TravelStream™ news feed for member jimfrondorf on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jimfrondorf en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:36:58 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212820560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212820560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212820560/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:36:58 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Tempe, Arizona, United States

Man, is it hard for me to write this tonight. I can be arrogant and cocky (and Patty might add, slow to admit I am wrong) and those qualities have cost me in this case. Did a lot of research about this trip. I knew that most people allow about 60 days for the trip when they are self supported. I also knew that most said it was foolish to take the route I chose if you were starting after mid-May. But, hey, I'm a five time Ironman. Three time Boston Marathon qualifier. A real Tough Guy. Surely, I could do what these guys wouldn't attempt - do the trip twice as fast, and do it in June.

WRONG.

I probably never wore a hat when my mom told me to, either.

It occurred to me today that this journey is not living up to it's original purpose. If you read the opening statement you may remember that I was going to travel from coast to coast, thinking deeply about my first 50 years, planning the next however many. Reflecting on all the many things that I have to be thankful for. Instead, this first week has been like the movie, Groundhog's Day. With me spending all my time thinking not about my place in the universe, but about how much longer do I have to go today, where my next set of fluids will come from, and could it possibly get any hotter? The whole thing has degraded into a test of how tough I am. As I was passing through Tempe today I saw a thermometer that read 106 degrees. There is no way that I can make it to Florida in the 23 days that I gave myself. I originally figured I would ride about 8 hours a day and cover 125-130 miles. Based that on my Ironman bike experience of going 112. I way underestimated the effect of the heat, hills, and the fact that this bike weighs 50 more pounds and is a lot less aero than my racing bike. Plus, less comfortable to boot, with an ability to make my knees hurt.

So what to do? Quit and head home? Add a week? I had problems with both of those options. So I came up with a third. I am going to change it up and get back to the adventure I wanted to have. I am going to wander aimlessly about. Probably head up to Sedona, maybe the Grand Canyon, or into Utah. Maybe it's 60-100 miles per day. Just wander about with no pressure, maybe take a glider ride or hot air balloon ride, or rent a mountain bike for a day, we'll see. I hope that in this way I can enjoy the time and the solitude, then return home in a week or so, refreshed and hopefully having accomplished the true purpose of the trip. It'll be good to watch the kids play basketball. Oh yeah, and to see Patty too.

Strangely, I have a feeling that I let all of you down that are pulling for me. Your comments, emails, and support mean a lot to me. I do realize the story is somewhat less compelling now, but I am going to continue to post each day until the trip is through. It is a strange world, we'll see what happens.

Plan is to try and get an early start tomorrow. They are saying mid-90's by noon, high of 101. But they also say it is gonna be cooler next week. 97 by Wednesday. Nobody seems to complain about it though. Except me. 9% humidity. I have never drank so much in my life, yet my clothes show no sign of me sweating. Today, I had well over 2 gallons of fluids, most of it 100 + degree Gatorade. Yum.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212904260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212904260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212904260/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:28:37 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Payson, Arizona, United States

I would have to say that today was the toughest yet. Payson is only about 90 miles from where I started, but those miles were unbelievably challenging. At home if I was biking, I would cover 18-20 miles per hour. Today, it was like 7. Seemed like I was going straight uphill most of the way. The countryside is as beautiful as it is desolate. I have included a number of pictures, but I doubt you will get the full effect.

I am constantly struck by the amount of distance between anything in some parts of this corner of the country. At about 20 miles in I came upon a gas station and decided to stock up my fluids, since the next town showing on the map was about 30 miles up the road, and guess what, it was over 100 again. Tired of hot gatorade, I had a brainstorm. Bought a 10 lb bag of ice, and two extra quarts. Put the gatorade inside the bag of ice and lashed it to the rack behind my seat. All that on top of the five bottles that I had been carrying. Grand total of about 180 ounces of life saving fluids, plus about 6 lbs of ice remaining in the bag. My 75 lb tank, I mean bike, now is up to about 87 lbs. Was feeling pretty good about my ingenuity, until the road tipped up. Then I was cursing myself as my aching knees struggled to propel this load up into the mountains. Then I was happy again when I got to the town of Sunflower, and saw that it was essentially one building. One closed and locked industrial building. Happy, sad, happy, sad, that's how I roll.

