Ride across the USA NYC 2 SF 2018

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26th April 2018 Thursday - Red lights, Big dog and It’s always sunny in Philadelphia

- July 04, 2018

Hello Everybody! From Sunny USA. Route: New York to Philladelphia For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 166km Average speed: 17.76 kph Calories: 4,823 Cycling time: 9h 22min Average cadence: 66 rpm Climb: 611m, Descent: 621m Temperament: Happy go lucky Aver Temp: 20.7C, Max temp 25C I was about to start my blog (USA side) by going through all the things Ruth and myself did getting to, and in, New York. Unfortunately, and largely due to legal reasons, I am unable to mention anything between the dates of 22 nd April 2018 and up to midnight of 25 th April 2018. We are hoping to get the many legal restrictions lifted soon. We will then be free to explain what happened. All I can say is that: 1) yes there was a murder; 2) a butler was involved but only incidentally; and thrice) we did visit a lot of dining rooms. So the plan was to leave New York at 8.00am which amazingly was the time I left.

27th April 2018 Friday – Industrial but I have a new friend

- July 03, 2018

Hello Everybody! From Rainy then Sunny USA. Route: Philadelphia to Aberdeen (not the one in Scotland) For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 115km (Total 281km) Average speed: 19.39 kph Calories: 3,426 Cycling time: 5h 57min Average cadence: 67 rpm Climb: 619m, Descent: 578m Temperament: Nice, not nice, then nice again Aver Temp: 15C, Max temp 20C Yesterday was quite tough as I had a headwind of around 10mph all day. Gets on your nerves after a while. Today was the opposite and I enjoyed a luvverly tailwind which is why my average speed improved quite a bit and also I am a cycling god (small “g” just in case). Also I cycled on some fairly major roads, think dual carriageways sometimes and often with thrice lanes. The bad news - it was not picturesque and occasionally I needed to do some avoidance manoeuvres (i.e. when the cycle lane disappeared suddenly). In summary it was a very industrial landscape type

28th April 2018 Saturday – Very industrial with Devon clotted cream

- July 02, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Aberdeen to Washington DC For th non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 119km (Total 400km) Average speed: 17.8 kph Calories: 3,732 Cycling time: 6h 40min Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 918m, Descent: 899m Temperament: A grind Aver Temp: 25C, Max temp 31C Yesterday was industrial but today was very industrial with a large bit of Devon thrown in. Devon is a beautiful county, where many small people live. They are not called “Hobbits” but they do resemble them, in appearance and character. I am not referring to anyone is particular but she knows who I am talking about. Enough said. Devon is also known for it North-South river system where most rivers lead to the sea in a Northerly, wait for it or Southerly direction. A consequence of this is that when you traverse Devon in an Easterly or, wait for it, Westerly direction then y

3rd May 2018 Thursday – Ruth leaves Alan at last and about time too

- July 01, 2018

Route: Washington DC to Sheperdstown For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 119km (Total 400km) Average speed: 17.8 kph Calories: 3,732 Cycling time: 6h 40min Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 918m, Descent: 899m Temperament: Perhaps a shade warm Aver Temp: 25C, Max temp 31C So this was the big day, I was waiting for Ruth to tell me that she is staying and will drive a car behind me every day, and in front when it is windy. Ruth was waiting to get out of there as quick as she could, given I have been even more of a blithering idiot than usual – and I really know you will all find that very hard to believe. RUTH!!! where’s my phone, where’s my laptop cable, where’s my head (yes definitely up there it was). I was panicking every day about something that had broken, got lost or did not exist in this know universe but I was sure I had put it somewhere. If only somewhere could stop messing about and just stay in o

