The following is my journal entry for March 23. (When I get home from this trip I will post lots of pictures and commentary reflecting this and additional entries to be posted, hopefully over the next few days.)
****************
March 23, 2012. Midnight,
London, Ontario
After a two and a half hour drive I arrived in this city.
Had a nice visit with James. He got a gmail account working on this phone for me.
Got here to airport shuttle bus stop just a few minutes ago.
Tried to nap a bit at James and Michelle's But that was a futile effort. Too excited I suppose.
12:15 am
Boarded Airport bus and headed towards Detroit airport.
2:40am
Cleared USA customs. Was told I should carry a USA passport since I never renounced my citizenship.
Have been able to doze off a few times and that has helped my fatigue a little. But my legs are doing that ache I get when I am too tired.
ALways strange driving across the windsor bridge and through Detroit after having driven these roads dozens of times in a truck.
3:10 am.
Detroit airport
I am the only person on the entire check in level. I can not pass through security where the food courts are because I must check in my bag first. But I can not that until the ticket people show up for work around 3:30am.
Think I'll see if I can play solitaire with out falling asleep.
3:45am.
Lost the solitaire game.
5:25 am
Inside airpot security area.
I have just ate a veggie wrap and a fruit cup. Feeling a little better.
Read several pages of "War and peace. " Kind of challenging after staying up all night.
I am enjoying a cup of tea and biding my time for the next two hours when plane departs.
5:45am.
I am playing new solitaire game on iPhone and having growing suspicions it is patronizing me: I have won four of the last six games.
Having a real hard time staying awake as I wait for boarding of flying machine.
7:19am
I just got seat on plane. Near back. Window seat. Fell asleep about 45 min ago while waiting.
8:15 am.
Cruising at 10,000 plus feet. Classical guitar in my ear. Sunrise chasing us as we speed westward.
Ordered a dr pepper and peanuts for the closest thing to a breakfast meal you will ever get in the friendly no frills skies of Southwest Airlines.
9:55am.
Slept for an hour. Two hours to go to landing.
11:06am.
About 100 miles from Phoenix and descending for landing. Hope Mark and I have a tail wind like this when riding bikes. We are arriving a half hour early.
9:40am. (Local time).
In. car with Mark. Heading to bike shop to pick up his bike.
Noon.
Bike fixed. Heading to Tubac. 2.75 hrs away. .
Lunch at In And Out Buurger in Casa Grande.
2:30pm
Arrived at Floating Stone Inn at Tubac Presidio. Toured the presidio and museum. Excellent experience.
5:30pm
Attended wine and cheese reception send off hosted by Linda, owner of the Floating Stone Inn and Spa.
About 50 atteneded. Lots of interest. These folks really "get" the significance of de Anza and our trek to highlight his accomplishment.
This is a welcoming and fascinating community. Every day they see the places de Anza walked. Several of the homes and buildings hark back to his days. The warmth and encouragement we received from these fine people was inspiring.
If you ever have opportunity to spend a few hours or a few days in this unique town, do so. You will be glad you did.
7 pm
Dinner at Elvira's Resturant.
8:30pm
Packed bike stuff.
Setting alarms for 7:30.
10:40 pm
Lights out
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Day four of big ride begins
Greetings from Gila Bend Arizona. Completed Day 4 of the big adventure riding on the shoulder of Interstate 8 for an hour after dark. Talk about thrills. Especially with no headlights (We did have very bright flashing red lights on our rears :-)
We were delayed 3 hours by equipment problems yesterday: a spoke broke on Mark's bike and threw his wheel out of round. Had to take a taxi to a bike repair shop many miles away. Thus we got a late start on the 138 km (82.4 miles) we needed to cover.
We, or should I say I, had substantial left knee problems yesterday. Pedaled the last few hours into Gila Bend with right leg doing all the work. I have iced it extensively since last night and I am doing so at this very moment. We'll see how it behaves today when we leave here in an hour.
Our destination today is Hyder, Arizona, 47 miles (75.3 km) west of here. And we will also be stopping at Agua clientele, where de Anza camped.
Will update more tonight, I hope.
We were delayed 3 hours by equipment problems yesterday: a spoke broke on Mark's bike and threw his wheel out of round. Had to take a taxi to a bike repair shop many miles away. Thus we got a late start on the 138 km (82.4 miles) we needed to cover.
We, or should I say I, had substantial left knee problems yesterday. Pedaled the last few hours into Gila Bend with right leg doing all the work. I have iced it extensively since last night and I am doing so at this very moment. We'll see how it behaves today when we leave here in an hour.
