Letters from the Road: 5/4/08

My Story

.....On March 22, 2008, I begin my self-contained bike tour across the southern part of the United States from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida along the Southern Tier Route. This is a trip I've wanted to undertake for many years and now it's finally happening. I will be riding with a group of 17 people orgainzed by the Adventure Cycling Association. The tour will take 65 days ending May 25th. We ride on average 57 miles per day for a total of about 3,082 miles with rest days about once a week. I will attempt to keep this blog site updated as we progress across the U.S. on this great adventure. Energy and access to a computer will be key factors. Wish me (us) luck. It's a long journey.

Shirl's Poem

In San Diego, our starting place
We gathered together
and came face to face.
Then Andy Mac came and took the chair
With baggy shorts and a face full of hair.

He spelled out the rules and left no doubt
That here was a man
with strength and clout
He said, “We’re going all the way;
You’re a real good group, just do what I say!”

“On busy roads, if you get stuck,
Please don’t make a cluster f***
If it’s sex on the road, well that’s ok,
But do it quick and get on your way.”

And so, without much further ado
The circus left town, a motley crew,
To see this fine and beautiful land –
Over hills and through the desert sands.

Up near the front is a man of steel.
He’d like to have meat
every lunch time meal
But every day Aede’s heard to utter,
“Oh no, not again – it’s peanut butter.”

Matty, lovely Matty,
goes faster than the wind,
He gets to camp each day
before we’ve hardly beginned (!)
Not only that, but on the way,
He drinks umpteen Starbuck every day!

Nick, from Frisco, brings a touch of class
He cycles with individual panache,
“Life is good,” he’s heard to say
About a hundred times a day.

“Oh crap, I see another hill,”
Says Jan, “I’ve really had my fill –
That Andy must be taking the p***
I sure never signed up for this!”

This trip would be dull
if we didn’t have Frank
Who started out built like a tank,
But three thousand miles of steady crank
And now his tum is as flat as a plank.
(Well nearly!)

Kristina rides with finesse and grace
But downhills doesn’t like to race.
All day she keeps a steady pace –
And never a hair out of place.

On recumbent is fine Dick Beeman,
Patriotic and brave, he’s a former seaman.
“Awesome” is what
you’ll hear him screamin’
As he rides that machine like a real demon.

And then there’s Eileen
Our hill country queen
Always quick with a witty remark
A great sense of humor, a vital spark.

Steve Shapland’s a name
that clearly denotes
A man who needs his carbs and oats
His brain is full of information and facts
But tell him there’s no shower
and watch him react!

Doug’s a guy that we all dig
Tall and strong – he rides a fine rig.
But when a dog made him go ar** over tit
He hurt his bike and body a bit.

There’s a chap who’s quiet
and goes like a bomb
He’s well put together, his name is Tom
He rides like a rocket or a bird on the wing
Is sharp as a knife and doesn’t miss a thing.

Dave’s added a splash of color to this trip
His vivid tie dye makes him really hip.
On his recumbent, he’s striking and lean,
But, Dave, what do all those hand signals mean?

Herb speaks with a voice
that’s dignified and calm
He’s won our hearts with his quiet charm
He has a great eye for a quality photo
And rides his bike as though it has a motor.

Dee has a heart as big as the sun
She lavishes love on everyone.
She’ll help everyone to cook and then….
The very next day, she’ll do it again.

Andy’s a cool leader,
resourceful and inspired
Always helping with our bike stuff
although he must be tired.
He’s been real hardworking
and, besides that, funny –
We’ve sure had good value for our money!

So thank you, Andy, it’s been a blast,
Our trip has gone by real fast
We wish you luck
as you follow that (North) Star
Pleasant tailwinds be at your back
wherever you are.

Finally, I’m bequeathing you
this little parcel (a deck of card)
Do try hard not to always be the a******!

Monday, May 5, 2008

From Merryville to Oberlin

Aede working on his bike.

The gang in front of the Museum. Dave on the left (back) is a solo cyclist riding east to west on the Southern Tier.

Mattie and Eileen enjoying the evening.

Tom on the road to Oberlin just before the rain started. Wheat field in the background.

County Courthouse in DeRidder.

In Oberlin, we camped at the firehouse. This is Chief Kelly and his wife Belinda.

Mattie taking it easy at the firehouse in Oberlin.

Our place for dinner and breakfast in Oberlin

Owner of the cafe and Andy; "it's always a pleasure."

Merryville

It was great home cooking for 16 hungry cyclist.

Our camp around the museum.

Group strategy on our upcoming crossing of the Mississippi River. The ferry out of St. Francisville is closed due to flooding.

Picture inside the Museum.

Dick doing some bike maintenance during our rest day.

At Merryville

Sandra gives Shirl a needed cut.

With Frank's wild hair, a bowl is needed to keep it all under control.

Nick had gone shopping on the way to Merryville. Nice shirt!

Dave with his new shirt as well. Looking sharp!

Dinner is served by Linda, Max, and Greg

To Merryville, Louisiana

A buffet breakfast in Shepherd. It was hard to ride after..

After 22 days, it's goodbye to Texas and....

...Hello Louisiana

Lounging at the museum in Merryville

Shirl rode with the pink jersey today.

To Silsbee and beyond

Tom sharing the road with the trucks.

Stay in the bike lane if you value your life.

Red Cloud RV Park in Silsbee.

Miss Tina who was very nice, is the new owner of the RV Park.

Tom on Hwy 96 to Merryville. The clouds above is the line between the northerly and southerly fronts. After clouds passed over us, the southerly wind became a northwind, a headwind.

From Coldsprings to Silsbee

Tom and Andy on the road. Tom likes to ride hard so it's a workout.

Tom taking a break on a busy road.

Group break time on the road (Nick, Andy, Dee, and Jan).

Steve taking a needed nap on the roadside.

Do as Andy does: Always look before crossing.

To Coldspring

Tom leaving Navasota. This eastern section of Texas is more like the terrain of Louisiana.

Dick having another awesome day as usual.

At the Double Lakes Campground near Coldspring.

Dee, Eileen and Frank enjoying the water at the lake.

We met Shaun at the campground. He was there for a mountain bike race over the weekend. He also joined us for breakfast in Shepherd.

Navasota and Beyond

Our camp in the Navasota County Park was next to the local airport.

Tom leaving Navasota on Hwy 90.

Yesterday was Doug's. Happy Birthday! He gets to wear the pink jersey today.

Mattie on break, "There's plenty of time for rushing when it's all done".

Store in Anderson for a break.

On the road to Navasota

Andy normally rides "sweep" each day helping us bike problems and anything else that happens.

Eileen and Jan going through the train tunnel.

Eileen and Frank, always be aware of what's behind when on the road.

Kristina on the road. She's a strong steady rider.

Impromptu rest stop in Independence.

Carmine and on to Navasota

Again, this is Texas, home of the longhorns.

Rick and Jane are doing the Southern Tier on the own.

On the road to Navasota

Dee and Shirl on the road.

Pastoral landscape stretches to the horizon.