I arrived in Ft Pierce around 5:30 p.m. and visited one of the local American Legion posts that granted me permission to park my van in thier lot for two weeks. In the meantime, I will find other accomodations for it when I pass back thru here on or about Oct 15.
The weather looks good for tomorrow's ride north. I should be in Melbourne tomorrow night. My itenerary called for me to be in Port St Lucie tonite; but I observed that the roads from there to my intended coastal were too narrow, and too-heavily trafficed for safe bicycle use.
So, tomorrow the big ride begins at sunup.
New sponsors came onboard today. Thank you:
Bob, Susan, & Max Howard of Milton, Fl
Mark & Melissa Matteson of Milton, Fl
Liz Bowen of Anchorage, Alaska
Maryann & David Frazier of Anchorage, Alaska
Al
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
In Their Honor
No training ride yesterday! Instead, I spent the day picking up around the house in preparation for the possibility that Tropical Storm Michael might head my way. In any event, I can't leave on a 30 day trip without making sure I've storm-proofed my home as much as possible.
The day before, I had ridden 35 miles in 3 1/2 hours, and satisfied myself that I am up to the task of 50 miles per day without time constraints. I'll get in a couple more training rides between now and the time I leave on Thursday to head for the East Coast, leaving Sally and group of very supportive neighbors to look after the neighborhood. We're blessed to have several friends and neighbors who work out of their homes and have helped build a very effective Neighborhood Watch program.
One of the signs that I will carry on this trip to call attention to veteran's health issues honors the men from my unit, the 361st Aviation Company Escort who lost their lives in service to their nation in Vietnam. Like me, they were very young, ambitious, in love with their calling, and probably regarded themselves as being somewhat bulletproof.
Most of us felt well-protected within the confines of our Cobra gunships. We were fast, heavily armed, and very maneuverable. The 361st was the first all-Cobra unit to be sent to Vietnam; and in spite of our mascot, the Pink Panther, we were a formidable force to be reckoned with. I'm sure we were shot at often, but were unaware of it, as the Cobra's cockpit was fully enclosed and served by a very loud but wonderful air-conditioning system, one of the very few helicopters in Vietnam to be so equipped. Interrogations of the "other guys" revealed that most of our adversaries were indeed afraid to shoot at a Cobra if there was any possibility of their position being revealed. Being only 36" in width, a fully-loaded Cobra, spewing all sorts of explosive earth-moving equipment, was a very difficult target to hit head-on. This fact helped bolster the crew's feeling of relative invincibility. But, with the introduction of radar-controlled anti-aircraft guns in our area of operations, we suddenly became more exposed, and had to change our tactics considerably. In fact, the first ship we lost was due to a direct hit on the tip of the gun turret, which killed the copilot/gunner, CW2 Ben Ide, on December 19, 1968. Until that time, we had operated virtually unscathed, with only an occasional stray bullet hitting one of our ships, but never injuring or harming the crew.
So, what's this got to do with a bike ride for veterans? Listed below are the veterans from the 361st who did not survive to come home, young men who never had a chance to "get on with their lives." They gave their all. Like them, those that did come home put everything they had on the line. Some of them were injured, and wear Purple Hearts as evidence of the price they paid. Most show no signs of injury, but carry the hidden scars of other physical and mental wounds that, even today go undiagnosed. It is these veterans with undiagnosed or untreated war-related wounds that have inspired this ride.
The day before, I had ridden 35 miles in 3 1/2 hours, and satisfied myself that I am up to the task of 50 miles per day without time constraints. I'll get in a couple more training rides between now and the time I leave on Thursday to head for the East Coast, leaving Sally and group of very supportive neighbors to look after the neighborhood. We're blessed to have several friends and neighbors who work out of their homes and have helped build a very effective Neighborhood Watch program.
One of the signs that I will carry on this trip to call attention to veteran's health issues honors the men from my unit, the 361st Aviation Company Escort who lost their lives in service to their nation in Vietnam. Like me, they were very young, ambitious, in love with their calling, and probably regarded themselves as being somewhat bulletproof.
