Tuesday, June 8, 2010
So long 101. This should be the last time I see you from a bike.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Monday, June 7, 2010
Day 24 – Lompoc to Ventura (88 miles /1228 total)
If today were not the second to last day of my ride I would say today sucked. But it is not, so I won’t say that.
I rode 88 miles today. There I was at the 68 mile mark, proud of myself that I had ridden so far away; I had ridden further than I had planned. (At the start of the day my thought was to try to get to the 60 mile mark as I had a 1,200 ft mountain to climb.) I was even at the gates of the state park. But, as luck would have it I could not get it out of my head that Ventura was only 20 miles away. I know Ventura. Ventura is comfortable. I had drank in the brewery there a couple of times, body surfed in the ocean, visited clients there. So I decided to take Mark’s advice that he has handed me on a few occasions and drank some Gatorade and decided to keep going.
This was a tough call, mentally I was frustrated. Up until today I had ignored drivers and not reacted to their aggressions (i.e. swerving into my lane, letting their dogs bark at me, yelling whatever it is they yell, etc.). But today the camel’s back broke and I yelled back at a lady some unbloggable words after she made a comment to me about how I looked with everything attached to my bike. I should not have yelled, I have everything to loose and my only protection is a millimeter of sweat soaked spandex. Riding frustrated was not good. I needed to be focused.
Further, unlike running or swimming you can not bike until exhaustion as you always have to have something in the reserve tank to focus on the cars, trucks, trains, baby strollers, shredded tires, oil slicks and everything else in your way.
But, as I said, I rode on. I dropped to my lower handle bars, took off my sunglasses and rode. I told myself I was in a solo bike race. I reminded myself of Ice-T who always says that the mind has the power to control all.
By now, instead of talking to myself, I was yelling. Cars with open windows stared, patrol cars slowed down ready to make a move, little kids moved closer to their mom, smoking men took a deep drag, homeless men pushing carts filled with their life looked but kept pushing, as a crazy, dirty, bearded man rode as hard as he could with everything he needed to not only live but also to be mobile strapped to his bike.
I’ll post the list of towns I passed and pictures tomorrow.
I got my third flat today and, as a safety measure, pulled into bob’s bikes in Goleta for a new tire and wheel tape. (They were awesome and helped me right away.) When I pulled in I must have looked a little ragged as they asked me if I wanted to clean up in their bathroom. I took them up on their offer.
Everyone, it seems, wants to know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve stopped stopping in areas with people as someone always seems to walk up to me.
I wonder, how tomorrow, my last day, will feel. Will I think about all the crazy memories, the rain, the people I’ve met? Whatever.
A special thank you goes out to Jason and Kelly who drove out of their way to take me out to dinner last night. They also came up with today’s trivia. It felt good to eat with two other people instead of asking for a table for one (I ask for a table so I can read the paper I usually bring with me).
Trivia:
Mark’s answer was completely wrong but because he was the only to answer, he wins. Congratulations Mark, this blog is for you.
Today’s trivia:
Lompoc is the city of _____ and _____ .
God, I’m tired. My legs are filled with lactic acid, my hand can’t even squeeze the plastic ketchup bottle, my knees feel good only when they are straight, my upper back muscles have a sharp pain that I only describe as a lot of bee stings all at once. I can’t wait to be home. 75 more miles. Redondo Beach, or bust, literally.
sellers
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Day 23 Pismo Beach to Lompoc (46 miles / 1140 total)
23 days and only one pair of underwear (ok, two pairs).
Today I had the good fortunate to be accompanied by groupie sisters, Christine and Kathryn. It made the ride go by very fast having the two of them (dressed exactly the same) trailing me patiently as I went at my slow pace. It cracked me up that even though they were both in the car on the way up they still had plenty to talk about.
It was weird having them leave after 30 miles though. At first I was riding with people and all the sudden I was alone again in the middle of nowhere.
The motel I’m at reminds me of the motel the main character stays at on the first night on his adventure in Box of Moonlight (one of my favorite movies). There is a campground in the area but it looks to be five miles off route and, in my mind that is too far.
The cool part of today was seeing a baby rattlesnake as I took a water break. (Babies are more dangerous than their parents as they don’t know when to stop injecting venom.) I was worried that no one would believe me so I got as close as I could without freaking out and took a picture.
While riding on Harris Grade Road the Lompoc the Air Force Base launched some huge missile or plane that moved very fast. It was pretty cool. Not sure if I’m allowed to write any more as it may have been top secret.
Trivia: Why where Chile Relleno’s first created?
I’ve decided that struggle is good. It builds muscle, develops the mind, and builds confidence. Struggle that is insignificant is simply frustration. Struggle that is too grand is failure. But failure can be replaced by success. (For some reason I thought about that as I lied in my tent the other night. When you can’t sleep and you’re camping you are forced to think a lot.
That’s about as deep as this blog is going to get.
My girlfriend gave me an id bracelet similar to the one’s dogs where. This is actually pretty cool as I used to write my name and parents number in permanent pen when I would go swimming in the ocean alone training for triathlons. I think it stays on permanently as I can’t figure out how to get it off – I suppose I can now relate to prisoners on probation. Hope it doesn’t set off metal detectors at the airport.
Time to go. Tonight is a rare night as I actually have dinner plans. Kelly C. and Jason K., regular contributors and/or readers, are stopping by.
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| Day 23 Pismo Beach to Lompoc (46 miles 1140 total) |
sellers
Day 22 – Morro Bay to Pismo Beach (30 miles / 1094 total)
So day 22 was a short day. I’m meeting up with my girlfriend and her sister for day 23 and to make it work I stopped in Pismo Beach where I’m joined by tons of motorcycles ( a distant cousin to the bicycle).
Unfortunately, I got a flat tire about 15 miles into the ride in front of fireman’s house. He was nice and brought out some water to refill my water bottles. I’m a little worried about my rear tire. It looks like it has 220 miles (the distance to home) left in it. I’ll find out.
The flat was the second, and hopefully last. I don’t mind fixing a flat but the fear of getting multiple flats or that there is something wrong with the wheel always bothers me.
I forget his name but I was talking with someone in front of 7-11 and he offered to let me crash at his house tonight, which it turns out, is actually his sisters house. I declined but he was a nice guy. This is about the third time someone has offered their place which I always appreciate but politely decline.
No trivia today or pictures today.
sellers
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