Circuits to Plowshares

I havn’t gotten the updates done like I would like to because I lost my netbook, but when the new one arrives I will try to get a content explosion done.

Second day and another late start. I first awoke at 7:30 then went back to sleep, then 8:30, then 9:30, and finally got up at 10:00. Chris was up by about 10:30, we had all of camp broken down and meals eaten by 12:30. We went down 101 to a walmart and Bought some powerade, instant rice, loaf of bread and some squash. It was close to 2 by the time we were headed out. Got on 81 and it instantly went from nice roads to 1 lane in each direction with the infamous Texas Chip-n-Seal with loose gravel. One thing that motorist don’t consider is the energy losses from bad road, you have to work significantly harder to get anywhere, but when you are in a car its just a matter of hitting the accelerator a little bit more. Today’s ride was very hot an there was a significant stretch with no stops and no where to get water. At one point I got a flat and we were out of water. As we sat in the shade changing the tire near Stoneberg a car pulled up with two guys in their late 20′s. They asked if we needed any help or if we needed anything. We told them that we had just changed the tire, but we wanted to know how far up the road the next town was so we could fill up. They told us that it was a ways up there and offered to grab some water and come back, we told them we couldn’t impose but they insisted. Once they pulled off I noticed that the tire wasn’t holding air, so I took off the tube and saw that it indeed had some dry rot. This is when we discovered that the 6 spare tubesChris had brought were from 4 years ago when Chris did Texas 4000 and they were probably all no good. When I got that tire changed we sat around in the shade at which time Dave and John returned. We found out that they work for Halliburton and were on their way to Houston for business.

More crappy roads until we saw the red river. Chris mounted up the handle bar camera and we crossed.  The difference in the road on crossing was night and day. Better roads and far less hills. I think that Texas must make hills to go over because it was like suddenly a switch had been flipped. Right over the border was a restaurant called “The Peach Orchard”. We decided to pull in and get some more water. The girl at the bar obliged us and even put some ice in there. The atmosphere was one of the old fashioned “made from scratch” kind of place. There were also nothing but young and really attractive girls working. Also not wanting to just hassle them for water Chris and I decided to order something, Chris asked if they had any peaches, she said no, so we ordered a beer. Beers in hand a nice guy at the bar asked where we were going, he told us that Ryan was another 9 miles away and that they had a city park where we might be able to camp out. We got moving at a good pace and for good reason because it was already 6. At the edge of town we stopped at the top of a decent little hill, we could see across the street a house with a nice couple sitting on the porch. We went over to the couple and asked for directions to the city park, they suggested instead that we use a field next to the football field. They told us it had better wind and more trees, so it was hard to argue with. We asked if there would be any problems with the cops, they said nobody goes up there and there is only one cop and he lives behind them and if he gave us any problems to tell him “O.C. Bob and Brenda told us we could stay there”.

We thanked them and headed up the road and unloaded on the pavillion at the park. We found a spigot with a hose and took a cold semi-shower and washed our jerseys. Then we went into town and got some powerade and a soda. It was 9:30 by this time so dinner was tuna packet and some bread. I also noticed that part of the trailer that attaches to the bike is bent and the pin doesn’t go all the way through. This trailer is a pain in the ass and really needs a kickstand.

