Friday, December 29, 2006
One week is a long time ...
I'm getting cagey sitting here in Florida. I'm ready to ride but I need to wait until the 1st to take off to Gainesville. Our new tent arrived today. Shira and I threw the old one out last week, into the trash compactor it went! That was a terrible tent. It was great at keeping water out, but it was also great at keeping condensation in. It was a single-walled Eureka tent, don't do the single-wall, get a fly.
Outside of Reidsville, GA we ran into our first touring bikers. Dana and Matt were a couple from Portland, OR travelling south to West Palm Beach, FL from Reidsville. They were travelling 80 to 90 miles per day and riding on a tight schedule. I hope they made it in time. We biked half a day with them and then had a great dinner in town. It was fun to meet people who were sort of in our same frame of mind. We also picked up some travel tips from them, since they had travelled in Asia by bicycle.
Hmmmm. Out of all the states we've travelled through, I have to say that Florida is the strangest. Before Florida turned into New New Jersey it seems like it was actually a cool place populated by Florida Crackers. For me, the easiest way to describe a Cracker is to compare them to the self-sufficient people in the Appalachians. They are basically flatland hillbillies, many of whom had Scotch-Irish roots, similar to the folks of Appalachia. These Florida Crackers were semi-nomadic farmers and cattle herders. They scraped a living by growing or making most of was they had. Their main drink was "low bush lightning" or moonshine, mostly homemade. Their main food was corn in the form of grits and cornbread. They also harvested swamp cabbage, which is the heart of the Palmetto palm tree, and boiled it to eat. One of the facts I like most about these Florida Crackers is their disregard for property rights and the law. Criminal matters were dealt with between the parties involved and usually the courts were left out of it. And, in deciding where to settle, Crackers would travel until they found a suitable plot of land and begin building a house. If it was someone else's land, they would live there until kicked off.
Now these Florida Crackers are being squeezed out of Florida because of the several decades of outrageous development. Development that has brought the snow birds and other weird and strange characters to Florida, most of whom have white hair.
A few more days of all day Law and Order for me, then I'll be headed west! Woohoo!
Outside of Reidsville, GA we ran into our first touring bikers. Dana and Matt were a couple from Portland, OR travelling south to West Palm Beach, FL from Reidsville. They were travelling 80 to 90 miles per day and riding on a tight schedule. I hope they made it in time. We biked half a day with them and then had a great dinner in town. It was fun to meet people who were sort of in our same frame of mind. We also picked up some travel tips from them, since they had travelled in Asia by bicycle.
Hmmmm. Out of all the states we've travelled through, I have to say that Florida is the strangest. Before Florida turned into New New Jersey it seems like it was actually a cool place populated by Florida Crackers. For me, the easiest way to describe a Cracker is to compare them to the self-sufficient people in the Appalachians. They are basically flatland hillbillies, many of whom had Scotch-Irish roots, similar to the folks of Appalachia. These Florida Crackers were semi-nomadic farmers and cattle herders. They scraped a living by growing or making most of was they had. Their main drink was "low bush lightning" or moonshine, mostly homemade. Their main food was corn in the form of grits and cornbread. They also harvested swamp cabbage, which is the heart of the Palmetto palm tree, and boiled it to eat. One of the facts I like most about these Florida Crackers is their disregard for property rights and the law. Criminal matters were dealt with between the parties involved and usually the courts were left out of it. And, in deciding where to settle, Crackers would travel until they found a suitable plot of land and begin building a house. If it was someone else's land, they would live there until kicked off.
Now these Florida Crackers are being squeezed out of Florida because of the several decades of outrageous development. Development that has brought the snow birds and other weird and strange characters to Florida, most of whom have white hair.
A few more days of all day Law and Order for me, then I'll be headed west! Woohoo!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
La Florida
Holy hell, we're in Florida. Here's our route, more to come....
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=602700
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=602700
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Faster than a speeding thunderstorm
Gee whiz, it seems like forever since the last time I wrote. Even though it's only been two weeks. The weather has been so unbelievably lovely, we have been reluctant to take time out from the sun to sit in libraries. But today is Saturday, and we get to take it easy on weekends, so here I am despite the shining sun outside.
So much has happened. The question is, which things should I write about? Well, I guess I'll start at the end and work my way backwards. First of all, bragging point: yesterday we hit our 500 mile mark! This may not seem like a lot to some of you cycle people, but for a girl like me, whose previous big cycle achievement was beating the number 23 bus down Germantown Avenue on my way to Temple University, this is a big deal. Now I can't wait until our 5,000 mile mark so we can really celebrate.
