The dentist said, “Open wide
and a bicyclist will pop out!” On an adventure, you never know what
different kinds of “moments” will spontaneously burst upon you in foreign
countries. You may walk on the Wall of China from the Ming Dynasty.
When traveling in Nepal, you may pedal behind a water buffalo known as
the John Deere tractor of Asia. You may walk with and meet people from
centuries ago like Caesar’s cremation spot in Rome or stand where Alexander
the Great stood at the Oracle of Delphi. You walk where Thomas Jefferson
lived in Monticello and you turn the same doorknob he used to open his
front room. You may march down the same street as Susan B.
Anthony or Joan of Arc. You may run into Muhammad Ali and shake
hands with Clint Eastwood like I did. On an adventure, every
day fills you with expectation for the extraordinary. Travel becomes
the great educator and humbler. The subtleties of travel acquaint
you with great characters of history and inspire you to your own greatness.
Travel renders ideas for your own life process.
Frosty Wooldridge, Golden, Colorado, How to Live a Life of Adventure:
The Art of Exploring the World http://www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Look through the catalog of pictures
and vignettes on this site to pick your favorites.
Savor life intensely one moment at a time. Order today! Spirit of
Adventure Greeting Cards by Frosty Wooldridge
While traveling all over this planet, participating in endless wilderness
activities—unique photographs presented themselves to my camera.
While pictures may be beautiful to behold, the story behind them creates
the energy of adventure.
Each card carries a photograph of dynamic outdoor activities you
or your mates may enjoy. The vignette on the back inserts you into
the picture, expressing the feelings you might share with a friend.
Result: “Spirit of Adventure” greeting cards may be sent to say—“Thank
you” ; “Invitation to a party” ; “Friendship appreciation” ;
“Sympathy for a loss” ; “Wish you were here” and more.
Enjoy these unique “Spirit of Adventure” greeting cards with picture on
the front and adventure vignette on the back by sending a check made out
to Frosty Wooldridge, POB 16072, Golden, CO 80402. You may order
a variety pack with 10, 20 or 40 different sports or activities, or a
single-themed card of your choice.
They cover para-gliding, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, rafting, backpacking,
mountain climbing, winter mountaineering skiing, bicycling, mountain biking,
powder skiing, water skiing, bicycle touring, snow-shoeing, kite-flying,
windsurfing, rock climbing, camping, fly fishing, bicycles in bloom, scuba
diving, horseback riding, swimming, triathlon, ice skating, motorcycling,
dancing and much more. If would like a specific subject, let me know and
I will create the photograph and vignette to suit your needs. Each
card delights the eye and inspires the spirit.
Additionally, these first-of-their-kind “Spirit of Adventure” greeting
cards make inspirational gifts.
Pack of 10 is $21.00, which includes postage and handling. Pack
of 20 is $40.00, which includes postage and handling. Pack of 40
is $78.00, which includes postage and handling. Specify if you want a
variety pack or single-themed cards. State which theme, i.e., backpacking,
skiing, mountain climbing, canoeing, etc. Your friends will thrill
to these unique adventure greeting cards.
Look through the catalog of pictures and vignettes on this site to pick
your favorites. Savor life intensely one moment at a time. Order
today! www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
The Oracle of Delphi
Ancient Greece featured Aristotle and Socrates. It enthroned its mightiest
warrior in Achilles who overthrew Troy with a Trojan horse.
The Parthenon boasts the grandest architecture of the Greeks from 776
B.C.. But nothing beats the mystical Oracle of Delphi. Hidden
above the Mediterranean Sea on a glorious mountain top, it features an
Olympic stadium with stands for 10,000 spectators. It includes the Temple
of Apollo, the god who defeated Python. That battle created the
Olympic games. Greek and Roman rulers visited the Oracle to discover
their futures. But for two bicyclists, it provided a moment on stage where
ancient thespians acted out the Iliad and Odyssey. The cyclist in
the bright jersey spoke to ancient ghosts of audiences long past.
Aristotle said, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result
of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents
the wise choice of many alternatives—choice, not chance, determines your
destiny.”
Frosty Wooldridge standing in the
middle of the Oracle of Delphi giving a speech to the “ghosts”
of the people that once sat in those stands from 776 B.C. His friend Gary
and he pedaled along the Mediterranean Sea in order to reach the Oracle.
They climbed up into the ancient Greek mountains. They stood in wonder
at the many statues, pillars, sports fields and the Temple of Apollo.
To stand in that spot where kings once stood brought an amazing feeling
of energy from the past. Travel! It gets in your bones.
Photo by Gary Hall at the Oracle of Delphi,
Greece © 2013 Frosty Wooldridge
Continental Divide Bicycle Ride 2013
Join Us:
Bicycling
2,500 miles down the Continental Divide from the Montana border with Canada
all the way to Mexico provides the most exhilarating, stunning and spiritual
journey in all of North America.
You will
discover our glacial past in Glacier National Park (if it’s open), astounding
wildflowers, Lewis and Clark Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons
(mindblowingly awesome), Jackson Hole with the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar,
and the Great Plains of Wyoming. You will cross the Cross the Continental
Divide at least nine times. Berthoud Pass will carry you to 12,300 feet.
The last pass in New Mexico will be an easy 2,000 feet. You will ride
by majestic Shadow Mountain Lake and climb up the highest paved road in
America to the top of Mt. Evans at 14,100 feet. You will cross the Yellowstone
and Colorado Rivers, enjoy bear sightings, elk, moose, fox, eagles, hawks,
coyotes and road runners. You will ride on famous Route 66 and pedal over
80 miles of the El Paisa volcanic badlands and finally, reach the border
of Mexico.
