Hanks daily log is reposted with permission from  X Country Rider

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009

Date: June 25, 2009 - Final Day of the Ride

Riding Route: From Burlington, MA to Revere Beach, MA (Boston)

Weather: Great!

Elevation Climb: Minor

Miles Ridden: 18

Today's ride is dedicated to my two riding buddies: Charlie Semperton and Bob Fuller. If you've read my blog you know about the circumstances of these two fine gentleman. You both made it to the finish line with us! The pictures above include our flag salute to Charlie. Bob, my man in blue, is still recovering from his accident! Today you were with us in thought and spirit!

I'm sitting in the motel room in Burlington, MA (Boston) with huge mixed emotions. The bike ride of a lifetime is over. I made it! I rode my bicycle across America - all 3420 miles of it! We went through 15 states, stayed in 43 different motels, climbed over 100,000 feet of elevation and pedaled about 985,000 strokes! We encountered all kinds of weather (both good and bad); all kinds of roads (both good and bad); all kinds of people (good and not so good). I ate more food (and burned it off) than I thought could have been possible. I saw America at 15 mph. I stopped and smelled a lot of roses. I took over 400 pictures - and now I have the job of trying to organize them and remember who, what, when, and where is going to be a challenge!

A couple of folks have asked me what were the highlights and the low lights. The highlights were: the camaraderie of the 16 of us that completed the entire ride; the unbelievable professionalism and quality of the staff of CrossRoads (the tour group) - their dedication to our safety, comfort, happiness et al far exceeded my expectations; seeing America at a slow pace and over the back roads vs. the freeways; the historical facts; having a number of friends meet and greet me along the way; the people we met along the trek; the accomplishment of being able to do the ride at my age - and so much more!

The low lights: having two original members not be able to complete the ride with us; some of the tough weather conditions; a few days when I just didn't want to climb in the saddle again; the small percentage of drivers that were real jerks to those of us on bikes; some of the road conditions; and always being concerned about personal safety (mine and fellow riders). Notice this is a much shorter list!

The idea of trying to raise money for the Rod Denhart Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association - and seeing the unbelievable response to this has also been a highlight! I had set a goal to raise $25,000 - and we're close to $24,000. If you were waiting to see if the "old man" would make it before you committed, you can go ahead and make the pledge now. We're so darn close not to make the goal! It's a great cause for something I am passionate about. For everyone that has committed - thank you, thank you, thank you!

This morning we rode all together - 18 miles to Revere Beach. The last 5 miles we rode in twos - with an escort vehicle in front and in back. I was honored to be asked to lead the group. (I think age had something to do with it)! We all did the traditional dipping of the front tire in the Atlantic Ocean (picture above). There were 60-70 folks lined up on the beach to greet us as we came in. My good friends, Ted and Lily Mahoney, were there to greet me with black and white checkered flags - and a Boston Red Sox tee shirt! (pictured above). Thank you Ted and Lily! My son Steve, and his wife Andrea (pictured above), were with Carol and I for the celebration - thank you "kids"...for sharing in your dad's accomplishment! I can't tell you how much it meant to have you here! What a great feeling! Tonight we have a closing banquet and then we're all off in different directions. In case you're interested, my bike and I are flying home! I'm not going to do the East to West pedal!

This ride would not have happened without the incredible support of Carol . When I threw the idea out last Fall she said "go for it"! (Heck, it got me out of her hair for 7 weeks). She's really been a biking widow since November 1st of last year when I started seriously training for the ride. I've had a number of folks comment on my blog. Again - all the credit goes to Carol. I'd call her every evening with a list of bullet points from the day's ride! She researched all the historical information, she made it interesting, personal, and the great read that it was. Thank you so very much Carol!

So in the beginning of this last blog I said I'm sitting here with many mixed emotions:

• I'm glad the ride is over
• I wish the ride could go on (country roads with no traffic, the sun shining and the wind at our backs)
• I'll miss my friends so much!

So what will the next adventure be? I'm wide open for suggestions! Thanks to each of you for being part of this incredible experience!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009

Reporting on: Thursday, June 25, 2009
Riding Route: From Brattleboro, VT to Burlington (Boston), MA
Temperature: in the 70's/ Winds: 10 mph
Elevation Climb: 5900 feet
Miles Ridden: 91 miles

For the third day in a row I woke up with a very upset stomach. I've been riding the best I could - but today I took a "bump" and rode in the van. I haven't been able to eat anything - and the multiple trips to the loo have left me dehydrated, achy and in general feeling crummy. I am really bummed to have missed one of the prettiest days of the ride through the heart of the "founding of America" countryside. Oh, so much great history! (One other of our riders, Alec, is also sick with the same thing. It was a tough thing for him to "bump" today, because he has ridden every other inch of the ride.).

I told you yesterday that my friend, Todd McDonough, came to Brattleboro to ride with me. No problem though! He rode with Champ and did a great job. It was one of the longest rides he's done! I'm sorry I couldn't have shared the time with you Todd! And thanks Champ, you're a real "champ" in my book for filling in for me! Dr. George (one of our riders) gave me some Cipro - and I think it's working! I had dinner tonight - the first meal in two days.

Tomorrow is our ceremonial 18 mile ride to Revere Beach. We ride the last 5 miles in a procession with an escort and end the trip by dipping our front tires in the Atlantic Ocean. Tomorrow night we have a closing banquet which will be very emotional. We've become a very close group - laughing, crying, helping each other etc.

I was excited to have Carol, Steve and Andrea and Ron and Nancy here for the closing events. Several of the people have family and friends here supporting them too.

When I look at the big map that gets set up in the hotel lobby each day and see the black line that shows the route we followed - it sinks in that I rode my bike the whole way (well almost!) I have trouble comprehending the task we undertook. When you're riding 85 miles a day - virtually every day - it all kind of becomes a blur. I'm sure as I sit back and reflect on the highs, lows and in-betweens - it will all fall into place.

Only one more entry in this fabulous experience...dipping the tires in the Atlantic - and our group dinner.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009

Reporting on: June 24, 2009 - Day 48
Riding Route: From Albany, NY toBrattleboro, VT
Temperature:65-77 degrees /Winds:5-15 mph Elevation Climb: 6100 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 76

We completed our 12th State Line crossing today: Vermont! We had a heck of a climbing day - as we rode through Vermont's beautiful Green Mountains. They extend approximately 250 miles - with the highest peak being about 4400 feet. (There are actually 4 passes that are over 4000 feet). The range is part of the Appalachian Mountains which stretches from New England to Georgia. This area includes many downhill skiing areas and also a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail - a hiking trail that runs 2170 miles - from Georgia to Maine. (There are three main trails in our country that form what is known as the "triple crown of long distance hiking". They are: The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail).

We made it to mile 36 before it started to rain. There were several longer climbs - a 7.1 mile one and then another 4 mile one...not real tough - but long. Doesn't sound hard, does it? The toughest part seemed to be the long descents in the rain. There were pines and white birch everywhere. It was the first time I felt we were in the New England states! We crossed over into Vermont at mile 31 - and the roads changed immediately. There was a fair amount of traffic - and we were once again hugging the white line.