41.7 miles

2 tubes

A late start today. Timing worked out so that we met up with Derek last night for some drinks and a chance to catch up. We left about 2 o’clock from Decateur. About 1/4 mile into the trip I experienced and epic blowout. The rear tire had probably hit either glass or metal and cleanly cut through giving about 1/4 inch cut. While I was changing the tube and putting a spare reinforcement tire we hear a distinctive hiss from Chris’s bike. There ended up being a tear on tube at the valve stem. The road was pretty good after that, we stopped at a rest station right after that, there was a younger guy “working” there. He was sitting down with a hose sitting on the ground pointed up and generally over the plants. He asked us where we were headed and he didn’t believe me when I told him Vancouver. The trailers really slow you down, each one is packed at over 55 pounds and the up hill is very slow; the granny gear is very necessary even in Texas. Around the town of Sunset we saw a sign for an RV park and since it was a getting a little late we thought we would pull in. Even though it was only 4:40 and the office was supposed to be open till 5 we found the office locked. We got over to the camp host trailer and gave it a knock. On the outside was a wooden sign for Russ and Ursula. a 30′s aged woman answered and we explained we were looking for a place to pitch the tents. An older woman with a german accent told us that they didn’t have a place for tents there but she knew of another up the way that would. They called over Russ who was out on the property, he invited us into the office and gave us some water and gave us some advice. He was a really nice guy, a professional trucker from back when trucking was actually a profession and not just a job. He knew the routes up there really well and told us what to expect from the different places. He was originally from Salem, Oregon and when he retired he bought an RV and drove with his wife Ursula to every state in the Union. It also turns out he rides bicycles and suggested that we should use Hybrid bikes rather than straight road bikes. He apologised for not having a place to let us camp, but the only green spots on the property were in the output of the septic systems, and though they were lush and green he worried that we “might come out smelling like a rose”. We left and went further down to the other RV park, they had camping but charged $25 for a site. We didn’t have many options so we accepted it. There was a pool so a quick swim and a shower. Had a good meal of instant rice and instant mashed potatoes. The camp site that she called “their best one” was horrible. Most of the spot was covered in cement overflow, there was not much of an even spot. And the only semi-level spot was in the middle of a fire ant nest.

So it was about 12:45 pm when Me, DJ loaded Rodenberg and Fruchey bikes and trailers in the cars for a ride to drop’em off just north of DFW in a town of Decatur, TX. After only about an half mile Fruchey’s tire pop’d. We pulled over to help with the change and as DJ and I where there shooting photo’s we heard a dull pop. It was Rodenberg tire. It seems maybe the load of the trailers may have been overloaded.

Today was the last day of my current gainful employment.  All in all I am very happy to have left on good terms though apparently I fail at sending emails because I managed to delete a whole line of addresses and seemingly leave people out.  It is also good to know that I can’t back out of this trip now.  It’s scary to do something like this but if there is anything worthwhile in life its worth stepping into that black void of unknowns and to try it.  Today was that first step into that void, most life paths don’t include un-employment at this age (at least on a voluntary scale), so this path is uncharted and unfurnished. I am also surprised by the fact that almost no one I have talked to about this trip has told me its a bad idea (except you Mom and Dad, always the voice or reason and sanity in my life).  But I wanted to also chronicle some of the advice or warnings I have gotten concerning this trip.

You ass is going to hurt. -Dad

You should take a car its faster – Dad (again. next sentence too)

You need more friends who are against these kinds of ideas – Mom

If something seems wrong it is. If somebody seems no good, they aren’t. – Uncle Lyn

This is the time to do this. I wish I didn’t have  a wife and kids so I could do it.  -Almost everybody at work

Wait a bicycle??? Not a motorcycle? You are crazy. – About 1/4 of the people

1. Be safe.
2. Have fun.
3. Don’t talk to strangers.
4. Look both ways when crossing the street.
5. If you ignore #3, remember, no glove no love. – Anonymous (and you know who you are)

(hopefully more to be added when I can remember them)

I finished up with completing two lights for the bikes to serve in the low light situations we might find ourselves in. The basics are a Q5 Cree Led running at about 400mA with a 20° lens. I used a 1″ copper end cap and a push button switch with a 3/4 PVC end cap and silicon switch cover. It’s perfectly suited for the light holder I picked up from DX and with the battery I got it can run for approximately 9 hours estimated. Next will come the flashers which require some programming. Ohh here are some pictures enjoy.

