Fish, Food, The Beast, and More

Fish
My fish are hungry. Please be sure to feed my fish when you visit the site by clicking your mouse in the pool.

http://beerraam.blogspot.com

Goal
One of my goals for this trip is to lose weight. Last year, the day before my 49th birthday, I checked myself into the hospital because of some strange feelings in my chest and electric feelings in my arms. The doctors looked in my blood vessels, found some partial blockages, and put in a stent to open up one of them. I did not have heart damage which means, I technically did not have a heart attack. Still when I asked the doctor about alternative to the procedure, he said I could go home a die. Chilling and not much choice.

After all this, one becomes suspicious of every strange feeling. I had a stress test earlier this year with good results. At the end of January I started to diet with the notion of improving my health. So less food, less bad fats (monounsaturated fatty acids are okay), more fiber, less simple sugars, and, alas, no ice cream and other goodies. There is one food that can actually reduce build up in blood vessels: oatmeal. So I decided to eat more of that. Whole oats. They cook up fast in the microwave and have a good nutty flavor. I personally add nothing to it.

So at the turn of the year after bulk up season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, several birthdays and Easter), I started watching what I eat and weighed around 285. I have been floating around this weight for years. At the end of January I started logging my food intake with an iPhone app and weighed 278. To lose 2 pounds a week at that weight I could eat about 2100 calories a day. I also walked. I started walking to the MAX train station which is 3 miles one way from my house. Not every day, but many, and built up to walking for 2.5-3.5 hours at least one day of the weekend often both. I would often cover 11 miles.

When we started the bike trip I was down to 263.

On this trip I estimate we burn an extra 4-5000 calories a day (6-7000 total). There is a lot of room to eat. In fact, I have been more concerned about making sure I eat enough, even when I am not hungry, to ensure I have energy enough for the ride ahead. There is nothing worse than limping into the end of a ride because of bonking from not enough energy. It happens.

Well yesterday I had my first opportunity to weigh. I hope the scale is accurate. It says I have lost 43 pounds at a mid-day weigh in. I weighed in at 223. Nice. If I lose enough I may be able to reduce medications which is another goal. I would love to get to about 185. It looks like I'm losing about 7 pounds a week so sub-200 may be possible and even desirable as the last few pounds would be lost with a more favorable and reasonable diet.

There are challenges ahead, the big one adjusting eating habits to maintain the new weight. But I'm up for that. It's past time to put as much as I can, right. I don't want to be debilitated sooner than necessary as I ripen.

Strawberries

So we were riding along and I saw a farm advertising you pick strawberries. I thought: "Why not. We should stop in, pick a few, and enjoy!". We went on. A few miles later there is a farmers market selling strawberries only now I just must stop. I picked up a basket. Now what? How can I ride and eat strawberries. Well, I did. I found a way to balance the basket between my handlebars and brake cable and off we went. I was happily eating strawberries as we streamed down the road. It was bliss. Until I applied the brakes to catch something Alicia was saying. I lost half the berries. Still I had plenty to enjoy!! (Oh, and I did manage to share one or two with Alicia.)



The Beast

Prowling the roads is this immense scary beast. It has a high pitched sound, moves fast, and is tall enough to drive right over a cyclist. When we see these we cringe. They are also normally wider than a lane, extending into the shoulder where we poor, hapless cyclists try to dwell and pass quietly by.

See how it dwarfs the SUV?! A chilling sight to see looming up from behind.




Soybeans and Wheat





~Pete

Day 49. Rest Day in Monticello

This week we covered 445 miles for a total of 2780.5. Wow, the miles are really starting to pile up. We have another day and a half in Indiana; then Ohio. Next week at this time we expect to be near Niagra Falls. We attended church this morning. It is nice to fellowship with others of like faith. The church was small and friendly. It was also communion Sabbath; we enjoyed that.

Impressions

What is it like being on the road? Each day stands on its own. Planning can only loosely extend beyond one day. Mostly it is living in the moment. There is pedaling, moving down the road, listening for cars, checking how you feel, pressing on to gain more speed, slowing up to be sure you can sustain the effort, taking breaks to ease discomforts. Looking around.

It is always joy to move through the countryside on a bike. It is faster than walking, more sustainable than running. We really cover territory. Who would even want to trace out our route; by car even? It's 2700 miles. That is a very long car trip.

We are partners with events. We can't force outcomes. The wind is favorable or unfavorable. We make the best of whatever is provided. Sometimes that means we make only 30 miles in a headwind. Other times we are drenched in rain. Yet other times we fly with the wind and watch the miles speed by. A fellow hails us from the side of the road. We stop, talk, take advise, change plans. All very fluid and dynamic. There is nothing to force,; you just go with events. Life happens.