Brattlboro is a quaint town with a population of about 12,000 people. In the early years Whetstone Falls provided water power for watermills, beginning with a sawmill and gristmill. By 1859, when the population had reached 3,816, Brattleboro had a woolen textile mill, a paper mill, a manufacturer of papermaking machinery, a factory making melodeons, a flour mill and a carriage factory. Okay, who knows what a melodeon is? Yep, it's an accordian!

My friend Todd McDonough of Home Portfolio arrived at 3:00 and is going to ride with us tomorrow. He's a ex-tri-athelete and currently is a marathon guy! What a challenge he'll be for us! We have 91 miles tomorrow - and 6700 feet of climbing. It's our last full day of riding. As our group talked this evening we agreed that the 7 weeks seems like 7 months. We've been in 42 towns and different motels - and everything seems to run together at this point. I'm going to have to go through my blog and pictures to sort things out when I have time.

Tomorrow Carol, son Steve and Andrea and our friends Ron and Nancy Smith will arrive. On Friday we do the ceremonial 21 mile ride to Revere Beach to dip our tires in the Atlantic Ocean! Then we're done...with the exception of Peter. He has a friend coming to join him and they are going to ride from Boston to New York City - where he lives. Some people just don't know when to quit!

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009

Reporting on: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Riding Route: Little Falls to Albany, NY
Temperature: 69 - 83 degrees/Winds: 10-15 mph
Elevation Climb: 2900 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 69 miles

We had a wonderful ride today along Route 5 East - 38 miles of 2 lanes - but with little traffic. We passed through a few towns - but mostly followed the Mohawk River on the right - and wooded forest areas on the left! (Would a forest area be anything but wooded?) UGH! About 30 miles outside of Albany began to be in an area that was town after town! We had traffic, traffic signals, stop signs and way to many people! Where were those country roads that were so peaceful? 

We passed several historical sites - the major one being Fort Klock. The fort is part of a 30-acre complex that includes an historic homestead, a renovated Colonial Dutch Barn, blacksmith shop, and 19th century schoolhouse. It was built in 1750 by Johannes Klock...and was a trading post and fortification for farmers in the French and Indian War - and again against the British and their allies in the Revolutionary War. The thick stone walls of Fort Klock have firing ports, allowing the occupiers to fire rifles at attackers. They do reenactments here throughout the year.

After our ride I took a 2 hour nap... then gave Peter and Al their haircuts! Yep, I've converted a few of the guys to my easy style of hair! I gave myself one too - so I'll look good for the finish line!

Later I met my friend, Frank Dorrance, from Aird Dorrance in Ballston, NY. They are a consulting client of mine... who specialize in the plumbing, industrial and building materials business. Thanks Frank for a great evening! I really enjoyed it! I can't tell my readers how nice it's been to renew acquaintances along the way! It's certainly added to the quality of my trip!

Tomorrow and the next day will be the 3rd and 4th biggest climbing days of our trip. Tomorrow is 6100 feet and the next day is 5600 feet! I think they're trying to do us in on the last days! Only three days to go and your's truly will have completed the ride! Hurray!

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MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009

Reporting on: Monday, June 22, 2009

Riding Route: From Syracuse to Little Falls, NY

Temperature: 64 to 83 degrees/Winds: 10-15 mph

Elevation Climb: 2800 feet

Miles Ridden Today: 78

At this point in the ride I'm looking for an easy way to the end of the trip. The limo caught my eye and if I could afford it - it might just be the way to finish this ride! ha (picture above)! We rode about 8 miles before we got out of the town of Syracuse this morning. The usual traffic, lights and stop signs slowed the trip some, but we're all use to it by now. After that we had a wonderful 35 mile ride on great country roads. The scenery was beautiful and we rode side by side as we followed the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River ...passing through many small and picturesque towns. It was wonderful while it lasted! Once we were on Rt 5 the traffic picked up considerably. After the peace and quiet of the back roads the noise seemed deafening - and we had to get back to concentrating again!

We arrived in Little Falls about 2:30. After getting settled in the hotel Champ, Tom and I took a walk around the area. Little Falls is probably one of the smallest towns we've stayed in...with a population of a little over 5000. This area was a thriving place in the 1800's - when it had the biggest cow hide processing plant in the country. Later there were paper mills and woolen mills - mainly because of the abundance of water - and the ability to ship products on the canal. As we walked town we observed many old brick building sitting empty - a sign of the hustle and bustle of days gone by. Both the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal go through town. Two of the pictures above are of the canal at Lock #17 (still a working lock). Today it's used mostly for pleasure boats - with very little commercial traffic. This lock is part of the New York State Erie Canal which replaced 3 locks of the original 1825 Erie Canal... and until recent years was the highest lift lock in the world at 40.5 feet in height.

This is the first time I've explored the upper part of New York state - and I have to tell you it's quite beautiful...and has lots of history. As in past days, we again rode by beautiful old mansions with immaculate yards. Some of these home were build in the late 1700's and 1800's. What stories they could tell!

Short report today! Albany, NY tomorrow!

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SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2009

Reporting on: Sunday, June 21, 2009 - Father's Day and the first day of Summer
Riding Route: From Canandaigua to Syracuse, NY
Temperature: 61-80 degrees/Winds: 1o mph in our face
Elevation Climb: 3600 feet
Miles ridden Today: 68

It was cloudy and misty when we took off this morning at 8:15. Because of the rain - we were delayed an hour. For the first hour or so we had drizzle and mist, but by 10:00 the sun started showing through the clouds. We were a happy group! Jeff Morrell joined us this morning (Picture Above) - and rode for about 25 miles with us. Because of Father's Day activities with his family he turned around at that point and headed back. Now he's a real rider! His normal pace is about 22-23 mph. He was kind and dawdled along with us at 17+ - and I think it was a ride in the park for him. Last night Jeff and his wife Tracy, took Champ, Tom Ryan and me to dinner. What a wonderful meal! They also gave us a tour of the Finger Lakes area. Jeff and his brother Scott are in the process of building out a huge showroom that includes everything for the home. They are builders in the area - and can't keep up with the business. Eat your heart out all of you in California! Business is great here! I can't thank them enough for their wonderful hospitality!

Today we passed the north end of a couple of the Finger Lakes. There are eleven lakes in all - and each one is long and very narrow (hence the name "finger lakes"). We rode by Seneca Lake which is the second longest (38 miles) and by far the deepest...with 4.1 trillion gallons of water! As you would guess from their depth they were formed by glaciers. ( By contrast - for those of you on the West Coast - Lake Tahoe is the third deepest lake in North America and the tenth deepest in the world. Its greatest measured depth is 1,645 feet and averages 1,000 feet). I learned that Senaca Falls was an area that played a huge part in the women's rights movement in the mid 1800's. The first Women's Rights Convention was there here in 1848 (Picture Above). Any women reading this blog should buy the movie "Ironed Jawed Angels" - which Carol would highly recommend! It's a true story about two women who took a strong stand for women's rights in this country. Think about the women of Iran as you see it! It's inspirational!