Having
ridden eight times across America, border to border and coast to coast,
I can say unequivocally, that the Continental Divide Bicycle Ride exceeds
any other bicycle tour in North America in beauty, spiritual connection,
ruggedness, stunning mountains, pristine rivers, awesome climbs, amazing
descents, wild flowers, wildlife, varied terrain, incredible history,
historical towns, and outrageous people along the way.
I will
lead a select group of 10 baby boomers age 40 and over who want to create
a lifetime memory, fill up their bucket list and expand their bicycle
horizons. In order to go on this journey:
-
You
will need to be in bicycle shape because the mountains will test you.
-
You
must be less than 20 pounds overweight for your height and body type.
Please avoid fooling yourself on this matter. If you are really overweight,
your rear end will be so painful within three days that you won’t
be able to ride the bike. Pressure pain on your butt from being heavy
can be the most painful you ever experienced.
-
A
very positive and easy going person, not given to anger or outbursts.
Treat all people of all races, creeds and colors with equal respect.
-
No
zealots of any persuasion because we want to enjoy each other instead
of avoiding each other.
-
You
love to camp in the wilds or in regular campgrounds. You can also
grab a motel whenever one is available. You will learn how to cook
out on a one burner stove. Or, you can eat at every restaurant
along the way when available. Of course, you may choose trail
mix, jerky, fruits, energy bars, veggies and breads for nourishment
and energy.
-
You
will experience hot, cold, dry and even rainy conditions. While
these dates provide 95 percent sunny and warm days for the entire
ride, we could see rains along the way. Preparation is nine-tenths
of success.
-
Thank
you for leaving politics, religion, negative topics and other “stuff”
back home. This is a ride of freedom, positive life flow, break from
the work-a-day world and a ride for spiritual appreciation of the
wilderness and wildlife.
-
We
travel at the “pleasure pace” which means, you get to enjoy stopping,
chatting and taking pictures as you wish. You can always catch up
by pedaling more at the end of the day.
-
We
start out each morning in a group. Quickly, we will fall into groups
of one or two or four or five persons depending on riding ability.
You may enjoy your cadence as you wish and catch up at noon or at
the afternoon hour.
-
We
will average per day anywhere from 50 miles in the mountains to 75-85
miles on the flats.
-
Typical
day: up at 7:00 a.m., loaded and ready to go by 8:15, group meeting,
hit the road by 8:30 a.m. You make your own breakfast via hot oatmeal
and bananas, or cold cereal and fruits, breads, energy bars, as you
wish. Break for one hour at lunch as you like with your own food or
a restaurant.
-
We
start looking for a campsite 1.5 to 2.0 hours before sunset. That
gives you time to pitch your tent, take a shower, fix your food. You
may eat freeze dried foods, canned foods, whatever you like. These
days, you may purchase ready-made salads, sandwiches and all sorts
of other prepared foods. It’s your responsibility to feed yourself.
After dinner, we enjoy campfire, talking, and writing in your journal.
Get plenty of sleep so you will be refreshed and strong for the next
day.
-
Each
morning, we will discuss the day’s ride and where we expect to end
up.
-
The
second to the last person will always keep the last person in sight
so if they need help with a flat tire or something, they can help
that person. I will have a cell phone to keep in contact or be available
for everyone.
-
Everyone
must know how to fix a flat tire and keep your bike in oil, air pressure
and checking of the nuts and bolts to make sure everything is secure.
-
No
sag wagon to bail you out. You must be “bicycle ready” on the first
day of this ride.
-
That
means you will be riding at least three-four hours per day for one
month before the ride to get your legs and butt accustomed to long
distance riding. If you neglect this “rule”, you will pay severely
in pain, exhaustion, sore legs and sore butt.
-
We
will have a rest day every 10 days or in appropriate spots of great
scenic wonder and potential hiking excursions.
-
You
must arrange transportation out of El Paso, TX at the end of the ride.
I will rent a car and drive back to Denver, CO. It’s quick and easy.
-
Of
course, a custom T-shirt commemorating this ride will be given to
each rider. It will feature a picture (front and back) of touring
cyclists riding through the mountains with a title: Continental Divide
Bicycle Ride, Canada to Mexico, 2013, 2,500 miles, with pictures of
elk and bear.
-
A
complete brochure will be provided as to packing, gear, bike safety,
camping safety, clothes, etc.
During
the ride, I will shoot a DVD movie video and I will capture the entire
journey on camera. Each participant will receive a DVD of the entire journey
as well as CDs of the entire trip on film. You may, of course, shoot
your own movie and take pictures for your own needs.
You will
sign a waiver and take responsibility for your own life for the entire
ride. You will carry health insurance in case of an accident and
need for ambulance and hospital care. You will sign an agreement based
on my article in Bicycle Times
“Peace
and harmony while Bicycle Touring with Friends and Strangers.” This
ride will appeal to those who bring happy hearts, positive mental attitudes,
easy to get along with personalities and enjoy physical outlets.
It’s not for anyone trying to prove themselves, find themselves or seek
any answers to the great questions of the universe.
This ride
encompasses stupendous bicycle riding, incredible camping, self-reliance,
campfires, sightseeing, fellowship and adventure. It’s the kind
of ride where you laugh at the beginning and cry at the end when it’s
over. Along the way, you will learn about yourself, gain new friendships,
create an amazing chapter in your life and fulfill a grand yearning for
one of the greatest bicycle rides on the planet.
Dates:
June 15, 2013 to August 1, 2013, six weeks on the road
Route:
Canadian border north of Kalispell, Montana along the Continental Divide
through Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
Distance:
2,500 miles
Eligible:
Men and women over 40, couples, singles.
