Update 2

3rd November 2011 – Thursday – Day 03  

We have been up since 3 am.  Going to bed at 8 pm. was maybe not such a good idea!  We have a flight booked for 11:00 am this morning.  If this does not work out, our last chance would be to go by helicopter tomorrow…

Kent went downstairs for an Internet connection, and I lay in bed wishing I could sleep another hour.  I got my computer out and edited a short video – a “trailer” of our adventure.  Fun!

After breakfast, still making frequent short trips to the restroom, we settled in to wait for the word on the day’s travels.  Ram called and informed us that there would be no flights to Lukla today.  We had only one option now, and that was to go by helicopter the next day.  This would entail an additional half-day hike just to get to Lukla, but we all enthusiastically voted YES for this option.  This is why we were here.  We came to go to Everest Base Camp, and nothing except the weather or serious health issues would stop us!

Ram called from the airport at 1 pm.  He was in the helicopter company’s office, and they were quite certain they would be able to go and even land a Lukla, but he would call us to confirm.  We constantly check our iPhones’ weather application, and it seemed there was about a three-hour window open over Lukla. 

At 2:45 pm Ram called and said, “It is a go!  Could you be ready in 15 minutes and the minibus will collect you in time to be at the airport for a very small takeoff window.”

Well, one would have thought we’d just won the Super Lotto!  Everyone scrambled the four floors up to their rooms.  Fortunately we did not really unpack last night.  Kent was still under the weather and he was asleep in the room when the news came.  I woke him and he jumped up, had his stuff ready and down the stairs faster than any of us, in spite of feeling quite miserable.  He was a real trooper and insisted that he was fine.  I was not feeling too hot myself, but the Imodium definitely at least stopped the diarrhea.  I have been drinking lots of water, and thought I’d start the Cipro antibiotic I brought along if I didn’t get better soon.  Adventurers who come to Kathmandu to fly to Lukla to start their expedition to Everest and other Himalayan treks often comment that one of the major challenges of such an adventure is getting out of Kathmandu healty enough to start the trek!

We all rushed to the front door of the Hotel Manang, and in frenzy loaded our backpacks and some extra food items Lama has brought along for the hike.  A major positive:  Ram had brought Kent’s backpack from the airport.  This really gave Kent’s spirits a lift.  Although he was feeling quite miserable, he sat in the back of the minibus and re-arranged his stuff.  He offered the four pairs of socks I lent him back, but I really did not have room for them in my bags.  And besides, I did have four pairs plus the pair I have been wearing.  That should be plenty for the hike, provided one makes sure that they dry properly at night, and trade them out every other day.  I sleep with my socks next to my body to allow the body heat in the sleeping bag to dry the socks.

The ride to the airport was beyond description.  It was now getting close to rush hour, which means hardly anything moves any faster than a snail’s pace.  By now we were getting a bit tired of this congestion, as we wheezed and sneezed, chests burning from the pollution.

The usual pandemonium at the airport with hundreds of motorcycles and cars in major chaos as porters and passengers try to push their way along the long walk from the “parking lot” to the domestic terminal.  We franticly shoved our bags onto the security scanner conveyor, and subjected ourselves to the pat down for the third time in as many days.  Everyone was excited as we were met by the helicopter company’s manager who assured us that the helicopter is waiting with engines running and the pilot in his seat.  “We are just waiting for the air controller’s clearance,” he said.

And then we waited…  We sat around on our bags since there were no chairs in this section of the airport.  Kent crashed on one of the benches.  We were moved around the room as the cleaners started mopping the floors for the end-of-day closing of the terminal, and we became suspicious that we may have a problem again.

At 4 pm. the manager informed us that the flight had been cancelled, but that we were priority for the next morning.

It was amazing what patience and constraint every single member of our group showed.  The disappointment was great, since we were so close to going today.  I could see the concern in every pair of eyes as we contemplated that tomorrow morning would be our last chance.

As we reloaded the mini-bus with our backpacks, Ram operated three cell phones at once, trying to find us accommodation for the night, since we gave up our rooms at the Hotel Manag.  He called 18 hotels, and not one of them had a room.

“I called the 5-star, the 4-star, the 3-star and the 2-star hotels.  They are all full.”

“What about the 1-star hotels?” I ask.

“They are also full.”

The problem was that with all the flights cancelled for the past three days, the city was filling up with folks coming in to climb, but they couldn’t get to Lukla to start their trek.  We were told that there were over 2,000 trekkers currently stranded at Lukla, and there was also no accommodation available there, even if we were able to fly in tonight.

Ram continued to work his magic with his three phones, right there in the chaos of the Kathmandu airport’s crazy domestic terminal’s “parking lot”.  Time and again he got off the phone, clearly disappointed, but he continued relentlessly. 

He is quite a guy, this Ram Pahari!  Finally he said, “I have found three rooms.  But it is not a star hotel.  It is just a regular hotel in the heart of Thamel.”  We would have been happy to find a minibus in which to sleep!

