Response to Randy - and Randy's response

The team's response

'fortune favour's the brave'

Randy's response

'BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED, FOR THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LET IN THE LIGHT!'


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Message/Warning from Randy

I hope you don't mind me butting in, I am a former cyclist and when I looked at your route, I became concerned about your segment from Taos to Melrose. While it doesn't look difficult on the map, New Mexico is a large state and maps can be deceiving. First of all the distance from Taos to Melrose is about 380 KM. That seems like a lot to ride in a day, even for your crowd. The town of Taos is at 2130 meters altitude and your day would start off with about a 60 kilometer mountain segment at altitudes in excess of 2600 meters above sea level. I am just concerned that if you haven't trained at altitude, this could be a killer. And we haven't even talked about freezing temperatures and the winds we sometime get here in the spring. To keep on schedule I assume there are times you pack it in and just motor the guys to the next destination, but I don't know. Is that an option?


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Background to Taos

Taos and its setting: The first European explorers of the Taos Valley came here with Captain Hernando de Alvarado, a member of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition of 1540. Basque explorer Don Juan de Oñate arrived in Taos in July 1598 and established a mission and trading arrangements with
residents of Taos Pueblo. The settlement developed into two plazas: the Plaza at the heart of the town became a thriving business district for the early colony, and a walled residential plaza was constructed a few hundred yards behind. It remains active today, home to a throng of gift and coffee shops. Taos Plaza is, for historical reasons, one of the few places in the country where the U.S.flag may properly be displayed continuously (both day
and night).

Beginning in 1899, artists began to settle in Taos and created the "Taos Society of Artists". In time the Taos art colony developed. Many paintings were made of local scenes, especially of Taos Pueblo and activities there.

Taos is now one of the major tourist attractions in the Southwest. With its skiing and dining, and historical sites.

The town is attracting the attention of Hollywood with famous residents such as Julia Roberts, Val Kilmer, and Donald Rumsfeld among others.

Taos is nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, literally translated 'The Blood of Christ' because of the spectacular reddish color they can turn at sunset.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains on Earth. They stretch from Poncha Pass, Colorado, in the north to Glorieta Pass, New Mexico, in the south. There are ten peaks over 14,000' high in the range, more than two dozen over 13,000'.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Taos, New Mexico, United States. At 650 feet (200 m) above the Rio Grande, it is one of the highest bridges in the United States. The span is 1,280 feet (390 m): two 300-foot (91 m)-long approach spans with a 600-foot (180 m)-long main center span. The
bridge was dedicated on September 10, 1965 and is a part of U.S. Route 64, a major east-west road.

In 1966 the American Institute of Steel Construction awarded the bridge "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the "Long Span" category. The bridge has appeared in several films, including Natural Born Killers, Twins, She's Having a Baby, Wild Hogs and the new Terminator movie.

The Gorge of the Rio Grande: This river, or at least the section that runs through northern New Mexico, is not a typical river that has carved out its own valley. Rather, the valley appeared first and the river followed. This 'rift valley' is a separation in the earth's crust caused by faulting and
other earth movements when the North American and Pacific plates scraped against each other some twenty-nine million years ago.

The Rio Grande Rift is not just the canyon, or gorge, that holds the river, but an area of more than 160,000 square miles reaching from central Colorado almost to Big Bend National Park in Texas. Taos Plateau is part of this 'rift system' and lies in the San Luis Basin, which is nearly a hundred miles long and about forty-seven miles wide.

As pressures from the scraping plates caused the earth's crust to crinkle, Colorado and New Mexico rose nearly 5,000 feet. Basaltic magma surged upward from the mantle, forcing weaker areas of the surface to spread. Fault-enclosed basins called grabens dropped several thousand feet lower than adjacent land. Blocks of the earth's crust fell into some of these grabens, deepening them. Sediments including sand, gravel, volcanic lava, and ash filled the grabens to depths of four and a half miles in some places.

The Church of San Francisco de Asis , at Ranchos de Taos is considered by many to be the most beautiful edifice in the State of New Mexico. A powerful and luminous landmark, it is as elegantly simple and dignified an example as ever graced a Southwest horizon.

The intimate connection in the Spanish mind between religion and everyday life is the inspiration for this magnificent building. It was built in the eighteenth century by the hands of Spanish settlers and their Pueblo Indian neighbors, who shaped and laid the adobe bricks of clay, sand and straw. In the summer of 1979, the descendants of these original architects rebuilt the
church with methods and materials that have varied little in over 200 years.

Many artists, photographers and writers have tried to capture the ageless quality of the building's subtle lines and broad earthen planes and it is one of the most famous sights in the world.


Randy and Sondra Phillips


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Taos - Where will we stay?

Many thanks to Phyllis and Jan - it looks outstandingly beautiful. The team have suggested that we should go straight to Taos and forget about the cycling - the welcome already has been amazing!

