Revere Beach, Boston, MA

As you can see I rode the last 18 miles today. We dipped our front wheels in the Atlantic at Revere beach here in Boston. The water was cold. There were lots of high fives going around.

We were all supposed to ride together to the beach. (Normally it's every man for himself.) So we lined up two abreast. Just like every other day we had que sheets to tell us how far to go and where to turn. Geoff, the guy who averages 14,000 mile a year on his bike and who lives in the Boston area said that the way the que sheet would take us had too much traffic and he knew a better way. I was kind of reluctant because Geoff had gotten lost several times on this trip. But, since he lived in the area and everyone else was game we all followed Geoff. You can probably guess how that turned out. We ended up in downtown Medford during the morning rush hour. Everyone in stayed in pretty good humor though because we had all morning to ride 18 miles. Getting a little lost was no big deal. Geoff asked us to wait while he asked a cop for directions. The cop didn't look happy but he did hold up traffic so we could get going in the right direction.

Tonight we have a dinner where we get some sort of certificate of completion. After that, it's over. It seems now like the time flew by but I can remember some times when I thought I had been riding forever. It's going to take a little time to readjust to the real world.

This blog was fun. It was great to read all the comments and the encouraging words. Maybe we all will do it again sometime.

Day 42 Brattleboro, Vt to Burlington, MA-91 miles

Here's a picture of my new friend I met at Sandy's Lunch Box. I didn't get his name. He reminded me of Old Dick - just a little wacky. As you can see he's a cyclist too.

It's 90 degrees here in Burlington and we're under a severe thunderstorm watch. Ha! I'm off the street so I say let it rip.

The ride today was a little dicey. Very little shoulder to ride on and lot of traffic. The good thing, I think, is that this part of the country has lots of cyclists and lots of signs saying "Bicycle Laws Strictly Enforced". So most drivers are pretty courteous. Colin, however, encountered one who was anything but. Colin said a young guy in a car kept edging over as they approached a stop giving Colin very little room on the pavement. Colin said it was intentional and when Colin pulled up beside him, Colin who is 71 yelled in his thick British accent; "Get out of the car and I'll beat the shit out of ya!" According to Colin, the kid acted like he wanted no part of the crazy Englishman and sped off. I told Colin he should not be so hostile-the Revolution is over, we won.

On the way to Burlington we road through a number of old Massachusetts towns and villages. A lot of them incorporated in the 1700's. We road through Concord and Lexington which prompted me to recite the first stanza of The Concord Hymn:

By the rude bridge that arched the flood;

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;

Here once the embattled farmers stood;

And fired the shot heard round the world.

I really like that one. It chokes me up. I should memorize the rest.

Tomorrow we ride to the ocean to dip our front wheels. It's only 18 miles. I think I have that much left in me.

Day 41 Albany, NY to Brattleboro, VT -76 miles

The 7 mile climb up Hog Back Mountain was everything it was advertised to be and more. This is a picture from the "scenic overlook" at the top.

We worked up quite a sweat going up and at the top of Hog Back Mountain it was a little chilly in sweat-soaked clothes. The descent, however, almost made up for the climb. I heeded Old Dick's maxim and tried not to do anything stupid. I didn't let my speed get too high which would have been easy. Rick from Texas said he hit 56mph coming down. Some of us are crazier than others.

I've been eating a lot of ice cream. This hotel is kind of isolated - about 3 miles from downtown Brattleboro so I thought I would have to settle for an ice cream sandwich from a gas station. As I approached the main street I saw "Fast Eddies Ice Cream and Bakery". It was a gift from heaven. You ordered at the front window then you picked up at the side window. I had a fresh strawberry sunday with optional whipped cream and nuts. For the walk back to the motel I got a Maine wild blueberry ice cream cone. (They had lobster rolls for $9.99) If you're ever in Brattleboro give Fast Eddies a try.

Tomorrow we're going to Burlington, MA. It's the last full day riding and it looks like it will be at least as tough as today. The amount of climbing is about the same as today and we have 90 miles to ride before we get there. On Friday we ride the last 18 miles to the ocean.

Day 40 Little Falls to Albany, NY- 71 miles

Here we are riding along the Mohawk River on our way to Albany. The Mohawk is part of the Erie Canal system that includes the Hudson River. So if you want to get to the Great Lakes from New York City by boat, your're going to have to go up the Mohawk.

Roy rode the whole way today. He had to be helped off his bike at the rest stops. I think he has plenty of medication. He's got a pretty good relationship with his doctor back home who calls in prescriptions for him. Roy's crazy like the rest of us.

Tomorrow we're going to Brattleboro, VT. It's supposed to be one of the most interesting parts of this "cattle drive". (Those are Tracey's words, but in looking back at this trip they do seem appropriate.) We'll go through a number of small New England towns.

It's not going to be flat like today's ride. Starting are mile 35 in Bennington we have a 7.1 mile climb. It's not supposed to be steep but it should get our legs burning. Like Super Chicken would say to Fred - "You knew this job was dangerous when you took it." Remember the theme song lyrics: "He will drink his super sauce and throw the bad guys for a loss...... " (I think like Old Dick I've gone over the edge.)

It was nice to see a comment from Em and Rosemary. We drink wine too in South Carolina but the stuff we drink is called "Slap yo' mammy".

Day 39 Syracuse to Little Falls, NY, 78 miles

Here's a picture 0f the little falls in Little Falls. Little Falls is in the Mohawk Valley on the banks of the Erie Canal. There's a big lock here on the canal. It raises and lowers boats 40 feet. I walked down to the lock hoping to see it operate but had to settle for reading about it.

Roy crashed today. They took him to the hospital and his bike to the bike shop. He is supposed to be riding to the motel from where he went down but we haven't see him yet. If they let him go from the hospital, he must not be hurt too badly. Roy told me some weeks ago that he was going to ride every each of the tour.

The Knights Inn isn't too bad but on my side it is a little noisy. There's a busy railroad just across the street and a fast train goes by about every half hour. No whistle blowing because all the crossings have bridges. So it could be worse.

We have three more full days of riding. Tomorrow looks to be pretty easy but the next two are in Vermont and New Hampshire and will have a lot of climbing. The last day is only 18 miles when we finally hit the ocean. I'm going to try my best to heed Old Dick's maxim and "not do anything stupid". What great advice!

Here comes another train.

Day 38 Canandaigua to Syracuse, NY 68 miles

Here's a picture of the Erie Canal near Camillus, NY. As I understand it you can still put your boat in the canal at Buffalo and go all the way to New York City.

