Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
We get to Tiger's and here is this 75 year old biker God standing before us still nimble, and fit. Seriously, Carol told us that Tiger still bikes over 50 miles a day and runs at night. Tiger, whose wife's name is Jane, showed us around his collection of racing recumbent bikes and his shop. and yes, Tiger still races time trials in Illinois and Wisconsin and wins them. His shop is just filled with tools, bikes, and memories. Pictures of Tiger riding dotted the walls alongside other cyclists both tourers and racers. Getting down to business, Tiger sold us each a tube, knocking off a dollar each (road discount). The flat and added detour meant we didn't have a chance in he'll making it the last 18 miles for the day, so we asked Tiger for some sage like advice. The best advice he could give us was a little pull off near a North/South bound county highway. He also pointed out the one store, Casey's, in the Village of Dakota.
While I was changing my tire, Sam went to the house nearby for water. a few minutes later he came out with Carol and Mike Johnson, a very lovely couple, who advised not only gave us water and each a delicious apple, but also directed us to one Tire Johnson who apparently operated a bike shop from his home. Now very low on tubes from Sam's double flat yesterday and my single today, we were hoping this one didn't prove a goose chase like the shops in Belvidere.
Friday, August 27, 2010
So in search of a bike shop earlier today, we came into Belvidere, Illinois. An odd backwater to begin with, we initially hit gold with a great Mexican restaurant but the good fortune ended there as we went to look for the towns two bike shops. The first shop marker on the map led us to a mural of Belvidere Bikes, which probably went out of business in 1947. The second marker led us to a faded lime green ranch style house in a residential neighborhood. We asked the neighbor, an old deaf man, if he knew of a bike shop near by. He pointed to the house again, and yelled, "Shack. I seen someone go there one day and he fixed him." Well sure enough walking int the backyard, there was a tiny one room bungalow with bike company logos in the small three by three window. there also was a very clearly displayed Sorry. We're Closed sign as well. With nobody home we moved on from the "City of Murals" (I saw six murals) in hopes of a city that doesn't just dream of bicycles.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
One real cool outcome from the rain is that I just met this German couple Michael and Connie from Germany who are riding motorcycles around the world. They've done Australia, Europe, South America, and are working their way around America now, aiming to finish in Vancouver. A very cool adventure to be sure.
Sad Michaelangelo. We've got a rain delay due to heavy rainfall, and just under sixty miles to my friend Nolan's house in Chicago. Poor Sam got flooded out and I had some leakage too. We're both fine though, but we definitely have some tent issues to address during our stop over. I'm disappointed that I won't make Chicago before 4pm like I wanted, but we'll get there soon. The rain stopped a little while ago, so now it's dry and pack time.
Hang over from yesterday: I passed through Town of Pines, one of the eeriest, most druidic, and downright coolest names for a town I've ever encountered. Sadly, the town didn't live up to the name. One motel and one gas station. Not even an over abundance of pines. Maybe they cut a lot of them down.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The little acts of kindness encountered as we go along never cease to amaze me. The latest just occurred about forty minutes ago at Trail Creek Liquors. I came in to inquire about the size of the next town over and if there was a place to buy beer, and not only did they give me a very healthy run down on what was available, the owner Scott walks me to the cooler, removes and hands me a 12 pack case of Coors Light. "On me," he says with a smile. Life is good today to be sure.
A little bit of a detour. One of the bolts to Sam's rear rack rattled itself out, so we made a pit stop at The Avenue Bicycle Station. The owner, Scott gave Sam the bolt he needed and let him borrow a standing pump for his tires. He also gave me a phat (yes I did say phat) sticker for my helmet. He also told me about this program, he does every Saturday called Open Stand. Anyone can come in and work with his tools on their bike. Scott's there the whole day to run tutorials for newbees.
So something about me that very few people know. I lost my faith in Christianity, specifically Catholicism. Now before that happened, as a little boy, I wanted to become a priest, and the college that I dreamed of going to was The University of Notre Dame. Obviously, that didn't quite work out for me, but as a consolation guess where I am now. It has to be one of the loveliest campuses I've ever been to.
