Life After DNF

 Got a gravel grind in out at Bent Creek.  Saw a little black bear,  about 100 lbs.  It was alone, but didn't want to snuggle.  Must have recently left momma to make a life for itself. 

 The views are amazing, and the weather perfect. 
This has been one of the best May that I have had in a while.  I backed off of two commitments that I have had in previous years,  opening up some free time (that I promptly filled with bike rides and family time!).   I feel so much more rested and energetic than in years past.  May is no longer my month of mayhem.  Relief.  I guess I'm learning my limits and working on my quality of life!

 I was thinking a little more about the P111K this year and what I learned from my time on the bike and my DNF.  The route has become less ominous and I realized that with a little more focused training and not screwing up my nutrition, that the finish is definitely attainable.  The past couple of year have been rough, as mentioned above, esp during the month of May. 

I actually felt good on the bike up until I started getting too hungry, around mile 45.  That's when I started going into deficit, and making that up is possible but difficult.   Gotta be preemptive with the food!

 My smoker skills are getting pretty good,  I cooked up some mean chicken breasts and some potatoe, corn and onion mix in tin foil, steamed in it's own juices with salt, pepper and butter....

Long Walk Home

 I dropped the mini van, nicknamed "Deathstart" off at our awesome mechanic and walked home.   The walk took about 2 hrs.   I had planned a bike ride for the morning workout, but this is such a pleasant walk mostly in the woods.  And I have made it somewhat of a tradition. 

 The MST meanders through the Swannanoa river valley and parallels my neighborhood, which makes it easy to get home without crossing any major roads. 

 I can only imagine how fun it will be once the greenway network is rolling!

 The mini van, which we have had for a looong time,  is a 2003 For Windstar with 122K miles on it.   It has been very reliable and for that we are grateful.  But,  over the winter, the transmission started shuddering when shifting.  On our trip to ATL, it got so bad that it seemed like the engine was trying to jump out from under the hood. 

I have been fortunate enough that I have never had an automobile loan.  The van was a gift from Rhonda's grandmother, who was losing her eyesight,  and the truck that I currently drive was a good deal from a family member. 

Before that,  the most I had ever paid for a vehicle was $1200 for a VW Vanagon.  (kicking myself for selling it,  they are going for $5000 and up these days).  My first car was a Buick Century mid sized station wagon,  I paid something like $600 for it. 

It seems that the right type of vehicle always comes into my life at the right time, with the right price tag.  We are patiently waiting and praying to see what the next step will be this time around. 

I'm also getting details on an auto loan.  A good mini van, with low miles and in great condition is gonna cost us some change.  We have been saving, but its gonna be a while.  Maybe we'll drive the Deathstar until it implodes.  That will give us more time to save and look around for that right deal. 

Nothing like a long walk home to clear the head and relax the soul!

P111K 2016

I signed up.  Finally.  Thursday night.  The weather forecast improved and I decided, "Why not go for it, and see what happens".  I know where and when to bail and if I can't make it,  I'll at least start.

That 5:30am alarm though,  its  a real downer.   I got up, got my stuff together and drove to the start just outside of Brevard.   As I was getting dressed and ready, I realized that I had forgotten my race sammies at home.  A quick text to the wife and plans were made to have them delivered to Yellow Gap.  (mistake #1)

Less than 100 of us started off, with partly cloudy skies and perfect temps.  Up 276, right on the gravel, then right on Clawhammer.  I maintained my pace well, and while my heart rate was slightly higher than I would have liked, I was enjoying the momentum and definitely not burying myself.  Although, when I caught the Simril Train, I wondered if I should back off.

The week before the race, I switched my gearing to 32x21,  from the 33x22 happy legs gear.  It felt good as the 33x22 had become too spinny over the past couple of rides.

Up and over Buckhorn Gap, down to the river, Squirrel and Cantrell Creek,  then finally up to rest stop #1 at Turkey Pen Trailhead.

The Motion Makers crew did an amazing job getting me rolling again,  I grabbed some pb n j and took off.

I was feeling good and walking some of the steeper stuff to conserve energy.  Bradley Creek Trail and Road went by pretty quickly and I arrived at Yellow Gap by 11:30am.  Not bad.  The Liberty guys at rest stop #2 were chipper but could not find my bag.  After what seemed like 5 minutes, I finally found it, on the tarp, 10 feet from where I laid my bike down. 

I had planned on eating a sandwich here, but with the stress of not finding my bag, I didn't think about grabbing what was available.  I figured that I would eat my Ally's Bar on the N Mills Loop and eat a sammie when I got back.  (mistake #3).

On the way down to the campground, I passed the wife and kid.  She offered me the sammie, but I refused because outside support outside of the rest stops are illegal......  (mistake #4)

I continued on, and started getting really hungry.  I ate gels and the Ally's Bar.  Still hungry.  I realized that the Ally's Bar, while good n tasty, does not have quite the calories that I needed.   I'm pretty sure that at this point in the ride, I started dipping into reserves that would be impossible to replace while still on the bike. 

I ground my way around N Mills River and finally back up to Yellow Gap.  I stopped to refill and finally ate a sammich.  I was feeling ok, and not worried about making it.  I took off.  But then I started to fade.  Loss of power, sleepy,  a couple of dizzy moments.  I stopped on the side of the trail for about 5 minutes.  I was at mile 51.  I was looking at another 4-5 hours of riding/hiking if things went well.  

I stood on the edge of that hole looking in.  I was hydrated so that was good.  I felt ok, except the dizziness kind of worried me.  I could keep going and keep eating and drinking,  trying not to go too deep into that hole.  I was pretty sure that my body was burning everything it had.  I could also keep going and drop off the edge of the hole and require rescue... hafway up Laurel, that could take a while. 

51 miles and still have the energy to get back to Yellow Gap.  Not bad.  7 ish hours in the woods on a beautiful day.  Still having fun.  Still feel good.  Still reaching my goal of being fit and feeling good.  I could press on.  I might finish.  I'm not going to go there today. 

Turning around was easy.  I was a little bummed at not finishing,  but I don't want to go down that hole right now,  so it was ok. 

I called the wife and she gladly came and rescued me.   She is awesome!

Back at the start finish, got cleaned up and had a burrito and a Coke.

I'm already planning on how to train better for next year!

If You Don't Start, You Can't Fail.....

Unless you failed already by not starting...

 

Pisgah Productions 

So,  I decided to give it a go.  I've trained for this,  more than any other event I've trained for in a while.  I feel like I have the endurance to get it done.  I would not mind having a little more speed, but.....

I'm lacking the self confidence.  It has been a tough week for the mountain bike community.  But we can't just give up.  We gotta keep on trying.  The funny thing is, most of my training rides have been solo.  When I think about riding this route solo, it makes it that much tougher on a mental level.  I saw some pics and post of the final riders finishing PMBAR, and realized that I won't be out there alone.  

And then of course,  what am I telling my kid, if I quit something because I can't/ it is unsafe to continue,  that is waay different than quitting by not starting. 

