two hundred seventy six

IN THE FAMOUS WORDS OF POPEYE "I YAM WHAT I YAM"

Well I'm an old straight blue collar Christian conservative white guy. Today some may say this is a brave and bold statement but like Popeye said "I yam what I yam". I am closing in on 70 years of age, far longer then I had ever expected to live. I have seen plenty of change in my life, some good and some not so good.

After that short statement I imagine a few people are already assigning labels, motives and tribal membership to me. If that is you there is nothing I can do about it. Name calling, judging and stereotyping does not promote discussion or debate it is simply a cheap tactic to silence and divide. 

I can't stop any of it I can only ignore the name calling, labeling and  implied motives and affiliations. I long to have honest discussions wherever possible but it is becoming rare. 

What once was common sense is now turned upside down and inside out. Name calling, assigning blame, guilt trips, victim status, self pity and rewritten history does not welcome debate. Censorship, changing the meaning of words, false science, the blanket omission of facts and character assassination are tactics to discredit and demonize opponents.

The desire to know the truth takes backstage to feelings. We don't speak the same language and don't share the same vision of history or the future. We now have narrative news coverage, blowhard panels of so called experts and the opinions of self appointed group leaders, all designed to justify hatred and resentments.

I think it is like two divorced parents in a custody battle that are trying to win the favor of their children. They desperately manipulate always masking it by saying things like "It's for the good of the children", however the tactics they use reveal their true motives. 

One offers no discipline, no bedtime, junk food and unrestricted playtime. The other parent has rules, bed times, nutritious meals and makes them do their homework. Both parents point out to the children how the other parent doesn't care about them.

It is up to the child to make a wise decision about their future and how they will be cared for. It is obvious most children will choose no rules, candy and playtime and think the parent with rules is mean and doesn't care how they feel.

Teaching children to be selfish is easy, it simply reinforces their existing immature natures. However, teaching a child about sharing, obeying rules and respect for others takes time, effort and struggle. 

Divorced parents have different motives. Some motives are loving and caring but some are based on financial gain, having control or revenge. The one constant in divorce is the children always pay a price.

The sad thing about political battles is many adults are subject to these same manipulative tactics. It is unfair to expect children to make adult choices but I do expect adults to make informed mature choices.

The notion of independence, personal responsibility and productive citizenship seems to be fading, but unfortunately jealousy, envy, self pity, hatred and emotional tantrums is becoming stylish. 

By their very nature all political parties seek power and control and they do not give a damn how they get it. Both parties spend billions on campaigns to sway voters to support their party by hook or by crook. 

Over two hundred years ago we saw the beginning of negative campaigns, so this is nothing new. What is new is the sophistication of the manipulative tactics they use. 

The targets of these campaigns have also changed. The ideal target of these campaigns are naive, poorly informed and self-centered people. They are easily swayed by emotion, transfer checks and envy. 

On the other hand the nightmare hard to manipulate voter is independent, informed and self disciplined. They need to be convinced using reason, information and principles. If you can't convince them with good arguments the only defense is to discredit, smear and discourage them to keep them on the sidelines.

I'm not saying the Republicans are better, smarter or more noble then the Democrats or that the Democrats are better, smarter or more noble then the Republicans. They are both political parties plotting and scheming to take power and money away from the citizens. 

Like the scorpion and the frog story it is just their nature, everything else is packaging and spin. We the people are responsible to keep both parties in check. 

Divide and conquer is the most effective tactic being used today.                  

Unity is becoming a forgotten principle, in fact it has been turned completely around. Some are again judging others by skin color, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference and religion. In some convoluted way they can spend hours justifying this backwards logic while demonizing those who call for unity. 

All I know is when I heard these words......

Doctor Martin Luther King Jr

"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"

.....When he delivered these life changing words on television, I like millions of others listened intently. I was deeply moved and from that moment on fully embraced this principle and have never changed. It breaks my heart that others have.

I have no answers other than encouraging others to be informed thinking voters. My heart is broken because of division and hatred. Forces are feeding this part of our lower nature to advance their agenda. 

This is not a partisan political post, yes I have conservative leanings. I think we should apply laws equally, live within our means, have transparency in government, a responsible media, value freedom and liberty and live in unity. If that makes me a racist, insurrectionist, radical, Neanderthal or bigot that is your problem.

