"I Said a Boom, Chicka-Boom" - Cycling Thunder Style!

(Face the Wrath of Lego Thor - God of Small Thunder)

 Today's Mileage - 91.64   Average MPH - 13.8

Today I started out the ride with very mixed emotions that seemed to run me through a roller coaster and all before 10:00 in the morning!  I got up early today as I usually do (which is either 4:30 or 5:00 am depending on the length of the ride) and got prepared to go.  I was really excited to start today simply because I would be riding for the Thunder Boys and Girls - they're our third graders and so enthusiastic about everything, it really is a joy to have them at camp.

Yesterday, my friend Deanna (who also happens to be the Assistant Dirctor of Sunrise Day Camp) sent me a sound file of the kids doing one of their morning spirit chants - Boom Chicka Boom.  If you don't know it, it goes something like this;

(groups repeat each line after the group that leads it or the leader - usually Deanna)

I said a Boom Chicka Boom
I said a Boom Chicka Boom
I said a Boom Chicka Rocka Chicka Rocka Chicka Boom
Uh huh
Oh yeah
One more time ______ style.

At the end they all shouted, "THANK YOU GENE!!!".  The first time I heard it I cried - good thing I was sitting down and not riding my bike at the time.  As I went through my morning preparations, I went outside and listened to it again to get me motivated for the day.  Again, it made me cry just from the sheer joy of their infectious exuberance.  I was ready to face the day!

Sarah and I were once again crossing another state border - it has sort of become our thing to do. Only this time, the only way to cross the border was to ride the ferry from Cave-in-Rock, IL to, well, I'm not really sure where, but it was somewhere in Kentucky.  Sarah and I were psyched up to get started to ride for Thunder today and we made a short video but due to technical difficulties it won't load.  I'll try to get it up again tomorrow.

And once again my darling cycling partner was a complete trooper and clmbed some steep hills - she has now conquered at 16% grade and she is turning into quite the cyclist.  We worked our way into Marion, KY and went to one of the local gas stations to get some refreshment while waiting on Amy and the boys to get over from Illinois.  While waiting Sarah discovered the fourth "Pirates" movie for sale.  Once Amy caught up with us we bought it and Sarah decided she wanted to go on for just five more miles so she could reach 200 miles overall - SHE'S HALFWAY TO HER GOAL!!!!!

So we went out on the road again and here is where the emotional rollercoaster spiked way up - ATTACK OF THE BUBBA DOG!  As we were rolling out of town a large dog behind a fence starting barking agressively at us and looking like he was trying to get out.  Now for days I have been hearing (and reading online) about the agressive dogs in Kentucky and how they are the bane of cyclists on the Transam trail.  From where I am it looks like the gate is open and I'm watching this dog and getting my pepper spray ready.  Oh yes, I bought pepper spray because at this point I'm not going to take any chances - especially not after hearing that Ariel (the cyclist we met yesterday) was bit I've decided to spray first and explain later.  I love dogs but not at the risk of my duaghter or me!

So as I'm watching Bubba Dog on the right, a small Jack Russel Terrier runs across the street (ignoring his owner who is standing in the front yard) and right at Sarah!  She speeds up and the dog gets way close to her left foot and her rear tire!  I sprinted to catch up and the dog went across the street.  He then looked like he was going to come for me and I shouted at the owner, "I WILL spray him if he comes again," to which the owner replied, "Oh, he ain't gonna hurt you".  A verbal exchange ensued as I pedaled to try to catch up with Sarah who was totally freaked out!  I calmed her down and we went on for our last five miles.

Sarah settled in and breezed through her last five miles as Amy and the boys finally caught up with us.  We loaded Sarah's bike up and got Amy and the kids back on the road to do some sightseeing in Marion.  And my emotional rollercoaster went to a new place - nerves on edge for the next three hours!  We've already had our dog scare for the day so I'm on edge for the next one.  I've been warned about the dogs and as I ride I am constantly scanning the yards, the barns/garages, and everywhere a dog may come at me.  I'm constantly checking my pepper spray canister to make sure its ready to go.  And every single house I come to I repeat the drill.  I actually had a bit of a scare when I came up to a bridge and there was a dog standing in the middle of it!  As I rolled forward the dog trotted forward towards me.  Just as I'm getting ready to have to spray him he trots off to the side of the road and into the field - whewww!!!!!

The rest of the ride was spent this way except for the forays into towns to get more water and the occasional munchies.  Amy and the kids finally catch up to me 23 miles from Owensboro and we share some of our fruit stand peaches.  Then it was back on the road for the final push!  As I was refueling in my last stop of the day (Utica, KY) a man at the station told me the temperature had gotten up to 102 degrees!  He said he didn't want to know what the actual road temperature was - I told him hot!