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Taos lay out the Red Carpet

Marilyn Newman and her friends and colleagues from Taos, New Mexico are organizing a civic reception for when we turn up. There will be a welcome ceremony where we would be honored by the Mayor's presence along with the fiesta queen, musicians such as Billy Archuleta. Folk from the Pueblo will hopefully attend with Native American musicians and dancers.


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Cycle Kit Sponsorship

Bassett & MacGregor have donated £400 towards Kit sponsorship for the cyclists

Thanks to Andrew, Argo and Sinjan


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Challenge Sponsorship

£1000 was donated to the cause by Castell Howell Foods http://chfoods.co.uk/about/gtwp_section_leader.htm

Big thanks to Brian Jones and his team - this will make it for us.


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Collection Box

£54 was collected at The Sporting Chance. The collection tin was full to the top. Many thanks to Pete and Jacquie. http://www.sportingchanceinn.co.uk/


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Daffodil Classic

Princes Gate Spring Water sponsor 'The Daffodil Classic'. David Jones, Managing Director said, 'Ye no problem', when he was asked to support us once again.


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Media Coverage of C2C

Radio Cymru have commissioned Telesgop to follow us across the U.S. Interviews and updates will be transmitted back to Wales on a daily basis. A fly on the wall documentary will also be produced.

Telesgop is a successful multimedia company based in the SA1 area of Swansea. The company has managed many long-running series for S4C, documentaries for BBC Wales, five major international co-productions with partners such as Discovery US and Animal Planet and has produced a series for BBC Network.

The company’s long running farming TV series has spun off interactive services on TV and the web, demonstrating Telesgop’s multi-media capabilities. Recently, Telesgop has been successful in moving into corporate and educational productions for clients such as the Welsh Assembly Government and Readers’ Digest.

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fund raising gig

the keeftones
featuring Nik Turner on saxaphone and flute.
new rock band with psychedelic overtones has pledged a gig to the challenge. The famous 'Mighty Thunder' ex-Hawkwind (Silver Machine) has joined the keeftones to add some surreal sounds to a solid rock trio doing originals and quite a few covers with unique adaptations

GREENBRIDGE INN, PENDINE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH

The band have also promised to play at the 'coming home' party at Hurst House, Laugharne on Thursday, April 9th.

'Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. '


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New Squad Members

Unfortunately two of the original squad members, Tim and Martin have had to pull out due to work and wedding commitments.

Joining the support crew are two worthy butties.

Mervyn Desmond Cooper, now living in Plymouth but originally a man of Ely, Cardiff. Merv has already started to put a book of ditties together for the trip. A well traveled ex-naval man will be the tourist with the strength of mind to hold the team together. a true logistics man who knows the importance of the team ethic. There will be much written about this man in time to come - watch this space! - The Quarter Master!

Tomos Rhys Ioan Wilding, a man of Laugharne, an experienced first aider, just returned from a tour of Oz with his mate Evs. Tom will be found throughout the trip under the instruction of Merv. He will be Merv's first mate!




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ONE LAST SPONSORSHIP!

As we near the end of our preparation we have one last sponsorship package to promote. After the challenge has been completed we plan to have a party. The 'Coming Home' party at Hurst House On The Marsh in Laugharne. We are looking for sponsorship for the event:

Package One: £1200 will allow the sponsor to invite 3 couples to the evening and also to have Bed and Breakfast and Champagne on arrival at Hurst House On The Marsh.

Package Two: £600 will allow the sponsor to invite 6 people to the evening.

The Timetable for the evening is as follows:

7 - 7.30p.m. - Arrive and Welcome.

7.30 - 8.15p.m. - Buffet in the Hurst House on the Marsh Restaurant.

8.15 - 9.00p.m. - Presentation of the Coast 2 Coast USA Challenge - what happened?

9.00 - 10.00p.m. - Live Acoustic Music with Uncle Lyndon and 'The Two Fat Cyclists' with many guests.

10.00 - 12.00p.m. - Live Music from our 'Coast 2 Coast' featuring Nik Turner.

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And then there were 5 - 'The Coming Together' of the full C2C Team. 31st Jan/1st Feb 2009

"This Weekend's not so much about the Cycling - its more about the support crew coming together" - The Buzzard Slayer Jan 2009.

With just 6 weeks before the off the plan for sometime was for this weekend to be a full C2C team test and to have a weekend of long distance riding around the Counties of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire with the full support crew in tow, testing the logistics and making sure change overs and individual roles were all nailed down.

Friday evening and we had planned to meet at Morfa Bay in Pendine where rooms had been organised and the heating `turned off` in readiness of our arrival along with biting easterly winds.

Due to a number of developments, some genuine and serious in nature, and some it has to be said very tenuous in nature, we found ourselves only as a five some on Friday evening down from an expected 8. So we ended up with 3 of us watching Wally and his woman (Belcher) tucking into their `private` ASDA microwave Chinese.

