So good day folks. Check out PabloveAcrossAmerica.com to DONATE...and to check out our itinerary for the ride this year.
I am getting ready, but I am not fit to help the guys out much this year...I am thin, but I haven't had the riding this year, so we'll see how we go. The crew will be the same (mostly) as last year. We have a different driver and chef. This year, Stan and I will both be doing soigneur duties and Chad will be our wrench for most of the ride...SRAM had to pull him out for a couple of things. Also...this year, we have donating guests to ride with Jeff and Rick. Should be great.
I got my stuff packed, and my guitar going, and I am ready to rock out...you know.
The hand is doing pretty well now, though it won't support full-time work, I am working just under 20 hours of massage a week, so 80% of full-time work prior to the crash. But I think I am ready for Pablove 2010 Seattle to L.A. Can't wait to roll into Portland.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, October 22, 2009
alright...
Let's catch up again, damn old hotels have no serivce...
Last 2 days I got to ride with the gents, and did 100 yesterday, and 91 today. Yesterday was good, really good weather, no sun, overcast. Rode hard and kept the wind off the guys as much as I could, rolled it up and had a ball. Today was rainy and colder, but equally as nice. Kept the winds off the guys as much as possible again... Had a blast with them again, and just enjoyed giving them a good day nice and easy. My legs were a bit better today, as yesterday I dealt with riding after several days off. But I came around again and I felt pretty damn good. The rain felt good, and Chad actually said I look fit...
The hotels have been really up and down lately....yesterday was good, and today isn't bad. Last night Chad and I went to bed early, about 8am. I watched some tele, "Hogan's Heroes" and "MASH", that was cool.
Not much other than that to say. We have a real short day tomorrow, 48, then we get to go to the Children's Hospital in Houston and hang out on the Cancer/serious illness ward. El Jeffe is gonna talk to the kids and parents about Pablo and his legacy and what he is doing with Pablove. We're taking the kids Pablove hats and bottles and stickers. It should be fun.
See you later. Check in when I can. Sorry I haven't had more funny stories...had my behind on the saddle a bunch.
Last 2 days I got to ride with the gents, and did 100 yesterday, and 91 today. Yesterday was good, really good weather, no sun, overcast. Rode hard and kept the wind off the guys as much as I could, rolled it up and had a ball. Today was rainy and colder, but equally as nice. Kept the winds off the guys as much as possible again... Had a blast with them again, and just enjoyed giving them a good day nice and easy. My legs were a bit better today, as yesterday I dealt with riding after several days off. But I came around again and I felt pretty damn good. The rain felt good, and Chad actually said I look fit...
The hotels have been really up and down lately....yesterday was good, and today isn't bad. Last night Chad and I went to bed early, about 8am. I watched some tele, "Hogan's Heroes" and "MASH", that was cool.
Not much other than that to say. We have a real short day tomorrow, 48, then we get to go to the Children's Hospital in Houston and hang out on the Cancer/serious illness ward. El Jeffe is gonna talk to the kids and parents about Pablo and his legacy and what he is doing with Pablove. We're taking the kids Pablove hats and bottles and stickers. It should be fun.
See you later. Check in when I can. Sorry I haven't had more funny stories...had my behind on the saddle a bunch.
Monday, October 19, 2009
easy in the big easy
Alright, so had a couple days off in our layover here in New Orleans. It's been relaxing. Yesterday (Sun.), Chad-O and I drove around all over in the SRAM car checkin out the sights. Had an alligator sausage omelette (awesome) and pretty much saw lots o' cool stuff. Saw lots of drunkards as we got up real early to go and do laundry...
in fact...one young-ish guy came up to me and said (cue slurred speech and alcohol smell and really, really traumatized look on the face)..."ummm, could you help me?". I said "yeah, what's up?".
him "Are you from around here"
me "uhh...no, I got here about 15 hours ago"
him "Can you help me find my hotel?"
me "uhhh...no, I don't live here. But, my hotel is right here, why don't you go in and ask them where it is"
him "I am so humiliated and embarassed..."
me "uhhhhh...do you....really think this is the first time someone has lost their hotel?"
him "I'm...I'm...I'm just gonna keep walking."
So, I watch him walk back towards the French Quarter, weaving and asking others where his hotel is. Later, Chad-O and I find his hotel...about 2 blocks from ours, but the OTHER direction. Nice. Ahhhhhh....the craziness of youth...I was only slightly jealous...haha.