Our destination today is Hyder, Arizona, 47 miles (75.3 km) west of here. And we will also be stopping at Agua clientele, where de Anza camped.
Will update more tonight, I hope.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Some pictures of Day 1
The white structure is Mission San Xavier located south of Tucson. When de Anza and his expedition departed from here in 1775, he was leaving the final outpost of New Spain's north American empire in Arizona. In fact, he would not encounter a Spaniard until he reached Mission San Gabriel in what is now Los Angeles .
The exhausted looking guy is Bro Mark before reviving in the swimming pool.
The exhausted looking guy is Bro Mark before reviving in the swimming pool.
Day 1 of Our Big Adventure Successful
We did it!
Day one of eleven completed.
Mounted our bikes at 9:05 am in Tubac, Arizona and arrived in Marana/Tucson at 4:40 pm.
We spent about 6 hours in the bike seats (Minus 30 minutes for me; more on why In a minute). Total trip time of seven hours and thirty minutes.
Beautiful desert scenery.
Had a bit of complication just five km from our motel. I got a flat tire but Mark was a long way ahead of me and had the repair kit.
So I got to enjoy a 30 minute walk in the 40 C sunshine. But Mark eventually missed me and back tracked with needed tools.
Cooled off nicely in the motel pool.
We pedaled 105 km (66 miles). Our average speed was 17.6 km/hr (12 miles/hr.)
I consumed 8 liters of Gatoraide/water and two huge American sized Dr Peppers.
We are celebrating by going to bed early :-)
Hope to be on the road by 7:30 am in hopes of missing the peak heat of the day.
Tomorrow will be a bit shorter than today. I think my body will appreciate that.
If we have Internet tomorrow, I will share the day's adventure with you.
In 1775, it took Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza along with his 40 soldiers, 240 settlers, and 1,000 head of livestock over 4 or 5 days to cover the distance we pedaled just today.
Day one of eleven completed.
Mounted our bikes at 9:05 am in Tubac, Arizona and arrived in Marana/Tucson at 4:40 pm.
We spent about 6 hours in the bike seats (Minus 30 minutes for me; more on why In a minute). Total trip time of seven hours and thirty minutes.
Beautiful desert scenery.
Had a bit of complication just five km from our motel. I got a flat tire but Mark was a long way ahead of me and had the repair kit.
So I got to enjoy a 30 minute walk in the 40 C sunshine. But Mark eventually missed me and back tracked with needed tools.
Cooled off nicely in the motel pool.
We pedaled 105 km (66 miles). Our average speed was 17.6 km/hr (12 miles/hr.)
I consumed 8 liters of Gatoraide/water and two huge American sized Dr Peppers.
We are celebrating by going to bed early :-)
Hope to be on the road by 7:30 am in hopes of missing the peak heat of the day.
Tomorrow will be a bit shorter than today. I think my body will appreciate that.
If we have Internet tomorrow, I will share the day's adventure with you.
In 1775, it took Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza along with his 40 soldiers, 240 settlers, and 1,000 head of livestock over 4 or 5 days to cover the distance we pedaled just today.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The journey is really about to begin
The adventure is really about to begin. Within the hour I will start my 12 hour journey to the Detroit airport.
After my 4.5 hour flight I will arrive in Phoenix Arizona about 9 am local time. I sure hope I can get a little bit of sleep on the airport shuttle bus and the plane between midnight and touchdown tomorrow morning.
Bro Mark and I will spend part of the day Friday packing our equipment on the bikes. And we will appear at the wine and cheese send off being held for at the Floating Stone Inn and Spa in the evening.
My plan is to send daily reports of the adventure your way by means of our Facebook page and my blog, as Internet access is available.
I am on my way. Looking forward to sharing the adventure with you. Stay tuned......
After my 4.5 hour flight I will arrive in Phoenix Arizona about 9 am local time. I sure hope I can get a little bit of sleep on the airport shuttle bus and the plane between midnight and touchdown tomorrow morning.
Bro Mark and I will spend part of the day Friday packing our equipment on the bikes. And we will appear at the wine and cheese send off being held for at the Floating Stone Inn and Spa in the evening.
My plan is to send daily reports of the adventure your way by means of our Facebook page and my blog, as Internet access is available.
I am on my way. Looking forward to sharing the adventure with you. Stay tuned......
Monday, March 12, 2012
Bro Mark's "Brother Bikers Quiz"
Bro Mark offered this quiz to the esteemed readers of our Facebook Page.
http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyBrothersCyclingAdventures.
Those of you not on Facebook should not be deprived of such high culture. So here it is:
(Mark says) THIS IS A QUIZ!!!
