day 08/09/10/11

wow. it's been a while since i've had an opportunity to update. glad to report that everything is fine and that I'm doing really well. the other day, as i was setting up camp and registering for the night, i had to ask the date. i had no clue what day it was. at this point everyday is just melting into the next, becoming one long day. i'm trying to figure out what exactly defines a new day for me in chicago, because i'm always very much aware of what day of the week it is (except of course on those disorienting mondays when i wake up hoping it's still only sunday). i realize i'm reaching full traveling mode as i'm starting to shed my teaching weight, getting some crazy tan lines, and becoming reacquainted with washing my clothes by hand. i might not be as fresh as i'd like to be, but you'd be hard pressed to find a cleaner touring bicyclist. i'm thankful my mom showed me the ropes of washing clothes by hand at an early age. i could use a washing board and a bar of Zote, but i'm making due just fine.




now a quick update.

day 08 was a designed short day. only traveled about 30 miles. really needed to let my body recuperate after the shock of the first week. it felt really good to ride for only a few hours before setting up camp. i had a great lunch at some small lodge in kooskia, ID. the fresh veggies and huckleberry pie did my body wonders. just because i can eat anything i want doesn't mean i should, which i found out the hard way. i was so preoccupied with just filling my body with calories, i failed to really eat balanced meals. well, the great meal and a good nights sleep set up an awesome ride the next day.







day 09 was a day of decisions. stick to the plan and watch the mexico/argentina game at my campsite in the bar, and head out late for a short 20 mile ride, or wake up early and try to make it to the next town to catch the end of the game. i opted for the latter. rode 67 miles before 1pm, and was able to see my beloved mexico lose to argentina. again! i drowned my sorrow in some fantastic idaho barbecue, then rode up lolo pass at an elevation of 5225 feet, and crossed into montana and a new time zone. 95 miles. amazing.


day 10 took me to lolo, hamilton, and eventually darby, MT. it was a relaxing 75 miles, except for the blazing sun. the temperature was close to 95 degrees. i was really excited to reach my campsite and relax in some shade. then at about midnight, i was awaken by these amazing gusts of wind that almost pushed over my tent. i left my stakes in chicago to stay as light as possible, and i looked really silly scrambling in the middle of the night with my sleeping bag and tent trying to find trees to protect me from the wind, or something heavy to hold my tent in place. i eventually found four, old, rusty forks left behind by other campers that worked perfectly.






day 11 was a monster. nothing went my way it seemed. the power was out at sula, MT which prevented me from getting the big lunch i was craving and needed to get over chief joseph pass. after grazing on some light snacks at a convenience store and stalling by talking to anyone that came into the store, i hesitantly proceeded up the pass with little fuel in my belly. of course, the wind was right in my face the whole time. and of course, i'm finding out that my bike doesn't have that next smallest gear designed for climbs like these. after struggling for half an hour, i decided walking my bike was my only viable option. it felt like being in zacatecas, hiking up for over two hours on the shoulder of a busy road. no one offered me a ride, and i wasn't going to ask today. i needed to get up on my own. i finally made it to the top of the pass at 7014 feet about three hours later. it felt great, but i now realize i need to invest in a lower gear at the next bike shop. i love hiking to the top of mountains, and hills, and monuments, but not while pushing a bike loaded with gear. i made it to wisdom, MT, dehydrated and exhausted. a big meal, meeting some fellow cyclists, and then camping next to a church in the rain surrounded by swarming mosquitos ended a long day.




and now off to ride again.

week 01 totals

day 01 52.68 miles
day 02 67.59 miles
day 03 91.30 miles
day 04 57.06 miles
day 05 69.53 miles
day 06 74.91 miles
day 07 31.76 miles

math challenge (intended for my students, but anyone can send me their reply!)

01. what has been the mean for miles traveled per day for week 1?

02. if i continued at the same rate as week 1, how many total miles will i travel by the end of the third week?

03. my trip will take me about 2500 miles. what percent of my trip have i already covered?

send replies to jvelazquez1@cps.edu

day 05/06/07

the past three days have been extremely eventful. i was ready to call it quits on day 05. riding all day into the wind and almost all uphill really killed my spirits. walla walla, WA was a great town. can't say the same for pomeroy, WA, my ending location on day 05, about 20 miles short of my goal. not a good riding day. i was extremely sore, and could barely bend my knees as i called it a night. it was the toughest day to date.







day 06 started well. climbed to alpowa summit at 2785 feet! lewis and clark passed this point on there way back east, before they started climbing over the rocky mountains. yikes. i flew down into clarkston, WA, did a little FB updating as i ate a sundae at mcdonald's, with no idea of what was waiting ahead of me. i came down from that summit back to sea level only to have to climb back to over 4000 feet to reach my camping site for the night. my days have been eat, bike, eat, bike, eat, sleep. yesterday, as i struggled with that massive ascent, it became eat, bike, eat, bike, walk, bike, walk, bike, walk, sleep. i should have known when that nice elderly couple that gave me some water looked at me like i was crazy when i informed them of my destination. regardless, the climb was amazing. from what the locals told me, it is one of the most picturesque parts of idaho. i don't feel like riding all over idaho, so I'll take their word and push through idaho knowing i've seen the one of the state's top attractions.



