Travelling

Posted on August 30, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Three bags bike is in there with lots of spare parts and tools and a few clothes. These three bags weigh 46 kilos (100 lbs). Jeanne for her three weeks only has a carry on.

Finally underway. 12:30 am flight to Salt Lake City.. Could not sleep but did enjoy northern lights, stars, and a map of where we were,along with the flight stats of speed, tailwinds,,latitude, longitude. I definitely like following along and seeing where we are. Even at night the views can be great, with the lights of cities defying one to identify them. Enjoyed looking at places I have been, and places lived in Idaho. I told Jeanne I saw the house I lived in as a kid in Burley. (Not true as I was about 3 years old).
Atlanta cloudy thunder storm kept us 50 feet from gate for 10 minutes. Nice walk though through airport. And now airport closed for thunderstorms. We are enroute next stop Lima.

Have the spot adventure site started to follow the map route of location, basically a map with a progress line on it. But I must update which means remember the batteries in the spot and have internet.
http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=333014

Next is a tracking map which theoretically sends out a signal every 10 minutes to relay where I am. Same SPOT tracker as above but can follow closer to real time. ( works out more than 10 minutes basically a map with a progress line on it. but fun). My sister followed us on the great divide with those and knew exactly when and where we were, (often before we did!) The locations are only saved for a week though. But you can click a waypoint and get a google map of site where I was.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0bsh3Z7bxTyin5OVaWe97TTCsHNJWgfOK

As for what I am doing. Try this
http://bike-dreams.com/BD/EN/Home.php

Travelling

Posted on August 30, 2014August 31, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Three bags bike is in there with lots of spare parts and tools and a few clothes. These three bags weigh 46 kilos (100 lbs). Jeanne for her three weeks only has a carry on.

As for what I am doing. Try this
http://bike-dreams.com/BD/EN/Home.php

Thanks

Posted on August 26, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Thanks

And so before I begin this little trek, in four days, I want to thank all the people that helped. It is amazing the community we live in and how it sustains us. So I want to thank Jeanne my wife who has been awesome and encouraged me every step along the way. She may not want to do this, but she certainly knows that I would like to do this very much. When I first saw the Andes trip mentioned in a bicycle magazine advertisement, she immediately said go for it, you would really like it. She has been supportive ever since.
I also want to thank my sister for just providing encouragement. Again, she may not understand, but still encouragement is there. As her husband Steve says, “why ride a bike when you can walk the trail”? I think the opposite, but we understand the desire, and the differences whatever they are. They have an amazing life and numerous local adventures in Montana. Thanks to both of you.

Then there are the myriads of people who just give encouragement and “atta boys”. Rick Shaw of RTR bikes for helping set up the Ibis Tranny bike. Dennis and Annie Ronsse for arranging hikes, Joan, my neighbor for calling up after finishing a long ride and saying, “want to go for a short, evening hill climb”? And of course my friend Adam Larsen who sort of got me back into biking in a big way. He may not understand road riding or touring, but his ideas on equipment have been most helpful, whether I use the advice or not.
And of course Joe Britton who did the divide ride with me. He again showed me the numerous possibilities and different ways of doing things.

I sometimes think I am alone in this big old world, but then I will receive a atta boy from some stranger and it revitalizes me. It is an amazing world out there.

Random thoughts

Posted on August 26, 2014August 26, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Picture from bike-dreams with “Yes, finally… As you can see, we are Wi-Fi-less for the next three days… We are cycling at 4800 meters on the divide of the Andes. On the right, it floats to the Pacific; on the left it floats to the Amazon and Atlantic.
Seeing this picture I was jealous as the group is going through some mountains now and I love the mountains. They will descend down to the lower altitudes of Cusco (at 3400 meters or 11,200feet) in a couple of weeks where I meet them. But I’m not so sure about the altitude, 4800 meters is 15,700 feet where the group is cruising along at right now with high mountains in the background. I think the Andes are big and very much looking forward to seeing them. Still concerns me about joining the group when they have been riding every day. But it is what it is and I think I’ll do okay and am very much looking forward to it. I received some I think, good advice, from friend Buzz Scher, who has done Paris-Brest-Paris randonee among other numerous bike trips and enjoys those long rides. He said J. R., Get over yourself and just ride, but do not overdo it the first days. There is a sag wagon available, take it.”

