Coast(er) to Coast(er)
|
Welcome to the web page for the Coast(er) to Coast(er) bike ride. The trip begins at the Mission Beach Roller Coaster in San Diego, California on Saturday May 1, 2004 and ends at the Coney Island Roller Coaster in Brooklyn, New York some time in June of 2004. I will try to update this page during the trip. See the log below for whatever notes I've been able to add.  Frequently Asked Questions Pictures Send Bruce E-Mail Send Bill E-Mail |
Log |
|---|
Wed, 5 May 2004 20:08 Sun May 2, 2004 6:36 pm Rode 44 miles to Ramona the first day. Only 29 today (day 2), due to relentless amount of uphill. We're in Julian and resting. Tue May 4, 2004 3:27 pm The desert is taking a toll. We're doing mostly half-days because it's too hot by midday to keep going. The air conditioning is nice here in the Super 8 motel in Westmoreland. The specialties of the town seem to be tacos and hay. I think we'll have tacos. Wed May 5, 2004 8:02 pm Made it to Glamis, CA by the time the heat became too tough. Spent most of the day under the awning of the only store for miles - mercifully open for business. Camping by the side of the road. |
Fri, 7 May 2004 20:14 Finished two days of about 60 miles each, a decent pace with the heat and terrain. Blythe, CA last night and Hope, AZ tonight. Met two cyclists heading to Florida, Don and Shannon (hi, Don and Shannon). The campground here is nice and clean, but we arrived smelly and dirty. A shower took care of that. We arrived late, avoiding midday riding, so we may not get moving too early in the morning. |
Sat, 8 May 2004 22:04 Another good day, thanks to a nice tailwind and a relatively flat road, brings our intrepid travelers to Wickenburg, AZ. Several small town cafes along the way kept us fed, and the desert sun kept us warm. |
Sun, 9 May 2004 19:29 Longest day yet, almost 66 miles. Arrived in Scottsdale at 6:00 p.m. Harlan's got some juice with Westin, so we're staying at a pretty nice hotel. It's nice enough to have bathrobes. I'm not sure if it was this morning or an alternate universe that we woke up on the ground. It's supposed to start getting cooler tomorrow, plus we start climbing, so we're expecting a break from the heat soon. |
Mon, 10 May 2004 16:50 Short day today, mile-wise. We ran a bunch or errands in Scottsdale this morning and made it to Fountain Hills, AZ, a 30 mile ride. |
Wed, 12 May 2004 21:02 Tue May 11, 2004 9:30 p.m. Hardest day of any trip we've been on. Thankfully, the heat let up as we gained altitude, but all day long it was climb, climb, climb. At 5 mph. For 67 miles. There were a few downhills, but we spent over 7 hours in the saddle and I'm sure 6 1/2 were uphill. Wed May 12, 2004 9:13 p.m. More uphill but this time on tired, sore legs. We spent last night at a nice campground in Payson and then got up and rode to Bill's Dad's house in Heber. The day was shorter than yesterday, and there was less uphill. Plus the dinner was excellent (thanks, Julie!) Harlan is still with us and he's working out a way to get a new bike seat shipped to someplace along the route in the next few days. |
Sun, 16 May 2004 12:09 5/14/04 12:12 p.m. Finally out of Arizona. We just took a picture at the New Mexico border. Yesterday was a long day, from Heber to Springerville - 84 miles. Today we'll stop in Quemado, if we can make it that far (only 50 miles.) We're a little behind our pace but still on target for June 30, plus we're increasing our mileage little by little. 5/14/04 8:56 p.m. We're in Quemado and had a nice dinner at the Largo Cafe - one of about ten businesses in this town. Harlan thinks this looks like a town from _High Plains Drifter_ but I think the businesses look too modern for that, but still 1960-ish. 5/15/04 9:19 p.m. Today was the dangdest "downhill" day. After a stop in Pie Town and the Continental Divide, it was supposed to be a breeze into Socorro. Instead, a headwind on The Plains of San Agustin held us to an 80 mile day, ending in Magdalena, NM, having a whiskey at the Golden Spur across the highway from our campground. |
Sun, 16 May 2004 12:14 We're in the library at New Mexico Tech, in Socorro, using the public access internet machines. The morning was easy - actually downhill. We're also doing some laundry in town and then it's off to Bernardo, or maybe farther if we have the time and legs. |