I take my hat off when the flag passes, thank veterans nurses and policemen, wave and say hello to strangers and use my turn signals. Yes I'm a grumpy old guy at times but there is wisdom to living by principles instead of personalities. 

If we operate by principles we have a foundation that will last. If we follow or worship personalities we put our power and trust into another flawed human being. Politicians are tools, they serve a function but if they ignore the basic principles this country is built on they are destructive. 

...."Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.  

                                           Mathew 22: 37-38

The theme of this bicycle blog resides in this statement. I traveled 14,000 miles on a bicycle using these principles. The neighbors (strangers) I met along the way responded to love in ways I will never truly understand. I'm not a naive fool I know I could easily be a victim. I claim no supernatural protection for my physical safety, I had to use common sense. 

However I now fully know two powerful truths, I was never alone and love reflects love.

two hundred seventy five

INTO THE AIR

This is a view from the top of the Superstition Mountains looking down on Mesa, Apache Junction and in the distance Phoenix Arizona. I camped on the very point of Flatiron (marked with a highlight) at least a dozen nights. It is a short but steep hike from 1700 feet to as much as 4000 feet, Flatiron is around 3500 feet. In this 2.6 mile hike I could feel the change in air pressure, oxygen levels and temperature. 

The air is something we all take for granted. We say things like the air is heavy or thick without a thought that it is being held against our planet by gravity. If we submerge a few feet in water we can easily feel its resistance and pressure. Air is not as dense but it has a great deal of effect at speed.

The North American Can-Am Racing Series the best racing series ever. Unlimited horsepower and unlimited aerodynamics the wild west of engineering. I attended many of these amazing races during the late 60's and 70's at Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen. 

They were discovering the power of down force, ground effects, drag and turbulence. There were no wind tunnels it was all math and guess work. Soon they had to make rule changes because the cars were too fast for the tracks.

The SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was developed using thousands of hours in early wind tunnels, chalk boards and slide rules. It was secretly designed and built in the 60's as a high altitude high speed spy plane during the Cold War. The declassified speed was 2193 miles per hour. The ultimate in thrust and aerodynamics far ahead of its time. 

Today wind tunnels run 24/7 to perfect this engineering science. They wind tunnel race cars, passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, trains, planes, helmets, bridges, sky scrapers, sunglasses and golf balls. 

Dale Earnhardt was an expert at reading the wind. He was also an expert at spinning his competitor on the last lap but that is another discussion. I loved when he talked about the nuances of drafting like bump and side drafting. 

After his years of experience he perfected the use of the air to his advantage by saving tires and fuel or making that momentum pass using the slip stream. Today restrictor plate racing creates a nose to tail 200 mph parking lot. These races are now total aerodynamic strategy. 

Racing bicycles are designed to reduce drag and air resistance. They are powered by one human so preserving this limited amount of energy is vital. Feather light aerodynamic bikes, aero wheels, aero positions, helmets, shoes and clothing are developed and tested in wind tunnels.

The ultimate in cycle track racing is run on indoor tracks in still air, on smooth wooden tracks on 200 psi tires to limit friction.  Everything is  aerodynamically  designed plus the choreography of nose to tail drafting is an art. They reach sustained speeds of over 50 mph. I have been in a line of road bikes on a rolling highway once I could not believe the speeds we could maintain. 

The front rider pushes flat out then drops to the tail to rest. Each rider takes a turn at the point. The group can easily keep the speed of the front rider because they are sitting in the turbulent air behind him plus reducing his drag. 

The same principle applies to tandem bikes, one hole in the air, the friction of two tires and two humans powering it forward. I rode with an older couple in their seventies they were on a tandem bike with panniers, they kicked my butt.

So how can I use these principles with my loaded touring bicycle with panniers with only one human powering it? Yes it is heavy, under powered and the worst possible example of aerodynamics. However I have discovered a few tricks.

First of all this is a "hold my beer and watch this" moment. I might have tried this in the past, but it is not practical. Trucks do create a great deal of turbulence that can be felt in a car and on a bicycle. 

I have drafted trucks in my Geo Metro hatchback across America to save gas more than once. I stayed in their slip stream for hours or until they finally got tired of me following them. I actually got 50 miles per gallon with my three cylinder 51 hp engine by drafting.

