San Antonio Tourist Stuff

We Drop In On Ripley's And Wax Museum


Having driven by it a dozen times we finally made the time to go through the Alamo. You know how so many things look
smaller once you really get to them or in them? The Alamo actually seemed quite a bit roomier than I thought it would be from seeing the inside. Packed with tourists!


Just across the street from the venerated Texas monument is of course a collection of tourist attractions. We took in the Ripley's Believe It Or Not 'Odditorium'!


One of my favorite things was this deer head. Notice anything strange or different about it? It is in the 'Odditorium', after all!


The deer head is made totally of nails.


I'm almost 6' 4". This Robert Wadlow fellow was 8' 11". Makes me feel tiny!


Deanna gets creeped out by eyes so she did not want to buddy up to the bug-eyed man.


But Lexi seemed to develop quite a liking for the man qho could swallow his nose...


At the wax museum next door Lexi was interviewed by Oprah about all of her exciting plans.


Supposedly Jay Leno posed with Deanna but this Jay looks a little crazy to me!


Just like watching his show, talking to Dr. Phil drove me to tears.
More from the road coming soon.

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Gear List For Long Distance Bicycle Touring Trip

Complete List Of Everything On The Bike

Of course every bicyclist is different. Some carry everything but the kitchen sink, others carry a credit card and cell phone. I am beginning with this gear. Maybe in time I will thin the equipment out or add to it, only time and experience will tell me what is needed and what is dead weight for my trip.


1. Ortleib Front Pannier, Left, waterproof
2. Lightweight socks, biking
3. Wool socks, hiking, cold weather
4. Underwear
5. Rain jacket and pants, good REI stuff
6. Light long underwear, wicking, warm
7. Medium long underwear, warmer
8. Dry bag for computer, rubbery for kayaking and such
9. ASUS netbook computer with cover, totally cool, I recommend
10. Magellan pants, zip off into shorts
11. T-shirts, cotton nylon blend, comfy
12. Magellan shirts, cool, dry fast, dressy enough for eating out


1. Ortelib Pannier, Front, Right
2. GORP. Good Old Raisins & Peanuts. With M &M's!
3. Bath towel
4. Knit hat for warmth
5. Non-dairy creamer. Thanks Shipley's!
I also have some hijacked jelly packs. Don't tell.
6. Tea selection
7. Utensils, one-cup coffee gadget
8. Washrag
9. Snack bars
10. Peanut butter, can stew, veggies, tuna
11. Mess kit
12. Extra plastic bags
13. Sugar
14. Coffee
15. Honey
16. Day-Glo vest, gift from Lexi and Sara.
(Where is the promised cash contribution to the trip girls? It was my Father's Day gift!)
17. Oatmeal


1. Ortleib Rear Pannier, Left
2. Katadyn water bottle purifier filter. Dip in river, drink, like magic.
3. Sterno stove and fuels
4. Candle lantern
5. Candles
6. Bathroom- toothbrush, paste, shaving, lotion, shampoo, soap, sunscreen
7. Foot care, lotions, creams, moleskin
8. Manual for camera, I am still learning it.
9. Tool shed, rope, can opener, sewing kit, tent repair kit
10. Pajama bottoms
11. Hat, large brim, neck flap, light, quick dry, high SPF
12. First aid, bandages, painkillers, Immodium, Carmex, etc.
Also, somewhere in there is an LED headlamp.


1. Ortleib Pannier, rear, right
2. OK, both shoes would not fit into one pannier. I have yards rather than feet.
3. Water bottle filter had to be moved
4. Net mosquito hood, cheap, light
5. Kyrptonite New York City lock. Heavy, $3,000 Warranty.
6. Cheap and small tripod
7. Electronics- chargers for phone, computer, camera, batteries, etc.
8. Prescription, 2 months. Won't get you high but without it I don't digest food well. A real pain in the neck. And wallet.
9. Toilet paper. Enough already


1,2,3,4 Panniers, loaded
5. Sleeping bag in dry bag
6. Sleeping pad- Soft and keeps cold ground away from me
7. Tent in dry bag
8. Tent poles
9. Under seat bag, full of tools, spare tubes, patch kit.
10. Helmet
11. Biking shoes and socks
12. Bright yellow jersey
13. Shorts
14. Handlebar bag for phone, camera. snack



1. Handlebar bag
2. Bell. Required in some countires, and fun!
3. Waterproof map case mounts to handlebars
4. Mileage computer
5. Air pump
6. Underseat tool bag
7. Sleeping pad
8. Tent and stakes
9. Sleeping bag
10. Front panniers
11. Water bottles, thanks Sari, Jeanne, and Shannon!
12. Rear panniers

That's it!
I haven't weighed it but it seems scary heavy. That credit card and motel style of biking is surely easier physically, but more expensive. But when I took her for a first spin it was surprisingly easy to move along nicely. A bit wobbly at first, I have to get used to the extra weight.
Strangely, as soon as the wheels touched the pavement the sky darkened, lightning crashed, drizzle fell, and of all things a black cat crossed the street a block away.
I turned the corner!
(Literally and figuratively, I suppose.)

