We made it!! 3,907 miles exactly from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Montauk Point to San Diego. It has been a crazy day and I will make my final post tonight or tomorrow.
Thank you to all my wonderful followers, supporters and all the generous donations!!!
November 16, 2011
November 14, 2011
Day 53...Oh, The Mountains...
Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going."
Well put, Winston. Well put.
Today was indeed this type of hellish grind. From the first down stroke of the pedal, we were climbing. And we climbed for about 50 miles, over 5,000 feet and through what felt like a giant wind tunnel.
After 10 miles riding on the shoulder of the freeway (Interstate 8) we turned on Old Highway 80 where we remained for the next 40 miles riding first to Jacumba then Live Oak Springs, Pine Valley and finally Alpine, CA. We saw our first sign post telling us the distance to San Diego!!
The first climb today was 3,000 feet and boy was it a grind. We made it to the summit and then coasted down into the town (unincorporated) of Jacumba. We had a coffee and PB&J and set off again for our next climb.
During this ascent we saw a motorcycle with a side car. In the side car there was a dog sitting as stoic as could be with goggles on, of course! We made a brief stop 10 miles later in Live Oak Springs and we came across the duo again! We said hello, learned the dog's name was Zig, and snapped a few pictures...
20 miles later we reached our last valley, Pine Valley. We had a short but tough 500 foot climb up to the final summit before we shot down to Alpine. On our descent, a dense layer of dark clouds formed above us. The sun tried to make her way through to keep us warm, but to no avail.
When we were nearly at the bottom of our descent Jim pulled up along side us (out of no where!) and we all flew down to Alpine together.
Well put, Winston. Well put.
Today was indeed this type of hellish grind. From the first down stroke of the pedal, we were climbing. And we climbed for about 50 miles, over 5,000 feet and through what felt like a giant wind tunnel.
After 10 miles riding on the shoulder of the freeway (Interstate 8) we turned on Old Highway 80 where we remained for the next 40 miles riding first to Jacumba then Live Oak Springs, Pine Valley and finally Alpine, CA. We saw our first sign post telling us the distance to San Diego!!
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| Starting the climb... |
During this ascent we saw a motorcycle with a side car. In the side car there was a dog sitting as stoic as could be with goggles on, of course! We made a brief stop 10 miles later in Live Oak Springs and we came across the duo again! We said hello, learned the dog's name was Zig, and snapped a few pictures...
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| Zig + Dad (check out Zig's goggles!) |
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| A kiss from my new friend Zig |
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| Descending into Alpine, CA |
When we were nearly at the bottom of our descent Jim pulled up along side us (out of no where!) and we all flew down to Alpine together.
Today we rode 60 miles from Ocotillo, CA to Alpine, CA. We have about 40 miles of riding tomorrow until we reach San Diego. I cannot believe this journey is coming to completion. Actually, I cannot believe I will have biked 3,900 miles across the United States. Wow!!
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Winston Churchill also said, "Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential." This journey was definitely a continuous effort....
November 13, 2011
Day 52...Sand Dunes
Today was a tough day. Really tough.
We started today's ride 22 miles east of Glamis, CA on a calm, partly cloudy morning. We rode through Glamis, Brawley, El Centro, Seeley, Plaster City and, finally, into Ocotillo, CA.
In Glamis we entered the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area where dune buggies, quads and dirt bikes zipping over and through the dunes. Glamis has no real structures apart from a few stores which sell supplies for the recreational visitors. Hundreds of thousands of people visit these dunes each year!
Today is Sunday which meant there was a TON of traffic. Kevin and I hugged the shoulder tight and essentially held our breath for the 20 miles into and out of Glamis. This was NOT fun. The roads that passed through the sand dunes, as you can imagine, were rollers. Up and down and up and down. What a terrifying roller coaster ride. Six Flags has nothing on Route 78.
Fifty miles later we finally entered Brawley (phew) and stopped for lunch. We refueled and set off for Ocotillo, where Jim (and the RV) were. This was another 40 miles away but if we could make it there we would be perfectly positioned at the base of tomorrow's climb.
Little did we know how awful the roads would be. These were the worst roads we have come upon in this entire journey, including Texas roads! At one point, when I was nearly at my braking point, Kevin started laughing. So did I. We were being rattled, shaken, bounced and beaten by the roads and all we could do to get through it was laugh.
