I enjoyed a good night’s sleep… up at 0500 (5 am)!

My phone received an alert that a small craft advisory had been posted for the day. I could hear the wind whirring outside my window. I stepped outside the door and it was COLD!  I decided to add a long sleeve layer to my top but stay in shorts.

As I began cycling, I noticed how clean the bike lanes medians were thanks to the previous night’s rain.

The wind was brutal.  On one occasion, I was buffeted by a side gust and had to stop for a moment.  I normally cruise at about 12-13 miles per hour.  Today, I was lucky to hit 6-7 mph.  While today was as punishing as expected with the wind and the cold, my legs continued to perform well.

On typical sunny days, I prefer to ride in the shade because it’s cooler.  Not today!  Riding in the shade was frigid!  My legs were numb from successive days of riding so they never felt cold. I felt the cold mainly on my fingers (I wear short-finger cycling gloves) and face.

Today’s added challenge was the relative lack of available rest stops.  On a particular 20-mile stretch, I passed an unbroken string of posh gated communities. No stores, no gas stations, no public beach access, no wooded areas appropriate for an unauthorized stop! Such circumstances sometimes compel cyclists to do rash things. I chose to respect the neighborhood and waited until I saw a public beach park with public restrooms.  Here’s a picture of Golden Sands Beach Park.  Note the red flag warning:

Today’s ride was very safe with one exception: This picture shows a sign warning drivers about cyclists.  What it told me is that my bike lane disappeared on the upcoming overpass.  I waited until traffic was clear before heading up the overpass.

I crossed into Melbourne by taking a large bridge over the Indian River. This was into the teeth of the wind. I stopped a couple of times on the incline and was graced with the sight of cormorants diving for fish. And then a pod of dolphins swam by. It was a nice end to a punishing day.

Tally for the day: 56 miles

Today began as another good day for me physically. I was excited to get out on the road this morning. This is the point where cycling becomes a joy even with all of the challenges.

Speaking of challenges, winds were forecast to kick up at 10 am and rain at 6 pm.

I dashed off to Fort Pierce. Winds began to get fierce as 10 am approached.  I just kept peddling, shifting to lower gears as necessary.

Cyclists tend to notice all sorts of clues about what the wind is doing such as the direction that flags and landscaping flags are blowing or the way debris is blowing across the freeway (or into my face!). This American flag told me what I already knew: I was cycling directly against the wind:

For the first time on this trip, I observed that my heart rate was trending much lower while cycling. And my cadence (pedal revolutions per minute) was trending higher. This means that I was getting fitter: able to go faster and farther with less exertion. My bike computer displays a recovery time at the end of each day’s ride.  That time was also trending much lower.

Cycling into the wind, I didn’t experience what is referred to as a second wind. That’s where I achieve an unexpected burst of energy and power and associated emotional high well into a ride. But today I had plenty of strength and power to spare.

Google maps tried to route me through Dickinson State Park. As I approached the entrance gate, two rangers asked me about my destination. They informed me that I was headed to a dead end after about five miles.  I thanked them profusely for saving me from needlessly cycling 10 miles.

As I entered Monroe County, I experienced miles of low rolling hills. I was able to power through them with relative ease.

While remaining vigilant, I couldn’t help but chronicle the debris I saw in the road medians: cooler tops, shredded tires, road kill, nails and bolts of all sizes, and lots of sand and rocks. I dodged as much as I could.

I continued to enjoy the wildlife: cranes, turtles, cranes, and a few iguanas.

As I passed through one town, I observed a gentleman on a 3-wheeled adult bicycle. He must have been in his mid-80s. He peddled steadily and had a look of resolve on his face.  I wondered whether that could be me in 10-15 years time. Hope so!

When I crossed the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter, FL, I saw Jupiter Lighthouse in the distance:

I also noticed the line of dark clouds well to the north of me, an indication of changing weather.  I arrived in Fort Pierce in advance of the expected rain.  My hotel was nice enough but it was located in what can best be described as a city dead zone–everything around it was shuttered except for a Mexican restaurant next door.  That place served great food at a great price!