And finally I was in Owensboro!  I checked in and waited for my family who had gone off to a museum (it was a museum day for them) and I got myself a bit more human (i.e., cleaned and showered) while waiting for them.  They came in and told me all about their day.  We then headed off to refuel at a local bar-b-que where they had an all you can eat buffet that was AMAZING!  If you're ever in town, go to Moonlight Bar-b-que and have your fill - but stay away from the Burgoo - you don't want to know what's in it!

Right now I'm watching the season finale of "Chopped" with the family and digesting.  Tomorrow is a long day in the saddle for me as I'm riding 96 miles to Cave City, KY.  But I'll be propelled by the power of Lightning - Sunrise's Lightning Boys and Girls that is!

And I'll also be riding for my aunt-in-law Sue Gudeon who will be starting a new protocol in her battle with pancreatic cancer.  So tomorrow is for Sue and the kids - I will be putting all my energy and prayers into helping them in their fights!

And now, for the older among you (little ones don't look!) one of my favorite bands of all time - AC/DC!

And today's report;

FFL - 6 Possums, 1 Rabbit, 1 Racoon, 1 Deer, 2 Squirrels, 1 Dog, 6 UFO's
RRL - 1 Bag of Purina Puppy Chow - I kid you not!

Stay well and I'll update more from the road!

For another perspective on our journey check out Amy's blog at http://www.crosscountrymama.blogspot.com//
To help us get the kids to Sunrise go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056
Check out our website at http://www.connorsarmy.org/

Total Pain in the Posterior!

Miles Ridden Today - 88.91  Average Miles Per Hour - 16.18

So I wrote yesterday about how grueling the day was and how totally unprepared I was after sitting in the van for six days and then walking about various San Diego attractions for a few others.  After yesterday's grueling climb fest I thought nothing could be worse and that I would be able to start acclimating myself to the longer rides.

And then today happend.  And what I have learned from today is that every ride is going to be challenging in its own way and that I should never think there are ever going to be any "easy" legs of this journey.  Today was supposed to be a few ups and downs follwed by a ten mile descent and then relatively flat roads for 50 miles.  Easy, right?  And then reality kicked me in the rear - quite literally!  Let me 'splain!

I started out at about 6:45ish in the morning (a little later than I should have to beat the heat) and was immediately confronted by a 12% incline to get out of the town of Pine Valley (hey, I guess anything named "valley" I should be prepared to climb out of) that went on for about a mile and a half -- GOOD MORNING, CALIFORNIA!  But after yesterday's climbing even that wasn't too bad.  I thought to myself that maybe today wouldn't be too bad, just put in low and keep pedalling.  It was at this point that I had bizarre images running around in my head, like this;



So  I repeated Dory's mantra and changed it to "just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling, pedaling, pedaling...."  and strangely enough it helped the time to pass.  It was a series of ups and downs and then I hit the first (and as it turned out only, I was surprised) Border Patrol check.  I actually had a nice conversation with the guys there, told them what they were doing and they told me that they get a lot of people doing charity rides that come through their post, many of them with press crews following.  I had to admit that we didn't have a press crew following, that I was just an average, every day guy, not the guy from the Amazing Race with the network clout behind him.  However, he was very interested in what I was doing and asked for my website address.  I wish I would have had brochures with me in my handlebar bag (I have since loaded them) but I gave him the address.  (By the way sir, if you're reading this, thank you so much for your interest and join us on facebook too, you can keep up with the rest of the journey). 

From there I made my way to Jacumba where I was supposed to meet Amy and the kids about 9:00.  Up to that point I was right on time!  I was actually making great time and I was thinking the ride wouldn't be too bad.  The only sucky part was that I lost one of my water bottles on a descent that actually had me fearing for my life.  The shoulder was so incredibly bad it was like riding on cobblestones and since it was a really steep descent I was trying to control the bike at 25+ mph.  I then (finally) had the brilliant idea of just taking the lane and keeping an eye on traffic.  Suddenly I was no longer afraid for my life and to celebrate I reached down for one of my water bottles - AND DISCOVERED IT MISSING!!!  Somehow on that crazy, careening descent it had bounced out of my water bottle cage.  It was at that point I decided I wasn't going back for it.  Luckily, my one Random Refuse find of the day was a discarded water bottle so I have two again - and boy was I going to need them.