Bikes:
Mountain touring bikes or regular road touring bikes, racks, Aero bars,
panniers or B.O.B.s recommended.
Pack list:
provided. Sleeping bags, air mattresses, tents, rain gear, cook stove,
cooking gear, shower bag, etc.
Route
map: provided.
Camping:
wild camping mostly, organized camping when available, your expense for
motels if you choose.
Expenses:
you are responsible for your food, transport to origin and from destination.
You are responsible for any and all expenses you incur for gear, bike,
repairs, motels, camping fees and anything else.
Safety
orientation: you will be required to wear a helmet at all times. Additionally,
you will be instructed on how to buy a 7 foot fiberglass flag pole with
an orange, lime green and white triangle-shaped flags at the top. That
flag pole will be secured to your back rack so it can be seen by drivers
both front and rear over a quarter of a mile away. You will also be instructed
on how to create a 36 inch fiberglass pole that will feature an orange
and white nylon flag about 18 inches into traffic from the side of your
rear pack. These flags will be flapping and making sure that traffic sees
you and does not come too close to you.
Fee:
you will be investing $3,000.00 per person. I will take you from
the Canadian border to the Mexican border. I will teach you everything
I know about bicycle touring from my experiences of 40 years and six continents
of travel over 125,000 miles. No refunds,
should you drop out for any reason.
Interviews:
I will call you for an interview so you get to know a “sense” of my personality
and I will answer any questions. I expect to gather a group that will
ride in harmony from the first day all the way to the last day of the
ride. Additionally, I will forward to you a piece I wrote for Bicycle
Times: “Peace and harmony with friends and strangers while on a bicycle
tour.” It covers everything about getting along on a bicycle tour. If
someone becomes a rather acid kind of personality on the tour, they will
be invited to travel alone or dismissed from the group.
Endorsement:
"Frosty is an incredible tour guide. He has safety as his top concern.
So I always feel safe in Frosty's presence whether there are bears or
lightning storms in the vicinity. He also helps provide an amazing experience
and a lifetime memory of the best kind."
Long distance touring riders: who would go on such an awe-inspiring
bicycle journey? I have found that most people go through their lives
without living an “epic moment.” They watched their youth pass with short
ventures, maybe raised families that kept them from an epic journey, and
now, past 40, they are ready for a “defining moment” that will set their
lives apart. This journey will be something you can look forward to with
great fantasy and look back on with incredible wonder. Plus bragging rights!
Such a journey will be a monumental physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
breakthrough. Sure, you are going to bust your tail feathers riding up
some big passes. Yes, you will develop exceptional legs and amazing tenacity.
Sure, you’re going to camp out like Lewis and Clark, John Muir and Henry
David Thoreau. Yes, you’re going to sweat, but you will have your shower
bag each night for a refreshed body. You will gain understandings about
yourself that you never dreamed possible because you will change “orbits”
by pedaling your bike on this ride.
John Muir
said, “Camp out among the grass and gentians of glacier meadows, in craggy
garden nooks full of Nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their
good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into
trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms
their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
The person
you were before the ride will be a more incredible person after the ride.
You might write a book about it. You might create a painting, drawing
or song. You might write a poem or many poems. You might take photographs
that will astound others. You may meet an extraordinary person like when
I pedaled across America in 1984 and met Bob Wieland walking across America
on his hands. In 2011, I saw a grizzly bear take down a 1,500 pound cow
elk alongside the Gibbon River in Yellowstone. I once intersected with
a fellow riding his horse across America. I met one couple bicycling for
three years around the world. www.foodcyclist.com
In the end, you will come away from this bicycle adventure physically
fit, mentally refreshed, experience amazing moments, spiritually blessed
and above all, you will smile at your tremendous accomplishment.
Love and
light,
Frosty
Wooldridge
6 continent
world bicycle traveler
Trail
guide for 2013 Continental Divide Ride
frostyw@juno.com
www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Frosty
Wooldridge at the end of the 2012 coast to coast ride across America in
front of the nation’s capitol building.
Frosty
and Bob bicycling through the “Land of the Sleeping Rainbows” October
, 2012.
The
Spirit of Adventure
“If
the roar of a wave crashes beyond your campsite, you might call that adventure.
When coyotes howl outside your tent--that may be adventure. When
the wind rips at your tent pegs—that too, may be called adventure.
While you’re sweating like a horse in a climb over a 12,000 foot pass,
that’s adventure. When a howling headwind presses your lips
against your teeth, you’re facing a mighty adventure. If you’re
drenched from head to toe in sweat as you pedal across a desert, that’s
adventure. If you’re pressing through a howling rainstorm, you’re
soaked in adventure. But that’s not what makes an adventure.
It’s your willingness to struggle through it, to present yourself at the
doorstep of Nature. No more greater joy can come from life
than to live inside the ‘moment’ of an adventure. It may be a momentary
‘high’, a stranger that changes your life, an animal that delights you
or frightens you, a struggle where you triumphed, or even failed, yet
you braved the challenge. Those moments present you uncommon
experiences that give your life eternal expectation. That’s adventure!”
© 2012
Frosty Wooldridge
Frosty
and Bob raise their hands in awe at the wondrous sight before them on
a fjord in Norway. They pedaled from Nord Cap, Norway, north of the Arctic
Circle by 700 km to Athens, Greece. From the lands of the Vikings
to the Oracle of Delphi and Socrates at the Parthenon.
