Harried to Harrodsburg by the Weather!

(My Goal? - Not to Become Deep Fried Daddy!)

Total Miles Ridden - 104.26 Average Miles Per Hour - 14.5

If I thought Friday was a difficult day to get up and get motivated to ride, today was doubly difficult. We had an incredible day at Mammoth Cave yesterday and we left the cabins at 8:00 in the morning and we didn’t return until after 6:00. I lot of walking and climbing of stairs to see some incredible sights. Of course, all the climbing didn’t really help my thighs or calves after the long day in the saddle the day before.

But to really make matters worse, I was awakened at 3:30 by the sound of crashing thunder and rain falling on the cabin roof. Once again I made an executive decision to sleep until nearly six o’clock even though I knew Sarah would be riding with me this morning. Since we were in two separate small cabins it made life a bit more difficult but because of a snafu the owner had to book us that way. However, he did give us an incredible price and when he found out that Sarah, William and James had gotten their Junior Ranger badges at Mammoth Cave, he programmed the LED sign outside to congratulate them on their feat.

But this morning it was time to face the weather. I have been fortunate in that I haven’t really had to ride much in the rain for almost 2400 miles except for the occasional times that I’ve gotten caught in short, brief showers. However, as Sarah and I headed out it started coming down in a small drizzle. With the constant threat of the dogs I really didn’t want her to also deal with this so I left the decision up to her as to whether or not she would ride with me. She decided to go for it - have I mentioned what a trooper she is? She kept my spirits up and had me smiling she chatted away and made her 13-year-old observations about the scenery, life and how she hoped we could find some turtles to rescue.

We made some pretty good time and before we knew it we had made our goal of twenty miles and Sarah seemed as fresh as a daisy, if just a bit damp from her efforts. I, on the other hand, felt incredibly exhausted and not sure how I was going to make another 80 miles of riding. Almost all of the other blogs I have read all talk about how you ride yourself into shape and after the first week you get used to the riding and you’re stronger than before. In my case that was certainly true but right now I am just exhausted both physically and mentally. The physical part I can push through but the mental part is getting harder. I think part of it comes from the fact that I still don’t know if all this I am putting my family through is really making a difference. I haven’t gotten a financial report in a long time so I don’t know if people are actually donating. After the initial flurry of media coverage, it doesn’t seem as if the media are covering us anymore so I don’t know if we are reaching folks and if the word about Sunrise is getting out. Amy, the kids and I talk to everyone we meet about what we’re doing and the camp and we are still as excited to be helping as ever. It’s nice to hear the folks speak to us and show support in those conversations, but the whole point of the journey is to raise money to help these kids and right now we don’t know if that’s happening. I think that’s what is wearing down my mental state and my emotional one as well. The overall result is just to leave me starting to feel very tired, just when I am entering into the last third of the journey.

So after Amy and the kids pulled away I knew I had 80 miles to go and about ten miles later (a good 7 miles from the nearest town) the skies opened up like they never have before. Lightning was flashing just a few miles away, the thunder peals sounded like howitzer fire and the rain came down as if from some gigantic fire hose. Just as it started to rain hard I pulled over and put on my rain coat but my legs and feet were still getting soaked. It was okay as it was still a warm rain but the lighting and thunder made me nervous. But I had nowhere to go, so I kept pedaling.

Finally, just as I was coming up a hill I saw what appeared to be an abandoned structure to my right. Sighing a great sigh of relief and thanking God for providing, I took refuge there.  Finally, about an hour later the rain and heavenly pyrotechnics subsided enough that I felt ready to give it a shot trying to make it to the next town. It rained lightly but steadily until half a mile from the intersection where I would make the turn to head up towards Harrodsburg. Praising my good fortune, I headed into the nearest gas station/convenience store and proceeded to warm up with a large cup of dark coffee and a cherry fruit pie - ahhh, the fuel of champions!

And oddly enough, the rest of the journey suddenly took on a new life. The wind shifted to be on my back, there were no more severe climbs and even the road surfaces seemed to be smoother. I was still wet and squishy but I started drying off as the miles went by. I was able to relax now that I was on US 68 which kept far enough away from houses so I wasn’t on constant paranoid Bubba Dog alert. There was only one encounter where a dog came right up to the road barking at me and I thought I’d have to use the pepper spray but he backed off after I yelled at him. Of course, every time I would go through a small town my nerves would go on edge again but 95% of the ride I was able to relax and enjoy making some really good time.

