I touched down safely in Pittsburgh at 4:30pm this afternoon. My associate, Ms. Goe, is set to arrive with the U-Haul at 9:30pm. Her landlord and neighbor granted me passage into the apartment, wherein I layed down my gear, set out a mat to stretch, and promptly went down for a 45 min nap.
Now awake and showered, I was briefly concerned that a small "lumpus" on my back, just out of my sightmight be a deer tick, and quietly panicked, I went downstairs to consult with the neighbor to happily find that my lump was but a simple pimple.
Now with 2.5 hours to kill in Pittsburgh, I'm off to the Warhol Museum, as I'm told it's a must-see.
A brief note, to be elaborated upon soon-- Many, many thanks to Oscar Mejia of Bike Land (Chatham, NJ), Grace and Bob Kline of Strausstown, PA, and Scott Kocevar of In Gear (Hummelstown, PA) for each one donating a pair of gloves to see me comfortably down the road. Having lost my first pair that Mr. Mejia graciously donated in Shartlesville, PA, I encountered the Klines, who gave me a pair of cotton yard-work gloves. Then in Hummelstown, thanks to Mr. Kocevar of In Gear, I upgraded to another pair of cycling gloves, proper. Having ridden different stretches of the ride with and without gloves, I'm thankful to those who granted me such comfort and utility.
Cheers,
--rz
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day 2 done, Day 3 beginning.
Good Morning!
Typing from the front desk of the Pine Hill RV Park, hanging out with owner, Pam Hasse and flanked on my right by their desktop Shi-Tzu, Lexus. All black and cozy on a little mat, the dog is friendly and serene, easily plied with belly rubs.
Had a slight mishap on the road just before camp, in which I took a wrong turn 1.5 miles from my destination and accidentally ended up on the Highway just before dark, which was terrifying. Barreling down the blistered shoulder with Big Rig horns blaring, I was never more eager to be off of a road. On the bright side, the adrenaline boost made me pedal remarkably fast and forget entirely the pain in my legs.
Highway debacle aside, highlights from yesterday included Stopping in at a gallery in Easton, PA, at the NJ/PA border, where the gallery owner liked my work and so we're talking about a show for December. In Allentown, I rode through the Tour de Brew, a closed-course "criterium." Essentially, a cycling race looping around two blocks, through a spiral ramped parking garage, barreling back down the ramps and cutting back through the local brewery, coasting on a "victory lap" past dining patrons and beer drinkers, 16 times over. Given the photo op, I introduced myself to the folks in charge and accidentally signed up to ride with the "expert" class, despite my luggage-laden rig. Coasting through the bar, someone snapped a photo of me for posterity, and I received a warm welcome from the crowd, being announced by a man with a microphone.
Today being Day 3, I'm heading now to Hershey, PA-- home of "the chocolate." 61.5 miles to go today, and so I'm departing earlier to make good time. Best to all, and I'll log in again when next I can.
Heart,
--rz
p.s.-- Special thanks again to Nora Dye for loaning me a hands-free, head-mounted flashlight, which made setting up my tent after dark possible.
Typing from the front desk of the Pine Hill RV Park, hanging out with owner, Pam Hasse and flanked on my right by their desktop Shi-Tzu, Lexus. All black and cozy on a little mat, the dog is friendly and serene, easily plied with belly rubs.
Had a slight mishap on the road just before camp, in which I took a wrong turn 1.5 miles from my destination and accidentally ended up on the Highway just before dark, which was terrifying. Barreling down the blistered shoulder with Big Rig horns blaring, I was never more eager to be off of a road. On the bright side, the adrenaline boost made me pedal remarkably fast and forget entirely the pain in my legs.
Highway debacle aside, highlights from yesterday included Stopping in at a gallery in Easton, PA, at the NJ/PA border, where the gallery owner liked my work and so we're talking about a show for December. In Allentown, I rode through the Tour de Brew, a closed-course "criterium." Essentially, a cycling race looping around two blocks, through a spiral ramped parking garage, barreling back down the ramps and cutting back through the local brewery, coasting on a "victory lap" past dining patrons and beer drinkers, 16 times over. Given the photo op, I introduced myself to the folks in charge and accidentally signed up to ride with the "expert" class, despite my luggage-laden rig. Coasting through the bar, someone snapped a photo of me for posterity, and I received a warm welcome from the crowd, being announced by a man with a microphone.
Today being Day 3, I'm heading now to Hershey, PA-- home of "the chocolate." 61.5 miles to go today, and so I'm departing earlier to make good time. Best to all, and I'll log in again when next I can.
