April 20th, 21st : Dauphin Island, Alabama
April 22nd : Pensacola, Florida
April 23rd : Crestview, Florida
April 24th : Marianna, Florida
April 25th : Quincy, Florida
April 26th, 27th : Crawfordville, Florida
April 28th : Perry, Florida
April 29th : High Springs, Florida
April 30th : Palatka, Florida
May 1st : St. Augustine, Florida (FINAL DESTINATION!!)
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
We are now in Mississippi!
Yesterday was the "bad dog day" - do you know how scary it is to ride down the road with a pack of
(seemingly??) ferocious dogs snapping at your heels?? I think that I may have broken some personal speed records... and my throat is sore from yelling at them...
But yesterday was also a good day - line dancing in the parking lot at the hotel - with some encouragement from some of the other guests (thanks Sandie, for the lessons - you are a woman of many, many talents!!) and it was a birthday day yesterday. I had ordered Carnegie Deli cheesecake online- they shipped it (frozen) overnight and it arrived at the motel in Bogalusa, Louisiana. It was soooo good - and you can eat as much as you want guilt-free when you have biked 60 or so miles that day!!
And we have now left Louisiana and are in Mississippi for two days; then two days in Alabama (including a rest day AT THE BEACH!!); then Florida!!! We will be in Florida for 10 days...
The weather continues to be not good, but really not so bad. It is cool and each day is overcast, but we have only had a little rain. Better a little cool than too hot. I really, really hope for warm weather at our next rest day at Dauphin Island, Alabama...
Still haven't seen any alligators....
Happy Birthday to my favourite sister who just turned 50!!
Saw the de Grood parents' statement online - truly one of the bravest and saddest moments of television that I have ever seen...
(seemingly??) ferocious dogs snapping at your heels?? I think that I may have broken some personal speed records... and my throat is sore from yelling at them...
But yesterday was also a good day - line dancing in the parking lot at the hotel - with some encouragement from some of the other guests (thanks Sandie, for the lessons - you are a woman of many, many talents!!) and it was a birthday day yesterday. I had ordered Carnegie Deli cheesecake online- they shipped it (frozen) overnight and it arrived at the motel in Bogalusa, Louisiana. It was soooo good - and you can eat as much as you want guilt-free when you have biked 60 or so miles that day!!
And we have now left Louisiana and are in Mississippi for two days; then two days in Alabama (including a rest day AT THE BEACH!!); then Florida!!! We will be in Florida for 10 days...
The weather continues to be not good, but really not so bad. It is cool and each day is overcast, but we have only had a little rain. Better a little cool than too hot. I really, really hope for warm weather at our next rest day at Dauphin Island, Alabama...
Still haven't seen any alligators....
Happy Birthday to my favourite sister who just turned 50!!
Saw the de Grood parents' statement online - truly one of the bravest and saddest moments of television that I have ever seen...
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thank you....
Sorry - you have to indulge me just for a moment....
A huge thank you to Sheila L. who has sent me not one, not two, but three packages in the mail!!
So exciting to receive a package and so lovely to know that she took the time to send a little something... You are the best!!!
And for some strange reason, I gave the wrong person credit for the care package I received in Fredricksberg! I said that Patti had sent me something, but (as I well knew) it was actually from Katie - one of the other sweeps from the Pacific Coast. Katie - thank you, thank you, thank you!! It was such a joy to receive and such a joy to know that you are thinking of us! Wish you were here too!!
A huge thank you to Sheila L. who has sent me not one, not two, but three packages in the mail!!
So exciting to receive a package and so lovely to know that she took the time to send a little something... You are the best!!!
And for some strange reason, I gave the wrong person credit for the care package I received in Fredricksberg! I said that Patti had sent me something, but (as I well knew) it was actually from Katie - one of the other sweeps from the Pacific Coast. Katie - thank you, thank you, thank you!! It was such a joy to receive and such a joy to know that you are thinking of us! Wish you were here too!!
Catching up
You have a lot of time to think as you bike down the road - especially on an 89 mile day like today.
