Tomorrow I leave for Maple Grove, MN to start my next bicycle adventure.  This is really my first trip since the Coast to Coast in 2019.  That is not to say that I haven’t been riding!  I follow a forum from Cruzbike (the company who manufactured my bike), and an avid participant has been setting up different “Challenges” for the past few years.  Since I always need a goal to keep myself exercising, I have participated.  I could always ride right around home & so never traveled far.  That was convenient, especially during the Covid 19 years.

One year it was pick a 12 mile route & ride it every week, working to improve your speed on that route.

One year it was challenge yourself to ride 3,000 mile between May and October. (I did 3,004)

One year it was build up your endurance throughout the season to ride the fastest century (100 miles) you have ever done.  (15.4 mph for me at 69 yr old.  Not fast compared to a lot of Cruzbikers, but I was satisfied, and exhausted, that day.)

This year he didn’t have a challenge, so I needed a different incentive.  I saw a post on Facebook from another Coaster about this trip, and it was just what I was ready for.  I’m looking forward to this ride, meeting some new folks, and enjoying Northern Minnesota in late summer.

Not much has changed with my Q 45 Cruzbike since 2019 when I rode it across the country.  Here is a current picture:

I have replaced the chain & the tires a few times because they were worn out.  The biggest change for me is where I store my water bottle.  Notice it is under the front boom.  I have a tube that I drink through, and I find this very convenient.

Thanks for checking out this blog.  If you leave me a comment or question, I’ll try to reply, but I’m going to be kind of busy riding my bike.

 Starting September 7, 2023, I will be doing a 750 mile bike ride around Northern Minnesota.  I am thinking of reactivating this blog, and wondering if anyone who followed my Coast to Coast ride in 2019 is still signed up to receive an email when I put up a new post.

Please let me know if you do.  

This is not as ambitious a trip as I did before, and it is a much smaller group, but I am looking forward to it.  I have been getting my miles in preparation around home in West Bend so that I'm in shape to handle an average of 50 miles per day.  

Hope to hear from you!

Jim

Update & Reflections

Well, it's been over 2 weeks since this picture was taken at the Atlantic Ocean in St Augustine, FL

I have had a bunch of time to look back on the whole C2C experience.  I even read all of my past blog posts.  It is time to share some of my thoughts and feelings.

First a medical update - loyal blog followers will remember that April 4th I went down with the bike on a muddy shoulder.  It was totally my fault & could have ended my cross country quest.  I should have seen the mud slick, and avoided it just as 15 or so bikers ahead of me did.  Can't change that, so no need to dwell on it.

After going to the local ER and hearing that the X-Ray showed no fractures, I decided to monitor how I felt & decide each day whether I could ride.  I took one day off and things improved somewhat.  The next morning I got up early & took a ride around the parking lot at the hotel we were staying at.  I found that pedaling did not really hurt, so went out that day ready to stop if things changed.  I did the same thing every day until we reached St Augustine & never missed another mile.

The troubling part was that walking was still painful, even though I could bike with no problem.  I hoped that once I stopped pedaling, walking would become easier too.  That didn't happen, so about a week ago I had an MRI done.  They found what is called an avulsion fracture in one of the knee bones.  It is apparently not easy to see in an X-Ray & is not a large fracture, but explains why walking was painful.

My next stop was an orthopedic specialist who said I should not have biked that last 800 miles!  Fortunately it appears to be healing anyway, but I am now wearing an immobilizer for 2 weeks.  If it continues to heal properly, no surgery will be needed, but probably a bunch of Physical Therapy.

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I decided to put my reflections on the whole Coast 2 Coast trip in the form of bullet points.  Each one could have a full paragraph, but that would take a long time to read (and write).  Let me know if there is something in particular you would like expanded & I will try to respond when I can.

*The amount of planning, work & support needed to put together a trip like this is something I would never want to do on my own.  Thanks Bubba's Pampered Pedalers.  It was worth every dollar.

*I saw the Southern tier of the USA in a way that I will never forget.  12 - 15 mph is the perfect speed to really see mountains, deserts, ranches, cities large & small, hills, farmland, swamps, rivers, hurricane devastation, The Gulf of Mexico, etc.  The most memorable for me was to see the desert in bloom.

*The quality of the roads can vary greatly from one county to another.  There were many times we would see a County Line sign, and the road conditions would change instantly.  Overall Louisiana had the best roads.

*The people made the experience complete - this includes the other riders, the staff & the locals we encountered all along the way.