Reading about the height of the Andes, it has made me aware how sometimes you don’t realize there are different things out there until you see them. The Andes are never big news, unless there’s an earthquake. In the mountaineering world you certainly hear of them but everyone thinks Colorado’s mountains are high and that’s what people see and talk about. That’s okay and that’s as it should be because it is local. It is available to you and you think that’s normal. Local things can always be fascinating and often we forget that. I sometimes forget people go a long ways to see Alaska and what I consider everyday occurrences. My dad used to say when I left for some place “be careful out there, they do things different there, not better not worse, just different”!

It has made think of people who say this Andes trip is a pretty amazing trip and it is. But, I think everyone has amazing trips whether they be spectacular or mundane. I had a friend once comment she was very jealous of Jeanne and I because we did all these great “adventures”. I thought about that and thought, wait a minute, she has an incredible adventure that Jeanne and I do not get to do, raising kids. That’s quite an adventure in itself. I have often said “everyone has a good and interesting story, just that not every one can tell that story”. It may be common but it is your story. You may not have immediately chosen that story, but it is your story.

We all get to do it, adventures or just participate in life in whatever way. It seems to me,it’s how we look at things. Sometimes just going to work, day in and day out has its rewards, sometimes it’s just boring. It’s how we look at it and how we decide what to do. Not everyone wants to do a trip like I am doing, not everyone wants to do racing. Everyone has different answers, wants, desires, enjoyment. It is what makes people fascinating.

Maybe it is time to get going, I am thinking too much.

“the old explorers’ adage, ‘You only ever find what you are looking for.”
Excerpt From: Hiram Bingham & Hugh Thomson. “Lost City of the Incas.”

Bike-dreams update

Posted on August 21, 2014August 21, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Update on Wednesday 20th of August from Bike-dreams at the coast preparing to go back into the mountains and posted this on Facebook.

The Andes Trail becomes THE ANDES TRAIL.
Tomorrow we sleep at 300 m.
The day after at 1000 m.
2 days after at 2200 m.
3 days after at 3000 m.
Rest day
5 days after at 4200 m.
Over 6 days the apex of the tour at 4883 m.
Bye bye Pacific. See you over 9.428 kilometres in Ushuaia — at Huanchaco – Trujillo

As for me riding and training continues, 100-200 miles a week, having fun. Yesterday did yet another tour of anchorage socializing along the way ending up with 46 miles traveling about town. Then my neighbor, Joan calls and wants to go for a short ride to explore a possible new road. Ok 15 miles and 2 1/2 hours later we lost the road trying to take a short cut, and we were trying to find any road. Great fun.

And did a great trip with friend Joe, who did the divide with me. Went up power line pass from home with a high speed run down the road, returning home. Not much distance, 22 miles, but good uphill. Then a rapid hike on the hillside single tracks.

Friends are definitely getting me in some sort of shape, and getting the weight down, which will be a great advantage. Seems an ongoing battle. Climbers are scrawny as not as much to lift. All in a power to weight ratio.

Am enjoying friend Bucks blog (www.buckbenson.org) who started in Quito 1August. Sound like some great people in the group, diverse and interesting. Much to learn from them. The mechanic is the Peru national bike champion. Food is good, and if riding fails there is a sag wagon. The participants all have varying reasons to be there some touring, some racing, some on vacation. I am very much looking forward to meeting them.

Buck talks of learning to ride in a peloton to survive the winds along the coast. As noted much to learn. First part for me is getting there and acclimating. But am feeling good.

