In St. Augustine I stopped at a cafe and had 2nd breakfast. 2nd breakfast is one of my favorite parts about burning 5000 plus calories per day. That and 2nd lunch, 2nd dinner and before bed snack. Anyhow, second breakfast today consisted of a huge blueberry muffin and a spinach and feta croissant all washed down with a couple cups of coffee (my favorie drug). Florida is a great biking area. The shoulders are huge. Most areas have separate bike lanes, the towns range from middle income beach towns that retain the small, older beach town feel to super upscale estates (Pointe Verde) that have irrigation systems for not only the lawns but also the shrubby transition areas of the property. St. Augustine is in there too but the history there puts it in a class of it's own. Atlantic beach and Neptune beach have a nice little town center. Some of the beaches are geared more towards campers and some more towards the all inclusive traveller. The FL State park system is the best I've seen yet. Very clean, tidy campsites and great showers and facilities.
I've had to hit a couple ferry crossings on this trip and I've decided that ferry crossings are one of the best things going. I wouldn't mind living someplace where my commute included a ferry crossing. They force you take atleast 15 minutes of your life and do nothing important but look at the other side. It's a a slowdown and a separation between the busy work/errands of the day and the home living part of the day. It forces you to either plan your trips or adapt to situations due to the lack of planning. Mostly though, I just like sitting on the ferry and thinking; thinking about small seemingly insignificant things very slowly, then forgetting them, and then realizing that I'm ok with that.
I met some annoying but playful squirrels tonight at the campground, nearly domesticated. I also had a beer and a burrito on Daytona Beach. One beer nearly knocked me out after the heat and excercise today. It was a 110 mile day that started off great until the sun decided to start squeezing.
Once again the battery is going so I to must leave. It's time for bed anyhow.
Until next time. May you find the time to think about the not so important stuff and then forget about it.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
My Friends the Raccoons
I had another visit from Mr or Mrs Raccoon last night ( I wasn't about to offend by inquiring gender). Seems ad though they wanted something to eat. I woke up and hung all food and all bags from branches only to find that FL raccoons are a
domesticated species. I'm sure that if I wanted the raccoon would have taken food from my hand. As it was, he would only get about 8 to 10 ft away from me unless I started making noise and waving my arms.
I woke up around 5:30 this morning and was on the road around 6:30 am. Time to beat the heat. After 3 pm you don't really want to be on the road. From 1 pm to 3 pm it's hot enough to wear you down twice as fast as normal. Lots of water and a slow afternoon pace keep me moving for a little bit longer though. This morning I've been flying at a 20-22 mph pace. Only 6 hours of riding today if I keep this up. Battery is dying so I'll be back later to tell you all about St. Augustine Florida.
stay cool
Brad
domesticated species. I'm sure that if I wanted the raccoon would have taken food from my hand. As it was, he would only get about 8 to 10 ft away from me unless I started making noise and waving my arms.
I woke up around 5:30 this morning and was on the road around 6:30 am. Time to beat the heat. After 3 pm you don't really want to be on the road. From 1 pm to 3 pm it's hot enough to wear you down twice as fast as normal. Lots of water and a slow afternoon pace keep me moving for a little bit longer though. This morning I've been flying at a 20-22 mph pace. Only 6 hours of riding today if I keep this up. Battery is dying so I'll be back later to tell you all about St. Augustine Florida.
stay cool
Brad
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
F-L-O-R-I-D-A. And say it like you mean it!!!
After hitting up McDonalds for the $2 for 2 Sausage McGriddle's special Jeff and I pedalled off full of cheap, empty calories. I think this special could be a new winner in the Cheapest Calories competition. We took our own route out of Folkston and crossed into FL around 11am. This was amazing, the last state. Jeff and I swapped stories for the next few hours until we finally separated and went our separate ways. I pedalled into the Fernandono Beach area and stopped to digest the fact that the Atlantic Ocean and FL were
finally combined together and I was standing there looking at it. At this point it's all worth it. Every hill, every pedal stroke, every dog, every ache, every look from every stranger that told me I should pedal faster, all of it. The one thing that wouldake this perfect is if Jennifer was here to share the moment....my biggest lesson yet and probably the one I knew I'd not only learn but truly feel at this very moment.
So, now I need to call it a night. Once again, I have much more to write but the heat is unbearable down here so it's more important then ever to ride in the early am. Just as a quick sendoff, tonight I'm at Little Talbot Island State Park and I've mapped out the rest of my stops. If everything goes as planned then I'll be in Key West on June 3rd. The heat is going to put a stop to my 200 mile day because their just isn't enough cool hours to get the job done. Maybe when I get home I'll try something like that.
Until next time, may you always keep the excitemt nearby and always have the best people to share of with.
finally combined together and I was standing there looking at it. At this point it's all worth it. Every hill, every pedal stroke, every dog, every ache, every look from every stranger that told me I should pedal faster, all of it. The one thing that wouldake this perfect is if Jennifer was here to share the moment....my biggest lesson yet and probably the one I knew I'd not only learn but truly feel at this very moment.
So, now I need to call it a night. Once again, I have much more to write but the heat is unbearable down here so it's more important then ever to ride in the early am. Just as a quick sendoff, tonight I'm at Little Talbot Island State Park and I've mapped out the rest of my stops. If everything goes as planned then I'll be in Key West on June 3rd. The heat is going to put a stop to my 200 mile day because their just isn't enough cool hours to get the job done. Maybe when I get home I'll try something like that.
Until next time, may you always keep the excitemt nearby and always have the best people to share of with.
The Death of Fate
This is going to be a short post about the past couple days because I really want to get to a new post about today, I'm trying to keep some sense of order here if you can't tell.
Yesterday I started off the day staring a 130 mile ride in the face. That was the last thing I felt like doing, but you don't get to the end of the day without putting in the first mile. As I was fumbling through my maps I realized that one section of the route met up with the route again three sections away. Helloooooo shortcut!!!!! I'm finding out that everyday on this trip, you always find what you're looking for. There are just so many options out there and so many different paths that if you can't find a way out or a better option then you're not really looking hard enough. Life lesson number 5641.
I started the day from Reidsville, GA and ended near the Okeefenokee Swamp in Folkston, GA. Monday night in Reidsville was spent at a $40 hotel (the Indian woman behind the counter gave $2.80 off because I chatted it up with her for 30 minutes or better). While riding to Reidsville earlier that day I crossed the SC/GA border. This was the worst concentration of loose dogs that I've seen yet. Pitbull after pitbull after....Cujo? Who the heck owns these dogs and haven't they ever heard of a leash? After the dogs I hit a stretch of dirt road that Jess and Mike warned me about. They were right, it was soft and I almost crashed numerous times. The whole stretch of the road I was praying, "please God, no dogs, please!!!!" I guess you could say I'm one of those "Oh Shit" believers.
Ok, so that is over with. I rode past huge Vidalia Onion farms, guys spraying the heck out of pecan trees, corn field after wheat field after oat field, and all else that makes Georgia what it is. While in Statesboro, GA I learned that SC actually producesore and supposedly better peaches then GA. As the peach juice was dripping offs hands I had to agree. I stopped at Vandy's BBQ in Statesboro and needed to look up a review for the place online before eating there because the outside of the building looked so bad. The review confirmed what I thought when I saw the large smoker out back, one of the best BBQ joints in Statesboro. When I went inside to order everybody stared at me for about the first 10 minutes (common occurance down here that I'm becoming very accustomed to). "What's everybody order here" I ask the woman as she walks up to my table. "Large plate, potato salad and stew combo." It was good to the last drop. The plate came with four pieces off Sunbeam bread (as it should have because Sunbeam must have given Vandy's their sign back in 1970. One huge Sunbeam Bread sign hanging from the front of the building with "Vandy's Bbq" underneath it in small letters. Anyway , I used every last breadcrumb to make sure that nothing was left on the plate, slurped up the rest of the sweet tea, and wished I had another stomach so I could order another.
I wish I could post more frequently because every minute something new happens that is worthy of a sentence. I used to wonder how travel writers filled up a whole book but now I understand.
After my departure from Reidsville and finding the shortcut I found Jeff Greenberg. As it turns out, Jeff is going to Key West via bike also. This is a long story about how we met, but we did so we rode together. Jeff looks about 10 years younger then he is and has the enthusiasm of someonewho is 20 years younger. I pushed Jeff to ride way past his intended mileage on Tuesday, but it was worth it. We shared a pizza at Mikey's Pizza in Folkston, GA and then found a great campsite for $5 per tent. There were beautiful Magnolia trees all around with moss hanging from the limbs. In the middle of the night I had a friend who wanted to get into my bag of food. I moved quick in the hammock and let out a pssssttttt sound which sent the critter straight up into the air and then intothe woods. Jeff helped me to hang my food off a tree just in case he came back.
In the am it was time for another day of riding.
Yesterday I started off the day staring a 130 mile ride in the face. That was the last thing I felt like doing, but you don't get to the end of the day without putting in the first mile. As I was fumbling through my maps I realized that one section of the route met up with the route again three sections away. Helloooooo shortcut!!!!! I'm finding out that everyday on this trip, you always find what you're looking for. There are just so many options out there and so many different paths that if you can't find a way out or a better option then you're not really looking hard enough. Life lesson number 5641.
