My 1st 500 mile trip - May, 2000

Now that I have had time to recuperate from my 500 mile adventure, & have removed  9 days of chain lube from my leg, &  critters in my sleeping bag, I can now, take time to reflect on the Greatest Cycling adventure (by far), that I have ever had the time to enjoy. Before I bought my Comfort Cycle (CC), I read an article in the "Recumbent Newsletter",  that had been generated from the author's test ride, of a CC.  Honestly, I only remember his summary, which said:  If your looking for the handling of a Ferrari, the CC isn't the trike you want.  But, if you want something with, you can slow down, & smell the roses, then the CC is  for you.

After more than 20 years of career bus driving, I didn't know what a rose was, nor friends, either. I never had time !  My trike  has taught  me how to slow down.  I have modified my CC to adapt it to my limitations. And in doing this, I ride in comfort.  On March 18, 1999, I succeeded in doing my first "CENTURY RIDE!"  101.8 miles, in less than 24 Hrs.  Last year I was invited to go to the "Great Western Bicycle Rally", with friends, & had a really great time.  I said then, that I would be back. But, not once, did  I think about cycling up there.  But as the rally got closer, it just seemed to be the way to go.  So I first, made sure that I would have a way back.  Very Important!!  Then I went out to locate people &/or businesses that would  help sponsor my  venture. I was prepared (in thought), to make the trip, if only on my money.  On May 18th, I met with my band of rowdy cyclists, to breakfast together, before I left.  Was it fear, that I might  not make it back? Or did they know something that I didn't?  After breakfast, my friends,  Rode Me Out of Town!  I'm not sure that they weren't making sure that I left.  When we got to Lake. Perris, they holstered their weapons, & pointed to the west!  I was free to go!  I won't mention that I dropped my wallet at the restaurant, & had to ride back to get it.

(And to the lady who turned it in, Thank you, & God bless. So, I decided to wait 'til Friday, & left early.  Already, one day late! My 1st stop was with friends,  in  Anaheim Hills.  By the time I got there, I had worn out two new  trailer tires, in less than 100 miles.  So Saturday, because I  had no idea what was causing the tire wear, I felt, to keep going, it would be best to replace the trailer.  I didn't leave Anaheim 'til after 4:30 pm.  At the time I left, I should have been setting up my tent in a beach park, in Seal Beach, 30 miles ahead.  Almost 2 days late, now!  Next stop: Leo Carrillo State Beach, near Ventura.  I got there about 5:pm.  Oh yes,  a tent site for cyclists, (hike n bike) in a California State Beach Park, costs only $ 3.00 per night.  This campground was across Hwy 1, from the beach, & beautifully overgrown with trees.  I already knew that I wouldn't want to leave in the morning.  The next day would end up being the toughest.  I would need to find a bike shop that would build a temporary trailer hitch, because we had had to connect it with hose clamps (no hitch available).  Not only did I find a shop, but after much work, & a new set of brake shoes,  the shop owner donated his efforts. Then, on to Santa Barbara,  & Hwy 101.   Not a good place for a cyclist,  but necessary.  70 mph cars, & a tunnel! (Whoops!!).  That night, I stayed just north of Santa Barbara, at the El Capitan campground.

