Fukuoka Japan Mission: August 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Learnings

Now this adventure is over I am brought to think on what it means to me and what I have learned.

First, I find it amazing that even a senior man in reasonable good health can achieve this. The key in endurance. Of course I had to condition my legs to take the 4-8 hours of continuous effort every day except Sunday, but once I had got to that point it was relatively easy to finish the goal. We often marvel that the early pioneers of the western United States could make the long travel by wagon or hand-cart. However, I think that when you set up a routine, have developed sufficient strength, it is just a matter of continuing the daily routine and in due time you are there.

You must avoid the pit falls, of course. For me that included avoiding sunburn. I was not use to that much time in the sun. I applied 50 sun block liberally, but still found my nose getting burned. I fashioned a duck bill visor on the front of my helmet using cardboard and duct tape. I never had a burned nose again.

Louis, Lynn, and I had our weather challenge in Washington where we had two days of cycling in the rain. By choosing our travel time during the warm part of the year (July and August) we avoided getting chilled and endured the rain even with Lynn's multiple flat tires. Try sitting on the side of the road, in the rain, trying to repair a tube (because all spares had leaks), with logging trucks barreling by. To do that without discouragement is amazing. However, we were very thankful when our support car, with Luetta's inspiration, came back just in time with spare tubes. Patches don't glue well when wet.

This was the summer that wasn't for Luetta and I. We lived with fog, and fog drizzle more often than not. Even sunny San Diego, was foggy most of the time. I guess that is life on the coast.

I have been inspired by my fives sons (and several family members) joining me on parts of this trip. My two daughters would have loved to come but it didn't work out for them. I don't mind long hours of cycling alone (three weeks of this) and enjoying the special solitude of that, but it was much more enjoyable having loved ones with me on the ride and at camp.

Of course most inspirational of all was my wife, Luetta. When I first proposed this idea to her, I had thought to go alone will full touring gear, but she said she wanted to go with me. I was very happy to have her company and love and help throughout this adventure. She cycled some, but for the most part drove our car. She amazed me, being able to find all these camp sites and hotels. Truly, it was a joint effort and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for supporting this crazy goal.

Now, I think what adventure is next for us. In retirement we have the time and so far the health to pursue them. We are planning on serving a senior couple mission for our church. We have to submit our application and then wait and see what part of the world we are called to. We plan on a 23 month mission, so the adventure will continue. Stay tuned to this blog for the ongoing adventure. Luetta has a cousin that has been in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and most recently Hong Kong. I have a cousin that served in London and another that is now in Cebu Philippines. They serve and teach principles that help people find happiness in life and an eternal perspective to existence, what could be more exciting than that.

STAY TUNED.

Stats and Information

This has been an awesome cycling adventure. I recommend it anyone that likes cycling. I and members of my family have seen so many wonderful places and things. It has been a fantastic physical challenge and I'm happy that I was able to be up to the task. It proves that with dedication, preparation, and effort much is possible. I have always enjoyed efforts that require endurance over strength or speed. And endurance was the key here. However, having fun all along the route (rain or shine) made it truly enjoyable. My blog reflects all the fun things we did and saw in addition to the miles biked.

Here are the milage by week and totals

		West Coast Bike Ride Miles on Endomundo
		Daily Miles	Weekly accumulation miles
Monday	16-Jul	30.18
		20.68
		7.04
Tuesday	17-Jul	27.42
Wednesday	18-Jul	20.55
		36.12
Thursday	19-Jul	33.74
Friday	20-Jul	67.39
Saturday	21-Jul	50.72
		293.84	293.84

Monday	23-Jul	48.07
Tuesday	24-Jul	41.32
Wednesday	25-Jul	26.48
		13.57
Thursday	26-Jul	31.21
		25.66
Friday	27-Jul	61.82
		4.83
Saturday	28-Jul	45.42
		298.38	592.22

Monday	30-Jul	52.69
Tuesday	31-Jul	59.15
Wednesday	1-Aug	52.41
Thursday	2-Aug	56.92
Friday	3-Aug	38.87
		15.54
Saturday	4-Aug	9.76
		37.73
		323.07	915.29

Monday	6-Aug	45.5
Tuesday	7-Aug	45.53
Wednesday	8-Aug	68.16
Thursday	9-Aug	41.54
Friday	10-Aug	62.05
Saturday	11-Aug	45.86
		308.64	1223.93

Monday	13-Aug	45.82
Tuesday	14-Aug	31.9
Wednesday	15-Aug	69.44
Thursday	16-Aug	55.66
Friday	17-Aug	64.31
Saturday	18-Aug	74.49
		341.62	1565.55

Monday	20-Aug	54.19
Tuesday	21-Aug	48.43
Wednesday	22-Aug	54.7
Thursday	23-Aug	54.3
		211.62	1777.17

This what google maps had predicted. In addition I have put in a total of 1279 miles of preparation cycling time. Thus the total is milage for this year to date is 3056 miles.

I have used the endomundo web site to records my miles (with some technical glitches) and here is their stats.

Total workouts: 95

Total duration: 11d:18h:10m

Total distance: 3056 mi

Trips around the world: 0.113

Trips to the Moon: 0.012

Average speed: 10.01 mph

Average pace: 6m:00s/mi

Calories burned: 149,772 kcal (277 burgers)

My personal bests (per endomundo) are:

I meet many amazing touring cyclists. Standouts includes one that had already cycled across the US from the east coast when I met him and planned to continue to Chile. There was a group that was cycling for Cancer Research from the East Coast to San Francisco. They said they had 4000 miles, 2 wheels, 1 goal, the cure for Cancer. Most of the people I met were young people, but I met a few my age. One couple was biking from Seattle to San Francisco with full touring gear. There is a comradery that exists among trekers, which elicits friendly hand waves as we pass and willingness to talk about what they are doing.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Day 34 Carlsbad South SB to Mexican Border

Here is our cycle milage: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/suayQB_SLnU

This data is a little biased since we came back on the Metro Trolly and forgot to turn off our electronic GPS devices so the last 4 1/2 miles is on the Metro (aka Tijuana Trolly).