So, I met my friend, Sara Roahen, and she's a food writer, and wrote a book about New Orleans eating and cooking, called "GUMBO TALES"...you should buy it. She just had a little pip, a son. It was awesome to see her, and as a bonus I saw her sister and her husband. They were both a couple years behind Sara and I...we haven't seen each other since we walked off the pitch in 1989. Anyway, it was cool.
Today Chad-O and I took El Cheffe, Amy on a ride around and went out to a Biggggg ol' plantation. It was really cool. Then we walked the quarter, it was real tame in the afternoon. But, we need to be tame, we pull out tomorrow early. Another hundred mile day.....
Don't forget to follow at Pablove.org to see video and to leave them some money...it's for a wonderful cause. And we'll roll to Austin.
Cheers.
in fact...one young-ish guy came up to me and said (cue slurred speech and alcohol smell and really, really traumatized look on the face)..."ummm, could you help me?". I said "yeah, what's up?".
him "Are you from around here"
me "uhh...no, I got here about 15 hours ago"
him "Can you help me find my hotel?"
me "uhhh...no, I don't live here. But, my hotel is right here, why don't you go in and ask them where it is"
him "I am so humiliated and embarassed..."
me "uhhhhh...do you....really think this is the first time someone has lost their hotel?"
him "I'm...I'm...I'm just gonna keep walking."
So, I watch him walk back towards the French Quarter, weaving and asking others where his hotel is. Later, Chad-O and I find his hotel...about 2 blocks from ours, but the OTHER direction. Nice. Ahhhhhh....the craziness of youth...I was only slightly jealous...haha.
So, I met my friend, Sara Roahen, and she's a food writer, and wrote a book about New Orleans eating and cooking, called "GUMBO TALES"...you should buy it. She just had a little pip, a son. It was awesome to see her, and as a bonus I saw her sister and her husband. They were both a couple years behind Sara and I...we haven't seen each other since we walked off the pitch in 1989. Anyway, it was cool.
Today Chad-O and I took El Cheffe, Amy on a ride around and went out to a Biggggg ol' plantation. It was really cool. Then we walked the quarter, it was real tame in the afternoon. But, we need to be tame, we pull out tomorrow early. Another hundred mile day.....
Don't forget to follow at Pablove.org to see video and to leave them some money...it's for a wonderful cause. And we'll roll to Austin.
Cheers.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
day 6 and 7
Yesterday did 49 after the transfer to the ferry. Very windy and up and down and up and down across Mobile Bay. Dauphine Island to the mainland. Had a couple of guest riders, Joe the Skull and Deirmuid (I think I spelled it right)....and the gents had to cut the ride a bit shorter, since it was blowing about 40 mph solid wind. The ferry was cancelled after our crossing, so we got really lucky to get across.
The guys rolled pretty easy, and Chad and I napped off and on in the car. Today was a harder day, as the four riders rolled pretty good into New Orleans (Naw-lins). 108 miles on the bike today. Chad and I rolled behind, as usual, and stopped at a grrrrreat BBQ joint. Had a big 'ol pork sandwich and baked beans and cole slaw...mmmmmmm. Chad had a rack-a-ribs, and slept a bit.
Rolled into Naw-lins and wow. wow. wow. Saw several boats laying in the trees on the side of the roads, and many old foundations empty and sad looking. And some very sad looking humanity...people are down and out. Really out. And lots of drunk loud non-funny people wandering the Quarter. That will probably be me before too long...
Have a 2 day layover here in Naw-lins, and I hope to see a high school friend who is an author and lives here. But, she did just have a baby, so we'll see if we can swing it.
More later.
The guys rolled pretty easy, and Chad and I napped off and on in the car. Today was a harder day, as the four riders rolled pretty good into New Orleans (Naw-lins). 108 miles on the bike today. Chad and I rolled behind, as usual, and stopped at a grrrrreat BBQ joint. Had a big 'ol pork sandwich and baked beans and cole slaw...mmmmmmm. Chad had a rack-a-ribs, and slept a bit.
Rolled into Naw-lins and wow. wow. wow. Saw several boats laying in the trees on the side of the roads, and many old foundations empty and sad looking. And some very sad looking humanity...people are down and out. Really out. And lots of drunk loud non-funny people wandering the Quarter. That will probably be me before too long...
Have a 2 day layover here in Naw-lins, and I hope to see a high school friend who is an author and lives here. But, she did just have a baby, so we'll see if we can swing it.
More later.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Day 5
Well, here I am in Foley, AL...I wasn't able to get on yesterday, so let me catch you up...
Day 5 (yesterday) did 100+ miles. I got to ride with El Jeffe (Jeff) and Rick (Coach B). I wanted to keep them out of the wind and give them an easy ride since I don't have to ride all the way, and they do...