It really helps that the weather is looking just about perfect. 

I'm registered and....maybe ready!

P111K

"The PISGAH 111K is the ultimate cross-country-endurance mountain bike race. Racers follow a set 111 kilometer course on the finest trails and gravel roads Pisgah National Forest has to offer. The route includes over 11,000 feet of climbing along the way. This is a true mountain bike race with no map reading skills required, just follow the arrows."  Pisgah Productions

Sounds amazing, huh?

I've trained,  I could be more ready, but I think I'm ready.  Physically.  My mental state not so much.   I've hit the wall there and lack the confidence to go out and attempt this thing.  Is that a bad thing?  Possibly not.  

Do I want this bad enough to finish no matter what? No.
Am I going to give 100%?  Yes
Am I going to give 110%?  No,  because I've been there and done that and landed in the hurt locker,  having to call and rely on EMS to bring life back into my failing body.  
Do I want to be out on the bike in the rain for 12 hours? No
Do I want to be worn out for two weeks after? No
Do I want to ride my bike, turn where I want, stop where I want, when I want? Yes
Do I want to complete this beast? Yes
Will I regret if I don't try it this year?  Don't know,  I usually don't regret my decisions

And so goes the conversation in my head.  I'm just not 100% into it.  There is a chance I will line up and give it a go, and decide throughout the day if I'm into it and have the desire to ride through and finish, but there is equal chance that I won't.  

I guess I'll keep the mental dialogue going until I decide...... or not.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing,  it found me again.   I spent 6 yrs on a Caribbean island named Bonaire.  The island is a windsurfing paradise and has produced some of the top freestyle champions in the world.   I was no champion,  I was on old clapped out gear racing guys on the newest, lightest and best.  The life of a poor missionary kid I suppose.  I earned the respect of my peers and the race promoters though.  One race director told me that if I had modern equipment, I would do quite well. 

After a regatta one year, some Americans offered me a killer deal on a sweet windsurf package.  Board, sails and everything.  For reasons beyond my control, I could not take them up on that offer. 

Fast forward a couple of years and at 16yrs old in the 11th grade, I was plopped down in Charlotte.  This was late 80's, around 1988.  I found the International Board Sailing Club of Charlotte and joined.  I was able to purchase a windsurf package and get out to Lake Norman quite a bit. 

Then I went to college in Toccoa GA and there was nowhere close to sail, and the board and gear took up too much space in my dorm room.  I gave up and sold my gear.

20 yrs later, I got a killer deal on another complete windsurf rig.   I'm thrilled to be back into the sport. 

There is nothing like it, and I have tried a lot of different sports in the past 30 yrs.   When the wind is up,  hooking into the harness,  sliding into the footstraps,  leaning back on the sail...... the board planes and skips along the water at 25 mph.  

The wind in my hair, the sun in my eyes, the only thing that matters is that I'm flying,  free and unfettered.  Love it.

Home Sweet Home

 Spring is on the way in and I have been crossing some projects off of my list!  I've been getting the kid more involved in helping out too.   The above is a garden bench that I bought for the wife about 15 yrs ago, for our anniversary.  The kid and I rebuilt it and re-gave it to her for mother's day. 

 A couple of weeks ago, we also built some long promised raised beds,  these were supposed to be the wife's birthday present, but I promised they would be ready in time for outdoor plants, which is mother's day, so they got done.

Last Sunday, I spent 13 hrs painting our house.  Since adding on and the remodel project, the entire house has never been the same shade of green and there was some bare siding that had not yet been painted. 

 I spend my spare time over the last couple of weeks treating the wood trim,  most tedious job ever, and then finally started the light green paint on Sunday.  I was going to to it in sections, but I can paint like a mad man, and decided to push on through and get 'er done.  I missed hanging out with the wife and kid, but now I have more time to hang out with them.

 Next on the list after we save up a little more dough, is new front gate and replace the old falling apart privacy fencing.  

 Oh yeah,  below it a swing that I built and hung in the maple tree in our back yard.  The wife loves it!  I love it when she love it!

 

On top of all that, I still sometimes get out for a ride, and for that I am so thankful!

Stage 4 &5

 Friday, Stage 4 came.  It is a big stage but one of my favorite routes.   Sundra, who got on the podium yesterday, and I decided that Cam should get a chance up on the box, so we assumed a steady pace and Cam took off.  I was able to slowly reel him in all day but he got up the road and I didn't see him again until after the finish.  Congrats man, nice ride! 

Stage 5 is always bitter sweet.  I wanted to party pace, but I also wanted to get it over with.  I was so excited that I had trouble sleeping.  Everytime I woke up, I got a rush of adrenaline and the voice in my head kept saying "Go for it". 

After surviving the logistical pain in the butt shuttle to the start and standing in the gap freezing, we finally started, and I took off up the first climb, a long steep gravel road up to Farlow.  I was having fun and focusing. If I had been paying attention, I would have noticed that I passed my rabbit,  2nd place single speeder: Mike Montalbano.  But I didn't,  so I kept plodding along, thinking I was in no man's land again, between 2nd and 4th.   At the 2nd creek crossing on Farlow, I turned around and saw Mike.  Whoa. 

I put the hammer down and dropped him like..... something. 

I had the fastest rest stop ever,  rolled up, the girl had my bag ready, I asked for "one bottle please", and I was out of there faster than you read about it.

Spinning my way down Davidson River Trail I kept looking back but saw noone.   Through the gate and onto the long slow climb of death up to Bracken.  I kept the pedal to the metal. 

On the last little grunt, I turned and saw Mike charging up the hill.  He caught me in the exact same place that I caught Michael Cosgrove 2 yrs ago. 
Mike:" Man, I've been chasing you for a long time"
Me:" I know, I've been running from you for a long time!"

 He ripped down Bracken and I didn't see him until the pavement before the finish.  We rode through the finish together, and I climbed on the 2nd step for the day.  Thanks Mike.

 I stayed in the 3rd overall position and won the coolest hand made trophy I have ever seen.

Pisgah Stage Race #8 for me.  Each one has been different and taught me something new. 

Can't wait until next year.

Thanks Todd Branham and The Blue Ridge Adventures Crew for another great week in paradise.

Pisgah Stage Race 2016 Stage 3

 Long day in the woods,  4.5 hrs for 29 miles.   2nd place is so far ahead, and 4th place is close to an hour behind,  I wasn't motivated to be "racey" today.  So, I took it easy and enjoyed the scenery. 

It was a beautiful day, with temps climbing up into the 60's by the end.  The forest is waking up from winter slumber and green plant sprouts are popping up everywhere!  Such an amazing time to be out there.  

And then I started thinking about racing, and podiums and what is really important to me and those around me.  I thought about my kid, who often and selflessly passes up opportunities to score goals in an effort to assist teammates to score.  I thought about life, love and how grateful I am to be riding a bike.   I thought about all of the people who have worked with me and given me  a helping hand to get where I am today. 