In the true-to-life photo below, which cyclist is Kent and which one is Mark?
HINTS:
1. The guy on the left is taller.
2. The guy on the right is riding faster.
3. The guy on the left is holding on for dear life.
4. The guy on the right is "peacing out."
5. The guy on the left is carrying a backpack full of heavy stuff.
6. The guy on the right is riding a much cooler bike.
7. The guy on the left is literally made of REAL (metal) NUTS!
8. The guy on the right is just way too cool.
Got the answer yet? (It's really a no-brainer! LOL)
Now it's time for KENT'S QUIZ QUESTION:
Just exactly why would Kent want to spend 12 days in almost complete isolation with Bro Mark? :-)
Answer: Only Kent's therapist knows for sure! (Maybe)
http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyBrothersCyclingAdventures.
Those of you not on Facebook should not be deprived of such high culture. So here it is:
(Mark says) THIS IS A QUIZ!!!
In the true-to-life photo below, which cyclist is Kent and which one is Mark?
HINTS:
1. The guy on the left is taller.
2. The guy on the right is riding faster.
3. The guy on the left is holding on for dear life.
4. The guy on the right is "peacing out."
5. The guy on the left is carrying a backpack full of heavy stuff.
6. The guy on the right is riding a much cooler bike.
7. The guy on the left is literally made of REAL (metal) NUTS!
8. The guy on the right is just way too cool.
Got the answer yet? (It's really a no-brainer! LOL)
Now it's time for KENT'S QUIZ QUESTION:
Just exactly why would Kent want to spend 12 days in almost complete isolation with Bro Mark? :-)
Answer: Only Kent's therapist knows for sure! (Maybe)
A Snap Shot of Where We Are Going On the Big Ride
Bro Mark, demonstrating his superb "copy and paste" skills on our Facebook Page, provides us with a snap shot of the road before us:
(Please forgive my slightly skewed columns. I have yet to figure out how to line things up on these pages.)
DATE START FINISH MILES KM
Saturday 24-March Tubac, Arizona (AZ) North Tucson, AZ 64.6 103.5
Sunday 25-March North Tucson, AZ Coolidge, AZ 56.3 90.2
Monday 26-March Coolidge, AZ Gila Bend, AZ 77.2 123.7
Tuesday 27-March Gila Bend, AZ Hyder, AZ 48.3 77.4
Wed 28-March Hyder, AZ Tacna, AZ 47.5 76.1
Thursday 29-March Tacna, AZ Yuma, AZ 51.0 81.7
Friday 30-March Yuma, AZ Ocotillo, California (CA) 89.8 143.9
Saturday 31-March Ocotilla, CA Lake Henshaw, CA 72.2 115.7
Sunday 1-April Lake Henshaw, CA San Jacinto, CA 71.7 114.9
Monday 2-April San Jacinto, CA Riverside, CA 49.6 79.5
Tuesday 3-April Riverside, CA San Gabriel, CA 43.8 70.2
TOTALS: 672.6 1076.6
(Please forgive my slightly skewed columns. I have yet to figure out how to line things up on these pages.)
DATE START FINISH MILES KM
Saturday 24-March Tubac, Arizona (AZ) North Tucson, AZ 64.6 103.5
Sunday 25-March North Tucson, AZ Coolidge, AZ 56.3 90.2
Monday 26-March Coolidge, AZ Gila Bend, AZ 77.2 123.7
Tuesday 27-March Gila Bend, AZ Hyder, AZ 48.3 77.4
Wed 28-March Hyder, AZ Tacna, AZ 47.5 76.1
Thursday 29-March Tacna, AZ Yuma, AZ 51.0 81.7
Friday 30-March Yuma, AZ Ocotillo, California (CA) 89.8 143.9
Saturday 31-March Ocotilla, CA Lake Henshaw, CA 72.2 115.7
Sunday 1-April Lake Henshaw, CA San Jacinto, CA 71.7 114.9
Monday 2-April San Jacinto, CA Riverside, CA 49.6 79.5
Tuesday 3-April Riverside, CA San Gabriel, CA 43.8 70.2
TOTALS: 672.6 1076.6
Realizing Just How Big the Adventure Is
Seeing that I live in a country (Canada) where we all enjoy socialistic universal medical care (No one gets left out, or left behind, at least medically speaking), and Bro Mark and I will be traveling in the US of A, I need to get major medical insurance for the Big Ride.
So I went to my local CAA (Canadian version of US of A's AAA. That's different from just "AA") and purchased said insurance. I feel better now. Security is a wonderful thing.
