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Bicycle's Fast South 2004
Farrell Hayes & Roger Harris (the Rookie)
Hi Guys
I have made to Las Vegas--no not that one--Las Vegas, New Mexico--Beautiful
small town--altitude 6,500 feet
I didn't send a e-mail yesterday--It was a much needed rest day in
Albuquerque--I had time yesterday to get a new credit card, a new cell phone and
some cash--Mostly what I did was relax--I came through the first week of
riding--845 miles--in pretty good shape considering--my legs feel great--my
little fingers are numb on both hands from leaning on the bike---and there was a
war every day last week between me and my bicycle seat--score so far is seat 7
me 0--but I did stop at a drug store today and picked up some new weapons for
this little battle--other than all that, I feel pretty good (not great, just
pretty good)
Oh, about today--If I went into details, I would sound like such a whiner--so
I just say--133 miles against a 20 MPH headwind with over 8,000 feet of
climbing--and most of the ride was at an altitude of over 7,000 feet---Picnic
huh--This wasn't the Chickamauga loop----OK, OK enough of my whining about a
little bicycle ride
The good part--This area is absolutely stunningly beautiful--We left
Albuquerque at sunup and climbed up to Santa Fe (65 miles)--and the scenery on
that route was something--We then got on the freeway for the last 70 into
Vegas--and that route also was beautiful--I haven't really mentioned it
here--but I love riding on the freeway--We ride on the shoulder and the 18
wheelers come roaring by just 10 feet left of us--But when they come by, they
create a draft and you get pulled along--you just have to get used to 80,000 lbs
coming by right next to you
I haven't looked at the schedule for tomorrow, but it wouldn't bother me none
if it was a short ride (like a 110 miler or so)
Thanks to everybody
Farrell
Hi Guys
I'm in Tucumcari, New Mexico tonight--Today's leg was 110 miles from Las
Vegas, NM--We had a thunderstorm delay and left around 8:00 A.M.--The first 40
miles were in a steady, cold rain--50 degrees--Was I ever cold--hands, feet--you
name it, I was cold--Hard to believe that 1 week ago we were riding in Death
Valley at 114 degrees--But that was a distant memory--Today I was cold---And the
only way to get halfway warm was to pedal fast--and that's what I did
I noticed early on that I felt really strong today---That, after a big
exertion, I snapped right back--So that gave me a lot confidence--At about the
30 mile mark--feeling strong--I decided to boogie woogie--I hammered right on in
to Tucumcari arriving just after 2:00 (Believe it or not--the 2nd rider in)
Now, don't get used to a report like this from me--This is the first day that
I've felt this strong (most days I've limped in)--It may not happen again on
this trip--But, just for today, it's a good feeling
If any of you guys knows of anyone else who would like to receive these
updates, just send me their e-mail address and I'll add them to the list (or
just forward this to them)
Most of you already know the purpose of this ride (Because most of you are
already contributors--and I thank you from the bottom of my heart) But I am
riding to raise funds for the Chattanooga First Seventh Day Adventist Church
Building Program--If you would like to make a contribution or know somebody
else who would--They can mailed to
Chattanooga First Seventh Day Adventist Church
P.O. Box 23997
Chattanooga, TN 37422-3997
The Church is built right now (without a steeple--because of lack of funds) I
pray that a change order can be issued for a Steeple
New update tomorrow from Dalhart, Texas
Thanks to everyone
Farrell
Day 11, Oct 6 - Tucumcari, NM to
Dalhart, TX - 96 miles
Hi Guys
I'm in Dalhart, Texas tonight--I covered the 97 miles in a little under 5 and
1/2 hours--with the help of a nice tailwind and flat terrain--Today was fun--my
legs were strong again and it was a beautiful day--I only got off the bike for 2
short breaks and a flat tire (I'm getting a little better at changing
flats)--Other than those 3 stops, it was hammer time--When I got here around
1:30, I called Roger Harris and told him that I felt so good that I might go
jogging--He said that I'd gone crazy---I might better consider "cooling my jets"
though because, in a couple of days, we have some huge mileage days coming in
Oklahoma
This area of Texas is big cattle country--I rode by several huge feed lots
which averaged a mile square and each full of cattle--Each feed lot had
thousands--It sad--They're there for one purpose--To get fatter
We're now in our 4th state (Hey and these ain't small states) We've ridden
1164 miles through today--So we're coming up on the halfway point in a couple of
days--It seems like a long time ago that I dipped my back wheel in the
Pacific--I'm finding out on a bicycle that this is a real big
country---stunningly beautiful, but real big on a non-motorized 2 wheeler---It
reminds me of the 91 mile mark on the very first day (It was the worse that I've
felt in 12 days)--I was sitting out front of a store after climbing a big, hot
mountain--Some guy found out that we were crossing the country and said to me
"Watch out for those bridges coming into Savannah--They're real rough"---I
started laughing and said "Man, I ain't worried about no rough bridge in
Savannah--I'm trying to figure out how to get to Palm Springs"
Well, as I write tonight, Savannah is a little closer
I'll update tomorrow
Thanks to everybody for your support
Farrell
Day 12, Oct 7 - Dalhart, TX to
Pampa, TX - 112 miles
Hi Guys
I'm in Pampa, Texas tonight--big time oil and cattle county--very few trees
and a big, big sky (you can see forever) Today's leg from Dalhart was 111
