Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
You have questions and I have answers
Perhaps it is now a good time to answer some questions that people have been asking me.
Are you really bicycling ALL the way to Oregon?
Yes.
Who is going with you on your bicycling trip?
Nobody.
WHAT? No one is going with you? Why not? Isn't that dangerous?
No one is going with me because: (1) does anyone have a month and a half of nothing to do that would allow them to go on the trip, (2) has anyone saved up enough money to go on this trip, (3) does anyone love the bicycle enough to go on this approximate 1,700 mile trip with me? I do not think it is that dangerous because I will literally be in a town every night and will always have a charged cellphone on me.
How long is this trip going to last and how many miles are you going to do a day?
I am planning on this trip taking me approximately a month and a half (From June 4th to about July 20th) and will bicycle anywhere from 35 to 50 miles a day.
How are you going to get back to NE?
I am going to take a train.
Man, you are crazy!
Thanks, I guess.
Are you really bicycling ALL the way to Oregon?
Yes.
Who is going with you on your bicycling trip?
Nobody.
WHAT? No one is going with you? Why not? Isn't that dangerous?
No one is going with me because: (1) does anyone have a month and a half of nothing to do that would allow them to go on the trip, (2) has anyone saved up enough money to go on this trip, (3) does anyone love the bicycle enough to go on this approximate 1,700 mile trip with me? I do not think it is that dangerous because I will literally be in a town every night and will always have a charged cellphone on me.
How long is this trip going to last and how many miles are you going to do a day?
I am planning on this trip taking me approximately a month and a half (From June 4th to about July 20th) and will bicycle anywhere from 35 to 50 miles a day.
How are you going to get back to NE?
I am going to take a train.
Man, you are crazy!
Thanks, I guess.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
First short tour
I decided to take a bicycling class this semester through the Outdoor Education Department at UNL and am quite happy I did. It was only a one credit hour; however, I feel more confident after the class. Admittedly, I knew more than what I thought but I believe that is because I researched self-contained touring quite a bit. Still, I learned useful information and the instructors were great. The main instructor provided me with good information about touring to OR and what I would or would not need. Specifically, he showed me, though indirectly, that I had most everything I needed to go on my tour.
Part of the requirements for this class was to go on a, approximately, 46 mile round trip tour. I knew this would not be impossible for me because I often do 18 to 22 miles in a day about 2 to 3 times a week; however, I knew doing it back-to-back days would be difficult and I was right. Things I learned during this trip were: (i) I think I will like touring alone and not worrying about other people's gear (ii) I am glad I choose a bicycle trailer instead of panniers because panniers I find are annoying and hard to get on and off the rack, (iii) I want to avoid gravel and city riding as much as possible and (iii) waking up in the morning will be hard and then getting back on the saddle will be even harder!!!
I also learned, though, that waking up to a woodpecker can be enjoyable, seeing the sun set and sunrise without any obstructions is great and eating home cooked food, from a fire, after a long bicycle ride is a great sensation! Our tour and class was unfortunately short but very informative. Also, I think most of all the main instructor's positiveness and encouragement to bicycle more (and specifically to do the tour to OR) gave me more courage and confidence with regard to bicycling.
The next two months goes as follows:
Now till May 1:
Work on school (getting very little sleep)
Try to continue to bicycle around 50 miles a week
Work out at the rec. center when possible
Write Man Papers
Buy more bicycling gear
May 1 to May 7:
Start of 3-month vacation from Raising Canes (I am extremely grateful they will allow me to do this! Additionally, the owner and managers always seem genuinely interested in my endeavor)
Work really hard to finish the semester strong!
May 7 to June 1:
Put in tons of hours in my independent research so I can drain my funds in that account
Enroll in a summer course and buy gear
Bicycle around 25 miles a day except on weekends
June 1:
Move into new apartment
June 2,3,4..?
