Lewis, my almost four-year-old grandson, slowly pulled his shiny green STRIDER beginner bicycle to the side of the paved path, wiped sweat from his eyes with his left hand, raised his other hand to block the afternoon sun from his gaze and asked, “Grandpa, can we do this again tomorrow?” I turned my handlebars and … Continue reading 50,000 Miles of Memories
The news out of Wuhan had been a distant whisper for weeks, but the deadly virus emerging from this Chinese city was now closing in and roaring through the streets of our cities and towns and down the dusty roads of rural America. It was bringing sickness and death nearly everywhere it appeared and leaving … Continue reading Saved by My Bicycle in a Coronavirus World
The first light of day peeks through the gap of the curtains in my hotel room. I shuffle over from the bed to catch an initial glimpse of what lies below. From my seventh floor perspective, it could’ve been any vast body of water and any beach in any city. But it wasn’t. It was … Continue reading Cycling the French Riviera
The rapid-fire clang! clang! that rang out as my bicycle’s two wheels impacted the steel plate covering the expansion joint at the near end of the bike path bridge gave me fair warning it was time to feather my brakes. But I was too slow to respond. Two hours later, on that furnace-hot June Arizona … Continue reading Crashing and the Aftermath
Solvang and Santa Barbara, CA September 13, 2018 Distance: 23.4 miles Elevation: 715 feet Moving Time: 3 hours 6 minutes Conditions: Start — Sunny, 65 degrees F. End — Sunny and 75 degrees Today's Takeaway: We became tourists today. I re-introduced myself to my wife, Diane, today. I've been so consumed planning my ride down the central … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 6 — Solvang and Santa Barbara, California
Avila Beach to Lompoc, CA September 12, 2018 Distance: 44 miles Elevation: 2,219 feet Moving Time: 4 hours 7 minutes Conditions: Start — Foggy, 61 degrees F. End — Sunny and a cool 71 degrees Today's Takeaway: There are those who have wealth and those who work hard to feed those with wealth. Maybe it was the … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 5 — Avila Beach to Lompoc, California
San Simeon to Morro Bay, CA September 11, 2018 Distance: 30.5 miles Elevation: 952 feet Moving Time: 2 hours 49 minutes Conditions: Start — Sunny, 64 degrees F. End — Not a cloud in the sky, 71 degrees Today's Takeaway: Time slowed down on this outstanding Tuesday. Today's ride brought me back to the California of my past … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 4 — San Simeon to Morro Bay, California
Big Sur to San Simeon, CA September 10, 2018 Distance: 60.9 miles Elevation: 5807 feet Moving Time: 6 hours 36 minutes Conditions: Start — Sunny, 71 degrees F. End — sunny, 74 degrees Today's Takeaway: Hills are the bane of my existence. Two years ago, my sister-in-law, Stephanie and I were biking a mile-long hill near our Arizona … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 3 — Big Sur to San Simeon, California
Monterey to Big Sur, CA September 9, 2018 Distance: 23.5 miles Elevation: 1,780 feet Moving Time: 2 hours 25 minutes Conditions: Start — Foggy, 57 degrees (F). End — sunny, 74 degrees Today’s Takeaway: It was a day of beauty and nice people. Today’s ride is complete, and I meet my wife at the River Inn, a […]
Monterey, CA — Transition Day September 8, 2018 Distance: 20.1 miles Elevation: 677 Moving Time: 2 hours 13 minutes Conditions: Start — partly cloudy, 62 degrees (F). End — sunny, 69 degrees Today's Takeaway: First days are the most difficult (even in paradise). My wife and I are finally ready to enjoy today's relaxing ride around the … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 1 —Monterey, California