today was a day of firsts. woke up next to a beautiful lake for the first time. rode with a northern wind for the first time. saw threatening clouds looming overhead for the first time. was chased by a farm dog for the first time. was offered a ride for the first time. turned down a ride for the first time. saw those threatening clouds start making a strange looking funnel for the first time. got a rear tire flat for the first time. saw thunder all around me for the first time. got rained on for the first time. flagged down a truck for a ride into town for the first time. stopped riding for the day before 3.00pm for the first time. quite a day.




back at the start of day 03, a woman at a convenience store asked me, "will you accept a ride if offered one?" i told her i wasn't sure. the question has been swirling in my mind for the past four days. will i take a ride? all i kept thinking about was how zenia always says i try to do too much and how greg once gave me a personality test that said that i would choose to do things the hard way over the more conventional way. the guy who gave me a ride said, "now you can't say that you rode all the way to IL." a part of me was saddened as i thanked him for the ride.

day 04

in walla walla. nice little town. might have to come back at some point.

day 03

day 03 was excellent. i was able to trek over 90 miles, and it was my first time in a hotel. going a few days without a shower really makes one appreciate some warm water and soap to a whole other level. a special thanks goes out to gene, sara, and their two nieces. they were kind enough to share their food with me after my 67 mile ride on day 02 as i hurried to fix my first flat to go look for some food. it was especially thoughtful considering it was their last night traveling together and they were enjoying a special dinner. i hope i can return the favor sometime in the near future if they happen to wander into chicago.




got my second flat today. arg. but it let brock catch up to me and i had a biking companion for a few miles.

gene and sara were heading back to eugene, OR, the girls to wisconsin, and brock making some sort of loop through washington and back to portland (i think. i was really tired at that point and my brain was failing me.)

in the fourth pic, i was flying down a hill at over 30 mph, listening to some beetles' guitar loop. didn't pedal for about 2 miles. this after climbing for about an hour and a half.

why do people bike tour? not sure how to explain it quite yet. all i know for sure is that it makes sense to me.

day 01/02

finally hit the road yesterday! the northwest is amazing! went from portland to cascade locks, OR in a little under 6 hours. many thanks to gloria and her amazing family for all their hospitality. they almost made me want to stay in portland, but chicago keeps calling me back east.





my knees were aching all last night, but, besides that, i slept like a rock in the big agnes. here's a few pics from yesterday. i'm hoping the weather starts to clear up. i'm really tired of rain and overcast skies at this point. isn't summer supposed to be right around the corner?

day 00

how do I get pictures on here from my iPad?

i think esteban and daniel helped me figure it out! excellent. here's my second traveling companion becoming familiar with the rest of my load.

day -01

arrived safely in portland. getting a bike boxed to be taken on an airplane is no joke. they took off my seat, handlebars, pedals, and front fender. I was going to try to lug this huge box on portland's public transit system, but that just seemed like trouble waiting to happen. i opted instead to take out my trusty tools and begin reassembling my bike, right there in the airport. it became quite an ordeal as people stared at this person assembling a bike in a baggage claim area. to top it off, i wore my helmet the entire time i was working. it was quite a scene. wanted to get a picture of it to post, but i was trying to finish before i lost all my daylight, and my hands got extremely greasy in the process. oh well. i'll try and get one as I make my final adjustments tomorrow before i start heading east on saturday.

on the plane ride here, i began feeling nervous about my trip for the first time. being so caught up in finishing my school year and packing, i don't think i had completely grasped the magnitude of this trip. 2700 miles traveled in 6 weeks! what was i thinking? alone. camping some nights. i even started thinking about just turning back and aborting this mission.

then the man next to me on the plane pointed out the columbia river through the window and i saw the amazing northwest mountain tops and landscape. and he asked if i had a blog.

then my wife's aunt listened in amazement as i described my route and showed her my solar panel.

and that's all the encouragement i needed.

day -02 cont.

it's starting to feel real now.

saying my goodbyes-students, friends, fellow teachers, and my hair! it hasn't been this short since college. more aerodynamic? i guess i'll find out soon enough.

the tough goodbyes come tomorrow.

day -02

just installed my pedals.

only a few days away before i fly out to portland, OR to begin my ride. as much as i wanted to rent a car and drive west to astoria, OR so i could start on the ocean, i've decided to spend an extra day in portland instead. it is probably for the best. more planning time to make certain that everything is set before i start heading east to the dalles. and an extra day to get acquainted with the ipad as well.

here's my companion for the next six weeks.