Got a little bit lost today. Made a wrong turn and rode about two miles when I got that "this is not the right way" feeling. Saw a guy working under the hood of a car and stopped to ask if route 321 was up ahead. (Who said guys never ask for directions?) When he stuck his head out from under the hood he had "who is this guy in those goofy clothes and what is he doing in my yard" look. He got me turned around and going back the way I came.

This part of New York is a lot like Indiana - "all corn". The day that we rode between Erie and Hamburg was more "California". We had Lake Erie on our left and acres and acres of vineyards on our right. That was part of New York's Seaway Trail which goes along Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence. It's a great place to ride because it's nice and flat for the most part and lots to look at.

This blog has really been educational. Sue provides the history of the places we pass through and Old Dick gives helpful hints for daily living.

Aunt Margie is off to Maine. I gotta believe it's going to be a whole lot cooler there than in DC. Eat a lobster roll for me.

Tomorrow we're off to Little Falls, NY. We're at the only motel in town-the Knights Inn. I'm not going to prejudge but the fact that it doesn't have any competition makes me think of Timberlanes. I hope I'm wrong.

Day 37 Hamburg to Canandaigua, NY, 94 miles

Here is a picture of Michel putting ice on his "hot toe". Not sure what hot toe is but he said the ice did the trick. The little stand to his right is set up at each rest stop. It usually has pieces of bananas and other fruit along with some kind of salty snack. This stop was in Avon, NY. It appeared to be a very nice village with a rotary in the middle of town.

One more dog story. Last night we were at the Comfort Inn in Hamburg, NY. Most motels now are "pet friendly"- you can bring your dog, cat, whatever into your room. At this motel a lady had two small dogs that were doing a good bit of yapping. One of the guys in our group in the room next to the dogs asked the motel manager for a different room because of the noise. The manager was very accommodating and found the guy another room. Not long after the police arrived and escorted the lady and her dogs out. I guess you can bring your animals to the Comfort Inn but they'd better be quiet. Remember that Old Dick when you travel with your parrot.

We passed 3000 miles today which means we've only got about 400 to go. Maybe like Old Dick says if I don't do anything stupid I just might make it. He gives great advice.

Day 36 Erie, PA to Hamburg, NY 78 miles

I think I've got this butt thing figured out. It takes about 3000 miles of riding to get your butt conditioned so it doesn't hurt any more when you ride. Either that or I just learned to ignore it. So Chas, stop buying bigger bike seats and save your money for beer. Just put in the miles.

Sue, who reads all the blogs, has probably heard the dog story from Harold. It happened on the way to Erie. Michel was about 200 yards ahead of me. Two Saint Bernards ran out to chase him. They quickly gave up the chase and stopped in the middle of the road. I thought they had me. As luck would have it, the dogs saw some horses in the field on the other side of the road and went barking at the horses. I was home free. About that time the owners came shouting and chasing after the dogs. Harold and Roy were behind me and either stopped or were stopped by the dog owners who were very upset that we had bothered their dogs. They were screaming at Harold and Roy and calling them vilest names and threatening to have their dogs attack them. (Saint Bernards attack dogs?) This prompted Harold to call 911. Harold got a lot of questions from the 911 operator but no help. ( Apparently 911 doesn't respond to potential dog attacks or cursing dog owners.) This all happened unknown to Michel and me who by now were miles down the road.

Today we got a police escort out of town. (I think it was a courtesy not a demand.) Two motorcycle cops met us at the hotel at 7:15 this morning. We lined up behind them and took off through downtown Erie blue lights flashing. The cops leap-frogged each other stopping the traffic at each intersection. (I think they've done that before.) At the city limits they let us go. Who says a cop is never there when you need one ?

Today was good. Wind and weather perfect, not too many hills. Tomorrow will be tougher - 94 miles and lots of climbing.

Rest Day #4 Erie, PA

I guess I should have got in touch with Erie Insurance before I started this trip. I had to learn the hard way.

The best think I can say about Erie is that the weather is nice. Blue skies and temperature in the 70's. I hear that it's a little warmer in the Carolinas. Craig arrived today and said its been brutally hot in Greensboro. Barbara says she only goes out to get the mail.

Didn't do a whole lot today. It's a rest day after all. Did my laundry and cleaned up my bike. I'm good for another three days before I have to do laundry again. I'm getting pretty good at washing clothes although my whites are starting to look a little gray. I guess that happens when you put everything in one load.

Tomorrow we're off to Hamburg, NY. It's just south of Buffalo. The weather is supposed to be good and the wind right. It's only 79 miles so it should be a easy day.

Day 35 Niles, OH to Erie, PA 89 miles

The road between Conneaut and Erie is a good one to bike on. It's got wide shoulders, is pretty flat and in Pennsylvania is designated as a bike route. We had the wind so it was doubly easy.

Our hotel is right in downtown Erie. The Avalon is old but it seems to be pretty nice. It's better, I think, than being at the Best Western out by the interstate. The only problem may be like a lot of small cities that after 5:00 there's nobody on the street but bums - I'll fit right in.

Michel and I walked to a place near the hotel for lunch. I ordered fish and he ordered chicken after we were nearly finished we decided that the waitress had switched our orders. It's a helluva thing when you don't know whether you eating chicken or fish. It reminds me of the time Old Dick - no, I won't tell that story children could be reading this.

Sue brought me a delicious strawberry desert to Niles yesterday. It was unusual. It was like strawberry pie but the crust was broken up and mixed in with the filling-very unique. I think I'll call it "Wrecked Strawberry Pie". Ask her for the recipe.

Tomorrow is a rest day. Some of the Brits are renting a car and driving to Niagara Falls. I think I'll stay here in Erie and catch a few walleye before the carp take over.

Day 34 Wooster to Niles, OH, 90 miles

Here we all are at Mill Creek Park in North Benton. It was a nice surprise to have Chas and Judy show up. It was a typical Ohio summer day - overcast, temperature in the low 70's.

A good day for riding but not for swimming.

It was no contest. Ohio wins by a mile for having the worst roads between here and California. I thought my bike would shake apart. Potholes big enough to take a bath in. Tracey was busy marking up the route to change it for next year - good luck with that.

Had a nice phone conversation with Susan Stoddard. Susan thought we were coming through Alliance tomorrow. She was sure that Barbara gave here the wrong info. They'll have words about that.

It's 8:40 - way past my bedtime. Jim and Sue kept me out late drinking and dining at Olive Garden. I had the eggplant parmagiana (sp).

Happy Birthday to Sparkle!

Day 33, Marysville to Wooster, OH, 97 miles.

Passed through Funk on the way to Wooster. Don't know how Funk got it's name. That will be a challenge for some of you history researchers out there. Funk appeared to be an Amish community. I saw boys in their straw hats working in the garden with their dad. They waved as we went by.