I spent time reviewing the weather forecast, especially the expected cold front.  And I booked a hotel in Melbourne for the following day.

Tally for the day: 48 miles

Today I woke up feeling like a million bucks! As expected, my body is adjusting to bicycle touring again.

I booked a room in North Palm Beach. I checked the weather, noting a very cold and blustery forecast in the coming days.

I departed before the hotel became active. I reversed the process of getting my bike and panniers down to the hotel entrance–this time with no challenges.

As I rode through the city, I passed through Hialeah and Little Haiti.  The vibe of these neighborhoods reminded me of my own while growing up in Washington, DC.  Customs are similar where passersby are expected to acknowledge others. I frequently smiled, waved, or said “Hey, how’s it going?” and received similar responses.

Google maps routed me on a more direct journey on state roads with decent bike lanes. My legs were very strong and virtually pain free. The winds were not a big factor.

I didn’t stop much during my 80+ mile journey.  But I did take note of this prominent feature on the horizon as I got close to Hollywood, Florida.  It’s the guitar-shaped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  I had seen it advertised on television.  But seeing it in person is a sight to behold.

When I arrived at my hotel, I had plenty of energy. I did laundry and ordered Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti for delivery. This meal from Viva Italian Pizza was superb! And I had leftovers (I ate them for breakfast the next morning).  I mapped out the remainder of my Phase One stops, making adjustments for anticipated weather.

Tally for the day: 87 miles

I woke up with muscle aches and fatigue.  My body told me that I was approaching that fine line between building fitness and tearing it down. My mind said, “Too bad. This is Day 3.  Get over it!”

I took a moment to search for hotels and campsites in the Miami Beach area but was frustrated with the results.  So I decided to head out on the bike and plan where to stay on the fly.

My legs performed well but I was clearly exhausted.

As I approached Miami, I traveled along an extensive network of bike paths and bike lanes.  There was some sidewalk riding as well.

I did encounter a few obstacles.

The first picture shows a low clearance under a bridge.  I had to “strike the American flag” and walk the bike under the bridge while ducking. On the opposite side, I was confronted with steps. I’m an engineer but I cursed those who came up with this design in the middle of an otherwise pleasant bike path.

Also, I am not a big fan of riding on sidewalks but it often is necessary to stay safe.  Most sidewalks provided a reasonably smooth ride. But I encountered sidewalks with those elevated ridges created by tree roots.  To a cyclist, this feels like riding over a series of speed bumps. Every jolt adds to fatigue and hand numbness.

As I approached Miami proper, I passed through familiar neighborhoods such as Coconut Grove. During my Coast Guard career, my family and I spent a glorious 4-1/2 years in Miami.

I then connected to the bike paths that exist under Miami’s Metrorail system.  They’re clearly the best paths I’ve experienced to date (they’re wide and very smooth). Here’s a picture of some of Miami’s skyline from under the Metrorail:

When I stopped to take this picture, I again checked for hotels in Miami Beach. Most of the available places were hostels where I’d have to sleep in a multi-occupant barracks style room. I chose to keep that experience in my distant past so I booked a room at the Miami Hilton.

I enjoyed the challenge of biking through downtown Miami streets. It’s a vibrant city and traffic was congested and the sidewalks were packed with people going about their daily routine.  I encountered numerous delivery robots. As I approached to pass, the robots seemed confused by a bicyclist, often freezing in their path.  They’re simply hilarious!  I snapped this picture:

Congestion allowed me to zip past cars and get to my destination quicker than if I was driving.

When I arrived at the hotel, there were a few high priced cars lined up at the valet station.  I asked the valet if the hotel had a bike rack.  His answer was no.  So I leaned my bike up against a very nice feature wall outside the hotel entrance and walked into the hotel.  Hotel security asked me where I was going and I said that I was checking in.

At check in, the agent asked me if I had a car.  I said that I arrived on a high-priced bike that I needed to bring up to my room because they have no bike racks.  He gave me a confused answer that I liberally interpreted as an authorization. And he gave me a room on the 18th floor.