Most of us felt well-protected within the confines of our Cobra gunships. We were fast, heavily armed, and very maneuverable. The 361st was the first all-Cobra unit to be sent to Vietnam; and in spite of our mascot, the Pink Panther, we were a formidable force to be reckoned with. I'm sure we were shot at often, but were unaware of it, as the Cobra's cockpit was fully enclosed and served by a very loud but wonderful air-conditioning system, one of the very few helicopters in Vietnam to be so equipped. Interrogations of the "other guys" revealed that most of our adversaries were indeed afraid to shoot at a Cobra if there was any possibility of their position being revealed. Being only 36" in width, a fully-loaded Cobra, spewing all sorts of explosive earth-moving equipment, was a very difficult target to hit head-on. This fact helped bolster the crew's feeling of relative invincibility. But, with the introduction of radar-controlled anti-aircraft guns in our area of operations, we suddenly became more exposed, and had to change our tactics considerably. In fact, the first ship we lost was due to a direct hit on the tip of the gun turret, which killed the copilot/gunner, CW2 Ben Ide, on December 19, 1968. Until that time, we had operated virtually unscathed, with only an occasional stray bullet hitting one of our ships, but never injuring or harming the crew.
So, what's this got to do with a bike ride for veterans? Listed below are the veterans from the 361st who did not survive to come home, young men who never had a chance to "get on with their lives." They gave their all. Like them, those that did come home put everything they had on the line. Some of them were injured, and wear Purple Hearts as evidence of the price they paid. Most show no signs of injury, but carry the hidden scars of other physical and mental wounds that, even today go undiagnosed. It is these veterans with undiagnosed or untreated war-related wounds that have inspired this ride.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Press Release for Impending Bike Trip
Former helicopter pilot to bicycle East Coast Greenway route both ways through Florida
Albert E. Melvin, 63, a native of Milton in the far western Panhandle, will become arguably the first cyclist to bike the Florida route of the East Coast Greenway both ways in a single journey. He plans to start October 1st and will dedicate his ride to improved awareness of military veterans health issues.
“Sure, somebody may have made this ride before,” says Trail Coordinator Eric Weis of the Princeton, NJ-based East Coast Greenway Alliance. “But if so, they never told us.”
In a nine-year U.S. Army career, Melvin, during the war years of 1968 to 1970, served as a Cobra helicopter pilot in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and then as an air ambulance pilot with the Army National Guard. He later flew for Mobil Oil in the Gulf of Mexico, for the Florida Division of Forestry, and worked as an air traffic controller in Anchorage, Alaska and in Leesburg, Virginia.
Melvin says he learned about the 586-mile route of the East Coast Greenway through Florida by online research for “a route that had a beginning and an end that I could handle in about a month. So much the better keeping the ride entirely in Florida because people need to know about this kind of route happening in our state, even if it’s as far east as you can get from where I live.”
About 200 miles of the route between Fernandina Beach and Key West are now off-road and paved, the balance mainly along Highway A1A, along quiet roads and streets that parallel the shore road, and otherwise along roads closer to U.S. 1 than A1A.
Melvin plans to park his car in Port St. Lucie and then begin riding about 50 miles a day, first north to Fernandina Beach, then south to Key West and north again to Port St. Lucie.
He’ll ride a Trek 830 Antelope, equipped with lights, pulling an Aosom [cq] two-wheel tag-along bike trailer that will weigh about 80 lbs. when loaded with lightweight clothing, tent and sleeping bag, first aid and shaving kits, batteries, high energy snack bars, water, and emergency equipment. He will wear a Camelback hydration system, helmet, and gloves. A handlebar bag will hold additional person items. A locking, weather resistant hard-side cargo bin mounted on his rear bike rack will hold repair gear.
“Depending on the weather, I plan to camp along the way, to rough it as much as possible,” says Melvin.
However, as cyclists have gotten word about his ride, offers have been coming in for home stays. In Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island Trails has invited Melvin to speak. In Miami, the advocacy group Green Mobility Network plans to organize a meeting around his time there.
Between now and the start of his ride, Melvin, unemployed and 30 lbs. heavier than he wants to be, is soliciting sponsors and donors to help meet his expenses but also to raise funds for the American Legion’s veteran assistance programs. Donors can channel contributions for either purpose through American Legion Post #78, 6025 Spikes Way, Milton, Fl 32570.
Melvin will begin his trip as an ordinary non-Spandex-togged cyclist in shorts and tee shirt. He says “I've occasionally biked the Blackwater Heritage Trail here in Santa Rosa County. Other than that, my riding has been limited to local area exploration, with no trip more than five or six hours.”
Melvin ended his flying career piloting the same type helicopter that he cut his teeth on 35 years before. He calls the Cobra "a rocket ship with rotor blades that also became part of my body, an extension of a seventh-sense, difficult to put into words, but nevertheless experienced at the cellular level.