“I asked Robin Williams why he loved riding a bicycle so much. I’ll always remember his answer, because it was wonderful and true. He said it was the closest you can get to flying.”
–Jason Gay, in the Wall Street Journal

Pictures on Facebook

Posted on August 17, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Bike-Dreams is posting some pictures of the ride on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/BikeDreams

Facts of Peru and Continuing to prep

Gallery posted on August 13, 2014August 14, 2014 by J. R. Patee

Some facts : from Bike-dreams Facebook page

1. There are some 90 different micro-climates in Peru, making it one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.

2. The potato is originally from Peru, and there are over 3,000 different varieties. Proud Peruvians use the phrase “Soy mas Peruano que la papa” (I am more Peruvian than the potato).

3. The National University of San Marcos is the oldest in the Americas and was founded on the 12th of May of 1551.

4. The oldest occupation of man in the America’s is traced back to the sacred City of Caral-Supe a few hours north of the capital Lima. The 626 hectare (1546 acre) site dates back 5000 years.

5. While Peru remains a relatively poor country it is one of the richest in terms of natural resources. It is one of the world’s top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and zinc and also has reserves of oil and natural gas.

6. Peru’s Huascarán National Park has more has 27 snow-capped peaks 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, of which El Huascarán (6,768 meters / 22,204 feet) is the highest.

7. Cusco in Peru was the most important city in the whole of the Inca Empire, and governed as far north as Quito in Ecuador and as far south as Santiago in Chile.

8. Peru has the second largest amount of Shamans in the world, second only to India.

9. Peru’s capital Lima was once the most powerful city in South America, but fell into decline when the Spanish created a viceroyalty in Rio de la Plata.

10. Cotahuasi Canyon in the Arequipa region is considered one of the world’s deepest canyon at 3,535 meters (11,597 feet) deep – twice as deep as the Grand Canyon USA.

11. Peru grows more than 55 varieties of corn, and you can just about find it in any color including yellow, purple, white and black.

12. Two-thirds of Peru is covered in prime Amazon Rain Forest.

13. In Peru, it is tradition to give friends and family yellow underpants on New Year’s Eve.

14. Peru has 1625 types of orchids of-which 425 can be found growing naturally close to Machu Picchu. The Inkaterra Hotel in Machu Picchu has South America’s largest privately owned collection at 500 varieties.

15. Peru is a surfer’s paradise. Chicama has the world’s longest left-handed wave at 4km’s long, and Mancora (close by) has the world’s largest left-handed point-break.

16. There are 3 official languages in Peru: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, but east of the Andes in Amazon Jungle regions it is thought that natives speak a further 13 different languages.

17. Peru’s Independence Day is celebrated on July 28, and is known as ‘Fiestas Patrias.’

18. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was lost to the Amazon Jungle for hundreds of years, until it was re-discovered by Hiram Bingham the American explorer.

19. The Pisco Sour is Peru’s national drink and is made using Pisco brandy, lemons, sugar water, egg whites, ice and finished with bitters.

20. Lake Titicaca in Southern Peru is the world’s highest navigable lake, and South America largest lake.

21. Peru’s is the 8th largest producer of coffee in the world, and is the 5th largest producer of the Arabica bean.

22. Cuy or Guinea Pig is a traditional dish eaten in Peru

23. Just under 30 million people live in Peru (29,849,303) as of July 2013.

24. The capital city of Peru is Lima which is home to more than a quarter of Peru’s population.

25. Peru is home to the highest sand dune in the world. Cerro Blanco located in the Sechura Desert near the Nazca Lines measures 3,860 feet (1,176 meters) from the base to the summit.

