The cross-country trip has officially begun! We woke up to a cool, drizzly San Diego morning. We christened the Pterosail by dipping it into the cool waters of the Pacific at Dog Beach. Setting up the Pterosail went fairly smoothly, although, in the transit we lost a Harken pulley for the rear stay. We replaced it and we were on our way. The day started off fairly easy while cycling through San Diego, however, towards the end of the day the route became progressively steeper. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much assistance from the wind. Although, I don’t anticipate really being able to take advantage of the wind until we hit the wide open deserts. It was also encouraging to see everyone’s reaction to the Pterosail! No matter where we went, I saw lots of smiles and words of encouragement. I stopped at Lakeside to get lunch with Jenny. We had lunch at Lakeside Steakhouse. I ordered the bleu cheese onion burger; I highly recommend it to anyone passing through. I then continued on for the last fifteen miles while Jenny made accommodation plans in Alpine. During these last miles, I was thankful for the electric assist. It really took the edge off going up hill - especially with no wind! Okay, time for bed.

Today was tough. I did a lot of climbing without much help from the wind. Alpine’s elevation is around 2,000 feet where Jacumba (pop. 400) is at 2800 but in order to get there I had to conquer hills that were over 4000 feet. It was pretty warm as well. The temperatures hovered around 90F - 100F .... this is where having the overhead solar panel that not only keep my iphone fully charged; but providing me with protection from the sun! I would used the iphone GPS function along with the map provided by Adventure Cycling Association. The route went through I-8 for about 4 miles. Almost all of the trip was going up and down hills - although, most of it was up! I crossed the Tecate Divide with an elevation of 3,890. Should be noted that from the town of Boulevard to Jacumba it was almost all downhill. I encountered a border-patrol checkpoint and talked with some of the officers there. They got a kick out of checking out the Pterosail. It should be noted that Jacumba is about half a mile from the Mexican border. That would explain the numerous border patrol vehicles everywhere! Lunch was at Major’s Coffee Shop. The cook that worked there came out and wanted to learn more about the Pterosail. So tonight we’re staying at the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa Resort .. really only place to stay in town. Its a hippy place with a couple of naturally heated spring pools. We’re told that back in the day Cary Grant and Clark Gable put Jacumba on the map. Then the I-8 came to be and Jacumba was never the same. It feels kind of a like a ghost town, but thats fine. It has a lot of character and not a lot of traffic. Win!

What a rush going down I-8. I started at an elevation of around 3000 feet to below sea level; all in about 30 minutes. I was worried about getting a flat tire on the way down, especially the rear tire with the motor/generator hub. Fortunately, there were no blown tires. But, boy - what a difference getting to the other side of the mountain was. This isn’t San Diego. The temperature of the air became hot. Literally hot. The closest analogy that I can think of is the feeling of hot air coming from a hand dryer in the bathroom. I noticed that the black paint on the protective case for my iphone began to come up. We’re talking 115F hot. Welcome to Yuha Desert. I began to drink A LOT of water. Jenny called to see how I was doing and mentioned that the support vehicle had a crack in the windshield that required replacement. About an hour later, she drove over and dropped off some cold gatorade and to show the damage. It wasn’t just a crack - it was as if someone had dropped a large rock on top of the car that then hit the glass. The dust from the rock was still on the car. It was pretty ugly. Evidently it happened after I left, but before Jenny got in the car. I still have no idea what happened; but I’ll chalk it up to a random accident. After Jenny left I continued on the route and noticed that the route followed the Mexican border. It seemed like every few hundred yards there was a blue and red flag in a barrel that was marked “water” or “agua”. My guess it that they’re humanitarian aid for immigrants coming across the border. Again, border patrol was everywhere. As far as wind there was a little bit but not enough to really assist. Hopefully tomorrow is different. In El Centro we had an interview with Ramon with the Imperial Valley Press. Tomorrow should be online with it hitting the print press a bit after. We ended up at Best Western in Brawley. I had a few tacos de pastor for dinner. They were decent.

It was another hot one. Temperatures hovered around 117F. The folks from Adventure Cycling Association warns:

SERVICES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED BETWEEN BRAWLEY AND PALO VERDE. PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND CARRY FOOD AND WATER. BE PREPARED TO CAMP BY THE ROAD IF NECESSARY.

In other words, for the next 40 miles there was NOTHING. Thankfully the trek went pretty well even though there was virtually no wind. As I was leaving Brawley a motorist pulled up next to me and said that we were in the paper. I said that I hadn’t seen it. He literally threw the paper out the window. He apologized and said he following someone and didn’t want to lose them. He then speed away. Later, I passed the Imperial Dunes and went through lots of small hills. I estimate that I went through ten quarts of water. As I passed I-10 (a route I will be taking manana) and took a right onto Hobson Way into Blythe a funny thing happened. The wind picked up! Not a lot, but I’d say it was around 10-15 MPH. So after cycling through the desolate desert - where the wind would have been REALLY appreciated; my last mile into town was almost all powered by wind. Although, I don’t normally use the wind while in town; it was a great way to finish the day!

We passed a milestone today. We crossed from CA into AZ. Although, my first attempt failed. I tried to cross using the pedestrian/cycling walkway to get across the Colorado River only to discover that there was a sign saying “Welcome to California” that blocked passage, ie the masts would have hit it. I ended up backing out and going around and onto to I-5 to cross into AZ. There wasn’t a lot of wind at all, so I furled the sail. I went through Quartzite and then finally got off of I-5 and onto highway 60. Almost right after I got onto highway 60 the wind began to pick up. For the next couple of hours I had some great rides using the wind. It even helped me go uphill to Hope, AZ. Although the wind wasn’t very consistent - it was a great time! I saw lots of RV parks and dust devils. What an Arizona welcome! Jenny and I ended up staying at the Shaffer Motel in Salome. We had a great salad and sandwich at Buckaroos. It looks like we’ll be rolling into the Phoenix area for the 4th of July. Lets hope this wind keeps up!

