San Diego to Alpine March 10 2012-03-10

I didn’t sleep much as at the rider meeting the night before we were handed the route sheet and there was no map. The route sheet contained 26 turn directions for a 43 mile ride so the longest section with out a turn was only 4 miles. No map, no road markers and I have zero idea which way we go. I went and looked the place up on Google maps and the route looked unbelievable tortuous. I just knew I would be lost and become one of the homeless wandering the streets of San Diego.

We could not have had a more gorgeous morning to start this journey. The sun was out and the sky was brilliant blue. So luggage was loaded and we were off to the beach which was right behind the hotel we staying. at. So there we did the wheel dip in the Pacific and took the group pictures. Then it was down a bike path and then on to some roads with a bike lane. I was following a group of other riders so I felt great about the ride. Why not the weather was great and the excitement of the first day was upon every one.

The turns came up pretty quickly and it became obvious the route sheet distances were out to lunch but the turns were all obvious. There was a one long grade which was 4-5 miles long and every one was complaining about how hard it was. Good thing they aren’t on the Belle Italia trip.

The camp came up pretty quick and I would have blown past the camp gate except there were two other riders who were being dropped off. They had ridden up a wrong turn and then talked this fellow in giving them a ride to the camp.

What a fun day.

Terry

Ready Set Go!

Agnes and I were up early as we had a long drive down from Santa Barbra to San Diego. In addition we had to drive across Los Angeles. You never know how the free way is going to be is it going to be a 5 hour drive or a 9 hour drive. Just to make it more interesting Agnes had a plane to catch so there was not time to lose.

I think we were pretty luck as we only hit a couple of slow spots and didn’t lose very much time and then we found some HOV lanes south of Los Angeles. This really helped the average speed and we were in San Diego by lunch time.

The hotel was easy to find and was only a couple of miles from the airport so Agnes lrt me off and continued on to the airport.

I spent the afternoon putting my bike together and then went for a little bike ride with my friend Wallace. Wallace and I did Italy together last year and are doing the Bubba Ride together this year.

Blogspot is having trouble with pictures and will not load even tiny pictures so I will try later.

Terry

A Great Visit in Santa Barbra:

Jumping in the car for a 6 hour drive is never on top of my list of fun things however it even more fun if you have just run a marathon. Being doubled up in the car really made me stiff. Fortunately Agnes was behind the wheel and I was able to catch a little nap and that really helped. My brother had sent us directions as the Garmin cannot seem to find his place and even though it was dark the instructions were fault less and we drove right to his place.

My brother has this magnificent home in the hills over looking the ocean in Santa Barbra, so I was really looking forward to this visit. We don’t seem to get together very often so every visit is cherished.

While we were in Santa Barbra it was really nice going down to walk on the beach with your coffee in the morning. We also managed to get down to the Ronald Regan library. This was a really fun trip down to see the library and see how President Regan dealt with the issues facing him when he took office. The plane which Ronald Regan used as Air Force One is also housed in his library. Getting to go on board such a historic aircraft was exceptional.

Too soon we had to get on the road and head down to San Diego so that I could join the bike ride.

Thanks Bruce we had a great time.

Terry

The Napa Valley Marathon March 3-4

The visit with Tom was short as we had to get up to Napa to pick up my race package as I was committed to doing the Napa valley marathon. It starts 26.2 miles up the valley in Calistoga and runs down this back road though the vine yards to Napa. Their little marathon of 2500 runners is one of the most highly rated marathons around.

Agnes and I drove up to Calistoga where the marathon starts and found our hotel. It had been chosen because it was only a couple of blocks from the start of the marathon. Unfortunately it was dump. Yes it was clean but still a dump. We cruised back to Napa a got my race package and went over to the station and got tickets for the wine train as we wanted to do that little excursion.

