Life On A B-I7

Blogs

What is the purpose of a blog anyway?

That’s a question with many answers. For me, a blog gives me a reason to write every day. What is the good of that you say? I don’t have a good answer. I find it fulfilling, although I’ll be the first to admit I don’t really know what that means. I think it might be a tool to help stave off the more debilitating side effects of aging, dementia in particular, but I realize there is no scientific evidence to back up that claim. Still, I’m hopeful. There is also a small part of me that wants to leave something behind. I’m not an artist or a musician, so those artifacts are beyond my ability. I worked as a software developer, but everything I built during my career has already been replaced and I’m only 7 years post-retirement. All I really have left is writing. The funny thing is no one reads this. I get it. In the age of Instagram, Facebook, Substack and god help us, X, who has time for the thoughts of one single person writing a daily blog? Perfectly understandable. A still small voice inside me says that I have something to contribute to this world, even if no one is listening. Maybe that’s the real lesson here. Do what we need to do and not worry about our influence. Many people today are more worried about their influence than they are about their contribution. Let’s turn that around. Influence be damned. Make a contribution.

Not Too Bad

My life good (better than not too bad). I have a beautiful and loving companion. I have a cat. I have friends that probably shouldn’t love me, but they do. I have beautiful daughters and two x-wives that don’t hate me (as far as I know). I am reasonably healthy for a man of my years. Enough good health to allow me to pursue that activities that I love. Who could ask for anything more?

Sometimes I Cry

I’m not sure why. I don’t know if it is physiological or emotional or something else. I’m not even sure if it is a problem or a good thing. (I’m hoping it’s not a problem.) It’s been occurring almost once a day. It’s often brought on by music but not always. I think music stimulates this response because our thoughts alone are not able to move us quite as easily as music can. Music engages more senses than thought does. There could be other reasons. Let’s get weird for a second, not “bank truck at a funeral parade” weird, but truly weird: Perhaps I have finally succeeded in slowing my life down enough that I am starting to feel things I should have been feeling all along. I think as humans we are supposed to feel, but we have trained ourselves not to for all sorts of reasons. I think we are becoming a society that only thinks what we are told to think. In a way we have lost the skill required to feel what is inside of us. Of course there could be other explanations. Perhaps I am reaching the end of my life and this is my body telling me to pay attention while I still can. Perhaps I am rewiring my brain to be more aware of myself and what is happening around me. I have no idea really. I don’t find it unpleasant. The only reason I can give is that it just is. I don’t want it to stop. I want to appreciate it.

Yoga Plus

Yoga was first practiced in the Indus Valley some 4,000 years ago. Approximately 2,000 years before it was adopted in India and China. Archeological digs in the Indus Valley reveal a different form of yoga than is commonly practiced today. Statues of people practicing yoga reveal a sitting posture with focus on breathing — what today we call Breath Work. Vinyasa Yoga, or the practice of flow and movement yoga did not become prevalent until yoga practice moved east from the Indus Valley. Of course, this is a very simple explanation of the evolution of yoga. The history of yoga is a fascinating subject in itself. One I have barely tapped. I do know that I would like to lean more about Breath Work. From what I have read it has amazing healing power and can be very beneficial for overall health (as can Vinyasa Yoga).

I am currently reading the book “Breath,” by James Nestor. Nestor spent ten years researching this topic and it is an inspiring work. I’m planning to incorporate Breath Work along with meditation as soon as I complete a bit more research. I would like to find a teacher. I recently went to a Qi Gong class at my local Senior Center and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Qi Gong is a gentle form of Vinyasa Yoga. I think the practice of Meditation, Breath Work and Qi Gong) can be very beneficial. I’m excited to try all three.

Manifestation

My writing tends to be pretty personal. Not what you would call non-fiction. That’s how I roll. There is a danger however; I need to be cautious not to fall into the “Manifestation” trap.

Manifestation can be compared to wishful thinking. For some, “imagining” an outcome you would like, means you can obtain it by persistent thought alone. That’s not how the world works. You can’t will the universe to give you what you want simply by concentrating your thoughts on your desires. I wish it were that simple.

In order to manifest any change in your life, you need a plan. A process to accompany that desire. I can’t simply write wonderful thoughts. My study of the Stoic masters and my occasional rants here about desirable attributes are not enough to effect change. I have to take substantive steps to achieve those things.

This is how I plan to achieve those things I write about, the ones that I find valuable. I’m going to meditate. I’m going to focus on my physical well being. I think these are the two things I can do on a regular basis to avoid simply “wishing” for change in my life. The first I commit to doing daily. The practice I plan to follow is wholly my own. The focus will be on asking myself how did yesterday go and what should today look like. I’ll also be critiquing my actions and looking for ways to improve how I am living. The second thing I commit to doing daily is exercise. I think exercise leads to more than good health. Besides making the body strong, I think it makes the mind strong. Both of those things bring the confidence to make the changes that are desired. To support those practices, I am also going to continue reading and writing. I like lists, so here is my list to help me “manifest” my self-improvement goals.