If I have a head wind I try to find a busy highway with plenty of eighteen wheelers. They push a lot of wind but they are going too fast to actually draft but the turbulence they leave in their wake pulls you along and is easy to ride through. Look for buildings or walls that can act as a wind break.  The secret is finding turbulent air whenever possible. It doesn't sound like much help but over a long day it adds up. 

A day of headwinds is like riding up a mountain but you never reach the summit. Busy highways are hectic but you can find some relief. Drafting other loaded bikes can help a little but I think it is more like assembly line work you tend to push each other. 

The reality of solo loaded bicycle touring is you will face headwind days and they usually suck big time. Make the best of them eventually you will get a tail wind day and you will feel like Superman. 

two hundred seventy four

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY IS JUST PLAIN STUPID

Saving money for a rainy day is a very wise principle but some people apply this principle to their lives. In my opinion saving your life for a rainy day is just plain stupid. Having a big pile of un-lived life at the end would be sad and pathetic. Our lives are to be lived not saved for a rainy day.

To be clear I have been rather foolish with my money and should have saved more. I'm not by any means destitute I have enough. I have a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, a really amazing bicycle to ride and a loving wife who puts up with my snoring. 

Physical fitness has now become fashion. Thin is in, Keto, Palio, plant based and Vegan diets are all the rage. Some do pilates, yoga, spin class, rock climbing, running, cycling and pole dancing. Organic, all natural, scent free, gluten free, sugar free, caffeine free, animal free, cage free and anti biotic free but nothing is actually free they are all much more expensive.

People swallow piles of supplements, liters of exotic juices, and gallons of filtered BPA free water. They repel smoking, perfume, sunshine, new car smell, dust, indoor and outdoor air pollution. They avoid cholesterol, fried foods, carbohydrates, red meat, dairy, eggs, sugar and flavor. All of this is to extend their lives. 

When I was in high school I worked with a 45 year old man who said "People say if you exercise and stay regular you will live an extra ten years, but who the hell wants to spend ten years on a toilet out of breath?" He chain smoked filterless Pall Mall cigarettes and drank a minimum of 12 beers a day. I heard he is still living in Ohio.

There is nothing wrong with extending your life and avoiding things that are unhealthy, I know I am trying, but there needs to be a balance. Take care of your health but don't forget to live. 

Our hearts beat, our lungs breathe, our eyes see and our ears hear. Someday much sooner then we like, all of this will stop. No one gets out of it we all exit stage left feet first. This obsession to avoid this end has become a lifestyle, an industry and at times a mental disorder. 

Now being an old fart in the eyes of young people my only advice to  them if it is solicited is to live their lives and don't miss it. It may sound like some riddle from Yoda but it is that simple, just live your life.

Wake up everyday, take a breath, look out of the window, smell your coffee and be grateful you are alive. Skip the news, Facebook, e-mail and telephone text messages. Read something affirming and consciously turn on your eyes and ears. By this I mean look at something and try to see it, listen to something and try to hear it.

The most important thing is to get perspective. Transferring the responsibility of running the entire world and making sure people act the way they should over to something or someone beyond yourself is liberating. I'm certain none of us makes the sun rise, the weather change, the tides rise and fall, gravity or has the ability to make politicians not be assholes.

After I relinquish this control I focus on the small world I am responsible for. I am responsible for my interactions with the humans in my small circle, be it in traffic, on line, on the phone, in the grocery store, my friends, my family, my customers, employers, or fellow workers. I avoid division, judgment and hate, I focus on respect, listening, kindness, mercy, acceptance, please and thank you. 

The secret isn't in the activity it is the act of perceiving. People jump into private jets, travel the world, mingle with celebrities and royalty,  live or stay in multimillion dollar mansions, drive exotic super cars, wear the latest designer clothes and eat the best prepared food but if they can't see, hear, smell, taste and touch it is just an empty activity. 

Great Movie WITH HONORS worth a watch......pay attention to his bag full of rocks

I have met people with practically nothing who have the ability to perceive life in a rich fulfilling way and I have seen the despair and emptiness of those who have this lavish lifestyle. 

It isn't the wealth that is the issue I have met extremely wealthy people who have the ability to keep things in perspective, I admire them. I'm not sure I would be able to keep this perspective I could be an arrogant ass, but at this point I'll never know.