Check out a compilation of video captures:

Today’s weather was great. It wasn’t nearly as hot as the past few days. It was in the “lower” 100s! There was also good wind today. I captured quite a bit of it on the helmet camera. I’ll post the video here shortly after I figure out how to attach videos to the blog. The highlight of the day was when an older couple stopped and thanked me for flying the American flag. They insisted I take $20.00! So we’re at the Wickenburg Inn on the edge of town. The town has a lot of history. Evidently there was a massacre. Here’s from Wikipedia:

Source: Wikipedia

Next stop Luke Air Force Base!

Happy 4th of July! Check out the article in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Read it here

Here's some video from yesterday. Check it out:

Happy 4th folks! Today’s trip was relatively easy. Not a lot of wind, traffic was pretty low key - everyone must have been getting ready for the 4th of July festivities. Its not everyday that the security folks have a Pterosail that pulls up. They saw my camera mounted on my helmet and reminded me that recording was prohibited and that I was required to obey the speed limits. Check. They also got a kick out of the Pterosail; I ended up giving them a few Pterosail cards. So Jenny and I spent the 4th with a friend from the Academy. We went to Tempe, had some great sushi and finished the night watching fireworks. What a show!

What a busy day. First off, hats off to Phoenix-native Dylan Anderson. He tagged a long with me for most of the trek from Luke Air Force Base to Apache Junction. He shared a lot of knowledge about Phoenix and the surrounding communities. Get this: we might even be related. Turns out his mother’s father’s last name was Taggart. How the Mac was dropped I have no idea. We stopped and grabbed some coffee. I came back from the restroom and Dylan was talking to a lady who was interested in the Pterosail that was parked outside. She ended wishing us good luck and paid our coffee tab! Later in the afternoon we stopped at a park where I met up with Brian with Channel 15 for an interview. Afterwards we had lunch at Fatburger in Tempe. It was GOOD. Shortly thereafter, Dylan headed back home. I then continued eastward till I hit Apache Junction. We ended up staying at a Super Eight hotel. Jenny took the Suburu to get the window replaced. Tomorrow morning we have another interview with the morning crew at ABC15. Time to get some ZZZz.

Videos, Courtesy ABC 15 News

Article about the cross-country in SpinSheet by Molly Winans, page 21 Read it here.

Another interesting cycling website, covering our trek is Cycling Experiences. Visit the website here

Here's a link to Green Diary that featured the Pterosail. Read it here

This morning’s interview went great. The news van pulled up at 4:30AM and began setting up the cameras, lights, etc. I met news reporter Steve Kuzj and an intern, nicknamed “Arielle” Steve did a short “teaser” bit and then an hour later did the actual interview. See the video attached below. Shortly after leaving Apache Junction I found myself talking to a AZ Highway Patrol that wasn’t happy with me cycling in the right lane on Highway 60. He ended up giving me a warning. He was correct; I shouldn’t have been in the lane. The problem was that the shoulder of the road had these very wide rumble strips - around 3’ wide. Using a recumbent trike, It was impossible to use the shoulder area without hitting the strips. So I continued on the shoulder of the road, hitting rumble strips the whole way. Fortunately, this only lasted for about a mile and the shoulder area opened up with the wider rumble strips being replaced but deeper, yet narrower rumble strips. I pushed through to Superior. The mountain range views were incredible. I met up with Jenny and had lunch. One of Superior’s claim to fame is that it has the worlds smallest museum. What type of museum, I’m not exactly sure as it was closed when I checked it out. The next 25 miles to Globe were difficult to say the least. Often there were no shoulders to use, just single lane traffic. I was paranoid that the state trooper would visit again. Going uphill, no use of wind with temperatures around 105F made for a very challenging crossing. Finally, made it to Top of the World @ 4600 feet. It was mostly all downhill, thankfully, from there. Globe the surrounding communities, such as Miami are mining towns. Specifically, cooper. In fact, Globe is home to one of the few operating copper smelters in the US. Other interesting facts from Wikipedia about Globe include:

Globe is also known for having links to Geronimo and the Apache Kid. On October 23, 1889, the Apache Kid's trial was held in the Globe Courthouse. After he was convicted, it was the responsibility of Sheriff Glenn Reynolds to transport him to the Arizona Territorial Prison in Yuma, Arizona. Sheriff Reynolds, his deputy, and their prisoners set out in an armored stagecoach holding the Apache Kid inside. Somewhere near present day Kearny, Arizona, Sheriff Reynolds let the Apache Kid out of the stagecoach seeing as they were on an uphill climb and he wanted to ease the burden on the horses. The Apache Kid was able to overcome and murder Sheriff Reynolds.

We made the local newspaper. Check out the article in the North Liberty Leader. Read it here

Today spent most of the day going through the Apache Indian reservation. The day started with lots of grey clouds that kept it relatively cool. Temperatures eventually topped out at 101F. There was a small amount of wind, although, it was a headwind - so the Pterosail was furled up. I tried unfurling it a few times when I thought the direction of the wind was changing, but no luck. When I was cycling towards Pima there were tons of advertisements for Taylor Freeze. Evidently its famous for ice-cream and the famous “T” burger. So I stopped in and had a small peach shake. It was awesome. So while at Taylor Freeze, it started to sprinkle. I then got back on the Pterosail to finish the last 10 miles till Safford. The rain began to fall heavily. The solar panels were shielding me from most of it, so I decided to put my iphone into my pocket to protect it from the rain. Wrong choice. Shortly later it slipped out of my pocket, went flying and hit the pavement. Meanwhile, the rain is really pouring. So I pick up the Iphone, check it - all good. Then it hits me. Where’s my wallet?? I remember taking it out of my bag from the rack, but never put it back - instead I must have put it in my pocket. Yet, it wasn’t there. Then it hit me. I lost my wallet “somewhere” on the road. So I turned around on the same shoulder and raced back. The rain continued. The shoulders were pretty wide, so I wasn’t directly facing traffic. I got about 2 miles when a police car pulled up next to me. More flashing lights. I explained the situation - about losing my wallet, etc. He said that he’d go back and see if he could find it. At this point, I was pretty much sure that it was all a lost cause. I imagined that even if the wallet was still on the street, it was probably in a gutter somewhere. Then about 4 minutes later the police car pulls up with my rain-soaked wallet! The rain then stopped. What a day.

