Here we go again: 16 days to cycle 1700 lumpy miles solo & unsupported from Seattle to San Diego. Hoping to raise funds for the Royal British Legion & Bloodwise: wheels turn on September 10th...please help these great causes!
Taxi at 3am? Check. Manch Airport looking unbelievably busy even at that ridiculous hour? Check. Total foul-up with trying to get my bike through Security? Er, un-check.
Do. Not. Lose. Or. Damage. This. Please!
Super value at only £380.
Bit grim out there.
Cue 'Eastenders' drum-thuds: duh, duh, duh-duh-duh-duh x 12
I was thirsty alright?
The flight from Heathrow was chocka, but the BA staff were very cheery sorts thankfully and another small/major mercy was that they had a couple of tins of 'Austell IPA' and episodes of 'Curb...' on the terrific IFE. Could have been a lot worse!
In-flight ents are sorted.
Er, Canada.
Spent a fair amount of time here: rehydration & stretching as recommended...
So the moment of truth in Seattle Airport arrives and you loiter around the 'Oversize Baggage' area to see if the bike has made the connection against all the odds.
Turns out I'm not the only eejit in town today: I say hello to Charlie from Manchester, who is also cycling the West Coast too. Sensible bloke though...doing it in a group and taking er, 6 weeks! No wonder he was smiling, hah-hah!
Quick selfie nonsense afore the photo Stasi steamed-in.
Well, well...the bikes duly arrived! Mine in slightly more minimal packaging than anyone else's: think 'the photographic negative of Amazon'...still it did the trick.
After a quick bit of reassembly, it was off down to Crossroads Motel, Sea Tac-style. Dear oh dear, will I never learn? That's rhetorical, before any wise-acre chimes in!
Although one was a tad jaded, it was still only 2pm local time, so I decided to wedge into town via their Light Rail System. Alright Seattle, it's a small, frequent train. Nothing more, hah-hah!
Seeing as how time was tight, I really only wanted to see the Experience Music Project, which was founded by Microsoft co-founder-uber-nerd Mr. Paul Allen, back in 2000.
Back then it focussed on Hendrix but it has expanded quite a bit since then and has now re-branded itself as 'MoPOP': the Museum of Popular Culture. Bit surprised that you had to ask, if I'm honest.
MoPOP baby!
Electric Lady console.
Er, we're only 47 years late.
He & The Experience were all that.
Hellfire! That's a line-up.
As well as Hendrix guff, there was a Mick Rock exhibition and although I had seen some of the prints previously in Manchester, there was plenty to enjoy.
Gotta be a top three DB shot. Ronno ruled!
And then there was also a guitar fandango-thingy too...
Never heard of him. Wholigan!
Good. Lord. As played on 'Layla'.
Good. Lord. Pt.2!
There was one more surprise after that...a Jim Henson-fest! Everyone was shuffling around with superbly dumb and happy grins...excellent!
If you're not saying "Gee, Bert" to yourself now, then please leave.
A mover & a Grover!
Possibly my favourite 'Pets. Class!
Quality control slid a little/lot in later shows.
After that I had only one more target...
Get used to that outfit: that's as good etc.!
Actually, not quite 100% true...I needed grub pronto and after sampling the still-excellent Seattle Light Railway, I was back near to Crossroads and in Sharps Roasthouse and on the right-end of 3500 calories!
First course: fish-cakes. Standard.
Okay then, the real thing starts tomorrow so please keep your fingers crossed...cheers!
A bunch of us from work were able to take part again in Blackpool's 'Ride The Lights' evening last Tuesday: you get to share The Promenade with thousands of other eejits on two wheels (although there were a few on unicycles bombing along!) and see the World Famous Illuminations* up close.
(*That's what it says here, honest.)
Blackpool's North Pier ahoy.
I was just glad to stay upright during the event, what with all the stopping and starting and the odd random manoeuvre!
Although you take your life in your hands, it is a unique experience.
It was both sobering and inspiring to see quite a few amputees taking part too which brought me to mind of the help that your donations give to ex-service men and women. Good on you...
