Final, final! Thanks to all of you for your support for the past few weeks. And special thanks to our spouses, Lee and Marsha, for endorsing this journey. Each of you have provided a network of inspiration and constant pressure for us to make blog entries. Now you have one more assignment, the Old Land Cruisers' blog final!
Here's your study guide:
Beginning date: April 12, 2010
Beginning location: Jekyll Island, Georgia.
Total days on the road: 41
Number of nights in a motel: 35
Longest mileage day: 137, Deming, Arizona to Wilcox
Shortest mileage day: 22 miles from Welton, Arizona to Yuma
Number of rest days: 6 1/2 (anything under 35 miles is considered a half day)
Total riding days: 34 1/2
Total miles traveled: 2,704
Average miles per riding day: 78
Most flats in one day: 10 by Mick
Countries represented by foreign cyclists we've met: Sweden and Czech Republic
Most days in a single state: 15 - Texas
Least days in a state: 1- Mississippi
Number of states we traveled through: 9
Worst roads: Louisiana
Best roads: Texas
Worst head winds: Texas
Steepest Hill: Cush Canyon Loop Road to get to Steve and Kathy White-Cohen's house
Longest Climb: 12 miles, Ocotillo, California Interstate 8 West
Ending date: May 22, 2010
Ending Location: San Diego, California
Weight Loss Program: Mixed results, but not recommended. You might prefer the "grapefruit diet" instead!
We are the Old Land Cruisers signing off for now and looking for new adventures. We're thinking surfing will be our next activity!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Day 41: Let Us Whine a Little
Total: 2704 miles
As you can see from the picture, we have arrived in San Diego, California. Please feel free to have a drink of your
choice to help us celebrate. Bill and I left Boulevard at 5:45 am. What could be better than letting gravity thrust you along at about 20 mph through some incredible scenery. We had a few headwinds that kept our speed under control and the brisk wind in our faces also kept us awake. After almost 20 miles we took our first break. Since the temperature was in the low 40s, Bill helped peel my fingers off of the handlebars. Donuts and coffee and more clothes helped to ease some of the embedded stiffness. It was now time to move on to our next breakfast. We arrived in San Diego in the early afternoon with 74 miles behind us at 12.8 mph.
As you can see from the second picture, Serotta and Cannondale have finally decided to call a truce with the Old Land Cruisers. I
think it's safe to say that neither of us have worn the other completely out! Bill and I have tried to minimize the amount of whining in the blog, but we have reserved some additional observations. These will be more obvious to cyclists who abuse their bodies on a regular basis. I won't bore you will the details of the abuses, I will simply try to provide an understanding of the symptoms. As we arrive at a motel we dismount the bikes. After five, six, or seven hours on the bike your legs are a little shaky, your hands are stiff and probably tingling, your feet may be hot, and you may have other ailments specific to your body mechanics. The problems usually surface as you check into the motel. Filling out your name, address, phone number may be challenging as your hands are still shaking and your mind adjusts to the flow of oxygen. Your signature has marks that are totally incomprehensible and if you print your name, it's not any better. A few other problems we have noticed. As you get in the shower the little EASY tear shampoo packets aren't so easy to tear open with numb wet fingers. Lotion packets are a similar problem. Dinner is always an adventure with dropping items, opening plastic utensils, and trying to sign your name when you charge it. We don't meet the ADA standards for the disabled, but we have borderline conditions yet to be diagnosed by the medical profession.
I will have the final blog entry submitted tomorrow. So if you have had nothing better to do than follow this drivel, this is fair warning. You may have to sign up for Facebook to waste the same amount of time.
We are the Old Land Cruisers and we are done cruisin for now.
Cyclist's Observation: Fingers work better before a ride than after a ride.
As you can see from the picture, we have arrived in San Diego, California. Please feel free to have a drink of your
choice to help us celebrate. Bill and I left Boulevard at 5:45 am. What could be better than letting gravity thrust you along at about 20 mph through some incredible scenery. We had a few headwinds that kept our speed under control and the brisk wind in our faces also kept us awake. After almost 20 miles we took our first break. Since the temperature was in the low 40s, Bill helped peel my fingers off of the handlebars. Donuts and coffee and more clothes helped to ease some of the embedded stiffness. It was now time to move on to our next breakfast. We arrived in San Diego in the early afternoon with 74 miles behind us at 12.8 mph.As you can see from the second picture, Serotta and Cannondale have finally decided to call a truce with the Old Land Cruisers. I
think it's safe to say that neither of us have worn the other completely out! Bill and I have tried to minimize the amount of whining in the blog, but we have reserved some additional observations. These will be more obvious to cyclists who abuse their bodies on a regular basis. I won't bore you will the details of the abuses, I will simply try to provide an understanding of the symptoms. As we arrive at a motel we dismount the bikes. After five, six, or seven hours on the bike your legs are a little shaky, your hands are stiff and probably tingling, your feet may be hot, and you may have other ailments specific to your body mechanics. The problems usually surface as you check into the motel. Filling out your name, address, phone number may be challenging as your hands are still shaking and your mind adjusts to the flow of oxygen. Your signature has marks that are totally incomprehensible and if you print your name, it's not any better. A few other problems we have noticed. As you get in the shower the little EASY tear shampoo packets aren't so easy to tear open with numb wet fingers. Lotion packets are a similar problem. Dinner is always an adventure with dropping items, opening plastic utensils, and trying to sign your name when you charge it. We don't meet the ADA standards for the disabled, but we have borderline conditions yet to be diagnosed by the medical profession. I will have the final blog entry submitted tomorrow. So if you have had nothing better to do than follow this drivel, this is fair warning. You may have to sign up for Facebook to waste the same amount of time.