We also passed by the Erie Canal. There is so much history in this area that I could write ten pages and still not cover the basics! But just a few facts: The Canal runs 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo tying together the Hudson River and Lake Erie...and was the first navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It was under construction from 1817 to 1832 - but officially opened in 1825 when the first phase was complete. The main problem encountered was that the land rises about 600 feet from the Hudson to Lake Erie. Locks at the time could handle up to 12 feet, so at least 50 locks had to be built along the 360 miles canal. The cost was astronomical even for those days! For my young readers I need to tell you that the channel was a cut 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The soil that they took out of the channel was piled on the downhill side to form a walkway called the "towpath". Canal boats, up to 3.5 feet in draft, were pulled by horses and mules on the towpath. So how did the boats pass each other? There was only one towpath, generally on the north side of the ditch. When canal boats met, the boat with the right-of-way steered to the towpath side of the canal. The other boat steered toward the berm or "heelpath" side of the canal. Did you know that the sides of the canal were lined with stones set in clay? It took hundreds of German masons to do the work - and much of the original canal is still in place today!

We also stopped in Waterloo, NY today. (Yes, the village is named after the Waterloo, Belgium where Napoleon was defeated). It's known as the birthplace of Memorial Day. They first celebrated it here on May 5, 1866. The date was later changed to May 30th - which we celebrate today. It was originally known as "Decoration Day" in honor of our fallen soldiers. As we passed through communities today there were some beautiful "old" homes that were built in the early 1800's. They were well maintained and the yards were immaculate.

New York continues to get the best marks for bike lanes. BUT...yes we had another incident. Nancy flew off her bike today and dislocated her shoulder, has her arm in a sling and lots of "road rash". She was taken to the hospital - but is back with us tonight, and probably won't ride the remaining 5 days. I also checked in with Bob Fuller - who had the run-in with the motor cycle. He's been moved to a convalescent hospital but sounds in good spirits. If you're reading this Bob, know that you're in our thoughts and prayers! Get well soon!

Today was Willie's 52nd birthday and when we arrived at the hotel there were balloons from his family and a celebration for him. We all signed a card - and had cupcakes! Happy birthday Willie!

Both my knees are stiff and sore. The Aleve in the morning and evening are helping, but I think it's good that I'll have a rest in a few days. Carol, our son Steve and his wife Andrea, are meeting me at the finish - along with our good friends Ron and Nancy Smith (who are coming up from Florida) and we'll have some good hugs and a celebration that the old man made it all the way across the country! However, as you can see from the picture above, I've upgraded my bike from when I left Manhattan Beach! (Do you remember that picture)? More tomorrow!

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SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009

Reporting on: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Riding Route: From Hamburg to Canandaigua, NY
Temperature: 60-72 degrees/Winds:10-15 mph
Elevation Climb: 5100 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 94 for a few - 0 for some and 27 for me!

Day 43 presented us with another test. You probably know the east is getting inundated with rain, rain and more rain. Today was another tough day weather wise. It was raining when we started today and the prediction was for rain all day. Many of our riders opted not to even get in their biking gear and took the SAG wagon from the beginning. I decided I'd give it a try - and lasted for 27 miles. Again it was dangerous and wasn't fun. The wind was blowing and I couldn't keep my glasses clear enough to see in front of me! Champ, my roommate, made it the entire way - and he had a flat tire to boot! (That's #11 for him)! Needless to say he was soaked to the bones when he arrived at the hotel. I told you about the EFI Club. He wants to join the "Every Fantastic Inch" club but said if we have another day like this one he's going in the SAG wagon also! Enough is enough! Our room looks like a tornado went through it! We're in a hotel that has no laundry facilities (which is unusual)...and have clothes and gear all over the place trying to get it dry before morning. It's kinda like a sweat box in here! If you'd pray to the weather gods to give us a nice day tomorrow we'd sure appreciate it!

Tonight I'm having dinner with my good friend Jeff Morrell. If the weather holds he's going to ride with me for part of the day. He needs to be home to celebrate Father's Day with his family in the afternoon! If the weather's bad - then we'll have breakfast and call it a day!

If you can pronounce the name of this town, Canandaigua, you're doing pretty good! Most of us can't! I did find out it comes from an Iroquois word which means "chosen spot." The only bit of history I was able to find out was that in 1873, women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony was tried in the local county courthouse for voting. She was found guilty and fined $100. (Which I'm sure she didn't pay)! We're also told there is a beautiful lake just south of town - Canandaigua Lake, which is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes in NY. But to be honest, we don't have any interest in seeing another drop of water! Where is the Mojave Desert? I need to conjure it up in my imagination!

Tomorrow it's on to Syracuse - a 68 mile ride!

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009

Reporting on: Friday, June 19, 2009

Riding Route: From Erie, PA to Hamburg, NY

Temp: 60's - 70's/Wind: 5-10 mph - Yep...in our faces again!

Elevation Climb: 2600 feet

Miles Ridden: 78 miles

Today we made the trek from Erie, PA to Hamburg, NY. Another state line crossing (our 11th state) as you can see from the picture above. I know you're wondering where Hamburg is! No it's not Germany! (Altho did you know that Hamburg, Germany is the second-largest city in Germany (after Berlin) and the sixth-largest city in the European Union?) Hamburg, NY is on the western edge of Buffalo, NY! We are only 8 miles from Niagra Falls! Some of our riders went there today and had some facts to give me for the blog. You know that the Falls straddle the Canadian-United States International Border and is in both the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. It attracts some 12 Million tourists to her majestic beauty each year. It's a fairly young river, only 12,000 years old, a microsecond in geological time. (Think of the time you and I spend on this earth - we hardly exist in the time frame). It's the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa. Okay, enough!

The weather prediction for the ride today was of course rain, rain, rain! BUT...we had only drizzles the first hour and then outbiked the rain for the remainder of the day! What a joy! I would put today in the top three days of our trip: it was beautiful scenery, a fun ride and relatively easy! We followed Route 5E. Lake Erie was on our left - and miles and miles of grape vineyards were on the right. These vineyards produce grapes for Welch's...which began in 1869 in Vineland, New Jersey. (A physician and dentist named Thomas Bramwell Welch and his son Charles processed the first bottles of "unfermented wine" to use during their church's communion service). Welch's is the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara-based grape products! Most of us grew up on their grape juice!

 

Our group gave PA four stars for their bike lanes! But I have to tell you that NY gets 5 stars - at least so far! They have 6-8 foot wide shoulders - and have recently enacted a law that says all roads will have these wide lanes - basically for "breakdowns" - but it sure makes bike riding much easier too! We loved the sign as we rode into New York that is pictured above. It's a "Share the Road" sign that really makes sense. A good reminder to all of us - no matter where we live!

Bob and Gayle, if you're reading this blog I rode by your home in Forest Park today! We also went to see Gail at The Sugar Shack! We all agreed that it was one of the best stops we've made on the trip. The Sugar Shack (Gail - pictured above) has a cute gift shop, sells syrups, grows grapes, strawberries, cherries etc. She was so kind to our group - having expresso coffee and tea + ice cream with her delicious homemade syrups available for all of us. If you would like to buy the best syrups available then email Gail at http://www.sugarshack1.com/. Several of the riders ordered things to be sent home! Or, if you're in the area of Westfield, NY - go by and see her!