I'm not going into the details of what happened next, but Sundra got the 3rd step of the daily podium for stage 3!   (I wish I had a pic...)

Live, Love, Give!

Pisgah Stage Race 2016 Day 2

No pics cause my camera is broken....   Awesome day in the woods, dry and cool conditions.   Got 3rd for the day and stay in 3rd overall in the Single Speed Category..... 

Pisgah Stage Race, Stage 1: The Miracle

The short story:

I pulled my mid/upper back muscles 1 week out from the race.  Tuesday, the day before I was feeling about 90% and re injured my back while working on my bike to get things ready.  The pain was so bad that I could barely get around and while laying on the couch, I decided to post on Facebook and ask for prayer.  Wednesday, I got to the start line, pain about a 5 on a scale of 1-10.  I felt ok on the bike and decided to just ride and enjoy the scenery. 

I believe in miracles!

Spring Break: ATL

 Spring break trip to Atlanta has come and gone.  The family wanted a taste of the city and they got it.  I would have rather gone other places, but they have been talking about the GA Aquarium and the Coke museum for years.   Thanks to some guidance from Eddie O, I booked a motel near Kennesaw, one that was less than 15 minutes from Rope Mill and Blankets Creek MTB trails!   I got to ride a little bit each day and that kept me from going totally bonkers. 

I can maneuver through a city just fine,  but I'd prefer not to.

 I was impressed with the kid,  we took his bike just in case, and he eagerly joined me on two separate rides.   One 4 miler and one 6 miler.  There is hope! 

 We did the hike up Stone Mountain. I used to run up this mound of solid rock.  I thought I was cool.  We walked today but it seemed easier/shorter than when I was in college.  Maybe I'm stronger/smarter now....maybe not.

 One highlight of the trip was meeting Roy Faulkner.  Roy was the guy who completed the relief carving on the side of Stone Mountain.  For history buffs (Mike Keeley)  click this link for a great article: Roy F Article

And of course,  a person does not go to ATL without going to The Varsity.  "What'll ya have"!!   After this I went and rode the trails for 1.5 hrs.... so its all good! 

Stage Race Looms

The Pisgah Stage Race is right around the corner and I'm hoping I'm going to find some confidence in my fitness there too.  

On my training ride today, I got off and walked a couple of climbs that I would normally have ridden.  I started thinking about my gear choice and realized that I am riding a stiffer gear than I was last year at this time.  That explains why I am so worked after each ride.  Combined with a couple of long races and inconsistent training......  and you get out what you put in, right? 

I don't regret the time spent with my family though.  It would be nice, just once to block of 6 months and do nothing but train,  I'd be interested to know what I could do.   I would probably not like it too much,  maybe a 2-3 month block? 

I like variety. 

That Weekend Tho

 That was a great weekend.  Nothing epic, just some ride time and family time. 

After the kid's soccer game on Saturday, I got in a quick ride before taking the family out on the sailboat.  The winds all but died when we got on the water, but we farted around for a bit before heading back to land for some Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack! 

 Spring is here in the mountains and it snowed Sunday night.  No school delays which is good. 

 I got out Sunday morning for a good mountain bike ride.   The Pisgah Stage Race
is in 3 weeks and I'm not ready!  Of course not, it is barely spring.   Due to sickness and other day to day excuses, I haven't spent the time on the bike that I had planned.  On the upside, this will be my 8th year and I'm pretty excited about that.

I'm thinking about adding a dropper post to my ride, but I'm having trouble finding one within my price range.  It's gotta be a 27.2 diameter too which limits my options.   I'd love to get the Thomson Dropper Post , but....  

Hopefully something will turn up, if not,  I'll still have  a blast! 

Green Gobbler 6hr Race

 I loaded up and headed down to Conyers, GA for the Green Gobbler 6hr race.  I made good time and got the the hotel with plenty of time to spare.  After getting checked in to the crappiest Quality Inn ever, I headed out to find a cup of coffee and then decided to get my hair cut too.  With the forecast temps to be up close to 80,  it was one attempt to keep from overheating.   This was going to be the hottest ride that I had done in a long time and I was concerned.

Before the haircut.

I found a Super Cuts and got my hair chopped,  except for a rat tail.... I've never had a rat tail and it was the first time for the hair stylist too.  I told her that this is about as wild as I get!  She said that it made her day. 

Rat Tail

 As we know, I don't tend to do well in the heat.  I had fleeting moments of regret.  I should have stayed home,  why did I register etc.  Not to mention that I had gotten the death cold too weeks ago and there was still some lingering fatigue.  Oh well,  nothing to do but get out there and see how my body responds.

After an interesting evening in  a crappy hotel with thin walls, I was able to get some sleep and then head out to the venue to get ready to race.  I found a premium spot that would be in the shade after about 11am and for the remainder of the day.   I set up my cooler filled with prepared bottles, lined up my nutrition and waited for the start time to finally creep around.  I found Carey Lowery and Zeke Lilly and we chatted for a bit,  getting some semi local knowledge of the course.

Most of the day blurs together but things turned out really well for me.

Lap 1:  Always hectic and hard to go my own pace.  I was a little above where I wanted to be, but not too much so I rolled with it.  It was my first time on the course so I tried to take it in and get a feel for the terrain.  The 8 ish mile trail snaked back and forth through the woods and into some open fields.  It was warm, but I knew that it was going to be hot later.  Two major climbs, that would involved walking in order to keep my heart rate from skyrocketing and my  core temp from exploding.   I was walking as fast as the geared riders around me.   I finished my bottle as I came through the finish line, stopped briefly to get a new bottle then headed back out.

Lap 2:  Traffic cleared up and I was able to ride my pace.  Steady, trying not to brake as much as possible and letting the bike rolled through the corners.  Only a few short techy sections and a lot of swoopy drops, two into creeks with a punchy climb up the other side.  I was having fun.  I had no idea where I was but I just rode.

Lap 3: It was starting to warm up,  I stayed steady and continued riding my pace.  A couple of geared riders latched onto my wheel and I upped the pace a hair.  I felt good and used the momentum.  After about 20 minutes, I slowed back down and felt the first affects of the heat.  Did I have 3 more laps in me after this?  Not sure.  I could definitely get 2 more in, but not sure about 3.   After crossing the finish line, I stopped to check the standings.  I was in 6th place.  Cool,  2 more laps and I would call it a day.

 Lap 4:  Keeping my pace steady and glad I only needed to do 1 more lap after this.  I got really bored on this lap and everything was hurting.  I started to put more focus on my form.  With the fatigue, I was getting lazy.  Working on my form help a bit, but I was still tired and motivation was running low. I was now drinking a bottle of Powerbar Performance drink mix and another bottle of Nuun per lap.  I was staying hydrated but barely.   I was eating regularly and my body was responding well to the heat.  I pushed through the doldrums and finished the lap.  A quick check of the results and I was now in 5th place.  I realized I might have to do 2 more laps. The lady from Smyrna at the car next to me was very encouraging. 