We are the Old Land Cruisers and we are done cruisin for now.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 40: Rocky Mountain High
Total: 2561 miles
Refer to day thirty one for the other Top Ten reasons. The final two reasons have been selected and the winners are Eric with "Go East, young man, just doesn't have the same ring" and Laurie and Jerry with "It gives you three more hours of cycling fun." Congratulations to the winners!
Cyclist's Observation: A combo for a food order is easy, but a combo for cycling (climbing and wind) is hard.
Bill and I have applied all of our techniques for room selection. We ended up at the Lux Inn Mountain Resort in Boulevard, California. The "Lux" must stand for luxury based on the vintage cars being restored in front of the office. We have two TVs in our room and the smaller one actually works on one infomercial channel. Bill was the first to the shower and after getting an employee to turn it on we left it running for the second shower. Neither Bill nor I had much experience with petrified soap. It must be unique to the southwest.
Cyclist's Observation: A combo for a food order is easy, but a combo for cycling (climbing and wind) is hard.
Bill and I have applied all of our techniques for room selection. We ended up at the Lux Inn Mountain Resort in Boulevard, California. The "Lux" must stand for luxury based on the vintage cars being restored in front of the office. We have two TVs in our room and the smaller one actually works on one infomercial channel. Bill was the first to the shower and after getting an employee to turn it on we left it running for the second shower. Neither Bill nor I had much experience with petrified soap. It must be unique to the southwest.
We had traveled 62 miles from Calexico, California to Boulevard at 10.1 mph. This does not explain the full events of the day. I started with a flat before we checked out of the motel, so we got a late start at the
beginning of the day. We had a nice ride through the desert and saw many water flags in case we were stranded (see picture). Then it was up, up, up, up ... for approximately 12 miles. In order to make the ride more exciting we had to violate a California state law by riding on the interstate. No problem with the highway patrol, but the gusting headwinds coming down the mountain at 30 to 40 mph was an added feature we could have left in Texas. After cresting the top of the world, we muddled along the byways stopping at anyplace that had food or drink. At one of the stops, we were shopping for dinner when someone called out Bill's name. We had been stopped long enough that Bill's brain recognized the greeting and he responded. It was family and friends on their way to San Diego from Phoenix. Fat chance this could happen. We chatted with Rod and Becky, Matt and his wife, and the grandkids for a few minutes and then it was off to the Lux Inn.Happenstance or no chance, we are still the Old Land Cruisers.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 39: You Can't Ride on the Interstate
Total: 2499 miles!!!!!!!
Cyclist's Observation: Sunny Southern California is too sunny.
Bill and I left Yuma bright and early. As we made the assault on the Colorado River into 
California Bill had his flat for the day (see picture). It was then "hi ho and away we go" down Interstate 8. Just as we were getting some rhythm for the day, fate played a little joke. I love it when this happens because you start to remember phrases from grade school. These were always the phrases that got me sent to the principal's office. Fate decided to tell us it was now illegal to ride a bicycle on the interstate. Being the ever dutiful law abiding citizens, we exited onto the very rough and bumpy frontage road. Shortly, we stopped to ask if this was the way to El Centro. Confirmation moved us forward with haste until we passed a "road closed" sign. This should not be a problem since we were directed off the interstate, had confirmed directions to our next destination, and we had our necessary identity papers to pass through the southwest! We cautiously moved forward until a construction supervisor in a red truck blocked the road ahead. Bill and I explained our plight and he politely told us to go on the interstate. We explained the legal issues and he repeatedly told us to go on the interstate. He pointed to a Border Patrol Station and told us we could take a shortcut to the interstate and explained how helpful they would be. Bill and I reversed our direction and cut across an open area toward the Border Patrol. Hiking through the soft sand in cycling shoes was a new experience I would choose not to repeat. After a friendly greeting and a brief explanation, the Border Patrol Agent told us we could not ride on the interstate. After more discussion he sent us to the "Sheriff." We waited patiently while the sheriff talked with another person, and then we explained our predicament. He politely explained that we couldn't ride on the interstate. We repeated the last half hour of our "Catch 22." Finally, the sheriff relented and we rode off down the interstate as fast as our little old legs would allow. We skipped El Centro and got off the interstate ASAP.
