Tag Archives: Bike

Door County Adventure

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This past week I had an interview with the Door County Adventure Center and decided to do a little camping on the peninsula while I was their. With summer being the peak season the spring peninsula was pretty quiet and I had most of it to myself. I decided to hike into a camp site on Europe Lake in Newport State Park which is located northeast of Ellison Bay. Newport is a 2,400-acre “wilderness park” with 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 3 miles of sand beaches. Newport has more than 40 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails. The park features 16 backpack, walk-in campsites, including several along Europe Lake. The shore’s of lake Michigan can get pretty cold at night especially this early in the season so I brought two sleeping bags placing one inside the other and brought a light winter coat as well. Usually when I am expecting it to get cold I prefer using the ground set up for the Tent Hammock but it was a still evening and without much wind I figured I would be fine to hang it next to the lake and still stay warm. A tip for anyone who uses tent hammock (use a sleeping mat inside your hammock it does wonders for your insulation. I actually had two and was warm all night despite the under flow of air which usually keeps people away from the hammock set up in colder weather.) I went about the usual business of setting camp up before it got dark. Strung the hammock, rolled out the sleeping bags, filtered some water, and gathered fire wood. It was some quality alone time and as the sun set over Europe Lake it defiantly reminded me of why I think of the peninsula as on of the top 5 place in the U.S. I fell in love with this place back in 2009 when I had my Pearson 26 sailboat. Spending the summer exploring the islands, small walking towns, sea caves, high bluffs, state parks, and cookie cutter harbors was defiantly the best summer of my life. Door County is also known for their cherries and while sitting in a small café the previous day I over heard locals talking about how they might have lost 75% of this years cherries do to the unseasonably nice weather and a recent frost. Nevertheless there is more than enough to do in this Northern Paradise besides stuff your face with cherries. Check out the Adventure Center for some guided sea kayaking or zip line fun. Rumor has it that sailing lessons are new this year. Not only can you stop in with your family but they also have a lot of group team building programs so check it out for your group as well. Depending on how well I was able to communicate in the interview my love for adventure, people, and door county I might just see you there. For now here are a few photo’s I snapped to get you excited to visit that peninsula that I would consider Wisconsin’s heaven.

This is some of the coast line on the east side of the peninsula. I believe this was taken at Cave Point near Whitefish Dunes State park. One of the area's the Adventure Center explores by kayak

I spent a lot of time with my little brother this week and when that happens a good throw down of Cripple Creek is usually not to far behind. Enjoy!

 

350 miles – The Iditarod Alaskan Trail Runner

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An ultra marathoner whom I, and many others, have quickly grown a deep respect for is Geoff Roes. He has dominated the ultra scene for a number of years but probably first became a common name with his 2010 Western States 100 mile win which has now been made into the remarkable and intriguing film “Unbreakable” His quite humble nature mixed with a relentless drive to push past physical limits is simply mind-blowing. His recent win at the 350 mile Iditarod invitational was unreal and a great example of his character. Such an event tends to shed light on exactly who we are at our core, this in itself has tremendous value. In modern-day society we do not face our core nearly enough to have any recollection of who we are and what we are made of. Geoff Roes defiantly found out what he was made of.

The Iditarod Invitational is a human-powered race through the Alaskan wild in the dead of winter set on the Iditarod trail. The race is open to bikers, skiers, and foot racers. Roes not only won the foot division but nearly beat out all the bikers as well. This was in large do to some extremely harsh conditions that brought the speed of travel down to a crawling pace, (Literally Crawling) With temperatures plummeting to -50 degrees at some points in the race survival becomes part of the game as well (not to mention having to cover 350 miles on snow) I have personally been in Alaska when it has been -50 degrees and basic breathing is difficult. When the air hits your lungs it feels like your whole chest is going to collapse.

Geoff Roes nearing the finish line of the 350 mile Alaska Iditarod trail invitational

One thing I admire about Roes performance was that he had attempted the race the previous two years and failed both times. I don’t know how many times in life we see the final product and success of an individual and later find how many times they failed before everything came together for them. I truly believe that fueled by failure is a trait of many successful people. Most people give up on something far to soon.  Roes wrote up a very detailed race report about his experience. It is pretty long (it was a week-long race) but if you have some time it is defiantly worth the read. Roes character, respect for his fellow competitors and astounding drive to push pass human limits really comes through in this race report. Here is a short excerpt from his write up.

