Nov. 08 Homestead to Biscayne NP and Miami

11/8/2008

I got things together early and started for Biscayne National Park, stopping at a Duncan Doughnuts for breakfast.  The ride out was not too bad once I got about 3 miles out of town.  Just before the park I saw approx. 50 cyclists and talked to a few of them.  It was good to see a lot of people taking advantage of these rural roads and beautiful surroundings.  There are plenty of palm tree farms out there and I saw a great variety of different palms.  Biscayne National Park was nice and I learned that at one time the area was bought up and the planned use was a six-lane highway to as an extension of Miami Beach.  I'm really glad that was stopped and it was made into a national park.  I rode my bike around the walkway and out onto the jetty.  From there the view of Miami is nice but I preferred the one looking out into open water.

As I left I saw many young people visiting the park.  There is a lot to see and do here and I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.  

I chose to ride the rural roads as much as possible toward Miami and then searched for a reasonably priced storage facility to put my bicycle in.  As I entered Miami I did see one sign that I thought others would find funny.  It was a sign for a park and I have a picture below.  See the humor?  I tried A-1 but they have fees for their fees and it would have cost nearly $100 to just leave my bike there for a month.  Luckily I saw a Public Storage and there a months rent, a new lock, and all fees were only $41, saving me more than 50% over their competitor.  I really don't like making anyone look bad but when you make up fees just to charge more I think you deserve it.  A-1 even charges you $20 for "administrative fee" for filling out their paper!

In the unit I packed as much as I could into my backpack and locked the door on the rest.  I decided to walk to the airport and enjoyed just walking around for a while.  It was near dinner time and I stopped into a Cuban restaurant for a meal.  There was very little English spoken here.  The food was very good and I had a dessert and espresso to top off the tank.

I was looking to the west and as the sun set it developed a brilliant redish purple hue but there was nothing to frame it with.  I took a couple pictures anyway.  I continued my walk and eventually came to the Hertz rental car facility where I caught the shuttle to the airport since it is not designed for pedestrians.  I got to the airport and was able to work on a few pictures and do some of my blog posting while waiting for the early morning flight to Nassau, Bahamas.

 

 Biscayne National Park

 

 Anyone else see humor in this sign?

 

 The sunset was very colorful but nothing to really frame it with

Nov. 07 Homestead and Everglades National Park

11/8/2008

Today was an easy day with a visit to the Everglades National Park.  This was the first time I have been to this park and I had anticipated it highly.  It more than met my expectations.  Wildlife was abundant and offered many oppurtunities to photograph them.  Something about creatures that could eat me have always excited me, just look at some of my bear pictures and you will understand.  I tend to push the limits a little to obtain a great shot but knowing that any of these big gators could just grab me if he decided to really tingled my nerves.  Perhaps it was just the newness of the gator shots as opposed to the bears, coyotes, deer, and wolves I am more used to.  I also took shots of several birds and landscapes while I was there but the gators were my favorites by far.

I had seen a sign for a winery on the way in and not being one to miss a good tasting I decided to go there.  Schnebly Redland's Winerywas only about 6 miles from the park and the ride was very easy with the wind helping push me along.  At the winery  I opted for the regular and deluxe tasting.  They do charge for the tastings here but you get to keep the glass, an added bonus.  I really enjoyed several of their wines but being on a bicycle I chose a bottle of there Catagory 3 (think hurricane) wine.  It is a mixed fruit wine and reminded me of a good sangria.  One of the workers there suggested El Toro Taco as a place to eat in Homestead and the name made me think it was a small taco chain but was I surprised.  The restaurant was very nice and the food was excellent.  The only problem was their lack of a beer/liquor permit but I was able to go next door for a couple beers and carry them into the restaurant where they did provide limes and opener.

I decided to stay in Homestead for another night so I can go to Biscayne National Park tomorrow before heading to Miami.

Stats: 37.7 miles, 12.5 mph avg., 20.3 max., 8:57 total time, 3:00 moving time, 2772 calories,  97 avg. HR, 141 max. HR.

 

 Entrance sign for Everglades National Park

 

This guy was laying beside the road coming into the park

 

 This one was HUGE! and laying right beside the boardwalk on a trail at Royal Palm area.

Nov. 06 Key Largo to Homestead

11/6/2008

This morning I had breakfast at the inn and then spent most of the morning looking around Key Largo.  I visited John Pennekamp state park and as I was leaving Key Largo I noticed a sign for Caribbean Club.  I'm sure many will remember that this is where parts of Key Largo with Bogart and Bacall was filmed.  I had to have a beer there and look around.  The place had many posters and other memorabilia about the film.  It was a quaint and friendly place that any film buff should visit.

I had a headwind but was making good time until I hit the road construction on US 1.  The pylons were on the shoulder and that made avoiding traffic even more of a challenge.  I did get to meet the first long-distance cyclist I have seen so far on this trip.  Pat is from Detroit and on his was to Key West.  If you see him be sure to wave or toot your horn.

I made it to Homestead and found a room for the night.

Stats: 31.1 miles, 12.1 mph avg., 26.6 max., 5:07 total time, 2:34 moving time, 2327 calories,  107 avg. HR, 154max. HR.

Dressed for the Phlockers Street Fest. Did I mention that Catholic school girls are HOT!

 

Key Largo Sunset

Bogart and Me at the Caribbean Club

 

The Caribbean Club sign

 

Warning sign at KeyLargo store

 

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Nov. 05 Marathon to Key Largo

11/5/2008

Today started with a little ride to a convience store for a banana, coffee, and danish for breakfast.  There was a slight headwind making things a little more difficult.  Since this a return trip I was able to look around even more and took the oppurtunity to take more photos than on the way to Key West.  The pics I have included are Mile Marker 69 for a very special friend whose favorite number is shown, Tiki Chairs, Sign seen in the window of an art shop on Islamorada, and a scuba diving shark.

The ride was nice with the cloudy sky this morning but soon it cleared and warmed up nicely.  Most of the ride was on bike paths or wide shouldered roads.  I stopped at a Spanish Cafe for lunch and met a wonderful painter whose shop was next door. 

I made my way back to the Pelican Inn on Key Largo since I had stopped there on my way to Key West and they treated me very well.  Tomorrow I will try to make my way to Miami and check out passage to the Bahamas so I can ride a few of the islands there.

Stats: 58.1 miles, 11.6 mph avg., 26.8 max., 8:46 total time, 4:59 moving time, 4114 calories,  106 avg. HR,  150 max. HR.

Nov. 04 Key West to Marathon

11/4/2008

I woke early and walked around the southern end of Key West taking a few more pics before returning to Angelina's for the much anticipated cinnamon rolls.

I lubed the bicycle to prepare for the next part of my trip and loaded up.  I followed along the water and was about to leave Key West when I heard from my friends on their way back to Charleston.  One of them ask about a photo she had ask me to take, since it wasn't too far back I turned and made my way back to Duval Street to take pictures of the Lazy Gecko.  After several shots I remembered that I also forgot to stop by the kite shop to pick up something I had seen earlier in the week.  Since I was there I also went next door to the Blond Giraffe for another slice of their key lime pie.  In my opinion their pie is the best in Key West.

I start off again and make it off the island. 

I use the available bike paths when available and soon on Big Pine Key.  AS I ride along I got to see a Key Deer buck but he got into the bush before I could get out a camera.  Not far from there my luck was much better and I get to see another buck but this time I had the video camera out.

As I made my way across the seven mile bridge I get to see several rays again.  Since it was my first day riding distance again I decided to stay in Marathon rather than push myself and chance having to ride into the dark.

Stats: 59.5 miles, 12 mph avg., 22.7 max., 7:05 total time, 4:57 moving time,  calories,  avg. HR,  max. HR.

Oct. 26 Marathon to Key West

10/26/2008

I got an early start and stopped by McDonalds for breakfast.  Some friends I met in Charleston are on their way and I want to be in Key West when they arrive.  I will be sharing a condo in Truman Annex with them for the next 9 days!

As I crossed Seven Mile Bridge I see three spotted rays swimming along in the water and stop to video them.  As I am watching their underwater ballet two nurse sharks join them.  This is one of the reasons I love traveling by bicycle, you get to see things others in cars do not.  Soon a bicycle path returns making things easier by not having to be so close to frenzied traffic.  I am also amazed by the number of iguanas along the roadway.  I have driven this route several times and had never noticed them before.  Life at island speed on a bicycle is the best.

I was making good time and stopped for iced coffee and a snack.  I get moving quickly when I get a call saying they are already in Key Largo.

Finally I enter Key West and take a couple pics then turn left so I can continue my ride beside the ocean.  I stop at the Southernmost Point marker and take more pictures and do the same at the mile marker 0 sign.  Here a few people are already commenting and asking questions about the ride I have just completed.

I hear from my friends again, they are loading up on supplies for the week at the store so I return to the Green Parrot for a well deserved beer (or two).  Here more notice my loaded bike and want to hear about the trip.  As I walk out to check on the bike my friends show up and we all proceed to the condo to unload.

After getting everything squared away we decide where we will go first and head out on the town.

Stats: 56 miles, 11.9 mph avg., 22.4 max., 6:01 total time, 4:30 moving time, 4162 calories,  117 avg. HR,  151max. HR.

Oct. 21 Floradana Beach to Jensen Beach

10/21/2008

There were no more mosquito swarms to carry me off during the night.  I ate at a nearby restaurant and started riding south.  I rode through Vero Beach and the area was a place of conflicts to me. On one hand the area was beautiful and very well kept but on the other hand all of the "Private, Keep Out" signs ruined it for me.  The people on the bike trails weren't nearly as friendly as I have seen so far. 

The rest of the day was great.  I stopped by Sonic Surf Shop in Fort Pierce and had a great time talking to the people there.  They make some great boards and have a team.  As I was leaving I ask about where to eat and they suggested Hurricane's for their wings and food.  I wheeled over to there and stopped in.  Sitting at the counter the lady says, "I was just reading your blog yesterday."  Boy was I surprised.  Turns out Helen and Bob are members of the Treasure Coast PHC and frequent the Meet The Phlockers website.  The food and Landsharks were great.  I love hot spicy food and the Garlic and Parmesan sauce was great and would be my new favorite if I lived in this area.  If you ever get near this place stop in for a meal, I know you will love it.

When I left there I called Lori and David, also members of the Phlockers, who had invited me to stop by when I came through.  They are friends of Karen whom I had seen a couple days ago in Daytona and both really nice people.  After fighting with the mosquitos last night I look forward to a good nights sleep.