So there we were, inching our way back to Thamel, the traffic excruciating!  More than an hour to do the 15-minute drive.  We arrived in front of the Hotel Kathmandu View, Ram signed us in and we carried our bags up the stairs to the very basic but clean rooms.  There was a small problem here – Kent and my room had only a small three quarter bed.  That is halfway between a twin-single and a double.  Kent was not feeling too good, and neither was I, and I suggested that sharing a bed this small would probably not be conducive to a speedy recovery from our ailment.  I decided to roll out my trusty Thermarest self-inflating mattress and my sleeping bag and sleep on the floor.  However, Kathy came to the rescue and offered to swap rooms since their room had two twin-singles.  I think both Kent and I were very relieved.

A quick dinner, and we all headed back to the hotel, since our pickup was at 6 am. for our 9 am. helicopter flight to Lukla.  If we did not go tomorrow, we would have to abort the Everest Base Camp trek, since we would not have enough days left before our return to the USA to complete the trek.  That would be a major disappointment for all of us.  But we all agreed that safety came first, and that we would take no chances getting into Lukla.  If we did not fly tomorrow, we would work out an alternate hike to another part of the Himalayas.

We were hopeful as we drifted off to sleep.  I really felt that I needed to get out of the chaos of Kathmandu…

(Would have liked to post some video, but must get to bed for an early pickup, and hopefully to feel better tomorrow.  Don’t know when the next internet may be available…)

 Update 1

October 29 to 31, 2011 – Saturday to Monday

After 14 ½ hours from Chicago landed at New Delhi.  Spent the night in the Eaton Smart hotel in the international section of the airport.  We were met by a very helpful young man who escorted us to the hotel while our luggage and other formalities were magically handled by someone.  I was a little worried that they kept our passports, but the next morning at breakfast they were handed back to us along with other documentation and baggage receipts.

The itinerary sent by Ram Pahari of Himalaya Journey Treks and Expeditions said “Arrival in Kathmandu 1,334m, transfer to hotel”.  “Transfer” is a serious exaggeration – more like “crawl”.  There seemed to be no rules, with lines of cars, and what seems like thousands of motorcycles sometimes crossing the centerline two rows deep.  Lots of honking as we wound our way painstakingly through amazingly impoverished areas, avoiding pedestrians, a couple of cows, cyclists, and the thousands of other vehicles, all gunning for the same position at the same time.  The patience of the people in the midst of this chaos was quite inspiring.  While everybody leaned on their horns constantly and we witnessed hundreds of near misses, nobody seemed to get exited, and took the pandemonium in their stride.

After more than an hour in absolute traffic hell – which I found most exciting! – we finally made it into the Thamel area, a chaotic haven of less disastrous appearance, with thousands of shops, restaurants and other businesses lining the narrow “streets”.  People, motorcycles, rickshaws cars went everywhere, in every direction.  The energy of the place was palpable and contagious.  The spirit of this upper class area of Kathmandu!  We were excited to be there, in Kathmandu.  What an exotic name!

With the air grey with pollution, our eyes and noses burning and ears ringing form the cacophony of “hooters”, we arrived at the very adequate hotel, the Hotel Manang, and were greeted by some very friendly staff and a glass of fruit juice, a welcome libation after the smog, exhaust fumes and dust.

Five of our six adventurers made it to Kathmandu today.  Kathy and Al Wilson from Indianapolis, Indiana who joined me on the Kilimanjaro climb and Serengeti safari I organized in 2008;  Pete McIlroy, a friend from Columbus, Ohio, and his friend from Newburyport, Mass. Roger Verney.  Kent Stucky from Columbus would join us the next day.  We deposited our luggage in our rooms and set out to explore Thamel on foot.  A whole new experience!  Now WE were dodging cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and what seemed to be thousands of other pedestrians, all the while experiencing the polite nature of these gentle people.  How exciting it was to be there!

As we meandered down narrow streets surrounded by a zillion souvenir shops with incense burning and sellers motioning you to check out their wares, Pete and I decided we all needed a drink, and walked into a restaurant with a bar.  This led to a lovely evening of great Indian food (and great camaraderie and getting to know one another a little).  It confirmed for me what I knew already – this was going to be a great group of friends with whom to share an adventure such as we are about to experience.

Exhausted and somewhat out of sorts because of the 10-hour time-change we went to bed.  A strange thing, these mattresses on these beds.  It was about three inches thick, but hard as a board.  It reminded me of the time when I was in basic training in the South African navy in 1968.  We were on a march in a remote part of the Cape Province, and after three days have had very little sleep.  We came across an abandoned house with some furniture, lots of bats and other vermin.  I was so exhausted I found myself falling asleep on top of the kitchen table amidst the dirt and dust.  This mattress in the Hotel Manang felt like that tabletop.  I woke up at a 3 am. feeling like my hipbones were protruding through my skin.  I got up, stripped the bed, unrolled my nice new Thermarest self-inflating camping mattress pad, re-made the bed, and slept like a baby the rest of the night on a very comfortable camping mattress.

1st November, 2011 – Tuesday – Day 1

After a great breakfast we took to the narrow, crowded streets again, exploring and experiencing the smells and sounds of Thamel.  Back at the Manang Hotel we met up with Kent who had just arrived from New Delhi.  Unfortunately his backpack with all his hiking gear went somewhere else.

