Saturday, June 5, 2021

And So, The Adventure Begins

It has been awhile since I have added any new posts. This was not for lack of anything new happening, but rather for mainly an abundance of laziness on my part. But, since I promised to keep posting on this blog after my retirement this week, the day has come to fire it back up again. There is an open house planned later today at the office for a chance to see anyone who I have missed in the last six plus months of regular visits. To anyone who can't make it (which I can certainly understand, it will be hotter than BLAZES this afternoon) I want you to know that it has been an honor to serve you and your families these past 38 plus years. I am grateful to have been a part of the lives of so many good people. I have been fortunate to be able to work with such a great team through all these years, which has made me look forward to coming in to work (yes even when it is 30 below).

Some of you have asked what I will be doing. The summer is filled with travel plans, some of which are left over from last summer. I will post some photos as we go. There is biking to be done, visiting of several National Parks, a son getting married and the the fish in Northern Wisconsin are beginning to tremble as I write this. Ever since my big bike ride, I have had a strong urge to be outside as much as possible. I had a lot of time to consider what makes up a perfect day. For me, this is a big part of it.

One of you has asked if I am retiring for health reasons and the answer is "Yes, I still have mine!" We will be continuing to travel, develop our skills in other areas and try to become better versions of ourselves as long as we are physically able. I look forward to providing updates here about our adventures including any wrong turns we (meaning I) make.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Journey's End

Saturday August 18, 2018

The epic journey is finally over. We cycled into Gloucester, MA, enjoying the last of the New England roads but noticing a definite increase in traffic the closer we got to Boston. During these rides the group spreads out and depending on the mileage for the day, there could be 10-15 miles between the first riders and the last. To create a more united finish, and to allow for better safety in all this traffic, we had a staging area at the Gloucester High school where everyone would gather as each one finished before the last mile to the ocean. This proved to be a good plan in that it allowed us to unpack our wet gear and set it out to dry as we waited for the last ones to arrive.

Our excitement at being so close to the finish began to turn to anxiety however, as the last riders all arrived with the exception of two. These two were normally in with the middle riders and not usually at the end of the bunch. To add to the mix it was threatening to rain again. As the time ticked away it began to rain in earnest, first a light steady New England rain but then a torrential downpour. A decision was made to send out a search party for our missing riders along with repair supplies and our skilled mechanic. Sure enough, our riders were located and were having significant mechanical problems with only about 4 miles left. Thankfully our mechanic was able to provide a solution that was workable so they did not have to ride in the van the last 4 miles. By the time they made it to the school, everyone was cheering and ready to make our way to the coast behind our own police escort!

There was a festival going on down by the shore at the park that was our destination. It had been very crowded when we came through that area toward the school but the rain had made many people decide to leave so the roads were choked with cars. It was SO COOL to have the escort because it was like the parting of the Red Sea! We all did the obligatory dipping of the front tires to signify the true finish (with photo ops). With weary legs and soaked jerseys but spirits uplifted from a sense of accomplishment, we made our way back to the school to say our good byes to those we had spent the last 9 weeks with. For some, it is likely that this is the last time they will ride anything like this. For others this may have been an exposure to a way of seeing and enjoying a country that provides unique opportunities unavailable any other way. It can be quite appealing and after a time only the good parts remain in our memories.

It was wonderful to have family at the end of the ride to greet me. Shelley and my brother Mark and sister-in-law Karen were at the school when we got back. It was great to be able to spend a few days with them and get the inside story on the Gloucester area as well as spend some time in Boston. Brother Eric stopped in as well on his way to Provincetown. I have gratitude to all my family, but especially Shelley, for being supportive during the training and the long time away from home. I could not have done this without their love and encouragement. I look forward now to some rest for a few days and then we will see if some of the ideas that bubbled up during the ride will take root and grow into something more tangible in the future.

I am curious to see what lies around the next bend in the road!

Bretton Woods Agreement

Thursday August 16, 2018x

When the wind is at your back and you have a dry place to sleep, really these days are pretty nice. It rained hard last night and a few things got wet but today was a new day and all is glorious! We had a short mileage day and even with a mid morning coffee at the Mount Washington Hotel we were into camp by early afternoon. This allowed time for one last laundry job and drying everything so that it will be easier to ship home.

