Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The secret to a smooth face (June 28)
June 28. Made a major discovery today. My face has been getting all chapped from the sun, the wind, the rain and the DEET in the mosquito repellent. I have some cream called "butt butter" that helps with the sore rear end caused by sitting on that little bicycle seat all day. I put some on my face and now it is soft and smooth and pretty!
From June 27
June 27 I was lighting the cook stove. As I got started I noticed a bunch of mosquitoes gathered around the burner. I quick lit it and fried the little demons. Gave me great joy!
We saw a momma bear with three cubs today eating away next to the road. Cliff whistled and they all stood to attention as I took their picture. Really cute.
Roads are mostly gravel and oil with lots of big gravel. Causes lots of vibration which coming up through the handle bars causes lots of hand fatigue and neck pain. My mirror is on my helmet and usually it is shaking so much it is useless to see anything behind me.
I must be getting stronger. When we started I would see a big hill coming and I would say, "oh cow poopie" and then my heart would start racing and fear and trembling would fill me. Now when I see a big hill coming I say "I think I can do this one without getting under 6 mph" and if I went down to 5 mph I would say "oh cow poopie," or something like that.
We saw a momma bear with three cubs today eating away next to the road. Cliff whistled and they all stood to attention as I took their picture. Really cute.
Roads are mostly gravel and oil with lots of big gravel. Causes lots of vibration which coming up through the handle bars causes lots of hand fatigue and neck pain. My mirror is on my helmet and usually it is shaking so much it is useless to see anything behind me.
I must be getting stronger. When we started I would see a big hill coming and I would say, "oh cow poopie" and then my heart would start racing and fear and trembling would fill me. Now when I see a big hill coming I say "I think I can do this one without getting under 6 mph" and if I went down to 5 mph I would say "oh cow poopie," or something like that.
And Another... [Major mosquito problem]
June 26 Climbed two monster hills today as we went over two passes. The first took over 2 hours pedaling in low gear at 4 mph and the second one almost as long. I had sweat running off my chin and I was panting like a steam locomotive. The scenery was breathtaking. It was as though we we were riding through a tunnel of snow covered mountains.
I had a major mosquito problem today. Usually we are riding fast enough they can't keep up with us but today going for so long a time at 4 mph the mosquitoes were swarming around us. As most of you know when you are riding a bike your butt is up in the air a bit, and when you are straining up a hill it is really up there. Because I was straining so hard on the pedals my shorts were pulled pretty tight over my rear end. The mosquitoes bit me through my shorts a bunch. It is hard to swat or scratch your rear end while you are pedaling hard. One time I was weaving around so much as I tried to scratch that a truck honked at me as he came up behind me. Probably afraid I was going to swerve out in front of him.
I had a major mosquito problem today. Usually we are riding fast enough they can't keep up with us but today going for so long a time at 4 mph the mosquitoes were swarming around us. As most of you know when you are riding a bike your butt is up in the air a bit, and when you are straining up a hill it is really up there. Because I was straining so hard on the pedals my shorts were pulled pretty tight over my rear end. The mosquitoes bit me through my shorts a bunch. It is hard to swat or scratch your rear end while you are pedaling hard. One time I was weaving around so much as I tried to scratch that a truck honked at me as he came up behind me. Probably afraid I was going to swerve out in front of him.
Another delayed entry...
June 25 we camped 4 miles from Haines Junction tonight. Drove in and bought ice cream cones to carbo load for tomorrow. We will be going over the two highest passes between Whitehorse and Fairbanks both around 3300 ft. We will start at 1200 feet and climb to 3300 in less than 25 miles, go back down to 1500 feet, then back to 3300 ft again, and then down to Kluane Lake.
I fell again today. Cliff saw a piece of rope as we were grinding up this hill and stopped to get it. In the process of trying to get started on the steep hill I was going too slow and just tipped over. I usually tuck in my arm when I fall but this time I came down on my elbow. Hurt like the dickens but I just rubbed dirt on it. What really hurt was when I got up there was a pick up across the road with an old couple in it really laughing at me. I am glad I could make their day. Even my own brother was laughing at me.
We are supposed to see lots of grizzlies tomorrow. Maybe I will get some good pictures. Maybe of one chasing Cliff, that would be cool.
Filling up my water bottles this morning and I discovered they were filled with mold. Probably from the sugar in the gatorade mix I am using. Scraped out most with a stick and used some of my mouth wash to sanitize it. That should work!