Before I knew it I was in Harrodsburg and even though Amy (who knew I was feeling exhausted today) told me to call her when I got into town and she would come and get me, I decided to ride the extra eight miles to where we were staying so I could get in a good 100 miles today. It ended up that I actually rode 104 when it was all said and done - and it didn’t hurt at all. We’re staying at the Shaker Village which for those of you from Long Island is akin to staying overnight at the Old Bethpage Village. It is a reconstruction of one of the old Shaker settlements here in Kentucky and our room is right over the Cooper’s shop. Its very cool and tomorrow we get to spend the day exploring history - I’m a happy boy.

On Tuesday I’ll be back on the road, this time riding for the Rain Boys and Girls. Of course, it would have ee appropriate for me to ride for them today. I love these kids but I’m really hoping it stays dry when I ride for them!

And the report for today;


FFR - 2 Turtles (Sarah was very upset), 10 frogs, 6 possums, 2 cats, 1 deer, 9 UFO’s
RRL - Plastic bin top, a screwdriver, bag of dog food (don’t these people feed their animals), car battery


Stay well and I hope to send more from the road,


For a different perspective of our journey, read Amy’s blog at www.crosscountrymama.blogspot.com
Find out more about our mission to help the children of Sunrise at www.connorsarmy.org.

Perambulations with Partners on the Way to Pittsburgh

Miles Ridden Today - 122.2   Average Miles Per Hour - 13.17

So I have to admit the title of this post is a little misleading since strictly speaking "perambulate" would indicate walking instead of riding a bicycle as we see here.  This is also not to confuse what I was doing today with my walking about pushing one of these;

which, while cool and uber retro, is ultimately not terribly aerodynamic due to the fact that the wicker allows way too much air to get through and there is no steering mechanism, no brakes and no place to attach my water bottles and handlebar bag.

Of course, someone apparently has forseen my problem and has created one of these;

in which I could, as Miley Cyrus so eloquently put it, have the "best of both worlds"!  I could attach water bottles, handlebar bags and I could push along my riding partners when they get tired.

What's that you say?  Riding partners?  I thought you, in your mental instability brought on by too much desert heat, were doing this solo!  Well, if you thought that was the entire case you would only be partially right because today I had company - lots of it.

It has always been Sarah's plan to ride with me and to try to put in 400 miles of the journey.  Yesterday she struggled terribly becuase we tried to have her join me at 10:00 and to put in twenty miles.  It was far too hot for her and she struggled to make ten.  So, Amy and I rethought the strategy and decided that she should ride with me early in the morning when it is coolest.  By 10:00 in the morning the temperature is already hovering in the 90's right now but at 6:00 its a manageable 70 degrees.

Today that is exactly what we did.  Sarah got up at 5:00 and we were on the road by 6:00 and we managed to put in 20 miles by 8:00 in the morning.  This makes the total miles that Sarah has logged a whopping 120.  We're hoping to add on a bit every day to that total and to help her reach her goal by the end of the journey.  I love riding with Sarah becasue I love being able to share this love I have of cycling with my children. 

However, when I do ride with Sarah it does take on the quality of a perambulation (see definition link above) instead of a ride.   Left to my own devices I often ride at 17 - 22 miles an hour depending on terrain.  When I ride with Sarah my average speed dips down to 11 mph mainly because Sarah gets so caught up in sight seeing and enjoying the terrain that she forgets to pedal.  I find myself constantly reminding her that she needs to keep moving - and often to stay on the road.

Today though I couldn't be the least bit annoyed with her when I watched her watch the sunrise from behind.  I have seen a few sunrises in my time but only recently was able to do so from the back of a moving bicycle.  This morning I got to see the joy in another person experiencing this bliss when I rode behind Sarah and saw her reaction to the sunrise.  She couldn't stop talking about how beautiful and "awesome" it was.  I rode behind her with tears in my eyes just grateful to be able to experience the child like joy she was exhibiting.  It wasn't until later when I compared notes with Amy and then asked Sarah straight out that I had the realization that I had the joy of being able to be there when Sarah saw her first sunrise EVER!  To be able to share something like that with my daughter will forever be one of my favorite memories - and I can totally forgive her the perambulatory pace we kept.

