Heat and Moaning

Everyone, anyone, and whomever,

I am here writing to you from a Library in Prescott -- former capitol of Arizona a little ways south of Flagstaff. It was beautiful and exhausting biking here through mountains... but the evergreens and cooler temperatures have made it more than worth it. I always welcome seeing foliage that isn't accompanied by needles and I've grown tired of the sick leathery greens and browns of cacti and other desert flora (sorry desert fans).

Shane from New Zealand atop the mud caves at Anza Borrego

It hasn't been long since our last update but I wanted to share a video from San Diego and talk a bit about my lovely time spent with the medical professionals in Brawley, California.

As I mentioned in a previous post: Jesse moans in his sleep. He also whimpers, mumbles, groans, and mutters. Some of our surfers have had the pleasure of experiencing this first hand - but my insomnia and proximity to Jesse over the past weeks have given me a very thorough sampling of Jesse's night time musical stylings. Almost every night he does it for varying lengths, volumes, etc... I've tried to capture some video but I'm usually too lazy to move myself or he wakes up while I go to get the camera... but not in San Diego. I caught this video of Jesse sleeping on Matt and Kim's futon with my cell phone (forgive the quality) and we've uploaded it to Youtube for all to enjoy.

As Jesse mentioned I got heat exhaustion in California. It didn't exactly sneak up on me but when you're used to being hot, tired, and delirious... it just sort of blends in. Jesse was feeling fine that day, he was showing off some new exercises and alternative pedaling techniques he'd invented and was talking about how he was going to get pumped up, be enthusiastic, and shout excitedly at passing cars. I told him I would be all for that but I felt like I was going to pass out. He said "OK I'll do the shouting and you just focus on staying not passed out." A few hours later I was crawling toward a rock with a bit of shade and wondering why the only thing I could think about clearly was a cold bottle of red Powerade... mmm. I figured I'd wait there until I stopped dry heaving and feeling dizzy and then I'd hop back on the bike. Jesse came back for me a while later and luckily had the good sense to get help - truthfully I didn't really realize it was cause for concern until I was sitting in the park ranger's truck with the AC on high covered in ice packs and sopping wet from the cold water being poured on me -- still feeling hot. I rambled to the ranger, asking him questions about the Mexican border, wildflowers, and the ridiculous amount of weapons he was carrying in his truck. The ambulance came and they all told me I should go to the hospital - I agreed. There were several Paramedics, one was a trainee, one seemed to be the leader, and the third wasn't used to driving... One of the Paramedics hovered over me, shoulders smashing into the sides of the vehicle due to the bumpy road, all while holding the IV needle a few inches from my arm, presumably waiting for a less bumpy stretch - I decided I would focus on the setting sun in the tiny window and told the Paramedic "I forgive you in advance for mangling my arm" -- He laughed and proceeded to miss my vein three or four times, improperly place a few EKG leads, and drop a roll of tape on my head. We arrived at the hospital and a one armed nurse began taking care of me. Jesse went out and bought Klondike bars and a submarine sandwich - the ice cream was melted so I tried to eat it first - I fell asleep with chocolate and ice cream all over my face and shirt, waking up every fifteen minutes or so. It took four bags of IV fluids to get a urine sample and by the time they were done running their tests it was almost 2:00am -- I tried to find a place to sleep but they would not let me stay in the ER and after everyone I asked said they'd go talk to someone about it - never to be seen again - I gave up and ended up sleeping on the ground outside next to the bikes. Jesse slept in the ICU family waiting room  which was about the size of a walk in closet -- with a smelly man who snored loudly.

Jesse getting cozy in the waiting room with sandwich aftermath

I've noticed the past few days that biking in the desert heat gets to me a lot faster now - and considering the fact that we haven't the time to bike the full distance to Wisconsin - I am likely going to take it easy on the biking and train back a little sooner than I'd planned. This may be one of the last blog posts from me - but on the bright side - the sooner I get home the sooner I can edit and post the dance video. We're headed for Flagstaff soon and then who knows -- we'll keep you updated.

photo totally not staged or planned in any way at all by Matt G.

• Minutes of library time remaining to write my 'list': 2

So that is all you get.

-Danny