Camps

So I am about a third of the way across already :) passing my 1000 mile mark yesterday along the Hennepin Canal east of Moline, IL. I slowed down a bit in Illinois enjoying time with friends and family along the way but still managed to get some nice rides in. Its interesting because I love stopping and enjoying the company of so many great people along the way, but at the same time being out on the road feeling the wind on my face with the sun on my shoulders not knowing what I will get to see around the next hill is such a euphoric feeling that it is very addictive and hard to let go. Its definitely going to be difficult returning to the real world once my wanderings are done!

Took an extra day here in Moline to let some storms blow past. Rain and lightning I can handle but hail might make things a little too interesting out there on the bike. The Whiteside's were kind enough to bait me with what was easily the best (and largest) Reuben I have ever had and tour some of the John Deere museums and facilities here as well. Since I had some time I took the bike to Bike and Hike here in Moline, where Steve the owner got a good chuckle out of my rack but did a great job fixing the rear derailleur and truing the tires. While he was working on my bike that I had just wandered in with a guy walked in and asked when he could bring his bike in to get the wheels trued. With a glance to the calendar Steve told him he wouldn't have time for 3 days, but never questioned or faltered in helping me out. He also hooked me up with some more inter tubes, chain lube and a better mirror then just laughed when I tried to pay. A great guy and also gave me a contact in Australia to drink with as well. Once again I was amazed at how wonderful people are.

By now I have a pretty good idea of what I can do, I have climbed some mountains, hiked some mountains, rode farther than I thought possible, overcome equipment failures and mental blocks. It has been a lot tougher than I had thought it would be, but at the same point it has been so much more fun and all around amazing too. This is already one of the greatest experiences of my life hands down and I am so glad I am doing it. But its more than just pushing the pedal all day, its keeping enough fluids and calories in my body, cleaning and fixing the equipment to keep it working right, and finding a place to sleep at night. So far in the trip I have stayed with friends, strangers, legit campgrounds and shadow camps. Friends and strangers have been great, wonderful conversations along with a warm shower and delicious food. Legit campgrounds have been ok, some nice most kinda dumpy but they have been places that are a fixed destination where I knew it was ok to sleep.

Shadow camps have been by far the most rewarding camps though, and the best one being along the Juanita River by Alexandria, PA with Eddie. It was miles from any road, completely quiet except for the river and raccoons. Pretty much a small piece of heaven. The next one was along a bike path on the Ohio/PA border which was nice and relaxing even with the busy train tracks right behind me. 

The overall greatest though was west of Huntington, IN.  As I was leaving Huntington I had the choice to bike 13 miles to a legit campground, or continue down the road where somewhere within the next 2 hours and sunset I would have to find a safe place to pitch the tent.  With a moments hesitation I went straight west out of town with hope that within the next 20 miles I would either find a friendly farmer or a quiet, out of sight spot to pitch my tent.  It was the first time this trip I had no idea where I would be sleeping and was truly pedaling blind.  Long story short after knocking on a few doors and asking some people to no avail I found a nice locked pasture that was for sale by a bank that gave me a place away from the road to pitch a tent where people would be hard pressed to find me or bother me.  It was one of the mentally toughest parts of the trip but very glad I did it.  I haven't paid for a campsite since :)

 

Roots

As I type this I am sitting one mile from the farmhouse where my Grandpa was born and about 3 miles from where he is buried next to my Grandma.  The town, land, and people here are legends from my childhood when my family would gather and get telling stories about their younger days.  The old oak tree still stands by the El Paso School under which the town cop used to sit and wait for zealous kids to speed out of school until one school day when my grandpa snuck up behind him, wrapped a log chain around the tree and the rear axel leaving plenty of slack, then went flying by the cop in his car.  Never did hear if he ended up getting caught.

El Paso is a tiny town of 2000 people north of Bloomington, IL.  Even though it is so small, barely a mile wide, it shaped the lives of some the people I love most in my life, so in a way shaped me.  The land flourished under the hand and sweat of my grandfather and was the home where he was born, raised, and raised his children.  His final resting spot is shaded by an elm tree and cooled by a breeze coming off a nearby lake.  The house that my grandma made a home still stands on the family farm.  She used to keep a shotgun behind the stove to scare stray dogs off and keep them from chasing the livestock.  One day she saw a dog heading towards the cattle pen, went to fetch her shotgun and didn’t see the Mormons pull in.  About the time the Mormon boys rang the doorbell she threw open the door, pulled up the shotgun and yelled, “Get out of here, you S.O.B.”….  Poor boys ran back to the car and never did come back.  Grandma Stumpy got laughing so hard she forgot about the dog.  She was one hell of a lady, and not your stereotypical grandma.  My inheritance when she passed was a rifle, shotgun, 2 bottles of whiskey and a pair of snowshoes. 

