We Made It !!!

8-2-08 - Saturday 6:30pm Atlantic City NJ: 59 days and 4173 miles behind us, we got our bikes wet.



We left my daughters house in Norristown PA and hopped on the Schuylkill River Bike Trail 23 miles from downtown Phila. Through Manayunk, past the Art museum through Phila. over the Ben Franklin Bridge into Camden NJ (what a disaster, the most dangerous, life threatening leg of our trip) down route 561, then over the Rt 30 Bridge into AC. We met a man the last mile into the city who followed us and was estatic and joyous at being a part of the last mile of our trip. He made me feel like I accomplished something great.

8-1-08 Friday 59 mile from Lancaster to Norristown PA: 4 hour ride down route 23 through New Holland (we had seen lots of New Holland equipment in the bread basket of America), then got on the Schuylkill River Bike Trail at Valley Forge. We spent the night at my daughters. Grandkids grow a lot in two months.

Well, this is it !!

7/31/08 - Lancaster PA; Tomorrow starts the last run to the coast. 2 more days for 2 geezers 2 make it 2 the ocean. We will leave Lancaster tomorrow, Friday, at around 11 am for a 65 mile ride to spend the night at my daughters house in Norristown PA, then Saturday 8-2-08 leave early for the last 90 mile ride to Atlantic City NJ. That will be the 14th state to cross. 59 days from June 5th to August 2. Take away 7 days of our BTC Bicycle Tour of Colorado and 5 days off just because that's 47 days to cover roughly 4175 miles. But I am getting ahead of myself. We'll finish this off then I'll give you a report. Maybe you would like to take on an adventure like this yourself. I'd like to talk to you about it. Give me a call.

I road with RAAM riders for once - they took a picture of my bike - check it out at: http://stats.raceacrossamerica.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=7367

Then they let us cool our heals in their pool - check that out:
http://stats.raceacrossamerica.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=7334

I'd like to thank all the blogs you sent to us, it's great to hear from you.

Smell the ocean?

I can smell Lanc. Co.

Date line ------- 7/30/08 10:00 am Joe's house York.

7/29 - 64 miles to York - We had an easy ride into PA from Frederick MD, . PA welcome sign was the least welcoming in appearance of the nation. It is a little bitter sweet feeling, great to be this close to finishing this adventure challenge filled with memories of people and places. Upon entering York I noticed the noise, dirt, and busy life of traffic that was not on our last 4000 miles. We spent last night at Joe's house and today we will ride to my house by this evening vie 462. If you would like to ride in with us give me a call 201-3173 I'll let you know where we are.



7/28 - 93 miles through VA, WV, MD to FrederickMD; Continued in the Shenandoah Valley, Front Royal, and though Harper's Ferry rush hour truck traffic over two lane bridges into MD, VA, WV was a bit hairy. Continued on very fast Rt 340 to Frederick at late rush hour at dusk.



7/27 - 112 miles to Luray VA; Route 11, even a 4 lane road is very nice to travel because drivers are OK with bikers on the road and they are considerate. Then took Rt. 340 thought Waynesboro and up the Shenandoah Valley, seemed like a good idea at the time, it was two lane busy road up to Luray and we finished in the dark. I tracked down the sheriff in the County Jail but they had no idea what I was talking about " camping in their town" so we went to the city park pulled out our camping stuff, sat on the picnic table and waited for the COPS to arrive. The cop showed up and was more than welcoming and helpful in more ways than I was expecting.

7/26 - 108 miles to Natural Bridge VA; Route 11 most of the way but I cut off and followed the 76 bike route ( Bicentennial route that we used for much of our tour ). Ended in the dark.

7/25 - 100 miles to Dublin VA; Real climb up Clintch Mt. 1.8 miles up 900' = about 10% grade. That should be the last mountain of our trip. Picked up Rt 11 and will follow it for the next day or so.