I fell again today. Cliff saw a piece of rope as we were grinding up this hill and stopped to get it. In the process of trying to get started on the steep hill I was going too slow and just tipped over. I usually tuck in my arm when I fall but this time I came down on my elbow. Hurt like the dickens but I just rubbed dirt on it. What really hurt was when I got up there was a pick up across the road with an old couple in it really laughing at me. I am glad I could make their day. Even my own brother was laughing at me.
We are supposed to see lots of grizzlies tomorrow. Maybe I will get some good pictures. Maybe of one chasing Cliff, that would be cool.
Filling up my water bottles this morning and I discovered they were filled with mold. Probably from the sugar in the gatorade mix I am using. Scraped out most with a stick and used some of my mouth wash to sanitize it. That should work!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
We made it!!
July 3. We are at Shelly's! Bicycle trip officially over!
*We pedaled 24 days. Rain 18 of those days. Rode our bicycles 1228 miles for a daily average of 51 miles.
* I lost 21 lbs. My goal was 25- so close.
*We saw 18 bears, most very close, but none tried to eat us. Saw lots of buffalo. 6 moose. Many deer. A wolf, a lynx, half a dozen elk, a dozen stone sheep, eagles, owls, hawks, beavers.
*I wrote many pages of ideas, dreams, musings, inspirations, experiences, thoughts etc.
*My physical conditioning is 1000 times greater than it was at the start of the trip!
*I had a wonderful time riding with my brother Cliff.
*The scenery on the trip was amazing. Wonderful, wonderful!
* Bicycle worked very well with no mechanical problems except for 5 flat tires due to the very bad road conditions in many places.
*Met lots of very interesting and nice people on the trip who were riding bikes as well.
I intend to continue to ride my bike and to go on some more long distance trips in the future though I will try to find some routes that have way less hills!
*We pedaled 24 days. Rain 18 of those days. Rode our bicycles 1228 miles for a daily average of 51 miles.
* I lost 21 lbs. My goal was 25- so close.
*We saw 18 bears, most very close, but none tried to eat us. Saw lots of buffalo. 6 moose. Many deer. A wolf, a lynx, half a dozen elk, a dozen stone sheep, eagles, owls, hawks, beavers.
*I wrote many pages of ideas, dreams, musings, inspirations, experiences, thoughts etc.
*My physical conditioning is 1000 times greater than it was at the start of the trip!
*I had a wonderful time riding with my brother Cliff.
*The scenery on the trip was amazing. Wonderful, wonderful!
* Bicycle worked very well with no mechanical problems except for 5 flat tires due to the very bad road conditions in many places.
*Met lots of very interesting and nice people on the trip who were riding bikes as well.
I intend to continue to ride my bike and to go on some more long distance trips in the future though I will try to find some routes that have way less hills!
Belated entry due to in and out cell service
June 24 pedaled 45 miles today. 11 mph average speed for the day. Our fastest average for a day so far. That means there were less hills or we are getting stronger. Probably a combination. We peddled through the Tahini Valley today surrounded by snow covered mountains. Spectacular scenery! We didn't see much wildlife today. It was warm today so Cliff was riding with his shirt off and I think the glare scared off all the animals! I was checking myself out in the mirror in the shower room where we are camped at Otter Crossing to see if I could see any evidence of weight loss. My chest has gotten smaller! I thought it was muscle- I didn't want to lose my chest fat, I wanted to lose my belly fat! Tonight in our camp a bazillion big black spruce beetles invaded our camp. We all headed for our tents for protection. I can hear them right now flying into my tent. Thump, thump, thump. I is like the Egyptian plaque. I hope this doesn't go on all night!
Almost there...
July 1 We pedaled 90 miles today with at least a 10 mile per hour head wind most of the day. I hate headwinds worse than a million mosquitoes! Worse than 4 inches of rain a day! Worse than 4 mile long 7 percent hills! I am not grumbling am I??
We are camped at Delta Junction and have 100 miles left until we are done. We will do it in 2 days. Saw a big moose today as well as lots of bicycle riders from all over the world. The Alaskan Highway is considered by purist type bicycle riders all over the world the premier trip, but only for the really in shape, tough bicycle people. :) Raining again tonight. It has rained at least part of 18 of the days we have biked! No flats today, yeah, though I hate head winds worse than flats!
We are camped at Delta Junction and have 100 miles left until we are done. We will do it in 2 days. Saw a big moose today as well as lots of bicycle riders from all over the world. The Alaskan Highway is considered by purist type bicycle riders all over the world the premier trip, but only for the really in shape, tough bicycle people. :) Raining again tonight. It has rained at least part of 18 of the days we have biked! No flats today, yeah, though I hate head winds worse than flats!
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