Sunday Night 10/18/09 Chesterfield, Va

Back at home after not having an access to a computer for our week in Disney, I will attempt to remember the final day...

With giddy anticipation, I was ready to ride at 6:55 but it was not light enough to go until 7:20. I was hoping for a 35 mile ride in which i was actually going to beat Sandy to our resort at Disney (she kept boosting that she gave me a two week head start and she still beat me down there). Turned out to be only 68 miles (ONLY!?!...my, my, my it's amazing how my perspective has changed). I did not anticipate the amount of hills in central Florida (more than all the previous days combined!). Plus when I came off map in order to get directly to our resort (I googlemap it!) I got helplessly lost. So Sandy was actually sitting by the pool when I got there. But I got there.

I did run into more cyclists today (probably due to the bike fest in Mt. Dora) than any other day combined, several of which allowed me to ride with them, 'pulling' me along. It was good to see other cyclist but I wish more of them would wave or acknowledge my existence.

The trip was fabulous. Could not have scripted it much better (maybe less traffic, less wind, less heat and at least one more partner).

I am already planning the second annual...hope you can go with me this time.

Kudos to all the people that helped me before I left as well as along the way.

Huge kudos to my wife for off-the-scale support (emotionally, financially, office-wise...).

Life is GREAT.

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The computer did not save my Thursday blog so....

I'll make this quick since it feels anti-clamatical that i am writing this on Sunday night after arriving home.

Thursday was a long day since it seems like the wind changes each day to come from the direction that I was going. Only ended up going about 94 miles and ended up in St. Augustine Beach. The ride in northern Florida along A1A is prettier than the outer banks. A1A actually ends and you have to take a ferry for 10 minutes to continue. That was the first problem ...I missed the turn for the ferry and went 8 miles out of the way and in that heat, that was no small feat. ( I'm a poet and I don't know it).

The reason I missed the ferry turn was I finally got my first road rage red neck to actually pull over to tell me how and where to ride my bike (imagine after 1100 miles I didn't know!!!). He actually came after me 2 more times which is when I called the police (he forgot he was wearing his name tag...license tag). Maybe he spent a few days in the pokey. One can only hope.

An eventful day but neither event slowed me down or dampened my spirits.

All Is good.

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10/9/09 Friday Night Mt. Dora, Fl
Well, my slacking the last few days produced a 114 mile adventure today ( a personal record). Ran into light problems (actually dark problems) as I was still on the bike at 7:20 pm. I had a conversation with my oldest brother this morning, where he asked me how late is too late to be on the bike and I told him no later than 6:15. Ironic. Boy, did I have to put pedal to the metal the last 30. It's one thing to kick it up a notch in the first 30 but the last 30...UUGGHH!!
That's not even the story today...The heat is off the scale. One of the things that slowed me down was i was stopping what seemed like every 10 miles to find A/C to bring my body temperature to something reasonable. I'm working on my 3rd gallon of water/Gatorade and still feel dehydrated (you didn't think a gator would drink Powerade). Record heat and humidity (mid 90's w/o heat index).
It seems to take me 1 1/2-2 hours to get ready in the morning...couldn't even tell you what takes me so long. Goal tomorrow is 7am departure time as there is the 39th annual bike fest here in Mt. Dora (who knew?) which should clog up the roads all day, so I'm trying to get out early.
I was asking for rain today. I sure hope the heat lets up manana.
Ran into (not literally) another rider (70 year old) who is riding across the U.S. in two week trips breaking it into three years.
One last ride tomorrow.
All is well.
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10/7/09 Wed Night Kingsland, Ga
Hi. Before i talk about today there was one thing i didn't mention yesterday and one thing i need to clarify ( lots of time to think while riding). There was a huge bridge over ? yesterday that at the time i thought was the highest thing that i had ever climbed. Oh, by the way, remember the first day when i said i had bike troubles and i 'fixed' the front derailleur (allows me to change gears). Well, no fix here so did the entire bridge with just the back gears. I'm glad i trained!!
The other thing to clarify is my date with the two female bicyclists. They are not 65ish. They are sisters who are 72 and 77. What an inspiration they are.