Photo: "The Andes Trail", Bienvenido a PERÚ.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
Some facts :</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>1. There are some 90 different micro-climates in Peru, making it one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>2. The potato is originally from Peru, and there are over 3,000 different varieties. Proud Peruvians use the phrase “Soy mas Peruano que la papa” (I am more Peruvian than the potato).</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>3. The National University of San Marcos is the oldest in the Americas and was founded on the 12th of May of 1551.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>4. The oldest occupation of man in the America’s is traced back to the sacred City of Caral-Supe a few hours north of the capital Lima. The 626 hectare (1546 acre) site dates back 5000 years.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>5. While Peru remains a relatively poor country it is one of the richest in terms of natural resources. It is one of the world's top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and zinc and also has reserves of oil and natural gas.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>6. Peru’s Huascarán National Park has more has 27 snow-capped peaks 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, of which El Huascarán (6,768 meters / 22,204 feet) is the highest.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>7. Cusco in Peru was the most important city in the whole of the Inca Empire, and governed as far north as Quito in Ecuador and as far south as Santiago in Chile.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>8. Peru has the second largest amount of Shamans in the world, second only to India.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>9. Peru’s capital Lima was once the most powerful city in South America, but fell into decline when the Spanish created a viceroyalty in Rio de la Plata.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>10. Cotahuasi Canyon in the Arequipa region is considered one of the world’s deepest canyon at 3,535 meters (11,597 feet) deep – twice as deep as the Grand Canyon USA.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>11. Peru grows more than 55 varieties of corn, and you can just about find it in any color including yellow, purple, white and black.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>12. Two-thirds of Peru is covered in prime Amazon Rain Forest.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>13. In Peru, it is tradition to give friends and family yellow underpants on New Year’s Eve.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>14. Peru has 1625 types of orchids of-which 425 can be found growing naturally close to Machu Picchu. The Inkaterra Hotel in Machu Picchu has South America’s largest privately owned collection at 500 varieties.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>15. Peru is a surfer’s paradise. Chicama has the world’s longest left-handed wave at 4km’s long, and Mancora (close by) has the world’s largest left-handed point-break.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>16. There are 3 official languages in Peru: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, but east of the Andes in Amazon Jungle regions it is thought that natives speak a further 13 different languages.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>17. Peru’s Independence Day is celebrated on July 28, and is known as ‘Fiestas Patrias.’</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>18. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was lost to the Amazon Jungle for hundreds of years, until it was re-discovered by Hiram Bingham the American explorer.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>19. The Pisco Sour is Peru’s national drink and is made using Pisco brandy, lemons, sugar water, egg whites, ice and finished with bitters.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>20. Lake Titicaca in Southern Peru is the world’s highest navigable lake, and South America largest lake.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>21. Peru’s is the 8th largest producer of coffee in the world, and is the 5th largest producer of the Arabica bean.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>22. Cuy or Guinea Pig is a traditional dish eaten in Peru</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>23. Just under 30 million people live in Peru (29,849,303) as of July 2013.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>24. The capital city of Peru is Lima which is home to more than a quarter of Peru's population.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>25. Peru is home to the highest sand dune in the world. Cerro Blanco located in the Sechura Desert near the Nazca Lines measures 3,860 feet (1,176 meters) from the base to the summit.

As for my preps things are coming together, still lots to do. Car insurance taken care of, health insurance for the trip okay, but I don’t want to come back on 29 December and have to get health insurance in two days so making arrangements for that. Getting the house taken care of, a few septic problems and getting that fixed. Just little things here and there. Jeanne is back from a wedding in Nevada and we can now get on planning our two in Peru prior to biking. Both of us are getting excited.
Bike, I have not ridden in 3-4 days. Has been cloudy and raining. Not a lot of rain but just depressing.
I did get a GPS but not one which connects to iPhone for uploading new maps enroute. Today I loaded the Peru route from route sent by Bike-Dreams. Bike-dreams does not want to put out the route to soon as later changes could be confusing. Makes sense but not sure if I will be able to load maps enroute as not taking computer, but only an iPad and phone. Bike-dreams does give us a paper route but friend Buck (www.Buck benson.org) currently riding from Quito says those with GPS seem to have it easier.

