Accomplished: Many times. Latest on Friday, June 29, 2012.
Extra-credit: Pat and Sue Browne are with you when you visit the tree.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #8
#8: Visit the DBrowne tree located on the Beloit College campus.
Accomplished: Many times. Latest on Friday, June 29, 2012.
Extra-credit: Pat and Sue Browne are with you when you visit the tree.
Accomplished: Many times. Latest on Friday, June 29, 2012.
Extra-credit: Pat and Sue Browne are with you when you visit the tree.
Team 242: Day Five
Day Five: Tomah, Wisconsin to Middleton, Wisconsin. 97.32 miles.
I stepped outside of the church and instantly thought Texas. Tomah is not Texas, but the temperature at 7 in the morning was already higher than the highest of our first two days. Plus humidity. It felt like any August evening in Houston when at 11 at night it's still 90 degrees with high humidity. The heat index was predicted at 109, I do not know the actual value. So I'll go with hot.
And some unconnected thoughts before connecting a few:
Even for the people on the trip that do not like the crushed limestone of many Wisconsin's rails to trails, the 10 miles we spent on the Elroy-Sparta trail was enjoyed by all. The tunnel we walked through was long enough that during a brief amount of time we were unable to see the entrance or the exit.
The 400 Trail is supposedly called the 400 Trail because the train was supposed to be able to make the run in 400 minutes.
Dave made it through both crushed limestone trails without getting any flats, but a few miles down the road he had his eighth of the trip. He's averaging 1 flat per 60 miles though two were within 1000 feet of each other.
With all of the added hills, heat, and humidity, Rich and Lisa (pronounced Risa) joined my slow and steady pace for most of the day.
Lisa had a rough day. She kept dropping her sunglasses while she rode. She bought an iPhone the day before the ride and lost it during our lunch stop. She attempted to swerve out of the way of some rumble strips, but only moved her bike far enough to run the strips right down the middle. She sat on the blue chalk cube for a pool cue stick and was left with the blue outline on her bike shorts. She took over the left lane of a road approximately 6 blocks early. When asked to come back to the right lane, she refused. And she refused again when a car (with a cute elderly couple) appeared in the lane behind her. Gosh darn it, that was her lane. She took it.
During this rough day, Lisa looked like she might cry at any moment, but somehow her near tears became laughs. Impressive.
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, his name is my name, too.
She found her cell phone (thank you to the iPhone locator app).
Today was hot, hilly, and humid. And whenever we go out, the people always shout...
Today was hot, hilly, and humid.
Track 11: Rural Alberta Advantage - The Deadroads. And I should run away and think of those nights...
I stepped outside of the church and instantly thought Texas. Tomah is not Texas, but the temperature at 7 in the morning was already higher than the highest of our first two days. Plus humidity. It felt like any August evening in Houston when at 11 at night it's still 90 degrees with high humidity. The heat index was predicted at 109, I do not know the actual value. So I'll go with hot.
And some unconnected thoughts before connecting a few:
Even for the people on the trip that do not like the crushed limestone of many Wisconsin's rails to trails, the 10 miles we spent on the Elroy-Sparta trail was enjoyed by all. The tunnel we walked through was long enough that during a brief amount of time we were unable to see the entrance or the exit.
The 400 Trail is supposedly called the 400 Trail because the train was supposed to be able to make the run in 400 minutes.
Dave made it through both crushed limestone trails without getting any flats, but a few miles down the road he had his eighth of the trip. He's averaging 1 flat per 60 miles though two were within 1000 feet of each other.
With all of the added hills, heat, and humidity, Rich and Lisa (pronounced Risa) joined my slow and steady pace for most of the day.
Lisa had a rough day. She kept dropping her sunglasses while she rode. She bought an iPhone the day before the ride and lost it during our lunch stop. She attempted to swerve out of the way of some rumble strips, but only moved her bike far enough to run the strips right down the middle. She sat on the blue chalk cube for a pool cue stick and was left with the blue outline on her bike shorts. She took over the left lane of a road approximately 6 blocks early. When asked to come back to the right lane, she refused. And she refused again when a car (with a cute elderly couple) appeared in the lane behind her. Gosh darn it, that was her lane. She took it.