Heart,
--rz
p.s.-- Special thanks again to Nora Dye for loaning me a hands-free, head-mounted flashlight, which made setting up my tent after dark possible.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Day 1 down, Day 2 beginning:
Good morning.
Up and just about on my way from a great evening spent in Stewartsville, NJ, at the home of NJ State Parks employee, Mrs. Kim Russ, and her husband Richard Russ, who just goes by "Russ." Upon being received safely into town, we sat down to a beautiful and bountiful meal of shrimp and squash, stuffed peppers, fresh corn on the cob, salad and wine. Having heard of my penchant for 'amateur gourmet cookery,' Mrs. Russ invited me to attend to the scampi, which went well. After stuffing ourselves to the gills, we retired to the patio for an evening coffee by the fire.
The Russ home sits upon 2 acres of beautiful rolling country, alongside a corn field and speckled with wildlife, which Russ is constantly photographing, and so the home is abundantly stuffed with photos of deer, wild turkeys, snow geese and foxes, all of whom have come to nestle into the blurred boundaries of human and animal habitat.
After fixing breakfast with tomatoes and peppers from the garden to show my gratitude for such wonderful lodgings, I sat down with Russ who re-directed my Google Map directions onto a more favorable route out of town. Now off to Kutztown, PA, a moderate 41 miles down the road. The lesser distance will be a welcome rest after the initial day of the tour. On Day 1, the NJ countryside, presented me with far more hills than I had ever thought to imagine. For my next tour, I have already decided upon the following:
Up and just about on my way from a great evening spent in Stewartsville, NJ, at the home of NJ State Parks employee, Mrs. Kim Russ, and her husband Richard Russ, who just goes by "Russ." Upon being received safely into town, we sat down to a beautiful and bountiful meal of shrimp and squash, stuffed peppers, fresh corn on the cob, salad and wine. Having heard of my penchant for 'amateur gourmet cookery,' Mrs. Russ invited me to attend to the scampi, which went well. After stuffing ourselves to the gills, we retired to the patio for an evening coffee by the fire.
The Russ home sits upon 2 acres of beautiful rolling country, alongside a corn field and speckled with wildlife, which Russ is constantly photographing, and so the home is abundantly stuffed with photos of deer, wild turkeys, snow geese and foxes, all of whom have come to nestle into the blurred boundaries of human and animal habitat.
After fixing breakfast with tomatoes and peppers from the garden to show my gratitude for such wonderful lodgings, I sat down with Russ who re-directed my Google Map directions onto a more favorable route out of town. Now off to Kutztown, PA, a moderate 41 miles down the road. The lesser distance will be a welcome rest after the initial day of the tour. On Day 1, the NJ countryside, presented me with far more hills than I had ever thought to imagine. For my next tour, I have already decided upon the following:
- Learn to read a topographical map
- leave myself more time to pause and enjoy the countryside
- train more on monster hills.
All that aside, though, the ride from Newark to Stewartsville was a wondrous exposure to the breadth of terrain and architecture along the way. From the busted grit of Newark, past Rutgers and Seton Hall, into the palatial estates in Millburn and Chatham, on through the townships of Mendham and Chester and the downtown strip of Washington, NJ with its pubs and movie theatres, and all the vast areas in between which ranged from marsh and grasslands to wooded mountains. More on that later, as I've got to be out on my way. All thanks again to Kim and Russ for their warm welcome and hospitality.
Cheers,
--rz
Friday, August 22, 2008
Late night packing
All the gear is assembled. Double checking my checklist, working to balance the panniers for even weight distribution. A special thanks to Messrs. Mike Bleakley and Michael Watson at Toga Bikes here in the city for donating a pair of clipless shoes for the ride. It's miraculous how much extra power I seem to get out of my stroke, though I have had a couple near-mishaps at stoplights, forgetting that my feet are clipped in. The folks at Toga seem to really know their stuff, and helped me to select the right gear for my needs and my budget.
Printing my maps and lists of contacts, and spraying them down with Krylon Crystal Clear to prevent ink-bleeding in the event of spill or rain disasters. Off we go, first thing in the morning.
Heart,
--rz
Printing my maps and lists of contacts, and spraying them down with Krylon Crystal Clear to prevent ink-bleeding in the event of spill or rain disasters. Off we go, first thing in the morning.
Heart,
--rz
Thursday, August 21, 2008
2 Days 'til Departure: All booked up!
I'm immensely pleased and relieved to have booked all six nights between NYC and Pittsburgh in donated campsites and campgrounds and friendly places along the way. All thanks and praise to the many folks who've graciously donated the use of their campgrounds for the trip. The official route now, is as follows:
Day 1: NYC --> Stewartsville, NJ: 72 miles.
