“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
I didn’t want to wake up twenty years from now and say “I should have done that ride across America. So with that, we’re off!
Time to leave the comforts and conveniences of the Napa Valley behind.
Let’s do this!
We are readers in my family. My daughter (the girl) is the voracious one. She reads one to two books daily and can smell a book store from miles away! Books/stories usually have a prologue. It is an opening of a story that establishes the setting and gives background details. It can also be an introductory act or event like in the Tour de France. So…fittingly, today was my prologue.
The big adventure began today. Baker Beach in San Francisco to Napa. 72.8 miles in the bag! Only 3500 more to go. Plymouth, here we come. Look out America!
The plan was changed too, of course. Most cycling mapping aps navigate from San Fran to Napa via Vallejo. To get to Vallejo, you have to take a ferry across the bay. I decided that I just couldn’t take the ferry. I had to ride! Therefore, new route.
Most of the route was new to me as you’ll see from the quick little backtracks at times but it was really nice when I hit Sonoma and the roads were the ones I ride all the time. I usually try to stay away from Sonoma, though, because the roads feel like you are riding the Paris-Roubaix.
The ride:
I even got a welcome home from Aaron Comfort Dog and Team Aaron!
Song of the day:
I grew up, musically speaking, in the 70’s and 80’s. My favorite band was Journey. I knew they were from San Francisco, but I didn’t know anything about that city by the bay. When I first got to California (1990), I even met Neal Schon (lead guitar)! He was just hanging out at the Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley. Some friends and I had gone there to listen to some local band. He chatted with us for over an hour. Cool guy!
So when I was dropped off at Baker Beach to begin the ride across America, Journey songs started going through my head. Journey. How appropriate!
Ride on!
Wow! Tomorrow is the prologue! It all seems surreal now. Then again, maybe it is…
Ride on!
Training has been good not only for improving fitness. It has also taught me many things in preparation for my long adventure.
In no particular order…
God is good! Ride on!
To plan or not to plan. That is the question. My husband is a planner. I am not. If you ask me what route I am taking across the country, I point to the east and say “that way.” Mr. Sag, however, has us well planned out and I am thankful for his efforts. I hope I make it to his waypoints! The plan as it stands, is on Memorial Day, 5/29/17, I will do a “prologue ride” from Baker Beach in San Francisco to our home in Napa. I have to start at the coast, after all! We pick up the rental RV (aka. sag wagon) on the 30th, and then I will head east bright and early on Wednesday morning, 5/31/17.
Eight days till prologue! Tick Tock!
Ride on!
Most of the jerseys and t-shirts I wear are for a reason. There’s either a story behind them, or they just say something to capture the mood. Some are for safety. Some are just comfortable. And some are just fun. Here are a few you’ll probably catch me wearing across America. Continue reading “What’s With the Jerseys and T’s?”
Anticipation is a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen. : the act of preparing for something. Anticipation is a thing in the Napa Valley because when the grapes start appearing on the vines every year, there is anticipation about what the vintage will be like.
Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin’ me late
Is keepin’ me waitin’
Carly Simon sang those words and they keep running through my head as I ride past all the vineyards awaiting my start date. My anticipation has more to do with being excited about the adventure that is fast approaching. So what do I do in the meantime? Continue training/preparing, of course. People wonder what my training looks like. How do ride a bunch of miles without really going anywhere? Well, I have several loops/routes that I know every inch of by now. I repeat them as many times as I need for the miles I want. Take a look…
My 1-mile loop. I sometimes do several of these when the weather is lousy. I did 20 of them New Years eve morning to help rack up the miles for my Rapha Festive 500.
My 4-mile route. I’ve done so many of these, I’ve lost count.
My 5-mile loop. I did this one 24 times for my 24-hour challenge.
Picture taken mid ride every hour for 24…
This one is my typical 20 mile out and back.
The next one shows some of the hill repeats I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks. It’s about 9.5 to 10.5% for about a half mile. I do 3 to 5 of them and then finish off with my 4-mile loop. There is a small spot at the bottom that gives your belly a tickle that I love. We used to say the back roads of upstate NY had tickle belly hills on them because that’s what it felt like if you drove over them fast. And don’t tell the husband, but I usually get over 40 mph coming down the hill. What a rush!! 🙂
And last but not least, there’s Partrick Road. It was when I climbed this road back in September that I started thinking I could ride across the country. It gets up to about a 13% grade in spots and stays over 9% for 3 miles. I rode it today – probably the last time before I launch – and saw lots of improvement! I think I’m ready! Happy Mother’s Day!
