Wine Tasting

Day 163 & 164, September 11 & 12, 2011, Wine Tasting

Route – The Wine Road on Rocket and then to Healdsburg & back on bicycle

28.2 miles, averaging 14.7 mph

Worst Moment – Forgetting my camera for the winetasting on Sunday – I missed some really great shots.

Best Moment – Riding on Eastside Road into Healdsburg has to be one of the classic Sonoma County bike rides.  There’s very little traffic and beautiful views of the vineyards.

Neita and I took off on Rocket to check out some of the new wineries that have opened since we were last here for wine tasting a year ago.  On Westside Road alone, there were three new places and one with a new name. 

We checked all four out.  It was probably one of the most fun tastings that we’ve had.  We had four really great experiences – maybe this was because it was Sunday afternoon and things were sort of slow, or maybe it was the weather sort of cool and cloudy.  The staff seemed extra friendly and the guests talked to one another.  We even met some people who actually live in the area!

John Tyler was one of the wineries.  The “mom” – owner - who was in the tasting room, grew up at Korbel.  (Sort of a wonderful place to grow up.)  They had great wines too.  The tasting room had only been open 2 months. 

We went to VML – a winery that has had many different names since we’ve been coming up here.  Then we went to another new place Davero – they bottle and sell other winemakers wines, along with their own Italian varietals, but focus on olive oil production.  We tasted olive oil!  The last place we went to had been open barely one year and was closing this week.  Such is the nature of the business.

Today I thought I would try riding the loop on Eastside Road to Healdsburg and back on Westside Road.  While I loved the ride, my hand didn’t.  The pavement on Westside Road was very bumpy and there were a few tough hills.  I found that I’m not ready for longer rides.

Bills Big Ride In has been moved up to October 2.  I won’t be riding along any of the coast this time.  And while, this is very disappointing to me, I know neither my hand nor my psyche is ready for the challenges and traffic of Highway 1. I guess it is good to always have some challenge to look forward to in the future.   Who knows?

I do plan on bicycling into Phoenix from Wickenburg on October 2.  I would love to have anyone interested join me for all or part of the ride in.  And certainly join us for a celebration at the end of the adventure. So watch for the details to come. 

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

Almost a Fist

Days 161 & 162, September 9 & 10, Almost a Fist

Route – from campground to Duncan’s Mills on River Road, then east on River Road to Martinelli Winery

47.3 miles, averaging 13.7 mph

Worst Moment – The bridge near Forestville is scary to ride across.

Best Moment – I was able to shift with the left hand.  I know that things are getting better. 

Even though I’ve been able to bicycle the past couple of days, my left hand is still pretty swollen, stiff, and sore.  It is uncomfortable to put too much pressure on the handlebars with it.  I am however nearly able to make a fist, so there is progress.

So the past few days, I’ve ridden around the area on fairly flat easy rides.  On Friday, I rode out to Duncan’s Mills, a very small town on the Russian River.  It used to have a railroad depot and lumber mill.  Now it has an RV Park, a few shops, a bakery, and the rodeo grounds.  It was a nice gentle ride along River Road, nearly to the ocean.  And while there weren’t lots of cars and trucks, what traffic there was, was quite unnerving.  I was glad to be able to ride on the much quieter Moscow Road (on the other side of the river) from Duncan’s Mills to Monte Rio.

Today, Neita and I decided to ride to Martinelli Winery.  This is one of our favorite tasting places.  Unfortunately, there was a lot of traffic since it was Saturday.  The bridge over the river near Forestville has no shoulder to cycle on, nor does River Road for about half a mile after the bridge.  Again this was unnerving and very scary – especially for Neita. 

There is only one climb on the road, but it is a decent uphill.  This is where Neita’s gears stopped working.  After tasting some very delectable red wines, we were able to get Neita’s shifters to work properly and headed back to Ruby for some river time. 

Across the river from the RV Park, there are some gravely beaches where it is fun to view the canoeists, kayakers, and other river floaters from.  Duncan loves to retrieve his ball from the river as long as it is thrown up river, in an area where the current isn’t too swift, and the ball will float down to him. He is one tired puppy tonight.

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

Interesting Camper Life

Day 159 & 160, September 7 & 8, Interesting Camper Life

Route – Around Guerneville & Armstrong Woods

17.7 miles, averaging 13.5 mph

Worst Moment – On Wednesday, Neita and I were going to cycle into Gureneville, when about 50 feet from the campground, Neita had a flat tire.  There was quite a lot of traffic in the area, so she decided to walk back to the campground and let me change her tire later when I got back.

Best Moment – I had been somewhat worried that with the broken hand, fixing flat tires would be difficult.  While never fun, I was able to fix Neita’s without too much difficulty.  Her tires are probably original to her bike and several years old.  Some road debris cut both tube and tire.  I patched her tube and put on a new tire.  Now she is ready to ride. 

