It's a Red Italian "Felt" Bike

Yet another confession.  It was only a few days ago that I discovered how to find and read comments.  There is  an old one form my family in Alaska to respond to. 

Yes, Gage I have a red bike.  Yesterday we traveled past a town (?) in New Mexico, off of Hwy 10 which is named "Gage".  Can you believe that?  This is even more odd since we had been staying for several nights in Graham County, Arizona looking at Graham mountain.  I am checking email nearly each day so can respond through that medium also.

The sun is now reaching our trailer so I need to get on the road.  In this portion of New Mexico wind is an issue and winds seem to be stronger in the afternoon.  The Chola cactus is in bloom as were the cottonwood trees in Safford, AZ.  It is spring here folks!

Back on Track

Today Wednesday, February 25, 2009 I am pleased to report that the last two days of biking have gone exceptionally well.   Yesterday my ride required a rise in elevation of at least 1400 feet in a distance of  35 miles. We have had hot summer weather for the past two days at 98 degrees yesterday but since the land has not heated yet up it has felt rather gentle. I am ever more and continually aware of when I bike a rise in elevation which just does not seem to be such a big deal when in a powerful truck with 100 times more horse power than I have.

We realize more each day how many facets we must rely upon to keep this trip going.  The truck, the trailer, the SAG driver, the bike but also the body of the cyclist must all be able to perform well and dependably.  It would seem that without a house elf traveling with us David and Diana are obliged to both be the support staff for the trip.  Today is a day to complete tasks such as laundry, bill paying,  shopping, and dumping the septic of the trailer too.

We are in gratitude each day for team work, the weather and for mechanical elements which work and the support we have been given for this journey.

On the Bike again!

Today, Monday, February 23 I will be on the bike again.  Please pray that my body is happy with this decision.  Will let you know.  

Our son Graham was in Juno, AK on February 11th, to receive his plaque for his award as Head Start Father of the Year for Sterling, Ak.

No accident but cyclist and trailer are grounded for a few days

I have been suffering from a bladder malfunction.  Details not needed here but certainly it is something that needed to be addressed and monitored, and it needs to be better before I return to the road.  One thing is that I have been less bright minded with this problem.  Today on February 21, Friday I am feeling better and have functioned rather well through the day.  I have lost three days now. Boo Hoo!  On the first day we were stopping every twenty minutes or so , on our way to a overnight site with facilities.  I did not shut the trailer door well and it opened and slammed against the trailer becoming bent. Today good news!  Four state park's fellows were good enough to lend a hand and like a miracle in my mind at least the door is like new.  Milton, Rudy and John were the hands on fellow and a park ranger who sent them over.  Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are at the Roper State Park outside of Safford, AZ.  This evening I was able to walk around the lake and saw a flock of yellow winged black birds.  Now I must decide wether or not the red winged black birds are still my favorite or are they sharing that first spot these yellow chested or yellow winged fellows.  We may be out of the Saguaro Cactus area but I would be happy to see more of those fellows.

We are just at a wait and see place or perhaps the waiting place in Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Thank you to Ron L for the thought about David and I purchasing two walkie talkies.  We have thought about it but the limited range of five miles has stopped us.  We frequently are seven or miles apart with a time and place to meet.  What do you think?

First Presbyterian Church in Farmington is giving us their support and offering a donation. Thank You!!

Thee two breakdowns have been hard on my support person, husband David who wanted me to feel well. He has done well and handled the trailer door problem really, really well!  Yea, David!!!

Wednesday, February 18th was my best day of riding.  Again I had Brian with me or we might say ahead of me.  We biked 33 plus miles in fine weather, not too hot, not too chilly.  Oh, it was great.  I biked back and forth from our cousins' house in Phoenix to make up miles because both David and I are needed to drive through these busy metropolitan areas with entrances and exits of highways here and there with our pickup and trailer.  It just isn't like Farmington.  We aren't in Farmington any more, Dorothy. 

President Obama in Phoenix

This afternoon while on our bike ride east of Phoenix I was crossing over Hwy 51 on the pedestrian walkway when I was stopped by a policeman who yelled that I must go back which I did.  President Obama's motorcade was just then passing under us.  Good timing!  I am sure the president is really happy to be here at the same time as we are.  No I did not see the president only vehicles.