Ram took us to his company’s office a few blocks from the hotel for our pre-hike “Lukla - Everest Base Camp – Kala Pattar trekking briefing with officially arrangements.”  Ram’s coverage of the next 16 days’ hike and adventure was exhaustive and complete.  We all felt a lot more confident after this briefing, with a much clearer understanding of what to expect.

We spent a relaxing afternoon at a local pub, and then received the word that Kent’s backpack did not make it on the last flight from New Delhi.  I had been the brunt of the joke in that I clearly over-packed.  I had three fleece jackets, 8 pairs of socks, and multiple shirts.  “Who would need EIGHT PAIRS of socks?  Two pairs should be enough for 16 days!” they joked.  So Kent and I went to our room and I shared all my extras with him, including four pairs of socks.  He spent the rest of the evening shopping for boots and other essentials, and we finally got to bed just before midnight.

2nd November, 2011 – Wednesday – Day 2

If you can’t Climb it, Drink it!

Itinerary Entry: After breakfast, Kathmandu by Flight to Lukla & trek to Phakding – 2,630m (the guys had some fun with this name – the “Ph” is pronounced “F”.)

I am sure I slept for only an hour, but my room mate, Kent, told me I slept a lot more than that judging from the snoring.  “I really was not sleeping”, I said.  “I just like to breathe that way!”

We had a 4:30 am. wake-up, and Ram collected us at 5:15 for the airport for our 6 am. departure to Lukla.  Our adventure is starting!

We boarded the mini bus and Ram escorted us to the airport on his motorcycle.  This time it took barely 20 minutes – very little traffic this early, but still many people walking in all directions in the dark.

We arrived at the airport in the pre-dawn dark, and the place was chaos!  How I love the energy of this craziness!  We were accosted by a herd of porters, all wanting to carry our bags.  We are rushed through security and to the airport tax counter, the check-in counter, through more security, all the while being urged to hurry because “the flight will leave exactly at 6 o’clock”.   We hurry and gather at the departure gate excited about departing on the small plane to Lukla.

We really miss our friend Mike Cantlin.  This adventure is really his fault.  Mike was my tent mate on the Kilimanjaro trek in 2008, and we decided that we needed another adventure, another goal.  After Kilimanjaro I wrote in my book Kilimanjaro! that one needs goals, and that my next goal was Aconcagua the highest mountain in South America situated in the Andes in Argentina.  A 23,000 foot mountain, I was dissuaded when Mike researched and found out that proportionately as many people die on Aconcagua each year as in the attempt to summit Mt. Everest.  Mike suggested that, at our age, Everest Base Camp would be a more appropriate risk.  I love adventure, but I do not have a death wish, so we decided on the Everest trek.  Unfortunately Mike’s knee surgery did not allow him to join us.  Bummer!

This topic of Everest Summit as opposed to Everest BC came up in discussion last night.  Al said that he felt Everest summit attempts require some drive, some passion, some extraordinary obsession, and that he felt it was an inappropriate risk.  I said, “I am so glad to hear you say that, because I have wondered sometimes if my position on Everest summit was just a cop-out because I am not capable of doing it.  I suppose if I judged the risk worth the reward, I would consider it.  But I don’t.  I always said that treks like Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp are adventure.  Everest summit, Aconcagua and other extreme endeavors are for me outside my desire for adventure.

3 pm. and we were still sitting in the departure lounge.  No word about the weather in Lukla clearing.  Conditions at Lukla must be near perfect for planes to land there. 

One evening some time ago Mike called me at home in Columbus.

“Willie, are you home?’ he asked.

“Yes.”

“Turn on the History channel.  They have a show on about the 10 most dangerous airports in the world.”

Well, of course Lukla was featured as the number one most dangerous airport in the world.  So our anticipation mounted as we were sitting in the Kathmandu airport hoping we would even get out today.

Until just over 40 years ago the eastern Himalayan region of the Solukhumbu leading to Mt. Everest was inaccessible to most air traffic. The way to reach the heights of the trailhead in Lukla was to travel the road from Kathmandu to Jiri, then hike five days over the rugged lowland hills. In 1964 Sir Edmund Hillary initiated construction of the Lukla airfield (LUA), and from that time the area has been opened up to countless enthused hikers.  It is a great convenience to bypass the arduous hike beyond Jiri since the hike beyond Lukla is challenging enough for most.  Lukla is now a vibrant and welcoming entryway to the Himalayas.

Finally at 3:45 pm. – no flights to Lukla today.

Landing at Lukla is dangerous, and we were pleased that the authorities take no chances when it comes to the weather.  We got up, stiff from sitting on a hard metal chair since 6 am.  Hungry and tired we make the trek back to the Hotel Manang.   Fortunately we were able to get the rooms of the folks who were stuck at Lukla.

While disappointed, our spirits are high.  We have quite come to like the local beer named –what else? -  Everest.  So, as we contemplate our position and options I said: “I know what we will do.  If you can’t climb it, drink it!”