 

Stats: 58.5 miles, 13 mph avg., 33.3 max., 9:17 total time, 4:29 moving time, 3985 calories, 102 avg. HR, 148 max. HR.

Oct. 20 Titusville to Floradana Beach

10/20/2008

I got an early start but yesterday took a lot out of me.  Along the way the owner of a local recumbent shop stopped to offer advise on routes and eateries.

At Cocoa Beach I looked around at both Cocoa Beach Surf shop and Ron Jon's.  Seems I was finding excuses to rest the legs.  I even spent a good bit of time on the beach at Floridana Beach just soaking my toes in the water and walking the beach.  I stopped once more for food and ask about where I could stay.  Everyone said that the Long Point campground was nice so I went there since it was late.

I arrived just before sundown and was promptly attacked by mosquitos.  They nearly carried me off and sucked me dry of blood.  If it hadn't been for the ranger with a high-powered rifle killing a few of the larger ones it may have ended my trip right there.  (LOL)

I threw up the tent quickly and hopped inside, spending the next 10 to 15 minutes killing the ones that followed me inside.  I chatted a few minutes with what battery power I had and then retired for the night, hoping the mosquitos wouldn't regroup and attack again.

Stats: 62 miles, 13 mph avg., 22.5 max., 11:00 total time, 4:45 moving time, 4006 calories, 100 avg. HR, 150 max. HR.

 

Oct. 19 St. Augustine to Titusville

10/19/2008

This morning I had breakfast at the hotel and got on the road.  I stopped at a surf shop to pick up a couple of stickers and a couple there was interested in my trip.  They were going surfing and hopefully they had a great day.  The waves and wind were whipping it up and on A1A just south of there sea spray was crossing the road.  Riding along the ocean was nice.

At Flagler Beach I had a great meal at a small taco shop behind ZWave.  I do not usually even try fish tacos but theirs sounded great and they were.  They make everything fresh and that made all the difference.  If you are in the area they are worth looking for.  Just south of there I noticed a sign about the Phun Coast PHC.  While I didn't get to meet any of them I wish I had.

When I got to Ormond Beach I stopped in for coffee and a doughnut.  While there Karen, a fellow Parrothead, called.  We agreed to meet for a beer at her local bar when I got there.  When I reached Daytona Beach I stopped at Salty Dog Surf Shop for a set of their stickers and the guys there were very friendly, handing me several of their store decal for me and my friends.  Of course Biketoberfest was going on in Daytona and they were a ton of bikes everywhere.  I crossed from A1A to 1 on Main and that took a while.  Her directions were great and I had no trouble finding the place.  She and her boyfriend where there waiting on me when I arrived.  We took a couple of pictures and had a couple rounds before I had to get on the road again.

When I left I decided to try for a century today and set my sights on Titusville.  I rode on into the darkness and finally reached my destination.  There I stopped at a Pizza Hut/Taco Bell and partook of both worlds.  After wolfing my food down I walked next door to a small motel.  No internet here but I can use my phone as a modem so that wasn't too bad.  Now if the TV only had sound.

Stats: 103.4 miles, 14.6 mph avg., 23.4 max., 11:25 total time, 7:05 moving time, 5298 calories, 105 avg. HR, 155 max. HR.

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Oct. 17 Brunswick to Amelia Island

10/17/2008

This morning I continued on 17. The road wasn't too bad and the traffic seemed lighter. Along the way I met another bicyclist.  He said his name was Devil and he was on his way to Miami, a trip he had made many times according to him.  We leap frogged each other several times when I stopped to eat or talk to someone until just after the Florida line when I turned off on A1A.

Just before The state line a sign let me know that bicycle route 95 was ending, a route I had followed for about 300 miles.  This completed two states crossed.  Our country needs more designated routes and a better marked shoulder system.  Add to that enhanced driver education with a special section on bicycle safety.  Well, I can dream can't I?

In Yulee A1A crossed 17 and I chose that as my new route.  This took me to Amelia Island and historic Fernandina Beach.  I decided to stay the night here and the Days Inn gave me a great rate.  The clerk at the hotel suggested Sliders Seaside Grill as a place to eat and she was right.  My food and service was excellent.  There was even live entertainment.

In the morning I hope to get some great photos of the area and sunrise.  There is also a lighthouse here if I can get to it.  If you are near this area a visit is certainly encouraged.

Stats: 62.6 miles, 12.2 mph avg., 28.3 max., 9:11 total time, 5:06 moving time, 4052 calories, 103 avg. HR, 156 max. HR.

 

  

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Oct. 16 Savannah (Richmond Hill) to Brunswick

10/16/2008

I got an early start this morning and made it about 8 miles before stopping to eat at Ida Bell's.  The food was good and very reasonably priced.  While there I talked to several people about my trip and how it was going.  After a few miles I saw a post office and boxed about 12 pounds of books and stuff I was carrying but did not need until Key West and shipped it ot Key West through the postal service.  This helped lighten my load and the bike is responding better. 

Just a little up the road from there I met Daniel who has done a good bit of riding himself.  He was on his way to Jacksonville and we rode together for a couple of hours and I went on ahead to try and make better time.  Along the way we saw America's smallest church and I took a couple of pictures.

I made it into Brunswick which now has my vote for the worst drivers I have come across in my trips.  A school bus driver tried to pull out in front of me even though I was blasting my horn.  He finally stopped and let me go on.  Within a mile I had two drivers left turn in front of me and had to lock the brakes up to avoid hitting them.  A driver education class here would probably help.  As a matter of coincidence I received an email from Simon tonight (the Australian who rode with me from Arizona to St. Augustine, FL) saying that he had had a head on collision with a car today.  His bike was history but he was OK.  May have been a bad day for bikes everywhere.

After all the close calls I stopped to eat and then continued over the bridge and got a room to stay the night.  Tomorrow I hope to make it to Jacksonville.

Stats: 65.9 miles, 11.6 mph avg., 32.6 max., 10:17 total time, 5:39 moving time, 5534 calories, 109 avg. HR, 165 max. HR.

 

 

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Oct. 15 Point South to Savannah (Richmond Hill)

10/15/2008

This morning I had breakfast at Waffle House and started riding the frontage road along I-95. After a few miles of the noise I was happy to detour onto 462 which took me a little more into the country. The traffic was much less and I saw deer, squirrels, lots of birds, and several dead armadillos. There wasn't much of a shoulder but the riding was not too bad.  Just past Ridgeland the road was newly paved but that didn't last long enough. The road ends into 170 which was a 4-lane but became a busy, narrow 2 lane road in only a few miles.  Busy and narrow are not 2 words you want to here together when talking about bicycling. 

Eventually I was back onto 17-Alt and kept following that until I crossed the big bridge into Savannah. I pulled into the visitor center and called Dale, the president of the Savannah PHC.  He was out of town himself but had arranged for me to meet his wife, son and more of the club.  He gave me directions to Richmond Hill and I proceeded there to Augie's, their hangout, and waited for Scott, Dale's son, to pick me up.  We loaded the bike and drove to his house. Kelly, Matt, Ashley, Monty, and Sherri also showed up. Monty was grilling and we all had a great meal with a few drinks. Everyone had a great time and I am glad to say I have made a few more friends on this trip.

Stats: 65.5 miles, 11.1 mph avg., 35.5 max., 9:15 total time, 5:54 moving time, 6616 calories, 127 avg. HR, 167 max. HR.

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Oct. 14 Charleston to Point South

10/14/2008

This morning I went back to Red's and started from where I quit last night.  This let me go across the bridge and that really was a great view.  I then went to Margaritaville Charleston and looked around.  The Margaritaville there is only a store without a cafe.  I think everyone should write in that they need a cafe there and hope the powers that be listen.

After looking around a while I resumed my travels on Route 17.  The road is nice but there are long stretches that do not have anything other than egrets, herons, and basin areas.  If you ride here plan for this and carry plenty of water and food.  Just before getting to my destination there was road construction which made some of the road more narrow and the cars were coming very close.  One guy even stopped me and offered a place to stay for the night but it was a little off route and I want to be sure to be in Key Largo early so I can enjoy the trip down the keys and take plenty of pictures.Since I started a little later to avoid the morning rush I rode into the darkness to get to a hotel in Point South.  Luckily they have wireless internet and I can post these updates.  Tomorrow I hope to reach Savannah where I will get to meet the Savannah Parrothead club.

Stats: 69.2 miles, 11.5 mph avg., 27.3 max., 9:20 total time, 6:01 moving time, 6647 calories, 123 avg. HR, 175 max. HR.

Oct. 12, 2008 First Day Of Pedaling To Key West

Today I officially started the ride to MOTM in Key West.  I didn't get to Myrtle Beach until about 12:30 so I went for a short walk on the beach to feel a little sand and sea water on my feet.  There a saw a sign that I just had to get a picture of concerning a Tsunami Zone (see the pic).  I then had lunch at Margaritaville Myrtle Beach that included a couple Landsharks (for nutritional value of course) and then took a few pictures with manager John and some of his staff (Lindsey, Steph, Ashtin), hopefully a good omen for the trip.  Thanks to all the great staff there and especially to Kristen for her addition to my lanyard.

Then hopped on the bicycle and headed down Ocean Blvd. and onto route 17 south.  The sky was cloudy and started dropping a little rain so I decided to stop early after nearly 30 miles rather than get wet.  I decided to check into a hotel near Pawleys Island so I could repack my bags in a more orderly fashion than I did yesterday when I was trying to get everything ready in a rush.  A clerk at the hotel recommended South Island Steakhouse for food and I was glad she did.  Mark Brinkley is the owner and a Parrothead himself, that fact being evident when I walked in and saw the deco and heard the Jimmy Buffett music playing.  The service there was great as was the food.  If you are in the area be sure to stop in for a meal or just a drink.

Want to see where I am?  Check out http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0TSm7h5vSsAoziekqbF4hvDJuKRbIJsDX .  The last entry will be where I am at most recently.

Stats: 28.3 miles, 13.7 mph avg., 21.6 max., 2:31 total time, 2470 calories, 148 avg. HR, 172 max. HR. 

 

Feb. 4, 2008 Simon emailed and said that he had been to Yosemite and had a great time.  Still waiting on pictures from him though.

Feb. 2, 2008 I heard from Simon and he is in San Francisco having a great time.  He has met several people at the hostel and seems to really like the city.  He has talked about a few other places to visit but not definite plans as of yet.  He will be returning to Australia on Feb. 17.