7/24 - 51 miles to Rosedale; Ended at the Elk Garden United Methodist Church. We were greeted by the pastor and youth group, we were invited to sped the night in the pavilion outside or in the church "help yourself to the fridge, fruit, cookies, whatever you want" they have been doing this for the last 33 years. We slept in the church with very soft padded carpeting.

7/23 - 92 miles to Elkhorn City: 2 VERY steep climbs, I mean like11%, not long but sure made my shirt wet. Cruised in to town about 5:30, found 2 old residents sitting in the center square waiting for something to happen. They were very helpful, pointing us in the right direction to camp by the stream just 1/2 a block from where we stood. We set up the tent, washed in the stream, then went to the corner cafe. I think their purpose was to help out bikers.

Date line ------ 7/22/08 Tuesday rest day in Hazard KY.. Zero miles today. It is supposed to rain today but so far it has been very nice weather today, the day is not over yet. Not a lot going on in town, now that WalMart has setup outside of town. We'll start again early tomorrow.

7/21 Monday - 43 miles to Hazard KY. A couple of times used my very lowest gear = 3 MPH up hill for 15 minutes. Most humid day yet, 90°+. Four real good climbs.

7/20 Sunday - 70 miles to Boonville KY. 35 miles of a gently rolling valley, green farms, corn's up, tobacco coming along, big hills all around. Sign out front of a Presbyterian Church, reads "Welcome cyclists", camped in a fenced in camp area in the backyard with shower, bathroom, and pavilion. Rained most of the night but we set up tent in the pavilion and stayed dry. A newly married couple also setup their tent under the pavilion.

7/19 Saturday - 52 miles to Berea KY. Uneventful day, camped in the Oh KY campgrounds.

7/18Friday - 95 miles to Harrodsburg KY: Toured Abe Lincolns birth place 1 Hr., Bourbon bottler 2 Hrs. The dogs here must be breed to go after cyclists; I was attached by one day that I was able to outrun, so right after that I found a deer thigh bone on the side of the road and carried it, 10 minuets later I was attacked my another dog, I was able to hit it pretty hard on the back with the bone, hopefully the dog will remembered that. Five minutes later two more dogs put on an attack, out ran them. I now carry a good size rock, just in case. Showered in the fire station and camped in the Harrodsburg Fort State Park right in town.

7/17 Thursday - 78 miles to Buffalo KY: Eastern time zone. Just another day on the road some hills weather is holding out nicely.

7/16 Wednesday - 100 miles to Fordville KY: Dinner then B'fast @ The Dinner. Camped in the backyard of St John the Baptist Church (Catholic).

Keeping the rubber side down, Steve

A couple more states

Here is an archived image of Harry on an all original 1967 Schwinn Stingray fastback, ridden the entire 400 mile way by Phil W. " It's not about the bike"


Date line ------ 7/15 Tuesday Marion KY Short day today 51 miles, recovery from Sunday. Finally back onto the Adventure Cycling course after last day on route 60.

7/14 Monday - 71 miles from Sikeston MO through IL, and into KY.
Third day on 4 lane state road 60 then over very narrow bridges over Mississippi, Ohio, & Tennessee rivers. Camped along the Ohio River.

7/13 Sunday - 135 miles OH YEA - Sikeston MO, all on Rt 60, being pasted by 70 MPH semi's. Not fun but sure made some miles go by.

7/12 Saturday - 100 miles to Mountain View MO - Left Adventure Cycling course after 30 miles today then headed to Route 60 ( Miles of construction ).

7/11 Friday - 49 miles to Marshfield MO - Lots of hills, two 21 year old girls, three individual guys, all heading for the west coast.

7/10 Thursday - 90 miles to Ash Grove MO. Stopped in Pittsburg KS bike shop, Joe replaced his third tire, two from delamination & one just wore out. Camped in the city park.