The equally-world famous Big One!
The other Good Cause that we're helping is Bloodwise, and they've designated September as 'Blood Cancer Awareness Month'. Yeah I know- it doesn't sound like a bunch of laughs but the idea is to make people realise what it is and also how treatable it is.
Nope, I didn't know either.
Bloodwise's site has a load of case-studies and patient stories: I don't want to start and cherry-pick from people's real-life experiences, but it is beyond doubt that the money raised does real good.
They put it a little better than I can.
As the time to crack on with this malarkey is almost here, I dropped my bike off with local maestro-mechanic Mr Colin Gardner, who used to look after Bradley Wiggins' bikes once upon a time. Wonder whatever happened to him, then? Oh aye, he got himself a Skoda.
At least Colin is still going strong!
Anyway, my bike is pretty much exactly the same as it was for last year's US trek, save for a new saddle which was a necessary change as I managed to break the existing one a couple of weeks ago. I *am* a bit lighter, honest...em, are you gonna finish that pie?
Six years on and a few trips later, the only original parts left on it are the seat post, collar and shifters. Oh, and the frame. But apart from that...
Lairy bar tape. Will be grey after a day or two!
Funnily enough, my packing list is almost exactly the same too: just take the gels out of this photo and swap out the Combat Stress jersey for a Royal British Legion number and we're all set!
Always that nagging feeling: what have I forgotten/why did I pack so much?
In other (good) news: a few years back I cycled across the US in a supported ride organised by the splendid folks at America By Bicycle, and was thrilled to learn that there is a decent chance that our paths will cross again on this trek. They are doing a similar trip to mine, so I'm looking forward to catching-up somewhere in Oregon. There, that's nailed-down then, hah-hah!
Yep, these panniers add 15kgs, easy!
Okey-dokey, I think we're all set. Your sponsorship has been bang-on yet again, and I hope that we can ease the total north as I go south! See you in a bit...
No doubt you'll have heard of the movie, 'Dunkirk', which was released a month or so back. Quite correctly, it brought that desperate time back into focus and gave an idea of the mayhem, bravery and sacrifices made in our name.
Nope. Ain't seen it either.
As much as we should never forget these landings or the people involved, the British Legion is also about looking forward and trying to help those who served in our Armed Services. Its aims are rehabilitation, transition and trying to give back to lives that have been irreversibly changed in the line of serving Queen and Country, i.e. the rest of us.
Words fail.
It's the rehabilitation and rebuilding of ex-service peoples' lives that is of paramount importance and The Legion is heavily involved in trying to achieve this, both with other service charities and on its own. Of course there is no magic wand or quick fix, unfortunately.
That said, one positive example is the Invictus Games, the third edition of which will take place during September in Toronto. The Invictus Games is a multi-sport event is open to all wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans. The Games are named after 'invictus', the Latin word for 'unconquered' or 'undefeated'.
Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, reveals the team of 90 competitors selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.
The Games will feature over 600 military athletes from 16 countries competing in 12 events including archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Getting involved in sport helps with self-confidence and feeling psychologically empowered- big positives! These significant mental health benefits can be translated outside of sport and into everyday life. The Legion is helping friends and families of the competitors attend these games.
And guess what? Bruce Springsteen has said that he'll perform a few numbers during the closing ceremony...nice one, Boss.
Prince Harry continues to bang the drum on behalf of Veterans.
Like I said earlier, as honourable as the act of remembrance is, it's the help that the affected need now that is at least as important. This includes treating and helping those who are suffering from invisible, psychological wounds (P.T.S.D.) too.
So if you put all that together then I believe that it is a cause worth backing, so good on all you terrific people who have donated already (especially some folks from outside the UK!) and we're almost past the £500 mark. Bravo!
Okay then, back to the nonsense: I have been out-and-about as you'd hope/expect in this glorious weather, and chanced upon some local wildlife...
This guy could be handy at eliciting sponsorship.
Yeah it was breezy as, but at least it's dry!