Eventually Amy caught up with us and we loaded up the van with Sarah's bike, refilled me with water and were passed up by the cyclist we met in the restaurant the night before.  He was loaded down with full panniers so I thought I might be able to catch up with him and maybe ride with him for a while.  Unfortunately, due to various complications (couldn't find a bathroom, cough, cough) I was probably 45 minutes behind him and I would have a lot of catching up to do.

Amy's parents are avid sailors who used to occasionally race.  Now they often go out on cruises with their fellow yacht club members and they have a phrase my mother-in-law likes to call out after they tell people they'll meet them at their next destination - "not racing!" which really is code for, we're going to sail as fast as we safely can and try to get there before you.  Its not for a prize, its just to know that you did it - you were first.  I have to admit that I have a bit of that same mentality.  So needless to say, I was on a quest to try to catch up with him before Chanute since I knew from our conversation last night that he probably wouldn't be going much further.  Well, I never found him.  Ten miles outside of Chanute I pulled into a gas station to get water and I saw two loaded bikes already parked there - and neither of them looked like his.  How did I miss him?

When I left Newton the other day I had been told by the clerk at a gas station that there were two girls heading to Virginia that were on the road ahead of me.  I thought, well, maybe I'll catch up to them in Missouri since they were already almost a day ahead of me.  This morning when Sarah and I were getting ready to leave I noticed to riders pulling out on the road but they were heading out a half hour before us and with the perambulatory pace Sarah and I were setting I didn't stand a chance of catching them until I saw their bikes at the gas station.  Again, not racing!  But after being left in the dust by that peloton on the way to Ash Fork, it was gratifying to know that I could catch someone who had lefta half an hour before us, even with my lavoratory problems.  It turns out that these were the same two ladies we had heard about and their names are Whitney and Promise.  They're really fascinating people and Whitney is in the process of riding cross country to win a bet with her brother James.  We exchanged stories and observations of experiences on the road but since I still had a long way to go before Pittsburg I left them in the coolness of the air conditioned gas station office and headed back on my way.

Amy and the kids soon caught up with me about ten miles outside of Chanute and while they were refueling me Whitney and Promise rolled up again.  I introduced them to the kids and my beautiful wife and we all took some photos together.  Here are the intrepid duo posing next to Vannikan;

A little while later I caught back up with them on the way to Chanute.  Turns out they were staying there for the night whereas I was still going to be going further along to Pittsburgh.  We parted ways and exchanded information.  We parted at an intersection that seemed to have a likely gas/convenience store for me to refuel before heading out.  While there I saw Amy and the kids (who had left me thirty minutes earlier) heading back as if to find me so I called them.  Turns out the road was closed on the TransAmerica route a little ahead of me so I was going to have to find an alternate route.  No problem, since we've started to get pretty good about going off the beaten path.  Ever since taking route 160 from Cameron to Pueblo I've gotten a little more comfortable with the idea of going "off the grid".

But I thave to be grateful for having a support vehicle becuase not only have they been instrumental in me not dying in the desert, littel benefits like this keep me from needing to go miles out of my way because of detours.  It would add fifteen miles to the route but at the time I thought nothing of it.

Little did I know what was in store for me.  The problem with maps is that it always looks easy in a two dimensional format.  Even with shading and elevation charts the topography doesn't give the true picture of rolling hills and heat.  Add to that the new perambulations that I would encounter today, what looked like a fairly easy and straightforward 110 mile ride became a rambling 122 mile one that lasted nine hours.

To top it off, Amy and the kids were supposed to double back and resupply me at some point but because they missed a turn we didn't reconnect as we were supposed to.  As a result, I missed the bison farm;

(I don't know if he'll charge, but he's dangerous!)

Along the way I began to see something I hadn't seen all summer - armadilloes!  Having grown up in Texas I was used to seeing these little guys in the Southwest but I had yet to see one along our journey.  Unfortunately, the only ones I was seeing were dead ones.  Yet now I know they're here I'm keeping my eyes peeled and I hope I can show the kids what these armored possums look like in the flesh.

Eventually I made my way to St. Paul, the first real stop along my way as the TransAm route had me meandering along the backroads of Kansas.  Not wanting to diverge too much from the map to find fuel I just kept plodding on in the hopes I would eventually get to a place where I could refill my water and get a salty snack.  Unfortunately, it wasn't for about 40 miles.  Finally I reached St. Paul and took my rest.  After refueling I was finally able to steel myself for the last 35 miles of the day. 