We have our last longer day tomorrow and then a shorter day into Gloucester. We meet up at the school one mile from the ocean and then we get a police escort for the final mile to the shore. How cool is that?!

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music

August 14, 2018

I feel like I have been riding a long time. Not just in miles but I am noticing the subtle signs of seasonal change. Here and there, there are leaves that are beginning to turn. They have Wooly Bear caterpillars here too and if the winter prediction that we all get from them is to be believed, they will have a short winter here.

We left New York and the friendly Adirondack Mountains behind this morning. We rode down to Lake Champlain and took a ferry across to Vermont. Immediately I was struck by the difference. No more orchards, farms or vineyards. It is mostly hardwood forests with quaint towns and villages tucked into the valleys between the White Mountains. Though they are not high in elevation, they are steep and pointy on top! The descent into the town of Stowe was a welcome ending to the day.

I posted this on Facebook too but many don’t realize that this is where the Von Trapp family from “The Sound of Music ” landed after their escape from the Nazi’s. They still have a presence here. The day was not good for pictures but the town has a certain appeal. It follows the valley so it is long and thin. Probably not the best for walking, maybe they have a shuttle bus but we did not see one.

The idea of satiety has continued to float into my thoughts as I ride. By satiety, I do not mean the feeling we get at Thanksgiving when we are lying on the couch listening to some ball game and wondering if we could possibly have another bite of pumpkin pie. The meaning I am after is rather the feeling of being satisfied, whether after a good meal, a good workout, or putting in a good effort toward the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. At the end of the day, when you are tired, can you ask yourself… is this a good tired or a bad tired? Your body knows and will tell you.

One of the ways I have learned to keep from being on the energy rollercoaster is to avoid carbohydrates as much as possible. It takes a few weeks for the body to adjust but then you get into the state I like to call “slow burn”. There is not lactic acid buildup in the muscles, there are no hunger pangs. You have to be vigilant to avoid the sugar but the reward is getting to ride for 90 miles with minimal recovery needs. I brought along a small bottle of ibuprofen and have not needed even one.

As we wind down the trip and cycle to the sea it is hard to think about being done with this ride. I am conflicted between being happy to be back with loved ones and seeing what else the road has to offer. This is an Amazing Country and we must get out there to experience what it has to offer.

Lake Placid

August 12, 2018

Lake Placid itself is an amazing place with a long history of being a spot for rest and recovery. I went on a boat tour of the lake today and learned a few things about the area. The word “vacation” came from the habit of the people vacating the cities of New York, New Jersey and all of New England to come to this area.

Lake Placid is one of the top 10 cleanest lakes in the US. They get their drinking water from the lake. There are rules against peeing in the Lake. Evidently these rules do not apply to Mirror Lake where I went swimming this morning. I did not get a ticket!

Notice the three wooden boats in the boathouse! Amazing!

Niagra Falls

August 11, 2018

From the Hornblower on it has been as the Aussies say ” a Bloody Adventure “. I have not been to this area of the country and I am surprised at how similar it is to Wisconsin. We got out of the US side of Niagara Falls as quickly as possible. That area is very depressed and not an area that would be a good stopping place. We continued on and were soon out of the urban feel into the country again. We are looking forward to the reputation of Upstate New York and all the scenery it has to offer. We entered the Finger Lakes area of Upstate New York and began a constant rythmn of undulating Hills and gradually increasing inclines. We stayed in the town “Seneca Falls” where women’s rights first became recognized and there is now a national park there. We cycled across toward the eastern shore of Lake Ontario and then back north a bit to get to see some of the most beautiful homes on the shoreline. There is a definite line between the Lake Erie folk and the Lake Ontario folk. The wealth tends to spread along the shore according to the proximity to the major urban centers. The closer we got to Toronto, the nicer the places became.

There are vineyards and wineries everywhere in the Finger Lakes. The climate is milder but they do get a lot of Lake Effect snow in the winter. The have orchards as well but mostly grapes.

As the elevation changes again, the nights are getting cooler. This is a welcome change as this week we had some significant thunderstorms, especially at night. The riding was still mostly fine but the light was so low that picture taking was minimal. I am hoping that others have some better shots than I do.