Wooster has a nice downtown. The Best Western is just a few blocks from the center of town - just like Timberlanes but a few levels better. We had dinner at the "Broken Rocks Cafe". The menu said it was named after the one of the owner's favorite places on Lake Michigan. They bake their own bread and it's very good so if you're in Wooster it's a place to try.

We rode through Delaware this morning - another nice town. Greg, from California, went to high school and college in Delaware. He went off the route to ride by his old home. I think that it was quite an event for him. Lots of "Block O" flags and pennants in Delaware. That was an event for me. It's just up the road from Columbus.

I ride with Michel from Montreal a lot. He said "I'm tired of seeing all corn". We have been seeing "all corn" since eastern Kansas. I told him that at that it's not likely to change until maybe Vermont.

Thanks for all the birthday greetings. It was nice to hear from "Aunt Margie".

Tomorrow we're off to Niles, Ohio. Planning to meet up with Jim and Sue at Mill Creek Park on Berlin Lake - its one of our rest stops. I think it's the same place that my Aunt Nellie and Uncle Bill would take John and I fishing -really. It's probably also one of the places one of Old Dick's girlfriends threw his class ring out of the car window. There are a lot of those in Ohio.

Day32 Richmond, IN to Marysville, OH, 104 miles

Today wasn't bad weather-wise. Overcast all day looking like it would rain any minute. Just a brief sprinkle. Temperature in the 80"s.

We rode through lots of small towns. We coasted through the red lights. At 8:00 on Sunday morning there wasn't a lot of traffic. Later on there were people in the parks and people and people coming out of church. Seemed like I was back in Ohio.

Sue updated me on all the Marysville attractions. A lot going on here. We rode by a big prison. I keep thinking that somebody famous is or was a guest here. That should be a query for some more research.

Tomorrow we're off to Wooster. The chart we have shows we'll do as much climbing as back in Missouri. It could be a killer.

Day 31 Crawfordsville to Rishmond, IN 83 miles

Everyone got wet today. It was raining when we got up and continued until about mid-morning. I think I'll have to use the hair dryer on my shoes. This was the first day of real rain. I think we've been pretty lucky weather-wise. At least so far. And, no one crashed. (I walked my bike across all railroad tracks.)

This part of Indiana is Amish (or Mennonite). Horse and buggies on the road. Also scooters. (Why scooters and not bicycles? Are bicycles too mechanized?) I imagine that we'll see a few more buggies when we get closer to Wooster.

Richmond is right on the Ohio border. We have three other Ohio people. Dan grew up in Painesville. Greg is from Delaware. Laverne's family has a farm in Plain City.

The US played the UK today in the World Cup Soccer (the Brits call it football) . The game ended one all. Lots of grumbling from the Brits. They said the US team got a lucky goal. It was all in jest (I think).

Hey congratulations to Lori. No cheering crowds. No ticker tape parades like you expect when you solo. (Did your knee shake like mine did?)

Everything else is normal on this end.

Day3o Crawfordsville to Indianapolis, IN, 64 miles

I didn't take any pictures from the road today. You've all seen cornfields before. Another reason I didn't take any pictures is because I rode in a pace line with Jim from Texas and Jim from Virginia. A pace line is the same idea as drafting in NASCAR. The guys in back use 20-30% less power than the guy in front. Every mile or whatever distance you agree on, the guy in front goes to the back and and the second in line takes over for a mile and so on. The only problem is you ride so close together that the second and third place guys have to concentrate solely on the guy in front of them. They can't do much looking around. It's a good way to go fast but it's also a good way to crash. I did it for the experience but I'm not sure I'll do it again. I can crash all by myself.

That's Michel in the picture. He's using SKYPE to talk to his wife in Montreal. He can see his wife on the screen and hear her in the headset, but to people passing by in the motel lobby it appears that he's having a conversation in French with his laptop.

Tomorrow we're off to Richmond.

Day 29 Champaign, IL to Crawfordsville, IN, 79 miles

We don't say Tally-ho. We say "What the hell are we doing out here in the middle of nowhere pointing to a sign?"

So here we are at the "Crossroads of America" There's lots of corn and soybeans out here. No flying carp.

Had to go to the dentist today. The tooth that my dentist in Hartsville said is likely to give me trouble one day did. The people at the motel were very helpful. They gave me the names of two dentists that take walk-ins and gave me a ride to the one would see me. Dr. Mayes took an X-ray and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic. It's the same antibiotic that got Craig - cephalexin. I'm hoping not to have the same reaction.

Dr. Mayes is headed to Myrtle Beach tomorrow. His parents have a condo there.

Tomorrow we're off to Indianapolis. The route sheet has lots of turns and route changes. I think I'll stick with Michel. He has a fancy GPS on his bike.

Rest Day No. 4, Champaign, IL

Today was rest and repair day. Everyone washed clothes, cleaned up their bikes and a number of people put on new tires. Dan said he was wearing clean underwear. I'm not sure what he was trying to tell me.

I had dinner with Michel, Dan, Jan and LaVerne and Jani. The conversation came around to what day was everyone's favorite day so far. No consensus. I brought up the day in New Mexico when we got to the Escarpment. That was voted down - too long and too windy. There was general agreement that Sedona was high on the list. Missouri, was at the bottom. Everyone agreed that Dalhart, Texas was the worst overnight. The motel was a dump and the food was really bad. Champaign is a paradise compared to Dalhart.

Tomorrow we're off to Crawfordsville. Looks like the weather is going to be good.

We change to Eastern time.

Day 28 Springfield to Champaign, IL, 87 miles, avg speed- computer dead.

This is the best I could do for a photo. It does, I think, give you are good sketch of the Illinois countryside. Pretty flat, lots of cultivated fields. The corn is about waste high.

We got rained on a little bit today. It didn't start until about ten miles from Champaign. Not real hard but wind driven. It stung a bit when it hit your face.

We had three people go down because of the rain. Stewart, Chris and me. We had to cross several sets of railroad tracks coming into Champaign. I was being real careful because I went down on railroad tracks in Hartsville about four months ago. I wasn't going much faster than a walking pace. Now I have road rash on top of road rash. Chris apparently went down the hardest. She has a big welt on her hip. Stewart is limping a little. It's a good thing tomorrow is rest day.

Barbie is leaving to go back to Albuquerque. I think we pick up one or two new people here.

Craig said he's starting to get some strength back. He says he may join us on the last rest day in Erie, PA. and ride the last stretch to Boston. Hope so.

Thanks for the heads up on Subway. Ate there in Quincy, IL. Told them to hold the Salmonella -just mayo and salt and pepper.

