Why

Why

Friday 1^st March, 2019

During the past many months, when we mentioned our plans to bike across the country, the usual response was “are you crazy to undertake a 3400 mile cross-country (LA to Boston) bike trip, especially at your age (of 68)”.  Their next response was “Why”.

 

The answer is quite simple; life is an adventure and biking is something that Judi and I are passionate about and can share together.  Our second date was an afternoon bike trip along the Farmington River, in a location called “Pleasant Valley”.  This was the start of many adventures including a week bike trip in Holland (during the tulip blossom season) and our annual bike excursions around the beaches in Natucket. 

 

A cross-country bike trip has been a dream and bucket list activity of mine for decades.  I have fond memories of a 2300 mile 89-day bike trip throughout Western Europe during the summer of 1974.  During that trip I discovered that traveling at a more leisurely pace via bike afforded an opportunity to more fully experience traveling in new regions and local culture.  Furthermore, biking created an ideal avenue to meet people along the way, thereby resulting in a richer experience.

 

In March 2018 I was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare and so far, an incurable lymphoma.  We delayed our bike trip by at least 1 year.  After 6-months of chemo and immunotherapy treatments I resumed training in November.  After the treatments I increased the intensity of training while learning to appreciate and be thankful for life, especially at a slower pace.  I am still working on “being present”, which was never previously part of my hectic life.

 

We seriously started to turn our dream into a possibility during the fall of 2017.  Several weeks were spent researching options, routes, level of support and trip operators. There are 5 basic cross-country routes- starting in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  The level of support ranges from “none”, which means carrying all of the gear and then camping every night, to fully supported, with the operator providing hotels, meals, support van to transport luggage and provide 1-2 snack daily stops along the route, bicycle mechanics and the all important SAG (support and gear) wagon, which will transport riders a portion of or the entire daily ride, if needed. 

 

A fully supported trip (a hot meal, hotel beds and assistance, if needed) was a mandatory requirement by Judi.  The route was from LA to Boston that diagonally crossed the US, while passing through 15 states, seems the most interesting.

 

 

Snow

Sunday 3^rd March, 2019

 

 

First outdoor bike ride.  Only 3 miles because of the prior day 3” snowstorm.  Due to a cold and snowy winter, we have been unable to bike outside in Connecticut or any neighboring states.

  

 

 

Florida training

Monday 11^rd March, 2019

 

Today we start driving to Florida on a 6 week vacation and intense bike training.  Our goal is:

- bike at least 1000 mile.

- including one 100 mile bike ride.

- strength training on the off biking days. 

- acclimatize to the heat and humidity.

 

 

We have rented a house on the inter-coastal waterway adjacent to Siesta Key, which is 10 mile south of Sarasota, on the Gulf side. 

 

 

 

 

First Biking Day

Friday 15^rd March, 2019

 

Location: Trail-to-Trails central Florida

Distance: 34 miles

Temp: 91 F

 

First official day of biking in Florida and of the season.  After months of spinning we are finally on our bikes.  Result: sore butt.  Not surprising for our first day.  At this moment a 100-mile ride does seem unattainable.

 

 

Siesta Key house

Saturday 16^rd March, 2019

 

Arrived at rental home.  Story too long but, in short, beautiful home on waterfront lot with many maintenance and owner issues.  Fortunately the location and view makes up for all the shortcomings.

 

Bike Trail

Sunday 17^rd March, 2019

 

 

Location: Legacy rail-to-trails   

Distance: 20 miles

Temp: 80 F

 

 

Legacy Trail, located about 5 miles from the house, is a paved 20 miles long and is connected to Venetian Waterway Trail which is paved 4.5 mile long.  These trails are flat but with 2 highway overpasses, which provide some hill training.  These trail plus residential streets are our primary training trails during the next 4 weeks.

 

Alligator was about 15 feet off the trail in a drainage ditch.  Mom had about 15 little ones, each approx. 1 foot long.

 

 

Increasing daily bike distance

Tuesday 26^rd March, 2019

 

Location: Legacy rail-to-trails

Distance: 62 miles

Temp: 85 F

Set a distance record for Judi and I – 62 miles.  Our prior best was 50 miles. 

 

 

Another record

Saturday 6^rd April, 2019

Location: Legacy rail-to-trails

Distance: 75 miles

Temp: 85 F

 

Set another distance record today – 75 miles.