“When that bird soared, my spirit soared. When she shuddered and didn't feel right, I was out of sorts and apprehensive as well."
His love affair with the Cobra ended after nearly 10,000 accident-free flight hours when he twisted his back trying to keep his machine from damage ahead of an advancing thunderstorm.
That led to surgery for three fused vertebrae
Melvin says, “Having spent most of my life looking down on earthbound creatures, and capable of accurately predicting where I would be at a given time, I now find myself grounded in reality, walking and pedaling like everyone else, looking up frequently, and wondering how on earth anyone ever gets around without a helicopter.”
Of this ride, Al's wife of 38 years, Sylvia, a teacher and freelance writer, jokes, "Most men have a midlife crisis in their fifties. Al waited 'til his sixties."
* * * * * *
“I acknowledge that in this perilous economy, veterans are perhaps just another group that competes for our attention; but few other folks in this nation have ever been required to lay everything on the line the way they have, often at the risk of permanent disability or death, and often unable to adequately provide for themselves and their families. If the politicians that are so quick to dispatch our soldiers all over the globe were first required to serve under similar circumstances, I'll bet we wouldn't have this problem of veterans in need. Nor would it be so bad, if so many of our leaders didn't exhibit the attitude that our soldiers are an expendable commodity, if for no other reason, just because they are volunteers. These attitudes contribute to the problem of inadequate funding for veteran treatment - hence, the reason for this trip.”
* * * * * *
Al Melvin
6053 Arnies [A r n i e s] [cq] Way
Milton, Fl 32570
Home: (850) 626-8778
Cell: (850) 529-4473
* * * * *
EAST COAST GREENWAY THROUGH FLORIDA
PORT ST. LUCIE-FERNANDINA BEACH-KEY WEST-PORT ST. LUCIE
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
DAY STARTS*
Oct 1 Port St. Lucie
Oct 2 Melbourne
Oct 3 Titusville
Oct 4 Daytona Beach
Oct 5 Crescent Beach
Oct 6 Jacksonville Beach
Oct 7 Fernandina Beach
Oct 8 Ponte Vedra
Oct 9 Ormond Beach
Oct 10 Titusville
Oct 11 Melbourne
Oct 12 Vero Beach
Oct 13 Port St. Lucie
Oct 14 Palm Beach
Oct 15 Ft. Lauderdale
Oct 16 Miami
Oct 17 Florida City
Oct 18 Key Largo
Oct 19 Long Key
Oct 20 Big Pine Key
Oct 21 Key West
Oct 22 Bahia Honda Key
Oct 23 Long Key
Oct 24 Key Largo
Oct 25 Florida City
Oct 26 Miami
Oct 27 Delray Beach
Oct 28 Jupiter Island
Oct 29 Port St. Lucie
* DAILY SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER & MAINTENANCE.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sponsors
Yesterday, I was reunited with the trailer that I will be towing on this trip, a Aosom two-wheeler which got sidelined by a bad blowout over a week ago. This trailer came equipped with tires of a quality that I would be reluctant to tow across a soft carpet for fear of a blowout; and the merchant does not warranty the tires; although this was not mentioned in the published warranty information. The trailer is rated to carry 180 lbs. I've been training with it at 110 pounds over a smooth paved bike trail; but, after about 75 miles, I experienced a disappointing non-repairable flat. The tire itself failed structurally, allowing the inner tube to protrude and quickly wear through.
A good friend, Bill Locker, a former co-worker and expert aviator from the Florida Division of Forestry who owns and operates his own machine shop made new trailer axles for me that accommodate the same size and quality of wheels and tires I have on my bike, instead of the 16" diameter poor quality stuff the trailer came equipped with. Yesterday, I was able to test this new system, which worked perfectly. The larger diameter, high pressure, puncture resistant tires ride more easily over bumps and added considerable speed to my average. Their lower rolling resistance also made towing much easier.
Bill Locker can be contacted at: Bill's Machine
5687 Beale Ford Rd.
Milton, Fl 32571
(850) 994-9820
bmachine@bellsouth.net
Even if you live outside this area, Bill can work with you to custom design and produce metal products to suit your needs. He's even reverse engineered and manufactured components required to restore vintage aircraft to flying status. I think he's a genius; although he might argue otherwise; and, I know his wife has some strong opinions about this.
