SpokEasy

SpokEasy

bicycling

Island Hopping

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Island Hopping This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Island hopping, I suppose, would be the name of the game if you did a bicycle trip around Indonesia. After all, there are thousands of islands in this country. With all those islands, there’s plenty to see. If group touring is your thing, this tour of eight days on Bali might fit the bill. It takes you past rice paddies; volcanoes; and temples. Explore caves; get a glimpse of how Indonesia’s ordinary folk live; and visit some hot springs.  There’s some pretty stiff climbing involved; on at least one day you’ll be riding around the crater of a volcano. I suppose that includes riding up there! Also, be prepared for the humidity, especially if you choose to visit Bali between October and April. I’m used to a humid climate; but for all  know Bali’s climate is even more humid. If you want to explore Indonesia by bicycle, on your own, it’s only fair to make note of the difficulties you might encounter. Depending on where in Indonesia you are, mountain grades might be 20+%! I wonder, are such climbs harder as an individual cyclist; or as part of a tandem team? Are the mountains that steep everywhere in Indonesia? How about Lombok? From the heights of Mt. Rinjani (yet another volcano!) to beautiful beaches, Lombok has a lot to explore. Pedal uphill and down; visit a black-sand beach; roll past rice paddies. Those islands are only a tiny part of Indonesia. If you’re interested in island hopping, though, those three are a start. ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Holiday Food December 16, 2023 Glad I’m Home December 15, 2023 Getting Wild December 14, 2023 Sooner or Later December 13, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Island Hopping Read More »

Hong Kong

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Hong Kong This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Do you want to try pedaling  around Hong Kong? This island has something for everyone. Hong Kong’s various cycling routes can take you to temples and cafés; fish ponds and coastlines. For a family-friendly tour, try the Tung Chung to Sunny Bay route. Roads are quiet, and you have beautiful views of the coast. In contrast, the Peak to Shek O trail offers rugged MTB riding. You’ll want to take a Camel-Bak for this one! The Chi Ma Wan tour offers many views of the sea; and on the Cheung Chau route, you can explore Hong Kong’s back streets. The climate is subtropical. Winters are very mild; and Summers are hot; muggy; and rainy. October through early December is when the weather is apt to be the most pleasant. It does get cool enough for long sleeves and long pants; take a jacket, too. Once again, I come to the Thou Shalt Not aspect of visiting any foreign country. Here are a few: Do not be a “snail”. No problem. I’ve always been in a hurry! Don’t bring only casual wear. If  you want to try some upscale restaurants, or visit temples, this makes sense. Don’t stay on Hong Kong the whole time. It would be interesting to see other islands, too. Don’t go outside if a typhoon hits. Sort of like with hurricanes. Don’t overdo sun exposure. Use that sunblock! Don’t break any laws. That should go without saying. Be sure you inform yourself about local laws. What might get you a mere warning in the USA might get you thrown into prison in another country. I’d guess that last one includes cycling rules; so brush up on those, too. Then choose your route and enjoy the ride. ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Holiday Food December 16, 2023 Glad I’m Home December 15, 2023 Getting Wild December 14, 2023 Sooner or Later December 13, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Hong Kong Read More »

Oh, Quit Whining!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Oh Quit Whining! Quit whining? Who’s whining during a bicycle ride? Okay, I get grumpy when I’m riding and it’s cold; and it starts to pour; and I’m buffeted by fierce gusts of wind.  There’s also wining, for those so inclined. Yes, the California Wine Country Bike Tour. Over seven days, ride past vineyards and sample wines in Napa and Sonoma. Ride through eucalyptus groves. View Bodega Bay, and ride along the Russian River. Along the way, enjoy delicious meals and relax in spas. Stand in awe before the redwoods in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. On a side note, we visited Sequoia National Park when I was a kid. My memories of it are pretty vague, but I do remember how tall those trees are. The branches don’t begin until so far up, that I had to tip my head way back to see them! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to ride a bicycle through such a forest? These daily route options are interesting. Mileage-wise, I think “Active” would best suit me. The elevation gains, however, might not. It depends on how steep those elevation gains are. The California Wine Country Bike Tour is fully supported, including use of some bicycles; some models require an extra rental fee. If you want to bring your own bike, that’s OK, too. I think I’d want to bring my own, despite the hassle and the cost of a bicycle flight case. In my opinion, it’s wise to do a long tour on a bicycle that you’re well accustomed to using. I wouldn’t want to have somebody tell me to quit whining, when I’m griping because the bike doesn’t feel right. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Oh, Quit Whining! Read More »

