A real note

 Here Goes

July 31, 11:30 Moscow

We are now in Moscow ID visiting my friend Priscilla. We biked up the 2500 ft
white bird hill getting us to Grangeville Idaho. It was hot and long but we're
used to it now. Priscilla picked us up at the golf course there and wisked us
off
to her house and then fed us a sumptuous meal. We will luxuriate here until
Saturday morning when we will be redeposited back on the trail on the way to
Missoula.

We actually did 75 miles yesterday bringing us to the absolutely beautiful
Riverfront Gardens of Stan and Norma Moore on the salmon river at about 830 PM.
They served us breakfast this morning of the most wonderful fruit and yogurt
combination and great coffee too just because they are great people. They were
just so nice and took such great care of us. That's the recurrent story of this
trip so far. Everyone with the exception of an occasional unconscious trucker
has been wonderful.

I have some comments about biking though. First , when they newly gravel and oil
a road you have a mess and potentially dangerous conditions. Yesterday we rode
over 4 miles of it and the pebbles kept getting between my brakes and tire
causing many a profane utterance. Also today Leah took a fall on one of those
indentations in the road that warn drivers that they are too far to the right .
The problem was if you were on the right side of them you were in the gravel and
on the left well there were the logging trucks that weren't very sensitive to
the delema.    HOOOONK!

Let me throw in right here that  Priscilla's son Ben is an amazing wood
sculptor. You can and should see his work on  www.conjureworks.com. Have a look
they are a real treat.

So where's the profound political raving you've come to expect from my pen? I am
elated that  wolves are going to be protected again. What a victory for common
sense. May the  members of the current administration be subject to De-listing
as unprotected species. I wonder how long they would last?

This leads me to talk about the lectures on my I Pod.  I have now listened to
hours of lectures  compiled and provided by Ken Shauer. The subjects have been
wide including The era of Alexander The Great, The history of
American thought, Biological Anthropology, and currently Great Books. My
conclusion from listening to all of this is that all you still employed people
should make a habit of saying an emphatic NO to your boss at least twice a day..
It could ultimately save humanity. Please send me their reactions via the
comment section of this blog. It is indeed apparent that those who simply
unthinkingly follow orders do humanity a great  disservice

A Note to my friend Don Bruns- I listened to Jobe. What a dispicable little God
portrayed. My god and I hope yours is bigger than that. Let me also suggest that
you have Ken download the lectures on biological anthropology. It would do your
head good.Finally check the recumbant picture in this blog. Everyone who I've
talked to loves them. You may have been right however the one in this picture
sold on Amazon for $450 and was perfectly good. Consider getting one and then
buying a $4000 one later if you need one.

July 29, 2008

steady as she goes

News from the Romaniellos comes mostly in the form of cell phone photos for now. Chuck is not, admittedly, a world renown texter, thus, his messages are short and to to point. Got this in today.

"We spent the night in a town called counsil, idaho. We journeyed over many passes."

Here are a few  pictures.

news from others

From John and Terre DeVilbiss - Our Rendezvous in the Cascade Mountains

My wife, Terre and I are friends of Chuck and Cathy and have known them for many years. We live in the Rogue River valley in southwest Oregon and planned to meet up with Chuck and Leah four or five days into their trip. We, along with our yellow Labrador retriever, Mardy, would meet at one of the Suttle Lake campgrounds on the Deschutes National Forest after they crossed Santiam Pass and came down the east side of the Cascade mountains. When we arrived at the campgrounds (July 18th, the day before Chuck and Leah were to arrive) all sites were occupied or reserved (it was Friday, after all) except for a few "First Come-First Served" sites, several very steep "up & down"miles off the main highway. We decided to change locations and began driving west to intercept them. At Santiam Pass we were able to catch a cell phone signal and leave a message for Chuck. Within minutes our phone rang; it was Chuck calling. He had not received our message, but was calling on his own to touch base with us. They were having a late breakfast at the Rustic Skillet restaurant and were wondering where we happened to be. They were getting ready to get back on the road so we told them we'd drive west until we crossed paths.