Following are a few pictures from bike-dreams Facebook. First is group shot at equator monument where the full trip began a few miles north of Quito, Ecuador August 1.

Follow pictures are from road taken a few days ago in Ecuador.

Preparations

Posted on August 8, 2014 by J. R. Patee

What is life? Is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime. It is the shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. Black Crow

I go to bed at night thinking “OK I have this together and am ready to go” then I wake in the morning with a list in my head of multiple things needing to be done. Bike adjustments, the right spare parts, clothes to take, get in shape, prepare the house, i.e. teach Jeanne the things I normally do, check car and health insurance’s as will be gone when the normal application period rolls around. The list goes on and I am amazed at the little things one does, which one never really thinks of, just to get through the days. But one thing at a time and by the end of the day I am again thinking OK this is good you have it together.

Have been reading a few other blogs from the folks which started in Quito, Ecuador 1 August. Sound like a great group of people. Friendly helpful, from all over, primarily Netherlands, Australia, Germany, France, Norway, and numerous other places. Then I read of their credentials, one just finishing 12,000 kilometers across Africa, another has done the Iditabike (Anchorage to Nome winter time), one has done the Great Divide race 3-4 times. Whew.

Then there is the biking 2000 – 4000 foot climbs. Sound like the Andes are big. My sister commented about driving through Colorado at 11,000 feet. Sounds low, as Cusco where I start is 11,200. La Paz bolivia is about 12,500 feet. There are some mountains around there which taller than Denali, I understand. Exciting, learning a new place. Have never been to South America and it sounds like a most interesting place. And what a way to explore it, by bike. The people sound incredibly friendly and interesting. Each area with its particular dress and customs.

In the weeks at Cusco Jeanne and I will hike about a bit, taking a 4 day camping tour through the Lares Valley ending up at Machu Picchu, and a bus tour with a family stay at Lake Titicaca. (The highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 feet) We have a couple nights of 14,500 feet. Hopefully that time will help me to acclimate. Usually do pretty well with altitude, but have usually worked my way there not flown in to 11,200 feet.

The bike is together although seems to always be some tweaking to be done. A new saddle for my behind, which had to be returned as broke on second day. Brakes adjust, figure out which parts may wear out and need replacement, On and on.The bike is a 26″ Ibis Tranny with removable rear triangle for transport. Rides very nice. Have put on about a thousand miles now and she is a dream. Fits in a duffle bag and bought a wheel bag to carry the wheels. Am limited on the flight from Lima to Cusco to 2 bags and a total of 23 kilos (50 pounds). So must pack light. Jeanne will be along and can help with a bit. Bike weighs in at 30 pounds fully outfitted with bottles and frame pack. It will be tight.

Purchased a bike GPS as a few notes of people losing the right path, turning left instead of right. One fellow apparently went backward for 30 miles making for a long day. Something new to learn to use.

Training going OK but seems to take a lot of time and never enough of it time or training. Have had some great hikes, and good rides.

Enough of this self importance, time to get back to things that need to be done.

If you don’t do it this year, you will be another year older when you do. Warren Miller

If you don’t do it this year, next year it will be even harder. Jim Howard

	Karen Copley on All things must pass
	Alma Ronlund on All things must pass
	Shirley Meagher on All things must pass
	Karen Copley on Internet
	J. R. Patee on Gomba

	Karen Copley on All things must pass
	Alma Ronlund on All things must pass
	Shirley Meagher on All things must pass
	Karen Copley on Internet
	J. R. Patee on Gomba

jrpatee

J. R.,s bike rides, tours, and philosophies

Month: August 2014

Travelling

Travelling

Thanks

Random thoughts

Bike-dreams update

Pictures on Facebook

Facts of Peru and Continuing to prep

Preparations