For the last month or so I’ve been slowly increasing my bike riding in hours and in speed…mostly in hours. Not too interested in speed right now. I don’t want to rush through this trip. I’ve got two months and I intend to use every day of it. I don’t want to burn myself out in training, or hurt myself by pushing too hard too fast. My route is usually down 235S of Pax River until I feel like turning around. Lately I’ve been riding all the way down 235S until it intersects route 5 and coming back on 5 passing St. Mary’s College.

I rode for the first time today in two weeks and it felt good to be back on the bike. I rode for an hour and a half on the base. I didn't want to push it the first day back. It was such a beautiful day. The air was clean and just barely cool and the ride past the bay calmed me as it always does.

So many thoughts going through my head about what the future holds, not just on the upcoming bike trip but also about retirement and about relationships. I put some thoughts in order. Some are still in there and are not settled. But that's ok. In the last month, in the last several months, I have grown as a person. I have made both good and bad decisions. I have learned more about myself. I have learned more about others.

Rode half hour indoors.

I didn’t get up early. I rode for an hour down 235N turned around and came back. Total of two hours at 12.9, my lowest speed in a while. No worries.

I rode the base route after working DirecTV. It was an easy day. I rode for an 1 hour 17 mins. 15.1 mph. Tomorrow I am off. I plan to get up early and put in a 4 hour ride.

DirecTV and beat. No riding.

My Friday off. After eggs, toast and coffee I took an hour and half morning ride on the base averaging 13.2 mph. It was a nice easy ride. I’ll go out later today.

Later today…..3 hours 15 mins. 12.8 mph average. Whew. Rode out to Point Lookout. Went to the swimming area and took at 5 min dip. AAAahhhhh. I dried off sitting on a picnic table eating a package of white powered donuts. Does it get any better than this? I was beat on the way home, pedaling into strong headwind. UGH!

Took a day off. I’m getting bored and don’t want to train.

Blah blah blah blah blah. Absolutely beautiful day! Rode for 2 hours 21 mins, averaging 14.6 mph. I rode north down 235 right amongst the rush hour traffic. I need the experience of traffic biking. RT235 has a very nice bicycle lane. On the way back I stopped by Bill R’s house and visited for a bit. I worked with Bill for 22 years in Maryland, and knew him a bit when we worked in Norfolk in the early 70’s. We both started out as aircraft mechanic apprentices, Bill’s class being about 10 years ahead of mine. Nice guy and a nice family. My legs feel strong and I feel like I could pedal forever. I’m ready for this trip to begin! I’m tired of taking training rides.

I rode for an hour and 35 mins tonight averaging 14 mph. It really was a very nice day for a bike ride. The humidity was low and the sun not too hot. I rode on the base. Riding past the water I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it. It was so peaceful. Water always makes me think. During the ride my head was playing games with me. Part of it wanted me to push push push and beat my 15.1 mph average and the other part told me to stop trying for speed and just relax and enjoy the ride. The relax and enjoy the ride part won. I stopped by the meadow where the lone gravestone is and took a couple of minutes to reflect. A half hour later I stopped by the West Basin Marina where I have crabbed a dozen or so times over the past 4 years, parked my bike and walked around, again staring at the water. There used to be a concrete seawall that you could walk on and crab or fish but it was torn down about a month ago because of disrepair. It looks like they’re going to put riprap (pieces of rock) in its place. Why does that make me sad? I will miss that wall. I sat on a wooden beam for about 10 minutes looking over the water and feeling a little melancholy. The sound of the water slapping at the rocks lulled me into thoughts of the past and the unknown of the future. I think the fact I’m going to retire in a month is sinking in. It’s coming so fast too and the uncertainty of what I’ll be doing after this bike ride is on my mind. To be fair the bike ride is on my mind too. Can I do it? Will I enjoy it? Yeah, I’m sure I can do it. And I’m sure I’ll enjoy it, although I know there will be times when I’ll be cussing at myself for taking on this venture. I’ll miss work. I’ll miss the people at work. I’ll miss the familiarity of it all. The comfort. I know what to expect. I know the people there. I know Bill will make some jokes. I know Rick will talk about the Eagles. I know Boz and Johnny will stop by and say hi and crack on me. In a month and a few days I won’t be part of that family any longer either. Getting back on my bike I rode home. I didn’t feel like pedaling any further. Change. I’ve always been a little afraid of it. But if I stop and think about it I realize it has never done me any harm. Change almost always seems to work out.