Another thing I find kind of odd is that you will be driving on the shoulder of a divided two lane roadway and up ahead, in the distance, see signs indicating an exit, You can see a long, wide left and right turn lane. Surely, there will be some form of humanity off an exit like this, you tell yourself. You would be wrong. Kind of like driving through 10's of thousands of acres of nothing but sand and cacti, then seeing a sign that "says 10 acres for sale". Really? I'd bet they couldn't give it away.

Met a guy, John, at the edge of town. He seemed concerned about me. It always worries me when somebody asks "You feelin' OK?" My next thought is "I was". Anyway he was pretty cool. Former Army Ranger, he is involved in local search and rescue. He believes that most people that require rescue aren't out of shape novice hikers, but usually fit, experienced people, who are wanting to push their envelope but maybe didn't do their homework properly and are caught unprepared for what they have chosen to attempt on a given day.

I told him that people like that really irritate me.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212991080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212991080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212991080/tpod.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:26:13 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Sedona, Arizona, United States

And so it ends. Barely got any sleep last night because of "stomach issues". I am not a doctor, but I have watched some on TV, and I think it has to do with my new diet, which has consisted of gallons of gatorade supplemented by countless trail mix bars. Along with truck stop food for dinner. Yum. The "issues" continued into the morning. So, I decided I would have to take another off day. Which gave me time to think about my first week. Made a decision. First, I can not wander aimlessly around. Just like when my eyes first open in the morning, I have an overwhelming sense that life is passing me by and if I'm not moving toward a goal, I'm wasting precious time. Crossing the country under my own power seemed a worthy goal; one I would be proud to tell the grandkids about. An affirmation that, while I may be getting older, I can still accomplish grand things. Wandering around the West, while my family is home without me, feels like an embarrassing act of self indulgence. So, this will be my last post, I will be heading home.

But, first, I would like to share with you some of what I have learned. Actually, "learned" may be a stretch, reminded of is probably closer to the truth. So here we go;

I am an incredibly fortunate guy. I said that in my introductory statement, so I knew it going in, but it is true in even more ways than I thought.I am fortunate because I have the good health and physical ability to get on a bike and drag it (albeit slowly), and me, through a desert, or up the side of a mountain. I continue to wear my yellow Lance band long after it is no longer cool, because every time I realize I have it on, I say a quiet thanks for my health. Too many people only miss it when it's gone.

I am fortunate to have a wife and family that was OK with the idea that I was going to take off for 3-4 weeks to try and accomplish something that I said was important to me. I am fortunate to have a collection of friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who took their time to follow along, laugh with me, or at me, and send messages of encouragement. Thanks for that.

My real life is so good that I miss it more, and sooner than I thought I would. If you go away on business, or whatever, for a couple of days, you can appreciate the change in routine and solitude and say to yourself, "Boy, this is nice". But add just a couple more days to it and that can change. A bunch. I am fortunate to have an unbelievably satisfying "real life" that I can return to.

And finally, maybe something for us all to think about. One of the themes that kept running through my head as I rode was how a cross country bike ride resembles life itself. As I rode, I could typically see just a small portion of the road ahead. I was fairly confident that I understood what it take for me to cover to that bit of ground. At the same time, I was unsure of what lay ahead. What challenges would the road throw at me, how would I handle them, and even, how much road would I have to cover? There were a lot of unknowns. Seemed to me the best way to deal with it was to enjoy the moment, even if it was a tough section, because you never knew when
the road would get even tougher. Not always easy to do. But boy, after you survived the hard parts, and the wind finally turned to your back, it was those tough sections behind you that helped you realize how good, good really was.

So, until next years attempt (that's a joke), thanks to all, see you around.



