Velo Safari - Trans USA Bicycle Tour - jacksvelosafari
No matter the age, answer your 'Call to Adventure' for top physical and mental health.
Featured pictures
2012 Proposed Route
Follow the Track (Real Time)
My Family Cheering Section
Mark Twain said...
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrowmindedness...
and many of our people need it solely on these accounts.
But I'd also like to add that
travel at bike speed is
gourmet food for the soul.
Witnessing America at Bike Speed
Daily Prayer
"Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth."
The 2012 Velo Safari is timed to avoid the black flies and chilly weather in the north, and the worst of the summer temperatures at the southern end of the track. An important fact is sleeping in a tent is uncomfortable when too cold or too hot and can result in deficiencies the following day. Little sleep will make a rider drowsy even on a bicycle, and that can be as dangerous as nodding off when driving a car. I know because I've been there more than once. No winter gear is being carried.
The actual route is flexible, generally going back and forth between the Adventure Cycling track and US1, yet varying when considering overnight stops, points of interest, new trails, weather, and getting lost. (The Can't-Miss Rule for Dummies: Upon losing your way, head east until you hit water, then follow your compass' South heading.)
Degree of difficulty is EASY. Terrain is rolling hills to flat. No mountain ranges to climb or deserts to cross. Speed to average near 12mph fully loaded. Distance to average 50+- miles per cycling day, determined by overnight locations.
After consideration, it was decided to begin the ride to the Start in Maine from my home in Des Moines, Iowa. It's an extra 1,700 miles by bicycle but the whole point is to meet people along the way and spread my message of "Good Health" far and wide. And this cannot be accomplished on public transportation. I'm telling myself that the remoteness of north woods Maine makes it a hard-to-reach destination by plane, but in reality it's just that much more of a challenge.
The START of the ride south is positioned at United States Customs, Estcourt Station, Maine. (Pop. 4). There is no highway system access to the USA at this point, initial routing is over Canadian Highways or logging roads.
The FINISH (October 2012) of the ride is located at The Southernmost Point of the Continental USA at Key West, Florida.
2012 START
2012 Finish
2012 North/South Route Weather
Bar Harbor, ME
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Virginia Beach, VA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Savannah, GA
Palm Beach, FL
Key West, FL
Future Velo Rides to Consider
The Mississippi Trail - Following the Mississippi river from its source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Zigzagging 3,000+ miles.
Pacific Coast Trail -
Vancover, BC. to Imperial Beach, California.
1,853 miles
Lewis and Clark Trail -
Hartford, Illinios to Seaside, Oregon
3,253 miles
'Friend Me' on Facebook
Photos with captions will be uploaded daily during the 2012 ride. One may follow the progress for great geography and cultural lessons. People and their special ways will be highlighted as well as the good and bad everyday experiences of traveling by bicycle. For instance, it was recently learned that the term '411' in Massachusetts means 'here is some information for you'.
Google the places and cultural points mentioned, and put in your own two cents worth for everyone to see. While in the wilderness and lying atop one's sleeping bag, it's really enjoyable to get out the mini laptop and see what other people are thinking and doing back in civilization.
My tire was thumping,
I thought it was flat.
When I checked out the tread,
The yuk was your cat.
Team Member
Visit Spokes - The Cycling Social Network. Road, MTB, BMX, Everyone.
Desire to be at top speed when the time for your big dirt nap arrives. Laid out for the final viewing, you want people to say;
"Well now, don't he look good."
Velo Safari Affiliate
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Velo Safari Affiliate
Can You Beat That?
I contacted the company who had built Croozer (my trailer) and asked where to get parts. I had abused it terrribly over 4,000 miles of rough trails, roadways and curbs, navigating in mud, rain, snow and sand. The cloth sides were ripped and the wheels wobbled from over-loading.
The Croozer people asked for a delivery address and are sending the side panels, the cover and new wheels free of charge!
http://www.croozerdesigns.com/cargo.html
Google search
The 2011 4,000 Mile Ride is Over. Now I'm Going to Have Fun Talking About It.
Click the Video - 3.5 minutes.
Motive
Exercise is the sure method to prevent one from being a burden on their health care provider and family. And our Obesity will drown our country in a sea of debt, so I am attempting to inspire everyone to good health. I chose Adventure as a pathway in order to keep my focus and attention.
I'd rather croak having fun than kick the bucket while rocking on the porch.
Contact Jack
Questions or Updates?
The Clock of Life
is Wound but Once.
Data: From the 2011 West/East Ride
'VELO' = French/Swiss word for 'Bicycle'.
Western Leg
2,560 miles.
Start - June 2, 2011.
