Day Two - Reality Sets In
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2008
1
2
8
Trip End
Jun 26, 2008
El Centro,
California,
United States
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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
Flat and Deserted!
.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...
Comments
Use your other knee!!
JB, I'm glad you made it 150 miles, but concerned you're in too much of a hurry.....just sooo not like you. Just one other word of advice, 'protein', and plenty of it. I haven't read the Twinkie package, but I'm pretty sure there isn't any in them. Denny's offers several items, so think about having the Husky Man breakfast!
GW
At least it's not raining...like it is here
LOVED the pictures!
I hope you have some ibruprofen and how about a knee brace?
Did you happen to spot a massage therapist in the desert?
Close to the border!
You are too close to the border!!! Your beautiful wife and awesome kids want you to come back NOT escape to Mexico! No midlife crisis allowed!!GGG is very proud to know Jim Frondorf!
Since you've been gone...
I just wanted to let you know since you've been gone you now have a sophmore, 8th grader, and 6th grader.
I've also been thinking about doing a similar trip when you get home. I'm doing
training right now. It involves starting in New York with friends and shopping
my way across America! I wouldn't need a blog I could send you receipts
from all my purchases so you could see every mall i had been to! It would
last probably a month since I would have to throw in spa treatments to recover
from all the package carrying involved.
Love your wife
Do you remember her??????
It's like going south for vaca from Cinci...
You're almost out of the first state already! Just don't think about the next 3. Good luck.
JC
Keeping you posted.
Well unlike you Patty has been training for her trip for the past couple of years. You on the otherhand need to take it easy. Something new to think about, Chad Johnson is going to stay a Bengal! I will start giving you daily challange, Todays is to get me the best road kill picture that you can find. Bigger is better. Good Luck and I am looking foward to seeing the photo.
Hello from Wisconsin!
Hey Jim, You should have started from Seattle and ended in Maine. This way, we could have met up at the Dell's! You know, the place where the mosquitoes are the size of a small aircraft. Good Luck and God Speed James Frondorf!