Eric Hollman of Bikes Plus in Pensacola provided a great deal of support which will make this ride more likely to succeed. He took the axles that Bill made and equipped them with bearings, nuts, lightweight alloy 26" wheels, and puncture resistant high-pressure tires with heavy-gage inner tubes. He donated these things to the cause, along with giving me significant discounts on other equipment and parts that I needed. He also donated the labor required to lube, tune-up and repair my bike. More than this, he didn't simply offer off-the-shelf equipment and supplies. He put a great deal of engineer-quality thought into equipping my bike for greater ease and efficiency of operation. If you need a part you can't find, call Eric. He doesn't just give up and take the easy way out when confronted with a technical problem. Eric and his staff are truly honorable business folks.
Contact Eric at: Bikes Plus
1181 Creighton Rd.
Pensacola, Fl 32504
(850) 478-1521
www.BikesPlus.com
Brian Kassinger, owner of A+ Sign Station in Pace, Fl, my son's schoolmate and best man donated all of the signs and sign blanks that adorn my bike and trailer that I will tow across the state to acknowledge the contributions of my supporters. Like the rest of my sponsors, even if you live outside the area, call Brian to discuss your sign needs. He even manufactures and installs electrical signs.
Contact Brian at: A+ Sign Station
3655 Highway 90
Pace, Fl 32571
(850) 994-6600
APlusSignStation@bellsouth.net
Other sponsors, former co-workers, friends and family have donated funds to help defray the cost of my trip. That list grows daily; but here are the folks I need to say "Thank you" to now:
American Legion Post #78 of Milton, Fl
Clause and Melody Boyd of Florence, Ms.
Mae Bowen of Anchorage, Alaska
David and June Gunther of Milton, Fl
Ben and Mary Ann Wolcott of Milton, Fl
Still others have pledged support on a per-mile-ridden basis or otherwise. Thanks to you all for encouraging me in this effort to say "Thank you" to our veterans who have, and continue to serve us so well.
THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OF THINGS
A good friend, Bill Locker, a former co-worker and expert aviator from the Florida Division of Forestry who owns and operates his own machine shop made new trailer axles for me that accommodate the same size and quality of wheels and tires I have on my bike, instead of the 16" diameter poor quality stuff the trailer came equipped with. Yesterday, I was able to test this new system, which worked perfectly. The larger diameter, high pressure, puncture resistant tires ride more easily over bumps and added considerable speed to my average. Their lower rolling resistance also made towing much easier.
Bill Locker can be contacted at: Bill's Machine
5687 Beale Ford Rd.
Milton, Fl 32571
(850) 994-9820
bmachine@bellsouth.net
Even if you live outside this area, Bill can work with you to custom design and produce metal products to suit your needs. He's even reverse engineered and manufactured components required to restore vintage aircraft to flying status. I think he's a genius; although he might argue otherwise; and, I know his wife has some strong opinions about this.
Eric Hollman of Bikes Plus in Pensacola provided a great deal of support which will make this ride more likely to succeed. He took the axles that Bill made and equipped them with bearings, nuts, lightweight alloy 26" wheels, and puncture resistant high-pressure tires with heavy-gage inner tubes. He donated these things to the cause, along with giving me significant discounts on other equipment and parts that I needed. He also donated the labor required to lube, tune-up and repair my bike. More than this, he didn't simply offer off-the-shelf equipment and supplies. He put a great deal of engineer-quality thought into equipping my bike for greater ease and efficiency of operation. If you need a part you can't find, call Eric. He doesn't just give up and take the easy way out when confronted with a technical problem. Eric and his staff are truly honorable business folks.
Contact Eric at: Bikes Plus
1181 Creighton Rd.
Pensacola, Fl 32504
(850) 478-1521
www.BikesPlus.com
Brian Kassinger, owner of A+ Sign Station in Pace, Fl, my son's schoolmate and best man donated all of the signs and sign blanks that adorn my bike and trailer that I will tow across the state to acknowledge the contributions of my supporters. Like the rest of my sponsors, even if you live outside the area, call Brian to discuss your sign needs. He even manufactures and installs electrical signs.
Contact Brian at: A+ Sign Station
3655 Highway 90
Pace, Fl 32571
(850) 994-6600
APlusSignStation@bellsouth.net
Other sponsors, former co-workers, friends and family have donated funds to help defray the cost of my trip. That list grows daily; but here are the folks I need to say "Thank you" to now:
American Legion Post #78 of Milton, Fl
Clause and Melody Boyd of Florence, Ms.