Day 27: Quincy to Springfield, IL, 107 miles, avg speed, 16.6 mph

This is a picture of the bridge that goes across the Illinois River. The Illinois is the river famous for the big carp that jump out of the water when a boat passes. People have been injured when hit by these carp jumping out of the water. I know Old Dick thinks I made that up but he can look it up. (He probably won't sleep tonight thinking about those carp jumping out of the river.) They're the same carp that they're trying to keep out of the Great Lakes.

I know this is not a real interesting picture but it's the best I could do today. There's not a lot of spectacular scenery in the this part of the country. Lots of cornfields and cows. That's Harold in the photo.

Tomorrow we head for Champaign. We're supposed to start at 6:30 instead of 7:15. Tracey says the forecast is calling for thunderstorms in the morning. I guess the plan is to get a jump on the weather. Hope it works.

Good to hear from Lori. She's not lurking anymore.

Day 26: Kirksville, MO to Quincy, IL, 74 miles, avg speed 18.0 mph

This is me before we crossed the Mississippi into Quincy, Illinois. Harold, Roy, Michel and I road across together. It was a good feeling.

Today we passed 2000 miles. It was as good a day as yesterday was bad. We had few hills, a nice tail wind and temperatures on the 70's. Only one dog chased me.

Last night we had some rough weather. Lots of rain, wind and lightning. Sirens went off for a short time about 8:30. I turned on the TV and the crawler across the bottom said the severe thunderstorm warning

had been cancelled. I guess that one blew itself out.

Chas said he hit 16 mph on his bike and felt a little out of control. Coming down some of the mountains in Arizona and New Mexico if you didn't hold the brakes it was easy to hit 40 mph. That's the first and last time I'll do that. A blow out would have put me a lot out of control.

Got an email from Craig. He said he is completely spent. But, I'm still thinking he will come back.

Day 25 Chillicothe to Kirksville, MO, 75 miles, avg speed 15.0

This is Brookfield, MO where the boss made us stop because of a major thunderstorm on the road ahead. It's OK to ride in the rain but not when there's lightning.

As we were waiting, one of the locals asked me where we were headed. I said Boston. He didn't seem too surprised. (He thought I said North Boston which I found out is a little town about 10 miles up the road from Brookfield.) When I told him we started in LA, North Boston, MO didn't seem quite right to him as our destination. We both got things straightened out at that point.

Missouri is unquestionably the toughest state by far. I'll take a Kansas any day. If you plan to ride cross country avoid Missouri at all costs. Too many hills, the road had no shoulder, and there were many potholes and cracks. Jan, one of the most pleasant women on the tour, arriving at the motel, laid her head on her handlebars and let loose a string of curses that would make a truck driver blush. That's the kind of day it was.

I had another "puncture" which makes eight total. One behind Michel who currently is in the lead.

Tomorrow we're crossing the Mississippi and we reach the 2000 mile mark. Good bye Missouri!

I do enjoy all the comments. Even the ones from crazy Old Dick.

Day24: St. Joesph to Chillicothe, MO, 86 miles, avg speed 17.0 mph

Here's a picture of the three docs discussing Dan's injury this morning at the motel. Dan's in the middle holding the ice pack. Stewart and Jyl are both gynecologists. I'm not sure what they're prescribing. You can tell Dan's not a happy camper.

I spoke to Dan a little while ago and he seems doubtful about getting back on his bike tomorrow. He may need another off day.

Craig is going home. He went to the hospital this morning. They said he had severe dehydration. Not so much from riding but from the diarrhea caused by the antibiotic he was taking for his arm. They gave him two liters of fluids and told him it would be unwise to continue to ride until he fully recovers. I think once he rests at home he'll come back and finish.

"May the road rise up to meet you." The road today rose up with a vengeance. Not real long hills but lots of short steep hills. The kind that make your legs burn. Roy said he used just about every curse word he could think of. He said swearing helped him get up the hills. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow. It's supposed to be a lot like today.

Day 23 Topeka, KS to ST Joesph, MO

85 miles, 16.1mph avg.

Yesterday was a killer. Today was a piece of cake. The hills today were like the hill on Goshen Road. The hills yesterday were like the hill on Painter Road.

After seven days, everyone was ready to leave Kansas. But, I have to say the drivers in Kansas were exceptionally courteous. They moved over when the could and rarely did anyone blow their horn.

Had one casualty today. Dan, the cardiologist from Wisconsin, crashed. He said he had no idea what happened. No gravel, no catch basin, no anything. They took him to the hospital but nothing was broken. Just some major road rash. He'll ride in the van tomorrow. He said he cracked his helmet. I guess that's why we wear them - so we don't crack our heads.

Craig is talking about going home. He is not feeling well and has no energy. The consensus among the three docs on the tour is that the antibiotic Craig's taking for his arm is the problem. He's stopped the antibiotic and will ride in the van tomorrow. If he doesn't start to feel better in a day or two he's going home. I hope that's all it is.

We still haven't been rained on. Pretty remarkable, I think.

Day22: Abilene to Topeka, KS 106 miles, avg speed 15.1mph

Today was hard. The wind was wrong there were too many hills and it was long. A number of people gave up and rode in the van to the motel.

Not much to look at but I did see four wild turkeys.

Tomorrow Ty and Jyl leave. I hear that everyone enjoys Ty's blog. Not to worry. In July he's going to France to ride some of the stages of the Tour de France. (He's not in the Tour he's riding some of the stages for fun.)

Tomorrow is supposed to be easier. I sure hope so.

Rest Day 3 Abilene, KS

Visited Ike's museum and library. It's an impressive place. His family home is there, the museum with lots of D day and WWII exhibits, the library, and a chapel.

The museum was walking distance - maybe two miles and some people did walk. I walked a lot on our last rest day and I'm not sure it was a good idea. The motel people said that there was no other option. We were just getting ready to step out and a guy pulls up in a bus like the kind you ride at the airport that takes you to the rental car lot. Three dollars round trip. You call him on his cell phone when you're ready to return. We had finished the museum and were walking to get lunch. He pulls up out of the blue and takes us to the restaurant - no charge. Funny how things work out.

Tomorrow may be one of our toughest days. It's 108 miles and the third highest day in terms of elevation gain. We must be leaving flat Kansas and getting into rolling Kansas. I think it's going to be pretty hot too.

Day 21: McPherson to Abilene, KS 62 miles, avg speed 16.8mph

This is Buckeye Street in Abilene. The photo doesn't portray it but it looks a lot like East State Street in Salem. Big two and three story houses and lots of green grass.

The big attractions in Abilene are the Eisenhower home and museum and of all things the Greyhound Hall of Fame. Apparently, greyhound racing didn't start in Florida. It started right here in Kansas. Seems odd but I'll learn more if I get there tomorrow. We're way out by the interstate and we don't have any other available transportation other than our bikes. Most of us would rather not get back on them on rest day.