Our world today views life as a commodity. We assume we will get our 79 years or more, but modern medicine, airbags, bike helmets, sun screen, low-fat and all natural food won't save you if you are "it". Life at times is not fair, babies die mysteriously in their cribs, kids get cancer and natural disasters kill thousands in the matter of minutes. 

Life is fragile and sometimes we are just "it". Hiding from life may help us avoid getting killed but it will definitely keep us from living it as fully as we can. 

Yes navigating this mysterious balance is a risk, an uncertainty and yes your responsibility to choose. I have no answers for you, I have my own life to navigate. This blog is where I express why I choose what I choose. It may be pure foolishness to risk riding on the edge of the highway but it is what I choose.

What I do recommend is to learn how to see and hear, taste and smell, feel physically and emotionally and be present and grateful. One day at a time, living in the moment, being present or being where you are and seeing what is in front of you. The more I live this way the more I love living and the less I fear that stage left feet first exit.

I know this is a rant about life but it is appropriate in this bicycle blog. I found most of these things on the seat of my bicycle.

two hundred seventy three

MAKING PEACE WITH THE VOICES IN MY HEAD

Highway 50 through Nevada, no cell coverage, no radio, no internet, almost no sign of civilization and a whole lot of silence. I think about this experience more often then any other chapter of my journeys. 

400 miles in 7 long lonely days

I had survived the early spring of the Sierra Mountains. My original route was still closed because of snow. After an extra day or so of detours I was in South Lake Tahoe. The thought of traveling the loneliest highway excited me but made me take this next leg of my journey seriously.

I made it to Fallon Nevada, restocked my food supply and found a reasonably priced motel. I found an AA meeting in the middle of a smoke filled casino right behind the bar. I learned later that small Nevada towns have legal cat houses. I first thought it was strange that a few houses on a back street still had their Christmas lights turned on.  

The following morning I was on the road expecting to face some physical challenges. What I did not understand was how much this would challenge me mentally.

                                                     We all have a committee of voices meeting in our heads. My voices are the usual, you should or you shouldn't, you can't or you can, I dare you and I double dare you. Some judge me and some justify me. Some  make me feel guilty and some order me to paint "redrum" on a wall.

In regular life there are plenty of distractions to interrupt these conversations, however the isolation of highway 50 never interrupts. 

There are endless hours of no music, talk radio, other cyclists, no convenience stores, gas stations, coffee shops, restaurants and no noise. Only the sound of my tires, the click of my right clip in peddle and my own breathing. The phone never rings and the cars passing at warp speed only come every hour and a half.

I stayed completely silent the first two days. I found a great big sky camp site to enjoy the moonless night and the stars. I stopped at a, or should I say the restaurant to eat but kept to myself because I was actually enjoying the solitude. There were some tourists on the other end of the bar that got louder with every round. I was glad when I was back on the road.

After another night of camping and I was climbing to Eureka when the snow came. I didn't expect it but I did find shelter in a closed empty unheated restaurant. There were two young guys from London already staying there. This was the big town, it had a grocery store, gas station, library and a few residential houses but none had Christmas lights. 

The young guys struck out in the morning but I stayed another night to let the snow storm pass. I got on line at the library but mostly I kept to myself, kind of uncharacteristic of me. The next days were physical a lot of climbing plus some gusting wind. 

I camped again and enjoyed the stars. The next day I passed a small house that was very close to the highway. It had a chain link fence around it and two young women were sunning themselves on lounge chairs. I stopped and said hello we talked about the nice weather. I then noticed they still had their Christmas lights up so I excused myself and moved on. A couple nice young (enough to be my daughters) women.

The loneliness part never came. The anxiety and restlessness had faded away, my mind and heart were finally calm and peaceful. I had no epiphany, spiritual experience or vision. I was simply alone in one of the most remote highways on a peddle bicycle.

I don't know if it was being away from media, being in nature or allowing the voices to talk until they were finished. All I know is feeling very small and insignificant in the vastness of this harsh environment changed something in me. On occasion I return to this emptiness to feel this way, it is good for my soul. 