It rained a little last night.  The day began with clouds and wet streets. By afternoon we had sun. Amanda has been disappointed that she could not swim in the MacDonald's  pool especially when the sun is shinning.  Amanda put her feet in the water and even her face but at 54 degrees the water was not welcoming.

Phoenix and a biking companion

Brian MacDonald, an experienced cyclist, and cousin, guided me through the shared streets (shared with BIG motorized vehicles) to the Canal Bike Path on the west side of Phoenix.  This biking day gave me renewed inspiration for my trip. Brian was kind enough to give his support for this venture.  It is just pure luck that Brian is in Phoenix at this time for he lives with his family outside of Denver, CO. Brian also took me to a bike store to search for long sleeved, yellow biking jerseys. A few years back I ordered one from an Australian manufacturer.  It would seem they are the only company on planet earth to have for sale long sleeved yellow jerseys. It is just so delightful to have a cycling companion and in a city that has some dedicated cycling paths and a light rail system which goes Mesa. AZ. Yea!

We brought rain to Phoenix last night, they are delighted and the skies this morning are clearing for a beautiful day of riding.

Naming

Friday, February 13, 2009 the ride was scheduled from Harcuvar to Aguila, AZ and hopefully on to Wickenburg. I did not make it. This was the third day of my third set of biking (3 on,

1 off). The body was rebelling, my neck hurt, my right deltoid hurt, my bum hurt and both knees hurt in a different way.  We had awakened to frost on the truck.  The heater in the trailer is not working, though by the time we have heated several rounds of water for hot coco the trailer warms up a bit, but the cold makes it more difficult to get me out on the ride for the day. Before I left I asked a local about the 32 miles to Aguila.  The gentlemen told me that the road was flat and there would not be much more than sage brush along the way.  Well it was not flat! Thanks to David Hamlow I have an altitude meter which read a rise of over 400 feet during my 31 miles.  The vegetation was not sagebrush but creosote brush and mesquite.

 

I had told David several days ago that I felt I was not honoring the vegetation nor the landscape because I could not identify or name most of what I was seeing.  Most of you will not be surprised that David brought some books on plants, so I have been saved.  Now I can call by name some of these plants.  

Before I arrived in Aguila I knew that I would not be making it to Wickenburg.  When I had stopped for lunch and was getting back on the road  a fellow came up behind me on his bike with a bike trailer and for a moment I was thrilled hoping I would have a biking companion. Quickly we discovered that he was biking at least twice as fast as I was.  This cyclist planned to make the southern tier ride in four weeks. That means 100 miles a day.  He was on his way to Wickenburg before night fall.  Oh Well!

You must agree I picked a good day to have for recovery, Valentine's day.  I did not want to get up on Saturday morning, I was tired also of jumping out of bed each morning.  I wanted to be supine and not have any obligations.  A good time to read a book, which I did.  My stomach decided to misbehave in the late afternoon. I was not your cheery camper, so I went back to reading.  We again went to bed early.  This morning on Sunday I did not want to jump out of bed either so staid under the covers and then read a little bit before we began driving to Phoenix to meet up with relatives. Tomorrow, February 16th, I will get back on the bike.

Phoenix has some bike paths which will allow me to catch up on the mileage.

The mirage of down

Yesterday was a good day for biking with the exception of the mirage, the carrot, the promise of the traffic seeming to be taking a downward slope just up ahead.  It was cold when I left our place by the Colorado river with frost on the grass but with a clear blue sky and the sun was shinning strongly. I happily rode across the Colorado river from California to Arizona losing an hour with the time change. The route took me on Interstate 10, WOW.  The sounds of semi trucks traveling at 75 mph one after the other might be like the sounds of rockets firing one after the other at a firing range.  The grade up was gentle all day but the last 11 miles looked as though the Hwy. would soon take a downward turn, no more hard pedaling.  Ah, but that was an illusion.

At one point I was remembering my habit of counting pedal strokes or counting whatever I am doing to make the time pass.  I reviewed whether I should change my habit by counting instead the cracks in the pavement, or the tiny grasses sneaking their heads up in those cracks to make a home for themselves, or perhaps the pebbles on the pavement, no too many pebbles.  Then  I reflected on the possibility of counting the bushes along the shoulder of the road.  The conclusion was to go back to the tried and true and just count the pedal strokes because surely I would be at the top where the road would then nose downward.  The road did begin to nose downwards as I stopped for the day, but I will be making use of the down today.  Though do not fear, the road will also go up again today for some 500 to 700 feet.