Mae Bowen of Anchorage, Alaska
David and June Gunther of Milton, Fl
Ben and Mary Ann Wolcott of Milton, Fl
Still others have pledged support on a per-mile-ridden basis or otherwise. Thanks to you all for encouraging me in this effort to say "Thank you" to our veterans who have, and continue to serve us so well.
THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OF THINGS
Just as I predicted before, once I set about adorning my trailer and bike with all of the sponsor's signs and decals, it is taking on the appearance of a pile of NASCAR debris.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Bicycling for Health
AS Oct 1 approaches and I continue to train for my impending ride, I consider the potential health benefits and risks of embarking on this task. Several folks have encouraged me; and an equal number have scoffed and told me how crazy I am. Many others say nothing; but the sideways glances speak loud enough. Whatever, I'm committed to this, and look forward to it more with each passing day; not to mention that several folks are now counting on me to keep the commitments I've made to them.
The potential health benefits are obvious, losing unwanted weight and improving overall fitness. The risks are less obvious, but well known to anyone who routinely rides a bike in areas where they must share the trail (road) with others, especially other vehicles. I've had a few close calls with vehicles at intersections (all my fault), loose dogs on established trails popular with walkers and bikers, and several near collisions with pedestrians who are either too slow, too inattentive, or too inconsiderate to "share the road." I know what some of them are thinking. "Hey, what's a bike doing on a bike trail!? There's also the risk of further injury to an already trashed back, especially when I don't get my foot out of the clip quickly enough to avoid performing a slow roll for amused witnesses.
Oh, yes, about that dog poop! There's ten feet of grassed border on both sides of this trail. Do you think you could clean up after your dog, or at least escort him or her to a less traveled dump site? Do you know what it smells like and feels like when you get sprayed by poop vaporized when you hit it at hight speed? Never mind. You don't care, do you? Makes one wonder, "Who do you take out first - the dog, or its owner?"
You learn alot about others when you're out biking, most of it good. Most riders are considerate and openly friendly, exchanging greetings and moving on. Others look right through you, as if to say, "Who gave you permission to speak to me?" More than once, I've said "Good morning", quickly realized my mistake, and found myself muttering, "Maybe not!" Depending on which gear they're in, your time to assess their demeanor varies; but, I'm a people watcher; and I enjoy sizing people up, so to speak. I'm good at it; and yes, even thought it seems non-PC to do so, I "profile." I'm sure this stems from survival skills learned during my military time in days of old (Go Army!).
I could write a book about my interpretation of others' apparent mental state and station in life just from my brief observations of those I share the trail with. Some are quite colorful, literally, decked out in the latest, most colorful skin tight fashions, mounting the most high-tech gear. Others are like me - "Hey it fits, it's mine; and it doesn't interfere with my movements. What's wrong with that?"
I love the whooshing noise the younger folks make when they zip by in their brilliantly painted aerodynamic garb, riding bikes fresh off the engineer's designing board and weighing less than the Camel Back I wear. I look at those thin little, high-speed tires, and I think, "No way, dude! You put me on top of a pair of those; and there's gonna be one loud explosion! Not to mention the wreck that seems to go on forever, even if filmed at normal speed." Most of these young guys, and a few young gals are flight students from the Navy base at the end of the trail. They can afford the gear, they're required to remain in top physical condition; and it suits them well. They can also get away with their near-naked appearance. Makes one reminisce about how it used to be before age, family responsibilities, infirmity, and wisdom set in.
It always takes me aback when I encounter the non-sociables, folks who don't speak, folks that are apparently too preoccupied and distracted by personal problems, private thought, or social status to offer more than an irritated or alarmed glance. "You talking to me!?"
In the process of planning and equipping myself for this ride, I've met several new friends, renewed some acquaintances with others, and enlisted moral support from family members. Some of these folks have sponsored me with donations to help defray trip expenses, and others, business owners, have provided promotional assistance, biking equipment, and maintenance support. I'm very grateful for the way they've encouraged and supported this venture. Still others have pledged to pay me so much per mile completed that will be donated to the American Legion. Thank you all! I'll do a better job of acknowledging your contributions soon.