I started the day from Reidsville, GA and ended near the Okeefenokee Swamp in Folkston, GA. Monday night in Reidsville was spent at a $40 hotel (the Indian woman behind the counter gave $2.80 off because I chatted it up with her for 30 minutes or better). While riding to Reidsville earlier that day I crossed the SC/GA border. This was the worst concentration of loose dogs that I've seen yet. Pitbull after pitbull after....Cujo? Who the heck owns these dogs and haven't they ever heard of a leash? After the dogs I hit a stretch of dirt road that Jess and Mike warned me about. They were right, it was soft and I almost crashed numerous times. The whole stretch of the road I was praying, "please God, no dogs, please!!!!" I guess you could say I'm one of those "Oh Shit" believers.
Ok, so that is over with. I rode past huge Vidalia Onion farms, guys spraying the heck out of pecan trees, corn field after wheat field after oat field, and all else that makes Georgia what it is. While in Statesboro, GA I learned that SC actually producesore and supposedly better peaches then GA. As the peach juice was dripping offs hands I had to agree. I stopped at Vandy's BBQ in Statesboro and needed to look up a review for the place online before eating there because the outside of the building looked so bad. The review confirmed what I thought when I saw the large smoker out back, one of the best BBQ joints in Statesboro. When I went inside to order everybody stared at me for about the first 10 minutes (common occurance down here that I'm becoming very accustomed to). "What's everybody order here" I ask the woman as she walks up to my table. "Large plate, potato salad and stew combo." It was good to the last drop. The plate came with four pieces off Sunbeam bread (as it should have because Sunbeam must have given Vandy's their sign back in 1970. One huge Sunbeam Bread sign hanging from the front of the building with "Vandy's Bbq" underneath it in small letters. Anyway , I used every last breadcrumb to make sure that nothing was left on the plate, slurped up the rest of the sweet tea, and wished I had another stomach so I could order another.
I wish I could post more frequently because every minute something new happens that is worthy of a sentence. I used to wonder how travel writers filled up a whole book but now I understand.
After my departure from Reidsville and finding the shortcut I found Jeff Greenberg. As it turns out, Jeff is going to Key West via bike also. This is a long story about how we met, but we did so we rode together. Jeff looks about 10 years younger then he is and has the enthusiasm of someonewho is 20 years younger. I pushed Jeff to ride way past his intended mileage on Tuesday, but it was worth it. We shared a pizza at Mikey's Pizza in Folkston, GA and then found a great campsite for $5 per tent. There were beautiful Magnolia trees all around with moss hanging from the limbs. In the middle of the night I had a friend who wanted to get into my bag of food. I moved quick in the hammock and let out a pssssttttt sound which sent the critter straight up into the air and then intothe woods. Jeff helped me to hang my food off a tree just in case he came back.
In the am it was time for another day of riding.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
A Day of Rest
After a night of food, sweet tea vodka and cheap concession stand beer I decided to sleep in. This is not an easy thing to do when you're accustomed to waking up at 6am. Up at 6am, 6:40, 7:15, 7:30, enough is enough, I'm up already. At the hostel I had some great coffee and a bagel with Nutella for breakfast. Fritz, one of the staff members at the hostel, had some great biking stories and was really friendly. Him and a friend once stayed in an abandoned bus during some bike touring adventure. They only had two hours of sleep because the mosquito's were so bad in the bus. The next day of riding, Fritz's friend Steve fell asleep while riding, rode into Fritz's back wheel, crashed his bike and split his chin open. They rode 12 miles to the hospital, stitched up Steve's chin and finished the ride. That's hardcore!!!
Finding the hostel was a great deal. I was really lucky in that somebody cancelled their reservation for last night so I swooped in and booked it up. Considering I was three blocks away from the hostel when I found this out I was very relieved. My other option would be to spend $250 on a hotel room that I would sleep in for 8 hours.
Brett Treacy was the person who introduced me to vodka sweet tea. Brett is a musician in the Charleston area who is making a go at his passion in life. You can hear Brett's music at www.myspace.com/bretttreacy .
After a little r&r this morning I finally left the hostel and hit the road. It took me a long time to decide if I was going to ride route 17 to Port South instead of taking the Adventure Cycling route. Yesterday I told a group of people to be careful about riding 17 and today I'm riding it myself. White knuckle riding for a little bit, but not too bad after awhile. I ditched off rt 17 for a bit and nearly crashed when a road turned to sand. There wasn't any traffic on this road so it would have been a little spill, but definitely woke me up. I met a couple guys who where fishing for catfish and spot tail bass on the side of the road. After that I found a Peach Cider Shop and sample peach, cherry, muscadine and I think it was blackberry cider. I had to buy some red raspberry sauce (it's sauce not jam Jenni) and sent it back home with some other goodies. If you get a sweet tooth then try some of that raspberry sauce on some ice cream Jenni....unbelievable!!!
The woman behind the counter found me a hotel room for the night that cost $30. I was going to camp at the KOA bit for $10 more I don't need to setup camp and I'll be able to gain atleast a half hour.
Stealth camping isn't much fun in the south because of the heat and the bugs. Showers wash away a hard day of riding and ready you for tomorrows coat of sunblock.
I plan on putting in a good day of riding tomorrow. Right now I'm about 70 miles from Statesboro, GA which will conclude section 5 of my 7 maps. After I pass Statesboro I'm going to travel 37 more miles to Reidsville, GA and camp at a State Park. Tuesday night will be camping at either Atkinson, GA or Folkston, GA depending upon how fast and far I can ride. Folkston is about 10 miles from the FL border so I'm going to try hard to push through.
Depending upon how the heat treats me I'm thinking of attempting a 200 mile day someplace in FL. Tuesday I'm going to ship home the cold weather gear and some spare hardware. If I drastically lighten the load and ride a 18 mph average then I think a 200 mile day is highly possible. Easy to say after a nice light 60 mile day.
Time for me to recharge the batteries. If you're reading the blog then don't forget to post so
e messages. It's nice to hear what everybody is up to.
Untill next time, may the peach cider be chilled and the vodka sweet tea find it's way to NY.
Brad
Finding the hostel was a great deal. I was really lucky in that somebody cancelled their reservation for last night so I swooped in and booked it up. Considering I was three blocks away from the hostel when I found this out I was very relieved. My other option would be to spend $250 on a hotel room that I would sleep in for 8 hours.
Brett Treacy was the person who introduced me to vodka sweet tea. Brett is a musician in the Charleston area who is making a go at his passion in life. You can hear Brett's music at www.myspace.com/bretttreacy .
After a little r&r this morning I finally left the hostel and hit the road. It took me a long time to decide if I was going to ride route 17 to Port South instead of taking the Adventure Cycling route. Yesterday I told a group of people to be careful about riding 17 and today I'm riding it myself. White knuckle riding for a little bit, but not too bad after awhile. I ditched off rt 17 for a bit and nearly crashed when a road turned to sand. There wasn't any traffic on this road so it would have been a little spill, but definitely woke me up. I met a couple guys who where fishing for catfish and spot tail bass on the side of the road. After that I found a Peach Cider Shop and sample peach, cherry, muscadine and I think it was blackberry cider. I had to buy some red raspberry sauce (it's sauce not jam Jenni) and sent it back home with some other goodies. If you get a sweet tooth then try some of that raspberry sauce on some ice cream Jenni....unbelievable!!!
The woman behind the counter found me a hotel room for the night that cost $30. I was going to camp at the KOA bit for $10 more I don't need to setup camp and I'll be able to gain atleast a half hour.
Stealth camping isn't much fun in the south because of the heat and the bugs. Showers wash away a hard day of riding and ready you for tomorrows coat of sunblock.
I plan on putting in a good day of riding tomorrow. Right now I'm about 70 miles from Statesboro, GA which will conclude section 5 of my 7 maps. After I pass Statesboro I'm going to travel 37 more miles to Reidsville, GA and camp at a State Park. Tuesday night will be camping at either Atkinson, GA or Folkston, GA depending upon how fast and far I can ride. Folkston is about 10 miles from the FL border so I'm going to try hard to push through.
Depending upon how the heat treats me I'm thinking of attempting a 200 mile day someplace in FL. Tuesday I'm going to ship home the cold weather gear and some spare hardware. If I drastically lighten the load and ride a 18 mph average then I think a 200 mile day is highly possible. Easy to say after a nice light 60 mile day.
Time for me to recharge the batteries. If you're reading the blog then don't forget to post so
e messages. It's nice to hear what everybody is up to.
Untill next time, may the peach cider be chilled and the vodka sweet tea find it's way to NY.
Brad
The Charleston Spur
This morning I'm in Charleston, SC at another hostel. I can smell the coffee brewing and can't wait to grab myself a cup. If I had to choose only one bad habit, coffee would be it. Beer and wine have their place, but coffee is King.
Last night I met up with a couple guys from the Charleston area at a burrito joint. After eating, they introduced me to vodka sweet tea and we went over to a Reggae Festival. It was a pretty good time.
Time for some coffee, I'll be back later to talk all about the rest.
I'm back. Yes Jennifer, I'm a changed man. There isn't much time for beer or wine when you're riding 100 miles a day. It just slows you down. Coffee on the other hand, gives you a boost of energy, a change of attitude, and time to reflect. When I hit Key West, I may decide that a margahrita or pina colada is in store, but nothing kick starts the system like a good ole cup of joe.
Right now it's about 9:45 am and I'm headed off for a short day with a late start. The decision to take the Charleston spur probably added 25 miles to my trip but if I don't take a little time to drink in the culture then the backwoods towns and some of their constiuents start to get really stale. I've done 96.57, 103.67, 87.55, and 112.72 mile days for the past four days so when I leave Charleston today I'll probably rest up with a 60 mile ride.
