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This week I'll climb down off the soapbox for a while and will get some carving done on the vine section of the Eisteddfod spoon.
I'm going to carve the back of this spoon quite extensively so that it is pretty much the equal of the front. I think that especially with vine and Celtic knot patterns, the look of the spoon is vastly improved when both sides are done. Now because there is an over and under pattern to the vine, I am going over it carefully with a pencil to mark out the pattern before I commit to the knife. It's REALLY easy to get things out of order on the back, especially since you have to think about what is happening on the front and then do the exact opposite. It's always a lot easier to erase a pencil line than to have to repair a errant cut, so the couple of minutes I spend with the graffite is time well spent!
With the lines marked and double-checked, I go at it with the straight knife and with the small chisel. My cuts are shallow at first but get progressively deeper once I know the pattern is all cut correctly.
With the over under pattern cut away and the sharp edges of the vines eased with some chamfer cuts, it is time to round the edges more vigourously. I use cloth backed abrasive paper for this job, BUT I never touch sandpaper to the project until I am fully confident that I won't need to do any more knife carving. All abrasive papers leave behind microscopic bits of abrasive grit which gets lodged in the wood being sanded. When the knife blade passes through this buried grit, its razor sharp edge is quickly dulled and ruined.
With the rounding completed, I use progressively finer grades of abrasive paper to take out any scratches and leave the surface almost finished. Because the cloth backed abrasive has been largely used across the wood's grain, often times lots of scratches will remain which have to be taken out for the piece to look attractive. Never use a coarser grade than 150 cloth backed abrasive on your project or you will be left with deep scratches that are murder to remove. With paper abrasives, follow the direction of the grain and work up to 220 grade for a nice silky, smooth finish.
The vines and back of the bowls are now nearly completed. I will do a final shaping and sanding immediately prior to finishing, but for now this will be good. Speaking of being good...please be good by donating a couple of dollars to the Left Coast Eisteddfod and helping the idea of a fabulous Welsh cultural event become a reality. All donations, big or small are gratefully received and all enter you in the running to win this lovespoon when it is finished and presented on August 22 in Portland Oregon
With the front of the Eisteddfod Spoon largely completed, it's time to focus some energy on the back. I'm a firm believer in making the back of the spoon as beautiful as the front...even if it is going to hang on a wall and only be viewed from one angle. It takes more time and effort and increases the chances of a break or accident, BUT the result is always a much more beautiful and tactile piece. Sometimes, as a professional carver, my client's budgets don't stretch to doing both sides and they wish me to concentrate my efforts on the front only. Even in those cases, I like to try to do some shaping of the back to lend the spoon a bit more elegance.
As you can see from this close-up, the back is currently pretty flat and monotonous, even though the majority of the design outline is clearly visible and the spoon is 'coming to life'. By shaping up the back, I'll not only get a more beautiful product when the spoon is handled and turned over, but the shadows cast by the undulations and curves I plan to create will give the spoon more 'life' and appeal when it hangs on the wall. Lovespoons are an artwork which begs to be handled. Unlike some arts which can be discoloured and marred by the oils of the hand, the lovespoon inevitably profits from regular handling. Over the course of many years, a rich patina builds up and the spoon takes on a lovely vibrant glow which is impossible to replicate solely with the finishes. In this modern age of half-assed manufacturing, where virtually everything we get has had corners cut somewhere or other, it is always a lovely surprise to find the back of the spoon as nicely finished as the front.
But before you go thinking I'm getting all arty-farty and precious about this, I can assure you that doing the back of the spoon also often gives me the opportunity to break out the beloved angle grinder! I LOVE to make all kinds of noise and dust every once in a while and the angle grinder is great for both! Although I spend most of my carving time serenaded by the eloquent strains of Mozart from the cd player and alone in contemplative thought...the high pitched scream of a wound-up grinder hogging its way along can be music to my headphone covered ears!! But a warning: Kids, do NOT try this at home or anywhere else until you have lots of experience! The grinder is a great tool for removing awkward wood in a great hurry, but it is equally good at destroying your project and quite possibly removing your fingers or whole hand. This is NOT a tool to handle lightly. For me, it is a highly efficient time saving wonder, but sometimes it is an extremely fickle mistress. On this spoon it will help me put some arc and curve into the wood and it will deal with some tangled grain sections; hopefully it will do this without blowing the whole project to smithereens!
As the wood is shaped, the spoon will become both physically and visually lighter and the final look will start to emerge. Here's a little close-up of what the angle grinder can quickly achieve. More next week as we start shaping the vines and finishing off the already shaped bowl backs.