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I Have A Sporting Goods Store In My Closet

Why The President Of REI Sporting Goods Is Smiling

1. Thermarest Sleeping Pad- a full 3/4" thick. Actually is very soft and will keep the ground moisture at bay.
2. Giro Helmet- Not expensive, it's just my head.
3. Rick Steves 'Europe Through The Back Door' Book- Great advice from a master light traveler.
4. Scary, Crazy stack of receipts!
5. Magellan Pants- The crazy zip into two pieces type. Not modern biking garb,I know, so all day-glo spandex clad biking folks can shut yer holes.
6.- Super light and comfy tees.
7.- Magellan Shirts- Light color and weight, vented, super quick drying, high SPF rating.
8. REI Rain Jacket and Pants- Great quality at a fair price for millionaires everywhere.
9. Boxer Briefs- I know, TMI!
10. REI Long Underwear (These are designed to wick away moisture from your body and dollars from your wallet! For extra warmth make sure you wear a lightweight pair near your skin and a thicker set over that pair. Doubling you expenditure of course. Is this like that old thing about lather, rinse, repeat?)
11. Hypodermic Syringes- Just in case I need a shot in any of the countries of the world that believe rinsing a needle is good enough.
12. Moleskin- For tender foot parts. I pity the poor mole though.
13. Big Agnes Emerald Mountain Tent and Stakes.
14. Footprint to go under the tent. (A $55 super-thin tarp!)
15. Full gloves with fingers. (See last post!)
16. Katadyn Water Filter Bottle- Just dip it in a river, ditch, cesspool and squeeze out fresh, clean water! Removes 99.99% of Giardia, the 3 month have-the-poops bacteria! It's that .01% left over that has me worried though.
17. Insulated Water Bottle- I have three. The man said if you put ice and water in them it will stay cold for an hour. Kind of like any other cup, right? These were purchased with funds donated by three separate ladies and will be named after the ladies and tracked on the blog. Will all three make it around the world? We shall see.
(Since three ladies have contributed does that make me a ladies man? Probably not.)
18. One Pound, One Foot Tall Tripod.
19. Passport to the World. Literally.
20. Ortleib Panniers. The only ones that won't leak they say. We shall see. I still bought additional electronics protection.
21. Fancy Biking Socks.
22. Fancy Hiking Socks.
23. REI Hiking Boots- I am not sure about these. Too heavy to tote around the world on a bike to use for a few days. Still mulling this one over.
24. White Gas Stove Fuel.
25. Little One Cup Coffe Device. Super cool!
26. MSR Stove- White gas here, kerosens around the world, hot coffee every morning.
27. Mess Kit- Pan, pot, cup, all in a tiny package. Aslo fork, knife, mini-spatula.
28. Fuel Bottle for Stove.
29. Headlight- Four tiny LED lights can illuminate a campsite, signal for help. annoy my daughter Lexi from 20 feet away.
30. Candle Lantern. Romantic.
31. Waterproof Dry Bags- For the laptop and sleeping bag. Oops, I need one more for the tent!
32. Brass Bell- Man it is loud. It's the law in some countries. Every time I ring it Oliver the dog barks.
33. Electrical Adapter Plugs- Five different ones should cover the world.
34. Cycle Computer- How fast and how far did I ride? What, that's it! This darn thing must be broken.

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Fancy Biking Gloves Are Priced Like Bikinis!

Less Is More


I am sure these gloves have polysomething inserts and NASA engineered fabric liners and possibly have been worn by God, maybe even Lance Armstrong, but they seem to have forgotten the fingertips! I thought maybe they would have little zippers for the fingertip parts, like those two piece pants, but the sales clerk assured me they were made this way.
These were $24.50!
I paid $17.95 for full wrist to fingertip gloves. What a shopper. I just hope I am not troubled by the looming danger of sweaty fingertips.

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Equipment For A Long Distance Bicycle Ride Around The World

Equipmment For Around The World Trip Is Being AssembledThe last week has been a blur of details and choices, exchanges and re-thinking on what to bring on a long-distance bicycle trip. Luckily for me there are online journals with dozens of equipment lists so I can see what others have done.

