It was an 80 mile day to Henrietta from Niagara Falls. Load was at 6:30 with a short ride down the street to breakfast. At least for those that were early to breakfast, service was quick so we were able to be out on the road in short order.
We climbed roughly 2,600 feet today, mostly short and steep. The best part, though, were the winds. Tail winds most of the day. That means we were into Henrietta early and have some time to prepare for tomorrow.
The ride was really good today. Adjusting to daily riding and coming into the middle of a ride is a challenge, although somehow I seem to forget that each time I do it.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the off day in Niagara Falls yesterday. Many even spoke about going to the Casino and eating at the buffet (this after complaining about being tired of buffets). Most evening meals do consist of a buffet somewhere. Tonight will be Old Country Buffet.
After finishing laundry yesterday morning, I disassembled and cleaned the bike. I hadn't had the chance to do that since riding in the rain into Port Huron. There was plenty of grit and road residue that had coated the frame, the chain and drive train.
I then walked to the bike shop / safe shop / locksmith to pick up a few things. As you can probably guess, it was a smaller "bike shop," but I was thrilled to find they had the Tri-Flow lube that I like and cannot find at home anymore. The other things that I was looking for will wait for another day.
I had hoped cleaning and new lube might help the shifting issue that has developed in the past couple of days. Unfortunately, it didn't; so I'll pay a visit to the mechanic tonight. Need to get it taken care of before getting into Vermont. "Minor" mechanical work is included in the trip, which is a bit subjective. The staff will do everything that they can to get you back on the road. Someone broke a chain on one of the short, steep climbs on Sunday. Jim, the mechanic on the ride, was able to temporarily fix the chain and then replace a little further down the road.
He is the same mechanic as the portion of the trip I did last year, and was able to "farmer" together a shifter for me last year when I broke mine going into LaCrosse. He is the best (including the guys at home).
Jim has a pretty dry sense of humor. He was at the front desk when I checked in at Niagara Falls on Sunday. The hotel staff handed me a small package that Brenda, my sister, had sent. Jim said, "That's not big enough for cookies." He remembers last year's packages she sent, that were plentiful enough to share at SAG stops. It was, however, "Encourage-" mints (aka peppermint patties). So, I made sure to share with him. I'll take more with me to the mechanic's van tonight.
I also walked around the Falls yesterday and stopped for lunch at an outdoor food stand after hiking to the bike shop. Many of the riders took in the various tours that are available, including Maid of the Mist and Cave of Winds. I decided to keep it pretty low key.
Today's route was rural, but in the eastern sort of way -- no visible towns but lots of houses. I enjoy this riding. There's alot to look at and take in. We actually even saw camels today?! (I have photos.)
We appear to be back in dairy country. Dairy barns were more plentiful again.
We also saw cabbage being boxed in the field and onions.
I wonder what people from the coasts think when they ride into the West (i.e. Idaho and Wyoming) and the Midwest (i.e. Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc.) with all the wide open space? It's hard to describe, but I would expect it might be a little unsettling to ride for miles without seeing a house or other human being when you're used to having visible neighbors even if you live in the "country." Even the farm fields in Iowa are huge compared to what we have seen in the past week. And, it's amazing how quickly the topography and culture changes.
We didn't pass through many towns, although there were signs for "villages." We were in Niagara Falls for approximately the first 15 miles this morning. The rest of the route took us through Akron, Byron, Bergen, Riga and Scottsville.
We'll be in Liverpool, NY tomorrow night. Weather continues to look good, although heating up a bit but our luck continues to hold.
~ Lisa
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Back in the USA
We crossed back into the United States yesterday (Sunday). Sorry for the delay in posting, but had problems connecting from the room last night. I'm currently in the hotel lobby with laundry in process a short distance away.
Today is a much appreciated rest day and should be occupied by chores; trip to the bike shop, if it can be found; and some sightseeing.
Yesterday's route was 71 miles into Niagara. It was an experience when we neared the falls. Not sure there could have been a more challenging day to ride in on, other than perhaps Saturday. Lots of traffic and sight seers.
We, of course, first saw the falls from the Canadian side. While you may think there probably isn't much difference, that is true for the falls themselves. However, development of the area surrounding the falls is signficantly different depending on whether you are on the US or Canada side. I have to say, in my opinion, Canada has done a bit better job at not being just another tourist trap.
The route yesterday had a lot of turns, which is more difficult in heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. I'm happy to say there were no bonus miles yesterday!
Since the crossing was at the end of the day, we did not return to the US as a group. It took approximately 30 minutes to get through the crossing. I rode up through the waiting cars until getting to a tour bus then just eased through following it.
Questions at the border were pretty normal (or not) --Was there anything I had purchased that I was bringing back to the US (on my bike), where was I from, had I ridden my bike from Iowa. Everyone is a comedian!
Since yesterday was a riding day, we still ate dinner as a group, and then I believe many people walked to the falls for the evening light show and fireworks display (or at least those that were still up). It was pretty spectacular.
We lose six riders today and tomorrow, but pick up five new riders here. I believe the rest of the route will be similar to what we have seen for the past week, although with a bit more climbing and signficantly more climbing in Vermont.
Yesterday was a combination of rural riding and urban riding, as well as, flats and hills. I'm noticing, as when I've ridden in Massachusetts previously, that it's getting harder to tell where town ends and country begins.
There seem to be groups of houses that pop up for awhile, but don't seem to be organized as a town or city. Stopped yesterday at the Avalon Market for one of my favorite treats (yes, a Popsicle) and a bottle of water. The market was a small grocery store / convenience store, surrounded by a dozen or so houses; but no post office or other visible city services. I equate it to what I imagine Fern, Iowa used to be.
Traffic was generally very light yesterday except for a six mile stretch following the SAG stop. That stretch was complicated by a pretty stiff headwind. I was glad for the urban riding to block the wind, even though it can be more challenging and slower going.
We only saw the towns of Bismark and Pelham (still in Canada) yesterday, so I was glad to find the Avalon Market at mile 53 for a little break.
There was also the added challenge of gravel riding yesterday -- some planned, some unplanned. The route sheet noted a .3 mile stretch that turned out to be downhill, with a stop at the bottom and full of holes and ruts. The other stretch, which I didn't measure, was due to a road closure since last year's ride came through. Both were hard pack, but it increases the risk of flats and accidents.