If you haven't yet contributed to the Eisteddfod, please consider doing so today! You can win this spoon!!
We are Home
We have all arrived safely home. A 11 hour wait for a delayed flight in Orlando airport and with security taking our bike bags apart and swabbing everything, left the team totally exhausted.
We have our party on Thursday in the Botanical Gardens of Wales. Hope to see you there. it's a 1830 hrs start in the Great Glass House
Please check back to see the updates on the blog.
Thank you everyone - your support has been overwhelming and without it, the C2C challenge would not have maintained the high morale that was needed to complete the crossing of the continent.
Coast-2-Coast USA last post from the road - 5 April 2009 "Phil - The Final Blog."
By gaabi, 2009-04-05
Here we are sunny St Augustine in Florida and all just about in one piece. Its been a fantastic exeprience with all its ups and downs and one which will stay with me forever.
After Andy's spill it was great to see him up and about yesterday and able to have a beer with us. It was such a pity that he wasn't able to complete the last day with us but he's done more than enough work and cycling for this challenge. Without his desire, drive and focus we wouldn't have even been on the plane to come here. Well done Bear a good job well done, tandem to Crete from Blighty next is it?
Allso thanks have to go to the support team of Merv, Henry, Ian, Tomos, Andrew Porth and also Dyfrig and Craig who have helped us through the challenge, feeding and cleaning up after us, driving RV's and support car, humping bags, navigating and checking we're OK as well as some support cycling along the way.
Thanks also to the people how have helped us raise and have donated monies over the last 2 years to get us here and reach and exceed the $50,000 target we set for the Noahs Ark appeal.
Finally special thanks to Mandy for giving me up for 2 years in the run up to this so I could train every day and go off on weekends for long rides in the rain and wind and then go off and do fund raising gigs in the night.
Happy Pedaling and soft landings
Phil (ex long distance endurance cyclist)
Phil Jenkins
Team Cyclist
Today's exciting trip news (reproduced with permission) from the Coast-2-Coast USA team - a bunch of brave dads/uncles/brothers/friends of children from the UK, cycling across the southern continental United States from Oceanside, California to St. Augustine, Florida to raise donations for the Children's Hospital for Wales and the Noah's Ark Appeal . The guys arrived in Saint Augustine, Florida - THEY DID IT!
Previous days entries here:- March 19th , 22nd , 23rd , 24th , 25th , 26th , 27th , 28th Interview with Americymru member and Coast2Coast rider Gareth Evans:- here . Listen to Coast-2-Coast USA's Richard Belcher on Radio Glamorgan with Peter Cox!
Rich's #13
Day 14 and we awoke today to torrential rain; so much for Florida being the Sunshine State.
By rights it should have been me and Gar up first, but Phil and Andy were ready to go so we took our place in the van. We'd not long overtaken the two cyclists when sat at some traffic lights, Porth knocked the window to tell us that Phil had phoned to say Andy had come off the bike.
The car turned back and we waited for news for what seemed like an eternity. We had it confirmed that he was dazed and being taken to hospital to be checked out and so drove back to the spot.
As we pulled up behind the ambulance there was a railway track going diagonally across the road and Andy's bike had gone from under him as he went across. I almost slipped over just walking on the rail so it's not hard to see how this happened.
Thankfully Andy is alright, no bones broken but certainly sore and if ever you needed an argument for the use of helmets when riding a bike today is a great example. A good chunk of the polystyrene has snapped off and without it things would have been far more serious. As they also would had Phil not quickly jumped off his bike and run back to stop the traffic while Andy was in the road.
As we sat in the hospital while Andy underwent tests the initial fear and anxiety as to his condition subsided to be replaced by guilt. It should have been me on the road, and also for all the people for this to happen to Andy is the least deserving (although he'd be too modest to say so).
Without him the trip simply would not have happened. He booked the flights, accommodation, vehicles, planned the route etc not to mention the enormous effort he made in organising events, gigs, sponsors and the like to finance the whole thing.
He has been and is the driving force behind team C2C and I hope he is able to play some part tomorrow. I know it's easy to say but I'd swap places tomorrow in an instant (I'd rather not have the pain to go with it though).
Andy - the whole team is very proud of you and thankful for what you've done to make this happen.
Immediately after the accident the rain got worse and was a full blooded thunderstorm by the time we got to the hospital. We sat in the waiting area watching the weather channel which showed a line of thunderstorms sweeping across the pan handle of Florida. The TV advised people not to drive and warned of flash floods and potential tornadoes, so further cycling once Andy was discharged seemed unlikely.