Once we reached Lake Placid, the weather changed to absolutely perfect! The excitement from the Olympics of 1980 is still palpable and the community has managed to keep “The Dream” alive. Tourism is a vibrant part of the economy for good reason! It is a beautiful area and they have made investments in catering to the active lifestyle. I have never seen so many people out Biking and running and walking unless there was an organized event going on. There are more canoes and kayaks than you see in northern Minnesota! There are even more bikes than in Colorado!

The Lake Placid Ironman competition is a popular one because of the natural beauty of the lakes and the mountains. From what I can see, that also would make it quite challenging… there are very few flat roads around here. I sense that it is an area that people come to for training as well. Lots of folks out this morning in tri suits. I will go down to the Lake later this morning to check this out. I also hope to sneak on to a boat tour of Lake Placid. Yesterday they were all sold out!

I still have more thoughts to write about that pop up during each riding day. The one that keeps bubbling to the top is the word “satiety”. I think that will deserve it’s own entire entry so for now I will just say there is more to come.

The the days dwindle down to this last few and it is hard to believe we are almost finished with this epic journey. I will have to make a few more entries as things wind down.

I am very much looking forward to being with family again. I am so grateful to them for supporting me for this long time away!

Niagara Falls

Here is a video from

The Hornblower boat ride

Brain Pickings

August 5, 2018

They said this would happen and it has. After spending 7 weeks in the saddle, our thoughts begin to look forward to the end of this ride. We passed through some of the most beautiful scenery this week (and especially yesterday) along the northern shore of Lake Erie, yet I have to keep reminding myself to slow down and enjoy the journey. Thoughts of home and what the family is doing manage to float through my mind as my legs continue to churn in never ending circles.

The routines have been established long ago. We get up early, pack up our dew soaked tents and gear, eat breakfast, and are on the road by 7am. We take mostly secondary roads to avoid traffic, which often adds extra miles, but usually manage to reach our destinations by mid afternoon unless there is a headwind. The towns are usually small and hospitable, and I would have liked to spend more time in many of them, but we are called back to the road each day.

I have confidence now that this adventure will be completed (barring some mishap) but I am struggling with the patience to see it through. We said “good bye” yesterday to some folks who have been an integral part of making this ride fun. They are continuing their journey to the coast by a different route. We are gaining 10 new riders today which changes the dynamic quite a bit.

It took about two weeks for our group to get to know each other well. You might think that is strange but we really don’t see each other much except at water stops and lunch which we call “Picnic”. Everyone looks forward to “Picnic”! The longer we spend at each of these stops, the later we get in at the end of the day. There is no award for the first one in but there seems to be an aversion to being the last one in.

You might think that all this time alone with your own thoughts can get boring and you might be right. It all depends on your outlook. My cousin, Beret Canakes, has the best definition I have heard for the difference between an extrovert and an introvert. It all hinges on the answer to a question. When your energy level is low and you need to recharge your batteries, do you seek out the company of other people or do you unplug yourself from society and seek the solace of nature or art? I like this definition because there is no value judgement here. One is not better than the other. There is no question for me. I look forward to Sundays, not only because it is our rest day, but because it is the day that “Brain Pickins” by Maria Popova, is sent out. If you have not heard of this or have not subscribed, I would highly encourage it. I first read about it in Krista Tippett’s book “Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Art of Living ” another book I would highly recommend. Both are like mental candy.

While we are riding, the use of earbuds is not allowed for safety reasons. I have some audiobooks and riding music that I have so far ignored. I am going to reinstall my cell phone holder onto my handlebars and begin to use it when the day grows long ( but just through the external speaker).

Yesterday, I asked the Brit’s on the ride if they thought the humor of “Benny Hill” was an example of typical British humor. They all said “Yes” and didn’t think Americans appreciated it the way they did. I have never laughed as hard as when I sat at the table with them!

It is a Canadian Holiday tomorrow and that explains the increased traffic here in Niagara Falls. Tomorrow early we cycle past the Falls with an unobstructed view. Next Sunday we will be in Lake Placid where I vividly remember the “Miracle on Ice” occurred.

Sperling Smiles