*Why people insist on riding those terribly uncomfortable upright bikes is a total mystery to me.  My Q45 Cruzbike recumbent performed flawlessly & I didn't experience back or wrist or neck or butt pain as so many other riders complained of.  There is a learning curve to riding a recumbent, but for me it is an easy trade off.

*I started biking 4 years ago to improve my physical condition as I get older.  That has been a great success.  I did not expect to enjoy riding as much as I do, so that is a pleasant surprise.

*I was not prepared for the constant barrage of bad weather we experienced on the 2019 C2C.  Everyone involved in past trips agreed that this was the worst weather year of the 10 trips Bubba has done.

*The best thing I did in preparation was my "Motivational Partners" routine.  It made the trip become a review of my whole life.  I had plenty of time each day to reflect on my MP.  I would draw energy from them, or send it to them & I remembered lots of life experiences in the process.

*I knew early on that reaching St Augustine would be an emotional experience for me.  I remember thinking ahead at various times what it would be like & the end result lived up to my expectations.

*My family is the best!  What a support crew.  All the other Coasters were amazed.  Here we are in St Augustine.

*I am happy to have taken on this challenge.  This was not a lifelong quest for me as it was for some other riders.  I wanted to learn about myself in the process & I think I have.  I hope it makes me a better husband, father, friend, colleague . . . . and mostly, a better Child of God.

Day 52 - Palatka, FL to St Augustine, FL

36.2 miles today
2,752.9 total trip miles
12.4 mph average
305’ climbing
FF - 1
MP - Joanne, the love of my life & wife for almost 45 years.  I was really reaching above my status in life when I started dating the smartest, prettiest & interesting girl in high school.  It was the first big risk I had taken in life & since it worked out so well I have been taking risks ever since.  She is my soul mate, she helps me keep my life in balance & I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.

This was the perfect way to bring the C2C adventure to a close.  Good weather, flat paved bike trails, easy riding, short distance.  I have taken almost 100 pictures of city signs across the country, but this is the one I have been waiting for.

When I arrived at our lunch location, my family had gathered there to greet me & we enjoyed a nice lunch together.  Then at about 1 PM, we all had to bike another 2 miles to gather for a final group picture.

We then biked single file for the last mile to the beach.  Dipping the front wheel in the Atlantic Ocean completed the Coast 2 Coast journey.

Here I am with Bubba getting the C2C medal.

What an adventure it has been.  I will need some time to process the whole experience.  Watch for a future post with some of those reflections.

WDYLT - ILT completing a Coast 2 Coast bike trip is a much more emotional experience than I expected & as Bubba would say “It’s All Good”.

Day 51 - Gainesville, FL to Palatka, FL

He is Risen!  Alleluia!  Happy Easter!

52.8 miles today
2,716.7 total trip miles
13.3 mph average
853’ climbing
FF - 3
MP - All people & groups unnamed as MP’s previous to today.  The sad fact is that I had only 45 riding days to choose a Motivational Partner for.  For that reason I have set aside this day for everyone I couldn’t name.  This includes those I know personally, as well as musicians, writers, teachers & actors.  Every connection has made me the person I am today & I am grateful for the wide variety of influences I have been exposed to.

This adventure is quickly coming to a close & fortunately Bubba knows the group needs to wind down so the last few days are reduced mileage & today we even had 20 miles on a bike trail rather than on a highway with traffic.  Right off the trail outside of Gainesville is a large nature preserve with all kinds of wildlife.  It was a great opportunity to get off the bike & look around.

I found it to be an interesting mixture of animals listed that might be on the trail.  I didn’t see any of the listed animals, but it was a great place to go birding.  This picture shows the swamp with a large Live Oak tree across the way.

My family is already gathered in St Augustine relaxing  & touring the city.  I still have 35 miles to pedal tomorrow & then dip my front wheel in the Atlantic Ocean to complete the Coast 2 Coast journey.

WDYLT - ILT the moss that commonly grows on the Live Oak trees & often hangs low is not really a part of the tree.  It is a totally separate plant that just uses the Live Oak as a host.

Day 50 - Live Oak, FL to Gainesville, FL

80.8 miles today
2,663.9 total trip miles
13.8 mph average
1,729’ climbing
FF - 6
MP - Eric & Tim - two friends from West Bend who sometimes help me with projects around the house.  We enjoy Packer parties yearly & movie nights with pizza every month or so.  They are great fans of  professional wrestling & often show me You Tube videos of everything from airplanes taking off to TV commercials that are funny.  They always seem to be in a good mood & that helps my outlook on life.

