Alice Noland and Howard Smith Are Done!

Stick a fork in it! Oh I wish I was there to celebrate with them! Alice just called. They rode about 18 miles this morning to Hazard KY. She said it was a magnificent ride in the mountains. They are driving around Hazard now looking for breakfast and then they will drive home. Congratulations!!!

The Three Adventurers Are Doing Great!

I just spoke to Kent. Alice and Howard smith just came through Booneville ky and are headed towards Buckhorn.  Kent said they are in the mountains now and just finished their longest climb of the day. It's been comparatively cool...72 degrees at 9 am and then slowly rising to the current temperature of 84. 

Alice and Howard Are Now in Irvine KY

I called for an update just as Alice and Howard were rolling into Irvine Ky! Howard said it was a beautiful ride that follows along the Kentucky river.  For those of you who have the maps they went off route and are following a book rather than the beginning of section 11. I have a copy of the book and it says "you should find this segment pure pleasure as you enter central Kentucky bluegrass region."

Just Arrived in Berea KY

I spoke to kent and Howard smith. Howard and Alice just arrived in Berea ky...a 50 mile ride. Kent said its been 82 to 86 degrees the sun is out and there is no rain. Howard said it is beautiful countryside. A lot like home with pasture fields, horses and cattle, wildflowers and creeks.  The hills are getting steeper and longer. They are stopping to eat lunch and are thinking of riding even more. Alice said she saw a calf being born! Just dropped out as she rode by. Now THAT is cool!

The Trio is in Harrodsburg ky

I spoke with Howard smith. They rode 70+ miles today and are settled into a room in harrodsburg. He said the ride was a little hilly but not hard. Kent said it was HIS hardest day so far. He must miss his buddies :)

Finally...A Big Break in the Weather

I just spoke to Kent who reported that there's been a big break in the weather and its only 82! Alice and Howard are headed towards bardstown ky. Kent said he finally saw something he remembered from his cross country tour...the heaven hill distillery. 

Team Anderson Headed Back to Old Virginny

I'm not quite sure what to write...this is difficult. Howard had heat stroke as a young man and the combination of the heat, lack of rest and terrain were of concern from the night we arrived.  Yesterday when we ended in Murphysboro I conferred with Alice who had done all the research on car rentals to see what our options were for getting Howard back home. Because we were only 40 minutes drive from Louisville ky I made the decision that it would be prudent for Howard and better for the team if we got sagged up there to come home rather than take our chances and be ill prepared when it became even more rural. So our journey ends. I will happily keep tabs on Alice Howard smith and Kent as they continue on.

Two Choices for Lunch in Eastview!

A B P gas station and a Marathon gas station! We chose the bp

This Is Why We Need a SAG

According to our maps this was supposed to be our second breakfast I believe at around mile 30. It looks deserted. The only thing welcoming was the sign and the bike with the banana seat and Harley-Davidson handlebars!

What Goes Down Must Come Up

I can't believe this was one mile later! We had a nice downhill then a nice twisty uphill.
(I hope you can see the milepost 1 on the left and the curve sign on the right.)

This is also where the time zone changed from Central time to Eastern time.  Kent greeted us as we came up the hill with "now you have to make up an hour" :).

Down in the Valley

Howard smith Alice and my bike around mile 22.

On The Road Again

Ate breakfast at 5 30 as planned and on the road again a bit after 6 to beat the heat. This is the beautiful sunrise we saw when we clicked into the pedals.

Another Hot But Great Day

Were tucked in in the very last cabin at rough river dam state resort park.  Beins that's its Saturday night the campground was pretty full when we arrived and also hilly (imagine that!). And it was in the high 90s again so an air conditioned cabin with indoor plumbing looked too good to pass up!  I love these state parks and how beautiful they are. And I love the scenery as we ride. It is a wonderful combination of my two homes...the hills of pgh and the rural farms of Hanover county in va. Well its 8:30 and lights out. Were going to breakfast at 5 30 to take advantage of the lower temperature as we do the hills. Night night!

Mrs. Magoo

Alice, our navigator, is studying the next map, number 121, while we wait for our lunch in Whitesville Kentucky. It is 90 degrees at noon but we finally have some shade since were climbing some nice little hills. I think the party will be over when we get to Fordsville when we will be climbing some big boys. Once again I am extremely grateful for Kent and our water stops. He is a TERRIFIC sag!

The Advantage of Going Slow Up a Hill

Is that I get to see classics like this. Are they still made?

And Trying to Steer Clear of the Buckshot

Chewin' Tobacco in Western Kentucky

For medicinal purposes of course :)

Air Conditioning!

Wow...I feel like I've died and gone to heaven! We rode to sebree Kentucky today and are staying at the first Baptist church. They welcome cyclists and provide hostel type arrangements and AIR CONDITIONING! I don't know how to act! Just got cleaned up am doing laundry like in a real washing machine and dryer instead of in the shower and air drying on a picnic table and my tent. I wanted to update my pc with pictures while the laundry is going but the battery pack is dead. Probably overheated :(. If anyone has an extra dell 65w ac adapter for a four year old vostro 1000 let me know! So ill be working solely from the Droid now.  Anyway it feels beyond great to be out of the heat and I'm hoping the heat rash on my quad will go away. The church is feeding us tonight at 6. And there's music dahntahn although I can't imagine ill be able to stay awake to hear it. Me thinks this is the biggest physical challenge I've ever taken on...