So back to today. My date from last night continued at breakfast but that got me out of the blocks an hour and a half late (not that i minded the conversation)(I'm running out of things to say to myself!!!) Had another bridge but even higher. Why are they that tall?!? Same problem with the gears. UGH!!! Combination of wind, gears and height, I'm glad the speedometer on my computer doesn't have negative numbers. First time i have ever climbed a hill that i probably could have walked faster. Had massive head wind for way too long. Average less than 9 mph. Even when road turned and wind settled down, my average for the day was only 11.3 mph. Lousy.
But you take what the road gives you and keep plodding down the road. Ran out of steam about 40 mile mark and had to take another mental health nap. Woke up not to rain but the paramedics coming to assist me (they had gotten a call). If the buzzards start to follow, I'll call it a day. Had to end at 64 miles because next stop was 27 miles away and didn't have enough light to make it ( with the head wind, leaving late and the nap). Dinner of Mom's left over potatoes and bananas. Good Carbs!!!
Have to get back on Internet to determine next stop but know i want to get out of Georgia Bulldog territory. Only 3 miles north of Florida border. Going to the beach tomorrow. Only 2 and 1/2 riding days left and 89 shopping days left until Christmas/Hanukkah.
Keep the rubber side down (as one of my gumbas from NY says).
Night All,
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10/6/09 Tuesday night Darien, Ga
Well, what a nice easy day after taking yesterday off. Only pedaled 92.37 miles. Was off map the entire time but i have a good reason...i saved about 30 miles which actually puts me into Disney a day early. But (why is there always a but) my friends who only had a 3 week notice that i was coming to their house on Thursday are leaving for a trip on Thursday but forgot to tell me. (can you tell i'm a little bitter)( I'm glad they're not following my blog). The entire day off yesterday was spent mapping out the final four days of pedaling but pivoting on staying at their house. I guess it's back to the drawing board.
What plan B is, is to divide the mileage by 5 and arrive on time on Saturday.
Back to the ride today...started slightly cool but very cloudy. It poured all day yesterday (what a great day to take as a rest day). The weatherman said it was suppose to stop last night and just be cloudy today. Well, he was half right. Rained on me today, just enough to cool you down and get the sunglasses wet. It really could not be scripted much better so far, as far as weather, mechanical physical, etc.... It must be the good life i'm leading.
Ran into 2 other bikers at mile 71 who are both female, mid to late 60's, started in Maine and are on their 7th week on the road to Florida (and you thought i was crazy!!!). Unfortunately, only pedaling about 11 mph vs. my 15 mph, so i left them in the dust but they found the hotel and we are having dinner together. COOLBEANS!! It's too bad we can't hook up for the rest of the trip (not that type of hook-up).
Well, time for my 'date'. Then maps and then nap time.
As a side note, kudos to my in-laws for taking such good care of me during my much-needed day of rest. Thank You.

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10/4/09 Sunday afternoon - Hilton Head SC
Well, made it to my in-laws which is nice after staying at dives (and they feed me!). Nice easy day of only 62 miles. Stayed on map the entire day. Are you impressed?!?
Hampton Inn is great place to stay with a nice breakfast in the morning and then i stole all the food to have snacks and lunch.
Taking day off tomorrow. Suppose to ride 6 days and take a break. I did 7. Missed it by that much. Well deserved and anticipated day off.
Will do some RR, map work and maintenance on bike. My in-laws live right on hole #6 on a golf course so maybe....
It's also one more day closer to hugging my Breezer (daughter) in Disney World.
The numbness in my thumb is becoming slightly more than temporary. Where's a Chiropractor when you need one?
Time for lasagna (Carbs!)
Have a good night.
Today's a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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10/3/09 Saturday night
I'm sorry for not having kept up on this for all my 'fans' but there is something to be said for staying at nice hotels vs. dives vs. real dives. Dives don't have internet or a 'business center'. Not sure they know what it is. Be that what it may, I've stayed at two nice hotels (including tonight) this week and they didn't have business centers either. Difference being, they knew what one was. So... I will try to go back to last entry but to be perfectly honest, all the days seem to be blending together. Humm, imagine that?!?

9/29/09 Tuesday Night- Cedar Island
Starts out a bit chilly because a nasty storm blew threw right after i got back to the hotel from dinner. (it can rain all it wants at night!!!). Stayed the entire ride on beach road in outer banks. Two other bikers caught me at a pit stop and we rode 20 miles together. It was great to have someone to talk to but they were strong riders (we averaged 19.5 mph). Hats off to Joe and Jimmy (Happy Birthday Joe). Fairly nondescript trip except for the ferries. Had to take two ferries, one from Hatteras to ?, and one from Okracoke to Cedar Island. Second left at 5:15 s0 kind of a sunset/night cruise for 2 1/2 hours. Then there is a hotel right there at ferry landing. (nice people but a dive). Did a total of ~95 miles but on road for 13 hours with ferries.

9/30/09 Wednesday night - Jacksonville, NC
Starts off chilly again but i quickly get heated up. I came off my pre-determined route thinking that I was smarter than the biking map maker. WROOONG. My route was straighter but so many more trucks (and cars and construction and lights and...) OK so i promise myself not to do that again. Fairly nondescript day but i do notice that i'm getting fatigued earlier and earlier. The numbness in my left thumb that i usually get twenty miles into a ride (but goes away quickly with a shaking of the hand), is now with me at dinner. Did a total of ~89 miles but grueling with traffic.

10/1/09 Thursday Night - Shallotte, NC
I am now about 60 miles ahead of schedule which i have to be careful of or i'll end up sleeping under the stars (there maybe no hotels or even towns when i run out of fuel, time or light). Did i mention i came off the map again. Alright...who's smarter NOOWW!!!???!!! I promise i won't do it again. Finally was able to get adjusted (kudos to Dr. Joe). He was the fourth office i tried, everybody else was too busy to see me. AARRGG!!
Can't even remember the hotel but somewhat of a dive.
Have not had much opportunity to take pictures so therefore haven't tried to figure out how to do it.
My son ,Andrew, got me a I-Home for the bike for Father's Day which has been just this side of sliced bread (remember i need all the carbs i can get). THANKYOU Andrew.

