Two Brothers Really big 2012 Spring Adventure: Planning Continues and the Plot Thickens

Welcome back.

Or "Greetings" for the first time if you are a newcomer to this blog.

Update and recap (of what some people are calling the Two Big Brothers Demented Adventure):

Bro Mark (See his blog azpedaler.blogspot.com) and I currently spend our days preparing for the Two Brothers Really Big 2012 Spring Adventure (when we are not being respectful and responsible and right-minded individuals working meaningful jobs, contributing to society, and helping care for and feed our families)  -- a bicycle ride from Tucson, Arizona (more precisely, Tubac Presideo) to Los Angeles (more precisely, Mission San Gabriel).

Our twelve day 1, 075 km (670 mi) trek will closely follow the 1775 expedition of Spanish Explorer and Soldier Lieutenant Juan Bautista de Anza, as he led a large group of families, troops, and supplies across the Sonoran and Mohave Deserts. These families would eventually colonize the Missions in California, and shape world history by securing Spain's claim over California. If this expedition had not occurred, a Russian flag might be flying over the Golden State (and that wonderful Mexican food would be very hard to find and instead of Taco Bell, people might be eating at Peroge Bell)!

Look at the red line route on the map above. Our journey transverses the middle section of the red line; the part from the Arizona/Mexican border to Mission San Gabriel.

Much of Lt. Juan Bautista de Anza's journey can be approximately followed by auto. Some of our journey shares that route.

But Bro Mark values (Some might use the words "obsesses with," but not me; I am all for the real deal) authenticity and is tweaking our route to follow as closely as possible the original Expedition route. So our journey will find us even a bit more off the beaten track.

Just this past Friday Bro Mark drove by car down to the Tucson area. He reconnoitered a few sections of his revised and more authentic route, created from (the fountain of all knowledge) google maps. 

He wanted to be ascertain that a few unpaved sections of a few roads would in reality be navigable by our road bicycles (i.e. light weight bikes with very skinny tires that do not like soft dirt or big rocks on the ground. Such conditions creating serious discomfort for both bike and rider).

I haven't heard the official report of the reconnaissance mission, but only an email received the next day from Bro Mark describing the lost of two hub caps and the replacement of four tires. (Should I be worried?)

Another purpose of the excursion was to investigate lodging for the night in the small (very small) town of Hyder, Arizona. A challenge with this route is the scarcity of food, water, and shelter.

(A challenge faced by JB de A and his company as well. He addressed the problem by herding along 358 cattle -- The original "slow food"? -- and sticking near by or following the flow of whatever water sources he could find. They also carried tents and camped. Bro Mark and I address these problems by finding convenience stores, restaurants, and motels. A slightly different level of adventure, for sure. But remember, Lt. de Anza was a professional. We are amateurs and civilians. De Anza was paid to suffer these things. We are on vacation.)

Bro Mark reports, however, a very hopeful connection with a local resident and store owner who just might be able to help us find a place to rest our heads for a night in Hyder. If such arrangements cannot be secured, we will simply have to make that a very long day of pedaling on to the next cluster of civilization. I'm hoping for good news from Hyder.

In the meantime, I am supposed to be "training." And that's what my next blog will be about: How to find or create enough energy and life in my 58 year old body for this Big Adventure. Stay tuned for some great fiction! :-)

(Bro Mark has been doing some very creative training such as hauling around a 10 pound weight in his back pack to experience what that might feel like. Now Bro Mark is a very intelligent guy. He even has a Ph.D. But he might be to embarrassed to write about such craziness in his blog. But let's just watch and see if he does or doesn't.)