A Bridge Too Far... Seattle to S.F. Continued...

Edward's Big Ride Pacific Coast 2008

Seattle, WA to San Francisco, CA

September 12 - September 27, 2008

960 miles / 1545 kilometers

9/12 - BRIGHT AND EARLY (well, not so bright!)

The alarm went off at 4:30, but we were already awake just waiting for it. Already packed, it was just a matter of getting dressed and out the door. Ryan wanted cinnamon rolls from Jack-in-the-Box, but it was too early for the Jack-man!

 

9/11 - 2 days before start - Start Day T -2 Days!!

Okay, here we go. The bike is in the box and all my items are laid out ready to go into my two duffel bags that I'm allotted. 35 pounds each. I'm hoping that I'm well under that one at least my "non-camping equipment" bag. The least amount of strain on the shoulder as possible when loading and unloading the box truck will be prudent.

To that end, I am NOT taking my laptop on this trip. I wanted to let everyone know that the daily pages will be updated by my beautiful wife, Cindy. I'll be calling her regularly and she has graciously agreed to utilize her training as a writer and editor to put my ramblings to her on the phone down on this site. When I get to a rest day, I may add some remarks and/or pictures, but I promise I'll add all my thoughts and the pictures when I return.

This accomplishes two things: 1. lighter bags, 2. everyone gets "some" news while I'm on the ride. I hope you understand! I think you do.

I'll update everyone early tomorrow morning and after orientation tomorrow night! Oh my....

9/9 - 4 days before start - Start Day T -4 Days

Well, the bike is in the shop getting broken down and placed in a bike box so I can check it on the plane in three days! I had my 2nd to last day of physical therapy and overall I feel good. I'm not in the shape I wanted to be in, but with the shoulder issue, I guess I can't complain much. Okay, I can't complain any!

I recognize that this is not a race, it is a ride. And even if it takes me 12 hours, I'll ride. I hope I have a faster average speed than ~5 as that would be the speed I would be travelling for 12 hours a day. I'm pretty confident I can travel faster than that, especially on the down hills.

Everything is in order. Camping equipment, duffel bags, etc. E-tickets are ready, hotel reservations, airport transportation, etc. are all in place. I have 2 full days of work left, then I'm leaving on a jet plane to the Pacific Northwest.

I didn't get to ride on Saturday, I attempted, but had a flat on the front. Used my last tube and 0.6 miles into the ride, had a blowout on the rear. BANG! I thought people were shooting at me.... I had to walk it back to the truck. Oh well. I'm as prepared as I can be.

I'll be "on form" when I cross the finish line! Maybe I join the "un-retiring" Lance Armstrong for his '09 races. NOT! I can dream can't I? Okay, signing off for the evening. Thanks for reading my ramblings.

9/5 - One week before start - Start Day T -8 Days

Wow, I cannot believe that in a week I'm going to be in Washington getting my bike built up, seeing a friend of mine from Big Ride 2005 who is so graciously hosting me for the evening, Ron Nowicki and his wife. Thank you guys so much for allowing me to invade your home and get me to orientation and the start line on Saturday!

Final preparations are in full swing. Most importantly, the final ride on the bike this weekend before I have it packed up at the shop. It will be a test for the new wheelset, the new spokes, the newly rebuilt eggbeaters and my ailing shoulder! I hope to get in 30-40 miles on Saturday to see how everything holds together. I'll post the results on Saturday afternoon when I'm lounging around the house watching the final College games before the trip!

I'm really starting to get excited and looking forward to meeting my fellow riders on this leg of the ALAW Big Ride journeys! Work is all set, backup personnel are in place and my e-mail inbox is pretty clean in preparation for the trip. I'll post tomorrow! See you virtually then!

9/2 - Less than 2 weeks before start - Start Day T -11 Days

Well, I've been to three sessions of physical therapy and have had two sessions of "taping" with some of the tape that Carrie Walsh made famous on the Olympics! It feels so much better, but there are still things that I do that tweak it and it reminds me that it is still there.