Tired and hungry, we hit the streets of Thamel for libation and dinner, and hit the sack at about 8 pm.  Unfortunately Kent and I were both up at 3 am with a stomach problem.  Hopefully it is temporary.  .  Kent says it is “healthy diarrhea”.

We had a flight booked for 11:00 am that morning.  If this did not work out our last chance would be to go by helicopter the next day…

Bummer!

3rd November 2011 – Thursday – Day 03  

We have been up since 3 am.  Going to bed at 8 pm. was maybe not such a good idea!

Kent went downstairs for an internet connection, and I liay in bed wishing I could sleep another hour.  I got my computer out and edited a short video – a “trailer” of our adventure.  Fun!

After breakfast, still making frequent short trips to the restroom, we settled in to wait for the word on the day’s travels.  Ram called and informed us that there were no flights to Lukla today.  We had only one option now and that is to go by helicopter tomorrow.  This would entail an additional two-hour hike just to get to Lukla, but we all enthusiastically vote YES for this option.  This is why we were here.  We came to go to Everest Base Camp, and nothing except the weather could stop us!

I took an Imodium.  Definitely a miracle drug and an essential on all trips!

Hope to post POSITIVE news tomorrow…

A street in Thamel, Kathmandu

Leaving tomorrow, November 2, very early for the first leg of 16 days’ hike from Lukla Nepal to Everest Base Camp.  Spent the day in Kathmandu doing final preparations, buying last minute items, re-packing my stuff to balance the weight for my porter and me, each carrying about 30 pounds, and getting the final briefing from Ram Pahari, our trek outfitter at Himalaya Journeys – purveyor of “The Endless Journey”.  We are totally pumped.

My group consists of Kent Stuckey, Columbus, Ohio, Pete McIlroy, another friend from Columbus and his friend, Roger Verney from near Boston Mass.  Kathy and Al Wilson from Indianapolis round out our group.  They summited Kilimanjaro with me in 2oo8.

I sometimes ask myself the question, “why do I want to do this apparently crazy stuff.  Roger analised this over a beer in a local Kathmandu bar this afternoon.  He said “I think you want to do this because you thrive on achievement”.  I agree, but there is more.  Yes, the physical challenge, the adrenaline, etc.  But I think what really makes me do it is the SPIRITUAL high from and adventure such as this.

Every year when I go ski out West, it takes me several weeks to get down from the euphoria.  I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2008, and I still can hardly speak of that experience… I am still high on it.  So, maybe it is best summarized in this poem I came across some time ago by Robert Cramer.

“I Climb to be Free”

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The videos are posted on my MobileMe web-host as well as to You Tube.  Click on the link or the photo to be directed to the applicable posting. The MobileMe video is uploaded in large format as well as mobile format.  You will need QuickTime 7.2 which you can download for free before playing the video.  Both the mobile and the You Tube format allow you to watch the movie on your iPhone.

Gavin Charles Cooney

Gavin was born September 29 at 2:40 am.  7 pounds 12 ounces, 20.5 inches.

We had been waiting since the due date, September 23, 2011.

Katie suggested that it would be okay for me to come into New York on the due date, since Jessica and Dan were expecting a boy, and anyway it was her first child.  He would be late.  I was nervous about that.  Since she was very little I had never missed an opening night, and this was going to be the biggest performance of her life – THE MAIN EVENT!.

Of course, as usual, Katie was right.  Gavin kept us waiting five days to the 29th.  We had FIVE final dinners before the birth!.

The waiting started on Friday evening as we spent some lovely time together at our apartment, re-living their wedding in Belize in February 2010, watching their wedding video on my laptop…

Waiting for the Main Event (You Tube – 0:28)

Jessica and Katie kept busy with the things mothers and daughters do when a baby is due to arrive any day – walking for exercise, shopping, baby clothes, etc.  Dan and I kept busy with our respective businesses on-line, and did a long bike ride almost every day, covering nearly 200 miles in total, exploring Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Harlem, New Jersey, and many other Manhattan neighborhoods.  Quite an adrenalin rush to ride a bike in the streets of New York!  We circumnavigated Manhattan Island – 34 miles, rode across the Brooklyn, Queensborough and Williamsburgh bridges several times, circling back into Manhattan, exploring New York and meeting people in a way I thought not possible.  I made a short video of these adventures:

 Still Waiting for the Main Event (You Tube – 01:16)

Finally, after FIVE days’ waiting, the Main Event happened.

Tired of eating out every night for four nights having “that SPECIAL LAST dinner before the baby”, Dan an Jessica offered to prepare some Lake Erie Perch which Dan’s dad, Chuck Cooney had caught, and which I brought to New York in a freezer bag on Friday.  It was delicious!

Katie and I left their apartment just after 10 pm, with mild contractions having started, thinking we’d better all get a good night’s rest since Gavin was likely to appear the next day.  Katie and I had just fallen asleep when we got the call at about midnight.  Contractions were now close together and intense, and Dan and Jessica were leaving their condo on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, heading to St. Luke’s Hospital in our neighborhood in Mid Town.

