Before I left home in March, I had many goodbyes with friends and family. I knew that I would miss my five-year-old niece and two-year-old nephew the most, and was sure I would cry when saying goodbye. And I did. As I held my nephew, he stuck his tongue out to lick the tears on my cheek, an interesting way of saying goodbye. I will never forget that moment.
My niece and nephew are a huge reason why my cycling journey is in raising funds for childhood cancer research. They have never been ill, but they could be just as much as any other child. In addition to starting off this ride by donating $50 on behalf of each of them, I am still in with a pledge of $0.50 per each mile cycled, and we are going to see how many miles that will be. I want you to join me by donating whatever amount you are able!
Look out cancer: The Mighty T is coming for you! Meagan is one of the several dozen people who have achieved complete remission by having their immune system engineered to rid her body of cancer. Meet her and hear her story in this video:
Friends, how incredible is that!? After multiple relapses following current treatments available, it was reprogrammed T cells that did what other treatments could not.
More than 90% of children and young adults are in remission after treatment as part of clinical trials at Seattle Children's for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
With your generosity, it isn't difficult to imagine a day in the not too distant future when being cured of childhood cancer is no worse than feeling like you have a cold for a couple of days.
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo below.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
I arrived in Glasgow last night.
Today will be a rest day from cycling. And from gravel trails and tire punctures.
I sleep in until 11:00am, the longest I have slept in since leaving home. This would actually not be uncommon for me at home on a weekend, not going lie. Yesterday reversed the previous four days of rest.
I take a slow morning, even having a hot shower simply because it feels good since I am sore.
In the afternoon, I take the bus across town to the Gibson Street Gala, a music and art festival. It is of pretty significant size with the streets blocked off.
From there I go to a nearby church, but it is closed for the evening service today. I am directed to another church, which started at the same time, so once I arrive it has already begun. Afterward I head to dinner on a bus.
I almost walk out from dinner without paying. The service is so bad I can't even pay! I didn't receive the bill for quite a while so I walk up to the register to pay. The waitress acts too busy and directs me to pay at the bar. Then at the bar I have to wait for everyone already there to get drinks! I give them an ultimatum of walking out right then, and then they let me pay.
I’ve been having a cold that started on Thursday in Edinburgh, it has become exponentially worse throughout today. I’m in bed at 11:20pm.
Monday, June 1, 2015
I wake at 8:00am. My sinuses are very clogged. I blow my nose and all sorts of nasty comes out, the amount that no one can really understand how it can all be in there. I’m feeling so tired. I sleep until 10:30am, but I meant to be up for the day before this.
In the afternoon I head out by bus. My first stop is the Riverside Museum, which is focused around transportation. There is a three-masted tall ship in the harbour, measuring 245 feet (75 meters) that was built in 1896. Inside the museum are full-size train cars, dozens of old cars (Rolls Royce Phantom II from 1931), full size buses and trolleys, dozens of motorcycles, horse drawn carriages, bicycles (even a 4-person bike), a motorized bicycle from 1903, a subway car, a fire engine from 1906, fire trucks from the 1940s and 1960s, an ambulance, and many models of ships.
Next I go to the Kelvin Grove Art Galley and Museum and onto St. Andrews Cathedral. On the way back to where I am staying, I make a stop to buy groceries. Once back, I clean my bike chain very well, so well that it can't be cleaned further.
I head down to the café at the street, the one where I picked up the keys for the place I am staying when I arrived two nights ago. I meet Wendy there, who I briefly met in Tongue at St. Andrew’s Church, the morning when I arrived to the town my ancestors left. She was there for the weekend to climb munros and lives in Glasgow.
Wendy is climbing 70 munros this year. Munro is the term used in Scotland for mountain, with a mountain being 3,000 feet (914 meters) or taller. Yeah, 70 of them! On behalf of the organization she works for, she has been the lead planner and is climbing every one of the 70 as others join, whether that be for just one, or as many as they can do. It is a fundraiser for the organization Christian Aid, which works to eradicate the causes of poverty worldwide. #70munros
I would absolutely love to do all that climbing. But I am loving my cycling journey and would not trade it.
After dinner and a great time at the café, I head up to where I am staying to pack and am to bed at midnight.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
I wake at 7:00am. I am all clogged up and my throat is sore. I do not need this.
Are you ready for today? Well, that is the question I asked myself.