Again, I arrived late, & after dark.  I set up camp near some other bikes, hoping  it was  the right area.  The next morning, a camper near me gave me a cup of "cowboy coffee".  This being coffee made by putting the coffee  grounds in the  bottom of the pot, & pour Slowly! In looking  around, there were more than 15 bikes.  All from one bike club from Ventura, on  a monthly outing.  "Nice people". (Today, is Monday)  Today, I will ride to Carpinteria.  But 1st, I must re-tighten my "makeshift" hitch.  I plan to stop in San Luis Obispo, at the BOB factory, where my new  trailer is made, to get a hitch that works.  Little did I know, they didn't have one either.  In fact, they wanted to  see what I had done, in mounting mine.  >From El Capitan, my agenda said Pismo Beach. "Mistake!!" Because I felt that I had too make up some time, I turned down an invitation to stay the night with a family who lived on base at Vandenburg, AFB.  Instead, I stopped just beyond the town of Guadalupe, & managed  to grab 5 hrs. of sleep, on a damp, dirt & gravel, parking lot. Wow!!   I was surprised at sun-up.  I was able to get up!  From Guadalupe, & after my challenge/ & loss with time, I made a choice.  All during my career, I fought the clock, & most times, I lost.  So why was I still doing the same?   So, I decided that it was far more important to enjoy what I was doing, than to be on time.  For the rest of my trip, I would take time to "smell the roses".  With that choice, I started to enjoy the ride.  On the way to Oceano, I met this Hill (downhill).  The bike route split.  One way,, was uphill & windy.  The other direction, there was this hill!  1/2 mile too the bottom.  Believe me, I would not have been able to walk up, nor down this hill.  What was bad was, by the time I saw how steep the hill was, I couldn't turn back.  I would guess I would estimate it to be near 30%.  To stop, my brakes did work, but, had I let my speed build above 10 mph,  I would not have been able  to stop, at all.  It was necessary to stop 6 times, because to slow down was not an  option.  That was the 1st time I had heard the brakes "cry".   Most days were overcast, with a wind that wanted me to go to San Diego, 'til I turned east, on Hwy 46.  At that point, hill #1 started.  A 6% grade/5 miles long.  At 2 mph,  that was a real, challenge.  At one point, I was almost ready to flag a ride.  But knowing how far I came, I kept pedaling.  I arrived in Paso Robles on Friday/4:30 pm.  I had  no problem finding my friends, they found me!  I found someone to take me back to Hemet.  His tent was set up 10 ft. from  mine.  Yes, I do believe in God!  The awards banquet, Sunday night, was a real high point of the rally.  I was happy when I learned that my trike  took 1st place, in the "Most Unusual" category.  My trip to Paso Robles became easier when, my ride was acknowledged by some 1800 riders that stood up, & applauded my effort.  I rode to Paso Robles, to bring awareness to Parkinson's disease.  I'm pleased.

Watch for the summary of my 2001 trip, leaving May 15th.

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Yup, I do take 16 pills everyday to keep this ol' body workin'.  Yup, most times, when I stand up I need to pause long enough to let the dizziness go away. Yup, short term memory ?  On my  "off days", I may not have any!  Yup, anxiety has been a problem in the past.  Little did I realize that sinemet  (my Parkinson's medication) could be adding to this problem.  But these are not enough of a reason to give up on enjoying life!!  Yup, because of a good doctor,  and my exercising, through cycling, many people have told me that they would never guess that I have PD. 

   Yup, my trike has become the bridge that has brought me from a time when I felt that I had no future, to now where I have a life, friends, even a goal in helping others to look beyond their disability.   To quote my friend Thom, " I am convinced that 10% of my life is what happens to me, the other 90% is how I choose to deal with it. Thom is also dealing with PD. 

In 1980, I started cycling as a way to get exercise, because my job required a lot of sitting, which made my legs ache.  After lots of shopping for "the right bike", I chose a Schwinn road bike.  I was told by the dealer to come back in 30 days & they would  give my new bike a tune-up.  One month, & 455 miles later, I went back for the promised tune-up. 

Soon after I started riding, I noticed that I could "burn off" much of my anxiety through cycling.  The only side effects that I had to worry about, were the ones that would happen, if I fell off!

By 1996, cycling had become something I liked to do, and was great fun, except for the pain.

So in 1997, I invested in my 1st Recumbent  bicycle.  It was comfortable, but I fell off!  I imagine that this is an ordinary occurrence in someone else's life, but a major setback in mine.  This caused me to slow down a little.  So in the year that I owned  it, I rode only 225 miles, because it was so hard to balance.  At that time, I knew I had PD, but I had no idea that it WAS NOT the radical design of this new bike, that made it so hard to control.  Three times, my bike made right turns when I wanted it to go straight, and if you have ever ridden on the Santa Ana river trail, you can understand the fear I experienced the 1st time I rode on it.  A right turn was a 25 foot drop into a dry canal.  OOPS!!!  Don't want to go there!!  This is why I now ride on 3 wheels!  A doctor recommended that I give up cycling, because of my lack of balance.  This is also,  why I now ride on 3 wheels!   Because, " I Never Give Up!"