This was a wonderful trip through the parts of San Diego county where we lived for five years. Many locations evoked great memories.

We passed Encinitas, then Cardiff and the Chart House Resturant where I have had many a wonderful meal.

Here I am at the Solano Beach sign. We rented a condo their for a few months after moving to San Diego.

Then we passed Del Mar, I remember many a fantastic Scout Fair at the county fairgounds there. (Never went to the race track).

Here is the view you see going down highway 1 towards Torrey Pines Beach. This beach was close to my work in Sorrento Valley and closest to our home in Mira Mesa, so we spent many a family outing there. Great memories including haveing two large fins pass by me while out in the surf that seemed like a very large Killer Whale.

Here the riders pose by the Torrey Pines sign.

Here is a view of the fameous Torey Pines golf course.

We then rode by UCSD on the way to La Jolla. We took a side trip to La Jolla cove where we have many wonderful memories of swimming in the cove as well as at La Jolla shores. We spend some money to go down the tunnel in a shell shop to see the cave.

Here is a view from inside the cave out to Kayaks that can be rented to see this and one of several other caves in the area.

The four riders in the cave.

Here we pass by Mission Bay. Our younger family had many wonderful outings here.

And over the San Diego River.

When we got to the San Diego Harbor, we saw the city sky line.

I rememer many days coming down to the harbor to the RP cannery to conduct tests on packaging materials and systems.

We continued on, here is a view of the Coronado Bridge and an industrial part of the city.

Then onward through National City, then Chula Vista.

And finally in San Ysidro where the Mexican border.

Here the four of us stand in front of the car entry with the Mexico sign to our left. I managed to catch a gap in the long lines of people returning to Mexico after a days work in the U.S.A.

And here I put my foot through the border fence to say I had been to Mexico.

Wow, it is hard to believe I did the entire Pacific Coast of America bicycle trek. It has been very rewarding and fun, with the company of my wonderful wife Luetta and accompanied by all five of my sons, Lynn, Louis, Weston, Jonathan, and Daniel (a week each). It was a treasure to have Jonathans wife, Danielle, join me for two days. We loved having their children Dawna, Lawrence, and Naomi (our grandchidren with us for the last week. You know Grandparents always love to spoil grandchildren. It was fantastic to have Daniel's wife Karla bike one day and her brother Brian for three days. Brian expects to complete the Cycling Merit Badge as a result of this, previous rides and a little book work.

I have loved sharing this experience with my many family members (who couldn't come) and many extended family and friends. Thanks for your interest and love.

Day 33 Newport Dunes RV to Carlsbad South SB

Here is our cycling route: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/gmBLUtxfVeo
This was a fun ride with Jon, and Daniel.
This was fast day and not many pictures. Not sure why it was a fast day.
Here we are starting. The riding crew are wearing or holding helmets.

A overcast day, but beautiful none the less.

Going through one of the fantastic coastal cities of Southern California.

A fantastic beach.

Keep on peddling.

We pass a group called the Mira Mesa Mauraders. We lived in Mira Mesa, a community of San Diego for five years.

We had to traverse Camp Pendelton, a Marine Base on the Coast. We had to pass military security check point. They asked for identification. Jon and I had our Driver Liciences, But Daniel had chose not to carry it today, but he did have a credit card with Karla's picture on it. We were allowed to pass, as long as we didn't lose track of Daniel so he would get out OK. Well here he is at the exit to the Camp so we fulfilled the request.

The highlight of the day for Luetta was to go with Danielle, Karla, Brian and Grandkids. It is apparent they had a lot of fun from these photos.

I understand Lawrence was very facinated by this display.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Day 32 Leo Carillo SP (Marina Del Rey) to Newport Dunes Park

Here are the biking miles: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/s9BIYyfyv2k

Luetta and I had our own camping site in Leo Carrillo SP since our number is now over 8. We got our own hiker/biker site away from all the camp noise. Here we pose in front of our tent.

We had a bit of a late start today since we needed to pack up camp and then be driven back to Marina Del Rey, here is the group riding today (those with helmets).

We pasted LAX and the Port of Los Angeles. At LAX many airplanes took off over our heads. Here is one.

And here are some of the ships coming from the Port of LA.

We passed the oil refineries of Chevron and others.

As we got closer to Newport Beach we passed the wonderful Huntington Beach.

We finally got to the city of Newport beach.

After a rather involved cycle to Newport Dunes RV Park. We found the tents set up in the smallest site yet.

A cake was bought to celebrate Brian's birthday, one day late.

This camp had a great lagoon.

As well as a pool and hot tub. The day ended wonderfully.

Day 31 Camarillo to Leo Carillo SP then to Marina Del Rey

Here is my milage via cycle: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/pCHl23at3rA
This day we went to Leo Carillo State Park and on to Marina del Ray to make the next day shorter (we were scheduled for 80 miles and worried that the difficulty of traversing the greater Los Angeles area would make it a very long day.

This was a great day with both Luetta and Danielle Koberstein riding with me on the first half and Karla and Daniel Koberstein as well as Karla's brother Brian on the second half.

Here are pictures of Luetta and Danielle.

During this part we were heading south in the farming land between Camarillo and Oxnard. It was nice bikeing. We ended up at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station. They had a very interting open air museum. Here are some photos of the museum items and actual air traffic in and out of the base.