I went to the room (very nice) and returned to the hotel entrance to carry my panniers up.  I then went to retrieve my bike. Hotel security challenged me again and I told him that registration told me that I could bring my bike to my room.

As I walked my bike towards the elevators, another security agent challenged me. I gave him my room number and told him that I was authorized to bring the bike to my room.  I was polite but firm and he acknowledged my intent. I recognize that I stood out as an anomaly as compared to the other guests. I wasn’t frustrated but I did assert my rights as a paying customer.

My bike enjoyed a stunning view of the city:

Tally for the day: 35 miles

I woke up with aching leg muscles.  Nothing serious–just another aspect of the ordeal.  From my TransAmerica biking experience, I know that the first three days of cycling are the toughest. And then my body adjusts to the punishment of long distance cycling.

Today’s winds were forecast to be challenging. I set out for Florida City and had a relatively uneventful journey.

I used Google maps to navigate while checking beforehand with my printed Adventure Cycling Association route maps.  G-maps is good but it doesn’t reflect realtime conditions. Often enough, I encountered obstructions like this on the trail:

As I biked along, I heard countless creatures rustling in the brush.  Over time, I could distinguish the rustling of small anoles (lizards), larger iguanas, squirrels, and an occasional deer.  I often saw iguanas out in the open but they dashed into the brush with surprising speed as I approached. The exception was a very large (2+ feet long) bright orange iguana that menacingly stood its ground on my bike trail.  I considered stopping to take a picture but chose not to provoke the creature as I rode around it.

Google maps routed me to Card Sound Road as I turned towards the mainland.  I guessed that the excessive traffic on the Overseas Highway was the reason.  In any event, Card Sound Road doesn’t have bike lanes. Fortunately, there was little traffic so I cruised through the 15 miles with minimal effort. As I made the turn towards the north, I was greeted by pushing winds.  I smiled all the way to Florida City.

Tally for the day: 75 miles

I enjoyed a good night’s sleep except for a 2:30 am battle with a tiny spider (I think I won!).

After checking my weather apps, I knew that it would be a challenging day bicycling into the wind. My goal was to bike 100 miles to a campsite in Key Largo but I knew that this was overly aggressive given expected winds.

After loading everything on the bike, I headed out.

First stop was a hardware store to pick up fuel for my mini-stove for camping.

Second stop was the Mile Marker Zero sign:

Third stop was the buoy marking the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States where a kind tourist snapped this photo:

And then I was off to the Overseas Highway.  I enjoyed a smooth ride north until the wind picked up towards noon as forecasted.

Biking along the O’Seas Highway requires keen focus–it’s not a straight shot.  Cyclists must cross the busy highway a few times to connect to pedestrian bridges or bike trails.  This was a bit unnerving even for this experienced cyclist because of heavy traffic, the lack of crosswalks, and the two pedestrian bridges unexpectedly closed for construction.

Some of the bike trails along the route are lined with trees and vegetation that served as a much appreciated wind break.

Here’s a picture of one of the pedestrian bridges, which are very nice, and often populated with individuals fishing (with pelicans perched on the rails as bystanders):

Bicycling the Seven Mile Bridge was a hoot!  Beforehand, I stopped at Veterans Memorial Park for a rest break. As I approached the bridge, I put my head down and keep peddling into the wind.  I suspended any thoughts about “when is this going to end?” Here’s a view from the bridge toward Marathon in the distance:

Before long, I entered Marathon.  By this time, it was mid afternoon and I was tired after biking into the wind. I still had 50 miles to go to my destination.

I decided to stop at Coast Guard Station Marathon to take a break.  After appropriate security challenges, I was granted access and met by the Officer of the Day, Machinery Technician Second Class Karol Fonseca.

We talked about our families and career experiences. I was uplifted by Karol’s leadership, character, professionalism, and dedication. My interaction with him reinforced the main reason why I am fundraising for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.

