Time to talk about what this trip actually will consist of since some have asked and many have questions. Extreme elevation changes, crazy temperature changes, sheer distances to be traveled and the effects on the body. I want to take some time for this to really sink in. Not just for me but for everyone else who either can not imagine it or just think oh it is just a bike ride. And well yes it actually is just a bike ride I guess. No biggie at all.
Lets start with talking about the distance. The total mileage for the trip is 2974 miles. YES 2974 miles! The trip starts in Jacksonville Florida and ends on the San Diego pier....the rear tire will be dipped in the Atlantic ocean on September 23rd and if everything goes well the rear tire will be dipped into the Pacific around sometime near thanksgiving.
Take into consideration this for those with fit bits. If you take 10,000 steps with an average stride of 2.5 feet your doing 25,000 feet a day or roughly 5 miles a day. So to walk this trip you would need 595 days.
For runners that do marathons that is 129 straight days with a marathon a day. Starting to get the picture why I choose a bike....because with my bike I can average 50 miles a day and sustain it and have the trip done in roughly about 70 days.
For the first 1480 miles the elevation changes only by at the most 150 feet so with a goal of 50 miles per day it is completely doable. After that though things change and change drastically. For the remaining part of my journey through Texas to Roswell New Mexico the elevation climbs to 4,000 feet almost a mile up over about 600 miles. From Roswell to the Grand Canyon another 400 miles the elevation doubles and goes to 8,114 feet that is basically a mile and a half above sea level.....but after that it is almost all down hill till I hit Imperial County California. Where according to the map is basically a vertical road that takes me back up one mile. I may go around that....but again it returns to sea level for the last 150 miles.
The elevation changes are going to be a major hurdle but I look at this way I have something that I really want to do at the Grand Canyon....I have dreamed of doing it since I was in my 20's. As for other stops they will include. Roswell NM because well its Roswell, and here are some others as well Quartsite, Meteor Crater, Mikes Scalawag wharf, The petrified forest, Falling waters, New Orleans, Pensacola Florida, Dallas TX, the middle of the desert and I'm even taking a few days to help out in Baton Rouge.....I'm there so why not help.
For some of my fun stops I will use the road side America App and find some cool things not far off my trip route....maybe I will see the worlds largest ball of yarn. Not to mention I will take a dip in the Mississippi.
Like I said weather and temperature changes are going to be a big factor. The time in the desert will see the worst changes. The southern route is only recommended to be traveled during this time of year....but here are some things I can expect in the desert areas. During the day the temp can get to about 100 and at night drop down to as low 20 degrees (10 BELOW FREEZING). This is where I will have to change out much of my outfits and concentrate on water and what I am wearing. Most of my trip leading up to that area though should be fairly dry and nice temps ranging from 60 to 90 degrees.
Camping is going to be my main stay some of it will be roadside and some will be in campgrounds. Part of the trip will be spent with people involved with warm showers and at least once a week I plan on a hotel stay just to have a bed to crash in. Still other stops along the way are with Friends....the most important of commodities.
My friend David Rhoe is joining me for a few days out of Tallahassee. Samantha Dunning is letting me start my trip from her place. Then there will be other stops with Friends and for those I will eternally grateful. There is also a few planned stops for speaking engagements for the American heart and stroke association. These are in New Orleans and Dallas along with a mid west stop to be determined.
It is estimated that I will burn about 6 to 7 thousand calories a day. I can deplete my salt and electrolytes every hour....hence the reason for the 10 miles take a break mentality. I know it does not seem like a big deal but with that kind of calorie burn I am expected to loose about 40 pounds during the duration of the trip. Anything less then 165 I hit danger zone. That means I am burning to much muscle tissue and since the heart is a muscle that is really not a good thing. My Polar unit hopefully will be able to monitor almost all of that and my doctors can give me feedback.
When salt and electrolytes are depleted things can get very dangerous as well....google them for better answers but I will say I'm pretty good at keeping to my schedule so this is not going to be an issue.
There are other obstacles health wise but actually I do not want to discuss them. There is an inherent risk and there is a reason no one else with my medical issues has done it. But that is actually the least of my concerns....wanting to stop and wearing myself thin is going to be an issue as well. But I have not come this far to stop....there will be times when I need to hear from everyone else so please stay tuned.
So after reading some of this if you still think this is not very epic take another look at it....it is a massive undertaking from a physical and mental standpoint. There is a reason why I will be the first triple survivor to make it. Not only because I want to do my very best and prove to myself and others that being broken does not mean being beaten. But also I need to leave the past where it belongs. And most importantly I need to heal not just emotionally but physically and in turn becoming the man I am supposed to be...there is much riding on this Z(pun intended)....much more then just some distance and a chance to do something epic. I am staking the rest of my life on this trip....I need to learn to love myself enough to know I am worthy by just being me. So I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I will and I look forward to showing you my view of the US.