It's actually nice to be back in the U.S. I'm looking forward to a little rest today. I think it's going to take a little motivation to be back up early tomorrow and back on the bike, but New Hampshire is within sight now.
~ Lisa
Today is a much appreciated rest day and should be occupied by chores; trip to the bike shop, if it can be found; and some sightseeing.
Yesterday's route was 71 miles into Niagara. It was an experience when we neared the falls. Not sure there could have been a more challenging day to ride in on, other than perhaps Saturday. Lots of traffic and sight seers.
We, of course, first saw the falls from the Canadian side. While you may think there probably isn't much difference, that is true for the falls themselves. However, development of the area surrounding the falls is signficantly different depending on whether you are on the US or Canada side. I have to say, in my opinion, Canada has done a bit better job at not being just another tourist trap.
The route yesterday had a lot of turns, which is more difficult in heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. I'm happy to say there were no bonus miles yesterday!
Since the crossing was at the end of the day, we did not return to the US as a group. It took approximately 30 minutes to get through the crossing. I rode up through the waiting cars until getting to a tour bus then just eased through following it.
Questions at the border were pretty normal (or not) --Was there anything I had purchased that I was bringing back to the US (on my bike), where was I from, had I ridden my bike from Iowa. Everyone is a comedian!
Since yesterday was a riding day, we still ate dinner as a group, and then I believe many people walked to the falls for the evening light show and fireworks display (or at least those that were still up). It was pretty spectacular.
We lose six riders today and tomorrow, but pick up five new riders here. I believe the rest of the route will be similar to what we have seen for the past week, although with a bit more climbing and signficantly more climbing in Vermont.
Yesterday was a combination of rural riding and urban riding, as well as, flats and hills. I'm noticing, as when I've ridden in Massachusetts previously, that it's getting harder to tell where town ends and country begins.
There seem to be groups of houses that pop up for awhile, but don't seem to be organized as a town or city. Stopped yesterday at the Avalon Market for one of my favorite treats (yes, a Popsicle) and a bottle of water. The market was a small grocery store / convenience store, surrounded by a dozen or so houses; but no post office or other visible city services. I equate it to what I imagine Fern, Iowa used to be.
Traffic was generally very light yesterday except for a six mile stretch following the SAG stop. That stretch was complicated by a pretty stiff headwind. I was glad for the urban riding to block the wind, even though it can be more challenging and slower going.
We only saw the towns of Bismark and Pelham (still in Canada) yesterday, so I was glad to find the Avalon Market at mile 53 for a little break.
There was also the added challenge of gravel riding yesterday -- some planned, some unplanned. The route sheet noted a .3 mile stretch that turned out to be downhill, with a stop at the bottom and full of holes and ruts. The other stretch, which I didn't measure, was due to a road closure since last year's ride came through. Both were hard pack, but it increases the risk of flats and accidents.
It's actually nice to be back in the U.S. I'm looking forward to a little rest today. I think it's going to take a little motivation to be back up early tomorrow and back on the bike, but New Hampshire is within sight now.
~ Lisa
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Short Day Into Brantford, Ontario
We overnight in Brantford tonight, a short 64 miles from London where we started this morning.
Temperatures continue to be moderate, but we've picked up a bit of humidity (although I'm sure nothing like what appears to be in Iowa). It was a little foggy this morning when we loaded, but not a problem. The haze hung all day.
The past two days have threatened rain or had small showers. Today was the first day I did not carry a rain jacket in a few days. We're hoping to finish out without any extreme heat, and with dry conditions. There are nine riding days left.
Tomorrow we cross back into the United States and finish the day in Niagara Falls. We'll then have a rest day on Monday and an opportunity to see the sites of the area.
The route today was rural and uneventful. Roads were quiet and pavement was, generally, good. The most excitement (for me) was finding Popsicles at a small store on the way into Brantford. The other riders took advantage of the Subway there, but I couldn't pass up the frozen treats and chose to eat lunch after arriving in Brantford. (It's the little things out here that provide excitement.)
I spent a good share of the day riding with Mike, a retiree from North Carolina. He is originally from New Jersey and had a lawn care business there, which was sold when he retired. I found out today that he critiques lawns as we ride. He stopped a few different times to take photos of someones magnificent work.
There are many beautiful farms in the areas where we've been. Canadians seem a bit more conservative with their homes than producers in Michigan. However, there were a couple today of particular note.
The area seems to be very dry. The corn appears to be showing stress, some turning brown. If lawns aren't irrigated, they are dead. It's interesting, though, that field irrigation has not been prevalent in Canada. There was some irrigation today, but it appeared to be only for tobacco.
We also saw ginseng today. It grows under elevated netting in the field to replicate forest conditions. According to one of the riders who spoke to a farmer, it takes four years to harvest, and ginseng can never be grown in that field again. I can only imagine, the crop must be very profitable.
We also rode by a golf course today, which you may think shouldn't be unusual. This particular course, however, was in the middle of nowhere. Not a town in sight. Perhaps, another way for a local farmer to creatively generate income?
We rode through Springford, Otterville, Wilsonville and Mt. Pleasant today.
Mt Pleasant had a quaint windmill market where many riders stopped before riding into Brantford.
The economic status of Brantford appears to be significantly different than the other communities we went through today. The downtown area (approximately 1.5 miles) is completely vacant. Store front after store front is empty. It's hard to describe the magnitude of the destitution here, especially given some of the notables that have lived in the area -- Alexander Graham Bell, Harold J. Smith (aka Tonto) and Wayne Gretzky.
Tomorrow's ride will be 71 miles, and we've been "warned" not to expect hotel rooms to be ready before 3:00. It will likely be another slower paced day, which I appreciate. We expect plenty of traffic in Niagara Falls, on both sides, when we arrive.
~ Lisa
Temperatures continue to be moderate, but we've picked up a bit of humidity (although I'm sure nothing like what appears to be in Iowa). It was a little foggy this morning when we loaded, but not a problem. The haze hung all day.
The past two days have threatened rain or had small showers. Today was the first day I did not carry a rain jacket in a few days. We're hoping to finish out without any extreme heat, and with dry conditions. There are nine riding days left.
Tomorrow we cross back into the United States and finish the day in Niagara Falls. We'll then have a rest day on Monday and an opportunity to see the sites of the area.