Feeling wonderfully refreshed and invigorated after a long ride yesterday. Good food, beer and whiskey, a great night's sleep, a hot shower and fresh clothes. Yep, that's all it took. I'm hoping Sam's shower will do the same for him. He was not anywhere approaching sunshine this morning. My grumpy day was yesterday. You see we've got this rotation thing going and... ;)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
We are pretty much camped at the point where Ohio, Michigan and Indiana meet at a little campground called Lazy River. It's nice although a side effect of this place once being known as the Black Swamp (they still call it that but they drained most of the Marshes for cropland, very, very fertile area) is that it's moist and all the outside world has already been coated in a even early dew. I'm emailing photos, making notes and writing my big Sid before bed. Sleep well Brooklyn or not yet to all my Barland Hoppers.
Didn't make quite make it across the Indiana border today, but I can practically spit at it. What we did instead was find an all you could eat buffet that cost me ten bucks for both of us. Thankfully there was a salad bar with tons if fresh veggies so I was happy again today. Between that, finding a vegan eatery and grocer last night, the super veggie friendly Mexican place in Oberlin, and Lisa's great peepers juice and apple jelly, I've have been a very happy vegetarian this week. it more than makes up for having to suffer The Thirsty Pony.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sandusky's redemption comes with the morning over the quest for breakfast. We decided to bypass Sandusky proper and I routed us to skirt the South edge of the city. Just when we lost hope of finding a real place to eat among the Burger Kings and car dealerships, we found Beraidi's Family Kitchen and the sweetest waitress you've ever met: a madam by the name of Beth.
Neither of us know what it is about the place, but after getting back from our scout and eating at the Pony, we were both drained and listless. The urge to work wasn't there, not that I could have done much because service in the town is awful and there's no wifi anywhere near us. I don't know if it was partly because Oberlin was so amazing, or what but I don't know Sandusky.
Neither of us know what it is about the place, but after getting back from our scout and eating at the Pony, we were both drained and listless. The urge to work wasn't there, not that I could have done much because phone service in the town is awful and there's no wifi anywhere near us. I don't know if it was partly because Oberlin was so amazing, or what but I don't know Sandusky.
In need of sustenance and finding little if any in downtown, we backtracked towards the hotel and settled ourselves on The Thirsty Pony (it was that or TGI Fridays). This had to be one of the most obscenely saturated displays of indoor neon I've ever seen. The place is a jammed in combination bar, restaurant , bowling alley, mini casino, OTB. I'm serious folks, slot machines next to the gumball machine displaying the kids menu. On the menu, we got meat, meat, meat charged at a premium. That's something I'm getting used to and new coming into the trip, but this place was just devoid of any redeemable quality. Overpriced drinks dry humping tacky flair and not even smiling while they're doing it.
We did a night scout of Sandusky, and, yeah...that's kind of it. The historic waterfront area is pretty sparse (I mean it is a Monday but...). Apparently, the place to be is at the chain restaurants on the strip mall wing of the city, route 250. The city sweats a combination of sleazy tourist trap strips lined with gimmick motels and that sort of vacant homogenized quick serve culture America more and more seems to be drowning in.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Status update: we're staying at the mayor of Oberlin, Ken and his wife Lisa, two biking gurus in my book (and every biker in Brooklyn if you met them). Not only did they give us a place to crash, a very needed hot shower, great nibbles, swains advise, and lovely conversation, their friend Steve also toured us around Oberlin. I got to say today was a GREAT DAY!!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
There will come soft rains, well actually there will come rapid torrential downpours passing through to say hi. Well, each state welcomes us in it's own special way, Jersey brought sandwiches from cars, Pennsylvania brought rolling mountains (lots of them) and now Ohio gives us hide and seek rainstorms. Can't wait for the Dakotas! No...really.