About 40 miles west of Santiam Pass we caught up with them riding along the McKenzie River under clear skies and sunny weather. It was great meeting Leah whom we had not met before and seeing Chuck for the first time in several years since our last trip to Colorado. They were in high spirits and seemed to be taking the miles in stride. After looking at the miles to go and the time of day, we decided to spend the night at the Ice Cap campground in the Willamette National Forest, about 16 miles west of the pass. To make their remaining 20 plus miles easier for them we offered to carry their bags and packs in our VW camper back to camp. Chuck remarked something about the objective for the trip is to get to Bar Harbor, Maine, not necessarily to carry the bags all the way, and agreed to passing on their cargo. It was just as well because within a few miles of our meeting spot, the gradient of the highway began pitching upward, significantly increasing in elevation as they cycled up the west side of the Cascade mountains.

We drove to the Ice Cap campground and claimed one of the three remaining camp sites. Several hours later Chuck and Leah came breezing into camp looking for the cold beer that had been promised them. We had a great time together around camp catching up on their bike experiences and plans ahead. It was interesting hearing Leah's stories, including those of her travels and work in photography. Also, it was a kick hearing about Chuck's twilight hours with the BLM. After relaxing in camp for a while, we took a hike to the nearby Koosah Falls and reservoir on the McKenzie River. Back at camp we started preparations for dinner in the camper as Leah and Chuck set up their respective tents. Dinner was Italian chicken sausage in a tomato sauce, polenta, and vegetables and wine. They brought their endless appetites.

Over dinner and into the evening we regaled one another with stories of our various travels and whatever amounts of road wisdom we had come upon. It was fun comparing the "cardio-vascular" adventure of bicycling coast-to-coast with each of our past experiences from many backpacking trips and climbs in the Rockies and beyond. That lead us to the question: When one cannot hike, climb, or bike any farther, is it the body that can't go farther or the mind that "says" it has gone as far as it can? How can one tell the difference? These camp ramblings had a certain "immediacy" about them as the following morning Chuck and Leah would be tackling their first serious mountain pass cycling on their 16 mile climb to the summit of Santiam Pass. Of course, it was to be just the first of many mountain passes to come.

Generally, we concluded that the mind is ready to call it quits before the body is unable to go any farther. One question lead to another, and the conversation moved on to the challenges of training the mind to avoid or lessen the "mind-games" involved in pushing hard on one's physical capabilities. How does one train the mind to be the "objective" referee between that part of the mind that wants to stop and the body that is capable of pushing on? These musings lead into a discussion of Buddhism, something akin to The Zen of Bicycling Coast-to-Coast. Finally, the miles caught up with all of us, especially the two who did all the work that day, and we turned in for the night.

The next morning after breakfast we took another walk to Koosah Falls for some pictures. Back at camp, Leah and Chuck were ready to go. We offered, and they accepted, for us to carry their bicycle bags in the VW while they made a "sprint" for Santiam Pass. We would meet them at the pass, hand off the bags, and have our farewell. They would head east, and we would turn west.

Since there was no possibility of hitting a cell phone tower along that stretch of highway, Chuck made his best guess on when they would reach the pass. We would wait until about that time, then drive up to meet them. We didn't want to get ahead of them and then not be able to respond if they happened to need assistance coming up from behind. As it turned out, we got to Santiam Pass within minutes of when they arrived. After the handoff of bags and last minute photos, they were on their bikes and headed down the east side of the Cascade mountains. As they went around the first bend and out of sight, we headed west. What we didn't know then, of course, was that within minutes of parting company they would have their blown tire problem on Leah's bike.

It was a wonderful rendezvous in the mountains. Since then we have found ourselves wondering aloud, where might they be camping tonight? We'll continue wondering as they lay down the miles day after day, all the way across America.

Hi

here we have Chuck's mother, the Matron Saint of this expedition, then Leah skeptical about something, and Chuck, chipper so far.

Oregon Trailing

Mostly have just received some pictures the last couple days. Not sure where exactly they are. Nevertheless, enjoy.

AN END TO SILENCE!

We finally have some words from Chuck himself, who managed a little internet time in his busy schedule of riding his bike and hanging out with new friends. So here you go.