Touring
cyclists, fjord, Lofotan Island, Norway ©
2012 Frosty Wooldridge
Emerson said, “God laughs in flowers.” On a bicycle
journey across America, you pedal through, along and past billions of
flowers of every color, shape and description. God’s laughter speaks
to your visual senses. If you hop off your bike, you may enjoy glorious
fragrances given off by flowers. Poets say that flowers gave flight
to butterflies. Both delight your life. As you grow older,
giving a rose to your loved one means, “I love you.” Just for a
moment, on your journey, you pedal through Milford, Ohio when you ride
up on a bicycle at the edge of town exploding with flowers. A plaque
reads, “Bikes in Bloom.” You take a shot. You remount your
bike to travel down Main Street, and to your delight, you instantly fall
in love with dozens of bicycles blooming with flowers in front of every
storefront. You smile, you laugh, you delight in the glorious beauty
of bikes blooming with all the colors of the rainbow. You mutter
to yourself, “Gosh, life doesn’t get any better than this.” Mother-daughter
Bikes in Bloom. Yes, you laugh with the flowers.
Across America 2012 235
Mother-daughter bicycle display on Main Street, Milford, Ohio
with “Bikes in Bloom” an annual event that enlivens and beautifies
downtown Milford. Each shop creates a new display that reflects on their
style and creativity. People travel from all over the Midwest to see the
festival that lasts all summer.
Bicycle in bloom on Main Street, Milford, Ohio © 2013 Frosty
Wooldridge
Look through the catalog of pictures and vignettes on this site to pick
your favorites. Savor life intensely one moment at a time. Order
today! Spirit of Adventure Greeting Cards by Frosty Wooldridge
While traveling all over this planet, participating in endless wilderness
activities—unique photographs presented themselves to my camera.
While pictures may be beautiful to behold, the story behind them creates
the energy of adventure.
Each card carries a photograph of dynamic outdoor activities you
or your mates may enjoy. The vignette on the back inserts you into
the picture, expressing the feelings you might share with a friend.
Result: “Spirit of Adventure” greeting cards may be sent to say—“Thank
you” ; “Invitation to a party” ; “Friendship appreciation” ;
“Sympathy for a loss” ; “Wish you were here” and more.
Enjoy these unique “Spirit of Adventure” greeting cards with picture on
the front and adventure vignette on the back by sending a check made out
to Frosty Wooldridge, POB 16072, Golden, CO 80402. You may order
a variety pack with 10, 20 or 40 different sports or activities, or a
single-themed card of your choice.
They cover para-gliding, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, rafting, backpacking,
mountain climbing, winter mountaineering skiing, bicycling, mountain biking,
powder skiing, water skiing, bicycle touring, snow-shoeing, kite-flying,
windsurfing, rock climbing, camping, fly fishing, bicycles in bloom, scuba
diving, horseback riding, swimming, triathlon, ice skating, motorcycling,
dancing and much more. If would like a specific subject, let me know and
I will create the photograph and vignette to suit your needs. Each
card delights the eye and inspires the spirit.
Additionally, these first-of-their-kind “Spirit of Adventure” greeting
cards make inspirational gifts.
Pack of 10 is $21.00, which includes postage and handling. Pack
of 20 is $40.00, which includes postage and handling. Pack of 40
is $78.00, which includes postage and handling. Specify if you want a
variety pack or single-themed cards. State which theme, i.e., backpacking,
skiing, mountain climbing, canoeing, etc. Your friends will thrill
to these unique adventure greeting cards.
Look through the catalog of pictures and vignettes on this site to pick
your favorites. Savor life intensely one moment at a time. Order
today! www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Ski Run
Some kind of magic touches your soul on a ski run through
a pine-covered meadow at 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. Your lungs
devour pristine air. Your legs flex through the sparkling powder that
glistens like a trillion diamonds on that sunlit slope. Gravity floats
you into descending ecstasy. The farther you go down, the “higher”
you go up. You dance with nature. She leads and you follow. Every bump
creates a new move. Every tree offers emotional magic. You blast through
knee-deep snow enticing as a winter Nutcracker ballet. You stop for a
rest atop a mogul. You look up. Parry’s Peak delights your eyes
at 13,392 feet and inspires the poet, the writer, the singer in you. As
you stand there catching your breath, a group of fellow skiers dances
through the trees, over the bumps and through the virgin powder blanketing
the mountain slope. Some yell while others sing. Men and women relish
their own journeys on that pristine alpine meadow. Seconds later, your
friend catches you, “Dude, this is outrageous!” Moments later,
you continue your dance with the universe.
Frank Cada skiing down Niki-Knak
powder run off Parsenn’s Bowl followed by his friend Glen Colton.
The run began at 12,065 feet on its way over enormous alpine meadows above
tree line. Soon, Frank and Glen worked their way into the trees and skied
under the gargantuan Parry’s Peak on the Continental Divide. At
the bottom, they reluctantly jumped on the six-pack Panoramic Express
for a quick ride to the top to do it all over again. Such is the life
of ski bums. Mary Jane at Winter Park, Colorado.
Plunging Through Feep Powder In The Rockies
You ride up that mountain under an azure sky. Ahead of
you, fellow skiers chat about blistereing deep powder in the trees off
Parsenn’s Bowl. Behind you, the elegance of Parry’s Peak at
13,392 feet rises dramatically along the Continental Divide. Did you make
new friends on the lift? Did you hear a joke or two? Perhaps you stole
a kiss from your girl or boyfriend. At the top, what delights await you
as the deep snows beckon your body to a higher pleasure? How much like
an eagle will you soar across sparkling powder snows? You jump off the
lift and plant your pole into the first turn. In seconds, you feel an
aspirin-white instant “high.” Your body flies down the mountain
at the perfect speed. It’s been said ski bums trade security for
face plants, the future for the moment. Considering how hollow a power
job and an apartment in a big city has become, who can say the ski bum
is not the wiser shareholder in his or her youth? Ah, your powder lunch
awaits!