In Sept of '05, back surgery permanently altered how I walk through life, literally. Whereas before my surgery, I had been able to walk for hours and miles on end, and enjoyed doing so, three fuzed disks left me temporarily partially paralyzed with fairly severe leg pains and the inability to stand motionless or sit upright for more than a few minutes at a time without causing my left leg to fall asleep. The standing and sitting limitations persist five years later; and this has helped add a great deal of unwanted weight to my body. I can deal with that; but, as I discovered last week when I was learning how to use my new shoes and pedals with clips, I don't do well with falls. After several days of fall-induced sciatica, I'll be more careful to plan ahead. In fact, I won't use the clips at all when riding in heavier-trafficked areas. I don't think I'll be able to endure many repeats of that maneuver without returning to the days of paralysis and near-constant pain.
The potential health benefits are obvious, losing unwanted weight and improving overall fitness. The risks are less obvious, but well known to anyone who routinely rides a bike in areas where they must share the trail (road) with others, especially other vehicles. I've had a few close calls with vehicles at intersections (all my fault), loose dogs on established trails popular with walkers and bikers, and several near collisions with pedestrians who are either too slow, too inattentive, or too inconsiderate to "share the road." I know what some of them are thinking. "Hey, what's a bike doing on a bike trail!? There's also the risk of further injury to an already trashed back, especially when I don't get my foot out of the clip quickly enough to avoid performing a slow roll for amused witnesses.
Oh, yes, about that dog poop! There's ten feet of grassed border on both sides of this trail. Do you think you could clean up after your dog, or at least escort him or her to a less traveled dump site? Do you know what it smells like and feels like when you get sprayed by poop vaporized when you hit it at hight speed? Never mind. You don't care, do you? Makes one wonder, "Who do you take out first - the dog, or its owner?"
You learn alot about others when you're out biking, most of it good. Most riders are considerate and openly friendly, exchanging greetings and moving on. Others look right through you, as if to say, "Who gave you permission to speak to me?" More than once, I've said "Good morning", quickly realized my mistake, and found myself muttering, "Maybe not!" Depending on which gear they're in, your time to assess their demeanor varies; but, I'm a people watcher; and I enjoy sizing people up, so to speak. I'm good at it; and yes, even thought it seems non-PC to do so, I "profile." I'm sure this stems from survival skills learned during my military time in days of old (Go Army!).
I could write a book about my interpretation of others' apparent mental state and station in life just from my brief observations of those I share the trail with. Some are quite colorful, literally, decked out in the latest, most colorful skin tight fashions, mounting the most high-tech gear. Others are like me - "Hey it fits, it's mine; and it doesn't interfere with my movements. What's wrong with that?"
I love the whooshing noise the younger folks make when they zip by in their brilliantly painted aerodynamic garb, riding bikes fresh off the engineer's designing board and weighing less than the Camel Back I wear. I look at those thin little, high-speed tires, and I think, "No way, dude! You put me on top of a pair of those; and there's gonna be one loud explosion! Not to mention the wreck that seems to go on forever, even if filmed at normal speed." Most of these young guys, and a few young gals are flight students from the Navy base at the end of the trail. They can afford the gear, they're required to remain in top physical condition; and it suits them well. They can also get away with their near-naked appearance. Makes one reminisce about how it used to be before age, family responsibilities, infirmity, and wisdom set in.
It always takes me aback when I encounter the non-sociables, folks who don't speak, folks that are apparently too preoccupied and distracted by personal problems, private thought, or social status to offer more than an irritated or alarmed glance. "You talking to me!?"
In the process of planning and equipping myself for this ride, I've met several new friends, renewed some acquaintances with others, and enlisted moral support from family members. Some of these folks have sponsored me with donations to help defray trip expenses, and others, business owners, have provided promotional assistance, biking equipment, and maintenance support. I'm very grateful for the way they've encouraged and supported this venture. Still others have pledged to pay me so much per mile completed that will be donated to the American Legion. Thank you all! I'll do a better job of acknowledging your contributions soon.