So yesterday was a big day. We camped for the night at a ball field in Pea Ridge, North Carolina. The moon was so bright, we didn't even need headlights to set up the tent after sunset. And it was so warm outside, we just lay on the grass looking at stars for a while before turning in. We woke at the crack of dawn, with mist rising up on the ballfield. Loaded up the bikes, and headed over to the corner store at 7:00am.
Well, let me tell you, that store was the place to be! Everybody in town was waiting for a bus to come and take them to their workplace of the day, and they were all in the store buying coffee and honey buns and Colt 45 to get them started in the morning. We bought coffee and stood outside answering questions and joking around to the crowd's delight. Yesterday was Friday, so the boss man walked around handing out paychecks before everyone loaded up on the bus to head out to the cabbage fields. A smaller crew jumped in a pickup for a landscaping job. But can you imagine? All day long, harvesting cabbage. Take it from a farmer, harvesting cabbage is no joke.
We headed out from the store and three miles down the road we were pulled over by one of our new friends from the store, driving a silver Dodge Durango. "You're going the wrong way!" he said. "You're heading to the beach, right?!" Turns out that a few months ago, the North Carolina highway department re-numbered all the roads without telling anybody. So what was 64 is now 94, and we rode three miles right by it without thinking twice. Paul gave us directions to get us back on track, and I gave him a hug for his troubles. He jokingly offered to drive us to the beach for $30, but we declined, especially after he admitted that he should not be on the road at all, since he had no driver's license. He was a trip. When I asked him his name, he said, "My name's Paul. I'm in the the Bible, baby!"
So we headed south down 94, straight into strong winds. There was a cold front heading in from offshore, and everywhere we stopped we were warned that there would be major thunderstorms in the afternoon. Our destination was Roanoke Island of the Outer Banks, a 60-mile ride. We decided we could do it before 3:00pm, and beat the rain. Usually on a 60-mile day, we take a break around 9:00am for breakfast, and then another break at 1:00pm for lunch. But with the clock ticking, we just took short stops to throw down a power bar or two and then kept moving. At 9:00, we pulled over for a minute to say hello to a snapping turtle by the side of the road. At 11:00, we finally gave in and cooked some Ramen. At 1:00, we stopped at a store to fill up on water. But yesterday our fast pace paid off. As we reached the four-mile bridge over the Croatan Sound to Roanoke, we saw storm clouds gathering behind us. Halfway across the bridge, Tom yelled, "It's gaining on us! Pedal faster!" I down-shifted and starting pedaling while standing up, cresting the top of the bridge and gaining speed all the way down. The rain started just as we pulled off the bridge, and we made it safe and dry to the Roanoke Island Visitor's Center. It was awesome to beat the storm.
We waited out the worst of it at the Visitor's Center, chatting happily with a retired volunteer named Stanley. He told us all about his 1-acre garden, where he grows tomatoes, corn, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, zucchini, cucumbers, and everything else under the sun. He even has an apple tree for applesauce, several fig shrubs, and a hardy tangerine tree that he has been harvesting for the past weeks. He grows enough food to eat all summer, for his wife to fill the shed with canned vegetables, and to give away corn and other vegetables to the neighbors. Almost like a free CSA! He loves to try new seeds, so Tom is going to send him some Lenape Popcorn seeds just for fun.
Another interesting encounter from yesterday: we met a couple who lives off of a boat! Just before we crossed the Alligator River. They were walking in to a store as we were walking out, and they commented that it was a windy day for bicycling. It turns out that their boat was docked right around the corner, as they had come inland from the Outer Banks to get out of the winds. They were on their way to the Caribbean for the winter, and told us that they had saved up for retirement, and have been living for the past six years off of their little sailboat. Tom and I talked about it later, and it occurred to me that I am glad to be adventuring now. But when I get to retirement age, I would much rather be settled in one place, close to my family and good friends.
As for now, I'll be content to write you! :) So that'll do for today, I suppose. I have lots of things left over to write about from our week in Virginia... mostly about massive fields of cotton and soybeans, huge tree farms full of loblolly pine and deer hunters galore, abandoned farmhouses sinking into the ground, and cypress swamps with engorged tree trunks growing out of black still water. We saw blue herons winging across a lake, gray foxes by the roadside, and several black vultures feasting on the carcass of a deer. Although the terrain was flat, and the sun was shining, we were haunted by a strange feeling the whole time we biked through southern Virginia. There didn't seem to be a lot of people around... sort of like a no man's land. We both felt something like relief when we crossed the border into North Carolina.