Skiers riding the Sunnyside Lift
at Winter Park Colorado.
In the background, Parry’s Peak at 13,292 feet provides a stunning
visual along the Continental Divide. Skiers may choose big bumps to the
left or easier cruises on Blue Bell. They can attack the deep powder in
the trees or fly down the mountain to the Panoramic Express to take them
to 12,065 feet at Parsenn’s Bowl. Everything is down hill, ‘cept
what’s up.
If you are interested in sharing these unique “Spirit
of Adventure” greeting cards with picture on the front and vignette
quote about adventure on the back, you may send a check made out to Frosty
Wooldridge, POB 16072, Golden, CO 80402. You may order a mixed bag with
all adventure shots or a single theme card of your choice.
Pack of 10 is $18.00 including postage and handling. Pack of 20 is $36.00
including postage and handling. Pack of 40 is $63.00. Specify if you want
a variety or single theme card. State which theme, i.e., backpacking,
skiing, mountain climbing. Your friends will love these unique adventure
greeting cards. They cover para-sailing, canoeing, skiing, rafting, backpacking,
mountain climbing, winter mountaineering skiing, bicycling, rock climbing,
camping and much more. Each card delights the eye and inspires the spirit.
Order today!
Bicycling Through The Land Of Sleeping
Rainbows
12-22-12
Part 5 - Café Diablo, Reaching Capitol Reef National Park,
Valley of the Gods
Helen Keller
 “A delicious
sense of strength and buoyancy . . .next to a leisurely walk I enjoy a
spin on my tandem bicycle. It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in
my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. The rapid rush through
the air gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise
makes my pulse dance and my heart sing.”~Helen Keller, author and deaf-blind-rights
advocate
Helen Keller, blind and deaf at birth, became a national icon for
education, suffrage and help for the handicapped. She traveled extensively
around the world and wrote many books. As the quote relates, she
loved bicycling. Today, people who cannot walk can hand-cycle across America.
Bob Wieland, after walking across America on his hands, because his legs
were blown off in the Vietnam War, hand-cycled across America both ways.
I met Bob south of Socorro, New Mexico as he walked across America.
That’s a story for another time, but I can tell you that I have been inspired
by him to this day. My friend Matt Fenney, www.adaptiveadventures.org,
paralyzed from the waist down, hand-cycled across the USA.
Utah autumn ride 2012 126
(Bob pedaling into the “Land of the Sleeping Rainbows along
thousands of sheep that munched the grass along the highway toward Torrey,
Utah. Notice the beginning of the exquisite cliffs lined with colors of
the rainbow in the distance.)
Utah autumn ride 2012 195
(Golden colors of autumn popped up along the road of the
“Land of the Sleeping Rainbows” to add even more color to our colorful
ride.)
Those individuals and many more inspire my journeys around the world.
Each time I meet another long-distance touring cyclist, I know that I
will come into contact with a rare soul in the world. I’ve met quiet,
shy touring riders—both men and women. I’ve met high strung ones,
too. I’ve met them black, white, brown and more. There’s no
definition or understanding of what makes someone leave home and hearth
to ride a bicycle around the world. On my second trip down the Continental
Divide in 2011, I met John and Kate,www.foodcyclist.com , who just started
a 24,000 mile, three year trip around the world. They search for the perfect
dinner complimented by beer and wine. Check out their website for
some hilarious pictures and writing.
Ah, but I digress and wax romantic. Let’s return to this amazing
ride through Utah.
Bob and I stopped at the Café Diablo in Torrey after our
magnificent ride through the “Land of the Sleeping Rainbows.” Mind
you, Torrey, Utah doesn’t feature a gas station or a grocery store.
Motels fill it because it’s on the northern side of Capitol Reef National
Park. Folks use it for a stopping off place before exploring the
park.
After a long day of feeling our eyes pop out of their sockets as
we viewed the extraordinary scenery around us, plus burning 10,000 calories,
we stopped at the Café Diablo for what we figured might be an average
meal at an average restaurant alongside the road in an average town.
Utah autumn ride 2012 219
(Frosty riding through the Land of the Sleeping Rainbows
where you can see the rock striations created over three million years.
We pedaled through incredible geological time.)
We tipped the bikes against a courtyard fence. Around the
entire enclosure, flowers grew in a plethora of colors and shapes.
In front of the building, a young man in a chef’s white frock stooped
to gather some green plants.
Utah autumn ride 2012 159
(The sign that attracted us to Café Diablo in Torrey,
Utah.)
“What are you cutting?” Bob asked.
“We grow out own herbs and spices right here in this garden all
summer long,” he said. “We cook only with organically grown foods
and range fed animals. Folks come from California and all over the
West just to eat here.”
The green-roofed, golden painted, ranch styled restaurant featured
large, multiple windows facing the towering cliff of the “Land of the
Sleeping Rainbows.” It featured a beautiful grass courtyard with
dining tables and umbrellas for warm afternoons and cozy evening dining.
Extraordinary varieties of flowers grew everywhere in an amazing color
bouquet. Why not gaze upon the beauty while you dine with the devil?
As Oscar Wilde said, “I can resist anything but temptation.”
Upon entering, a smiling waitress ushered us into the multi-roomed
dining area. A hundred masks from all over the world decorated the
walls. I noticed masks from France. Also, elegant masks from
Venice! New Orleans Mardi Gras masks caught our attention.
Additionally, masks from Brazil and even Africa. Obviously, the
owner, who happened to be the chef, enjoyed a great deal of travel.