Completed July 26, 2011
San Francisco, CA to Des Moines, IA.
It was a 2011 Summer START (Memorial Day Weekend) with the Velo Safari - Western Leg of the ride on an Easterly heading, following the same direction and many times the actual path of the northern route of the American Discovery Trail.
Eastern Leg
1,413 miles.
Start Saturday, July 30, 2011
Completed Saturday, September 3, 2011
Des Moines, Iowa to the Delaware shore. After that it was on to New York City and a weeks ride in New York state and Connecticut.
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This west-to-east
solo ride was timed to ascend the Western mountain passes during a warm part of the year. The high notches are frequently chains-only after August and Velo Safari has nothing to do with Extreme Sports for the Foolhearty. It was also a ride of longer duration than usual, making time for points of interest.
The route followed west to east in the same direction and actual path of the American Discovery Trail, a workaround that adapted to my liking. Much of the western states' off-road ADT is too rough and remote and devoid of people for this social animal and his trailer. And since there were large portions of the trip where I would be riding solo, I didn't want to end up as a meal to hungry wildlife.
The great thing about the American Discovery Trail is that it connects five national scenic and 12 national historic trails, 34 national recreational trails, and many other local and regional trails — it is the backbone for the national trails system. It passes through metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Cincinnati, traces numerous pioneer trails, leads to 14 national parks and 16 national forests and visits more than 10,000 sites of historic, cultural and natural significance.
By chance, the western portion of Velo Safari also ran nearly parallel with Amtrak's California Zephyr, from San Francisco all the way into Illinois. In the event of a knee giving out, there was always the back-up of jumping onto a train.
Just in case you are wondering, on the entire ride, I never felt uncomfortable for my safety, even in the most ghetto of areas. I was approached by some pretty rough looking characters but they always treated me with respect and smiles.
STUFF
After returning from 4 months on a bicycle with so little gear and clothing, I wasn't prepared for all the STUFF I have at home. Closets full, boxes full, furniture, .....junk everywhere. Do I really need all this? Is all this necessary?But come the next day, I was fine with it.
Hats off to our Military Servicemen and their Families.
Through their long term dedication and valor, I was allowed the
time to dream,
the inspiration to achieve,
and the safety and freedom to roam.
But then the America I experience on a Velo Safari is the reason for their
noble sacrifice,
isn't it?
HONORING DALE CRANDELL, a Wounded Warrior.
Out of the blue recently, I heard from a man via the miracle of the internet that I had served with over 45 years ago. I know he is at retirement age, yet I still picture him in my mind as that brash and cocky 'boot' private who sported a dazzling smile when he sometimes called me, "Corporal Jack", just to tick me off.
It was great to hear from him after all this time but then I learned what he had sacrificed for his country way back then. I had happily said goodbye to the USMC, rotated out and was back in school when he was hit in both of his legs during a nasty skirmish. Since that time so many years ago, he has spent a major portion of each day bedridden and fighting the pain.
It angers me when I think of the dreams that were robbed from him at such a young age, or when I dwell on the unfairness of his having all the roads to the future close like that. But by chance, any of us could be in his place. Maybe his unfortunate struggle is here to inspire us to live more fully, to derive humility, or to be more thankful for what fate has dealt to us.
This ride was in Honor of the Valor of this long time Hero, and those of his stripe who have been chosen to be examples of courage to all of us.
Dale followed the 2011 Velo Safari via the internet from his home in Seattle, urging me on through thick and thin as I ventured coast to coast. He emailed that I have inspired him to be more serious about his treadmill workouts.
If you are grateful, like I am, for everything he has sacrificed for you and yours, contact Dale. You will be encouraging him through another tough day.
All one need say is,
'Thanks for your service, Marine. Semper Fi.'
dale3001@msn.com
Gene Simmons
Expedition Opening
Hospitality Site Links
Favorite Links
Suggest Stops of Interest for the 2012 North/South Ride
I once came over a hill in lonesome western Nebraska to find that a farmer had placed sculptures on his land created out of old cars and trucks. They were buried every which way, stacked one on top of another or whatever, and as far as the eye could see. It was amazing. I couldn't count the number of vehicles involved.
How many things do we miss like that because no one told us about them?
"IF JACK CAN BICYCLE THIS LAND FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA AT 67, ARE THERE LIMITS?"
I can't be bothered with cell phone calls while riding my bike. I'm too busy making finger gestures to everyone.
Prayer & Remorse
I was going to ask God for a new bike, but I knew He really didn't work that way. So I stole one instead, and have asked for His forgiveness ever since.
P.S.
I have kleptomania, so when it gets bad, I take something for it.
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5/17/2012 4:05:49 AM
