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| I really miss these days... Someday I'll make it back. |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #51
I killed the longest run I've done since 'The Accident'. That is, the longest run I've done in more than 2 years.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #50
I went to a Radiation Oncology clinic today. It really confirmed my interest in the specialty.
Love that!
Love that!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tour Divide Day 18
Tour Divide Day 18- Post Cuba to Post Grants/Pre Pie Town, 160 miles
This day started out well enough. The early morning traffic had me up a bit before sunrise. I wanted to sleep in a bit but I knew that I would avoid some of the sun by starting out early.
The riding between Cuba and Grants is pretty unremarkable. Just lots of rolling hills, lots of pavement, and lots of heat (It was over 110 during the day). I stopped at the little indian reserve mercantile about 50 miles before Grants. In the bathroom I sewed up the huge hole in my shorts, not that it really mattered because it just ripped again the next day. (At least I made it through Grants without mooning anyone.)
Have I mentioned that I'm from Alaska? Have I mentioned that I suck in the heat? Have I mentioned that I don't even wear something on my face when I ride my fat tire snow bike at ten below?
One hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit my @$$!!!!!!!
The heat just completely decimated me this day. About 20 miles before Grants I was falling asleep in the aerobars. I decided to take a nap under the shade of a tree. It was a magical twenty minutes of sleep except for some rude jerk's snoring kept waking me up. (I never figured out who's snoring it was though, when I woke up I was the only person I could see for miles.)
Shortly thereafter, I passed a mining facility that had these absolutely gigantic (and awesome) earth haulers. I was mostly impressed by how nice the drivers were to me, a raggedy looking bikepacker. They slowed down and passed me with tons of caution on the road. (Thanks for not killing me!)
Just outside of Grants I ran into a photographer that was covering the race. He told me that the little English bugger that I passed at Brush Mountain Lodge had passed me some time in the night. Then he took my photo....
This day started out well enough. The early morning traffic had me up a bit before sunrise. I wanted to sleep in a bit but I knew that I would avoid some of the sun by starting out early.
The riding between Cuba and Grants is pretty unremarkable. Just lots of rolling hills, lots of pavement, and lots of heat (It was over 110 during the day). I stopped at the little indian reserve mercantile about 50 miles before Grants. In the bathroom I sewed up the huge hole in my shorts, not that it really mattered because it just ripped again the next day. (At least I made it through Grants without mooning anyone.)
Have I mentioned that I'm from Alaska? Have I mentioned that I suck in the heat? Have I mentioned that I don't even wear something on my face when I ride my fat tire snow bike at ten below?
One hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit my @$$!!!!!!!
The only other animal dumb enough to be out in the desert.
The heat just completely decimated me this day. About 20 miles before Grants I was falling asleep in the aerobars. I decided to take a nap under the shade of a tree. It was a magical twenty minutes of sleep except for some rude jerk's snoring kept waking me up. (I never figured out who's snoring it was though, when I woke up I was the only person I could see for miles.)
Shortly thereafter, I passed a mining facility that had these absolutely gigantic (and awesome) earth haulers. I was mostly impressed by how nice the drivers were to me, a raggedy looking bikepacker. They slowed down and passed me with tons of caution on the road. (Thanks for not killing me!)
Just outside of Grants I ran into a photographer that was covering the race. He told me that the little English bugger that I passed at Brush Mountain Lodge had passed me some time in the night. Then he took my photo....
I look like such a hobo!
I made it into Grants, restocked, and stopped at McDonalds. I was in Grants for "way, way, way too long." (A quote from me in a diary video.) I stopped to call Liz, my wife, about five times in Grants. The feeling of being on the tour at this point is pretty hard to explain. Everyday metaphors just don't do justice to the amount of metal fortitude that is requisite for making it 2500 miles on a mountain bike. Suffice it to say.... I was pretty lonely and tired.
A photo I sent to my wife to show her what a hobo I was.
A video from just after Grants. Apparently I was there for way too long....
After Grants the riding is more pavement. I wanted to ride into the night and maybe make Pie Town. I noticed that my phone had signal about 20 miles outside of Grants (Yes, I called my wife again) and then I lost it after a few more miles. By this time it was dark. I decided to turn around until I got cell signal, set up my bivy, and I talked to my wife until my phone died.