Even though this was their home and where their family and roots were, my Grandparents still moved after my mom graduated high school.  In their 50^th year of life, when most people today are starting retirement plans, my grandparents sold the family farm and bought a cattle ranch out west.  One hell of an endeavor to move away from everything you know and love to start a dream, and at that age too.  Just goes to show it is never to late to do what you want.  My grandparents were married for over 50 years before my grandpa passed.  My grandma loved him for 12 more years before her heart finally gave out.  At 84 she had survived breast cancer, multiple heart attacks, a stroke, had her gall bladder removed and both knees replaced and she still was sharp as could be and drank whiskey with me until the week she died.  Like I said she was one hell of a woman.

As I sit next to their grave I wonder what they would think of this adventure I got myself into.  While the bicycling would be hard to explain, I know they would love to hear about the things I see and the people I meet.  God knows they understand what it means to work hard, stand on your own two feet, and push yourself farther than you have ever gone. 

Ended up having the longest day of the trip so far yesterday, but after almost 12 hours of biking and 140 miles in the hot Illinois June I finally made it here.  The highlight of the day was meeting Roger, an old farmer and widower who had some cool spring water and delicious cherries fresh off his trees which was a well received reprieve around mile 100.  But the long day was well worth arriving at the place where my grandparents used to call home. 

 

Freedom

So I am now 600 miles in to my journey and still loving it.  I have met so many great people along the way at each and every stop.  I had an absolutely wonderful time in Shiloh, OH with the Huttleston's.  Sitting around the table at their diner Sunday morn talking with them and just being adopted into their family at no notice what so ever was an amazing experience and I thought to myself that this is one thing that I was hoping to find.  Little did I expect to find it so soon!  I continued on through Ohio traveling only back roads where a car would pass me every 10 miles or so through the rolling hills into the flat farm land enjoying the peace and occasional ripe raspberry till I came to Van Wert, OH.  I rolled into town today with no water and very hot and in much need of some rest.  Sadly the bike shop was closed so I couldnt get my squeaky crank fixed but I ended up spending some time at the Ice Cream Shop on Main.  While it was the free wifi and AC that enticed me in I once again found myself surrounded by wonderful folks and consider myself truly lucky for getting to know them even for the brief time.


Not to take away from the wonderful people I am meeting as I travel, but really because of them and my friends I want to change directions a bit here.  When I was getting ready for this adventure and a occasionally during people would lament that they dont have the time or means to do something like what I am doing.  People always talk about this or that that is holding them back ect.  and say that they wish that they could just take off and go like I have.  Lack of freedom they seem to say.  Janis Joplin sang that freedom is just another way of saying that there is nothing left to loose and while once I might have agreed I have come to understand that is truly not the truth.  Simply put freedom is knowing that the things that matter most in your life are things that can not be lost.  A mothers prayers, a fathers love, a friends support, a wonderful woman's encouragement.  These are the things that free you to be who you are, not quitting a job and not knowing where your going to sleep at night.  Anyone can be homeless and unemployed, but to know freedom in your heart and mind you need to know what you value most and keep that with you.

Thank you everyone who has supported me, it is because of your love and support I am free to chase my dreams :)

grr

In to the flats!

I am finally out of the hills! I never would have thought I would be happy to be in Ohio but the first road I came to that went straight and flat was one of the most wonderful things I have seen in days.  I give myself a week before I am bored with it :)

I had a hell of a time getting out of PA.  Wet trails, head winds, crappy roads and a blown tire pump all slowed me down and I ended up coasting the last 10 miles into New Castle, PA with 60lbs of pressure in my rear tire and no pump.  I ended up blowing that tube 1 mile from the bike shop and had to push the bike up the last hill.  Huge thanks to John at Bicycles and More for not only staying open late and waiting for me but for all the help on the bike and tubes.  I wouldn't have made it out of PA that night with out him!  I camped out that night on the PA/OH border in between a bike path and railroad tracks.  Freeze dried Kung Pow Chicken and 16yr old Scotch made a great supper and the trains didnt even bother me that much. 