We made it to New Mexico! Today the winds were about 10-15 MPH, but unfortunately they were also coming from the SE - exactly my route! Although it should be noted that the highway went through various hills and canyons, which isn’t ideal for the Pterosail. This is because the winds tend to whip around the rocks making use of the wind prohibitive. The highlight of the day was stopping into Duncan, AZ which is about 4 miles from the NM border and about 35 miles from Lordsburg, NM. Its a quaint town with a nice downtown area. I snapped a few shots of the theatre, which I would later find out was empty. It was time for lunch. So I stopped and asked who I thought at the time was a police officer for advice on where to grab a bite. She was in fact, a volunteer Arizona Ranger by the name of Terri L. Lodge. FYI, they assist the city with security and traffic and other civic duties. During this time, she was waiting to direct traffic for a funeral procession that had yet to pass. I later learned that a Mormon had recently departed. She recommended Ol Joe’s Cafe. In fact, she was so interested in the Pterosail that she asked if we could meet me there after the funeral procession and take a few pictures. She said that she writes for the local paper in addition to being a volunteer Arizona Ranger. That sounded great to me so off I went a couple of blocks to Ol Joe’s Cafe. I parked right in front of the cafe and almost immediately was swamped with questions. About 8 more Arizona Rangers came of out the cafe to check out my rig parked outside. They couldn’t get enough of the Pterosil! I ran out of cards. About 20 minutes later, I still hadn’t made it into the cafe, but nonetheless enjoyed talking to everyone. Terri had the Rangers and myself stand in front of the Pterosail and took a few pictures (Shortly I hope to get a copy via email) They then invited me to lunch with the Mayor of Duncan. I learned a little about the history of Duncan ... for example that about every 10 years Duncan gets flooded, so everything is build on supports. I also learned that some cattle had recently died because of rattlesnake bites. Which they then said I should look out for while cycling because of my low profile. Nice! They also recommended that I get to Silver City via Lordsburg and diverge from the route a bit. Otherwise, they said I’d have a incredibly aggressive climb where Lordsburg was more gradual. All in all, it was a great time. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Arizona Rangers, the Mayor and the great staff. Thanks for lunch! If you’re looking for a great meal and warm hospitality; look no further than Ol Joe’s Cafe in Duncan, AZ. The next few hours on the trek to Lordsburg were pretty uneventful. However, the views were incredible. As I passed into New Mexico it seemed that the landscape was getting greener and more lush. A few miles from Lordsburg I noticed that the two bolts holding the rear hydraulic brake lever to my handle bars needed to be tightened. So I stopped, grab some tools from the rear bag to fix it. However, I wasn’t too keen on my knees hitting the hard pavement to complete the task. Solution? I used a Slim Jim folded over. Win! So Jenny and I stayed at a Econo Lodge in Lordsburg, NM. That night, I spoke to some welders that were also passing through. We discussed stick and TIG welding. Tomorrow is Silver City and then I’m taking a couple days off for rest and maintenance. We’ll be heading to Albuquerque where Jenny be flying to Chicago for the weekend.

I woke up in the morning to the front, right tire being flat. Our first flat of the trip; not bad - crossed two states and made it into New Mexico. So I checked the tire and then replaced the tube. It took all of about 15 minutes. I’m glad the rear tire wasn’t flat. That would have required more time. So the plan today was pretty simple - make a short trip and get to Silver City. Once in Silver City we planned on packing up the Pterosail and head north to Albuquerque to drop off Jenny at the airport to make a evening flight out to Chicago for the weekend. I planned on staying in the Albuquerque area for some rest and to complete some maintenance. Unfortunately, the maintenance issue caught up with us before Silver City. The day started out pretty windy, I had a good crosswind. I Pterosailed for about 5 miles. The route (highway 90) started to turn to the right with a rather steep climb ahead. The winds were actually COLD. Did I mention that I forgot to bring a jacket? It probably has something to do with getting used to to 110F temperatures. So around 9 AM about halfway up I had a rear cog fail. It literally broke in half. It was an issue that I couldn’t fix, requiring a bike shop to complete. So I got on my iphone to call Jenny to bring the trailer and call it a day. But, guess what? No reception. No worries, I had a backup plan. I pulled out the Verizon MiFi card, which is literally a wifi hotspot that can connect up to 5 different laptops at once - or one iphone (mine). In other words, I got the MiFi specifically for this reason: it can be used as a backup network in case I couldn’t use AT&T’s network. So I turned it on and used Skype to call Jenny. No luck. The Verizon network was live, but for some reason I couldn’t complete the call. I had an idea. I logged into my Facebook account and dropped her a message:

broke down - please get me, it's cold and windy up here! No at & t

She got the message.

So about 30 minutes later she found me. Although most heroes wear uniforms, my hero is a chemistry teacher who brings me food, cold water and is accompanied by a beagle named Lola. So we packed up the Pterosail and headed north. If everything goes as planned, I’ll go back to the same spot and continue the adventure Monday!

I took the Pterosail to the folks at Bikeworks in Albuquerque. Turns out the cog that broke is rather rare; a 9 speed free-wheel. They said that in the years that they’ve worked there, they’ve never seen a 9 speed free wheel. Fortunately, they were able to put a spacer over the broken cog and got it to work without needing to replace it. They also replaced my rear hydraulic brake and calibrated the dual-actuated front brakes. Meanwhile, I found some folks in Texas that had the BionX 9 speed free wheel. When we get back on track, we’ll have them send the piece to an address downwind.

Jenny’s flight back Sunday was delayed until 11:00PM. We left Albuquerque for the five hour trip to Silver City.