I had shifting problems at Mile 11 today. My bike got stuck in the "granny gears"! (Lowest gears). Rick, our mechanic, met me and got it into the middle gears - which I rode in all day. He promised to have it fixed tonight. Tomorrow will be another tough ride of 94 miles and 5100 feet of elevation climb! I'll need all my gears. We'll hit the 3000 mile mark tomorrow!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009

Reporting on: Thursday, June 18,2009

Riding Route: Day Off!

Temperature:57-67 degrees / Winds: 5mph

Woke up this morning and had chores on my mind. Champ and I met my brother and we walked down the street to do our laundry! Had a Starbucks with a few of the other guys while we were waiting. After that the three of us decided we'd go Presque Isle which is a 3,200-acre PA State park on a sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie. It's a popular area for swimming, boating and hiking and of course bike riding! It's famous for being the location of French, British and American forts - all of which still stand in replica today. It also served as base for Commodore Oliver Perry's fleet in the War of 1812! (He captured the area for the United States...and The Perry Monument onPresque Isle commemorates the U.S. naval victory on Lake Erie in the War of 1812). It was a major port in the 1800's - and as a result there are several lighthouses in the area. The park has been named one of the best places in the US to watch birds, and protects them in its Gull Point State Park Natural Area. It wasn't very crowded - but they boast over 4 million visitors a year!

After that we decided to take a boat tour of the Erie area. We went down to the docks and bought our tickets to go on "The Katie". (Picture above). There was not an overflowing crowd - in fact, only six of us! In essence it was a private tour! Where are all the tourists? Times must be tough! We learned that the earliest known inhabitants of the southern Lake Erie coast were the Eriehonan also known as the "Eriez", an Iroquois speaking tribe. Erielhonan meant the "Cat" or "Raccoon" people, and the name "Erie" became the name of the lake and county and city! Erie is the states fourth largest city in Pennsylvania with a population of 104,000. We Californian's can hardly relate to a city that small! We have over 40 cities that are bigger that that!

I also wanted to let you know how Pennsylvania got it's name. Its founder, English reformer William Penn, born in 1644, in London, England, named it in honor of his father. Persecuted in England for his Quaker faith, Penn came to America in 1682 and established Pennsylvania as a place where people could enjoy freedom of religion. The colony became a haven for minority religious sects from Germany, Holland, Scandinavia, and Great Britain. Penn obtained the land from King Charles II as payment for a debt owed to his deceased father. "Penn" comes from the family name - and "sylvania" means forest...hence Penn's Forest! My family has in it's possession an actual deed where William Penn deeded property to the DarlingtonFamily...altho closer to Philadelphia.

I can't tell you how nice it was to spend time with my brother! Thanks Steve! By the way, where did you get all that hair?

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009

Reporting on: Day 40 of the ride...June 17, 2009
Riding Route: From Niles, OH to Erie, PA
Temp: Cold and Windy and Rainy all Day!
Elevation Climb: 2500 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 89 miles

Have you ever seen the sky open up and dump a pouring rain on the parched land below? Well today was that kind of day! It was raining when we started - and we were in the rain all day. It was our first "all day rain " of the trip. We've had rain off and on, but there was no let up today! Of course the wind was right there with the rain...we'd take a left and the rain would be at our backs - and we'd take a right and the wind would be in our faces. Our first SAG stop (at about mile 36) many of the riders quit! They jumped in the van and went to the hotel! I have to admit that I made it only to mile 60. My fingers were white and numb, my feet were frozen, my shoes full of water and worst of all I couldn't see anything because my glasses were streaked with water the entire time. When you have rain coming from above, the visor helps keep the rain off the glasses. But, when the wind is blowing, the visor does no good - and the rain hits the glasses and continues on down to soak every part of your body. When the SAG wagon went by...I put my hand on my helmet...and they stopped. (We have the signals down pat)! Good common sense told me that it was time to quit! My group arrived at the hotel about 2:00 - and I'm sure the hot water bill of the hotel went up significantly! Boy did that hot shower feel good!

Crossroads Tours has an elite group of riders who belong to the "EFI Club". What's that you ask? It's the "Every Fantastic Inch" Club. It means you ride every inch of the trip. Some of us have other words for EFI! Use your imagination! We have 8 people who are hoping to become members this year. Let me tell you - those who stayed with the ride today - deserve it! More power to them - and we will all be proud of their accomplishment! However, I know that I didn't get to this ripe old age without using some good old fashion common sense!

I didn't take any pictures today. Certainly every picture would have been blurred with the streaks of rain coming down the lens! We have a day off tomorrow...hurray! Of course it will be laundry day - and we'll see what we can learn about Erie, PA! I can tell you that Erie is one of the cities in the triangle of Cleveland, OH, Buffalo, NY and Pittsburgh, PA (which is directly south). The city emerged as a maritime center after the American Revolution, then as a railroad hub during the great American westward expansion. It became an important city for iron and steel manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution and thrived well into the 20th century with big industry. Today Erie is known for it's heavy manufacturing sector which now consists mainly of plastics and locomotive building. They are part of the "Rust Belt"! Yep, I said Rust Belt! This area includes Minnesota (where massive iron operations took place which were critical to the steel industry) to Northern IL, IN and OH, MI, WI, NY, NJ and PA and down into the northern part of WVa. It signified the collapse of the steel industry which resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the region. The job losses dislocated many workers - particularly in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Syracuse, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Bethlehem and other towns forcing this area to diversify or decay. New technologies in this region include hydrogen fuel cell development, nanotechnology, biotech, information technology and wind power. These communities are hopeful that these new industries will help revitalize the economy of affected communities. Let's think about this: Did we bail out the steel companies? 

Tonight I had the pleasure of my brother Steve's company again - and that of Gayle and Bob McNeil. We hadn't seen Gayle and Bob for 12 years - and what a wonderful time we had catching up on family news. They made the trek over from New York - and I thank them for their effort. What fun it was to spend time with them and do a major "catch up"!

More tomorrow!

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TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2009

Reporting on: Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Riding Route: From Wooster to Niles, OH

Temperature: 56 - 78 degrees/Winds: 5-15 mph

Elevation Climb: 4600 feet

Miles Ridden Today: 100 with detours!

We have six days of l-o-n-g and hard peddling behind us - and one to go! Anyone who says Ohio is flat hasn't ridden it on a bike! Today was not near as fun as it should have been. The weather was good, the scenery terrific and the company great! Oh-oh you say...here comes another "but"! You're right! The roads were the worst we've experienced the entire trip. We've had days where we had places that were tough to ride...but this was an entire day of teeth jarring bumps and holes and cracks in the roads! On top of that we had several unplanned detours. I will also tell you that our group voted to give the Ohio drivers the prize for being "Absolute Jerks" (being said nicely) to bike riders! This was unanimous, absolute, unqualified and undisputed! If there was plenty of room on the road for them to move over - they came as close to us as possible...and blew their horns, swerved in front of us - and tried to run us off the road! At one point today I decided a HOG would be a better way to travel (picture above). You'll recall I couldn't get the little boy to trade bikes with me a few days ago - and today I couldn't get the big guy to either!