Mon, 17 May 2004 12:47 5/16/04 6:39 pm If it sounds like this trip is hard work, it is. It's more than just a daily jaunt with sightseeing. We go to bed tired every night and wake up stiff or sore most mornings. If it sounds like it's miserable, it definitely is not. We're overcoming adversity and remaining adaptable, changing plans daily and sometimes more often. Meanwhile, we're eating well, we always have enough water, we haven't had to sleep by the side of the road, and we usually have showers. Tonight we're in a campground in Bernardo, NM after an easy 60 mile day. |
Mon, 17 May 2004 12:53 5/17/04 12:49 pm Eating lunch in Mountainair, we're sitting with the local internet provider - Earl Campbell. He's got the whole town covered with wireless access, that's how I'm sending this. We're 40% of the way through a hundred mile day. Whew. |
Tue, 18 May 2004 14:35 5/17/04 7:24 p.m. Although the day started roughly with two flats before we even rode at all, it ended well. The flats were Harlan's (he's still with us) and mine. The good news is we rode over a hundred miles. 10-20 mph tailwind + long flat miles + some nice downhills - 2000 feet of climbing = 14.6 mph average for the day (for the math nerds, I know that's not a real equation, but you get the idea.) We ended the Tailwind-100 in Vaughn, NM without a decent restaurant, but with a decent motel. |
Tue, 18 May 2004 14:41 5/18/04 4:31 p.m. Made it to Santa Rosa, NM on historic Route 66. We coasted as many miles as we pedaled and called it a day after 40 miles. We could have ridden further but the logistics work out better for the next few days if we stop here. We're in the local public library, catching up on e-mail and we'll camp at a local campground. |
Mon, 24 May 2004 12:18 Sorry for the lack of updates. Not a lot of Internet access around here. 5/19/04 9:01 p.m. Wow. Despite Bill feeling sick, Harlan's wheel falling off, and me getting my fourth flat in four days, we had a good day. The last 20 miles [out of about 85] from Tucumcari, NM to Logan, NM were with a 20-25 mph tailwind. I don't think I pedaled more than 3 of the 20 miles until we had to turn upwind to get to our campsite. By then we were setting up tents in 30-40 mph winds. It's calmed down now and we cooked a nice dinner. Those were the easiest 20 miles I think I ever rode. 5/21/04 7:34 p.m. Yesterday was a much needed rest day of only 20 miles, to Nara Visa, NM. Today we rode mostly due north to Clayton, NM, a "normal" day of about 65 miles. We had still more tailwind so it seemed like less and we made it here by 4:00 p.m. 5/22/04 5:02 p.m. Oklahoma, where the wind sure swept us down the plain. We started the day in New Mexico and ended in Kansas, but spent most of the day in Oklahoma, either pedaling 29 mph or coasting 24 mph. Wheeeee! We were going to try to hit Texas too to make it a four-state day, but the road leading to Texas was a mile off route and unpaved. Three states will have to do. Besides, Texas looked a lot like Oklahoma and Oklahoma smelled like poop so I don't think we missed anything. 5/23/04 7:55 p.m. Ho hum, another 100-mile day. Not "ho hum" because it was easy, but "ho hum" because it was easily our most boring day yet. We rode to Meade, KS, stopping in a couple nowhere-burgs to get junk food and Gatorade at the gas-n-sip. A little tailwind helped for part of the day, but nothing like yesterday. |
Mon, 24 May 2004 12:23 It's midday and we're taking a break in the public library in Ashland, KS. I finally got a chance to upload the past few days of reports. I also read e-mail. Thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement. I don't really have time to send responses to everyone but I am reading the messages, even the one that called me a slacker. Today has been a lot like yesterday, but I guess that is to be expected in Kansas. We're going to try to get to Coldwater, KS -- another 29 miles from here. It's not so flat today and there's less of a tailwind, so we actually have to earn each mile today. |
Tue, 25 May 2004 17:04 Last night we stayed in Coldwater, KS at Coldwater Lake campground. It was nice, but we didn't get there early enough to go swimming. Sometime during the night, the wind picked up and it howled all night long. Fortunately, it didn't rain. Today I think we got some payback for all that tailwind we enjoyed earlier. All day, the wind was out of the north-northeast. It wasn't a direct headwind, since we were heading east all day, but it was enough to limit us to 45 miles. We're stopped for the night in Medicine Lodge, KS. There's a campground about 13 miles off route, or a motel in town. We're at the motel. For those of you keeping track, our projections on arrival dates are: Westfield IN June 5-8 Shaker Heights, OH June 11-14 Manhattan, NY June 18-23 |