My brother Larry called about 8 p.m. Larry is 6 years my junior. My little brother. He had originally attempted to go on this bike ride with me but he had work to think about and was also remodeling to sell his house. “George, I have plan B.” Larry is going to ask his boss for two months off so he can go with me! So many thoughts went through my head because I had gotten used to the idea of being alone. He will have to refurbish his bike so it will be a touring bike, or he will have to buy another one. He hasn’t been training much. Will he be ready? Will we get on each others nerves? Will my host families be willing to put up another person? So many things to think about but after sleeping on it and allowing all of my thoughts to settle I realized it will be wonderful to ride with him. It will give us a chance to spend time together and to do something that comes along once in a lifetime together. :-) Larry has more experience on a bicycle than I do. Hey, I’ll bet he even knows how to change a tire!! He rode the Cycle Across Maryland a few years back. But he only has 5 ½ weeks to get ready so Larry if you’re reading this you better get your butt on that bike and start pedaling. Yeah, brother Larry and I riding across the United States of America together. I like that.

Back in the saddle. 2 hours, 27 min. averaging 15.0 mph. About 37 miles. I rode all the way to Point Lookout. The water is beautiful. I didn’t stay because of the time. Riding back my legs were so very tired. The four days without riding made a difference. But I pushed myself and it felt good.

I visited my daughter in Winston-Salem. I did not bring my bike so there is nothing to report except I had a wonderful time seeing her, my son-in-law, and my two grandbabies. Also it just so happened that my other daughter and her boyfriend were visiting at the same time so I got to visit with the both of them!

Another wonderful day to ride. Down 235S again and I felt like I was flying. My legs didn’t want to slow down. I kept looking at my speed and I was maintaining a 16 mph pace. Holy Cow! That’s fast for me. I rode until reaching Scotland, MD again. Before turning around I looked and I had ridden a little over an hour at a 16.2 mph clip! When I turned the bike around to start back home the wind was blowing strongly right in my face. I’d had a nice strong tailwind the entire time. No wonder I was making such good time. ;-) Still even with the wind blowing at my face I felt very strong. Of course I couldn’t keep up the previous fast pace but I wasn’t slacking either. Coming back I took route 5. I almost decided to ride back down 235 because route 5 has three or four big climbs and I wasn’t sure I was in the mood for them. But I talked myself into it and when I reached those climbs I tried pushing. I was getting very tired but something wouldn’t let me stop pushing. I reached home after riding 2 hours 7 minutes and found that my average speed was 15.1 mph. A new George Johnson speed record! And even though I know this ride isn’t about speed I felt good about it. Its evidence I’m becoming a stronger rider. And I pushed because I’m limited to about 2 hours of riding time each day and I wanted to get as much out of that time as possible. I enjoyed the work out today because I enjoyed pushing myself hard. The flip side of that enjoyment is the fact I didn’t take the time to enjoy the scenery very much, if any. After resting at home for a few hours I could feel the strain on my knees from pushing so hard. Note 1 to self: don’t push so hard.

What a wonderful ride! I felt strong for the first time in about a week. I attempted to use two 25 lb weights, one in each of my panniers but after riding for 10 mins I took them out. They are thin and they would constantly shift causing my bike to be unstable at higher speeds. So today I rode without weights. I rode for 2 hours 6 mins and averaged 14.7 mph! A little over 31 miles. Today the wind seemed to be all around me and it made me think of what it will be like as I’m riding down the east coast right by the water from DE to VA.