Also decorating the walls, a local artist created caricature painting
of rabbits, coyotes, lizards, foxes and a host of tourists in various
and humorous situations. Of course, as we walked in, people noticed our
bicycle garb. To this day, touring bicyclists constitute a rare
breed of cat that confounds and mystifies most automobile-prone tourists.
That’s the great experience in a free country. You get to
choose your mode of transportation. You can ride a bicycle, motorcycle,
automobile, motor home or horse across America. Two guys last year,
rode a golf cart coast to coast. Isn’t it a blessing to be
able to travel to whatever drummer and music you like to follow?
For certain, eating at the Café’ Diablo can only be described
as unique. Sharp waitpersons fill your water glass regularly.
They make sure you receive the finest service. The menu: superb
and exceptional. Even vegetarian! Once you order, you enjoy watching
other orders erupt from the kitchen. When I say, “erupt”, I mean
that every entree catches everybody’s attention in the dining room as
it makes its way to the specific table that ordered it. We saw dishes
with vegetable “feathers” sticking out of the food moving toward the intended
party. The dishes seemed to be coming from a “Marti Gras” atmosphere
of sumptuous decadence, extravagant self-indulgence and fabulous culinary
debauchery. Talk about sexy food! Man, wow, you must visit
this “devil’s dining room” to enjoy the fullest extent of its many mouthwatering
entrees.
And the salads, oh my gosh, what a colorful visual treat!
I love salads and I have traveled across six continents searching for
the greatest salad ever concocted on this planet. I found it at the Café
Diablo.
How do you resist the devil’s temptation in a café named
after him? I have to admit, we gave into temptation all the
way. As Briar Rabbit said, “Oh no, don’t throw me into the briar
patch….”
“Man creates both his god and his devil in his own image. His god
is himself at his best, and his devil himself at his worst.” Elbert
Hubbard
Bob said, “I’ll drink to that.”
“Back at ya’ buddy,” I said, tipping my glass.
After an exquisite meal, the waitperson brought out a downright
decadent dessert-filled tray with culinary debauchery, condiment wickedness,
sugary immorality and chocolate sin. The most tantalizing of the
desserts? Answer: Devil’s food cake!
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll take a double slice of the Devil’s
food cake!”
“Me too,” Bob said.
After stuffing ourselves beyond the devil’s most evil revenge, we
waddled out of the Café Diablo promising “never” to allow the devil
to tempt us again, never to succumb to such culinary over-extension, never
to buckle under the “self indulgent nonsense.”
“I think I am stuffed beyond repair,” Bob said.
“Get me to my bed on time,” I said.
Just as we were about to leave, the Master Chef Gary stepped into
the dining room to chat with us. He and his female partner introduced
themselves. So marked one of the greatest dinners I have enjoyed
in my bicycle travels on six continents. Do I recommend the Café
Diablo? I must confess as the devil is my witness: a resounding
and eloquent “YES!”
But when you dance with the devil, you pay on the pedals.
We staggered out to the bikes still tipped against the courtyard fence.
We draped our corpulent and rotund bodies over the seats and proceeded
to wobble down the highway looking for a campsite. Ah, the life
of cyclists in the “Land of the Sleeping Rainbows.”
Utah autumn ride 2012 131
Next...Part 6 - Pedaling into Capitol Reef
National Park, Valley of the Gods and the end of the ride
Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents - from the
Arctic to the South Pole - as well as eight times across the USA, coast
to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle,
Norway to Athens, Greece. In 2012, he bicycled coast to coast across America.
His latest book is: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring
the World by Frosty Wooldridge, copies at 1 888 280 7715/ Motivational
program: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World
by Frosty Wooldridge, click:
www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Perfection Attained
On an adventure: the day quits, the road ends, the light
fades, your body wearies and the movement of life slows. When you walk
the bikes down to the shoreline, this idyllic spot beckons your heart.
A moored fishing dory, a quiet fjord and an enormous mountain urged you
to linger here—a place where time hovers and beauty overwhelms.
Four bikes stacked against a fishing dory on a fjord in Norway equals
a day well spent. As an intrepid traveler, you pull the packs, pitch your
tent, crack out the food and build a campfire. A flickering flame appears
with a wisp of smoke curling into the night air. From a nearby tree, a
cuckoo bird repeats his plaintive cry, “Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo…”
Hot food simmers and steams upon the coals while you talk about the amazing
events of the day. Nature offers a healing refrain of food, companionship,
quietude and the simple pleasures of breathing life into your being. Above,
the sky turns pink with a special alpen-glow across the snowfields beyond.
You lean back on a rock: perfection attained.
c. 2012 by Frosty Wooldridge
Bob, Gary, Denis and Frosty stacked their bikes against this fishing
dory on a fjord on Lofotan Island, Norway. We crossed over the Arctic
Circle on our way from Nord Cap, Norway to Athens, Greece. Each night,
we discovered magnificent campsites like the one before you. Each night,
we pitched our tents in the land of the mid-night sun. The omnipresent
cuckoo bird kept our rapt attention with his endless song, “Cuckoo,
cuckoo….” Dream ride, dream moment, dream adventure.
Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece on Bicycles
If the roar of a wave crashes beyond your campsite, you
might call that adventure. When coyotes howl outside your tent--that may
be adventure. When the wind rips at your tent pegs---that too, may be
called adventure. While you're sweating like a horse in a climb over a
12,000 foot pass, that's adventure. When a howling headwind presses your
lips against your teeth, you're facing a mighty adventure. If you're drenched
from head to toe in sweat as you pedal across a desert, that's adventure.
If you're pressing through a howling rainstorm, you're soaked in adventure.