The heat is here and here to stay. Hydration has become more important then ever. I apply a liberal coat of sunblock every couple hours and after about 10 minutes of riding I can feel the perspiration pushing out through the sunblock like small leaks in a dam. It's a never ending battle. I need to find some sunblock that holds up to exercise while also protecting from the sun or else I cook.
Yesterday I met up with another couple, Mike and Jessica, on a tandem who were biking from Miami to Bar Harbor, ME. I was sweating my butt off and they told me they were thinking of stopping and putting on arm warmers. I can only hope that I acclimate to the heat as they have...and hopefully before Florida. These two were putting in 100 miles a day and staying at hotels in the evening. You can check out their site at tandemadventure.com . Most people I meet tell me how Georgia can be a little rough in some of the back towns but once you hit Florida life is good again.
I also met four guys from Michigan who flew to Savannah, GA and are traveling to ME, then over the top of the lakes and back to MI. I'm not sure these four are going to make it because after two days of traveling they were already looking for faster routes. It seems as though the route I'm taking parallels route 17 in a lot of areas but route 17 is very sketchy to ride on. They were talking about jumping on 17 to save some time...not a good idea, but each to their own.
Before hitting Charleston I stopped and talked to a guy on the side of the road who was selling shrimp. He was probably around 20-24 and he bought shrimp from his uncle who has a shrimping boat at McClellanville, NC. He used to bring 150 lbs of shrimp up to some restaurants in West Virginia (where he grew up) but his transmission in his truck went and now he sells shrimp off the side of the road north of Charleston. The numbers don't work out that well because he buys the shrimp for $4.50/lb, sells it for $6/lb and he sold about 30 lbs yesterday. I guess that he's banking on developing a customer base so that he can move more shrimp in the coming weeks. Maybe he just likes to sit on the side of the road and relax?
So, now I'm off again. I'm almost done with my section 5 map which means I only have two maps left to go. The Statesboro, GA to St. Augustine, FL section is 287.5 miles and the last leg to Key West, FL is 521.5 miles. As of today I've rode 1609 miles and I have about 950 left to go. With the light day today, I should be in Key West on or about June 5th. Finkle has mentioned that he may meet me down there for a couple days and maybe see his sister in Ft. Lauderdale. We'll see how it works out.
So, until next time, may you never forget to take some time for yourself and always remember that no matter how far you need to go you'll always get there if you're moving in the right direction.
Brad
Last night I met up with a couple guys from the Charleston area at a burrito joint. After eating, they introduced me to vodka sweet tea and we went over to a Reggae Festival. It was a pretty good time.
Time for some coffee, I'll be back later to talk all about the rest.
I'm back. Yes Jennifer, I'm a changed man. There isn't much time for beer or wine when you're riding 100 miles a day. It just slows you down. Coffee on the other hand, gives you a boost of energy, a change of attitude, and time to reflect. When I hit Key West, I may decide that a margahrita or pina colada is in store, but nothing kick starts the system like a good ole cup of joe.
Right now it's about 9:45 am and I'm headed off for a short day with a late start. The decision to take the Charleston spur probably added 25 miles to my trip but if I don't take a little time to drink in the culture then the backwoods towns and some of their constiuents start to get really stale. I've done 96.57, 103.67, 87.55, and 112.72 mile days for the past four days so when I leave Charleston today I'll probably rest up with a 60 mile ride.
The heat is here and here to stay. Hydration has become more important then ever. I apply a liberal coat of sunblock every couple hours and after about 10 minutes of riding I can feel the perspiration pushing out through the sunblock like small leaks in a dam. It's a never ending battle. I need to find some sunblock that holds up to exercise while also protecting from the sun or else I cook.
Yesterday I met up with another couple, Mike and Jessica, on a tandem who were biking from Miami to Bar Harbor, ME. I was sweating my butt off and they told me they were thinking of stopping and putting on arm warmers. I can only hope that I acclimate to the heat as they have...and hopefully before Florida. These two were putting in 100 miles a day and staying at hotels in the evening. You can check out their site at tandemadventure.com . Most people I meet tell me how Georgia can be a little rough in some of the back towns but once you hit Florida life is good again.
I also met four guys from Michigan who flew to Savannah, GA and are traveling to ME, then over the top of the lakes and back to MI. I'm not sure these four are going to make it because after two days of traveling they were already looking for faster routes. It seems as though the route I'm taking parallels route 17 in a lot of areas but route 17 is very sketchy to ride on. They were talking about jumping on 17 to save some time...not a good idea, but each to their own.
Before hitting Charleston I stopped and talked to a guy on the side of the road who was selling shrimp. He was probably around 20-24 and he bought shrimp from his uncle who has a shrimping boat at McClellanville, NC. He used to bring 150 lbs of shrimp up to some restaurants in West Virginia (where he grew up) but his transmission in his truck went and now he sells shrimp off the side of the road north of Charleston. The numbers don't work out that well because he buys the shrimp for $4.50/lb, sells it for $6/lb and he sold about 30 lbs yesterday. I guess that he's banking on developing a customer base so that he can move more shrimp in the coming weeks. Maybe he just likes to sit on the side of the road and relax?
So, now I'm off again. I'm almost done with my section 5 map which means I only have two maps left to go. The Statesboro, GA to St. Augustine, FL section is 287.5 miles and the last leg to Key West, FL is 521.5 miles. As of today I've rode 1609 miles and I have about 950 left to go. With the light day today, I should be in Key West on or about June 5th. Finkle has mentioned that he may meet me down there for a couple days and maybe see his sister in Ft. Lauderdale. We'll see how it works out.
So, until next time, may you never forget to take some time for yourself and always remember that no matter how far you need to go you'll always get there if you're moving in the right direction.
Brad
Friday, May 23, 2008
You one of them Yankee boys?
Tonight somebody asked me if I was a Yankee boy? I didn't get the chace to see what he looked like because ether his mother or his girlfriend hushed him up and they walked into the grocery store. Maybe he didn't know that the war was over and he was wondering if he should use his musket on me? It's a little silly down here sometimes. On Wednesday I went to a bike shop in New Bern, NC and the guy there told me that I didn't want to stay in Maysville because it was a black town. I thought the town was perfectly fine. The ni e campsite in Belgrade that I talked about before, they warned me not to stay there because of roamers. When I did check in to the site I was surrounded by a family from MI who's son was soon leaving for Iraq, a fisherman who stays for the week and a few other people who were preparing for the Memorial Day weekend. It seems as though we create our own fear. As I told Jennifer today, black or white, some of the people I've met are just so worried about how tough they are that they act like idiots.
Dr. John Hall is the man from Alaska who is biking around the US and raising money for Breast Cancer. Visit his site, and donate, at www.bikeridearoundamerica.org . Yesterday I met Kim Diorio too. You can read about Kim's trip at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/springtime2008 . Today I also came across a couple guys from Holland who are headed to Bar Harbor, ME. I believe they started in AZ. Jan and Frans were their names.
At the Carolina Beach campground last night Iet a couple who gave homemade mango salsa, flank steak, and boiled peanuts. What a great treat. That salsa was amazing. I hope to stay in touch with these guys because I think the recipes they have must be amazing.
It seems as though people got a little worried when I said I thought about throwing I the towel. Thinking and doing are two very different things. I don't think there is anyway you could not think about going home once or twice during the trip, there is plenty of time to think. Right now I'm about 240 miles from GA. I got a really late start today but with a good push I was still able to put in 85 miles. It was a good day because I'm figuring out how to maintain 18-21 mph on the flats. Without a headwind I'm really able to fly. The trick to maintaining the speed is keeping your cadence at 95-107 rpm. 100-103 is optimal for me. The other good part about that rythym is that it minimizes crapping, joint acts, and sore muscles.
So far I've had my rear wheel trued up twice, my bottom bracket has a clicking that let's me know when my right foot is at bottom dead center, the drivetrain looks like it went through a coal conveyor, my front deraileur pivot pin needs to be pushed back into place twice a day, and I'm on my second set of bike gloves.
Tonight I ate a small pizza, 10 wings, a banana, a powerbar and a 20 oz soda. I think I go through about 60-100 oz of Gatorade each day and probably 6-8 bottles of h2o (24 oz each). I'll need to cut back on these eating habits when I'm back home.
Time for bed so I can get an early start in the am. Until next time, may you find your inspiration to push through and don't let anything stand between you and a perfect sunset.
Dr. John Hall is the man from Alaska who is biking around the US and raising money for Breast Cancer. Visit his site, and donate, at www.bikeridearoundamerica.org . Yesterday I met Kim Diorio too. You can read about Kim's trip at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/springtime2008 . Today I also came across a couple guys from Holland who are headed to Bar Harbor, ME. I believe they started in AZ. Jan and Frans were their names.
At the Carolina Beach campground last night Iet a couple who gave homemade mango salsa, flank steak, and boiled peanuts. What a great treat. That salsa was amazing. I hope to stay in touch with these guys because I think the recipes they have must be amazing.
It seems as though people got a little worried when I said I thought about throwing I the towel. Thinking and doing are two very different things. I don't think there is anyway you could not think about going home once or twice during the trip, there is plenty of time to think. Right now I'm about 240 miles from GA. I got a really late start today but with a good push I was still able to put in 85 miles. It was a good day because I'm figuring out how to maintain 18-21 mph on the flats. Without a headwind I'm really able to fly. The trick to maintaining the speed is keeping your cadence at 95-107 rpm. 100-103 is optimal for me. The other good part about that rythym is that it minimizes crapping, joint acts, and sore muscles.