During this rough day, Lisa looked like she might cry at any moment, but somehow her near tears became laughs. Impressive.
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, his name is my name, too.
She found her cell phone (thank you to the iPhone locator app).
Today was hot, hilly, and humid. And whenever we go out, the people always shout...
Today was hot, hilly, and humid.
Track 11: Rural Alberta Advantage - The Deadroads. And I should run away and think of those nights...
Friday, June 29, 2012
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #7
#7: Listen to a small child discuss the sizes of objects in Star Wars. The Death Star is as big as from that house to Arizona.
Accomplished: Thursday, June 28, 2012.
Half-credit: You're in Nevada at the time.
Extra-credit: The kid has a homemade cardboard version of the Death Star to go along with his cardboard Millennium Falcon.
Accomplished: Thursday, June 28, 2012.
Half-credit: You're in Nevada at the time.
Extra-credit: The kid has a homemade cardboard version of the Death Star to go along with his cardboard Millennium Falcon.
Team 242: Day Four
Day Four: Altoona, Wisconsin to Tomah, Wisconsin. 87.88 miles.
I'm not a fast rider. Other people have certainly said slow (as in: Karl is slow). I do not pedal fast and when I'm having a difficult time I like to take lots of breaks. Today, my achilles (both) were in considerable pain. During the middle of the ride I stopped every 3 miles to take a short break. Slow riding and numerous breaks equals even slower. (Adding in break time with pedal time, I average under 10 mph during a typical day.)
Slow has some advantages. When I arrive to our lunch stop, all the food is out and ready. When I arrive at the end of the day, the wonderful support crew has my gear bin and sleeping materials set out for me. Also, dinner is usually ready as I walk through the church door. And even better, the shower is usually open and ready.
And then the other side of the coin. I spend a lot of time riding alone and I think people believe I enjoy my solitude and I’m doing what I do on purpose. Karl wants to be alone. Yes, I enjoy my solitude, but I enjoy riding with others more. However, I understand why I might not be the best riding partner. The whole super slow speeds and stopping every three miles is difficult for most people. I do not get upset because I’m alone.
But today I found myself upset. Karen (KRN) was nice enough to take one of the support vehicles back on the route to check on how I was doing. When she found me, she informed me that I was moments away from one of our rest stops. At these rest stops, we’ll often sit down, talk, laugh, and eat some food (or a lot of food). We tend to have these official rest stops every 15 miles, so even when I fall behind, I can often meet up with the group during the break. I enjoy hearing their stories on their day and discovering what sort of fun has been had out on the road. So when KRN gave me the news on how close I was to the rest stop I picked up my pace. I crested a hill and I could see the group on the flat just after the descent. As I got closer the group moved their bicycles out onto the road. And then when I was a football field’s distance away, I watched as the group pedaled off down the road. I missed them by 13 to 17 seconds.
Couldn’t they have waited to say hi and then leave? Well yes, they could have. But should they have? I thought yes and spent the next 15 miles grumbling grumpy in my mind. I still enjoyed the next 15 miles. (I crossed the Black River at Black River Falls not far from where my dad and I put in a canoe. Sidenote: that was Nico’s first canoe trip.) But I had trouble removing the near miss from my mind. I really (really) took my time over those 15 miles. I found even slower so when I arrived at the next rest stop there wouldn’t even be a close call.
When I finally made it to the rest stop the group was gone just like I planned. But there was unplanned. Becky stayed behind and waited for me. She was going to ride the last 15 miles into Tomah with me. Frequent breaks and slow pace, too.
Today was nice.
Track 11: De La Soul - Plug Tunin. But don't let the kick drum stub your big toe.
