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/

Biking in the Merry Month of May

It's May and that can only mean one thing - you're going to see a lot more cyclists on the road because it's National Ride Your Bike to Work Month!  Yes, its official and me and my people, we even have our own logo, uhhh, poster, uhhh on-line graphic;

As you can see from the above, we have a Bike to work week (the 14th to the 18th), a day (May 18th) and for the kinder  (pronounced as the first part of the grade you are in before first grade) among us, a ride to school day (May 9)!  Now there is an organization that is really behind this called PeopleforBikes.org and they have some exciting ways that we can make the most of this month.  To wit (I guess that mean "towards getting smarter"?);

1) Go for a type of bike ride that you normally wouldn’t: If you’re a road rider, try a mountain bike ride. If you’ve never ridden your bike to work, give bike commuting a shot. And if the ride to work isn’t something you can tackle this year, ride your bike to run an errand you would normally do by car, even if it’s just a trip to the coffee shop or ice cream parlor. Remember—forty percent of trips Americans take are two miles or less, an easy bicycling distance.

2) Introduce one other person to bicycling. Whether it’s your partner, a coworker, a family member, or just a friend, help someone find a bike and go for a fun ride. Bicycling is a pretty amazing thing, right? Why not encourage someone else to discover the activity that brings you so much happiness.

3) Participate in one or more National Bike Month events. A list of community rides can be found at the League of American Bicyclists.
Now I tend to do much of this (much to my wife's chagrin on number 2) and I've even signed up on Endomondo for the New York Bike Challenge.  All of this (hopefully) means that a lot more people will be out there doing what I do many (if not every) day of the week - especially since this has been an incredibly mild winter.  As a matter of fact, I kicked off the month by riding on May 1st, despite the fact that it was coming down in buckets and I felt a bit like this guy;

(Yay - riding in the rain!)

In all seriousness, it was pretty much like this. 

(Riding in the rain, just riding in the rain, What a glorious feeling....)

And because I'm trying to train for any weather conditions I took the long way to work which was 15.2 miles as opposed to the short route which would have gotten me there 10 minutes faster. I just figured since I was squishy already, I might as well go the full distance.  Speaking of "Squishy", here is one of my favorite clips from Finding Nemo;



And I was certainly feeling surrounded by water by the time I finally arrived at school.

But there's nothing like the feeling of starting the month of May (National Bicycling Month) by riding to work!  And add to that the fact that I'm really gaining the added benefit of training for the Ride Across America it makes it even more enjoyable.  So far I've managed to log in 1372 commuting miles since the beginning of January and I've probably added another 250 or so in "pleasure miles", that is rides I've done on the weekend just to get in some more mileage.  My goal is to try to get well over 2000 miles before we leave in June.

So you will see lots of us out on the road this month - I just hope you remember that we're not targets and you don't extra points for hitting us as this mtotist in Californaia apparently thought;



I have to say it makes me extremely nervous about riding in California - good thing I'll be taking a camera with me - I just may have to keep it rolling the entire time I'm in the state.  Hopefully, since it IS Ride Your Bike to Work Month, someone will put out a PSA about NOT hitting cyclists so we'll have an opportunity to live longer.

And just on the hopeful chance I DO survive riding through the bottom part of California and you, dear reader, feel compelled to congratulate me on my death defying act by donating to the children of Sunrise Day Camp you can click on the above linke (that's Old English for a connection) or just click  here if scrolling up is to taxing right now.

And speaking of taxing and Old English, there is a wonderful little song celebrating the month of May from a little musical called Camelot.  You may recognize a young Vanessa Redgrave in the role of Guenevere;



But, aside from riding our bicycles fearlessly, there are many ways to be "lusty" in the month of May as the group Culann's Hounds can attest to in their punked up version of "Rocky Road to Dublin";



You know what - that's it, I'm too fired up now to do anything else - I'm going for a lusty ride.  Anyone want to join me?  And if you haven't already, feel free to "like" us on facebook and follow more of our lusty cycling adventures this merry month of May!

Stay well and I'll see you (lustfully) on the road!

2003 In Review

In 2003 I received the inspiration for naming the black steel bicycle that I will be riding from San Diego, CA to Wheatley Heights, NY in the summer of 2012 - "The Black Pearl" and she was unnamed until I saw this beauty flash up on the big screen;

I then made the comparison that like this gorgeous ship under sale, my Pearl wasn't the prettiest bike on the road but she was fast and she could take a beating!

So this brings us back to what else happened in the year 2003;

One of the most important events in the Connor Family history occured in February of 2003 - William and

   James were born (at 28 weeks) in the middle of a blizzard!  And so began the crazy journey of raising

   twins!  Our family would never be the same again but I wouldn't change it for the world!

The fall of 2003 saw me begin my sixth year of teaching at Syosset High School.

