DAY 6 - 3 Miles Per Hour

Sunday, April 27th, 2008

Location: Blythe, CA
Campsite: Motel
Miles: 24.8
Ride Time: 4 Hours 33 Minutes
Weight: ?
Temperature: 110
Odometer: 209
Average Speed: 4.4 mph


Today sucked.

I left at 5:00am so I could get to my destination before the hot heat came out and roasted me like a rotisserie chicken. I expected to go about 40 miles or so today, but my goals were shattered into a million pieces when the wind started hitting me. At first, it was just moderate winds, then as I turned due north a few miles down the road, the wind hit me at about 30-40 miles per hour.

OK, to paint you a little picture, imagine yourselves driving your car about 40 miles per hour, then knock out your windshield and feel the wind hitting you right in your face. That's how I felt when I was standing still on the side of the road. Then, I try to pedal INTO the wind, and it doesn't let me get very far. I could only go about 3 miles per hour consistently, which is slower than a jogger's pace. Now, imagine not only going that slow, but doing that for 5 hours! That's what I did. I only got 20 miles in 5 hours. I was about to lose it and go mentally insane.

I eventually gave-up and admitted defeat. I was running out of water, and very tired, and had lost all hope that I could make it. So, I pulled out my bright McDonald's-colored "Help" sign, waved down someone to take me past all that into a town where I could rest and rejuvenate myself. I eventually got picked up, right in the middle of my mental breakdown I was having, half because of the wind, and half because I was out of water. An older couple picked me up and took me into the town they lived in and dropped me off at K-Mart.

I went into K-Mart, and went back to their backyard set-up where they had some lawn chairs and gazebos, and I actually fell asleep in one of the gazebo chairs for a couple hours, being woken up once in an while by someone walking by looking at me like I was a crazy homeless person. (You've got to remember, I've got a beard, and longer messed-up hair because of the bike helmet.)

I ended up staying in another hotel room later that day. I was too tired to try to find a place to camp.

Today was a vary hard day. I was getting very discouraged, and was feeling very alone, and helpless at times. My cell phone was getting no reception, so I couldn't call anyone and get some words of encouragement either. I'm not going to lie to you, today was one of those days I had told everyone about where I was questioning why I had decided to do this, and have the desire to quit, to stop and not go any further. Today was one of those days that I came within inches of losing hope in myself. But, later that night, my phone got reception, and I called a friend that was able to help put things into perspective, and gave me a good idea...

One of the things I fear the most, is like the one I experienced today. Being out in the middle of nowhere on a very long stretch of road, and running out of water in the heat of the day with no way of getting to somewhere by the afternoon. So, what we came up with, is something I might do. The hardest stretch will be between the cities of Mesa, AZ and Albuquerque, NM. There are a lot of hills, and long stetched that I am just not confident that I can make because I am not in the best physical condition. So, I'll probably catch a bus from Mesa to Albuquerque, and then keep going. That I think, will save me from a lot of fear, and unnecessary risks. Thanks friend.

This is undoubtedly the hardest and scariest thing I have ever done, but I can feel it changing me, and know that it will make me a better person if I just have faith in myself, and in God.