Adventures of A Unicycling Sailing Whitewater Boater

Day 39 got off to a late start.  Just the second day starting out in the central time zone. Hard to leave camp.

I pedaled hard to make as much mileage as I could before the winds came up.  In less than two hours (including short breaks) I was 24 miles along.  I was averaging over 13 mph with the breeze on my starboard quarter.

When riding cross country on a unicycle never pass up an opportunity to picnic.

It wasn’t quite lunch time yet but I couldn’t pass up the table in the shade.  After lunch the cross winds picked up and I limped into Marfa in low gear.  I saw my truck, but once again the crew had abandoned ship.  While I was replenishing my water a couple of guys walked by and asked where I was riding.  Then a another cyclist rode up to check me out as well.  He was riding on a tour with Adventure Cycling, but not my route.

The guys said they were doing some TV filming in town and asked if they could film me.  I waited a few minutes and they returned with there cameras.  One guy sat in a van with the door opened and filmed me riding out of town as they drove along side.  Maybe I’ll Infamous.

I had to turn from Southish to East when I rode through Marfa so I thought the previous cross wind would be at my back.  But the wind shifted with me and I fought cross winds until I gave in after riding 40 miles on the day.  The last 16 miles in low gear.  When my crew rolled by I pleaded to be taken aboard.  I was whipped.

Stats day 39:  Rode 40.9 miles at 11.5 mph, Max=15.6 mph, Ascent=961′, Descent=492′, Max elevation=5087′, Min elevation=4616′, Ave heart rate=103, Max heart rate was compromised.  Ave temp=83 degrees, calories burned=961.

Day 38 turned out better than expected.  Strong cross winds were predicted, and eventually came, but not before I made some significant mileage.  I wasn’t sure how I would feel after the mammoth day yesterday, but the road was smooth and flat.  I did ascend over 800 feet through the ride, but the gain was stretched out over 45 miles.

I am riding southeast on route 90 out of Van Horn.  This stretch is technically off route for but I am hoping to cut some hills and distance out of the course.  I will rejoin the route in Alpine TX in about another 60 miles.  This decision was based on the advice of our friends David and Jo Ann.  So far so good.

I did pass a very unique site while riding, and regret not stopping to take a picture.  It was a box like building maybe 30’x15’ and 15’ tall.  The building was just off the road about 20 feet.  The front was mostly window and as I passed all I could see were high heel shoes.  On the building were the words Marfa Prada.  I didn’t feel too bad for not stopping, I figure most unicyclists passing through don’t’ bother to stop since they don’t carry unicyling shoes.

The winds picked up before I finished but that was probably the easiest 45 miles I have ridden on a unicycle.

Stats for Day 38:  45.18 miles at 12.7 mph (highest average speed on the trip to date), Ascended 804’, Descended 206’, Max elevation=4598’ , Min elevation=3900 , Average heart rate=104, Max heart rate =157’ Average temp=77 degrees , Calories burned=1010, (yesterday’s calories were omitted 1248)  Largest 2 day total=98+ miles.

Day 37 (day 31 riding) 4/6/13.  The winds had my back today so I launched my spinnakar   and set sail for Van Horn TX.  As it turns out I didn’t have to ride Interstate 10 as much as I thought I would.  I rode a rough shoulder uphill on I 10 for two miles and then crossed over on a marginal rode that seemed to lead nowhere.

I thought I had the road to myself then 5 cars passed me.  I climbed from 3700 feet up to 4200 feet then crossed back over to I 10.  Once again I manged to make it through the border patrol, and continued for 6 more miles then exited at Serra Blanca.  I rode past my truck but my crew had abandoned ship.  I replenished by water and continued on a marginal road for another 22 miles playing the spinnakar the whole way.  The skipper would have be proud, I hit 15.2 and without any cavitation.

