Sanderson TX

Just a quick note to let eveyone know the good Lord kept us safe for another day. Still fighting a little head wind and cross wind, but, had a little more down hill today and got in 83 miles before calling it a day. I have only been doing between 5-6 hours per day. This is so much easier than hiking and the downhills don't hurt nearly as much.

It is nice to have a computer along with all the unsecured wi fi around.

We will try to make it into Del Rio on Wed and then meet my mom and dad on Thurs or Friday as they head home from San Padre. Weather is still cool in the am and 80 by the afternoons.

Until next time, we just keep heading down the road in an easterly direction.

Alpine Texas

Had a tough day yesterday and today as the winds have shifted. I was not even going to ride yesterday as the winds were "hazerdous" in the 50-60 mph range out of the east. By 1pm I was a little ancy and decided to ride but to change the route from what I had planned and instead of going through the mountains to take pick up Hwy 90 and head South south east. I only did 40 miles but that was enough with the strong cross winds. Today the winds were out of the SE and that was the direction I had to go. It was my toughest day yet and after 63 miles I arrived in the town of Alpine TX. We are in a small RV park. I am now on the Adventure Cycling route and will head for Del Rio on Hwy 90. It is supposed to loose some elevation and I am hoping the winds will change in my favor.

All is going well from the truck and camper. I am enjoying the scenery and the great weather. We are having record breaking temperatures in the low 80's. Night time temps in the upper 40's so Jeff starts off a little cooler in the mornings. He is starting to look pretty dark from being in the sun 6 or so hours a day. I am just trying not to get burnt.
Yesterday, Feb. 26, was a big day for us. Jeff did his first 100 mile day. After biking for 100 miles there was no place to stay and we were just out of El Paso with cell phones that had batteries that wouldn't hold a charge. So I made Jeff get in the truck and we found a Verizon store and got new phones. We also stopped to restock grocery, stopped at a bike store for a few items and then had supper. We drove just out of El Paso and found an RV place to stay for the night. The night lights of El Paso against the mountains was spectacular, but I was happy to get out of the 6 lane highways and away from all the traffic.

Jeff had another 100 plus mile day today and we are in Van Horn. It appears to be a nice town. I hope to get out for a morning run and I just happened to see a Dairy Queen down the road.
Jeff actually beat me in getting into this town. He is making really good mileage and the wind at his back may be helping a bit. He will make time when he can as he

Into Texas

I am going to do a short post and try to load a couple of pictures from my camera and Patty said she will post later on tonight or tomorrow morning and load some pictures from her camera. We both have our cameras along and I know she is taking way more pictures than I am.

With the help of a great west wind I just completed my first two 100 miles days. Came across New Mexico in two days and rode the southernmost road in the state, hwy 9. I could throw a rock into Mexico I was so close a couple of times. The only traffic I saw was Border Patrol and they are really thick. They have little outposts all along the border and they drag the dirt road adjacent to where I was riding to spot any fresh foot prints coming into the U.S.

We are currently in Van Horn TX which is about 100 miles east of El Paso where we stayed last night.

I am finally starting to feel comfortable on the bike, (my butt is not as sore), after a little over 700 miles. My legs are also feeling much better.

I am going to sign off for now and will try to post a couple of pictures.

February 24, 2009

This is my first post to the Blog. I am following behind Jeff as he bikes his way across the lower U.S. I am still a little nervous about driving the truck with the camper on through the
mountain passes. The speed limit in some of those places is still 65 mph but there is no way I am going that fast. Hopefully we will be over the mountain passes soon. I am actually looking forward to driving in flat areas. After Jeff leaves in the morning which is about 8:00,
I will go for a run. After all , I am now officially in training for the Seattle Marathon on June 27. I did run with Carissa yesterday in Apache Junction who is from Seattle and is also signed up to do the Seattle Marathon, so that was interesting. After my run I will get the camper ready to move, maybe read a little or catch a little sun, but there really isn't that much spare time for me. Jeff and I usually have some places designated that we will meet during the day or where he plans on getting to at night. We'll set up the camper, have some supper, plan the next day and go to bed. I really like the luxeries the camper has over tenting it. I like the refrigerator, microwave, electricity, running water, bed and table. It's really cozy in the camper. I can see why people winter in Arizona, the weather has been beautiful. Yesterday it was 85 degrees and sunny. No rain in the forcast. I am at the Safford public library. I just met Jeff here. There is a bike shop in town, where he had his tires made a little more "flat proofed", so hopefully he won't be getting any more flat. There are these little thorns on the side of the roads that seem to work their way into tire tubes and cause flat. Jeff is headed for Duncan tonight. I will give his a few hours head start and then I will leave here and hopefully meet him along the way. It looks like tomorrow we will be out of Arizona and into New Mexico. No pictures posted today unless I go back to the truck and get the camera. I have been taking some scenery pictures. Jeff had 83 miles on yesterday and will have about 70 to 80 on today if all goes well. Diesel prices are anywhere from 2.03 to 2.25 per gallon.

On the Road Again

Hi Everyone

If you are reading this you probably already know that Patty and I hit the road and are trying to cross the country again. This will be my third non motorized crossing and I will try to go from the west coast to the east coast on bike. Patty will be support with the pickup camper. I am not as confident about this trip and have a few apprehensions, but, we will give it a shot. At least we will see some warm weather and I will get to bike in shorts.

We drove to San Diego via a stop in Yuma to see a friend from the A.T. We had a great visit in Yuma and even stayed an extra day. Thank you Jack Frost. We arrived in San Diego on Tuesday Feb 17 and it poured on us as soon as we pulled up to Dog Beach.

I have been keeping a journal but this blog does not allow me to cut and paste, at least I have not figured out how to do it.

For now I will say we have just under 400 miles on and are just east of Phoenix in Apache Junction. The mountains so far have been tough considering I have not really biked in two years. I did an 86 mile day yesterday and am sore in areas I have not felt for a while.

I will try to post as I can or maybe I will be able to talk Patty into covering for me as I try and make some miles on the bike.

WE HAVE FINISHED 2175 DONE

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to let everyone know that Patty and I have finished our hike of the Appalachian Trail.

We crossed the 100 mile Wilderness this past week and climbed up Mount Katahdin today.

The Wilderness was not as much wilderness as we thought it would be but we ended up carrying almost 8 days of food to get through it.

We climbed Katahdin today and it was quite a climb. Over 4000 vertical feet and a lot of bouldering. We both survived and are not on crutches. I have posted a few pictures from today and the past week.

We are going to Bangor tomorrow and will take some vacation time. We hope to be back in MN late next week.

Thanks to everyone for following along on our travels and for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I know it helped both of us on a couple of the climbs we made up and down the mountains.

I still plan on posting our gear list at some point when I have more time. Right now we are at the Appalachian Cafe in Millinocket Maine.

Pictures I have posted are as follows:

1. Looking at Mt Katahdin from 10 miles away as we crossed the Penobscot River. We camped here on Wed Night.
2. Patty finally getting Smores the night before we climb the big K
3. Jeff getting a beer the night before we climb the big K, more trail magic
4. Patty climbing
5. At the top. It was a little cloudy with visibility at about 20 yards