That last post was Marty, BTW.
This AM we woke to frost on everything and the water we left out was partially frozen! We are guessing mid 20s last night. Tent was even frosted over... yes we slept outside.
We really needed some warmth so we waited until the restaurant opened at 7 and got going by 8 after like 15 cups of coffee..
First 25 miles included 20 miles of climbs - or it felt that way. Then, believe it or not, we had to get on Interstate 8 and bomb downhill for 13 miles - we were careful, but we were cooking.
After that, we got lost for about 6 miles, got back on track and got to El Centro at dusk - though the ride into El Centro was on THE WORST 25 miles of pavement ever - like Old Kings Road on crack (Palm Coast reference - sorry).
Very happy with the effort - about 8 AM - 5:30. Just like a real job.
Met a fellow traveler Dave (picture will be posted). We are pretty fried and must go eat!
Jake
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
California be hilly
We started out of the very West side of San Diego at about 5:15 AM. All went pretty well with the plan which was to avoid nasty traffic.After about 12 miles we started climbing and I guess we climbed for over 25 of the next 38 miles. It was very hard, but a good day all in all.
Tomorrow we should have about 8 miles of climbing and then down hills and flat. We plan to do about 95 miles.
California is a weird place. Some places are very nice and others are pretty ugly. Some folks have very interesting thoughts on yard decoration.
So far butt is good.
Tomorrow we should have about 8 miles of climbing and then down hills and flat. We plan to do about 95 miles.
California is a weird place. Some places are very nice and others are pretty ugly. Some folks have very interesting thoughts on yard decoration.
So far butt is good.
You take what the defense gives you!
As you know we got an early start. Good thing too.
First, the traffic can get pretty hairy even early in the morning - we had to get out of San Diego fast.
The faster we got out, the faster we could enjoy climbing and climbing and climbing.
We got a little off track here and there, but found our way okay without too much stress.
We thought were started the climbing when we had our second breakfast in Lakeside and came to the grim realization that we had not done "poo".
The climbing set in after that and around Alpine, we were passed by 2 friendly females on mountain bikes. Hey, they were not dragging 45 pounds of stuff!
Anyway check the new pictures - they do not do justice to the hills, but offer a little perspective... just like the women who passed us!
Anyway we got to Decsanso and stopped for lunch at about 1:30. We were pretty spent despite the low mile count, so we asked where there was a campground -- our waitress told us we could camp out back for free. Very cool. So if you go to Decsanso, tip well.
That was good news... the bad news is it will be freezing tonight and tomorrow when we get rolling.
Tomorrow has a bit of climbing and a lot of fast downhill... we will be safe though these rigs can get up to speed with all the weight.
Thanks for checking in.
First, the traffic can get pretty hairy even early in the morning - we had to get out of San Diego fast.
The faster we got out, the faster we could enjoy climbing and climbing and climbing.
We got a little off track here and there, but found our way okay without too much stress.
We thought were started the climbing when we had our second breakfast in Lakeside and came to the grim realization that we had not done "poo".
The climbing set in after that and around Alpine, we were passed by 2 friendly females on mountain bikes. Hey, they were not dragging 45 pounds of stuff!
Anyway check the new pictures - they do not do justice to the hills, but offer a little perspective... just like the women who passed us!
Anyway we got to Decsanso and stopped for lunch at about 1:30. We were pretty spent despite the low mile count, so we asked where there was a campground -- our waitress told us we could camp out back for free. Very cool. So if you go to Decsanso, tip well.
That was good news... the bad news is it will be freezing tonight and tomorrow when we get rolling.
Tomorrow has a bit of climbing and a lot of fast downhill... we will be safe though these rigs can get up to speed with all the weight.
Thanks for checking in.
We are Rolling
Day one on the Bike -- Any bets on how much weight is lost on this trip?
If yesterday was any indication, we will be gaining! Great burgers in San Diego!
Wish us luck.
Jake and Marty
If yesterday was any indication, we will be gaining! Great burgers in San Diego!
Wish us luck.
Jake and Marty
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
getting ready... again!
Okay, we haven't ridden a mile, but it has been a lonnnnng day.