Today was the ninth straight day of riding. We don't have any more long stretches like that ahead. Seven days from here on out. Geoff, who rides 400 miles per week when he's not doing this, said don't spend your rest day doing a lot of activity. Use it to rest. I think I'll take his advice.

Day20: Great Bend to McPherson KS 63 miles

Hers's a picture of downtown McPherson. That's Michel in the foreground and you can just barely see Stewart stopped at the light.

I think we're in the Midwest now. The stream beds have water in them, no cattle guards on the roads and the sky is cloudy. The towns have parks and nobody wears cowboy hats.

I have no idea why McPherson is here but I'm sure Sue has already done the research.

This morning we had a few sprinkles going to breakfast. When it was time to ride most put on their rain jackets. I followed Michel's lead, who in 200 days of cycling has never been rained on, and left my jacket in my duffle. As it turned out, we got a rain shower well after we made it to the Days Inn.

Ann left today to go back to New Jersey. She was going to ride to Salinas and then take the bus back to New Jersey. Guess why she's going back to New Jersey - to do another bike ride. Like the girl making my sub said " Wow, That's crazy!"

Tomorrow we're off to Abilene and a rest day. According to the que sheet, we will pass right by Ike's home and museum. Not only that but Barb's Downtown Deli in Abilene is supposed to have great pies. It's going to be hard to top the coconut cream I had in Albuquerque. If you're in Hartsville Barb's Botany Woods Deli makes delicious pumpkin pies.

Happy Birthday to Holly. I didn't know she had to work today until I read yesterday's comments.

Day 19: Dodge City, KS to Great Bend, KS 86 miles

Not a lot to report today. I could have used the same photo from yesterday's ride to describe today's. Kansas doesn't change much.

Craig got his arm fixed in Dodge City. He said the doc made several cuts in the lump to drain it, gave him a prescription for antibiotics and told him not to ride for a couple of days. He rode in the van today. I think he'll ride his bike at least part of the day tomorrow.

Mac, one of the crew from the UK, is unexpectedly leaving to go home tomorrow - some kind of family emergency. I hope it's not serious.

Tomorrow a cold front is forecast to pass through. The winds are supposed to shift around to the northeast - not good. If the forecast is correct, though, the winds aren't supposed to shift until the afternoon. We've only got 63 miles to McPherson so may we can get a jump on the weather.

Tomorrow is Holly's birthday. Everyone make sure to wish her a happy one.

Day 18 Liberal, KS to Dodge City, KS

I think this picture says a lot. It gives you the bikers eye view of riding through Kansas. Note the varied landscape. All the houses. Places to stop and refresh.

The thing that has so far impressed me most about Kansas is that the roadside is clean - very little litter. I don't know if they pick it up or that the people don't litter to start with, but, compared to the South Carolina, roadside in Kansas is pristine.

Craig had to stop riding this morning. The arm that he crashed on developed a large bump just below the elbow about the size of half an orange. They took him to the hospital in Dodge City. I haven't heard yet how he made out. My guess is, he's going to be riding in the van for a couple of days.

I know you're tired of me talking about the wind. Too bad. Today riding up route 54 we were headed northeast with a nice quartering tailwind. After about 60 miles we turned left on route 283 and headed directly north to Dodge City. Now we had a direct tailwind. Fastest 20 miles I have ever ridden. The road was smooth and flat and with very little effort you could go 20-25 mph. Turned left on Wyatt Earp Blvd and almost immediately after the Boot Hill Museum I saw the Dairy Queen. A medium chocolate milkshake is $3.99. I remember them being a lot cheaper when I used to get them in Salem. The 10 cent cones aren't 10 cents anymore either.

Thanks to Sue for keeping me up to date on the history of these towns. Dorthy's house was just down the street from our motel in Liberal. Our rest stop today was where the Dalton gang hid out.

I know Old Dick would be riding along if his war injuries didn't preclude it. Falling off that bar stool in Saigon really has taken a toll on him both physically and mentally.

Day 17 Guymon, OK to Liberal, KS 39 miles

I think our short day today was because of the motel situation. It was either stop in Liberal or ride another 80 plus miles to Dodge City. That would be a tough day. Mack said they did that in the past but decided it was a little too much. I'm glad.

Liberal, I think, is more of a farm town where Guymon and Dalhart were more ranch towns. In those towns the guys dress like cowboys - big hats, big belt buckles, boots (some with spurs) and big mustaches. Here in Liberal there are more ball caps and shorts.

The forecast for the next couple of days has the wind from the South. We have 83 miles tomorrow and 86 the next. We're going to need the push.

Day 16 Dalhart, TX to Guymon, OK 72 miles

Today our luck ran out - headwinds all day. Had to happen sooner (get it?) or later.

Guymon, is a lot like Dalhart, which is to say a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else. The grain elevator dominates the skyline. The people, though, are friendly. The big trucks move over in the left lane when they can so as to give us plenty of room. The guys putting up new fence wave as we go by. We do get some looks when we go into a convenience store for whatever. With our helmets, shoes with cleats, gloves, carrying water on our backs we look pretty alien. The girl making my sub sandwich asked where y'all goin'? I said "Boston". She said, " Wow, that's crazy". I said, "Yep, sure is".

Thought you might like to see what some of the other people look like. This was last night at dinner. On the left are Doug and Colin from the UK. Next to Colin is Dan, the cardiologist from Wisconsin. Next to Dan is Bill from Seattle. He manages a mutual fund. At the end is Craig, the guy who talked me into this. You can't see Geoff. And on right is Harold who I think made a lot of money on Wall Street as a commodities trader.

I liked Old Dick's joke about beer. I think I'll tell it to Ann and see if she tries to kill me.

Tomorrow we have an easy day - late start, 39 miles. I think that's because we're going nine days straight before the next rest day which, if the wind don't blow, will be in Abilene, KS.

Day 15 Tucumcari, NM to Dalhart, TX 98 miles

This is the way the scenery looked pretty much the whole way along Route 54. The occasional windmill, a steer or two out on the range, not much else. One thing that did change was the humidity. I felt the change about midway to Dalhart. The humidity increased about the same time I rode into the shadow of a cloud. Haven't seen any of those for at least a week.

If you're out this way you can probably bypass Dalhart. It's main claim to fame is the XIT feedlot. Depending on the wind you can you can smell it for miles. It's where they take grass fed cattle from the range, crowd them by the thousands into these huge pens, and feed them corn to make nice fat meat we buy at the store.