Just outside of Jacumba I got to the closest point I would get to Mexico in this journey.  Actually so close that I could have thrown a baseball and hit the fence (I do have a good arm) - of course, that would probably have gotten me arrested, which would really put a damper on our journey!  Here is how close I was;

I rolled into Jacumba and found a town that was mostly deserted.  I pulled up to the little shop that sold pretty much everything in town (including a huge selection of alchoholic beverages behind the counter), grabbed some coffee and sat down at the little table outside to wait on the family.  This was at 9:00.  I had no cell phone service at all so I just settled myself in to wait.  While waiting I became engaged in a conversation with an older gentleman who, as it turned out, had just retired from running the IT program at a local Community College.  We chatted for about half an hour about politics, the revitilazation of Jacumba, how it was famous for its mineral springs that had been dried up by a previous owner but how the new owner had opened it back up, how the resort down the street was being refurbished and would bring more life to the town, about my journey, about Sunrise Day Camp, how I was waiting on my family - and it was then he told me that they might have confused the place off the interstate (two miles away) with Jacumba since everyone always does.  He also said that I might have better cell reception there.  I thank him and headed off, thinking that my family must have been waiting for me all this time.  For the record, this is where Jacumba is;

View Larger Map

On the way there I actually got a phone call from my doctor's office (yes, I know riding and talking on the cell phone at the same time - its probably illegal in 37 states, including CA) telling me that my echo cardiogram and other heart tests from my recent physical came out okay.  Good thing, considering what I had just done the day before!  I told the nurse and we had a good laugh at that - I guess I'm physically okay!  I continued on to the main gas stations off of I-8 and didn't see my family.  Oooof, I thought, they're back on Hwy 80!  So I bought some water and headed back to the route and I wasn't there two minutes before I looked over my shoulder and saw Vannikan Roadwalker with the familiar blue tarp on top coming up the rise behind me - yayyyyyyy!  So Amy and the kids jump out on their mission of mercy to ice me up and refill me and then they headed off the road to prepare the way.  On the way they pulled alongside and took some video for the documentary.  At that point I was about two miles away from my last climb of the day and I was totally stoked!

You see, this was the part I had been forward to for two days - a 10.5 mile descent in which I would go from 3,000 feet to 800 feet!  NO PEDALING FOR TEN MILES!!!!!  There were a few hairy moments when I wondered if I would be able to slow down but then I was hit by the crosswinds that did a crazy job on slowing me down.  I was disappointed in that the top speed I hit was only 41.5 miles an hour mainly due to the fact that the biggest decline was only 6%.  I also had time to enjoy the ride and look about and saw some of the most amazing rock formations!  It was completely and utterly otherworldy, almost like the landscape you would expect to see on Mars;

And note the kind way they let you know you're in for a mild descent!

I finally got down to the Yuha desert floor and thats when my posterior purgatory began.  Apparently the Adventure Cycling Association's maps decided to take me on every single rough road between the Calexico exit and Brawley.  Every place I tried on the sholder was a bone and teeth rattling nightmare.  I then realized that there was virtually no other traffic on the Evan Hewes highway so I took the full lane and found myself flying with no discomfort to speak of.  I was flying along at 24 miles an hour effortlessly.  But it was short lived.

Outside of Plaster City (I kid you not, it was basically a big plant), the road just went all to hell and I couldn't find a sweet spot of comfort.  It was then that my Perineum (WARNING, LINK CONTAINS EXPLICIT - though not pornographic - ILLUSTRATIONS) really began to suffer!  The constant jolting began to take such a toll that it made it difficult to stay in the saddle - and I had a good 35 miles to go.  I stopped for water in Saleena and that revitalized me for a while but then after a few miles my personal hell started up again.

Was it hot?  Yes, it was well over 100 degrees but the heat was bearable.  I drank lots of water and stopped a few times to purchase some.  It was just the constant jolting that made this leg so unbearable.  I actually got of the bike and walked for about 50 yards just to get some flow back into the area.  I finally limped into Brawley and praised God for the smooth roads that I suddenly found myself riding. 

And next I thanked my sister Alina for gifting me with my Garmin Edge 605 Bike Computer with GPS.  For I knew the name of where we were staying (the Best Western) but I had no idea where it was!!!!  So I went to the "Go To" feature and there were the directions - SAVED!!!!  I pulled into the parking lot and found Vannikan waiting and it was all I could do to physically climb off the bike - for the second day in a row I was knackered! 

But there is an upside!  My legs themselves felt great!  It was just the heat and my nether regions that were cuasing me to be so wiped.  Nevertheless, I had one major thought as I stood in the baking parking lot collecting myself (and my breath), "this is nothing compared to the suffering those kids go through"  and I know that to be true.  My only hope is that by going through this I will be able to help some of those kids take a break from their fight and spend an amazing summer at Sunrise.

I then showered off and joined the family in the pool for a brief reprieve from the heat.  We then went to dinner at Brownie's Diner (and yes the kids had a brownie a la mode for dessert) before heading off to the biggest Walmart I have ever seen.  It was situated on the outskirts of town rising up like a Mecca to Consumerism.  We bought shoes for William, food for us, and an important piece of apparatus for tomorrow's leg - a fluid bladder! 