The summer of 2003 was (unebeknownst to me at the time) my last year of directing at Usdan Center

   for the Creative and Performing Arts.  (Boy do I miss that place and all my friends there - yes, I'm talking

   about you Eric Baum!)

The spring of 2003 saw us bring to the SHS stage an amazing production of Macbeth with Alex Numeroff (a

   young lady) as Macbeth and Jackie Silvestri as Lady Macbeth.

But what was happening in the world around us back then?  Here is a potpourri of US and World Events to remind you;



(Elevated home in Belhaven, NC - 2003)

For starters, here's how much things cost;

How Much things cost in 2003



Average Cost of new house $246,300.00

Average Median Income $45,016.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.83 (to quote Adolfo from The Drowsy Chaperone - WHAAAAAATTTT?)

(Making Muppets Adult Friendly for All!)

Because I teach Theatre, here are the shows that opened on Broadway in 2003 (click here for a link that will provide links to all these shows);

Anna in the Tropics
Avenue Q
Big River
The Boy from Oz
The Caretaker
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Golda's Balcony
Henry IV
I Am my Own Wife
Laughing Room Only
Little Shop of Horrors
Master Harold and the Boys
Never Gonna Dance
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells it All
Retreat from Moscow
Sexaholix...(A Love Story)
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Taboo
The Violet Hour
Wicked
Wonderful Town

And as a teacher of Theatre, I'm ashamed to say that I saw less than a quarter of those shows.  Of course, with the boys being quarantined in the house until June, its no wonder that we didn't get out much.  Of these (and yes, I know I'm about to commit a sacriligeous act here) my favorite of that season was Avenue Q - sorry all of your fans of Wicked.  I guess you'll just have to sing this little ditty;



And what else happened in the world around us in 2003?  I'm glad you asked.  You can click here for an in-depth, almost daily rendering of what went on in that great year.  However, for the time-crunched amongst us, here are some of the highlights in no particular order;



(NOTE: this video really doesn't have anything in PARTICULAR to do with the events of 2003, it just is a whimsical look at how consumerism is driven by politics)

World Events 2003

•The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation
•United States plans for an invasion of Iraq due to an imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction
•The United States and the United Kingdom start with their shock and awe campaign with a massive air strikes on military targets in Baghdad before the invasion of Iraq by Land Forces.
•Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, is captured in Tikrit by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
•A major severe weather outbreak spawned more tornadoes than any week in U.S. history. 393 tornadoes were reported in 19 states
•Earthquake in Boumerdès region of northern Algeria - 2,200 killed
•Lance Armstrong wins his fifth Tour De France
•Do Not Call List starts providing consumers with an opportunity to limit telemarketing calls.
•Armed undercover "sky marshals" are used on Aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks following 9/11
•Americans rename "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries" in protest to France's stand on Iraq
•Toyota overtakes Chrysler to get the number three slot in US Car Sales
•Ex-soldier John Muhammad is found guilty of the Washington sniper shootings
•10's of thousands of Harley Owners gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to celebrate 100 years of Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles.
•The last old-style Volkswagen Beetle rolls off its production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
•Italy suffers a near countrywide blackout when electricity supplies fail
•The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.5°C (101.3°F) at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent
•A car bomb attack in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq has left nearly 100 dead including a leading Shia Muslim politician Ayatollah Hakim.
•Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.
•The wanted terrorist Abul Abbas is captured in Baghdad
•Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is amongst those captured US Troops free her 9 days later
•A massive earthquake devastates southeastern Iran. Over 40,000 killed
•In France a 104 degree heat wave kills approximately 5,000
•Dafur Rebels begin attacking Sudanese government targets, bringing a swift military and police campaign to Darfur causing millions to flee their homes.
•President George W. Bush on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln announces major combat in Iraq is over
•US Interest Rates at 45 year record low of 1% and core inflation rate of 37 year record low 1.3%
•Justice Roy Moore, is suspended when he refused to take down the Ten Commandments from an Alabama state justice building.
•Hurricane Isabel claims 40 lives and leaves six million people without power
•Kyoto Protocol in danger of failing following International Climate Conference in Moscow
•Terrorists bomb the United Nations Baghdad Headquarters
•Terrorists from Al-Qaeda drive two trucks packed with explosives and bombs into the Bet Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey killing 27
•Suicide bomb attacks on British interests in the Turkish city of Istanbul kill 27 and injure 400

(to keep this in the bicycle theme, I was actually riding home from Usdan to Smithtwon as this was happening.  I was riding on Jericho Turnpike and I couls see the traffic lights slowly going out down the road in front of me - one by one.)