The route today was rural and uneventful. Roads were quiet and pavement was, generally, good. The most excitement (for me) was finding Popsicles at a small store on the way into Brantford. The other riders took advantage of the Subway there, but I couldn't pass up the frozen treats and chose to eat lunch after arriving in Brantford. (It's the little things out here that provide excitement.)
I spent a good share of the day riding with Mike, a retiree from North Carolina. He is originally from New Jersey and had a lawn care business there, which was sold when he retired. I found out today that he critiques lawns as we ride. He stopped a few different times to take photos of someones magnificent work.
There are many beautiful farms in the areas where we've been. Canadians seem a bit more conservative with their homes than producers in Michigan. However, there were a couple today of particular note.
The area seems to be very dry. The corn appears to be showing stress, some turning brown. If lawns aren't irrigated, they are dead. It's interesting, though, that field irrigation has not been prevalent in Canada. There was some irrigation today, but it appeared to be only for tobacco.
We also saw ginseng today. It grows under elevated netting in the field to replicate forest conditions. According to one of the riders who spoke to a farmer, it takes four years to harvest, and ginseng can never be grown in that field again. I can only imagine, the crop must be very profitable.
We also rode by a golf course today, which you may think shouldn't be unusual. This particular course, however, was in the middle of nowhere. Not a town in sight. Perhaps, another way for a local farmer to creatively generate income?
We rode through Springford, Otterville, Wilsonville and Mt. Pleasant today.
Mt Pleasant had a quaint windmill market where many riders stopped before riding into Brantford.
The economic status of Brantford appears to be significantly different than the other communities we went through today. The downtown area (approximately 1.5 miles) is completely vacant. Store front after store front is empty. It's hard to describe the magnitude of the destitution here, especially given some of the notables that have lived in the area -- Alexander Graham Bell, Harold J. Smith (aka Tonto) and Wayne Gretzky.
Tomorrow's ride will be 71 miles, and we've been "warned" not to expect hotel rooms to be ready before 3:00. It will likely be another slower paced day, which I appreciate. We expect plenty of traffic in Niagara Falls, on both sides, when we arrive.
~ Lisa
Friday, July 27, 2007
Oh, Canada!
We marched into Canada this morning. It was quite a sight with 70 riders all in ABB jerseys and attire. As Mike mentioned in his post on the ride site last night, we enter as a group. The bridge is closed (both ways) when we arrive and we're escorted across by a Michigan support vehicle.
The U.S folks were really enthusiastic, cheering and waving as we crossed (maybe they were glad to be rid of us). The Canadians, however, were a bit more reserve -- you know, that stiff upper lip thing.
The bridge was actually a bit tricky to navigate because, as you can imagine, it has some elevation to it and that equates to climbing. In addition, there are two HUGE expansion joints (almost like cattle guards) on each end that you must stop and walk the bike across. The king pins are so large, that if your foot slipped because of the metal cleat on the bottom of your shoe your foot might actually become entangled in the bridge bed.
Once across the bridge, we were met by Canadian customs. Mike shared some his strategy on the timing of our entrance before we left this morning. He wants the "guy" that is just getting ready to get off, rather than the "guy" that is just starting his day. Some riders were questioned individually, while many were processed en mass. Everyone got through in quick order, and we were on our way to tonight's overnight in London, Ontario.
It's funny, Canada looks a lot like Michigan, although crops are not as varied here. It sounds like we'll see more variety tomorrow. The primary crops in this area appear to be corn, soybeans and wheat.
As we ride we see loads and loads of straw being hauled to farms. While we have seen some cattle, including dairy, I have not noticed any hogs.
I find it interesting to see all of this straw, but don't see any hay?
I've also been seeing a lot of wildflowers since Michigan. I wish I were better at identification. The only one I know is "Queen Anne's Lace." There seems to be fields of it everywhere. Is there a market for this stuff?
There are also many small purple / blue flowers along the road and in the ditches. They resemble an Aster. There are many other native flowers that dot the landscape. They are beautiful and a nice distraction as you ride along.
We entered Canada in Sarina, Ontario; and also rode through Watford, Strathroy, Mt Brydges and Delaware.
A small group of us stopped in Delaware for lunch at a small market, and were able to get excellent sub sandwiches at the deli there.
This Canada thing is a little confusing for some of us. As we rode in Delaware today, there was a sign indicating it was 21 km to London. How far is that?
Tomorrow morning the weather station says it will be 18 degrees. That seems a little cold. I didn't bring enough clothes!!
Currency, of course, is also going to be a little bit of a challenge for the next couple of days. While you're able to spend US currency without exchanging it, you will not receive the exchange rate when paying in cash. So, since the US dollar is worth more than Canadian, it makes the credit card advantageous wherever possible.
I finally found Popsicles at the market where we had lunch. Unfortunately, I was already stuffed from eating a sandwich, so I had to pass. Jennifer, the 8 year old rider that is with us, is on the lookout for me after she told me she had found Popsicles at the Shell station at today's SAG. I wonder if it's inappropriate to use my credit card to buy a Popsicle??
~ Lisa
The U.S folks were really enthusiastic, cheering and waving as we crossed (maybe they were glad to be rid of us). The Canadians, however, were a bit more reserve -- you know, that stiff upper lip thing.
The bridge was actually a bit tricky to navigate because, as you can imagine, it has some elevation to it and that equates to climbing. In addition, there are two HUGE expansion joints (almost like cattle guards) on each end that you must stop and walk the bike across. The king pins are so large, that if your foot slipped because of the metal cleat on the bottom of your shoe your foot might actually become entangled in the bridge bed.
Once across the bridge, we were met by Canadian customs. Mike shared some his strategy on the timing of our entrance before we left this morning. He wants the "guy" that is just getting ready to get off, rather than the "guy" that is just starting his day. Some riders were questioned individually, while many were processed en mass. Everyone got through in quick order, and we were on our way to tonight's overnight in London, Ontario.
It's funny, Canada looks a lot like Michigan, although crops are not as varied here. It sounds like we'll see more variety tomorrow. The primary crops in this area appear to be corn, soybeans and wheat.
As we ride we see loads and loads of straw being hauled to farms. While we have seen some cattle, including dairy, I have not noticed any hogs.