Ahhhh Monday. Walking up to my door I saw the notice that I had a package waiting for me at the front office. My tent had come in!! I'd ordered it only a few days earlier. I ordered a Eureka two-man weighing 5lb 12 oz. Thought about a one-man tent but it was so small I wouldn't even be able to change clothes in it. Now I'll have room to store my equipment and to sleep comfortably.

I was feeling rested from the weekend, feeling much better from the bug that I had and was looking forward to my ride. I'd changed from my work clothes, put on my helmet, gloves, and was walking my bike to the front door when I noticed the bike wasn't moving very well. I had a flat! I had a $#@ %&*$ FLAT! My rear tire was completely flat. Sigh. Well, it's better than having a flat on the road in the burning heat or pouring rain I thought. I hadn't change a flat tire on a bicycle since I was a kid. Piece of cake. I pulled chain off the tire and removed it with ease. Pulling the inner tube out I tried inflating it so I could find where the leak was but I couldn't pump air into the inner tube. Hmmm This valve isn't the normal valve I am used to. It's skinnier. Luckily my pump has the capability to work with both types. Still trying but no luck. #%$ ^&* OK I drove to Mike's Bikes a few miles down the road to buy a replacement inner tube and to find out what I was doing wrong. "You have to unscrew the tip so the air can go in....DUH!" Ok he really didn't say that but I can imagine he was thinking it. Back at home I installed the new tube and pumped it up. :-) Ok, there's still time for me to ride for about an hour before it gets dark. Rats, why won't the wheel go back on? I could not figure out how to put the rear wheel back on the bike! OMG. I looked and looked and tried and tried but I couldn't get the chain in the proper place to allow the wheel to be seated. Humbly I knocked on my neighbor's door. "Jim, I'm going cross country in a little over a month and I can't figure out how to put my rear wheel back on the bike." Jim came over and for about 10 minutes we both looked and tried and looked and tried...to no avail. "Do you have a picture of your bike that we could look at?" asked Jim. That did the trick! Realizing we had to pull the derailleur down and out of the way the wheel slipped into place. Ahhh the sweet smell of success. Thanks Jim. By now it was too late to ride so I washed the grease off my hands and resolved to ride tomorrow.

Nothing. Worked until 8:00. Exhausted. I can't wait until I'm on the road and not working at all!!

Got off early from DirecTV job thanks to Ron (bossman) giving me a local route and only morning jobs. Rested for an hour and made myself ride. I had no energy but I rode for 3 hours averaging 12.2/mile! 36 ½ miles. My legs felt like wet noodles so that's not too shabby. The bad part was it was very windy and I was feeling blah. The good part was there was no humidity and I was on my bike!! I took a 10 minute break by the water after the first hour and another 10 minute break by an old gravestone (Mary Storey) in a nice meadowy (I don't think that's a word) area of the base.

Still sick. No riding. This is so frustrating. I almost never get sick! And it's a nagging, nostril-blocking, energy-sapping little bug.

My throat hurts today and my nose was running a little but as the saying goes you can exercise if the sickness is above your neck. If it’s below it you rest. Besides, I got my panniers (saddle bags for the uninformed) earlier today and I wanted to try them out!! Two rear panniers and a handlebar bag. I loaded the two rear panniers with cans from the pantry so I could train with the weight. Cans of beans, tuna, tomato sauce, soup, and who knows what else. Probably twenty pounds in all. I rode around the base for 2 hours 34 mins. Humid! Over the months I’ve passed numerous rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels but today a skunk came from the left of me wanting to cross the road right where I was biking. I thought it would turn around after seeing me but it kept coming…..almost straight at me! Oh no please don’t be afraid of me Mr. Skunk. Don’t raise that tail. Please. I’m a nice guy really. I won’t hurt you. I never pedaled so fast in all my life to get away from him! I would have hated to have been sprayed but I would have died laughing if I did. My first thought was that I don’t want to have to go to work and tell them that a skunk sprayed me! I would have never heard the end of it. I work with a wonderful group of people and will miss them when I retire.

