by Greg | May 31, 2019 | Training
Well, where to start? I am still struggling with optimizing photos on my iPad so I can publish them on my posts! Oh well, the above blurry photo was from Day Two, Friday. I didn’t really think this “enlightened” body could/would make it to the top! The last 10 miles was a 9% grade and I was in a gear my Atlantis had ever been asked to use on a climb! At one point I looked down at the photo on my handlebar bag of OMJSN and said, “Hey my little guardian angels, I need some help. I am about to start walking because walking would be faster!” LOL! In a matter of minutes the headwinds coming over the pass stopped and as I rounded one last curve, there was the Kancamagus Pass sign less than 500 yards away! Thank you my angels, you got your Poppie over the top!
Otherwise, the Journey is all that I dreamed it would be. Beautiful weather, super courteous Maine and NH drivers who never once have failed to move over to give me a safe riding zone, curious people who truly want to know about my Journey, kind clerks at coffee shops, bicycle mechanics in Portland that made sure my bike survived the flight from Alaska, and most of all, I “feel” the love and support of family and friends! Your kind replies to my posts affirm that I am the luckiest man alive and I truly appreciate all of you!
Kind regards and I think I am camping the next few nights so no new posts. (My Atlantis has performed flawlessly, Camelback hydration bag in my frame pack has kept me hydrated, and helmet mirror keeps me safer.)
Cheers, and for those HAP readers who are working the Royal Princess tomorrow, my best wishes for a smooth, stressless ship turn!
Pedaling Westward
Greg
by Greg | May 23, 2019 | Training
I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to express my sincere gratitude to my lovely wife Anita and her good friend Karen for the Greg’s Journey Send-Off party they created. The food, desserts and creative artistry on display rivaled a professionally planned event! In addition to Anita and Karen, well over 50 friends and family took time out of their busy schedules to stop by our home to wish me “Good Luck and Safe Travels!” The atmosphere was similar to an “End of Season” party because 95% of those attending were former and current Whittier Port Operations team members. 15 years ago we all worked together to make Whittier one of the most successful and effective cruise ship ports in the world!
”Are you traveling with a group?” 23 years ago I rode solo and will be solo again on this journey! Even though I am pedaling my bicycle West each day by myself, I will never be totally alone.” When I hit a low point on this journey, and it will happen, I only have to glance down at the photo on my handlebar bag. The photo is a picture of my grandkids, OMJSN! Their smiling faces, images of my family, and the memories I have of working together with all you will give me the strength to keep pedaling.
Please know that I will cherish the memories of my Journey Party, as well as all of your kind words of encouragement, prayers and emotional support as I travel West to Portland.
Cheers and Let the Journey Begin!
Greg
by Greg | May 13, 2019 | Training
Well it is two weeks and counting until I fly from Alaska to Maine to begin this adventure. I fly to Portland, Maine on May 27th, work on getting my bike ready on the 28 and 29th and “If the Good Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise,” I will start pedaling on May 29th! I have been riding as much as I can on the trails here in Anchorage, but still don’t feel 100% ready to pedal 50 miles day in and day out. I keep making minor adjustments to my Atlantis, adjusting the height of my Jones’s H-Bar, installing the rear rack and Ortlieb rear panniers. I rode 50+ miles last Saturday with 15 pounds of sugar in each rear pannier and wasn’t totally “out of it” by the time I got home. My goal is to average 50 miles a day, so that in 75 days I will have covered approximately 3,750 miles. Weather and terrain will determine how far I travel each day.
I will put my training rides on hold for the next three days because Anita and I are flying to Tucson. Our granddaughter Olivia is being inducted into the National Honor Society and we want to be with her for her special day. I get back to Anchorage on Thursday, May 16 and it will be “Ride, pack, ride, sort, and pack some more!” My only real issue so far is this blog and getting pictures optimized so as to to fit the format require to post on the web. I have to figure this out before next week or this is going to be very boring blog.
Take care and I will begin seriously posing upon my return from Tucson.
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