Lap 5:   Trying to do the math in my head, and figure out what would happen if I stopped doing laps after this.  Would I stay in 5th?  Top 5 was good enough.  I would be satisfied with my effort and feel good about the saddle time.  I spent the entire lap debating with myself about what would be best.  I also didn't want to over do it.    After finishing the lap,  I stopped to check the results.  I was now in 3rd place....

Lap 6:  I rolled out at and looked at my watch.  I glanced back and the guy in 4th place was still at his truck.  I knew that if I upped my pace, I would drive myself into the ground.  I wondered if I could complete a 7th lap.  I rode steady and forced myself to drink and eat.  At one spot where the trail doubles back I spotted 4th place.  I reminded myself that since he had not caught me in the past 5 hrs, that he was hurting as much or more than I was.  Pedal, form, relax, ride.   I monitored the time vs my energy level vs my body's reaction to the heat.  I was getting a headache and feeling a little light headed here and there.  I wanted to get another lap, but for the sake of my health, I knew that it would not be wise.  I stayed steady.  I rolled across the finish line right around 3:15pm, leaving me 45 minutes to finish one more lap.  I checked the results and was still in 3rd.  One more lap might get me into 2nd, if I finished by the 4pm cut-off.   After a minute or two of pondering, I pulled the plug.  4th place rolled in and pulled the plug too. 

I am pleasantly surprised with my finish and super happy with how I rode my race and handled the heat.  It has been a long road, learning about racing and I'm glad that things have finally come together and I'm able to get on the podium.  It feels good.  Hats off to all the fellow racers who suffered out there. 

Adventures are Imminent

 I got out for a spin on the single speed for the 1st time in 3 weeks.  I actually felt pretty good,  just stuck to the gravel and some easier trails.  Trying to decide if my 33x20 gearing is something I want to keep or if I should go back to 33x21.   I like the gear, but on the steep stuff, I just don't  have the power,  especially for something long like p111k.

 Spring is just around the corner.   I'm finally feeling better after the death cold.  It has taken a while to get my energy back, and then I have to work on some muscle memory, and with that comes the confidence that I can ride long again! 

Temps get into the 70's this week.  Adventures are imminent!

Fun Times

 Friday it was cold in the valley and snowing up on the ridges.  Windy too.  I thought I was overdressing, I wanted to, because I'm still recovering from death cold.  And I was going to ride slow, get some miles in the legs.  It turned out I was dressed perfectly and enjoyed the ride. 

 A steel road frame and fork with disc tabs came into my life.  I have been hoping for a gravel grinder for a while now.  I needed to replace the Siren John Henry that was a bit too small for me.   The bike was fun and took me a lot of places, but too small is too small. 

I can't wait to get this dialed and take some long trips on it....  I have plans!

 Sunday, I took the kid to Wolf Ridge to shred one more time.  It worked out well because we had Groupon lift tickets and it looks like this would be our last chance to dance!   We had a fun time carving the granular slush.  The kid has no idea what premium snow conditions look like, so as far as he was concerned, conditions were amazing.  I adopted his philosophy and boarded to my heart's content. 

 Sometimes I have little moments of panic, when I realize that I'm not quite the dad that I wish I could be.  I still deal with the demons and try to make the changes to teach the kid, to lead by example.  Sometimes, believe it or not, I'm a straight up jerk.  But, the difference is, I know I'm being a jerk now, and it usually hits me pretty hard.  At that point I have the choice to ignore it or do something about it,  make things right.  I have found that ignoring it only leaves a dark cloud hanging over my head and I gotta deal with it.  Hopefully the kid can see that I'm trying to deal with it and continue to break the cycle. 

And then there are times like this morning.  The pre dawn wake up call for school.  I'm content and the kid is on the couch giggling.  That's when I know I'm doing things right.  The kid wants to be around me,  he likes following in my footsteps,  he likes copying me and being my image.   

I was pushed away a lot as a kid.  Stood up by friends, told to "just leave me alone" or "go do it yourself".   I "learned" early on that people did not want me around.  And I in turn, started pushing people away,  rarely letting anyone close enough to really know me.   I would make people work and prove themselves to me before letting them in. Most of the time, they were never "good enough". 

That is something huge that has changed for me over the past 12 years after moving to Asheville.  I had formed a handful of lasting friendships before, (for some reason, those friends put up with my crap).  But since moving here, I have been accepted and loved by so many different sub cultures within our mountain community, that it has brought healing and change of perspective.   I don't have to prove myself,  even more important, others don't have to prove themselves to gain my friendship.  

We are all here, in the same boat, with a lot of similar baggage.  We are in this together.   

Finally Riding

 I finally got to ride outside.  Almost warm enough to get rid of the arm and knee warmers but the headwind and clouds on the way back in made it just chilly enough.  I felt better than I thought I would, considering I've been off the bike for most of the week. 

I kept my efforts low so I wouldn't bury myself again.   So nice to be outside again.   I'm not sure the best way to get back up to speed fitness wise, so I'm just going to get some miles under me and then work on my "speed" again.  

My goal for the year is "be fit and have fun".  That is working out great for me so far!   3 Hrs on the Ridge was fun.  It got me excited about exploring some new events this year.  

I almost signed up for Southern CX,  but with the late registration price combined with The Snake expenditures,  I couldn't swing it.  I think I'll go for it next year and skip The Snake. 

Sick

I got knocked down, last week, but I got up again.  Some sort of flu/cold crap.  Mostly just energy sapping.  I was good and laid around, taking herbs and meds, trying to recover.  I rode the rollers for 20-30 mins a couple of times.  I chopped some wood.  Walked around the yard in my pj's like an old man. 

I also wore out Netflix.  I watched a movie called Charlie's Country, about an Aboriginal who was having a rough time adjusting to "civilization" encroaching on his mother land.  Thought provoking for sure.

I'm hoping to get back on the bike today, outside, in 60 degree temps!  Just gonna get some miles, not push hard yet.  I definitely don't want to relapse.  

Spring is just around the corner.

Ride Across America, March 2002

Friday, March 1, 2002 Here we are in San Diego California. I remember when I was thirteen years old. We were living in the Carribean at the time and I had a surfing magazine subscription. I remember dreaming of the beaches and the west coast. The surfers with long hair and beat up cars. It is the west coast, the one the Beach Boys wrote many songs about: California Dreamin', one of my favorites.
Well here I am, sixteen years later. I used to dream of coming here to surf and as we drove down to Dog Beach this afternoon, I had no interest in the waves. We drove all the way out here, over 2600 miles, so that we could turn around and head east. Crazy huh?
San Diego seems to be a nice town. We went down to the Gas Light District for dinner. The restaurants with outdoor seating have gas powered lamp/ heaters to keep the patrons warm.
The trip from Las Vegas was pretty, more desert land. Passing just south of the legendary Death Valley, we came over a mountain pass and saw a huge cloud of what looked like fog. It turns out that it is smog. Welcome to Las Vegas!!
Tomorrow is the day we have all been waiting for. I will start riding at Ocean Beach, also called Dog Beach. We went down there today and Texas really enjoyed it. It is a beach designated for dogs to run without a leash.
We will head east for about sixty miles and spend the night in Live Oak Springs.
This will be the last time for a while that we will be in a hotel. That means that I don't know when we will be able to post newsletters. So, continue to check back and watch our progress.
Have a great day,
Stephen J.


