blog

Where am I now?

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:13:50 +0100

Long story short.... I'm currently in Seneca South Carolina living in a warehouse behind a landscaping company I'm working for. I've got lot's of plans and dreams but haven't decided what to do next. Working and paying off a few bills here and planning on buying a cargo van to live in but still want to ride whenever I park for a bit in a city.
Lucy is doing well but not getting the exercise she is used to.
I may be moving to Greenville soon for another opportunity but that isn't written in stone.
Currently my bicycle is in pieces as I am in the process of upgrading the components but a very nice PT gypsy might be giving me a new frame in the week... I hope that works out, it would be nice to have a lighter weight bicycle!
I did make it to Florida for a few weeks back in September of last year and camped in the back yard of a house while looking for work but, the jobs had moved south by the time I made it there and ended up moving in with a friend in Central SC.

Rethinking

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:33:24 +0100

Today I did a lot of thinking. Well, yesterday too. The equipment I have is not going to work. My neck aches, the trailer is too small; I really don't have the proper gear or the money to do this. I've decided to go back to the sanctuary in Tylertown and become more active there. I will look for part time work for some cash and hopefully implement a few ideas I have in regards to fund raising for the sanctuary and maybe I will even be able to ride tours to help raise money for them... a worthy cause but first.... A trike, a better tent, better packs. At least I can say I've tried it for two weeks and realized that I am not prepared at all for this. Rain, thunderstorms, mosquitos, mud, long days going slow (with this bike I can't go very far). Better gear for Lucy, more initial money...
I am going to continue to work towards one day riding all 50 states but I definitley need to be better prepared!
I am also going to continue to ride once back at the sanctuary (just not loaded), this was a good kick in the pants to get back on plus, Lucy loves running with me and she needs it.
I will be doing much more at the sanctuary with the dogs and even going with the director on transports to California. Sitting in the trailer being bored all the time just isn't going to cut it this time around!
I really need to learn to be more patient.

March 26th

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:31:40 +0100

On the 24th I went to the library in Clinton and found a possible lead for a job but a bit too soon. The owner and I chatted for awhile and knows a guy (with a truck) in Vicksburg who might be able to give me a ride across the I-20 bridge.
It got late and bad weather started coming in. He directed me bac to the Trace and I made it just after dark. I set up camp and within an hour it started raining. A few thunderstorms blew over but we stayed dry under the tarp. It continued to rain the whole next day so Lucy and I stayed in the tent. These are the days I hate. It's so boring with nothing to do. I would ride if I had rain gear. I called my mom late in the evening just to have something to do and feel a bit better.
Temporary work will be hard to come by as it's still early in the spring season. Planning on heading to Shreveport, LA next and see if there's work available there before heading to Houston.
Last night we had severe thunder storms roll over and at one point the tornado sirens sounded. You better believe I was praying! The ground was soaked and my tent leaked abit from the wind but we weren't too bad off.
When I broke camp this morning I had to move everything closer to the road (a dryer spot) to let things dry out a bit before packing. I'm sure I must have been a sight. While packing, I met a nice lady on the Trace who directed me to the Madison Library, only a couple miles from where I'd camped.
After packing, we headed to the library in Madison.

March 24th

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:33:35 +0100

Lucy and I stayed in Port Gibson for a few days. I did a little reorganizing of my stuff and managed to get Lucy a space on the trailer.
We left Port Gibson Sunday evening and rode about 14 miles before camping.
The next day I let Lucy run in intervals a total of 9 miles. I was able to get in 32 miles for the day (in about 6 hours). We camped 2 1/2 miles from Clinton, MS and left a bit later this morning.
This morning we rode up to the Clinton welcome center to find where the library is. Now all I need to do is find some work for 1-30 days.
Yesterday, around mile 26 Jim (photographer) met me and got some photos of Lucy and I on the Trace. I also met a group of guys who are riding the whole Trace (wife follows in an SUV) unloaded/unsupported. I think they thought I was nuts!

Port Gibson. March, 19th

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:16:27 +0100

Lucy and I felt much better and well rested. I didn't push to get started but we managed to leave earlier then previous mornings. Once again, I didn't worry about fuel and made a larger breakfast then usual.
I found that while riding stopping every two miles to drink water and rest for 5 minutes really made a difference for passing time and helping with the heat. Those 13 miles to Port Gibson went by so much faster then usual. During the ride, I decided I really needed to downsize some things and redistribute weight so I can get Lucy in the trailer like I had originally planned. These 9 hour days in the saddle going 6 miles per hour are mentally hurting me.
Lucy is only good for about 15 miles and these 20-24 mile days are too much for her, especially in the heat.
I also decided I really need more cash, so I am going to ride up the Trace to Jackson and see if I can get work at a bike shop for a week or two. This is the starting season for cyclists and there is always an initial rush. Bike shops typically need extra help during those times and I am good with sales, cashier, stocking and some maintenance and repairs. There are a few things I'd like to learn this time around as well, like truing a wheel, a very handy application to know.
I checked for bike shops in the Jackson vicinity and there are around 10 or so listed. Pretty good odds!

