Are we there yet, Daddy?: May 2014

May 4, 2014
I'm writing this back home in Ft Lauderdale two months to the day from when I flew to San Diego.

First and foremost:
I'd like to thank my wonderful family for their amazing support and encouragement before and during my trip. Unfortunately, since my return, my celebrity status has strangely and mysteriously diminished and I'm back to taking out the trash and washing dishes.... I guess that's ok. 52 DAYS is lots better than 15 MINUTES of fame...

Also, thanks to all of you who have read my blog and waited patiently for the occasional and usually late updates. To show my appreciation (and teach certain internet addicts I know a lesson) , I have compiled some really boring statistics for you!

BORING TRIP STATS
52 days total
45 riding days
7 rest days in Tucson AZ, Columbus NM, Marathon TX, Concan TX, Richards TX, Dauphin Island AL, High Springs FL.

OFFICIAL MILEAGE: (you may select only one of the following)
A. 2896.1 Organizer's "Official" Mileage totaled from the occasionally less than perfect Cue Sheets or
B. 2981.2 Organizer's "Official" Mileage by State total or
C. 2940.4 Douglas Peterson's QOGIM*
*Quazi-Official Guaranteed Inaccurate Mileage Defined (today only) as: one day lost to illness combined with my "actual" mileage that is calculated from a "Dead on Day 36" expensive Garmin Edge 800 cycling GPS and a, uh, not so expensive Wal-Mart cycling computer plus all the miles of riding around (like to various Wal-Marts) that weren't on the "official" route = "Your mileage may vary"

Days State Mileage
4 California 188 miles
9 Arizona 490.1 miles
3 New Mexico 173.6 miles
19 Texas 1059.8 miles
5 Louisiana 281.9 miles
2 Mississippi 204.3 miles
2 Alabama 78.8 miles
8 Florida 504.7 miles

CLIMBING:
over the 3,000 miles from our start in San Diego we climbed a total of 109,995 feet.... (and since we made it to the water's edge in St Augustine Beach, the scientist in me is reasonably sure that we also probably descended 109,995 feet...)

Coldest day:
Day 38 - 33° F, April 15th in Clinton, LA
Hottest day:
Day 51 - 88° F, April 27 in Palatka, FL

My Longest day:
Day 21- 101.6 miles - Rodeo NM to Columbus, NM
My Hardest day:
Day 23 - 81.5 miles - Sanderson, TX to Comstock, TX with 20 mph, increasing to 40 mph headwinds where only 11 riders finished ;-(

my advice to you all is to crank up some Queen and
GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!!!

Monday, April 28th, 2014
Day 52
The last day's ride was a very short 43 mile run from Palatka to St Augustine. While trying to stay out of the traffic on FL 207 we rode through some lush farm country and past the beautiful old St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Since everyone rides at their own pace, we had a rendezvous set up for 1:30 on A1A over in St Augustine Beach so since I arrived about ten, I wandered around the old part of St Augustine remembering all the 4th grade Florida History trips we took here with the kids and Victoria's and my recent trip here with Maggie when she was a Senior at UF.

While sightseeing and walking around old town I found myself answering questions from total strangers who had read my jersey that says:

Coast 2 Coast

2014

San Diego to St Augustine

I guess they saw me in St Augustine walking around with that jersey on and a pretty dirty bike so were wondering if I had actually done what the jersey implied. It was interesting to see their reaction to telling them, yes, I had just ridden almost three thousand miles from California on the bicycle.... ;-)
Heck, I even got some compliments on my legs!

I was still reminiscing about the kids' field trips in this great little town when Victoria arrived from Ft Lauderdale and called so we met up at a coffee shop till it was time to ride to the beach en mass..

I left at 1 and rode to the rendezvous while V drove to the hotel to take pics of our arrival and the classic, end of the ride, touring cyclist's "wheel dipping ceremony" of putting the front wheel into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Not only was trying to get everyone organized for the photos like herding cats but it also it took forever to make all the necessary introductions! After 52 days with the group, I wanted Victoria to understand who the people were, especially the people I spent most of my time with.
The guys I rode with most (here with their real names for a change) were Roland Provost, "RO" Robert Loving, and "PW" Pete Wolter. This was RO's third time doing this exact trip and he and Roland did it together in 2011. These guys were a great source of laughter, information, and help to me on the ride. I also spent a lot of time going very fast and laughing a ton with Scott Bridge (our token Canadian resident/Aussie), "Montana" Mike Owen, and "Chicago" Mike McCabe. Truly great guys all.

We finally got to our room and I got cleaned up for the banquet/dinner across the street at the Sunset Grille. We had a nice seafood dinner sitting with Roland, RO and PW then headed to the pool area for a final gathering and usual group foolishness.

Tuesday morning will be a zoo. Most folks are leaving by air and need to have their bikes boxed and shipped before they leave. Since Victoria drove up in our Highlander with my Thule 4 bike rack on it, I have volunteered my services for any bike transport needed. Assuming, of course, I can remember how to drive! ;-) Its been two months since I have driven a car!! Heck, I've only ridden in cars twice in two months since I left San Diego!
Since V has a week off, we will stay here on the beach for a few days then head home to the usual civilized chaos and confusion...
I think I like it better on the bike.....