So we drove towards our destination for the evening; Live Oak. Conditions did improve though and around 25 miles from Live Oak we decided to give it a go.
Phil, Gar, Ian and I set off together. Within a few miles Phil had punctured and got in the van. Then while I was in the front I saw a large dog run out of a house towards us. Although there was a fence it looked like there was a large gap. In fact there was a recessed gate and so it couldn't get to us, but I had already instinctively applied the brakes. Ian didn't, at least not as quickly as me and he clipped my back wheel. I stayed upright, but Ian fell. He only had a bit of road rash on his hip and a cut to his knee and was quickly laughing about it.
His brand new bike though sustained a bit of damage to the brake levers. So now I was left feeling even more guilty as if I hadn't been such a wimp this wouldn't have happened, especially as the dog turned out to be lovely.
By then we decided that the cycling gods were well and truly against us so called it a day. As we did the heavy rains returned with a vengeance so in all probability we wouldn't have got much more in anyhow.
The weather forecast is brighter tomorrow, let's hope the cycling is too.
Rich's #14
We've done it!
It's been a fabulous experience and we've finally reached the East coast of America.
There have been frustrations, mainly caused by the weather and it's meant parts of the route we've had to sit out and travel in the car.
Does this mean we've failed? Hell no! If our days had been stages in the Tour de France then even before we got off our bikes the stage would have been reduced or cancelled. Would that have devalued the achievements of the melot jaune in winning the thing? Of course not, so we too have won.
Andy's injury is the biggest disappointment as it would have been fantastic for all of us to finish together, but each and every one of us can and should be proud of what we have achieved.
The day started in the bright sunshine we had expected of Florida, but got off to a bad start. When I had my little prang with Ian yesterday it bent my rear wheel (actually Ian's spare which was still on my bike from an earlier puncture). As I went to change it back to my own I noticed some damage to my seat stays (the rear triangular bit that the back wheel attached to). Basically it's knackered.
So I became a Dolan Sister and borrowed Andy's bike for the day.
The roads were pretty good and we made very good time until about 8 miles from the finish when Phil, Henry, Ian, Gareth and I all completed the tide together.
Handshakes all round at the end and telephone calls home to say we'd finished, before adjourning to our accommodation and indulging in a few beers.
Big thanks from me to the whole team who've all worked so well to make this such a memorable experience. Without your driving, fetching, carrying, cooking and support this would not have been possible and love and thanks also to Jen and the boys for putting up with me spending so much time on the bike in preparation. I can't wait to see you all on Tuesday.
As Vinnie might say "it's been emotional".
Gar's #14
Live Oaks - St. Augustine,Florida (The Final Furlong)
The penultimate day of the trip has undoubtedly tarnished the whole experience. With andy coming off his bike early in the day, and the events that followed, and then even when it did clear, phillipousis and the stone both coming to a halt, it seemed everything was against us. The stroms continued, torrential rain, and even when we got to Live Oaks, we were treated to the (what seemed to be) 'standard' tornado warning we had come to expect from the South East. There's only one thing you can do to make yourself feel a little better in a time tlike this... An all you can eat chinki.
Things could only get better, and the fact we awoke to the final day to fantastic sunshine only seemed to rub salt into yesterdays wounds. A re-jig to the stating off's, due mainly to radio commitments, and away to go, stoney and myself hiting first. Easy roads, great conditions, no dogs to contend with, all was good. The next leg was a tough one, after about 300yards, The phone rings. 10minutes later and after a converstion with Jonesi, and it's time to get on the bang to catch up with the Stoney was has continued to spin onwards.
The final two legs, is back to normal, rich and myslef make good distance in time as were met by the other cyclists for the final stint. Although gutted following the day before, this is probably when realisation of the trip begins to kick in, helped a little by the St. Augustine city limits sign.
There seems to be more of a procession feel as we enter the beachside resort than a feeling if celebration, as we literally crawl to the coast. Finally we get there, and dyffers and chatsy miss their que and make us go around again.
We've reached the Atlantic, the fuss about ariving at the local fort means that there's no beach here, and apparently it's too damn dangerous to jump in at this point, but frankly, I dont think anybody would have jumped right in even if it was accessible. Team photo time, but there's one guy missin. Doesn't feel right.