 Sunday, March 3, 2002
Correction: The smog that I talked about was in Los Angeles not Las Vegas. Las Vegas has very clean air.
3/1 Friday
Friday morning I started riding. We hit the road around 9:30 and within 2 miles I got lost. I found my way though. The weather was good. I had an elevation change of at least 4500 feet. I am sure I climbed more than that because of all the ups and downs.
I think I hit every red light coming out of San Diego. The roads are good with wide bike lanes.
20 miles into the ride we finally got out of the city. I meet up with Rhonda every 10-15 miles to get water and to chat.
We end up with 56 miles and spend the night in Pine Valley. Camp is at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. This means " the place where it rains".

As the sun goes down the cold moves in. The temp. is in the mid 30's. It is a cold night. Around midnight the almost full moon rises. At first I think it is our neighbors headlights.
We both hear strange noises in the night, there are supposed to be mountain lions in the area!!!!
 

Saturday morning
We roll out around 7:30 and head to Majors Coffee House diner for breakfast. I had some of the best bacon I have ever had, along with hashbrowns, eggs and toast.
As we are sitting in the diner, a couple starts a conversation with us and they end up writing a check to YAP for a donation.
Today the terrain is more mild but the wind is crazy. There are gusts up to 50 miles an hour. The terrain is more desolate, and we see a couple of vagrants with shopping carts in which they keep everything they own.
I get a long downhill but with a 20 mph constant headwind, it is not real exciting. I ride 76 miles with a 14.3 average. riding into the wind most of the day really takes it out of a person.
We stop in Seely, CA and since there are no campgrounds nearby we opt for a Motel 6 in the neighboring El Centro.
Rhonda and Texas are doing well. Rhonda is the best support vehicle driver I have ever known.
Tomorrow we hope to make it to Palo Verde, 84 miles away.
                                    


 Tuesday, March 5, 2002
3/3
The day starts out like any other day. We make our way to the only Starbucks this side of the desert and drive to Seely, CA. where we stopped last night. Seely is a so-called one-horse town. It is made up of a crossroads, a building on each corner and irrigated hay fields in the background.
We were getting everything ready to ride, when I saw a woman in her 40's pushing a baby stroller. I thought, " How nice". She stopped, said "good morning", and made small talk. It was then that I realized there was no baby but a bag full of who knows what? I figure she is one of the many homeless people that walk this desert. We offered her some Girl Scout Cookies and she accepted. We chatted some more and when she found out that we were doing a fund-raiser for youth she pulled out $10 from her pocket and insisted that we take it. I was torn because I knew that this was probably all she had. She had next to nothing, yet she gave. We said our goodbye's and she walked off. As she was crossing the street, I noticed she was only wearing socks!!! She looked about the same size as

Rhonda so I asked her what size shoe she wears. She started to say "seven", and then stopped somewhat embarrassed. Rhonda wears size 7. I turned to Rhonda and asked her to give the woman her shoes. As she accepted them, she said with childlike wonder," Ooooh, I needed some shoes".
What a testimony, she gave knowing that an All Powerful God would provide for her!!!
Well, after that Rhonda and I started on our path. It was a very humbling experience to say the least.
The day started out quite well. No wind!! I made the first 20 miles in 1 hour. As soon as I got out of town the wind kicked up. Our route took us back into the desert!! We passed the Algodones Sand Dunes and headed for the Chocolate Mtn Range.

The wind was blowing around 20-30 mph. Nearing the mountains the terrain turned into rocky ravines which caused the route to dip up and down the ravines. The ravines are so large that they could swallow a whole RV and I couldn't see it until it started up the next ridge. And this was only 40 ft ahead!!!!
We finally reached Palo Verde. 90 miles later. I decided to ride to Ripley so I could have 100 miles.

We ended up driving another 14 miles to a very nice KOA campground in Ehrenberg, AZ. Can't beat $10 per night!!!

3/4
We slept in this morning, and then went to town for breakfast. We are taking a rest day today. Rhonda drove me to Ripley and dropped me off so I could ride the 14 miles to the campground, where we will stay again tonight.
We are in a beautiful valley, surrounded by a mountain range. Tomorrow we will head to Harcuvar, AZ. We should be in Phoenix in 3 days.
Rhonda is doing well and enjoying seeing the countryside. She will be putting in updates now and then.

Wednesday, March 6, 2002 3/5
Ehrenberg- Harcuvar AZ 56 miles, 3.5 hrs
Rhonda has had the nasal drip for a day now and I woke up with it this morning. I have headache and sinus pressure. We think it is from the different climate and from the cold nights.
Hence, the ride today was rough. The first half is was on I- 10 east. I had to ride on the shoulder and for about the first 10 miles there were gouges dug across the shoulder to wake up the wandering driver. The gouges were spaced every 20 ft. so every 20 ft. it was bump- bump. How annoying and rough on the tires, bearings, rump!!!

So I decided to ride in the right lane of the interstate. Traffic is pretty thin out here so anytime something was coming up behind me I got over. And here I am, still alive!!!
The route took us up through some low mountain passes and into wide desert plains. It is very beautiful yet desolate. We also started seeing more cactus today.
The ride is mostly uphill, and by the time I reach the Desert Gem RV Park I am feeling quite ragged.
The owner of the park has allowed us to stay for free!!! So, if any of you are ever in Harcuvar, AZ., please stay at the Desert Gem!!!! It does have hot showers.
So, we were in the tent by 6 pm to try to get some good rest.

3/6
Harcuvar-Wickenburg AZ
We did rest well and I felt much better this morning. It is only 56 miles to our next stop. And the exciting thing is that we have a free hotel room at the Rancho Grande Best Western in Wickenburg. So, if you ever come to visit Wickenburg AZ, stay at the Rancho Grande Best Western. They have a heated pool and hot tub. The rooms are very comfortable.
The ride today was much better than yesterday. It was only half uphill and the second half was up and down with the last six miles all down!!!
The weather has been great. Highs in the 70's and lows in the 30's.
We stopped at Ginny's Vitamin Village to get some zinc for our colds. The ladies there got all excited about the trip and ended up donating our medicine to us.
The following is from Rhonda:
Hey there everybody, this is Stephen's other half, his wife, companion and support AKA "The Sag Queen". These past 6 days of our ride has been so amazing. The terrain out west is so beautiful and unique. I have been so excited and proud of my husband. His strength in these winds has been so amazing. I just admire his perseverance. I would have quit 5 miles outside of San Diego.
Yesterday was the first day that I actually felt a little bit lonely. We were in the desert, out in the middle of nowhere, all day and spent the night in a Campground....out in the middle of nowhere. It's amazing how people find these places. Anyway, the vastness of the desert made me feel so little and insignificant yet it made me appreciate my life and my home in Shelby, NC. I am so thankful for these opportunities to reflect, which I have a lot of time to do. Today we arrived in Wickenburg and the hotel room has been an oasis. I love camping out but it's nice to sleep in a bed and have a bathroom 5 feet away from it.
Thanks so much for reading our journals and I hope that whoever reads them enjoys them and also learns from them. Until next time......


