Ride across the USA NYC 2 SF 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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

Hello Everybody! Route: Barnesville to Buckeye KOA Campsite For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 85 miles (Total 687) Average speed: 10.6mph Calories: 2,989 Cycling time: 8h 09min Average cadence: 65 rpm Climb:  4,669ft,  Descent: 4,938ft Temperament: Easy boy, down, down Aver Temp: 12C, Max temp 17C [ EDITOR NOTE: photos added for the last two days] Early start after nice brekkie from Paula – the usual of eggs on toast. I’ve had that for at least 5 days so far and I’m not bored of it yet. I did have a final coffee….. Ruth? I managed to get in 35 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes, which given I am carrying around a whole host of heavy things was quite an achievement if I say so myself. It had absolutely nothing to do with the first 25 miles being downward facing but you take whatever luck throws your way. Do you like the "artistic" cycle shot? I did it to show just how long, straight an...

Hello Everybody! Route:  Sunshine Campground  to Rico (at last) then to Dove Creek For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance: 20 miles (Total 2,492) Average speed: 10.9 mph Calories: 493 Cycling time: 1h 48min Average cadence: 71 rpm Climb: 1,191ft, Descent: 1,903ft Heart (yes I have one): Max 142 Aver 107 Aver   Temp: 16C, Max temp 21C Temperament: Had a good night and now getting comfy Distance: 72 miles (Total 2,564) Average speed: 12.9 mph Calories: 1,355 Cycling time: 5h 36min Average cadence: 71 rpm Climb: 1,995ft, Descent: 3,757ft Heart (yes I have one): Max 130 Aver 105 Aver   Temp: 30C, Max temp 36C Temperament: Wind at my back [ EDITOR NOTE:  There is no Editor Note for this day’s blog. Swinhoe probably made a few more mistakes but he is keeping very MUM about them. Anyway, remove drawing pin from your shoe but make sure you keep it handy] OK, so I started a bit behind wh...