17 days now! Tick Tock!
Ride on!
I’ve always been drawn to barns. Something about them intrigues me. It might be the history they seem to hold, or the way the sunlight seems to perk up their old worn out siding. It might be that I grew up in rural upstate New York and they tended to be landmarks on the way to places. I remember one I was always drawn to because it was so pristine looking. You could see it off in the distance, just after Rochester, on the way home from Buffalo. It might be that I have really fond memories of visiting Kandi’s family farm while in college. We got to witness baby Joey (calf) being born one year. We always picked corn right off the stalk to have for meals. And her mom made the most delicious barbecued chicken with a white marinade that I’ve never been able to recreate. It was probably the open pit method that I just don’t have in town.
Here are some that I’ve seen on my cycling trips around the Napa area. And I’ll be sharing barns that connect with me as I move ever so slowly (relatively speaking) across america starting in less than 25 days! Oh my!!
What draws your attention?
Ride on!
I work for a health care organization for which Live Well Be Well and Thrive are taglines, and they take them to heart. Employees are encouraged, not pressured, to have healthy lifestyles. They were part of the reason for me getting my own health and fitness back in line. They offer a variety of programs to help employees learn and take action. For the past few years they have even sponsored a Pound for Pound challenge where for every pound of weight employees lose, they donate a pound of fresh produce to local organizations. We even have Live Well Be Well Coordinators for each of our facilities. 
We have Andie and she’s great! She has infused a ton of enthusiasm, fun, and variety into our program. Today, she organized a bike ride that I was happy to join. I rode 15 miles to get to the start.
I rode with the group for 20,
and then rode another 53 to get back home. 
Not too shabby, given the 4700 feet of elevation that went along with it. 
Starting to feel ready. Happy Easter!
Ride on!
Knowledge that something exists, or understanding of a situation or subject at the present time based on information or experience.
Today I am taking a short break from my quest to bring awareness to the needs of MS (Multiple Sclerosis) patients and research to raise it for a variety of other causes. Most of these have crossed paths with my life in one way or another. What is daunting is there are so many that create unwanted change and heartache for too many. What is daunting is that God uses so many opportunities to show us how to have faith, love for one another, and to grow.
Today starts the sign up for The Great Cycle Challenge 2017. I participated in this event for the first time last year, and as a promise to someone who has inspired me, I will be riding to raise funds for cancer research, specifically for children, once again in 2017. This will actually run concurrently with my ride across America in June (this one’s a virtual ride), so I am pretty sure I will meet the mileage goal. Molly Widner is someone who left this earth way too early but in her short time here, she was a huge model of faith and courage and has left an indelible mark. This one’s for her!
If MS or pediatric cancer aren’t your thing, there are so many other organizations who need your help. About 8 months ago, I rode my bike 10 miles every hour for 24 hours and called out one every hour. If you missed it, here are some of my favorites.
Great Cycle Challenge 2017 – for Molly
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – for Danielle
American Heart Association – For Dad
American Cancer Society – For Mom
Pink Heals – Napa Valley – For Jennie
Neurofibramatosis Network – For Tom and Laura
Lutheran Church Charities – Comfort Dogs
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Of course there’s always… Bike the US for MS
And another option to make a difference…other folks raising funds for good causes:
Napa Valley Community Connections – Mentorship program for at-risk youth – Go April!
Milan’s Medical Fund – Feel better Milan!
Organ Donation Awareness Run – Go Penni!
American Heart Association Cycle Nation Event – Go KP and Andi!
Best Buddies Challenge – Go Shaully!
Avon 39 – Walk to End Breast Cancer – Go Cathleen!
After all the heavy heartedness of looking into these, you can relax or feel comfy by connecting to any one or all of these if it moves you:
Victoria Bartelt, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant – Pamper yourself
Lucky Guy Bakery – Yummy post ride (or anytime) snacks.
LuLa Roe – Comfy clothes
One Beaded Sister – Good looking jewelry
Irwin Family Vineyards – My new favorite…The Bull
And save the date…April 18. I will be partnering with the Hop Creek Pub to host a dine and donate benefitting Bike the Us for MS.
Thank you for being good humans!
Ride on!
Michele Across America 