I traveled into Utah and stayed a couple nights in Cedar City before I tackled the Rockies of Colorado.

two hundred seventy two

IN THE CHAOS OF THE BIKE LANE I FIND SERENITY

Growing up in the 50's and 60's I was never actually diagnosed with ADHD, Dyslexia or Autism. In those days these were called stupid, lazy and behavior problems. 

Over the years I now suspect one or all of these may have been what limited me. When I was in school my inability to focus, do quick math and read aloud was very humiliating and was probably the cause of many of my bad choices and under achievement. 

I believe our life experiences shape us both good and bad. We all have things that have handicapped us but I only know what I personally had to overcome.

The lack of focus best describes my most elusive issue. I won't call it a handicap and won't declare myself a victim, my brain and body just works in a different way. My most difficult struggle was finding a place where my brain and body operates the best.

To most people this is serenity, breath taking scenery, peaceful calm wind and water and tranquil quiet. 

I can only take a little of this. My mind begins to analyze the depth of the lake, how many fish are in it, who built the dock and where is the boat, what do trees taste like, does eagle poop reach terminal velocity and what would happen if gravity stops working? 

Before long I would be pacing around the dock in circles or skinny dipping. This environment can drive me crazy. I can see it for a few amazing minutes then I have to move. 

My old business card illustrates one place I personally have found what I call serenity. The website and business no longer exists but it was based on the principle used for centuries of swaddling cranky babies. Over decades of experimenting I discovered this also works on cranky adults. It is forced meditation combining sensory deprivation, compression an immobilization. 

Ask yourself if you can be still without expending energy or do you need some outside force to keep you still? I may in the future do a more in-depth post about this business. One hint is I am not able to be still without help.

The chaos of the bike lane is another place I find this serenity. It is a dangerous place with unpredictable hazards and multi ton vehicles passing within feet. Because the danger is a matter of life and death (my death) my mind must focus on the environment around me. Over the decades I have learned to be calm and find a soothing and relaxing place for my mind and body. 

Strangely, even though my mind is occupied with this chaos my thoughts are clear and focused on other issues. My body is revved up but I am in control and calm. I read the traffic and monitor my tires. My path ahead is scanned for any possible hazards. It becomes so second nature I rarely think about it. I am what they call in the zone.   

Even when the weather kicks in I can feel every thing. My "spidie" sense kicks in and I feel the traffic behind me even if I don't first see them in my mirrors. Mile after mile of this I am so focused it is difficult to talk when I stop at a store or coffee shop. 

 I'm sure my brain is flooded with dopamine, which may have a lot to do with it. All I know is this wide angle, high definition and high fidelity focus is where I love to be.

two hundred seventy one

IF I COULD SAVE POOP IN A BOTTLE....

This sounds like a popular song title. Riding mile after mile along country roads and highways is boring at times so you have to keep your mind active. I occupied my time looking at houses, farm land, trees, mountains, bodies of water and weird things in the ditch. 

It isn't uncommon to find road kill, beer cans, whiskey bottles and general trash. However there are the more unusual items such as underwear, a very realistic sex toy and a gun. 

The gun was on a bridge in New Jersey. I saw what it was and was smart enough not to stop and touch it. Luckily A police officer was stopped along the highway at the end of the bridge so I stopped and told him what I saw. He went from sizing me up to see what he could charge me with to realizing this is just an out of town nut on a bicycle. 

I pointed where it was then he asked me for my name. I told him I don't want the gun if no body claims it, he didn't like my humor so I gave him my drivers license. 

He must have texted someone because I didn't see him use the radio. Within minutes there were two police cars blocking off one lane of the bridge. I didn't hang around and they never contacted me. 

The highways of America have many many piss bottles. They are probably all over the world but it seems to be a lifestyle here. As a cyclist I have pissed behind many a tree and bush so I cannot judge. However I have never had the urge to save it in a plastic bottle and leave it on the side of the highway.

State by state they have designed programs to end this problem. Fines from simple littering to indecent exposure charges which makes  the violator a sex offender. Distracted driving tickets for peeing in a bottle while driving and probably double fines if you are on the phone.

They could create cartoons or celebrity endorsed public service educational campaigns to encourage the public not to pee in a bottle while driving and not throwing it out of a moving vehicle. Maybe a special receptacle at rest stops, one for aluminum cans, one for recyclables, one for trash and one for bottles full of piss. Perhaps a cabinet level Czar with a few hundred billion dollar budget to fix the problem. I wonder if Elon Musk could use it for rocket fuel? Maybe this is what is causing climate change?

