Riding on three wheels,
California's far away,
We'll get there, sure 'nuf.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Two week mark
As Sunday June 14 looms, we continue to arrange, pack, plan and believe. Karina begins her final exams on Tuesday this coming week. We rode yesterday to the area park and went for a swim in the lake (we were the only one's in the water! I can tell you that I was in for only moments, but Karina (who seems to be part polar bear) was in for considerably longer).
The ride was great and I try (without driving Karina nuts) to use the opportunities to do some coaching around bike protocol and safety issues. We took a short ride with Lilah and another friend, and that was interesting to see a lot of the coaching go right out the window! It reminded me of many years ago when I lead tours for teenage kids. I am happy for the moment that we are a small group, and that I don't have 12 other kids to wonder about all the time!
Karina has decided that hills are annoying and that it is rather unfair that there always seems to be an uphill before a downhill (rather than the other way around). We looked at the maps for CO, and in fact she is right, there are quite a few uphills in advance of some chilling downhills. And I can tell you, the uphills are somewhat chilling in their own right. At least uphill we are creeping forward, where once over the top the "creeping uphill" will become "screaming downhill"!
Speed starts to magnify the turning aspects of the recumbents, so relatively small turn adjustments at the controls can yield sharp action for the cycle. While there is great fun in this capacity in slower speeds, I am sure that I'll be all over Karina regarding the steeps.
But, for today, another really nice day here in Western MA; sun, cool, and breakfast on the table!
The ride was great and I try (without driving Karina nuts) to use the opportunities to do some coaching around bike protocol and safety issues. We took a short ride with Lilah and another friend, and that was interesting to see a lot of the coaching go right out the window! It reminded me of many years ago when I lead tours for teenage kids. I am happy for the moment that we are a small group, and that I don't have 12 other kids to wonder about all the time!
Karina has decided that hills are annoying and that it is rather unfair that there always seems to be an uphill before a downhill (rather than the other way around). We looked at the maps for CO, and in fact she is right, there are quite a few uphills in advance of some chilling downhills. And I can tell you, the uphills are somewhat chilling in their own right. At least uphill we are creeping forward, where once over the top the "creeping uphill" will become "screaming downhill"!
Speed starts to magnify the turning aspects of the recumbents, so relatively small turn adjustments at the controls can yield sharp action for the cycle. While there is great fun in this capacity in slower speeds, I am sure that I'll be all over Karina regarding the steeps.
But, for today, another really nice day here in Western MA; sun, cool, and breakfast on the table!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Three to go!
So we are at the gym yesterday, me and Karina, and after an hour of good work I look at her and say: "I don't feel like I have been doing much, what about you?", she says "nope, I don't feel like I have been working at all!" Thats the good news. I think we are feeling physically in the ballpark to get going, and we still have three weeks.
We got cycling shoes yesterday and a couple of pair of cool shades (I'll try to get a photo up later today to show you all just how cool they are!)
There was a nice little article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette the other day telling about our project. It seems more real now, I mean, after it's been in the paper and all.
There is still lots of organization to do. Camping gear comes out this week to get checked and put into shape. Clothes are pretty well under control. We are still training on the house bike and the borrowed trike; got pedal clips to install so we can get the real feel of being "clipped in".
Karina has another week of school and then tests, then the last week to get everything else together and we are off. It is interesting to have an end date for the trip (if we didn't have one, then the school year would dictate one anyhow). With more time to either leave earlier in the year, or to be able to take extra time at special places, that'd be nice. I think a lot about the heat and sun these days!
We got cycling shoes yesterday and a couple of pair of cool shades (I'll try to get a photo up later today to show you all just how cool they are!)
There was a nice little article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette the other day telling about our project. It seems more real now, I mean, after it's been in the paper and all.
There is still lots of organization to do. Camping gear comes out this week to get checked and put into shape. Clothes are pretty well under control. We are still training on the house bike and the borrowed trike; got pedal clips to install so we can get the real feel of being "clipped in".
Karina has another week of school and then tests, then the last week to get everything else together and we are off. It is interesting to have an end date for the trip (if we didn't have one, then the school year would dictate one anyhow). With more time to either leave earlier in the year, or to be able to take extra time at special places, that'd be nice. I think a lot about the heat and sun these days!
Friday, May 22, 2009
May 22
Hi All,
Man, things are heating up now with just over three weeks to go until we begin the ride. Every day there is a new twist and turn, and I am not even talking about being on the road riding! Just organization, timing, shopping, piling, sorting, etc., each task is involving but they are finite by force of time.
And, it's been getting hot here, temperature-wise. Just this week over 90 degrees. The sun is hot, in that kind of burning my skin kind of way. There is little doubt that I am going to get scorched along the way. I am stocking up on sunscreen and I am experimenting with a "nose shade" that'll hopefully keep the skin on my nose for the summer.
Karina's school is out in another ten days, then it'll be all getting ready, all the time. She is excited and nervous (as am I) but if you know her at all, you know that she'll keep on pushing - a real trooper,
Ken has been hard at work from his end and it is impressive what he can get done!
It'll be very interesting to transition finally to the activity of mostly riding.
I'll be starting to write more regularly now. as time gets closer. Still intending the daily update from the road. Have been crash-coursing in all the new technology that can support that process. I am sure there is an easier way than what I am doing, but if I actually found and was doing that easier way, then I might not be the kind of guy who would take a summer and do this with it!
The week before we take off, I will update this blog with all the sponsors and some additional thanks to everyone who has helped get this together.