So far I've had my rear wheel trued up twice, my bottom bracket has a clicking that let's me know when my right foot is at bottom dead center, the drivetrain looks like it went through a coal conveyor, my front deraileur pivot pin needs to be pushed back into place twice a day, and I'm on my second set of bike gloves.
Tonight I ate a small pizza, 10 wings, a banana, a powerbar and a 20 oz soda. I think I go through about 60-100 oz of Gatorade each day and probably 6-8 bottles of h2o (24 oz each). I'll need to cut back on these eating habits when I'm back home.
Time for bed so I can get an early start in the am. Until next time, may you find your inspiration to push through and don't let anything stand between you and a perfect sunset.
South Carolina Bound
People in the South like to talk. Right now I'm in a coffee shop trying to write this post, write up some postcards, and just take care of some catchup but this guy keeps talking to me and will not stop. I'm literally typing away right now ad he's talking about his friend from 20 years ago. Plus he just asked me about where I went to school and as it turns out he went to Clarkson so he's probably not going to stop for the next 20 minutes.
Anyway, last night I stayed at Carolina Beach, NC in a State campground that was fantastic. I caught the sunset right before I checked in and I'm very happy about that. The next time I see a sunset that nice will probably be in Key West.
Really, this guy has to stop!!! I don't care that you were accepted by RPI and Tufts, nor that you're a pilot, or about your friend who likes to bike. I just need to write my post.
Ok, so a couple nights ago I stayed just south of New Bern, NC in a small town called Belgrade, NC. Once again I found a campsite that was fairly inexpensive and sandwiched between a small river ad the highway. Due to the fact that you can no longer ride through Camp Lejeune (Marine Base) I had to find an alternate route. This was a little sketchy because I had to ride for a stretch on route 17. With a little care this turned out to be a fairly safe route considering the amount of traffic.
Now the guy has a friend. Supposedly they have all the worlds problems figured out by 11am but then Democrat comes in and screws it all up. They have also told me to be very careful about housewives in SUV's. It's painful to listen to these two.
I met a guy the other day who is probably about 60, from Alaska, and his wife has breast cancer. He started a bike trip from Santa Barbera, CA, biked to FL, I met him in NC, now he's going to Bar Harbor, ME, across the top to the West coast and then back down to Santa Barbera. This was a big deal for me because I met him on a day when I was getting sick of riding. When I have some more time I will dig out his info and post his website just in case anybody would like to donate or read about him.
Gotta run.
Anyway, last night I stayed at Carolina Beach, NC in a State campground that was fantastic. I caught the sunset right before I checked in and I'm very happy about that. The next time I see a sunset that nice will probably be in Key West.
Really, this guy has to stop!!! I don't care that you were accepted by RPI and Tufts, nor that you're a pilot, or about your friend who likes to bike. I just need to write my post.
Ok, so a couple nights ago I stayed just south of New Bern, NC in a small town called Belgrade, NC. Once again I found a campsite that was fairly inexpensive and sandwiched between a small river ad the highway. Due to the fact that you can no longer ride through Camp Lejeune (Marine Base) I had to find an alternate route. This was a little sketchy because I had to ride for a stretch on route 17. With a little care this turned out to be a fairly safe route considering the amount of traffic.
Now the guy has a friend. Supposedly they have all the worlds problems figured out by 11am but then Democrat comes in and screws it all up. They have also told me to be very careful about housewives in SUV's. It's painful to listen to these two.
I met a guy the other day who is probably about 60, from Alaska, and his wife has breast cancer. He started a bike trip from Santa Barbera, CA, biked to FL, I met him in NC, now he's going to Bar Harbor, ME, across the top to the West coast and then back down to Santa Barbera. This was a big deal for me because I met him on a day when I was getting sick of riding. When I have some more time I will dig out his info and post his website just in case anybody would like to donate or read about him.
Gotta run.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Stormy days and Head Winds
I thought I was doing really well yesterday by putting in 127 miles. I finally hit some flat ground and rode from Richmond, VA to just across the line into North Carolina. By "just across" I mean that I rode until I saw the sign, took a picture of me by the sign and then proceeded to make camp about 50 ft from the side of the rode just beyond the sign. The weather is getting warm and humid which means that their are more mosquito's, spiders and insects. I think I received a spider bite on my arm last night and I definitely pulled a tick of my ankle this afternoon. The easy, sterile, clean world that we usually live in just isn't the same as this adventurous one. The sleep that you get in the hotel room bed is a million times better then sleeping in the hammock someplace wondering what the heck those noises are. I just can't seem to get used to the noises. Whenever I become comfortable with the sounds that I'm hearing something new chimes in.
I can't remember who told me this but supposedly 80% of all animals live in the transition areas (percentage could be off but it's close). So, if you're transitioning from the water to a forest or from the forest to a meadow then you have a very high concentration of wildlife there. Last night I slept right near the transition from corn field to forest and it was the noisiest spot yet. Animals all around. Some singing, some yelling, some chattering and some just humming while they went about their normal routine.
I've carried a small container of pepper spray with me for the past year or so on my bike. Until today, I had never used that spray and never wanted to. The dogs in the backroads of VA and NC are not tied up though. So far I've been fortunate in that they usually do not see me until I'm right up close to their house and they can't catch me. Today a dog saw me early and went on the chase. I pulled out the pepper spray and hit him with some right as he was about 3 ft from my ankle (and gaining). Nothing makes you feel worse then hitting a dog with some pepper spray and then riding in the middle of farm country with nothing to think about except Fido waiting for the sting to wear off. Better that his eyes sting for a few minutes then my leg have puncture marks in it from his teeth....well, better for me atleast.
A storm rolled into Northeastern NC today. Parts of this area and southern VA have tornado advisories. As the storm rolled in the wind became unbearable. I rode 73 miles today and every single one of them was into a headwind. Yesterday I could maintain 16-18 mph on the flats pretty easily but today I was struggling to maintain 10 mph sometimes. I'd see a nice little downhill grade that would be easy to hold 20-22 mph on yesterday and the wind would nearly blow me backwards, up the hill. This was about as demoralizing as it gets. Atleast with the hills, you finally get to the top. With the wind it just keeps right on coming. So, after the 70 miles of riding I was completely exhausted and the storm was getting close. I found a Holiday Inn Express in Plymouth, NC and checked in for the night. Before I was able to get a shower I crashed on the couch and took an hour long nap. This is the most tired I've been on the trip so far. I think that tonight I'll order some Pizza Hut and watch some television.
There have been times in the past few days where I've thought about throwing in the towel. The poverty in the backroads of VA and NC is very depressing and their isn't much to see. I went into a roadside market yesterday only to find that the floor was worn to the subfloor, the heat was an old potbelly stove in the corner of the room, the shelves were 90% bare and what they did have for sale was some cheap, cheap beer, malt liquor, pork&beans, and other canned goods. I asked the woman where everything was and she told me that they don't stock much anymore 'count of all the breakins.
Lots of houses around here are just cinderblock boxes placed near a road. When the wind picks up it seems like half the fields are going to blow away. The dust and soil just start whipping around in the air and it floats across the road like a mist of fog creeping down the mountainside.
I rode by one African-American woman yesterday who turned around and told me, "I can ride a bike but there ain't no way I can ride as fast as you." She had a smile on her face from ear to ear and looked like one of the happiest people in all of NC. It was nice to finally see somebody with a smile on their face. They're few and far between in this area.
It's about time for me to order that pizza. Hopefully the storm passes over tonight and I'm able to get in a good solid day of riding tomorrow. I can't wait to get out of this area and back into some nice towns with coffee houses and sandwich shops.
Until next time, may your neighbors be smiling and your pizza be hot.
I can't remember who told me this but supposedly 80% of all animals live in the transition areas (percentage could be off but it's close). So, if you're transitioning from the water to a forest or from the forest to a meadow then you have a very high concentration of wildlife there. Last night I slept right near the transition from corn field to forest and it was the noisiest spot yet. Animals all around. Some singing, some yelling, some chattering and some just humming while they went about their normal routine.
I've carried a small container of pepper spray with me for the past year or so on my bike. Until today, I had never used that spray and never wanted to. The dogs in the backroads of VA and NC are not tied up though. So far I've been fortunate in that they usually do not see me until I'm right up close to their house and they can't catch me. Today a dog saw me early and went on the chase. I pulled out the pepper spray and hit him with some right as he was about 3 ft from my ankle (and gaining). Nothing makes you feel worse then hitting a dog with some pepper spray and then riding in the middle of farm country with nothing to think about except Fido waiting for the sting to wear off. Better that his eyes sting for a few minutes then my leg have puncture marks in it from his teeth....well, better for me atleast.
A storm rolled into Northeastern NC today. Parts of this area and southern VA have tornado advisories. As the storm rolled in the wind became unbearable. I rode 73 miles today and every single one of them was into a headwind. Yesterday I could maintain 16-18 mph on the flats pretty easily but today I was struggling to maintain 10 mph sometimes. I'd see a nice little downhill grade that would be easy to hold 20-22 mph on yesterday and the wind would nearly blow me backwards, up the hill. This was about as demoralizing as it gets. Atleast with the hills, you finally get to the top. With the wind it just keeps right on coming. So, after the 70 miles of riding I was completely exhausted and the storm was getting close. I found a Holiday Inn Express in Plymouth, NC and checked in for the night. Before I was able to get a shower I crashed on the couch and took an hour long nap. This is the most tired I've been on the trip so far. I think that tonight I'll order some Pizza Hut and watch some television.