 Friday, March 8, 2002
3/7
Wickenburg-Scottsdale: 69 miles, 16.7avg
We woke up today feeling a lot better. Thanks to Ginny's Vitamin Village. And to Best Western, or it could have been the $2.99 Original Grand Slam from Denny's for dinner.
Anyway. We stopped by the Pony Espresso for breakfast. Rhonda had a bagel and tea and I had a latte and Gatorade bar. We were on the road by 8:15 am.
I felt better today than I have in a while. In the first 20 miles I had an average of 19.9 mph. ( it was not all downhill either). The terrain today was more scenic with a lot more knolls, buttes and cactus. The road was very smooth for the first 40 miles and not rolling hills but long ups and long sloping downs. When we got near Phoenix is when things went crazy. Traffic got worse and the road we were on was two lane and had been there for about one hundred years. There were also a lot of semi's, although most of them were very courteous, it is still nerve wracking.

So we get to the Arizona Canal Bike Path which cuts across this city and we part ways. On the path I met another cyclist, Tom, a local vet, who helps me find my way. Periodically on this 14 mile stretch I wonder how Rhonda is doing. At least I don't have to deal with traffic, yet. After about 45 mins. I reach our appointed meeting place and Rhonda is not there. I call on our handy dandy cell phone. We were to meet at Bethany Home rd and 18th st. 18th st. turns out to be one of those roads that is divided in two by neighborhoods and one way streets. If you wanted to travel the whole road in one continuous trip you would have to know how to travel in another dimension.
So, it turns out that Rhonda is on 18th and Bethany and so am I only in two different places?!?!?!
Anyway, we talk on the phones, I ride around and finally find her. By this time I have ridden in traffic 6 lanes wide, not including turning lanes. We decide that it is better to skip the next 14 mile section or the "Phoenix Phourteen", than to risk being crunched under some city slicker's SUV that will never see a dirt road!!!

We load up the bike, get some lunch and head to Scottsdale in the relative safety of the Honda. (It has 2 airbags, my bike only has one).
We are staying with Jim and Susan Hawthorne here. It is great to be in a home. We enjoyed a homecooked spaghetti dinner with peach pie a la mode.
Tomorrow we are taking the day off. We plan on seeing some of the sites here and relaxing.
It is a long way to El Paso where we have another home waiting for us!!!!


 Monday, March 11, 2002
3/9
We get on the road at the edge of Phoenix and Mesa. Mesa is the longest flatest neighborhood I have ever been in. I rode for about ten miles in a straight line. Amazing.
I rode for a couple of blocks with four kids who of course had a ton of questions.
The scenery went from flat to large sized rolling hills.
We ride to Superior for the night. It is a quaint little town with towering mtns. They also have a Dairy Queen which is refreshing. For dinner we have freeze dried Mexican chicken and rice. It was yummy.
Around 7 pm as I was headed to bed I heard a noise down a couple of sites. I looked up and there was a cyclist with a trailer. I thought at first it was the couple we have seen for the past week, but it turned out not to be. Her name is Stephanie and she is traveling solo. She is with the Peace Corp and visiting Peace Corp people around the nation.

She had been riding in the dark for about the last half our and since it was dark I told her she could pitch her tent at our site, which she did. Then, I headed to bed.
3/10
This morning was warm. Around 50 degrees with highs to be in the 80's. We started out thinking we would go 56 miles and halfway through we decide to go all the way to Safford: 102 miles.
After climbing the mountains on the east side of Superior we enter the lush high desert. We reach an altitude of 4,500 ft. the desert up this high is still rocky and barren but it is also more green. The trees and shrubs have a more irrigated look about them. There are several long climbs.
We got to a town called Globe. rhonda was ahead and I was taking my time because the wind is blowing about 20 mph. As I am riding up a hill on the east side of town, I see a boy walking his dog on the sidewalk. Right when I am beside them, the 50-60 lb dog lunges at me. I barely had time to react. I threw my arm up and leaned on my left foot. The dog missed biting me but did manage to get a paw on my right butt cheek. He left a small scratch and ripped a huge hole 8-10 inches in diameter in my riding shorts. The phones weren't working, so I had to ride the rest of the way to Rhonda with one cheek exposed to the public!!!
Since the dog did not bite me, only a small scratch, I didn't call the authorities. We cleaned up the wound and put disinfectant on it, changed shorts and hit the road.
Usually when I ride with friends I tell the dogs to go after them. I gues my turn finally came. We are thankful that there was no severe damage.
Later, we stopped in Peridot for lunch. We were sitting outside a grocery store in the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. an indian walked around the corner and struck up a conversation. He was very friendly, as are all of the locals in this area. He ended up sending his wife in the store to buy bananas, Gatorade and water for us. Thanks Ano Hoffman, my indian friend.

Well, after this we I rode another 50 miles to the town of Safford. Here we treated ourselves to a hotel and buffet at Golden Corral. We will take the time on monday to visit the local bike shop for a tune up and a new pair of shorts.
We should be in New Mexico in 3 days.


 Monday, March 11, 2002
Safford - Buckhorn 79 miles
Today was great. for the first time on the trip I had a tailwind. How exciting!!!! This does not mean it was on easy day. I climbed two passes, one 5000 ft and the other 6275 ft.
The second one took us up above the desert floor and into a huge pine forest. Then we crossed over into New Mexico and everything opened up into high plains. This is the most scenic day I think we have had. It is very beautiful.

We got to Buckhorn, which is another town with two buildings, one of which is the RV Park we stayed at!!! We walked 200 yards to the other building: "Last Stop Liquor". It was actually a general store with a tack shop and everything.
A guy at the RV park told us it would not get below forty degrees that night. I guess we should have known being at an altitude above 5000. It did get real cold. We stayed warm, but in the morning on the way to a cafe for breakfast, there were a bunch of pretty icicles on a fence where someone had left the sprinklers on!!! Brrrrr!!!
I had breakfast burrito with bacon. It was huge. They must have used 5 or 6 eggs to make it. I finished that off and considered ordering some pecan pie. I still had 30 miles to ride, so I didn't.
Buckhorn was also the place where I got my first flat. I think it happened as I was riding in some gravel going to the camp site.


 Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Buckhorn to Silver City
We got to Silver City, finally. We had lunch, dropped the bike off at the shop for a tune up and lube, then headed north in the car. The destination: The Wilderness Lodge-Bed and Breakfast.
A friend gave us some cash before we left Shelby and said, " This is for you guys, do something not logical with it". Well here we are. Enjoying some hot spring tubs, and a huge bed in an old schoolhouse!!!!

The drive up here was very pretty. The road winds through the high pine forests and into valleys, up onto ridges where you can look down 1000 feet. It is kind of scary.
We stopped at the Gila rive and let Texas run and play. He loved it. The water was chilly and it was good to soak the feet in it.
Today we will be going to see the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the head back to Silver City.

  Thursday, March 14, 2002 Silver City - Arrrey
Breakfast at Daylight Donughts. They were fresh and tasty. It turned out to be a mistake though. I felt great for the first 5 miles, and then my body used up all of the sugar. From there it took a while to recover but I finally did.
I had my second flat tire today. The rim tape slipped exposing a sharp edge on a spoke hole. So I filed it down and covered it with duct tape.
The route took us up and over Emory Pass. The elevation is 8,225 feet. This is the highest I have ever ridden and it was quite an experience.
To start the wind was gusting up to 45 miles and hour. This made the wind chill in the teens to 20's. Then there was the lack of oxygen. Whenever my heart rate rose, I started to get lightheaded. A weird sensation with the wind trying to push me over the mountain.
I finally reached the pass and put on a fleece jacket which I wore the next 10 miles. I finally got back down into the valley and warmed up. I think aat the top of the pass I might have paid $10 for a fresh cup of Starbucks dark roast.
In Kingston I had my first run-in with some cattle. For days now we had been passing over cattle guards which resemble ten sets of railroad tracks scrunched up into 5 ft of space.

I came around the corner and there were two bulls and a cow. There were guardrails on both sides of the road and as I neared they turned as if to cut me off!!! So I turned around and they started following me back up the hill. It was kind of scary. I didn't know if I could outrun them. Rhonda was only 100 yds down the road watching the whole thing. She ended up driving back up and we rode past the cows side by side, with the car between me and them.
The next twenty miles I had the 40 mph tailwinds pushing me along at 30 mph.
We stopped in Arrey for the night at an RV park.


 Friday, March 15, 2002
Arey - Las Cruces 56 miles
I got up a little after 5 am in order to beat the headwinds. It worked. I made it the 60 miles to Las Cruces in a little over 3 and a half hours.
We went to La Mesilla, an neighboring town for the afternoon. It is the town where Billy the Kid was tried to be hanged, but he escaped.
It has been great staying at RV parks. They all varyin quality but every now and then we get on with a hot tub. See the picture on the web-site. They only cost $6-10 a night too.

 Saturday, March 16, 2002
Las Cruces - El Paso TX 56 miles

The ride went smoothly today. We made it to Texas!!! There was no sign the way we came in so it was pretty anti climactic. Oh well. Today we passed through a lot of pecan groves.
We are staying with some friends of family in El Paso and we will be here unti lMonday when we will head toward Del Rio. We estimate we will be in Texas for 1.5 - 2 weeks. This place is huge.

 Monday, March 18, 2002
We leave El Paso today after a nice weekend of homecooking. Bob and Carol McDonald took good care of us. We were able to go to Ciudad Juarez and barter with some merchants, they took us out to a great mexican restaurant, and they took us up the Franklin mtns. to the the city lights. Thanks to Bob and Carol.
The next 450 miles to Del Rio has mostly tumbleweed and cattle. Not much else. We are counting on several 70+ mile days in a row just to make it to the next campground. Not only that we will be dealing with wind up to 50 mph. This should be interesting. Have a great day, Stephen and Rhonda


 Monday, March 18, 2002
El Paso - Van Horn 116.89
After a great weekend in El Paso, we head east once again. Our goal today is Sierra Blanca, 80 miles. The route took us through old Sorrocco. It is a cool western town with lots of old buildings. After this we enter the barren desert once more. There are a few small three building towns and farms, but that is about it. Most of these town do have a post office in them. No Starbucks though.
Today the forecast was for winds up to 40 with gusts to 50. Thankfully we did not get those but we did encounter our first rain. It was scattered showers. At one point the wind kicked up a little and there was a shower coming in from the side so I drafted behind the car to get past it. Another time we waited for about 15 minutes under the front porch of a building.
After about 40 miles the route took us onto I-10. The problem was the construction. The left lane was closed and they had the concrete barricade going down the middle. This left the right lane open, but the trucks still had to ride on a bit of the shoulder. And now that you mention it, the shoulder might as well have been a gravel road. Crazy. At our next meeting spot, I told Rhonda that that was crazy and we loaded up the bike. Looking at the map it was only 3 miles to where there was a frontage road, so we drove up to that point.
We arrived in Sierra Blanca which is named for a big white mountain that stands 6,800 ft tall. There is nothing here so we decide to go to Van Horn 40 miles down the road. Everything is going well until I run out of daylight. 12 miles left, the route goes back on the interstate. I go over the pass into the valley and it starts to get dark. 3 miles from the Van Horn exit, I get flat number 3. I am carrying a spare tube and repair kit so I change it right there. 2.5 miles later, I get flat number 4. ARRRRGH!!! I can see the Rhonda up ahead, so I ride on the flat the last 300 yds. I load the bike up satisfied with 116.89 miles, but disappointed that I missed a double metric (120 miles) by 3 miles. Oh well, I'm sure I will have more opportunity to try again.
We get to Van Horn for the night. We will stay here tomorrow, the 19th so I can recover. I will ride 20-40 miles and Rhonda will come out and bring me back. The next town is 75 miles so I don't think I will try for that.


 Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Van Horn TX.
I set out to ride 20 miles so that tomorrow I only have 70 instead of 90 to ride. I have a tailwind so the ride is not bad, my body is tired from yesterday though.
While I am gone Rhonda visits the Best Western in Van Horn TX, we wind up with a free room for the night. How great!!! That makes the rest of the day a chill day. An added bonus is the Dairy Queen across the street!!!!



 Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Van Horn TX. - Ft. Davis, TX. 71.58 miles
We are on the road by 9:30 AM. I am really dragging plus the skies are gloomy. Very overcast and a headwind to boot. The first 20 miles is also on I-10.
I make it to the exit alive and the sky starts to clear up. There for a while I considered packing up and driving to a Cracker Barrel!!!

The suns begins to shine and my spirits rise. This area is real pretty. The hill country of West TX. Lots of high hills, cactus, shrubs , grass lands.
Today we pass numerous cattle guards and a sign that says " Loose Cattle". I don't see any though. I do see my first roadrunners dart across the road. We also see what I believe are antelope.
We stop by the McDonald Observatory for a short visit and the head down to Ft Davis, TX. "The highest town in Texas".