Today’s trip was pretty short. I started where I left off on Friday. I started rather late around 4 PM. This was mostly because we didn’t get to our hotel till around 4AM and during the day we had our support vehicle worked on. So we went back to the same spot that I broke down. Right after Jenny dropped me off, about 5 miles down - I got another flat - same place as last, front right. This time, I replaced not only the tube, but the tire as well. Lets hope it lasts! I passed the Continental Dive. It was enjoyable cycling later in the afternoon. It was much cooler. It was nice seeing the sun go down over the mountains. I saw an elk jump out in front me of .... then about 20 minute later I saw a huge spider (tarantula?) crossing the road. Lots of bugs. Tomorrow is Deming.

Today’s route was a straight shoot from Silver City to Deming on highway 180 - going SE. I passed through Bayard and Hurley almost shortly after leaving Silver City. There was a little bit of wind, but no luck today - it was coming from the south / south east. The shoulder of the road were bicycle friendly; although the quality became to deteriorate the further along I got. Weeds and grass seemed to be cropping up in the cracks on the biking shoulder .. furthermore the amount of loose rocks increased. It was pretty rough. Shortly before I arrived at Deming - got another flat tire. This time it was the rear. So I had to tear down the Pterosail in order to “flip” the Pterosail on its backside to get to the BionX rear tire. It was a little bit of a process, but wasn’t too bad. So after getting the rear wheel tire straightened out I continued into Deming towards our hotel. About a mile from the hotel a gust of wind kicked up from the south. It hit me with such force that I had to stop and close my eyes. It lasted all of about 20 seconds.

Today I had some great Pterosailing! Although, it was tempered by some bad luck with tire flats. AGAIN. Out of the gate from Deming, NM there was a decent wind. I’d estimate around 5-10 mph The wind wasn’t enough to always pull me entirely, although it did at times - it certainly was able to help propel me forward. In short, I was cycling and sailing around 20MPH. I’d cycle for a bit, then stop and coast all the while Pterosailing. Not bad. Then about 23 miles towards Las Cruces I crossed a bridge that went over some train tracks. Right when I got to other side I noticed that my front right tire was flat. I pulled out this wicked looking thorn-covered piece of debris. Just my luck! So I inspected the tire, replaced the tube and was on my way. I got about 10 feet when I noticed that I had just rolled over another thorny branch. Except, this time it was my rear tire. I stopped, got out and saw that it was embedded into the tire. Instinctively, I reached for it and pulled it off. For my efforts I was rewarded with a huge hiss of air. Was this really happening? Then I looked further down the road. There were hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of similar branches littering the road. It seemed like a minefield of thorns! It was about this time that I noticed that there was a orange sign saying “Mowing - Next 2 miles” Then it clicked. The mower was cutting up all these thorny branches from the side of the road and the wind would then blow them onto the road. Dark times. I needed to review my options. On one hand, I could break down the Pterosail, flip over the trike frame, disconnect all the electronics to the BionX rear hub motor/generator and then replace the tube and then reassemble everything. This would be at least a 30 - 45 minute evolution, as opposed to the front tires that take about 10 minutes. But I reasoned that I’d probably go about 20 feet and inadvertently hit another thorn. Then I’d have to restart the whole process. I needed to upgrade my tires with thicker tubes with liners .. I googled bike shops in the Deming area. No luck. I called Jenny to give her the latest news. She listened and then asked if Walmart might have something. Bingo. They did and 45 minutes later I was putting in Slime tires and liners. It should also be noted that a Border Patrol officer pulled up behind us and offered us water and assistance. He ended helping me put up the Pterosail. We took a few pictures. Thanks David! So after all three tires were changed out - including liners I began to proceed forward, albeit cautiously. Ever play Asteroids as a kid? Thankfully, after a few miles the thorns subsided. What a Wednesday. UPDATED: Check out video here

I made it to Texas today! The first thing I noticed about Texas versus NM was that the Texas had much bigger shoulders - something that I was grateful for. NM roads were getting rather rough towards the end. Today’s ride was mostly going through the border towns of Anthony, TX through El Paso, TX. It felt like I was in Mexico. I found a decent taco joint for lunch. For about five miles I literally followed the border fence. As I went underneath a bridge that led to Mexico, I noticed a Border Patrol officer looking underneath it for something - or someone. He waved at me as I passed. The last ten miles were laborious. A storm was beginning to pass through ... the wind was hitting me head-on. Sometime the wind is your friend, sometimes it isn’t!

Today we had an interview with a local NBC television station out of El Paso. It seems like our progress across the country is beginning to strike a chord with the media! As soon as I get the link - I’ll post.

As far as the trip from El Paso to Fort Hancock goes, it went pretty smoothly. It was a sunny with partial clouds. There was a gentle head wind for the first half of the trip that eventually subsided. I went through a lot of farm country that included a few pecans farms. I was surprised to see quite a few lakes en route. Additionally, almost everyone on the road would wave and honk! All in all it was a very friendly atmosphere.

The highlight of the trip was when I passed a construction zone a few miles out of El Paso. The mostly Mexican crew saw me and started clapping their hands. Then someone in the crew started yelling “USA! USA!” I was a little caught off guard by the outpouring; but I smiled and waved.

Today we had an interview with a local NBC television station out of El Paso. It seems like our progress across the country is beginning to strike a chord with the media! As soon as I get the link - I’ll post.

As far as the trip from El Paso to Fort Hancock goes, it went pretty smoothly. It was a sunny with partial clouds. There was a gentle head wind for the first half of the trip that eventually subsided. I went through a lot of farm country that included a few pecans farms. I was surprised to see quite a few lakes en route. Additionally, almost everyone on the road would wave and honk! All in all it was a very friendly atmosphere.

The highlight of the trip was when I passed a construction zone a few miles out of El Paso. The mostly Mexican crew saw me and started clapping their hands. Then someone in the crew started yelling “USA! USA!” I was a little caught off guard by the outpouring; but I smiled and waved.

We’re on central time finally. Today’s route was almost all on I-10 eastbound, so no Pterosailing today; sail was furled. Very light winds as well. Thankfully, the interstate has nicely paved wide shoulders. The morning started off with light showers that eventually subsided after the sun broke through. After about 20 miles there was a fairly decent climb of about 1000 feet for about 15 miles. I went through another Border Patrol checkpoint where I was able to refill my camel pak. I stopped at Sierra Blanca for lunch. On the way out I met a grandmother who said, “Look, it’s a Pterosail!” - I was surprised. The sail was furled up so she couldn’t have learned the name other than from the media ... so I asked her how she had her about it. She said that she had seen the news interview in El Paso yesterday! Here’s the link to the article, click here.