I couldn't help but think about the terrible tragedy back home and the more I think about it the more that I feel that those are "our " kids. They are the same age as ours, with the same kind of lives and interests and ambitions... there but for the grace of God go I... any one of our children could have been at that party - it was just ordinary kids at an ordinary party in an ordinary Calgary neighbourhood. Even though we didn't know those children, they could have been the ones that we helped with reading in kindergarten, or who played on our son's soccer team or against our daughter's basketball team - if they didn't actually touch our lives, they would have been somehow connected in some way. And I know that Calgary is the kind of place where we care about our children - and all the children around us.
Thus we all mourn and question how this could happen and feel so deeply for the families and we are so grateful to the police and EMS people that had to - will continue to have to - deal with the aftermath.
And we can never keep our children safe from this - because no-one could ever have predicted that such a thing could happen. It makes you wish for the days when you could tuck them in at night and know that they are safe and sound and always within your protective arms.
And back to my ride... which seems rather trite and meaningless and even selfish of me right now - or self-indulgent?? In any case, it is what I am doing right now and just in case you still want to hear about it...
I last left you after just entered Louisiana - now Louisiana is really not a very exciting place to cycle! The roads are flat so you just keep pedalling and pedalling. Some of the roads are really bad and some are really good, some with wonderful wide shoulders, some with none at all. We have encountered more unleashed dogs - and those dogs love to defend their territory!! Once gentle soul - Joyce - has revealed an incredibly deep and scary voice that she uses in an attempt to scare them away - I am not sure just how afraid the dogs are, but I have visions of the Exorcist when I hear it!!
Ah - rice fields and crawfish farms too - who knew?? My only regret so far is that I haven't mustered up the courage to try a "boudin ball" which our token Texan of the group claims is very tasty!!
There were frog legs on the menu in the restaurant that we went to today.... didn't try those either!
Oh - big news!! April 14th was a 96 mile today so I added a few and did my first century!! For those non-cyclists, that means I did one hundred miles in one ride!! Whoo too!!! It was actually a pretty easy day - no hills, a tail wind at times, nice and cool - such a contrast to my last attempt. The forecast for the day had been rain and thundershowers, but it had just started to sprinkle when I pulled in and a really fierce thunderstorm hit within half an hour - sooooo lucky!
We stayed in St. Francisville for a rest day - half of us at a B&B on a former plantation. Not such a great breakfast, but I had my own little cabin - the Chef's Cottage. It was freezing cold that first night - it may even have been a record low. So strange that I will go home having experienced only cold weather in Louisiana!
Road kill here seemed to be a lot of snakes - I did see some nasty big one in a water-filled ditch - must be careful now - now I am starting to worry about alligators.
We are doing a few long mile days now - to make up for the shorter rides when the road was hillier, but we seem to all take it in stride (so to speak) - 83, 96, 89 miles today... a piece of cake!!
A bit of a crisis of faith a few days ago - "why am I doing this?" "why would anyone want to put their body through this?" "what is this all for??" but then I had a couple of fun days again and although I still can't really answer those questions, at least I am not fretting over the answers anymore!
After all - to quote Grease - "there are worse things I could do!"
Kiss and hug your children today if you can - and because mine are so far away from me, give them an extra one for me please!!
I couldn't help but think about the terrible tragedy back home and the more I think about it the more that I feel that those are "our " kids. They are the same age as ours, with the same kind of lives and interests and ambitions... there but for the grace of God go I... any one of our children could have been at that party - it was just ordinary kids at an ordinary party in an ordinary Calgary neighbourhood. Even though we didn't know those children, they could have been the ones that we helped with reading in kindergarten, or who played on our son's soccer team or against our daughter's basketball team - if they didn't actually touch our lives, they would have been somehow connected in some way. And I know that Calgary is the kind of place where we care about our children - and all the children around us.
Thus we all mourn and question how this could happen and feel so deeply for the families and we are so grateful to the police and EMS people that had to - will continue to have to - deal with the aftermath.
And we can never keep our children safe from this - because no-one could ever have predicted that such a thing could happen. It makes you wish for the days when you could tuck them in at night and know that they are safe and sound and always within your protective arms.