Technology 2003

•The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
•The highly infectious disease SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) spreads from China, Singapore and Vietnam, Worldwide nearly 9,000 People are effected in 15 countries and over 800 die from the effects.
•Human Genome Project successfully completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.
•Secretary of State Colin Powell urges the U.N. Security Council to move against Iraq due to possession of weapons of mass destruction
•In the biggest blackout in the history of the north America some 50 million people in the northeastern states of US and southern Canada lose power.
•The birth of Prometea, the first cloned horse by Italian scientists.
•The space probe Galileo makes a fiery dive into Jupitors atmosphere it was launched in 1989 and is one of the most successful NASA Projects.
•Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to a close, at least for the time being
•Libya agrees to give Up Chemical Weapons
•Concerns continue to grow over possible Asian bird flu outbreak also known as avian influenza




(One of the original commercials used by Apple in 2003 to launch iTunes)

Popular Culture 2003

•The ABC's 20/20 airs the controversial Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson
•Keiko the Orca made famous by the "Free Willy" movies, dies
•The Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) files copyright lawsuits against Internet users for trading songs online
•Apple launches Itunes which becomes a major success selling 10 million songs within 4 months of launch
•A white tiger attacks Roy Horn of the duo "Siegfried & Roy" leaving him partially paralyzed
•Michael Jackson is booked on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation ( later acquitted )
•JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released



(There were so many incredible movies this year but my kids love this scene and so do I!!!)

Popular Films

•The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
•Finding Nemo
•The Matrix Reloaded
•Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
•Bruce Almighty
•The Last Samurai
•Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
•The Matrix Revolutions
•X2: X-Men United
•Bad Boys II
•Lost in Translation

Popular Musicians

•Amanda Perez
•Elton John
•Beyoncé
•Christina Aguilera
•Travis
•David Gray
•Limp Bizkit
•Evanescence
•Coldplay
•Sheryl Crow
•Hilary Duff
•Norah Jones
•blink-182
•Pink
•Shania Twain
•Madonna
•Avril Lavigne
•50 Cent
•Clay Aiken
•Kylie Minogue
•Stereophonics
•Kelly Clarkson
•Blur
•Ashanti
•Fleetwood Mac
•Eminem
•Nelly
•P. Diddy

Of course this is only a small sampling of what happened, there were still so much more that went on in the world in 2003.  But isn't it fun to go back and walk down memory lane and remember?  To say to oneself, "oh, right, I remember that!" 

But why this walk down the memory lane of 2003?

TODAY I HIT 2003 MILES ON MY ODOMETER!!!!!!!

Yes, Connor's Army fans, I have already ridden over 2000 miles on my bicycle and its only the middle of October!!!!  I have ten more weeks of riding to do.  If by some miracle of modern time-crunchedness I am able to ride an average of 160 miles a week (I really don't think that's possible) I will be able to ride 3600 miles this year - the same amount that I will be riding across the country this year.  Basically the route we will take will look something like this;

This is the actual route that I created on Google Maps.  It looks like it would be doable since I programmed it in using the bicycle directions feature.
I am feeling much more optimistic about the ride now.  I know that I'm committed to finishing what I started (and some people think I should be committed for doing what I'm doing).  But I do still feel frustrated because I can't seem to get the support.  I see people everywhere starting wonderful foundations for their family members and entire communities getting on board to support them.  Yet, I can't even get my school community on board with it.

Now granted, I haven't tried to get my ACTers really into fundraising for this because of the entire political aspect of it.  I don't want to have any kid put into the position of things being said behind their back that the only reason they got a role was becuase they (or their parents) gave a lot to Connor's Army and to the cross country trip.  I would NEVER allow anything like that to enter into my casting of a role.  Accusations like that were made in the past which is why I'm really not leaning on those kids for help.

However, I am going to start appealing to the other clubs at school for their help in fundraising for this.  They fundraise for a variety of other charities.  I'll let Breast Cancer month wind down and then I'll ask for their help.  Its the only way I can think of doing this.

In the meantime, I've sold about $250 in bicycles through what I'm calling RECycle for Sunrise.  I take used bikes that have been donated or that I find in the trash and I refurbish them.  I then place them out in my yard and/or list them on Craigslist.  So far I've sold two kids bike, a ten-speed racer, and three mountain bikes with more on the way.  If I have to do that to get the money I need to pay for the cross country then I'll do that.

But there are some former ACT alumni who have really been so incredibly supportive in these endeavors.  Mel Mednick helped organize a comedy improv night to help raise money for Connor's Army last spring.  This fall Jamie Blanch and her fellow warriors at UNO Fights Cancer have held bake sales and are selling ribbons to help raise money for Connor's Army and ACS.  I am so incredibly grateful to them because it does remind me that people out there do care about what I'm trying to do for these kids and believe that I can make the 3600 miles to bring some attention (and hopefully donations) to Sunrise Day Camp.

If anyone else out there wants to help organize a fundraising event either here or where you are at school (ALUMNI PLEEEEEAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEE???????) let me know and I'll do all I can to help you.  Remember - its for the kids of Sunrise!!!!!

Stay well and I will continue to see you on the road!!!!!!