Tuesday, June 9, 2009
On the Road Again
After the huge headache last Thursday trying to get his phone fixed and the computer exchanged, he was able to ride back to Richmond with my Mom to spend a nice relaxing weekend with me and my family at the Fiddler's waterfront house enjoying crawfish, beer and the beautiful view. It was nice to have him back for a couple of days, but I was unable to convince him to stop riding. So, needless to say, the bike trip is back on. Peter left at 11:00 from Lexington traveling Route 11 towards Christiansburg.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Sorry it's been a while. Peter made it to Lexington fine. I surprised him at my Mom's last night. He's doing okay. I honestly think he's lost 10 lbs since he left.....10lbs in 2 days. He's made it 120 + miles in the last 2 days!! He rode, on a bike, what I detest driving in a car most times!!!! He has already accomplished so much!!!
However, he's having technical problems and is trying to get the kinks worked out right now. The phone died and the computer died.....does anyone else believe in signs?? He is in Roanoke, VA (took my Mom's car there) and is trying to get a phone and new computer if both are necessary to replace, but he has to have a phone to ride the bike, otherwise he is S.O.L. when he needs help. He needs some encouragement right now, so help him out if you can!!
However, he's having technical problems and is trying to get the kinks worked out right now. The phone died and the computer died.....does anyone else believe in signs?? He is in Roanoke, VA (took my Mom's car there) and is trying to get a phone and new computer if both are necessary to replace, but he has to have a phone to ride the bike, otherwise he is S.O.L. when he needs help. He needs some encouragement right now, so help him out if you can!!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
95 Degree Weather
2:15, Pete is pulled over on the side of the road getting attacked by horseflies and approaching heat exhaustion. He says that traffic has been okay, lots of trucks but everyone is leaving him enough room. Looking to stay at Sprouses Corner just between Cumberland and Amherst tonight putting him right about 60 miles for day 1 and leaving 50-60 miles to Lexington on day 2.
So 2 of the men in my life are taking some pretty extraordinary trips right now. Pete exploring the US and my brother, Drew taking on Korea full force! I will be updating on those two trips and any other things I feel like putting out there in cyberspace for you all to read. I think this blog thing is more thereaputic for me than anything.
Drew departed on May 24, a trip which took him ahead 11 hours. He has been on an Army base there shadowing Lt's during their duties. He has called a couple of times from his international cell phone, not all sober phone calls judging by the conversational content. To quote "Korean chicks are hot!" Fortunately, Drew is exploring Korea through the Army and with a friend of his from West Point that he played soccer with his first year. Jason Pak is from Korea and is able to communicate easily for Drew off of the base. He has traveled to Soeul and is having a blast!! I hope he can drop in on this blog and fill you in more on what his experience is! Here's the latest email from him:
hey everybody, just a quick update from korea...
im getting ready to leave for a tour of the DMZ to check out my kim jong il is up to. we might be flying in a chopper up there which would be pretty cool.
yesterday i was basically acting platoon leader for my platoon.. the old LT that got fired left the motorpool during inspections without telling anyone and my LT that is actually really good had to go to a meeting with a COL so i was there alone and was the only "officer" so i conducted about 2 hours worth of inspections on my own!
im still loving it over here but i cant wait to get home so i can see everyone.
if anyone wants any presents or anything let me know, ill talk to you soon
love you,
drew
Drew departed on May 24, a trip which took him ahead 11 hours. He has been on an Army base there shadowing Lt's during their duties. He has called a couple of times from his international cell phone, not all sober phone calls judging by the conversational content. To quote "Korean chicks are hot!" Fortunately, Drew is exploring Korea through the Army and with a friend of his from West Point that he played soccer with his first year. Jason Pak is from Korea and is able to communicate easily for Drew off of the base. He has traveled to Soeul and is having a blast!! I hope he can drop in on this blog and fill you in more on what his experience is! Here's the latest email from him:
hey everybody, just a quick update from korea...
im getting ready to leave for a tour of the DMZ to check out my kim jong il is up to. we might be flying in a chopper up there which would be pretty cool.
yesterday i was basically acting platoon leader for my platoon.. the old LT that got fired left the motorpool during inspections without telling anyone and my LT that is actually really good had to go to a meeting with a COL so i was there alone and was the only "officer" so i conducted about 2 hours worth of inspections on my own!
im still loving it over here but i cant wait to get home so i can see everyone.
if anyone wants any presents or anything let me know, ill talk to you soon
love you,
drew
12:48 p.m.
Pete stopped again and checked in, this time just outside of Cumberland on Route 60. If anyone is traveling toward Lynchburg/Lexington and sees him, give him a honk!!! He's trying to get about 75 miles today to take some of the load off of the trip tomorrow to Lexington. Sounds like he's doing well!!!
First Check-In
10:45 a.m.
Peter is at a gas station in Powhatan getting Gatorade... No, he was not calling to get a ride back!! Says he's doing well and about 15-20 miles down the road but the hills are brutal with all of the gear!!!
Peter is at a gas station in Powhatan getting Gatorade... No, he was not calling to get a ride back!! Says he's doing well and about 15-20 miles down the road but the hills are brutal with all of the gear!!!
A Somber Morning - The Trip Begins
9:54 a.m.