Desperate times call for deluded measures- I've even joined the local gym for a month in the vain hope of doing myself some good. It's not too bad in all fairness, save for the f**king awful din that they insist on playing over the PA. If you thought that my 'Tune Of The Day' left a bit/lot to be desired, you ain't heard nowt yet. And neither will you!
Wrong gym. Well, that depends doesn't it?
Just over two weeks to go and we'll be away: Google found me a video diary of some bloke from London who did pretty much the same ride last October. After watching 10 minutes the smile disappeared from my face as he got an absolute shoeing from the Weather Gods for days. Ouch!
Grim.
Horrible headwinds, rain and low cloud. I haven't watched any more of that horror show, hah-hah!
Right then, onwards- take it away Wilbert...
Don't think he was related to George. Love this song!
With four weeks until the off, now is the time to start spreading the word and generally harassing otherwise decent, law-abiding folk! Speaking of donations, Mr. Nigel Green was the first onboard in this campaign and his (dubious) reward was to suggest a song or two as 'Tune Of The Day'. Although this responsibility carries tremendous burden'n'great pressure, he certainly came up trumps...
Anyway, apparently some bloke called Einstein* reckoned that one definition of insanity was to repeat the same course of action but to expect a different outcome.
He was talking out of his porthole obviously, as I have booked myself on exactly the same flights as 12 months ago...really hoping that my bike gets a smoother and quicker passage through security at Manchester on this occasion.
(*Turns out the quote is from Narcotics Anonymous!)
Fast Track security lane at Manch Airport.
The issue last time was that the Gesatpo (well, it was one bloke) decided to apply 'hand baggage rules' despite the (quite obvious) fact that the Yellow Peril would never fit in an overhead bin, hah-hah!
Cue the confiscation of chain lube, embrocation, toiletries and odds & sods that were handy to have, and taking so long to process the bike that it missed the flight down to Heathrow, and thus onwards to Seattle. You just *know* that history is gonna repeat itself, right?
The business. Although 'SCRUMPTIOUS' may be pushing it...
One useful discovery from last year's bike ride was just how valuable McDonalds Oatmeal pots are: basically a porridgey-type concoction with bits of apple and raisin thrown into the mix.
Golden Arches/Oatmeal ahoy! Tres bon.
I'll take them over the dreaded honey & nut cereal bars, any day of the week: these bad boys need about 3 litres of water to make them palatable: think Hob Nobs x 100!
Grim but sometimes needs must.
Greenbacks have arrived: this should cover more than a few Oatmeal pots. Alright, and a couple of cold ones too. Hurrah!
I gotta say that despite the inevitable shoeing that the weather & hilly terrain will dish out, I'm really looking forward to the scenery. Here's hoping that I might be able to see something this time, as the lamentable photos below from my trip there in 2001 will bear out, ahem. Nah, it was ace regardless!
These ropey efforts were taken in Sept 2001, just south of Carmel...this is where the recent mudslides began.
As per, I am a *tad* under-cooked/behind schedule with regards to fitness an' all that malarkey. That said, there has been a wee bit of timber shifted which is good news- thanks in part to cutting back on all the finer things e.g. beer, curry, wine, chips and er, ice cream. Speaking of which...
Saw this work of genius in Bangor's Ward Park recently. *Doffs hat*!
Along with a few photos from recent efforts around the locale:
"You Townies don't understand country ways."
A few of these beauties feature in the movie 'Dunkirk'. A pal saw it but was disappointed: he was expecting a William Shatner biopic...
Had fun getting through this nonsense recently. When's Summer?
Passing the protestors at the anti-fracking site near me...
Okay then, I'll leave you in peace for a couple of weeks, blog-wise: if you feel inclined, please share this around, spread the word and hopefully that might bring in another fiver or so and help Bloodwise and The Royal British Legion. Good on you!
BIG thanks from Bloodwise and The Royal British Legion. Bravo!
They need & deserve our help.
Go on Ben!
And here is The Real Deal: when Mr. Chester Burnett sang this number, it *stayed* sung. Wow!
