page was last updated 11/18/2010

Well 2010 has been a great adventure and bicycling year for me not because of  the number of miles that I rode (no record there) but because of the locations and type of rides. The year started out slower than normal with just a few local short rides. I did try to do some biking in February after renting a 31' Motor Home and heading South  to  Florida but the weather was really far too cold for the clothing we had with us.

So my first really good riding didn't start until late April when I did the entire C&O Canal out of Cumberland MD which is one that I have wanted to do for years. This ride was hosted by " Road Scholar/Elderhostel" and was a multi-day 150 mile off road ride. The first day it rained fairly hard creating lots of wonderful mud for a couple of days. Washing bikes and clothing became a must. trip.

Now in May, we took a vacation trip to Nebraska (why Nebraska you ask?) because it was Jane's 50th High School reunion.   This was not really a cycling trip but we put the bikes in the car and head west. We did bike once around the town of Lincoln which has some really beautiful trails. Now you must understand that I have never been West of Harrisburg by car in my life. WOW.... what an awesome experience!!

After the reunion we headed off to Loveland Colorado to visit with one of Jane's class mates and see the breathtaking and beautiful  "Rocky Mountains". No biking here  for me because of a broken hub so this time was dedicated to sight seeing and photography.  Jane did get a short ride in with one of her friends from her cross country bike trip in 2008.

In May we also did do the "Kent County Spring Fling Thing" in Maryland which was four days of biking and offered a variety of  rides each day. This did give me about 97 miles of biking (far off my YTD goal) but what can I say.

June was a very busy month and offered little time to prepare for our next big ride later in the month but we did work on doing some hills in the Lancaster Farm Land area. Late June through early July was our trip to PEI (Prince Edward Island) in Canada.

In order to help you better understand my mental state prior to this very different and exciting adventure, you should know that I ran into my garage with my best bike on the roof of the car which bent the fork costing me $125.00 to replace in addition to a new $89.00 rack. Next I dropped my I-Phone into the toilet, which totally killed that piece of equipment, and had to borrow Tom’s (a neighbor & friend) old phone, which doesn’t work very well, so that I would have something for the trip. Now you have some idea as to just how ready I was for this trip. I did order a new phone last week but it isn’t in as yet. What a hoot!!

Anyway, our 15 day trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada, which included two days to get there, two days of biking in Charlottetown, sight seeing by car, and a five day “self contained” bike trip to cover the entire island.  Well, I never had to bike on hills like that in my life…...what a workout as we coasted down at speeds of over 30 mph and peddled up at speeds as low as 3 mph, was much more than I expected. I took my mountain bike which is in really good shape but it isn’t geared low enough for this old goat to push up those hills.

We saw lot’s of light houses and met lots of very nice laid back people. We stayed at B&B’s most of the time (not my most favorite thing to do but very cost effective) and ate at local small restaurants, which was really okay. In fact some of the food was really great. We saw Irish moss being harvested and even ate “moss cake" yummy. We saw beautiful beaches, blue waters, lots of lobster boats and traps, (the season was over when we arrived), Churches, and we visited a wind farm. We even visited a Gouda Cheese factory which was not much more than an old house converted.

Our biking was not without problems, the first of which was Jane’s rear flat tire (no big deal) which requires taking all the gear off the bike and turning the bike upside-down to remove the wheel and replace the tube. So okay, we know how to do that and we carry at least four new tubes for that problem. The very next day, Steve broke a chain (this has never happened to any of us in the past and none of us know how to fix it…..oh goodie!!! I did have the required tool to push out the broken pin and, yes, I even had a new pin!!! Now all we need is the knowledge to use it!! Anyway, after about an hour of getting eaten alive by the most furious flies that I have ever seen (They looked like a mini Lockheed F117 Nighthawk fighter planes and left welts on me that still show somewhat after two weeks) we did get the chain fixed and adjusted the derailleur to continue our journey. Oh, I forgot to mention, the heat was at record high temperatures for that part of the world along with the high humidity, so we really did SWEAT LIKE HELL!!