A spectacular find!  Off Interstate 10, four miles down Hwy. 60 is Brenda, AZ, a wide spot in the road for more RV snow birds (don't you just wish you were one), we had dinner at an outdoor place named "Kathy's Restaurant".  Kathy has cooked for fishing vessels in Alaska and a bear photographer. Kathy has bear photos on a board for anyone to admire.  These photos give an opening to conversation.  The food was excellent, I say excellent.  I had a Mexican plate and David had a homemade bratwurst.  We are going back for breakfast.  Whatever we chose will beat our yams and oatmeal.

A Monarch Butterfly

We have been in a region which is used for those with wings, both birds and at least the Monarch Butterfly. I found one yesterday on the road at the end of my 30 miles in a little town of Calipatria.  He is not well.  I did not notice if he may have fallen from an Ecalyptus tree, as often these creatures will rest in said tree as they fly south to north.  He may have been taken by the cold.  Dick Powell, David's brother, just sent us some photographs taken in Switzerland by a lake which depicts the wind blown ice on the coast.  No it is not that cold here but yesterday  I road in rain, not heavy rain, but wet rain and mist and some wind.  The Monarch is still alive this morning in the Argosy with us.

It would appear that I do not yet have the endurance to ride, stretch, eat, sleep and blog in the same day. For the past three days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday, February 7, 8, and 9) I clocked 76 miles for those three days and am taking today for another recovery day.  With luck I will then be able to ride Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday into Phoenix. We are picking up our eldest granddaughter Amanda at the Phoenix airport on Monday, February 16th.  We will also connect up with some MacDonald relatives, Max and Erlene.  I made contact with two United Methodist churches in Phoenix before I left home but was not successful in scheduling a speaking engagement. 

Riding on a shoulder of less width than four feet is a challenge.  RVs are the least generous while passing and souped up passenger trucks come in second.  Truckers have been generous. One more time I am surprised at the energy needed keeping the bike on track.  Pedaling is only one small part of the endeavor.  We decided to create a different route to take advantage of the Salton Sea.  David very much wished to experience it.  If we had had only the truck we would have been able to go to Red Hill but with the recent rains the mud did not make favorable conditions.  Flocks of Egrets were spied but there is much swampland between the road and the water so that our view of birds was greatly diminished.  Sonny Bono worked to protect this wildlife refuge.

As I biked along the agriculture lands I did hear several times the red winged black bird and perhaps a meadow lark.  We also came across acres and acres of feed lots for cattle.  The cattle are so close together that they would not be able to turn around.  It can not be sanitary.  Ode to

industrial agriculture.

Fourth Day For Recovery

This is Friday morning February 6th, 2009, at Jucumba, CA, Mineral Hot Springs

Our weather is misty and cold compared to the 79 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday the weather changed to chilling wind and clouds, raining in the evening.  All the scenery has been delightful, not many animals to be seen, not many birds either though we have heard bird song in the mornings and the evenings.  We planned for me to make as much as possible of the finer weather for riding and take the fourth day off for recovery which I might say is needed.

On Wednesday we packed up the trailer to be moved out of La Jolla and headed back out to where I had stopped riding the afternoon of the first day. That first day I managed about 1500' of climb and the same for the second day's ride. The second day, Wednesday, the traffic had dwindled down to 5% to 1%, of the previous day but all, I say all, roads led uphill.  My right knee was beginning to complain about the continual climb.  The Pearl Izumi biking shorts are a wonder.  Three days of riding and I have not been aware of sitting on my bike seat.  Now that is great news!!!!!!  David and I have been working through different plans to meet up and to determine when I should call it quits for a day.  Just as I am ready to throw in the towel David has braced himself for twisting my arm to quit for the day.  His sage advice has not been needed.  