The wine train is a tourist train which does supper trips between Napa and Calistoga. It is quite famous for it’s gourmet meals and fine service. It is a series of old (1920’s) cars which have been lovingly restored and is pulled by a pair of first generation diesel engines from the early 1950’s. The night before the marathon are the only tickets we can get so Agnes and I took the wine train the night before the marathon. I am filled with dread as tomorrow is a marathon and here I am out on this big gourmet tour.

The marathon course is so beautiful and is well organized so it is easy to understand why the huge ratings. The course is more or less down hill but has several uphill stretches just to break it up. Well you get the picture it is beautiful, and the bling is pretty nice as well. I run a 4:48:55 which isn’t my best time but considering I had very little training I am happy enough.

So I stumble across the finish line and Agnes and I tear off to my brother’s place in Santa Barbra.



Terry

A Downtown cabin in the woods March 1 2012

The adventure really starts with a visit to see one of my cycling friends Tom E who lives in San Francisco. Tom and I met on my first cross America trip several years ago so it was very appropriate that this trip start with a visit to see Tom. Agnes and I flew out of Calgary grabed the rental car and were off to see Tom. He has the most unique place it is a house which is completely sourounded by trees and sits high above all of the surrounding area. Looking out of his front porch you can see the Bay. It was a great visit renewing our friendship, joking about the things which happened on that trip, and remembering other friends from other rides. I really needed to get myself mentally ready for this trip and there is nobody better than Tom to bounce stuff off. To live and work in the Bay Area and maintain your sanity requires a special person.


Tom has found his place and it is a cabin in the woods in the center of the city.

Thanks Tom

Terry

Good to Be Home

It is hard to believe that just last week I was riding into Nice. Almost two months of cycling sure went by fast. In fairness that is sort of a retrospective on the trip. During those first few days of the Les Dex Alpes tour climbing out of Lake Como and into Visp and the Col Du Grand St Bernard seemed like the tour was never going to end. It may have been the rain and gloom which pervaded those days which leant that perspective to the trip.

It is good to be back home. There are so many things we take for granted that a trip like this makes you miss. Simple stuff like taking a clean dry shirt off the hanger instead of a damp wrinkled thing from the bottom of your clothing stuff sack. Getting a clean glass from the cupboard and filling it with ice cold water from the water dispenser on the fridge is so nice compared to having a big swig of warm water from your bikes water bottle, even though you cleaned your bottle just ten days ago. Sliding between two crisp sheets just beats crawling into a sleeping bag that you have slept in for the last six weeks.

So let me jump into the big question that is on every ones mind. Would you recommend this trip. There is absolutely no doubt that I would totally recommend Bike Dreams. They delivered a very solid product at a very good price. It is totally true we did not stay in 5 star hotels. However we did not pay 5 star prices. We did have 5 star food. Yaap the cook fed us the best meals you could want. I would tell him every day that he made my favourite dishes and he would say that can’t be true as you say that every day. Well when the food is great it isn’t hard to say that it is your favourite. The other thing was there was lots of wine on the table. Where do you see that? Richard the mechanic and lunch maker and everything else that needed doing staffer was the other main highlight of the trip. Got a problem? Richard would pull the solution out of his bag of magic tricks. It didn’t matter if it was your bike which needed repair or if you were just feeling blue Richard fixed everything.

With the big ride of 2011 out of the way I am clear to work on my running for the rest of the year. I still have a half marathon and two full marathons to run this year.

So what about next year? Where to next year? Another cross America? How about a cross Canada with Cycle Canada? They offer a catered tour now which looks pretty appealing. Or maybe the Tour d’Afrique’s Amber route from St Petersburg in Russia to Venice. So many chooses. What are you doing?

Terry

Don't ask about the photos they are just a couple of random shots

Nice! July 1 2011-07-01

It was pretty warm when we got up this morning and there was no doubt that it was going to be a scorcher. There was a lot of excitement in the air as everyone was excited about finishing the tour, and going home. However there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that it was still going to be a tough day. There were still two hills to climb and 120 kms to cover.

