Summary Notes from our Bike tour from Canada to Mexico - 8/8/15 through 10/10/15

Every day was a new adventure! We saw new places, encountered new terrain and had new adventures as each day unfolded.

The part of the tour that will always be prominent in my mind was that every day we met new people who were kind, helpful, supportive and curious about what we were doing. From our first day riding, when a stranger offered us a place to stay until the our final day in San Diego when new friends Joan and Phil drove us to the rental car agency for our drive home, we encountered wonderful people!

Trudy's comments: This route is not for beginners or for the faint of heart. To describe it in one word is impossible, so here goes--the trip was exciting, adventurous, beautiful, terrifying, scary, scenic, quiet woodlands, busy traffic, polite drivers (about 95% were), not so polite drivers, flat, uphill, really uphill, big ascents and descents, incredible views from Top of the World and other indescribable Byways. As Frank mentions, the biggest part of the tour was meeting so many fantastic people who were generous, "adopted" and fed us, gave us a room to sleep in, helped us when we (I mean Frank) was lost, came up to us, almost every time we stopped to rest or eat, out of curiosity and to tell us their bicycling stories. One couple pulled up alongside us in their car to tell us that our red blinky lights were easy to spot. I did get tired of being called crazy :-) though...

My stats, according to my Garmin bike computer:

Total distance (including side trips): 2594 miles
Daily distance (ride days only): 46 miles average
Total ascent: 184,782 ft.
Average daily ascent for ride days: 3242
Average speed: 10.5 mph
Max speed: 43.6 mph! Really kinda scary to see that!
Average max speed: 35.4 mph
Calories burned - Frank: 141,535 (2483 daily average) - no wonder I was hungry!

We each lost 10-12 pounds on the tour.

Where we stayed on the tour (including getting to the start):

Stranger - 1
Friends - 10
Hotel - 4
Warm Showers hosts - 4
Camping - 45

Bike weight (we didn't weigh them until we got home); Trudy, 64 lbs. ; Frank 71 lbs - we weighed them with full water bottles, but not much food. So, the weight varies a little when we'er riding, due to changes in water and food.

Maps: We followed the Adventure Cycling Assoc. "Cascade-Sierra" route. The maps are excellent bike touring. We learned to pay close attention to the elevation scale, compass rose and written directions.

We bought state maps along the way to give us reference to the "larger world" because our maps offered only a narrow "glimpse," showing our route, resources and other necessary information.

Equipment we bought along the way:

Trudy: 2 new tires, new sleeping pad (the old one was leaky!)

Frank: 1 new inner tube, a collapsible "water bottle" for vodka, camping towel (old one didn't absorb water, BUT it was quick drying!), additional water bottle and cage, thermal undershirt for riding, camping bowl that's collapsable.

Stuff we brought that we didn't need: 

I brought a little bluetooth speaker, that I sent back. I thought we would use it to listen to books on tape - the iPhone speaker was load enough. After we sent it back, we wanted to listen to something on the Nano, but couldn't. Trudy brought a small tarp that would be used if we had an extended rainy spell. Fortunately, we didn't need it, but we would still carry it.

Clothing: we each had two riding outfits and two street outfits. Everything was quick drying and we planned on layering... we used everything, and wore all our layers at times. Laundry was part of the nightly routine!

Rain gear is a bit of a problem. We both have Gortex jackets, but with extended climbing the condensation inside would soak us, so we would get cold on the descents. Same with rain pants.
My shoes would be soaking wet after a period of rain and they don't dry quickly.

Bikes: we're ready for dedicated touring bikes! We need disc brakes, neutral steering, a more upright riding position and proper bike fit for touring - we'll also look into S&S couplers or foldable bikes.

Front panniers for me! As much for organizational needs as weight and balance. I often had to dig everything out of my bags and here were things like rain gear that I didn't use very often.

Pace and distances ridden: For the tour we did, with so much climbing, 50 or so miles per day, with an about a day off per week was good and kept us in good spirits.

Entertainment: We each have an MP3 player that we listen to with one ear on those long climbs. Mine plays 15 hours of music on shuffle - I'd change the music and add some podcasts, short stories or books. I brought a book to read and Trudy brought Readers Digest, which she disposed of as she finished the stories.

