LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

What a beautiful city!  What a beautiful trolley car ride!  What a great hotel and city to REST in!

I can’t believe how much fun this city is!  The famous Boise State is up here!  I spent the day catching up on emails and much needed rest.  I even had time to “clean” my bike after getting it serviced.

I went shopping at WinCo’s and George’s Bike shop. (picking up the odds and ends that I needed for the next big leg.)

Last night we said good-bye to our friends who rode the 1st week with us, and I was able to say “hi” to some of the new cyclists. (my namesake who is from Mill Valley, CA)

Also able to get our laundry done and relax a bit,  by elevating our feet and legs and if necessary “icing” our legs.  (Also a massage was available if an individual cyclist needed a massage!)

Once again, I received some calls from blood centers who are planning blood drives along our route in Rapid City, SD., Pierre, SD., and from Mitchell, SD.! (So blood donations are picking up a little bit!)

Also I picked up some energy drinks which I hope will give me more energy and endurance, etc.?

I been receiving lots of “kind” words and comments are the pix and the blog. (sort of makes it worth it, eh?)

You’ll notice I didn’t take a lot of pix today because it was a “REST” day, however, there are a few pix just to whet your appetite, especially the picture of the “brownie Supreme” … if you know what I mean!

Larry F.  

 http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-24-08%20–%20Rest%20Day/

Another great 62 mile day!

Everyone seemed to have fun today and enjoyed the more level terrain.

We started off with a great breakfast and a quick stop at the Welcome to Idaho sign!

Then off to our respective riding groups and working together to find our way to Boise. (With an occasional “flat”, as you can tell by the pix)

Very beautiful area and lots of country homes to view and we rode through Idaho.

Several sag and water stops, also a stop for a hamburger and black cherry/raspberry shake.

After the chow stop, one of our cyclists made up the following song sung to the tune of Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” (On the seat again … I just can’t wait to get on the seat again … the life I love is making music with my seat loving friends  … I just can’t wait to get on the seat again!”) Only a long distance cyclist would appreciate this tune!

Lots of cyclists stopped to check out the Main street cafes and local bike shop.

Later we checked into the Marriott and many cyclists went over to George’s Bike shop to replenish all kinds of goodies that will be needed on the upcoming days of cycling. (I would like to say thank you to Cody (the service manager because of the way he treated me and how he fixed up my LiteSpeed!  He told me later that he too had a titanium rod in his leg from a car accident!)

We had dinner from 4-7 p.m. tonight and “rap” is at 5:30 p.m.

Looking forward to what’s in store for us.

Oh yes, tomorrow is a “REST DAY” which means we can sleep in!  Yahoo! (I couldn’t resist that!)

Larry F.

P.S.  A special “thanks” to those who allowed me to ride with them today!

Here’s the link to the pix:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-23-08%20–%20BoiseID/

In the evening of our ride from Ontario to Boise, and after visiting George’s bike shop and having ABB’s rap session and eating dinner together. 

We had a few minutes with Mr. Pro Basketball, our unicyclist, who entertained us with an incredible show and some absolutely amazing thoughts about LIFE and CYCLING together on this trip! (a picture is worth a thousand words, so if you don’t believe me … check the pix out for yourself!)

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-23-08%20–%20BoiseID/Rest%20Day%20Pix/

Hi everyone,

What an incredible ride today!  86 miles + miles!(because we got lost at the end of the ride)

It was the longest downhill that we’ve had so far and really fun to ride with some of the fastest cyclists that we have on this ride.  However, there are many very strong cyclists, climbing faster and stronger every day!

I am so honored to be riding with the incredible individual cyclists that we have riding with us this year.

There are so many very accomplished men and women among us.

Each one of these cyclists have their own individual story!

The pictures I took today was far and few, yet, it was fun to capture a live snapshot of the trip at various locations on the road.

For me personally, this was one of the best riding days that I’ve had so far!  It was downhill most of the way and “I’ve never found a downhill that I didn’t like!”

I want to say ”thank you” to the cyclists who let me ride with them, behind them or take a picture of them as they passed me on the way to the top of the climbs!

I’m having a lot of fun and learning a lot about cycling each day!

Once again, I want to take a moment to say “thank you” to each of our blood donors in America and Canada…  without you … I wouldn’t be here to enjoy life and this ride across America.

Also I found that sports article by Lon Austin for the Central Oregonian titled “Biking Across America”, a great article detailing some of the great causes that individual cyclists are working for on this ride.

Don’t forget to check out the pix at the link below.

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-22-08%20–%20OntarioOR/

Hi Everyone,

Another beautiful day in Oregon with lots of climbs, long sweeping downhills, great vistas, good food, and lots of cyclists who love to cycle.

The excitement today for the cyclists was racing the big “storm” home to the Best Western before the downpour! (Most of us got wet, yet, we didn’t get drenched!)

I had the opportunity to ride with the strongest Brit cyclist today, thank you for pulling me home! (Her husband might disagree with the “strongest” Brit compliment!)