There have been times in the past few days where I've thought about throwing in the towel. The poverty in the backroads of VA and NC is very depressing and their isn't much to see. I went into a roadside market yesterday only to find that the floor was worn to the subfloor, the heat was an old potbelly stove in the corner of the room, the shelves were 90% bare and what they did have for sale was some cheap, cheap beer, malt liquor, pork&beans, and other canned goods. I asked the woman where everything was and she told me that they don't stock much anymore 'count of all the breakins.
Lots of houses around here are just cinderblock boxes placed near a road. When the wind picks up it seems like half the fields are going to blow away. The dust and soil just start whipping around in the air and it floats across the road like a mist of fog creeping down the mountainside.
I rode by one African-American woman yesterday who turned around and told me, "I can ride a bike but there ain't no way I can ride as fast as you." She had a smile on her face from ear to ear and looked like one of the happiest people in all of NC. It was nice to finally see somebody with a smile on their face. They're few and far between in this area.
It's about time for me to order that pizza. Hopefully the storm passes over tonight and I'm able to get in a good solid day of riding tomorrow. I can't wait to get out of this area and back into some nice towns with coffee houses and sandwich shops.
Until next time, may your neighbors be smiling and your pizza be hot.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
White Roads, The Last Outpost and 1000 Miles
I want to start this post with a link to another site for some great people that I met along the road. Louie and Becky Berry have made a life of bike touring and living simply. Check out their adventure at www.blueberryrides.com . I think they threw a picture of me in there someplace around May 12 or 13th (could be off by a day or two).
Back to business. After breakfast with Karen, Rob and Jacob I headed off towards Fredericksburg, VA. This was an ambitious ride considering my 10:30 departure. I rode through bike paths until my face was blue and finally ended up at Mt. Vernon, VA. People on bike paths like to see if they can past a guy with a trailer. Or, if you're behind them then they do not like to let you by. I like it when you ride right behind them for 3 or 4 minutes and then when you feel them backing off a bit you drop the hammer, "Hey Pal, make room for my trailer." One thing good about the bike path is that you can have fun.
I'm not sure what the best bang for your buck is in terms of calories. The $.25 peanut butter fudgesicle rates right up tthere but I think the 7-11 Big Bite hot dog takes the cake. The problem with the big bite is that you need a half hour digestion period before you can really start cranking again.
The roads are white in parts of PA, VA and MD. Not really blacktop and not really gravel. If the usual road is 2 parts pavement and 1 part rock then some of these roads are definitely 1 part pavement and 4 parts rock. They shake your toenails loose and leave you squirming on the saddle in a desperate attempt to find the one square inch of your backside that holds the least pain.
In Fredericksburg I met a homeless guy who offered me $6 that somebody just gave him. I must have looked pretty bad. He then proceeded to tell me about people who travel and eat edible greens. A lot of people consider edible greens weeds when they're really valuable sources of nutrition. I'm thinking that if I try to go from ME to Key West on edible greens off the sides of the road then I'd still be in Kennebunk. Hey, if he can live off that stuff then more power to him.
Today was the push to Richmond where I met up with my future mother-in-law for dinner. We had an awesome dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and spent some time catching up on the important, the not so important, and the not so important that is really important. You know what mean?
This is the last outpost (coined by Mrs. Darlene Hancox) in that it's my last stop with planned visits from friends and family. The road is pretty lonely and I've looked forward to these visits but now I think I can start logging more miles per day. Speaking of, today I hit the big 1000 mile mark. One milestone down, more to come.
Until next time, may the greens be plentiful and the roads be black.
Back to business. After breakfast with Karen, Rob and Jacob I headed off towards Fredericksburg, VA. This was an ambitious ride considering my 10:30 departure. I rode through bike paths until my face was blue and finally ended up at Mt. Vernon, VA. People on bike paths like to see if they can past a guy with a trailer. Or, if you're behind them then they do not like to let you by. I like it when you ride right behind them for 3 or 4 minutes and then when you feel them backing off a bit you drop the hammer, "Hey Pal, make room for my trailer." One thing good about the bike path is that you can have fun.
I'm not sure what the best bang for your buck is in terms of calories. The $.25 peanut butter fudgesicle rates right up tthere but I think the 7-11 Big Bite hot dog takes the cake. The problem with the big bite is that you need a half hour digestion period before you can really start cranking again.
The roads are white in parts of PA, VA and MD. Not really blacktop and not really gravel. If the usual road is 2 parts pavement and 1 part rock then some of these roads are definitely 1 part pavement and 4 parts rock. They shake your toenails loose and leave you squirming on the saddle in a desperate attempt to find the one square inch of your backside that holds the least pain.
In Fredericksburg I met a homeless guy who offered me $6 that somebody just gave him. I must have looked pretty bad. He then proceeded to tell me about people who travel and eat edible greens. A lot of people consider edible greens weeds when they're really valuable sources of nutrition. I'm thinking that if I try to go from ME to Key West on edible greens off the sides of the road then I'd still be in Kennebunk. Hey, if he can live off that stuff then more power to him.
Today was the push to Richmond where I met up with my future mother-in-law for dinner. We had an awesome dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and spent some time catching up on the important, the not so important, and the not so important that is really important. You know what mean?
This is the last outpost (coined by Mrs. Darlene Hancox) in that it's my last stop with planned visits from friends and family. The road is pretty lonely and I've looked forward to these visits but now I think I can start logging more miles per day. Speaking of, today I hit the big 1000 mile mark. One milestone down, more to come.
Until next time, may the greens be plentiful and the roads be black.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Can somebody please get me to Arlington!!!!!!
I'm going to start off from the beginning and then hopefully I can guide you to Arlington. So, the buttermilk biscuits were fantastic and I went back to the hostel to prepare to the day. I'm very fortunate because not only do I have a great family that posts comments and keep me motivated but I'm also marrying into a family that is willing to take me in for the night, feed me Thai food, educate me on the complete insanity surrounding our current political situation, and just be all around great people. Thanks Karen, Rob and Jacob.
Now, as I was saying I left Baltimore at about 11am. I also miscalculated the mileage by about 20 miles, hit a bunch of hills and stop signs, spent way too much time finding the Rock Creek bike path, got lost, bushwacked through the forest, and nearly lost my mind. I was 4 hours late, cold, wet, dirty, hungry, and feeling like crap. I met about three groups of people who couldn't give me directions and two more who knew a better way for me then what I already had on the map. "Just go on highway 410 until you hit Connecticut, then cross 6 lanes of traffic and, oh wait did I say Connecticut? I should have said Wisconsin" Umm, did you notice I'm on a bike, with a trailer, an extra 5 lbs of sticks and leaves coming out from every nook because of the 30 minute trek through the only forest near DC, and I'm having a day that's about one notch above pulling four wisdom teeth without painkillers. Just about then her friend chimes in with a better route. Thanks ladies, time for me to go!!! After that all, I met a guy on a bike who was going to a friends house three blocks from where I needed to be. Amazing!!!! We talked the whole way and he works for a nonprofit that deals with sustainable community issues. He also snapped a couple of pictures for me and really helped me get my head back in the game. I finally reached my destination with scraped up legs, cramping thighs, sore feet/butt/neck/etc to find that a hot shower, good food and comfortable bed were all a moment away. All's well that ends well.
Here Are some quick highlights.
Love Baltimore, great city that Jenni and I need to spend some time in.
Ellicot City outside of Baltimore is a clean brick and stone built town with a great vibe. Need to visit that place.
I want to get a cyclocross bike. That is just good dirty fun and after riding all those super slick bike trails today I realize how much fun that sport must be.
Hostels are cool, the people that you meet in them are even cooler.
Don't talk to somebody while riding down wet, twisty, leaf covered bike paths...they will crash.
and lastly, don't think about the 1600 miles you have left to go, day by day is the only wayto make it.
Until tomorrow, may you always finish the day on a high note and never forget the people that helped you get there.
Now, as I was saying I left Baltimore at about 11am. I also miscalculated the mileage by about 20 miles, hit a bunch of hills and stop signs, spent way too much time finding the Rock Creek bike path, got lost, bushwacked through the forest, and nearly lost my mind. I was 4 hours late, cold, wet, dirty, hungry, and feeling like crap. I met about three groups of people who couldn't give me directions and two more who knew a better way for me then what I already had on the map. "Just go on highway 410 until you hit Connecticut, then cross 6 lanes of traffic and, oh wait did I say Connecticut? I should have said Wisconsin" Umm, did you notice I'm on a bike, with a trailer, an extra 5 lbs of sticks and leaves coming out from every nook because of the 30 minute trek through the only forest near DC, and I'm having a day that's about one notch above pulling four wisdom teeth without painkillers. Just about then her friend chimes in with a better route. Thanks ladies, time for me to go!!! After that all, I met a guy on a bike who was going to a friends house three blocks from where I needed to be. Amazing!!!! We talked the whole way and he works for a nonprofit that deals with sustainable community issues. He also snapped a couple of pictures for me and really helped me get my head back in the game. I finally reached my destination with scraped up legs, cramping thighs, sore feet/butt/neck/etc to find that a hot shower, good food and comfortable bed were all a moment away. All's well that ends well.
