We're goin to MAINE! (in 37 days... yay!)
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Chapter 3: How True is Murphy's Law...
So I guess I'm posting sooner than I expected. I promised an update after falling off my bike but it wasn't from clipping in, oh noooo, it was because of a very evil bridge. Seriously, this bridge was out to get me. As I went under it (that's right, not on it, under) I thought I saw a shoulder up ahead on the road. Turns out it was a curb. How I screwed that one up, I really don't know. In my defense it was raining and dark with lots of puddles. I couldn't look clearly to see if there was oncoming traffic in time so I instinctively decided to hit the curb knowing I would go down. I guess better to fall onto a curb than to get hit by a car right? Right.
But that was just one of many things that went wrong on my trial run 45 miles out to Rainbow Springs State Park. Started off a great day, I was comfortably riding and making great time when the weight from the front panniers started pulling the rack down causing it to rest on my tire. Bad news bears! I pulled over and realized all the bolts were loose. Now what? Of course the one tool I forgot to bring was a wrench. Answer: Flag down all trucks until someone has a wrench. To my surprise I found out many trucks, with diamond plate "tool boxes," don't carry tools... posers. So after my fourth or fifth wave a very kind and generous Greg, who used to be an avid biker in the 70's and never leaves home without his tools, lent me a hand and we chatted over new bike tech while he tightened my bolts. Now with almost two hours lost I hopped back on the bike and made way for Rainbow Springs.
After setting up camp, while eating by way of the ever cool solo stove (ever cool except for the fact that my pot is tainted with a thick layer of black soot now, which will be really fun cleaning) a cold front decides to move in and the temperature drops 40 degrees. Luckily, I was prepared with clothes, just not with blankets. What a bummer. And so it continues...
I woke up early and ready to see one of Florida's beautiful springs. I was just finishing breakfast when the sun was rising over the forest horizon. It's going to be a beautiful day! However, as I was packing my tent 20 minutes later I realized it had suddenly turned very grey. Leaving the campsite I had to bike 10 miles to the spring and with every push of my pedal the clouds grew even more ominous. Made it halfway and aaaahhhhh RAIN! "No big deal," I thought, "it's just some water." (I left the campsite with my rain gear on, smarty)
That was until that damn bridge. So I did a quick first aid patch until I could get to the next gas station to lick my wounds and cry (NOT).
Arriving at the Spring, that you couldn't fully appreciate with the weather, I had one thing on my brain and that was rope for my front rack which was loose again, especially after the fall. I figured the State Park would definitely have a welcome center or convenience store, but of course the only store affiliated with the park was back at the campsite. I screamed at the Heavens "Really? Just give me a break PLEASE!" When slowly strolling along, in a walker, came a very jolly woman. She noticed my get up and sparked a conversation. This happens a lot! People see your gear and are dying to know what you are doing or want to share their cycling tales of the past. Well, this amazing woman, (wait for it..............) Gave me her SHOELACES!!!! Did I tell you she was using a walker? I was floored! She had already left when I thought to ask her her name and I decided then to take the names of all the kind people who help me so I can later refer to them honorably. Then I left my Smith & Wesson on the fence post.
Halfway home and worry free with my front panniers secured by shoelaces, Bob pulled over and offered me a ride, a coke, and break from riding in the nasty weather. I accepted and happily skipped the hilliest 10 miles of the trip. Yay!
But that was just one of many things that went wrong on my trial run 45 miles out to Rainbow Springs State Park. Started off a great day, I was comfortably riding and making great time when the weight from the front panniers started pulling the rack down causing it to rest on my tire. Bad news bears! I pulled over and realized all the bolts were loose. Now what? Of course the one tool I forgot to bring was a wrench. Answer: Flag down all trucks until someone has a wrench. To my surprise I found out many trucks, with diamond plate "tool boxes," don't carry tools... posers. So after my fourth or fifth wave a very kind and generous Greg, who used to be an avid biker in the 70's and never leaves home without his tools, lent me a hand and we chatted over new bike tech while he tightened my bolts. Now with almost two hours lost I hopped back on the bike and made way for Rainbow Springs.
After setting up camp, while eating by way of the ever cool solo stove (ever cool except for the fact that my pot is tainted with a thick layer of black soot now, which will be really fun cleaning) a cold front decides to move in and the temperature drops 40 degrees. Luckily, I was prepared with clothes, just not with blankets. What a bummer. And so it continues...
I woke up early and ready to see one of Florida's beautiful springs. I was just finishing breakfast when the sun was rising over the forest horizon. It's going to be a beautiful day! However, as I was packing my tent 20 minutes later I realized it had suddenly turned very grey. Leaving the campsite I had to bike 10 miles to the spring and with every push of my pedal the clouds grew even more ominous. Made it halfway and aaaahhhhh RAIN! "No big deal," I thought, "it's just some water." (I left the campsite with my rain gear on, smarty)
That was until that damn bridge. So I did a quick first aid patch until I could get to the next gas station to lick my wounds and cry (NOT).