We rushed over to St. Luke’s, just a couple of blocks from our apartment, thinking it would be sometime later that day.  Instead he came at 2:40 am.  A beautiful, precious boy; 7 pounds 12 ounces, 20.5 inches.  Jessica was a real trooper and Dan was the perfect supporter.  All the staff at St Luke’s werewonderful.

The amazing thing was that we were back at their apartment exactly 24 hours after they cooked dinner for us.  Or more amazing, less than 18 hours after Gavin was born.  We are truly blessed with a wonderful gift, and Jessica and Dan were blessed with a short birthing process!

 The MAIN EVENT – Gavin Charles Cooney!

THE MAIN EVENT! (You Tube – 03:08)

What a blessing to now have TWO grandsons.  William Ryusei Grové with our son, Thomas and his wife, Yuki, and now Gavin Charles Cooney with Jessica and Dan.  It does not get much better!

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Success… and Disappointment

Well, I only went 102 miles, not 180.

I fully intended to ride the 80 miles back the next day, but sometimes the spirit is strong and the flesh weak.  On Thursday evening before the Pelotonia 2011 ride I took a fast 20-mile ride.  Unfortunately I wrenched my back somehow, and thought this was going to be a major problem during the ride on Saturday.  It wasn’t the back that gave out ultimately, it was the legs.

I rode the first 42 miles with my business partner, Colin Parks and his friend, Jeff.  They are regular cyclists and have done triathlons.  And they are young.  Big mistake!

From Columbus to Groveport we averaged over 22 miles per hour.  After a very quick drink and some trail mix, we hit the road for the next 20 miles to Amanda.  Still fairly flat, but little hills starting.  On the flats I drafted behind Colin and Jeff, and was still able to keep up with them for the first 10 miles.  I then fell a little behind, and arrived at the next water stop a few minutes behind them, still averaging over 20 miles per hour.  It was a gorgeous morning, riding through the mist and cool temperatures, at that speed for a guy who is not a regular cyclist was truly invigorating.

Colin and Jeff took off, and I stayed to rest and have some more trail mix.  I never saw them again.  Oh to be that young and strong again!

I filled up my water bottle and took off for what I knew would be the hardest part of the trip… the next 30 miles through the beautiful Hocking Hills of Ohio.  The very rough but cool, tree covered trail wound through some of the most scenic parts of Ohio along the Hocking River, gently rolling over the small hills of Hocking County.  All along the way, even in this remote part of the State, people were cheering us on along the road, motivating us to push on as we all rode to raise money for the cure of cancer.

At Clear Creek Metro Park rest stop (mile 54) I got a refreshment from the Gator Aid stand, a couple of Tylenol from the Human Aid kiosk, and a tightening of my handle bars from the Bike Aid folks.  I drank some water, and set out for the first of three major torturous climbs over the next 30 miles.  From here begin the most difficult 15 miles of the Pelotonia route.  This portion of the route includes the Starner Hill climb, which is 2.2 miles long with a total elevation gain of 374 feet, most of it in the last mile.  The route reaches its peak at 1,159 feet above sea level approximately 6 miles before the Logan Rest Stop at mile 69.  As in last year, this hill was murder.  There is no shame in getting off one’s bike and walk.  I did that.  It is quite humbling, however to see some cute young girl, weighing no more than 110 pounds PEDDLE up the hill past an old guy!  The reward of this climb was a great downhill run for about three miles during which I reached speeds of over 40 miles per hour without even peddling!  I thought to myself, “The exhilaration far outweighs the risk of knowing the serious consequences of coming off the bike at that speed!”

The second brutal hill was not as steep, but longer.  On this hill my legs gave out.

I was standing on the pedals to get more leverage, and was doing just fine.  Suddenly I was overcome by such severe cramping in my inner thigh that I had to stop.  My quads were frozen and I was in agony.  Didn’t even feel my back pain anymore.  I finally calmed the twitching muscles down, and was able to lift my left leg high enough to dismount.  I sat there on the side of the road massaging my quads, and was joined by at least five other riders with the same problem.  It was very hot, and very humid.  I have not realized how much I have been perspiring while riding, but now the sweat just poured out of every pore in my body.  I knew I was getting severely dehydrated, but I was almost out of water and still 10 miles from the next stop.  I got back on my bike and peddled for less than a mile, and had to repeat the process: standing there in agony until the spasms subside, dismount, massage, walk a few hundred yards, remount…  This happened multiple times and cost me more than an hour, totally ruining the excellent average speed I had up to that point.

I arrived at the Logan Rest stop at mile 70.  I was hot, exhausted, dehydrated.  I downed almost a liter of Gatorade and followed that with as much water.  I ate some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, my first food since the trail mix at Amanda.  I got a couple more Tylenol from the first aid folks because my left knee was now aching.  After some rest I set off for the last 32 miles.  Some lovely rolling hills, with one more grueling hill where my legs gave out four more times, costing me more valuable time, followed by an exhilarating two-mile downhill coasting and on to the Hocking College rest stop, the last before the beautiful (and flat) Hocking trail into Athens for the last 12 miles.

I arrived at the finish line very tired but totally pumped for having completed the first 102 miles of the 180-mile ride in spite of my severe cramping.  And wondering how I would be able to ride another 80 miles the next day.

