Pedal 4 Paws Sponsors #4

Forecast

The weather will become increasing important as the journey nears. 

#1  No winter storms on the horizon, so we should be able to keep our schedules flights.  One of the reasons we booked our flight on Southwest was because they allow free flight modifications.  We could move up our flight if pending storms threatened our departure.

#2  The forecast for March 7 in San Diego and Alpine, CA looks favorable :-)

"Two" Do List

Test everything before you get to San Diego.  

This is a very important rule that can prevent a lot of problems.  The Pedal 4 Paws jerseys arrived on Saturday.  Since running has accounted for the majority of my recent training, today was my first opportunity to try out the new jersey.  Couldn't help showing off for the camera, riding no-handed on the rollers. 

All non-C2C jerseys have been sent.  One item checked off the To Do List.  The remaining twenty taking up precious room in our suitcase.

We have been monitoring weather in the Southern US and we are modifying our packing list.  I have added mattress pads, more wool socks, extra hoodies, tights, balaclava, and a winter jacket.  Hopefully these will not be needed, but better safe than sorry.

I did not follow the rule and created an issue.  Swapped chains before the bicycles were boxed and shipped.  They arrived today without delay.  However, the LBS in San Diego called and said that we had a nine speed chain on a ten speed cassette and the chain would not shift gears.  Luckily, we had scheduled a replacement after 1500 miles and had an extra ten speed chain packed. Bernie's Bike Shop replaced the chain and all is well.  Our bikes and t-shirts are ready and waiting in San Diego.  Two items checked off the To Do List.

Thank You Verizon

Spent Saturday morning setting up our new Verizon devices for C2C. Verizon donated a new Galaxy Note4 for me to use on the journey.  I have entered the 21st century for the next couple months.  The photo shows my leap in technology.

We also received a super slim Sony tablet which eliminates the need for us to bring our laptop and it eliminates the need for a hotspot.  The Verizon devices include unlimited calls, messaging and data, which ensures that we will be able to maintain the blog even in the remote areas of the Southern United States.

Thank You Verizon

Energizer Bunny

As you know, I have switched my training to running with minimal time on the bicycle.  Monte has been accompanying me as I run loops through the village.  We ran nine miles today.  Well, I ran nine miles, and Monte walked, trotted, pranced, and sprinted.  With all the diversions and distractions, he probably put in ten miles and he was still ready for more.  He is my Energizer Bunny.  One of these days I need to attach the GPS to him and track his route.

With months of training and preparation behind us, we started to put our plans in place this week.  It started with a few last minute equipment changes for our bikes, derailleurs and lights. The local bike shop (LBS) boxed and shipped the bikes with the 64 Pedal 4 Paws t-shirts and miscellaneous bicycle parts/tools. I think we were close to our seventy pound estimate, per box.

We received the Verizon electronics today: phone and tablet. The P4P jerseys are scheduled to arrive Saturday. And I started packing.  My suitcase is half filled with all the essential  clothing for  a two month bicycle journey.   So how do I end up with two full suitcases?

Pedal 4 Paws Sponsor #3

We will be at the exact location in two weeks - Dog Beach (and Dusty Rhodes Park).

Dusty with service dog, Porter.

Inspiration

This post was written by Lisa:  So, one of the Super Bowl commercials had a big effect on me, the "Like a Girl," campaign, which I believe was a Procter & Gamble production for the brand Always.  Having a lot of nieces, who now have a good number of daughters, and in particular being very close to our Goddaughters who are into sports, I want them all to feel empowered to respect their own abilities and never feel like "less than" anyone else, especially the males around them.  I thought the commercial was really powerful.

Then I set out to find something that I could personally relate to, so went searching for something with "Bike like a Girl" on it.  I ran across a website for RAAM (Race Across America) and, low and behold, in 2015 for the first time there will be an all-women team attempting RAAM called...Bike Like A Girl!  http://bikelikeagirl.org/ There was contact information, which turns out to be athletes on the team who are responding to you.  I wrote them a short email and said how I wished them well and how much of an inspiration they are to me, and I made a donation to help out the team.  I also shared with them that I would be embarking on my own bike ride across America in March, far from a race. I received a rapid fire e-mail from one of the team, Erin, who shared her appreciation and ended the e-mail with a line that made me tear up, "YOU inspire us!"

I think about those 3 words from a team of amazing women every time before I get on my bike.  I hope I can in some way inspire the young girls in my life...doing anything "like a girl," is pretty cool and something to be proud of!

Sponsor Pedal 4 Paws (T-Shirts)

Help Custom Canines and Support 2015 Pedal 4 Paws

Two long-time Puppy Raisers from Custom Canine Service Dog Academy, Jeff and Lisa Arndt, will be pedaling their bicycles 2,909 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.  Pedal 4 Paws - Coast 2 Coast tour begins in San Diego, California (3/7) and ends in St. Augustine, Florida. Team C2C-P4P's goal is to raise money for the organization, raise awareness for the autism services that canines provide, and share the rewards of being a puppy raiser to encourage other to volunteer. 

The backbone of our organization is the dedicated group of volunteers who raise our puppies for the first year.  The time that the puppy raisers spend socializing and training our puppies is invaluable and can never be sufficiently compensated.  There is a shortage of puppy raisers which impacts our ability to meet demand. The shortage is due, in part, to the expenses ($1000) to foster a puppy for one year: food, medication, neuter/spay, grooming, transportation, toys.  By being able to reimburse volunteers for dog food and veterinarian expenses, we will be able to retain and acquire an adequate number of raisers to meet the needs of our clients next year.

