VLog Video and Photos would be posted bi-weekly during a Touring Track.
The lure of the open road first tugged at me after infrequently meeting cross-country travelers during my workouts who were passing through Iowa, trekking or biking on the American Discovery Trail. Interesting people, open minded, independent, undaunted, and some of them downright kooky. Non-members of the cocktail crowd without question. I love that. When I think about it, I dread the idea of autumn setting in and not long after being restricted to the gym for months to come. That could be why the prospect of a cross country bicycle tour looks better and better. Adding to it, the American Discovery Trail passes my turf just a stone's throw away, the yellow brick road to either San Francisco or Boston, depending on how you feel on any given day. Sometimes late at night if I leave a window open, I'd swear I can hear it whispering to me,
"...Adventure...Eternal Youth...Adventure...Romance...Adventure...Fortune..."
"...Adventure...Eternal Youth...Adventure...Romance...Adventure...Fortune..."
Just For Fun, So What If?
My focus is showing folks that the senior years can be extremely enjoyable if one takes the right steps. Would I be doing right by these people if I ignored the call? I've always considered myself a conservative guy, not prone to extremes. Yet I'm also trying to lose weight, a must do. And I need the sense of accomplishment that achieving a difficult goal would provide. Another bonus? Viewing the world from a flat screen has become pretty depressing lately. Maybe getting out amid new situations at ground level is just what I need to improve my viewpoint. And I could say to myself, "Think of all those less fortunate health-wise. You could be doing this for them, too." So I can easily talk myself into the idea that a killer bicycle tour is just the ticket. To me, looking west has the romantic appeal. More grit with added in exploration gratification. The initial track through Iowa, Nebraska and parts of Colorado is mostly gentle rises so the difficulty level is low. At least it appears that way at 75 miles per hour. Not until Denver would I reach any imposing barriers. That's where the true adventure and challenges would begin. By then I could be much leaner, stronger, and more experienced. Each day or so I would post a video log and photos of the people met and the places of interest. A small powerful notebook computer and a few more electronic items are all I would need to accomplish editing and uploads. Website people could tune in daily and follow the progressive trail west. Nothing like this has ever been done from the handlebars of a bicycle and that alone excites me. And man, the HD video clips would be stunning, especially the colors in the mountains and the first hand yarns of the road. But what really expands my brain is the fact that maybe I can inspire people with side events. For example, I would like to pedal my bike up the zigzag road of Pikes Peak, the highest road in the U.S., elevation over fourteen thousand feet. I was ten and on a Rocky Mountain camping trip with my Dad and brothers when first climbing that bad boy in a car. The pedal was on the floor but the 1952 Buick Special could only do a steady ten miles per hour up that grade. And I remember running around like kids do when we reached the top. It wasn't long and I was sound asleep on the back seat of the car. Fatherly advice had warned us that the air was thin and that we had better take it easy. Typically, that went unheeded...until we passed out. Being 65 years old this time around and having quit smoking less than a year ago has to mean something to tobacco abusers out there. Can he really do this? We will see, but I wouldn't go near this one without oxygen bottles in my saddlebags, just in case. My legs work fine but the lungs? Then again, the possibility does exist that a Park Ranger might take one look at me and gesture with his thumb, "On the Cog Train, you old Coot." Dad passed away a number of years ago. I'd love to be able to see the look in his eyes when telling him of my musings. I'm sure he would laugh and shake his head. "Where on earth would you come up with an idea like that? Gladys, wait until you hear this."
My focus is showing folks that the senior years can be extremely enjoyable if one takes the right steps. Would I be doing right by these people if I ignored the call? I've always considered myself a conservative guy, not prone to extremes. Yet I'm also trying to lose weight, a must do. And I need the sense of accomplishment that achieving a difficult goal would provide. Another bonus? Viewing the world from a flat screen has become pretty depressing lately. Maybe getting out amid new situations at ground level is just what I need to improve my viewpoint. And I could say to myself, "Think of all those less fortunate health-wise. You could be doing this for them, too." So I can easily talk myself into the idea that a killer bicycle tour is just the ticket. To me, looking west has the romantic appeal. More grit with added in exploration gratification. The initial track through Iowa, Nebraska and parts of Colorado is mostly gentle rises so the difficulty level is low. At least it appears that way at 75 miles per hour. Not until Denver would I reach any imposing barriers. That's where the true adventure and challenges would begin. By then I could be much leaner, stronger, and more experienced. Each day or so I would post a video log and photos of the people met and the places of interest. A small powerful notebook computer and a few more electronic items are all I would need to accomplish editing and uploads. Website people could tune in daily and follow the progressive trail west. Nothing like this has ever been done from the handlebars of a bicycle and that alone excites me. And man, the HD video clips would be stunning, especially the colors in the mountains and the first hand yarns of the road. But what really expands my brain is the fact that maybe I can inspire people with side events. For example, I would like to pedal my bike up the zigzag road of Pikes Peak, the highest road in the U.S., elevation over fourteen thousand feet. I was ten and on a Rocky Mountain camping trip with my Dad and brothers when first climbing that bad boy in a car. The pedal was on the floor but the 1952 Buick Special could only do a steady ten miles per hour up that grade. And I remember running around like kids do when we reached the top. It wasn't long and I was sound asleep on the back seat of the car. Fatherly advice had warned us that the air was thin and that we had better take it easy. Typically, that went unheeded...until we passed out. Being 65 years old this time around and having quit smoking less than a year ago has to mean something to tobacco abusers out there. Can he really do this? We will see, but I wouldn't go near this one without oxygen bottles in my saddlebags, just in case. My legs work fine but the lungs? Then again, the possibility does exist that a Park Ranger might take one look at me and gesture with his thumb, "On the Cog Train, you old Coot." Dad passed away a number of years ago. I'd love to be able to see the look in his eyes when telling him of my musings. I'm sure he would laugh and shake his head. "Where on earth would you come up with an idea like that? Gladys, wait until you hear this."
Jack, I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired'?
Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one
Of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.
And I'm pretty darned good at it, too!!
Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one
Of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.
And I'm pretty darned good at it, too!!
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