"

Dayville Oregon Presbyterian Church 10:20 PM July 22. As opposed to what you might derive from the media. The American people at least the one's that we've met are a wonderful lot. Leah and I have been barraged by friendship and kindness every day we've traveled . On the train, on the bus to Florence, and at just about every stop. My friends John and Terre DeVilbiss had just left after treating us to a sumptuous dinner breakfast and lunch when Leah had a compression flat on the down side of Santiam Pass. Neither pump appeared to work on her valve. So she sticks out her thumb and after a short while an ex bike mechanic pulls over looks at the pump and then looks at mine, shows me how to convert it and we are in business again. Then the bike shop in Sisters with the big friendly mechanic with the perpetual smile says you don't want to follow 126 out of here there's too much traffic take Goodrich road which was a bikers paradise. And then there was the Cafe in Mitchell this morning that made me enough Ice cream pancakes that even I couldn't finish them and threw in a gigantic club sandwich to boot. The lady in the store next door to the restrante emptied an alcohol container so I could have something to replace my leaking DR Bronners bottle. For free, wouldn't hear about taking money. And finally as if generosity were infinate we are told that the Presbyterian Church around the corner from our chocolate shake stop in Dayville OR lets bikers stay for free, including showers, staying in the church or camping on the grounds (and the miracle) the use of both ( listen to this ) a washing machine and computer.

Folks who are following this blog. If you know me you know you are not dealing with a Polianna kind of guy. When there's a problem I am the first to let you know. But out here in the great Oregon hinterland there are a bunch of people with hearts of gold.

So let me give you a brief discription of the traveling we've been doing. We wake up by at least 8:30AM. Try to figure out how all this stuff can fit into the panniers, go find some kind of wonderful breakfast and a sandwich for lunch. Then we either go downhill until we have to go over a pass or go directly up hill over a pass. We are talking basin and range country here and the raw beauty is sometimes overwelming. Then at the top of the pass there is the death defying downhill that makes the uphill suffering worth it. We usually get to where there is something worth getting to by 7PM or so. And set up camp.

The towns are often almost non-existent with populations of a hundred or so not unusual. People do real work like agriculture, concrete contracting (I 've met 2 contractors today) or run or work in resternts. I've seen a lot of the kids riding horses. In short it's out of my wildest dream as a suburban NY city kid.

Thanks to Ken Shouer my former colleague at BLM I am currently listening to the history of american thought a setries of 30 odd lectures. On a trip to South Dakota I listened to the Post Alexander era in 20+ lectures. In short I am learning all kinds of stuff and loving it. However in reflection I have to say that these are totally useless trying to get over a pass. The thought process is somehow numbed by the exertion of the legs. For passes I recommend James Brown , Motown, or my daughters mixes of modern rap and rock.

Finally a tribute to Jason. Because we have long periods of time without cell phone contact he somehow manages this blog on just the scantiest information. Not only that but the greater tribute is that more than 300 miles on often nasty chip seal pavement, my bike is still running like a singer sewing machine even though I'm carrying 40 odd pounds of gear food and water (at least a gallon) and a still 180+ lb body on it. Jason you do good work and especially as I descend those 1500 foot descents I really appreciate it..

Many Thanks,

Chuck"

Picturesque Prineville

Our friends have now made it into Prineville, OR. At the suggestion of some insightful bike shop employee (who are often rather insightful fellows) they took a bit of a detour through the town of Terrebonne. Chuck holds that the detour was worth it because it had a lot less traffic was very beautiful. After all, riding your bike across country is rarely about how fast you can do it, unless you're a sadistic RAAM contestant, in which case you are a highly unusual sort of cyclist.

Tomorrow, they need to make 50 miles to Ochoco Pass. Enjoy, friends, it looks like a beautiful ride.

The other Jefferson County

I received a voice mail from Chuck in which he told me that in the last couple days they have made their way further east across Santiam Pass to Sisters, OR. They met a couple by the names of John and Perry DeVille who they spent a couple of days with. This couple is pictured above.

So, they did get a flat on Saturday. I'm not sure the details about it; don't know what caused it. But, one thing Chuck made a point to remark is how good people can be, as they were on the road experiencing some difficulty with the pump, someone graciously stopped to lend them the necessary help. The trip continues as expected.

In Oregon

Here we have Leah with Dave at Joe's Cafe in Chesire, OR, and Chuck at the International Hostel.

First report

I received a call from Chuck this morning. They are currently in Eugene, OR. A little background behind the photo of the bikes at the beach. Apparently Chuck and Leah had to tug their bikes over a very large sand hill in order even get the bikes to the beach. Well, I'd say it was worth it for a priceless introductory picture. They did 50 miles yesterday and made it into Eugene where they're staying at a hostel there. So far Chuck says "we're having the time of our life; we're having a blast."

A nice beginning

Hey, let's ride our bikes across the country! Okay!