Jan. 23, 2008 I received a few pictures from Simon today and posted them in the gallery.  I think he is planning some more riding but has not finalized the plans yet.  I will post as soon as I talk to him.  On a side note, I have been in email contact with Simon's dad and uncle and they certainly seem as nice as Simon is.  I feel very lucky to have met him early in my trip and extend my circle of friends.  We hope to be able to go to Australia one day to ride with them in their home country.  I have also heard from Edwin a couple of times by email and he is planning some backpacking in Alabama's beautiful wilderness.

Jan. 15, 2008 I spoke with Simon and he is having a blast in Key West.  He met some fellow Australians at the hostel and some other new friends.  He has his bike boxed and ready to catch the bus on the 16th.  He has promised some pictures when he gets back to California and has a good internet connection.

Jan. 13, 2008 I talked to Simon today and he is in Key West!  Today he rode from Marathon in and was lucky enough to see a stingray jump out of the water while crossing the 7-mile bridge.  He is staying in the hostel there and will be just chilling out for a few days before catching a bus on Wednesday for the trip to California.  He will be sending some pictures to post in a couple of days so keep looking.  I am also working on a video for the trip which should be available in a few days.

Any questions about any part of the trip?  Just email them to me and I will get them posted ASAP.

I am also getting together some maps and directions of my local rides.  If you have maps and directions of your favorite rides please send them to me and I will try to post them too.

Jan. 08, 2008 I just talked to Simon on the phone.  Yesterday he got rained off and on and spent the night on a bench in a campground under a shelter since it was raining and couldn't get a break to put up his tent.

Today he had a headwind but still made decent mileage.  He is in a campground and met some guys with a band who invited him to eat with them and then played a little.  He is having a good time, makes me wish I could have went along with him.  Tomorrow he will pass through Palm Beach.

More updates as I get them.  Yesterday I went for a ride without all the bags and weight.  At first it was hard to control since everything seemed jerky but after a few minutes I had better control and the bike seemed to fly.  I was hitting 30 mph between stoplights!  My legs felt really strong after the rest, I was even getting restless from not riding.  I rode about 32 miles total.

Jan. 06, 2008 I drove on home last night, getting here around 3 am.  Needless to say I slept late and then went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  The rest of the day I visited family and did laundry. 

Simon called from Florida saying he was having a great time and saw more people on bikes today than he had the trip so far.   He traveled approx. 80 + miles today and met many friendly people at Flagler Beach.  He promised to sent updates in an email when he can and I will post when he does.

Day 42 Jan. 05, 2008 We had breakfast at the hotel and then drove Edwin to the Greyhound station so he could catch the bus back home.  Simon got a room for tonight and we put our bikes in the room so we could look around.  Simon and I went to the lighthouse and then to the fort for a visit.  We had lunch and then went to San Sebastian winery for tasting and pick up a bottle to take home.  Next we went back to the Greyhound station so Simon could purchase his ticket from Key West back to California.  He will be riding on alone to Key West, I wish I could be going on to there too but the real world of jobs and responsibilities is calling.  It was getting near 5 pm as we loaded my bike for the trip home.  We said our goodbyes several times but it was difficult to leave.  I haven't known Simon for a long time but have developed deep friendships.  I know I will miss his antics and sense of humor.  I am sure we will continue to be in touch with each other, who knows I may even take a trip to ride in Australia.  I am now in Georgia on my way back home to Tennessee as I write this.  Edwin should be home or very near by now. 

Please keep checking in and I will pass on anything I hear from Simon's trip to Key West.  I will be posting my thoughts after the trip and how it affects me.  I will also be posting some more videos and a compilation of pictures from the ride.  Again thanks to everyone we meet on the trip.

Day 41 Jan. 04, 2008 Another cold morning, is this really Florida?  We dressed warmly and got an early start after breakfast at Huddle House.  We stayed on hwy. 16 which has a good shoulder for riding and the traffic is not too bad.  We know that we will make it to the end of route today and we all ride hard without too much complaining about the wind.  At Green Cove Springs we stopped at Cousin's Cafe for lunch.  Their peanut butter pie was my favorite.  The bridge just out of town needs a bigger shoulder but we managed.  When we got to the Saint Augustine city limit sign we stopped for a picture and then again at the Welcome To St. Augustine sign.  Here we got on hwy. 1 and rode toward the corner of Menendez and King (Bus. 1 and CR 214), the ending point of the Southern Tier.  From here we headed toward the ocean to dip our wheels, signifying the end of our coast to coast ride.  On the way we stopped in at Island Cycles where Edwin was able to get a bicycle box so he could ship his bike back home tomorrow.  At the beach Simon and I popped open a couple of Landshark beers to celebrate.  We took more pictures and then went looking for a place to stay the night.  After finding rooms we all cleaned up and headed out to eat a good dinner at Sea Fair and talk about our ride.  It is hard to believe that the ride is over for me.

We would love to hear from anyone who has been following our trip, email us if you would with any thoughts or comments.

Specs.: 62.6 miles, 7 hrs. 36 min. total time, 5 hrs. 05 min. moving time, 12.3 mph avg. moving speed, 23.4 max speed, 3794 calories burned, avg. HR 107, max HR 152, approx. 2374.6 miles ridden

Day 40 Jan. 03, 2008 To say it was cold this morning would be an understatement.  We got ready and drove to a Waffle House for breakfast then mulled around, not getting on the road until 9:30 am.  We had on nearly everything we could wear at one time to try and stay warm.  We stayed on hwy. 90 until Lake City where we had a great lunch at El Potro, a Mexican buffet that offers lots of great food at good prices.  Any cyclists in the area would be well served to stop here for lunch or dinner.  From here we took 10A to hwy. 100 so we can cut down on the mileage to Saint Augustine.  Hwy. 100 is another nice road with good shoulders for riding.  The traffic is a little heavier but most drivers allow plenty of room for bicyclists.  We decided to stop in Starke for the night and checked into a motel.  We ate dinner at Laredo which was just across the street from the motel.  Tomorrow we possibly may finish the ride if we get an early start and the riding goes well.  At dinner tonight we spent a long time after eating just laughing about some of the things that have happened and talking about all the people we have met.  I am sure the trip will have a lingering effect on us and change the way we view others.  After I get home I plan to put together a video of the pictures from the trip and a summary of the things that happened so keep checking in to see the updates in the future.

Specs.: 62.0 miles, 7 hrs. 51 min. total time, 5 hrs. 07 min. moving time, 12.1 mph avg. moving speed, 22.7 max speed, 3212 calories burned, avg. HR 100, max HR 145, approx. 2312.0 miles ridden.

Day 39 Jan. 02, 2008 After a cold night we all dressed as warmly as possible.  Just down from the motel was a newly opened cafe where we stopped for breakfast.  Tupelo's Bakery and Cafe is an excellent place to eat and have a cup of coffee.  Owners Claire and Kim are very friendly and make all of their food fresh and in house.  They are located at 220 West Washington Street and also have free wireless internet.    Our route stayed on Hwy. 90 with good shoulders and nice scenery.  In Madison we stopped for lunch at O'Neal's Country Buffet.  This is a great bicyclist's lunch stop, offering lots of great food at a great price.  We rode over the Suwannee River crossing and then decided to stay on Hwy. 90 and stray off route into Live Oak.  In Live Oak we met a woman who was originally from an area in Kentucky where I spent a lot of time working, amazing how small the world can seem at times.  We then checked into a motel near the cafe since the temperature is supposed to drop near 20 degrees.  We have been looking at the maps and are considering taking a more direct route to Saint Augustine.  This would put us in Saint Augustine Friday night or Saturday morning and get us out of these low temps sooner.

Specs.: 60.4 miles, 7 hrs. 46 min. total time, 4 hrs. 44 min. moving time, 12.7 mph avg. moving speed, 27.7 max speed, 2505 calories, avg. HR 93, approx. 2250.0 miles ridden.

Day 38 Jan. 01, 2008 The air this morning was a little chilly but we got on the road about 9 am.  Yesterday just before we entered Chattahoochee we crossed into the eastern time zone so the times seem different than yesterday for a reason.  We were treated to a unique sight just about a mile out of town when we saw a bald eagle fly from the road into a nearby tree.  This was the closest I have been to one in the wild.  We stayed on hwy. 90 all day and most of it is nice with a good shoulder.  We ate at a Subway and then continued on into Tallahassee.  Riding through the city wasn't too bad and most drivers gave us room to ride safely, a few always seem to think they own all of the road or do not know how to change lanes to the left.  From hwy. 319 out to I-10 there was no shoulder and the drivers were even less likely to understand that we legally should be riding on the road.  After the I-10 overpass the shoulder returned and riding was easier even with the rolling hills.  There were only a few spots where the shoulder disappeared but the traffic wasn't too heavy today.  In Monticello we checked into the only motel and then went to Pizza Hut.  This is a nice little town with many historical buildings.  Tomorrow morning looks like a cold one so we will try to dress warmly for it.

Specs.: 67.8 miles, 7 hrs. 23 min. total time, 5 hrs. 34 min. moving time, 12.2 mph avg. moving speed, 31.6 max speed, 2419 calories burned, avg. HR 95, max HR 139, approx. 2189.6 miles ridden.

Day 37 Dec. 31, 2007 This morning we started with breakfast at the hotel and then got an early start on the road.  At the lake in town we started on the last of the seven maps that make up the Southern Tier.  It is hard to believe that we will soon be finished with this ride.  From De Funiak Springs eastward hwy. 90 was really nice, almost park-like, trees lined both sides and there was a good shoulder to ride on.  It is hard to believe that there weren't many others riding bicycles in this area.  I had been in contact with Edwin from Alabama since before my ride started and he was joining us today.  When we arrived at Chipley, Edwin was waiting and the four of us got to know each other over a Chinese buffet lunch.  He has ridden most of the Southern Tier before and several other rides.  At Marianna, our projected stop for the night, we all felt like riding more and decided to go on to Chattahoochee.  There we checked into the Admiral Benbow Morgan Inn for the night.  There we walked to Subway for dinner and then to the IGA to pick up food for breakfast in case nothing was open in the morning. 

This is new for the site: I have been recording a few videos on the trip and just posted my first on YouTube of two guys launching a boat that we saw today.  If this works I will try to post more.  You can see it at:  YouTube

Also here is the second one of Simon and Edwin riding today.  Please remember this is taken handheld with one hand while riding the bike:

Specs.: 86.8 miles, 8 hrs. 51 min. total time, 6 hrs. 51 min. moving time, 12.5 mph avg. moving speed, 26.5 max speed, 4034 calories burned, avg. HR 103, max HR 144, approx. 2121.8 miles ridden.