10/2/09 Friday Night - Andrew SC
Came off the map again...is anyone sensing a theme here? All the trucks wanted to get home for the weekend and after a near miss, third of the day, I literally sat on the side of the road wondering where the closest car rental place was. It is an occupational hazard. Please no one get upset. I need everyone to be thinking positively (that goes for the entire Browder clan). If i was salt and pepper in the hair department, i doubt there is any pepper left.
A real dive but the A/C, shower and color TV work. No continental breakfast so had to go backwards 2 miles to fuel up for the day.
Started out cool and cloudy. Took a mental health day (nap), just pulled over and layed down and low and behold i fell asleep ( i guess i was tired). Only to be awakened by the pitter patter of rain on my face. That was enough sleep for me, but i couldn't outrun the rain. Only hit me for about 1o minutes, not long enough to get out the rain gear. If thats all i get, that would be great.
Numbness in my thumb is now with at night.

10/3/09 Saturday Night Walterboro NC
Came off map today but was actually better. Traffic was better because of being weekend. Cut off 20-30 miles and still did 92 miles.
Had to take another mental health nap but was awakened by the mail lady wondering if i was alive.
Staying at a Hampton Inn, finally not a dive.
Dinner was good, pasta and seafood. I'm eating so often to keep the fuel in tank, i don't know if i'm gaining or losing weight.
Time for bed.
I will try to keep up better with my rantings .
Night All.
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Just an update from the office. We appreciate everyone's concern about Dr. Adam not posting a blog since Monday. Everything is fine. He has not had computer access at any of the hotels he had been staying. Dr. Adam is in South Carolina and will be stopping at Dr. Sandy's parents house by Sunday. Hopefully he will be able to post his own blog then. Continue to share thoughts and comments with us and him.

J

9/28/09 Monday Night
Well, another day done. Everything went extremely well. Bike, weather, nutrition. Only problem was a hellacious head wind for the last 4 hours. Only averaged 11 mph with the wind in face but was at 24 mph with a tailwind. Really takes it's toll. Added an easy 2 hours on to the trip.
Also, stayed on US158 for 80 miles (boring and way too many trucks). The good news is the truckers know how to pass a bike vs. the general public.
I made it to Nags Head. I'm at the beach but got here too late and leaving too early to even walk on the sand. Maybe tomorrow at Okrakoke.
Total of 105.36 miles. Wears me out just typing it.
Weather man said not only were the temps suppose to go way down but the wind shifts to the northwest. YEH!!!!
Wish i had taken some pictures but probably wouldn't know how to download them anyway without my Andrew(son) to do it for me.
Time for bed. Need to leave early to catch 2 different ferries tomorrow.
Night all.
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Sunday night
Wow!!! What a beautiful day!!! The rain did not deter my leaving, just delayed it for an hour. Except for my front derailer having a problem (which has been my achilles heel for the past 3 months, the bike shop has tuned it up 3 times!!) which i eventually patched (hopefully fixed), the entire day went extremely smooth. Not one person yelled at me or tried to run me off the road. This has to be a World record!! Only had 3 encounters with dogs, one of which only wanted to race me and boy was he/she fast! Almost hit him with my front tire though, that would not have been good for either one of us ( I would have done an endover, another bike term.)
Total of 99.46 miles.
Bike store which is a block away is closed on sun and mon so i hope my patch went well.
Nags Head tomorrow.
Time for bed...Night all.
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9/27/09

Hi all,

Well, as you could of guessed, too nervous to sleep past 6 am. I was completely packed by last night so don't have much to do this morning. Weather not cooperating so trying to kill a little time. I don't mind getting caught in the rain but going out to get wet (especially the first day!!!) isn't my cup of tea.

My usual breakfast of oatmeal and gatorade should sustain me for the next 25 miles (if you've heard me in the office i'll adjust someone and say"that should hold for the next 3000 miles or next week, whichever comes first"). I only need 'it' to hold for the next 1350 miles.

If you are reading these thoughts, please give some comments, although i'm not sure how (or if) you can do that.

Please keep me safe with your thoughts.

I'm off to go play in the rain.

Health and Happiness,

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9/12/09

Trail Run

Well, this weekend was suppose to be the time to work out all the kinks. Plan A was to ride the first leg of my ride (~100 miles) on Saturday, stay overnight in the hotel i will stay at in 2 weeks and then pedal back on Sunday. The day started beautifully - weather, attitude, bike, timing, everything. Well, 30 miles in, flat tire. UGH!!! Well I'm prepared...tools, tubes, tires and pump. Did i say pump....brand new, untested. I did say this trip was to work out the kinks. Pump didn't work so my bride had to come and SAG me home. (did i mention that my bride is a keeper!)

9/13/09

Sunday turned out much better. NO flats. Did 5o miles into the first leg, got lost and ended up doing 109 miles. Fine tuning my nutrition because ended up hitting a wall (Bonking) @ 87 miles. But getting better with each training ride.

Side Note - I do have two people feigning interest in coming with me. time will tell..I'm still going either way.