I'm not a fast rider. Other people have certainly said slow (as in: Karl is slow). I do not pedal fast and when I'm having a difficult time I like to take lots of breaks. Today, my achilles (both) were in considerable pain. During the middle of the ride I stopped every 3 miles to take a short break. Slow riding and numerous breaks equals even slower. (Adding in break time with pedal time, I average under 10 mph during a typical day.)
Slow has some advantages. When I arrive to our lunch stop, all the food is out and ready. When I arrive at the end of the day, the wonderful support crew has my gear bin and sleeping materials set out for me. Also, dinner is usually ready as I walk through the church door. And even better, the shower is usually open and ready.
And then the other side of the coin. I spend a lot of time riding alone and I think people believe I enjoy my solitude and I’m doing what I do on purpose. Karl wants to be alone. Yes, I enjoy my solitude, but I enjoy riding with others more. However, I understand why I might not be the best riding partner. The whole super slow speeds and stopping every three miles is difficult for most people. I do not get upset because I’m alone.
But today I found myself upset. Karen (KRN) was nice enough to take one of the support vehicles back on the route to check on how I was doing. When she found me, she informed me that I was moments away from one of our rest stops. At these rest stops, we’ll often sit down, talk, laugh, and eat some food (or a lot of food). We tend to have these official rest stops every 15 miles, so even when I fall behind, I can often meet up with the group during the break. I enjoy hearing their stories on their day and discovering what sort of fun has been had out on the road. So when KRN gave me the news on how close I was to the rest stop I picked up my pace. I crested a hill and I could see the group on the flat just after the descent. As I got closer the group moved their bicycles out onto the road. And then when I was a football field’s distance away, I watched as the group pedaled off down the road. I missed them by 13 to 17 seconds.
Couldn’t they have waited to say hi and then leave? Well yes, they could have. But should they have? I thought yes and spent the next 15 miles grumbling grumpy in my mind. I still enjoyed the next 15 miles. (I crossed the Black River at Black River Falls not far from where my dad and I put in a canoe. Sidenote: that was Nico’s first canoe trip.) But I had trouble removing the near miss from my mind. I really (really) took my time over those 15 miles. I found even slower so when I arrived at the next rest stop there wouldn’t even be a close call.
When I finally made it to the rest stop the group was gone just like I planned. But there was unplanned. Becky stayed behind and waited for me. She was going to ride the last 15 miles into Tomah with me. Frequent breaks and slow pace, too.
Today was nice.
Track 11: De La Soul - Plug Tunin. But don't let the kick drum stub your big toe.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
1000 Things To Before You Die: #6
#6: Arrive in Tomah, Wisconsin at the same time as Amtrak’s Empire Builder and realize that if anything had been different during the day then the train would have been gone.
Accomplished: Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Half-credit: It’s Amtrak’s City of New Orleans.
Extra-credit: You arrive one minute earlier and have to stop at the crossing as the train enters the station.
Accomplished: Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Half-credit: It’s Amtrak’s City of New Orleans.
Extra-credit: You arrive one minute earlier and have to stop at the crossing as the train enters the station.
Team 242: Day Three
Day Three: Solton Springs, WI to Altoona, WI. 137.65 miles.
Someone may be attempting to teach me a lesson about discovering happiness. I have stepped my way through the lesson and have concluded that happiness may only be achieved in a vacuum (though necessitating a vacuum may render that happiness as false). But. But I do not live in a vacuum. Vacuums don’t have steady headwinds during 137.65 miles of riding and 10 hours 46 minutes and 24 seconds of butt in saddle. If I could find happiness in that environment, maybe I’ll learn that lesson.
I spent a lot of the day with my head down, staring at pavement in an attempt to hide from the wind. I did not hide well.
During this year’s Kettle 100, I overheard a lady telling a racer (I believe the racer was running the full 100 miles), “You’re not here for fun. You’re not here to enjoy yourself. You’re here to finish.” I had difficulty removing that mantra from my mind.
I did, however, find some fun, enjoyment, and happiness (take note: no vacuums here either):
Getting to ride the first 55 miles with Rich and having the opportunity to hear stories and memories of DBrowne during high school and college vacations.