I'm hoping to get the bike out of the shop tomorrow and do some sort of test ride. Even if it is just around the block in the neighborhood. I just want some sense of how it is going to feel with the positioning on the bicycle. I'm still a little apprehensive that it might not be too comfortable, but I'm hoping that it will be tolerable enough to make some miles coming up in 11 days! Wow... is it really that soon? Ack! hehe

8/26 - Less than 3 Weeks before Start - Start Day T -18 Days

I've been to two doctors and received two opinions. The adjusted diagnosis is now 3rd Degree AC (separated shoulder) but thank goodness no surgery.

To make a long story short, I'm going to go. I have to stay off the bike (both of them are in the shop right now, so that shouldn't be hard) until Saturday 9/5. Then I can get out on the road and test out the shoulder and the pain that may or may not accompany the ride.

I can do stationary bikes until then to keep up my fitness, but I'm not sure that the shoulder could take some of the exercises in the spin classes I've been attending. I'll have to check and see. If not, I'll just do a lot of walking and general stationary bike workouts at the gym for the next week and a half.

8/23 - 3 Weeks before Start - Start Day T -21 Days

Well, the unthinkable has happened. I'm injured. According to the ER doctor, I have a 2nd Degree AC (separated shoulder). The doctor was clear, the ride is a "Maybe" at this point. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am. I'll have to wait and see what the orthopedic doctor says next week. Currently, I'm icing it down and doing nothing but rest.

My friends Tony and Alice were riding with me and I just lost control and went off the trail at Green Oaks. When the wheels went airborne they locked as I slammed on the breaks. Then when the stopped wheels hit the softer ground over the handlebars I went. Bike needs a little adjusting, wheels trued, brake hoods straightened, but all-in-all, Edward's shoulder took the brunt of the damage.

Alice and Tony called me when I was in the ER and after I gave them the prognosis, they said it was quite impressive to see this 6'3" body go ENDO. I'm sure it was a site to see. Tony was reminded of Jan Ullrich in the 2001 Tour de France when he went off the road on the Stage 13 decent. Well, I'm in good company, even the Pros crash. Now, can I get back up and going in time? I can only hope so.

8/12 - One Month before Orientation Day - Start Day T -32 Days

Well, here it is. One month before I leave for Seattle. I was reminded of the date when I was doing my Rubik's Cube Perpetual Calendar this morning. I change the date every morning and when I rotated the blocks around to Tuesday AUG 12 it hit me. One month from the ride!

The emotions are reeling moving from some deep guttural excitement to pure unadulterated dread. Somehow that sounds vaguely familiar. My only consolation is that I had almost exactly the same feelings a few days before the ride in 2005. And I completed that ride! So there is yet hope for me.

I have been doing some more intense training this month and will continue to do so over the next month. I'm getting some final equipment and clothing (who knew I'd need a jacket when I've been training in 100+ degree Texas heat?!) and trying to get everything lined up logistically for the trip. I hope to update everyone as often as I can on route. Look for the daily updates starting on 9/12!

Sometime in 2007: 

Yes, I'm at it again. I've registered for the Big Ride Pacific Coast 2008. I guess it could be called my Journey Across America, Part II. All of my current information for the 2008 Adventure are located here on this site. For historical reference, my entire Big Ride Across America 2005 site is archived as a sub-site of this one. Feel free to browse around and see my current goings on and the 2005 Adventure as well.

My personal goal is to try to raise $3000 dollars for the American Lung Association. Please donate toward a very worthy cause at my fundraising page located here. Good chance to start on your tax deductions for 2008!

“Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible.” – Cherie Carter-Scott

Comments, suggestions, feedback welcomed here. 

 

In honor of a personal hero of mine:

I missed last year's Pacific Coast ride due to a death in my family. So this year, I'm riding in honor of my nephew Christopher Gabriel Patton. He was killed in action in Iraq on September 1, 2007.