Day 6 / Mile 165 – 210 – “The wind had done its thing here also, and left in its wake some amazingly hard sastrugi drifts. It wasn’t the surface that was the comical part though; it was the lighting that was so flat that I couldn’t see what I was walking on. Numerous times I would walk off 2-foot ledges without having any idea that they were there. At times I was crawling on all fours just so I could feel what was underneath me. It was so difficult and absurd that it was funny. And so I walked, crawled, and inched my way upward toward the pass.” Geoff Roes

Read the whole story over at irunfar.com or check out the 2011 race video

 

From the Canyons of Zion

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A red waterless wash leading into Lake Powell

Thursday, July 7th we crossed yet another boarder, rolling past the great Lake Powell and into what is now known as southern Utah. We sleep in Kanab for the night before continuing on to the Canyons of Zion. Upon entering Zion I must admit that in all my travels have seen anything quite like this place. The red sandstone canyon walls tower above, sometimes so narrow that the road is shaded by a noonday sun. What amazes me the most is the green. Its contrast with the red sandstone saturates the landscape with dense color.  It is a rare place, where there is no horizon only sky. As we descended down the flawlessly paved switchback road to the canyon floor, I thought the place heaven. The Virgin River speed along the canyon floor, carving and having its way with the soft yet firm sandstone. Dropping an average of 72 feet per mile its current is swift and its course, like ours, already decided.

Zion land of green canyons and waterfalls

            We camped in this pure beauty for a full three nights time. I occupied my spare time by lounging in my hammock in the evenings, writing and reading between unexpected naps. On occasion when the canyon swelled with too much heat and I could bare it no more I made my way down to the river to swim. The river was cold yet pleasant and refreshing after spending an adequate amount of time in its company. One could spend weeks here hiking to waterfalls and deferent lookouts. I had my fill of views for the week and was quite content to spend the weekend analyzing the view from my hammock. However, Zion having much more then just view’s offered waterfalls that fell hundreds of feet off the canyon walls. A waterfall always intrigues me and is quite possibly the only natural, or unnatural occurrence that could pry my worn body from its stat of leisure.

A rising moon from a hammock view

            This being said, I went with the others on a small morning excursion to find what they called the emerald pools. The hike was short in length and two miles later we came across the first of the three pools. Do to it being the dry season only a trickle of water fell from the cliff that jetted out so far that the hiking path actually went under the waterfall. The path of the water intrigued me more then the common hiking path and so I veered off it with every intention of finding streams source. A mile later the riverbed dried up completely, the last of the water bubbling out from under a large rock. I returned to the path and joined the others at the upper pool and quickly became content with simply walking around the area, climbing rocks and searching for the best view of the canyon and the turquoise pool.

The upper emerald pool from the view of the cliff wall. In the spring a waterfall crashes down onto the foreground rocks from hundreds of feet above.

            The sun illuminated half the canyon shinning its ray’s on a single side leaving the other in shadow. However by evening it would completely switch sides illuminating the other in an equally impressive manor. I observed this pattern during our stay and by the sixth illumination we were packed and on the road again.

            The miles that brought us away form the enchanted land where wet. It rained, not for long but long enough to watch it trickle off the end of my noise and turn cycling clothes from dry to wet. The following miles through Nevada remained quite uneventful. And although I always try my best to find beauty in a place, I found none. Only the sky intrigued me but the sky cannot be owned or confined. Therefore I find it hard to give Nevada credit for its beautiful sunset. Nevada has the most mountain ranges of any other state and when not climbing to anther summit we were flying down the other side or crawling across another twenty-mile blank valley floor. Conversation, influenced by the myths of area 51 and the extraterrestrial highway revolved around alien. However for a vast majority of the endless stretch I occupied my self by listening to “Around the world in 80 days” and “Pride and Prejudice” in there entirety.  I am quite aware of the lack of safety this brings to a cyclist nevertheless the lack of cars and miles of infinite straight drove me to disregard the recommendation. Besides there were times I would have very much enjoyed being hit by a car thus putting me out of my current state of misery.

A setting sun over the endless road west

            When we did find people they were kind and overly generous, intrigued by our mission and unable to fathom such a journey possible. We summated boundary pass, which skirts around the edge of the tallest point in Nevada, Boundary point 13,145 feet in elevation, and shot down the other side into California. From the state boarder we will go straight west over the White Mountains to the foot of the Sierra Nevada Range. The white caped mountains fascinate me and I anxiously wait being consumed by there overwhelming power and beauty. 28 days and 1,800 miles have brought us from the flat of Texas to within reach of the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. Only mountains and miles stand between us, both of which patience and persistence will erase completely. 

Hello from the road.