Day 36 Dec. 30, 2007 The thunder and lightening was going strong at about 4 am this morning along with the rain.  Around 8 am we had a break and ate breakfast at Ace's Restaurant.  We stopped in Crestview for lunch and the rain slowed to an off again, on again cycle.  We made it to De Funiak Springs and got a room.  We then drove to Britton Hill, the highest point in Florida.  I do some high pointing and was happy to add this one to the list I have done.  For more info on high pointing you can check out http://highpointers.org/.   We also stopped by Chautauqua Vineyards for some tasting and ended up buying four bottles to take back home.  They offer many great wines and we had a hard time deciding on the ones we liked the most. 

Specs.: 62.5 miles, 7 hrs. 29 min. total time, 5 hrs. 01 min. moving time, 12.5 mph avg. moving speed, 31.8 max speed, 2770 calories burned, avg. HR 97, max HR 135, approx. 2035 miles ridden.

Day 35 Dec. 29, 2007 We got an early start and had breakfast at McDonalds.  We reached the Florida line and took a few pictures commemorating our final state on this ride.  It doesn't seem like it is almost over already.  When we reached Pensacola we saw another bicycle shop that wasn't listed on our maps so we stopped in.  Bikes Plus is located on the Southern Tier route on Barrancas Ave. if you find yourself in need of a shop in western Florida.  Just after that a car pulled to the side and ask were we were going.  I replied San Diego to Saint Augustine and they congratulated us and drove on.  Just a few miles up the road we noticed a few people standing beside the road, some of them were the people in the car.  They gave us candy and raisins and ask about our ride.  The people you meet on a ride like this is what makes it worthwhile.  They offered advice on the area and even offered help if we needed any while in the area.  One of them had done a cross-country last year with a group of other college students.  While we were there we saw two west bound loaded riders with a Swedish flag on one of the bikes.  They didn't stop but we assume they are doing the Southern Tier also.  We made our way on to Milton, our stop for the night and checked into a hotel.  The clerk there suggested Ace's Restaurant and we went there to eat.  The people working there and those dining there were very interested in our trip and provided a lot of pleasant conversation.  John, the owner, even went as far as taking an Alabama license plate from his display and giving it to Simon to complete his set that he has been collecting as we have ridden along.  If you are looking for great food in the area you can not go wrong at Ace's.

Specs.: 61.8 miles, 9 hrs. 01 min. total time, 5 hrs. 06 min. moving time, 12.1 mph avg. moving speed,24.2 max. speed,  3373 calories burned, avg. HR 99, approx. 1972.5 miles ridden.

Day 34 Dec. 28, 2007 This morning we had breakfast and then got on the road with a little sprinkling of rain.  The ride to Dauphin Island was fun with a long bridge crossing.  There we got on the ferry for the ride to Fort Morgan.  The sky was overcast but the ride was fairly smooth.  As we neared Gulf Shores we could hear the thunder behind us and even got a little rain.  We rode on faster and reached Lulu's just before the rain hit hard.  Everyone there was exceptionally nice.  Wade, the restaurant manager, went out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of and even helped us in securing accommodations for the night, talk about service.  Wade is originally from New Zealand, the same country as Simon's mother, and they struck up a great conversation.  I don't know what it is about Margaritavilles and Lulu's but they do exceptionally well in finding great people to manage and staff them.  Other restaurants should follow their example.  After lunch the rain had let up and we made our way to the hotel and checked in.  Later we decided to go back to Lulu's for a few drinks and listen to the live music.  After a few pitchers of beer, some mahi-mahi tacos, and key lime pie served by our bartender we were feeling great and headed back to the hotel for some rest.  The internet connection wasn't very good so I did not get to do any updates last night, at least that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Specs.: 43.1 miles, 5 hrs. 32 min total time, 3 hrs. 28 min. moving time, 12.2 mph avg. moving speed, 28.5 max. speed, 2662 calories burned, avg. HR 104, approx. 1910.7 miles ridden.

Note: This does not include the mileage or speed of the ferry from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan.

Day 33 Dec. 27, 2007 This morning we packed and went to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts and coffee then got on the road.  We had a slight tailwind and after a days rest we were making good time.  The ride along the beach was really nice even though it was overcast.  Another great thing to see is the amount of rebuilding that is happening all along the coast.  Katrina may have done a lot of damage but it did not stop the spirit of the people who live here.  At Biloxi we stopped and took a few pictures in front or the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  At Ocean Springs we stopped by Mellow Mushroom and had excellent service and food suggestions from Leslie.  We had a large Mighty Meaty and cheesy bread that filled all of us.  At Pascagoula we took a few more pictures and then entered into Alabama, our next to last state.  By the time we reached Bayou La Batre we decided to get a room to stay.  We went back to the hotel and then to Plaza Mexico Restaurant for an excellent dinner.

Specs.: 62.2 miles, 6 hrs. 57 min. total time, 4 hrs. 35 min. moving time, 13.6 mph avg. moving speed, 25.6 max. speed, 3649 calories burned, avg. HR 108, approx. 1867.6 miles ridden.

Day 32 Dec. 26, 2007  We took the day off riding allowing us to rest.  Simon took his bike to a local bike shop where they put in new spokes and re-adjusted the gears and brakes.  They had a good sale going on and we all bought several items each.  If you are near Gulfport and need any work done or items for your bike, Cyclist Choice is where you need to go.  They do good work and give great prices.  The rest of the day we just ate, visited a casino to gamble a little, and rested.  Tomorrow looks like a good day and we hope to make it further east.

Specs.: None to report.

Day 31 Dec. 25, 2007 The rain started around 4 am and continued until nearly 10 am.  We waited until it stopped before we started.  Even though it wasn't raining when we left it was cold and we dressed for it.  Not much was open and we had breakfast of donuts and muffins at a gas station.  Our route continued on Hwy. 90 and we passed beside many places where homes had stood before Katrina.  I had seen a lot of news coverage of New Orleans but this rural area is still struggling to become what it once was.  Nature is beginning to claim some of the debris that was left from the hurricane, some of it is very visible in waterways and yards.  It will be some time before the area is anywhere close to what it was before the storm.  Riding by all of this at a 12 mph average really showed us the devastation even more than 2 years later.  Just before Waveland Simon broke 3 spokes and we stopped to adjust the remaining spokes to minimize the wobble in the wheel.  A car turned around to offer help and it turned out to be a guy we had met the day before who worked at Margaritaville.  Goes to show how much he believed in helping out others.  From Waveland the road runs right beside the beach and we were treated to a beautiful sunset.  Since Simon was having to ride slower due to the broken spokes I rode ahead and checked into the motel.

Specs.: 69.7 miles, 8 hrs. 25 min. total time, 6 hrs. 12 min. moving time, 11.2 mph avg. moving speed, 20.6 max. speed, 4438 calories burned, avg. HR 106, approx. 1805.4 miles riden.

Day 30 Dec. 24, 2007 We had breakfast at the hotel this morning and went in search of the bicycle shop in New Orleans to buy a new tire.  At the shop I bought a heavier touring type tire and a thorn resistant heavy duty tube.  I changed this in the parking lot and we headed toward the French Quarter.  Many people had warned us about going there but the trip went easily and everyone we met was friendly and wanted to hear about our trip.  After looking around in the Jackson Square area we headed to Margaritaville.  The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to let us park the bikes in a safe location.  Simon and I had cheeseburgers and a few Land Shark beers.  Bret, the general manager, stopped by several times to make sure everything was right and that we were well taken care of.  That is one of the great things I have noticed at all Margaritavilles, everyone works to give you a great experience while there and the New Orleans cafe and store is certainly no exception.  This was the first Margaritaville Simon had ever visited and he probably was tired of hearing about it from me but he was quickly converted and had a good time there and agreed that it was everything I had said it was.  Thanks to Bret and all of his staff for all they did for us.  If you are ever in New Orleans do not leave without stopping by at least once, if you don't you will have missed out on a great experience.  After purchasing a few things at the Margaritaville store we walked around for a while and then stopped by another New Orleans must see - Cafe Dumond.  Of course we had cafe au lait and beignets.  Next we got back on the bikes and rode once more through the streets of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street and headed eastward to get back to our journey.

Specs.: 27.7 miles, 8 hrs. 41 min. total time, 2 hrs. 54 min. moving time, 9.5 mph avg. moving speed, 23.9 max. speed, 2683 calories burned, avg. HR 93, approx. 1735.7 miles ridden. 

Note: Most of the calories burned today probably was through changing the tire and walking around but were included since I measure all of this from the time I get on the bicycle in the morning until I get off the last time at night.

Day 29 Dec. 23, 2007 After drying out last night I slept really well and hated to get out of bed this morning but knew I had to get started.  We ate some fruit and muffins we picked up at the hotel we stayed at yesterday and started riding.  The temperature was cooler than yesterday so we both put on more clothing after the first mile.  The area is more rural with bayous and swamps so we had ridden 32 miles before we found a place to eat.  After lunch we we making good time when my rear tire seemed low.  I checked it and decided to replace the tube.  The tire I had on it started out OK but then slipped off the rim in one spot so I released the pressure and tried again then the first tube's core blew out so I tried a second and decided to replace the tire also.  I knew the road we were riding on had a lot of trash on it and the new tire was a thin racer type but I didn't expect to develop a leak after only a few miles.  I added more air and made it to a gas station.  It was a long way to a bicycle shop and since the holidays were coming up we decided to accept a ride to be able to get nearer to a shop.  Don, a tugboat worker for nearly 40 years, gave us a lift to Metairie.  We called the shop and found out they were closing in 12 minutes but would reopen at 9 am.  I didn't want to rush down only to find them closed so we got a room close nearby in order to stop first thing in the morning and hopefully get a touring tire and a couple more tubes.

Specs.: 51.2 miles, 8 hrs. 18 min. total time, 5 hrs. 11 min. moving time, 11.3 mph avg. moving speed, 23.7 max. speed, 2101 calories burned, avg. HR 90, approx. 1708 miles ridden.