7/9 Wednesday - 102 miles to Girard KS. Camped and showered in the city park

7/8 Tuesday - 82 miles to Eureka KS: After 3 hours on the road rain happened, took cover in Cassoday KS, with 4 other bikers. They all had Surlys just like mine, all have had zero issues with them. Rain all the way to Eureka, Yes we moteled it tonight.

Now you are up to date on our travel,
Steve

P.S. Thanks for your comments, good to hear from all of you.

Kansas @ 2208 miles

We were published in the Patriot News @ this link --

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=121A9FC7192A1BB0&p_docnum=1

7/7 - Newton KS: After an easy 119 mile day set up camp in a city park. We setup then invited to spend the night in the Newton fire station. Packed up the tent, went to the fire station, were shown around, showered, eat their food, slept in their training room. They have done this for many bikers in the past.
7/6 - Larned: This 66 mile day felt more like 150 mile. Ended day with a 25 mile head wind for 22 miles. Yea this is fun. Pasted 7 pairs of bikers heading West.
7/5 - Ness City: 103 miles today in >100°F. Road with one person going East. Camped in the city park, showered in the city swimming pool. Everyone is so generious.
7/4 - Tribune KS: 100 miles 95° and hot.
7/3 - Hasty: 119 miles @ 100° Eastern CO is lots of nothing. Route 10 is 50 miles of NOTHING as far as you can see, nothing in every direction. Camped in a state park which was full when we got there, but we looked like we really needed a plot of dirt so they let us in.

Happy Trails....... Steve -

Last 7 days

7-2 Wed - Walsenburg CO - 158 Hours & 1689 miles;
Computers are few and far between, but here is the latest:
Finished the BTC on Saturday 6-28 and said goodbye to my latest 2000 new friends.
house.
6-29 Sun Pagosa Springs CO: Finished the ride in a hail storm but made it to Joni Shirks daughters where they put us up for the night in their new house, they moved in three days before. soaked in the hot springs for 2 hours.
6-30 Mon- Del Norte CO: 73 mile day, tough 8 mile climb 2 hour over Wolf Creek Pass @ 10850 ft. Rain on the way down then camped near town.
7-1 Tuesday Fort Garland CO: 70 mile day, 20 miles of straight road to Great Sand Dunes NP
7-2 Wed - Easy 48 mile over the last pass of the Rockies. Now comes the several ? days of FLAT and windy CO & KS. The next week will be as exciting as doing time in a lockup.

Later, Steve

BTC

6-26 Telluride CO - Fourth day of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado BTC, This is a day off after three days of riding today is rest in Telluride. We (Harry, Joe & Tom in picture ) and me, went for a hike from Telluride 8745' up to 1100'. What a view, thru snow fields and above the tree line. Beautiful flowers, clear cold water falls, intense sun frost on the tent in the morning. Plenty to eat and drink and super people on the tour.

First picture in Mesa Verta three days ago from top of mesa.

To many pictures to show at one time

More later, there is a party going on.

Steve

6-14-08 Friday Durango: Made it this far in the trip, one mile stone down only 300 miles to go.

6-15-08 Sunday - Kaynta AZ, Not a very exciting day across the desert 76 miles of more heat and dry Navajo land.

6-16 Monday - Bluff AZ 4340', picture was in Monument Valley AZ 105°. Beautiful tall red mountains. Miles of Forest Gump type roads, long, straight, and hot. 71 miles today.

6-17 Tuesday - Ute Casino 5752'; road 50 Miles across hot windy roads with NO services at all available to stop. Visited 4 corners, then press on in to the wind. total for today 79 miles, 852 miles to the next ocean.

6-18 Wed- Mesa Verta @ 7850' - only 31 miles today then camped in the park.

6-19 Thursday - Durango 6700' I biked out to Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, then on to Durango. Total 81 miles today 966 for the trip. This place is beautiful.