Thursday it was a struggle to get going.  To help my right knee I had rubbed Tea Tree oil on both knees and my traps (shoulders) evening and morning, as well as, some massage. Immediately the road rose uphill and one of the few times on the major Highway #8. I was elated though seeing the sign that told me I had managed 3,000 ' by the end of that second day. After finding a nearly flat spot after some climbing, I brought out my windbreaker which did not make me too warm but the sun was playing hide and seek, the outside temperature and the climbs varied enough that I did not stay too cold nor too hot.  Some time after leaving Highway 8, now riding on a serene country road, I bonked barely getting my feet unclipped in time to stand on the ground.  I was shaking a bit so it was time to take out the trusty large chocolate candy bar.  No, I will not make a habit of this but I had not had a chocolate bar for a week.  I continued to walk while eating the chocolate and then an apple.  A helicopter flew overhead. David  being somewhere else also saw the helicopter and worried about its significance. 

David's job is a tough one as he must find me at the one and only of our several appointed marks and we have not gotten this down precisely.  David does not know until he sees me, if I have managed well. In fact, we missed each other an hour or so after the chocolate bar walk.  I had come to a small village and stopped at the tiny market, about the size of a small 7 to 11. David stopped a few doors down at the larger but still tiny hardware store because it looked to be more prominent.  Not finding me at the hardware store David proceeded to drive ahead. Does not a cyclist think only of the next pit stop with toilet and food? I was feeling cold and asked if Pine Valley was uphill or downhill and learning it was down hill proceeded because Pine Valley would have a more stores.  

Finally I get to go downhill, yea, and it is freezing.  I made a vow that the clogs that I had packed for the potential walking were to be taken out of the bike bags and more worm clothes placed in said bags.  I had been walking when necessary in my biking shoes which served just fine.  It seems to make sense now.  Live and learn.  David had stopped at the Pine Valley grocery store so we met up and I washed off a bit and lay down thinking I would be in bed for the next 24 hours.  Food got me up though and we made the decision to drive ahead to the hot springs for help in the day of recovery. 

Two hours or more in the mineral springs using the jets on my  knees and the gall bladder meridian and then more food and I felt much revived, in fact ready to go to sleep.  One questions the wisdom of taking a day of recovery when one can still move and walk, why, I not sure, but with the cold mist and the knowledge that I have many miles to go helps make me stick to the day of recovery.  Plus we have laundry and I must study the instructions for the bike computer.

All this work for a bike ride?

The title reflects my thoughts this morning as we began our journey to the starting place on the jetty by the dog park in Mission Bay.  The driver believes that is an auspicious beginning point. The weather was beautiful we had planned well and the first part of the route followed the San Diego River.  The route usually had a bike path but the traffic was intense, and many times the cyclist walked because of the lack of a bike path.  Since the cyclist was in a metropolitan area not once did she feel that she would be lost.  It is also the case that at each junction it took her time to carefully make the change of direction.  

 

On two hills she walked up so that she could continue.  Tonight it feels like the cyclist body does not want to move or exert itself.  We look forward to the second day.  The distance of 26 miles was not great but the cyclist gained about 1,500 feet. The time of five hours was even worse, oh well! 

Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing.-Helen Keller

January 31,2009

To leave home initiates both joy at the upcoming event and the cutting of the Gordian Knot, even when one is in one's mid-sixties. Coming to the conclusion of a project is as painful and stressful as the labor of giving birth.  Is this hardwired in some way, is it necessary, is it the human condition?  We were a day late in take-off but that happens even at Cape Canaveral when the space shuttles are due to take off into the outer universe.

The long looked for sign of relief did not come until the second day out.  Both the driver and the cyclist, who is just relaxing in the motorized truck until the scheduled take off date of February 3, 2009, need several days to recover.  Recovery is an important component of the athlete's life style, for if the body is not given the luxury of time and nutrition to recover then the goal most likely will not be achieved.

On the road we have seen long burdened trains loaded with shipping containers which may be placed on trucks or ships later.  Traveling by train consumes far less energy to ship items from point A to point B.  In the nineteen fifties America had the finest rail system in the world and now in the twenty first century America lags behind the industrialized world with its antiquated and limited rail system.

The plans after leaving Farmington were to join up with a friend, Alex and Olvivia, in Gallup and have at least a half hour to visit but we sadly made the decision to keep to the road since we started a day late. Our first night was in the Painted Desert where the landscape displays many colours created by the mineral layers embedded in the geological formations.  In Farmington also we have a continually changing kaleidoscope of colour but this comes from the sun's rays, changing minute to minute and season to season.

Our planning and preparation has already paid off.  Now that we are on our third day out, life energy and joy are returning to the surface.