I find it interesting to see all of this straw, but don't see any hay?
I've also been seeing a lot of wildflowers since Michigan. I wish I were better at identification. The only one I know is "Queen Anne's Lace." There seems to be fields of it everywhere. Is there a market for this stuff?
There are also many small purple / blue flowers along the road and in the ditches. They resemble an Aster. There are many other native flowers that dot the landscape. They are beautiful and a nice distraction as you ride along.
We entered Canada in Sarina, Ontario; and also rode through Watford, Strathroy, Mt Brydges and Delaware.
A small group of us stopped in Delaware for lunch at a small market, and were able to get excellent sub sandwiches at the deli there.
This Canada thing is a little confusing for some of us. As we rode in Delaware today, there was a sign indicating it was 21 km to London. How far is that?
Tomorrow morning the weather station says it will be 18 degrees. That seems a little cold. I didn't bring enough clothes!!
Currency, of course, is also going to be a little bit of a challenge for the next couple of days. While you're able to spend US currency without exchanging it, you will not receive the exchange rate when paying in cash. So, since the US dollar is worth more than Canadian, it makes the credit card advantageous wherever possible.
I finally found Popsicles at the market where we had lunch. Unfortunately, I was already stuffed from eating a sandwich, so I had to pass. Jennifer, the 8 year old rider that is with us, is on the lookout for me after she told me she had found Popsicles at the Shell station at today's SAG. I wonder if it's inappropriate to use my credit card to buy a Popsicle??
~ Lisa
Thursday, July 26, 2007
It's Not Dry Anymore!
Well, the rain did fall today for a short time, and I suspect on only part of the group (me included). We had made a short stop at the Burtchville Market when the rain began to fall as we pulled back onto the road -- but BIG drops! Everyone in Iowa knows that means it won't last long, right? Well, long enough (about 2 miles) to totally get drenched and make the bike a horrible mess.
Don't know if I'll get the latter problem taken care of tonight or not, as laundry is THE chore for today.
Most of the motels we are in have A washing machine and A dryer. I'm sure that when architects and facility planners draft these structures, they aren't expecting 70 cyclists to come through on a regular basis.
I estimated it would be 10:00 before I could get into last night's "line up," and delaying one day seems to be playing in my favor as long as everyone ahead of me keeps the process moving.
Just like travel, there are "The Rules of Laundry." For instance, there is a sign up sheet that helps manage the laundry queue. If a person earlier in the queue has not removed their laundry from the machine, ONLY the next person on the list can remove it and put the next laundry in. Anyone else from further down list who does this has committed a major laundry sin!
Temperatures were again pleasant today, with a bit more humidity. The route was 87 miles today. I ended with a couple more, deliberately going off route to try to find a convenience store. I haven't been able to find a popsicle yet, one of the comfort foods of riding.
We are in Port Huron tonight. Tomorrow we cross into Canada.
Last night we had the BEST dinner at Tony's restaurant in Birch Run. It is a local place. If anyone went away hungry last night, they really weren't trying. The spaghetti was served on a platter, and it was awesome! Way more than what one person could eat, and according to the server is a smaller serving than ordering it from the menu.
We loaded at 6 this morning. Some riders went to a local restaurant, the Exit Restaurant (named, I presume, because of it's location at an exit on Interstate 75), for a sit down meal. This process usually takes longer and can cause frustration if the restaurant isn't prepared for a group of cyclists. I ate at the hotel, and was on the road by 6:15, probably a little too early for the staff's preference since it wasn't completely light yet. We saw, though, the most magnificent sun rise over the fields, fog and trees of Michigan!
Today's route took us through Millington, Brown City and Yale.
The most excitement was probably in Yale, and I do mean Excitement! Yale is celebrating its Bologna Festival. According to the Chamber of Commerce's website, the festival honors the town's long standing tradition of producing high quality bologna. I, and the rest of the riders, can attest that their processed meat is pretty darn good. One of the locals had provided a meat tray of bologna and sausage for the second SAG today. It was so good, I'm not sure there was any left for the last riders that came through. It was much appreciated at mile 62.
I rode with several different riders today, including Dave O'Dell (banker from Syracuse, NY) and Michael Heitz (Lexinton, KY -- former center for West Virgina). They were riding in front of me, and I had to chuckle to myself. Dave might be 5'8", and Michael, of course, is 7'. I soon stopped chuckling when I realized if I stayed behind them I hardly had to pedal to cruise along at 16 mph!
Michael was telling us of some of his other biking adventures. Last year he and his son did a 7,500 mile, camping ride from Cairo, Egypt to South Africa. The ride was 4 1/2 months long. I was amazed, and can't imagine camping for that long. Later this year he will be doing a similar ride with his daughter, but I think it will be a bit shorter and no camping involved.
I stopped at Wendy's next to tonight's motel on the way in. While I was standing in line, a family approached me and commented about my University of Northern Iowa Jersey. Turns out they are from Cedar Falls and alums of UNI. They had been vacationing in Niagara Falls and were on their way back to Iowa. It was great to speak with them!
Next post, hopefully, will be from Canada. We cross as a group tomorrow morning. They will close the bridge to get us all across. It appears the road to the bridge is just outside the motel, and I've noticed it seems very busy. I'm not sure tomorrow morning's commuter traffic will be very happy with us. And, it sounds like rain.
Okay, anyone from the Rabo-family -- cyclists here are wanting the inside scoop on Michael Rasmussen. The general consensus here is, "What was he thinking?" Got any dirt??
~ Lisa
Don't know if I'll get the latter problem taken care of tonight or not, as laundry is THE chore for today.
Most of the motels we are in have A washing machine and A dryer. I'm sure that when architects and facility planners draft these structures, they aren't expecting 70 cyclists to come through on a regular basis.
I estimated it would be 10:00 before I could get into last night's "line up," and delaying one day seems to be playing in my favor as long as everyone ahead of me keeps the process moving.
Just like travel, there are "The Rules of Laundry." For instance, there is a sign up sheet that helps manage the laundry queue. If a person earlier in the queue has not removed their laundry from the machine, ONLY the next person on the list can remove it and put the next laundry in. Anyone else from further down list who does this has committed a major laundry sin!
