind on any Pac tour...ever. So sweet.

We not only got to take in the

Columbia River with the John Day Dam, but we saw the Deschutes River dumping into the Columbia,

witnessed an improbably located tree farm which stretched on for miles in the middle of rolling fields, and we saw Lon Haldeman riding along with us...on his

singlespeed!

As I suspected, I am surrounded on this tour by people with some incredible stories to tell. There are numerous 508 finishers (a 508 mile race

across Death Valley), multiple finishers of Paris-Brest-Paris (a 1200 kilometer ride held every four years), and numerous Pac-Tour Hall of Fame Members (over 10,000 miles ridden with Pac Tour). There are other special stories as well.

One of our riders has followed Lon and Susan Haldeman and their Pac Tour adventures for over 15 years, thinking about the possibility of riding on a trip. Unfortunately, he lost his son to complications from neurocutaneous melanosis at age 4. He promised his son

to work to help find a cure...and now he's here, riding his heart out to raise money.

We cleaned up our bikes, cleaned up ourselves, and caught a ride to a local casino to hit up their buffet. Big time calorie load...and now, time to sleep.

July 5th - Day 1

2009-07-05T20:10:00.001-07:00

We ate, loaded the vans up, and hit the road about 0730. It was a beautiful morning in Troutdale, next to the might Columbia River. We proceeded to have a beautiful, gentle climb Southeast toward the South side of Mt. Hood. I chatted a bit with Greg, a 16 year old, who is on his SECOND bicycle trip across the country. The weather was unusually hot for the area, with temps in the 90s. Fortunately, we had some shade and gentle wind for the climb up to Government Camp and our lunch stop...after about 5000 feet of climbing. During the brief break there, I got to hear a few snippets of Lon recalling some of the nutrition experiments on the early Race Across America events. Nothing like a liquid energy diet for a week or two. Not for us, however! While we anticipated some good descending after lunch, we actually had a fair amount of climbing left to do before dropping down the East side of Mt. Hood into the wheat fields (and HEAT) near Dufur, Oregon. The last 20 miles or so was allegedly downhill, but it was a mixed bag of downhill and a couple climbs...and, shall we say, stiff winds. The Columbia River gorge is world famous for its strong winds (and resulting excellent windsurfing). The breeze kept all of us honest, getting buffeted a little bit for the final stretch into The Dalles at 102 miles. I did have the pleasure of getting my first flat tire out of the way at mile 99 of today's ride. Thanks to Brian for keeping me company while I fixed the flat. Today was a great day for me to reflect on the amazing qualities of Oregon...the mountains, the plains, the rivers, the forests, the coast, and the high desert. Overall, a great day of 102 miles and about 8800 feet of climbing by my computer. Hopefully the stiff headwind will be at our backs as we head East toward Pendleton tomorrow.

Pillow brilliance...

2009-07-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

...Or what kind of cyclist are you?

Kick off dinner @ McMenamin's

2009-07-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

July 4th

2009-07-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

I drove up to Portland this morning to get to Troutdale (just east of Portland, Oregon) where we're starting tomorrow morning. I met my uncle Jerry in Canby, checked out his garden, and then he drove up to Troutdale with me, where we met my dad (Art)...who flew his plane down from Seattle. Conveniently, our hotel is across the street from Troutdale airport.

I registered up...and met Lon and Susan! After a quick lunch with Jerry and Art, I took off for a quick 30 minute spin to make sure the bike and the legs still work. Thanks to Uncle Jerry for taking the car for the next month! I got to see Art take off and turn north across the Columbia River when I was riding past the airport.

After a rider meeting with Lon, we headed up to McMenamin's for dinner. For those who don't know, McMenamin's is a company in Oregon that has purchased historical buildings and facilities and converted them into restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and hotels. We had a massive feed there...and now it's time to chill, pack, and sleep!

2009-07-02T10:48:00.001-07:00

Only a few days left until I depart...I rode for about an hour and a half last night in the heat. I guess it is good to feel the heat, but there's probably no way to prepare for the humidity we'll encounter in the South.

Morning ride

2009-06-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Watering the pears with Lower Table Rock in the background. Cruising the Rogue Valley today solo...before the party tonight.