Today I finally got the BOB Yak Trailer.  Finally it is sinking in that this trip is really happening and all the effects of it.  To add to the insult and injury of it all, one of the senior members of my 4 person team gave his 2 weeks this past monday beating me to the punch by about 1.5 weeks.  And today as I get ready to leave my boss tells me he will be out the week that I had planned as my last.  I really don’t like leaving and causing that many problems, and especially not compounding the issues of a much more valuable person leaving but my date has been set for a while and being that I will be homeless on the 14th its not really negotiable.

I also lament not training harder, its been almost a week since I took a ride and I am painfully realizing that the hardest is yet to come. 70 miles seems like some unreal dream much less what will become a standard day, and I take little solace in the hope that we will “get in shape on the way”.

And here is a gratuitous picture of my new rig:

This past Saturday I went down to White Rock lake to ride. When I got there there was nice little misty rain, but it felt good and I was making good time, around lap 2 it began a little more what would be described as rain. By the end of lap 3 it had begun to pour, now up to and including this point I had the whole mentality of who cares its just water and its survivable. About that point lightning struck about 50 yards from me and I felt the impact; to which I said out loud “Ok time to go in”.  Listening to the news later I discovered that storm spawned off a few tornadoes  so its best I went when I did.

Sunday was a much better day, although lots of debris was covering the trail so I have now discovered many of the alternate routes out there. I ended up doing 55 miles Sunday, and it was a vast improvement from a couple weeks ago doing 48 and barely making the last 8. I actually could have done another couple laps but it had already been 4 hours so I needed to get  home. To compromise I sprinted the last mile in though.

Also when I went to see Mike yesterday and he asked about doing a LED lighting panel for his photography and weblog setup, so while I am waiting to get my USB drive back I did some research on that during lunch.  This reminds me why its good to have a diverse set of friends with different skillsets.  Its good to have people in the different backgrounds like medical, photography, and woodworking. I guess I am the token EE/CE guy but I love it so its always nice to be able to lend a hand. Plus when I do dumb stuff on my adventures there is someone on-hand who can cool-headedly patch me up, document it in photo, and build and awesome stretcher to carry me out; I just have to hotwire the car when we get back.

Apartment living is a pain in the butt especially when you are trying to fabricate.  Also I am glad I my roomate is laid back, because its hard to say a drill press and a box full of electronics goes with any decorum.  Ohh, and I find that I never thought I would ever say this in my life, but I have found a new love in a hot glue gun. I was always under the impression that the thing was only for making a sweater with those googly eyes or maybe a chrismas wreath.  Now I realize the full potential in the fabrication lineup.

I have started on making the lights, and its design is proof of what previously was explained to me, I am afraid of commitment. Thus far I am making everything so that I can take it apart in some way and recover from my mistakes, given the shipping time on Deal Extreme though its understandable.

I am forcing myself to overcome the avoidance to posting here. Despite the fact that I made this site for the purpose of keeping a design journal I haven’t been.  But more than that I need to get on putting out there the preparations I make for the trip.  Today I gave my 60 days notice at my apartment. And last Sunday Chris and I (yes I am Chris too), did a 48 mile bike ride. I can say that the first 40 miles were really easy, it didn’t feel much different than all of the short 15 mile rides I have done so far.  It was the last 8 miles that killed me. I think I was about in the easiest gear possible of the 27 speeds I have, and I was doing about 15 rpm as a cadence. But hey, I made it with about only 2 weeks of riding previous, and this I call an accomplishment.  I did learn a couple things, like if its going to be a 4 hour trip and you stop after 2 hours, eat something so that you still have some energy at the end.  Ohh and life is about building up to things so 48 is pretty good for the first time out.

On the design front, I have gotten in some Red Crees from DX and I am putting together a driver/flasher based on a TPS61500 from TI and a PWM using a PIC24 series.  I started doing layout during lunch here so I hope that will not only make lunches more productive but get me to having a design sooner.  I love getting to try some new stuff, and doing actual design and layout is great at getting back the roots of my real schooling in classical electrical and computer engineering.

But with that I go to sleep. And here goes the first of some more posts on a regular basis.