Temperatures were again pleasant today, with a bit more humidity. The route was 87 miles today. I ended with a couple more, deliberately going off route to try to find a convenience store. I haven't been able to find a popsicle yet, one of the comfort foods of riding.
We are in Port Huron tonight. Tomorrow we cross into Canada.
Last night we had the BEST dinner at Tony's restaurant in Birch Run. It is a local place. If anyone went away hungry last night, they really weren't trying. The spaghetti was served on a platter, and it was awesome! Way more than what one person could eat, and according to the server is a smaller serving than ordering it from the menu.
We loaded at 6 this morning. Some riders went to a local restaurant, the Exit Restaurant (named, I presume, because of it's location at an exit on Interstate 75), for a sit down meal. This process usually takes longer and can cause frustration if the restaurant isn't prepared for a group of cyclists. I ate at the hotel, and was on the road by 6:15, probably a little too early for the staff's preference since it wasn't completely light yet. We saw, though, the most magnificent sun rise over the fields, fog and trees of Michigan!
Today's route took us through Millington, Brown City and Yale.
The most excitement was probably in Yale, and I do mean Excitement! Yale is celebrating its Bologna Festival. According to the Chamber of Commerce's website, the festival honors the town's long standing tradition of producing high quality bologna. I, and the rest of the riders, can attest that their processed meat is pretty darn good. One of the locals had provided a meat tray of bologna and sausage for the second SAG today. It was so good, I'm not sure there was any left for the last riders that came through. It was much appreciated at mile 62.
I rode with several different riders today, including Dave O'Dell (banker from Syracuse, NY) and Michael Heitz (Lexinton, KY -- former center for West Virgina). They were riding in front of me, and I had to chuckle to myself. Dave might be 5'8", and Michael, of course, is 7'. I soon stopped chuckling when I realized if I stayed behind them I hardly had to pedal to cruise along at 16 mph!
Michael was telling us of some of his other biking adventures. Last year he and his son did a 7,500 mile, camping ride from Cairo, Egypt to South Africa. The ride was 4 1/2 months long. I was amazed, and can't imagine camping for that long. Later this year he will be doing a similar ride with his daughter, but I think it will be a bit shorter and no camping involved.
I stopped at Wendy's next to tonight's motel on the way in. While I was standing in line, a family approached me and commented about my University of Northern Iowa Jersey. Turns out they are from Cedar Falls and alums of UNI. They had been vacationing in Niagara Falls and were on their way back to Iowa. It was great to speak with them!
Next post, hopefully, will be from Canada. We cross as a group tomorrow morning. They will close the bridge to get us all across. It appears the road to the bridge is just outside the motel, and I've noticed it seems very busy. I'm not sure tomorrow morning's commuter traffic will be very happy with us. And, it sounds like rain.
Okay, anyone from the Rabo-family -- cyclists here are wanting the inside scoop on Michael Rasmussen. The general consensus here is, "What was he thinking?" Got any dirt??
~ Lisa
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ditto Yesterday Except for Mileage
It was another perfect cycling day -- moderate temps, high clouds, light winds and dry conditions.
We were out before 8:00 this morning and with only a 75 mile day, no one seemed to be in a big hurry all day. Colleen (an educator from Chicago) and I were the first ones out and were so engaged in coversation we missed the first turn two miles out. So much for leading the pack today. We only picked up an extra mile and by the end of the day, somehow, I had gained half of that back, which sometimes happens with the variances in computers.
So I floated throughout the back group today, tagged onto the triple for awhile this morning until we arrived in Alma Scottland, the first town we rode through this morning 20 miles out. Tagging along with them confirmed my conversation with Jennifer (the 8 year old) last night. The group was pretty quiet this morning. She has the greatest dinosour cover for her helmet, though.
We made a short pit stop in Alma for something to drink. It was a quaint, beautiful community with what appeared to be a very progressive college campus. I'm curious, though, if the graduates are Alma alma maters?? Of course, Mike Munk suggested during rap this morning their mascot should be the tomatoes ('maters, get it?). I guess we do have a bit of fun from time to time at someone else's expense, but sometimes the days can get monotonous.
We also went through Shephard, Forrest Hill and Brant today.
Several riders stopped in Brant, literally a wide spot at a crossroads, approximately 25 miles from the end of today's ride. The grocery store made the best sandwiches from the meat counter. The employees were appreciative of the business, and they and locals that happened by were fascinated with the trip. They remembered previous riders that had also stopped in.
I've been able to meet and talk to more riders in the past couple of days. Michael Heitz, a former center for West Virginia, 1970 - 72, and his wife are on the trip. He is 7 foot, so to say his bike is big really doesn't fully describe it. Mike Munk says this is the first time someone has not had to climb on top of the van to load bikes on the roof rack (I think he's kidding).
My bike has done well so far. I think the smaller frame will make the longer days a bit more comfortable.
Hope everything is good wherever you are!
~ Lisa
We were out before 8:00 this morning and with only a 75 mile day, no one seemed to be in a big hurry all day. Colleen (an educator from Chicago) and I were the first ones out and were so engaged in coversation we missed the first turn two miles out. So much for leading the pack today. We only picked up an extra mile and by the end of the day, somehow, I had gained half of that back, which sometimes happens with the variances in computers.
So I floated throughout the back group today, tagged onto the triple for awhile this morning until we arrived in Alma Scottland, the first town we rode through this morning 20 miles out. Tagging along with them confirmed my conversation with Jennifer (the 8 year old) last night. The group was pretty quiet this morning. She has the greatest dinosour cover for her helmet, though.
We made a short pit stop in Alma for something to drink. It was a quaint, beautiful community with what appeared to be a very progressive college campus. I'm curious, though, if the graduates are Alma alma maters?? Of course, Mike Munk suggested during rap this morning their mascot should be the tomatoes ('maters, get it?). I guess we do have a bit of fun from time to time at someone else's expense, but sometimes the days can get monotonous.
We also went through Shephard, Forrest Hill and Brant today.
Several riders stopped in Brant, literally a wide spot at a crossroads, approximately 25 miles from the end of today's ride. The grocery store made the best sandwiches from the meat counter. The employees were appreciative of the business, and they and locals that happened by were fascinated with the trip. They remembered previous riders that had also stopped in.