Stanberry, Wisconsin. Home of the Stanberry Giants. Maybe my good friends Jeff and Mary Stanberry will load up their kids and make the drive north to eat and drink at the Stanberry Rail Saloon. I would hope they’d get at least a 10% discount.
The lunch stop was 7 miles beyond where it was expected, but the gracious homeowner who allowed us the use of his property also allowed us to pet his Springer Spaniel.
The change from a stern and concerned expression to laughing and smiling when the cell phone using construction worker learned why I was walking towards him. May I use your Port-o-Potty?
Track 11 iPod: Jonny Corndawg – When A Ford Man Turns To Chevy. Because heaven’s hands are going to lift you up when you’re flying down the road in your pickup truck.
Today was a windy day.
Someone may be attempting to teach me a lesson about discovering happiness. I have stepped my way through the lesson and have concluded that happiness may only be achieved in a vacuum (though necessitating a vacuum may render that happiness as false). But. But I do not live in a vacuum. Vacuums don’t have steady headwinds during 137.65 miles of riding and 10 hours 46 minutes and 24 seconds of butt in saddle. If I could find happiness in that environment, maybe I’ll learn that lesson.
I spent a lot of the day with my head down, staring at pavement in an attempt to hide from the wind. I did not hide well.
During this year’s Kettle 100, I overheard a lady telling a racer (I believe the racer was running the full 100 miles), “You’re not here for fun. You’re not here to enjoy yourself. You’re here to finish.” I had difficulty removing that mantra from my mind.
I did, however, find some fun, enjoyment, and happiness (take note: no vacuums here either):
Getting to ride the first 55 miles with Rich and having the opportunity to hear stories and memories of DBrowne during high school and college vacations.
Stanberry, Wisconsin. Home of the Stanberry Giants. Maybe my good friends Jeff and Mary Stanberry will load up their kids and make the drive north to eat and drink at the Stanberry Rail Saloon. I would hope they’d get at least a 10% discount.
The lunch stop was 7 miles beyond where it was expected, but the gracious homeowner who allowed us the use of his property also allowed us to pet his Springer Spaniel.
The change from a stern and concerned expression to laughing and smiling when the cell phone using construction worker learned why I was walking towards him. May I use your Port-o-Potty?
Track 11 iPod: Jonny Corndawg – When A Ford Man Turns To Chevy. Because heaven’s hands are going to lift you up when you’re flying down the road in your pickup truck.
Today was a windy day.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #5
#5: While riding a bicycle (or running) and three minutes (or less) until a bathroom emergency, stumble upon a construction site Port-O-Potty available for use.
Accomplished: Many times. Latest on June 26, 2012.
Half-credit: Missing toilet paper.
Extra-credit: A train goes by on the railroad tracks that are just feet away from the bathroom facility.
Accomplished: Many times. Latest on June 26, 2012.
Half-credit: Missing toilet paper.
Extra-credit: A train goes by on the railroad tracks that are just feet away from the bathroom facility.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Team 242: Day Two
Day Two: Silver Bay, Minnesota to Solon Springs, Wisconsin. 98.98 miles.
The entire group met up a few miles north of Duluth so we would be able to ride through the city together. Even though it's been 10 years since I've ridden my bicycle through Duluth, Slovic trusted I would be able to remember the correct turns and get everybody through safely. At the rest stop, Slovic had his computer and thanks to the wonders of MyFi, I'd have the opportunity to refresh my memory with Google Maps. However, the MyFi wasn't working and I'd have to navigate based on memory.
After ~13 miles with a few rights, a few lefts, and just a couple of zigs with some zags, we were at the entrance to the pedestrian path that would allow us to cross the Richard Bong Bridge. Good-bye Duluth and Minnesota. Hello Wisconsin.
And once in Superior, Wisconsin, I was also in charge of leading the group to a park where 10 years earlier we stopped for lunch. The park was important, it had a spaceship we climbed. We made it, but the spaceship was gone. I miss the spaceship.