At 9:08am, it’s raining when I leave, what a farewell.
At 9:36am, my route comes onto National Cycling Route 75 that follows the River Clyde out of town. A few miles later the rain stops.
Just after 10:00am, I arrive into Cambuslang and take a quick break to drink water. The route has been pretty protected and there has mostly been no wind, with some 5-10 mph (8-16 km) at times, but not for long. Since leaving Glasgow, I have cycled 7.7 miles (12.4 km) at a pace of 7.83 mph (12.60 km/h).
I pass through Newton at 10:26am and not too long later I stop to check my route. I am not where I should be! I decide to take a break for second breakfast. I eat a sandwich and half of a medium-sized red velvet cake that I bought yesterday at the grocery store. I need the calories and it was delicious. I am on the way again at 11:00am, having cycled 4.6 miles (7.4 km) at a pace of 8.36 mph (13.46 km/h) since Cambuslang.
Red velvet cake for second breakfast.
Google maps takes me on an (unkind word) detour. First, the route takes me off a perfectly good road to go on coarse, sharp gravel for just 100 yards and then puts me back on the very same road, having me cross traffic twice. I don't think any cyclist would choose that, exposing their self to puncture-worthy terrain and crossing traffic twice. I should have looked at that more closely, but Google Maps is generally great for Seattle cycling. I’m finding I can't trust it as much here! Then second, the route puts me on a dead end trail that has stairs on the side up to somewhere. I am not carrying my bike up three flights of stairs with pannier bags on it. (different unkind word)
The National Cycling Route signs are in conflict with themselves and then in areas they are absolutely missing where there are turns. At one point there is a sign for cyclists to re-join the road from the very large sidewalk. There is a 6" curb along the road with nowhere to go down from the sidewalk to the road. The sidewalk soon meets the onramp for the motorway and this is no place to join the road! The sign was in the worst place possible, it should have been back at the last roundabout, which would have been the safest location to join the road! Clearly it is not cyclists that have put up these signs.
I finally end up on National Cycling Route 74. There are few signs where they are needed, such as at several locations where you have to make a turn. Then once on a long stretch with no turns, there is an excessive amount of signs, sometimes being able to see two signs ahead! (nearly end of complaints)
At 11:57am, I arrive into Hamilton, having cycled 6.2 miles (10.0 km) at a less than exciting pace of 6.53 mph (10.50 km/h) due to all the route finding trouble.
After Hamilton, I leave the National Cycling Route once I come to a stretch of cobblestone. This is just wrong. A quick look on a map and there is clearly a more direct route that doesn’t require dismounting and walking across cobblestone. A fair amount of the National Cycle Routes do not have road bikes in mind. (possible end of complaints)
After 5.5 miles (8.9 km), I arrive into Larkhall, having cycled a pace of 8.68 mph (13.98 km/h). It has been windy, being 10-15 mph (16-24 km) at times. I am already feeling so tired, my cold is not helping, and I have so much more to go today. My pace is discouraging and if it doesn’t pick up, this is going to be a very long day. I take a break at a bus stop, leaning my bike against a nearby lamppost, and sit and eat inside the bus stop. I watch my bike blow over when a gust of wind comes. Second to riding with dirty hands, I hate watching my bike crash over into pavement.
Shortly after leaving, the winds really pick up, consistently being 20 mph (32 km). Wow, looks like I will have a slow pace all day long. At 1:34pm I am in Stonehouse, which my route doesn’t go through, so that is an obvious problem. From my unintended detour, I go down a steep hill and back up another one, that being the quickest way back to being on track.
The winds have picked up even more. The wind turbines are getting after it. I am not.
I am supposed to be on National Cycling Route 74, but haven’t seen a sign in quite a long time, but I know I am on the route I planned. Then all of a sudden there is a sign for the route. Then at the next roundabout, where there generally are always signs indicating which direction to go, there is no sign. Then miles later, I see a cycling trail on the other side of the road, which I assume is where I am supposed to be now, so I cross over to it. Further on there is eventually a sign for the route. I can not believe how inconsistent the signs are!
At 2:15pm, I take off my windbreaker and rain pants, which I have had unzipped down the sides for ventilation. It is quite sunny now. It is still windy but has reduced down to the 10-15 mph (16-24 km) range, and that amount of wind can somehow make me happy at this point. I pass through Aldton at 2:28pm and stop to take some photos. All of the sudden all the cows in the field have come up right by the fence where I am standing!