We are ready to push off tomorrow early and have NEW PICTURES TO SHARE!
Click on the link and see the traditional rear wheel in the Pacific. Had a great visit from my cousin Pauline, Liz, Philip and their cute son Miles.
Spike was awesome -- helped out a bunch.
The guys at Bicycle Discovery were totally great. Gave me a work stand and the bikes seem to actually work.
We are beat and as you can see not terribly entertaining - thanks for checking in.
We are ready to push off tomorrow early and have NEW PICTURES TO SHARE!
Click on the link and see the traditional rear wheel in the Pacific. Had a great visit from my cousin Pauline, Liz, Philip and their cute son Miles.
Spike was awesome -- helped out a bunch.
The guys at Bicycle Discovery were totally great. Gave me a work stand and the bikes seem to actually work.
We are beat and as you can see not terribly entertaining - thanks for checking in.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Eve of Distraction
Well here goes...
Tomorrow at O-Dark-Thirty, I will be on my way to the airport to begin this odyssey.
Today began with a full head and heart.
I kept thinking to myself, this will be the last time in a while I shave, iron my work clothes (yeah, I have been doing that since the Air Force), tie my tie, brush my teeth... just kidding, I might shave!
Work was frenetic but it was truly gratifying to have so much support from my co-workers.
Now, I am home, going over the packing list in my head, checking weather at various cities along the route (so far, West winds and no snow!!!), and getting ready to go out to dinner with my family and some friends.
I'll try not to be a dork, but the full heart may be an issue tonight.
Tomorrow the work begins and hopefully some fun too. Dunstan, I trust you are ready!
Tomorrow at O-Dark-Thirty, I will be on my way to the airport to begin this odyssey.
Today began with a full head and heart.
I kept thinking to myself, this will be the last time in a while I shave, iron my work clothes (yeah, I have been doing that since the Air Force), tie my tie, brush my teeth... just kidding, I might shave!
Work was frenetic but it was truly gratifying to have so much support from my co-workers.
Now, I am home, going over the packing list in my head, checking weather at various cities along the route (so far, West winds and no snow!!!), and getting ready to go out to dinner with my family and some friends.
I'll try not to be a dork, but the full heart may be an issue tonight.
Tomorrow the work begins and hopefully some fun too. Dunstan, I trust you are ready!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Getting ready
Did a dry run of full packing and seem to be all set. Amazing that I have everything I will need to survive for six weeks in a dry bag the size of med piece of luggage; tent, sleeping bag and all. The bikes and trailers have been shipped and should be waiting for us by Monday. Jake and I get into San Diego Wednesday by noon and we'll rebuild the bikes, trailers and leave the next day. Excitement is building.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Welcome to the Blog
Thanks for visiting. We set this up so we could journal our Bicycle trip from San Diego to St Augustine Florida.
This was all Marty's idea and I am still not sure if he hoped I would say YES or NO when he asked if I wanted to bike across the US by the time we were 50. I figured I would have several additional injuries by then so I told him I would do it, but it had to be soon.
Soon is upon us- we fly to California on Wednesday, February 25th and start pedaling the next day.
There will be links to the right... see? Spot us via Satellite is very cool - right now it just has my test data, but when we get going you can track our progress by clicking the link. When you get to the SPOT page, select "satellite" in the viewing window and you will see where we are from satellite imagery from Google maps.
I'll put some more links up there, but if you get lost just go to http://www.pcbike.com/ as we will have all the links there too.
Jake
This was all Marty's idea and I am still not sure if he hoped I would say YES or NO when he asked if I wanted to bike across the US by the time we were 50. I figured I would have several additional injuries by then so I told him I would do it, but it had to be soon.
Soon is upon us- we fly to California on Wednesday, February 25th and start pedaling the next day.
There will be links to the right... see? Spot us via Satellite is very cool - right now it just has my test data, but when we get going you can track our progress by clicking the link. When you get to the SPOT page, select "satellite" in the viewing window and you will see where we are from satellite imagery from Google maps.
I'll put some more links up there, but if you get lost just go to http://www.pcbike.com/ as we will have all the links there too.
Jake
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