Here’s a selfie that Karol took with me:

When I told Karol about my intended destination for the day, he said, “Admiral, I advise you to stay off the roads as dusk approaches.” He talked about recent drunk driving incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. And I had noticed more than a few roadside memorials as I headed north. He informed me about a resort next door to the station that caters to Coasties.

While I didn’t need a lot of convincing, I heeded Karol’s wise advice and headed off to the resort.  Unfortunately, it was booked up for the night.  So I got on the phone and, after a few online “not available” notices, I found an available resort 15 miles north. I stopped for a fast food dinner. Then I headed off to Duck Key, arriving there with plenty of daylight to spare.

The resort was very nice, and very pricey.  But it was worth it to me to stay safe and get a good night’s rest.  I’m sure I looked out of place walking through the hotel in my cycling attire while carrying my panniers. 

I got cleaned up, revised my itinerary, and turned in for a good night’s sleep.  Tally for the day: 65 miles.

Here’s a photo I took of the view from my room the next morning.  These resorts are really nice but I had miles to go and no time to enjoy the amenities.

Today I flew to Key West with my touring bicycle, a Kona Sutra, and stuff needed to begin the ride north.  Here’s a picture of me at the airport with my carry-on “luggage.” Yes, TSA does allow bike helmets and cleated bike shoes through security!

My flight was delayed so American Airlines gave me the last seat on an earlier flight to Miami, my connecting city.  My checked bag would follow on the delayed flight. I instinctively knew that my checked bag wouldn’t arrive in Key West when I did.

My flight to Key West left on time.  An Airtag showed that my bike had arrived in Miami but wasn’t loaded on my plane. C’est la vie!

The view of the Florida Keys from the air was awesome. Here’s a picture of one of the many bridges in the Overseas Highway:

When I arrived at Key West Airport, I dutifully went to baggage claim hoping that my bike somehow made it to Key West.  The baggage claim area was severely overcrowded.  My bike wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I found a less congested area and filled out the online delayed baggage form.

Afterwards, I went back to baggage claim and found an American Airlines employee at the baggage counter.  I explained my situation to Tracy, who was most helpful. She gave me a forecasted time when my bike would arrive and committed to having it delivered to my hotel soon afterwards.

My original plan was to assemble my bike at the airport and ride to the hotel.  No plan survives first contact!  So Lyft to the hotel it is! I took this picture to illustrate my frustration of not yet knowing what condition my bike would be when it arrived:

I made it to the hotel, ate dinner, and patiently awaited a call from the baggage delivery company. The airline tracking site indicated that the bike could arrive at the hotel as late as after 10 pm–oh my! But just after 6 pm, I received a call from Judy saying that she had my bike and was on her way.

When Judy arrived, she readily noted the glee on my face.  She mentioned that most people complain to her about baggage delays even though she doesn’t work for the airlines. Judy, a Marine veteran, told me that the airline had called her to deliver my bike first.  After opening up the bike case and quickly checking the bike, I thanked her profusely and tipped her well.

I rushed off to my room to get ready for the next day’s mission.  I found a TSA inspection card in my bike case.  Here’s the assembled bike in my room:

Here’s an inspiring picture from my hotel room.  I took it as a good sign:

Even with logistical challenges, my Day Zero successes were enabled by three terrific women: the American agent who didn’t have to switch me to an earlier flight to Miami, and Tracy and Judy who went out of their way to support this disabled veteran by getting me my bike earlier than expected.

Building on my bicycle ride across America in 2017/8, I plan to celebrate my 70th birthday by biking from Key West, Florida, to Bay Harbor, Maine.  This is a distance of 2,200 miles.

Because of how much the U.S. Coast Guard and her people mean to me and my family, I’m using this ride to raise funds for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA).  CGMA is the official relief society of the Coast Guard.  CGMA provides a way to extend compassion to one another in times of need.

Training is complete. I’ll fly to Key West with my bicycle in February to begin Phase I of the ride to Jacksonville.  Phase II is from Jacksonville to Washington, DC.  Phase III is from DC to Maine.  I hope to be done by the time I celebrate my birthday in July.