Ann has rejoined the group after attending her niece's wedding in Montana. Ann comes off as the strictest, meanest teacher you have ever had. I think she gives Tracey a hard time just for fun.

Tracey the leader, is a kind of mysterious. She's out there during the day changing flats and keeping track of everyone but she doesn't eat with us and we never see her on rest days. It may be that she gets very tired of herding cats and wants us out of her sight.

Tomorrow we're off to Guymon, Oklahoma. (I never heard of it either.)

I do read all the comments. Thanks to Chas for straightening me out on Tucumcari.

Day 14 Las Vegas NM to Tucumcari, NM 108 miles

The reason we had such a long ride today is that there is next to nothing between Las Vegas and Tucumcari. The only place to get anything is a decrepit looking store at about mile 75.

You're probably getting tired of me talking about the wind, but it can make or break your day. Today it was blowing a steady 30 mph with stronger gusts. As long as the road headed east (most of the time) it was great you could go 25 mph on the flats. But, there were times when the road turned south or north that it got a little hairy. The cross wind made things treacherous. You had to get a death grip on the handle bars in order to fight the gusts. A few people (maybe the smart ones) decided to put their bikes in the van and ride ahead where the road straightened out.

We passed through an interesting geological area: The Canadian Escarpment. Its where the high plains around Las Vegas (6400') drop down to the plains around Tucumcari (4100'). There is no warning that you are coming to the escarpment. The road makes a sharp left turn and it's like you're on the edge of a cliff (because you are). The view is exceptional -maybe 100 miles. The ride down is exciting to say the least.

Tomorrow we're off to Dalhart Texas. It's 98 miles of mostly flat roads. I hope the wind stays with us.

Day 13 Santa Fe to Las Vegas, NM 72 miles

This canine met us at our rest stop. He seemed to pretty easy going. Not all the dogs in New Mexico are so laid back. A few people got chased today.

I knew nothing of Las Vegas, NM until I googled it. At one time it was quite a hangout for some of the wild west's most notorious people namely: Doc Holiday and his girl friend Big Nose Kate, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Mysterious Dave Mather, Hoodoo Brown, The Durango Kid, and who can forget Handsome Harry the Dance Hall Rustler! Not only that but one of my favorite movies "No Country For Old Men" was filmed here. If you saw the movie you know what the countryside around here looks like. And, going way back to "Easy Rider", Las Vegas, NM was where Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper get thrown into jail and meet Jack Nicholson. Last but not least, Las Vegas was the place where Roosevelt's Rough Riders had their reunions.

Tomorrow we're off to Tucumcari, another place I had never heard of. We are out of the mountains now so we shouldn't have long climbs like today. It's 108 miles to Tucumcari. If the wind is right it will go fast. If not, it could be a killer.

Rest Day, Santa Fe, Nm

I picked these pictures to give you all a flavor of Santa Fe. It's very artsy fartsy. If you get out this way it's a city worth visiting. Lots of Indian made stuff to buy and lots of places to eat and drink. Craig, Ty and I walked around and gawked just like the tourists we are. If you are over 60 you can ride the bus all you want for one dollar.

Everyone was glad to have a rest day. I think most everyone except Geoff was getting a little weary. Geoff said he usually rides 400-450 miles per week at home. Hard to believe. But, maybe that's why in a normal standing position his knees are bent and his back is arched like he's still on the bike. He's in a different class from the rest of us.

We have nine straight days of riding starting tomorrow. At the end we'll be in Kansas. Before Kansas we go through a little bit of Texas and Oklahoma. Maybe we'll see a tornado.

I need to mention a bird that I saw in the motel courtyard. It's some kind of jay. It's the size of a blue jay but the most beautiful blue color-closer to a blue bird's color. The guy who helped to my room (they have great service) told me the name but it didn't stick. I'll find out so the birders out there can look it up.

You might want to take a look at tybikes. It's another blog that Ty Eggemeyer is doing. He writes well.

Day 12 Albuquerque to Santa Fe, NM 66 miles

We past a lot of ranch gates. I thought this one was especially unique. Didn't see any ranch houses just the gates. I think the symbols in the middle give the name of the ranch. Any ideas?

Today was kind of tough-lots of climbing. Not steep climbing like after Sedona just long climbs. You can do it two ways: stand up and pump or shift to a low gear and spin. I chose the latter. The young guys do the former.

I meant to mention an interesting encounter I had at a big service plaza along I40 a couple of days ago. I was at the Dairy Queen getting a milk shake. A lady came up to me and asked "How far are you riding?" I said Boston. She said "Why"? I babbled something about the challenge and all that but what really came to mind was the scene from the movie "Witness" when the tourist lady wants to take a picture of Harrison Ford who is hiding among the Amish. That's what I wanted to say. If you haven't seen the movie it's a good one. It's one of Barbara's favorites.

Never been in so much sunshine. We've only had one partly cloudy day. I gotta believe things will average out though. When we get to the Midwest I'm expecting some rainy days. But, on the other hand, we may have a wizard with us. Michel, from Montreal has biked all over the world. He said that in roughly 200 days of cycling he's never been rained on. So we'll see.

Day 11 Grants to Albuquerque NM 75 miles

Today was good. Not too hot and we still had the wind behind us. It's chilly in the morning but warms up quickly when the sun comes up.

We had five people leave and picked up one. Ann is going to Missoula, Mt to see her niece graduate and then coming back when we get to Tucumcari.

We took a little side trip today. When we got off I40 west of Albuquerque the directions didn't make sense. (We later found out that the exit had been modified since last year.) We started down this road looking for Rio Grande Blvd where we would turn left. We got to the top of a hill and I could see Albuquerque off to the left about 10 miles. (You can see a long way out here -- wide open spaces.) We stopped and I said this can't possibly be right. The was a good deal of discussion but the majority, (two) thought we should keep going. We came to an intersection out in the country by then and we stopped a two guys in a rollback(tow truck). I asked him where we would find Rio Grande Blvd. He had a good belly laugh before he said "About 9 miles back the way you came." Back we went and found Kevin, the priest, standing on the corner talking on his cell phone. He got the right directions from Tracey and the four of us took off down Central Ave which intersects Rio Grande Blvd if you're ever out this way.

The picture at the top is a cattle guard. They put them any place they don't want cattle to cross. I guess a cow won't go across them because their hooves could get stuck. They have them on many secondary roads and they are treacherous for bikes. We're not as smart as cows we cross them.

Day 10 Gallup to Grants, NM 68 miles

Today we road both Route 66 and I40. Only one "puncture" today. I think that's seven total. I'm getting faster at fixing flats--I mean punctures.