This is what it really means to "live the life" right now. There is no real planning, just action. Nothing is forced, it just comes. Our faith for safety and blessing is in God and we lay all at His feet (or try too). Literally anything can happen - and does. Act, move, breath, pedal, rest. It is enough. Find nightly shelter, talk to people. Listen.

These are the things that are the joy of bike touring. Yes, there are pains, we are often uncomfortable. These are nothing but annoyances when riding in the stream of life in the way we currently are.

Joy.

The offering

This moist, humid morning the corn stands straight and tall reaching for the the heavens, fresh blades pointing straight up as we slip by on our bikes. The horizon is a bit hazy. There are waves and bands of moisture seeming to rise from the corn heavenward. An offering from the corn.

The sun warms; the moisture continues its rise. Early higher clouds disappear. Humid. Clouds begin forming, it gets warmer. An envelope of moisture surrounds. Droplets form on everything; drops fall on my glasses despite my headband. The corn looks happy. Water envelops my arms in an unbroken sheet. My forearms are wrapped in sheets of liquid.

Clouds build. The horizon is less distinct. Is it darker over there? As we take a turn south, three hills are laid out before our view. The next three miles. It is very hazy and indistinct over the last hill. Rain? The sun is dimmer. The clouds still building.

No rain. We coast into town and take a break at our favorite chain, Caseys. Caseys is store, gas, and fresh daily donuts in one. We are warned of approaching storms on radar. It comes while at Caseys. The heavens open up releasing the moisture, returning the offering, renewing the corn.

For the next 5 hours, drenching rain and wind. Even with full rain gear, we are wet. But from rain or exertion - who can know? The rain hitting my lips as I ride stings a little. Big drops; driving rain. Not altogether unpleasant. We learn to live with feeling sloppy. It is a sloppy day for us.

The corn rejoices.

~ Pete

Day 48. Monticello, Indiana

We have made it to Indiana!

It is very humid - 71% at 5 pm - and about 85 degrees.  Rain was in the forecast, so we hoped to get here early, which we did.  We covered 71 miles by 2 pm.  About 5 hours ride time unassisted and unhindered by wind.

I prayed this morning that we avoid being rained on.  At 12 miles from our destnation I looked back to see storm clouds bearing down on us.  We stopped to tale a quick break 4 miles further on and heard thunder.  So we cut that short and got into our hosts place.  No sooner did we step on their covered porch than the rain started.  Giant, huge dollar bill sized drops.  Any single one could drench you.

Whew!  Thank you Lord!

Our hosts are Seventh Day Adventists.   They have graciously agreed to let us use the guest room in their home for the next couple days.  We will rest on the rest God gave man - the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

We will continue Sunday and expect to be poised to enter Ohio Monday.  We expect to be done 3 weeks from Monday.

Here are some more pics from yesterday.

Day 47. Ashkum

This photo is from Kempton, IL. A town we nearly zipped through. A
fella stopped us on the way out of town and insisted we really needed
to see the bookstore. While the bookstore was nice and cozy, it was
two other things that really struck me. There were all these great
murals on the buildings.

See how Alicia added her touch to this one.

The other unusual thing for this town of 150 was the scooters and
unicycle. We saw 4 different scooters and one unicycle complete with
friendly kids guiding them around. It was almost surreal.

A cool-ish start today. Humidity you can feel. Light wind. As we ride the corn fields seem to offer up clouds of moisture to the sky.

Day 46. Wenona, IL

Before we left Kewanee this morning, we checked all the weather reports we could find and got conflicting reports. Mostly though, it was supposed to be cloudy, with winds out of the SE at 4 mph. So we left feeling we could get our 80 plus miles in easily. We soon found out that the winds were much stronger, around 20-25 from the ESE. When we got to the town of Bradford, about 20 miles out, we stopped for cold drinks, as we were there the sky got darker and darker and the clouds were building. People were telling us that it was going to rain this morning. One lady even offered to take us were we needed to go. We graciously declined, chatted with her for a few moments, then as she was getting ready to head to her pickup, we all noticed at the same time that she had a flat tire. Just then it started raining. Pete helped her with her tire, and it started pouring. When Pete was done helping her, we geared up with our rain gear and headed out. The rain poured and the wind continued to blow, we did 43 miles in this rain and wind for a total of 63 miles today, and decided we had enough weather when we arrived in Wenona. They are calling for thunderstorms possible tomorrow. No matter what, we will try to get our mileage in, even if it isn't the goal amount.

