LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

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/

Good morning,

I’m now in Astoria, OR, awaiting the start of LAA2008 on Monday morning.

on 14Jun08 we were in Eugene, OR, at Lane Memorial Blood Bank for the World Blood Donor Day blood drive!

We met with Chris and Glenda on Friday night(13Jun08) after driving up from Santa Rosa,CA, lots of miles!

Friday night we stayed at the best bed and breakfast inn ever, in Eugene, OR! (it was Glenda’s home) So lots of thanks and kudos to Glenda for taking great care of us!

We arrived early at Lane Memorial Blood Bank and was greeted by Chris, Flo, John, and lots of their hard working staff.

The blood drive started at 0900 hrs and went until 1300 hrs!

I met some incredible donors! (see photo link below) or go to LAA2008 blog link.

I was able to say “thank you” to many 1st time donors, Sherry, Michelle and many returning donors!

It was a great blood drive and there were over 41 units donated and many referrals.

I spent all my time shaking hands and saying “thank you” to each of the donors … letting them know that it was 110 donors just like them that donated just one unit of blood each … which saved my life!

For which I am eternally grateful!

Thanks to Chris and the Lane Memorial Blood Bank staff who go out of their way to make each donor feel special! (I had many donors tell me that staff like Bonnie, John, Cheryl, were the reason that they liked coming back to donate each time! What a testimony of customer service!

I must say each of our donors are incredibly giving people and the one thing that many of them told me about giving blood was: “it’s so easy, everyone should do it!”

Larry “I’m happy, I’m enthusiastic and I’m glad to be ALIVE!” Frederick

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-14-08%20–%20EugeneOR/

Hi everyone,

Tuesday was an incredible last minute rush trying to get everything done in order.

First of all, thank you to all the “donors” and thank you to all the blood centers I’ve been hearing from recently.  I’m in awe at the incredible work you do on a daily basis! 

Thanks to Chris at PK Racing who was able to finish the “bike fit” with the minimum of difficulty, making sure the bike fit the body, etc.

Thanks to DJ & Mitch @ SR Cyclery who did his best to make sure the LiteSpeed was in tip top condition and the wheels were in “true” form for the 50 day trip ahead.

It’s hard to keep track of all the “last minute” items that have to be done to make life on the road a lot easier, and I’ve found out the hard way … once you’re on the road, you can’t go back to pick up the missing items!

Thanks to Jack, Charlie, Jackie and my cycling friends who wished me farewell and good luck!

A special prayer for my 90 year old cycling buddy, Lynn McClintock and his wife, Ranie! (Lynn is going in for microscopic back surgery next week to fix a pinched nerve.)  He says he’ll be back riding again by 1Jul08.  What an incredible mentor and inspiration to all of us who have ridden with him!

Just a little update to say hello.

Larry F. 

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-10-08%20–%20SR%20Pre-ride%20pix/

I’m still working on the LAA2008 and starting to pack and figure out how to create a link to the pictures, etc.

Once again, thanks to John O. for all of his help in getting everything setup!  Like moving everything (all the files I’ll need to my laptop etc.) and explaining how to do things in HTML.

Since all my grand-children are coming to our house this next week … it’s going to be very busy and fun!

Larry F.

Hi everyone,

Another exciting day closer to “start” day!

I just wanted to say “thank you” for the good-bye party (thanks DZ) that my co-workers had for me before I left.  It was very touching and I’ll never forget that special (ice cream high) feeling I had as many of them came up to me and said good-bye.

You are a very special group of women and men who have a special understanding of what it takes to be a successful company in today’s world!

I most appreciated the nice card with your “notes” on it.  It touched me so much I just wanted to “hug” everyone!

Then it came time to say “good-bye” and “move on”!  (Which I did in my usual way, quietly walking out the door, just as I was gettiing to my car I saw one more co-worker whom I needed to say good-bye to and I did so without fanfare.)

Then I got into my car and drove off, leaving behind a thousand memories, thinking to myself … “I’ll never forget them and I can only hope that they will remember me!”

Looking forward to hearing from you on the “blog”.

Here’s the NWC pictures!