Thursday evening June 25th

2009-06-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Cobi & I enjoyed the sunset on our walk in Ashland tonight. I'm feeling refreshed after a good nap this afternoon & an early evening interval ride. My taper has begun. It definitely feels like a letdown with the decreased mileage, but I can feel my body recovering a bit from my recent efforts. I am eagerly anticipating July 5th!

Monday June 22nd

2009-06-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today's ride was a local staple: the Woodrat loop, which is about 60 miles with some fair climbing. Heather came out for the fun in the sun. I ran out of time to lay down the recommended 75 miles. How can you blame anyone, though, for pausing in Ruch to check out a store with beans, bullets, 'n beer?

Cobi on an AM mt bike ride

2009-06-22T08:45:00.001-07:00

Sunday June 21 - Scott River, Northern California

2009-06-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

Tim invited me along for a scenic ride along the Scott River in Northern California. We started at Fort Jones and turned around just past Scott Bar, before the Scott merges with the Klamath River. We had a great group of riders from the Medford-Ashland area as well as Yreka...the pace picked up as we headed away from Fort Jones...and I'm pretty sure I some some hammers being dropped along the way. I didn't get a chance to snap any pictures, which is a shame, because it's absolutely beautiful going along the river with the hills towering above. I needed to concentrate, however, to keep the pace with the crowd as we motored along at an average of about 19.5-20 for the 60 mile ride with over 3000 feet of climbing. Kudos to Bill for converting to a 2 speed on the return after his rear derailleur cable failed!

This picture has nothing to do with today...but I love it; Paul and Babe on the coast of Northern California hanging out at the Trees of Mystery (yes, that's a car in the foreground.)

Saturday June 20 - Mountain stage

2009-06-21T17:10:00.001-07:00

I didn't really know what my plan was today...but after Tim and I failed to meet up to start the day, I headed out from Ashland toward Mt. Ashland, the local ski area...about 25 miles and 5000 feet of climbing away. It was a cool cloudy morning, so the climbing (with intervals every 30 minutes - Michelle's orders!) was good. I actually punched through the clouds after about 20 miles and had incredible views South into California. Good old Mt. Shasta greeted me, and the clouds were spilling over the pass behind me; out of the Rogue Valley and into the Colestine Valley.

I arrived in the Mt. A parking lot in just under 2 hours (a personal best). The ride back down was bone-chilling. I took a right at Emigrant Lake and started climbing the Greensprings (a perfect grade up the other side of the South end of the Rogue Valley). I hit the top and decided not to do the Lakes Loop, but to descend back into the Valley, as now I had climbed 2 of the 3 climbs of the "triple challenge."

After a quick bite back in Ashland, I headed up Dead Indian Memorial Road (yes, that is actually the name...and yes, it is 2009) and (after seeing Kate speed past me in her car) I bagged the third peak of the day and headed for home. All said, it was 100 miles, 12,000 feet of climbing, and just over 6 and a half hours of riding. I think I burned a ton of calories too, as I just seemed to eat for the rest of the

day until I fell asleep.

Sunday June 14

2009-06-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Dea Collins rode into Roseburg (about 40 miles from camp) with me in the morning, where we met Robb Collins...and then joined up with the Roseburg Fire Department in their station for a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, bacon, biscuits, bacon, juice, and bacon! We met Josh, the battalion chief, the night before at dinner...and he kindly invited us in for some sustenance. Then we continued to wind south to Canyonville, where we met Robb for some burgers and fries. Then Robb jumped on the bike...only a few weeks after surgery for a broken collar bone, and rode up, up, and up over the mountains for 50 miles at a brisk pace in some beautiful sunshine until we descended into the town (I think) of trail. I brought it on home to Medford for a total of 147 miles and 8500 feet of climbing (no GPS data for the whole ride as I ran out of juice).

Sunday was a solo effort out to Applegate Lake...about 95ish miles...with a bonk effect for the last 50. Ugh. At least it was a beautiful day for a while...bit of rain, wind, and dark clouds for the last 25 miles. Look - another covered bridge!