Here Are some quick highlights.
Love Baltimore, great city that Jenni and I need to spend some time in.
Ellicot City outside of Baltimore is a clean brick and stone built town with a great vibe. Need to visit that place.
I want to get a cyclocross bike. That is just good dirty fun and after riding all those super slick bike trails today I realize how much fun that sport must be.
Hostels are cool, the people that you meet in them are even cooler.
Don't talk to somebody while riding down wet, twisty, leaf covered bike paths...they will crash.
and lastly, don't think about the 1600 miles you have left to go, day by day is the only wayto make it.
Until tomorrow, may you always finish the day on a high note and never forget the people that helped you get there.
Beer Break and Buttermilk Biscuits
When I started this trip I had the crazy idea that maybe I wouldn't drink wine or beer while I was out here. That was just about the stupidest thing I've ever said. Biking and beer just go well together. Maybe not at the same exact time, but after three or four days of riding you need to look forward to something. Last night I went to BrewArt in Baltimore, MD as had a couple beers along with an oyster pot pie. The beer was great, the food was so-so.
Speaking of food, one thing I love about being South of the Mason-Dixon is the buttermilk biscuits. Biscuits have to be the perfect pairing for eggs and breakfast sandwiches. Why anybody would choose toast when biscuits are an option is beyond me.
Yesterday I rode about 110 miles to push through to Baltimore. My route took me from Mt Hope, PA (beege), through Manheim, Marietta, across the Susquehanna (riding in and out of that valley was terrible), Airville, and finally into MD. It was supposed to rain overnight (and it I'd) so I took the Chesepeake Bay route on my map and headed into Baltimore. I need to find out the total elevation climbed for the trip too because I climb more miles in an hour then most months of riding back home. I think that if you add up all the miles from the last four days then the total would be pretty close to riding 4 Century rides in four days through hilly terrain with a trailer. My legs are feeling every bit of that.
Yesterday I ate some fresh picked strawberries from an Amish farm in the middle of nowhere. The mother, her two daughters and her son where all put there helping. I ate a quart in one sitting, then went digging through my bag for more food.
I got really tired of stopping every hour to eat food so I decided to load up in the morning. This was a bad idea. The only thing worse then not eating enough is eating too much. For the next two hours I could feel all that food just sitting in my stomach like an anchor.
Alright, so that brings me to Baltimore where I am right now. It's wet and raining outside so I'm in no mood to run right out there and put in another 100 miles. I think I'll go back to the hostel, pack up with all my clothing in ziplock bags, put on the rainfear and head out before 11 am. Oh, I stayed in a Hostel last night for $32. What a bargain. I met a guy from Brazil who teaches English and the staff gave me the quick and dirty on where to get a good beer and some food. Everytime I come to Baltimore I'm more impressed.
It's really amazing how quickly you can get yourself back to appreciating simple, small, seemingly insignificant activities. It's sort of cliché to say that we don't appreciate the simple things in life but life isn't usually that simple so why would you. It's very easy to buy an expensive dinner or entertain ourselves by spending a lot of money, but this is certainly not as gratifying as slowing down to realize how much we're missing because we need to stay busy 24-7. Most of the people I meet who are bike touring have figured out how to work a little to live a lot. They live modestly and enjoy two or three months of free time for travelling every year. Not a bad life if you can get it.
Until next time, may the showers be hot and the biscuits be plentiful.
Speaking of food, one thing I love about being South of the Mason-Dixon is the buttermilk biscuits. Biscuits have to be the perfect pairing for eggs and breakfast sandwiches. Why anybody would choose toast when biscuits are an option is beyond me.
Yesterday I rode about 110 miles to push through to Baltimore. My route took me from Mt Hope, PA (beege), through Manheim, Marietta, across the Susquehanna (riding in and out of that valley was terrible), Airville, and finally into MD. It was supposed to rain overnight (and it I'd) so I took the Chesepeake Bay route on my map and headed into Baltimore. I need to find out the total elevation climbed for the trip too because I climb more miles in an hour then most months of riding back home. I think that if you add up all the miles from the last four days then the total would be pretty close to riding 4 Century rides in four days through hilly terrain with a trailer. My legs are feeling every bit of that.
Yesterday I ate some fresh picked strawberries from an Amish farm in the middle of nowhere. The mother, her two daughters and her son where all put there helping. I ate a quart in one sitting, then went digging through my bag for more food.
I got really tired of stopping every hour to eat food so I decided to load up in the morning. This was a bad idea. The only thing worse then not eating enough is eating too much. For the next two hours I could feel all that food just sitting in my stomach like an anchor.
Alright, so that brings me to Baltimore where I am right now. It's wet and raining outside so I'm in no mood to run right out there and put in another 100 miles. I think I'll go back to the hostel, pack up with all my clothing in ziplock bags, put on the rainfear and head out before 11 am. Oh, I stayed in a Hostel last night for $32. What a bargain. I met a guy from Brazil who teaches English and the staff gave me the quick and dirty on where to get a good beer and some food. Everytime I come to Baltimore I'm more impressed.
It's really amazing how quickly you can get yourself back to appreciating simple, small, seemingly insignificant activities. It's sort of cliché to say that we don't appreciate the simple things in life but life isn't usually that simple so why would you. It's very easy to buy an expensive dinner or entertain ourselves by spending a lot of money, but this is certainly not as gratifying as slowing down to realize how much we're missing because we need to stay busy 24-7. Most of the people I meet who are bike touring have figured out how to work a little to live a lot. They live modestly and enjoy two or three months of free time for travelling every year. Not a bad life if you can get it.
Until next time, may the showers be hot and the biscuits be plentiful.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
It's about the bike again!!!
Feeling good and I can't wait to start putting in extra miles. I rode from Buck Island ( near Byrum, NJ) to Clay, PA today. I entered PA through New Hope, PA.
Highlights to come back to.
breakfast at Cravings
leaving camp on the nick of time
"artsy" town
Turtles sunbathingSnacking Italy style
St. Peters, PA
River RdBald eagles
Fruitstand
Roccos Pizza
Car show and band
Tandem couple
Old guy with panniers
Colorado couple
dude
Bike shop
Nuke plant
Highlights to come back to.
breakfast at Cravings
leaving camp on the nick of time
"artsy" town
Turtles sunbathingSnacking Italy style
St. Peters, PA
River RdBald eagles
Fruitstand
Roccos Pizza
Car show and band
Tandem couple
Old guy with panniers
Colorado couple
dude
Bike shop
Nuke plant
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Riding like it should be!!!
Yesterday was the first 100 plus day. I don't think it should have been 100 miles (missed a turn someplace near Bruynswick, NY and rode for 6 miles in a circle). Atleast I got back to where I should have been. This made me realize just how nice it is to have Google Maps on my phone. Lots has happened since my last post. I spent the night near a water reservoir in CT on 5/10 and woke up a little late in the am. When I finally crawlled out of the woods there were three guys standing next to their cars and near the locked entrance to the reservoir (workers who needed the ranger to open the gate). Well, I was sick of waiting for them to leave so I walked out of the woods and spoke up really loud so they knew I was there, "Good morning!!!" These guys had no idea wha to think. He's a guy in a hi-viz bright yellow jacket walking out of the woods with black biking tights on greeting them with a good morning. Even funnier was when I walked back into the woods and came out with a bike and trailer. I pedaled off and left all three of them scratching their heads.
After this I rode through eastern CT ad went by some very nice towns that I never even knew existed (common theme on this trip). I met up with a women in NY shortly after crossing the border (on a backroad without a Welcome to NY sign, damn I hate when that happens) and she asked me the normal were to/were from question. I had to laugh when I told her I was going to Key West, FL she responded with, "Oh, I'm going to my mother-in-law's house." We rode for a few miles and she asked me if I was going up "The Hill." I've seen every hill name their is out there at this point but a hill that is known as The Hill, this is not good!! So I told her about all the hills I've been on and she just nodded, not the response I wanted. When people are quiet in situations like that then it means the can back up their claim... and she did. This was the mother hill. I've been on 12% grade before for a small stretch and this was 10% for some long stretches.
I'm going to finish this story later b/c my battery is dying. More to come later today.
5/14 Continuation of previous post.
I have a lot of catching up to do here. So after I nearly passed out from riding up that hill I had the pleasure of riding down it. I was told that maybe I shouldn't mention speeds because it may make some people worry, but it was fast.
Now, here we are in NY and I'm making my way to Poughkeepsie to meet up with Jennifer for dinner. I was very, very happy to see Riley and Jenni when they pulled in to meet me at Starbucks. I also have a confession to make.....I didn't ride from Poughkeepsie to New Paltz. They were calling for rain Sunday night and I wanted no part of setting up in that so I got a room at a hotel in New Paltz. Jen and I had an awesome dinner at a New Paltz brewpub called The Gilded Otter. We said our goodbyes (again) and I turned in for the night.
I'm going to speed this up a little and maybe add more detail later. The next day was the day that I rode my first 100 miles. I rode through the Shawnagunk mountain region in NY, into Middletown, NY and on and on. In Middletown I met George who rode his horse from NY to TX and back. George had a great story about rescuing the horse and giving it a good life. I rode through a lot of small towns with blocked cars and lawn ornaments before crossing into NJ. This next portion of the ride took me into the DE Water Gap area. Despite the dreary day and the threat of rain around every corner, this area was beautiful. I saw turkeys, deer, an artist workshop site in the middle of nowhere, and great scenery all around. That night I met Ron and Barry. More on them later, time for sleep.