I was quite relieved when Katie convinced me that I should pack my bike and ride home with her instead.  I am disappointed that I did not get to do the next day’s ride, but feel that the 102-mile ride from Columbus to Athens is probably as much as a guy at 62 should do.  I am grateful for that!

I wore my son, Thomas’ biking helmet.  Tommy, his wife Yuki and our grandson, Ryusei now live in Saigon, South Vietnam.  I miss them and wish he could have done the ride with me.

I dedicated the ride to my father; Willie Grové, Sr. My dad had his 62nd. birthday in 1979 in the hospital and died shortly after of complications from a lifetime of undetected hypertension.  I am grateful for modern medicine which prevents people from dying from that disease.

Someday, hopefully soon, we will be saying the same about cancer.

From Columbus TO ATHENS AND BACK – 180 MILES!

And this year I am better prepared!

MY RIDER PROFILE: Click on the link to the left to visit my Rider Profile on the 2011 Pelotonia website.

You can use my PELOTONIA RIDER ID: WG0003 to search for me under SEARCH FOR A RIDER on the Pelotonia website main page

With my business partner Colin Parks at the start of the 2010 Pelotonia.

Why I committed to ride 180 miles and raise $4,000 for cancer research

One week before the Pelotonia last year I enrolled to ride (see my post below).  I notified my friends via email and offered them an opportunity to invest in this worthwhile cause.  I was stunned and humbled that in addition to my own contribution almost $5,000 was contributed by a large number of folks for cancer research – in less than one week!  I honestly did not expect any contributions, and was moved by the terrific support in such a short time.

When I ride this year – Columbus to Athens and back – 180 miles, it will be just a few days short of my dad’s birthday on September 2.  My dad passed away in 1979 in South Africa, a few days after his 62nd birthday.  He suffered from hypertension, and in those days, untreated, it killed people – just like so many types of cancer still do today.  When I ride this year, it will be just about a month before MY 62nd birthday.  Riding in the Pelotonia has become a personal fitness goal for me; I did not dream last year that I would get so completely “hooked” on riding.  So, I ride to help raise awareness of another killer – cancer, and in the process also help raise money for research.

And I ride for my own health and fitness.

This year I am dedicating my ride to my father, Willie Grové Sr..  I miss my dad.  I am sure he is smiling on me.  I know he is very proud that I, at his age, am actively taking care of myself, and making a small contribution to others.

100% of every donation will fund essential research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.  Think of this as a donation not to me, or Pelotonia, but directly to The James. Please consider supporting my effort and this great cause. Here is the link to my rider profile:  http://www.mypelotonia.org/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=90458

MY 2010 PELOTONIA POST

I am riding in the Pelotonia from Columbus to Athens, Ohio on Saturday.

I am brand new to this.  I have not owned a road bike since I was 20, and I will be 61 in September.  As part of my own commitment to remain fit, I decided in June that I would ride to Athens in honor of the people who work so hard to beat cancer, as well as the ones who are fighting it now.  I have not had much practice since I came off my bike the day I bought it eight weeks ago that day in June, and only this week (mid-August) have been able to use my injured left leg effectively to ride.

I thought I would not ride this year, but rather postpone it to next year.  Then I thought of all the people who are diagnosed with cancer.  They do not have time to practice for that, and yet they don’t give up.  So why should I not ride?

I am not asking for a donation – only that if my friends feel moved by this worthwhile cause, that they may want to take this opportunity to make a small investment.

I am just so gratified that I will be able to do this ride.

Think of this as a donation not to me, or Pelotonia, but directly to The James. Please consider supporting my effort and this great cause.

It is not so far removed in my memory – that terrible time in our history when people did not WANT to go to Vietnam.

Last Monday, May 2, 2011, I sobbed as I watched Thomas, Yuki and Ryusei, with their lives packed into several suitcases, walk off into the San Francisco airport to board a plane for the long journey to Saigon.  I realized how my parents and sisters must have felt when I left South Africa in 1978 to come live in America.  “I’ll be back in two years,” I said.  I did not realize that their hearts must have broken.  But now, 33 years later, I do.  Because mine did.  But I also know that my family would never have denied me the opportunity I found here in the USA.  The blessings of Katie, our kids, and her family, and the business opportunities.  And that is what I wish Thomas, as he takes on a major new career challenge with a game development studio for a French company, Gameloft in Saigon.  What a wonderful adventure for a young family.  And what an opportunity for young Ryusei and Yuki and Thomas to experience and learn from another culture, another language, another part of the world.

Thomas’ Blog, Goodbye San Francisco, Chao Saigon posted on April 2, 2011, exactly one month before leaving, speaks volumes – not only of the work that needed to be done, but the organization he and Yuki developed to make the move possible in such a short time.  Katie and I were privileged to help with this, and I truly feel having gone through this with them was another excellent bonding opportunity for all of us.

And then there is Ryusei, the most wonderful two-year-old.  I could not resist posting this video of their last week in San Francisco.