Our next problem was with Katie’s panniers when she hit a road crossing gate and it ripped the rivet out of the panniers which holds it tight against the frame. Steve was able to fix it for riding but every night they had to undo it and redo it in the morning. The panniers hold our clothing for night and our cycling clothes for the next day, so they have to come off the bikes and be taken into the B&B’s.

Now on the fourth day of our self contained trip, we took a short cut and got on the Confederation Trail for a short five mile stretch to our B&B. This trail runs just about the entire length of the island and is made up of crushed stone. It has no real hills but it is somewhat boring with all the cross street gates and few scenic views. With the day drawing to an end I was very glad to see no hills and only a short way to go. Then the explosion happened. My back wheel rim flew apart causing my tube to explode and it darn near blew the tire off the bike (thank God it didn’t happen on a down hill run which would have surely caused me to crash). With the high humidity and recent rain, stopping on this trail was not good. The chief mosquito in all of PEI saw that we were in deep dodo so he called all of the mosquitoes on the island to attack us, which only took about 30 seconds!! We all frantically tried to apply bug repellent and stabilize the tire so that I could walk the bike to the nearest cross road (about 250 yards). Jane got the break released; Steve put plastic tie guys around the tire and wheel while Katie & Jane road ahead to get me some help. We still had 2 miles to go but the bugs were biting through the gloves and the shorts. A farmer put my bike in the back of his pickup truck and drove me to the B&B where I waited for my three partners to arrive.  My biking was over at that point but I was glad to get in the four days of “self contained” biking.

The next morning Joe, the owner of the B&B, drove me into Charlottetown where I had lunch and waited for my team mates to arrive after putting my bike in the car. We then visited Victoria by car, a sea side area, and two nights in a different B&B. We all stopped to visit the L.L. Bean complex in Freeport Maine and have breakfast in the town on the way home.  

I found it interesting that very few people commuted between the island and the mainland in Canada. These people have all that they need or want right on the island plus the fact that it cost $42.50 to go over the bridge. It was a great trip and I am glad I did it and I am glad to be home back in the good old USA. I have attached a few additional photos so that you can get a taste of what it looked like on PEI.

In August we did a week of pure adventure for me (no biking). We left home on Saturday August 7^th and spent the night in Virginia. Up early on Sunday and after a great breakfast as Crackle Barrel we motored on to “The Great Smoky Mountains” of North Carolina in Bryson City (near Ashville). This was a Kayaking, White Water  Rafting, and  hiking adventure hosted by " Road Scholar/Elderhostel". We checked in a little after 3:00 PM and went up the hill to our mountain cabin “D” and (room #6), which was the smallest room I have ever had to stay in. Now you must understand that we have had record breaking heat on the entire east coast and this place was no different. It was 93˚ with humidity of 88% and no wind. To make matters worse, the air conditioning consisted of one large “window” fan, which didn’t fit into our window, and one small bench fan. In fact, none of the buildings had AC. This place gave a whole new meaning to the words HOT and HUMID!!

At 6:00 PM, the group (consisting of 17 others seeking adventure of which 6 were men) had dinner together in the non air conditioned sectioned of the Relia’s Garden Restaurant. After dinner we were taken to another cabin that had a large deck outside and joined by our program leader, guides, and instructors. After introductions, we went over the activities of the week and what to expect. This is when I realized just how adventurous this trip was going to be (WHITE WATER KAYAKING – ARE YOU KIDDING ME??). 

DAY 2: Lake Kayaking Basics & Eco-engagement (what ever that means)

 After a hot full breakfast we are off to get fitted for our PFD (personal flotation device – better known as a life jacket). As we listened to the instructions being given to another group I had to laugh as the instructor reminded the group as to how important it was to have this device fit properly and what to do if you have “an out of boat experience”. This was a short well built man with long blond hair and a thick southern accent. We, on the other hand, were taken into another area where our instructor had us watch a video and emphasized  the major points, including the fact that the PFD will not save your life but it will keep you a float should you have “an out of boat experience”.  