Mobile Blogging from here.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Closing Update from last night: Sam went home to draw early, but I stayed out to bike, explore, and photograph. This really is an amazing city with so much personality completely unique onto itself. I'm loving it, I could stay here another week if I wasn't so hungry to get back on the road. A little nightlife guide to the city real quick, Downtown is vacant at night unless there's some type of city event, but you can find some nice seedy dive bars lurking around. The Strip District has a definite scene but i passed by getting that trendy sort of goo feeling about it. Finally, The Southside is where the bar scene is at for sure. Take all the bars on 5th Avenue and all of the ones on Smith Street, and pack them all on to Fifth, Southside.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sam and I treated ourselves earlier to a Pittsburgh delicacy, namely a sandwich made in the Iron City Style. You can get it any way you like, for Sam that meant going for the cheesesteak, while I opted for an egg and cheese. what makes it a hallmark Pittsburgh classic is that they pile tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries on top., an odd combination until you try it. Yum! Shit's pretty tasty Brooklyn.
So, we ended the night stopping by one of the two best pizza shops in Pittsburg (it's a hotly contested title here) right before it was shutting down and got two pies for ten bucks, which after all the eight dollar pictures, ended the evening just lovely. The cost of living in this town is insanely low. Now, I'm resetting my packs for the next leg of the journey: the push to Chicago!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
So Samboy and tried something new, only because circumstances presented the opportunity, we split up on two separate courses. I took route 22, the highway, monster climbs and drops, while Sam took the ghost road, cool as the name is, it's a longer more scenic route that cuts through the valley, and is much less hilly. we're to meet in blairsville, where I am now chillin' at this restirant drinking a beer and a Jameson on the rocks that cost me $4.50 (wow), while Sam is still six miles out. Damn you Bob!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Beautiful scenic paths today but not as much progress as we hoped. Spirits got a little low by Ebensburg (not a fan of the town myself, not bike friendly: you go although way up the hill to the center of town, ride three level blocks only to go back down out of the town), but we rebounded by yelling at each other, drinking some beers, and eating some food. Still, don't go to Ebensburg on bike. Not fun.
So I've added two new animals to my roadkill seen. First, three days ago beaver, and now, porcupine. I decided to spare everyone photo documentation but I think sam has a beaver snap shot on one of his cameras. oh, and I just ran into a fly the weight of a quarter biking. The thing made an actual thud against my chest!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Good morning! Carol and Sandy made us a great breakfast if free range eggs, raw milk, yogurt, toast, pepper jelly (yum!), fresh grapes, and coffee for Sam. Energized and ready to start our rude, we shall now depart to State College (city name), the bank, Post Office, Best Buy, and then to the western beyond.
sorry fir the tune out...we rode and rode this rolling road through Amish country on our way to the what we thought was a sizable town only to find a one road strip. we ate some pretty bad Italian food and discouraged, began making our way to the next town and the hopes of lodging. That's when Sandy and Carol found us on the road. They offered us a spot to pitch camp, filled us with beer and stories, and helped ease what almost turned out a dire day's ending.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Cruising the PA bikeline. Today's opponent: Mother Wind. That lovely bitch keeps trying to blow our bikes down. Otherwise, rolling hills more frequent then mountains today, the sun burn out the rain, and the world is sticky with moisture. No longer mad just upset at the waste of time in creating work only to have it wiped away. Ahhhh!! The pains of the electronic age.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Nothing like starting the day with a few mountain ridges. The ride down though was amazing. Did you know you cam go 55 mph on a fully loaded bike? I do now. The bad news is we're ten miles out from the nearest diner and it's not in our direction. It looks like Tofurkey, a clementine and Gatorade for breakfast today!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Whoops about signing in at lunch! We're in PA and I just reach the summit of our first 1000+ mountain and what's there waiting for me a frickin' bar man! it's just so hard bike away from Brooklyn life. . Whew! 6 miles to camp. Just waiting for Sam to get up the mountain. (jeopardy theme song)
Mobile Blogging from here.
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