A quiet drink was all that got sunk last night, but the music scene was enough to keep you glued to your pub stool, regardless of how shagged you felt. It's now 8am, and the sun has woken me sliding through the broken blinds in our hostel room, and although it hasn't ended as it should, the feeling of achievement has started to creep in.
It has been an amazing experience. The weather has helped and hindered us as we've dealt with extremes on both sides of the scale, there were two days when the mileage wasn't what it should had been, not through our tiredness, but there's nothing we can do with regards to snow and tornados.
The group on the trip have been great, everybody bringing their own to the mix. Although the sights have been superb, and we have seen a fair bit in two weeks, it's the people that have made this trip. The welcomes we've received along our journey have only intensified the experience. The welcomes at Taos, Houston, Mobile and now St. Augustine. The people we've met who have encouraged and supported us along the jouney, from the various retautants, diners and motels en route, and the messgaes from back home.
Now that it's over though, I can't bloody wait to go home and see my ladies. 3 weeks away from home is a damn long time, and at least up til now, we've been slightly occupied by things to do, place to get too. One last job before we do leave, gifts...I don't think a route66 fridge magnet would suffice.
Tomorrow, it's off to Orlando, our last port of call, drop of the vehicles and away to gatwick. What odds on the flight being delayed- wouldn't be suprised.
So that's it, job done. Big thanks to everyone who has sent messages to all the guys along the way, and to all our families for the support over the last 2years, the experience has been well worth it.
Finally, thanks goes to everyone who said it couldn't be done, some who are close mates, some who aren't. There's no doubt that fear of failure and proving all you buggers wrong was a massive motivation in doing this, especially to the Irishman in the old O'neills, Cardiff City Centre, Wales vs Ireland 2007- the 'pinky and porky outside the window with wings' comment...get stuffed!
Would I do something like this again? most definitely, would it be as enjoyable...who knows, but wherever it's done and with whoever else, it would need to be one hell of a trip to compare the country we've seen, the people we've met and the welcomes we've had. Bloody fantastic.
TOMORROW IS THE DAY! The guys are scheduled to arrive victoriously in St Augustine, Florida!
Today's exciting trip news (reproduced with permission) from the Coast-2-Coast USA team - a bunch of brave dads/uncles/brothers/friends of children from the UK, cycling across the southern continental United States from Oceanside, California to St. Augustine, Florida to raise donations for the Children's Hospital for Wales and the Noah's Ark Appeal . They've been pedaling their butts off (probably literally) and pushing their way through across an entire continent, up and down mountains, through the scorching heat of the Mojave, blizzards in the New Mexico and rush hour traffic in Texas! If you're in Florida - turn out and welcome them in style!
Previous days entries here:- March 19th , 22nd , 23rd , 24th , 25th , 26th , 27th , 28th Interview with Americymru member and Coast2Coast rider Gareth Evans:- here . Listen to Coast-2-Coast USA's Richard Belcher on Radio Glamorgan with Peter Cox!
Two Day Count Down
We're in Florida. Head winds have been with us since New Orleans. Cyclists and crew are very tired and there is a feeling of overall weariness. Two days to go and then I'm sure we will be re-vitaised!
Andy nearly had enough!
Mervyn trying to find forward gear and being rather heavy handed - 'It won't go in for me!'
Gar's #12
New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. Day 12
I did go out in New Orleans, and I loved it!! Gwent will be coming here on tour next year, especially if they give us a guided tour of the hustler house again. The live music was great, and plenty of bars to choose from. Happy days.
A wake up call from the belcher at 9am, and the guts were churning, not wise, should have saved it for Friday. A quick subway and alka seltzer for breakfast, food of champions, and it's off over the Mississippi Delta, and a load of spectacular bridges towards Mobile.
Louisiana in the morning, Mississippi through lunch and in Alabama by 4pm, but there wasn't one bullet hole on the signs. The roads flew pretty quickly today considering, and the beaches that ran alongside the gulf of Mexico were superb, the only disappointments were the weather, very humid and sticky...and Rich's puncture.
One more state...Florida, our final destination. 3 days to go, still over 500miles to go though. Weather looks promising, just a couple of Tornados to our east. Pretty sure they'll be gone by then.
The Boys on the Beach
Looking for people to suggest names for the boys!
Gar's #13
Mobile, Alabama - Panama City, Florida - Day 13
After the antics of New Orleans, Mobile gave a chance to recharge the batteries, and an early night, with a bit of sleepwalking apparently thrown in for good measure, meant I was ready for the bang the next day.