In Sept of '05, back surgery permanently altered how I walk through life, literally. Whereas before my surgery, I had been able to walk for hours and miles on end, and enjoyed doing so, three fuzed disks left me temporarily partially paralyzed with fairly severe leg pains and the inability to stand motionless or sit upright for more than a few minutes at a time without causing my left leg to fall asleep. The standing and sitting limitations persist five years later; and this has helped add a great deal of unwanted weight to my body. I can deal with that; but, as I discovered last week when I was learning how to use my new shoes and pedals with clips, I don't do well with falls. After several days of fall-induced sciatica, I'll be more careful to plan ahead. In fact, I won't use the clips at all when riding in heavier-trafficked areas. I don't think I'll be able to endure many repeats of that maneuver without returning to the days of paralysis and near-constant pain.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
East Coast Greenway Ride for Veterans
Hello Riders,
Following this brief introduction is the text of a press release prepared by Herb Hiller of the East Coast Greenway in Florida, which covers the details of my impending 1172 mile roundtrip ride on Florida's East Coast Greenway, which runs between the Fl/Ga border to Key West, Florida. I will begin my trip on October 1, 2010 on the Atlantic Coast at Port Saint Lucie, which is approximately mid-distance on my trip, and head north to Fernandina Beach on the Fl/Ga border. On October 8, I should lauch on the southbound portion of my trip to Key West. If all goes well, I'll average 50 miles per day pedaling and arrive in Key West on Oct 21. Starting Oct 22, I'll begin the final leg of my journey back to Port Saint Lucie, arriving on Oct 29.
The purpose of the trip is three-fold:
1. To say thank you to, and call attention the needs of America's war veterans
2. To help promote Florida biking opportunities, in particular the East Coast Greenway
3. Personal fitness.
I welcome other riders to join me en route; and I look forward to meeting many of you you. I welcome contributions to help defray the cost of this trip; and all along my route, I will be soliciting tax-decuctible donations to the American Legion, which is America's largest veterans organization.
I will video, photograph, and journal this trip and will have several opportunities per week to respond to your posts here. I expect to lose as much as 30 pounds of unwanted body weight on this trip. Check out my "before the ride" picture posted on this blog; and follow my progress reports along the way. You can e-mail me at greenriders@earthlink.net. You can phone me at: (850) 529-4473. I will check for messages several times per day; but, for riding safety reasons, I will likely not be able to immediately answer every call.
Al
TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE
Albert E. Melvin, 63, a native of Milton in the far western Panhandle, will become the first known cyclist to bike the Florida route of the East Coast Greenway both ways in a single journey. He plans to start October 1st and will dedicate his ride to improving awareness of military veterans' health issues.
Following this brief introduction is the text of a press release prepared by Herb Hiller of the East Coast Greenway in Florida, which covers the details of my impending 1172 mile roundtrip ride on Florida's East Coast Greenway, which runs between the Fl/Ga border to Key West, Florida. I will begin my trip on October 1, 2010 on the Atlantic Coast at Port Saint Lucie, which is approximately mid-distance on my trip, and head north to Fernandina Beach on the Fl/Ga border. On October 8, I should lauch on the southbound portion of my trip to Key West. If all goes well, I'll average 50 miles per day pedaling and arrive in Key West on Oct 21. Starting Oct 22, I'll begin the final leg of my journey back to Port Saint Lucie, arriving on Oct 29.
The purpose of the trip is three-fold:
1. To say thank you to, and call attention the needs of America's war veterans
2. To help promote Florida biking opportunities, in particular the East Coast Greenway
3. Personal fitness.
I welcome other riders to join me en route; and I look forward to meeting many of you you. I welcome contributions to help defray the cost of this trip; and all along my route, I will be soliciting tax-decuctible donations to the American Legion, which is America's largest veterans organization.
Al
TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE
Albert E. Melvin, 63, a native of Milton in the far western Panhandle, will become the first known cyclist to bike the Florida route of the East Coast Greenway both ways in a single journey. He plans to start October 1st and will dedicate his ride to improving awareness of military veterans' health issues.
In a nine-year U.S. Army career, Melvin, during the war years of 1968 to 1970, served as a Cobra helicopter pilot in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and then as an air ambulance pilot with the Army National Guard. He later flew for Mobil Oil in the Gulf of Mexico, for the Florida Division of Forestry, and worked as an air traffic controller in Anchorage, Alaska and in Leesburg, Virginia.
Melvin says he learned about the 586-mile route of the East Coast Greenway through Florida by online research about “a route that had a beginning and an end that I could handle in about a month. So much the better keeping the ride entirely in Florida; because people need to know about this kind of route happening in our state, even if it’s as far east as you can get from where I live.”
About 200 miles of the route between Fernandina Beach and Key West are now off-road and paved, the balance mainly along Highway A1A, quiet roads and streets that parallel the shore road, and otherwise along roads closer to U.S. 1 than A1A.
Melvin plans to park his car in Port St. Lucie and then begin riding about 50 miles a day, first north to Fernandina Beach, then south to Key West and north again to Port St. Lucie.
