New England to Florida Bike Ride

It's Over

2010-08-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

I have had a rough time of it. I have decided to go home. I am at peace with it. Touring by myself is not my forte. I had mountains even more. I have been asked many a time how fast I planned on going. I can assure you that 5 mph was not my idea. For every down hill there was two or more uphills. Not sure how that worked but that is all I have encountered. I was getting good at the gradual climbs, but the steep. That was another story. I am now in Rome NY trying to find a way home. When I get there, I will post some more pictures I have. Signing out. Thanks to all that encouraged me and helped me on the way. Norma

Rough Day

2010-08-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the longest days. I spent more then 10 hours on the road and I only went 47 miles. Wind and hills. I will upload pictures tonight or tomorrow.

The night before

2010-08-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

Well one more night. I go pick up my bike in the morning - turn in the rental car and start riding. I went to pick up my food and last minute items this morning and went sightseeing. Pictures are of the Town Center and Black River.

At the starting point

2010-07-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

I have made it to Watertown NY. This will be my starting point. I have my trailer. I still have to unbox it, but I have it. Monday I will be picking up my bike. Tomorrow I will be sightseeing around here.

Almost there

2010-07-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have made it to Detroit. Next stop is Syracuse.

Leaving

2010-07-31T04:14:00.001-07:00

Well here I am at the airport and my flight has been delayed. Instead of leaving at 8:30 am I am now leaving at 9:15 am. At least I won't have a long layover in Detroit.

Party

2010-07-29T17:54:00.001-07:00

The employees at my work threw me a suprise going away party today. Pizza,salad and cake. I even got a bicycle on the top of the cake. Thanks again guys.

On a side note, my trailer has made it to its destination. Yeah!!!!

Trailer gone/Bike arrived

2010-07-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

I got my trailer to the pack it store and it is on its way. I am sending it to the hotel that I have a reservation at. They are going to hold it for me.

I got notice that my bike arrived at the bike store for them to put it together for me. I still have to call to make sure it arrived in one piece.

The nerves are starting to attack and concentration at work is useless. The plumbers just left after repairing a leak in the kitchen.

One more week.

Packed

2010-07-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well I am packed. I made my list, checked it twice and three times. If I have forgotten anything. That is my tough luck. :)

I am so excited. Tomorrow I will take it to the pack and send and send it on it's way. My bike should be at the other bike store tomorrow. Yipee.

Fingers drumming

2010-07-20T16:26:00.001-07:00

As I sit and wait and watch the progress of my bike's trip to it's destination, I sit with my finger's drumming. Not really. I have other things to do. Like finish packing my trailer and taking it apart for packing. Making sure I have everything that I need. My head is spinning with all the info. I should make a list and check it two, three and even four times. (Right Suzanne) :)

Important Events Today

2010-07-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

The first event was that my bike was shipped to NY. I am going to be a nervous wreak until it gets there.

The second event and a very important one is that i finally found the right flags for my bike trailer.

Box it up

2010-07-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well today, I dropped off my bike at the bike shop for it to be boxed up to be sent up to my starting point. I can pick it up on Monday to ship it out. Two weeks from today is the day I leave. I am getting so excited.
I am also getting burned out. As Kendra experianced today during my weekly work out with her. I just have no desire and I am so tired. I am going to take the next two weeks to rest up and finish packing. My trailer has to go up next week also. I need to figure out how to box that one up.

Bike Maintenance and Parking

2010-07-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Got to go riding yesterday. It felt good to be back on the bike after so much rain. The bike was feeling a little funky on the chain. Yep it was time to change the chain and sprocket set. Glad that was done before I left. It could have been bad on the road in the middle of nowhere. :)

Thanks to Janice I am now able to park my bike by itself without having to lean it up against something.

My son has yet to figure out how to mow the yard properly. Maybe someday in my dreams it will be done. Luv ya Kiddo.