Last night I received a call from my good friend David Hawkins who lives in Canton. He and his wife Wendy drove over and had dinner with me tonight. You should have seen the three of us in their little Porsche Boxster! It was a challenge - but we did it! Thank goodness the restaurant wasn't too far away! We had a great meal and a wonderful time sharing thoughts and ideas! As many of you know, David is one of the preeminent showroom designers in the nation. If you're thinking of building out a showroom - he's your man!

My roommate Champ had a "crappy day" - as he put it! When he woke up this morning his bike had a flat tire. Then a couple of miles into the ride his bike computer gave out! He was going up a hill and the chain came off...and because the computer wasn't working he got lost! To top it all off 10 miles before we arrived at the hotel he had another flat tire! He did more than 100 miles today...and they were tougher than the rest of us had! It made us all stop complaining! However, a little time in the whirlpool helped him bounce back and he's in great spirits again.

Today Bob (who had the accident yesterday) had screws put in his ankle and his leg set. We were told that it was a good thing he had his helmet on - it was completed "shredded"! He's doing much better tonight! On a good note, Willie, one of our riders, is having 6 friends join him on the ride tomorrow. It really makes it fun when that happens. I've also got two more friends joining me before the ride is over.

A little history on Niles (population 21,000): It's known to most Ohioans as the birthplace of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. President McKinley's death in 1901 was the result of an attack by an assassin. It shocked the nation and especially people in this area...and in 1915 the McKinley Memorial was built in downtown Niles. The facility currently houses the community's library as well as a small museum. Not much else here!

Only 9 more riding days! Where has the time gone?

MONDAY, June 15, 2009

Reporting on: Monday, June 15, 2009

Riding Route: FromMarysville to Wooster, OH

Temperature: mid 50's to 80 degrees /Winds: 10 mph

Elevation Climb: 5100 feet

Miles Ridden Today: 97

Those of you who have been reading my blog from the beginning know that we lost a rider in Santa Fe, NM. He died doing what he loved! His death had a very sad and profound effect on each of us. Charlie had become part of our team and we've all put his name on our flags - which we fly each day on our bikes. He IS finishing this ride with us! We have now come to understand how much cycling meant to him...and I wanted to share the story with you. The following article appeared in his Vermont hometown newspaper on Friday:

"A Barre City man has bequeathed $1 million to his hometown and neighboring Barre Town to complete planned bike paths in the two communities.
Charles Semprebon died at age 66 on May 24 while on a cycling tour in Sante Fe, N.M.His family met with city and town officials last week to inform them of the bequest.

"I'm overwhelmed by Charlie's generosity," said Barre City Mayor Thom Lauzon. "Everyone who knew Charlie knew of his strong advocacy for fitness and cycling. This generous and thoughtful gift to our communities will help us realize Charlie's dream of a regional bike path that can be enjoyed by cyclists in perpetuity."

"For Charlie to honor his community so generously demonstrates just how much fitness, cycling and his community meant to him," said Jeff Blow, Barre Town chairman.
Semprebon was born in Barre, attended city schools and returned after graduating from college to work at the family-owned business,Calmont Beverage Company. He retired last year."

Today started out as a great day! We had good weather - with mild wind and no rain. BUT, (isn't there always a "but") at about mile 20 one of our riders, Bob...from Princeton, NJ was involved in an accident and had to be airlifted to Columbus. It was a case of just not seeing the other guy. He ran into a motorcycle...and ended up with multiple injuries. He was alert when the helicopter swooped him away - and all reports tonight indicate he is resting comfortably - and will have surgery tomorrow to set some broken bones. You're in our thoughts and prayers Bob. We wish you a speedy recovery and will miss having you with us! You'll be finishing this ride with us in our hearts and minds! All I can say is this cycling can be a rough sport!

The ride today took us through the town of Delaware, OH which is located near the center of the state, about 20 miles north of Columbus. It is the site of the Ohio Wesleyan University, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. The city is famous for The Little Brown Jug, an internationally famous harness race which is part of the Triple Crown of harness racing. President Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware...but there is very little note of it...just a small marker along one of the roads we were on. The picture above was taken there.

Our destination today was Wooster...which is home of the Rubbermaid brand of products. Tonight Champ and I had the pleasure of having dinner with my brother and his wife, Steve and Barbara who drove down from Cleveland. One of Steve's law school roommates and his wife also joined us for the evening. We had a great meal - and a great time! Thanks so much to the four of you for sharing time with us.

The map in the picture above shows our progress to date. Tomorrow we head to Niles, OH...a 91 mile ride! Weather reports tell us it will be 54 degrees when we leave in the morning - and we will see a high of around 81 degrees. Winds will be from the Northeast again at 5-10 mph. We keep wondering when they will change to be at our backs!

We're closing in on raising the amount of money I'd set as a goal for the DPHA Scholarship Fund. If any of you are holding out on your pledge to see if I'm going to make it all the way across the country I'm thinking you could do it now! There are only 10 riding days left - and I guarantee you I'm going to stay alert and healthy! My many thanks to all of you who have supported this worthy cause...and at the same time supported me with your thoughts, prayers and dollars. For once I think I'm speechless!

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SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009

Well, that's it for now! We're off to McPherson, KS tomorrow!

(Do you know you can double click on the photos to get a close up view?)

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FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009

Reporting on: Friday, May 28, 2009

Riding Route: 2 days riding from Guyman, OK to Liberal, KS and Liberal to Dodge City, KS

Temperature: 50 - 90 degrees/Winds: 10 mph

Elevation Climb: minimal

Miles Ridden: 39 miles the first day, 83 miles today

I have to admit that the entire trip is becomming blurred! It's tough sleeping in a different town and motel every night! Today we are in our fourth state in 4 days! I used to think a 40 mile ride was a great accomplishment - but man has 7 months made a huge difference in my outlook.

Yesterday we rode from Guymon to Liberal, Kansas. It was an easy ride. We left in 65 degree weather and it rose to 90 by 3 p.m. Our first stop after leaving Guymon was a small town called Hooker! Yep, that's really the name of a town - and you can imagine the fun we had with it! Several of us stopped and bought tee shirts - and some of the slogans were...uh-h-h well, you know! (You can see me in the picture above "propositioning" Nancy...to no avail!). Liberal is the home of Dorothy's original house of OZ - and Highway 54 is officially designated as the Yellow Brick Road. There is also a wonderful air museum in the town. My first question when hearing that we were going to be staying in "Liberal" was "Is there a "Conservative", KS?" Did I need to get El Rushbo on the band wagon? Although some of you may think of its name as a political statement, Liberal really got its name from a spirit of hospitality and generosity. In the 1880's water was a rare commodity in Southwest Kansas. S.S Rogers homesteaded this area and always offered free water to every traveler. He was considered very generous and "liberal" with this valuable resource.