Later, Steve

Last 3 days Prescott to Tuba City

6-14-08 Saturday Tuba City AZ;
** 6-12-08 Prescott to Sedona: After a day off in prescott, started a 12 mile climb from 5300' to 7030' then down into beutifull Jerome, an old mining town. Road with a very friendly member of the Luxenburg team for about 5 miles, he wore me out. Right behind him came Bob of the Lancaster team #414, well that lasted about 3 secounds till he went flat out. Camped in the Sedona hills. 80 mile day
** 6-13-08 Sedona to Flagstaff: 8:15 left the camp site with no breakfast and climbed to 6400', finally at 11:00 breakfast in Flagstaff. Short 34 mile day followed by a 3 mile hike over looking Flagstaff. Camped in a KOA.
** 6-14-08 Flagstaff to Tuba City: Huge breakfast lasted all day. 78 miles over several climbs over a few 7000' hills. Very beutiful, colorful desearts, finish with 2 hard hills.

Later,

Day off in Prescott

6-11-08 Prescott AZ- Last three days from Blythe to Prescott:
** 6-8 Blythe - Salome- 65 miles hi lites 20 miles on I-10 in AZ riding with 75 MPH trucks we were mostly fast to Quartsite then 15 miles of straight, flat, hot, 106°.
** 6-9 Salome - Congress - 60 miles: Meet up with RAAM riders, road with the Brazilian rider for about 20 miles, very friendly crew. 40 miles of straight, flat, hot. Also meet a rider from Australian ( Daniel ), he is riding from San Fransisco to Canada. He is still traveling with us and will leave us in Flagstaff.
** 6-10 Congress - Prescott- 46 miles: Left the RAAM time station ( manned by the Bull Shifters Bike Club ), 7 mile climb @ 7%, followed by a 10 mile climb to 6100'. Ended the day in Prescott 5600'. It's hard to breathe, will spend day here the get more use to this altitude.

You can view all of my pictures from Oceanside to Prescott from the below link

http://picasaweb.google.com/2geezers/StartOfUSATrip

I'll enjoy the day off and send you more later,
Steve & Joe

CA desert

6-7-08 Blythe CA - 247 miles so far - Started our trip at 5:10pm on 6-5-08 from Oceanside CA after visiting the RAAM headquarters. Set out on the 13 mile RAAM that followed the parade route then ended in Escendido CA 30 mile. Spent the night with my brother Jim's friends. ** Friday 6-6 to Westmoreland CA 113 miles, up 4000' to Julian then back down to 300' in 95 Degs. Beautiful desert, great vistas, 6 MPH uphill, 45 MPH down hills. *Saturday 6-7-08 to Blythe CA 100 miles very flat 'cept for the sand dunes, most of the ride was around 100 Degs. We needed more than the 2 gallons of water available. My brother Jim was our crew, and a life saver ( yea really ) by following and supplying water as needed. We learn something new everyday. The desert is not to be taken lightly, and is not forgiving. But we made it this far. More later, Steve & Joe

6-4-08 In Phoenix. Assembled bikes and went for a 50 mile ride in the desert heat (100°). Tomorrow we're off to Oceanside CA, to start our trip East.

1 day to go

6-4-08 In Phoenix after a 50 mile shake down ride. Leaving for Oceanside CA tomorrow morning. Will leave from there to head East, see you as we pass by

New Start @ RAAM

6-2-08 Flying out tomorrow, Tuesday, The start of our ride will be changing to the start of the RAAM ride That's Race Across America. It's a bike race starting in Oceanside CA, only 25 miles north of San Diego, our original starting spot. I met with the team from Lancaster PA on last Saturday. We start our trip on Friday the 6th they will start on Wednesday the 11th. Hope to see a flash of them as they fly past.
More later, Steve

5 Days to go

It's Saturday 5-31. Just finished the Red Rose 5 Mile Run in downtown Lancaster PA. Now hang up the running shoes and get started on this biking thing.
Steve