Of Windbreaks, bugs and corn...
When we are cycling on windy days, every once in a while, the wind will just gently disappear, then we notice that some farmer had planted a wind break perpendicular to the road. As we ride past the end of the windbreak, BAM... a wall of wind hits us square on and reminds us that it is indeed windy. It is amazing how well those windbreaks work.

One of the harder aspects of this expedition for me has been the bugs that we have to deal with. Besides the mosquitos, gnats, and flies of all types, there have been a few other "buggy" incidents. When we were camping in Idaho, we had our cookware, panniers, and other things on the picnic table, then we noticed these little yellow things dropping from the tree, and looked and there were hundreds of little inch worms crawling over everything we had on the table! At another campsite, I was in the tent and had my stuff next to me but outside the tent. I looked over at my stuff and there were about 15-20 daddy-long-legs crawling over all of my panniers, shoes, helmet and tent!

It is interesting to see the corn in the early morning, the new leaves are all pointing upward, like they are ready to greet a new day and the sunshine. Later in the day the leaves are bent downward. The corn is starting to creep me out though, it is everywhere and it is taller than me and the leaves are starting to look like arms reaching out to grab me as I ride by!! (Obviously I have been spending too many days in the hot sun!!) - Alicia

Day 45. Into Illinois - Kewanee

We entered Illinois today bidding farewell to Iowa and the
Mississippi. Temps were in the 80's with thunderheads building in the
afternoon, though no wind to speak off.

We covered 79 miles. The roads were smoother. A nice bonus.

That's all for now...

Day 44. Muscatine, Iowa

Downtown Muscatine, Iowa

Iowa Farmland

Iowa Countryside

Today we are feeling battered and pummeled. This Ride Across America is not a joy ride, it is an expedition. As Pete says, "We are still looking for cycling bliss!" The roads have been so rough the last two days, "KER-chunk, KER-chunk, KER-chunk," for mile after mile after mile, for 96 miles yesterday, and then again for another 50 miles today, uphill and downhill, over and over again. The hands, wrists and arms hurt, the neck and shoulders are in agony and the head is pounding, nothing that several ibuprofens and getting off of the bicycle for the night won't cure! The air is so thick and humid and the sun is beating down incessantly, there is no shade around because there are no trees anywhere near the road. The feet start to literally boil in our shoes; they cramp and feel as if they are on fire. So you've taken about as much as you can take and pull off to the side of the road, whip off your shoes and try to find some freshly mowed grass to sink your feet into. Temporary cooling relief...can't waste too much time beside the road so it is on with the shoes again and off you go. Next thing you know you are enjoying the beautiful scenery...BAM...everything feels mushy and your back tire skids to the side. You just hit a big rock with your back tire...broken spoke, wheel out-of-round...now you have to "limp" for the next 100-150 miles to the next bicycle shop that is actually still in business.

And so our saga continues as we enter Muscatine, IA today. I hope you can kind of get a feel for what we are enduring out here. The scenery is still beautiful in its own way. It is just amazing the amount of corn growing here, corn as far as the eye can see in every direction, and most of it is already over 6 feet tall. The smells out here though are another thing altogether! The little bit bigger towns are quaint, Muscatine has a nice historic downtown near the Mississippi River and a lovely riverwalk. The first thing we did when we entered town was take care of Pete's bicycle's broken spoke and out-of-round wheel, and he has also worn through another back tire so, had that replaced also. The guys at Harleys Cycling Shop took care of us right away, and even checked out our gears and adjusted our shifting. Thanks again! While at the shop we discovered sandal cycling shoes, Pete and I are now the proud owners of new pairs of cycling sandals, hopefully that will solve the baked feet problem. Tomorrow we will give them a test run. If they work we will be mailing back our other cycling shoes, don't need the extra weight!

Yesterday we went through a small town called Petersburg (pop around 600). It has a large, beautiful Catholic church. The inside was as amazing as the outside. Such a beautiful edifice in such a small town in the middle of the countryside. then in Dyersville another huge basilica.

Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Petersburg

St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville

We have met quite a few wonderful people here in Iowa. Tomorrow we will be crossing into Illinois. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures taken in Iowa. - Alicia

Day 43. Oxford Junction, Iowa

Today it is hot and muggy. It got to the mid 80's but, wow, the
humidity really steamed us up. We covered 91 miles over rolling hills.

Across south eastern Minnesota and now Iowa have been these wonderful
patches of wild lilies. It so cool see these growing naturally.