Today we rode from Liberal to Dodge City...83 miles in sunny weather and gentle winds. Our first SAG stop at Mile 38 was in Meade, KS. This is home to the famous Dalton Gang hideout... which we took time to visit (pictured above). Most of you will remember that the Dalton Gang was an infamous outlaw group in the American Old West during 1890-1892...and they specialized in bank and train robberies. There were 15 children in the Dalton family - and several of them started out on the side of the law...being deputy marshalls. But that changed - and they became the enemy of the law! Their last robbery attempt occurred the morning of October 5, 1892 when five members of the Gang (Grat Dalton, Emmett Dalton, Bob Dalton, Bill Power and Dick Broadwell) rode into the small town of Coffeyville, Kansas. Their objective was to achieve financial security and make outlaw history by simultaneously robbing two banks in daylight. From the beginning, their audacious plan went astray. The hitching post where they intended to tie their horses had been torn down due to road repairs. This forced the gang to hitch their horses in a near-by alley - a fateful decision. To disguise their identity, 

(Coffeyville was the Dalton's hometown) two of the Daltons wore false beards and wigs. Despite this, the gang was recognized as they 

crossed the town's wide plaza where they split up and entered the two banks. Suspicious townspeople watched through the banks' wide front windows as the robbers pulled their guns. Someone on the street shouted, "The bank is being robbed!" and the citizens quickly armed themselves - taking up firing positions around the banks. The firefight lasted less than fifteen minutes. A brief moment in time in which four townspeople lost their lives, four members of the Dalton Gang were gunned down and a small Kansas town became part of history.

Onward to Dodge City: At mile 60 we turned due north on Route 283 where there was minimal traffic. I couldn't help think about the words to "America the Beautiful" (O beautiful for spacious skies",for amber waves of grain; for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea). We've been riding under spacious skies, through the waves of grain, we've seen the purple mountains majesty and we're riding from sea to shining sea!

Dodge City's history began with the establishment of Fort Dodge in 1865. Its purpose was to protect wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail and to serve as a supply base for troops involved in the Indian Wars to the south. Dodge City was founded in 1872 and quickly became the world's largest shipping point for Longhorn cattle. It was the wildest of the early frontier towns, but law and order was soon established with the help of men such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Bill Tilghman. We visited the Boot Hill Museum (pictured above with Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp) and watched re-enactments of shootouts and events of it's early history. It's a great town to visit with your family if you have any interest in early western history!

Carol will be visiting me in Abilene in 3 days! Hurray!

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

Reporting on: Wednesday, May 26, 2009

Riding Route: From Dalhart, TX to Guyman, OK via Route 90

Temperature: 43-75 degrees/Winds: 10-30 mph

Elevation Climb: 500 Feet

Miles Ridden Today: 76

It was 43 degrees when we began our ride today...sunny with light winds. Not a bad start! By noon it was 75 degrees and we were meeting 30 mph head winds...reminiscent of yesterday! In Texas, Route 90 is only two lanes with very little berm riding area. The minute we crossed over into Oklahoma it became a 4 lane road, wide berms and a grassy median strip between the lanes. I want to thank my friend Faye Norton for paying lots of taxes so we could enjoy the good roads!

When we left Dalhart, TX this morning we were immediately in a big wheat producing area. The land was irrigated, the green fields were refreshing - and we couldn't keep count of the number of silos we saw. All day the roads were FLAT. (I only used three gears the entire day). Definitely easier terrain today than yesterday! Yes, the wind was still tough, but having a divided road made a huge difference! (We passed miles of wind farms today also - very appropriate for this area)!

I sprinkled my good luck sand (the riders call it "fairy dust") at the base of the "Welcome to Oklahoma" sign. Margaret and Mac, two of our support people , are in the above picture with me. Margaret's from Florida - and Mac's from England. Both of them have done this ride...and now are back as volunteer support people. We couldn't do it without them!

Four of us arrived in Guymon about 2:30 and stopped at the "Burger Barn" for lunch (pictured above). The owner, Albert, was genuinely interested in our adventure. He took our picture and said it would be up on his wall next time we stopped by! Guymon is best known for it's Pioneer Days Rodeo which has been celebrating our pioneer spirit every May since the 1930s. The Rodeo is the 5th Largest Outdoor Rodeo and the 10th Largest Rodeo in Prize Money in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The city's largest employer, a pork processing plant, processes 16,000 hogs daily, and its 2,300 employees make up about 20% of the entire city's population. You can thank them when you have your bacon tomorrow morning!

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009

Reporting on: Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Riding Route: Tucumcari, NM to Dalhart, TX via Route 54
Temp: 50's to 70's - Winds: 10-30 mph

Elevation Climb: 3300 feet

Miles Ridden Today: another century! - Second one in a row!

In life's experiences, some days are great, others are okay and some are just bad! I began my day by breaking off a valve stem in my tire - and Jim (a retired Chem prof) announcing that we were to have strong winds from the northeast ALL day! If you look at the map you'll see that we were riding NE ALL day! Yep! Jim was right! The winds hit us dead-on in the face every mile we rode today.

We made it to the first SAG stop at mile 29. The ride had been hard, but bearable! When we left the SAG stop winds were a minimum of 30 mph. It was the hardest headwind most of us had ever experienced. To put it in perspective: on a normal riding day I will average 17 mph - not killing myself. Today I averaged 10.5 mph overall for the day. I hit 7-8 mph going uphill - pedaling as hard as I could...and I had to pedal just as hard going downhill...and maybe hit 14 mph! I was in the "fast" group riding today. I'm glad I was, because the slower group hit LOTS of rain - and we had none! If you believe in a "wind God" - then say a prayer for us tonight that the winds let up! All in all the scenery was boring today! No ranches, people, gas stations, stores. Nothing! I have to tell you I'm tired of the high desert and scrub brush - and think even the cows are bored with the area! (At mile 54 we crossed from NM into Texas - our third state line crossing. Yes, we sprinkled our Manhattan Beach sand at the sign post - but I'm not sure the omen for a great ride in Texas was with us)!

Only a few more comments on the ride today. We experienced lots of traffic, but it was the wind in my ears that drove me nuts! The trucks coming from the opposite direction created 5 X the noise and draft. It must have been the angle of the wind! And, I have to admit I had my first flat tire today... at mile 85. I had one tube with me and it exploded because it got "pinched" in the tire! Needless to say I spent the last 15 miles in the van. I had mixed emotions - because I wanted to finish the ride. But on the other hand - I felt a bit of relief at the break.

As we headed in to Dalhart (population about 7,000) we passed HUGE feeding lot areas owned by the XIT ranch. It's a shipping point for agriculture and cattle and has the world's largest amateur rodeo in late summer. Up to 400,000 cattle are in the feed lots here. Can you imagine the smell? The XIT Ranch was more than 3 million acres at one point. Things are big in Texas! It's also in the center of the "Dust Bowl", an area that was (and still is) adversely affected by long periods of draught and dust storms during the Great Depression of the 1930's.

We passed into another time zone today: Central Standard Time. At 6:30 this evening we were having dinner - and George, a physician from Springfield, MO arrived in his biking cloths. He had finally finished the ride for the day! We saluted him and voted him hero of the week! Go George!

