Monday, February 20, 2017
Friday, October 14, 2016
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Pictures!
US Transcontinental bike trip photo video by Pat and Jess
The video is approximately 10 minutes long and does have sound so please turn your speakers on and enjoy!
Most computers are slow to upload the information. Tip: if it doesn't play smoothly the first time...play it again!!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hanging out in LA
Pat is healing well, but is not a very patient patient. She only has a splint for her broken wrist (no cast), but is eager to discard that and downgrade to a smaller brace already. Until then, I have been cutting up her food, opening bottles for her, and washing her right hand. All of which drives her crazy since she can't do those things herself. We did get some vet wrap from the pet store so now her arm is a bright blue, which is much more cheerful than the bland white stuff.
We reached LA several days ago and I still have not completely adjusted to sleeping in a bed and having space to stretch out. Those sleeping bags can be pretty restrictive and train you to lay still or do the rotisserie-thing to roll over. Also strange to cook fresh food and use several pots. There are so many dishes to wash!
We are going to spend the next few days exploring California - north and south, except by car this time. Pat is returning home to Chattanooga in a week, so we are going to try to fit a lot of sight-seeing. We plan to work on organizing our pictures and posting them online this week. No promises, but will let you know when they are ready.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Continuing to L.A.
I say 'our' bikes but really it is Jess' bike and my pile of scrap metal and salvageable parts. The full steel frame of my bike is completely bent in half and the pedal arms are all twisted up. The back fender and rack is trashed as is the left rear saddle bag (pannier). I haven't inspected all the gear yet but I already know I owe Jess a new cooking pot. Regardless, it is all thrown in the back of the minivan.
Jess is having to do all the driving, poor thing, since my now diagnosed broken wrist is in a temporary splint. The radiologist called yesterday to advise of the break. We were already on the road and had to swing by a second hospital for treatment. The wrist will still need some follow up tests and casting in a few days. Anyway, I probably shouldn't drive with Vicodin on board. My bruises are becoming more impressive each day. If you use the slightest imagination you can even see the imprint of the SUV's side mirror on the back of my left arm!
I was planning to take the actual mirror home with me (it was left behind at the crime scene) but the police asked to keep it for the part number and as evidence. The young police officer impressed me with his determination to track down the hit n run driver.
Well, neither of us has/had any interest in continuing down route 1, so we are skipping our way through California vineyards and valleys. Ultimately we will sleep in LA tonight.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Monday, August 23, 2010
Luck
been repeated in disbelief dozens of times in the past 12 hours. Luck
- both good and bad. It was a straight section of road with a wide and
clean shoulder. Pat was several feet from the lane. It was the
afternoon of a clear and sunny day. Seems like great biking
conditions. No steep slope. No sharp or blind curves. No cliff. No
guard rail. No fog. No heavy traffic. Not riding in the car lane. No
bridge or strong wind. No obvious distractions for a driver...... Bad
luck to be hit. The good luck is that there was a nice embankment and
shoulder to land on. And we were riding near each other. And her
injuries are minor. And that there are good people in the world who
stop and offer help and put their jacket under your head when you are
laying on the ground.