My choice to keep riding has been a good one.  This year, I decided to repeat my ride to the Great Western Bicycle Rally, held in Paso Robles, Ca.  Last year I made the same ride and arrived at the rally almost 2 days late because of mechanical and tire problems.  This year, because of  the generosity of "Penninger Recumbents", I was able to afford a new, fully adjustable"Voyager" to ride.  This Penninger is,By Far the finest touring  trike available.  Especially, when it is coupled up with the"Yak" trailer, from B O B.  My sincerest thanks to Charles (Penninger), Damon (B.O.B.), and Karl, from zZipper Road Fairings, for all they did to make my trip, to bring awareness to PD, and hope to those afflicted, possible.  Thanks So Much Guys.  Without you, I would never have made it to the GWBR !

  This year has been a real test for me.  It all started in mid January when I came down with a "Bad" case of cellulitis on my left leg, below the knee.  After a 7 week battle, my Dr. released me, and said that he wanted to see me on my trike. Sooo ... My release came just in time.  I got the release on Feb 27th, just in time to ride in the L.A. Marathon Bike Tour  -  a 23.2 mile ride through downtown

Los Angeles.  After 7 weeks of not riding at all, I was content to just finish the ride. I was most surprised to have a finish time of 1 hr. 17 min.  My next focus was May 15th!!  The 500 mile trip, to Paso Robles, Ca, to the GWBR. (The Hard Way)  It's a fact, to ride on Hwy 1, (the Pacific Coast Hwy), is a much easier trip riding south, because of the hills and the wind.  I was challenged with strong headwinds for the first 400 miles.  Then the sun came out when I had only 28 miles to go.  It was 28 miles of "MOUNTAINS" and 5 miles of that 28 was a 6% uphill climb.  It was very testing, because of the heat, and because my "V-BOB"(trike/trailer) loaded,  weighed just over 100 lbs.  My shimano "mega 34" climbing gear proved it's worth that day. 

  To ride 450/500 miles is tough, but, bring along the right attitude (A 9 DAY RIDE - ONE DAY AT A TIME) will make the ride much more enjoyable.  Setting a daily goal and just focusing on that goal, not only shortens the trip, but also tends to pump you up for tomorrow.  And  -  a little bit of pride never hurt anyone !

  The people that I meet on these long rides are for the most part very friendly and extremely helpful.  I have been offered rooms to stay in for a night, meals on occasion, yup, even money!  The best part of my trip to the GWBR, has to be the "friends" that I have made in the 3 years that I have attended. 

   I have been quite pleased, in that all 3 years that I have participated in the GWBR, my trikes have won a 1st place trophy in their category each year.  In 1999/2000, my Comfort Cycle won "Most  Unusual!"  This year, my "V" took the trophy for Best of Show in the "Recumbent" category.  This made a nice bonus, for a wonderful ride.  But, what touched my heart the most this year, I was honored by friends at the rally, to be not only nominated, but also elected  to the position of "Honorary Mayor of Bicycle Town", for the 2002 GWBR!  I was asked what would I do if I was elected Mayor?  That was easy!  I told them that I would make sure that next year's rally would be held much closer to Hemet!! 

The first time I attended the rally, I went with friends. I visited and met a few people.  But mostly just stayed with those that I came with.  My 2nd time, was the 1st rally that I rode to.  I went, knowing that I might not get a ride back to my home, in Hemet, Ca.  But I was very surprised to find a ride with a person who was camped 10 ft. from me.  This year I was not so lucky.  I attempted a round trip.  But my mindset was not right, and therefore I "Bonked".  As I approached Pismo Beach, the heat of the day shut me down.  So I spent the night in a campground, while I waited to be rescued by my brother.    He picked me up the next afternoon, and we went back to Hemet.

                                           Many Thanks, Big Brother

Parkinson Survivor Ride - 2002 

A lesson in faith!