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009

Reporting on: Monday, May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day)

Riding Route: Las Vegas NM to Tucumcari, NM

Temperature: 48-87 degrees/ Winds: Headwinds @ 10mph

Elevation Climb: 4200 feet

Miles Ridden Today: 109

Today was both a good day & a tough day! Let me tell you the good part first. It was a perfect day for cycling! I think this is how I imagined riding across this great country of ours would be: great scenery, mountains that were snow capped, cattle in the fields beside us, huge gates into ranch entrances, a two lane road with barely any traffic! Sounds idillic, huh? It was! However, it was a l-o-n-g 109 miles with more up and down than any of us had anticipated. Our day ended at about the 4000 foot elevation mark - which is 2500 feet lower than yesterday. I rode most of the day by myself. I like the peace and quiet and the time to reflect.

Right after our first SAG stop (mile 27) we encountered a huge downhill run (picture above). I opted to take an 8 mile "bump" in the van. It turned out to be wisdom at it's best! (Yes, with age comes wisdom)! It was an 8% downhill grade with switchbacks, guard rails and cattle guards. I told you I didn't like going downhill! Champ topped out at 42 mph - and our hotshot rider, Peter, who loves the downhills hit a top speed of 52 mph. Heck, I'd still be on the road if I had decided to ride it!

At mile 66 we had the hardest "short climb" of the trip. (The climbing up doesn't bother me)! All cyclists call it "the wall". It's less than a mile of 9% grade - straight up hill! The temperature had risen to 86 degrees - and the arm coolers felt good! We reached our first 1000 mile distance today - as you can see in the picture above. Hurray! At mile 80 I was ready to be at the hotel. I was tired, my back and neck were stiff - and I can tell you that I don't think my butt will ever get use to sitting in the saddle that long. All of us were tired when we hit the hotel about 4:15.

Now to the tough part of my story. Yesterday as we were leaving the hotel in Santa Fe we saw an EMT truck pull into the hotel parking lot. No one thought much of it until last evening when we learned that one of our riders, Charlie Semprebon (age 66) from Vermont, had passed away in his sleep on Saturday night. I can't tell you how it affected all of us. Charlie was a great guy - and a real team member. Tracy and the team put together a tribute to Charlie: This morning all of us rode five miles out of town where we gathered. Then we did a two mile ride, single file - with a van in the front - and a van in the rear. We left an open spot for Charlie. It was emotional and overwhelming as we rode in silence - each saying a prayer in our own way. I can tell you it's mighty hard to ride with tears streaming down your face. A very poignant thing happened as we began our ride. A group of wild mustangs joined us - running along the fence...and they stayed with us for almost the entire two miles. We figured Charlies spirit was in there among them. Bless you Charlie.

Tonight we're in Tucumcari. The town's claim to fame is that many of the scenes from the TV show "Rawhide" (1959 to 1966) starring one of my favorite actors, Clint Eastwood, were shot in this area. Yep, Clint is now 79 years young. He should be on this trip with us!

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Reporting on: May 24, 2009
Riding Route: Santa Fe to Las Vegas
Temp:44 to 70 degrees - Cloudy/Winds: not much wind!
Elevation Climb:4800 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 72

We had a GREAT ride today! We left this morning in cloudy 44 degree weather - with a 40% chance of rain in the forecast. (However, no rain plagued us)! We immediately started climbing - and all day it was "up and down" the mountains...anywhere from a 4%-8% grade. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it was a challenge to some of us! The terrain was beautiful. We were on Route 66 for all but 5 miles of riding on Highway 25. Tracy told us this is the last of highway riding! We're done with the heavy traffic areas! All of us let out a huge shout at that news! I need to tell you that each day I get up I still have butterflies in my stomach - just not knowing what is ahead...but 4-5 miles into the ride it's forgotten and I'm zoned into the challenge of the day!

This area of Route 66 was officially designated part of The Santa Fe Trail in 1987 by the National Park Service. It extends for nearly 1,200 miles across five states...beginning in Missouri and obviously ending in Santa Fe. It's history began in 1821 when it became America’s first great international commercial "highway" (between the US and Mexico). With the outbreak of the U.S.-Mexican War in 1846, it became a military highway of invasion until U.S. forces brought an end to Mexican control of the region. Following that time and for nearly sixty years it remained one of the nation’s great routes of adventure and western expansion.



Today was the highest point of our ride: 7570 feet. We peaked at Glorieta Pass in northern NM in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In 1862 a decisive battle in the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War took place in this pass. The victory by the Union Army (mostly of the Colorado Militia) prevented the breakout of the Confederate Army forces onto the High Plains...which halted the intended Confederate advance northward along the base of the Rocky Mountains. (Sorry to pepper you with so many facts...but you know I'm a history buff)!



Okay, you looked at the pictures above. A few days ago I challenged you to guess which animal I'd have my picture taken with next. Did any of you guess a buffalo? Poor guy didn't survive long enough for me to ride him! Lets see, how many animals is that so far? The second picture is of me with Amber Lynn Vacero, who is Miss Teen for Las Vegas. She and her parents were at the hotel serving hot dogs and hamburgers to raise money for her to participate in the Miss New Mexico Pageant. All of us supported her - even if we didn't eat!



Tonight we're in Las Vegas. That's Las Vegas, New Mexico! No gambling here! As we rode into town we passed through "Old Town"...and it certainly has the "old west" look! It is famous because it was home to many notorious characters of the Old West. A few names you'll recognize are dentist Doc Holliday and his girlfriend Big Nose Kate (yes, for real!), Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp and the Durango Kid. The word on the street is that there was no town with a more disreputable gang of desperadoes and outlaws! I hope I survive the night here!

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SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2009

Reporting on: Saturday, May 23, 2009

Riding Route: From Albuquerque to Santa Fe

Elevation Climb: 5300 feet

Weather: Terrible!

Miles Ridden Yesterday: 66

Today we have a day off - and we really need it after the cold and windy climb to Santa Fe yesterday! We left the hotel about 7:30am in balmy, but cloudy and windy, 70 degree weather. About a half hour out the rain really started coming down and the winds kicked up to about 35 mph. We had our first SAG stop at mile 36. All of us were freezing cold by then...the temperature had dropped to about 50 degrees and we were wet and shivering. Several of us were ready to jump in the van. Margret, one of our drivers, started the van and turned the heater on. My fingers were totally numb and I sat holding them by the heater for 20 minutes before the feeling came back. Not a good thing! Margret gave each of us 2 pairs of plastic food serving gloves to wear under our bike gloves and we were ready to go again. It did the trick!

We headed on up the mountain and had lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid. When you "belly up to the bar" at the Mine Shaft you will be served from the longest stand-up bar in New Mexico! We passed on the bar – but had a cup of hot soup…which was appreciated more than any drink would have been! Back out on the road the wind changed direction and the rain was directly in our faces. It was miserable! The slow climb on into Santa Fe was tough. There were several riders who ended up riding the remainder of the way in the van - but yours truly completed the ride all the way! Another challenge met! The first thing I did after checking into the hotel was put on my swim suit on and head for the hot tub! Ah-h-h to thaw out! The remainder of the day was cloudy and stormy.