I think two cars passed me during that stretch.  Then I came upon a fork in the road and zigged when I should have zagged.  I ended up on very broken pavement then gravel for a mile before I rejoined my route.  Back on to I 10 for the last 9 miles before dousing the spinnakar for the day.

Benchmark #1- Longest day to date at 53.42 miles.  Benchmark #2 -1000+ miles on the trip.

Stats for Day 37: 53.42 miles at 11.7 mph, Max=15.2 mph, Ascent=1568′, Descent=1135′, Max elevation=4636′, Min elevation=3588′, Ave heart rate=104, Max heart rate=141, Ave temp=85, Total miles on the trip=1006.6, Calories burned=1248 (enough for two milkshakes)

Day 35 (4/4/13) was a dog day afternoon, actually it was dog day morning.

I started riding just North of Tornillo on Route 20 and shortly encountered headwinds.  I pushed along in high gear on a road that had almost no traffic. Then I came across a farm-house close to the road on my side with barking dogs.  The dogs ran toward me but we were separated by a canal.  When I passed them they ran along side on the other side of the canal until they reached their driveway.

Then it was on.  They all entered the street led by a fearless Chihuahua.  The pack was five strong.  I crossed to the other side of the street hoping the boundary of their territory was on their side of the street.  I couldn’t believe they would cross the double yellow line.  I almost ran off the road but crossed back to the center where I had more room to maneuver.  Two dogs went on my left, two on my right and one behind.

Alright now everyone raise your hand if you have ever been chased by 5 dogs while riding a unicycle against a head wind.  Then you know what was going through my mind.   I pictured a live speed bump, dynamic UPD, and then being eaten alive.  As it turned out rather than a pack of dogs they were all fraidy cats.  Not one of the dogs nipped my heals as they churned charged with adrenalin, and not one wanted to be the first one to challenge the 36″ wheel.  Or maybe they were just offended by the yellow stream running down my legs (just kidding).  I passed their self established boundary unscathed, but it took a couple of miles before the adrenalin subsided

I passed a sign that announced the town of Alcala, then two minutes later I passed another sign that had me leaving Alcala.  That’s a very short town.  I met my crew in Fort Hancock, ate some peanut butter crackers and pressed on.  At McNary I changed to route 192, that had an irregular surface.  The wind did not seem as bad and I rode down the middle of the road to find the best lines.  I was only passed by a couple of cars each way in 18 miles.  Some would have called the place boring.  I called it peaceful.

I leapfrogged with my crew until I got to Interstate 10.  After the tranquillity of 192 I just didn’t have the psyche to take on the trucks plowing by.  I’ll save that for after my layover day.

At the end of the day I went to lockup my unicycle and noticed the tire was flat.  I guess I know what I will be doing on my layover day.

Stats for day 35:  42. 2 miles at 11.8 mph, Max=14.4 mph, Ascent=266′, Descent=240′ (did I mention it was flat?), Max elevation=3621′, Min elevation=3497′, Ave heart rate=105, Max heart rate=134, Ave temp=75 degrees.

Lay over day (36) I examined the outside of my tire and found a thorn.  I checked the tube in a tub of water and found two holes.  I checked the inside of the tire and felt another tiny thorn.  I put a new tube in and patched the old one as a reserve.  Keep your fingers crossed.

On day 33 I felt a bit like I was cheating, but just like in white water boating sometimes it’s best to stop and scout. I wasn’t looking forward to riding a unicycle through the city streets of El Paso Texas, so on the advice of our friend Jo Ann we decided to scout (drive) the alternate course that loops around most of El Paso.

Now ordinarily I would not opt to ride more miles and climb more hills, but that is exactly what I chose to do. Today I rode 7 miles to the split of the alternate course then, after the scout I picked up where I left off and climbed 500 feet to get to the other side of El Paso. Because of the shortened riding time, the hill, and two sections of strong cross winds making it very hard to balance, I only did 29 miles.  Tomorrow I will be on a freeway instead of city streets. The extra distance of the alternate course is reported to be only 7 miles.