By this time it was 2:30 and I knew I was going to have to really book it if I was going to get to Pittsburgh before dark.  Apparently, I was going so briskly I missed one of the coolest things along the route today;

(It ain't the Alamo but still remember it!)

Apparently they had gotten back on the route after they had missed the turn but they were ahead of me so never came across me on the route.  They ended up stopping at the same gas station I did in St. Paul and came across two other female cyclists who were stopping in Girard for the night.  While leaving town they found this church took the picture.  I completely missed it.

I finally made it to Pittsburgh just as the light was starting to fade and I now had the onerous task of finding the bed and breakfast that was so graciously donated to us for our stay in Pittsburgh by Jeff and Sherri Stephens.  The name of their place is Himmel House Bed and Breakfast and they donated two nights in the Decuyper and Blair rooms to our traveling circus.  Amy had contacted them about the posibility of staying here when she was booking accomodations and Sherri felt so moved by our story and what we are trying to do for the kids of Sunrise that she donated the nights during our stay in Pittsburgh.  Her husband Jeff, as it turns out, is a cancer survivor and her daughter does a lot of work in the cancer community.  We have been so blessed already on our journey by meeting folks like Jeff and Sherri who have been so generous with places to stay and even donations that we are feeling more and more optimistic that we might be able to really make a difference on this journey.

Then it was time to head off for a great dinner and some rest in a big comfy bed!!!!!  Tomorrow we head off to Joplin so Sarah can give them her check for $800 to help replace the trees lost in the tornadoes last year.

FFL - 8 armadilloes, 6 Possums, 1 Rabbit, 1 Racoon, 1 Deer, 2 Squirrels, 1 Dog, 6 UFO's

RRL - 6 coolers, Lazy Boy arm chair, laundry asket with clothes in it.
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/

Familial Bonding on the Way to Ordway!

Miles Ridden Today -  60.66    Average Miles per Hour -  15.15

Today was an historic moment in the Connor's Army Ride Across America annuls - Sarah rode solo with me for the very first time!  However, before I get to that momentous occasion, I need to share with you a little of yesterday's foray into Pueblo.

We all survived the ordeal of the Night of the Black Scorpion and I'm hoping when we get the time to be able to post here the video of the kids screaming at decibels only discernable to our canine friends.  And of course, this night of scorpions should not be confused with those nights back in my youth when I used to just hang in my room and LISTEN to Scorpions;

 

Ahhh, good times!  But I digress.

 

We survived the night of sleeping with the scorpions and we headed out bright and early to explore the riverwalk area of Pueblo.  Unfortunately, we were a bit too early and not much was open but since it was going to be a scorcher of a day that suited us fine.  We walked along the river and then we came across dancing waters, which the kids just had to play in;

 

(Ahhhh, nothing like the feel of squishy underpants!!!!!)

pedalled the dragon boat;

 

(H.R. Puffenstuff, where to turn when things get rough.....)

Then we headed off to the sancity of the air-conditioned movie theatre (after first going to Walmart to get movie candy - its cheaper) to watch Brave.  I have to admit, getting out of the heat and watching some quality animation was great.  It also gave me a head start on research for the Scottish accent the kids will have to use for our fall show The 39 Steps.  Especially in scenes like this;

 

 

 I love the middle suitor - you can't understand a word he says.  But the family and I had a great time at the movies and of course Amy and I cried at the end.  This trip has really made us appreciate what wonderful children we have and while we are doing something wonderful for other people's children we are getting closer in so many ways to our own.

We also engaged in something that has become a summer ritual, one that we hope we can continue after we get home - we bough cupcakes and watched "Cupcake Wars".  The kids have really gotten into the food channel and between this show, "Chopped", "Restaurant Impossible", and "Next Food Star" we've been keeping them watching good wholesome television all summer.  Throw in the Summer Olympics which opens in eleven days and we've got a full plate of family entertainment.

Before we new it, it was time to go to sleep and dream of scorpion free environs.  However, since we were all in our own little bunk beds (Amy slept with Sarah in the double and the boys and I each got a single bunk) we managed to get SOME sleep.  Not as much for me but that was due to William moving around all night and shaking the bed. 