As I set out I caught Dennis and snapped his picture. Then we rolled down pasted this medieval castle and town which was built in 1536. Jurg and I stopped for a picture but did not go in as we had stopped there last night. It was quite a place and it would have been fun to explore it some more but there was no time.

We rolled down the 12 kms to the first climb and started up. Although it wasn’t the steepest climb on the tour I just had no legs because of yesterdays all out effort. I was sure glad to see the summit some 15 km later. We then rolled down though this amazing canyon. It had to be 400-500 feet deep. Richard stopped the van and crawled out to get a look.

After lunch was the second climb and it was now 37 C. The total climb was 12 kms and I made it up about 6 before I had to stop. I was total done. It took a bout 10 minutes of sitting under a tree before I could continue.

The roll down from the summit to the sea was great. We formed up about 25 kms from the final desitnation for a group ride into Nice as it is a big city. Wilbert the tour leader took us up to this park which over looked the city where we had some champagne and treats before going to the hotel.

It was a great celebration supper in the hotel and lots of speeches and merry making.

Terry

Col Duh Bon EH (Col du Bonette) June 30 2011

Last night Richard grabbed my bike and made a canopy for it. Then at supper dressed in a bra and shorts and came out riding my bike. It was pretty funny. I then had to take it for a spin around the campground.

To day was the last of the Cols and was the longest and hardest day of the Les Dex Alpes. We were to climb the Col du Bonette which has a summit at 2780 meters. Then after a 70 km down hill we were to climb this second pass which summit was at 1680 meters. The total milage for the day was to be 158 kms. A long day without the two climbs.

Jurg and I had figured that it was going to be close to a 10 hour day including stops and lunch. Breakfast was at 6:00 Am and we were on the bikes at 6:35. About 3 kms out of camp we came upon a herd of sheep being driven up the road. It was pretty neat as they just flowed around you.

The weather was perfect for the first climb. It was 28 kms to the summit and we where there by 9:00 Am. It was an exceptional effort and was only possible as we had a cool weather and no wind. The views were absolutely stunning.

Lunch was down at 67 kms. There we found out that the road was closed so the alternatives where we were go over another col or ride down this valley. We choose the valley. It was all downhill but the head wind was brutal. You had to work like heck to keep rolling. At any rate we rolled in exhausted.

Tomorrow we ride to Nice and the end of the tour.

Terry

A Couple More Cols June 29 2011

It was a great looking day this morning and Jurg and I were off early as the heat of the day builds early. When I got up it was already 20 C in my tent.

Today the ride was 88 kms and 2350 meters of climb. We were to cross the Col D’Izoard and the Col Du Vars. The Col D’Izoard is one of the climbs which is on the Tour Du France route. It was 16 kms all greater that 8% with lost of sections greater than 12%.

It is really cool riding these sections of the Tour Du France. I grind away at 7-9 kms/hr and the tour riders average 25 kms/hr. The first col seemed pretty easy even though it had the most climb associated with it.

We then cruised down though a beautiful canyon and down to lunch after lunch there was a detour which took us over this huge hill were there were some fantastic views of the canyon. It was extremely steep on the detour. It was an old road which was not used any more. I think they were building a new tunnel.

The second Col of the day was Col D’ Vars which was another 17 kms and only reached 2108 meters. However it is now the full heat of the day and I saw a sign showing 37 C. The first 7 kms are in the wide open with out a speck of shade and all 9-12% grade. By the time I get 6 kms I am totally over heated. So we stop and Richard comes along and pours a bucket of cold water over my head. It felt great. Jurg and I ride on and reach the village of Vars where Richard is having coffee. I get my dry clothes out of the van and as it is only 8 kms to the top of the col we ride on. The Col d’Vars is not on the tour and there isn’t much there just a sign post.

We roll down hill and into camp. It was a really tough day. Tomorrow is the last of the cols, Cols De La Bonette, and Col de la Couillole. It is the toughest day of the tour. We start at 6:00 AM. As a side note you should the Auzzies talking about the “Col duh Bon Eh” It is a killer.

Terry