On Saturday my cousins took me up to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks to see the canyon and the trees. We saw the Sherman and Grant groves of Sequoias and also overlooked Kings Canyon. It was in the 50's and had about 5-6 feet of snow and felt great. I didn't need a coat and it was a relief from the heat in the valley. I was, however, glad I didn't have to ride through it at that temperature, because then it would have been a little cold on the downhills with the cold off the snow.
We spent the whole day there and I got worried. I have been seeing so much of this country and have taken in so many sites over the last few months, and when I saw the beauty of the parks, it had no effect on me and it worried me. I usually am in awe of all the great wonders and the natural areas of our world, but I couldn't have cared less about visiting the parks on that day. I got concerned that maybe my mind and eyes have taken in more sights than they can handle in this amount of time. John Steinbeck experienced this same phenomenon when he took his dog Charlie across the country back in the 60's. I pray that this is not the case and that I can appreciate all that I will encounter over the next 4 1/2 months.
While at the park I ended up getting a migraine and it bothered me for that day and most of the next. Thankfully I was set up in a house and also was not having to travel. I am heading on my way again tomorrow and am not planning on having too many long breaks until I get to Wyoming, or possibly Montana. I hope to take on average a day a week off to rest my body, but for the most part continue to press on. It is getting to the time of year where I will be able to travel a little easier in the north and also about when I need to push across the country. I am still planning on riding the first couple days of BRAN in Nebraska starting June 6th, so I am looking forward to killing a few of my extra days in Douglas, WY with friends I gained while I worked in the area the last year and a half before this trip.
It has been good to take a break for a while and has given my body a chance to rebuild its strength and energy. It has also given me time to focus on my thoughts and also about what all I have experienced so far. This has been refreshing, but challenging for me, as I am a person who likes to move and experience things. Thankfully, that all starts again tomorrow.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Break
So I am finally posting again. I am in front of a computer and it should be a little better post. I ended up leaving Hollywood on Thursday midmorning. I was a little nervous about riding Laurel Canyon Drive because that road leads up to Mulholland Drive, the road where the Hollywood sign is at. Laurel Canyon is a winding and steep road that I new of due to my tour leading days out here. I was still sick when I left, which made me more nervous about getting up the hill. It turned out not being as bad as I though. Once I got over I had a nice downhill to the 101. After I crossed the 101 into North Hollywood, there were bike lanes pretty much all the way to the 5. I had another hill just before the 5 and it was much worse than Laurel Canyon. I ended up walking a bit of it because my body was wore out from being sick and I had no energy.
The route I chose from the 5 had one hill and then it was pretty flat all the way to my cousins house near Santa Clarita. This was encouraging since pretty much everything around there is hills.
I was only planning on staying with my cousins a couple of nights, but they talked me into staying until Monday morning. I played with their two kids and talked with them about many different things. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time. Their two year old, Bryce, was quite shy when I got there, but on the second day he opened up. He doesn't talk much and has only a few recognizable words. When he got tucked in the second night he was asked if he had a good day and he said, "josh," after a fashion. When his first grade sister, Kate, was tucked in the first night she was trying to figure out if I was homeless or not, and was told "sort of, but not really..." She also asked if I was married and then prayed for me to find a good, godly wife.
On Monday my cousin drove me over the grapevine (a mountain pass) so I wouldn't have to ride back roads or on the interstate (if it was allowed, which we couldn't find out). She took me over and dropped me off a few miles south of Bakersfield, a little worried since it was the middle of nowhere. When I got ready to leave, Bryce, who had been asleep in the back seat, started throwing a fit. He eventually calmed down enough and watched me ride off before they headed back home. I rode into Bakersfield and got settled for the night, then went around town and looked around. Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is in town, but it was closed.
The next day I rode to Hanford to where my great aunt Lila lives. She had contacted me a while ago and said I was welcome at her place. It was one of the reasons I chose to go through the valley instead of along the coast. A free place and less hills. I fought wind and pushed to beat storm clouds the whole way. About twenty miles away I was exhausted. I eventually made it in. It was a fairly flat ride, but very windy and wet (where the wind was blowing fertilizer).
A couple days before I arrived, my aunt said they were leaving a day after I arrived, but I was welcomed to stay as long as I wanted. I decided with all the free time I had right now, and the fact that there were storms north of here predicted for a few days, that staying would be a good rest and allow me to be near a church for Easter.
I am now relaxing and continuing to figure out how I am proceeding from here. It is restful, but also challenging for me to sit still and not allow myself to try and get settled in. That's part of what this trip is supposed to help me with - being okay not working when I have free time. I am excited to keep moving and am anxious to be done, but want to be done once I have completed the ride through 48 states.
Anyways...I am safe and getting rested and my health is improving.
The route I chose from the 5 had one hill and then it was pretty flat all the way to my cousins house near Santa Clarita. This was encouraging since pretty much everything around there is hills.