Teva Not-Quite-Sandals. I have tried on numerous types and brands of tennis shoe in the past week, bought three, returned three. Three strikes and
you are out, right?These Teva shoes are very light, have ventilation holes, and I have been wearing them all week and forget they are on me. Originally I bought them just to relax around camp. I tried regular sandals but my daughter Lexi convinced me that other campers should not be subjected to the horrible sight of my bare feet right at dinner time. Sadly, she is correct.(As for the holes in the Tevas Rob Sweetgall has walked around the USA twice and always slits his Rockport tennis along the side to air them out in the heat, even in the winter.)I am considering wearing these shoes while biking. (Bike tech-geeks gasping everywhere, I hear you!) I may wear them with an arch insert and good light wool socks to wick moisture away. What do you think, orthopedic gurus and Lance Armstong wannabes?

REI Hiking Boots A pretty penny they were, though only mid-range, but they feel great on my feet. I figure to do some hiking and even though they are heavy I hope I can tote them along. We shall see. I'm hoping to walk a bit in the United Kingdom, the Swiss Alps, and to trek in Nepal, so good boots are a requirement. The folks at REI are excellent and full of knowledge, though when Bob the Boot Expert looks you in the eye and asks what kind of sock you are wearing, as "the sock is as important as the boot", it can be intimidating. Especially when you have on Wal-Mart cotton cheapies.Thanks for the great help Bob!

Portable TripodThis little cheapo is one foot tall, one pound, and only $13 at Wal-Mart. It will be great for getting all those touristy shots (Alan at the Eiffel Tower, Alan at the Taj Mahal, etc.) without having to trust someone not to bound away with your camera. This way they can bound away with your camera and tripod!

A Simple Way to Make a Cup of CoffeeThis handy-dandy little tool makes one cup at a time. Fill with grounds, snap shut, swirl in hot water, drink. For years I have made a pot, drank a cup, went to work and came home to pour out the other five cups of old coffee!Like meeting the girl of your dreams, where have you been all of my life!

Trying To Be PreparedThat's right, hypodermics. When you see a bunch of these you either have come across a man with a habit, a diabetic, or a world traveler. Imagine having to get a shot overseas and watching the nurse RE-USE the needle after each patient. Preventative medicine at it's simplest. Now, just try not to wake up in a hospital and wonder what was done!

Ortleib PanniersTo think I have lusted over luggage. These Ortleib panniers are the saddlebags to be strapped to the side of the bicycle. Laid out on the living room floor and examined caerefully they seem precious small. There is a saying that on a long trip by foot or bike you should lay out all of your gear and all of your money. Now remove half of the gear and double the size of the money pile! Having small luggage encourages this process.Online ratings and travel bloggers have said these Ortleib panniers are the only ones truly waterproof. After deciding to purchase them Mark, a friend of a friend wrote to advise them also. Thanks Mark, that solidified my decision.

MSR Stove and Mess KitThis I have but am still considering if I should take it or return it. I envision a hot meal in the evening, if not every night perhaps quite often. Or will the extra pounds languish in my pannier. I may find myself living on purchased food, dinner invitations, simple to prepare stuff. What do you think? I'm as likely as not to make a sandwich at home, but that is after a day when I have not pedaled 40 miles.

HeadlampWow! Four little LED lights can be really bright. Bright enough to dig through panniers for that pesky stove to package up to send home! Bright enough to temporarily blind and constantly annoy Lexi from across the room!
Ah my daughter Lexi, she left tonight for Miami and Disney World! Have fun my girl. We are planning to meet in New York City soon enough to see 'The Little Mermaid' on Broadway and some of the museums and sights in the Big Apple. But that's another post...

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Big Agnes Emerald Mountain Tent Arrives. It's Hot And So Is The Tent!

My New Home Arrived Today In A Small UPS Box

I chose a three person, three season tent called the Emerald Mountain, made by a company with the unlikely name of
Big Agnes. As with most tents the three person rating means the three people best be real comfortable together. Lots of legroom to stretch though, ample room for gear, and very highly rated by actual users. What else would you expect from Big Agnes?The pic above shows the inner mesh fabic before the rain fly is put on. Three season?

Typically a tent is put up at dusk and taken down in the morning. Mid-afternoon Texas July makes it a most hot prospect and turns the tent into an oven. For me 95 degrees usually beats 15 degrees. Striving for a target date to leave on the 26th or 27th. We shall see.

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