Fri, 28 May 2004 10:52 5/26/04 9:06 p.m. Today, after lunch, we got our tailwind back. It was only a little one, but it beat the heck out of the morning's headwind. It was cloudy most of the day, but cool. Lunch was surprising, with fresh vegetables in the salad bar at Attica's only restaurant. The afternoon snack was surprising at Argonia's gas station store too beautiful to call just a "gas-n-sip." Wellington, KS -- our stop for the night -- was surprising only because that's where Harlan's 16-spoke wheel finally went "ping." We replaced the broken spoke but we're considering options. Stay tuned... |
Fri, 28 May 2004 11:07 Here's yesterday's (Thursday's) story. Breakfast: "Independence is 107 miles from here and they have a bike shop. I talked to the guy and he can look at the wheel Friday morning." Lunch: "We're not really on pace for a 100+ mile day. I guess we'll have to stop in Sedan at 60 miles and get up early to make it to Independence" Afternoon Snack: "Sedan is 3 miles from here, but that truck driver says Caney has motels and is another 23 miles closer to Independence and we can get there before dark." Dinner: "You mean there are no motels anywhere in this town?" We were stuck in Caney, after dark, with no place to sleep -- apparently. A local resident told us we could stay on the lawn in front of her church, or check with Tom who runs the zoo and also a campground, but it doesn't open until the weekend (Memorial Day.) Zoo? I was dubious, but we rode out there and managed to locate Tom who was happy to have us, and even let us stay in the campground cabin. The zoo is no petting zoo. They have real lions and tigers and bears (see http://www.safaripark.org/) and is unbelievable for a town the size of Caney (which, after all, doesn't even have a motel.) Our hosts we're very gracious and even gave us a late night tour of the animals. What about Harlan's wheel? Stay tuned... |
Fri, 28 May 2004 11:23 We left Caney early and without breakfast and made it to Independence by 10:00 a.m. The owner/mechanic of the only bike shop we'd seen since Arizona was leaving at noon for the long weekend. "I've never seen a wheel like that before." What a surprise. However, he is a good mechanic and he was able to true both wheels with no problem. Harlan called Shimano and they told him "carry extra spokes." What a surprise. The wheel seems pretty solid, and since it carried him half-way with only one broken spoke, we're pretty confident about the rest of the trip. We're still in Independence, KS, at the public library. The weather has been good the past few days. We've been just behind several storms and haven't even been sprinkled on. The tornadoes in the news have been nowhere near us. We'll likely leave Kansas tomorrow and we're told the terrain is hillier in Missouri. Also, we've been warned that the weather is still a factor in Indiana. |
Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:35 5/28/04 8:59 pm An eventful day, but how to synopsize without typing all night? We made it to Independence where Harlan had his wheel examined. The mechanic trued it up and Shimano blessed it. More importantly, he picked up a new skewer for his trailer (general delivery to Independence from REI) and had to size it down for his bike. After some searching, he found a service station that wouldn't touch it but let him use their grinding wheel and goggles. Amid a shower of sparks and testosterone, he completed the job and we were on our way. Parsons, KS is our stop for the night and tonight is the first night of Katy Days, a historical celebration involving the railroad and partying. We had some drinks bought for us and talked to a lot of people. I got a Katy Days t-shirt from the Chamber of Commerce president Lorraine but I had to trade my Coast(er) to Coast(er) shirt (sorry Wendi). |
Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:40 5/29/04 7:02 pm We left a pretty crowded campground in Parsons that was filled with noisy horses, a donkey, and hoboes. Our lunch stop was in Pittsburg, KS which has two bike shops but was sort of a downer town. We rode on to Golden City, MO with low expectations. We were pleasantly surprised. This town is on a well traveled (Adventure Cycling) route and Cooky's Cafe is apparently famous for their pies (deservedly.) There's a "bike hostel" in town and that's where we are. 5/30/04 9:05 pm Today we had our first real weather. When we got to Ash Grove, MO, several people in the grocery store practically tackled us to keep us from riding further during the thunderstorm "warning" and tornado "watch." While we waited out the storm eating lunch in front of the store, we watched the rain but saw no "baseball sized hail." We heard a tornado touched down 60 miles away. Then the sun came out and we were on our way. We made it to Marshfield, MO after about a million rolling hills, many of them very steep, but none very long. No campground here so we're in a motel. 5/31/04 9:44 pm Richland, MO, only 65 miles today, but notice how 65 miles is "only" now that we've been on the road so long. We arrived in town 30 seconds ahead of a thundershower that lasted all of ten minutes. We've been lucky about the weather -- can our luck hold? Today was more of the same rolling hills. None of them were longer than a freeway on-ramp but many were much steeper. |
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 9:16:00 -0700 6/1/04 9:50 pm Missouri makes me think I'm in one of those cartoons where the background keeps repeating while the characters run. Our background would be: 50 hills, a dozen loose dogs, two jerks in pickup trucks that honk right next to us as they pass, and then a little town with a church, gas-station/mini-mart, post office, and feed store. Repeat every twelve miles. We made it to Jefferson City ("Jeff City.") |
Thu, 3 Jun 2004 22:17 6/2/04 8:16 pm Today was the easiest day we've had in Missouri, and not just because it was a half day. We dawdled in Jeff City in the morning, first at a great coffee house where we got the best coffee of the trip so far (it actually tasted how I remember coffee tastes.) Then we spent some time in the capitol building looking around. We spent the afternoon riding on the Katy Trail, a converted railway trail (the same Katy railway from Katy Days in Parsons, KS.) It was free of hills, cars, dogs, and was a very pleasant way to go 45 miles to Herrman, MO. From here it goes all the way to St. Louis, and so will we. 6/3/04 8:06 pm We finished the Katy Trail today, actually in St. Charles, just across the Missouri River from St. Louis. We'll ride into St. Louis tomorrow. The trail is really nice. It's very hard packed and even though it's not paved, we've had no trouble. Sometimes it's in a canopy of trees, sometimes it has a view of the Missouri River, sometimes it's along spectacular bluffs. Only bikes and pedestrians are allowed. By a nice coincidence, details of which are too complicated, we met up with Kevin Reynolds, who lives in St. Louis again. He bought us dinner in St. Charles. |
Thu, 3 Jun 2004 22:55 Some of Bill's trip pictures can be seen at www.bpeckham.com/~bpeckham/coaster |
Sat, 5 Jun 2004 09:24 6/5/04 7:08 am Yesterday we entered St. Louis, but first had to make our own exit from the freeway after crossing the Missouri River. An extended stop at REI proved very helpful - thank you to all the REI St. Louis employees and to Kevin who led us there on his bike but refused to join us on our trip. We finished the day by seeing the Arch and crossing the Mississippi River (yay!) Now that we've crossed this milestone, maybe I'll jinx us by saying it's looking like we're doing okay. Dave is in Illinois visiting his brother, so he drove to our campsite, picked us up, and drove us to a nice dinner. |
Sun, 6 Jun 2004 08:43 6/5/04 8:05 pm Our first day in Illinois resembled our last day in Kansas in that we happened upon a town party (Missouri needs to get on the ball.) Edwardsville was celebrating Route 66 and we participated by eating carnival food in the local park. We didn't stay long as we had miles to ride. We ignored our planned route through farmland and took the "scenic byway" instead. Good choice: no traffic, beautiful, and a few miles shorter. We're camping in Brownstown, just east of Vandalia, IL. |
Sun, 6 Jun 2004 22:19 6/6/04 8:07 pm [I just noticed all the times are PDT. Add an hour or two to get local times, if you care.] A guy we met at the gas-n-sip first thing this morning said there "aren't more than six hills between here and Terra Haute." He also claimed to be a cyclist so we tended to believe him. I didn't count, and we didn't go all the way to Terra Haute, but he may be right. It was a pretty easy day and we made it 80 miles to Marshall, IL. |