While at the CAA office I picked up a nice map of Arizona and a nice map of California. But I will not be taking these maps with me.
Rather, these are for marking out our entire route with a purple highlighter so that my wife and daughters can, from the comfort of our home, track Bro Mark's and my daily progress and they can vicariously enjoy our adventure (or not. These ladies might be too busy having fun with me not around!).
These maps will be (with approval from the powers that be) taped on our kitchen wall. (If they were really important documents, they would go on the refrigerator, but it the door is not big enough anyway.)
Kind of like a "war map" posted at Command Headquarters. (Perhaps watching "Patton" and "Enemy at the Gate" recently while riding on my trainer bike machine has impacted me more than I think, eh?)
The exercise of marking out where we will be traveling, and how long we will be traveling each day, and where we will (hopefully) end up at the end of each day was both sobering and exciting.
We have bit off a big adventure. But isn't that what life is all about?
I was going to "copy" the route, which lists daily point to point destinations and distances. and put it in this posting. But I couldn't get my computer to "copy." (Sigh. Not enough to be just a communicator these days; you have to be technological wizard, too.)
Perhaps my daughter, Marian, who knows almost everything about everything when it comes to navigating life on a personal computer or mobile device, will help me do that for a next entry on this blog.
(Maybe I should ask Bro Mark if it is ok to post our route. Maybe he wants to keep it a secret. I don't really see the purpose in that. Looking at the route, I don't think we will know where we are most of the time. So I doubt if you could find us either. Why are you laughing? Think I'm joking? Wait and see. Does Major Medical Insurance cover almost starving to death in the desert, I wonder?)
As I folded my maps up and started to get back to my real job that pays the bills, a quote from one of my favorite movies, "Mr. Magorium's Magical Emporium," came to mind:
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it."
(I love that!)
May that be our experience today no matter where we are or what we are doing!
So I went to my local CAA (Canadian version of US of A's AAA. That's different from just "AA") and purchased said insurance. I feel better now. Security is a wonderful thing.
While at the CAA office I picked up a nice map of Arizona and a nice map of California. But I will not be taking these maps with me.
Rather, these are for marking out our entire route with a purple highlighter so that my wife and daughters can, from the comfort of our home, track Bro Mark's and my daily progress and they can vicariously enjoy our adventure (or not. These ladies might be too busy having fun with me not around!).
These maps will be (with approval from the powers that be) taped on our kitchen wall. (If they were really important documents, they would go on the refrigerator, but it the door is not big enough anyway.)
Kind of like a "war map" posted at Command Headquarters. (Perhaps watching "Patton" and "Enemy at the Gate" recently while riding on my trainer bike machine has impacted me more than I think, eh?)
The exercise of marking out where we will be traveling, and how long we will be traveling each day, and where we will (hopefully) end up at the end of each day was both sobering and exciting.
We have bit off a big adventure. But isn't that what life is all about?
I was going to "copy" the route, which lists daily point to point destinations and distances. and put it in this posting. But I couldn't get my computer to "copy." (Sigh. Not enough to be just a communicator these days; you have to be technological wizard, too.)
Perhaps my daughter, Marian, who knows almost everything about everything when it comes to navigating life on a personal computer or mobile device, will help me do that for a next entry on this blog.
(Maybe I should ask Bro Mark if it is ok to post our route. Maybe he wants to keep it a secret. I don't really see the purpose in that. Looking at the route, I don't think we will know where we are most of the time. So I doubt if you could find us either. Why are you laughing? Think I'm joking? Wait and see. Does Major Medical Insurance cover almost starving to death in the desert, I wonder?)
As I folded my maps up and started to get back to my real job that pays the bills, a quote from one of my favorite movies, "Mr. Magorium's Magical Emporium," came to mind:
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it."
(I love that!)
May that be our experience today no matter where we are or what we are doing!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Be A Part of the Big Adventure Almost Every Day - Like Our New Facebook Page
When is enough of this Biking Mania enough? Who knows? Depends on what you like. If you like this crazy cycling world, then you might like to Like our new Facebook Page. (My Techie Daughter tells me that I have used the proper terminology :-)
Bro Mark and I invite you to Like our "Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures" page.
We will probably post updates, pictures, etc. almost daily.
And we would be delighted for you to share your thoughts and adventures, too. Join the adventure. Be a part of the Team.
http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyBrothersCyclingAdventures
Bro Mark and I invite you to Like our "Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures" page.
We will probably post updates, pictures, etc. almost daily.
And we would be delighted for you to share your thoughts and adventures, too. Join the adventure. Be a part of the Team.
http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyBrothersCyclingAdventures
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