Waiting around in Eugene

While I haven't heard much from Chuck, he sent this picture with the note that this is the train station in Eugene, OR. So, I assume that's where they're at. Tomorrow is the supposed launch date so we'll see if that all pans out. Good luck friends.

On the train pics

Some first pictures

Here are some of our first pictures. I have a couple of Chuck's ride, which after my first post, I'm sure you're all itching to see. Also are a couple of Chuck and Leah leaving on the train.

I am pleased to introduce Leah Romaniello

When Chuck told me he was planning a cross country bicycle trip I knew there was no way he was going to leave without me. I am not a biker by any means; in fact, up until 2 weeks ago I didn't have a bike that could get me further then 10 miles, but this didn't seem like much of an issue to me. I figured that if I am not a biker now, I will be two weeks into the trip, and so I insisted that Chuck plan for two.

I left for Sarajevo soon after committing to the trip. It was incredibly difficult to train in Sarajevo. Not only did I not have the extra cash to buy a bike but even if I did have a bike riding through the streets of Sarajevo is virtually a death sentence. Taxis swerve in and out of traffic, people pay no regard to traffic laws, and parking on sidewalks is often the only option. The only benefit to riding in Sarajevo is that there is no right on red. I ended up training mostly by running along the river and the occasional gym bike.

One week before meeting Chuck in Denver I flew from Sarajevo to Arizona to prepare for the trip of a life time. Amazingly enough I was able to get everything together and before I knew it I was on my way to Colorado still severely jet lagged and somewhat delirious.

So now here I am, on my way to Oregon to start a bicycle trip to Maine. I may be a little unprepared but I it's going to be a trip of a life time.

--
-Leah Romaniello

A little more intro

Introducing the Romaniello Bike Blog
By: Jason

I can count the number of BLM economists I know on one finger, which puts Chuck Romaniello in a rather exclusive group. I first met Chuck a little under a year ago. He came into Bike Station where I work, discussing a bike trip across the country. Interestingly he was not the first over 60 person I had met that summer who was planning such a trip for the following year. Our customer Sue Ahrend (who is currently en route) was also in the planning stages. I was glad to be able to work with these two separate adventurers and to help them achieve their goals. I soon discovered that Chuck's trip was going to require a little more work on my part. First, Chuck had decided to ride his trip self supported, which meant he was not going to pay to be part of a group that totes your luggage and puts you up in hotels. Consequently, we were going to need to equip his bike with the necessary luggage racks. Second, though, and arguably more significant, Chuck had chosen to do this trip on a bike not designed for that purpose. He first brought in his old Trek trying to figure out how to get a more comfortable riding position as bike of this vintage traditionally had very aggressive riding positions, not at all suitable to long miles day after day. We changed out the stem to a tall, adjustable stem and raised the riding position by about 10 inches; quite a dramatic change in itself.

This change of position brought about a problem for Chuck though as his bike was still equipped with down tube shifters. The raised handlebar created a much longer distance between the riding position and the shifters. Chuck began to express some concerns over constantly having to reach down from his handlebars in order to shift. And here is where I began to learn of Chuck's unnatural simplicity. At several points up to this, and especially with this scenario, Brad and I at the shop had tried to impress on Chuck the ease of simply purchasing a new bike built for this, one that already had the riding position and shifters and other accoutrement's necessary for cross country touring. With all of our "sales tactics" laid before him, we simply couldn't get around Chuck's rock solid logic that "this bike is just fine." That left us the duty of finding a seven speed Shimano STI lever set (everything nowadays is 10 speed, so there's your reference). As luck would have it, we happened to have a set of used seven speed shifters in a box left over from another customer who had "garaged" their bike and gotten a new one. So, my refusal to throw away perfectly good parts worked out for Chuck. We installed the shifters and all was good.

About this time Chuck began to ask about tires, looking for a comfortable ride that could handle the weight of his luggage. As is normal for use with road bike caliper brakes, we installed a couple of 28mm wide Bontrager Hard Case tires. Next, we needed to find some racks as the bike was not yet equipped. This proved to be quite difficult as most front racks require a fork with bolt holes in the middle of the legs to bolt the rack. A little research and we found a rack we could bolt some adapters to. The rear rack wasn't a problem; a stock rack mounted up perfectly.