By the way, there may be those purists who might think that I, and by inference, Thomas, miss-spelled the Italian greeting Chiao.  Wikipedia confirms that the Vietnamese version of the ancient Venetian word for “Hello” or “Goodbye” is actually spelled CHAO in Vietnamese, and that there was considerable exchanges between Marco Polo of the Republic of Venice and Vietnam in the 13th Century.  Not that I doubted Tommy’s language skills, of course…

Click on either thumbnail above to be directed to the Photo and Movies Gallery on my MobileMe website. The video is uploaded in large format, which takes just a little longer to load (depending on your internet speed) , but which makes the viewing more pleasurable.  You may want to wait a couple of minutes before playing it, or allow the download to catch up.  if the video stops, just wait a short while and then press play or the space bar to continue.  You will need QuickTime 7.2 which you can download for free before playing the video. You may also download the SMALL version to your computer or to your iPhone.

February 2011

Video – (00:04:02)

Click on the thumbnail below to be directed to the Photo and Movies Gallery on my MobileMe website.  The video is uploaded in large format, which takes just a little longer to load, but which makes the viewing more pleasurable.  You may want to wait a couple of minutes before playing it, or allow the download to catch up.  If the video stops, just wait a short while and then press play or the space bar to continue.  You will need QuickTime 7.2 which you can download for free before playing the video.

Sailing My Hobie Cat in Belize

There are few things as exhilarating as sailing faster than the wind on a small catamaran, feeling the salt spray in your face.  Out of 16 days at our vacation home on Ambergris Caye, Belize, I sailed 14 days with Katie’s brother, Vic Tharp, and with our friends Doug Yunker and Dan Jackson, and sometimes joined by Katie, Dan’s wife Michael, and Doug’s wife, Jennie.  Some days we sailed clear south of the island, and then turned North to sail almost as far as one could to the Northern end of Ambergris Caye.  The wind was terrific every day. The weather indescribable.  And the company wonderful.
It took a few days to work out the kinks, and the short video I posted illustrate some of that early on, with me coming close to flipping the boat a few times.  What it does not show is the day I rammed the dock at full speed, having lost steerage of the boat after the main sheet cleat would not uncleat, and the rudders kicked up in the shallow water.  Unfortunately my brother-in-law, Vic, was not prepared for this.  The impact threw him against the mast and produced a very impressive gash on his forehead.

The amazing material from which this boat’s hulls are constructed proved everything the manufacturer claims.  If this was a fiberglass boat we would have had serious damage.  Other than a slight deviation of the starboard hull’s bow to the right , there was not a scratch on this impressive Rotomolded Polyethylene Plastic material.  Or like the first time I took Dan Jackson out.  We sailed in an amazingly strong wind, probably 22 knots, and had serious trouble turning the boat with the reef looming dangerously close directly ahead.  After several tries we managed to get her jibed, just in time to avoid the reef.

Very soon after the turn, we hung up on a shallow part of the reef, the boat coming to a screeching halt on the rocks.  I contemplated getting off to push, but realized that the sharp rocks in the shallow water, almost a thousand yards from the beach, would shred my bare feet.  So I hauled in the main sheet, and she took off like a rocket, scraping over the rocks.  No sooner had we freed her of the rocks or a very strong gust lifted the port hull out of the water.  I tried to uncleat the main sheet, but the cleat just would not let go.  Dan lost his grip and slid down the 45 degree angled trampoline.  The combination of the wind force and the balance of a grown man on the leeward side of the boat was a recipe for  disaster.  Dan says the last thing I yelled as we went over was “AWESOME!”

With the boat now on it’s side, the main mast float preventing the mast from “turteling” (going down below the boat, which makes righting her very difficult), the trampoline acted as a sail, and the strong wind blew the boat  downwind faster than we could swim.  Dan made his way to the mast top, hand-over-hand hauling himself by the luff end of the main sail.  He swam the mast head into the wind, and I climbed on the floating pontoon, taking hold of the righting line which is attached underneath the trampoline.  I threw my weight out to get the sail and mast out of the water to allow the wind to assist me in righting the boat.  She came up so fast that she flipped again.  I managed to hold on to the boat as the trampoline acted as a sail again, blowing her downwind at an amazing speed.  Dan quickly realized that he could not possibly catch up, and within minutes was 50 or 60 yards from the boat.  Fortunately there is a lot of boat traffic, and two boats stopped by to assist.  Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the boat that rescued Dan.  Two VERY NICE guys in a Captain Morgan’s boat lassoed the mast head, moved her back upwind, allowing me to repeat the process to right her.  With tremendous speed she came up, but this time I was ready, and threw my weight towards the windward hull to preventing her from going over again.  I quickly set both the main and jib to prevent her from sailing onto the reef, and was able to jibe regardless of the strong wind.  The water was so rough that Dan’s boat was unable to come alongside to allow him to board the cat, so I yelled  over the howling wind for them to deposit him on our dock.  Having an incredible sail in this strong wind, I sailed her back to the dock where Dan was already waiting for me.  I docked her and threw the line to Dan to tie her down.  All-in-all a great adventure and a good learning experience.