I've been able to meet and talk to more riders in the past couple of days. Michael Heitz, a former center for West Virginia, 1970 - 72, and his wife are on the trip. He is 7 foot, so to say his bike is big really doesn't fully describe it. Mike Munk says this is the first time someone has not had to climb on top of the van to load bikes on the roof rack (I think he's kidding).
My bike has done well so far. I think the smaller frame will make the longer days a bit more comfortable.
Hope everything is good wherever you are!
~ Lisa
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Last Century is IN THE BOOKS!
Today's route took us 115 miles from Ludington to Mt. Pleasant (that's in Michigan, not Iowa). We stopped for lunch in Big Rapids. One of the servers had a really hard time understanding how we had found our way to their community from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, until we explained the car ferry. She seemed very relieved that it wasn't as bad as what her imagination had lead her to believe.
The encounters on the road are always interesting, and usually involve the same series of questions --
You started where?
You're going where?
WHY?
In the end, everyone is very intrigued. Today we had several encounters with young children that seemed to be captivated by all the bikes and people in bright colored jerseys.
We have one young rider with us on the ride. She is riding on a triple with her mother and father. She is 8 years old. I spoke with her tonight after dinner and asked if she was having a good time. The response was an emphatic, "No!" which Mom confirmed. I think the two of them have had a long summer, as they started in Astoria.
The day started with a 6:00 breakfast (keep in mind we're now in the eastern time zone). We loaded luggage and hit the road by 7:00.
Mike, the ride leader, immediately re-routed us from the motel to smoother pavement. It was to save us two miles and get us to a more rural route quicker. It was a good plan, but in the end didn't save any miles due to construction and detours later in the day. In addition, we added miles going to lunch. I ended the day with 116 on the trip meter.
The detour had minimal impact, actually brought us right back on route without any navigational challenges, AND provided a good tailwind push for several miles! Love it when it works out that way.
Late in the day, though, things didn't work out very well. The road on our route was gone. The crews indicated we could get through, but may have to walk. That was an understatement. The old pavement had been ground up and just lay there waiting for the next step in the process. While I understand some riders did manage to ride through it, I chose, as many others did, to walk it -- 1.4 miles. It was actually a good change of pace at that time of the day, although I'd have preferred it to be a bit shorter.
While we were walking through, a driver approached from the opposite direction. She stopped to ask if she could get through. We told her no. She didn't seem to believe us asking, "So if you were me would you turn around??" Duh!
Today's route saw varied terrain. There were rolling hills and plenty of flats. We saw lots of farm land, forests, and also had some urban riding.
We saw not only corn and soybeans, but also extensive produce -- including asparagus, pumpkin, sweet corn, cucumbers and an unidentied crop some felt was squash and some thought might be watermelon. The blossom looked similar to a pumpkin but the plant didn't have any vine. It's a mystery.
The area also supports small grains, hay land and extensive pastures.
I rode with several folks today. The Bloomington group carried me over half of the day. When they went by this afternoon at 28 mph (on a century day) and yelled for me to hook on, I knew I wouldn't last long!
I dropped off shortly after the last SAG stop with roughly 30 miles left. I rode in following Jean, a rider from Boise, Idaho; which was helpful to have someone in sight. All in all, thanks to the various individuals and groups I rode with, it was a good day. I had to dig pretty deep for the last 30, but it's now in the books. Tomorrow will be 75.
Weather was great for cycling, overcast until late in the day with, generally, favorable wind depending on which direction you were going.
We saw and heard about some interesting things today. The Blue Brothers can be found on top of a Chrysler dealership in a small town between Ludington and Big Rapids. Hmmmm....
Big Rapids had some excitement in the last few days as the Stanley Cup was in town. Chris Kunitz, forward for the Anaheim Ducks, played for the local university, Ferris State. Evidently, each player gets 24 hours with The Cup, and Kunitz decided to split his time to share it with his alma mater and his home in Regina, Saskatchewan. The server at the lunch diner, Crankers, was quite excited about the event.
There was one serious dog encounter on the route today. Have you ever seen a Great Dane chase a bike? I can laugh at the image that surely looked like a cartoon, only because there weren't any injuries to the dog or myself. Somewhere in the last 30 miles there were two Great Danes laying in wait for the slow riders. One of them decided to give chase as I went by. Of course, as tall or taller than me and my bike! This Great Dane wasn't nearly as quick as the junk yard Pit Bull that gave chase for quite a distance yesterday, but the Dane's bark and teeth made it quite clear that all these bikers were invading his space and he had had quite enough by that time of the day! The commanding "Don't!" had no effect. Fortunately, I was able to out-run and out-maneuver to avoid becoming dinner.
Hoping for a little bit more enjoyable day tomorrow, but there's still a long way to go and weather can be a huge factor. One of the worst days I've ever had on a bike was a 38 mile day with a big headwind!
RAGBRAI rides into Cedar Falls tomorrow! Hope everyone has a great time!
~ Lisa
The encounters on the road are always interesting, and usually involve the same series of questions --
You started where?
You're going where?
WHY?
In the end, everyone is very intrigued. Today we had several encounters with young children that seemed to be captivated by all the bikes and people in bright colored jerseys.
We have one young rider with us on the ride. She is riding on a triple with her mother and father. She is 8 years old. I spoke with her tonight after dinner and asked if she was having a good time. The response was an emphatic, "No!" which Mom confirmed. I think the two of them have had a long summer, as they started in Astoria.
The day started with a 6:00 breakfast (keep in mind we're now in the eastern time zone). We loaded luggage and hit the road by 7:00.
Mike, the ride leader, immediately re-routed us from the motel to smoother pavement. It was to save us two miles and get us to a more rural route quicker. It was a good plan, but in the end didn't save any miles due to construction and detours later in the day. In addition, we added miles going to lunch. I ended the day with 116 on the trip meter.
The detour had minimal impact, actually brought us right back on route without any navigational challenges, AND provided a good tailwind push for several miles! Love it when it works out that way.
Late in the day, though, things didn't work out very well. The road on our route was gone. The crews indicated we could get through, but may have to walk. That was an understatement. The old pavement had been ground up and just lay there waiting for the next step in the process. While I understand some riders did manage to ride through it, I chose, as many others did, to walk it -- 1.4 miles. It was actually a good change of pace at that time of the day, although I'd have preferred it to be a bit shorter.
