Letters from the Road: Having A Good Time

My Story

.....On March 22, 2008, I begin my self-contained bike tour across the southern part of the United States from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida along the Southern Tier Route. This is a trip I've wanted to undertake for many years and now it's finally happening. I will be riding with a group of 17 people orgainzed by the Adventure Cycling Association. The tour will take 65 days ending May 25th. We ride on average 57 miles per day for a total of about 3,082 miles with rest days about once a week. I will attempt to keep this blog site updated as we progress across the U.S. on this great adventure. Energy and access to a computer will be key factors. Wish me (us) luck. It's a long journey.

Shirl's Poem

In San Diego, our starting place
We gathered together
and came face to face.
Then Andy Mac came and took the chair
With baggy shorts and a face full of hair.

He spelled out the rules and left no doubt
That here was a man
with strength and clout
He said, “We’re going all the way;
You’re a real good group, just do what I say!”

“On busy roads, if you get stuck,
Please don’t make a cluster f***
If it’s sex on the road, well that’s ok,
But do it quick and get on your way.”

And so, without much further ado
The circus left town, a motley crew,
To see this fine and beautiful land –
Over hills and through the desert sands.

Up near the front is a man of steel.
He’d like to have meat
every lunch time meal
But every day Aede’s heard to utter,
“Oh no, not again – it’s peanut butter.”

Matty, lovely Matty,
goes faster than the wind,
He gets to camp each day
before we’ve hardly beginned (!)
Not only that, but on the way,
He drinks umpteen Starbuck every day!

Nick, from Frisco, brings a touch of class
He cycles with individual panache,
“Life is good,” he’s heard to say
About a hundred times a day.

“Oh crap, I see another hill,”
Says Jan, “I’ve really had my fill –
That Andy must be taking the p***
I sure never signed up for this!”

This trip would be dull
if we didn’t have Frank
Who started out built like a tank,
But three thousand miles of steady crank
And now his tum is as flat as a plank.
(Well nearly!)

Kristina rides with finesse and grace
But downhills doesn’t like to race.
All day she keeps a steady pace –
And never a hair out of place.

On recumbent is fine Dick Beeman,
Patriotic and brave, he’s a former seaman.
“Awesome” is what
you’ll hear him screamin’
As he rides that machine like a real demon.

And then there’s Eileen
Our hill country queen
Always quick with a witty remark
A great sense of humor, a vital spark.

Steve Shapland’s a name
that clearly denotes
A man who needs his carbs and oats
His brain is full of information and facts
But tell him there’s no shower
and watch him react!

Doug’s a guy that we all dig
Tall and strong – he rides a fine rig.
But when a dog made him go ar** over tit
He hurt his bike and body a bit.

There’s a chap who’s quiet
and goes like a bomb
He’s well put together, his name is Tom
He rides like a rocket or a bird on the wing
Is sharp as a knife and doesn’t miss a thing.

Dave’s added a splash of color to this trip
His vivid tie dye makes him really hip.
On his recumbent, he’s striking and lean,
But, Dave, what do all those hand signals mean?

Herb speaks with a voice
that’s dignified and calm
He’s won our hearts with his quiet charm
He has a great eye for a quality photo
And rides his bike as though it has a motor.

Dee has a heart as big as the sun
She lavishes love on everyone.
She’ll help everyone to cook and then….
The very next day, she’ll do it again.

Andy’s a cool leader,
resourceful and inspired
Always helping with our bike stuff
although he must be tired.
He’s been real hardworking
and, besides that, funny –
We’ve sure had good value for our money!

So thank you, Andy, it’s been a blast,
Our trip has gone by real fast
We wish you luck
as you follow that (North) Star
Pleasant tailwinds be at your back
wherever you are.

Finally, I’m bequeathing you
this little parcel (a deck of card)
Do try hard not to always be the a******!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Having A Good Time

It's Thursday, and today was a long 69 mile ride from Brawley to Palo Verde. Tomorrow we head towards our last California stop, the town of Blythe.

So far I am enjoying the adventure. I have been basically riding each day with the same four guys. We seem to ride at a similar pace. The youngest guy in our tour, I would say around 38 yrs old, from England, flys right by everyone when he rides and is always the first to reach our destination for the day with the five of us following behind him.

The ride has taken us from the ocean over the Laguna Mountain range dropping down (at approximately 70 mph) to the flat desert terrain to the town of Ocotillo this past Tuesday. Unfortunately, another mishap occurred on the big downhill, where the lady from Chicago pulling a bob lost control as the bob started swaying and crashed. After being released from the hospital later that same day, she decided to stay back and rest up and hope to catch a ride to meet up with the rest of us.

Top of the big climb out of San Diego

Rolling hills after the Laguna Mountains

Leaving Ocotillo yesterday to our next destination, Brawley, we rode pass sand dunes parked with RVs with ATVers having a blast over the dunes and through an agricultural area of wheat and corn watered by the Colorado River via canal.

That night in Brawley, it was my turn as the cook for the group and they wanted Chinese food. Was that on purpose since I am the only Chinese in the group? Thank goodness they let me off easy, and we did take out from a Chinese restaurant. WHEW! That was a relief.

Being out in this desert terrain with 90 degree temps, majority of the group is having a hard time with the heat as they are from areas with colder temperatures than Sacramento. So we start our days very early to avoid the heat as much as possible.

Unfortunately at this time I am unable to post any pictures that I have taken. That's it for now......... Need to rest from today's long ride.

3 comments:

riptidejo said...: jay o. here again....
you said Chinese food??? The last one I had was in St. George with you and Geno. Now, I have this hankering for Chinese food again.... thanks, Herb. There goes my diet out the window!; March 27, 2008 at 11:04 PM
geno said...: Ride on Herb!
Take out Chinese heh?!...you got off easy.
Good to hear you are having a blast and enjoying the tour. Your anxieties must be a thing of the past.
How's your buttocks holding up?
Thanks for blogging....
Ride safe...; March 28, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey, Herb - You'll probably be out of California when you see this. I hope things are continuing to go well in Arizona? Too bad about the women who had a mishap. Hopefully she'll be able to rejoin your group. You did offer to give her a ride in a sidecar, didn't you? That's the gentlemanly thing to do.

Anyway when ya get back, you, Asa and I will get together for another night of dinner and a movie. That'll give you something to look forward to. Except I'll pick the movie. Your picks are as good as your Chinese cooking.

Stan; March 29, 2008 at 9:27 PM

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