Bluegrass

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Bluegrass BLUEgrass? I always thought grass was green! Kentucky is known for bluegrass; and for racehorses. But horses aren’t the only things there with saddles! The Commonwealth is supposed to be great for cycling tours; or for cycling in general. Cycling advocacy groups and clubs are abundant. Six hundred miles of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail run through the state, with plenty to see and do. How about Mammoth Cave? Visit the cave, the longest known cave system in the world. Try out some of the park’s biking trails. Roadies may ride paved roads that are open to the public. Unpaved administrative roads are open to MTB riders. If distilleries are you cup of, er, tea, follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You’ll get to tour a horse racetrack; spend a night in Shaker Village; visit some of the country’s best whiskey-makers; and even try a sample or two. The fifth and final day includes a visit to the horse farm that produced more than one Triple Crown winner! For horse lovers, there’s the Horsey Hundred ride. This scenic and challenging century rolls through the beautiful Bluegrass region. In Kentucky, there’s terrain varying from the swampy lowlands of the southeastern part of the state; to rolling hills; to the Appalachian Mountains. It sounds wonderful. Maybe I should consider living there? And, of course, cycling there! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Bluegrass Read More »

Taiwan

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Taiwan This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Bicycle touring needn’t be “adults only”. This tour in Taiwan can let the entire family get in on the act. Over five days and four nights, you’ll cover 90 km (about 56 mi), with a wide diversity of things to see and do: mountain roads and beaches; hot springs and an aquarium. For a bigger adventure, there’s the Bicycle Adventures tour of the island. Over eleven days, ride alongside the eastern coast; and test your mettle pedaling through Taroko Gorge. (Or get a boost from an e-bike if necessary!) See rice paddies and aboriginal villages; visit temples and meet some of the local folk. Along the way, enjoy the local cuisine. This tour is well-supported; all you have to do is ride. When planning a bicycle tour, don’t forget to check its difficulty. You don’t want your longed-for trip to turn into The Bicycle Ride from H*** if it turns out to be too hard for you. Naturally, choose the right bike. If  I were going on such a tour, and didn’t have the luxury of a support vehicle, I’d probably want a touring bike, complete with rack, panniers, etc. If there were such a SAG wagon to back up the group, I could use my road bike. Taiwan might not be on everybody’s radar; but that could be a good reason to do a cycling tour there. You know, go now and beat the crowd.   ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Joyeux Noël! December 21, 2023 Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 20, 2023 Christmas Past December 20, 2023 Relearning December 19, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Taiwan Read More »

Kettle Moraine

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Kettle Moraine Huh? Kettle moraine? What kind of cookware is that? Actually, the Kettle Moraine is a geological formation in the State of Wisconsin. If you’re a mountain-biking enthusiast, it has possibilities for you! The trails range in difficulty from easy to difficult. Try the Brown Loop for an easy ride, 1.25 miles of mostly flat trails. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Blue Loop; 12 miles of trail with hard climbs and at least one very rocky section.  On my road bike, 12 miles is nothing as far as distance is concerned. But that climbing would do me in! I’ll happily stick to flatter trails. If your tastes don’t lean towards cycling, Kettle Moraine also offers camping. The Pinewoods Campground, in the Southern Unit, sounds wonderful: a 24-hour quiet zone! It’s so hard these days to find real quiet. Ottawa Lake sounds good too; it has special provisions for campers who have disabilities. Whitewater Lake? Maybe not after a long day’s cycling. Not with no showers on hand! The Northern Unit, too, has some great sites. Mauthe Lake and Long Lake both have access for people with disabilities. Greenbush is open to group campers up to 40 persons; New Prospect is for horse riders. Kettle Moraine offers a lot of variety; but “kettle” still sounds like cooking to me. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Kettle Moraine Read More »

Wet and Wild

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Wet and Wild Singin’ in the Rain? (With apologies to Gene Kelly) Wet and Wild — not! As expected, it was raining this morning. The temperature was in the low 60s. It wasn’t raining particularly hard; but it still wouldn’t have been pleasant for a bicycle ride. So I’m glad I rode yesterday. No alarm clock this morning! I was very tired, and didn’t even get up until 9 am; very late for me. As I wasn’t trying to get out the door and onto the saddle, I did other things that too often get pushed aside. Cooking, for instance; although nothing à la Feed Zone. I made what I call “squashed sauce”; chopped squash (zucchini today), onions, and garlic cooked in canned tomatoes. I also threw in about a cupful of red enchilada sauce that I had in the fridge, and that needed to be used up. While the sauce was cooking, I washed out my new cycling shorts and a pair of leg warmers. After that I had to sally forth to pick up a refill from the drug store. I would have liked to ride the hybrid over there, just to get some movement into my legs; but the strip mall where the store is located is situated between two streets that flood when it rains. Thus I walked to the store. Sure enough, both streets were awash. Now, at 1 pm, the rain seems to be over. It’s still overcast, though, so I can’t be certain. There isn’t much wind, so it’s not exactly wet and wild, is it?