89 rough miles in the saddle. We are now at the base of tomorrow's 4,500 foot climb over the Jacumba + In-Ko-Pah Mountain ranges. I guess a few days of tough riding will make reaching San Diego that much sweeter.....
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| Start of Day 52 |
We started today's ride 22 miles east of Glamis, CA on a calm, partly cloudy morning. We rode through Glamis, Brawley, El Centro, Seeley, Plaster City and, finally, into Ocotillo, CA.
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| Riding through Glamis, CA |
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| Sand Dunes Glamis, CA |
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| Sand Dunes Glamis, CA |
Today is Sunday which meant there was a TON of traffic. Kevin and I hugged the shoulder tight and essentially held our breath for the 20 miles into and out of Glamis. This was NOT fun. The roads that passed through the sand dunes, as you can imagine, were rollers. Up and down and up and down. What a terrifying roller coaster ride. Six Flags has nothing on Route 78.
Fifty miles later we finally entered Brawley (phew) and stopped for lunch. We refueled and set off for Ocotillo, where Jim (and the RV) were. This was another 40 miles away but if we could make it there we would be perfectly positioned at the base of tomorrow's climb.
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| Check out the road.... |
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| Just a few cracks! |
Little did we know how awful the roads would be. These were the worst roads we have come upon in this entire journey, including Texas roads! At one point, when I was nearly at my braking point, Kevin started laughing. So did I. We were being rattled, shaken, bounced and beaten by the roads and all we could do to get through it was laugh.
89 rough miles in the saddle. We are now at the base of tomorrow's 4,500 foot climb over the Jacumba + In-Ko-Pah Mountain ranges. I guess a few days of tough riding will make reaching San Diego that much sweeter.....
November 12, 2011
Day 51...Welcome to California!
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| Beginning of Day 51 10 miles outside of Quartzsite, AZ |
I slept well last night + woke up feeling a bit tired. Ha, I guess 111 miles took a little (a little??) out of me. I gingerly rolled out of bed and began fueling my engine, first with a cup of coffee and then with a heaping bowl of cereal + banana. That ought to get me through at least 20 miles today ;-)
The morning was bright with a very light breeze out of the west. We descended quickly for the first 12 miles and then cruised for another 20 before we made it to the state line. We climbed up a narrow bridge path and once again crossed the Colorado River, leaving the state of Arizona behind us ...and entering the mighty fine state of California. Yay! Sigh.
Eureka...I have found it! Welcome to California ...
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| California |
Today we rode 75 miles from just outside of Quartzsite, AZ to about 20 miles shy of Glamis, CA. We finally entered the Pacific and have under 200 miles before we reach our final destination, San Diego! Oh, but first we have to traverse a mountain range...
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Today there was a brief moment when I allowed myself to "realize" the magnitude of what I'm actually going to accomplish in a few days. I'll be able to say, "When I was 34, I biked across the country." Now, how great is that?
During the past 51 days I have spent countless hours thinking about my reasons for taking on such an endeavor. Every single day I think deeply and compassionately about the evil and consumptive diseases we call Eating Disorders. My heart grows heavy thinking about the people whose lives have been consumed by them and have felt shame no human should ever have to feel.
An organization like MentorCONNECT is invaluable to these people and to everyone who might know someone with an eating disorder: a friend, mother, sister, daughter, brother, father, uncle, aunt, son, cousin, colleague, stranger.....
Please, if you can, donate to a wonderful cause and help me reach my goal of $10,000. If you have already donated, thank you but please pass my link along to someone you know who might also want to contribute. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
November 11, 2011
Day 50...An Honorary 111 miles
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| Start of Day 50 Surprise, AZ |
For those of you who do not know the history of this day, it commemorates the unofficial end to WWI on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Although the war did not officially end until June 28, 1919, seven months earlier (November 11, 1918) is when the fighting ceased and an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. On Armistice Day president Wilson proclaimed,
"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
During our ride, we passed a bike memorial of a man named Charles Peterson. On the top frame of the bike, which was painted white, was his name and that he lived from 1926-2007. He was obviously an avid cyclist and perhaps he was a service man too.