After a hearty breakfast of chilidog and pizza, we made our way from Mobile and Spanish Port. Less than two miles into the ride, tricky Dicky's tire played up, which left me to complete the whole leg by myself. In a strange way, this was nice, as it allowed some 'alone time', seen as everybody had been on top of each other all trip. Decent time was made into the wind, and the scenery changed from the tree lined avenues of Alabama, to humid swamp lands as we crossed the Florida border.
The Belch had made up for his puncture by joining the Bear and Phillipousis for a cheeky threesome, which left me to put up with Stoney getting over-excited about any bridges that came into view. He did behave though, he kept it in. Again, the welsh bald eagle and myself did good time, and I had an opp to catch up with the Belch.
Next stint again was decent, good distance made in time, considering the crosswinds and the Florida traffic lights. The bang was still on, and the light rain went some way to cooling us off in the sticky conditions.
Today was the last time we'd see a beach before the Atlantic, and although the Gulf of Mexico has proved spectacular, the back-drop of hazy, humid conditions, and the evidence of hurricanes Katrina and Rita did tarnish it somewhat.
The final stint of the day brought us to our destination for the night, Panama City. It's possibly the equivalent of Western Super Mare, except a fair few more arcades, surf shops, and 20 storey condo blocks, but you can't hide the fact it's spring break. The student jocks riding around in either 'pimp my ride-esq' trucks or on scooters. The divs even started to throw empty trash at us as we exited town. They should have gone to Miami or Mexico like everyone else...pikies!!
Hotel is great, quick dip in pool and Red Lobster for supper, nicest meal on tour (except for the home cooking of Taos and Mrs Dai Evans from Mobile...and Jackies ribs).
So were in Florida, our final state, 48 hours and hopefully we'll be in a St. Augustine bar having a few beers. Tomorrow again will be a challenging day, over 200miles if were to make the last day shorter, which will enable us a beachside finish early afternoon Friday. Everyone is tired, everyone has various sore bits, but no doubt, everyone cannot bloody wait till 4ish on Friday.
Ready to Come Home?
My little dragon is a girl and her name is Suzie and she will be with me all the way from Coast 2 Coast.
Phil is tired too!
Yes we are tired but Merv is insisting that we write a trip song. He's such a prolific lyricist - he's already on his 12th verse with a chanting chorus of:
'IN WITH THE BIKES, OUT WITH THE BIKES'
We were desperately trying to find something that rhymed with Houston and then Merv found it: 'SING SONG as long as we say Houst -ON we'll get away with it', says Merv
Rich's #12
We started our 12th day just outside of New Orleans, with Gareth looking a little weary from his exploits the night before.
We could see even more of the damage inflicted by hurricane Katrina. The previous day there had been a good number of damaged houses but there didn't appear to be any fallen trees, but to the East of New Orleans there was evidence of forests bearing the brunt of the winds as well as yet more houses decimated and whole communities laid to waste.
Strange really how we in Britain complain about the weather, yet we seldom see the extremes we've actually experienced in the past 2 weeks let alone the likes of hurricane Katrina.
Our journey came to an end in Mobile where there had been plans for a local TV crew to film us, but tornadoes to the North of the state meant they were utilised elsewhere, giving further confirmation of the mildness of our own climate.
We stayed in church accomodation in Mobile. This was arranged courtesy of David Evans. David's parents were from Aberdare and he heard about us from connections Andy had with Welsh heritage groups.
We were treated to dinner and spent a comfortable night in one of the church buildings. Once again the famous Southern hospitality in evidence.
So to today and the trip from Mobile to Panama City and It wasn't long before we were in our final state; Florida. Unfortunately Gareth crossed the border alone as very early in our stint I punctured.
I'd fixed a puncture from late the previous day but in my haste hadn't actually checked the condition of the tyre. Only when this next puncture occurred did I do this and discovered a small fragment of metal lodged in the tyre.
Because of my modest mileage I went out in a 3 with Phil and Andy. The intention being that Gar would go next with either one of the Odd Couple before we resumed with the usual pairings. However, a puncture for Phil meant I went next with Andy. We had anticipated that we'd be riding along the seafront but the road was a little in land and so the views were not quite what we had anticipated.
When I did get near the coast - last couple of stints with Gareth - fog had started to form and so my view was more or less confined to the air drumming, human jukebox that is Gareth Evans, and contrary to what he was singing (shouting) at me I am unconvinced at his claims to be "the hot stepper" or "a lyrical gangster". Murderer - most definitely, provided we're talking about murdering a song.
A good day's riding today but I feel tired. Only two more to go though so we're within touching distance.