All these cows walked over to where I was on the other side of the fence.
At 3:24pm, I pass through Redshaw, having cycled 17.8 miles (28.6 km) at a pace of 7.74 mph (12.45 km/h) since Larkhall.
View from the cycling route in Redshaw.
Five minutes after Redshaw, I cross a strip of gravel in the paved cycling path. Air hisses and I brake to a stop as fast as I can. It is the rear tire. The funny, not so funny, thing is that the winds are pretty big right now, easily sustaining 30 mph (48 km/h). But I wasn’t oblivious that the current circumstances could play out at the same time. I was just hoping they wouldn’t. I go to work at changing the tire.
My bike is upside down and leaning against a post. I watch a gust of wind blow it over. I am pissed. After I have removed the tube, I go and lean the bike up against the post again, but at more of an angle so it won’t blow over again. As I am installing the new tube into the tire, the bike blows over again. It probably pisses me off more than it should. I just leave it. No point in setting myself up to watch that again.
After pumping up the new tube, I reinstall the tire. I then clean the rear gear cassette and chain. I am in disbelief at how awful they are from just this morning. Fortunately the wind is not cold, which is actually surprising. At least I have that going for me. The asphalt of the cycling path is noticeably warm, so I sit on it as I eat lunch in the 30 mph (48 km/h) winds. Unfortunately I am out of water, the first time that I have run out of water on this journey. I pack up and leave at 4:26pm, having spent nearly an hour with the flat tire, cleaning, and then eating.
Stopping to change a flat.
As I move further south, the winds quickly reduce. At 4:46pm, I pass through Abington, having cycled 5.9 miles (9.5 km) at a pace of 14.16 mph (22.79 km/h) since Redshaw.
The rear tire hisses again!! I have only made it 27 minutes since leaving from replacing the last flat. I wasn’t even going on gravel. I am out of extra tubes. I will now have to patch one of the others so I can replace this one. From where the puncture occurred, I walk the bike along the road until I come upon a fence where I can lean the bike. Disgustingly, this ends up being by a dead animal that I did not notice before starting to change the tube. The mode of today tells me I could easily have another flat. So I go ahead and patch another tube so it is ready to go, especially beneficial if I need to change a tube in the rain, which would make applying a patch nearly impossible. After 34 minutes, I leave at 5:27pm.
View from the cycling route after the second flat of the day.
Ten minutes later I come upon Crawford and leave the road to head into town. If I didn’t have so much distance remaining, I would have just pushed through without stopping for water, but I am feeling parched already so I know it is the right decision. There is a small café where I buy some cake and a drink with caffeine, as I figure I will need it. Since Abington, I have only cycled 3.2 miles (5.1 km) but it was at a pace of 11.29 mph (18.18 km/h). I fill up my water bottles and am back on the road at 5:58pm.
Sometimes you have to eat Red Velvet cake for your second breakfast.
Sometimes you have to change a flat tire in 30 mph (48 km/h) winds and watch your upside down bike blow over.
Sometimes you have to put your head down and grind.
For 16.1 miles (25.9 km) I cycle at a pace of 15.09 mph (24.29 km/h) until I pass through Beattock at 7:02pm. It is on. I don’t even think about taking a break.
One really cool thing is that sometimes you can have for yourself both: high cadence and burn. I am the one who set the route for today, now I'm going to finish it.
For the next 14.4 miles (23.2 km) I cycle at a pace of 13.29 mph (21.39 km/h), arriving in Lochmaben at 8:07pm.
My jersey is more soaked in sweat than it has ever been before. And my windbreaker is soaked through too. And the same goes for my bandana. It will normally drip when rung out, but it is simply dripping when I take it off.
Sometimes you bike your last 30 miles (48 km) like it is your first, and take no breaks like you are on the flats without wind, without pannier bags. Sometimes you find you have more to give than you thought. At 81.4 miles (131.0 km), today has been 17% longer than the next longest day, and I cycled the last 30.5 miles (49.1 km) 70% faster than the first 50.9 miles (81.9 km).
Today has been my least favorite day of cycling. Today has been my favorite day of cycling
In Lochmaben I am at Mairi's parents’ house, where we stayed on our drive north. Her mom, Barbara, says it has been the worst May weather she can remember.
