Saturday
Caught a ride from Quartzite, AZ to Phoenix yesterday with one of the Sea to Sea tour managers and stayed overnight with a host family. Today I will get to spend some time with my cousin Heidi who lives in this city. Lots of things not going smoothly at all starting with the bike part I ordered on Wednesday to arrive in Phoenix overnight. Yesterday the part still was not there and corporate confirmed a mistake was made and it would not arrive until Monday, too late for me. The best laid plans.... . Bike shop says they will make it work and today it should be done, I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime I am still quite sore from fall on Tuesday so am grateful I have extra days to heal. How did I get extra days you ask? The Sea to Sea tour had to be suspended for three days because of the overly hot heat wave Phoenix is experiencing this week. It truly was getting too dangerous to be out in the heat let alone exercising in it. The majority of people on the tour were bussed to Payson and I was taken to Phoenix to get my bike repaired.
What I didn't know was I wouldn't be going directly to Payson after so I only had the clothes on my back. Quick fix with a trip to a department store and I'm all good for clothes but, it was real hard using money I really don't have the luxury of spending. My husband and I are helping finance two children in college and own a fairly new business. Lots of land and assets but, cash poor at this time. In all of this hardship on the road I sense that God wants me to be still and know that He is in control. For now that is where my comfort lies.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Falling
Friday: Spent the night in a Super 8 in Quartzite due to unusually high temperatures here in Arizona. I am impressed with how well most of the riders have done in this hot, hot place. Drinking water and electrolytes constantly and wearing water to keep cool. By wearing water I mean bandanas soaked in ice water and then tied loosely around neck.
On Tuesday afternoon at about 50 miles into my ride I fell while turning into a gas station driveway. Badly bruised but, no broken bones I was able to continue on. We were headed for a bike shop on the route when I noticed something wrong with my bike. While in the parking lot not 100 feet from the bike shop my rear deraillier fell off. Unfortunately I need a part specific to my bike brand and had to order it to be shipped to Phoenix. Here's hoping it arrives today so I can get my bike fixed and ready for riding on Monday. So... you can see I haven't been cycling since Tuesday while waiting to fix my bike. Good thing too because I am very sore from falling and have a huge 4 inch diameter bruise on my thigh. I hurt the most in my pec. muscles from bracing against the fall.
Yesterday the tour managers had to suspend riding for a few days due to this above average heat wave which means we will be leaping over Phoenix and bussed to our next stop of Payson, AZ. While this isn't what we signed on for I readily admit it is a great decision as we encounter dangerous conditions.
My new challenge now is to get that bike part in a town (city) we are no longer staying in. It must have been a God thing that put me so close to a bike shop on the day the deraillier hanger broke because I literally could have been in the middle of nowhere that day. For that I am grateful.
On Tuesday afternoon at about 50 miles into my ride I fell while turning into a gas station driveway. Badly bruised but, no broken bones I was able to continue on. We were headed for a bike shop on the route when I noticed something wrong with my bike. While in the parking lot not 100 feet from the bike shop my rear deraillier fell off. Unfortunately I need a part specific to my bike brand and had to order it to be shipped to Phoenix. Here's hoping it arrives today so I can get my bike fixed and ready for riding on Monday. So... you can see I haven't been cycling since Tuesday while waiting to fix my bike. Good thing too because I am very sore from falling and have a huge 4 inch diameter bruise on my thigh. I hurt the most in my pec. muscles from bracing against the fall.
Yesterday the tour managers had to suspend riding for a few days due to this above average heat wave which means we will be leaping over Phoenix and bussed to our next stop of Payson, AZ. While this isn't what we signed on for I readily admit it is a great decision as we encounter dangerous conditions.
My new challenge now is to get that bike part in a town (city) we are no longer staying in. It must have been a God thing that put me so close to a bike shop on the day the deraillier hanger broke because I literally could have been in the middle of nowhere that day. For that I am grateful.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Waiting Sunday
Preparing for tomorrow which will be our first day on the journey across the continent. This year is very different already from the 2008 tour in which I spent a lot of time alone and worried about my mothers ailing health. It was a huge burden to arrange for others to look after her and a large leap of faith to leave her in the care of several people while I was away. Mom didn't always behave so well and would have preferred I didn't go. My husband and kids encouraged me greatly and so I ventured out into the middle of the country in 2008 to begin my portion of the ride in Denver, CO. For me that tour was a 'mourning ride'. Grief over losing a father I never REALLY knew and a mother who was dying by degrees.
This year in contrast I have labeled a 'joy ride'. Joyful to be physically able to do it, joyful to have such a supporting family and joyful for friends who encouraged me during training rides. I bet many of my childhood friends would have never guessed I would or could do such an amazing thing as bicycle across the U.S. and Canada. I grew up in a single parent home with four brothers. We struggled often with near poverty occasions when my mother had to make some tough decisions. It was a time I don't often talk about what the reality of it was like. I became quite the actress at a very young age, smiling to hide the sadness and fear I felt as a child.