Mon, 7 Jun 2004 11:01 This morning's serenade by a symphony of cicadas was shattered by the song of a Shimano spoke -- Harlan's. The unmistakable "ping" announced another break. He took care of it but we'll be in search of another bike shop when we reach the Indianapolis area. More news as it happens... |
Mon, 7 Jun 2004 23:47 6/7/04 9:29 pm We headed north out of Marshall for a day of flat terrain. We also had a little bit of a wind from the south. It wasn't a lot but it was enough that when we got to our turn, we wanted to just keep going all the way to Chicago. Instead, we headed east and crossed the border into Indiana. We had a 90 mile day despite three flats and a broken spoke. We've stopped for the night in Crawfordsville, IN. |
Tue, 8 Jun 2004 22:59 6/8/04 8:42 pm We did a short day today because that was all that was needed to get to Kenny and Erin's in Westfield, IN. Along the way, we stopped for lunch in Lebanon but couldn't find any Lebanese food, met Kenny who was out looking for us to supply us with Gatorade, and discovered that my rear wheel is out of true. Once in Westfield, we ate authentic Linda Binder Chocolate Chip Marble Squares (thanks Mom), BBQ burger dinner, and more Chocolate Chip Squares. Bill replaced his tires with fresh ones he ordered and had shipped here. The other wheel issues, we'll deal with tomorrow. |
Wed, 9 Jun 2004 20:39 On the 40th day, they rested. |
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 21:49 6/10/04 7:42 pm Yesterday was a planned rest day at Kenny and Erin's. That was a good thing because it gave me a chance to have a new wheel shipped to me overnight. It turned out my rear rim was cracked in half a dozen places. The replacement arrived this morning and we were on our way at 1:00 p.m. We rode most of the afternoon through dreary drizzle and arrived at our campground in New Castle, IN for (apparently) the start of mosquito season. |
Sat, 12 Jun 2004 00:30 6/11/04 9:19 pm While riding in the rain doesn't slow us much, packing up camp in the rain was very slow this morning. After breakfast at noon, we were able to put in 50 rainless miles. There were no mechanical problems aside from what seems like the usual two flats (Harlan's and mine.) Our route was closed due to road construction, but Bill's dad warned us when he met us for breakfast so we easily detoured, with no real loss, to Greenville, OH. |
Sat, 12 Jun 2004 20:22 6/12/04 5:10 pm For those of you keeping track with pushpins on a map, we're between St. Paris and Urbana, OH, about five miles north of both. We finished pretty late last night so a late start and an early headwind kept us to about 50 miles. It's still light out so we're getting a chance to dry out our tents, still soggy from two days ago. No rain today but a chance tonight and tomorrow. |
Mon, 14 Jun 2004 00:33 6/13/04 9:01 pm Big day. Early start. An Urbana (OH) woman bought us breakfast. Nice tailwind nearly all day. We had to detour around Marysville but it only cost us a few miles. Even two flats (both mine) didn't keep us from going 80 miles before 6:00 p.m. Then we got the weather report. Rather than a campground, we headed for a motel while lightning flashed non-stop. Too bad we didn't make it before the rain started. But we're safe and dry (now) so if you're watching the Weather Channel, don't worry. We're in Mt. Gilead, OH. |
Tue, 15 Jun 2004 01:32 6/14/04 10:17 pm Things that slowed us down today: starting late after letting stuff dry out, stopping to buy a new pump to replace my broken one, detouring around a bridge out, riding for a few hours in pouring rain, Harlan's flat tire, my flat tire, Things that sped us up today: tailwind, riding in the sunshine after the rain. I think the "slowed us down" won because we got to town after 9:00 p.m. We're in Medina, OH after a 94 mile day. |
Wed, 16 Jun 2004 00:30 6/15/04 9:22 pm This part of Ohio is hillier than we thought so our "easy" 45 mile day turned out to be a little wearing. Fortunately, we are able to recover at Jeff and Anne's in Shaker Heights, OH - they are hosting three road-worn cyclists. Luckily, no rain today. Wendi shipped me a new ride t-shirt here to replace the one I traded in Kansas. |