Yesterday, I had a really great, albeit short ride into Guerneville.  It looks like there are a few new shops since we were here in March.  There is a new wine bar and other wine market.  Hopefully, the merchants in town had a good summer season.  I can only imagine what a struggle it must be for them the rest of the year.  There are tourists here much of the year, but in the winters, the focus is on the weekends at the wineries and the weather isn’t as wonderful as it is in summer.  The Russian River is a great place to kayak and canoe in summer, but not so wonderful after October or before June.

Today, was a really quiet day.  No bike ride.  I guess the biggest accomplishment of the day is that I fixed Ruby’s front door window.  With all of the bumps in the road, the caulking that kept the glass in place failed.  While the window didn’t fall out, it did slip and was always open about an inch.  After a trip to our local True Value Hardware Store in Guerneville on Rocket, I re-caulked the window and it looks like the seal is a good one.

We did take Rocket into town for dinner at our favorite in town place - Boon.  Now I understand why those motorcyclists I’ve seen are so bundled up with all of the clothing they wear.  Even though the temperatures were pleasant, the air was really chilly coming home in the early evening. 

We have seen some very interesting campers in our travels around the country, but there is one here, that wins for most unusual.  A couple arrived here in a big Mercedes and parked in one of the less shaded “tent sites.”   The woman got out of the car, opened two umbrellas and then positioned the open umbrellas in the tree near the site.  Later, they set up a tent and spent the night, though when I took Duncan for his evening walk, both people were sitting in the Mercedes with the headlights on.  The couple stayed two days in the site leaving during the day, taking the umbrellas with them, but repositioning them upon their return in the afternoon.   

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

No More Splint

Day 157 & 158, September 5 & 6, 2011, No More Splint

Route from Reno, NV to River Bend Campground Resort, Guerneville, CA in Ruby and then to Healdsburg, CA via Rocket

Worst Moment – Driving over Donner’s Pass on Monday was terrible!  There was so much traffic, and the road was in ill repair or under construction.  I know that the driving really got to Neita – she was most happy to be close to our home in Guerneville.

Best Moment – Dr. Tomasin x-rayed my hand on Tuesday.  After looking at them, he told me that I no longer needed the splint and that I needed to start exercising the left hand to get back to being able to make a fist.  Yeah!!!

Leaving Reno on Monday probably wasn’t such a good idea.  The Burning Man was just concluding, there was the normal traffic and then all of the Labor Day traffic on top. The few miles from Reno to the California State Line were fine, but after the California Agriculture Inspection Station, the freeway was jammed with traffic.  In areas where there weren’t any cars entering the road, we moved okay, but when anyone needed to merge, the traffic stopped still.  It took us just over 5 hours to get here. And that was with a stop in Santa Rosa to resupply.

We are camped high above the Russian River, but can still look down the banks to see the water.  After everything was set up, I unloaded the bikes and Rocket.  I wanted to be sure that I could drive it in order to get Healdsburg today.  It was a bit difficult with the splint, but manageable.

    

I took Rocked out this morning early to be able to get to the doctor’s appointment by 10:30.  Riding along Westside Road into Healdsburg, I went past all of our favorite wineries.  There are a few new ones that we’ll need to visit.  The doctor, an ex-rugger, indicated that injuries like mine are a balance act – one doesn’t want to stay immobile for too long, or the rehabilitation becomes as much of an issue as the break.  My hand is still quite swollen and very stiff, but I am to work it to regain the ability to make a fist.  (I can even type using both hands now – sort of.)  He said that when I felt safe, it was okay to start bicycling again.  I’m probably going on an easy ride tomorrow to see how things go. 

The Rocket ride back to Forestville was a whole lot easier without the splint.  Neita and I went to Korbel’s for a celebratory champagne lunch!  I’m still hoping to be able to ride south from here on at least part of the coast. 

I’ll most likely not cycle all of the way back to Phoenix.  There are a few dates in place that will keep me from taking all of the time needed to cycle.  Mainly, when Neita agreed to come with me on this adventure, she agreed to the time from April 2^nd to October 9^th- no longer.  I need to finish the ride no later than that.    

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

In Awe of Neita

Day 155 & 156, September 3 & 4, 2011, In Awe of Neita

Route from Jackson Hole Campground to Twin Falls, ID KOA and onto Reno, NV KOA

Worst Moment – It was more than a little disheartening to leave Jackson in Ruby instead of on a bicycle.  I’d been looking forward to either cycling into or out of Jackson, and as things turned out, I didn’t get to do either.

Best Moment – I am looking forward to getting to California tomorrow, doing some cycling and hopefully healing enough to be able to continue the ride from there.  (I could still complete 75% of the perimeter.)  I’ve always wanted to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge – so I’ve got that to look forward to.

We got a bit of a late start leaving Jackson.  It seems that the hydraulic jacks that help stabilize Ruby and work to keep things level didn’t want to retract.  After a good spray of WD-40, they went right up.  Too bad that we didn’t try that sooner.  Neita had complained about how reluctant the jacks were in going up.