After this I rode through eastern CT ad went by some very nice towns that I never even knew existed (common theme on this trip). I met up with a women in NY shortly after crossing the border (on a backroad without a Welcome to NY sign, damn I hate when that happens) and she asked me the normal were to/were from question. I had to laugh when I told her I was going to Key West, FL she responded with, "Oh, I'm going to my mother-in-law's house." We rode for a few miles and she asked me if I was going up "The Hill." I've seen every hill name their is out there at this point but a hill that is known as The Hill, this is not good!! So I told her about all the hills I've been on and she just nodded, not the response I wanted. When people are quiet in situations like that then it means the can back up their claim... and she did. This was the mother hill. I've been on 12% grade before for a small stretch and this was 10% for some long stretches.
I'm going to finish this story later b/c my battery is dying. More to come later today.
5/14 Continuation of previous post.
I have a lot of catching up to do here. So after I nearly passed out from riding up that hill I had the pleasure of riding down it. I was told that maybe I shouldn't mention speeds because it may make some people worry, but it was fast.
Now, here we are in NY and I'm making my way to Poughkeepsie to meet up with Jennifer for dinner. I was very, very happy to see Riley and Jenni when they pulled in to meet me at Starbucks. I also have a confession to make.....I didn't ride from Poughkeepsie to New Paltz. They were calling for rain Sunday night and I wanted no part of setting up in that so I got a room at a hotel in New Paltz. Jen and I had an awesome dinner at a New Paltz brewpub called The Gilded Otter. We said our goodbyes (again) and I turned in for the night.
I'm going to speed this up a little and maybe add more detail later. The next day was the day that I rode my first 100 miles. I rode through the Shawnagunk mountain region in NY, into Middletown, NY and on and on. In Middletown I met George who rode his horse from NY to TX and back. George had a great story about rescuing the horse and giving it a good life. I rode through a lot of small towns with blocked cars and lawn ornaments before crossing into NJ. This next portion of the ride took me into the DE Water Gap area. Despite the dreary day and the threat of rain around every corner, this area was beautiful. I saw turkeys, deer, an artist workshop site in the middle of nowhere, and great scenery all around. That night I met Ron and Barry. More on them later, time for sleep.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
On the Road Again!!!!
Back at it again today and feeling good. After two days of R&R at my sisters house in Niantic I'm ready to go. I left a little bit later then I intended on leaving today (around 11am), but I think I can make up some miles later in the trip.
I hit a couple of monster hills today, definitely the biggest and steepest on the trip so far. I'm happy to say that I stood at the junction of two "Hill" Roads, pounded my chest, let out a primal roar and tore up the pavement!!! Or maybe I sat there for a minute, took a picture of a couple Canadian Geese walking their single gosseling across the road and then spun up the hill at about 4-6mph. You pick what story you like better.
I rode with a guy today who wouldn't tell me where he lived or what he does. When I asked him where he lives he replied, "Depends on who wants to know." I obviously wasn't important enough because when I told him it was me he decided to turn into the local market. Initially when I rode up next to him he said, "Damn man, I need a new bike. You guys ride right up next to me and then blow right on by like I'm standing still." Funny Dude!!
It was a nice stop off in CT. Scotland, Cameron and I made pizza and chocolate chip cookies, I was able to listen to Taylor sing a solo that she's going to perform very soon, and I was the show and tell feature in Scotland's first grade class. Really, the knee injury was well worth it.
Time to down this 20 oz coffee and put in some more miles. It's about 6pm and I have two more hours of ride time before I need to setup camp.
Thanks to everybody who is posting. The encouragement and comments are awesome.
Until next time, may the people you meet be just a little outside of ordinary and hopefully the next coffee shop serves a 20 ouncer.
I hit a couple of monster hills today, definitely the biggest and steepest on the trip so far. I'm happy to say that I stood at the junction of two "Hill" Roads, pounded my chest, let out a primal roar and tore up the pavement!!! Or maybe I sat there for a minute, took a picture of a couple Canadian Geese walking their single gosseling across the road and then spun up the hill at about 4-6mph. You pick what story you like better.
I rode with a guy today who wouldn't tell me where he lived or what he does. When I asked him where he lives he replied, "Depends on who wants to know." I obviously wasn't important enough because when I told him it was me he decided to turn into the local market. Initially when I rode up next to him he said, "Damn man, I need a new bike. You guys ride right up next to me and then blow right on by like I'm standing still." Funny Dude!!
It was a nice stop off in CT. Scotland, Cameron and I made pizza and chocolate chip cookies, I was able to listen to Taylor sing a solo that she's going to perform very soon, and I was the show and tell feature in Scotland's first grade class. Really, the knee injury was well worth it.
Time to down this 20 oz coffee and put in some more miles. It's about 6pm and I have two more hours of ride time before I need to setup camp.
Thanks to everybody who is posting. The encouragement and comments are awesome.
Until next time, may the people you meet be just a little outside of ordinary and hopefully the next coffee shop serves a 20 ouncer.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Sidelined!!!!
Wednesday was a difficult day. I kept icing my knee and working out the kinks only to find 2, 3, and 4 mile climbs ahead of me. Finally, after a big climb about 2 miles from the Connecticut border, I threw in the towel. I got off the bike to look at some maps and when I got back I realized that this just isn't going to work without some time off. It was a real kick in the pants to realize that I've only been riding for four days and something is going wrong. I've pushed through just about everything before without any sustained problems but this one is different. So, after being mad at myself for about 15 minutes I sucked it up and started figuring out a plan. I called my sister in Niantic, CT and will spend 2 days here icing my leg, stretching and visiting my neices who I haven't spent any substantial time with in years. I'm also going to rip apart everything that I'm carrying and scale down to just the bare essentials. Most of the food is going to go, two cycling jersey's are going, one pair of cycling shorts, a few spare parts, the journal (only wrote in that once so far), bunge cords are being replaced by rope, no more air mattress (I'll use my fleece and other clothing underneath my sleeping bag), and a few other items will probably be left behind too.
One thing to remember is that this is an adventure....to quote a famous cycling book, "It's Not about the Bike." Wednesday night I grabbed some chicken wings and a beer at the only bar in Quinebaug, CT. I talked to about 10 different people who all had different stories. One guy was retired from designing kitchens and he told me all about his daughter going to school. Another woman trained horses and she explained to me everything there is to know about ethanol, hay prices and the grain industry. I realized she really didn't want to have a conversation about this as much as she wanted to tell me everything she knew. Good enough, hit me with another Sam Adams barkeep.
The owner of the restaurant found me a bed and breakfast to stay in called The Bird Song Inn (http://www.bird-song-inn.net/index.htm). The owner was a German woman who kept the place up very, very well and was extremely kind. She made me a breakfast of coffee, juice, blackberries and cream, sausage, a tomato/mushroom/cheese omelet and fresh blueberry pancakes. One thing I've decided, camping is highly over-rated.
So, today is Friday and this morning I was show and tell at my neice's first grade classroom. It really puts the pressure on when you have a bunch of first graders who want to track your progress all the way to Florida. I'll be sure to send them a couple postcards along the way.
Lastly, if all is well, then tomorrow morning I get back on the road. I need to find a path that will bring me back to the main route but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Until next time, may the weatherman be wrong and the sun be shining tomorrow am.
One thing to remember is that this is an adventure....to quote a famous cycling book, "It's Not about the Bike." Wednesday night I grabbed some chicken wings and a beer at the only bar in Quinebaug, CT. I talked to about 10 different people who all had different stories. One guy was retired from designing kitchens and he told me all about his daughter going to school. Another woman trained horses and she explained to me everything there is to know about ethanol, hay prices and the grain industry. I realized she really didn't want to have a conversation about this as much as she wanted to tell me everything she knew. Good enough, hit me with another Sam Adams barkeep.
The owner of the restaurant found me a bed and breakfast to stay in called The Bird Song Inn (http://www.bird-song-inn.net/index.htm). The owner was a German woman who kept the place up very, very well and was extremely kind. She made me a breakfast of coffee, juice, blackberries and cream, sausage, a tomato/mushroom/cheese omelet and fresh blueberry pancakes. One thing I've decided, camping is highly over-rated.
So, today is Friday and this morning I was show and tell at my neice's first grade classroom. It really puts the pressure on when you have a bunch of first graders who want to track your progress all the way to Florida. I'll be sure to send them a couple postcards along the way.
Lastly, if all is well, then tomorrow morning I get back on the road. I need to find a path that will bring me back to the main route but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Until next time, may the weatherman be wrong and the sun be shining tomorrow am.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Forest is Loud
I nursed the knee for about 65 miles yesterday with many stops for ice. Right now I'm at a Dunkin Donuts (again) with ice on my knees. One way to strengthen your left leg really quickly is to hurt the right one. If I can make it to some flats then I'm sure everything will be fine but right now I'm averaging 10.5 mph with 4-5 mph through the mountains. My guess is that 80% of that power is coming from the left leg. At this point, I'm thinking of a backup plan just in case I don't hit some level grade soon.
Onto the camping. I think I intruded on a deer's territory last night. At about 4am I heard some snorting and blowing that make Riley's sneezes sound like a whisper. In my head I was rethinking all the deer stories that I've heard over the years trying to recall if they've ever charged something. Sounds silly but when you're laying in a hammock with a rain fly obstructing any view of what's going on on there you're mind starts creating images. I think something did come up close to me at some point in the night too. I just rember trying to move but not being able to because I was still sleeping. It was like your mind knows something is happening but your body doesn't want to help out. The sensation that something was there could have been a dream, but it sure seemed real to me.