Jenny and I had dinner at the Sands Hotel Restaurant where a movie was shot starring Tommy Lee Jones.
Tomorrow we’re heading east on highway 90 en route towards Alpine.

Here’s some interesting facts about Van Horn, TX via Wikipedia:
In late 2006, the Wall Street Journal reported that Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of amazon.com, had acquired 290,000 acres (1,200 km2) of land 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Van Horn to house his fledgling space tourism company, Blue Origin. As of 2008, Blue Origin had been expected to start commercial operations as early as 2010, aiming for 52 launches per year from the Van Horn, Texas facility.[11] As of March 2010 however, Blue Origin and Bezos "have been very secretive about" the plans for the Van Horn facility for the past five years, having granted no interviews with news media since a single interview with the Van Horn Advocate in early 2005.

Long trek through a very desolate area. Lots of wide open space. Most of the day there was a constant headwind coming from the SE. It made progress laborious. Although, for a couple of hours the wind changed and I was able to makeup some miles. A few miles before I went through Valentine I passed a small Prada window display .. complete with various Prada shoes and purses. This was IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. Evidently its an art project of sorts. Kinda funny. About half way to Marfa I passed through Valentine. I believe the population was around 200. Valentine was famous for being the last town that James Dean starred in. The movie was called “Giant”. Anyone ever see it? I haven’t, but when I get back I’ll have to watch it. Evidently there are still houses standing that were in the movie.

The trek was delayed a bit while I worked on getting the support vehicle’s trailer worked on. The axle & tires on the trailer needed some attention ..somewhere on the road it had taken a hit and wasn’t aligned properly .. thereby prematurely wearing down the tires. Thankfully, ABC pump in Marfa was able to work on it. So Wednesday we’ll have to make a trip back to pick up the trailer. As far as the trip today’s ride was pretty good. I was simply amazed by the amount of green surrounding me on the trip. Going through the some a few mountains separating Marfa from Alpine were incredible. Additionally, the winds really helped while going uphill. What a difference wind makes! En route through Alpine I got a phone call asking to stop over. I did - and ended up staying about an hour talking about the Pterosail and my adventures thus far. Big thanks to George, his lovely wife and Bennett Jones for a nice time. I must also add that Alpine is particularly well-suited for the Pterosail .. lots of wind - great roads and a big cycling community. After I left Alpine the trip was mostly headwind but thankfully the road wasn’t straight into the wind the whole time. It winded; so for parts of the trek to Marathon I was able to use the wind to help. Marathon is nice small town, literally a few hundred people. Unfortunately, nothing is open past nine. Jenny and I forgot this and after trying to see if there were any food joints open; gave up and headed back to our hotel. Our hotel neighbors that were staying on the 2nd floor learned of this - after they asked about the Pterosail. They ended up hooking us up with some home cooked steaks with guacamole and sour cream. Talk about Texas hospitality! Tomorrow we’re en route to Sanderson.

Today I had a blast Pterosailing. The first half was definitely the best -- I was cruising at a healthy 10-15 mph hour. I was cycling and sailing at the time time! There is absolutely no better feeling than using the wind for propulsion. Its a rush! This is especially true when it helps going UP a hill. The wind was still coming from the SE; but my route was mostly eastern - for a bit it was even NE. After about 25 miles, I met up with Jenny at a picnic area. She snapped a few pictures of me Pteorsailing. Then the route went SE through the mountains and I slowed down. The wind increased - slowing me down even further. Although, the last 10 miles was mostly downhill - there was still a headwind so I furled the sail. I have some video; but I’ll have to wait for a better internet connection .. we’re currently staying at the Outback Oasis @ Sanderson.

If I had to describe one word about today’s trip it would be brutal. 14 hours with 15MPH with a constant sustained headwind (often gusting to +25MPH). I knew it was going to be a long day when I saw the forecast of winds coming from the SE - my exact route direction. But on the plus side, the Pterosail is always comfortable and in the shade. I also found a 1/2 inch wrench with a name inscribed on it “Zoilo”. So if you’re Zoilo, I’ve got your wrench!

Today was a pretty short trip. I was still recovering from yesterday’s trek. Just outside Del Rio and was able to use the wind for about 10 miles. Once in Del Rio I stopped into the Federal Public Defender’s office and met up with some former colleagues of my father. It was enjoyable with lots of pictures. Jenny drove back to Sanderson to pickup the fixed trailer.

I thought today was going to be another tough one. The forecast had 10MPH from the SE - my route. I was seeing Comstock all over again. Fortunately, the winds ended up coming from the south instead. What a difference just a few degrees makes! For most of the day I was cycling and Pterosailing between 10-14 mph. There were a few times that some I got rained on. Although, it lasted only a few minutes. Guess thats Texas weather for you. Found another wrench today on the road, 14 mm this time. No name. The best Pterosailing was between Uvalde and Kippa where the route went NE. I flew! Later, I got stopped by a Texas State Trooper who said there was a report of a bicyclist that was in need of water. I said that it was definitely not me and that I was fine. I ended up showing him all the various technologies. He was pretty impressed. For dinner Jenny and I ate at Sabinal Grill; had great fried chicken and pasta alfredo.