I didn’t take many pictures today because Northern Florida looks a lot like Northern Texas with ranches, farms & acres of grazing land.  From the seat of a bicycle, the biggest difference is that Florida is much flatter.  We had our last long mileage day today & I was a little concerned early because my knee was hurting more than normal on the bike.  Usually biking isn’t a problem, but I still walk with a limp.  Then I had a Reuben sandwich for lunch & the knee got much better!  Can’t say for sure that is a cause & effect situation, but that’s what happened.

We are staying in a YMCA gym tonight & I thought you might be interested in what “my space” looks like when we have these accommodations.

I’m usually not one of the first to arrive & all the early people take the wall locations because it gives a little more privacy.  Not much though because there are about 60 people sleeping in the space between riders & staff.  I usually end up between the free throw line & half court.

One of the jokes of the group is what happens in a facility when 60 people come in to take showers within about a 2 hour time window.  It often means not enough hot water & waiting in line, especially for the men because we outnumber the women about 3 to 1.  When I was at the Naval Museum, I took this picture of the shower rules on a ship which I’ve showed around to other riders a little. Everyone says to not show it to Bubba or he will claim we have deluxe accommodations.

My family is starting to gather in St Augustine for my arrival on Monday.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

WDYLT - ILT  the storms that came through Florida 3 days ago continue to leave a trail of debris along the shoulders of most roads we are riding.  That must have been a big storm.

Day 49 - Tallahassee, FL to Live Oak, FL

77.1 miles today
2,583.1 total trip miles
13.8 mph average
2,158’ climbing
FF - 7
MP - Deacon Steve Przedpelski - I first got to know Steve as he mentored some of my daughters during high school.  We have since worked & prayed together on a variety of projects including Youth Outreach Trips & with the Franciscan Peacemakers ministry.  He truly models what it means to serve God by serving others.  I always look forward to his phone calls when he says “Jim, I have an idea”.

This is the first time I have started out a blog post with a picture & this T-Shirt says it all.  Bubba had these made up special for us & gave each rider one last night.  It will recall strong memories for each of on this journey.  The only problem is that he had it made a few days too early because this morning we had to delay our departure from Tallahassee because of tornado warnings.  Each coaster was given the option of riding or just getting moved forward in a vehicle.  If you decided to ride, the rule was you couldn’t start until 10 AM when the tornado warnings expired & it was expected that you would still be riding in the rain.  Daughter Laurie & I went to breakfast at a nearby Waffle House about 7 AM since she, her husband Keith and grandson Luka were staying at the same hotel we are at.  There was no tornado, but there was a heavy thunderstorm with strong winds.  I decided to ride because I had rain gear.  The bigger challenge was getting 77 miles in before dark.  Bubba set up rules - if you weren’t at the 2nd SAG stop by 2:30 PM, you had to take a vehicle ride in.  You also had to be at the 3rd SAG stop by 4:30 PM.

  

For me, the times weren’t as big a problem as the road conditions.  The storm had created a lot of branch & leaf debris, especially on the shoulder.  The surface was wet so I worried about it being slippery.  I purposely went slower than normal & didn’t take much time at the SAG stops.  The big Waffle House breakfast helped me not get too hungry.  Rain?  No, didn’t have much at all.  I started out with my rain gear on, but I get really warm in that costume, so after about 30 minutes I took it off. When I reached the last SAG stop, I went into the bathroom, got some water & a candy bar.  As I was eating that, the rain came down heavy.  So I got out the rain gear & put it on for the last 20 miles.  Almost as soon as I got back on the road, the rain stopped.  But by the time I reached  our destination, I was soaking wet from sweat.

Tonight one of our riders sent me some pictures she took when I was riding.  I can’t take a picture like this myself, but I thought you might be interested.

That blue tube you see going to my mouth is how I keep hydrated.  I have a big bottle mounted to the front boom of my bike & any time I want a drink, the blue tube goes in my mouth.  Works great for me, but most riders just use a smaller bottle that they remove from a cage to drink. 

We went through Greenville, FL which is the boyhood home of Ray Charles.  Here is a picture of me with his bronze statue in the local park.

I just realized that every picture today has me in it!  That usually isn't easy to do because I have to have someone else take the pictures.

WDYLT - ILT the weather forecast for the rest of our journey is sunshine and warm!  We all look forward to that, and kind of think we deserve it.