It's much different putting up a camp, going to sleep by yourself, not talking to others and waking up without anybody else around you. Just one night of that makes me really appreciate my friends and family a lot more. One of the reasons I set out on this trip is because life just seems very full at times. It's not that it's too full, it just seems as though you forget to appreciate it all when it screams by. No screaming here though, slow and steady is the pace.
Until next time, may the woods be free of bears and the next gas staion with a public bathroom be right around that corner!
Onto the camping. I think I intruded on a deer's territory last night. At about 4am I heard some snorting and blowing that make Riley's sneezes sound like a whisper. In my head I was rethinking all the deer stories that I've heard over the years trying to recall if they've ever charged something. Sounds silly but when you're laying in a hammock with a rain fly obstructing any view of what's going on on there you're mind starts creating images. I think something did come up close to me at some point in the night too. I just rember trying to move but not being able to because I was still sleeping. It was like your mind knows something is happening but your body doesn't want to help out. The sensation that something was there could have been a dream, but it sure seemed real to me.
It's much different putting up a camp, going to sleep by yourself, not talking to others and waking up without anybody else around you. Just one night of that makes me really appreciate my friends and family a lot more. One of the reasons I set out on this trip is because life just seems very full at times. It's not that it's too full, it just seems as though you forget to appreciate it all when it screams by. No screaming here though, slow and steady is the pace.
Until next time, may the woods be free of bears and the next gas staion with a public bathroom be right around that corner!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Bad Thing About Downhills
Everybody loves a good downhill. All the speed, no pedaling, wind in your face to cool you down. What's not to love? The dirty secret about downhills is that the more of them you hit, the more uphill grinding you need to participate in. Add in the trailer attached to the bike and I begin to feel like the guy on the cover of Atlas Shrugged. I love a good hillclimb, but some of this is ridiculous. Names like Sawyer Hill Rd and Lappi Hill Rd just keep popping up all over the place. How come they never name one of these "hill" roads a street or a drive? It's like little green label telling you, "Hey buddy, if you're making a right you're going straight up, and by the way, I'm a road so I hope you're in this for the long haul!"
On to the trip. Yesterday I rode with Nick and we went off route to meet up with a fellow SAE Brother. It was a shorter day (maybe 65 miles) but I pushed a little to hard in some spots and the outer side of my right knee is killing me. Today I've slowed the pace drastically in an attempt to recoup the knee over the next two or three days. One thing I' be learned about the trailer is that over a long distance that extra weight kills you joints way before your legs burn out. Slow and steady for the next few days.
Weather is perfect today and the scenery in NH and MA are great. Lots of back country road without much traffic. Tonight will be the first night of camping and I'm already spotting some great locations.
Until next time, may the path be smooth and the roads be flat.
On to the trip. Yesterday I rode with Nick and we went off route to meet up with a fellow SAE Brother. It was a shorter day (maybe 65 miles) but I pushed a little to hard in some spots and the outer side of my right knee is killing me. Today I've slowed the pace drastically in an attempt to recoup the knee over the next two or three days. One thing I' be learned about the trailer is that over a long distance that extra weight kills you joints way before your legs burn out. Slow and steady for the next few days.
Weather is perfect today and the scenery in NH and MA are great. Lots of back country road without much traffic. Tonight will be the first night of camping and I'm already spotting some great locations.
Until next time, may the path be smooth and the roads be flat.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Some things we do just because we have too.
Many different events have taken place since I last wrote a post. I've been running around like crazy in an attempt to remember everything that I could possibly need on this trip but still managed to forget my sunglasses. Ahh yes, sunglasses...probably the last possible item that I needed in my bag of tricks today. Rain slicker, poncho, body suit made of that durable, frozen zip-lock bag material are all possible items I could have used but sunglasses, not-so-much. Under normal circumstances there is no possible way that I would ride for 2 hours in the driving rain covered in road spray and mud. As I was told by two guys who just finished an unproductive fishing trip on the Kennebunk River, I'm not normal which probably means that my circumstances aren't normal either.
Skipping back a day, Jennifer, Riley and I all drove up to Portland, ME yesterday to spend our last day together for the next month. Riley didn't think to much of this trip because he had to find a way to lay down on what he would probably describe as a postage stamp sized portion of the back seat. Once we arrived in Portland we had a fantastic dinner at Walter's on Exchange Street. Jen and I both had a vegetarian dish. She ordered a Fettuccine Pasta with olives, dried tomatoes, camembert cheese (sp?), and a white wine oil sauce that was unbelievable. I ordered a whole wheat pasta that was covered in a wild mushroom ragout and some sort of a sherry reduction sauce. My descriptions probably don't do the dishes justice but I'm sure we'll be heading back to Walters again whenever we're in that area.
So, on to the first day of riding. As I mentioned, it was wet. The initial excitement of starting the trip is what really got me through the first few hours. After that I spent a good deal of my trip along the Maine coast which was beautiful, NE scenery accompanied by that ocean scent that reminds you to keep looking left and take in the views while they're there. If this were anyplace other then beach area and I smelled that scent then I would probably be saying, "My God, what is that nasty smell of salt and rotten seaweed?" But it is and I'm not. The ride really was amazing. My legs are sore, my back is tired, and my neck feels like I just took a nap in a small cardboard box (now I know how Riley feels) but it was all worth it. If I wasn't able to end this day at Nick's house where a hot shower and comfortable couch was waiting for me then I might not have the same attitude as I do right now. Speaking of that couch, I think it's calling my name. Until I get the next chance to write I'll leave some facts about the start of the trip. First day weight was 183 lbs, mileage was 75 miles, ride time was about 5 hours, total time from start to finish including breaks was about 7 hours and I saw 1 grey herring, 5 goats and about a half dozen Maine surfers (yes they were surfing).
Skipping back a day, Jennifer, Riley and I all drove up to Portland, ME yesterday to spend our last day together for the next month. Riley didn't think to much of this trip because he had to find a way to lay down on what he would probably describe as a postage stamp sized portion of the back seat. Once we arrived in Portland we had a fantastic dinner at Walter's on Exchange Street. Jen and I both had a vegetarian dish. She ordered a Fettuccine Pasta with olives, dried tomatoes, camembert cheese (sp?), and a white wine oil sauce that was unbelievable. I ordered a whole wheat pasta that was covered in a wild mushroom ragout and some sort of a sherry reduction sauce. My descriptions probably don't do the dishes justice but I'm sure we'll be heading back to Walters again whenever we're in that area.
So, on to the first day of riding. As I mentioned, it was wet. The initial excitement of starting the trip is what really got me through the first few hours. After that I spent a good deal of my trip along the Maine coast which was beautiful, NE scenery accompanied by that ocean scent that reminds you to keep looking left and take in the views while they're there. If this were anyplace other then beach area and I smelled that scent then I would probably be saying, "My God, what is that nasty smell of salt and rotten seaweed?" But it is and I'm not. The ride really was amazing. My legs are sore, my back is tired, and my neck feels like I just took a nap in a small cardboard box (now I know how Riley feels) but it was all worth it. If I wasn't able to end this day at Nick's house where a hot shower and comfortable couch was waiting for me then I might not have the same attitude as I do right now. Speaking of that couch, I think it's calling my name. Until I get the next chance to write I'll leave some facts about the start of the trip. First day weight was 183 lbs, mileage was 75 miles, ride time was about 5 hours, total time from start to finish including breaks was about 7 hours and I saw 1 grey herring, 5 goats and about a half dozen Maine surfers (yes they were surfing).
Thursday, May 1, 2008
iPhone post
I hope this is going to work. The normal method of posting was not available on the iPhone so I may need to figure out another way. One thing is for certain though, you can type really fast with an iPhone once you get used to it.
Changes and last minute planning
I've decided to change the starting point of the trip to Portland, ME. Jen's mother and stepfather invited us to Portland with them a couple summers ago and we really enjoyed the area. It will also be easier for Jennifer to drive back to NY on Sunday and it gives me some time to ease into the days. I'm a little worried about overuse injuries, worried about what happens if I don't make it the whole way or if I need to stop mid trip. Not pedaling the whole way to Key West just isn't an option at this point.
Both yesterday and today has been a flurry of bike shops, outdoor stores and researching gear. I've picked up everything from bandages to spokes and reflectors to triscuits. Rigging up a system for making sure that the fenders stay on is a real pain. I've cut, bent, ground and zip tied just about every piece of the front fender but it's not looking good. Worse case scenario, I'm out $25 and I'm dirty for 30 days.
I thought I'd post more info, more pictures and have more frequent updates then I do right now but there just isn't enough time to get everything done. Right now my first priority is to have everything packed and ready to go by Sunday morning. The rest is secondary.
Both yesterday and today has been a flurry of bike shops, outdoor stores and researching gear. I've picked up everything from bandages to spokes and reflectors to triscuits. Rigging up a system for making sure that the fenders stay on is a real pain. I've cut, bent, ground and zip tied just about every piece of the front fender but it's not looking good. Worse case scenario, I'm out $25 and I'm dirty for 30 days.
I thought I'd post more info, more pictures and have more frequent updates then I do right now but there just isn't enough time to get everything done. Right now my first priority is to have everything packed and ready to go by Sunday morning. The rest is secondary.
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