Table of Contents

























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction

Image
Last year I cycled the eastern third of the ACA Southern Tier route from St Augustine  FL to Ocean Springs, MS along with my dog Blanka towed in a wagon. The journal can be found at:  https://southerntierpart1.blogspot.com  Due to the extreme summer and winter weather, the Southern Tier needs to be ridden in either the spring or fall. I'm a college professor and am unable to get off work during these months. I decided to split the route into thirds and ride during my spring breaks. I'm only given a week off but need two weeks to complete each segment. Last year, because I was teaching remotely, my students had no idea that I was Zooming from hotels. This year classes are back in person, and I've  hired subs for the extra week. I also won't be towing Blanka this time. The second segment is essentially a crossing of Texas. From my perch here in liberal Brooklyn, NY I admit that I have trepidations about crossing Texas by bicycle. That said, I had similar feelings last...
Read more

Southern Tier Part 2 - Day #5 Bunkie, LA to DeRidder, LA

Image
Southern Tier Part 2 - Day #5 April 17, 2022 Bunkie, LA to DeRidder, LA - 111 Miles Start 7:42 AM Finish 6:27 PM Ride Time 10:43 Ascent 1869 Feet Descent 1692 Feet Tour Total 427 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/87441436 I slept great last night at the Frazier Gallerson fire station in Bunkie. It was probably my best night’s sleep yet on the tour. It was cold in the fire station. The AC was running at full blast all night long. The white noise filtered out the other sounds. I was cozy in my sleeping bag on the comfortable mattress used by cyclists. I was warned that a call might come through in the middle of the night, and one did. I quickly fell back asleep. My room had no windows, and yet I somehow woke up at 7 AM with the faint chirp of birds. I was well rested. I peddled back towards town and over the railroad tracks. I crossed US Highway 71 and rode back past the main fire station and City Hall. I was on State Highway 115 headed west. The weather was gray, humid, an...
Read more

Getting back to where I left off

Image
I’ve still got my tan lines from the Trans Mexico de Norte tour, and plenty of new scrapes and bruises. As with every tour, I’ve been a nervous wreck in preparation the Southern Tier part 2. I’ve actually been getting ready for two tours at once.   In late May I’ll be starting the Great Divide Bike Packing Route, and I’ve purchased a new gravel bike along with new bags. The past few months being winter, I haven’t been training as hard as I should. I commute to work by bike and have been doing occasional rides with the Century Plus Crew. An additional complication is that I’ve had to arrange subs and prep assignments at both of my teaching jobs. Last year I conducted my classes from the road, but I won’t have time this year. I need to pedal over 1500 miles in 18 days. It’s gonna be tight, and I might not make it. My tires have just enough tread to make it to my destination. They carried me across the Western Express and Empire State Trail last summer, and should start wearing thin a...
Read more