And back to my ride... which seems rather trite and meaningless and even selfish of me right now - or self-indulgent?? In any case, it is what I am doing right now and just in case you still want to hear about it...
I last left you after just entered Louisiana - now Louisiana is really not a very exciting place to cycle! The roads are flat so you just keep pedalling and pedalling. Some of the roads are really bad and some are really good, some with wonderful wide shoulders, some with none at all. We have encountered more unleashed dogs - and those dogs love to defend their territory!! Once gentle soul - Joyce - has revealed an incredibly deep and scary voice that she uses in an attempt to scare them away - I am not sure just how afraid the dogs are, but I have visions of the Exorcist when I hear it!!
Ah - rice fields and crawfish farms too - who knew?? My only regret so far is that I haven't mustered up the courage to try a "boudin ball" which our token Texan of the group claims is very tasty!!
There were frog legs on the menu in the restaurant that we went to today.... didn't try those either!
Oh - big news!! April 14th was a 96 mile today so I added a few and did my first century!! For those non-cyclists, that means I did one hundred miles in one ride!! Whoo too!!! It was actually a pretty easy day - no hills, a tail wind at times, nice and cool - such a contrast to my last attempt. The forecast for the day had been rain and thundershowers, but it had just started to sprinkle when I pulled in and a really fierce thunderstorm hit within half an hour - sooooo lucky!
We stayed in St. Francisville for a rest day - half of us at a B&B on a former plantation. Not such a great breakfast, but I had my own little cabin - the Chef's Cottage. It was freezing cold that first night - it may even have been a record low. So strange that I will go home having experienced only cold weather in Louisiana!
Road kill here seemed to be a lot of snakes - I did see some nasty big one in a water-filled ditch - must be careful now - now I am starting to worry about alligators.
We are doing a few long mile days now - to make up for the shorter rides when the road was hillier, but we seem to all take it in stride (so to speak) - 83, 96, 89 miles today... a piece of cake!!
A bit of a crisis of faith a few days ago - "why am I doing this?" "why would anyone want to put their body through this?" "what is this all for??" but then I had a couple of fun days again and although I still can't really answer those questions, at least I am not fretting over the answers anymore!
After all - to quote Grease - "there are worse things I could do!"
Kiss and hug your children today if you can - and because mine are so far away from me, give them an extra one for me please!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
So far from home..
I have heard of the tragic stabbing in Calgary and I have to say that it is difficult to be so far from home when something like this happens. I just want to talk to all my friends - especially those who have children the age of the victims - the age of my children - and share a moment of gladness that it was not our children there and sadness that there are so many parents mourning their dearest, most-loved, most precious babies tonight.
With much love to all....
With much love to all....
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Ladies and gentlemen - we have left Texas!!
It is crazy how big Texas actually is - not only is everything bigger in Texas but Texas is bigger than everything!
We spent almost three weeks crossing this state - 17 cycling days I think and over 1,000 miles.
And my thoughts and impressions???
We have seen a different side of Texas almost every day. We passed through desert with cactus and a whole lot of dry sand and dirt. We went through Hill Country - aptly named - that descended into a valley of rivers and trees; camps and resorts and mansions, retirement homes and lovely neighbourhoods. We have seen big cities and small, prosperous towns, but we have also passed through (and stayed in!!) towns that are almost dead - their only reason for existence the proximity to the highways; boarded up businesses and abandoned homes - very sad.
We have seen real cowboys with cowboy boots and hats (like rural Alberta in places) but these ones are no doubt "packing heat" - we have seen plenty of signs and t-shirts advocating the right to bear arms.
We have seen cattle - yep, even the Texas longhorns - and sheep, goats and of course, horses.
We saw plenty of the Mexican influence; restaurants and signs in Spanish and especially - Mexican coca cola!
We have seen prickly pear, live oaks and wildflowers that fill the landscape with an undeniable beauty.
We have just gone through the Sam Houston National Forest - complete with logging trucks??!!
