Letters from the Road

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******!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Road to Hawthorne

Morning map meeting with Andy; "..now just turn right when you hit the road.."

Yesterday's Chinese buffet dinner should keep Mattie and Kristina going all day. There nothing like the sight of 16 hungry cyclist at a Chinese buffet.

Road to Gainesville.

How about some breakfast?

The Gainesville Hawthorne State Trail

A very popular bike trail for local cyclist. We rode with light rain to Hawthorne.

Workers in the fields around Hawthorne.

The Ranch Motel, our place for the night.

Not a place for the fastidious..

It was very hot in the Florida sun..

Group photo.

Let's try that again...

Ordering our BBQ dinner at Sonny's. The place was packed with customers inside and outside..

Enjoying the late evening clouds.

Enjoying the late evening clouds.

Santa Fe Canoe Outpost in High Springs

A coastal mist was in the air this morning.

It was humid, but it's not too uncomfortable when riding.

The linger morning mist overshadowed the colorful wildflowers by the roadside.

Today, Tom, Doug, Shirl and I rode an easy pace through the scenic wetlands.

Our stop in Wellborn for breakfast. Kristina and Steve enjoying the morning.

Steve with the local chef.

Canoes at the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost.

Our outdoor shower at the Outpost. Not much privacy here. It wasn't a hot shower, but the cool water felt very good.

We camped in the woods along the riverbank.

Reflections on a slow moving river.

A group of us decided to rent canoes for an outing.

Paddling through an overgrowth of water hyacinth.

Mattie and Doug, both are winners.

Dee and Andy, there's a lot of experience here.

Shirl and Steve; you look like a pro Steve.

Tom; "Saw a lot of turtles and birds, but no alligators."

Mattie; "I'm drinking for tomorrow."

Steve enjoying his pipe after an afternoon on the river.

Road to the "Spirit of Suwannee" Park

Tom riding toward the Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello.

Our day started with a miss-direction onto Hwy 19 for 2.5 miles before we back tracked.

We meet up with Jane and Rick (left) again after several days. They're riding the Southern Tier on their own.

Madison County Courthouse in Madison

A town named after me, Herb "Lee".

Dee on the roadway. Flowers often flourish along the roadside in Florida.

Our campsite in the "Spirit of Suwannee" Park.

Dinner is at the cafe within the park.

Dave is crowned the "Emperor of the Coast"

Happy 66th Birthday Dave.

To the Tallahassee East Koa

Busy Highway 90 into Tallahassee

Busy Highway 90, watch for the traffic and debris.

Even on a busy highway, you should take time to enjoy the scenery.

The Ochtockonce waterway off Highway 90 into Tallahassee.

Tom and Doug riding through busy Tallahassee

Tom and Doug: "Now, where's the next turn?"

Birdlife abounds in Florida. This bunch survives the the busy roadway.

Scenes on the bike path between Tallahasee and Woodville.

Scenes on the bike path between Tallahasee and Woodville.

It was such a pleasant ride, we missed the turn off into Woodville by 2 miles.

Steve, Shirl and Jan go for a swim after the ride.

What a way to cool off after a hot humid day. Time for me to go help with the cooking. It's Mattie's lentil dish over rice tonight.