]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212731820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212731820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212731820/tpod.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:42:16 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Buckeye, Arizona, United States

Somehere (hopefully) you will see a picture of Rubio. About 8 hours in I come to a rest area, stop for a shade break and to replenish my fluids. There are maybe dozen shaded tables, all empty. I pick one, lean the bike against a nearby pole, and sit down. Two minutes later, some guy (Rubio) approaches my table, "Is that your bike?". There I sit, dressed in my dorky bike stuff, 2 feet from the bike, the only person in sight. What I wanted to say was "No, I've never seen that bike before. I just like to deck myself out in lycra and hang out at rest areas." But, the new socially skilled Jim that I am, just said "Yep". Big mistake. Thirty minutes later, I knew more about him than I know about Patty. Ex-Coast Guard, High School teacher, 4 boys, knows John McCain, used to coach a bike club, has a dream of going to the Netherlands and ride a bike, and much, much more. Eventually he asks if I want to see his bike, and, before I can say no, he goes and gets it out of the back of his truck. Finally, he notices that I'm trying to leave, and asks if he can take my picture. I say ok, he goes back to his truck to get his camera, but its out of film (film?), but he has a second one. While all this is going on two hippie looking girls slow down, lean out the window and ask Rubio whats going on. He says "This guy is riding to Florida!". Now they are waving their arms and screaming things like "awesome!" and "you f...n rock, dude". Which of course now has other people coming over...and I can't get out of there fast enough. Should have went with my first instinct.

I did put in about 125 miles like I planned, but I'm not in Wickenberg, I'm in Buckeye, Az, maybe 40 miles from Phoenix. The day started with me riding on I-10 ( yes, it's legal), but when it came time to get off and take the backroads, I saw the sign that said Phoenix 140 miles ahead, and decided that the Interstate was the place for me. Must have been that geometry lesson where they explain about the shortest distance between 2 points. Come to think of it I-10 goes all the way to Jacksonville... Just kidding. I couldn't carry enough inner tubes. Got 2 flats today due to roadside debris. Not fun changing those in 100 degree heat on the shoulder of the interstate. But, I made up a little for my off day yesterday.

Most drivers were courteous and respectful. Not a lot of trafffic. Truck drivers especially gave me a lot of room. A few cars honked as they passed, which was very irritating, at least at first. I couldn't see who was driving as they zoomed by, I initially assumed they were just not wanting to share the road. I felt much better after it occured to me that they were actually cars full of girls who just graduated from college, on their way to celebrate their new freedom, who naturally assumed that I was some fit, studly college age dude myself, as they approached me from behind...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212644700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212644700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212644700/tpod.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:56:45 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Blythe, California, United States

Not much to say tonight. Woke up this morning and decided to take the day off as soon as my right foot hit the floor. Really didn't want to burn an off day after just two days riding, but I'm trying to take the long view and thought the rest might help my knee.

So, what did I do? Nuthin'. Decided I'm not real good at that. Walked to the library after breakfast, got there to find they wouldn't open for an hour. So I walked across the street to a park, found a shaded bench and sat down. Some teenagers were playing at the skatepark, I watched for awhile. Kept feeling like the police were circling (station was nearby) keeping an eye on the weird guy (me) sitting on the bench. Across the way was a homeless guy with all his wordly posessions. He acted in a way that somehow had me thinking he seemed pretty happy, I know the kids were. And there I sat, pretty much got the world by the ass in my real life, feeling bummed that I was sitting in that same park, on that same day. It would seem that happiness is very much a matter of perspective.

Spent a lot of time reworking my route. Seems that originally I did not spend enough time considering if there would be any hotels around when I completed my daily ride. Hopefully, I've fixed that. The plan for tomorrow is to ride to Wickenburg, AZ, about 125 miles away.

Thanks to all those posting coments in this blog. Strangely, I really look forward to reading those at night. And, if you want to help in some other way, I've thought of a few things you might send me. A peloton would be nice, as would an orthopedic guy, and some aid stations stocked with cold beverages or maybe a support van with a massage therapist that could carry my 30 pounds of crap. A guy can dream, can't he?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212555600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212555600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212555600/tpod.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:36:07 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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Blythe, California, United States

Day Three - Alone Out There

I have a friend, Gary. Why do I mention him now? Thought about him a lot today. Gary and I have spent countless hours running and biking together. Something we hardly do any more and something I miss. Why. We would run and talk, we would bike and talk. Together we could have solved all the world's ills, if somone had just given us the power to implement our solutions. Those rides almost always went quick and almost seemed to end too soon. Not so with my 105 today. Wish you were here, Gar.

Wonder where I am? If you caught Good Morning America this morning, I spent the day riding where "Windy" intersected with "Hot". And that was an understatement. Just saw the Phoenix news, and winds throughout the state are between 30-50 mph. I challenge anybody reading this to post a comment that simply says "Day Three", the first time I complain about having to ride in the rain. Again I was amazed by the desolation. After I left my hotel, it was more than 60 miles before I came across a place to restock my water bottles. And that was 60 miles of nothing (see pics).