It was a really good day with lots of miles covered. I could tell I was getting pretty wiped out though; I took my first nap of the race and I called my wife about eight times.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Tour Divide Day 17
Tour Divide Day 17- Post Abiquiu to Post Cuba, 80 ish miles (I think I did a substantially more miles this day but those darn gps files are still MIA)
This day was rough. I was seriously getting worn down and the loneliness was killing me. This was compounded by the fact that I choose a HORRIBLE bivy spot. The night was wrought with drunken hillbillies driving their trucks at break neck speeds down the road I was sleeping next to.
These factors were all exponentially compounded by the increasing heat. This day the temperature would reach upwards of 105 degrees. I was roasting, and not the good kind like on Comedy Central.
As I got packed up I realized that it was going to be a lovely start. My saddle sores were officially the size of large hamburger patties. The numbness in my hands was getting pretty bad. My bike felt like it weight 50 pounds. (It likely did with all the water I was carrying).
The morning sun and I slowly rose up the side of the climb leaving my bivy spot. It seemed like my saddle sores and hands would never start feeling better. I settled into the most comfortable position that I could find, standing with my arms in the aero bars. This postition wouldn't be all that bad but 1) I had to keep my knees really bent in order to keep strain off my back, and 2) The riding was REALLY rough.
The riding on this road just went on and on. I really felt like I was moving in slow motion all day. I had to walk, A LOT. The climbs, the weary body, and the heat had left me such a wreck. I really tried to enjoy the beauty and the smells but man, I was just rocked.
After a nearly day long adventure of climbing up, up, and up (and up), I finally topped out and started the long rolling descent downward. About ten miles into the descending I came across a forest ranger in a truck that was driving in quite a hurry right at me. He skidded to a stop in the middle of the road and waved at me.
I rolled up to the truck and said howdy. He looked really concerned and asked me where I was headed. I said I was headed to Cuba. He wanted to know my route. I took my GPS off my bike and showed him.
He said, "If you hurry, you should be OK."
I replied, "Oh man, is this gonna end up like in Die Hard and I'm going to be over taken by terrorists that are on the loose and I have to fend them off with my ingenuity and good looks?"
He looked at me blankly, "No."
(Insert awkward pause...)
I said, "Ummmm...." and trailed off.
He said, "There is a huge fire over the next ridge. You need to get off the mountain."
I replied, "Well, the terrorist scenario is more my cup of tea but I can deal with out running a forest fire."
With that I was off like only a scared and weary bike packer can be. I literally had thousands of mile in my legs. I was a living breathing diesel engine in that moment... It is amazing what fear of death can do for you. I actually caught up to and passed a Toyota Tacoma that was driving down off the mountain.
I hit the pavement into Cuba and kept on making trail into town. This was a really nice rolling ride and I really enjoyed the fact that I would be able to hit up smooth pavement for the next hundred plus miles.
I stopped at subway and fuled up. I hit up the gas station and found a pen light that I rigged to my handle bars. It was a pretty crappy light but I was better than nothing. I then stopped at a dollar store and bought a mini sewing kit.
(I can't remember if I wrote about my infamous shorts yet.... [Imagine montage music playing as we flash back to my ride out of Platoro CO.] The breeze that kicked up every now and again felt really strong on my right hiney cheek during the day. At some point I realized there was a huge hole in the back of my shorts. It must have been there for a few days, I even had a TAN LINE in the shape of a circle on my bootie!)
So anyways, the sewing kit was to fix the frisbie sized hole in my shorts. I stopped again at McDonalds for four helpings of ice cream on my way out of town. I must have been starving.
As I pedled out of town I looed back up the mountains the way I had come. They were engulfed in smoke. I was pretty thankful to have made it out...
I continued riding into the night for as long as I could. The pen light really wasn't much help, I had trouble telling if I was riding up or down hill. I rode off the shoulder a few times and I realized that I just wasn't making much time. I decided to bed down in the ditch. Another night of highway side exhaustion induced sleeping.... It was magical.
The morning sun and I slowly rose up the side of the climb leaving my bivy spot. It seemed like my saddle sores and hands would never start feeling better. I settled into the most comfortable position that I could find, standing with my arms in the aero bars. This postition wouldn't be all that bad but 1) I had to keep my knees really bent in order to keep strain off my back, and 2) The riding was REALLY rough.
Matthew Lee also opines about how rough the road is in the Divide movie.
The riding on this road just went on and on. I really felt like I was moving in slow motion all day. I had to walk, A LOT. The climbs, the weary body, and the heat had left me such a wreck. I really tried to enjoy the beauty and the smells but man, I was just rocked.
After a nearly day long adventure of climbing up, up, and up (and up), I finally topped out and started the long rolling descent downward. About ten miles into the descending I came across a forest ranger in a truck that was driving in quite a hurry right at me. He skidded to a stop in the middle of the road and waved at me.