I was only planning on staying with my cousins a couple of nights, but they talked me into staying until Monday morning. I played with their two kids and talked with them about many different things. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time. Their two year old, Bryce, was quite shy when I got there, but on the second day he opened up. He doesn't talk much and has only a few recognizable words. When he got tucked in the second night he was asked if he had a good day and he said, "josh," after a fashion. When his first grade sister, Kate, was tucked in the first night she was trying to figure out if I was homeless or not, and was told "sort of, but not really..." She also asked if I was married and then prayed for me to find a good, godly wife.
On Monday my cousin drove me over the grapevine (a mountain pass) so I wouldn't have to ride back roads or on the interstate (if it was allowed, which we couldn't find out). She took me over and dropped me off a few miles south of Bakersfield, a little worried since it was the middle of nowhere. When I got ready to leave, Bryce, who had been asleep in the back seat, started throwing a fit. He eventually calmed down enough and watched me ride off before they headed back home. I rode into Bakersfield and got settled for the night, then went around town and looked around. Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is in town, but it was closed.
The next day I rode to Hanford to where my great aunt Lila lives. She had contacted me a while ago and said I was welcome at her place. It was one of the reasons I chose to go through the valley instead of along the coast. A free place and less hills. I fought wind and pushed to beat storm clouds the whole way. About twenty miles away I was exhausted. I eventually made it in. It was a fairly flat ride, but very windy and wet (where the wind was blowing fertilizer).
A couple days before I arrived, my aunt said they were leaving a day after I arrived, but I was welcomed to stay as long as I wanted. I decided with all the free time I had right now, and the fact that there were storms north of here predicted for a few days, that staying would be a good rest and allow me to be near a church for Easter.
I am now relaxing and continuing to figure out how I am proceeding from here. It is restful, but also challenging for me to sit still and not allow myself to try and get settled in. That's part of what this trip is supposed to help me with - being okay not working when I have free time. I am excited to keep moving and am anxious to be done, but want to be done once I have completed the ride through 48 states.
Anyways...I am safe and getting rested and my health is improving.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Prius Will Save California
That's the impression I got for peoples mindset as I rode today. It seemed like every fourth car was a Prius. They say most trends start here, and I can see why. I feel many of these people got them just to join the bandwagon. Now, it isn't a bad thing when it is environmentally friendly, but as a country artist I like says, "I was green before green was a thing." It only really bothers me because when green isn't the thing, many of these people will probably switch back to their non-green ways.
Now that I'm done ranting, let's talk of the trip. I finally got pretty much over being sick yesterday. I decided to go for a short unloaded ride and ended up having my legs cramp up on me. I was secretly expecting this, but hoping it wouldn't happen. I got back and popped some vitamin and potassium pills and rubbed icy hot on, then relaxed and stretched for a while. Then I took a long, hot shower and stretched some more. I recovered fairly quickly, though I stretched a lot again this morning.
I took off and headed up the pch and started getting mild cramping. I prayed and messed with the gears some and fought cramping for quite a ways, and it eventually subsided.
I followed the pch to redondo beach where there was a sign that told me to turn for the bike route. I followed it and eventually found a road, but once I left the pch it was a series of too early or wrong turns. I finally got back on track after a couple miles.
I rode through el segundo, which is where I lived when I was out here working as a tour guide. It is the gateway to LAX. Shortly after el segundo I joined back up with the pch. A few more miles and I was to Venice. At Venice I turned towards Hollywood and another friends place. After some wrong turns, due to my lack of sticking to directions, I made it to his place.
I faced a fear that was bothering me from living out here. Knowing how the roads and drivers can be, I was a little nervous about riding out here. So far it has gone well. Only one more riding day and I should be out of trouble.
I get to stay here for a couple days and then head to my cousins by six flags magic mountain. Then bakersfield and up the valley to fresno and then I have to figure things out again.
Now that I'm done ranting, let's talk of the trip. I finally got pretty much over being sick yesterday. I decided to go for a short unloaded ride and ended up having my legs cramp up on me. I was secretly expecting this, but hoping it wouldn't happen. I got back and popped some vitamin and potassium pills and rubbed icy hot on, then relaxed and stretched for a while. Then I took a long, hot shower and stretched some more. I recovered fairly quickly, though I stretched a lot again this morning.
I took off and headed up the pch and started getting mild cramping. I prayed and messed with the gears some and fought cramping for quite a ways, and it eventually subsided.
I followed the pch to redondo beach where there was a sign that told me to turn for the bike route. I followed it and eventually found a road, but once I left the pch it was a series of too early or wrong turns. I finally got back on track after a couple miles.
I rode through el segundo, which is where I lived when I was out here working as a tour guide. It is the gateway to LAX. Shortly after el segundo I joined back up with the pch. A few more miles and I was to Venice. At Venice I turned towards Hollywood and another friends place. After some wrong turns, due to my lack of sticking to directions, I made it to his place.
I faced a fear that was bothering me from living out here. Knowing how the roads and drivers can be, I was a little nervous about riding out here. So far it has gone well. Only one more riding day and I should be out of trouble.
I get to stay here for a couple days and then head to my cousins by six flags magic mountain. Then bakersfield and up the valley to fresno and then I have to figure things out again.
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