But that's not what makes an adventure. It's your willingness to struggle
through it, to present yourself at the doorstep of Nature. No more greater
joy can come from life than to live inside the 'moment' of an adventure.
It may be a momentary 'high', a stranger that changes your life, an animal
that delights you or frightens you, a struggle where you triumphed, or
even failed, yet you braved the challenge. Those moments present you uncommon
experiences that give your life eternal expectation. That's adventure!
© Frosty Wooldridge
Cyclists raise their hands in awe at the wondrous sight before
them on a fjord in Norway. They pedaled from Nord Cap, Norway, north of
the Arctic Circle by 700 km to Athens, Greece. From the lands of the Vikings
to the Oracle of Delphi and Socrates at the Parthenon.
Toasting Life's Great Moments
The world provides you with a blank book and only you
can fill in the chapters with your travels to distant lands. Along the
way, while you write the narrative, others write the dialogue in different
languages of the heart, mind and spirit. You might meet up with a Dutch
family such as the Westras’ pedaling on their way from Amsterdam
to Rome. You might stop into a small Italian town to enjoy lunch in a
park across from a bistro. Moments later, two Italians walk across the
street with an iced bottle of wine and basket of cheese and bread. They
approach, “Welcome to our little village…thank you for visiting
us…we would like to share some of our homemade bread, cheese and
wine.” Moments later, you toast to their good health and the friendships
of the world created by traveling. Then, as you sip the wine and taste
the bread and cheese, it dawns on you that travel brings magic to your
life. A big smile breaks out not only on your face, but all through your
soul. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and
narrow-mindedness.” You toast your new friends and they raise their
glasses to toast life. Ah, the perfect moment.
Marloes, Anneke, Frosty, Gary and Jan toasting to a tasty lunch
after being presented with an iced bottle of wine, bread and cheese in
a small town in the south of Italy near Rome. Gary, Bob, Denis and Frosty
met many such moments on their pedaling journey from the Arctic Circle,
Norway to Athens, Greece.
Punching Powder At 30 Below Zero At 12,000 Feet
Mountaineering skiing carries you into the throne room of snow-mantled
peaks draped in elegant aspirin-white gowns. Their sheer sophistication
romances you into trance-like locomotion. You push through wooded glens
sparkling with diamonds while the rising sun lifts into the frigid cobalt
sky. Your lungs suck deep gulps of crystalline air. Your legs press into
the mountain with Zen-like grace. Your heart beats to the music of nature.
At 12,000 feet, puffy clouds fill the valley behind you. What carries
you to this altitude? Why do you brave 30 below zero temperatures? Why?
To you, the mountains offer a retreat from civilization. You find the
wilderness a testing place to rediscover yourself. You ski to renew your
body and spirit. You realize that nature teaches a powerful lesson that
your life and your destiny are linked to the entire natural world and
that nature provides you with salvation for your soul. --Frosty Wooldridge
Al, Frosty and Scott pushing through
fresh powder on our way up out of the Grand Valley headed toward Homestake
Peak at 13,209 feet at 40 below zero F. at the top. After five hours,
we reached the summit. We saw mountain peaks 100 miles away in a 360 degree
circle. To reach the top of a mountain in mid winter makes for one of
the greatest delights in a mountaineer’s soul. It’s a Colorado
Rocky Mountain High! Pure satori!
The Ring Of Life
You engage many paths through the Ring of Life. You move toward self-fulfillment
through growth of your mind, expansion of your experiences, widening of
your senses and joy of your spirit. Each path you travel intersects with
other paths. You might share a morning cup of coffee with three old men
in an Italian piazza. You may meet a mother with her child on a park bench.
You may share a game of Frisbee with the youth of a town in Croatia, Spain,
Italy or Holland. You may walk down the Main Street of your own town and
wave to an old friend. The Ring of Life moves ceaselessly and constantly
along your path. While traveling in your own country or around the world,
you may be encouraged by others. You may be sobered at others’ misfortune
and thankful for your own fortunate journey. You may inspire others by
your actions. Whatever you do, live with purpose, passion and action.
Because, 10, 20 or 30 years from now you will be more disappointed with
yourself with the adventures you didn’t take, but you will smile
all the way through your soul via the risks you lived. Release the moorings
of your safe harbor and explore the world, catch your dreams and discover
your highest and best. Life awaits you.
While traveling from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece,
long distance touring cyclist Gary Hall met three Italian cyclists who
have been riding their same bicycles since their teens, which made their
bicycles over 50 years old and still rolling. They had parked all three
of their ancient bicycles in the same rack for over 50 years to share
breakfast, coffee and conversation in the shop. They shared their smiles,
spirits and coffee with us. The Ring of Life circulates in wondrous manners
through all human beings on this planet
Climbing Mountain Peaks
It’s a mental experience when I move into this part of a climb.
Each footfall must be measured, every rock calculated for safety, every
breath felt in my heaving lungs—life rushing through my blood and spreading
throughout my body. At this juncture, I live at an extraordinary
moment, when satori takes over, when I create my life, each moment of
it—where I am responsible for what I am, what I am doing and what I desire—the
summit of a mountain. I create a living sculpture in my spirit and
that spirit moves through me and upward on this mountain. It might
be called a positive ion nirvana high! This is where life mingles
with death. To top it off in the shadowy recesses of this dark mist,
I must make distinct judgments of where I will place my foot, how and
what I grasp to keep me in touch with the rock—for any mistake would send
me flying down the mountain without the use of wings. Surely I would
be a one-way flight with a terminal landing! Notwithstanding, I
move toward the peak with confidence and determination. I live at
the perfect speed.