What I saw today was a lot of cyclists, getting a lot stronger and having a great time riding with each other!

We are starting to become one big “extended” cycling family with our passion for cycling as our grounding rod!

Don’t  forget to check out the pix link below:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-21-08%20–%20BakerCityOR/

Well, today was a long hot ride!  It started out slightly chilly, yet because we were climbing it warmed up pretty fast!

The highlight of the day was the roads… lot of chipseal and pea gravel in the bike lanes, which meant we had to be very careful about passing traffic.

The real story is the distance … a very long way … with lots of climbs in the beginning.

This is a very pretty part of Oregon, with spectacular mountain views and beautiful rivers and green valleys.

I stopped at the Bridge Creek Cafe and had a cup of stew and blackberry/raspberry milk shake. (the best!)

I must say I was very happy to finish this day and thankful for a fellow cyclist who rode the last 50 miles with me.  (A big thank you!)

Larry F

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-20-08%20–%20JohnDayOR/

Hi Everyone,

What a day!  No really, what a day!  Another day of climbing, for most of the cyclists it was not really that hard, however, the climbs just kept coming!

Today I wore my yellow “Charlie Brown” jersey in honor of Santa Rosa, CA. (see pix link below)

When we finally finished the last water stop about 10 miles out of town.  There was a local sports reporter taking pix and interviewing several of the cyclists who are riding for their charities.  What a nice guy!

Dinner was a split routine tonight, some cyclists ate early, some later.

We’re all looking forward to the 117 mile ride tomorrow into John Day, OR.

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-19-08%20–%20PrinevilleOR/

What a day!

It was really cold this morning and we climbed all day.

Then in the afternoon we rode across the Federated Tribes of Warm Springs land on our way to the KahNeeTah casino.

A very beautiful ride and very challenging, if you’re not a climber!

Although there were some incredible downhills! (6 miles +)

After checking in, we had a long wait for our rooms, however, the dinner provided by the casino was one of the best we’ve had so far.

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-18-08%20–%20KahNeeTahOR/

What a beautiful ride today as we came up to Mt Hood.  Lots of climbing and getting to know the strengths of other cyclists, some are really good climbers, etc.

ONe thing for sure everyone loves to cycle and has a great love for food!

A very interesting day, however, their was no access to the internet, therefore I’m doing this a day behind!

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-17-08%20–%20%20WelchesOR/

Hi Everyone,

It was a great day!

Yes it was cold and windy when we started from the coast and then we had to climb some long climbs, not really steep yet very very long!

Still it was a great day and everyone one of the cyclists made it without any real problems. (Of course I wasn’t riding with everyone all day!

It is incredible to be riding with such neat people who are in love with cycling and have a true passion and dream of riding across America on a bicycle.

I’ve met some really neat people today and each of them are really helpful, and look out for each other!

The AAN crew are very knowledgle and really do care (a lot) about our safety! (hence all the meetings)

The bicycle route today was very beautiful and scenic!

We finished up with a great dinner and our daily “rap” session where we discuss the next day’s route, sag locations and how much climbing we will be doing.

A mix of many types of people, young and more mature, yet each of them have a passion for cycling!

What a neat group of people to talk to, also to listen to their personal stories, their dreams of cycling across America and how finally they are living their dreams.

Many of them are riding for their personal charities such as: cancer society, etc.

Larry F.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-16-08%20–%20St%20Helens/

Today is 15Jun08.

Gail woke up early and we say our “until then’s” , she insists that it’s not a good-bye!

She is now driving back home to Santa Rosa,CA, and I’m alone in my room (not lonely) and enjoying the view of the Hapag-Lloyd container ship that just cruised by my window underneath the even more huge and tall bridge!  There have been many ships coming into the bay where the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean meets!

At 0900 hrs I went to the Riverview Room #1 and checked in, did all the registration papers with America by Bicycle staff, picked up my AbB hat, jersey, shorts and polo shirt! 

I then patiently waited in line for a mechanic to thoroughly inspect my LiteSpeed and make sure it was “road worthy”!

**Note to Mitch: the bike was in really great shape except for one small item: the front and back brake pads were finger tight. (they could be moved with his fingers) So he then went over the bike with a fine tooth comb and said other than that it was in great shape.  He also noticed that the Amadillo’s were a very close fit yet still worked fine.  (So thanks to Mitch, DJ, Charlie, John and all the young guys at Santa Rosa Cyclery and Sonoma Bicycle Company for all their help, I couldn’t have done it without you)

Well the rest of the afternoon from 3 p.m. on we spent our time in meetings about rules of the road, safety, safety, and safety.

We then had dinner at a local restaurant and then had a “rap” session, discussing tomorrow’s ride and the ins and outs of the first day on the road.

Tomorrow’s the big day, I can’t wait to get on the road again!

Don’t forget that “comments” and “feedback” is always welcome!  It makes me feel wanted and still in touch!

Larry F. (check out pix at link below)

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/