Day 28 Dec. 22, 2007 We ate a large breakfast at the hotel and then got an early start.  We followed the winding streets out of town and onto hwy. 90.  This was a very busy highway without much shoulder and the shoulder that was there was very cracked and broken.  Just after we got on 90 a Broussard police officer, Officer Thorne, stopped us to let us know that traffic was busier than usual due to the holiday season and to be extra careful.  It's good to see officers take an interest in everyone's safety and well-being.  Not long after that the rain started and forced us to seek shelter at an outdoors store until it quit.   Just before we got into Iberia the shoulder worsened and became only loose gravel that was impossible to ride on and traffic would not give us room to ride on the road.  We pulled off the road at a gas station and talked to a couple of locals about the road conditions ahead of us.  After learning that conditions did not improve for a while and rain was getting ready to start again we decided to visit the Tabasco factory that was nearby.  We toured the factory which was not actually working that day and the company store.  If you are in the area the story of Tabasco sauce can be an interesting side trip.  Also near there is the Jungle Garden that you can tour.  There we saw snowy egrets and alligators.  The trees had lots of Spanish moss hanging in them and gave the perfect bayou feel to the area.  Be sure to visit here too, and bring your camera just don't picnic next to the water, there are alligators here.  We left there and were pleased to find that we were able to get on a few feeder roads and get around the gravel shoulder of 90 and get to a point where it was paved.  We had been riding into a cross/headwind all day and were getting tired but pushed on.  Suddenly we had a cold tailwind pushing us along but the air in our faces was warm.  Within minutes the skies let loose and we got soaked.  We stopped into a truck stop with a restaurant next door to ask about a place to stay.  We were informed that the nearest motel was approx. 10 miles further up the road and it was still raining.  We decided to eat at the restaurant and wait out the storm.  After we ate the rain was still falling so we waited under the awning of the truck stop.  While waiting a guy in a pickup stopped in and we were able to get a ride to Patterson.  We got back on the bikes and rode them to a nearby motel about 3 miles further down the road.  Believe me we were very glad when we got there.  It had been a long, difficult, and wet day that we were glad it was over.  Days like this make you appreciate the maps from Adventure Cycling that let you know where the facilities, motels, and campgrounds are.  Since we are off-route due to a trip to New Orleans we had to guess as to where things like that are and it made for a difficult evening.

Specs.:  57.5 miles, 9 hrs. 50 min. total time, 5 hrs. 36 min. moving time, 10.2 mph avg. moving speed, 20.0 max speed, 2897 calories burned, avg. HR 93, approx. 1656.8 miles ridden.

Day 27 Dec. 21, 2007 The day started off a little chilly but warmed quickly.  We decided to ride beside I-10 and the trash on the road was really bad.  I had pieces of metal pierce the sidewall of my rear tire twice today causing us to fix flats beside the busy highway both times.  We tried riding on the feeder roads when available but they do not run all the way through.  In Jennings we stopped to eat at Bourbon Street Cafe and had a great meal.  This place seems to be a favorite to the locals and we could see why.  We continued toward Lafayette where we will get onto 182 and ride past some old plantations on our way to New Orleans.  In Lafayette I decided to stop by a bicycle shop to get a spare tire and couple more tubes just in case my bad luck continues.  At Capitol Cyclery of Lafayette we met the owner, Lisa, who helped with my tire and tube choices and made sure we were well taken care of.  She told us the very interesting story about how she came to own the shop.  If you are in the area and have any problems at all be sure to stop here for all your needs.  If I ever have problems within a 100 mile ride of this shop I will be sure to come here.  Thanks Lisa for all you did for us.  She even told us about the local choices in hotels since it was after dark when we finished and we didn't have time to set up camp.  You can visit their site at: http://www.capitolcyclery.com/.   For dinner we went to Picante,  a local Mexican restaurant that had great food and desserts.

Specs.: 78.0 miles, 11 hrs. 03 min. total time, 6 hrs. 01 min. moving time, 13.0 mph avg. moving speed, 25.3 max speed,  4914 calories burned, avg. HR 104, approx. 1599.3 miles ridden.

Day 26 Dec. 20, 2007 About 3:30 am the rains poured down setting up for a wet morning.  We got up early to get out of our rooms - it smelled bad.  We rode into Orange and had breakfast at a Waffle House so Simon could experience it for himself.  We met a few people there who offered advice on crossing into Louisiana.  We had just gotten started when the skies let loose again.  When the hail started we pulled off the highway and huddled under the eve of an abandoned building.  When it slowed we started again only to have it intensify just as we crossed the bridge into Louisiana.  We ducked into the Welcome Center and were helped in deciding our route.  They also provided maps for our next two states and discount cards for hotels in New Orleans.  We continued beside I-10 and were surprised when the rain completely stopped and the sun came out.  The same wind that blew the rain into us was now helping us speed along.  At exit 27 we had to exit and continue on hwy. 378 onto hwy. 171 back toward I-10 to avoid the big I-10 bridge at Lake Charles.  There is no shoulder or walkway for bicycles on the bridge.  Since we were soaked we decided to quit riding early in order to get a room where a washer and dryer was available (Motel 6) so we could do our laundry before the odor became unbearable.  The lady at the motel also offered advice on eating by suggesting Steamboat Bills.  After doing the laundry and a shower we walked there and had a great meal.  Steamboat Bills was a good introduction to Louisiana food for Simon.

Specs.: 58.0 miles, 7 hrs. 34 min. total time, 4 hrs. 21 min. moving time, 13.3 mph avg. moving speed, 26.9 max speed, 1995 calories burned, avg. HR 92, max HR 141, approx. 1521.3 miles ridden.

Day 25 Dec. 19, 2007 A thick fog had settled in the area overnight so we had breakfast at McDonalds and took our time before getting started.  The road, at least what we could see of it, had little shoulder but the drivers were nice and gave us room when they passed.  These were some of the most considerate drivers we had seen in Texas.  At Moss Hill we saw a sign for "Tamales" and decided we needed a few.  Teresa S. served us up 18 spicy tamales and salsa verde that we made short work of as we talked to her.  She told us that some days she sells 50 doz., after eating ours we knew why.  From there the shoulder got wider and riding became easier until we got to the outskirts of Beaumont where the frenzy of city traffic started.  Just after that we ran into rain twice.  We got soaked but kept riding although we slowed quit a bit.  In Sour Lake we stopped in at Day Break Cafe where we had excellent burgers and conversation with several locals.  The town seemed very friendly and the residents offered suggestions on how to get to Louisiana.  When we hit Beaumont city limits the traffic became even busier so we jumped on a side street and made our way to I-10.  We rode along the shoulder until it disappeared due to construction.  We picked our bikes up offer the barrier and rode along the feeder road.  We had hoped to reach Louisiana but due to the fog, two rain showers, and Simon having some hamstring pain we decided to stop in Vidor and find a room.  This is where things got interesting, apparently the only place to stay here is Budget Inn and the room we are in is an old trailer.  So I told Simon he is now Texas trailer trash.  If you happen to be in this part of town and need a place to stay - KEEP RIDING!  I can't stress this enough.  The conditions here are BAD!  I wish Texas would investigate this place.  The best part about this is the restaurant next door.  Burr's Country Store Bar-B-Que has been in business about 9 years and offers many choices in meats and sides.  They are in the top 50 Texas Bar-B-Que as named in Texas Monthly.  Our meals filled us and we both recommend them highly.

Specs.: 79.6 miles, 9 hrs. 16 min total time, 5 hrs. 55 min. moving time, 13.4 mph avg. moving speed, 24.2 max speed, 3833 calories burned, avg. HR 100, approx. 1463.3 miles ridden.

Day 24 Dec. 18, 2007 Today started on a new map.  We are now on map 5 of 7.  We ate breakfast at Carroll's and stopped by Wal-Mart for batteries and oil to lube my derailleur gears that started squeaking a little yesterday .  The oil seemed to work fine, making for a quieter ride.  We tried to stop for a snack more regularly to keep our energy up better than we did yesterday.  In Anderson I took a few pictures of the old buildings and we talked to a guy about our route.  He said it was all flat from there.  When we hit the next hill Simon and I both looked at each other and said, "It's all flat from here!"  It has become our new line for hills.  We rode on into New Waverly and stopped for lunch.  As we made our way toward Coldspring the traffic was heavy and there wasn't much shoulder to ride on.  We stopped to talk to two road workers who told us that 1725 toward Cleveland was a nice scenic road with much less traffic.  We checked our maps and saw that we could rejoin the route in Silsbee if we wanted.  The road they suggested was scenic as it also ran thru the Sam Houston National Forest and thankfully there was much less traffic.  We made it into Cleveland found a place to stay with a couple of restaurants across the street for dinner.  We are approx. 90 miles or so from Louisianna and hopefully will be in a new state tomorrow night.

Specs.: 75.4 miles, 8 hrs. 59 min. total time, 5 hrs. 39 min. moving time, 13.3 mph avg. moving speed, 28.9 max speed, 4476 calories burned, avg. HR 107, approx. 1383.7 miles ridden.

Day 23 Dec. 17, 2007 Another cold night, it even frost heavy, so we took our time in leaving the room.  The ride was through more of the rolling hills of Texas.  In Warrenton I had the distinct dis-pleasure of meeting who I considered the mayor there.  On our maps a Postal Service was listed there and I stopped in a store that had a sign for the Post Office on it.  I inquired about it and the guy started getting angry saying that it wasn't there.  I ask about the sign and he said they didn't do it anymore.  Then he rolled into profanities about the Postal Service and how terrible they were.  Next he started in about them sponsoring a bicycle in Europe, I assumed he was referring to the Tour de France.  I had walked on back going to purchase some sodas but after all this I closed the cooler door and left as he continued his rant.  Wonder if he figured out his attitude cost him a sale?  In the next town just about 4 miles up the road, in Round Top, everyone we met had a much better attitude and it showed in the town.  We saw a sign for an espresso coffee shop and stopped in.  Bobby, the owner, was very friendly as were others in the shop.  Simon and I both had espressos and cookies.  From there we stopped by the Post Office there to send out a few things and the lady there was very helpful too.  Looking at the situation I see Warrenton as a dying town that is causing their own demise whereas Round Top is growing and expanding and the driving force is a friendly, can-do attitude.  I mentioned my experience to the people I met in Round Top and apparently others have had similar experiences so it was not just an oddity.  By the time we reached Independence we were starved and stopped by the store there for sandwiches.  The local store even had a book registering all the riders passing through that went back for years.  We signed our names to the book and had a great lunch.  If you are riding near there be sure to stop and sign the book too and take a look at others who have been through before you.  Grab a sandwich there too, ours were great.  We hit the road again and made it to Navasota just before dark.  We ate a Carroll's Giant Burger and the food was very good and the prices were more than reasonable.

Specs.: 71.2 miles, 8 hrs. 38 min. total time, 5 hrs. 53 min. moving time, 12.1 mph avg. moving speed, 34.4 max speed, 4622 calories burned, avg. HR 109, max HR 151, approx. 1280.5 miles to St. Augustine, FL, approx. 1308.3 miles ridden.