Today we plan to take it easy, and bike just 30 miles to the campground in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. I called to make a reservation, and they have a 15% off-season discount, and a hot tub! Hooray!!!!
So much has happened. The question is, which things should I write about? Well, I guess I'll start at the end and work my way backwards. First of all, bragging point: yesterday we hit our 500 mile mark! This may not seem like a lot to some of you cycle people, but for a girl like me, whose previous big cycle achievement was beating the number 23 bus down Germantown Avenue on my way to Temple University, this is a big deal. Now I can't wait until our 5,000 mile mark so we can really celebrate.
So yesterday was a big day. We camped for the night at a ball field in Pea Ridge, North Carolina. The moon was so bright, we didn't even need headlights to set up the tent after sunset. And it was so warm outside, we just lay on the grass looking at stars for a while before turning in. We woke at the crack of dawn, with mist rising up on the ballfield. Loaded up the bikes, and headed over to the corner store at 7:00am.
Well, let me tell you, that store was the place to be! Everybody in town was waiting for a bus to come and take them to their workplace of the day, and they were all in the store buying coffee and honey buns and Colt 45 to get them started in the morning. We bought coffee and stood outside answering questions and joking around to the crowd's delight. Yesterday was Friday, so the boss man walked around handing out paychecks before everyone loaded up on the bus to head out to the cabbage fields. A smaller crew jumped in a pickup for a landscaping job. But can you imagine? All day long, harvesting cabbage. Take it from a farmer, harvesting cabbage is no joke.
We headed out from the store and three miles down the road we were pulled over by one of our new friends from the store, driving a silver Dodge Durango. "You're going the wrong way!" he said. "You're heading to the beach, right?!" Turns out that a few months ago, the North Carolina highway department re-numbered all the roads without telling anybody. So what was 64 is now 94, and we rode three miles right by it without thinking twice. Paul gave us directions to get us back on track, and I gave him a hug for his troubles. He jokingly offered to drive us to the beach for $30, but we declined, especially after he admitted that he should not be on the road at all, since he had no driver's license. He was a trip. When I asked him his name, he said, "My name's Paul. I'm in the the Bible, baby!"
So we headed south down 94, straight into strong winds. There was a cold front heading in from offshore, and everywhere we stopped we were warned that there would be major thunderstorms in the afternoon. Our destination was Roanoke Island of the Outer Banks, a 60-mile ride. We decided we could do it before 3:00pm, and beat the rain. Usually on a 60-mile day, we take a break around 9:00am for breakfast, and then another break at 1:00pm for lunch. But with the clock ticking, we just took short stops to throw down a power bar or two and then kept moving. At 9:00, we pulled over for a minute to say hello to a snapping turtle by the side of the road. At 11:00, we finally gave in and cooked some Ramen. At 1:00, we stopped at a store to fill up on water. But yesterday our fast pace paid off. As we reached the four-mile bridge over the Croatan Sound to Roanoke, we saw storm clouds gathering behind us. Halfway across the bridge, Tom yelled, "It's gaining on us! Pedal faster!" I down-shifted and starting pedaling while standing up, cresting the top of the bridge and gaining speed all the way down. The rain started just as we pulled off the bridge, and we made it safe and dry to the Roanoke Island Visitor's Center. It was awesome to beat the storm.
We waited out the worst of it at the Visitor's Center, chatting happily with a retired volunteer named Stanley. He told us all about his 1-acre garden, where he grows tomatoes, corn, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, zucchini, cucumbers, and everything else under the sun. He even has an apple tree for applesauce, several fig shrubs, and a hardy tangerine tree that he has been harvesting for the past weeks. He grows enough food to eat all summer, for his wife to fill the shed with canned vegetables, and to give away corn and other vegetables to the neighbors. Almost like a free CSA! He loves to try new seeds, so Tom is going to send him some Lenape Popcorn seeds just for fun.
Another interesting encounter from yesterday: we met a couple who lives off of a boat! Just before we crossed the Alligator River. They were walking in to a store as we were walking out, and they commented that it was a windy day for bicycling. It turns out that their boat was docked right around the corner, as they had come inland from the Outer Banks to get out of the winds. They were on their way to the Caribbean for the winter, and told us that they had saved up for retirement, and have been living for the past six years off of their little sailboat. Tom and I talked about it later, and it occurred to me that I am glad to be adventuring now. But when I get to retirement age, I would much rather be settled in one place, close to my family and good friends.