Just a few words on the Turquoise Trail. It’s a 65 mile National Scenic Byway that begins in the town of Tijeras about 16 miles east of Albuquerque. Madrid and neighboring Cerrillos to the north (both designated ghost towns) have long been known for the turquoise nestled in the surrounding hills. The beautiful blue-green stone was first mined by the Pueblo people as early as 900 A.D. It was continuously mined by the Indians for centuries. The area was later discovered by Spaniards who also searched the area for silver and gold. In the early 1800’s, American prospectors moved into the area and in the 1880’s large coal mine companies began operations.

Last night we had dinner at “The Cowgirl Hall of Fame” restaurant. One of our riders knew the owner – who put on quite a feast for us. Kim and Nick, our daughter and son-in-law lived here until recently – and have given us a list of several things to do. First trek today is a visit to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum…and then into town.

The forecast for the next three days is thunderstorms, wind and rain. We have 9 straight days of riding ahead of us before our next “day off”. That will be in Abilene, KS – where Carol is going to meet me. Her sister, Wendy, lives in St. George,KS – so I’ll get to see family along the way. A home cooked meal sounds good to me!

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THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009

Reporting on: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Riding Route: From Grants NM to Albuquerque
Temp: 50-60 degrees - Winds:10 mph
Elevation Climb: 2700 feet

Miles Ridden Today: 75 (well, sort of)!

We were up at 5:30 am and walked about 1/3 mile to Denny's to have a Grand Slam breakfast! You can't believe how much I'm eating! Rain was in the forecast for the entire day and the hotel employees gave us shower caps to put over our helmets as we left in low 50 degree weather. Great idea, huh? It poured for the first hour! The roads were slippery, it was hard to see (especially for those of us with glasses) and our hands were c-o-l-d!

We completed about 30 miles on Route 66 - passing a few lost and forgotten towns! Traffic was minimal and it was an easy ride - especially when the rain eventually let up! (In fact it stopped after about an hour and we didn't feel another drop the rest of the day)! The picture above is typical of many of the buildings we have passed in the past several days. This isBudville! It was named for H.N. “Bud” Rice. The town began when Bud and his wife Flossie opened an automobile service, trading post, and tour operation in 1928. It was a full fledged business for the many travelers of Route 66 for many decades The store was held up by desperadoes in 1967 and unfortunately Bud was murdered. Flossie continued to run the family business for another 12 years before it closed for good. Now I can guarantee you "This Bud's NOT for you"!

After our first SAG stop we got back on Interstate 40 - BUT - there was road construction - and NO bikes were allowed! So we packed into the vans (6-8 at a time with the bikes on top) and were shuttled about 16 miles throughthe construction zone. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow! Tracy - our tour captain, did a great job! We then had 19 more miles on I40 and I have to tell you it just wore me out! We had a 2 foot riding area because the rest of the berm was like a washboard. You know - with the ruts in it to wake you up if you're dozing off! There seemed to be an inordinate amount of noise and smell from the big rigs - and they were traveling a 65+ mph about 2 feet from us...creating a draft that was a challenge to not get sucked into! Also, my legs just didn't have the same "juice" today!

The last 5 miles of the day were straight uphill - and as we crested the top we looked down into a huge valley...home of the largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque! We rode through town and across the Rio GrandeRiver! This is the second longest river in North America. It's second only in length to the Mississippi/Missouri River. We arrived at the hotel about 2:00.

We are losing 6 members of our riding team here. Many of our riders are still working full time - and 2 weeks was all the time they could take off! It's sad to see them leave us and I imagine it will change the dynamics our our group. Tonight a dozen+ of us went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant in "Old Town" to bid them farewell! We have a couple of people joining our group here - and we're looking forward to getting to know them.

Tomorrow will be a challenging ride up to Santa Fe, NM. I'll be reporting on our route up the Turquoise Trail!

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2009

Reporting on: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Riding Route: From Gallup, NM to Grants, NM

Temperature: 75 degrees/Winds: up to 45 mph

Elevation Climb: 1800 feet

Miles Ridden Today:  67

Well, I have to admit that today was one of the more unusual days of my ride so far. We began an hour later than usual because we only had 67 miles to ride today...and it was relatively level terrain! It was a beautiful sunny morning! As I was leaving town a guy in a pickup truck turned right in front of me. I mean RIGHT in front of me. He claimed he never saw me! I was going about 15 mph and I'll tell you it was the closest I've ever come to being creamed, wiped out, gone! When we both finally stopped there was less than 12 inches between us. I'm glad I'm here to report to you tonight!

Route 66 was our road of the day again! In my effort to give you a few tidbits about the area we're in each day here are a few facts: The song "Route 66" was composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troupe. It was recorded that same year by one of my favorite singers...Nat King Cole. Us "oldsters" will remember that version! But many of you will remember it being performed by other artists...including Perry Como, Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones. The song's lyrics follow the path of U.S Route 66, which ran from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA. The highway got it's number designation in 1926. The two lane, fully paved road was completed by 1938 - just prior to WWII - and helped this country facilitate the single greatest wartime manpower mobilization in our history. Later, in President Eisenhower's second term he pushed Congress for passage of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. This bill financed the cost of the national interstate and "defense highway" system. However, by 1970, nearly all segments of original Route 66 were replaced/bypassed by Interstate 40 - a "modern" four-lane highway. Well, I can tell you that all of us got "our kicks - on Route 66" today!

The only time we had to be back on Interstate 40 today was for a short 19 mile stretch - which proved to be the worst road section we've had on our trip since beginning in Manhattan Beach. The shoulder was full of debris & gravel - deep gravel! It was like trying to ride a dirt bike in the sands of the Sahara! UGH! We couldn't ride on the road because there was so much traffic.

We had a SAG stop ( to new readers SAG = Support and Gear) at the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7275 feet. Peter, if you're reading this blog to your children tonight let them know that the Continental Divide is the line that divides the flow of water between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean... and runs from northwestern Canada along the crest of the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. Show them the pictures above!

We (Champ, Tom and I rode together all day) had soft rain in the early afternoon and watched as a "very visual weather front" began moving in on us. About 10 minutes later the winds came up...and as it hit us we endured about 15-20 minutes of 35-40 mph winds. We were literally doing everything possible to stay on our bikes. Then the winds diminished to a mere 25 mph tailwind and pushed us down the final hill into Grants, NM. No pedaling necessary for 20+ miles!

Most of the day was a beautiful ride with rolling hills and mountains in the distance. Tomorrow thunderstorms are again forecast. We can handle the rain - but sure hope the winds aren't as bad as they were today.

My last thought tonight regards the Rod Denhart Memorial Scholarship Fund...the cause I'm riding for. To date DPHA has posted just shy of $20,000 in the account. My goal is $25,000 - so we still have a way to go. I have a picture of Rod tucked in my shirt every day as I ride - and his spirit surely is helping me along on this endeavor. If you would like to donate you can go to the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware's http://www.bikewithhank.com/ site. I thank each of you with sincere and heartfelt thanks! Each and every dollar helps us achieve this goal.