That Illusive Horizon

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Lighting bolted across the open sky as a black cloud the size of Texas attempted to chase us down. Pelting rain drops and out of control tumbles weeds added to the intensity. I had been pressing the pace for a good ten miles now attempting to out run the storm front and reach high way 98 which would take us north. Troves caught up to me and I attempted to draft off him. It was pointless the cross wind was too strong. Even though the road was straight as an arrow both of us leaned to the left as if rounding a tight curve, searching for the fine balance that would allow us to keep our bikes on the narrow shoulder and not get blown off. Reaching 98 we turned north and began to sore like an eagle catching an up draft. The road was freshly paved, smooth like a freshly sanded piece of oak. We felt the front breathing down our neck and then exhale letting out a guest of wind on our backs that accelerated our self propelling two wheel frames to a sustained 40 plus mph on the flat. The sand swirled on the black top resembling the way freshly fallen snow dances on the frozen roads of the north. Snow and sand the difference, color and the taste on your tongue. Lizards came out to the black top to check out the action, most of them darting into the ditch at the last possible moment. Only one out of the fifty or more got a taste of my new gator hard shell tires.

Troves snapped this picture on his first try as we attempted to out run the front.


I have enjoyed the last few days of riding. My body seems to be getting used to the long hours spent on the bike each day. I am constantly amazed by each view that God has created. The slightest angle changing everything. A man could spend a lifetime searching for the perfect out look. The more I see the more I wonder if any one is really any better then the last. Is it better to enjoy the slow methodic changes of seasons from a stationary front porch? Or constantly be striving for the horizon pushing up the next climb, seeking the next sweeping landscape. Craving the unknown road ahead like a drug that only satisfies for a moment.

Monument Valley


The last two days we have overlapped my run across America route east from Farmington past Shiprock, monument valley, and to Black Mesa. Although now traveling in the opposite direction I have spent the hours reliving the sights and memories of this vast landscape. It is much to my enjoyment that I pass through on wheels now and still to my bewilderment that we are able to cover the stretch of land in two day what took me a week to cover by foot. The Navajo people once again astound me by their hospitality, generosity and culture. I enjoy their laid-back personality, proud heritage and way of life. For now I will continue to seek the illusive horizon, but with each passing breathtaking landscape that stationary front porch hangs in the back of my mind.

A kayaker hits some rapids through Durango Colorado.


West Texas

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Over the past two days 176-mile ride took us from Brownwood to Big Springs Texas. We have left the hill country and have entered what is referred to as west Texas. Now on the edge of desert the larger trees have disappeared opening up the sweeping views that come to mind when an outsider thinks of Texas. When I am not staring at the skinny backside of another rider I have made it a point to notice what we pass by. A field of sunflowers, beautiful but small and stunted in comparison to well watered Wisconsin sunflowers. Newborn calf drinking milk from her mother, hiding in what appears to be either over sized bushes or small trees with no trucks. The aftermath of a raging forest fire, the house that did not get touched. An oil pump working overtime to keep up with the cars that zoom past it barley noticing it’s existence. A high school football field made of artificial turf in a town with a population less then 1,000. A bank clock that reads 102 degrees at 2:13 and the popping noise of bubbling tar as we ride over it.

Morning Shadows

The team is starting to gel and work through the tedious tasks that can be time consuming and frustrating when a pattern has not yet been established. With each passing day over all soreness intensifies. A cycle I have gone through many times never the less is still painful. For the most part I continue to move around a lot on the bike searching for some kind of elusive comfort. It is starting to come full circle and dawn on me that the best position is simply sitting on the saddle normally and peddling. As soon as I come face to face with this reality the more time my saddle will have to reform my butt. I do apologies for talking about my butt so much however in all honestly it is what I have been thinking about 80% of the time. The other 20% of my time is still spent counting how many times everyone say’s y’all. I must admit I was starting to get used to it until towards the end of a rest stop Troves asked “all y’all’s ready?” That was just a little to much and I burst out laughing. 

A head wind on a bumpy 90 mile ride

A head wind on a bumpy 90 mile ride to Big Springs

The Hill Country

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We are on our way! It was encouraging to see the amount of support that came out to the bridge on Monday morning. As we share the story of the thirsty around the country the amount of support for the ride and LWI will hopefully grow exponentially. 