When I assembled the Hobie in February 2010 after shipping it from San Diego to San Pedro in many pieces, I thought I remembered well how my Hobie 16 was rigged in South Africa more than 35 years ago.  So I did not consult the manual for the setup of the main and jib sheets and tackle.  I was quite unhappy with the performance of these vital parts of the boat, particularly the fact that I had constant trouble uncleating the main sheet, and that the jib was quite difficult to pull in very tight in a heavy wind.  My friend Dan studied this setup, and concluded that there was something wrong with the way I had it set up.  We downloaded the manual, and after studying the rigging, reconfigured the main block and sheet setup, and redirected the Jib sheets according to the manual.  Amazing how well it now works.  My advice: Read the manual!

With the new boat rigging I quickly became much more comfortable with handling her, and did multiple trips for long distances up and down the Ambergris Caye coast.  With a North-Easterly wind we were able to do miles and miles without tacking, all the time in wonderment at how fast this boat is, and how well she handles.

Like Dan said… how blessed I am to have Hobie in my backyard!

The sands of time keep on blowing, but good friendships endure and indeed thrive, regardless of the distance over oceans or years.

Such is the friendship Katie and I have with Miguel and Mariana D’Almeida, our dear friends from Rio de Janeiro since 1976.  Mariana and Miguel lived in Rio at that time.  Katie had left South Africa to return to the USA in December of 1976, and I followed her there to propose to her.  She was staying with the D’Almeidas, and they were indeed the first to know that she accepted.  Over the years we remained good friends.  We visited each other in Lisbon and Columbus, we vacationed together in London, England, we frequently enjoy their company in New York City, and had the privilege in January 2011 to visit their beautiful vacation property in Corumbau, Bahia, Brazil.

Katie and I joined our friends, Richard and Lydia Wallace for a wonderful weekend at Miguel and Mariana’s vacation home. We were fortunate to meet Michael, Richard’s business associate, and also to spend the weekend and become friends with Pedro and Teresa, friends of Mariana and Miguel from Portugal. A bonus of the weekend was to meet and become friends with Clement and Adriana, a couple from Rio de Janeiro who own a large estate just down the beach from Miguel and Mariana.

We had the time of our life!

Photo Albums

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Brazil Corumbau 2011 01

Brazil Sao Paolo 2011 01

Movie

I also put together a short video of our adventure.  

Click on the thumbnail above to be directed to the Photo and Movies Gallery on my MobileMe website. Some of the videos are uploaded in large format, which takes just a little longer to load, but which makes the viewing more pleasurable.  You may want to wait a couple of minutes before playing it, or allow the download to catch up.  if the video stops, just wait a short while and then press play or the space bar to continue.  Where available, you may click on the Medium format – it should stream with no problem.  You will need QuickTime 7.2 which you can download for free before playing the video.

Tanzania Safari – March 2008

Please scroll down for photos and movies or click on the image to go directly to my MobileMe Photo and Movies Galleries

Hans Brekke at Lake Manyara National Park

An African Safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people.  Katie and I, along with our kids, have visited the exotic game reserves of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe frequently, and love that part of the world.  We have led several Safaris ourselves and have had the priviledge of seeing our American friends fall in love with Africa during our Southern Discovery trips to Southern Africa.  (Please see my archive of our previous New Trekker Adventure Safaris)

An African Safari allows one to explore the astonishing diversity of landscapes, abundant wildlife and fascinating cultures of this continent.  After climbing Kilimanjaro in March, 2008, the climbers were joined by our spouses, and Katie and I were pleased to go on a Safari with  Tommy and Yuki Grové, Hans and Natalie Brekke, Mike and Barb Cantlin, Brian and Julie Nocco, and Al and Kathy Wilson.

Dust Bath in Lake Manyara National Park

We visited the great national parks of Northern Tanzania: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, as well as the Oldovai Gorge where Leakey first discovered Lucy.  The vast open plains of the Serengeti with the greatest diversification and largerst concentration of wildlife in the world and the annual migration was an unforgettable sight.  The giraffe and eleohant herds in Lake Manyare spectacular.  And the other-worldly, almost Jurrasic nature of the Ngorongoro Crater a life-long memory.

While we are partial to the intimacy and beauty of a Southern Africa safari, this experience in the Serengeti and the rest of Tanzania is simply unfogettable.  I might add that Hoopoe Safaris, arranged by Tusker Trail did an excellent job.

Tanzania Safari (Slideshow)

African Sunset

Click on the thumbnail above to be directed to the Photo and Movies Gallery on my MobileMe website. Some of the videos are uploaded in large format, which takes just a little longer to load, but which makes the viewing more pleasurable.  You may want to wait a couple of minutes before playing it, or allow the download to catch up.  if the video stops, just wait a short while and then press play or the space bar to continue.  Where available, you may click on the Medium format – it should stream with no problem.  You will need QuickTime 7.2 which you can download for free before playing the video.

Tanzania Safari (Original Photos)

Serengeti Romance

There are four albums.  Click on the image above and look for the following albums in the gallery:

Safari Willie Canon 1

Safari Willie Canon 2

Safari Mike

Safari Julie

Safari Yuki

Safari Willie and Katie Olympus