We had a real messy situation this morning. They were paving on I40 and had one lane closed. We couldn't ride in the open lane, it was too narrow. The other lane either had fresh asphalt or tar. Where there wasn't fresh asphalt the road was like a rumble strip where the machine had taken up the old asphalt. Had to walk my bike for a while. After we got off I40 we were stopped by another paving operation. This one had a flagman. Geoff, apparently didn't want to wait and blew right past the flagman holding the stop sign. The other three of us riding together stopped. Mr Flagman told us if anybody blew through he was radioing the highway patrol. So we waited.

Four people are leaving at the next stop. Jon, the "vintage motor car" racer has the most pressing obligation. He's scheduled to race next week in Belgium. Busy, busy.

I forgot to mention until I read Old Dick's comment that we did stop at that famous corner in Winslow, AZ. (You have to know The Eagles song that made it famous.) I didn't see any girls driving flat bed Fords.

Day 9 Flagstaff to Gallup NM 87 miles

No flats today or as the Brits call them " punctures". I don't no why, we were still riding on I40 and there seemed to be as much debris as ever. Some others had flats but I think the total may have been five. Not like yesterday's seventeen.

The big thing today was the wind. It was blowing at least 30mph with stronger gusts and it was pretty much behind us. I rode the 87 miles in about 41/2 hours. There were times, on a flat stretch of road that I would show 27 mph. Doesn't sound like a big deal but compared to the normal 15 or 16mph you get places fast.

Lots of big trains. Three engines pulling and two pushing. Maybe 120 cars. The BN/SF tracks run parallel to I40.

Like Winslow and Holbrook not a whole lot here in Gallup. Although Ann, who seems to investigate the towns more than the rest of us, said the Navajo code talkers museum is here.

Just a little side note about Craig, the guy who came up with this idea. His system for getting his muscles to recover at the end of the day is to buy a couple of bags of ice, fill the tub half way with cold water, dump in the ice and sit in it for as long as he can stand it. I haven't tried that method.

Tomorrow were off to Grants, NM. It's a short day, only 67 miles. We cross the Continental Divide.

I read and enjoy all the comments.

Day9 Flagstaff to Holbrook, AZ 94 miles

Today I won the prize. I had four flat tires. The next closest was Dan, the cardiologist, with three. All together the group had seventeen. Tom, who I guess is second in command said that the record for one day is twelve!

We rode on I40 most of the day. It has a lot more debris than I10 for some reason. Most of the flats were caused by little pieces of wire. They must be from truck tires. Three of the my flats were changed by the support crew. The last one I did myself.

The terrain was unchanging - high desert with blowing sand and dust devils. Not very hospitable. The kind of country you just want to get through. The towns like Winslow and Holbrook are something less than charming. Tomorrow we have more of the same.

Day 8 Rest Day Flagstaff, AZ

Didn't do a whole lot today. Cleaned my bike and did laundry. Everyone still seemed to be pretty tired. According to Tracey, last three days were some of the toughest. That's Colin taking a nap in the lobby.

I took the top photo when I went out for a walk. A couple from Wyoming in what I think was a '53 Buick were having car trouble. Doug and Jon also out for a walk had stopped to help. Remember Jon is the guy from the UK who has a stable of "vintage motor cars". That's Jon under the hood. He seemed like he was right a home. When I came back the Buick was gone.

I had dinner with Craig and Daryl, a doctor from Knoxville, who is joining the ride here and riding to Santa Fe. The conversation turned to how the soreness in your butt doesn't seem to go away even after riding 527 miles. The doc admitted that he "cheated". He applies some kind of prescription patch that numbs that area. He told us what it was but didn't offer Craig and I any.

Thanks Daryl.

Tomorrow we go to Holbrook, AZ. 98 miles. It's supposed to be mostly flat and a strong wind from the southwest is forecast. I need a little push.

Day 7 Cottonwood to Flagstaff AZ 46 miles

Not a lot of miles today but more bleeping climbing. Cottonwood was 5300' and Flagstaff is 6900'. We got to Sedona about 10:00. It's a pretty place with all the red rock cliffs and blue sky. Michel and I stopped at a Dairy Queen for a snack. (Michel is the pharmacist from Montreal. We have two others: Steve from Seattle and Rick from Witchita Falls.) But like the guy in the commercial says "But I digress". The guy who took our order at the Dairy Queen was friendly. He asked if we had come from Cottonwood. Michel said yes but told him we started in LA. He seemed to greatly impressed but we still had to pay for our snacks. After Sedona is Oak Creek Canyon. It's a two lane rode with lots of cars, tour buses and motorcycles. Apparently, a lot of Europeans come to the US and bring or rent motorcycles and tour. A group of about 30 passed us flying the Swedish flag on their bikes.

After Oak Creek Canyon was a steep climb. At the rest stop at the top, a guy leaned out of his car window and said "great climb" to me. Must have been a cyclist.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I need it.

Day 6 Prescott to Cottonwood AZ 33 miles

The distance wasn't much but the climb made up for it. We started at 5300' went up to 7100' at the top of Mingus Mountain then down to 3900' feet in Cottonwood.

The downhill made up for the climb. It was 12 miles of coasting. The danger was in going too fast but we had no crashes.

I missed the neatest picture. We had lunch in the town of Jerome. We only do lunch on the short days. On the long days we just do energy bars. Jerome, I think , was a mining town. Now it's a tourist town. Lot's of shops, bars and cafes. Most of the places had their front doors open. We were riding slowly because of traffic and people. I looked to my right and nearly lost control. The the biggest, blackest pit bull I have ever seen was standing in the doorway of one of the shops. I have no idea what kind of place it was because I was so surprised to see this guy. I should have gone back but I was riding with four or five other guys. So what, you say. What's the big deal?You've seen plenty of dogs. Not like this one. When we get to our rest day in Flagstaff, I'm going to call the place we had lunch and see if they can tell me the name of the place where the dog was. I know it's crazy but you didn't see him.

Day5 Wickenburg, Az to Prescott, AZ 47 miles

Today was pretty tough. Started at 2100 ft elevation went up to 6100 ft then down to 5300 ft in Prescott. The day didn't start well for me. Just outside of Prescott there was a roundabout. I was riding with Ty and Craig. Ty and Craig went the wrong direction out of the roundabout. I yelled at them to come back. I was watching them and didn't see the catch basin in the road. My front wheel went into the grate and I was down. A scraped knee and a bruised shoulder was the result. At the rest stop Mack cleaned the scrape and put a bandage on it. Tracey came buy and told me I needed to shave my legs. Thanks Tracey.