This will be the first time that I will check my bike as baggage on the plane. I’ve carefully packed it in a foam-lined soft case. My anxiety about damage from baggage handling will ease once I’ve received and assembled my bike at the airport.

I volunteer with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association and currently serve as chair of the board of directors for the association. In March 2021, I received a text from a fellow alum inviting me to join some of his classmates in a bicycle ride from Alexander HAMilton’s tomb in Manhattan, NY, to HOPley Yeaton’s tomb at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. As the organizer, he named the ride HAMHOP 2021.

Alexander Hamilton founded the Revenue Cutter Service, a pre-curser to the US Coast Guard.  Hopley Yeaton is revered as the first commissioned officer of the Revenue Cutter Service.

I was inspired by the idea and the passion of my fellow alum, Bob Camillucci.  So I decided to join the group and use the challenge of this ride to fuel my training.

The training was grueling but I pushed through the pain, exhaustion and a few minor sports injuries.  I logged over 500 miles in preparation for the ride.

I planned my logistics so I would take Amtrak with the bike from Union Station in Washington, DC, to the station at Newark Liberty airport and then bike to Staten Island to meet the other riders.  We would bike from Staten Island to New London, Connecticut, over three days.  And then I would return home with the bike via Amtrak. I executed this plan to near perfection.

Day 0: DC to Staten Island, NY

On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, I arrived at Union Station in time for a mid-morning Amtrak departure.  This was the first time that I travelled on Amtrak with a bicycle, which cost an extra $20.

I joined the rush of passengers when the departure gate opened.  I walked the bike with panniers (saddle bags) loaded.  Everything was fine until an Amtrak employee notified cyclists that the elevator to the lower platform was broken.  He said that we would be fine to take our bicycles down the escalator.  With some anxiety, I watched two cyclists in front of me negotiate the maneuver. I followed and found that it wasn’t that bad as long as I held firmly to both the front and rear brake levers while leaning back to maintain my balance.

My next challenge was to find a train car with bicycle racks.  I followed the two cyclists in front of me as they entered one train car.  They informed me that their car probably had racks only for their two bikes.  I scurried towards the back of the train and hoisted the bike onto a relatively vacant car.  I found that I had to remove the panniers so that I could maneuver the bike around the tight turn into the car.  I put the panniers on the train first, placing them on a vacant seat.  Then I got off the train to retrieve the bike. I walked the bike through the length of the train car trying to avoid hitting elbows, knees, and feet of fellow passengers!  Fortunately, there was a vacant bike rack.

When I made the reservation, I was told that a conductor would help me load my bike onto the rack.  Fat chance!  As the train began to leave the station, I studied the various moving bars and grates on rack… it looked like a Rube Goldberg contraption.  In the end, I decided to remove the front wheel and hook the back wheel to the contraption.  The bike swung freely with the motion of the train.  I used a strip of velcro I had to secure the front forks to a vertical grate.  That stabilized the bike and I called it good enough. 

Here’s a picture:

It was only about a 3-hour ride to New Jersey.  Before my stop, I tried to figure out which platform doors would open because very few of them had opened before we departed Union Station. It dawned on me that all doors were opening at the smaller stations.  But I also noticed that the stops at the smaller stations were very short.  So by the time we arrived at Newark Liberty Airport station, I had reassembled my bike and pre-staged my panniers by the closest door. I unloaded the bike and scurried back on the train to retrieve my panniers.  One of the train conductors had stepped on the platform and saw me unload the bike. I waved at him before getting back on the train so he knew to wait for me to get off again before signaling for the train to depart. I thanked him as I got off!

Here’s a picture of me on the loading platform in New Jersey as the train pulls away:

My map planning indicated that I should be able to leave the train platform at my station and proceed right out to the street.  Reality suggested otherwise.  I asked a station attendant for guidance and she advised me to take the AirTrain to the airport.  I hopped on the AirTrain but jumped off at the first stop that appeared to provide street access.  