Well, he's off. He actually did it. A few tears last night and many more this morning and he is on the road (still here in Richmond at the moment, although not for long). Like I said, this trip started out as one of those crazy Pete ideas and now its actually happening. Not the easiest morning for me by a long shot. I woke a few times in the middle of the night just wishing time would stop. 6:00 was coming way to fast.
Once we reached the Shaver residence, there were a few last minute adjustments to make to the bike (headlight, tail light, etc.), another last minute adjustment to the route of the first leg of the trip which should put him right around Lynchburg by tonight. We took pictures, wished him luck and watched him set off down Turf Lane toward the river. His last words as he headed down the street to Jon, Andrea and I were "Whoa" as he wobbled a little bit on the bike!!! I jumped in the car as I felt the onset of a large load of tears and followed him. He turned down Granite Hall and then Rockfalls. I grabbed a couple quick shots of him riding and then we said our "I Love You's" then I had to stop following him.
Wednesday morning he will be in route to Lexington, VA, my home town and a.k.a. "Lex Vegas". While the mountains and towns in that neck of the woods is beautiful, it is a true test of human strength and endurance on a bike with nearly 75lbs of extra weight in the trailer and backpack. I guess this will prepare him for Colorado!
I will keep you all updated when I talk to him next!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009 - The Day Before the Trek
11:38 p.m. Peter on the "little guh" computer as he would call it, and I on his computer blogging about the 4,200 mile trek ahead which begins tomorrow and setting up Skype so we can see each other through the webcam whenever he has internet and getting all of the last minute electronics set up and ready for the ride.
For those of you reading this who dont know what the trek is I am referring to, here's the story. Pete got laid off in April...got a nice severance from HSBC and might have had a little too much time on his hands when he got the idea after a Yankees game in NYC to ride his bike across the country...not a crotch rocket or a Harley folks, a BICYCLE from here in Richmond, Virginia to just outside of Portland, Oregon (and if he is feeling up to it by then, a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway - if he doesn't decide to throw the bike in the Pacific!!!)
This trek, for me, started out as one of those "Peter things". Peter has had his ideas to go vegan and/or vegetarian at times, which he never holds up, so this I treated the same way. I thought the idea would be gone as quickly as it came, and here we are just hours from his departure realizing that this time he shut me up and actually followed through with what everyone thought was a crazy idea.
His trek across this great land of ours was originally going to start the 17th of May, yet after much research and thought, he realized he was not yet prepared to make the journey. So after a couple trips to the library, Agee's bicycle shop here in Richmond, many long talks and days later, he is ready to hit the road and I am still trying to wrap my head around it.
Many people have asked over the last month "why on earth would he want to do that?!" Believe me folks, I have asked myself, AND HIM, the same question...and his answer to me is "Why Not??!!" What better time than now, he says, at 26, in good health and jobless with a cash reserve, to do this. This opportunity came about for a reason. He is meant to do this. As crazy as the whole idea sounds, it is admirable as all hell. If I was in his shoes, we all know I would probably go dance as much as possible wherever possible, so that is how I have tried to understand all of this. 2 months is a long time, but a lifetime of wishing is a lot longer.
So, as I dread the 6 o'clock hour tomorrow morning, I prepare to be his cheerleader for the next 45-60 days, try not to cry as I send him off and begin counting down the days until he is back here in the ol' RVA.
Bon Voyage Petey!! I Love You!!
For those of you reading this who dont know what the trek is I am referring to, here's the story. Pete got laid off in April...got a nice severance from HSBC and might have had a little too much time on his hands when he got the idea after a Yankees game in NYC to ride his bike across the country...not a crotch rocket or a Harley folks, a BICYCLE from here in Richmond, Virginia to just outside of Portland, Oregon (and if he is feeling up to it by then, a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway - if he doesn't decide to throw the bike in the Pacific!!!)
This trek, for me, started out as one of those "Peter things". Peter has had his ideas to go vegan and/or vegetarian at times, which he never holds up, so this I treated the same way. I thought the idea would be gone as quickly as it came, and here we are just hours from his departure realizing that this time he shut me up and actually followed through with what everyone thought was a crazy idea.
His trek across this great land of ours was originally going to start the 17th of May, yet after much research and thought, he realized he was not yet prepared to make the journey. So after a couple trips to the library, Agee's bicycle shop here in Richmond, many long talks and days later, he is ready to hit the road and I am still trying to wrap my head around it.
Many people have asked over the last month "why on earth would he want to do that?!" Believe me folks, I have asked myself, AND HIM, the same question...and his answer to me is "Why Not??!!" What better time than now, he says, at 26, in good health and jobless with a cash reserve, to do this. This opportunity came about for a reason. He is meant to do this. As crazy as the whole idea sounds, it is admirable as all hell. If I was in his shoes, we all know I would probably go dance as much as possible wherever possible, so that is how I have tried to understand all of this. 2 months is a long time, but a lifetime of wishing is a lot longer.
So, as I dread the 6 o'clock hour tomorrow morning, I prepare to be his cheerleader for the next 45-60 days, try not to cry as I send him off and begin counting down the days until he is back here in the ol' RVA.
Bon Voyage Petey!! I Love You!!
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