Day 22 Dec. 16, 2007 Last night was cold so we had breakfast at Magnolia Cafe with Morgan and Kirsten.  We got the bikes out of the back of their vehicle and reattached everything.  The air was still cold but bearable with enough clothing on.  We were making good time since the hills are getting smaller and less frequent.  When we got to Bastrop we encountered some of the rudest drivers I had seen so far.  One idiot showed his intelligence by flipping us off, perhaps his parents were related and he can't help it.  I hate people who think they are the only one important in the world.  If cycling in this area be careful, the drivers do not know how to slow down or use another lane.  Part of our route takes you through Bastrop State Park which is very scenic but also very hilly with steep descends and ascents.  These climbs slowed us down quit a bit and when we could we got onto Hwy. 71 and made our way to La Grange, where we stopped for the night.

Specs.: 66.2 miles, 7 hrs. 50 min. total time, 5 hrs.  28 min. moving time, 12.1 mph avg. moving speed, 29.4 max speed, 4050 calories burned, avg. HR 108, max HR 164, approx. 1237.1 miles ridden.

Day 21 Dec. 15, 2007 The rain lasted until late in the night and about 4 am it was still lightening and thundering but by daylight the storm had cleared and we were off again.  We stopped by the Bowling Alley Cafe for breakfast and left Blanco.  The riding was nice, a little windy but nice, and we reached Wimberley where we stopped by Wimberley Pie Company and had probably the best Key Lime Pie I have had in Texas.  There were many pies to choose from but Key Lime is one of my favorites.  We devoured the whole pie in short order to the amazement of the workers there.  If you happen to be in Wimberley looking for a dessert stop by the shop and see  Neal, Mari or Shelli for the best in town.  Their web site is: http://www.wimberleypie.com  After we left there the road turned into the wind which made the riding difficult.  We struggled along taking a couple of breaks to let our legs rest.  When we were coming into Kyle I saw a small sign saying "Bicycle Shop".  I checked the map and didn't see one listed so I went to check it out.  Sure enough there was a nice shop there.  I met James Webb the owner of New Revolution Cycles and I told him I would send in his information to Adventure Cycling so they can list his shop on the next set of maps.  You can check the shop site out at http://www.nrcycles.com.  Everyone at the shop was very friendly and offered us pizza and drinks.  They also told us the best route to follow on our trip.  The next thing that happened really shocked me, the shop was having a radio promotion and Kirsten from Radio Margaritaville on Sirius radio was there.  She also works for the local station, 101X in Austin, and they were covering the event.  She and her boyfriend Morgan were two of the nicest people I have met.  Morgan is an artist of many talents from performing vocals and guitar to painting.  You can find some offerings from him on his Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/sorne.    Later they called and offered to let Simon and I stay at their house for the night.  We accepted and they met us in downtown Austin where we put both bikes, all our gear, and the four of us into their Honda Element.  I really didn't think there was anyway for it all to fit.  Boy, was I surprised.  After we got to their house Morgan even drove me to a wine store that happened to have a wine I was trying to find.  I had been in Fort Worth a few years earlier and bought a bottle and enjoyed it thoroughly.  I said that if I could find it again I would buy some more.  We all had a lot of great conversation before we got to bed.  People like that let you know there are good people in this world.

Specs.: 66.9 miles, 9 hrs. 37 min. total time, 5 hrs. 27 min. moving time, 12.3 mph avg. moving speed, 39.0 max speed, 4805 calories burned, avg. HR 107, max HR 165, approx. 1170.9 miles ridden.

Day 20 Dec. 14, 2007 We awoke to a light drizzle that I hoped would blow over.  I got a shower and things had worsened, it was raining harder.  We decided to go eat breakfast and wait it out but after eating and several cups of coffee it was still raining.  We scaled back our expected mileage and hoped it would quit by noon but things weren't co-operating so at 1 pm we decided to call off any hope of riding today and walked into town to look around.  We went to Real Ale brewery where Brad and Gabriel served us several samples of their wares.  If you are ever in Blanco you must go by the brewery, everyone was very friendly and they make excellent beers.  It is still raining tonight but we have hopes that it will clear by morning and we can get on the road again. 

Specs.: None to report

Day 19 Dec. 13, 2007 We got an early start this morning and the first 20 miles went really nicely, a little cold but it felt good to be on the road again.  My bike is doing really well and I would like to thank Adam at Hill Country Bicycle Works for all he did to get me up and going again.  These guys know what it is like to be touring cyclists and do all they can to help you out.  The Kerrville and Center Point area was very nice.  I think it would be a great place to live. Then we hit the rolling hills of Texas and our average speed sank.  We stopped in Waring General Store and had the pleasure to meet Carole, one of the owners, who made us each a great cheeseburger.  She and her husband retired from San Antonio to a quieter life here.  Their store was a perfect country store with a varied mixture of everything.  It was even used in an Alan Jackson commercial for Ford.  The route through here takes you through some seldom used country roads with lots of wildlife.  We saw deer, armadillo, road runners, hawks, turkeys, horses, and cattle.  We stopped by Sister Creek Winery for a taste or two and I bought another bottle to ship home.  They are housed in an old gin mill building that was built in 1885 and has been used as a winery since 1998.  From there were more hills as we made our way to Blanco.  At Blanco we decided to camp in one of the screened in buildings in Blanco State Recreation Area and are facing the falls of the river for a nice soothing sound to sleep by. 

Specs.: 65.8 miles, 9 hrs. 38 min. total time, 6 hrs. 05 min. moving time, 10.8 mph avg. moving speed, 37.2 max speed, 3411 calories burned, avg. HR 98, max HR 152, approx. 1104 miles ridden.

Day 18 Dec. 12, 2007 Not much riding went on today.  Les (the guy who picked us up yesterday) had a few things to do near Fort Stockton and then we loaded up and headed toward Kerrville.  I had called the bike shop there, Hill Country Bicycle Works, and they said they had everything I needed to get going again.  Les delivered us to the front door of the shop.  It is guys like Les who let you know that there are good people in the world who go out of their way to help you.   When we arrived at the shop Adam immediately started on my bike.  He installed a new wheel, re-adjusted the brakes, fine tuned the gearing and gave everything the once over before pronouncing the bike ready to go again.  I can't recommend this shop enough.  They are world travelers themselves and work hard to get you going.  If you are anywhere near them and have problems they are the people to call.  You can check out their site at http://www.hillcountrybicycle.com/  We rode from the shop to a motel and will be back on route in the morning.

Specs: None to report

Day 17 Dec.11, 2007 I tried re-truing the wheel last night but the rim had 3 spokes where the metal of the rim was cracking.  I did the best I could but knew that a new rim would be required before the end of the trip.  I lightened up the load as much as possible and moved most of the weight to the front to help with the problem with the rear wheel.  Even though I had went through everything I brought several times I was able to ship nearly 15 pounds of things home.  Simon sent about the same weight to his friend in California.  It's amazing what you think you need but really don't when you have to carry it with you every day.  By the time we ate and waited for the post office to open we got a late start but the day looked much better than yesterday.  The sun was up and the sky was blue with only a few white clouds decorating the sky.  After only a couple of miles I checked the rear wheel and re-snugged a few of the spokes.  All was going well and we were making good speed until we passed through Van Horn when I heard a snap and found out that a spoke had broken.  I removed the broken spoke and tried to keep going, wanting to make it as far as possible.  By the time we reached Plateau the wheel was wobbling and I saw that the spokes where the metal was cracked had worsened.  I made a decision to stop by a truck stop in hopes of getting a ride to the nearest bike shop.  Luckily a guy (Les T.) was headed east and gave us a ride and lots of conversation to Fort Stockton.  But there was no bicycle shop there.  Les was going on to Houston tomorrow so we got a room in the same motel and will ride with him to Kerrville where there is a shop and we can get back on the route there.  I really hated to miss riding the entire route but when these things happen you have to roll with the punches.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Specs: 53.2 miles, 5 hrs. 37 min. total time, 4 hrs. 02 min. moving time, 13.2 mph avg. moving speed, 26.9 max speed, 2257 calories burned, avg. HR 99, max HR 150, approx. 1038.2 miles ridden.

Day 16 Dec. 10, 2007 The wind never did stop last night and a light rain started just before daylight making for a long wet day.  It seemed to take forever to get to Fort Hancock.  We stopped in Angie's Restaurant for breakfast and coffee.  Maria waited on us and did a great job doing so.  She was a very kind lady and felt sorry for us riding in the rain.  She even arranged for a place to stay near there if we wanted, talk about being a helpful soul.  After breakfast the weather had broken a little so we decided to ride on and make it to Sierra Blanca.  We hopped on I-10 and the going was a little easier for a while but the wind seemed to get more intense.  We had to stop to rest often since the going was rough.  With just about 15 miles to go I noticed my rear tire was a little low so I added air and then noticed that some of the spokes were loose.  I snugged up the spokes to finish today's ride and will re-true the wheel later.  Just after that the rain set in again with a vengeance and I was soaked by the time we made it to Sierra Blanca.  We checked into a motel, (El Camino gave us a nice rate) to stay out of the weather tonight.  The clerk suggested Curly's BBQ as a place to eat and he certainly knows his food.  Curly's was a very friendly place.  The food was very good and came in enormous portions.  If you are ever in Sierra Blanca and starved Curly's is the place to go.

Specs: 52.9 miles, 9 hrs. 45 min. total time, 5 hrs. 52 min. moving time, 9.0 mph avg. moving speed, 22.5 max speed, 4139 calories burned, avg. HR 103, approx. 2176 miles to go, approx. 985 miles ridden.

Day 15 Dec. 9, 2007 We started early this morning trying to get a head start on the wind but it was even sneaker than us and started after about 45 minutes of riding.  This kept our speeds down and efforts up.  As we were passing the Mexican border, Simon said that he had never been in Mexico so I suggested we cross the border and eat lunch there.  We made it in very easily and proceeded to Porta Bella restaurant.  We were worried about leaving our bikes outside but one of the staff there reassured us that they would be fine.  We were immediately seated and ordered.  Our coffee cups were kept full of Mexican coffee with cinnamon.  They also brought us two baskets of rolls with cream cheese inside which were very good.  Our waiter also informed us that the fruit bar was included with the meal so I tried some of that while waiting on our food.  Our food arrived quickly and was very delicious.  Once we noticed someone walking in the area of our bikes and the waiter walked outside to make sure they were not being bothered, talk about taking care of his customers!  After all that food we both ate from the fruit bar to help get more carbs into our systems.  Then the check came, the total was $160!  Of course this was Mexican dollars and that converted into $14.95, extremely reasonable for the quality of food and service we received.  If you happen to find yourself in Juarez be sure to stop by there for a meal.  We paid the bill and hopped back on the bikes and returned across the border to continue our ride.  The wind was still unkind but our bellies were happy.  We continued on and also stopped by a couple of old missions in the area to look and take pictures (but also to give our legs a rest).  We had hoped to make it to Fort Hancock today but by the time we reached Fabens we were ready to quit but there were no campgrounds there and the hotel was too overpriced so we decided to eat and then ride to a campground near Tornillo.  We saw a sign at a pizza shop for $4.99 mediums and each had one.  While there I saw one of the biggest pizzas I had seen, it must have been 30+ inches across.  I took a picture and will post it soon.  After eating we put on lights and warmer clothing to make the ride easier.  We made it to the campground after dark but quickly got the tents up even with the windy conditions we had.