1. Meditate for Understanding
2. Exercise for Health
3. Read for Knowledge
4. Write for Joy and Peace

Wiring Your Brain

Whenever you use your brain (all the time) you are wiring your brain for its next thought. There is a reward circuit in your brain that takes whatever you are experiencing and records it. That circuit is accessed and whatever has been stored becomes what your brain seeks out. Whatever emotion you indulge in becomes what your brain seeks. So watch what you allow yourself to indulge in. Hate, anger and conspiracy will foment more hate, anger, and conspiracy. Love, happiness and joy will foment more love, happiness and joy. The choice is ours. Time spent intentionally cultivating the thoughts you would like to experience more often is time spent rewiring your brain. A few minutes a day is all that is needed. This is brain science.

Camping With Friends

Choose your friends wisely. Those with nothing to say sometimes make the best companions, even if they do steal your chair.

High West

Loving-Kindness

Breathe…

Think of someone you care about, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…

Think of someone you are neutral about, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…

Think of someone you dislike, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…

Section 1, Anacortes, WA to Sandpoint ID, 460 Miles

Highlights of this section are the Cascade Mountain Range, the plains of north eastern Washington and the mountains of northern Idaho. The Anacortes ferry terminal is the western terminus of the Northern Tier bicycle route and starting point for my tour. The first climb out of Anacortes is over Rainy Pass and Washington Pass in the North Cascades. This will make for a challenging start to the tour. I am anticipating sag support for this Section of the tour. I plan to ride self-supported from Sandpoint to the finish in Bar Harbor Maine.

Section 2, Sandpoint, ID to Cut Bank, MT, 450 Miles

One of the highlights of this section is the passage through Glacier National Park. Carved by glaciers 100 million years ago, the scenery through the park is spectacular. There is an alternate route that diverts into Canada. I’m planning to take the alternate. Passport required.

Section 3, Cut Bank, Mt to Dickinson, ND, 550 Miles

Buffalo Jump State Park just west of Great Falls is where indigenous people used the natural mile-long sandstone cliff to stampede buffalo when harvesting them for meat, bone, and fur. There is a short hiking trail at the base of the cliff where you can see bones to this day. From the top of the cliff there is a spectacular panorama of the Missouri River, the Rocky Mountain front, and the buttes and grasslands of the Great Plains.

Great Falls was named for the falls on the Missouri River found here. The falls were a formidable obstacle to the Lewis and Clark expedition when they passed through this territory. The expedition spent several weeks negotiating the 18 mile portage. Today the falls are obscured by hydroelectric development.

Section 4, Dickinson, ND to Fargo, ND, 350 Miles

Welcome to the Great Plains in all their glory. Created by an enormous inland sea that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, the plains are made from deposits left by the receding sea some 70 million years ago. The rolling prairie seen today was sculpted by the Wisconsin Glacier as it melted 25,000 years ago. The route follows that of the Red River Valley. The valley is one of the world’s finest for producing small grains. A highlight of travel through North Dakota is spotting Canadian Geese and the occasional Coyote. Remember: “Don’t get cozy with a begging Coyote.” Those signs are prevalent in Joshua Tree National Park in California, but the message applies equally here.

Section 5, Fargo, ND to Walker, MN, 175 Miles

Continuing through the RedRiver Valley you gradually transition to a more lush and moister climate in Minnesota. There is a robust cycling culture in Minnesota so it’s not surprising to meet other cyclists along the route. Logging was a major industry here between 1860 and 1900. One treat is the sampling of wild rice harvested by the Ojibewe people. Try some if you get a chance. The Ojibewe people harvest the grain by canoe on reservation rivers and lakes. The rice is sold around the world as a delicacy and still serves as an important part of the native people’s diet.

Section 6, Walker, MN to Stillwater, MN, 260 Miles

This section of the tour heads south to Minneapolis and St. Paul. With the arrival in 1823 of the first steamboat to navigate the Mississippi River this far north, the twin cities began their growth which ultimately would make them the largest cities in Minnesota. Lakes and ponds, grassy fields, meadows and marshes can be found in abundance. Wildlife is diverse and consists of a veritable smorgasbord of plants, animals, birds and insects, including the state’s unofficial bird, the mosquito.