Rain

2010-07-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

So it rained all weekend and I did not get out to go camping. Oh well. I have been camping all my life, I know what to do. Now it is down to packing and making sure I have checked all my lists twice and three times. Maybe more.

Count Down

2010-07-02T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here we go. Now it is getting exciting. 28 days to go before I leave. At the same time I am getting a little nervous.

Things are happening at work. I no longer have my own desk. I have to find an empty computer to work at during the day. The training is going well. The ladies are a little overwelmed and not sure of anything. I am sure they will do great.

Fender Bender

2010-06-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so yesterday, as the club was riding down the road, my new fenders on the bike were rattling. As we were coming to a stop at the park that we rest at, I was almost to a stop with the front fender had worked itself out of my bike forks and got twisted up in the front wheel. Yep, up and down I went. Now the good news is that I was only going about a mile per hour and I had already unclipped my feet, so I landed properly and did not get even a scratch. Dirty yes, no wounds. The bad news is that the fender got all bent up and the trailer that I am towing jackknifed and twisted up on my back wheels and broke the derailleur off. Now I can't even ride the bike to the bike store. So one of the club members came to my rescue and quickly rode back to the starting point and picked up his truck and got me to the bike store. Good news is that the derailleur is not broken it was the hanger that is meant to break to save the derailleur broke. The fender has been fixed and my rear tire needed to be "trued". So the bike is back home resting comfortably and I am fine. Now I have a funny story to be told. :)

So now that this has happened I am looking into "AAA" for bikes. There is a company that sells the insurance.

Training

2010-06-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

The training is going good. I take the trailer everywhere I go. I found out today that I am carrying 19 lbs of cargo in the trailer . That gives me about 10 lbs to play with for clothing and food. I am doing more exercises in the gym to help me get over that mountain. I am so tired at the end of a workout.

I need to find more ways to ride the bike. I am thinking of going out really early in the morning before work to get in about 10 miles or so.

Rain

2010-05-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Got rained on bad. Did not find any shelter and got misplaced. I need fenders. Next weekend.

The mountain that won

2010-05-30T13:47:00.001-07:00

The Mountain Won

2010-05-30T13:30:00.001-07:00

I lost. I could not get up the mountain side. I got up a lot of little (big) hills. Looks like more work for me in the gym and on the bike. Top picture is where I was and the other two are where I was going. I am not sure of the degree of incline, but I do know it looked straight up.

Mountain Climbing

2010-05-30T05:48:00.000-07:00

I am practicing on a mountain today. I will let you all know how it goes. :)

It is getting closer

2010-05-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

It is getting so close to my leave date. I have my maps now and what a dozzy I am going to be going through in the mountains. I am going out to some mountain next weekend to get some practice in. Went down to get my camping gear today. Now all I need is the GPS unit. I have yet to decide what I want to get. I will have to do more research on it.

Words

2010-05-09T14:03:00.001-07:00

I have one word for Kendra and Greg: OUCH

I have three more words for Kendra and Greg: You are Dead

And just one more for those two: THANKS!

Maps/Bike Fitting

2010-05-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

Well I ordered my maps today. I also got my bike fitting done today. Lets hope the fitting alleviates my lower back issues. We shall see.

Spot

2010-05-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

I now have my SPOT GPS locator. This little thing will follow me around and let close family and friends keep track of me while I am on the road.

Training Ride 3-27-10

2010-03-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

I did 47 miles yesterday. I was aiming for 50, but ran out of road and needed to use the facilities. :) I did really well. Last week I bonked out, because I did not eat enough. This time I got in food and more food. I had stopped at a local grocery store to get me something to eat when I took this picture.

Over being Sick

2010-03-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

I am over being sick. I came down with a cold that put me down for a week. I was able to ride this weekend and start back to working out. This morning Kendra put me through the paces. I don't think my heart rate ever went down.