When I came upon this store I was surprised. I have a GPS unit on the bike and it was not listed. It was called "The Beach". Maybe due to the 10,000 miles of sand surrounding it. Wanted to tell the owner that most beaches offered some kind of water component too, but I resisted. Maybe I was afraid he wouldn't take my $3.79 for a gallon of water if he thought I was a smart ass. Apparently water, like gas, is more expensive here. But, truth be known, I would have paid 10 times that if I had to. There was a guy out front sitting at a picnic table. Asked me what I was doing out there (hmmm? I was starting to wonder that too). Told him it was just something I always considered a goal that I wanted to accomplish. He said he understood, that he had had a goal of getting a camping trailer and a quad by the time he was thirty five. Said he had just come into some money, and then pointed to a trailer and quad in the lot. He was proud and very happy.

Boredom does funny things to a guy. At one point I pulled off to talk to a border control agent sitting in his car at the side of the road. Needless to say, not something I would normally do. Said the temperature was 93 in the shade. I'm pretty sure he was kidding, 'cause there wasn't any freakin' shade for a hundred miles. On the plus side, the wind was at my back for 80% of the day. When it wasn't, it was brutal, but when it was, oh boy it was good. I think it was God's way of thanking me for going to church. Every Christmas.

Knee still hurts, but I've got ice on it now, and ibuprofen in my belly. We'll see.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212558060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212558060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212558060/tpod.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:55:08 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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El Centro, California, United States

Wow! I could probably stop there, but then you couldn't laugh at me. Where to start, where to start?
The trip was nearly over before it began, as I nearly got a hernia trying to lug my 500 lb. bike (actually 75 lbs.) back to the street after getting my picture taken. Then it was time to deal with the traffic during rush hour as I tried to escape the city. Then I began to climb. And climb. And climb. And climb. You get the idea. Guess what happens when you start at sea level? I peaked at about 4500 ft, but there was a lot of up and down getting there.

I have always been a numbers kind of guy. My rides have always had me thinking about how far I've gone, how far I've got to go, average speed, how many watts, etc. Guess what you don't want to think about on a ride like this. Exactly. Put about 150 miles behind me, but it was much slower going than I had thought it would be.
For those of you who haven't taken the backroads through the desert before, believe me when I tell you there is a whole lot of nothing in some parts of this world. I was way past the point where the hoot owls were hookin up with the chickens. In my last 50 miles before I got into town, I was passed by 2 cars. Roads were pretty good, guess they aren't getting much wear and tear.

Ever wonder what a highly tuned athlete eats to fuel himself? Don't ask me, I have no idea. But I had a cherry turnover, english muffin with jelly, a pecan roll, 2 glasses of OJ, 3 trail mix bars, 1 Milky Way, a turkey sandwich, 1 banana, a pack of twinkies, a bag of pretzels, 2 cokes, a half a Mountain Dew, and just under 2 gallons of gatorade. And then I went to Denny's for dinner. It's the best I could do at the places I had to stop.
Physically, I fell pretty good, except for my right knee which started to hurt at about 100 miles in. I plan to take it easy tomorrow to keep it from becoming a problem.

I have posted more pics, but I can't get them to appear where I want them. Hopefully, you will be able to poke around and find them.

That's it for now...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212453603/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212453603/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimfrondorf/1/1212453603/tpod.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:30:03 -0400 Time to Think - My Cross Country Bicycle Journey

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San Diego, California, United States

Good thing I don't believe in omens. Get to the airport this morning, aware that Delta has a policy allowing me one free bag but would charge extra for the bike. So the agent says it will be $150 for the bike (ouch) and $25 for the bag. So I asked what happened to the one free bag policy? He said it didn't apply because my first "bag" was a bike. I asked if we could make the small bag the first bag and therefore free. He said "Good idea" (I've got a million of them), but then charged me $175 anyways, saying the "system" made him do it. I argued for a moment and then decided, in the laid back spirit of this trip, to just head to the gate.

Then I get to San Diego, and find out that my bike is in San Francisco. Score - Delta 2, Me 0.

Tomorrow has got to be a better day!
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