We were then bussed to Lake Fontana to pick out our kayak for the day. I picked the same make and model that I purchased  earlier this year and we were given instructions on what to do if we had…you know…”an out of boat experience”. So we kayaked about 3 miles and stopped on some little island for lunch which the guides brought along in their kayaks. A swim was in order before lunch and after to get us cool and ready for the trip back. So after about 6 miles of lake kayaking we arrive back to out cozy little HOT room in time to shower and get dressed for another great dinner out in the heat. After a seeming long dinner (about 2 hours every night) we went back to the meeting room in our cabin “D” to listen to some really great banjo picking, story telling and dulcimer songs. Lee was one of our guides and knew more about the outdoor world that any one I have ever met. I even purchased one of his CD’s. 

DAY 3: Nantahala River Trip / Adventure Hiking

 Another great breakfast and dressed for Hiking?? I don’t do that normally but here I am with my new shiny $120.00 poles ready for this new adventure. We get bussed to a spot on the “Appalachian Trail" which goes up through very narrow switch backs to a fire tower through rocks, stumps, roots, dirt, vines, and all sorts of other growth. The tower had to be another 30 or 40 feet high and I did make it the top but had some difficulty breathing. So after two miles or so of this new “fun” adventure we arrive back to the bus and off to home base.

We had lunch on the grounds and change into our “water attire” (at least water shoes) for our “white water Rafting Trip”. Back to the fitting room for a different style PFD. One that will keep your head above water, provided you float down stream feet first, just in case you have….you guessed it….”an out of boat experience”. Now with 5 of us in the raft and the head leader on the stern we were not about to get dumped out but he did give us a very cold wet ride which was really great in this heat .

 Back to our cozy HOT little room to shower and dressed for dinner again after another “adventurous” day. We enjoyed music that night by one of the guests who played a guitar and some other strange looking string instrument (a Dulcimer) and sang songs (but I don’t sing).

DAY 4: Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking

 After breakfast we walk back down to the grounds to get fitted for the proper gear for this most scary adventure. We need to ware a rubberized skirt, a PFD, and a helmet for this one. We get bussed to Lake Fontana again and get introduced to these smaller kayaks. Here we get a lot of instructions and get put into these crazy boats that are so hard to control that you spend more time sideways that straight .  We are each taught how to do a “WET EXIT” (ARE YOU KIDDING ME??) I am really getting nervous now as my turn came to be flipped over upside-down to practice the procedure. Well, the second flip I bailed out of that kayak so fast that the entire crew laughed at me [see Picture 004, 005]. Then I had to get the kayak to shore and drain the water out and get back in to experience maneuverability of this little craft that had a mind of its own.  

 It was now lunch time  and I was glad that this part of the day was over. Then as I finished my lunch, I asked our fearless leader about doing the actual whitewater kayaking the next day. That’s when he informed me that we were actually going to do it that afternoon (and I thought we were going to do a hike so that I could get lost and not have to do the whitewater stuff). Anyway, the group and the kayaks were transported to a “milder River” to try out our new skills. So off we go in this crazy little boat, locked in and watch it slide down the class 1, 1½ rapids while we try to steer it away from those jacked rocks without actually hitting them head on. Well in no time at all I found myself under water again, this time it was the real thing and I did as instructed (out of fear). The water was deep so I didn’t hit my head on anything but I did hit my left arm on something and as I pushed the kayak to shore I noticed that I was bleeding from the cut and had a really bad bruise.

 The head guide (Will, was his name) quickly bandaged me up and drained the water out of my kayak. Jane almost got dumped herself watching me but thankfully was able to stay upright. I finished the trip with no other un-planned excitement. What a day!!! After a shower and dressing change we went to dinner and back to our room. I did sleep better that night (thank God). 

DAY 5: Adventure Hiking & Nantahala River in Inflatable Kayaks

 We put on our hiking gear again but this time we go to a more civilized place to hike (like a park) and see the beauty of the mountain water falls and flowers. Even with the cool rain it was a great hike of about 4 miles.

After another great lunch we went over to get fitted for our last water adventure. This time we needed to put wet suites on over our bathing suits and shirts. With the HOT weather and NO wind, I felt like a newly stuffed sausage. With water shoes and a jacket strapped on over one shoulder like a gun belt, we got fitted for our PFD and another explanation of what to do if we had ……”an out of boat experience”. 