Wed, 16 Jun 2004 22:12 6/16/04 10:08 pm We spent the morning with Jeff and didn't get going until the afternoon. By coincidence, that's when it started to rain. It wasn't a hard rain but it was persistent. We were more persistent and made it to Orwell, OH. I had two flats which didn't help, but I'm getting faster at fixing them. |
Fri, 18 Jun 2004 08:59 6/17/04 5:37 pm Another normal day: flat tire, pouring rain after lunch, soaking wet, 50 miles. We made it to Meadville, PA. Also, a reporter for the Linesville PA weekly newspaper took our picture. And the owner of the Driftwood restaurant in Linesville (who called the newspaper) bought us lunch. I gouess we should have stopped for the day when we got to Linesville. |
Fri, 18 Jun 2004 09:10 6/18/04 12:02 pm We're taking a rest day today in Meadville, PA. Harlan has an important meeting today in L.A. so he flew out of Pittsburg and will be back first thing tomorrow morning. In the meantime, Bill and I are drying out and hoping for less rain for the last push across Pennsylvania. We're expecting Harlan's wife Stephanie to join us for the remainder of the ride when Harlan returns. To answer another Frequently Asked Question... We are getting a lot more flats than we expected. Bill is not getting as many and it might be due to his tires, which might have more rubber. I've had a lot of flats in the past few days and that might be due to the property of rubber that makes it easier to cut when wet (you could look it up.) I am going to check the bike shop here in Meadville for a beefier tire when I get through here in the library. For comparison, I had no flats in over 600 miles on the San Francisco to San Diego trip and routinely go 1000 miles between flats around town near home. On this trip, I'm approaching 20 flats in under 3000 miles. |
Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:18 6/19/04 10:14 pm Stephanie joined us this morning with Harlan upon his return from L.A. She is going to ride with us the rest of the way to New York (assuming *we* make it to New York.) Despite the commotion this morning of getting Harlan and Stephanie ready after taking the redeye, we rode over 70 miles and made it to Warren, PA. The state bike route is *very* nice and we had a decent wind. We understand there's an unseasonable frost warning tonight, but unseasonable weather is nothing new for us on this trip |
Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:21 6/20/04 9:50 pm Today we had beautiful weather, a nice road, great scenery through the Alleghenies, and no flats. BicyclePA Route Y continues to be a winner, taking us tonight to East Smethport, PA. We met a guy at lunch cycling from L.A. to Conn. averaging 130 miles a day and carrying one-fourth the gear we have. He's crossed the continent 14 times in 20 years. Humbling. |
Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:24 6/21/04 2:21 pm We're at a library in Coudersport, PA. I'm having trouble sending e-mail from my phone, so updates may get less frequent, but I'll post when I can. Today we expect to get to Gaines, PA. The route continues to be good but hilly, which is slowing me down due to weakening knees. We're close enough to limp in the rest of the way, but of course I hope to finish stronger than that. |
Wed, 23 Jun 2004 13:33 6/22/04 11:34 pm We made it to a campground in Gaines last night and made dinner. Sometime after midnight, it started to rain and it drizzled almost until the time we left camp this morning. Fortunately, it was a nice day and we rode over 70 mile. We're in Wysox, PA (just east of Towanda.) The ride today was just as hilly as the rest of PA so we're pretty beat tonight. |
Wed, 23 Jun 2004 13:40 We stopped for a minute to use the library in Tunkahannock, PA on our way to Carbondale (we hope.) From there, we expect to ride Thursday and Friday to the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge, then ride Saturday morning down Manhattan to Coney Island. But anything can happen between now and then. It's still pretty hilly and wearing us out, and we may get some more rain on Friday. |
Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:46 6/23/04 10:49 pm We made it to Carbondale but the last few miles were tough. The food at dinner was really good but the town is short on any place to stay. The nice local police are letting us stay at the high school (school's out for summer) and even escorted us over here. |
Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:54 6/24/04 6:28 pm It's surprising that after a week of these hills, they don't get any easier. One would think we'd be in such good shape by now that we wouldn't be so worn out after a "mere" 50 miles of the Poconos. But we're here by the Delaware River in beautiful Milford, PA. It's gotten a lot more crowded today, as we get nearer to big cities. Towns, traffic, and people are all closer together. |
Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:54 6/25/04 11:22 pm You might think that climbing hills in the rain would be less of a chore on the second to last day. Instead, I think the closeness of the end made it seem more demoralizing. But we left the hills *and* the rain behind us when we got to the Hudson River. On balance, the day was still good, due to the beautiful Harriman State Park. Also, it was highlighted by three good meals, all after crossing the New York state border. Coincidence? I suggest not. We're spending the night in Nyack, NY and expect to reach Coney Island tomorrow afternoon. |
Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:55 I know everyone will stop reading this when we reach the end so I thought I'd better take care of some things now. If there are two more stouthearted, supportive, and tolerant traveling companions, I can't imagine. To Bill, who did more than his share of shared chores, carried more than his share of shared food, and did less than his share of complaining. To Harlan (aka Knuckles, aka Ping) who took more than his share of my derision and went from a wannabe to a bike stud. Thank You. To all the friends, relatives, and strangers who provided support along the way: LeAnne Peckham, Ed & Coleen Espinoza, Dean & Julie Peckham, Bike Shop Guy in Independence KS, Kevin Reynolds, Dave Cowan, Kenny & Erin Kingshill, Aunt Betty, Larry at Meadow Lake OH, Janet Murphy in Urbana OH, Jeff Isaacs & Anne Bochert, Charlotte at Driftwood in Linesville PA, Karen Hackett & Neal Beck. To all the people back home who provided support remotely: LeAnne Peckham, Harlan's dad, Aunty Beverly, Linda Binder, Wendi Wallerstein. To all the cyclists who accompanied us part of the way and kept us going: Stephanie, Dennis, Mark, Don & Shannon. And to everyone who sent words of encouragement via e-mail and voicemail. Thank You Lastly, to all the inn keepers, cafe owners, post office employees, service station mechanics, police officers, highway workers, and assorted merchants of every kind across the country who helped us out by saying "yes" when they could have just as easily said "no" Thank You America |
Sat, 26 Jun 2004 15:24 We made it! More info soon. |
Sun, 27 Jun 2004 08:08 When we left Nyack yesterday morning it was a little drizzly. We headed south on a route popular with bicyclists. We talked with more than a few -- some of them Stephanie knew. By the time we crossed the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day. Riding through the city and then over the Brooklyn Bridge and through Brooklyn was a little frustrating because of all the traffic lights that all turn red at the same time every five blocks. Finally, at Coney Island, there were thousands of people celebrating at the Mermaid Festival. We accidentally rode a few blocks in the Mermaid Parade, and then extracted ourselves long enough to take a picture at the roller coaster (!!). Since it was too crowded to sightsee and we were too worn out to ride, we took the subway back into Manhattan. I hope everyone has enjoyed these little updates. When I get back to San Diego, I'll get my film developed and post some pictures here. I also expect to add a full trip report, though that may take some time. Here's a story I stole from somewhere that has been reprinted often. A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?" The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the first student, "You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over like I do." The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path!" The teacher commended the second student, "Your eyes are open, and you see the world." The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel." The fourth student replied, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all sentient beings." The teacher was pleased, and said to the fourth student, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming." The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, "I am your student!" |