Again ?  Yes, I went off the deep end for a third time.  Again, with the hope that my body would do all that would be necessary to get me to a destination that was so far away, that some people who are healthy, would not drive as far.  It is a difficult trip & on each trip I have had moments in which I have questioned my own sanity.  This trip, it came on day 2.  After little sleep on day 1, I found that my day 2 campsite was closed for remodeling.  This was a real surprise, as it was closed last year for the same reason.     

In Seal Beach there are no affordable motel rooms, & because day 3 would take me through the Long Beach/L.A. area, I decided to grip my wallet, grit my teeth & pay the (reduced rate) $ 80.00 room rate, that didn't even include a view of the beach.  To see the beach was another $ 35.00 !  To secure the trike & trailer it was necessary to transport each unit, via a very small elevator, to my 1st floor room. 

Friday (day 3), my 1st challenge was the Long Beach traffic circle.  This 6 inlet/outlet, 35mph circle is a nightmare for even the best of drivers.  But to ride through it on a "Bent" trike, it would be a good idea to be all caught up on your prayers first.  Through L.A, Marina Del Rey, Venice Beach(nice scenery), Santa Monica, & Malibu, to a 2 night stay at Leo Carrillo State Beach.  Lots of sleep, & time to check out my new "Pocketmail" unit that was donated to me  so that I would have email access during my trips.

Day 5 would be a long one, winding up at the El Capitan State Beach, north of Santa Barbara.  This day would bring me my 1st angel.  While fighting a battle with a 40+ mph wind & riding through Goleta in the late afternoon, I spotted what looked to be an abandoned movie  theatre ahead with only a few cars & a sign that read "overflow airport parking".  As I was in need of some warmer riding clothes, it appeared to be a good place to get out of the wind to change.  I soon found that, not to be true!  On the 3 available sides of the theatre, enough wind was blowing to make it impossible to set down any piece of clothing without chasing them to the chain-link fence across the parking lot.  The wind was in control.

After lots of repacking & running to the fence, I saw some (12/15) people come out of that "abandoned theatre"!  There I met Billie.  A man who befriended me & of course, owned an older "Ford pick-up"!  At that point a large red wagon would have been a welcome sight, but Billie's offer to transport me 12 miles to my next campsite was a real Blessing.  But Billie went above & beyond when he offered to buy me dinner, & after off-loading my trike & trailer at El Capitan, emptied his wallet to give me $25.00 towards my trip expenses.  To me, this qualifies Billie as a "Godsend" & my new friend.  Thanks Billie !!

The next morning I left El Capitan headed for the big, hot climb to Lompoc.  The rest area on US 101, just before the tunnel, is the last place to get water between there & lompoc, but this day it was closed & fenced.  While I took a snack break outside the fence, a worker stopped to check something, just in time to let me water-up at the newly finished fountains (Angel #2).

At the jct. of Hwy1 / US 101 I stopped to lube the chains before the long, hard climb.  While there, two men stopped to ask about my trike.  As it was, they were shopping for a recumbent & stopped to get my opinion because I ride one.  They just happened to be driving a pick-up, on their way to, yes, Lompoc (Angel #3).

Then, after a pit stop at the Cal-trans yard on Hwy 46, I headed east to ride the last 28 miles of hills on the way to Paso Robles.  While climbing the big hill (6% grade/ 5 miles long), a small pick-up driven by an off duty hwy worker stopped to assist me over the hill.  He & another worker (his boss) had passed me on the way to their yard & the boss had let him go home early so he could assist me (Angel#4).

Please believe me!  I have learned that it is possible for bicycles & automobiles to co-exist on our highways, but only if we show each other a mutual respect. 

To gain & hold this respect, we cyclists must ride within the rules of the road (All of us!).

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2003 PSR --- With the wind !

This year I decided ride with the wind, & ride southbound on the PCH.  This I’m told, is easier.  Easier?  We’ll have to talk about that later.

I left home on the 20th & rode 72 miles to Anaheim, where I was to catch my train the next day.  I had been invited to stay with my friend Norm Thompson & his family, which put me only 3 miles from the Amtrak depot.