 Now you must realize that this river water temperature in the late afternoon is only about 54˚ which causes a fog off the water of about 10 to 12 feet when the air is 91˚ and the humidity is high. So we not only have this very cold water flowing over the class 2 & 3 rapids and coming into the kayak but we really can’t see the dam rocks until you get on top of them. The inflatable kayak was really fun as we hit rocks just under the surface and paddled like hell to avoid others. The cold water felt good even with the jacket on. I knew if I had to be “a swimmer” in this cold water I wouldn’t last too long even with all these clothes on.  

 We got pulled out of the water just before the class 3 rapid to allow those who wanted to not go any further go back over land. Only one person chose that method. The rest of us went for the whole adventure. It was over before we knew it. What a fantastic time we had!!

 A special dinner that night (IN THE AIR CONDITIONED SECTION) made the week so special. All of us have exchanged e-mails and photos. Some have even gone and purchased used kayaks. A great week and by the end I could sleep in the heat. Our Nantahala Outdoor Center Guides were fantastic. 

If only I was 20 years younger. I would love to do so many things I never dreamed I would do. Jane has awakened my senses for adventure.

 In September we did  another great biking adventure, this time in Cape Cod. What a beautiful place!! As most of you know, Jane is an excellent biker and I have learned so much from her including how to ride on roads with major hills, lot’s of curves, no shoulders, and very poor road conditions (some not even finished. Cape Cod had it all, including very narrow cobble stone roads which really scared the tar out of me but didn’t bother Jane one bit. I just follow her on these crazy roads and as long as I can keep up with her I’m okay (thanks to God).

This was a paid organized ride through a company called  "Bike and The Like" who hosting 39 biking fools ranging in age from about 48 to 75. The 75 year old had his birthday the second day of the ride. He must love biking!! Anyway, these riders were from all over the country with 4 from TX, 2 from NV, 6 from CO, 2 from AK, 4 from MI, 4 from GA, 3 from CA, 2 from NJ, 2 from OH, 2 from CT, 2 from NH, 2 from FL, and 4 from PA. What a cross section of states and personalities.

Jane and I arrived in Hyannis late Friday afternoon the 10^th after a long drive from home in time to check in, have dinner with the group, and attend the first group meeting telling us about the next day’s ride and some rules and contact phone numbers. 

Saturday started with breakfast at 7:30 AM followed by a “bike walk” to the Ferry (not safe to ride the wrong way on a “one way” street) where we boarded and watched our bikes being stowed by the crew. After a relaxing 1 ¾ hour ride to Nantucket we did a 26 mile bike ride mainly on a paved trail because the streets were just too narrow. Then back to the Ferry for our trip back to Hyannis for dinner and another meeting. 

Sunday began with another early breakfast followed by a Ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard where we spent two days pedaling our bikes a total of 50 miles while seeing the beautiful country and sea side.

Tuesday was a 34 mile rail trail bike ride from Hyannis to in Orleans after a great breakfast and a FAST Ferry ride (about 22 knots ) back from Martha’s Vineyard. We did get some rain after checking in at the hotel and riding the 6 mile beach ride but we did get to see a rainbow.

Wednesday we biked 42 miles from Orleans to Provincetown which was a great ride with lot’s to see in Provincetown although the town was not like I remembered it in 1961.  We were on our own for dinner and had no meeting so Jane and I had a great dinner (Lobster Pizza and meatloaf) and a cocktail.  

Thursday we biked 44 miles from Provincetown to Dennisport which was a long ride for me after 5 days of biking, walking and standing. But it was a slow paced site seeing kind of ride and we really did enjoy it.

Friday was our last day with a short 15 mile ride back to Hyannis, however we had severe lightning and thunder storms which started around 3:30 AM causing the company to cancel the ride and bus us back in a yellow “school bus”. Jane and I decided to have dinner in the hotel and stay the night.  

Saturday we headed for Newport Road Island so that I could show Jane some of the fantastic Mansions which I have seen a few times now, but it gave me a chance to show her some place that she had never been to. So we toured the Marble House, the Breakers, and Rosecliff then added the Cliff Walk.

Sunday was the long drive home but we really had a great time. We then got ready for a real vacation; an 8 day trip to Sedona starting on Friday. What a year this has been!!! I only put 1125 miles on by bikes this year but we really did enjoy all of our adventures.

Bicycle-Bill

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