Just made it into Texas.

Stats for Day 33 ( riding day 28): 29.06 miles at 10.1 mph, (869 miles on the trip so far), Ascent=772’, Descent=592’, Ave heart rate=102, Max heart rate=139, Max elevation=4410′ , Min elevation=3776′ , Ave temp=85 , Calories burned=808

 

Day 34 From North of El Paso to Just short of Tornillo Texas.

Thanks again to Jo Ann who suggested I consider the alternate route around El Paso. I am not a city person, and had no desire to ride through El Paso. If anyone was riding their bike on this route and they had support they might want to take the alternative. For me it was well worth the extra climbing and miles. I think I could count the number of traffic lights on the alternative without using my toes.

I started today in a small suburb and rolled four miles or so to the 375 Loop freeway. The freeway was very smooth with a wide shoulder. I made good time rolling along in high gear. But then again you would expect to make good time on a freeway unless you ran into a unicycle jam. Come to think of it that only usually happens in a muni race (mountain uni, unicycle off road race). I almost hated to exit onto a frontage road as instructed by the map.

To demonstrate the confidence my crew has in me while riding on freeways in El Paso they had a pedicure. When I got off the 375 and joined the regular route on 76, the area no longer looked like a big city.  I called my crew and said I was headed out of town. Try and catch me. I rolled south out of town and after a couple of small towns I was riding again in high gear on smooth flat two lane roads.

I pushed on through a modest head wind until my crew showed up at my usual quitting time after logging 43 miles. No internet for me yesterday or today. 

Stats for Day 34 (riding day 29) Rode 42.93 miles at 11.1 mph, Max=15.9, Ave heart rate=98, Max heart rate=129, Ascent=310, Descent=716’, Max elevation=4020, , Min Elevation=3591′ , Calories burned=880 ( hardly enough for a beer)

Day 30 (3/30/13) 8200 +
Day 30 was a big mile stone for me. I took the day off yesterday and we toured the Gila cliff dwellings national monument. The rest day helped prepare me for the big climb to over Emory pass at 8228 feet. We spent the night at Gallinas national forest campground, and awoke to 38 degrees. But by the time we at, got ready and drove to my starting point east of San Lorenzo it was a pleasant 52 degrees and calm. I fortified myself with a multi vitamin and 600 mgs of vitamin I.
Route 152 was relatively smooth and shoulderless, but fortunately the traffic was minimal. I plugged away taking breaks whenever my quads or heart dictated. At one point my heart got a real jolt when 50 feet ahead of me a huge black beast emerged from the wood across the street. At first it appeared to be large black bear, but thankfully turned out to be a wild cow. I’m not sure who would have been more surprised a grizzly bear or a grizzly unicyclist.
After 12 miles of ascending 2600 feet from where I started in the morning I reached Emory Pass at 8228 feet. The price of admission was high but some of the views were the most remarkable of the ride so far. At one point rode through a canyon so narrow I could have easily thrown a stone from one side to the other.

When I reached the top I felt a little emotional, although I would never admit it in public. I couldn’t help thinking what my old pastor Father Moran would have thought about the accomplishment. After all he was the instigator of my passion for unicycling in the first place, and believed we could do anything.
The ride down turned out to be a little easier than I anticipated, but don’t get me wrong. While I was inching my down the mountain at 6 to 10 mph a couple of cyclists passed by me doing at least 40 mph. All in all it was a better ride than I anticipated. I made it a little way east of Hillsboro. When the route started to climb again I said enough is enough.
Stats for day 30 (day 25 riding) I rode 32.5 miles at 8.5 mph, Max=14.6, Ascent=2654’, Descent=3514’, Max elevation=8228’, Min elevation=5247′ , Ave temp=66 degrees, Calories burned=1347. Grand total of 750 miles.