We hit Port Gibson around 3pm and I called my contact from a gas station on 61. We made it down to his house and he got a few shots of us as we came in.

Wednesday, March 18th

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:52:03 +0100

The day started out warm and sunny. A few wispy clouds dotted the sky while I packed up around 9am.
By noon it was hot; I was glad for the sunscreen!
There isn't much on the Trace but trees and road. We ran out of water at mile 10 and found some slightly brown water at a restroom stop around mile 13. While resting in the shade another bike tourist on a Trice, pulled up and we chatted for some time before his riding partner who had passed earlier called.
We made it to mile marker 27 before I pulled off to camp. We were both exhausted and hungry; those last 4 miles were rough. I didn't even try to be stealthy while camping. I felt so defeated and decided not to think about anything as I knew it was because I was tired. So instead, I cried.
A few minutes later a guy in a truck pulled up. I had talked to him earlier in the day when I had run out of water. He had gotten me two gallons of CLEAN spring water and some chips. Sure they were cheddar flavored and normally I wouldn't have eaten them but I needed them right then! What an Angel he was... perfect timing.
I felt much better then and realized I was only a half days away from Port Gibson so I made dinner and didn't worry about using lots of fuel so I made more food then normal.
I swear I fell asleep before my head hit the ground.

March 17th

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:37:51 +0100

Before we broke camp it was cold and overcast. I decided I didn't have enough fuel to stay another day so I packed up and headed out.
Within an hour the clouds started thinning and by noon they had disappeared completely. We made the Trace by 4 pm but needed to get more water and something to eat as I had run out of trail mix earlier.
I rode another 5 miles on the trace and camped at a spot near the Girls academy.

Monday, March 16th

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:27:58 +0100

It rained all night and my clothes were soaked so I decided to stay for a day and dry out, relax and hope for better weather the next day. Lucy and I slept and ate and did pretty much nothing all day.
I did scream at the sky though. I wanted sun!

March 15th

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:25:00 +0100

The day started out well but still overcast. It had rained during the night but since Lucy and I had stayed inside, all my gear was still dry as well.
Our first interesting encounter was a sheriff who pretended he wasn't incredulous over my journey and helped me out with directions and upcoming road conditions; dirt. True to his word the majority of eastern Homochitto National Forest are dirt roads. Even worse, none of them are marked.
Once we got through the first section of Homochitto, we came to a paved road (unmarked) and rested for awhile. I wasn't sure exactly where I was according to my directions or the Homochitto map I had but I decided I should keep going in the same direction I thought I should be going.
Soon, an elderly hunter who's wife had grown up near the area passed by and offered a ride. I really wanted something salty and something to drink other then water, so he gave us a ride to a convenience store on 33 a good 9-10 miles away. We chatted for awhile about the area. After he dropped us off at the store we sat outside with our snack and another elderly gentleman who had lived in the area his entire life stopped to chat for awhile. He directed us to a good place to camp for the night, about 11 miles away.
Lucy and I headed off after our break but about 6-7 miles down the road near Garden City I came across a young black lab on the side of the road that had been hit by a car. He was still alive but I could tell he was in pain and I didn't know how bad his injuries were. I didn't see any external bleeding and hoped all he needed was surgery for a hip; a common ailment for dogs hit by cars. I called a volunteer at St. Francis to see if she knew of any shelters or sanctuaries in the area. Unfortunately, there are no animal welfare agencies in this part of Mississippi. Two volunteers from St. Francis drove up to get the dog and took him to a vet in McComb. During this time, it had started to rain and the temp had dropped. By the time I got to my campsite Lucy and I were soaked.

March 14th

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:40:32 +0100

Saturday morning was chilly but the rain had stopped while I was cooking breakfast. Another overcast day, it only sprinkled a bit here and there but I stayed dry. We traveled a little over 21 miles before looking for a place to camp when a hunter in a pickup asked me where I was headed; he had seen me earlier in the day on his way into McComb. I explained what I was doing and that I was now looking for a place to camp for the night. He offered his Camp (meaning a little vacation house and some land) and Lucy and I stayed in a warm dry bed for the night. The hunter sent us off in the morning with extra stuff and a $20 bill!