While we were walking through, a driver approached from the opposite direction. She stopped to ask if she could get through. We told her no. She didn't seem to believe us asking, "So if you were me would you turn around??" Duh!
Today's route saw varied terrain. There were rolling hills and plenty of flats. We saw lots of farm land, forests, and also had some urban riding.
We saw not only corn and soybeans, but also extensive produce -- including asparagus, pumpkin, sweet corn, cucumbers and an unidentied crop some felt was squash and some thought might be watermelon. The blossom looked similar to a pumpkin but the plant didn't have any vine. It's a mystery.
The area also supports small grains, hay land and extensive pastures.
I rode with several folks today. The Bloomington group carried me over half of the day. When they went by this afternoon at 28 mph (on a century day) and yelled for me to hook on, I knew I wouldn't last long!
I dropped off shortly after the last SAG stop with roughly 30 miles left. I rode in following Jean, a rider from Boise, Idaho; which was helpful to have someone in sight. All in all, thanks to the various individuals and groups I rode with, it was a good day. I had to dig pretty deep for the last 30, but it's now in the books. Tomorrow will be 75.
Weather was great for cycling, overcast until late in the day with, generally, favorable wind depending on which direction you were going.
We saw and heard about some interesting things today. The Blue Brothers can be found on top of a Chrysler dealership in a small town between Ludington and Big Rapids. Hmmmm....
Big Rapids had some excitement in the last few days as the Stanley Cup was in town. Chris Kunitz, forward for the Anaheim Ducks, played for the local university, Ferris State. Evidently, each player gets 24 hours with The Cup, and Kunitz decided to split his time to share it with his alma mater and his home in Regina, Saskatchewan. The server at the lunch diner, Crankers, was quite excited about the event.
There was one serious dog encounter on the route today. Have you ever seen a Great Dane chase a bike? I can laugh at the image that surely looked like a cartoon, only because there weren't any injuries to the dog or myself. Somewhere in the last 30 miles there were two Great Danes laying in wait for the slow riders. One of them decided to give chase as I went by. Of course, as tall or taller than me and my bike! This Great Dane wasn't nearly as quick as the junk yard Pit Bull that gave chase for quite a distance yesterday, but the Dane's bark and teeth made it quite clear that all these bikers were invading his space and he had had quite enough by that time of the day! The commanding "Don't!" had no effect. Fortunately, I was able to out-run and out-maneuver to avoid becoming dinner.
Hoping for a little bit more enjoyable day tomorrow, but there's still a long way to go and weather can be a huge factor. One of the worst days I've ever had on a bike was a 38 mile day with a big headwind!
RAGBRAI rides into Cedar Falls tomorrow! Hope everyone has a great time!
~ Lisa
Monday, July 23, 2007
A Beautiful Day for a Wedding and a Cruise
Okay, it was probably a beautiful day for just about anything -- warm, sunshine and light winds.
We had an 8:30 load this morning. Dave O'Dell and I then had breakfast at a nearby Perkins. We've ridden together during various legs of the North ride during the past two years. Dave is from Syracruse and will have completed the full ride when we arrive in Niagra Falls.
I've had an opportunity to meet many of the riders in the last two days, although I'm not doing very well with names yet. There are riders from all over the United States as well as the Netherlands. I should be able to get to know many of them better as we start riding in earnest tomorrow.
The wedding was small and beautiful -- held at the Red Arrow city park. The bride's father and step-mother and a few other family members were there. Following the ceremony, bikers rode to the ferry to board for the trip to Luddington.
The SS Badger has been in service since 1953, originally designed to transport rail cars between Manitowoc, Milwaukee and Kewaunee, Wisconsin. With the decline of the rail industry, it was converted to transport leisure passengers and vehicles between Manitowoc and Luddington, May through October. It makes two round trips per day. The trip took around four hours, complete with television, movies, and Badger Bingo!
Tomorrow we go to Mt Pleasant, Michigan. It'll be a long day in the saddle, and time to see if all the training has paid off.
~ Lisa
We had an 8:30 load this morning. Dave O'Dell and I then had breakfast at a nearby Perkins. We've ridden together during various legs of the North ride during the past two years. Dave is from Syracruse and will have completed the full ride when we arrive in Niagra Falls.
I've had an opportunity to meet many of the riders in the last two days, although I'm not doing very well with names yet. There are riders from all over the United States as well as the Netherlands. I should be able to get to know many of them better as we start riding in earnest tomorrow.
The wedding was small and beautiful -- held at the Red Arrow city park. The bride's father and step-mother and a few other family members were there. Following the ceremony, bikers rode to the ferry to board for the trip to Luddington.
The SS Badger has been in service since 1953, originally designed to transport rail cars between Manitowoc, Milwaukee and Kewaunee, Wisconsin. With the decline of the rail industry, it was converted to transport leisure passengers and vehicles between Manitowoc and Luddington, May through October. It makes two round trips per day. The trip took around four hours, complete with television, movies, and Badger Bingo!
Tomorrow we go to Mt Pleasant, Michigan. It'll be a long day in the saddle, and time to see if all the training has paid off.
~ Lisa
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Day 0 -- Manitowoc, Wisconsin
The ride and I rendezvoused in Manitowoc today. All riders and crew seem to agree they have had a great ride so far. We'll all hope that continues -- tail winds and dry weather would be nice.
Dale and I arrived around 8:30 p.m. last night. He was back on the road around 10:30 this morning. Brenda (my sister) continued her tradition. There was a package waiting here when we arrived. The clerk at the front desk was very anxious for our arrival in order to complete the delivery.
Mechanics was at 3:00 and rap at 4:00. I received the very abbreviated orientation session during those times -- the mechanic checks the bike to make sure everything is in order and you receive a helmet check. Let the riding begin.
Their ride from Fond du Lac today was relatively short at 57 miles. Everyone is in good spirits. It was a beautiful day!
Tomorrow will have a first for me. There is a couple on the ride that will be married in the park prior to boarding the ferry to cross Lake Michigan. I'm not sure of the history of the event, but everyone is invited. It should be fun.
Yes, tomorrow's the day you've all asked about. Technically, it's a "rest" day. Not considering the mileage to the park, we'll ride three miles to the ferry then four miles to the motel after arriving in Michigan.