Lodging with Mrs. Kim Russ of the NJ State Parks Service at Round Valley State Park, who heard of my trip, and offered her back yard of 2 acres, adjoining a corn field.
Day 2: Stewartsville, NJ --> Kutztown, PA: 41 miles.
Lodging at the Pine Hill RV Park, courtesty of Mrs. Pam Hasse, owner.
Day 3: Kutztown --> Hershey, PA: 55 miles.
Lodging at the Hershey Highmeadow Campground, courtesy of Mr. Mark Panassow, Manager.
Day 4: Hershey --> Chambersburg, PA: 62.9 miles.
Lodging at Twin Bridge Meadow Family Campground, courtesy of Mrs. Florence Mackey, Owner.
Day 5: Chambersburg --> Bedford, PA: 63.7 miles.
Lodging at Friendship Village Campground, courtesy of Ken and Darla Rhodes, Owners.
Day 6: Bedford --> Greensburg, PA: 65.6 miles.
Lodging at the Madison/Pittsburgh KOA, courtesy of Bill and Gette Jones, Owners.
Day 7: Greensburg --> Pittsburgh, PA: 27.1 miles.
An easy ride in, with time to putter around Pitt and peruse the sights, prior to meeting my associate, Ms. Goe, and her truck 'o' boxes.
Glad to have it all plotted out. Now to check the roads in between each site
Day 1: NYC --> Stewartsville, NJ: 72 miles.
Lodging with Mrs. Kim Russ of the NJ State Parks Service at Round Valley State Park, who heard of my trip, and offered her back yard of 2 acres, adjoining a corn field.
Day 2: Stewartsville, NJ --> Kutztown, PA: 41 miles.
Lodging at the Pine Hill RV Park, courtesty of Mrs. Pam Hasse, owner.
Day 3: Kutztown --> Hershey, PA: 55 miles.
Lodging at the Hershey Highmeadow Campground, courtesy of Mr. Mark Panassow, Manager.
Day 4: Hershey --> Chambersburg, PA: 62.9 miles.
Lodging at Twin Bridge Meadow Family Campground, courtesy of Mrs. Florence Mackey, Owner.
Day 5: Chambersburg --> Bedford, PA: 63.7 miles.
Lodging at Friendship Village Campground, courtesy of Ken and Darla Rhodes, Owners.
Day 6: Bedford --> Greensburg, PA: 65.6 miles.
Lodging at the Madison/Pittsburgh KOA, courtesy of Bill and Gette Jones, Owners.
Day 7: Greensburg --> Pittsburgh, PA: 27.1 miles.
An easy ride in, with time to putter around Pitt and peruse the sights, prior to meeting my associate, Ms. Goe, and her truck 'o' boxes.
Glad to have it all plotted out. Now to check the roads in between each site
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
4 Days 'til Departure
morning training: 11mi. through Qns and Bkln. I seemed to average 12-14 mi/hr, though I've yet to attach my rack and panniers, which should arrive in the next day or so. Breakfast at the Greenpoint Coffee House: Egg, bacon and cheese on a roll, and coffee: $8.00 w/tip.
Meeting tomorrow in Brooklyn with Ms. Nora Dye of Wanderlust: a ride for Reproductive Justice, for one of my final training rides and a consultation on DIY bike repair. Ms. Dye is graciously donating the temporary loan of:
Later in the evening, I met with Robert Burke and a gang of about 10 instructors at NYC Outward Bound at their main hub in Long Island City. Mr. Burke, Director of Staff Training at NYC OB, is a solid and serene man, quietly radiant from a healthy diet of fresh air, challenge, exercise, and endorphins. The entire group, in fact, was saturate with a palpable buzz of energy for their evening recreation on the 60' back-yard rock-climbing wall, neatly tucked away from the building's adjacent alley, just a stone's throw from the N/W trains and the Queensboro Bridge. Upon receiving me into their enclosed yard and climbing area, everyone shook my hand and introduced themselves by name. I quickly got the sense that to be invited into this inner sanctum is a privilege reserved for a select few. After graciously outfitting me with a sleeping pad and a "shell" rain-coat (light-weight and stretchy with a hood) for my bike trip, I was invited to climb on their wall.