The first two days of the journey are behind us. We have made our way from the pedestrian bridge in Austin to Brownwood Texas a distance of about 155 miles. Although the terrain is familiar to the other riders who live down here the scenery is new and exciting for me. The oak trees seem to grow out rather then up making the branches a beautiful twisted design. We are riding through what is referred to as the hill country. 90% of the land in Texas is privately owned, in most cases by large ranges that take up the vast stretches between towns. The entrance to the 1000’s of acre establishments can often be seen from the road. Bear Creek Ranch, JT Ranch, ext. each name unique to the family or location. Although most of the spring wild flowers have faded a few verities remain bring accented colors to the dull earth tones of brown and green. While I do find comfort and enjoyment in extended solitude it is wonderful to be part of a team for a number of reasons. The mundane endless roads are broken up with stupid jokes and conversation. Conversation that is still almost polite and safe, do to the fact that we have only all known each other for a week. As the miles a head shrink, the miles behind grow, and time elapses conversation will change, become personal, deep, and then flip back to light in an instant. At times the ride is slow, a bumpy up hill climb, a bruised sore butt, and a relentless summer sun. Other time’s we fly down hills or on the flat, the five of us drafting single file like a yellow ribbon in the wind. Or as I like to invitation it a trickle of fresh water flowing over the terrain searching for a small creek to meet up with that will eventually lead into a roaring river quenching the thirst of thousands.

Checkout my h2o ride bio on the team website http://h2oride.org/ride/team/abe/

Preparation in Austin

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Tomorrow we depart! Ready or not here we come. It has been a great week down here in Austin getting to know the team and finalizing pre ride preparation. The biggest blessing for me personally was that I was able get a bike, small detail right. We got a great deal on the bike thanks to Jon, a friend who has been saving us a ton of money with his bike shop in. In spite of being very busy he managed to find time to drive all the way across town in rush hour traffic to locate and build the bike and then meet me us at one in the morning in his garage to fit me. The guy knows bikes like the back of his hand. Anyway he did a remarkable job and the bike rides like a dream.

I have been staying with the Way’s during my Austin stay and Michael took me out for a 29-mile ride at about 7:30 am. The temperature has been well above 100 degree’s and it is taking me a little while to adjust to heat. Besides some uncomfortable heat rash, which can hopefully be avoided in future rides; it was fun to see Austin by bike. The Austin skyline has changed dramatically in the last few years do to a restriction being lifted that preserved the view of the Texas State Capitol building from various locations around Austin. No building could be higher then the star held by the Goddess of Liberty, the statue on top of the Capitol building until recent.

Yesterday was Junteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. June 19th 1865 was the day that Texas finally heard the news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation! Communication has sure changed. I am not sure I have even heard of the Holliday. Ether way the event brought out many live bands to help celebrate the occasion. Which make’s sense since Austin is nick named the “Live Music Capital of the World”

           

Photo by Eric B. Lee go to www.ericblee.com to order pictures from him

God has answered so many prayers in the remaining days before we take off; it is exciting to see him in this. The rider’s fund is complete! The buy a mile link is live for LWI! Team Bio’s are just about done on the team web site www.h2oride.org I think we are all ready to put the talk and planning behind us and get the 8,840 mile journey underway!

8,840 Mile Bike Journey!

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On June 20th, 2011 I will be teaming up with H2O Ride for an 8,840 mile bike ride around America. The journey has similar goals as Running Water did. I am excited to continue helping Living Water International through endurance adventures. The ride is scheduled to take 145 days and I invite you to follow along on my web site abrahamlouis.com and enjoy the random stories that will inevitably unfold. If you would like to find out way’s you can help support the riders visit http://h2oride.org/support/ 

An 8,840 mile Bike Tour around America!

Ruby for sale on Ebay! Hurry and place your bid! The money that Ruby raises will go towards buying a road bike that is suitable for an 8,840 mile ride as well as 10% going to Living Water International. (Ruby’s dying wishes). Place your Bid HERE

Ruby in her first snow fall in Flagstaff, AZ.

Below are a few details about H2O Ride

The ride is a long-distance missional bicycle tour. Pedaled by a team of Jesus disciples. Bringing hydration to others (h2o).

Living water to those thirsting spiritually. Clean water to those drinking dirty water.

We accomplish our mission by:

RIDING around the country.

- from Austin TX to Austin TX, clockwise
- 8,840 miles, 1 for every 100k people drinking dirty water
- encircling our nation, passing through every border state
- every mile ridden by every rider, giving it our all
View The Route

BRINGING good news.

- sharing the truth about Jesus with every person who will listen:
- that Jesus is the ultimate well-builder.
- when He died for us he dug deeper than we can to draw for us living water:
- the only thing that quenches our thirst and gives us eternal life—knowing God.RAISING money for wells.

- supporting the work of Living Water International
- seeking $20 per mile: $176,8008
- enough money to bring clean water to 8,840 people for a generation
Give Clean Water

PRAYING while riding.

- at least one rider is praying while we ride every single mile
- encircling our nation in prayer
- that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord would fill our land