Big weekend

2009-06-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY

Last Saturday I departed from Medford at 0600 and set out Northwest, climbing into the hills past Butte Falls and Prospect (two small towns I have heard of, but never seen). The roads were quiet, and kind folks in quick-marts and a restaurant were happy to fill my water. After fueling up on a fresh huckleberry turnover...and beef jerky, and snickers, and coke, and fig newtons, I pressed on, riding along the headwaters of the Rogue River, past the entrance to Crater Lake. I climbed and climbed until reaching the summit near Mt. Thielsen and Diamond Lake...There I looked up and barely saw Mt. Thielsen completely shrouded in DARK clouds...and noted the road was soaking wet about a quarter mile in front of me. Batting away the

mosquitoes, I quickly suited up head to toe in my rain gear, and then headed into the COMPLETE DOWNPOUR for the next hour (hence no pictures of Mt. Thielsen or Diamond Lake). I made the turn from the Rogue Valley and started my descent into the Umpqua Valley and basically rode downhill for 40 miles (into the heat and sun)...and after a hot dog and chocolate milk, a car slowly pulled up beside me and someone held out a Cliff Bar and yelled, "Allez, allez!" What do you know, Jonathan, Denison, and Elsa Lee spotted me on the road as they were cruising during their North Umpqua camping and boating weekend! Next thing you know, Dea Collins came riding up the road looking for me (Mind you this is all at the end of a 138 mile ride from Medford.)

We all headed to the camp on Canton Creek, where Elsa showed us how much she loves malted beverages...soon Robb and Ed-the-dog showed up from their mountain-bike adventure. A leisurely dip in the river to cool off and clean up was refreshing, but couldn't keep me from napping before our 5 course meal at the Steamboat Inn - complete with the winemaker himself telling stories (sometimes even about the wine). After 5 courses, 5 wines, and more than 5 stories from our neighbors at the table, we walked back to camp and snoozed 'til the morning...

Monday night training

2009-06-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

It was a nice easy weekend with a 54 mile spin around the Valley with my friend, Duc, on Saturday. Too bad I forgot sunscreen...the morning clouds and threatening rain threw me off!

Sunday, I just rode a few miles out to Emigrant Lake and back, then took a hike into the hills with Sarah and Cobi...climbed up to some great views.

Today I got to let it loose a bit with about 45 miles, 3100 feet of climbing and some speed intervals...ahhh, the body enjoyed getting to work a bit today.

I'm starting to plan a big weekend...having a ton of fun mapping routes on ridewithgps.com. Check out that site (a local product) for mapping out rides using googlemaps technology. It's awesome.

Training

2009-06-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Returning from an evening training ride with hill intervals I had two thoughts. 1 what goes up must come down, and 2 Southern Oregon has some beautiful areas.

May 30-31 Training rides

2009-06-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Southern Oregon didn't disappoint this weekend, providing hot weather, bright sunshine, and beautiful hills, vineyards and rivers.

Tim and Heather joined up with me on Saturday and headed from Ashland to Ruch...where Tim turned off to Woodrat for some climbing and to head home and be responsible (study). Heather and I headed out through the Applegate Valley, enjoying the views of hills and vineyards...and the seemingly endless downhill.

We lunched in Grants Pass, overlooking the Rogue River, before heading home through the Rogue Valley...127 miles in the logbook.

Forunately, my only flat happened 6 miles from home, right in front of Flywheel Bicycle Solutions. I wonder where I can find a tube?

Sunday was a solo effort through the Northeast end of the Rogue Valley with a scenic loop in the North end of the valley, passing through Wimer and heading via Evans Creek back down to the Rogue River. The word for the afternoon (after lunching near the covered bridge in Wimer) was

hot. Thanks to all the mini-marts for tons of ice to cool down the water bottles! Another 125 miles in the books.

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a big one, with 100 miles and about 7000 feet of climbing on Saturday; 157 miles and almost 10,000 feet of climbing on Sunday, and 130 more miles on Monday. This is the ferry coming across the Willamette River at 7 in the morning on Memorial Day, to shuttle me across the river on my way from Portland to Eugene.

As you can see, there is some tough country, even in Oregon.

2009-05-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Last year I looked out at the Pacific Ocean from the Washington Coast, unaware that this year, I would undertake a journey-by bicycle-to the Atlantic Ocean.