Hot Again

I took this picture around 7 30. That is my sweat glistened gun. Beautiful countryside in western Kentucky. Were taking our lunch break in Clay. It's 9 30.

The Early Bird

Beats the heat!

We got our bugle call from Howard smith at 4:13. On the bikes to breakfast which opened at 5:00.  (That's my Howard on the bike.)

Drinking my first cup of hot tea in days!

War Wounds

Chigger bites :(

Deb at Work

Electricity is awesome! It is so much easier updating the blog with my pc than doing it from the Droid :)

Kent is The Man

We are SO thankful to have Kent as our SAG.  As you know, he had committed to do this TransAmerica ride with us.  In 1990 he did the whole TransAmerica Bicycle Route 76 and he has toured across many states (including Maryland and Bike VA) so he is an extremely seasoned cyclist.  Unfortunately, he has been having knee problems and his knee finally gave out on Bike Virginia at the end of June.  He graciously offered to SAG us.  We were hoping he could ride and we could share driving duties but he couldn't even bring his bike :(.  He is such a great SAG!  I can't believe how rural it is out here.  It is a real issue finding food and water.  There are so few towns on our route and the ones we go through often do not have a general or convenience store.  Seriously.  This morning we got started at 5:30 am to try to beat the heat.  He got us breakfast from a liquor store by the Interstate when it opened at 7:00 am.

He has been a terrific scout!  He also has been instrumental in keeping us on the correct route.  Unlike in Virginia where the route is marked by Bicycle Route 76 road signs, Illinois does not have signage.  I don't know what I would have done without him, especially with this heat.  Thank you, Kent!

Where Is Spike When I Need Him?

So last night like a city girl I decided to put my two packages of king sized York peppermint patties-one opened and one not opened-in the cooler that was right outside my tent along with two unopened packages of cheese.  I had a little night time visitor. The darn thing ate 4 mints from the opened package and the muenster cheese. He apparently didn't like cheddar cheese. Took one bite and left it in the grass. It's creepy knowing that he was literally inches from me and I never heard him! And here I thought my tent was my fortress. My little terrier spike got in a face off with a skunk three weeks ago. And the skunk lost. I sure could have used spike last night!

Spike practicing his killer technique on "Doggie"

Murphysboro and Halfway I Think to Home

It is 92 degrees and H O T! We couldn't believe how cool it felt in this Subway. Washed off the salt in the ladies room and ate a hoagie. Were heading off to Goreville and Ferne Clyffe state park. Riding along the Mississippi river reminded me of the Mon river between monongahela and Webster. LOTS of coal trucks barges and tug boats. I thought this was corn country. Got off the main road at mile 12 and we were in rural farmland. Very flooded. But beautiful. Boots and saddles! 

Oh What A Night

Wow is it hot! It is 78 in Chester now at 5 30 am with high humidity.  It's supposed to get up close to 100 so were starting out early. We slept in a real nice city park. Kent and I set up in the gazebo. Alice has to stake her tent so she's right outside. The two Howard s are in a hotel. Who are the smart ones ha! I'm looking at this as an adventure.  Certainly trying to win the war against the mosquitoes and the heat made for an epic battle! I love all the night sounds. I love my little tent. I love how my sweat drips and how the mosquitoes are attracted to my ripe smell. Life is good!

Step 6: The Trip

After 16 hours of driving we arrived in Chester Illinois home of popeye!  Just ate dinner at an all you can eat buffet for 6.95 and racing to the campground to set up our tents. Been up since 3:23!

Step 5: The Packing

All of this...

Will fit in here and...

on top of the bike rack.

And of course I have to find room for my harmonica!

The "A Team" Update from Summersville, MO

Howard Smith, Rose LaVoie, Will Brown and John LaVoie relax before their difficult ride ahead tomorrow.  Casey Smith is taking the picture.

Here's the latest text from the "A Team"...

"Got in 94 miles on Friday and stayed in the Courtyard in Hartville, MO last night.  Been chased by a couple of dogs :(.  It's been hot and a bit hilly but not too too bad.  We hear that the hardest is to come tomorrow.  62 miles today and staying in Summersville, MO tonight."

The "A Team" in Fairgrove, MO

Howard Smith and Will Brown in Fairgrove, MO headed to Marshfield.  It's hot out and the hills are getting harder but like the Energizer Bunnies they still keep on going!

The "A Team" Starts Where There's No Place Like Home

Today the "A Team" of John LaVoie, Will Brown, Howard Smith, and Casey Smith dipped their wheels in Kansas at the Kansas/Missouri state line on TransAmerica Bicycle Route 76.  They arrived last night after a loooonnng day's drive from Beaverdam, VA, stayed in a motel and were nervous and excited about starting their leg of the Ride For Jim TransAmerica ride. 