Then Chuck came asking about fenders. This was going to prove a task as well, as the tires and rack installed prevented the used of regular full length, bolt on fenders. Luckily, we weren't the first people to encounter this and we found a set of shorter length fenders that strap directly to the fork and seat stays with rubber straps.

Comfortable, safe, loaded, dry riding accomplished.

Then Chuck just had to screw with his gearing.

He came in discussing a certain set of gears that he thought would be good for his tour. The gear set basically consisted of a wider range cassette mated to a chain ring set including a very small 24 tooth little ring as well as a change in middle and large rings that set the change in tooth number from one to the other farther apart than the front shifter was going to be able to handle. The nice STI front shifter was now worthless except for its brake lever use. Needing to innovate a bit, I ordered up a set of Shimano bar end shifters (ironically the same ones that come on the touring specific bike we tried to sell Chuck, but hey, it's more fun this way). The installation of the bar end shifter on the front produced a seamless, easy shift that did not require the unsafe movement of the hand from the bar to the down tube. And finally, after months of riding and experimenting Chuck had a bike he knew he could take across country. It's a little bit of a Frankenstein, but I've learned that may just be the perfect bike for Chuck. Early on he said "it would be just fine," and, after a lot of work, I must say I agree.

A few days ago, the bike came in for the last time. I cleaned it, lubed it, adjusted it, put on some fresh tires, and packed it into the biggest bike box I could find. Fifteen years ago I don't think Chuck could have said that this bike would ever be doing something like this, and I have to wonder if the same couldn't be said for himself. This bike, with its mixed parts, some old, some new, some even vestigial, has become the symbol of what Chuck's trip is turning out to be. A lot of work, persistence, innovation, and a few heaping spoonfuls of luck and I think the challenge before him will turn out "just fine."

Good luck my friend.

An Introduction from the Man Himself

The Romaniello Bike BLOG

By: Chuck and Leah (his 24 year old Niece) Romaniello

With the able assistance and absolutely necessary expertise of Jason Gardner -Bike Mechanic and Blog Kahuna

I know virtually nothing about blogs, have certainly never done one before, and wouldn’t now except for the generosity of Jason and The Bike Station where he works. Not only is Jason an experienced blogger but one hell of a bike mechanic at that. The Bike Station is one of those wonderful businesses that are beautifully balanced between being professional and personal. Less than a year ago I brought my 15+ year old Trek into the Bike Station and proposed, probably to their astonishment, that I was going to ride it across the country. I’m sure that the bike at the time looked more promising than its 62 year old (on the chunky side) motor. Since then I’ve put enough mileage on the thoroughly refurbished beast that both engine and bicycle have greatly enhanced probability of crossing the country. This however I must stress would not have been possible without the patience (perhaps endurance would be a better word) of the Bike Station and its extraordinary personnel who through the generous donation of their expertise have made the attempt at this trip possible.

Many of my friends are probably wondering at this point if Romaniello has finally lost it. Taking a bike trip across the country (4250 more or less miles) is admittedly a little dicey for a “moderately chunky” 62 year old. And taking his only blood niece Leah (24) on this adventure is probably even more baffling. Well in my defense let me ask then: after 32 years working mostly as an economist for the BLM what better cure would you recommend? And as for the adventure prone Leah, currently on route back to Tucson from Sarajevo, I’ll let her rave on about her motivations later. You have to admit though that the trip has a certain appeal especially after years of sitting in front of a computer screen. And to my friend Carl Barna who has highly recommended “I take the bus” I say fie upon the bus!

So here’s the plan: Take the train (July 11) and then bus to Florence OR. Leave Florence on July 15. Follow the Adventure Cycling Trans-America Rout to Rollins WY. Invent a way to Denver depending on our current feeling about mountain passes. Invent our way to Muscatine Iowa. And finally follow The Adventure Cycling Northern Tier Rout to Bar Harbor Maine arriving sometime around Oct 15. May I add that that means New England during foliation. Simple! The plan is also to be self- contained (camping) for the most part but staying at an occasional h/motel as the overwhelming need for a shower or inclement weather demands. So that’s it except to say that we plan to spend a few days in Denver letting Jason re-refurbish the bikes. We as much as humanly possible will contact Jason once a day updating this blog with phone calls, text messages, pictures and rambling observations and riveting political commentary as computers become available.

May the hills all be down hills, may the winds always be tail winds, may the roads be smooth and well marked, may the weather be perfect, and may the truckers have mercy.