We'll lose an hour tomorrow, entering the eastern time zone. That will make Tuesday's 115 miles even more difficult. We won't be able to start riding until after 6:30 a.m. in order to have enough daylight for riders to be safe.
I've met several riders of the 70 on the ride. It's interesting that while there is only one rider here that I've ridden with before, there are several who know someone else that I've ridden with (including those from Bloomington, IN). The cycling community is a small one.
I am the only rider joining here. I understand there are several joining in Niagara Falls. The group may be close to 80 before we arrive in Portsmouth.
Today was the first day of RAGBRAI, and other friends are currently riding in Alaska. Thinking about all of you!
~ Lisa
Dale and I arrived around 8:30 p.m. last night. He was back on the road around 10:30 this morning. Brenda (my sister) continued her tradition. There was a package waiting here when we arrived. The clerk at the front desk was very anxious for our arrival in order to complete the delivery.
Mechanics was at 3:00 and rap at 4:00. I received the very abbreviated orientation session during those times -- the mechanic checks the bike to make sure everything is in order and you receive a helmet check. Let the riding begin.
Their ride from Fond du Lac today was relatively short at 57 miles. Everyone is in good spirits. It was a beautiful day!
Tomorrow will have a first for me. There is a couple on the ride that will be married in the park prior to boarding the ferry to cross Lake Michigan. I'm not sure of the history of the event, but everyone is invited. It should be fun.
Yes, tomorrow's the day you've all asked about. Technically, it's a "rest" day. Not considering the mileage to the park, we'll ride three miles to the ferry then four miles to the motel after arriving in Michigan.
We'll lose an hour tomorrow, entering the eastern time zone. That will make Tuesday's 115 miles even more difficult. We won't be able to start riding until after 6:30 a.m. in order to have enough daylight for riders to be safe.
I've met several riders of the 70 on the ride. It's interesting that while there is only one rider here that I've ridden with before, there are several who know someone else that I've ridden with (including those from Bloomington, IN). The cycling community is a small one.
I am the only rider joining here. I understand there are several joining in Niagara Falls. The group may be close to 80 before we arrive in Portsmouth.
Today was the first day of RAGBRAI, and other friends are currently riding in Alaska. Thinking about all of you!
~ Lisa
Sunday, July 15, 2007
T - 6 Days and Counting
The official countdown began a month ago. It's hard to believe the ride is now less than a week away.
Thanks for your encouragement (whether you meant it that way or not), I surpassed my training goal (1,000 miles) last week. Hopefully that is enough.
Your questions about the trip or how training is going has kept me motivated during an odd training year. Having been traveling roughly 50% of the time makes consecutive riding days a premium. Fortunately, on many trips I've been able to take gear along and do some speed and hill work while I've been away from home. But in the end, there was no way I wanted to admit that I hadn't been riding, so the training continued.
It's also motivating to hear that you've monitored the blog, so I'll post each day that connectivity is available while I'm on the trip. I hope you enjoy it and find it interesting to hear about the things that we encounter or that occur along the way.
Dale and I will go to Manitowoc on Saturday, July 22 (of course, Dale won't stay). The tour left from Astoria, Oregon with a group of 70 riders on June 18.
This is a larger group than what I've ridden with before, but still smaller than the RAGBRAI group of 10,000. It will make meal times more challenging as most establishments are not necessarily equipped for large groups, especially bikers who typically descend onto restaurants like swarms of locusts.
The ride leader does a fabulous website. It can be found at http://www.bamacyclist.com/Journal2007/North07/07north.htm . I begin "riding" on Day 36. He is able to provide more information about what happens throughout the day. He also includes daily photos from the ride.
This will be the third year that I've created the blog. The previous two years are as follows --
http://acrossamericaii.blogspot.com/
http://iowthoughts.blogspot.com/
(In case you feel the need to backtrack; which, by the way, is impossible with a route sheet!)
I'm looking forward to this part of the ride. It will be interesting to see how the border patrols handle 70 cyclists + crew crossing into Canada and back.
The rest day will be in Niagara Falls, which should also be interesting.
The Berkshires in Vermont should provide plenty of challenge.
And, best of all, the conclusion with the obligatory wheel dipping in the Atlantic in Portsmouth.
Many of you have asked, "What's next?" We'll think and talk about that after August 7. Right now, it's important to focus on the two and half weeks that lie between me and the Atlantic.
See you on the road ~Lisa
Thanks for your encouragement (whether you meant it that way or not), I surpassed my training goal (1,000 miles) last week. Hopefully that is enough.
Your questions about the trip or how training is going has kept me motivated during an odd training year. Having been traveling roughly 50% of the time makes consecutive riding days a premium. Fortunately, on many trips I've been able to take gear along and do some speed and hill work while I've been away from home. But in the end, there was no way I wanted to admit that I hadn't been riding, so the training continued.
It's also motivating to hear that you've monitored the blog, so I'll post each day that connectivity is available while I'm on the trip. I hope you enjoy it and find it interesting to hear about the things that we encounter or that occur along the way.
Dale and I will go to Manitowoc on Saturday, July 22 (of course, Dale won't stay). The tour left from Astoria, Oregon with a group of 70 riders on June 18.
This is a larger group than what I've ridden with before, but still smaller than the RAGBRAI group of 10,000. It will make meal times more challenging as most establishments are not necessarily equipped for large groups, especially bikers who typically descend onto restaurants like swarms of locusts.
The ride leader does a fabulous website. It can be found at http://www.bamacyclist.com/Journal2007/North07/07north.htm . I begin "riding" on Day 36. He is able to provide more information about what happens throughout the day. He also includes daily photos from the ride.
This will be the third year that I've created the blog. The previous two years are as follows --
http://acrossamericaii.blogspot.com/
http://iowthoughts.blogspot.com/
(In case you feel the need to backtrack; which, by the way, is impossible with a route sheet!)
I'm looking forward to this part of the ride. It will be interesting to see how the border patrols handle 70 cyclists + crew crossing into Canada and back.
The rest day will be in Niagara Falls, which should also be interesting.
The Berkshires in Vermont should provide plenty of challenge.
And, best of all, the conclusion with the obligatory wheel dipping in the Atlantic in Portsmouth.
Many of you have asked, "What's next?" We'll think and talk about that after August 7. Right now, it's important to focus on the two and half weeks that lie between me and the Atlantic.
See you on the road ~Lisa
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