The group thanked me and a few asked how I was able to remember all of that. I didn't have an explanation other than pointing to my head and saying, "I don't know. It's just in here."
Becky had a better explanation. My mind holds onto a lot of things. I do not easily let things leave my mind. This has created some emotional difficulties. As a young kid, I was playing along the curb with a blue whale toy after a rain. The whale slipped through my fingers and down the gutter. I was devastated. I still feel that devastation every time I lose something. CDs in the Chicago Amtrak Station. My car keys. From just a few hours ago, my bicycle shoes and jersey. One of my Pollyanna dice.
And those are just inanimate objects. Switch over to human beings and the devastation is amplified. So when my best friend disappears or dies, it's worse. Immeasurably worse.
But Becky was nice to point out that with the negatives there are positives. This same mind of mine hung onto a map from 10 years ago and I was able to help navigate the team through Duluth and Superior. I'm ok.
Other thoughts without connections:
On a bicycle tour in Oregon, logging trucks did not follow the Share The Road adage. Today in Minnesota, a logging truck buzzed past by only a few feet while blaring his horn the entire way. He had a clear line of sight on the road and no cars were coming from the other direction. If this keeps happening, I may need to rethink saying nice things about logging truck drivers.
I finally feel confident (fifty-fifty) in figuring out the answer to: Is it a crow or a raven?
The two horses I encountered today really appeared that they wanted to say hello, but the electric fence didn't help any of us.
Matty J doesn't know the Carl Hubbard "Hey. Yo." call and response when passing people. I'll have to teach him.
Tomorrow we're scheduled for 137 miles. I should be sleeping.
Today's Track 11 from shuffling my iPod: Liz Phair - Canary. Send it up on fire.
Today was a warmer day. (But remind me of what I thought was warm in just a few days. We'll laugh.)
The entire group met up a few miles north of Duluth so we would be able to ride through the city together. Even though it's been 10 years since I've ridden my bicycle through Duluth, Slovic trusted I would be able to remember the correct turns and get everybody through safely. At the rest stop, Slovic had his computer and thanks to the wonders of MyFi, I'd have the opportunity to refresh my memory with Google Maps. However, the MyFi wasn't working and I'd have to navigate based on memory.
After ~13 miles with a few rights, a few lefts, and just a couple of zigs with some zags, we were at the entrance to the pedestrian path that would allow us to cross the Richard Bong Bridge. Good-bye Duluth and Minnesota. Hello Wisconsin.
And once in Superior, Wisconsin, I was also in charge of leading the group to a park where 10 years earlier we stopped for lunch. The park was important, it had a spaceship we climbed. We made it, but the spaceship was gone. I miss the spaceship.
The group thanked me and a few asked how I was able to remember all of that. I didn't have an explanation other than pointing to my head and saying, "I don't know. It's just in here."
Becky had a better explanation. My mind holds onto a lot of things. I do not easily let things leave my mind. This has created some emotional difficulties. As a young kid, I was playing along the curb with a blue whale toy after a rain. The whale slipped through my fingers and down the gutter. I was devastated. I still feel that devastation every time I lose something. CDs in the Chicago Amtrak Station. My car keys. From just a few hours ago, my bicycle shoes and jersey. One of my Pollyanna dice.
And those are just inanimate objects. Switch over to human beings and the devastation is amplified. So when my best friend disappears or dies, it's worse. Immeasurably worse.
But Becky was nice to point out that with the negatives there are positives. This same mind of mine hung onto a map from 10 years ago and I was able to help navigate the team through Duluth and Superior. I'm ok.
Other thoughts without connections:
On a bicycle tour in Oregon, logging trucks did not follow the Share The Road adage. Today in Minnesota, a logging truck buzzed past by only a few feet while blaring his horn the entire way. He had a clear line of sight on the road and no cars were coming from the other direction. If this keeps happening, I may need to rethink saying nice things about logging truck drivers.
I finally feel confident (fifty-fifty) in figuring out the answer to: Is it a crow or a raven?