Tomorrow begins the 'joy ride' as I celebrate another victory over my past which only God could have orchestrated. There have been many 'wins' over the course of my life and it is when I am victorious that I remember my favorite passage from the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 9. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Preparing for tomorrow which will be our first day on the journey across the continent. This year is very different already from the 2008 tour in which I spent a lot of time alone and worried about my mothers ailing health. It was a huge burden to arrange for others to look after her and a large leap of faith to leave her in the care of several people while I was away. Mom didn't always behave so well and would have preferred I didn't go. My husband and kids encouraged me greatly and so I ventured out into the middle of the country in 2008 to begin my portion of the ride in Denver, CO. For me that tour was a 'mourning ride'. Grief over losing a father I never REALLY knew and a mother who was dying by degrees.
This year in contrast I have labeled a 'joy ride'. Joyful to be physically able to do it, joyful to have such a supporting family and joyful for friends who encouraged me during training rides. I bet many of my childhood friends would have never guessed I would or could do such an amazing thing as bicycle across the U.S. and Canada. I grew up in a single parent home with four brothers. We struggled often with near poverty occasions when my mother had to make some tough decisions. It was a time I don't often talk about what the reality of it was like. I became quite the actress at a very young age, smiling to hide the sadness and fear I felt as a child.
Tomorrow begins the 'joy ride' as I celebrate another victory over my past which only God could have orchestrated. There have been many 'wins' over the course of my life and it is when I am victorious that I remember my favorite passage from the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 9. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Monday, June 10, 2013
count down
Counting down the days now before I ship my bike to the west coast. The bike goes out this week and I will follow on the 21st. Just bought new wheels as the old ones were too warped to true anymore. Lots and lots of details but, trying not to worry too much, it all gets done doesn't it?
I have been making jars and jars of strawberry jam to sell this weekend at my last organized fundraiser for Sea to Sea. I think I've made more than five dozen already including some low sugar and strawberry rhubarb too.
My daughter graduated college about a month ago and my son graduates high school next week. The days are rushing by so fast. While I am away my family will have a graduation party, my son will turn 18 and my husband will celebrate his 50th birthday. What a year! This is the first year my daughter did not come home from college so she is all grown up and I miss her terribly. Definitely a milepost kind of year, pun most certainly intended.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentines' Day 2013
Husband came through today with a wonderful bar of homemade dark chocolate... will be burning that off later on skis.
I am preparing for a cross country bicycle trip for this summer and have begun training for it. Since we had 20" plus snowfall last week I will be training on my skis for a few more days. After the snow melts it will be back to my indoor trainer.
I have to go into the woods to harvest some red cedar posts and stringers for a grape arbor so I thought I'd ski out and back. Bringing the big loppers with me so I can trim them up before having to drag them out at a later date. Many of these trees fell during recent snowstorm and some came down from superstorm Sandy.
Very psyched a batch of Marans eggs survived the power outage and hatched yesterday and today. Truly a miracle since the incubator went down to 70 degrees at one point. Happy to have some fluffy butts around and cheerful chirping to help me through dreary winter days.
Working on a graduation quilt for my son who is a senior in high school and plan to fininsh it this month. I only have a short time before it is back to full time work at garden center my husband and I own.
I am preparing for a cross country bicycle trip for this summer and have begun training for it. Since we had 20" plus snowfall last week I will be training on my skis for a few more days. After the snow melts it will be back to my indoor trainer.
I have to go into the woods to harvest some red cedar posts and stringers for a grape arbor so I thought I'd ski out and back. Bringing the big loppers with me so I can trim them up before having to drag them out at a later date. Many of these trees fell during recent snowstorm and some came down from superstorm Sandy.
Very psyched a batch of Marans eggs survived the power outage and hatched yesterday and today. Truly a miracle since the incubator went down to 70 degrees at one point. Happy to have some fluffy butts around and cheerful chirping to help me through dreary winter days.
Working on a graduation quilt for my son who is a senior in high school and plan to fininsh it this month. I only have a short time before it is back to full time work at garden center my husband and I own.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tues. aug 19, 2008
Today I completed my journey back to Ct via NJ. Not good news today from the homefront. While away vacationing in Ireland, my dear Grandma Burdick passed away from mostly natural causes. She was in her nineties and a huge influence and presence here in Stonington, CT. More on her at a later date. Keep us in your prayers. Thank you.
Today I completed my journey back to Ct via NJ. Not good news today from the homefront. While away vacationing in Ireland, my dear Grandma Burdick passed away from mostly natural causes. She was in her nineties and a huge influence and presence here in Stonington, CT. More on her at a later date. Keep us in your prayers. Thank you.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
week 6 sea to sea
Thurs 8-7-08
Animals seen: A flock of nearly 50 Whooping Cranes!! This is big for me, to see these huge endangered birds in their natural habitat. :)
People I've met: I rode alone but, met Tony who is taking a break after a fall a couple of days ago. Tony lived in Paterson for a year doing an intern(?) at Madison Ave. CRC.
Miles Biked: 113, don't know average exactly. sidewinds, headwinds and an occassional tailwind.
Meaningful Thought: Iowa is NOT flat, and is quite beautiful.
Animals seen: A flock of nearly 50 Whooping Cranes!! This is big for me, to see these huge endangered birds in their natural habitat. :)
People I've met: I rode alone but, met Tony who is taking a break after a fall a couple of days ago. Tony lived in Paterson for a year doing an intern(?) at Madison Ave. CRC.
Miles Biked: 113, don't know average exactly. sidewinds, headwinds and an occassional tailwind.
Meaningful Thought: Iowa is NOT flat, and is quite beautiful.
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