Al and Frosty celebrating at the
top of Mount Windom, 14,082 feet in Colorado’s Chicago Basin. They
traveled by train from Durango for two hours along the Animas River before
being dropped off at Needleton. They packed six miles into the basin to
pitch base camp at 11,000 feet. After climbing for five hours through
glorious wild flowers, silvery white water streams and treacherous rock,
they summitted the peak at 11:00 a.m. In four days, Joe Comer, Al and
Frosty summitted Windom, Sunlight, North Eolus and South Eolus—all
over 14,000 feet.
Frosty riding out of the belly of one of the hundreds of ferry
boats that serve Norwegians from Nord Cap
all the way to Bergen. They run from Lofotan Island to Oslo.
We met people from every corner of the
world. Riding out of the belly of the beast points you toward a
new beginning.
A million pedal strokes etch memories into the muscles in my legs with
a single purpose: to power the crank and move the bicycle forward.
Food flows into my body, bringing it power and strength. Water drenches
my cells with liquid life. Sweat cools my skin while it circulates back
into the air. It is no longer a question of struggle. Now the journey
evolves into the spiritual realm—where the pedaling becomes instinctive
and a flight of fancy. The Great Spirit expresses through me and
I express through it. I ride with universal energy pulsing through my
being. I take flight without ever leaving the ground. A free-flow
of energy radiates through my body and willingly expresses itself in the
flight of the pedals.
Frosty Wooldridge riding off the mesa at Capitol Reef Park, Utah,
and descending into the Valley of the
Gods in the “Land of the Sleeping Rainbows” in the autumn of 2012.
You’ve trudged so long in the rain, you feel like a dirty
dish rag. You slogged up a mountain pass in a downpour. You
pedaled through a deep forest of pine trees. While paddling your
canoe across a lake, the heavens opened up. While you sit in your
tent, Mother Nature keeps you huddled in watered boredom. But despite
the misery of your water soaked body, you look around to see verdant leaves
dripping with water. A spider’s web glistens with raindrops. A bird in
a nearby tree preens its wet feathers. In your immediate area, the
air entering your lungs feels vibrantly clean. You await the sunshine
that will follow the rainbow. To experience adventure, you must be willing
to be uncomfortable at times and enjoy the loneliness by being happy with
your own singing. A song pops out of your mouth…”It rained all night
the day I left, the weather it was fine….” Adventure is not always
comfortable, but it is still adventure. Live it with wild enthusiasm.
It will repay you with spiritual magic. Written by Frosty
Wooldridge, Golden, Colorado, camped out in Hyder, Alaska near a grizzly
bear’s den.
Gary Hall taking a shot from his wet tent after a night of rain
in Norway. His mate Frosty prepares a peanut butter apple slice
sandwich to celebrate the sun rising above the water-soaked clouds that
finally limped away over the horizon. Give us sun because we’re
sick of the downpour!
Time means nothing now. It slips away as
easily as grains of sand on a wind-swept beach. But those grains
only trade places. On my bike, I change the same way—new locations in
the passage of time. The pedaling is incidental—like breathing.
The hills and mountains come and go—my legs powering over them in a kind
of winsome trance. Grappling with headwinds only brings determination;
while riding a tail wind brings ecstasy. There is a transformation
into a state of bliss, much like a seagull gliding on the updrafts.
I see them standing on beaches or soaring over the waves. Just flying.
Just living. Just being. Me too.
Bob and Denis cycling into the
112 degree F. heat of
Panamint Valley and on into Death Valley. Coast to Coast
To whatever degree and mental propensity
you can engage, act as if your dream has already come true. What
is your dream? Do you want to climb Everest? Walk on the Wall
of China? Back pack in Alaska? Paint a piece of art?
Earn a college degree? Bicycle across America? Act as if you already
are standing on the peak, camping in Alaska or accepting your degree.
Know in your mind that you are “living your dream.” You will feel
a shift. You will see the power you engage will open the gates of creative
process to carry you to your destiny. Nature will tremble, the elements
will collaborate in your favor, people will assist you, new understandings
will develop in your mind and vibrant energy will thrust you into the
perfect speed. The universe will bow as you pass by.
Frosty on his touring cycle "Condor" while riding through autumn
colors in Utah in the "Land of the Sleeping Rainbows." Riding a bicycle
clears your mind, refreshes your spirit and drenches your face with smiles.
Your lungs fill with fresh air. Your body pulses to the heart beat
of life. Your legs become your wings. Your wheels spin through eternity.
Freedom becomes your companion. You become the adventure.
The road ahead holds promise. Frances Willard said it this way in 1895:
"I began to feel that myself plus the bicycle equaled myself plus the
world, upon whose spinning wheel we must all learn to ride, or fall into
the sluiceways of oblivion and despair. That which made me succeed with
the bicycle was precisely what had gained me a measure of success in life
-- it was the hardihood of spirit that led me to begin, the persistence
of will that held me to my task, and the patience that was willing to
begin again when the last stroke had failed. And so I found high moral
uses in the bicycle and can commend it as a teacher without pulpit or
creed. She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain
the mastery of life." ~ Frances E. Willard How I Learned To Ride The Bicycle.
1895
Text and Images from How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of
Exploring the World http://www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Frosty Wooldridge, 6 continent world bicycle traveler, How to Live a Life
of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com,
Interested adventure seekers may purchase Frosty’s adventure greeting
cards from around the world. Inquire at frostyw@juno.com You
may purchase a pack of 10 or 20 with these adventure quotes and a picture
on the front of the card that expresses the adventure. Your friends
will love these unique adventure greeting cards. They cover para-sailing,
canoeing, skiing, rafting, backpacking, mountain climbing, bicycling,
rock climbing, camping and much more. Each card delights the eye
and inspires the spirit.
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