 

Through the dedication of our volunteers and generous donors, Custom Canines provides canines free of charge to families in need.  Failure to meet our revenue goal may cause us to begin charging our clients.  Although charging clients is a common practice for service dogs, our mission is to 'Pay It Forward', by relying on volunteers and have past recipients provide assistance as they are able.  Therefore, anyone who can benefit is provided with a canine partner to share their life, rather than limiting assistance to only those clients who are financially able.

Final Bicycle Preparation

We took our bicycles to the local bike shop (Oregon Bike and Skate) for their tune-up and final delivery preparation (boxing) before shipping next week.

Replace chains.  New taillight.  Extra spokes.  New rear derailleur.

Our mechanic is a wealth of knowledge.   He advised that the tires that I planned on using, after the mountains, on the rough roads of Texas would probably not fit on my bike.  Not enough clearance in the front; need to find an alternative solution.

Would You Rather?

The question for tomorrow's training is

"Would you rather a) Ride the rollers in the basement for two hours or b) Run outside with single digit temperatures?"

Update:
I couldn't decide so I did both:  50 minute run followed by a 40 minute ride.  The run was two of my normal loops without the frozen path through the woods which destroyed my ankles.  The bike ride lasted through an episode of Scorpion.

My GPS unit has helped identify my training needs.  Running is definitely a better workout.  My heart rate is consistently above 130 with a maximum above 160.  Riding the bicycle my heart rate rarely exceeds 125 and is usually near 115.

Thanks Verizon

Once again Verizon will be supporting our coast to coast journey.  They will be providing a Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet with extra battery packs.  The phone will include a hotspot, which will enable to reliably update our blog while biking through some of the remote areas of the Southern United States.

When you take a bicycle trip across the southern U.S., you very often travel through very remote and rural ares.  Being away from home for nearly 2 full months in 2013, our bicycling family relished the times we could hear the familiar voices of those back home, wives, husbands, children, grandchildren.  Unfortunately, there were many times when some of our fellow riders who did not have Verizon coverage were left going up to a week without having cell phone coverage or having conversations cut short because of dropped calls. My husband and I were lucky, not only because we were together on the trip and not counting on adequate cell phone coverage to stay in touch, but also because we have reliable Verizon coverage so that we can stay in touch with our loved ones as we travel across the country, in both remote areas and in larger metropolitan areas of the country.

Wasted Day

My new GPS unit was delivered today. It was an older model Timex Cycle Trainer. Thought it would be a nice change to monitor my rides/runs and assess my fitness.  And I have not been a fan of the cycle computers that use a magnet attached to the spoke and base calculations on wheel circumference.  So, when my old computer's battery died a few years ago, I decided to ride without a bicycle computer.  My riding has been based on how I felt at the time, not chasing numbers or pushing myself.  This is perfect when not training seriously, just having fun.

Hopefully, I won't let fitness goals remove the fun and enjoyment.  However, the first day did not start out well.  I spent most of the day trying to figure out how to transfer routes to my GPS unit, which as it turns out is not possible.

Today, I was able to put it to good use: my first run since I broke my ankle this summer.  The unit provided an accurate measure of distance, speed, and heart rate (monitor included).  Since I will be off the bike for a couple more days, this will be invaluable for maintaining fitness.

Can get an effective workout in half the time.  Considering staying out of the saddle until March.

Run 1: without Monte

Pedal 4 Paws Sponsor Photo #2

Our second t-shirt order arrived yesterday.  Another thirty shirts that need to be delivered before we leave. 

Want to contribute to the blog?  Send us your P4P photo.

Forced Off Bike

A minor physical ailment has forced me out of the saddle as I was starting to ramp up my C2C training.  Not sure a daily extended walk with the dogs will make up for less pedaling.  So I will have to hit the icy pavement and spend a few days running hills.

Yes, that is "dogs" plural.  We have had a house guest for the last week.  Patton, a PTSD service dog in training has been accompanying us on our errands throughout the week.  He has done great when working.  His issues are around the house: barking at noises, picking up articles clothing, ignoring our commands, snapping the air, eating shoes, and jumping on us in bed.

Great working dog, but not sure I could live with him.

To Do List

Seven days ago I was riding my bike outdoors.  This morning I was greeted with seven inches of snow in the drive way and two feet of plowed street gunk blocking driveway.  Good cross training, before another two hour session in the basement.  Thanks to the blowing snow, I will get more upper body work this evening.

Very doubtful that I will be biking outdoors prior to shipping my bike, so the next time biking in the sunshine will be March 7 in San Diego.  Good time to make final preparation.  Here is my To Do and Reminder list:

1. Complete and file taxes, IRA contribution
2. Order t-shirts, deliver, and ship
3. Prepare and ship bicycles (BikeFlights)
4. Place mail hold, forward mail
5. Health insurance enrollment for Mar/Apr
6. Shut off water
7. Reprogram thermostat
8. Cancel satellite television and internet
9. Monte preparation: food, heartguard, fish oil, frontline
10. Arrange airport travel
11. Pack: on-bike, off-bike, rain gear
12. Prepare electronics: phones, tablet, laptop, gps