After a delicious salmon dinner, Barbara shows me The Northern Times newspaper article I am in from my time in Tongue. I can’t say that everything is exactly accurate and would not have expected to be described as “the most exotic visitor” or as an “American cyclist.”
The Northern Times.
Photo Gallery – Glasgow to Lochmaben: Cycling Day 16
Daily cycling stats:
Distance: 81.4 miles (131.0 km)
Moving average: 9.85 mph (15.85 km/h). The last 2 hours of the day brought that up!
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
I’m not out of bed until 10:00am. I will be cycling today.
I eat breakfast in the conservatory (sun room). When I go to leave, the rear tire is flat. I cycled over 30 miles (48 km) on the patch and now it hasn’t held over night. I change the tube with the other that is already patched and ready to go. It doesn’t hold either. So I re-patch the other and try again. It holds. Hopefully for all day.
At 2:33pm I leave and head east. I realize you might ask why I am not heading south when I am already leaving so late in the day. Sometimes remembering the past is as important as the plans for today.
Just 3.6 miles (5.8 km) at a pace of 8.64 mph (13.90 km/h) and I arrive at Dryfesdale Cemetery in Lockerbie. Here is the Garden of Remembrance for the Lockerbie Air Disaster that occurred in 1988.
In the Garden of Remembrance.
From the cemetery I head east for 4.0 miles (6.4 km/h) at a pace of 9.60 mph (15.45 km/h) until I arrive at Tundergarth Church. Here is the Room of Remembrance for the Lockerbie Air Disaster. In the small building, built separate form the church, there is a book with a page for every person on Pan Am Flight 103 that died after a bomb aboard went off.
United States. United States. United States. As I turn through the pages of the Book of Remembrance there are a total of 189 citizens of the United States that died. A total of 259 passengers and flight crew were aboard the plane heading from London to New York. An additional 11 died in Lockerbie when the plane came down over the town.
In 2007, the wife of a crew member wrote a message on the page for her husband letting him know of the grandchildren they now have.
At 4:21pm I depart the church, heading back west to the center of Lockerbie. I take a left onto road B7076, which is National Cycling Route 74. That was 3.3 miles (5.3 km) at a pace of 8.61 mph (13.85 km/h) since the church. It is 4:44pm. I have made no distance south. I’m going to need to turn it up.
At 5:13pm, I pass through Ecclefechan, having cycled 5.9 miles (9.5 km) at a pace of 12.21 mph (19.65 km/h). I fly through, onward.
The cycling route after Ecclefechan.
I pass through Kirtlebridge at 5:30pm, through Hollee at 5:44pm, and through Rigg at 5:57pm, having cycled 9.3 miles (15.0 km) at a pace of 12.68 mph (20.41 km/h). My route south transitions onto National Cycling Route 7.
The cycling route between Hollee and Rigg.
At 6:05pm, I enter Greta. After waiting at a traffic light, I turn right and give it all I have.
At 6:08pm, I cross over the River Sark on the Sark Bridge. Since departing Saxa Vord in the Shetland Islands, I have cycled 701.6 miles (1,124.4 km) over 82 hours and 3 minutes. I have crossed the whole of Scotland from north to south and completed my goal. Welcome to England!
The last segment from Rigg was 2.7 miles (4.3 km) at a pace of 14.73 mph (23.70 km/h). I’m tired. So I stop, sit down, and eat the second half of a Red Velvet cake.
Welcome to England!
This last mile was no more special than the one before it. I pedaled that mile for the one before it, and for the one before that, and all the way back for the first mile that started this journey. This last mile was needed just as much as every other mile, otherwise the goal wouldn’t have been met. The same goes for every dollar donated, it is the accumulation that makes progress possible.
My task is complete, but my day is not done. I’m not going to spend the night on the border of Scotland and England.
This day to be continued.
Please consider donating to Ben Towne Foundation. If you have children, want children, or know children, donating is for you!
Photo Gallery – Lochmaben to England: Cycling Day 17
Daily cycling stats:
Distance: 28.8 miles (46.3 km)
Moving average: 11.01 mph (17.71 km/h)
Accumulative cycling stats:
Distance: 701.6 miles (1,124.4 km)
Moving average: 8.55 mph (13.70 km/h)
Time: 82 hours and 3 minutes.
Map of cycling in the lowlands:
"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – The Little Engine That Could
A little blue railroad engine that learned that he could.