Once on the street, I checked the weather (it had rained heavily before my arrival) and decided that it was sufficiently clear to bike to Staten Island.  I considered a cab or Uber but was looking forward to a bike ride after sitting on that train.  I followed Google Maps to try to find the start of my planned route to Staten Island.  Using Google Maps on a bike can be adventurous. I took a couple of wrong turns and likely added a mile to the journey.  But I eventually connected with the route and was one my way.

During planning, I decided to add 5 miles to my route, which took me through the port of NY-NJ and minimized the amount of city riding I had to do.  Fortunately, there is a generous bike lane through the port.

The ride to Staten Island was generally pleasant.  I only experienced two minor incidents:

1) While biking through the port, one of my panniers ejected off the bike when I hit a patch of rough pavement.  It was probably caused by me not ensuring that pannier was fully clipped in.  A trucker behind me honked his horn and immediately stopped to prevent other truckers from running over the bag.  I also immediately realized what had happened. I laid my bike on the side of the road and ran back to retrieve the bag.  I smiled at the trucker and thanked him with a thumbs up which he politely acknowledged.

2) After riding through the port and crossing into Staten Island, I encountered a lot of car traffic.  Most drivers were courteous to me.  But one driver decided that he needed to accelerate around me as I approached a corner. The car immediately made a right turn.  I slammed on my brakes and stopped short of hitting the car.  Since this has happened to me a few times before, I chose not to say or do anything to provoke the driver. Patience is a virtue!

Here’s a picture of the new Goethals Bridge that connects Elizabeth City, NJ, to Staten Island.  It’s bike lane is awesome!

Here’s a picture of the NYC skyline from the bridge (note the port):

After biking almost 22 miles, I arrived at my destination.  It was a relatively comfortable ride aside from the stress of biking in unfamiliar surroundings.  I drank a lot of water, got cleaned up, and enjoyed pizza for dinner. 

The HAMHOP 2021 group had planned to meet at hotel at 7 pm for an organizational meeting. I met the 17 other riders and the support crew. The ride organizer called an audible and said that we would shift the ride briefing to a local restaurant.  Although I had eaten, I joined the group to take the opportunity to get to know the team better.

Day 1: Staten Island to Manhattan to Centerport, NY 

The plan of the day called for us to gather at the front of the Navy Lodge and bike together to the St. George Ferry Terminal. We’d take the ferry to Manhattan and then bike to Trinity Church where the tomb of Alexander Hamilton is located.  After a photo op, we’d bike to Centerport, NY, on Long Island.

I woke up early (as always) and felt no ill effects from the previous day’s ride. Breakfast and coffee were provided courtesy of the Navy Lodge.

Although I had packed only about 25 pounds of stuff in my panniers (a fairly light load for a touring bike), I decided to stow them in one of the support vehicles. I carried food, essential bike repair supplies, and other items in my handlebar bag.  I had trained with full panniers so I welcomed the chance to ease my load. And I noted that most of the other cyclists were on much lighter racing bikes as compared to my 35 pound touring bike. There were a few on hybrids, and one brave soul rode a mountain bike.

It was a cool morning so I wore a lightweight cycling jacket.

At about 8 am, a representative from Coast Guard Sector New York arrived to greet us and wish us well.

Here’s a photo of the HAMHOP 2021 team:

Here’s a photo of the ride organizer, Bob Camillucci, and Deputy Sector Commander, Captain Marc Sennick, displaying the latest copy of the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association Bulletin:

After a final safety briefing, we were ready to go.  Because I was flying the American flag on a fiberglass pole on the back of my bike, I was asked to lead the group out of the Navy Lodge parking lot.  We enjoyed a comfortable ride to the ferry terminal.  It was mostly downhill.

When we arrived at the ferry terminal, we were screened one-by-one by law enforcement dogs and corralled into a waiting area.  When given the signal, we walked our bikes onto the ferry.