 On the 21st my train didn’t leave ‘til just before 2:PM, but Norm informed me that the depot, although close, was tricky to find.  So I decided it would be best to find it early.  So I said my good-byes, & headed for Amtrak.  When I got there no one knew about my special service request, nor did they know of the specially placed baggage car.  At that point I was very glad that I got there early.  By the time we got everything under control I had 3 hours ‘til train time.

 I was looking forward to the free time that I would have on the train, as it would allow me to learn more about my “Pocketmailer”.  An amazing machine!  Email in a checkbook, almost.

I decided to spend my 3 hours at a near by recumbent shop that my friends, Jim & Linda Wronski own.  Yes, this was the store where I bought my 1st trike, "People Movers".  It is always a special time when I am in the area & have the time to stop & say "hi".   Also, you never know what unique type of recumbent might be waiting for your eyes to see.   Soon it was time to chase the train .

I rode back to the Amtrak depot & was able to navigate through the tunnel that went under the tracks, that led me up onto the northbound platform.  Now all I had to do was wait.  I remember talking with an 82 year old man who had just finished painting the outside of his son's 2 story home.  He was kind enough to buy me a soda.

As the train pulled in, I was directed to the baggage car, where we rapidly put my trike & trailer on the train.  Now I had 6 /2 hrs to relax (and leave the driving to them). 

When I sat down, I sat in a seat that faced the rear of the train.  Across the isle was a young man feverishly beating on the keys of his laptop.  He didn't look up until we left the Los Angeles depot.  They had switched us to another track, & now my same seat was facing the front of the train, which was actually going backwards.  He asked if we were still going north?

 It didn’t take long to find the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  In fact, we got very close at times.  Having ridden the Pacific Coast BikeRoute for 3 years prior to this train ride gave me a special appreciation for the beauty of the ride & not a drop of sweat.  It was as though I was watching a home-video that  brought back good memories.

Up near Santa Barbara I decided to go to the cafe-car & get something to eat, if I could afford to.  On the way I made a wrong turn & wound up on the lower level of the baggage car where I found a conductor looking peering through a window, trying to see my trike.  he asked if it was mine, & I told him "yes".   Then he asked if it was on the train as checked baggage?  I said "no".  He then asked if I had just thrown it on the train?  So  I proceeded to try to explain to him how Amtrak had gone out of their way to put the baggage car in place just for me to be able to transport my trike & trailer.  He told me that this wasn't true because Amtrak didn't operate that way.  I had to laugh.

As we were  coming into San Luis Obispo it was announced that there was a shuttle waiting that would be going to Paso Robles.  But in the time it took to secure my trike & trailer from the train, the shuttle had gone.   I was blessed, in that John & Debby who I camp with,  called to make sure I would have a ride to Paso Robles.  As it was, John drove 30 miles to save me from a 15 mile ride to Morro Bay State Beach  campground.  With an 8-9 mph nighttime average speed, I would sometime after 11:PM.  Even w/lights, not a good idea !  Thanks John.

The 1st night was not good.  When I packed my gear I used a NBG approved checklist to make sure I had everything I would need.  Very carefully I checked as I packed.  But where it said "tent", it didn't say a thing about tent "parts".   I found it impossible to put up a single pole tent, without a single pole.   The next morning John, again, came to my rescue  by building a pole for my tent. 

John & Debbie Axen & their family adopted me after I arrived in Paso Robles in 2000, after I had completed my 1st  8 day /500 mile ride to the Great Western Bicycle Rally.  They welcomed  me into their camp & have treated me like family ever since.  A special thanks to my very special friends!

On Friday I  went for a 25 mile ride w/ my friends, Joe & Kathy.   We rode to Templeton & returned to Paso Robles.  It was a beautiful, morning ride.  We kept it short because of my upcoming ride.

Saturday night at the GWBR has become (for me) a time to share where life has & is taking me.  I used to enter the Concours D'Elegance to win trophies.  I have found a greater purpose in sharing my "I Never Give Up" attitude with people who need hope, or people who know people, who need hope.  This can produce a much greater trophy !!