I rolled up to the truck and said howdy. He looked really concerned and asked me where I was headed. I said I was headed to Cuba. He wanted to know my route. I took my GPS off my bike and showed him.
He said, "If you hurry, you should be OK."
I replied, "Oh man, is this gonna end up like in Die Hard and I'm going to be over taken by terrorists that are on the loose and I have to fend them off with my ingenuity and good looks?"
He looked at me blankly, "No."
(Insert awkward pause...)
I said, "Ummmm...." and trailed off.
He said, "There is a huge fire over the next ridge. You need to get off the mountain."
I replied, "Well, the terrorist scenario is more my cup of tea but I can deal with out running a forest fire."
With that I was off like only a scared and weary bike packer can be. I literally had thousands of mile in my legs. I was a living breathing diesel engine in that moment... It is amazing what fear of death can do for you. I actually caught up to and passed a Toyota Tacoma that was driving down off the mountain.
I hit the pavement into Cuba and kept on making trail into town. This was a really nice rolling ride and I really enjoyed the fact that I would be able to hit up smooth pavement for the next hundred plus miles.
I stopped at subway and fuled up. I hit up the gas station and found a pen light that I rigged to my handle bars. It was a pretty crappy light but I was better than nothing. I then stopped at a dollar store and bought a mini sewing kit.
(I can't remember if I wrote about my infamous shorts yet.... [Imagine montage music playing as we flash back to my ride out of Platoro CO.] The breeze that kicked up every now and again felt really strong on my right hiney cheek during the day. At some point I realized there was a huge hole in the back of my shorts. It must have been there for a few days, I even had a TAN LINE in the shape of a circle on my bootie!)
So anyways, the sewing kit was to fix the frisbie sized hole in my shorts. I stopped again at McDonalds for four helpings of ice cream on my way out of town. I must have been starving.
As I pedled out of town I looed back up the mountains the way I had come. They were engulfed in smoke. I was pretty thankful to have made it out...
I continued riding into the night for as long as I could. The pen light really wasn't much help, I had trouble telling if I was riding up or down hill. I rode off the shoulder a few times and I realized that I just wasn't making much time. I decided to bed down in the ditch. Another night of highway side exhaustion induced sleeping.... It was magical.
Friday, November 25, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #46
Ah day 46, you lucky dog. You get my first entry in a week. Yes, number 46, you mark the longest break I have taken away from my daily blog post series since I started.
Since I last spoke to you, my loyal readers (Hi Mom!), I have under gone some testing to resolve some 'issues'. My care providers and I had some concern that I might have cancer. Really, it was one of only two explanations for my symptoms. Lucky for me, the other explanation prevailed.
Also lucky for me, the procedure that I underwent found some polyps that otherwise would have not been found for another 20-25 years (when I had my first routine screening). So really, I stopped some nasty little pre-cancer in it's tracks.
How's that for some love?
Since I last spoke to you, my loyal readers (Hi Mom!), I have under gone some testing to resolve some 'issues'. My care providers and I had some concern that I might have cancer. Really, it was one of only two explanations for my symptoms. Lucky for me, the other explanation prevailed.
Also lucky for me, the procedure that I underwent found some polyps that otherwise would have not been found for another 20-25 years (when I had my first routine screening). So really, I stopped some nasty little pre-cancer in it's tracks.
How's that for some love?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #34
Jogging in six inches of snow is way harder than I remember it being. Two years has a way of romanticizing memories.
Love it.
Photo snagged from here: http://media.photobucket.com/image/anchorage%20alaska%20snow%20storm/weatherbum09/Moon/th_2010-11-2602SnowstormAftermathAnchorageAK.jpg
Friday, November 11, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #33
Happiness is the first time during the preseason that you put your pants on and you realize your belt went on one notch smaller.
I'm gonna kill it this year!
I'm gonna kill it this year!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #32
The snow has been coming down like crazy here, about 8" in the last few days. And, today it is going like crazy again.
I can't believe I'm about to say this....
I'm actually going to miss this crazy place next year when I move to Seattle.
I can't believe I'm about to say this....
I'm actually going to miss this crazy place next year when I move to Seattle.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I love what I'm doing day #24
I am pretty tired today and class seems disinteresting (I call it post exam/I have another exam in a few days blues). I just want to lay on my couch with my wife and snuggle in front of the fire.
Sometimes longing to be with your spouse is a really good place to be.
Sometimes longing to be with your spouse is a really good place to be.
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