California Bill had his flat for the day (see picture). It was then "hi ho and away we go" down Interstate 8. Just as we were getting some rhythm for the day, fate played a little joke. I love it when this happens because you start to remember phrases from grade school. These were always the phrases that got me sent to the principal's office. Fate decided to tell us it was now illegal to ride a bicycle on the interstate. Being the ever dutiful law abiding citizens, we exited onto the very rough and bumpy frontage road. Shortly, we stopped to ask if this was the way to El Centro. Confirmation moved us forward with haste until we passed a "road closed" sign. This should not be a problem since we were directed off the interstate, had confirmed directions to our next destination, and we had our necessary identity papers to pass through the southwest! We cautiously moved forward until a construction supervisor in a red truck blocked the road ahead. Bill and I explained our plight and he politely told us to go on the interstate. We explained the legal issues and he repeatedly told us to go on the interstate. He pointed to a Border Patrol Station and told us we could take a shortcut to the interstate and explained how helpful they would be. Bill and I reversed our direction and cut across an open area toward the Border Patrol. Hiking through the soft sand in cycling shoes was a new experience I would choose not to repeat. After a friendly greeting and a brief explanation, the Border Patrol Agent told us we could not ride on the interstate. After more discussion he sent us to the "Sheriff." We waited patiently while the sheriff talked with another person, and then we explained our predicament. He politely explained that we couldn't ride on the interstate. We repeated the last half hour of our "Catch 22." Finally, the sheriff relented and we rode off down the interstate as fast as our little old legs would allow. We skipped El Centro and got off the interstate ASAP. We were Calexico bound and after 76 miles at 14 mph we arrived just before the heat of the day. As you can see from the picture of the dunes, we traveled through some very dry, hot, and desolate areas today. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?
This is the Old Land Cruisers still on the lamb in California.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 38: Yuma Respite
Total: 2423 miles
Cyclist's Observation: Easy days are all relative.
What a great break! Bill and I cycled 21 miles at 13 mph from Wellton, Arizona into Yuma. It was a day of recovery with Jerry and Laurie Finzer (see picture). Chatting and happy hour were pleasant reliefs from being on the road. They were wonderful hosts and served us a great dinner. This will be the last break as we make the final push to San Diego. We decided to make the most of the break and relax with a favorite Arizona beverage, margaritas (see picture).
What a great break! Bill and I cycled 21 miles at 13 mph from Wellton, Arizona into Yuma. It was a day of recovery with Jerry and Laurie Finzer (see picture). Chatting and happy hour were pleasant reliefs from being on the road. They were wonderful hosts and served us a great dinner. This will be the last break as we make the final push to San Diego. We decided to make the most of the break and relax with a favorite Arizona beverage, margaritas (see picture).
I must say that Laurie went all out with hospitality. We had a gift of necessities for travel which were greatly appreciated, but I couldn't get the look of satisfaction off of Serotta's handlebars. He loves Laurie's gift of a green matching bandanna (see picture) and I think he may feel good enough to make it the rest of the way to San Diego. I'm not sure where he gets his sense of style, maybe Cannondale has had a positive influence.
We are the Old Land Cruisers stylin into sunny Southern 
California.
California.Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 37: Motel Selection
Total: 2402 miles - oh, my!! almost 2500 miles!!
Cyclist's Observation: When you look at asphalt all day, the view never changes.
Several of you have expressed an interest in our accommodations on the road. You must remember that we have stayed in such exclusive places as the Motel Hilton and Shaw's Motel, the place with the Monet print. We only discovered later it was not an original. Bill and I rarely have shared our criteria for selection of motels with anyone because the competition is so keen for our exclusive rooms. This will provide an unusual insight into our process. The first criteria is that the motel must have a legible sign that says "motel." Secondly, it must say "open" and then an indication of available rooms. No cars in the parking lot is always a good sign. Next Bill and I have a few tricks we learned from HGTV and the Fine Living channels. And we couldn't ignore all the hints we picked up from Martha Stewart. Feng Shui of the space is essential. For us this means we have adequate space for the bikes. We will normally visit the room to determine if it has been cleaned after the last guests and to determine if any other living things are in the room. Now it's time to look at the finer details. Do they have a towel for each of us? Does the shower have hot water within the first 10 minutes and does it last for more than three minutes? The soap doesn't need to be wrapped, but it must be big enough for two showers. We have also learned about "thread count" for the linens. So when we pull back the covers on the bed we try to count as many threads as possible. This usually doesn't take too long. Finally, at least one 25 watt bulb must be connected to a light switch in the room. Please feel free to use these hints for your own motel selection in the future because they have served Bill and I well for the last several weeks.