Today I had some great Pterosailing. Although, the day started off with some maintenance issues and then ended with more maintenance. As I was leaving the hotel, I went over a speed bump and ended up hitting the underside of my frame that pinned the BionX wire against the concrete. The wire was almost cut in half. So I went back and ended up splicing wires together for the next 30 minutes. Everything ended up working out. After I finished, I hit the road and was rewarded with some decent winds. I found a pair of pliers on the road. Although, I’m not one to pick things up off the ground; I have a weakness for tools. Maybe its the engineer in me! So en route I stopped at Dziuk’s Meat Market in Castroville and picked up some beef jerky. Good stuff. I like to bring jerky with me because it keeps well and tastes great. After I left Castorville I was soon heading north on the 1604 San Antonio Loop. Lots of traffic! About 10 miles into the route I had a chain link fail. I ended up taking a few too many links out before it was reconnected. I’ll have to add more links at a later time. So with grease covered hands I pushed on. It was a bit embarrassing when someone would wave and I’d wave back showcasing my hands. Oh well. So a few miles from my hotel accommodations I saw a car pull over in front of me. He waved to me and we talked for a few minutes. He was interested in learning about the Pterosail. He also said he was a science-fiction write named Ejay. He took a few pictures and said he’d write about me on his website. Jenny and I had dinner at Zio’s Italian. Great food, would highly recommend.

Today I had some great Pterosailing. Although, the day started off with some maintenance issues and then ended with more maintenance. As I was leaving the hotel, I went over a speed bump and ended up hitting the underside of my frame that pinned the BionX wire against the concrete. The wire was almost cut in half. So I went back and ended up splicing wires together for the next 30 minutes. Everything ended up working out. After I finished, I hit the road and was rewarded with some decent winds. I found a pair of pliers on the road. Although, I’m not one to pick things up off the ground; I have a weakness for tools. Maybe its the engineer in me! So en route I stopped at Dziuk’s Meat Market in Castroville and picked up some beef jerky. Good stuff. I like to bring jerky with me because it keeps well and tastes great. After I left Castorville I was soon heading north on the 1604 San Antonio Loop. Lots of traffic! About 10 miles into the route I had a chain link fail. I ended up taking a few too many links out before it was reconnected. I’ll have to add more links at a later time. So with grease covered hands I pushed on. It was a bit embarrassing when someone would wave and I’d wave back showcasing my hands. Oh well. So a few miles from my hotel accommodations I saw a car pull over in front of me. He waved to me and we talked for a few minutes. He was interested in learning about the Pterosail. He also said he was a science-fiction write named Ejay. He took a few pictures and said he’d write about me on his website. Jenny and I had dinner at Zio’s Italian.

Its funny how connections are made. Heres the the blog piece from E. J. Fischer - the science fiction writer that saw me navigating the crazy highways of San Antonio. Read the piece here

Keep in touch E.J.

Today’s trek was pretty good. There were light winds were coming from the SE and my route was going north initially. The terrain has definitely changed from just a few days ago. Instead of the wide open deserts of western Texas the terrain has more rolling hills with a lot more trees. The humidity has also increased. There are quite a few more towns present, a welcome relief - especially with refilling my camelback. Going through Blanco the local police officer pulled me over. Although, I believe he was more curious than anything about the Pterosail - he recommended that I put a reflector in the back in order to increase my “visibility.” Even though I have two nearly 12 foot masts, making me probably the most visible cycling product on the planet - I nonetheless agreed and I was on my way. I ate lunch at Subway where I met Terri who worked there. She didn’t have a camera; so I took a picture. After about an hour after lunch; I was pulled over AGAIN. This time the police officer followed me for about a mile ... I pulled over and he pulled up next to me. He said that some people had called about seeing a “sailing” machine on the road. He then said that he didn’t see anything wrong with what I was doing and that I was within “regulations.” With that, he said “good luck” and sped off.

Today was a pretty busy day. I met up with Joe who rode with me to Easy Street Recumbents. The folks at the shop at Easy had heard about our cross-country trip and invited us to spend an afternoon showcasing the Pterosail. En route Joe showed me the Texas Capital and some University of Texas landmarks. Austin is a very cycle friendly city. It also goes without saying that football down here is SERIOUS. It was nice having someone help me navigate. Thanks Joe! When we got to Easy Street Recumbents I met up with Mike & Sam that worked at Easy Street Recumbent. Mike was able to add some chain to the Pterosail in addition to replacing the rear BionX cassette. He also graciously gave us a bike jack-stand for the Pterosail. It was appreciated! Additionally, we had a good crowd come out to see the Pterosail. It was a great time. A lot of credit goes to Sam for making this happen. Thanks guys!

Today’s trek was fairly uneventful until the last 15 miles of the trek. The first half of the trek there wasn’t much of a shoulder at all. Then when there was a shoulder it was of “shake and bake” type of road where it rather rough. I hit a nasty piece of metal late yesterday about 15 miles till Brenham that blew out my rear rim. I was able to switch rear tires with my backup Pterosail to complete the trek to Brenham.

Jenny and I headed up to College Station - otherwise known as Aggieland, home of the Texas A&M University. We were in search of a bike shop that could replace and lace-up my rear BionX hub motor/generator with a new rim. After making a few phone calls, I found Aggieland Cycling that could build a tire. We dropped off the damaged rim and a few hours later walked out with a new tire build! I’m looking forward to heading east and into Cajun country this weekend!

Today’s trek went through quite a bit of traffic. Evidently, Conroe gets to be a pretty busy place. I had the sail out; although, furled it up when some storms passed through. While in Conroe, I was stopped by a gentleman that mentioned that he had just read an article in Sail Magazine about someone sailing and cycling across country from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL. Guess whom they were talking about? I haven’t seen the article myself but I’ll have to find a copy.

It’s amazing how the quality of the roads in Texas is dependent on what county you’re going through. I’m not a big fan of the “shake and bake” type roads. In my opinion they tend to have lots of metal objects stuck in them. I’m always wary of what surprises they hold. Today’s trek was half on highway 59 with the other half on 190. There wasn’t a lot of wind but I was hoping to use it when I turned on 190 and headed due east. However, 190 was like going through hilly parks. Lots of trees everywhere. Not the best area to use wind, especially with the hills. The biggest challenge was dealing with the humidity. I refilled and drank my camelback at least 3 or 4 times. There’s an old saying from my Academy days … hydration is key!