 Duncan's ready to travel

We drove along the Snake River all of the way to Twin Falls.  It was a very scenic drive, and not much longer than we would have driven had we decided to tackle Teton Pass.   The Snake flows into the Columbia River and provides Idaho with source of water for the irrigated farmlands that were ripe with wheat and full of the famous Idaho Spuds.

The Twin Falls KOA was amazing.  When I checked in, I was told that we could order dinner delivered to our site from their own cafe – who would have ever considered room service at a campground!?!?  (The special was meatloaf.)  They had lots of activity for families during the Labor Day weekend.  There was an opportunity to tie-dye t-shirts, go to an ice cream social, and even make s’mores at their campfire.  Pretty cool, but the ice cream in Hayward, WI was still much better.    

Today was a long day for Neita.  We drove nearly 500 miles from Twin Falls, ID to the KOA west of Reno, NV.  She drove Ruby through the construction zones, through the traffic in Sparks and Reno, on the Interstate, and on the narrow two-lane road.  She is a pro! The scenery was desert boring until the Reno area.

After such a long driving day, we took the campground’s shuttle to the Boomtown Casino for dinner at their steakhouse.  The dinner was great and there were lots of people to watch at the casino.  Fun.

Tomorrow’s Guerneville!!

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

Last Night in Jackson

Day 153 & 154, September 1 & 2, 2011, Last Night in Jackson

Route around Wilson, WY, on Fish River and Fall River Roads.

24.8 miles, averaging 14.7 mph

Worst Moment – On the incredibly beautiful Fall River Road, just west of Wilson, I realized that I really need to have this hand healed before I can consider any serious cycling.  The road had a fair amount of hills so it would have been nice to be able to shift and brake with my left hand, but even worse is that I don’t have the stability on the bike because of the splint and my inability to put weight on the left hand.

Best Moment – Thursday evening, Neita and I had another wonderful dinner at the Snake River Grill in Jackson.  I had the blackberry pie with caramel ice cream for dessert.

While looking for bicycle paths around Jackson, I saw that there was a road that sort of followed the Snake River on its north side for several miles before the pavement ended.  It was a recommended bicycle path.  On Thursday, I decided to give it a try.  The photos don’t even come close to showing the beauty of the area.  I would have certainly followed the road to the end had I not been wary about my ability to adequately control the bike on the hills both up and down. 

It is really starting to get cold in Jackson.  This morning it was 32 when I woke up and similar temperatures are forecast for tonight.  Seems like there was a switch thrown somewhere at the end of August.  Even the daytime temperatures, which had been in the eighties, are now in the low 70’s and even the 60’s.

I washed the red, lower part of Ruby this afternoon.  This was the first time since leaving Phoenix in April that Ruby has had a bath.  The white upper part doesn’t show the dirt as much, but the red was a different story.  Wow, it looks almost new!

Tomorrow we head for Twin Falls, Id and then on to Reno, NV before arriving in Guerneville, CA on Monday.  We’ll be in an RV park on the river until we are able to actually have our house starting on September 18^th.   I have an appointment with another orthopedic doctor on Tuesday for evaluation to see how the breaks are healing.  Hopefully, I’ll be out of his cast soon and can start retraining for the Big Ride to continue – at least from Guerneville down the coast.

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.

Two Too Short Rides

Day 151 & 152, August 30 & 31, 2011, Two Too Short Rides

Route around Jackson Hole

26 miles, averaging 15.8 mph on Aug 30 & 12.7 miles, averaging 13.8 mph on Aug 31

Worst Moment – Chris called late tonight to let us know that his home had been broken into.  They took some cash and a Play Station 3, but the really creepy thing is that they ate some of his food and even had a fire in his outdoor fire pit.  It’s only like 110 in Phoenix.  When he got home, the coals were still warm.

Best Moment – I’ve really enjoyed getting back on the bicycle and riding - even though the rides are short.

Yesterday, I found an amazing road going east out of the town of Wilson.  It ran along the base of the Tetons.  I had mountains on one side and a stream on the other side of the road.  So beautiful!  There were even a few hills.  After about 8 miles the pavement ended, but I think that the road is actually another road to Teton Village.

My hand is still swollen and in a splint.  I can move my thumb and first two fingers.  Now, I’m even able to sort of type two handed and can tie my own shoes albeit slowly. 

Bicycling anything with much of a challenge, traffic, lots of stops, or hills is still not something that I should take on.  The splint on my left hand prevents me from changing gears or braking.  Also, because of the broken bone, I really can’t put much weight on the hand to grip the handlebars, which presents a bit of a challenge in steering the bike.

I’ve an appointment with a doctor in Healdsburg, CA on Tuesday.  When I see him, it will have been nearly 4 weeks since the Big Crash and, hopefully things will have healed enough to be able to have a less restrictive splint.  Then I would continue the ride from there back to Phoenix.  I’m really hoping that I’ll be able to do that, but it really depends on the hand. 

Meanwhile, we are still planning on being back in Phoenix on October 9^th one way or another.  Neita and I are both looking forward to seeing friends and family before our move to the Russian Bonita (what had been our vacation home is going to be our permanent residence) in Guerneville, CA.

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.