The two horses I encountered today really appeared that they wanted to say hello, but the electric fence didn't help any of us.
Matty J doesn't know the Carl Hubbard "Hey. Yo." call and response when passing people. I'll have to teach him.
Tomorrow we're scheduled for 137 miles. I should be sleeping.
Today's Track 11 from shuffling my iPod: Liz Phair - Canary. Send it up on fire.
Today was a warmer day. (But remind me of what I thought was warm in just a few days. We'll laugh.)
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #4
#4: With Matty J leading the way, take the pedestrian path around Silver Creek Cliff on Minnesota State Highway 61 to discover a beautiful view of Lake Superior and a marriage proposal to Meagan.
Accomplished: June 25, 2012.
Half-credit: Perhaps due to fog or another meteorological happening, Wisconsin, on the other side of the lake, can not be seen.
Extra-credit: Discover if Meagan said yes (graffiti on rocks can be quite compelling).
Accomplished: June 25, 2012.
Half-credit: Perhaps due to fog or another meteorological happening, Wisconsin, on the other side of the lake, can not be seen.
Extra-credit: Discover if Meagan said yes (graffiti on rocks can be quite compelling).
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Team 242: Day One
Day One. US/Canada border to Silver Bay, Minnesota. 101.58 miles.
Some not so very connected thoughts:
Matty J's alarm was Eagle Eye Cherry's Save Tonight. We were unable to fight the break of dawn.
While waiting for breakfast, I took a walk through the casino that was connected to (a part of) our hotel. Unlike the previous night, the casino air was not covered in a haze of cigarette smoke and I was able to make an accurate count of the morning gamblers. Nine. Last night there were so many gamblers it was tough to connect to the individuals involved (just a mass of smoking people sitting at machines), but with only nine it was easy to pick up on the overwhelming sadness in the space.
Or maybe I just felt sadness because the music playing in the casino was New Kids On The Block - I'll Be Loving You (Forever). (I'd still have my NKOTB cassette but I only purchased it so David Saltzman and I could burn it as part of a video we made for a high school English class. I think that's the first time I smelled burning plastic.)
The group made a left turn after arriving in Canada and despite my lack of French fluency, the red signs they passed clearly meant: wrong way. I imagined the Mounted Police were getting ready to mount up and make a charge so I turned right and stopped at the check-point. The Canadian Border Officer was not as friendly as I expected, but he warmed up once he determined my bike was not equipped with weapons or explosives. (TSA take note: I was able to keep the water in my water bottles.)
The No Potatoes In Canada! sign from 10 years ago was not found.
Minnesota's Highway 61 along Lake Superior is beautiful. Since I've ridden my bicycle on it before, I suppose I could claim Highway 61 Revisted.
The monument from the Grand Portage Monument that Matty J and I could not find yesterday is the entire space and not one specific object. "Where is the monument?" is a trick question.
Ranger Alex was wearing an outstanding period outfit as he informed us about the Grand Portage Monument and warned us the "It's not a good day for swimming." meant E Coli. Ranger Alex is also an environmental design major at North Dakota State. He knows his stuff. If he's not there when you visit the Monument, you'll miss out. We missed out on the rhubarb cobbler.
I joked that my butt would fall off on Tuesday. It fell off today at Mile 57. I'm still numb with pain.
Somebody applied white out to the Cook County 69 sign making it look like ______________ (mature audiences only).
The news reports claiming this part of the country received a lot of rain last week were not exaggerated. Today we passed a lot of debris and tomorrow we will pass washed out roads and bridges.
Herring Gulls outnumbered deer in terms of roadkill.
And on the subject of birds, alive birds, I had a lifer today. Gray Jay.
Gas station hot dogs are now 2 for $2.50. Let's hope this is just Minnesota and the rest of the country is still selling them at 2 for $2 (242).
Today's Track 11 from shuffling my iPod: The Cure - Pictures Of You. If only I'd thought of the right words, I wouldn't be breaking apart all my pictures of you.
Today was a great day.