Day 31 (Easter Sunday) Crazy Legs.
Day 31 held uncertainty after making the big climb the day before. I picked up where I left off the day before a few miles east of Hillsboro, and rode through some rolling hills. The wind was up early and crossing me and heading me as I traveled east on route 152. I felt like I was riding a bucking bronco the way I had to gyrate every which way to maintain balance. I horsed around like that for 14 miles in high gear until the route turned south on route 187. At last, the wind at my back just like it’s advertised in the brochures.
Route 187 was smooth and a very slight down grade on average. My legs didn’t know how to act they just kept spinning. I hated to stop. I knew the forecast called for the winds to clock south. I rode like this for about another 11 miles then the wind started crossing me and heading me again, but not quite as strong. I kept plugging away not wanting to waste such good road.
By the time my crew caught up to me, I had logged 44.5 miles and I decided to pile on three more to make it my most daily mileage for the trip to date. I finished about 10 miles south of Hatch NM.
Stats for day 31: 47.5 miles at 11.2 mph, Max=14.8 mph, Ascent=317’, Descent=1755, Max elevation=5488′, Min elevation=3969′ , Ave Heart rate=109, Max heart rate was compromised by radio interference. Ave temp =80 degrees, Calories burned 1000 according to Garmin.

Day 32 Flat and Fast but ran out of Gas

Day 32 Started with very little breeze so I tried to make as many miles as I could before the conditions changed.  Route 185 was mostly flat and I cruised along in high gear for 12.4 miles at 12. 5 mph before I took my first break.  In a few minutes I hopped back on and rolled along some more.  After about 23 miles my crew met me to replenish my water and on I went while my crew did some grocery shopping.

The wind came up first from my right then from ahead then from my left.  If I had been sailing I would have played the wind shifts, but the road tends to restrict that.  I pushed on to  Las Cruces.  The traffic was tight and I was glade to head out of town on route 28 through pecan orchard after pecan orchard, but not of the trees had leaves and they did not offer any break from the cross wind.

It must have been the combination of the two hard days before and the increase in temperatures but I just ran out of gas.  When my crew called I said I’m done.  I rode until my crew arrived after pedaling 43 miles.

Speaking of running out.  Check out the Rio Grande.

Stats for Day 32:  43.16 miles at 11.5 mph, Ascent=308′, Descent=525, Max elevation=4034′, Min elevation=3812′, Ave heart rate=102, Max heart rate=136, Ave temp=80 degrees, Calories burned=989

Day 28 was the battle of the hills.  Would I ascend or descend more.  All the grades were just too steep for an old guy like me to use high gear up or down.  It was a slow slog up and down all day from Silver City to just beyond San Lorenzo NM.  Consequently I did not log very many miles.  I couldn’t help thinking about all the good riders I know who would have been bombing down those hills.  But for me it is not a race I have to live to pedal another day.

The route played a very cruel trick on me today allowing me to climb up to 6600 feet only   to descend again to 5600 feet losing 1000 feet of hard earned pedaling.  But the best part is the 5600 feet is where I get to start my climb to 8000 feet.  I felt like a yo yo today on a 500 foot string.

I have to admit today was a bit tedious and it was a bit hard to stay up.  I am going to take the day off tomorrow then attack the climb fresh.

After the ride I stopped in at Bike and Hike bike shop to pick up a couple of things.  They were very supportive, took my picture and gave me a free T-shirt.

My paparazzi took the day off and joined the rest of the crew shopping and sightseeing, hence few pics.

Stats for day 28: I rode 26 miles at 8.2 mph (can you say snail), Ascent won the day with 2346′, Descent coming a close second with 2044′, Max elevation=6626, Min elevation=5608′, Ave heart rate=109, Max heart rate=143, Ave temp=74 degrees, Calories burned according to Garmin= 1060.  I beg to differ and am going to eat accordingly.  Garmin doesn’t know how hard it is to ride a unicycle down hill.