Howard and Will are enjoying a siesta after some well deserved pie in Golden City, MO.  Their 43 mile ride from Pittsburg, Kansas to that point was hot but everyone was doing okay according to Casey.  The temperature in Golden City was 92 degrees but with the heat index it felt like 99.  Those boys could probably use some water!  But out of a hose.  We don't want rain when we're on the bikes.   

Honoring and Remembering Those Stricken With Cancer

I would like to honor and remember those stricken with cancer by carrying their names with me while on the bike during my RideForJim.

If you would like me to include any of your friends and family, please respond to this post or email me at rideforjim@gmail.com.

Olive Oyl on the Popeye Tour

So I read on www.fastfrederick.blogspot.com that Billy Weber, who is currently doing the RideForJim TransAmerica tour, got a perm on one of his rest days.  If you've ever seen Billy, that's quite a feat.  I sure hope this ride doesn't grow hair on my chest!  Anyway, I digress.  Billy is the guy that last Tuesday did 127 miles in the Colorado Rockies in 90+ degree heat and lived to blog about it.  So beins as I'm a CPA and a very logical person, I deduced that IF Billy gets his hair done AND Billy rides strong, THEN IF Deb gets her hair done, THEN Deb rides strong.  So here is a picture after my haircut.  Connie Ditto, owner of Hair Studio 21 Organic Hair Spa in Glen Allen, VA, is the beautiful woman on the left.  Olive Oyl (me) is on the right.

Step 4: The Fuel

Left to my own devices, this is what I eat every day. Acupatea as soon as I awake. Followed by a bowl of oatmeal. Chased by chocolate chips. An hour or so later two over-hard eggs fried in butter. Another hour later a banana. Maybe some more chocolate chips. Then it's time for lunch :). Whole grain fusilli pasta covered with a homemade (to me) pasta sauce of 7 Herb Tomato Ragu, diced tomatoes and some kind of low sodium bean pre-rinsed in water to get all the salt off. (Yeah, I have high blood pressure, go figure!) Appetizer of chocolate chips, dessert of Dannon Light & Fit vanilla yogurt. Mid afternoon snack is an apple. If I'm riding the bike that evening, I eat two unsalted top crackers with Jif peanut butter beforehand. I don't go light on the Jif. And it HAS to be Jif! Dinner is usually one of Howard's absolutely awesome spinach salads topped with all kinds of veggies. He puts sushi ginger on top so I don't even need a dressing. I can't tell you how great his salads are!

So as you can imagine I am worried about being able to fuel like this on the tour. I need two breakfasts and a lunch by noon. Chocolate chips melt. A jar of Jif is heavy. Crackers will crush. Where will I find a spinach salad?

Any suggestions?

Step 3: The Itinerary

We had what is probably our last official planning meeting last night at Airwell Farm, Alice Noland's home. She is coordinating our part of the TransAmerica tour along with neighbor Howard Smith who did the whole darn country last year!

Here is our itinerary...

The "A Team" of Howard Smith, John and Rose LaVoie, Will Brown and Casey Smith will start at the Kansas/Missouri state line on Bicycle Route 76. They will cover ~300 miles from July 14th to July 19th and will meet up with the "B Team" in Farmington, MO on July 19th. The teams will ride together to Chester, IL on July 20th. This is supposed to be a short (48 miles) and beautiful ride from the Ozarks down to the Mississippi River valley. And Chester is the home of Popeye, the Sailor Man. I'd play it on my harmonica but the dog would howl :).

The "B Team" of Alice Noland, Deb and Howard Anderson, and Kent Howard will start in Farmington, MO on July 20th and will cover ~620 miles in 10 days ending in Hazard, KY on July 29th. Howard Smith will also continue on with us. "Why???!!!" do you ask? Because he can. I guess when you do the whole country in one summer, 1000 miles in two weeks seems pretty darn tame.

It looks great on the maps. We "newbies" are excited and nervous at the same time. Four of us got new touring bikes with 11/32s. There was lots of discussion about hill climbing technique. Howard Smith and Alice are very confident. And Howard said he would get us back to VA. He didn't say if we'd be dead or alive :)...

No More Excuses

Look closely at this picture. Do you know what it is?

It is my brand spankin' new rear cassette and chain on the Redline Conquest touring bike. This is so beautiful to me! And it will never look this good again.

Check out the largest rear cog. Can you see the 32T? That is my "no more excuses" cog. With its help I will be spankin' the hills when this bike is fully loaded instead of the other way around. I can't tell you how relieved I was to change out my 12/25T cassette for the 11/32T cassette! [I know, what a gear head :) ]

Many thanks to Greg Doggett at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Glenn Pawlak at Big Bang Bicycles and Dave Murphy at Olde Towne Bicycles for their advice yesterday!

Half Loaded

It seemed like a fun idea to ride our touring bikes from home to the Beaverdam Fourth of July parade. My enthusiasm waned about 6 miles into the 36 mile ride. I swear that bike half loaded with my camping gear weighed as much as I do :(. Fortunately, I changed my mental attitude at mile 18 when we stopped to watch the parade. This picture was taken at Squashapenny, in Doswell, VA, about 4 miles from home. That's why I'm celebrating!