OK, so we finally make it into 2007, and the reality of our ride for awareness hits like a cold front. We have roughly 12 weeks to get all the organizing done as we as train for the ride. The first three days out of San Diego are each more than 100 miles, so that will be an interesting transition from cold and wet Portland, to balmy San Diego and the possible heat sink of the agricultural valley of California.
Portland is currently freezing cold, and riding is the last thing we want to do. We're keeping things moving with the gym, commuting on bike and taking exercise classes, in the case of Chris. She has this work gig where she takes three intense classes a week, that frankly kick ass. I attended one and it was fun and challenging. I think we'll be OK. The other issue is time spent on the bike during the first difficult week will ride us into shape, as they say. There is some truth to this, when you think of endurance in terms of body parts coming into contact with the bike. This is the kind of endurance we'll really need. You never want a saddle sore. No fun. I had one as large as an olive (a large green olive) when I passed through Mamou, Louisiana in 1999 while on this same route, solo Ride for Awareness, for mental illness. That day ended at the residence of a host family. Later that evening I asked for a sewing needle to "mend my shorts," wink, wink.
The itinerary is about done. A few more tweaks, and it'll be perfect, whatever that means. We will post the ride schedule here for your amusement. My dad and step mom are heading out in their motor coach this next week, and we've got a box of supplies to pass off to them as they pass through Portland; tires, tubes, turkey jerky, varied power foods, floor pump and other items. They'll provide some support during the first week or so, maybe longer. I hope they understand how much better our rides will be knowing they are out there in the big rig, riding shotgun with us.
We have five rest days scheduled, and we hope to run into them along the way. My big sister and her partner plan to meet us for a rest day in Marfa, Texas. This is a little west Texas town put on the map by the late Donald Judd. In 1972 he started buying up real estate there. He needed more space for his own large-scale art and for his burgeoning personal art collection. Marfa lies in the high Chihuahuan desert, three hours by car from El Paso and the nearest airport. we'll go off our planned route, skip Fort Davis, Texas for Marfa. I also want to experiment with a new panoramic camera I recently acquired. Where else do you go when you want to absorb space in all its empty glory? Texas, baby.
Portland is currently freezing cold, and riding is the last thing we want to do. We're keeping things moving with the gym, commuting on bike and taking exercise classes, in the case of Chris. She has this work gig where she takes three intense classes a week, that frankly kick ass. I attended one and it was fun and challenging. I think we'll be OK. The other issue is time spent on the bike during the first difficult week will ride us into shape, as they say. There is some truth to this, when you think of endurance in terms of body parts coming into contact with the bike. This is the kind of endurance we'll really need. You never want a saddle sore. No fun. I had one as large as an olive (a large green olive) when I passed through Mamou, Louisiana in 1999 while on this same route, solo Ride for Awareness, for mental illness. That day ended at the residence of a host family. Later that evening I asked for a sewing needle to "mend my shorts," wink, wink.
The itinerary is about done. A few more tweaks, and it'll be perfect, whatever that means. We will post the ride schedule here for your amusement. My dad and step mom are heading out in their motor coach this next week, and we've got a box of supplies to pass off to them as they pass through Portland; tires, tubes, turkey jerky, varied power foods, floor pump and other items. They'll provide some support during the first week or so, maybe longer. I hope they understand how much better our rides will be knowing they are out there in the big rig, riding shotgun with us.
We have five rest days scheduled, and we hope to run into them along the way. My big sister and her partner plan to meet us for a rest day in Marfa, Texas. This is a little west Texas town put on the map by the late Donald Judd. In 1972 he started buying up real estate there. He needed more space for his own large-scale art and for his burgeoning personal art collection. Marfa lies in the high Chihuahuan desert, three hours by car from El Paso and the nearest airport. we'll go off our planned route, skip Fort Davis, Texas for Marfa. I also want to experiment with a new panoramic camera I recently acquired. Where else do you go when you want to absorb space in all its empty glory? Texas, baby.
Over and out
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