Day off from riding.

2 hrs 15 min 32 miles 14.1 mph I decided to ride down 235S to Point Lookout State Park and then come back home down route 5S. During the Civil War Point Lookout was the location of a prison camp which imprisoned as many as 52,264 Confederate soldiers. (I had to look that up). The sun was shining and the humidity was almost non-existent. So I donned my shades and started peddling excited about going to a new place. After riding down 235 for about 45 mins I pulled over and took off my sunglasses. I was putting my water bottle away when another bicyclist zoomed past (people zooming pass me is not too rare an event). “Nice day,” she said. I found myself pedaling faster than usual just because someone passed me but I quickly reminded myself that this was not a race and to relax and enjoy the scenery like I’d been doing earlier. Remarkably we rode at about the same pace. She stayed about 50 yards ahead. I must be getting better! Then she stopped to get a drink and I passed her returning the salutation. I was thinking to myself whether or not I should turn around and ask her if she wanted to ride together. It amazes me how many thoughts can go through your mind in an instant……Since she doesn’t know me would she view me as a threat? If she declined then I’d have to pedal pretty fast to get some distance between us. Never having ridden with anyone would it be awkward? Would we feel like we’d have to talk the whole time? What the hell. I turned around and asked, “Would you like some company?” “Sure!” Joy was a very nice lady and had been riding for about a year and started because for one reason or another she wasn’t able to go to the gym and was getting bored sitting at home. Since her husband was a bicyclist he suggested she try her hand at it. She’s been riding ever since. I was amazed at how easy it was to talk to someone while biking. (It’s much harder to do if you were running.) And our pace was exactly the same so neither of us had to slow down or speed up to keep together. She usually biked with friends but was on her own today and she gave me some good pointers about biking, winter clothing, energy snacks, drafting off another biker, etc. We were in Scotland, MD and not too far from Point Lookout when the shoulder of the road ended. We decided to turn around and go back, taking a quick rest in a grocery store parking lot. We rode together for another 15 or 20 minutes until the 235/5 split, said our goodbyes, and went our separate ways. That was very nice I thought. The quiet felt strange for a while but soon I was back in my normal riding mode, enjoying the current scenery and daydreaming about the trip.

2 hrs 19 min. 33 miles. 14.2 mph. Rode twice around the base. What a beautiful evening. 7:00 is my favorite time of the day. Everything seems so peaceful and I’m more observant. I tried pushing it a little today realizing I haven’t been riding as much as I should.

Nothing.
I didn’t pedal the first mile. I am exhausted from working DirecTV job. I think my body is just tired and I need to get a good night sleep.

Three and a half hours. What a wonderful ride. Down 235N to Queentree Rd. Stopped at the Boswells, Teri and Ralph, to say hi and to refresh my water bottles. (Why don’t I have insulated bottles? Duh!) I’ve worked with Teri for about 20 years!? Good gosh has it been that long? Salt of the earth. Both of them. Took route 247 (Loveville Rd) towards Leonardtown. Passed the Amish/Mennonite farms. I was hoping to pass a horse and buggy so I could hear the clop clop clop of the horse but no such luck. I never noticed how the shoulder of the road was bumpy from their carriage wheels having chewed it up. You can’t miss it on a bike though.

An hour and a half on the indoor trainer. It was so boring.

nada!

UGH. So hot again. What do I expect it’s August for crying out loud. I rode for an hour and 40mins and am beat. Took it slowly and drank plenty.

Two hours 45 mins today. DirecTV updating their system so no work today! Slept till 8:30. Breakfast of two eggs, toast, cantaloupe, orange juice, and coffee. Out the door 9:15. Very hot and very humid. Rode down 235N past Hollywood, MD taking some side roads to visit friends but no sign of life so I kept going. Stopped at a little store near Sotterley Mansion to get something to drink and a snack bar. Felt good most of the ride. I started to make myself ride for 3 hours but too hot and I’m drained. I’m getting there! I can see myself on the road. I am anxious for it.