Blogging: It's quite a process. I take photos through the day, transfer them to my phone at the end of the day, edit them, then write the blog and transfer the photos as I go. It takes about 45 minutes. The "keyboard" takes up 1/2 of the screen on my iPhone 6, so I have to scroll back and forth a lot as I write and enter photos. The app has very limited formatting options, so I have no control over photo placement, sizing and so forth. Cell reception was very spotty - we often went for several days without a signal. We did have WiFi in commercial establishments and with friends.

Route knowledge: The Lewis and Clark route, which we have been riding in sections, has a special allure because we've read / learned about the expedition and have stopped at interpretive centers, monuments. It added another dimension to the ride, which was missing on this one. Now that I'm back I think it would be interesting to learn about the agriculture / geography / geology of the areas we passed through.

The final day of our tour was spent...

With Phil and Joan, whom we first met in Cascade Locks, Oregon way back on 8/22/15!

As you can see, Rose and Charley took an instant shine to them! So did we.

We had so much in common and may plan a bike tour together in the future.

We spent a day touring around the San Diego area (by tram and on foot, mind you). It was a wonderful, relaxing "unwind day" before tackling the 10 hour drive home.

Trudy and I...

Day 62 - to Tecate, Mexico! We did it! We really did it! Canada to Mexico, together... on bikes!! 10/9/15, Thursday

46 miles, 1862 up (including a 6 mile out and back, because I didn't read the instructions... Ahem!)

Well, it was mostly downhill, except my detour and a short, hilly section.

 

That's Tecate, Mexico out there!

We made it over the border!

So did Rose and Charley!

Here are our friends Joan and Phil, who drove from the San Diego area to greet us, meet us, and take us to their home!

We are so lucky! (We first met them at an ice cream stand in Cascade Locks, Oregon!)

Day 61 - Anza Borrego ride, then Julian to Mt. Laguna 10/8/15, Wednesday

26 miles, then 46 miles and 6838 up

In the morning, we ditched the luggage and went for a nice, flat ride with Charlie, Al and a couple of their friends around Anza Borrego. There are sculptures spread through the desert in areas that are preserved from development, so it was like riding through a vast, open gallery. The desert is so beautiful!

Also, Trudy and I really enjoyed riding light bikes on flat roads!

Afterward, Al drove us to Julian, at about 4000 ft., to resume our trip to Mt. Laguna where we would spend our final night camping.

We were on a ridge line, so there were great vistas on both sides at different times.

Our final night, we camped at about 6000 ft elevation with a spectacular, starry night.

Day 60 - Hemet Lake to S2 (beyond Warner Springs) - we stayed with friends in Anza Borrego 10/7/15, Tuesday

54 miles

We woke up to... Wet and misty.

Everything we wore yesterday was wet, really wet! The tent was wet.

But, the sun was peaking through, so we moved our clothes line, tent, and ourselves to a sunny spot and delayed our start until we were becoming warm and dry.

We were still at 4500 ft elevation and would descend to about 2200, then climb again to about 3200 near Warner Springs, where long time friends Al and Charlie would meet us and take us to their home in Anza Borrego for the night!

It was a really nice ride with a lot of changes in terrain and vegetation as rode through the elevations.

Al and Charlie met us around 4, and took us to their beautiful home in Anza Borrego, where we enjoyed showers, laundry, a fantastic dinner, conversation and a glass (or so...) of wine.

Then, a warm, soft bed!

Day 59 - Beaumont to Hemet Lake, 10/6/15, Monday

41 miles, 5257 up

After a restful afternoon and night in a nice, warm, quiet hotel room (we went out for dinner and watched a movie), we stopped in for the continental breakfast, which was coffee or tea and sweetrolls or muffins - I ate about a whole tray of sweetrolls - we hit the road for Hemet Lake.

Via Banning Summit.

Here's where we where...

A as we climbed, we crept into the clouds.

Day 58 - Yucaipa to Beaumont - 10/5/15, Sunday

12 miles, 1140 feet up

Rain storm rolling through...