And finally the grand prize winner of the strangest road find is a Snapple bottle with poop inside. I have had many sleepless nights asking how and why? The simple logistics amaze and frighten me. Because of the size of the object and the size of the opening the logistical question I asked was is this the same principle used when you put a ship in a bottle? 

The why is simply a series of questions, were you being held captive against your will? Was it a bet or a dare? Are you just extremely shy with a debilitating terror of public restrooms? It had to stem from some horrible childhood trauma or a whole bunch of them. If you are the one who did this I am certain they would put your photo and dedicate an entire chapter focusing on this syndrome in a psychology text book.

I photographed the actual bottle and sent it to Snapple to see if they had this flavor, but I never heard back. The actual picture has been lost but simply picture warm gefilte fish.....

As I rode the endless miles of the next few weeks I actually laughed out loud whenever I remembered it. I was telling this story last night, so I thought I would write it down.

two hundred seventy

CREEPY CRAWLERS

 HAWAIIAN CENTIPEDE

This is a Hawaiian Centipede, I hate them with a passion. Hawaii is a damp tropical climate so bugs are to be expected. Many Hawaiian  homes have or will have roaches, ants and these monsters. 

One got in my bed in the house and stung me while crawling across my chest. My wife was still awake watching television and still laughs about watching a crazy naked man throwing all of the bedding into the backyard. Thank goodness they are in Hawaii. There are a few types on the mainland but I have never had any issues with them.

SCRORPIONS

I camped hundreds of nights all over the southwest and have never had an issue with scorpions or snakes. An old prospector told me the secret of desert camping which is simple common sense. 

In the desert everything needs water and food, most are active at night so they go to the water for water and food. Critters large or small that eat other critters eat the critters that are where the water is.  If you don't want to sleep with the critters sleep where there is no water. So I don't camp too close to creeks or lakes and have never had an issue with snakes or scorpions.

I try not to set up camp before I am ready to crawl in for the night. This doesn't give the critters a chance to get in your bedding. Shake out  everything before you get in it, put it on or put it away.

 

BLACK WIDDOW SPIDERS

Black Widow spiders are always under things so watch picking things up. They are not aggressive unless you are in their space so keep you fingers out of dark places.

BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS

Brown Recluse spiders have a very powerful venom. It is a type that kills the tissue in the area of the bite. They use there venom to digest their pray. They are very passive and their fangs are not designed to attack their pray. Coming in contact with them by laying on them in grass or in your bedding is how you get a bite. 80% of the bites heal but the consequences if you do not treat them can be severe. I have been bitten and did not treat it but I'm an idiot well a lucky idiot I am fine.

MOSQUITOES

I grew up in Ohio mosquitoes were a constant so I learned to live with them. We never worried about disease in those days so it was the welts and itching we tried to avoid. Today West Nile virus, Zika virus, Dengue and Chikununya are an issue. They appear mostly at dusk and dawn and seem to go away through the night. Central North Dakota was the worst, they never ever stopped. I was amazed how aggressive they were at high noon. 

BITING FLIES

Ohio had several types of these blood suckers. On hot summer days these would bite through a t-shirt. I ran in those days, they would land on my back and eventually drill their way through to your skin. You constantly pulled your shirt to shoe them away. 

I found these in the plain states as I was cycling. Somehow they could find a way through a shirt at speed. They suck blood but I am not aware of any deceases that they spread. Unfortunately they seem to be immured to repellent.

NO-SEE-UMS

These are tiny mosquito like critters. They are also called sand flies or biting gnats. They are so small you feel their bite before you feel or see them. Repellant works well there are specific No-See-Ums brands but repellant with Deet works the same. I assume they spread disease like Mosquitoes but I did not find any information.

  

ANTS

There are several types but the fire ant is the ones I try to avoid. They are in most states now so you need to be aware. They aren't deadly but they do hurt. Luckily they sleep at night and don't get active until sunrise. 

I camped all night with no problem but as I returned from a breakfast trip to a nearby restaurant my tent gear and bicycle were completely covered with ants. They were so aggressive I could not strike camp until they decided to move on. I found ants for days.

Most types of ants want your food, these seem to want you. There are other aggressive types but these are the most common.