We have experienced chip seal; mist; heat & rain... cool mornings and hot afternoons.
All in all, I have been surprised at the immensity and the diversity here...
and now : Louisiana!! Just in time for crawfish season!!
We spent almost three weeks crossing this state - 17 cycling days I think and over 1,000 miles.
And my thoughts and impressions???
We have seen a different side of Texas almost every day. We passed through desert with cactus and a whole lot of dry sand and dirt. We went through Hill Country - aptly named - that descended into a valley of rivers and trees; camps and resorts and mansions, retirement homes and lovely neighbourhoods. We have seen big cities and small, prosperous towns, but we have also passed through (and stayed in!!) towns that are almost dead - their only reason for existence the proximity to the highways; boarded up businesses and abandoned homes - very sad.
We have seen real cowboys with cowboy boots and hats (like rural Alberta in places) but these ones are no doubt "packing heat" - we have seen plenty of signs and t-shirts advocating the right to bear arms.
We have seen cattle - yep, even the Texas longhorns - and sheep, goats and of course, horses.
We saw plenty of the Mexican influence; restaurants and signs in Spanish and especially - Mexican coca cola!
We have seen prickly pear, live oaks and wildflowers that fill the landscape with an undeniable beauty.
We have just gone through the Sam Houston National Forest - complete with logging trucks??!!
We have experienced chip seal; mist; heat & rain... cool mornings and hot afternoons.
All in all, I have been surprised at the immensity and the diversity here...
and now : Louisiana!! Just in time for crawfish season!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Rest day in.... just a sec... Navasota!
Yep! We are still in Texas!!
After just four days of cycling, we have a rest day - unusual but always appreciated!!
I am not sure what Navasota is like actually - we are in a Best Western just off of the highway so downtown is way too far to walk...
Big excitement because there is a Walmart within walking distance - much purchasing of basic necessities (root touch up anyone??)
Other than Walmart, there are a lot of fast food places close by and a steak house for dinner tonight.
So what do we do on rest days?? Laundry, bike cleaning, catching up on blogs and e-mails and eating,
a lot of eating! Usually there is a cocktail hour at 5pm - in the parking lot on our plastic chairs of course. We try to go out for a nice meal in a real restaurant - food is very important when you are going across the States using only your own legs to get you there!!
I have made great friends on this trip and become re-acquainted with some wonderful old friends from the Pacific Coast trip. Odd to spend two months with a group of people and then maybe never see them again!
Beautiful ride yesterday but we were fighting crosswinds again - one time I swear that the wind picked up my bike and moved it over a couple of inches!! Some good solid body weight helps a lot - the smaller women tend to have some real issues with wind conditions like that!
Charlene and I did get lost and took a longer, but fortunately, very scenic route. We got back on track in the end and were very happy to arrive in town!! It is all part of the adventure...
Keep those e-mails coming!!
After just four days of cycling, we have a rest day - unusual but always appreciated!!
I am not sure what Navasota is like actually - we are in a Best Western just off of the highway so downtown is way too far to walk...
Big excitement because there is a Walmart within walking distance - much purchasing of basic necessities (root touch up anyone??)
Other than Walmart, there are a lot of fast food places close by and a steak house for dinner tonight.
So what do we do on rest days?? Laundry, bike cleaning, catching up on blogs and e-mails and eating,
a lot of eating! Usually there is a cocktail hour at 5pm - in the parking lot on our plastic chairs of course. We try to go out for a nice meal in a real restaurant - food is very important when you are going across the States using only your own legs to get you there!!
I have made great friends on this trip and become re-acquainted with some wonderful old friends from the Pacific Coast trip. Odd to spend two months with a group of people and then maybe never see them again!
Beautiful ride yesterday but we were fighting crosswinds again - one time I swear that the wind picked up my bike and moved it over a couple of inches!! Some good solid body weight helps a lot - the smaller women tend to have some real issues with wind conditions like that!
Charlene and I did get lost and took a longer, but fortunately, very scenic route. We got back on track in the end and were very happy to arrive in town!! It is all part of the adventure...
Keep those e-mails coming!!
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