You see tomorrow I am riding in 100+ degree heat (it was 107 at 6 pm) and there is NOWHERE to stop for fluid refills for 63 MILES!  So I am going to leave at 5:30 in the morning with the idea of getting most of my riding done before the heat hits.  I got a bladder instead of a full Camelback backpack because I need the ventilation on my back - so for $9.97 at Walmart I got a bladder to fill with ice (which will melt) to go in my handlebar bag.  With any luck I'll be able to hold off until Amy and the kids replenish me somewhere along the route. 

So yes, tomorrow is going to be uber hot but with any luck it won't be bumpy.  If it is, here is the song that will be running through my head;

And now my friends, it is time to get some sleep as I'll be waking in 8 hours to start my next assault on the desert!  Please send cool thoughts my way!

Oh, and lest I forget, here are the reports for today;

FFR (Flattened Fauna Report) - 4 Rabbits, 1 Fox, 1 Falcon/Hawk (not sure which), 2 squirrels, 1 UFO
RRL (Random Refust Log) - 1 Water Bottle (appropriated and then used when I lost my own), 1 Child's Boot

Stay well everyone and I'll update you from the road!

For another perspective on our journey check out Amy's blog at http://www.crosscountrymama.blogspot.com//
To help us get the kids to Sunrise go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056
Check out our website at http://www.connorsarmy.org/

Back in Black (With a Vengeance)

Okay, so today I finally got on my bike after a week of inactivity.  This was due to a variety of reasons - 1) my little germ monster (William) got me sick with his chest cold; 2) too many errands I had to run to and from (and after) work that I needed to haul things in my car; and 3) excruciating pain in my back which I finally had taken care of yesterday!  I guess you can tell I'm feeling better because I am posting two days in a row!

Well, after my *whispered* "procedure" my doctor told me after laying flat on my back and drinking caffeinated beverages for the remainder of the day, I could resume "normal" activities today.  And for me that means - RIDING MY BIKE!!!!

So, to the strains of AC/DC's "Back in Black";

	AC/DC - Back In Black .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

 I started my ride.  And since today I was riding "Black Betty" instead of "The Black Pearl", I next listened to "Black Betty" by Ram Jam;

	Ram Jam - Black Betty .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

 And I was pumped!  First off, part of the reason for all the "black" theme songs is that its getting to that time of year when we'll have to set our clocks back for "daylight savings time"

which pretty much applies to everyone who doesn't live in Arizona or Hawaii.

But in experienced this morning's ride I was able to see so much that truly made me appreciate life:  The pinkish blue interspersed with the whispy white of the clouds as the dawn errupted across the sky; the dew dappled grass of the suburban lawns; the crisp breeze as it brushed across my face;  the sight of light just breaking across an American flag in front of the fire station; and even the stench of someone's cigar (how can anyone smoke those things at 6:45 in the morning????) that seemed to linger for 1/8 of a mile as I rode along towards school.  It made me feel so grateful to be alive to experience these things. 

In fact, it made me feel a littel like Mr. Weenie from Open Season as he charged down the hill towards the hunters!!!!   You have to go to about 1:11 to get to the part I'm talking about, "I feel Alive!!!!" (it comes right after, "move your wee pudgy legs!")

And that made me so grateful to be alive - to be able to ride my bike again without much pain and to experience these things again.  For a while there I have been really worried if I'll be able to do the cross country ride.  I was frightened that I'd have to have back surgery that would keep me from riding for six months and not allow me the opportunity to train for the event.

But it seems like the injections work and that after the next two (yeah, I know - YIKES!!!!) should eradicate the problem completely!!!!  I mean some of the old "crunchiness" is coming back for the instability but I don't feel the same kind of pain that I did before.  Of course, that may all change after I spend the night in  a sleeping bag on the floor of The Cradle of Aviation Museum with my twins' Cub Scout Troop!  It could be worse, I could be spending my seventh week of sleeping on the ground and in all conditions at Occupy Wall Street!!!!  I have a friend who has been there for a while (kudos to you Laurelle!) and while I agree with their message, I hope that someone really hears them and acts upon it - sort of like I'm hoping someone will hear me and act upon our mission to cross America on bicycle to help change the lives of eight children!

So that's where we are dear readers.  Its Friday, I'm heading out on my bike to go join my boys for an evening of fun at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, the sun is shining, its 52 degrees and there is a 23 mph wind blowing in from the North (okay, that parts not so good).  But in the words of Mr. Weenie, "I FEEEELLLL ALLLLIVVVVVVEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

So keep the faith, Occupy My Blog, and I'll See You on the Road!!!!