So the crew for this weekend looked like:-

1. Andy `The Buzzard Slayer" Edwardakis (Current #1 ranking. Tenby Aces Reliabilty Champion)
2. Richard `Axl Rose` Belcher
3. Gareth `Where's Wally' Evans
4. Phil `The Hairdresser - I ride with The Buzzard Slayer` Jenkins
5. Mr Henry `The Kitten Magners - Meltwater` Jones (loose support)

A slight change of plans due to limited support meant that the riders would at first light take on the Daffodil challenge ride from Pendine with Meltwater in support (not the usual kind though where you can see the vehicle following you, more the hidden, covert kind where he turns up after you`ve arrived and left).

SAT DAY - Woken at 6.30 by Wally releaving himself of the aforementioned ASDA Chinese with the lav door open accompanied by not only the stench but also the timeless classic tunes of Paul Mac and the mighty Wings. By 7.30 we find ourselves fully loaded with Morfa Bay porridge and by 8am we set off towards St Clear's and the climb from Meidrim to Trelech.

Poppy sets the early pace banging away on the old AIR DRUMS screaming Live and Let diiieeeee....... at every farmer we pass. His reportaire of air instruments has increased somewhat recently and on this ride we witnessed also Air trombone and the all new Air keyboards.

After arriving at Trelech, Meltwaters cover is broken and we pull him over for a quick feed stop. FULLY layered up with several fleeces and cycle gloves `the kitten` emerges from the warmth of his VW Golf. "ohh its rather chilly here chaps"

Another 90mins and were back at base and changing into dry gear for the afternoon's outing which we decide will be a series of 6 mile relay runs along the flats at Pendine to Plashet and back as its getting very cold.

Melt decides to join in with this and dons a few more layers. With woolen hats in place and his helmet about two feet off his head they set off for the first run. 4 leave, 3 return. The woolen mummy has suffered with the extreme race pace set by the trio and makes a tactical decision to sit out the next round. I join and find the going quite tough as the old chest is starting to wheeze which is not a good sign as the Fat Cyclists are playing tonight at the Spring Well.

I manage a few then retire to the van with `the kitten` and await the return of the others. We all then head to the Point for a cuppa, while Wally, starving as usual orders a jacket spud and beans.

The others decide on another run and I run up the red flag and head back to base with the van to get ready for the gig.

SAT NIGHT - 6pm and we set off for Hurst House for a swift pint and also to check out the venue for our homecoming party then back to the Spring Well to set up and get some food in.

Currys for a few, Steak for me and going for glory is Wally with a 20oz mixed grill, chips, salad & steak Diane sauce (goes tidy with fried egg butt!)

A gentle few pints and a couple of songs is the shout as we have another big day ahead of us tomorrow. After some coaxing The One steps up to the mike and wows the crowd with American Pie sung in the newly discovered Key of J#. We finish the gig around 11.30 and the buzzard and I get the gear packed away in the van and are away by midnight.

I bunker down alone and am just dropping off when at 1am, Wally, (10 Jim Beams and a nasty bought of bullemia) and The One (7 more pints) aboard roll into the dorm. Gareth dons his LED head torch and with lav door wide open comences to show the kids the pool while maintaining converstaion with all that'll listen.

SUNDAY MORNING - The day dorns to the sound yet again of the mighty P MAC & Wings and Wally unbelievably on the dunny (door wide open) and letting rip with running commentary. The Stench of this combined with the emissions of the recovering Belcher is reminiscent of a Calcutta slum in mid summer.

A quick chat over breakfast and the four of us (Meltwater having decided on a lay in, exhausted, and with a plan to put the chicken in the oven early) decided on a route.

The wind has whipped up and the plan is for us to head west towards Castlemartin and Freshwater then turn into the wind and head back to Tenby. A forty miler and some more flat work will see us for today.

The ride is a fairly tough one with the barflys suffering a little (The One more than most). After this we head back to base and on to The Point Cafe` for a fuel up for the afternoon session.

SUNDAY PM - Upon arrival back at base we notice that `The Kitten's` Ninkinonk Battaglyn two wheeler is out of the barn and resting on the non supportive vehicle. In the lounge we find him huddled up, in full race attire complete with cleated shoes, to a roaring wood burner being attended to by three doting females, recovery drinks and chocolate wrappers surround him. The buzzard slayer enquiries as to events and the response comes back from a visibly shaken and barely conscious Meltwater that he's done a lap of Llansadwrnen and is finished for the day.

We change, grab lunch at the point cafe` and head out for a final 3 relays to Plashet.

Over 130 miles under our belts this weekend we head back to the Morfa Bay Centre and prepare to head home to our familys.....with only 42 days to go before the off.

Happy Hill Climbing

Phil Jenkins

Team Cyclist

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