Today we rode on Route 60 for 111 miles from Surprise, AZ to Quartzite, AZ. The only populated area we passed through was Wickenburg, AZ. The rest of the day was one long stretch of rode. It was cool and overcast day although not unpleasant. It was a long day in the saddle but thinking of all those who have sacrificed for this country and continue to do so was a wonderful motivating force.
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| 111.1 miles |
Kevin is raising money for The Wounded Warrior Project and is riding in honor of his brother, Daniel F. Harrington, who served in Vietnam (Air Force) in 1969, his cousin, Kenneth McMahon, who was a marine and all the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom.
My father, Colonel Bernard Berger, served in the First Infantry Division in Vietnam from July 1966-1967. He continued to serve in the army another year after the war and for four years after that was in the Air Force. Thank you for your service dad. You are amazing and I love you.
November 10, 2011
Day 49...City Bikin'
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| Start of Day 49 Apache Junction, AZ (check out the '36 Chevy) |
My legs felt the sun for the first time in a LONG time today. The morning was mild and the sunny. At last, it felt like we were in a warm weather state. Just to be on the safe side, I put my arm warmers on but they were shed about 10 miles into the ride.
Today's route took us from Apache Junction, AZ through the streets of Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Pioria, Sun City and finally to Surprise, AZ. There were bike lanes throughout the cities and even bike rest stops! NYC should really consider such options.
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| Bike Lanes... |
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| Bike Rest Stop Phoenix, AZ |
We rode along the Arizona Canal by way of the Arizona Canal Bike Path. What an amazing bike path, free of traffic and safely taking along the canal, through the city using underpasses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Canal
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| Arizona Canal |
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| Entering an underpass Tempe, AZ |
We purposely kept the ride shorter today (66 miles) as we knew riding through a city, or cities, can sap you of energy. Watching for traffic, making many turns, the exhaust, the noise... exhausting!
But we made it to Surprise, AZ (surprise!) with a nice wind at our back and with enough time to go for a massage! Jim, Kev and I had a much deserved 60 minute massage this afternoon. Now, I'm definitely ready for bed!
November 9, 2011
Day 48...Journey Through The Tunnel
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| Start of Day 48 Peridot, AZ |
The sun greeted us early this morning but it was still a bit chilly. We had a tough climb ahead us.
We would leave Peridot, AZ and the San Carlos Apache Reservation into Globe, AZ then to Miami, AZ. From Miami, which is located on the slope of the Pinal Mountains, it would be about an 8 mile climb up through the mountain pass and then down to Superior, AZ where we would grab lunch.
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| Strip mining fields Miami, AZ |
Miami, AZ was only established about 100 years ago and is a classic Western copper boomtown. From the base of our climb all the way to Queen Creek tunnel we had a grand view of the mining fields.
It was a tough climb and I quickly went from being a bit chilly to dripping with sweat. Yes, this is a common theme these days and a byproduct of waking up to 30 degree temperatures, layering like crazy then climbing thousands of feet and descending again. Cold. Hot. Cold. And repeat.
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| Climbing up.... |
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| ...to the top of Signal Mountain |
Once we reached the first summit we zipped up and prepared for our descent down through Devil's Canyon.
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| ...down towards Devil's Canyon |
The road plateaued for a while then we climbed for a second time. After reaching the top we sailed down, past a few bends in the road until we saw brake lights ahead. There was a line of traffic forming to get through the Queen Creek Tunnel, a tunnel through the mountain! They were allowing only one direction of vehicles through the tunnel at a time so we had to wait for about 5 minutes before we could enter.
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| Waiting to go through Queen Creek Tunnel |
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| Approaching the tunnel |
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| In the tunnel! |
Once we exited the tunnel we crossed over a spectacular bridge and then began our final descent into Superior, AZ where we had some excellent Mexican food for lunch!
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| The bridge after Queen Creek Tunnel |
Our last 25 miles today were essentially downhill and full of warmth and sunshine. At last! We rode out of Superior up a small climb called Gonzales Pass then down past Florence Junction and finally Apache Junction where we met Jim. During our afternoon ride we were passed by a line of decked out VW's, we rode past enormous cacti and soaked in the rays of sunshine.
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| VWs! |
Today we rode 79 miles from Peridot, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ. Jeff left us today and we will miss him dearly! Thanks for all your help Jeff.
Tomorrow we ride through the heart of Phoenix which might be a test of will + patience.
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| That little dot in the distance is me ;-) |
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