So.......we wake up and it's rainy. NOT raining, but rainy. however, as soon as we left, it started to rain. Pretty hard, but it felt like home, so it was cool. It rained for about a third of the ride, off and on hard. I sat at the front as much as I could to give them an easy day. Jeff wanted to goose it a little, so I kept the tempo 20-22mph. I maybe pulled 70 semi-windy miles of it, and I think it was really nice. It was fun for me to help them out, and just sitting up there and riding tempo is always nice. We did have three flats, one each, just to make sure Chad-O wasn't getting tooooo sleeepy back in the SRAM car. 2 tires had monster cuts and had to be thrown away, so that sucked. But it was enjoyable.
We were told we couldn't ride into Pensacola, so we shuttled in the SRAM car. Had a nice hotel...no cockroaches and all was good.
This morning was a short day, and I decided to ride with the gents as we rolled 45 into Alabama (or FlorAbama as the locals call it...hmmmm.) Anyway, a nice easy small ring day, and I got to dip my feet into the Gulf of Mexico, SOOOOO that means that I had my feet in the Pacific, the Gulf, and the Atlantic all in one year. Righteous.
So...funny stories...uhhhhh....let's see...A sing for a "Mullet Festival", 2 "gun show" signs mingled amongst about 30 church signs, a sign for "Driver Licenses", and a few people who...let's just say....a few people. But I did forget to mention, a couple of nights ago, I was in bed watching "Star Wars" on cable and Chad was surfing the net...our hotel room phone rang. It was a women without a southern accent, so I assume it's El Cheffe, our Chef, Amy. She says "What room are you in?". I say "118". She says "Is there a bunch of Mexican guys out front?"...hmmm. I said "ahh....no, I don't think there's a bunch of Mexicans out front". She says "Do you want any company tonight...?". And I bust out laughing which pisses her off, and I say "ahhh....no I don't think I need any company tonite". She quickly hangs up...
Ahhh....life on the road. Dig it.
Day 5 (yesterday) did 100+ miles. I got to ride with El Jeffe (Jeff) and Rick (Coach B). I wanted to keep them out of the wind and give them an easy ride since I don't have to ride all the way, and they do...
So.......we wake up and it's rainy. NOT raining, but rainy. however, as soon as we left, it started to rain. Pretty hard, but it felt like home, so it was cool. It rained for about a third of the ride, off and on hard. I sat at the front as much as I could to give them an easy day. Jeff wanted to goose it a little, so I kept the tempo 20-22mph. I maybe pulled 70 semi-windy miles of it, and I think it was really nice. It was fun for me to help them out, and just sitting up there and riding tempo is always nice. We did have three flats, one each, just to make sure Chad-O wasn't getting tooooo sleeepy back in the SRAM car. 2 tires had monster cuts and had to be thrown away, so that sucked. But it was enjoyable.
We were told we couldn't ride into Pensacola, so we shuttled in the SRAM car. Had a nice hotel...no cockroaches and all was good.
This morning was a short day, and I decided to ride with the gents as we rolled 45 into Alabama (or FlorAbama as the locals call it...hmmmm.) Anyway, a nice easy small ring day, and I got to dip my feet into the Gulf of Mexico, SOOOOO that means that I had my feet in the Pacific, the Gulf, and the Atlantic all in one year. Righteous.
So...funny stories...uhhhhh....let's see...A sing for a "Mullet Festival", 2 "gun show" signs mingled amongst about 30 church signs, a sign for "Driver Licenses", and a few people who...let's just say....a few people. But I did forget to mention, a couple of nights ago, I was in bed watching "Star Wars" on cable and Chad was surfing the net...our hotel room phone rang. It was a women without a southern accent, so I assume it's El Cheffe, our Chef, Amy. She says "What room are you in?". I say "118". She says "Is there a bunch of Mexican guys out front?"...hmmm. I said "ahh....no, I don't think there's a bunch of Mexicans out front". She says "Do you want any company tonight...?". And I bust out laughing which pisses her off, and I say "ahhh....no I don't think I need any company tonite". She quickly hangs up...
Ahhh....life on the road. Dig it.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
day 4...and caught up.
I drove the SRAM car with Chad and Amy following El Jefe and Coach B. Relaxing route and drove nice.
A funny story. I filled the car up and went in to pay. And what did I see. A woman about 5' 4" and 300-325 showing her belly and chest to another customer and talking about her tan. It was really crazy. She was talking to him, and he was verifying, that she had a really great tan from the last few days of sun. The sight was simply breathtaking. Wow. I really do love the south. and for those of you that don't know me well, I am dripping with sarcasm.