 Thursday, March 21, 2002
We generally use the dog's water bowl as an indication of the temperature. This morning the water was frozen solid. This puts the temp between 25-30 degrees. This was later confirmed!!!!
We manage to stay warm but are slow getting started. We only have 55 miles today so it is alright.
We pass through the small town of Alpine and stop at a bakery. It is delicious and the baker ends up donating some goodies!! Yum!!!
I am feeling much better today. I am able to push a little bit and we get to Marathon by 2 pm. We set up camp at a quaint little RV park and then tour the town. That takes 3 minutes. We were directed to a spring fed pond at the county park. Texas went for a swim and loved it.

We finally met the couple on the tandem that we had been hearing about. They are really nice. They are having a rough day though. He has food poisoning and they cracked a rim on a cattleguard.
Things are going really well for us. We should be in Del Rio, Texas in 3 days. We have been covering one state in 4-5 days. Being in TX makes me feel like I am going slow. It will take us about two weeks to get through.

 Saturday, March 23, 2002
Marathon TX.- 30 miles west of Langrty TX. 85 miles
I laid in my warm sleeping bag waiting for the golden yellow of the son to light up the side of the tent. It never did. It was then that I remembered the overcast sky at 3 am when I went out to take care of business. It is about 6:30 am. I crawl out of the tent and begin my morning ritual. It is rather cold.
I go ahead and have a Cliff bar. Later we are going to the Burnt Biscuit Bakery. I know to get my real nutrients into my body.
We are aiming for Sanderson 55 miles away, but we end up 10 east of Langtry, 85 miles away. Sometimes we come to a town and decide that we feel good, and that there is nothing here that we want to stay for. Then we move on.

This side of Texas there is not much to move on to. Very desolate. So at 85 miles in the middle of nowhere my body tells me that it is time to stop.
This is one great thing about a supply vehicle. We load up into the car and head 27 miles east to the next town with camping, Langtry, TX. This is the town that Judge Roy Bean " The law west of the Pecos", ran. His sentencing was often something like, " Your fine is $45 and a round of drinks for the jury"! He also owned the bar so this worked out great.
We camped in the parking lot of the community center. We were really roughing it tonite. No showers and the available toilets were open from 8am -5pm. So, I get my first sponge bath on the trip.
30 miles west of Langtry TX- Del Rio, TX
Another uneventful day of headwinds. They are up to 20 - 30 . Hence, my 11.5 avg for 85 miles!!! Long day. We finally made it to Del Rio though!!!
Some good news. I was on the 10 pm news in El Paso on Monday night. I guess now I am famous!!!!


 Sunday, March 24, 2002
Wow. We have made it to Del Rio Texas. I am so glad. Texas is a HUGE state. I am still having a good time and having adventures from day to day. There is one thing I want to address to all of our "fans" out there. I have been getting some emails asking what I do while I am waiting for Stephen. This is basically what I have been doing. I have been driving east 10 miles and park on the side of the road or in a picnic area. Then I usually get Texas out of the car and leash him to the car or play fetch with him, depending on where we are. I also read my Bible, write in my journal, listen to music (all it has been lately is Waterdeep's worship album), I have been communicating with God alot, I sing, I think, or just sit in the car and wait. These are the basic things that I do while I wait. The time really does not drag by either which is nice. Once I get to where we are staying the night, I usually go get the tent site and set up the tent, or check into the hotel room (which averages about once a week...we need a treat every once in a while :)). **Praise God we have had 3 nights donated to us which is great. He is really taking care of us.** Once Stephen gets to the car, I fill up his water bottles, make him a sandwich, or just stand there and watch him do whatever. Hope this gives you a better idea of what I am doing. Thanks for reading our journals and keep praying for us. We need it. Please pray that God will continue to provide rooms for us for free, friendly people along the way,protection, and good health. I think my body has had a hard time getting accustomed to the water here. But it's slowly getting used to it. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Talk to yawl later.
Rhonda


 Monday, March 25, 2002
Del Rio , TX.- Campwood, TX. 81 miles

One of the best days yet. The mildly rolling hills contain more trees that we have seen on this trip. I saw wild turkey, antelope, black squirrel, a zebra, sheep, goats, and cows.
The first 60 miles I had a side/ tailwind. I was able to make great time. The the route turned straight into the wind for the last 20 miles. This slowed me down to 10 mph.
We camped out in Campwood, by the Nueces river dam. We haven't been around much water on this trip either. This is very refreshing to us.

Sharing the campground, are two men, one in his 50's and one in his 70's. They are on a trip to Michigan. They left the west coast in February. They are self- supported , meaning they carry there own gear, and they are going 40-50 miles a day.


 Tuesday, March 26, 2002
Campwood TX- Kerrville TX 85 13.1 avg
A slow but very scenic day. We are in the heart of hill country, and it reminds us of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is very pretty and a lot of short but steep hills. The wind is strong but the road winds so much that it does no slow me too much.

The biggest problem I have is my gears shifting on their own!!!
The weather has been good. It was cold this morning, so we started around 9 am.
Tonight it is supposed to get in the upper 30's. The moon is almost full.
Texas has had a cold or something the past few days but is doing much better.
Be sure to check out the web-site to take a look at some pictures.

 Friday, March 29, 2002
Lockhart- LaGrange TX
Not a bad day. Good weather. Almost hot but not quite. More rolling hills and farm land. A lot of Texas Blue Bonnets along the side of the road.
We got to La Grange around 3 pm. I decided to call some restaurtants for some donations. We ended up getting a seafood buffet for 2 donated at Olsen's Kountry Kitchen. It was very delicious and appreciated. So if you ever come through La Grange TX, stop by Olsen's Kountry Kitchen for a great home cooked meal. At the junction of hwy 71 and hwy 77!!!

 Saturday, March 30, 2002
Today I slept in till 8 am. ( My body is telling me it is time to take a break). Then we went and got breakfast and headed to Round Top to check out the antique fair. Lots of stuff!! The rest of the day we will relax.


 Sunday, March 31, 2002
La Grange TX- Navasota TX 71 miles
The thunder and hail storms that were supposed to hit nevert did. So, there are no exciting stories about getting crushed in our tent and all that.
It is good to see that Big Jim has joined me my buying a stationary bicycle. Jim if you are going to be just like me you need to sign up to be a mentor with the Youth Assistance Program of Cleveland Co. 704-482-2315!!!!!
The ride from La Grange was great. A lot of rolling hills through ranch land. The roads were good. The temperature was in the 60's.

The wildflowers are out in abundance. Purple, red , pink white, all over the shoulders. Sometimes it gets distracting and I find myself heading into a ditch!!!!
Sunday night we spent at a home in College Station TX. Bryan and Valerie are a young couple who house some college students. One of the students gave up her bed for us.
It worked out well, since my wound on my buttocks from the dog attack two weeks ago has not healed. We will be going to the doctor for some tests. A doctor friend of theirs was over last night and he said that it looked infected, maybe getting close to a bone infection. He said that there was only a 50 % chance of rabies at this point.
Ok, Happy April Fools Day!!! Everything ecxept the last paragraph is true. Have a great day.