Yet, we decided to ride on, braving cold, wet and gusty winds!

The place we stayed last night was so charming!

And inviting!

Kinda warm and fuzzy, huh?

Not that we minded the woman yelling in the middle of the night, the loud conversations outside our window, the headboard on the bed shaking when someone went up and down the stairs to the room above ours, or the pickup with the bad muffler that took forever to park!

No, we'd just been too lucky with weather so far and being cold would be a new dimension to explore!

We had breakfast at a restaurant nearby and were talking with another customer about our trip. He offered us a ride if we needed one. The rain had stopped when we headed out, but we found that he'd left a message that he would come get us because the rain had gotten heavier.

I called to thank him - we were already in a warm, friendly, comfortable hotel.

Day 57 - Big Bear Lake to Yucaipa - 10/3/15, Saturday

53 miles, 2919 up and 6942 down!

No photos today!?  Actually, yes. See at the bottom for Rose's input.

We had great breakfast burritos at the Off Broadway Cafe in Big Bear City, then started the climb to Onyx summit. It was a steady climb and pretty, but nothing inspired me to stop for pictures.

The summit was over 8000 feet, so we added layers of clothes for the descent, which went on and on! We did stop to pull off layers as we reached lower elevations, then kept rolling downhill to Yucaipa.

We hadn't found camping because it's the weekend and many of the campgrounds are closed. So, we stopped at a pizza place and ate our weight worth of salad at the all you can eat salad bar. While we ate we looked up local hotels - one was full, the other was way out of the way and the last one didn't answer the phone... So, we decided to ride over to the last one. The next possible place to stop is 15 or so more miles and it's late in the day.

The Sunset Motel has a prominent sign by the security window that says no prostitution is allowed. The fee is $60 per night, plus a $5 deposit that is returned when the key is turned in. Security cameras abound. The TV doesn't work so they gave us $5 back. Well, the shower works, there's WiFi and the overhead light works...

I guess you could say that when we have a choice of one, the decision is easy!

Rose's note: Onyx summit is the highest road summit in so cal, wow!

Non bike notes

Frank is letting me write in his blog (whoo hoo!) so I thought I'd take advantage of it. :-)  I have a few notes on my non bike list of things to consider for the next trip. If you backpack, our lists should sound very familiar. Here we go:

With only one set of maps, we'll copy them for the other person to have and follow. Frank has the originals but I miss having a set of my own

Bring state maps along, maybe with appropriate sections cut out. Sometimes we don't know where we are in the grand scheme of things.

Bring my foldable backpacking bucket for washing clothes

Ova Easy egg crystals, instant eggs! Thanks Evelyn!

Binoculars!

We've had trouble finding dehydrated vegetables in the stores, so for the next trip I will dehydrate more vegetables (hopefully from our garden) along with cooked tuna, chicken, and will try dehydrating cooked hamburger.

Lastly, we're considering bringing a back up stove. Does that sound familiar, Leilani? ;-) Each would have different fuel--one solid fuel, one canister or an International Whisper lite which uses white, car or kerosene gas

Next bikes - wish list

Both of us are riding bikes that have been modified for touring. We're ready to make the jump to dedicated touring bikes. So, here's stuff we'd change.

Correct bike fit: 

Trudy's bike is a men's frame, so she may be a little more stretched out and lower than optimum for touring. Maybe flat bars? She doesn't ride in the drops much at all.

My bike is a 'cross bike, so the frame angles are for quicker handling. I want more neutral handling and a more upright riding position.

Front rack and panniers for me. As much for organizing stuff as for weight distribution. There's stuff like cold weather clothing that I've only used two or three times that takes up room.

A bigger gear range for Trudy. Mine's a pretty standard mountain bike set up with a triple up front and works well for me. I don't know the numbers, though.

Disc brakes. 

Pedal choice?

Internal cables to solve problems with handlebar bags?

Maybe couplers to make shipping bikes easier.

Bike stuff- repairs

Here's the stuff we've fixed, so far:

Me:

3 flats, two from road wire & one defective valve (it happened at a bike shop, so one new tube!)