More soon..
Man, things are heating up now with just over three weeks to go until we begin the ride. Every day there is a new twist and turn, and I am not even talking about being on the road riding! Just organization, timing, shopping, piling, sorting, etc., each task is involving but they are finite by force of time.
And, it's been getting hot here, temperature-wise. Just this week over 90 degrees. The sun is hot, in that kind of burning my skin kind of way. There is little doubt that I am going to get scorched along the way. I am stocking up on sunscreen and I am experimenting with a "nose shade" that'll hopefully keep the skin on my nose for the summer.
Karina's school is out in another ten days, then it'll be all getting ready, all the time. She is excited and nervous (as am I) but if you know her at all, you know that she'll keep on pushing - a real trooper,
Ken has been hard at work from his end and it is impressive what he can get done!
It'll be very interesting to transition finally to the activity of mostly riding.
I'll be starting to write more regularly now. as time gets closer. Still intending the daily update from the road. Have been crash-coursing in all the new technology that can support that process. I am sure there is an easier way than what I am doing, but if I actually found and was doing that easier way, then I might not be the kind of guy who would take a summer and do this with it!
The week before we take off, I will update this blog with all the sponsors and some additional thanks to everyone who has helped get this together.
More soon..
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Mobility
Here is a great story and a great reminder for what the CAMP is all about.
http://www.gnn.com/article/disabled-vet-finishes-london-marathon/471403
Visit campmobilityproject.org and make a pledge today for our Ride Across America!
http://www.gnn.com/article/disabled-vet-finishes-london-marathon/471403
Visit campmobilityproject.org and make a pledge today for our Ride Across America!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Countdown Calendar
Christy drew a countdown calendar on the blackboard in our hallway this morning and it got immediate attention from Karina and me! There are fewer days every day until we leave! Who knew!! Already there are blocked out dates, which makes it all go that much faster.
Every Monday will be a "school ride" until school is out. We'll keep at the gym and start squeezing in other rides as we can. The good news is that the test pedal went very well and I think we are looking pretty good at this point.
Ken has been arranging our special 4th of July event. We get to ride in a parade! Not just any parade, but in the golf-cart parade in the town of New Harmony, IN! We'll be the only non-carts! We have a 40 mile ride scheduled for that morning in order to reach the parade at the start, 11AM. So, that'll be an early day start!
If you haven't yet done so, please make a donation to the project. Each contribution fully and directly goes to support the important rehabilitation of a special group of your fellow citizens; they (and we) all appreciate your support!
Thanks!
Every Monday will be a "school ride" until school is out. We'll keep at the gym and start squeezing in other rides as we can. The good news is that the test pedal went very well and I think we are looking pretty good at this point.
Ken has been arranging our special 4th of July event. We get to ride in a parade! Not just any parade, but in the golf-cart parade in the town of New Harmony, IN! We'll be the only non-carts! We have a 40 mile ride scheduled for that morning in order to reach the parade at the start, 11AM. So, that'll be an early day start!
If you haven't yet done so, please make a donation to the project. Each contribution fully and directly goes to support the important rehabilitation of a special group of your fellow citizens; they (and we) all appreciate your support!
Thanks!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday test
OK, great morning. Up with Karina at 4:45 and hit the road by about 5:35. It was pretty chilly to start (45*), but we did fine. We live on a hill, so the first .5 miles was downhill, then we had about another mile of down/flat before the hill began for real (UP-hill).
Pretty much the road to Charlemont is uphill from cummington, through plainfield and on until you get to the far side of Hawley. From downtown Cummington, that means about 10 miles of up. From the Hawley bog until you hit Berkshire East Ski area is steep down, that was cold.
Karina and I switched on and off the recumbent to a regular touring bike, though she rode 80% there on the recumbent. She was incredible, no complaints, persistent, good natured. She got to school about 8:15.
The rule for the day was to not push much at all as we are trying to acclimate our bodies in a way that is not damaging, but strengthening. Plus, there is still a lot we need to learn about the recumbent; how it rides, what the gearings feel like, handling, etc. The recumbent is a borrowed machine and it is a little different that what we will eventually be riding.
We should know tomorrow what the toll was for todays efforts!
Pretty much the road to Charlemont is uphill from cummington, through plainfield and on until you get to the far side of Hawley. From downtown Cummington, that means about 10 miles of up. From the Hawley bog until you hit Berkshire East Ski area is steep down, that was cold.
Karina and I switched on and off the recumbent to a regular touring bike, though she rode 80% there on the recumbent. She was incredible, no complaints, persistent, good natured. She got to school about 8:15.
The rule for the day was to not push much at all as we are trying to acclimate our bodies in a way that is not damaging, but strengthening. Plus, there is still a lot we need to learn about the recumbent; how it rides, what the gearings feel like, handling, etc. The recumbent is a borrowed machine and it is a little different that what we will eventually be riding.
We should know tomorrow what the toll was for todays efforts!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Tomorrow, 4:20 AM
As we are now within the final six week window, our schedule is changing a bit from the gym to the road. We are riding to Karina's school in the morning. 22 miles, have to leave early in order to get there before classes start. We'll begin pedaling by 5:15.
Once she is at school, I'll turn around and head back over the hills again. Totaling 45 miles for me, I will have a good picture come Tuesday and Wednesday just how much more we need to do. Today at the gym was good.
Once she is at school, I'll turn around and head back over the hills again. Totaling 45 miles for me, I will have a good picture come Tuesday and Wednesday just how much more we need to do. Today at the gym was good.
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