Made to the great state of Louisiana today! I thought the Texas would never end! There is saying that goes something like this, “You’re not halfway until you’ve crossed Texas!” I fully agree! I can also say without a doubt that the Pterosail was designed for states like Texas, especially with the nice roads and winds they get! Today’s trek was mostly through wooded area; felt like I was going through a park. The last ten miles to DeRidder was nice. I was able to use the sail because it “opened up” due to the all the farming going on. The roads weren’t as bad as some of the Texans I’ve spoken to. In fact, a TX state trooper said that if you “Close your eyes and roll across the border; you can feel where Texas end and Louisiana starts.” That’s a little overblown. I did notice that the shoulders tended to have more debris; especially tree debris. They came from trucks hauling freshly cut trees. Although, this isn’t very politically correct – I will say that when they passed I enjoyed the piney scent they would leave. En route I also met an older gentleman who stopped and snapped a few pictures of the Pterosail. He laughed and then he blessed me in latin! What a day.

Today’s trek was pretty straight forward. The route was mostly flat that went through more forests and then through a lot of agriculture lands. I replaced the rear derailleur cable with a new cable. There wasn’t a lot of wind, but it was of some assistance when I heading directly east for the last 20 miles. I’m pretty sure that the folks that saw me Pterosailing through Eunice will be talking about it for quite some time. There were many smiles and thumbs up from drivers! Jenny and I ate at Ronnie’s Cajun Café. I had fish and frog legs. Yup, no doubt about it – we’re in Cajun country!

Today was busy, yet long trek. Highway 190 traffic westbound was almost at a complete standstill. Thankfully, I was going eastbound. A lot of the idling motorists ended up snapping pictures of me as I Pterosailed by. Lots of thumbs up and words of support! This happened for a few hours – it was kind of crazy. For lunch I met up with Jenny at the Sandwich Shop in Albany. I had a good burger – although, it seemed like they were having trouble keeping their orders straight. The second half of the day was pretty long … the shoulders weren’t usable because they were almost gravel quality making use impossible. I had a number of people stop and get of out their cars to take pictures. I was able to use the wind more so than I thought I would be with all the trees around. Additionally a lady turned around her car and ended up dropping off a bottle of cold water. It was appreciated, especially with the heat index hitting 117! So I continued and pushed through on the single-lane highway. A few motorists evidently weren’t happy that I was on the road; rather rude reactions. One motorist – think they were teenagers even passed me on the shoulder! This even though I had complete right of way. Anyways, I was fine although they kicked up a lot of dust that irritated my contacts. I was happy to get into Slidell and into the shower!

Today was a GREAT day! I crossed into Mississippi. Only 3 more states to go! Right after I crossed into Mississippi I met up with a group of individuals that were cycling from Niagra Falls to New Orleans. They were nearly complete with only another day left. It was a lot of fun talking to them and showing them the Pterosail. They were a group of individuals that were raising awareness about the Fuller Center for Housing. They cycle and help folks fix up houses. It sounds like a great mission. For more information check out their website click here.

As I continued onward I crossed a bridge the Bay Saint Louis Bridge. Finally, I saw open waters and the Gulf! It was awesome feeling to say the least …. The last time I saw the ocean was in San Diego, just over a month ago. As I continued on highway 90 way I went through Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi. It followed the beach – it was great! The Pterosail was a huge hit. Again, lots of camera phones – honking, hollering everything! The wind even picked up and helped pull me a long. In Gulfport a police officer pulled me over … as with almost every previous time .. he was more curious than anything, but he said that he was concerned about a sail and that I was slowing down traffic. Which was true; however, I was slowing down traffic NOT because they were behind me … they could easily pass me since it was a 2 lane highway, but because when they would pass me … they would slow and take pictures of me Pterosailing. Once the officer learned that I’ve been on the road since San Diego, he did a double-take, smiled and shook my hand. He said he’d follow me until I hit the Biloxi. As I Pterosailed through Biloxi I couldn’t help but notice the very “salty” smell. Should also be noted that all throughout the route on the beach there were lots of workers who I can only assume were cleaning the beach. They wore bright fluorescent vests. En route to Ocean Springs I met up with a gentleman who took some time to explain how the gulf has changed since the BP oil spill. It was really a shame how the spill not only effected the environment but everyone’s lives. When I finally got to Ocean Springs to the hotel I ended up meeting Robert who was staying at the same hotel. He was a helicopter pilot who flies workers back and forth to the oil rigs. His wife was in the Navy. We spoke for a bit and he ended up hooking me up with a Navy ball cap from his wife’s ship that was still being built. What a way to end the day. What will tomorrow hold?

Another day, another state. I crossed into the great state of Alabama today. I headed north and went through Mobile on highway 90. I had an interview with the Gazette paper out of Ocean Springs. When the article comes online I’ll provide a link. The past few days I’ve noticed that my trek is going through many more towns and cities than I did in the past. I’m having a lot more interactions with folks on the road and everywhere else I go, especially when I stop at gas stations for water refills. Although, its hard to imagine; I can’t even remember when the last time I lost reception on my cell phone. Maybe Texas? Also something else; I’ve been so used to see border patrol cars everywhere - now nothing. When I was going through Spanish Fort a police officer pulled me over. He said that some drivers had called concerned about seeing a sail on the road. He had a good sense of humor about it .. he said he probably thought that the callers were just mad that they had to slow down a bit and go around me - anyways, I talked with him for a few minutes about my journey and was soon on my way. When I went through Mobile I asked a police officer if it was possible to be escorted through the tunnel which has a 12’ clearance. For the record; the Pterosail is “just” under 12 feet. He said cyclists weren’t allowed through the tunnel. Oh well, I tried. So I had to cycle around the tunnel and headed north and went over the river using the Cochrane Bridge. I then passed the USS Alabama. What a sight! Tomorrow with any luck should get into Florida.

Here’s some news we made from WKRG New 5 / Mobile, Pensacola - click here.

Interesting blog piece about the Pterosail Vs. Chevy Volt. Read it here.