Right cleat got loose, so I stuck it back on with some Locktite and it hasn't moved. It did get me thinking about pedal / cleat choices. If I'd lost the cleat, I'd be pedaling with one leg for oh, 2000 miles.

I bought another water bottle and cage, so I could redistribute weight and have water easier to reach.

Trudy:

Replaced both tires in Fresno - she had some miles on them already when we started.

Moved her handlebar bag to rear rack. We thought it might be affecting her shifting because it pushed down on the cable housings.

Both:

We've both had our derailleurs adjusted.

We've lubbed the chains, but don't have a way to clean them.

Day 56 - relaxing layover day at Big Bear Lake! 10/2/15, Friday

No hills to climb!

Trudy's note:  we had a very leisurely morning, breakfast, organized stuff, then walked down to the much lower and smaller lake and sat, relaxed, read for a couple of hours. Frank did his blog and I napped. A well deserved day off! Frank then volunteered ro ride 2 miles (4 r/t) to buy chips, bean dip, a beer and wine. What a guy!

Day 55 - Crestline to Big Bear Lake, 10/1/15

34 miles, 3857 up

By now, you may be thinking: "that Frank, every day he writes about the same distance, the same elevation gain, has a photo of some distant mountains and a picture of Trudy riding up some steep hill - the bum is probably sitting at home, making this stuff up!"

Not so!

We're sitting at a picnic table at Big Bear Lake right now, pecking away at our phones - 6000 ft elevation here, so 38 degrees tonight (long johns on already!), having a glass of wine...

We seem to be gaining 1000 ft or so every 10 miles, so we must be going downhill sometimes... The trouble is the downhills go by so quickly and the uphill so slowly! Sigh!

You may have also noticed that I started adding the date and day of the week. That's for me, thanks! It's all becoming sort of a blur... Get up, make breakfast, pack up, ride bike about 50 miles through beautiful countryside, meet interesting people, find place to stay, drink beer & eat bag of chips, set up camp & eat dinner, go to bed when it gets dark (read and/or blog), sleep, repeat. What a lifestyle!

Anyway, here's today!

We stayed last night in a hotel near Gregory Lake in Crestline. It was a really nice place with more pillows on the bed than there was bed. 

The climb from the lake to the highway was a... No polite words...

Anyway, we got to our route and were scratching our heads because the highway signs seemed to point 3 directions... A local bike rider came to the rescue!

We rode along the "Rim of the World" highway and it was... Beautiful!

We spent a bit of time debating where in the great state of CA we were... Our maps give us a small window on the world - that's San Bernadino below and Ontario airport way to the right- you see that, don't you?

Here's the mountain range from above for the day... I have to say that now, when I see a road off in the distance to the south, I think I may be riding on it soon.

See that tiny white line? That's our road?

So, here's the road ahead - level or slightly downhill... Optimism prevails!

No shots of Trudy tackling yet another hill - every time I looked, she had big ****** grin!

Day 54 - Wrightwood to Crestline - 9/30/15, Wednesday

33 miles, 2914 up

We wanted to make it a short day today because we're planning a layover day at Big Bear Lake tomorrow and 70 miles was too far to ride with a lot of climbing.

It turned into a short day with really tough climbs at the end.

The downhill in the morning was nice!

Some strange rock formation along the way.

Then, we passed this... It was big and noisy - we haven't seen anything like it in quite a while. Interstate 15.

Silverwood Lake

Trudy's tired of climbs like this!

We're staying in a hotel tonight because the campground was closed for the season.

Day 53 - onward, to Wrightwood - 9/29/15, Tuesday

47 miles, 5872 up

We weren't finished with the hill yet.

37 miles into the climb, we ran into this.

No alternate routes - we could A: go back to Palmdale (84 miles), then figure out another route B: return to a place where we could descend to L.A. and figure something out from there... Or C: duck under the gate and hope we could ride to Wrightwood, about 20 miles!

So, we had the highway to ourselves for about 10 miles.

We were down there two days ago.

We finally made it to the top.

Lunch!

The views are really good from here!

Onward, and downhill to Wrightwood!