He’ll ride a Trek 830 Antelope, equipped with lights, pulling an Aosom two-wheel tag-along bike trailer, which will weigh about 60 pounds when loaded with lightweight clothing, tent and sleeping bag, first aid and shaving kits, batteries, high energy snack bars, water, and emergency equipment. He will wear a Camelback [hydration system, helmet, and gloves. A handlebar bag will hold additional person items. A locking, weather resistant hard-side cargo bin mounted on the rear bike rack will hold repair gear. He will tune up the bike before he leaves and will modify his trailer to accept the same caliber wheels as his bike.
“Depending on the weather, I plan to camp along the way, to rough it as much as possible,” says Melvin.
However, as word has gotten around about his ride, offers have been coming in for at-home hospitality. In Port St. Lucie, Melvin has been asked to join a veterans memorial dedication. In Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island Trails has invited Melvin to speak. In Miami, the advocacy group Green Mobility Network plans to organize a meeting around his time there.
Between now and the start of his ride, Melvin, unemployed, is soliciting sponsors and donors to help meet his expenses but also to raise funds for the American Legion for use in its veterans assistance programs. He asks that donors channel their contributions through American Legion Post #78, 6025 Spikes Way, Milton, Fl 32570.
Melvin will begin his trip as an ordinary cyclist. He says “I've occasionally biked the Blackwater Heritage Trail here in Santa Rosa County. Other than that, my riding has been limited to local area exploration, with no trip taking more than five or six hours.” He’s spending September training on his bike modified for the trip.
Melvin distinctly ended his flying career piloting the same type helicopter that he cut his teeth on 35 years before. He calls the Cobra "a rocket ship with rotor blades that also became part of my body, an extension of a seventh-sense, difficult to put into words, but nevertheless experienced at the cellular level.
“When that bird soared, my spirit soared. When she shuddered and didn't feel right, I was out of sorts and apprehensive as well."
His love affair with the Cobra ended after nearly 10,000 accident-free flight hours when he twisted his back trying to keep his machine from damage ahead of an advancing thunderstorm.
That led to surgery for three fused vertebrae
Melvin says, “Having spent most of my life looking down on earthbound creatures, and capable of accurately predicting where I would be at a given time, I now find myself grounded in reality, walking and pedaling like everyone else, looking up frequently, and wondering how on earth anyone ever gets around without a helicopter.”
Of this ride, Al's wife of 38 years, Sylvia, a teacher and freelance writer, jokes, "Most men have a midlife crisis in their 50's. Al waited 'til his 60's."
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“I acknowledge that in this perilous economy, veterans are perhaps just another group that competes for our attention; but few other folks in this nation have ever been required to lay everything on the line the way they have, often at the risk of permanent disability or death, and often unable to adequately provide for themselves and their families. If the politicians that are so quick to dispatch our soldiers all over the globe were first required to serve under similar circumstances, I'll bet we wouldn't have this problem of veterans in need. Nor would it be so bad, if so many of our leaders didn't exhibit the attitude that our soldiers are an expendable commodity, if for no other reason, just because they are volunteers. These attitudes contribute to the problem of inadequate funding for veteran treatment - hence, the reason for this trip.”
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EAST COAST GREENWAY ALLIANCE BIKE TRAIL
FLORIDA/GEORGIA BORDER TO KEY WEST
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
DAY TARGET AREA
1 Oct 1 Port St. Lucie
2 Oct 2 Melbourne
3 Oct 3 Titusville
4 Oct 4 Daytona Beach
5 Oct 5 Crescent Beach
6 Oct 6 Jacksonville Beach
7 Oct 7 Fernandina Beach
8 Oct 8 Ponte Vedra
9 Oct 9 Ormond Beach
10 Oct 10 Titusville
11 Oct 11 Melbourne
12 Oct 12 Vero Beach
13 Oct 13 Port St. Lucie
14 Oct 14 Palm Beach
15 Oct 15 Ft. Lauderdale
16 Oct 16 Miami
17 Oct 17 Florida City
18 Oct 18 Key Largo
19 Oct 19 Long Key
20 Oct 20 Big Pine Key
21 Oct 21 Key West
22 Oct 22 Bahia Honda Key
23 Oct 23 Long Key
24 Oct 24 Key Largo
25 Oct 25 Florida City
26 Oct 26 Miami
27 Oct 27 Del Ray Beach
28 Oct 28 Jupiter Island
29 Oct 29 Port St. Lucie
* DAILY SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER & MAINTENANCE.
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