Arriving at the Spring, that you couldn't fully appreciate with the weather, I had one thing on my brain and that was rope for my front rack which was loose again, especially after the fall. I figured the State Park would definitely have a welcome center or convenience store, but of course the only store affiliated with the park was back at the campsite. I screamed at the Heavens "Really? Just give me a break PLEASE!" When slowly strolling along, in a walker, came a very jolly woman. She noticed my get up and sparked a conversation. This happens a lot! People see your gear and are dying to know what you are doing or want to share their cycling tales of the past. Well, this amazing woman, (wait for it..............) Gave me her SHOELACES!!!! Did I tell you she was using a walker? I was floored! She had already left when I thought to ask her her name and I decided then to take the names of all the kind people who help me so I can later refer to them honorably. Then I left my Smith & Wesson on the fence post.
Halfway home and worry free with my front panniers secured by shoelaces, Bob pulled over and offered me a ride, a coke, and break from riding in the nasty weather. I accepted and happily skipped the hilliest 10 miles of the trip. Yay!
The Culprit
Bandaid's don't stick when it's raining apparently,
but don't worry because you can still shower with one.
Needless to say I'm scratching the front
rack/panniers all together. Less weight anyway!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Chapter 2: To Clip In or Not to Clip In? (But that's not really the question)
This trip is costing me a small fortune! I thought I had everything covered when I was told I should absolutely "clip in" or use clipless pedals and bike shoes with SPD cleats. "Well I was under the impression I was ready but what's one more investment," I thought. Apparently I definitely wasn't, according to my bike shop, because I overlooked one major aspect of cycling. So I bought the pedals (duel sided of course) and installed them. They look and feel beautiful but I haven't clipped in yet.
Not only was this little addition just another thing I had to purchase, and hopefully worth every penny (as I'm told), but deciding on what shoes to go with the pedals was an absolute torment! I tossed and turned for days, narrowing it down to 2 different pairs and finally made Zack choose for me because I just couldn't handle the pressure. (By the way, Zack is my riding partner that I met on Adventure Cycling.)
The dilemma for us both is that we are pretty set on not bringing two pairs of sneakers (weight, weight, weight!). Hence, we need a hiking shoe that's SPD compatible for biking. This is pretty hard to find considering bike shoes are narrow and stiff through the sole, especially road bike shoes, which does not permit your foot to move easily and naturally while walking, however while pedaling you really don't want that range of movement. Apparently it will make your life miserable biking 50 miles a day, 6 days a week. Enter: a HUGE dilemma and definitely the hardest decision that I didn't make thus far! So hopefully the Keen Spring Water II, a mountain bike shoe designed to hike up rough terrain, will be the right choice. It better be, because I ordered them yesterday. The only downside is that they are a little heavy, weighing in at over 2 lbs. but that's the price you pay for glamour when you don't want to look like a nerd walking around in ugly road bike shoes.
47 days to go! Next time I go on a bike tour it better be a much cheaper venture. I'll update you when I fall off my bike after clipping in for the first time.
Not only was this little addition just another thing I had to purchase, and hopefully worth every penny (as I'm told), but deciding on what shoes to go with the pedals was an absolute torment! I tossed and turned for days, narrowing it down to 2 different pairs and finally made Zack choose for me because I just couldn't handle the pressure. (By the way, Zack is my riding partner that I met on Adventure Cycling.)
The dilemma for us both is that we are pretty set on not bringing two pairs of sneakers (weight, weight, weight!). Hence, we need a hiking shoe that's SPD compatible for biking. This is pretty hard to find considering bike shoes are narrow and stiff through the sole, especially road bike shoes, which does not permit your foot to move easily and naturally while walking, however while pedaling you really don't want that range of movement. Apparently it will make your life miserable biking 50 miles a day, 6 days a week. Enter: a HUGE dilemma and definitely the hardest decision that I didn't make thus far! So hopefully the Keen Spring Water II, a mountain bike shoe designed to hike up rough terrain, will be the right choice. It better be, because I ordered them yesterday. The only downside is that they are a little heavy, weighing in at over 2 lbs. but that's the price you pay for glamour when you don't want to look like a nerd walking around in ugly road bike shoes.
47 days to go! Next time I go on a bike tour it better be a much cheaper venture. I'll update you when I fall off my bike after clipping in for the first time.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Chapter 1: Planning Stages
It's nearing midnight, and I have an awful cold:( no idea why I'm still on this stupid computer. This is really just a test run of the blog because this stuff is totally new to me. Anyway 56 days until departure! Two days ago found someone as crazy as I am to make the journey with. Couldn't be happier. Actually that's not true, I could be happier if I were able to breathe through my nose. So much to do in just under 2 months, but I know we will get it all together. Can't wait to calculate the miles. Here's a little preview! She needs a name...
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