The next day I mailed some things home, trying to keep more weight off that rear tire.  I mailed 6 lbs of equipment home and also lost 8 lbs in the prior week despite the 5000 calorie diet I am on.  So far so good with no flats yet!  Since I came into OH a little farther north than planned I got a hold of Wendy, the older sister of a great friend who lives in the Akron area.  I had an absolutely wonderful time with Wendy, Jeff and their daughter Jocelynn.  Between the delicious ribs, cold beer and great laughs it was a wonderful end to the day and I was sad to leave so soon.  Thanks again Wendy! 

And so I continue on alone across the midwest.  I hope to end up somewhere near Mansfield, OH tonight which should put me into Indiana in 2 more days!

One week, One State, and One Mountain Range

The first leg of the journey comes to an end.  Last night Eddie and I finished our travels together at his family's place in Lower Burrell, PA.  The last two days were even more challenging than the previous with bigger mountains and more of them.  We did spend some very enjoyable hours on several "Rails to Trails" biking paths, the most notable being the Ghost Town Trail ( http://www.railstotrails.us/pa_ghost_town_trail.htm )  which are limestone dust paths (ok for road bikes) on the paths of old railroads.  This means nothing greater than a 1% grade which is a GREAT thing when packing lots of gear.  Except when a old tunnel collapses and the trail goes straight up a mountain.  But hey, we made it.

I will note that Woodland Campground by Ebensburg, PA is a dump.  Our fire ring was full of beer cans, we didn't even have a picnic table, the showers only work for quarters (thank you chunky akward girl that Eddie scared)  and some of the campers still had their Christmas lights up (yes, permanent residence at a campground.  UPS even delivers there...)   Now I come from the country, and I am the first to tell you that there are great people out in rural areas.  But there is a huge difference between being from the country and being a redneck.  I told Eddie I wouldnt shower with my mowhawk exposed unless he was there to protect me.  that bad..    But we survived the cold night with banjo's serenading us and some awkward complements on our smiles.

I spent the last day at Eddie's parents place who were kind enough to help me with some repairs on the bike and rack and wash the road sweat off.  I took the bike into Gatto Bike Shop (www.gattocycle.com ) and had to wait at their little diner while they opened and the kind folks in there loved hearing my story and wouldn't let me pay for my breakfast.  While the bike shop didnt repair my bike quite the way it should have been the food and meeting the nice folks at the diner was well worth biking the 10 miles of hills back to Lower Burrell.

So things I have learned this first week.  Whiskey and Gatorade is better than you imagine.  There are a lot more good people than nasty.  There is such a thing as a free lunch (and breakfast, beer, and shots)  Bikes are a lot more complicated than you think and kicking them does not make things better.  Bike shops are like people, some are good some just waste your time.  Mountains can be climbed even with a strong headwind.  And just because you hurt doesnt mean you cant continue on and have a great time.

Below is a link to some pics from the week.  Take care everyone!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grrwilson/sets/72157624241169022/

Day 5

Stealing a bit more of the internet here to keep everyone up to date :)

Had a great day yesterday.  Pounded out 20 miles in an hour through the morn with a nice tail wind and passed through Mount Union, PA where we grabbed a free spagetti lunch at a lions club while a thunderstorm blew through.  The nice people there were kind enough to give us directions to a nice little bike trail that would cut a few mountians off our route and keep us off the highway. 

After lunch we found that the wind had switched to our faces and traffic was roaring down Rt 22.  With winter debri, fallen limestone, and hardly any shoulder at all with Semitrucks blaring right beside us it took 4.5 hours, 5 intertubes (Eddie had 6 flats I had 1) and all our patches to get the next 10 miles behind us.  Eddie bounced the last 2 miles into Huntingdon, PA with a knot tied around a hole in his intertube (handy little trick if you run out of options!)  If you bike across PA stay off 22, it blows (tires)

We got to town to find out that the bike shop closed 15 min. prior, and as we were sitting there scratching our heads a little punkrocker kid skateboarded up and complemented our bikes.  I asked him if he knew who owned the bike shop and sure enough he did.  5 min later two of the coolest guys between Philly and Pittsburgh walk down the side walk beer in hand.  Paul and Tony of Rothrock Outfitters not only opened up their store and sold us all their 700cc tubes, but gave us some free puncture gunk and bought us a beer to boot.  Great guys with a great store.