miles--which I covered in just under 7 hours--The first 80 were a
dream--downwind and flat--The last 31 weren't quite as much fun--against the
wind and constant climbing--but no big---
You get kind of a philosophy riding this many miles--If it's there, I'll ride
up it, down it, or over it--If it's against the wind, I'll get down lower on the
bicycle and if it's downwind, I'll yell yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaa------But you certainly
don't all bent out of shape worrying about some obstacle in your path---If it's
there, you deal with it when you get to it
I haven't mentioned before some of riders that I'm riding with--What a
group--I mean, these people are in shape--Here is the link to the Fast South Web
Page
http://bamacyclist.com/journal2004/FastSouth04/2004FastSouth.htm
Just
click on Meet The Riders to see the bios on these people--There are only 2 out
of all these riders who can't handle the day in day out big miles---I'm not
going to name names but here's a hint--It ain't the girls--They're dynamos--The
elite are Bill, Mike Garrett, Xavier and Dominique---And when I ride with
anybody, it's usually the Rochester trio plus Ralph Brickey from
Tennessee---These guys are all real, real good-----The leaders are great--Mike
and Barbara Munk, Karen and Brantley---Talk about riding a bicycle---Watching
Mike Munk and Karen ride together, is like watching poetry in motion--They're
super fast and super smooth---Plus they do a great job of running this tour
Tomorrow we head into Oklahoma--Short day (98 miles) and then it's big mile
time again--Oboy
Thanks
Farrell
Day 13, Oct 8 - Pampa, TX to
Elk City, OK - 98 miles
Day 14, Oct 9 - Elk City, OK to
Chickasha, OK - 125 miles
Hi Guys
I'm in Chickasha, Oklahoma tonight--Today's leg was 127 miles from Elk City,
Oklahoma
Today's ride was very difficult--127 miles against a mean headwind with the
last 10 in a pouring rain--That headwind wasn't one of those "light breeze in
your face" headwinds--It was one of those "there's a storm acoming"
headwinds--But, I just keep pedaling all day and made it to motel around 5:00
Tomorrow's ride is worrisome--Same conditions as today except, it is 145
miles--As optimistic as I am, that sounds very rough--Same battleplan
tomorrow--just keep moving---ETA about making to the motel--around 6:30--not
much recovery time--but enough
My cousin and training partner Roger Harris is joining me in Fort Smith,
Arkansas on Tuesday--His first of riding will be Wednesday--Don't tell him I
said this, but this little bike trip will be a major shock to his system--These
big mile days just don't come naturally--And there's no way to fully
prepare--But it will be great to see him and ride with him
I'll report tomorrow
Thanks
Farrell
Day 15, Oct 10 - Chickasha, OK to
McAlester, OK - 145 miles
Hi Guys
I'm in McAlester, Oklahoma tonight---Today was a day for the record books--I
ought to be slapped upside the head for calling yesterday rough--Yesterday was
an impostor--I met the real Mr. Rough today
 First the stats--146 miles--20 MPH headwind---pouring down rain all day---a
redneck in a pickup truck armed with a water balloon and a good aim-------I left
this morning as soon as it was light enough to see--pedaled all day, except for
a few NASCAR type short rest stops, and arrived at the motel just before
dark---The redneck nailed me at about the 130 mile mark--square in the back--but
by then, I hurt in so many places, what's one more bruise
A couple of days ago, I mentioned the beautiful sight of the train coming and
blowing its whistle and me getting cold chills---This was not that kind of a day
at all---Today was the kind of day that, if you saw a train coming, you would
have jumped off the bike and laid on the tracks--(Trucks were in short supply)
Here is link to the ride leader's web site
http://bamacyclist.com/journal2004/FastSouth04/2004FastSouth.htm
Then click on day 15---If he says today was easy day, then I give--uncle, calf
rope, no fair-no fair etc.
Thanks
Farrell
Day 16, Oct 11 - McAlester, OK to
Ft Smith, AR - 108 miles
Hi Guys
I'm in Fort Smith, Arkansas tonight--I have ridden 1,752 miles from the
Pacific Ocean to get to here--I have ridden in weather as hot as 114 degrees
(Death Valley) and as cold as 34 degrees (coming out of Gallup, NM) --- I have
ridden in dry weather and in rain (so hard you couldn't see) I have ridden
against light, moderate and brutal headwinds and I also have ridden downwind (2
days) with the speedometer in the high twenties the whole day
I've had days (or parts of days) where I was so weak that I could hardly push
the pedals--And I've had days (or parts) where I felt like superman--And I've
spent at least 500 miles singing Waylon Jennings songs (Are you kidding me--I'm
not exactly a country music fan) But Waylon and Willie have ridden a lot of
miles with me--Can't help it, they're there--Waylon does most of the singing,
but every once in a while, Willie chimes in
Well, enough of that--Today's ride was 108 miles--moderate headwinds--some
rain---My legs were dead for the first 30 miles (probably from yesterday's
monster ride and not enough to eat) But I stopped and loaded up on crackers,
cookies and bananas and my legs got their zip back--I averaged around 18 MPH for
the last 80--
I've got a rest day tomorrow (much needed) and riding again Wednesday--Plus,
we have a rookie joining the tour tomorrow (Mr. Roger Harris) He will write a
section of this e-mail starting Wednesday--It might interesting to get a
newcomer's perspective to this harshness
Thanks to everyone--I very much appreciate your support
Farrell
Day 17, Oct 12 - Ft Smith, AR - Rest Day
No letter!
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