After filling out a brief medical form and signing a waiver, I was outfitted with a helmet, a harness, and a pair of climbing shoes. I climbed with OB once in my youth, about 12 years ago, and remembered some of the basics. I was reminded to move just one limb at a time, maintaining three points of contact at all times, and to trust in the strength of my legs, as they possess the largest muscle groups in the body. And so, with two people on the ground below me to belay and anchor-belay my safety rope, I proceeded to climb about 45-50' up this wall until my fingers and fore-arms trembled to cling to the 'overhang' segment of the wall. Upon my resignation, the staff below of course encouraged me to go just a little bit farther up, and once there, allowed me to call out "ready to lower." Letting go of the wall, I fell into the suspended safety of the rope, and spun slowly around to see the sun-painted horizon of Industrial Queens from 4 stories high. Upon landing and after massaging my throbbing forearms, I consulted with Mr. Burke and Ms. Diana Belknap, a North Carolina-based instructor of 20 years. During our interview, I learned how to make a fire in the rain, and the most important multi-tool to bring on an outdoor expedition: The Frisbee. Ms. Belknap detailed "The 9 uses for a Frisbee," as outlined here:
Meeting tomorrow in Brooklyn with Ms. Nora Dye of Wanderlust: a ride for Reproductive Justice, for one of my final training rides and a consultation on DIY bike repair. Ms. Dye is graciously donating the temporary loan of: - a spare tube
- a multi-tool
- a 15mm or adjustable wrench
- a mini-pump
- rain clothes
- a set of 3 tire irons
- a Spokes and spoke wrench
Later in the evening, I met with Robert Burke and a gang of about 10 instructors at NYC Outward Bound at their main hub in Long Island City. Mr. Burke, Director of Staff Training at NYC OB, is a solid and serene man, quietly radiant from a healthy diet of fresh air, challenge, exercise, and endorphins. The entire group, in fact, was saturate with a palpable buzz of energy for their evening recreation on the 60' back-yard rock-climbing wall, neatly tucked away from the building's adjacent alley, just a stone's throw from the N/W trains and the Queensboro Bridge. Upon receiving me into their enclosed yard and climbing area, everyone shook my hand and introduced themselves by name. I quickly got the sense that to be invited into this inner sanctum is a privilege reserved for a select few. After graciously outfitting me with a sleeping pad and a "shell" rain-coat (light-weight and stretchy with a hood) for my bike trip, I was invited to climb on their wall.
After filling out a brief medical form and signing a waiver, I was outfitted with a helmet, a harness, and a pair of climbing shoes. I climbed with OB once in my youth, about 12 years ago, and remembered some of the basics. I was reminded to move just one limb at a time, maintaining three points of contact at all times, and to trust in the strength of my legs, as they possess the largest muscle groups in the body. And so, with two people on the ground below me to belay and anchor-belay my safety rope, I proceeded to climb about 45-50' up this wall until my fingers and fore-arms trembled to cling to the 'overhang' segment of the wall. Upon my resignation, the staff below of course encouraged me to go just a little bit farther up, and once there, allowed me to call out "ready to lower." Letting go of the wall, I fell into the suspended safety of the rope, and spun slowly around to see the sun-painted horizon of Industrial Queens from 4 stories high. Upon landing and after massaging my throbbing forearms, I consulted with Mr. Burke and Ms. Diana Belknap, a North Carolina-based instructor of 20 years. During our interview, I learned how to make a fire in the rain, and the most important multi-tool to bring on an outdoor expedition: The Frisbee. Ms. Belknap detailed "The 9 uses for a Frisbee," as outlined here:
- A fan to coax a campfire
- a plate
- a cutting board
- a clean, flat surface [for Ms. Belknap, for her contact lens routine]
- a dry seat on damp ground
- an actual-factual Frisbee
- a sled
- ???
- and finally, as a discreet commode for use in choppy water in a canoe.
Monday, August 18, 2008
5 Days 'til Departure
The good folks at NYC Outward Bound are lending me a sleeping pad for the trip, and Mr. Robert Burke, the Director of Safety, Staffing, and Training, is meeting with me tomorrow evening to consult on the basics of solo outdoor survival, just in case.
Panniers and a handlebar bag are on their way from Arkel®, a company based in Canada that deals only in the manufacture of panniers that last a lifetime.
Paul Fleming, our man at Polarpak, is working to stitch this logo
onto one of their patented Promopaks for added visibility of the story during the trip. Ideally, it'll be a conversation starter with folks I'll meet along the way.
Training this evening will be 20 miles. I'm still working to procure two pairs of cycling shorts and 2 jerseys for the ride, so any and all leads are welcome.
-rz
Panniers and a handlebar bag are on their way from Arkel®, a company based in Canada that deals only in the manufacture of panniers that last a lifetime.
Paul Fleming, our man at Polarpak, is working to stitch this logo
onto one of their patented Promopaks for added visibility of the story during the trip. Ideally, it'll be a conversation starter with folks I'll meet along the way.Training this evening will be 20 miles. I'm still working to procure two pairs of cycling shorts and 2 jerseys for the ride, so any and all leads are welcome.
-rz
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