I awoke bleary-eyed and tired but I also knew I would be riding on a relatively flat and short course today - only 60ish miles.  I started out alone today because after Saturday's confusion in trying to navigate around Pueblo I didn't want to do that with Sarah in tow.  But the big plan for today was for Sarah to join me as soon as the shoulders got wide enough so that she would be safe.  I had made plans for Amy to join me about twenty miles outside of Ordway so Sarah and I could ride into town together.  Since I was leaving at 7:00 and figuring on 15 miles an hour I knew Sarah would join me by 10:00 which would get us in around lunch time.

So after fumbling around in the dark for a while trying to be as quiet as I could be and stumbling over to the restroom (it's a campground so there are not facilities in the cabin) I got myself ready to go and headed out in the dark with the sun just beginning to peak up over the horizon.  Part of why I waited until 7:00 was to make sure I could see what was going on around me.  I traveled on the highway to the point where signage told me to exit and made it to a local McDonald's for breakfast (I needed coffee!).  By the time I headed back out on the road it was after 8:00 but it was light, I was fed and the road would be flat. 

And then I lost my way.  I don't know how I missed the turn between my maps and GPS but I did so I went against the grain - I asked for directions.  I have figured out that even though as a man I am genetically predisposed to not ask for directions, when you're riding a bike instead of driving that extra time can mean lots of extra distance so asking is better than pedaling extra miles!  I asked a woman who was pulling into a convenience store (she probably thought I was going to mug her at 8:30 in the morning) and found I was only a few miles off course so I backtracked (I had missed the turn) and got back to the right place.  After some moderate climbing to get out of Pueblo I was on the open road!

And it wasn't too far before I finally saw some fellow cross country cyclists!  I've seen a lot of cyclists out commuting and training but very few that seemed as if they were loaded up and traveling.  I chatted with one briefly and found the road was flat ahead and that Ordway was going to be an easy ride.  At this point I was moving well and my average MPH was 18.65!  Remember that number - we'll come back to it later. 

I was having an euphoric experience enjoying the sights and sounds of the flora and fauna and even discovered wild melons!!!!  I saw these softball sized green globes growing from vines on the roads and couldn't figure out what they were so at a bathroom break I opened one up.  It wasn't ripe but I could tell it was a melon.  Oh if it were only a few weeks later!!!! 


(Yummmmmmm!)

 

A few miles further down I had the sight of a young coyote that was trailing me.  I'm not sure if he was just curious or if he was stalking me (you know, less clothing, less to get caught in his teeth when he ate me) but after a while of keeping up with me he turned off and headed into the brush.

And then I looked back and saw the familiar sight of a black van with a blue tarp - Amy and the kids in Vannikan!  It was time to do something that I have been looking forward to for a long time - ride with my daughter!  Although you can see the photo of the two of us together, the most magic moment was this exchange I managed to record;

 

 Before we knew it, we were in Ordway and pulling up to the Hotel Ordway, a lovely turn of the century hotel in the downtown area of Ordway, Colorado!

 

 

I won't say it was the speediest two and a half hours I had ever ridden but the rewards of rolling up to the van with my daughter leading the way was priceless.  Remember that 18.65?  Well, it was now down to 15.15!  But, as I said - priceless!

 

We were both starving so we went to lunch at a great little place that had once been a Dairy Queen but was now relabelled as the Dairy King.  It didn't matter, we chowed down on some great deep fried food and enjoyed every bit of it.  It wasn't as good as the Navajo Tacos we enjoyed throughout Arizona but still pretty good.  As we then checked into the hotel we went exploring and found a load of fun in the town park just across the street from the hotel - a mini water park with gushing fountains.  Although I didn't partake, the kids had a blast;

 

 

 All of this frolicking was followed by spinning around on the swingsets (instigated by yours truly) which unfortunately caused William to lose his lunch - literally!!!!  But being the mercurial one that he is he bounced back quickly and frolicked some more before lying back on the grass in total exuberant exhaustion;

 

 

All in all a good day and we still haven't crossed our third state!  Those American Express commercials can claim lots of things are priceless but the chance to play and really get to bond with my family - that is the most precious thing of all.

Well, time to hit the sack, Sarah and I have a lot of riding to do tomorrow!

And today's report;

FFL - 1 Deer, 4 Rabbits, 1 Skunk, 5 UFO’s
RRL - Toilet bowl, Complete Child’s Swingset

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/