The WiFi Pedalers BLOG
The WiFi Pedalers BLOG
Babies, Family, and Fools.....What do they all have in common? [by Earline]
Today is the last day of 2009 and I just finished my last bicycle ride for the year, about 10 miles or so. OK, OK .... I know I have to "pump up the volume," but I also still work for a living, even on New Years Eve, so there. LOL. Back to what I was saying....as a WiFi Pedaler, remember I ALWAYS Pedal w/ Purpose. By the way, just in case you missed it in times passed, WiFi ...
<< MORE >>A little nippy....
.....this morning. Just arrived at New Vision Community Church for the men's breakfast. Left around 6a, and arrived at 8a. Temp's around 55, with a about a 20mph headwind. Glad I had the long johns on!
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
Just after I sent....
....the last blog, and went down the I-4 bridge ramp, I met an older gentleman on a mountain bike, and he asked if this was the trail to the bridge (it is NOT marked on the north/south trail).
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I told him it was, and he asked what kind of bridge it was, and if it was safe. I assured him it was, but he seemed hesitant, and he said, "maybe I'll catch it next time."
I told him, "No, you've made it this far - I just came from there - I'll go with you! "Then he said, "well, okay," and we proceeded up the west ramp (it IS a suspension bridge, by the way, but with steel beams and braces, and a tightly woven wire fence on both sides - VERY safe.)
We made it up to the top, and again were amazed at all the traffic on I-4. He decided to continue down the other side, but first he thanked me, and I told him, "see, now you can tell everybody you MADE IT!"
He seemed contented.
My ride home was pretty uneventful. Went a different way - on the very busy 436, Forest City Road, and John Young Parkway - so I surely got a lot of attention!
One couple at a stop light asked me if I was tired. I said, "a little" (but it gets GREAT GAS MILEAGE!).
Home a little before 6. Total mileage about 43 miles, average mph - 13, time - about 3:20. This is about the distance we will be going each day this summer. Gotta help EARLINE start training for our "Mission Possible."
There are promotional opportunties available for those individuals or companies, that might be interested in helping support a GREAT cause, and help in getting Earline on her trike soon as possible.
Going this distance 5 or 6 days a week for 10 weeks is a HUGE challenge, but the opportunties that this will open up not only for the Deaf in Central Florida, but also up and down the Mississippi River basin from Mpls. to New Orleans are fantastic. I could easily see this being a semi-annual, or even an annual trip down the River Road with the Deaf. (Dr. Sign does a trip every year on motorcycles, right?!....we could do this!!)
But first things first, we have to check it out this summer coming up, and we're looking for team members to come alongside us and make it financially possible. Sponsor one mile, 2 miles, or more, and make possible this 1st annual WiFi Pedalers trip down the Mississippi Trail.
Thanks!!
jon
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Knee was hurting again....
.....when I last blogged, so I tried lowering to the lowest position, extended the boom out just a little more, and VOILA!, the catch in the knee went away!
Interesting.
Blogging you from the top of the bridge, overlooking the crazy busy I-4 and the 46A exit to Sanford....distance, 22.5 miles, averaging 13.5. (Guess I better turn around and head home. The wife that sent you on this trip will start to worry when it starts to get dark, and imagine all kinds of things - know what I mean again, guys?!)
Ha!
"Go south, young man, go south!"
Double ha!
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Interesting.
Blogging you from the top of the bridge, overlooking the crazy busy I-4 and the 46A exit to Sanford....distance, 22.5 miles, averaging 13.5. (Guess I better turn around and head home. The wife that sent you on this trip will start to worry when it starts to get dark, and imagine all kinds of things - know what I mean again, guys?!)
Ha!
"Go south, young man, go south!"
Double ha!
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Just a little....
.....excercise on a Sunday afternoon. (When the wife says "go," you take advantage of the opportunity, right guys?!)
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Been going about an hour, and made it from home to the 434 tunnel (about 14 miles).
"Go north, young man!"
Okay!
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Final thoughts [and some pictures] on the 1st Holiday Hundred
A huge thanks to all who worked to make the ride as tolerable as possible!
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Yes, it was very wet, and very cold....but some prep work made it a "Mission: Possible!" experience.
Bridge on the way to Geneva. It actually stopped drizzling for a minute....before it started pouring!
Notice the signs - made out of paper!....but SERIOUSLY wrapped with clear mailing tape. They actually lasted the whole trip! And the head rest - I think the pool ...
Oops...almost forgot...
.....to let you know, I MADE IT! Now, I was the LAST one in, but my understanding is that there were only 16 of us that went the full 100 miles. And I'm a little sore....okay, a LOT sore!
Many thanks to the many volunteers I met today - Ruby at SAG #2, where we talked about sign language being taught in the schools, Susan (and Jim) at SAG #3, where we talked about how they and the whole Rotary Club had put this ride together, and Mike at SAG #4, where we talked about the "pedaling with purpose" of the WiFi Pedalers, and we promised to stay in touch. Thanks for all the those who braved the cold and the rain (even those of you who rode it out in a yellow punch-buggy.....you know who you are!)
You had a good cause, and provided a little fun (okay - AND MISERY) for us riders. I'll have some more stories and some picture in the next couple days.
Thanks again!
jon
jon anthony blumhagen
thewifipedalers.com
jabdesigns.com
jabdesigns@mindspring.com
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
Many thanks to the many volunteers I met today - Ruby at SAG #2, where we talked about sign language being taught in the schools, Susan (and Jim) at SAG #3, where we talked about how they and the whole Rotary Club had put this ride together, and Mike at SAG #4, where we talked about the "pedaling with purpose" of the WiFi Pedalers, and we promised to stay in touch. Thanks for all the those who braved the cold and the rain (even those of you who rode it out in a yellow punch-buggy.....you know who you are!)
You had a good cause, and provided a little fun (okay - AND MISERY) for us riders. I'll have some more stories and some picture in the next couple days.
Thanks again!
jon
jon anthony blumhagen
thewifipedalers.com
jabdesigns.com
jabdesigns@mindspring.com
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
NO-O-O-O!!!!
One of my pedals fell off!!! I had just left the 4th SAG stop, and "floop." Off it flew. Guess it had been coming loose for a while, and I just didn't notice it. And I have every wrench and tool I need to fix everything EXCEPT that!
Went about a mile to a gas station at Hwy 46, and a guy with a truck pumping gas let me use his crescent wrench. So only lost around 15 minutes (tell God thank you.....THANK YOU!
Should be to the end around 5:30. Forward!
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Went about a mile to a gas station at Hwy 46, and a guy with a truck pumping gas let me use his crescent wrench. So only lost around 15 minutes (tell God thank you.....THANK YOU!
Should be to the end around 5:30. Forward!
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Wardrobe malfunction!
Big left toe was going numb. Had to adjust the shoe and get the circulation back! On Wekiva Springs Road, and the rain has stopped. Yea! On to Zellwood.
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Ta-dah!
At the 2nd rest stop, coming to you from inside the porta-potty (still drizzling outside). Made SAG #1 at 9:45. It's getting cold, and my front tires are kicking up little water fountains continuously for my enjoyment. HA! Pedaling with purpose!
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Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