Specs: 71.2 miles, 10 hrs. 21 min. total time, 6 hrs. 59 min. moving time, 10.2 mph avg. moving speed, 24.6 max speed, 4253 calories burned, avg. HR 100, approx. 2229 miles to go, approx. 932.1 miles ridden.

Day 14 Dec. 8, 2007 After the long ride yesterday we were a bit slower to get moving today.  We ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant and then went to Outdoor Adventures, the local bicycle shop, to get new tires and tubes for Simon's bike.  After 4 flats yesterday he wanted to make sure it wasn't going to keep happening.  We arrived early and had to wait until they opened.  He put on a new set of tire, liners, and heavy duty tubes.  Hopefully that will cure the problems the local plants can cause with their sharp spines.  After getting this done we rode back to the hotel, threw on the bags and started pedaling toward El Paso, Texas.  The winds that helped us do such a high mileage yesterday worked against us today and we struggled to get above 10 mph.  We stopped a few times to rest and after only a little over 30 miles we stopped by a winery, La Vina, to taste a few.  Their site can be found at http://www.lavinawinery.com/.  I found several that I liked and had two sent home.  Everyone there was very friendly and even offered to let us camp on their grounds which we accepted.  While we were there we also met Tony L. who drove us to Hello Pizza for pizza which we brought back to the winery to eat.  If you happen by the area you should stop by the winery or pizzeria, you will be glad you did.

Specs: 35.4 miles, 6 hrs. 32 min. total time, 3 hrs. 20 min. moving time, 9.7 mph avg. moving speed, 19.6 max speed, 1476 calories burned, avg. HR 94, approx. 2300 miles to go, approx. 860.9 miles ridden.

Day 13 Dec. 7, 2007 We started fairly early this morning and had breakfast at McDonalds.  We had decided to ride the shoulder of I-10 and go as far as we could.  Just as we got onto I-10 I looked to the left and saw a lot of clouds moving into the mountains were we would have been if we had stayed on the original route.  I was glad we decided to change course.  The first 20 miles had a bad crosswind and speed was about 12 mph.  Then the road did a slight turn to the North-east and the wind became a slight tail wind and our speed average increased without so much effort.  We stopped by the Continental Divide for pictures and continued while the riding was good.  By evening we were getting close to a new loaded record of 100 miles and was excited to reach it.  Simon wanted to ride on until he hit 200 km so we went all out for it and rode into the darkness and was able to reach that goal.  We actually hit about 202.92 km or about 121 miles.  We were exhausted and went to Cracker Barrel in Las Cruces for a well deserved meal.  Today I also received an email from Adventure Cycling saying that a picture I had submitted was selected as Picture of the Week.  You can see it at http://www.adventurecycling.org/weeklyphoto/index.cfm?w=545 .  What a day.

Specs: 121 miles, 11 hrs. 12 min. total time,  7 hrs. 44 min. moving time, 15.6 mph avg. moving speed, 28.2 max speed, 6092 calories burned, avg. HR 110, approx. 2336 miles to go, approx. 825.5 miles ridden.

Day 12 Dec. 6, 2007 At the campground we stayed in a teepee, not your ordinary teepee but one that had seven beds, a loft, concrete floor, and electric.  You can see some pictures in the Photo Gallery.  Needless to say, it was a unique experience.  Last night we checked the maps, the weather, some locals and made a decision to stray off the mapped route and head Southwest to Lordsburg.  Between the cold front moving into the mountains, lack of rideable shoulders, and remoteness of location, we thought that we should play it safer and go a different route to Las Cruces.  We had a long gradual climb to about 4200 ft. from Safford to about six miles beyond the AZ/NM state line.  Another state finished and only five more to go!  But then Texas is 800 miles of the trip in itself.  We rode hard but made it to Lordsburg after dark.  I punctured one tire but the Slime seemed to fill the hole and after adding air I rode it on in without having to replace the tube.  One of the spiny plants that had just been mowed from the roadside was what caused the puncture and I was surprised how much it took to remove it from the tire, there are tough plants in the desert but the Slime did its job.

Specs: 81.7 miles, 9 hrs. 18 min. total time, 6 hrs. 24 min. moving time, 12.8 mph avg. moving speed, 38.1 max speed, 5395 calories burned, avg. HR 112, max HR 148, approx. 2457 miles to go, approx. 704.5 miles ridden.

Day 11 Dec. 5, 2007 I woke to a cold morning and lot of dew on the tent.  Simon and I went into the casino and had a good breakfast to get the day started and allow the dew to dry off with the sunlight.  We each packed and got on the road early.  In Peridot we were able to stop by a vendor and have Apache Burgers on fry bread.  They were very tasty and this was the first time Simon had tried fry bread.  We also got fry bread with honey and sugar to eat on the next stop.  It was a real picker-upper.  There was a lot of dips, did I mention that I hated dips!  At Bylas the road leveled out and we had it a bit easier and increased our average speed.  One thing I noticed about this road is that there are a lot of makeshift memorials to people who have died on this highway.  Another thing I noticed is that there were a lot of broken beer and liquor bottles.  Perhaps this is the reason for all the memorials.  Just after Fort Thomas an SUV stopped us and ask if they could take a few pictures and ask about our riding experiences in Arizona.  They turned out to be Christine Maxa and David A. James, author and photographer of several books including Cycling Arizona.  Maybe you will see our photos on an upcoming project of theirs.  We made it into Safford and ate at El Charro just in case there were no restaurants near the campground.  On our way form there to the campground Simon's front tire went flat and we had to put in a new tube beside a busy road.  We finally made it to the campground after dark.  I was glad for all the reflective parts I had on the back of my bike.

Specs: 76.8 miles, 9 hrs. 45 min. total time, 5 hrs. 57 min. moving time, 12.9 mph avg. moving speed, 36.5 max speed, 4622 calories burned, avg. HR 107, max HR 151, approx. 2539 miles to go, approx. 622.8 miles ridden.

Day 10 Dec 4, 2007 This morning I went to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and took pictures of many different plants, they had a great selection from all over the world.  After that the real fun started.  The road from Superior us uphill without any real breaks until it hit 4600 ft.  Needless to say I was pouring the sweat by the time I hit the top.  Even the bridge was tilted uphill.  Near the top there is the Queen Creek Tunnel which also ran uphill.  On the other side of that was more hill you couldn't see from anywhere below.  Any one riding this route should be prepared for this hill, it will bring out the sweat and turn your legs into jelly.  On the left of the road, after hitting the highest part, was a very large open pit copper mining operation, one of several in the area.  Next I entered the town of Miami and there was someone trying to flag me down.  I stopped to meet Simon, an Australian from Brisbane who was also riding the Southern Tier and wanted to know if I wanted some riding company.  He had also ridden up the mountain to just beyond the tunnel when a couple in an RV were taking a picture of him riding.  They offered a ride the rest of the way and he took them up on it.  They had passed me coming down the hill and decided to wait on me.  They drove on up to the San Carlos Apache Reservation Casino campground and I met him there later.  It is a cold night here with temps around 32 degrees.

Specs:  40.6 miles, 7 hrs. 53 min. total time, 3 hrs. 47 min. moving time, 9.9 mph avg. moving speed, 39.8 max speed, 3896 calories burned, avg. HR 108, max HR 152, approx. 2616 miles to go, approx. 546 miles ridden.

Day 9 Dec. 3, 2007 The ride today started on more city streets, not exactly my favorites.  The good part was that I am finished with map  one of the route, only six more to go.  Headwinds started too early this morning.  One big surprise today, Carson Cooper, DJ on Radio Margaritaville, mentioned my ride on the air!  That made the winds seem less for a while.  Thanks Carson!  I rode through Tempe, Mesa, and Apache Junction on marked bike routes with less traffic and then got back onto Hwy. 60.  Just after that I stopped and offered to help another guy with a flat.  He had it under control so I flagged traffic to the other lane so he could finish without having to worry about being ran over.  From there the ride continued uphill at a slight incline until just after Florence Junction when it ran up to a mountain pass at 2651 ft.  Be careful of the traffic on this road, they can be hard to deal with.  After the pass there is some downhill but not nearly as much as was climbed.  One odd thing is the way the area on both sides of the road make it feel like you should be going downhill even though you are still climbing.  At first I thought I was just having a really rough time with the wind but the GPS also showed that I was ascending so it may have not just been me.  Even from the sign for Superior you will still gain altitude.  In the morning I am going to ride back to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.  I stopped by today to get information but wanted to visit in the morning  so I can take pictures in the early light.  I will post some of these at the next update.  If in the area be sure to check it out.  They also see some bobcats there quite regularly.

Specs: 64.4 miles, 10 hrs. 55 min. total time, 6 hrs. 7 min. moving time, 10.1 mph avg. moving speed, 28.8 max speed, 5831 calories burned, avg. HR 111, approx. 2657 miles to go, approx. 505.4 miles ridden.

DAY 8 Dec. 2, 2007 This morning I figured out that the directions the clerk at Hampton Inn gave me to Margaritaville were all wrong.  Luckily I found this out before I went ALL (just had a few blocks to go by the time I found out) the way there.  One good thing did come from the diversion, a family (I believe they were Chinese) were broke down with a flat tire on the street and I was able to change the tire and get them on the road again.  Never hurts to invest in the Karma bank account.  I was finally riding in the right direction when another rider stopped to talk a minute and offered to show me the way there.  Dennis lead me right to Margaritaville.  Thanks again.  At Margaritaville everyone was super nice and couldn't believe I had ridden all the way from San Diego to get there.  I reminded them that a true Parrothead will do anything to get to Margaritaville and have a Landshark.  We took a few pictures and I told them I had to be on my way again.  Thanks to all the staff there for everything.  I rode until I was back on my route East but the riding with traffic was much slower than the open road and I had to turn on my lights to find a place to stay.  Aaron N. helped my out a lot in finding a place to stay and I really appreciate him going out of his way to help.