4th May 2018 Friday – Bumpy, bumpy, bumpy

- June 30, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Sheperdstown to Paw Paw For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 81miles (Total 331 miles) Average speed: 9.8mph Calories: 2,806 Cycling time: 8h 17min Average cadence: 64 rpm Climb: 1,270ft, Descent: 1,201ft Temperament: Don’t Panic, Keep Cycling Aver Temp: 24C, Max temp 31C Scott and Jen left early given they are both teachers and therefore wanted to get the best parking slots. I awoke and got myself packed and ready to go in a time that would be best measured in parsecs. For TNMOT (The Non Mathematicians Out There – I spelled that out for TNMOT just in case), a parsec is the exact same thing as a week in Bognor Regis when is rains every day. Either way it is slow. My plan, and I have to state that I regard plans, at best, as a sort of suggested set of maybe and maybe nots none of which need to be taken too seriously, was to go into town, get coffee and lots of calories and then cy

5th May 2018 Saturday – Well known Scottish boy band from the 80/90s - see Temperament

- June 29, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Paw Paw to Meyersdale For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 58miles (Total 389) Average speed: 9.8mph Calories: 1,846 Cycling time: 5h 55min Average cadence: 64 rpm Climb: 2,356ft, Descent: 1,014ft Temperament: Wet, Wet, Wet Aver Temp: 19C, Max temp 24C OK so the first word uttered in this video is the answer to yesterday’s question. If you are asking yourself “what question” then please go back to GO and do not pass jail. Here is the video: So “Arse” it is then. And by Sir Lancelot’s cod piece, this is no a trivial matter. Oh no, not trivial, no. After days in the saddle strange things can go on “down there”. Made more tricky as I no longer have Ruth to “give it a good look”. I am however sending daily pictures of my derrière (or Fanny as they say here) to Ruth who comments with varying degrees of clarity, de

6th May 2018 Sunday – People are lovely

- June 28, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Meyersdale to Brownsville For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 76 miles (Total 466) Average speed: 11.6mph Calories: 1,938 Cycling time: 6h 34min Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 1,686ft, Descent: 2,772ft Temperament: People are lovely Aver Temp: 12C, Max temp 17C People are lovely. A nice start. I left and got immediate payback from yesterday’s uppy bit. A fantastic steady downhill, following the river course and meeting gentle folk along the way. This was a cycling high spot so far. I also had a really nice lunch at Confluence, not sure why it is called this but there are a few rivers meeting at the same spot, rather than meeting at different spots I guess. Before lunch the weather was nice and cool, after lunch I could not see where I had parked my Blossom as it was raining too heavily. I also was pondering which why

7th May 2018 Monday – We all make mistakes, yes even me

- June 27, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Brownsville to Brownsville and then to Wheeling For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 75 miles (Total 514) Average speed: 10.7mph Calories: 2,445 Cycling time: 7h 02min Average cadence: 67 rpm Climb: 5,000ft, Descent: 4,757ft Temperament: Best not mention the start Aver Temp: 12C, Max temp 17C This day was my last change to my original route plan as when I arrive at Wheeling I will be back on the ACA Eastern Express route. Sorry even I don't know what I'm saying. Ask Ruth - she can explain. Things did not get off on the right foot. An apt saying. Things got off on the left foot which was the wrong foot. For instance, when you cycle down a riverbank there are a few “golden” rules that you should try, at least, to skim read. The main ones are: make sure you go down the correct side of the riverbank do not assume that the application you are using for that day is 1

8th May 2018 Tuesday – Short and sweet

- June 26, 2018

Hello Everybody! Route: Wheeling to Barnesville For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 44 miles (Total 602) Average speed: 10.1mph Calories: 1,401 Cycling time: 4h 22min Average cadence: 64 rpm Climb: 2,572ft, Descent: 2,539ft Temperament: A good half day, nice free time Aver Temp: 27C, Max temp 33C This was a half day to keep the legs a-turnin and the miles a-countin. See, already learning Merican. The trip from Kelly’s house was very much downhill once I got some temperamental up-hills out of the way. When I thought I had been to Wheeling yesterday, I had just travelled through the commercial end and Wheeling “proper” was quite a few miles away, or so it seemed. Anyway, the day was bright and beautiful and hot – it turns out that the weather is very different this year – much warmer (I agree) but also harder to forecast (I agree also). My first main view of Barnesville is shown here and I have to

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