Well, it finally happened. I entered the great state of Florida today! Today’s trek was decent. The roads were nice with good shoulders. The temperatures reached a high of only 91; but the humidity was still pretty high. In the afternoon I had an interview with the Independent News out of Pensacola. When I get the link I’ll pass it along. The Pterosail really brings a tremendous amount of attention ... this is especially true when I stop to refill my camel back at gas stations. It seems like almost everyone walking in or out of the gas station would stop and ask about the Pterosail. A typical conversation usually begins with a question about where I’m going - St. Augustine. Then the follow up question is where I began. When I tell them San Diego - thats where it gets fun! Sometimes I get folks who stare in disbelief or then ask AGAIN if i said San Diego. Then they smile - sometimes they shake my hand or start taking pictures. Always lots of pictures. Whether on the road, while stopped or even when parked outside the hotel - its brings attention. While on the street a driver drove by, slowed down and said, “Kick ass! I like your ride!” Part of owning a Pterosail is the almost surreal amount of attention it brings.

Today’s ride was nice, mostly because a storm passed through and cooled everything down! We ate at a great BBQ place called 4CBBQ where we met some motorcycle riders. One of them even recognized the Pterosail from reading about it on BentRider and had seen our videos. Awesome! After showing the group the Pterosail and explaining some of the features; they asked if they could bless the Pterosail. I said sure. We then took some pictures.

We’re officially on east coast time now. Today I went against the wind most of the way. I furled up the sail for most of the day using the Harken furler. It wasn’t anything like Sanderson, TX - but the winds were around 10MPH from the east. Passing lots of trees and smaller towns. I had fried liver and gizzards for lunch; they were great! Again, lots of people that were in disbelief about beginning my trip in San Diego! I noticed that the highway adoption signs also included “inmates” - curious. I then passed the detention center - I wondered what some of the inmates might have thought had they seen the Pterosail rolling down the highway! So we’re currently @ Midway, FL - just outside of Tallahassee. Unfortunately, while entering a street that lead to the hotel I ended going over some some uneven pavement. I hit a bump in the pavement that impacted right underneath my seat where my handlebar post enters into the frame. Almost immediately I could tell something was wrong because my steering felt stiff. I made it to the hotel and then inspected the Pterosail - only to find out that where the handle bar posts enters the frame - it had become slightly bent and partially fractured a part of the frame that housed the handle bar post. What a bummer. But at least, it happened close to the hotel. To be on the safe side, I’m going to switch to my backup Pterosail to complete the trip. For all future builds; we'll make sure to reinforce that area. Tomorrow morning I plan on spending some time prepping the backup Pterosail for the final push. Hopefully in 3-4 days we'll be in St. Augustine!

Most of the morning was spent getting the “new” Pterosail ready. I switched over the electric regeneration system. I checked out the brakes, tires and inspected the sailing system. Everything looked good. The new Pterosail is actually a slightly older model - its a bit closer to the ground than the current model. I’ll have to be even more careful around potholes and bumps on the road! Today’s trek was very short - really just getting to the other side of Tallahassee. I went through the heart of Tallahassee. Boy did people notice! I had a few people that drove out in front of me, hopped out of their cars and take pictures. I even had a professional photographer that snapped a few pictures and gave me his card; FYI FotosByFeliciano.com


Here's the article from Rick who works with the Pensacola Independent News. Read it here.

Most of the day was spent going through lots of woody areas. I enjoyed it because I liked to cycle in the shade; its much cooler. Unfortunately, there was a fairly constant headwind between 5-10 MPH coming from mostly the east. I should note that here in Florida I’ve seen more roadkill - than in any other state. Most of the roadkill are possums. Again, as with almost all days - there is a tremendous amount of curiosity about the Pterosail. I met “Dusty” who worked at a convenience store who seemed to get a huge kick out of the Pterosail. She mentioned that her kids would have loved to see it. Just as she was checking out the Pterosail a pickup pulled up with a half dozen kids in the back. They went crazy when they saw the Pterosail! Without a doubt, the best part of this adventure has been meeting people. It will be missed.

Today was a hard trek. The winds were at a constant 15 MPH coming from the SE; my route. Gusts of winds reached 21. For the first half of the day it was pretty tough, however, it got easier after I hit highway 100. However, shortly after going on highway 100 I went through quite a bit of rain. The most since the trip started in fact. I pulled underneath some trees where I was able to escape the worst of the rain. Additionally the solar panels provided additional protection - but not completely. My legs and shoes definitely weren’t. After a few minutes I still got completely soaked! I tried to wait it out for about 20 minutes, then gave up and started pedaling. After I did so it stopped raining after about 5 minutes. The good news was that the wind had subsided so I didn’t have to deal with any headwinds. I can’t believe that tomorrow (with any luck) this adventure will come to a close. I feel like I just started ... amazing what all those miles can add up to!

Complete. I can claim that I’ve sailed and cycled across the country! What an exhilaration! I ended up dipping my tires into the Atlantic around 5:30PM. The complete trip took 46 days beginning in San Diego on June 28th. As far as today’s trek went it was great. When I go into Penney Farms I saw a sign that showed that I had 35 more miles to go until St. Augustine. I’ve cycled nearly 3000 miles to see a sign with the name “St. Augustine” on it – I then decided to take a picture. The sign happened to be on the edge of a golf course where some older gentlemen were play-ing through. They saw me and approached, a common effect the Ptero-sail has on people. I met John who was 98 years old! Another gentleman had heard about my trek across country. Amazing! We spoke for a few minutes and took some pictures. What a great group of individuals. Shortly after entering St. Augustine it started to pour. Although it was raining, my spirits were soaring! Before I knew it the rain had stopped and the sun was out. I got a phone call from a reporter from the St. Augustine Record. We met up at the beach where we had an interview and snapped some pictures. I then proceeded towards the Atlantic to make it official. Touchdown. I want to thank everyone that supported us throughout the trip. Its been an amazing journey .... I’ve been touched by the amount of interest that the Pterosail would generate when going through big cities and small towns alike... so many thumbs up signs ... endless words of encouragement .... I’ll always remember that unforget-table stare of bewilderment from folks seeing the Pterosail for the first time ... and then the subsequent smile and wave! Stay tuned for more video and pictures and few thoughts on using the wind to travel across the country!