Specs: 46.8 miles, 9 hrs. 6 min. total time, 3 hrs. 56 min. moving time, 11.9 mph avg. moving speed, 20.9 max speed, 3843 calories burned, avg. HR 104, approx. 2721 miles to go, approx. 441 miles ridden.

DAY 7 Dec. 1, 2007 The rain looked like it had ended and I almost started right away but my stomach said it needed food before I got going, I am glad it did because while I was eating the rain started again.  While eating several people were asking about the trip and one even offered to drive me back to a sign I didn't get a picture of yesterday.  His name was Steve and he is developing some of the lots there near Salome.  Later I decided to stop for a diet Mountain Dew and while checking out the rain started again.  I stood under the eve of the store until it quit.  So far I was being very lucky.  After leaving the store I did get sprinkled on some but not nearly as much as I could have had my stomach not taken care of me.  By the time I reached Aguila the rain was off in the far distance and the sun even came out a little.  The name aguila means eagle and if you look at the mountain behind the town you can see the "eagle eye" watching over the town (see the picture in the photo gallery).  The ride was going nice with a slight tail wind that made pedaling much nicer than the day before.  Wickenberg provided me with a couple of stops to take pictures of a couple of historic markers and the "jail tree" that was actually to chain prisoners to before they had a jail.  From there the route turned South and turned a slight cross/tail wind into another head wind and my speed slowed down.  Before the turn my average was nearly 17 mph even with some uphill riding.  Since I was having a good day so far I decided to make it on into Surprise and find a room there.  One note about riding in Surprise, BE CAREFUL, the drivers are not nearly as nice to riders as in towns so far (turns out the snowbirds are the problem, locals were much nicer).  I thought about riding the extra 6.7 miles and have a 100 mile day but it was getting dark and with the way people were driving I thought it was better to stop for the evening.

Specs: 93.3 miles, 8 hrs. 38 min. total time, 6 hrs. 12 min. moving time,  15 mph avg. moving speed, 34.3 max speed, 5465 calories burned, avg. HR 116, approx. 2767 miles to go, approx. 394.2 miles ridden.

DAY 6 Nov. 30, 2007 This morning I got everything together and peddled out of Quartzsite.  The hill wasn't too bad and I actually had a tale-wind, of course that quickly changed and the wind shifted when I hit highway 60.  The wind kept changing from a North to a North-West wind.  I actually slowed down and let a stop blow through just in front of me.  When I made it to Highway 72 I stopped for chili at Kofa Cafe, they make it nice and thick like I like it.  When I got back on the road I got sprinkled on a little but tried to ride on.  At Harcuvar I had already seen the clouds moving fast and decided to cut the riding day short and get a motel room in Salome to wait out the storm.

Specs:  38.8 miles, 5 hrs. 53 min. total time, 3 hrs. 43 min. moving time, 10.4 mph avg. moving speed, 25.7 max speed, 3850 calories burned, avg. HR 122, max. HR 158, approx. 2860 miles to go, approx. 300.9 miles ridden.

DAY 5 Nov. 29, 2007 Today I decided to take a rest day and stay here in Quartzsite.  Other than some lubrication and general maintenance, I didn't even get on the bike today.  After four days of uphills and headwinds my legs needed a break.  The group here at B-10 campground are very friendly and most of them have been coming here for many years.  They are from all parts of this country and Canada, making a pilgrimage here every year to see old friends and make new ones.

DAY 4  Nov. 28, 2007 Last night got a little cold with temps around 32, making for a chilly ride.  After I packed up I got on the road about 7 am.  I rode to Ripley and had a couple of great burritos and menudo at J & J market.  I ask how a family from the middle east happened to end up there running the store and cooking Mexican food.  Brain told me his family was from Yemen and they came to California, New York, back to California and finally to Ripley trying different business ventures.  If you happen through there be sure to stop and eat, you be pleased.  From there I made it to Blythe and had donuts and coffee at Tony's donut shop before I made it to Fred's Bike shop where Greg allowed me use of an air pump to refill my air horn.  If you need anything for your bike or just want to chat about it or a ride, Greg is the man to see.  Up ahead was the Colorado River and on the other side lay Arizona.  I stopped under the sign to take a picture.  As I rode on the gears felt funny and when I looked a derailleur gear had came off.  I thought I was going to have to go back to Fred's but I walked the bridge and, by shear luck, found all the pieces.  I thought about staying there in Ehrenburg but really wanted to make it to Quartzsite.  I had been battling headwinds from Ripley which turned into head/cross winds at Blythe but I decided to push on and take a rest day in Quartzsite (when you look at the specs. you will see that I am running out of steam and need to recuperate a day).  For anyone who has never been here you should Google it.  Quartzsite is mostly a temporary town, catering to snow-birds (many who free camp on the BLM land all around here), rock hounds, and has what may be the worlds biggest swap meet beginning in January.  I have been told more than once that "if you can't find it in Quartzsite in January, then it isn't made."  This is November and things are already getting started.  Tomorrow I will be posting pics of the interesting sights here.

Specs:  47.2 miles, 8 hrs. 46 min. total time, 4 hrs. 35 min. moving time, 10.3 mph avg. moving speed, max speed 22.4  mph, 4613 calories burned, avg. HR 109, approx. 2899 miles to go, approx. 262.1 miles ridden.

DAY 3  Nov. 27, 2007 I started riding about 7:15 am.  The ride from Imperial to Brawley wasn't bad and I saw a lot of agriculture the area is know for.  The El Centro, Imperial and Brawley avg. about 100 ft. below sea level and water is directed through canals.  They have one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the country.  After leaving the outskirts of Brawly there really isn't another town until you get to my location tonight of Palo Verde, a small town of only about 200 people.  There is only one restaurant and one gas station but lots of open land dominated by crops of cotton and hay.  I did pass through the self proclaimed "Sand Toy Capitol Of The World" at Glamis but with only a single store and lots of sand dunes for riding it wasn't a town.  If you happen to go there be prepared for outrageous prices.  There is a restaurant but it is only open part of the year and then only on weekends.  After passing through Glamis I ran into some bad headwinds.  Those along with the incline really took the wind out of me fast.  I had originally hoped to have a 100 mile day and make it to Blyth but I quickly saw that it wasn't going to be a reality.  The dips near the top of the hill were another thing to have to deal with.  Usually rollers can be fun but there were miles of these.  By the time I made it into Palo Verde I went into the first place, the Lagoon Resort Restaurant, to eat and downed a great cheeseburger and fries.  The owner thankfully kept filling my water glass.  After getting some food into my system I was able to talk to a some other customers about where I could stay.  There is a small motel but I wanted to camp and the local county park was a couple miles back down the road.  Wayne and Bobby, a couple of contractors working in the area offered a place to put up my tent and it was within walking distance.  I quickly accepted and walked the bicycle over and set up the tent and sleeping bag.  Thanks Wayne and Bobby for the invite.

Specs: 80.4 miles, 9 hrs. 3 min. total time, 6 hr.  38 min. moving time, 12.2 mph avg. moving speed, max speed 32.4 mph, 6867 calories burned, avg. HR 126, approx. 2946 miles to go, approx. 214.9 miles ridden.

DAY 2  Nov. 26, 2007  I finished packing the panniers and ate before starting my ride.  The hill coming out of Pine Valley was difficult first thing in the morning.  There were a few more hills from there to Jacumba.  There I met Norm Blackwood, a very interesting elderly man who has led quite a life.  He has written many songs and recited the words to several.

After leaving Jacumba there was one more big climb before getting on I-8 for about 9 miles of 6% downhill, that was one of the funnest parts of the trip so far.  From there the trip is routed on Even Hewes Hwy. which is very rough.  If I were to re-ride this I would probably stay on 98 through the Yuha Desert.  I rode through Plaster City where drywall is made.  This was the only thing there.  Next came miles of hay fields and there were many tens of thousands of bales there, ready to be shipped.  Finally I came into El Centro, my goal for the day.  While riding into Imperial I met Tony Darr, a competing cyclist himself, who offered a warm shower and bed to sleep.  Thanks Tony for everything.  The friendly spirit shared between cyclists is amazing.

Specs: 81.8 miles, 9 hrs. 9 min. total time, 6 hrs. 35 min. moving time, 12.4 mph avg. moving speed, max speed 35.3 mph, 6445 calories burned, avg. HR 121, approx. 3026 miles to go, approx. 134.5 miles ridden.

DAY 1  Nov. 25, 2007  Today was the start of my ride.  We traveled to Dog Beach in San Diego and dipped the back wheel of my bicycle into the Pacific Ocean.  There I met Rod Kramer, Tours Director for Adventure Cycling who was researching another tour.  I followed the maps and in Santee Jeff Detweiler saw me and offered to ride with me part of the way.  With his help I was able to ride and not have to check the map since he knew the area well.  Thanks Jeff for your help and company.  I was able to ride 52.7 miles to Pine Valley.  Any one attempting this ride should realize the altitude gain here is from sea level to nearly 4000 ft. and most of the gain is in the last 20 miles. 

Specs: 52.7 miles, 7 hrs. 11 min. total time, 5 hrs. 25 min. moving time, 9.7 mph avg. moving speed, elevation gain nearly 4000 ft., 7110 calories burned, avg. HR 145, approx. 3107 miles to go (mileages will not add exactly because of route changes or backtracking).

About The Ride

I am riding the Southern Tier crossing of the United States, all 3159+ miles of it.  Here is the map overview.  This is considered the easiest of the Adventure Cycling Association's crossings.  I would have preferred to do the Trans America, their original route, but due to my available dates the Southern Route is the most feasible for the time of year. 

I am beginning on November 25, 2007 and riding until I reach St. Agustine.

Below is a partial list of cities and towns that I will be riding through:

California

San Diego

Jacumba

El Centro

Glamis

Palo Verde

Arizonia

Quartizite

Wickenburg

Phoenix

Apache Junction

Globe

Three Way

New Mexico

Mule Creek

Silver City

Kingston

Arrey

Las Cruces

Texas

El Paso

Sierra Blanca

Kent

Alpine

Sanderson

Del Rio

Kerrville

Lockhart

Navasota

Silsbee

Bon Wier

Louisiana

Merryville

Mamou

St. Francisville

Bolivar

Bogalusa

Mississippi

Poplarville

Perkinston

Wade

Alabama

Grand Bay

Dauphin Island

Gulf Shores

Florida

Pensacola

Crestview

Marianna

Tallahassee

High Springs

St. Augustine

There are many other towns on this route and if you know of any great places to visit or eat or even a yard to pitch a tent on the trip please let me know.  Just remember that I am riding a loaded bicycle and will have to stay near my route.  You can email me at: bill@ridingforadventure.com