Section 7, Stillwater, MN to Muscatine, IA, 370 Miles

As you move south through this section of the route the Mississippi Valley widens. It now reaches points where the valley can span several miles in width. The main crop is no longer wheat. Now you will see fields of corn, oats and soybeans. Livestock, dairy, poultry and apple orchards are also important industries. The route passes Effigy Mound National Monument. Covering some three square miles, the monument protects over 200 ancient peoples burial sites dating back approximately 2,500 years. The monument also offers hiking trails that wander through beautiful hardwood forests. In the summer months wildflowers are abundant. One such, the Day Lilly, is actually an imported species that has gone wild.

Section 8, Muscatine, IA to Monroeville, IN, 415 Miles

Now you are entering the “Grand Prairie.” This may be the richest soil in the world all due to glacial activity. This originally brought settlers from the Appalachians and the South. To open the territory, railroads with many spur lines were built in the early 19th century. This brought tradespeople as well as farmers and the proverbial minister, now all hallmarks of this region. Still prevalent today is a strong Protestant tradition with several well known colleges training future generations of pastors. As you reach the end of this section the terrain gradually changes as you leave the Mississippi River plain. With this change comes smaller farms and more diversified farming.

Section 9, Monroeville, IN to Orchard Park, NY, 420 Miles

A large part of this section follows the southern shoreline of Lake Erie for the greater expanse of the lake’s length. Leaving Ohio you leave behind the first oil boom in America. Oil was easy to find in this region. It often bubbled from the ground in places. It even seeped naturally into the water supply. Edwin Drake built the first oil derrick and America’s oil rush was on. Today there are only a few remnants visible of this bygone era. An interesting side-trip here is to the memorial of Captain Perry’s defeat of the British fleet on Lake Erie in 1813. This became a dramatic turning point in the War of 1812. When initially losing the struggle, Commander Perry famously coined the phrase, “Don’t give up the ship.” This ultimately led to a decisive victory over the British. The memorial can be visited by ferry ride. More info is available at the National Park Service

Section 10, Orchard Park, NY to Ticonderoga, NY, 450 Miles

This section follows Lake Ontario although not as close to the shoreline as in the previous section. The first 200 miles of route is relatively flat. If you want to put the hammer down, this is a good place to do it. The route abruptly climbs 1,500 ft into the Adirondack Mountains. You reach the end of the section at the town of Ticonderoga. One of the highlights of this section is Niagra Falls. A short alternate will allow a visit to this natural landmark. Taking in a portion of the Erie Canal is also a worthwhile endeavor.

Section 11, Ticonderoga, NY to Bar Harbor, ME, 440 Miles

This section traverses four states, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The section begins at Fort Ticonderoga where there is an opportunity to take in some Revolutionary War history. There is always potential for wind and rain in the Mount Washington area. The White Mountains in New Hampshire present climbing challenges. Nearing the end of the tour now, the climbing should feel celebratory. Another Revolutionary War historical site worth visiting is Fort Knox. Fort Know is noted for its exceptional preservation. The Vermont Green Mountains were once some of the tallest mountains in North America. Today they reach heights of 5,000 feet, in their youth they reached 12,000 feet. Logging has a long and storied history in New England and is still important to this day.

Training Plan

The reason I have a training plan is because I’m not 25 years old any longer. I’m pushing three times that age. One can’t be too careful when taking on an endeavor like this at my age so being prepared physically is critical. I don’t have a lot of experience putting together training plans, in fact, this is the first one I have ever built. My two previous trans con tours I just got on the bike and went for it. That said, this plan is a bit off the top of my head. If it works great, if I find it’s not working, I’ll adjust as I go. The jury won’t return its verdict until sometime after June 1st… probably when I reach the first mountain passes on the route, Rainy Pass and Washington Pass in the North Cascade Mountain Range.

Week 1 is bike tune-up week and first ride. I return from camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on Tuesday and take the bike in to my bike shop the next day.

Week 2 the training begins in earnest. Mondays will be the week’s warm-up ride. Wednesdays will consist of endurance work. I’ll find a hill and climb 2 miles for the indicated number of reps. Friday will be distance work. I’ll be riding my fully kitted bike starting with empty panniers and gradually adding weight to the kit until they are fully loaded.

This schedule will allow for other activities on Tuesday, Thursday and the Weekends. Hopefully that will include skiing on Mt. Bachelor in March and early April. It has been a bad snow winter so that prospect remains an open question. I would also like to do some weekend camping. Which would include some short mountain bike rides. My local bike shop also hosts weekend and Wednesday evening rides so those are an option, and always fun too.

I will record each week’s training adventure on pages here, just for fun.

Training - Week 1 - March 2 to March 8

The preparations are beginning. The bike is in my local bike shop for a tune-up. I’m doing my first training ride on Friday. It will be very short but I can already feel it’s going to be good to get back on the bike. The Davidson is a real thoroughbred, even without panniers.