Today we left the Gila Bend Space Age Motel at 5 am. A bite to eat and we were on the road by 5:30 am. We traveled 88 miles at 12.6 mph against 10 to 20 mph headwinds. We have applied all of our selection criteria and have another nice room in Wellton, Arizona. Tomorrow we move a short distance to Yuma and are looking forward to staying with Jerry and Laurie Finzer.
We are the Old Land Cruisers exploring fine living on the road.
Cyclist's Observation: When you look at asphalt all day, the view never changes.
Several of you have expressed an interest in our accommodations on the road. You must remember that we have stayed in such exclusive places as the Motel Hilton and Shaw's Motel, the place with the Monet print. We only discovered later it was not an original. Bill and I rarely have shared our criteria for selection of motels with anyone because the competition is so keen for our exclusive rooms. This will provide an unusual insight into our process. The first criteria is that the motel must have a legible sign that says "motel." Secondly, it must say "open" and then an indication of available rooms. No cars in the parking lot is always a good sign. Next Bill and I have a few tricks we learned from HGTV and the Fine Living channels. And we couldn't ignore all the hints we picked up from Martha Stewart. Feng Shui of the space is essential. For us this means we have adequate space for the bikes. We will normally visit the room to determine if it has been cleaned after the last guests and to determine if any other living things are in the room. Now it's time to look at the finer details. Do they have a towel for each of us? Does the shower have hot water within the first 10 minutes and does it last for more than three minutes? The soap doesn't need to be wrapped, but it must be big enough for two showers. We have also learned about "thread count" for the linens. So when we pull back the covers on the bed we try to count as many threads as possible. This usually doesn't take too long. Finally, at least one 25 watt bulb must be connected to a light switch in the room. Please feel free to use these hints for your own motel selection in the future because they have served Bill and I well for the last several weeks.
Today we left the Gila Bend Space Age Motel at 5 am. A bite to eat and we were on the road by 5:30 am. We traveled 88 miles at 12.6 mph against 10 to 20 mph headwinds. We have applied all of our selection criteria and have another nice room in Wellton, Arizona. Tomorrow we move a short distance to Yuma and are looking forward to staying with Jerry and Laurie Finzer.
We are the Old Land Cruisers exploring fine living on the road.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Day 36: Desert Solitaire
Total: 2314 miles
Cyclist's Observation: Black may be beautiful, but in the desert it's hot!
Today we began our trek west one more time. After retracing 17 miles from yesterday we started across the 43 miles of Sonoran Desert. What a pleasant surprise! It was only beginning to heat up at 8 am and
after the Monday desert rush hour, we had little traffic and blooming Saguaro cacti (see picture) on a relatively flat smooth road. We had traveled from Chandler to Gila Bend, Arizona for a total of 62 miles at 16 mph.
In Edward Abbey's book, "Desert Solitaire," he laments the lazy tourist. The one who drives through the national park without getting off the asphalt. He also suggests that seniors, when they were young, had a chance to see national parks in pristine condition, so they should not get any access accommodations. Here's to you Mr. Abbey, not all tourists are the same. These two seniors are finding it hard to get any closer to nature than we have been over the past 35 days. Note the sign (see picture) as we move forward toward the anticipated destination.
We are the Old Land Cruisers getting an up close and personal view of Mother Nature.
Cyclist's Observation: Black may be beautiful, but in the desert it's hot!
Today we began our trek west one more time. After retracing 17 miles from yesterday we started across the 43 miles of Sonoran Desert. What a pleasant surprise! It was only beginning to heat up at 8 am and
after the Monday desert rush hour, we had little traffic and blooming Saguaro cacti (see picture) on a relatively flat smooth road. We had traveled from Chandler to Gila Bend, Arizona for a total of 62 miles at 16 mph.In Edward Abbey's book, "Desert Solitaire," he laments the lazy tourist. The one who drives through the national park without getting off the asphalt. He also suggests that seniors, when they were young, had a chance to see national parks in pristine condition, so they should not get any access accommodations. Here's to you Mr. Abbey, not all tourists are the same. These two seniors are finding it hard to get any closer to nature than we have been over the past 35 days. Note the sign (see picture) as we move forward toward the anticipated destination.
We are the Old Land Cruisers getting an up close and personal view of Mother Nature.
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