After Huntingdon we jumped on that nice little trail and made camp next to a old bridge piling next to the Juanita River.  The evening consisted of delicious spaghetti and whiskey sour (lemon-lime Gatorade makes a decent one..) while listening to the river run.   One of the best campsites i have ever had in my life and I hope to find many more!

 And with that I have a mountian to climb :D

Alive after 3 days!

quick post here, sorry i cant report more but the first 3 days have been great :D

My ass hurts, my legs hurt, my hands hurt, and my head hurts but I rarely have had this much fun!  Biked past a midget chariot (pulled by a Shetland pony none the less..) biked through a massive thunderstorm for the last mile of the day and got a free shower during, listened to WW2 stories and fixed my racks at a farm near Dillsburg, PA.  Had a couple shots and free beers and got slightly tattered with some locals at a bar my best friend used to bar tend at in college in Shippensburg PA and waiting for a storm to pass before i head to camp before crossing the Appalachians tomorrow :D

When i get some more time i will post some pics of the thunderstorm (missed the pony chariot, sorry)

Huge thanks to Marc for riding support the first 3 days and diverting us around most (but not ALL) the big hills.  it would have sucked without you man.

Jeff and Charlie great drinking and riding with you.  Cant wait till i get to do it agian! 

Matty T thanks for drinking at the bar next to me as i type this and getting us to camp safe and sound after a few to many :D

and with that I am out!  next post on the other side of the mountian range!

grr

And so it begins.

Well I am finally started after months of planning and prepping.  Had a few last minute hurtles including a cracked LCD on my laptop and a missing part on my bike that helps hold the bearing cups together, but some frantic scrambling and amazing help from my friend Erin on both counts not only helped me fix everything, but get ready and hit the beach yesterday to dip a tire in the Atlantic.  Couldn't have done it without you Erin, thank you for everything you did yesterday and for all your support!

Thank you too Matt and Hannah for opening up your home to me in my homelessness, You have no idea how much it meant to me to have you do that.

Jeff and Mar; Thanks for letting me come and go as needed with out any notice in your home!  From being a quiet place for my exit interviews to a place where i could just rest and play some games to a bottle of whiskey when needed you have been even more wonderful to me this last month than in the last 4 years.  Love and miss you guys!

Eddie, you have helped so much in the construction of my racks and panniers and also in the planning on the Pennsylvania route.  It was great being able to trust those details to you and to have you along on the first leg of the journey.  Your dependability and solidness  has allowed me to get this journey off to a great start and I am glad to have you make Pennsylvania an adventure for both of us!

Its crazy to think that it has finally begun, that a far fetched dream is forming into being my life.  Half a year ago I was living the American dream: had a job that didn't completely blow, great friends at home and in interesting places that I could visit, enough money to by shiny things that distracted me from what i really wanted in life.  Still not sure exactly what I want in life but getting a pretty good idea and I am looking forward to finding it just over that horizon :)

Route

I will actually be starting in Ocean City, NJ, but Media is the real begining of the journey. Eddie and Marc will take off with me from Media and start heading west through PA where we will be joined at Troegs Brewery by Jeff, Matt, and Charlie on Friday. Over the weekend the 6 of us will head to Shippensburg and into the mountains west of there. After the weekend Eddie and I will continue on across the state to Pittsburgh where he has some family. After Pennsylvania my next fixed destination is a small farm outside El Paso, IL where my Great-grandma, Grandparents, and mom used to call home. I will take a few days visiting family and friends in the area then off to Des Moines, IA to visit my aunt and uncle. After that I will either visit neighbors near Beresford, SD or family friends at Okiboji, IA (or both..) then on to Madison, SD to drink with college friends.


After recuperating from Madison I will cross SoDak to my parents in Belle Fourche, SD for a much needed rest and restocking before I hit the Rockie Mountains. I will take off from Belle hopefully in time to catch the wedding of a college friend at Devil's Tower around the 4th of July, then continue along the northern part of Wyoming (sneaking into Montana because i can) and then hit Yellowstone. Once I get in Yellowstone and the Tetons I will take my time; both because of climbing the mountains with all my gear and because its the mountains that I love. Through Idaho and half of Oregon I will continue loving/hating the mountains till Bend, OR where if I can time it I will run a half marathon with some friends, then continue north to Hood River, OR. Hood River is the birthplace of the Nectar of the Gods, otherwise known as Pendleton Whiskey :) not sure how long I will stay but it depends on how long they let me! After the deliciousness of Hood River I will pedal on to Portland where I will pick up my best friend and continue on to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, OR.


Looks easy on paper doesn't it?