Yesterday I downloaded the Northern Tier digital map set from the ACA. I’ll be loading that into Komoot so I can sync it into my COROS app and watch. I’ll be laying out the tour route and schedule in separate entries here on this site. I’m planning to begin the ride in Anacortes Washington on June 1st and end in Bar Harbor Maine. Some 4,300 miles and approximately 80-90 days of adventure touring.

I’ll most likely be riding solo unless the right riding companion(s) sign on. I plan to camp and cook for myself most of the way with occasional stays in motels and a meal in roadside diners here and there. This will be my third trans con tour so I’m no stranger to this sort of travel. I actually enjoy it. That’s a must, so no surprise really.

Training - Week 2 - March 9 to March 15

Plan

Notes

Week 2 got off to a rocky start. I had surgery scheduled for Wednesday. All is well and my recovery is not an issue, however, that pretty much consumed three days out of my week.

Thursday night I went for a ride with my local bike shop crew. The ride got off to a rough start for me when I had an asthma attack two miles in and had to drop. I do have asthma but it is normally well controlled and not a factor on tour. That said, in the early stages of training it can make things more complicated.

I don’t expect this to be a problem. Next week will be better! Cheers!

Training - Week 3 - March 16 to March 22

Plan

Notes

Week 3 is in the books and the training has yet to get underway. I’m not terribly happy about that but on the other hand, I still have two months to make this come together and I’m pretty sure that is enough time.

I had the toenail removed on my right big toe because is has been bothering me. That was done on Tuesday and the blood thing is terribly slow to heal. By the end of the week it had gotten infected so now I am on antibiotics for ten days. It is feeling better and I think I will be able to put on cycling shoes in just a couple of days.

I started Accupuncture therapy to help relieve pain in my back so I can train more effectively. I’ll be taking treatments once a week until the tour begins. I’m also meeting with a personal strength trainer early next week, so that will be a real aid to preparation I’m sure. More to follow.

Training - Week 4 - March 23 to March 29

Plan

Notes

The month of March has slipped past me. Fortunately I still have two months to pull the training together. I’m going for a ride tomorrow (Monday 3/30). Next week I begin weekly workouts with a personal strength coach. My toe is still healing and feels pretty awful but I’m going to have to ignore that since it could be several weeks more before the dang thing is fully healed.

My asthma has been giving me fits for the last two weeks. Spring has erupted early here in Central Oregon — with a vengeance. I’m going to make an appointment tomorrow to see an Asthma/Allergy specialist — hopefully I won’t need to wait long to get in. All of this sounds a bit grim but I am optimistic as hell, and excited. To boost my moral, I designed a logo for the tour (see below) and my daughters want their own t-shirts with the logo on them. Who would have thought.

I’ve been looking at the COROS watch/app combo. I’m planning to use both on the tour. I have a lot of work to do to get familiar with them. (They are new acquisitions for this tour.) I’ve discovered three features I definitely want to use.

1. Pause Navigation / Resume Later
   This will allow stats and route info for the day to be saved without extended food/rest breaks mucking up the works.
2. Extender
   This will display the watch screen onto my cell phone (which I have mounded on the handle bars).
3. Safety Alerts
   This will notify my special someones when I begin each day’s travel and also allow me to send an emergency alert to them — should that become necessary.

Training - Week 5 - March 30 to April 5

Plan

Notes

Another slow week in training. That’s in terms of cycling miles anyway, otherwise eventful. My toe is not yet healed and sometimes it even keeps me awake at night. I’m glad I didn’t put that treatment off any longer. Getting that done as early as I did was a good idea. The toe is getting better, ever so slowly.

My weekly Accupuncture treatment continues on Tuesdays and will until the start of the tour. I’m getting good relief from the treatments and they are helping to keep me in the game. Wednesday I attended my first strength training session. It kicked my butt. It’s going to be great. My trainer marveled at the fact that I did a long distance tour just two years ago. She was judging that based on my current level of strength. She said I was living on good genetics and I needed strength training now more than ever. I don’t disagree with her. She promised that our sessions would get me ready for the long hours in the saddle demanded by the tour. She’s right, it does require strength in the back and glutes to handle the prolonged pressure.

A winter storm blew in Wednesday night, possibly the last storm of this season. We took advantage of it by going skiing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thursday was tough because I was soar from training on Wednesday, but I survived and we had a blast getting in three days in a row of good turns, possibly the last days of good snow we will see this winter. We played pickleball Saturday and Sunday (and tomorrow as well).

The upcoming week will see me sorting through my touring kit and making sure that everything there is in order, and of course, I plan to get some miles in this upcoming week!