I got me my new toy and I am typing on it right now. I have an Acer Netbook. It is so cute. I have an air card that I can get to the internet on. I will be taking this on my trip.

Need to eat lunch.

Better Late then Never

2010-02-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Wow I haven't written for a while. Now I know why I did not have a diary. Training is going good. Working the muscles like crazy. Have not lost any weight or inches. Kendra and Suzanne say it is because I don't eat enough. I have to consume 1600 to 1700 calories a day to lose weight. I am lucky if I get 900. Out to learn how to eat again.

Got my ticket to the starting point last night. Yeah. I leave on a plane at 9:00 am. Get to my destination at 2:00. Then a two hour trip to the first spot.

Looking into all my goodies for the trip. Sleeping bag, stove, gear etc. Found my GPS Locator device. Now I have to get it.

I am so excited. Things are looking good for all this. Work is going great and training for the people taking my place while I am on my Leave of Absence starts next month.

Back on the bike

2009-12-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well today was the first day back on the bike after my knee "drama". You could tell I have not been riding for 4 weeks. I could only do about 13 mph instead of the usual 15-16. Then I went to the gym and Kendra worked my legs again. I am going to be so sore. But the outcome is going to be soooo worth it.

Yessss!!!!

2009-12-16T13:42:00.001-08:00

I saw the doctor today and there is nothing wrong with my knees. Back on the bike I go. It also means that Kendra will be out to kill me this evening.

But the doc also told me that the pain and swelling could be vascular or even a blood clot. So I am sure my primary will be sending me to another specialist here soon.

Finish my dinner and then off on a short bike ride and then to the gym.

Yeah. Good times ahead.

MRI

2009-12-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Well the MRI results came back. I have degenerate changes in my knees. To the specialist I go on the 16th. I am hoping to get back on the bike. I am able to at least work on my upper body at the gym.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

To everyone, please have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Day. To the armed forces, my heart goes out to you. Have a safe and good day. I know what it is like to be away from home at this time of the year.

Nooooooooo

2009-11-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

I have just taken a set back in my training. My knee is swollen. The doctor needs to run an MRI on it. I was supposed to do a charity ride tomorrow. Drats.

Happy Birthday

2009-11-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today is my 48th birthday. Happy Birthday to me.

To Kendra

2009-11-08T09:38:00.001-08:00

Thanks Lady. I am so sore this morning that I could not even go to Spin Class. Thanks, :)

Extreme Workout

2009-11-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Okay now the workouts begin. I am sore in places that I did not know could be sore. Kendra has me doing muscle specific exercises and when I was doing palates, boy could I feel them. I was riding my bike today and I could feel the muscles. It is a good thing. The more my muscles are toned and shaped the better I will be riding the bike. It also feels really good for this "old" woman.

Workout

2009-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Well I wore my holloween costume to this morning's bike ride and social. I got a lot of smiles. Then I went to work out with Kendra. The woman is going to make sure I make it on my ride. Or kill me in the process. :) I feel really good. Now I am starving. I want to eat everything in sight. I won't.

Boss approval

2009-10-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

The boss signed off on my trip. Yeah. Nine months and counting. Palates tonight. Always feels good.

Personal Trainer

2009-10-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

Well I did it. I signed up and hired a personal trainer. Kendra. Lets hope she doesn't do me in before the big ride.

Milestone in my Life

2009-10-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

Monday the 26th is a big day in my life. My baby boy will be 21. Yeah. Happy Birthday Little One.

Sunday 10/25/09

2009-10-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did 40 miles. Would have done more, but I had to get my haircut and had furniture being delivered and picked up.

Today I went to a spin class. Tiffany didn't try to kill me this time. :) I felt really good about it today.

Ready to get in shape

2009-10-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today is the 22nd and I have just returned from Palates. On September 21st I decided to start getting help in getting in shape for my ride. I am weak in the core muscles and I could use to loose some more inches.

So here starts the story of getting ready for a 1500 8-week bike ride.