Here’s a picture of cyclists on the ferry:

Here’s a picture I took while transiting NY Harbor:

When we arrived in New York, we rendezvoused with a fellow rider who was waiting in the city.  We cycled a mile to Trinity Church through surprisingly light city traffic. As expected, navigating by bike computer or cell phone in the city was a bit sporadic and we took a few wrong turns along the way.

At Trinity Church, our coordinator tried to get us into the cemetery so that we could pay homage to Alexander Hamilton at his gravesite.  It didn’t work so we settled on taking this photo from the street with Hamilton’s tomb in the background:

Our plan was to continue biking through the city in 4-5 person pods.  Because of traffic, that didn’t work out so well and we ended up self-organizing by riding pace.  We encountered lots of traffic, pedestrians walking the wrong way on bike paths, traffic stopped by school buses and throngs of school children, etc.

By this time, I was navigating by bike computer.  When my group’s devices provided conflicting directions, we huddled to make a decision about the best way to go.

We cycled over the Brooklyn Bridge and encountered much less pedestrian traffic than anticipated.  I did note individuals speeding towards us in the opposite direction on e-bikes and small motor bikes.

Conventional wisdom suggests that NYC is relatively flat.  From a cyclist’s perspective, that’s a myth as there were significant hills along this ride which presented a challenge to me and several other riders.  I’d stop on occasion to catch my breath but never got off the bike to walk up the rest of the hill.

I enjoyed the scenes of the city and found the bicycling environment much less threatening than anticipated.

We’d stop on occasion to allow slower riders to catch up.  Here’s one of those stops:

As with most city riding, it’s always a challenge to find restrooms and water. Some riders stopped at Starbucks or McDonalds.  My group discovered a porta-potty and water fountain at Upper Highlands Playground in Brooklyn.

Starting at the middle of the ride, I experienced a series of cramps to my hands, calfs, hamstrings, and leg IT bands.  They were very unexpected and I surmised that they were triggered by the numerous hill climbs.  I was able to ride through most of the cramps but decided that I wouldn’t push myself too hard for the rest of the ride. I didn’t experience another episode of major cramps for the remainder of the trip.

We were fortunate that our support team had arranged pre-planned stops at a church and a park where we could refill our water bottles and grab some snacks.  These were much needed breaks for me.  Our support crew were lifesavers!

After bicycling a total of 57 miles, I was one of two riders who were the last to arrive at the hotel.  My colleague and I encouraged each other for the last 15 miles.  The rest of our team was gathered to celebrate our arrival. While my legs were fatigued, I felt pretty good.

My sister, Joye, and her husband, Mark, live within a few miles of Centerport so I planned to have dinner with them.  My sister arranged takeout from Nicky’s Restaurant. She and Mark brought me a healthy portion of penne pasta with marinara sauce.  We enjoyed a nice reunion at the hotel gazebo.  And I consumed the rest of my delicious pasta for breakfast the next morning.

Day 2: Centerport to Riverhead, NY

I woke up feeling reasonably well.  Today’s ride was roughly a straight line along Long Island. 

I joined the first group out. Once again, we experienced a few discrepancies with our electronic mapping but worked through it. I was able to keep my fellow riders within sight for most of the day. Some of the riders who departed after us passed me, but I was comfortable with my pace.

Again, we had a couple of pre-planned stops, one of which allowed some of our riders to take rehydration to a whole new level:

Most of the day’s ride were on some fabulous bike paths. We were often the only individuals on the path.  And, when we got to about the halfway point, the hills were behind us and we were mostly riding downhill.

We rode a total of 50 miles and I wasn’t one of the last to arrive.  

After getting cleaned up, we walked to a local restaurant, Cucina25, and enjoyed a team dinner.  I ordered chicken parmigiana, which came with spaghetti, salad, and bread.  With an easy day of riding left, the mood was very light-hearted as illustrated by this photo:

Day 3: Riverhead, NY, to New London, CT

After waking up, I was first to arrive at the hotel office as the attendant was making coffee.  I ate the remainder of my chicken parm for breakfast.  I felt really good (day 3 always feels better than day 2).