One of these days I will have a leaving party...I am thinking about having a bottle of champagne to break on my bike similar to someone breaking a bottle on a ship for its virgin sail. The breaking of the bottle to signify my virgin self contained tour. Also, I kind of want to leave on a significant date, whether it be historical or personal but can not think of one...will ponder on this more.
Part of the requirements for this class was to go on a, approximately, 46 mile round trip tour. I knew this would not be impossible for me because I often do 18 to 22 miles in a day about 2 to 3 times a week; however, I knew doing it back-to-back days would be difficult and I was right. Things I learned during this trip were: (i) I think I will like touring alone and not worrying about other people's gear (ii) I am glad I choose a bicycle trailer instead of panniers because panniers I find are annoying and hard to get on and off the rack, (iii) I want to avoid gravel and city riding as much as possible and (iii) waking up in the morning will be hard and then getting back on the saddle will be even harder!!!
I also learned, though, that waking up to a woodpecker can be enjoyable, seeing the sun set and sunrise without any obstructions is great and eating home cooked food, from a fire, after a long bicycle ride is a great sensation! Our tour and class was unfortunately short but very informative. Also, I think most of all the main instructor's positiveness and encouragement to bicycle more (and specifically to do the tour to OR) gave me more courage and confidence with regard to bicycling.
The next two months goes as follows:
Now till May 1:
Work on school (getting very little sleep)
Try to continue to bicycle around 50 miles a week
Work out at the rec. center when possible
Write Man Papers
Buy more bicycling gear
May 1 to May 7:
Start of 3-month vacation from Raising Canes (I am extremely grateful they will allow me to do this! Additionally, the owner and managers always seem genuinely interested in my endeavor)
Work really hard to finish the semester strong!
May 7 to June 1:
Put in tons of hours in my independent research so I can drain my funds in that account
Enroll in a summer course and buy gear
Bicycle around 25 miles a day except on weekends
June 1:
Move into new apartment
June 2,3,4..?
One of these days I will have a leaving party...I am thinking about having a bottle of champagne to break on my bike similar to someone breaking a bottle on a ship for its virgin sail. The breaking of the bottle to signify my virgin self contained tour. Also, I kind of want to leave on a significant date, whether it be historical or personal but can not think of one...will ponder on this more.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Re-emerging Dream?
Well I stopped blogging after the phone call. The phone call confirmed what I really did not want to happen, which was I would not be able to make the trip to Portland on my bicycle. Then, I thought, I would just take my 1966 Volkswagen Beetle to Portland and find a job there. However, my brakes needed work and my mechanic was having trouble with them. Eventually, I decided I needed to end my idea of going to Portland and start looking for a job. I didn't have a lease or any job leads so I decided to see if I could work at the camp I worked at in 2006. Luckily, my old boss took me on and it was a blast working there! Today, 7/30/2009, I just received news that I can go on a cross country bicycle tour. :) I am extremely excited and am already rethinking me trip. I now know what I need to prepare, how much money I should have saved and other important details. I am unsure when I will do a long bicycle tour but I am very helpful now! Until a later date.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Beginnings
Today is May 24, 2009 and I am, tentatively, leaving on my bicycle tour this Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I am not sure which day I will leave because I still have to finish moving everything into storage
Many co-workers and friends have asked me why I want to do this. Thus I thought I would use this first blog to explain why I want to bicycle to Portland, OR. Last summer I started bicycling a lot and really enjoyed it. I, eventually, rode to Eagle, NE which was about a 20 mile ride. I felt so accomplished after that ride. Then I studied abroad that summer in Moscow, Russia and really missed, among other things, my bicycle. While in Moscow I had some free time and then I decided that the next summer, aka this summer, I would bicycle all summer. I then, though, saw an opportunity with the Defense Intelligence Agency for an internship. I applied and did not get it and that, then, solidified my decision to bicycle.
Additionally, I was really disenfranchised with the United States after coming back from Russia. Thus I want to do this tour because: I have had too many people tell me I can't do it, I want to see America, I love to bike, and its a goal I have had since last summer!
Now I have to wait for one phone call to make or break the idea!
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