Sunday was a day for visiting friends, both old & new.   An old friend, whom I had known for some time via the internet, but had never met, Martin Krieg from the National Bicycle Greenway was there, & it was a day spent with Frank & Lissa.  This was important because the 3 of us would be spending the next 5 days together on a ride back to southern California.  Their ultimate destination being Pomona, & mine being Hemet, of course.  We had met via the inet, & had talked on the phone, but had only met for the 1st time, on Saturday, the day before.  I was also concerned because they were 30+ years younger than I .  And, even though we had discussed this prior, the reality of it didn't go away.  This could have been disastrous, but it worked out to be a really enjoyable time.  Frank & Lissa are both, very special people.  This in itself, made for a good trip. 

Monday morning arrived & it was time to leave Bicycletown .  So we broke camp & packed our gear with a planned destination, at the end of the day, to be in Morro Bay.  We had been told of a shortcut to Pismo Beach, but because we were both pulling trailers, it was not the recommended way to go.  Bbuuuuttt, as we approached this short-cut (Old Creek Rd.), a mtn bike rider came upon us & yup, talked us into taking this alternate route.  I don't remember him mentioning the 3.5 mile long, 8% decent, down a very crooked road, but he may have.  Three times I had to stop to give my brakes time to cool off.  But we spent our 1st night in Pismo Beach, which put us 1 day ahead of our planned schedule.  That made it, almost worth the 55 miles that we rode.   I would do that road another time, but not without disk brakes !   I was so tired from all the climbing we had done getting across the mountains, that I set up my sleeping gear under a low tree.  I didn't bother to set up my tent .  It was a gamble because of the damp morning fog along the coast .  But it worked. 

Tuesday came, & we set our sights on Lompoc.  I remember riding through the town of Oceano & seeing ahead, a very long & steep road escalating up the near side of a very large hill.  Left to right, in front of us, it was wall to wall .  Then our road turned left, away from the hill .  I sighed.  But a mile or so later, we turned right again, & suddenly it was very clear that the road we were on was the road that I had been watching.  One benefit to that hill though .

There was a donut shop at the summit !

Then it was on to Guadalupe for lunch .  By the time we reached Lompoc that evening, the $35.00 sign on the "Motel 6 campground" (?) was to much to resist .  I've heard that Lance Armstrong eats lots of pasta, so Frank, Lissa & I walked up the street from the motel to a recommended pasta place & ordered 9 lbs of spaghetti, each !  Maybe that's a little exaggerated, but I had spaghetti for breakfast on Wednesday!

Wednesday our goal was the Refugio State Beach, which is south of Gaviota, Ca .  I usually stay at El Capitan, but Refugio was highly recommended &  7 miles closer.  Coming south out of Lompoc is not fun when you are pulling a  loaded trailer.  There are no steep climbs, but the 17 miles of a 2% climb seems to go on forever.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that 2 of my friends that were at the Great Western bike rally, & that live in Lompoc,  were driving up & down Hwy 1, looking for us to cheer us on our way.   THANKS BJ !!!  Once that was behind us, & we started the downhill, this is where we picked up the tailwind.  If we had not had the help from Mother Nature, I may not have made it to the campground.  As it was, I did the last 1.5 miles at 6-7mph .  Refugio was not a disappointment .  It was all of what we were told .  And I believe it took us less 30 minutes to decide to spend 2 nights there.  It would give us a day to recharge.  Then we would be ready for a "Blaster day" that would take us all the way to Oxnard.  Normally we would ride to Carpinteria & take another day to get to Leo Carrillo State Beach, but because we had friends (with a house & a shower that didn't need quarters) in Oxnard, we decided to tough it out, all the way to Oxnard.    14 hours, &  77miles after we left Refugio, we arrived at our Friday's destination.

Jim, our host in Oxnard, had also been looking for us.  He rode out on Thursday to greet us & lead us to his home.  But he didn't find us.  So to be helpful, as Jim is, he posted directions (in a plain brown wrapper) on the poll underneith the stop sign that we would be passing where we would exit Hwy 101.  Yup, we found it !