Some not so very connected thoughts:
Matty J's alarm was Eagle Eye Cherry's Save Tonight. We were unable to fight the break of dawn.
While waiting for breakfast, I took a walk through the casino that was connected to (a part of) our hotel. Unlike the previous night, the casino air was not covered in a haze of cigarette smoke and I was able to make an accurate count of the morning gamblers. Nine. Last night there were so many gamblers it was tough to connect to the individuals involved (just a mass of smoking people sitting at machines), but with only nine it was easy to pick up on the overwhelming sadness in the space.
Or maybe I just felt sadness because the music playing in the casino was New Kids On The Block - I'll Be Loving You (Forever). (I'd still have my NKOTB cassette but I only purchased it so David Saltzman and I could burn it as part of a video we made for a high school English class. I think that's the first time I smelled burning plastic.)
The group made a left turn after arriving in Canada and despite my lack of French fluency, the red signs they passed clearly meant: wrong way. I imagined the Mounted Police were getting ready to mount up and make a charge so I turned right and stopped at the check-point. The Canadian Border Officer was not as friendly as I expected, but he warmed up once he determined my bike was not equipped with weapons or explosives. (TSA take note: I was able to keep the water in my water bottles.)
The No Potatoes In Canada! sign from 10 years ago was not found.
Minnesota's Highway 61 along Lake Superior is beautiful. Since I've ridden my bicycle on it before, I suppose I could claim Highway 61 Revisted.
The monument from the Grand Portage Monument that Matty J and I could not find yesterday is the entire space and not one specific object. "Where is the monument?" is a trick question.
Ranger Alex was wearing an outstanding period outfit as he informed us about the Grand Portage Monument and warned us the "It's not a good day for swimming." meant E Coli. Ranger Alex is also an environmental design major at North Dakota State. He knows his stuff. If he's not there when you visit the Monument, you'll miss out. We missed out on the rhubarb cobbler.
I joked that my butt would fall off on Tuesday. It fell off today at Mile 57. I'm still numb with pain.
Somebody applied white out to the Cook County 69 sign making it look like ______________ (mature audiences only).
The news reports claiming this part of the country received a lot of rain last week were not exaggerated. Today we passed a lot of debris and tomorrow we will pass washed out roads and bridges.
Herring Gulls outnumbered deer in terms of roadkill.
And on the subject of birds, alive birds, I had a lifer today. Gray Jay.
Gas station hot dogs are now 2 for $2.50. Let's hope this is just Minnesota and the rest of the country is still selling them at 2 for $2 (242).
Today's Track 11 from shuffling my iPod: The Cure - Pictures Of You. If only I'd thought of the right words, I wouldn't be breaking apart all my pictures of you.
Today was a great day.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #3
#3: Along with Matty J and Rich, discover (finally) the Grand Portage Monument is, in fact, grand but not an obelisk.
Accomplished: June 24, 2012.
Half-credit: Ranger Alex is not wearing his period outfit.
Extra-credit: The rhubarb cobbler is finished and ready to eat.
Accomplished: June 24, 2012.
Half-credit: Ranger Alex is not wearing his period outfit.
Extra-credit: The rhubarb cobbler is finished and ready to eat.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Team 242: Day 0
The 10th Anniversary Team 242 bicycle ride starts tomorrow.
As a refresher or as something brand new, here are some shortcuts to find out more:
DBrowne's Biography.
Team 242 Website.
We have a Facebook page, too. Team 242. You can "like us." And/or you can like us.
It's also my understanding that we're @team242 in the Twitter world.
I thought I was prepared to write more and eliminate the use of some of these shortcuts, but my emotions are getting in the way of words. (I'm quite okay with it.)
I'm looking forward to the next eighteen days of riding for what are hopefully obvious reasons. I'm with a lot of friends and there will be plenty of Uncle Alex moments (Kurt Vonnegut reference). Yes, I'll find myself unstuck in time (Kurt Vonnegut reference, too (two)), but I won't let it distract me from the now.
The truth though... I'm happy I'm here. I'm happy we're here. Ijust kind of wish I could share it with my friend.