Day 25 a tale of two rides.

Tale of the first ride.
Day 25 started out at the top of the bell about 4600 feet and quickly began to descent rapidly. The sign said 7% grade use low gear. So I did. I was inching down in low using by brake when the camber of the road shifted so I went to switch hands on the brake.

(Mom, If your reading this you may want to avert your eyes until after the next paragraph.)
When I switched hands on the break I squeezed a little too hard and started to pitch forward. My reaction was to let off the break, but my legs couldn’t quite hold me back. First my right leg came off the pedal, then my left joined the right. So this is what it feels like to coast on a unicycle. The feeling however was short lived, and in a bit of a dynamic UPD the unicycle and I parted company. The unicycle went ahead without me, and I landed on my back. Thank goodness my camelbac was full and quite effectively cushend my landing. A semi was coming down the hill had a first row seat of the action. He slowed down the check me out, but I gathered my uni and my cycle meter that landed out in the road and waved him on. The right pedal scraped my leg a little, but my ego was probably bruised the most.

(You can look now mom)

I made it to the bottom of the bell and patched myself up and continued up the next bell.

The Tale of the second ride. I was now headed from an elevation of about 3500 feet to ride to the top of the second bell at 6200 feet. Route 78 was relatively smooth but had narrow to nonexistent shoulders. Fortunately I encounter the least traffic on the trip so far. It appears no vehicles like climbing this pass. I pedaled along slogging my way up the switch backs in low gear on the KH 36, thinking may I should try the Schlumpf 29. My crew and I leapfrogged up the hill. I pedaled and she played paparazzi. With about 500 more feet of elevation to climb, I wimped out and finished the climb on the 29” in low gear.

This was the most climbing of done to date and my legs feel like toast from the past two days. When will I get in shape? I called it quits after 26 miles. I think that night staying at the Motel 6 did make me soft.

Last night I felt a little bit like I was camping on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. I could hear the gurgling of the San Francisco River running by the camp and we were nestled in a bit of a canyon in Clifton. Tonight again we could be on a different section camping at nearly 6000 feet nestled among Ponderosa Pines.

Stats for day 25: Rode 26 miles at 7.6 mph, Max=13.3 mph, Ascent=2904′, Descent=1991′, Ave heart rate=111, Max heart rate=148, Min elevation=3518′, Max elevation=6252, Ave temp=72, Calories burned 1201.

Day 26 Welcome to New Mexico Coldest day to date.
It was 34 degrees when I was getting ready to ride. I was wrapped up like a Christmas ham but looked more like a turkey. I wore my helmet liner and covered my helmet with my Goretex shell. On my torso I donned my cycle jersey, long sleeve pile, and windbreaker. I wore bike gloves with a liner, and bike shorts under long cycling pants. It’s no wonder I could barely make it up the first hill.

After riding a 1.25 miles I crossed into New Mexico.

Within 5 miles I shed the long pants, and substituted the pile top with a light weight long sleeve shirt under the windbreaker. Route 78 descended but with rolling hills and challenging head and cross winds so it was low gear on the KH for the first 15 miles. My legs felt like mush.

At 16 miles I turned right onto route 180 and proceeded to buck head winds and crosswinds. It didn’t seem to matter which direction the road turned. Then 180 nearly flattened out and I pushed high gear against a head wind for the next 15 miles. My paparazzi crew played leap frog and took more pictures. I hated to call it quits after 32 miles with such nice road, but yesterday’s climb and today’s winds just beat me up. I know, I know I’m a wimp.

Stats for Day 26: Rode 32.2 miles at 9.0 mph, Max=13.5 mph, Ave heart rate=110, Max heart rate was off the chart due to radio interference.  Ascent=1102′, Descent=2146′, Max elevation=5880′, Min elevation=4528′, Ave temp=66, Calories burned=1112.
After riding 1.25 miles I crossed into New Mexico. Ye ha!!