TICKS AND CHIGGERS

These are the critters that worry me the most. Limes decease is a serious health issue in many parts of the country. They are tiny, travel on animals and get into your clothing and hair. They definatly carry disease so closed fine screened tent camping and avoiding the types of areas they might be is important to learn. I travel by bicycle I don't take naps in the grass or walk through high weeds. My training in Ohio gives me a leg up on where not to go. 

 

When traveling through these areas repellant and showers work the best. Keep this in mind when you budget your motel money.

WASPS

I don't understand these creatures, some live in nests and some live in the ground. I think I have been stung by every type over the years when painting houses, digging stumps or removing a nest from my patio. They can sting you multiple times and they are unpredictable. I was riding a motorcycle and one somehow found me an stung my hand at a stop light. It must have been some weird cycle because I know of two other people who had similar experiences on the very same day. I think it is a case of you are it, but unless you are allergic the stings fade very quickly.

HONEY BEES

 

Honey bees are amazing and pretty much harmless. They are usually busy (as bees) and go about their work with little notice. My only bad experience was disturbing a hive in an old shack. They had formed around the door frame on the inside so as I attempted to open the door the saw it as an attack. They poured out of the crack and stung me several times as I ran away.

I only ran 20 yards before they quit their attack. I was fine but I am not allergic which can be fatal to some people who are. Africanized bees are now in most states. They are exactly the same except for their temperament. If the bees I had disturbed had been Africanized the would not have stopped after 20 yards. They would have continued to swarm until I was finally far far away and not a threat.

I lived in the Phoenix Arizona area in the 90's. They had such a panic about this new strain of aggressive bees they formed a special fire department unit to deal with the new hives. Yes a few people died from disturbing these bees and bee keeping became more difficult, but like most things we have adjusted. 

Stumbling upon a rogue bee hive is not good so if you see one walk away. This happened to me once while back packing in the Tucson area. I heard a low buzzing sound and saw a few random bees and then there I was ten feet away from a very large hived. I cautiously backed away and took a wide detour. The lesson is treat them all like aggressive Africanized bees.

TARANTULA SPIDERS

 

It isn't all bad news these gentle giants are harmless. Desert camping in Arizona I first found these or should I say they found me as I sat beside a small fire. A small herd of five ran through my camp site. I have seen how harmless they are when I was a kid at the Cleveland Zoo. I was picked out of the crowd to have one crawl on my hand and up my bare arm to show how docile they are. I found them in several places around Arizona. 

THE BASICS OF CAMPING IN STRANGE AREAS

Do a little research to understand before hand the dangers you might face in a new unfamiliar climate, the locals may or may not give you good advice. For an example the locals told me two completely different stories about camping in alligator country. It wouldn't have been a good nights sleep either way so I stayed in a cheap motel.

 Don't take chances sleep in your tent, use repellent, and don't be a tough guy. Riding on a bicycle is fairly safe but where you sit, walk or sleep is where you need to be extra cautious. 

My one man tent has a closed bottom with an extra tarp floor to keep the crawly things out. The top is all fine screen to keep out the tiniest bug so it is like safely sleeping under the stars. It is great for warm weather camping with ample ventilation. The inside volume is small so I can kill all of the mosquitoes easily without spray.

The rain fly can be added for dew or rain. I have easily endured torrential rain, high winds and sub freezing temperatures. This design has great ventilation to control condensation. It can be freestanding without stakes or staked securely for windy conditions. This tent is no longer made so I resealed and waterproofed it to use for as long as I can. I love this tent design and hope someone will produce one exactly like it.

Repellent with Deet is the best. I try not to apply it to my skin just my clothing. I don't know which one is the best I'm still doing research. I have run out at the worst time and spent a long night with little sleep.

There are many more bugs that I haven't covered but these are the ones that came to mind. 

The romantic vision of sleeping under the stars undisturbed by insects is just a vision. The reality is a little different. Movies and television never portray how difficult it is to deal with critters. Navy Seals crawl through jungle swamps but they never show the bugs, snakes and leaches. Lovers make passionate love as they roll in the sand on a tropical beach but they never point out how abrasive sand can be. 

It is not that difficult. Traveling through unfamiliar climates safely just takes a little common sense. Relax, do some research and be prepared, you will have a great time.