Chapter 15

Chapter 15

 

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

 

 

 

Chapter 15

 

 

Yachats to Florence 26miles

 

 

When I was at the airport in Dublin, I met a lovely couple and we had coffee and beer and Amanda told me, there would be some days during this trip that I would find tough, for no particular reason. It would just happen! Well Amanda, you were right and today was just one of those days. I had a lovely, relaxed day in Yachats and for some reason it didn’t follow through. 

I left this morning in good spirits. Said goodbye to my host Victoria and headed off into the Oregon mist. It’s something hard to describe. Like going out into one of those dead of winter damp misty mornings in Ireland. Gets into your bones! I kept telling myself the sun will burn it off and it will get warmer. But even with the rain jacket on to give me heat, and sweating inside it, I soon got cold. There were a few climbs where I slowed to a walking pace and it became thoroughly miserable. I resolved I would write off the day and get warm lodging in Florence. I’d say the Chardonnay from last night was having some effect on my performance but, hey! This is not the Tour de France. I can lose time.. Scenery is still spectacular in the mist and listening to the giant seals through it makes it sound very eerie.

I got to another of those tunnels where you wait for a lull in the traffic, hit the button and ride like hell. While I was in there, I was passed by two of those monster RV, s and a fully laden logging truck. Have to say it scared the Bejeezus out of me. I was like “road runner” out of there..... Tomorrow is another day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

Geraldine said: Beep! Beep! Roadrunner keep your head down and zoom safely through those tunnels, they sound really scary. You sound as though you've had a bad day weather-wise, but hey, the good thing about a bad day is that it ends. And you're right it’s not the Tour de France, so take it easy this evening, put your feet up and enjoy a soothing glass, (I might too just to keep you company) xxx

Eileen said: Hi John You are bound to have highs and lows just like in any life situation. You have been pushing hard and the traffic can be stressful so perhaps you need to factor in some extra days off. You're doing really well and we're all very proud of you so take it easy brother. Love x

Frances said; OK John, after long, hard, bad, days comes short, easy, good days. Just think, after logging country, should come wine country. I wish when on my exercise bike in the morning I could say I feel your pain, but when pain comes I'm off the bike. Just to let you know we are all thinking of you and wish you well, Stay safe.

And John replied: Thanks everyone. I knew I would have bad days but see the next blog. It will get better!

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chapter 24

Image
  Chapter 24     THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008   Garberville to Westport 70 miles   Garberville was a nice little town albeit was not in my plan - all mountainy with quaint people with big hats and moustaches. Even the women (no! I’m joking!).  Coffee and 2 buns and off into the, now tedious, immediate climb. It’s a bitch to get a hill first thing, before your legs are ready. Now this is not the little hill up by the garda station in Naas. This is 4º for 2 miles! A leg wrecker so early in the morning. Little did I know this was just the beginning of a day which, when over, would go down in the annals as the worst days climbing on a bike I have ever done, by a long, long, long way.  The 5 or 6 big climbs before the town of Leggit were severe in themselves. But put with that a very hazardous road. Shoulder of about a foot at most, on a single carriageway road with sheer 400/500ft drops on your immediate right side with no guard rail. Man, that was sc...
Read more

Chapter 19

Image
Chapter 19   Saturday September 20 th  2008   Gold Beach to Crescent City 57 miles   There are days when a man dares to love what he has achieved. Well today was for my lovely boys and girl! My Luke, my Alex, my Samuel, my Sebastian and of course my Emily.  (Freddie hasn’t arrived yet). I have been instilling into all my grandchildren especially Alex for so long now. That their grandad, is a GENIUS. And after today they should really know he is telling the truth. Cause their Grandad knows for sure. I am so proud of myself today I don’t mind who knows it.   After the knee pain yesterday I had dark thoughts last night of maybe having to abandon. But I brushed them aside and had an early coffee and a muffin and hit the road at 8am full of confidence and feeling good.   But that first climb soon showed me I was still in difficulty as the pain came back, worse than yesterday. It slowed me to walking pace on even the slightest hill. I was trying to save it b...
Read more

Chapter 26

Image
Chapter 26     SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2008   Manchester to Jenner 52 miles 26th September   Today was certainly not a day for me to celebrate. It started out ok. Early to rise and out to get my breakfast ready in the camp. A beautiful morning with the likelihood of a sunny day. As soon as I got on the road I couldn’t get the legs going, even though the road was reasonably flat at this point. My destination was Bodega Bay, some 64 miles down the road. Heading to San Francisco. I guess I am paying for the couple of hard days I put in earlier in the week. Then I hit the rollercoaster road again, the same as yesterday and it is getting tedious. No sooner do you get up one and down the other side and another looms. Leg Wreckers!! I try talking to myself to get some motivation and it works for a while. So, this way I keep moving. With seemingly never ending rolling terrain you really do believe that this will never end and its very disheartening when you legs are not work...
Read more