Oh, and yesterday, Jeff and I stopped at a Starducks (again, NOT a typo) to get coffee. A what? you say...Well, in the little town of Hawthorne, Jeff was just talking about coffee, and lo and behold there was an "Expresso" place called "Starducks". Jeff talked to the locals and got 2 shots over ice. The locals were really puzzled that he didn't want any flavors, and that he just wanted 2 shots....very odd. Expresso. And it sure wasn't Stumptown.
Our hotel today is AWESOME. Chad is convinced the room is clean...and cockroach free. He hasn't ransacked the room yet...but he may. Though he is equally convinced that I am going to find a cockroach and plant it in the room to make sure I get a room to myself again...hahah...and I just might.
Tomorrow I get to ride 128 with the gentlemen. mmmmm. I love it. I'll only be a little tired, but that's awesome. 128 is epic.
I'll let you know how it comes out.
cheers.
I drove the SRAM car with Chad and Amy following El Jefe and Coach B. Relaxing route and drove nice.
A funny story. I filled the car up and went in to pay. And what did I see. A woman about 5' 4" and 300-325 showing her belly and chest to another customer and talking about her tan. It was really crazy. She was talking to him, and he was verifying, that she had a really great tan from the last few days of sun. The sight was simply breathtaking. Wow. I really do love the south. and for those of you that don't know me well, I am dripping with sarcasm.
Oh, and yesterday, Jeff and I stopped at a Starducks (again, NOT a typo) to get coffee. A what? you say...Well, in the little town of Hawthorne, Jeff was just talking about coffee, and lo and behold there was an "Expresso" place called "Starducks". Jeff talked to the locals and got 2 shots over ice. The locals were really puzzled that he didn't want any flavors, and that he just wanted 2 shots....very odd. Expresso. And it sure wasn't Stumptown.
Our hotel today is AWESOME. Chad is convinced the room is clean...and cockroach free. He hasn't ransacked the room yet...but he may. Though he is equally convinced that I am going to find a cockroach and plant it in the room to make sure I get a room to myself again...hahah...and I just might.
Tomorrow I get to ride 128 with the gentlemen. mmmmm. I love it. I'll only be a little tired, but that's awesome. 128 is epic.
I'll let you know how it comes out.
cheers.
day 3
Coach Rick and I split the day, and I rode aobut 40-ish. It was nice, El Jefe, Jeff, kept ramping it up on me, egging me on....jeez this guy is still giddy and fired up...coming into Tallahassee was great. I always wanted more tatoos and the 15 or so cars that left paint on my elbows helped. (that was sarcasm...noone touched me, but it was close.) Jeez.
I ride this thing like Secret Service, and make Jeff be near the gutter, in case we have a car issue. I try and protect him as I can. But these Florida drivers are fairly aggro. Relax people.
Again, Jeff and I had some great chats, some laughs, some serious, some fast sections...some easy riding. Saw a sweet armadillo that had been dead awhile, and it looked like his hide was nice and dried...ready to be made into a sweeeeeeeeet wallet. But...where would I carry it?
Did massages, made bottles...the usual. Great times, nice hotel. EXCEPT...Chad pulled his sheets back and saw a "Cockroach Piece" under his sheets...I was fine, I just didn't look too close. I slept deep. Watched a little TV as well, which is always a treat. Saw "Major League", the Andy Griffith show, MASH...ahhh old school. Oh...and Amy found a giant cockroach in her bed, so she slept in the RV...and Chad saw a cockroach crawling into his Thule rack box on his car. He is unhappy...
I ride this thing like Secret Service, and make Jeff be near the gutter, in case we have a car issue. I try and protect him as I can. But these Florida drivers are fairly aggro. Relax people.
Again, Jeff and I had some great chats, some laughs, some serious, some fast sections...some easy riding. Saw a sweet armadillo that had been dead awhile, and it looked like his hide was nice and dried...ready to be made into a sweeeeeeeeet wallet. But...where would I carry it?
Did massages, made bottles...the usual. Great times, nice hotel. EXCEPT...Chad pulled his sheets back and saw a "Cockroach Piece" under his sheets...I was fine, I just didn't look too close. I slept deep. Watched a little TV as well, which is always a treat. Saw "Major League", the Andy Griffith show, MASH...ahhh old school. Oh...and Amy found a giant cockroach in her bed, so she slept in the RV...and Chad saw a cockroach crawling into his Thule rack box on his car. He is unhappy...
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