From the Land of Trump to the First State - Delaware

On the Atlantic City Boardwalk I couldn't help but appreciate the relationship between Trump and Starbucks... Starbucks coffee may be an expensive brew, but it keeps the gamblers awake... shall we call it a symbiotic relationship. I wonder if Donald Trump himself is a Starbucks coffee drinker?

I enjoyed riding down the board walk which stretched for miles, despite bumping over the wooden planks and dodging the many people who were milling about. The Air Show would be starting later in the day. I enjoyed taking my son Sean to the Air Shows in Halifax when he was younger. Today I just wanted to remove myself from the Land of Trump and continue south enjoying the coastal scenery.

Grass neatly planted in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy will help hold the dunes in place.

Another sweltering day of cycling. From Trumps Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino I followed the boardwalk and then coastal roads until I reached Cape May (48 miles, 77.4 km). The handkerchief helps to keep the sun off my neck and ears and the salty sweat from my eyes.

The Ocean Drive Bridge that took me into Ocean City, NJ. From a distance the bridge looks like it would be an intimidating climb, but really it was nothing compared to the Pennsylvania and Upstate New York Hills.

That's my slice of spinach pizza in front of Dean who works at Promenade Pizza and Stromboli on the Ocean City Boardwalk. We talked about US politics after he asked about the health care system in Canada. Dean was aware of the fact that the system is socialized in Canada. Unfortunately, many Canadians have the attitude that health care is free. The heavy taxation in Canada make it far from free. For the American with proper health insurance, the care is world class and without the wait times experienced in Canada. I experienced those terrible wait times over and over again as I dealt with my shoulder injury. Somehow there has to be a happy medium between the two systems. Dean and I both agreed that too many politicians don't listen to the people. He cited Obama Care as being forced down American's throats when over half the people were against it. Unfortunately, the lobby with the biggest bucks gets what they want even if it is harmful to people. We shook hands and then Dean offered me a "God Bless you," as I rode away down the board walk. He was a good, hard working, young guy and I wish God's Blessing for him and his family.

As I left the Ocean City Board walk I cycled next to Tom, a retired university administrator from central Pennsylvania who rents a home in the area for himself and family during the summer. We chatted a bit as Tom weaved his way through the streets and oriented me in the right direction south. I was quick to accept his invite for a stop at his place for a lemonade. I handed him the card with my blog address and he immediately spotted the DC after my name indicating my being a chiropractor. Tom shared his recent diagnosis of spinal stenosis which has been painful, despite chiropractic care and despite injections. Importantly it is impeding his golf game. I explained the simple stretch that I would recommend to my patients who are golfers.

"Basically Tom, if you are a right handed golfer your body has a very ingrained neuromuscular pattern for that swing. Over time an imbalance happens that can set you up for pain. The stretch is simple. Grab one of your irons and adopt a left handed grip. Slowly swing the club in a left handed fashion holding the follow-through of a few seconds. Do this for 20 reps before your round of golf and for 20 reps at the end of your round. This will help you balance your body from a neuromuscular standpoint. Just don't go swiping at dandelions because your body is not ready for anything ballistic in your non-dominant direction."

It turns out that Tom also holds a Bachelor and Master degrees in Physical Education. I told Tom a bit about my Physical Education Masters Thesis on the history of bicycle touring in the 1980s. He enjoyed my relating the history of the League of American Wheelman who began to lobby the US Federal Government over what was dubbed the "Good Roads Movement." In fact the lobby by the bicyclists was successful and the Good Roads Movement became the impetus of the US Highway system. Yes, it was cyclists that improved our roads! Another interesting fact, the League of American Wheelman changed their name once the automobile became mass produced... the American Automobile Association. Americans, in their love of the automobile relegated the bicycle to a toy or fitness device. I can say that since my bicycle tour to Florida in 1986, a huge amount of progress has been made in the US to make bicycles a safer and acceptable alternative to the car. Bike trails and lanes have been developed in many places. I hope that the trend continues.

Yes, turtle crossings all along my coastal, marshland route. The species in question is the Diamondback Terrapin. During the spring the female turtles leave the marsh and walk across the road to the dunes to lay their clutch of 8-12 eggs of which only 3-6 hatch. I even saw a "Turtle Patrol Car" go by, but the only turtles I saw had been flattened on the road.

The heat became unbearable so I took a long break and had a mango banana smoothy at Marita's Homemade Ice Cream Shop in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.

As I sat in the shade a guy named Jerry asked about my trip and gave me a business card to his Cycling Training website: www.cylingtraining.ws
He took one of my cards and said he'd set up a link on his site to my blog. Cool - networking - bike style. Jerry commented that I was not only dealing with the heat, but I was riding into a stiff southwest wind... the bike is loaded and heavy, its hot, the wind is against me and I'm carrying almost 75 lbs more body weight now than I did when I bicycle toured to Florida in 1986... I can feel the weight coming off already.

The bike on the ferry for the crossing from Cape May, New Jersey to Lewes, Delaware. Only $10 for the 85 minute trip across Delaware Bay.

The Cape May Ferry Terminal.

I rode another 7.4 miles (11.8 km) after leaving the ferry in Lewes, Delaware.