To commemorate the upcoming end of the ride, I added the Coast Guard flag just below the American flag on the bike.  My fellow riders loved this tribute.

Here’s a picture of the group ready to begin the last day’s ride:

As we rode towards the Orient Point Ferry, a fellow rider named Mike disappeared from my rear view mirror.  I doubled back and found him with a flat tire.  Other riders behind us joined in to help with the fix.  Here’s a classic scene shot showing one worker and numerous supervisors:

Much of today’s ride was through rural settings with wineries and vegetable stands along the way.  And it was mostly flat!

After 34 miles of riding, we all ended up at the ferry in time to ride it together.  We had reserved and pre-paid but were surprised to learn that there was an additional fee to take a bike on the ferry.  A few of my resourceful colleagues loaded their bikes in the support vehicles. I did not and chalked it up as the cost of doing business!

The ferry ride to New London was picture perfect.  Here’s a shot of the Barque EAGLE at the New London City Pier:

When we arrived in New London, we staged everyone in a parking lot and then proceeded to ride together to the Coast Guard Academy, a distance of only 1-1/2 miles.  There was one final hill to deal with right before we arrived at the gate.

As we arrived, there was a small group from the Class of 1986 to greet us and cheer us on.

After individually going through screening at the entrance gate to the Academy, we had one more hill to climb to get to the Academy Chapel, where Hopley Yeaton’s tomb is located.  Bob asked me to lead the pack and I attacked the hill with all the vigor I could muster.

At the site of the tomb, we shared a few words of tribute and thanks, and toasted our Service’s first commissioned officer.  Here’s the group picture:

Since everyone in the group was associated with the Class of 1986, they were on a short timeline to get to their hotel and join their 35th reunion activities.  I thanked Bob for his leadership and exchanged final greetings with my fellow cyclists.

I cycled 1 mile to my hotel.  After getting cleaned up, I walked back to the Academy to observe a few of the reunion events. Thanks to the kindness of friends, I had pre-positioned more appropriate attire at the Alumni Center.  After the reunion events, I walked to G’s restaurant for a hearty meal.  I was later joined by an Academy cadet who had previously reached out to me for advice.  He was gracious enough to give me a ride back to my hotel.

On the following morning, I cycled to Union Station to take Amtrak back to DC.  I stopped by to see EAGLE, reflecting on the 10 weeks I spent aboard her as a cadet:

My return to DC was uneventful.  The highlight was being pleasantly surprised when the Amtrak conductor in New London showed me how to properly stow my bicycle in the rack.  I’m properly trained for the next time.

I appreciated the invitation to join HAMHOP 21 and thank Bob and the Class of ’86 for their friendship and exceptional support. Many of the group pictures in this post were taken by other riders or the dedicated members of our support team.

Health permitting, I plan to continue to push the envelope with bicycle trips.  Stay tuned!

Since my last update in March 2019, I dealt with increasingly debilitating symptoms of Smoldering Multiple Myeloma. In April 2019, I entered a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. Over the course of 8 months, I endured 48 chemo treatments.

The good news is that these treatments suppressed the disease and most of the symptoms. The NIH team is truly amazing.  The bad news is that the chemo and steroids took a serious toll on my fitness level. Chemo forced me into being more of a couch-potato.

After tallying a total of 3000 miles on the bike in 2018, I only was able to achieve 500 in 2019 (all before chemo treatments), and 375 in 2020. I spent most of 2020 and 2021 rebuilding my strength and stamina.

As I’ve worked to rebuild muscle, strength and stamina, I’ve accepted that my post-chemo fitness will never be as strong as it was before.  Frankly, the drugs weakened my veins, especially in my arms.  And no amount of effort on my part seems to help to restore them. I’m not complaining because, relative to the way I felt pre-chemo, I feel great today!

I returned the the bicycle in early 2021 and, with sustained effort, have achieved strength and stamina that “good enough.” I felt good enough to sign up for a multi-day ride that I’ll cover in my next post.