Rode for an hour and 45 mins today. A little sore from yesterday. I’d worked DirecTV and was a bit tired from that. Very hot. (I install DirecTV on most weekends).

Rode 40 miles in 3 hours and 19 minutes today and I am beat! It was my longest ride by far. And I felt really strong until the last 5 miles and then felt myself starting to fade. I slept in this morning, and hopped in the shower about 8:30 after making myself two eggs, toast and coffee. I quickly mounted a flagpole with an orange flag on the back of my bike and I was out the door at 9:00. Taking a left out of my apartment complex I reached Patuxent River NAS in about 10 minutes. I rode the usual route but before I got to the golf house I saw a small road on left. I thought ‘’what the hell’ and took it just to see where it went. It meandered for about two miles and ended up on one of the taxiways. I felt adventurous. Pedaling past the Chesapeake Bay I never get tired of looking at the water or smelling the salty air. After about an hour I decided to ride to the South Annex to look at the construction they’re doing to the seawall. Leaving there I decided to take another small road that again turned left at what I thought was a dead-end. It quickly turned into a dirt, sand, and rock road. I didn’t like the surface but I wanted to see where it went. The road ended behind the Naval Station’s museum but much to my chagrin a locked fence blocked my way. The only choice was to turn around and take the same road back. It wasn’t 10 minutes on the sandy, rock road that I took my first fall on my bike. Even though I was being careful and traveling at only 7 mph the wheels sunk in the sand and I was on my side before I knew what happened. Luckily I’d extended my arm to take the brunt of the force and I ended up with a scrapped and bloody arm and scrapped leg. Once I knew I wasn’t really hurt I laughed out loud and smiled at the thought of my first fall. I guess I’m an official bicycle rider now. I stopped at one of the bathrooms by the Annex and cleaned the scrapes. I still felt like riding so I did another circle around the base. Coming to the Bay again I pulled over and sat on the pilings by the water and just rested a bit. I decided to take off my shoes and socks and waded in. I was so nice. I stood there a bit and then took off my shirt and glasses and swam for about 10 minutes. It was wonderful! I hadn’t been in salt water since I visited my son in Ocean City two years ago. Got back home about 1. Actually when I got back home I’d ridden 39.2 miles. I thought it would be a shame not to make 40 miles so I rode twice around the complex until I did!

Rode the perimeter of Pax River, some which was alongside the Chesapeake Bay. OMG now I know why I am doing this. For the first time since training I felt like I know I’m going to feel on my trip! I’ve driven this base since 1983 but this is the first time on a bike. It felt completely different. There were fisherman on the shore with their poles lined up. I wanted to stop and talk to them like I know I would if I was on my trip but I can’t now because I need the time training on the bike. I imagined how the conversation would go if I was riding down the coast of DE, MD, and VA like I will be in a few months. “Having any luck?” I’d ask, slowing down to get off my bike. “Na, not so far.” And I can imagine after looking at my bike fully loaded, ”Where you heading?” “Going to San Diego.” Hahaha, I can only imagine the myriad of comments that could come out of his/her mouth. I Yah Hoo’ed again.

Rode the 235S route and was coming back through St. Mary’s college. Thought about stopping for one of the summer concert series the college holds every Friday and is free to the public but I could see the clouds blacken around me. The cars were parked alongside the college and hundreds of people were looking up at the sky and deciding if they should stay for the music or go home. It looked like the sky would open up any moment. I kept riding. Five minutes later it started raining, not nearly as much as we would all have liked because St. Mary’s country (along with a lot of Maryland) is in a terrible draught. The rain was coming down and it smelled so good! The smell of rain is a wonderful thing. You can’t smell it in a car. It smelled like summertime when I was a kid. It made me feel so good. As it ran down my helmet and my face I tasted some of it and it was very salty from the sweat on my face. I was exhilarated. I Yah Hoo’d right out loud as I sat up with one arm in the air.