The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

Thursday October 25, 2012

I am reading Pete Staehling Less Encumbered Touring http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Ultralight. I find some good information in his journal about touring lightweight.

I planned my trip in late October when it would start to cool in Florida, and when the probability of a hurricane would be less. I mapped out the distances I would travel each day, and where I would stay. Guess what, three days into my trip I am fighting the winds and rain created by hurricane Sandy. It has taken me off schedule, and I have already changed my plans. I expected that everything would go as planned, but not to this extend. However, in the three days that I did ride, I learned some valuable lesson: One is to be flexible with where you are going to be, and second, don’t carry too much (I am scaling down what I am carrying). I am also making adjustment to my seat and handlebar grips. My hands and my rear is already sore. I will be back when I get on the road again.

Dinning Car on Amtrak

10-27-2012 Hurricane Sandy has produced rain for the last few days, and 50 plus miles per hour winds. I am real disappointed right now. I am in Vero Beach waiting out the weather and doing some emergency repairs on a machine for a client, and the parts for the repair won’t be in till Friday. At this point I don’t know what I am going to do. I have ridden my bike locally and the wind almost blows me off. My route down A-1-A has flooded areas and closed roads. I am considering getting a ride home, and trying it again later.

November 1, 2012 I am home now. I am rescheduling the remainder of my trip. I am going to do the trip different. First: I am scaling down the weight. Anything that I don't absolutely need, I will not be carrying. I had too much weight. Second: I had ever day's distance and stops planned. Now I am going to plan only a day or so ahead, and then only when I stay with a host. This way I can deal with the elements better. Third: I am trying to make some changes on the bike. I have carpal tunnel and my hands are killing me. I don't know how I am going to resolve this problem. I am looking at different handle bars, but I don't know if that will help. My bike is still in Vero Beach. I am going back up to Vero in a couple of weeks. If the weather is cooperative, then I may complete my ride then. I was very disappointed that I suspended my ride, but the wind and weather from Sandy was just too rough.

Light House at Daytona