As a refresher or as something brand new, here are some shortcuts to find out more:
DBrowne's Biography.
Team 242 Website.
We have a Facebook page, too. Team 242. You can "like us." And/or you can like us.
It's also my understanding that we're @team242 in the Twitter world.
I thought I was prepared to write more and eliminate the use of some of these shortcuts, but my emotions are getting in the way of words. (I'm quite okay with it.)
I'm looking forward to the next eighteen days of riding for what are hopefully obvious reasons. I'm with a lot of friends and there will be plenty of Uncle Alex moments (Kurt Vonnegut reference). Yes, I'll find myself unstuck in time (Kurt Vonnegut reference, too (two)), but I won't let it distract me from the now.
The truth though... I'm happy I'm here. I'm happy we're here. I
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #2
#2: Go on a walking search for the actual Monument of Grand Portage National Monument with Matty J.
Accomplished: June 23, 2012.
Half credit: The "Gaawiin mino-giizhigad ji-aawan nibiikaang" sign is missing. (Translation: It is not a good day for swimming.)
Extra credit: Find the Monument.
Accomplished: June 23, 2012.
Half credit: The "Gaawiin mino-giizhigad ji-aawan nibiikaang" sign is missing. (Translation: It is not a good day for swimming.)
Extra credit: Find the Monument.
Friday, June 22, 2012
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: Explanation and #1
The explanation: Liz Towne took me to the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin to watch the bat emergence. Even though the bats don't operate on a schedule, there was agreement from the gathered crowd that the bats were late in emerging. Most of the crowd left, but the bat tardiness provided more time for Liz and I to talk without distraction from one million flying mammals. And Liz remarked that watching the bat emergence qualified as one of the 1000 Things you are supposed to do before you die. It's official, too; it's in a book.
Liz Towne owns the book and she thinks she's accomplished approximately 42 of the 1000. As far as I knew (and know), I've accomplished 1: the bats eventually emerged. Instead of getting depressed at our very unaccomplished lives, we decided we should just create an alternative list of things we've already done. With an already accomplished list, we'll have the ability to always analyze our lives in a positive way.
On the return drive to Houston I thought about our idea some more. If I have 14 days of vacation per year and accomplished 1 official book Thing per vacation day, I would be fully accomplished in 71 years and 147 days. The probability of my living an officially accomplished life is not high; I know my life expectancy. Or maybe I could find something (some Thing) in each day that could constitute a new 1000 Thing. Something that might cause Uncle Alex to say, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."
And so...
1000 Things To Do Before You Die
#1: Watch the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge bat emergence with Liz Towne.
Accomplished: June 15, 2012.
Half credit: No Liz Towne.
Extra credit: With an authentic New Orleans style snow cone.
Liz Towne owns the book and she thinks she's accomplished approximately 42 of the 1000. As far as I knew (and know), I've accomplished 1: the bats eventually emerged. Instead of getting depressed at our very unaccomplished lives, we decided we should just create an alternative list of things we've already done. With an already accomplished list, we'll have the ability to always analyze our lives in a positive way.
On the return drive to Houston I thought about our idea some more. If I have 14 days of vacation per year and accomplished 1 official book Thing per vacation day, I would be fully accomplished in 71 years and 147 days. The probability of my living an officially accomplished life is not high; I know my life expectancy. Or maybe I could find something (some Thing) in each day that could constitute a new 1000 Thing. Something that might cause Uncle Alex to say, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."
And so...
1000 Things To Do Before You Die
#1: Watch the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge bat emergence with Liz Towne.
Accomplished: June 15, 2012.
Half credit: No Liz Towne.
Extra credit: With an authentic New Orleans style snow cone.
when the world is puddle wonderful
I feel obligated to include some sort of statement to smooth the shift between December 2010 and now.
Statement:
The canoe trip and a few other things (Buffalo Bill included) are defunct.
Statement:
The canoe trip and a few other things (Buffalo Bill included) are defunct.
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