The climb up mountain was brutal. They told us that we would encounter "false summits". It's when you think you're at the top because you come to a downhill, but that only lasts a little while and you're climbing again. Must have been six or seven of those. Drove me nuts. So I finally get to top and start downhill. I'm sweating like crazy but it's only in the low 60's. Now I'm flying down the mountain and starting to get cold. By the time I got to the motel in Prescott I was freezing. The best hot shower I ever had!

Day4 Blythe, CA to Wickenburg, AZ 115 miles

Today was a long day. I rode from 7:15 to 4:00 with three rest breaks. I'm feeling a little hammered.

Wickenburg seems to be a nice town. We were told that there are a number of dude ranches in the area. Mountains all around and lots of saguaro cacti.

Not much excitement today. Craig, the guy that crashed yesterday, started out this morning but about 10:00 decided he'd better rest some more and rode in the van. He did go to the hospital in Blythe to get checked out. Six x-rays and a CAT scan.

Tomorrow we go to Prescott. It is only 47 miles but almost all up hill.

Oh, I forgot. This was cool. We had a rest stop in the town of Aguila. As I was leaving town I passed the Coyote Flats Cafe. Looked to be a local hangout. Corona beer signs in the windows. About 50 yards past the cafe a big old coyote comes out of the bushes and runs across the road right in front of me. He looked right at me. He was probably more surprised than I was. I bet he doesn't many crazy gringo cyclists.

Day 3 Indio to Blythe CA 101 miles

Their was more than a little apprehension before today's ride.

Ty, the guy from Pittsburgh, did this ride in 2006. He told us horror stories about this segment. Apparently, they were having a heat wave in this part of the country. Temperatures were well above 100F. They had a strong head wind. Only two out of the whole group were able to complete the segment. At the evening meeting Tracy, the whip cracker, briefs us on the next day's ride. She had a long list of dos and don'ts for riding in the desert. After Ty and Tracey's warnings there were a lot of concerned looks. Not to worry. This year the cycling gods were benevolent. The temperatures were in the high 80's and winds from the west. Everyone got to Blythe well before Miller time.

Only one casualty today. My friend Craig was going too fast at a turn and somehow hit one of those big orange traffic cones. They took him to the hospital to make sure he didn't break or crack any ribs. Lots of road rash but that's all. And, 0h yeah, I had another flat tire.

Day 2 Riverside to Indio CA. 85 miles

Riverside is separated from the desert by some low mountains. To get to Indio we had to climb to about 2500 ft then coast to Indio at about 50 ft in elevation. The morning was very cool, only in the 50s but it didn't take long before I was sweating. The "summit' was Banning, CA. At that point it was down hill. Tracey, the whip cracker said to be careful when we got to the pass and the wind farm. The wind farm - about 500 wind mills - is there for a reason, it's windy. It had to gusting to 40 mph but generally from behind us. There were six or seven guys riding together and we flew!

Only one casualty. Bill, the mutual fund manager from Seattle, was trying to take a picture while riding. He hit a patch of sand and crashed. He destroyed his helmet and bent up his wheels. Only scraped his knee. $450 dollars later with a new helmet and new wheels he's ready to go.

Tomorrow its 115 miles of desert.

Day 1 Pacific Ocean to Riverside, CA 77 miles

We all rode as a group to Manhattan Beach to dip our wheels in the ocean. Lots of surfers already in the water when we got there at 7:30. I took lots of pictures and will put a couple on Facebook.

It was cool and overcast. Only in the 50's. Greg, the investor who looks like Lance Armstrong who lives in LA said that was pretty typical for this time of year.

I rode with a group of about eight. The fast guys, Michel, Harold and Ty left us in the dust. Doug, one of the Brits, rode beside me a good bit of the way.Apparently, he's a helicopter pilot and owns a Cessna 172. I told him I had built an airplane which I think impressed him because he said " bloody 'ell you did!"

Remember Jon , one of the other Brits who said he raced "vintage motor cars"? Apparently, Jon has a few pounds to rub together. He has put down his $200, 000.00 deposit to go into space on the Richard Branson/Burt Rutan space ship they're building out in Mojave.

Tomorrow we ride to Indio, CA on the edge of the desert. We will cross the San Andres fault and go through a mountain pass where if the wind is right you can go 30mph without pedaling. We'll just see about that.

At dinner I sat with Greg, Jon and Tom. Greg is from the LA area and looks a little like Lance Armstrong. He said he used to be in commercial real estate but now is a stock trader. He's not a broker he trades for himself. That's how he makes his living. I've heard of people like that but never met one. Interesting guy.

Jon is from the UK. He wore an ascot to dinner. I didn't get to talk to him much. He did say that he raced "vintage motor cars". I'll find out more about him later.

Tom lives in Deland, Florida. He did the ride in 2004 and now works off and on for Cross Roads. He was an a VP for an IT kind of company but he said he got tired of constantly being on the road. Not bikes, airlines. He said he might start his own consulting company after this ride. Very bright very personable.

At orientation we were given our que sheets for the whole trip. Que sheets give you the mileage,

tell you where to turn and what to watch out for. Tracey who, I guess, owns the company ran the show. Tracey could be Nikki Kearns twin sister for those of you who know Nikki.

I sat next to Bill from Seattle. Bill manages a mutual fund the name of which I can't remember. (Barbara says I don't remember anything.) Laverne and Jani are from Lititz, Pa. They're the ones riding a tandem bike. Jani said she was a little bit apprehensive about the whole thing. Sandy and Stewart are from Ft Meyers. Sandy said there was no way she could ride on the same bike with Stewart. Michel, a guy, is from Quebec. He says his English will be much better by the end. He is tall and thin and I bet one of the strong riders. Those are the only ones I remember.

Tomorrow we dip our rear wheels in the Pacific and then we're off to Riverside. Last stop before the desert.

This motel is a couple of blocks off Sepulvada Blvd. an eight lane street with seemingly no speed limit. I walked up there this morning as the sun was coming up with idea of finding a cheap place to have breakfast. I went south a little way with no luck then turned around and went the other way.

Like a thirsty man in the desert who sees an oasis, I saw an IHop in the distance. Juanita, cheerfully served me the three egg and three pancake special (includes hash browns). I was saved.

Today is orientation day. I wish it was get out on the highway day but I don't make the schedule. We have a meeting at 2:00. Since I am usually disoriented maybe it will help.

Made it to LA. It's your basic Southern California day, blue sky, 75 degrees, low humidity. Nice.

Had a delicious lunch at Pollo Loco. I think that means crazy chicken. Roasted chicken sandwich with quaccamole. I recommend it.

Met a couple of other riders. Ty from Pittsburgh. He says he is used to hills. Janis from Summerville, SC who drove to Asheville, NC to train on some hills. There is a least one couple with a

tandem bike.

Craig and I are going to ride tomorrow morning to make sure our bikes are OK.