Wet and Wild Read More »

Skyline DRIVE?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Skyline DRIVE? Skyline Drive runs the length of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I remember we went over at least part of it on one of our Summer road trips when I was a kid. We stopped to look down into the Shenandoah Valley. I took a photo of it, which is probably still around here somewhere. Looking at it, I always thought of the song. Oh, and how’s this for a memory? For the first time, we saw a live skunk. Isn’t a shame that the skunk has such an unsavory reputation? It’s really a pretty animal. This one was ambling along near the road; heading home to sleep the day away, I suppose. Enough about driving now. How would it be if we could leave the car behind and bicycle that route? It’s not the easiest road, and isn’t for the beginning cyclist. Neither would it be a good choice for a cyclist whose climbing legs aren’t so good (here’s looking at me!). Taken from North to South, the route is 105 miles; and there is almost 15,000 feet of elevation gain, including 19 categorized climbs. To balance this out, there are numerous scenic overlooks; remember to take along the camera and get some great shots. Take from South to North, this road “has another jagged profile”. With all that climbing to do, a compact crank setis recommended. Be sure to bring along sufficient hydration and fuel. You might even want to split the distance into two days. If I were crazy enough to try a bicycle ride with so much climbing, I might need three or four days! Finally, check the weather ahead of time. Skyline Drive might close during bad weather. But if you have fair weather, enjoy pedaling your way through the Blue Ridge Mountains! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Skyline DRIVE? Read More »

With Hoe and Spade?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

With Hoe and Spade? Why with hoe and spade? New Jersey is the Garden State, that’s why! New Jersey, like so many states, has some beautiful countryside. Why not see it from the saddle of a bicycle? A variety of tours are available; among them Farm to Table tours. I think it would be interesting to visit a small-scale farm, and see how they do things; sort of how-does-your-garden-grow. How is the soil prepared for planting in the first place? How do they decide what crops to plant; and when? Do they practice crop rotation? What do they do to minimize use of toxic pest control agents? I might even get some good ideas in case I can one day have a garden of my own. For would-be gardeners out there, wouldn’t it be neat if you could hook up your bike to a rototiller? You could prepare the soil for planting without burning fossil fuel; and get some good exercise into the bargain! The catch is, how does one keep the rows straight? I bet I, for one, would have some difficulty riding in a straight line. I couldn’t do much with hoe and spade to correct those crooked rows. I guess the tomatoes and kale wouldn’t care, but it wouldn’t satisfy aesthetics. Anyway, let’s get ready to roll through New Jersey; and when we’re ready for a break, we can enjoy taking our ease in some country gardens. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

With Hoe and Spade? Read More »

At Bay?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

At Bay? “At bay” sounds like a hunter’s quarry that’s been cornered by the dogs. We can twist the meaning to say, “on a body of water”. How about a self-guided bicycle tour of Connecticut’s coastal villages? You’ll be at the water’s edge; that is to say, “at bay”. The web site cyclenewengland dot com (alas, not secure) offers tours lasting from three to 10 days. There’s the six-day one described below. I think I’d enjoy the maritime exhibits at Mystic Seaport. Stonington village has a lighthouse museum; I bet I’d enjoy seeing that, too. Bluff Point State Park is another highlight. This nature preserve has abundant opportunities for recreation. An optional loop allows you to visit Groton, where the Submarine Force museum is located. A shuttle ride takes you to visit Conanicut Island and Jamestown, where you can ride alongside the rocky coastline. At day’s end, the shuttle takes  you to Providence. Next day you can take a ride to Colt State Park, enjoying several views of Narragansett Bay along the way. The final day’s loop will let you visit Slater Mill, where the American Industrial Revolution was born. Sounds good for the history buff. Daily routes vary from 13-53 miles. Most of the routes are easy to moderate. Bringing your own bike is recommended; preferably one that allows a comfortable riding position. Weather is always changing, so bring clothing that will allow layering. New England is one part of the USA that I haven’t visited. I think this would be a great way to do it — but it would be a VERY long ride to get up there! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

At Bay? Read More »