As for now, I'll be content to write you! :) So that'll do for today, I suppose. I have lots of things left over to write about from our week in Virginia... mostly about massive fields of cotton and soybeans, huge tree farms full of loblolly pine and deer hunters galore, abandoned farmhouses sinking into the ground, and cypress swamps with engorged tree trunks growing out of black still water. We saw blue herons winging across a lake, gray foxes by the roadside, and several black vultures feasting on the carcass of a deer. Although the terrain was flat, and the sun was shining, we were haunted by a strange feeling the whole time we biked through southern Virginia. There didn't seem to be a lot of people around... sort of like a no man's land. We both felt something like relief when we crossed the border into North Carolina.
Today we plan to take it easy, and bike just 30 miles to the campground in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. I called to make a reservation, and they have a 15% off-season discount, and a hot tub! Hooray!!!!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
First week on the road
So we've been biking just over a week now. Our first week was more resting than biking, to tell the truth. On Friday Nov 10th, we biked 30 miles south to our friend Claire's farm in West Grove, PA ( www.inverbrook.com if you wanna see pictures!). Her amazing hospitality kept us there for two days. I don't even have words to describe the abundance of good will and good cooking that we encountered - it seemed like every time we turned around, someone was organizing a family gathering centered around more food! On Friday night we had turkey gumbo, and then on Saturday night we had a preview of Thanksgiving. And the table was always full of muffins, scones, sausage, cheese, and endless cups of excellent tea. The other factor keeping us at Inverbrook Farm was Claire's father, Bob. An amateur pilot, Bob delights in keeping well abreast of weather patterns. A few times a day, he would print out a radar map, and show us the low and high pressure systems that he assured us would soak us to the skin the second we left the farm.
We finally managed to get on the road on Monday Nov 13th. It was pouring rain. We stopped for breakfast with our friend Trey, just a few miles down the road. Trey has been farm manager at Maysie's Farm in Chester County for the past growing season, and is now trying his hand at beekeeping. He is caretaker of Walt's Swarmbustin' Honey, while Walt takes a break from beekeeping for the next 15-30 months. The honey operation is 165 hives, and the house is full of treasures. In the livingroom, Trey took a blanket off what looks like a massive ant farm... but is really a hive! The bees have a tunnel through the livingroom wall and go out every day to collect pollen. Then they build the honeycomb inside the plastic panels of the indoor hive. It was awesome to see the bees at work. Trey fed us trout from the pond and homebaked biscuits, and sent us off on the road with a pound of bee pollen for energy.
The rain continued to pour as we slogged across the Mason-Dixon line and into Maryland. It did not let up all day, actually, until we finally reached Ady, MD and Emory Knoll Farm ( www.greenroofplants.com). Emory Knoll grows 10 greenhouses full of a succulent groundcover called sedum... exclusively designed for use on green roofs! So we learned about why it is good to have a green roof: 1) to reduce stormwater run-off by making an absorbent ground-like layer on the roof, 2) to improve air quality with more urban plants, 3) to reduce heat index in cities because of plant transpiration, and 4) because green roofs are cool.
So all that green roofery was interesting. But something totally amazing happened while we stayed at Emory Knoll. When we first pulled in, we were greeted by all the greenhouse workers, including the buoyant Akio. He was thrilled to meet us, because he has done bicycle tours as well, and coincidentally has the same bike as mine... a Surly Cross-Check (yeah baby! it is an awesome bike. www.surlyville.com). Meanwhile, Tom's bike was having a rough time of it. Built as a road bike, his Jamis could not handle saddlebags. So Tom was pulling all of his gear in a rear trailer. But with a combination of 60 pounds in the trailer, heavy rains, and road bike brakes, Tom's ride to Ady, MD was nothing short of terrifying. Akio asked if we wanted to see his Surly bike, and commented that he barely rides it. Tom jokingly asked if he would like to sell it. Akio considered for a moment, and said, "No. I won't sell it to you. But you can have it."
We spent the next day visiting bike shops and the local REI, outfitting the Surly with saddlebags and switching out Tom's saddle and pedals. In the evening, I cooked lasagna with Akio's girlfriend, Cathleen, while the boys hung out on the porch and replaced chains, checked brakes, and did all the things that two boys who used to work in bike shops like to do together. It was a really fun night. As Tom and I walked back through the grassy landscape to our campsite for the night, we kept reminding each other that this was real, this was really happening. The complete and sudden generosity of our new friends made us feel surreal.
On Wednesday Nov 15th we reached Reisterstown, MD and camped at the local Church of the Brethren. And on Thursday Nov 16th we biked through the worst rain yet of our trip. There was a flood watch in effect for the area where we were biking. We put on headlights and backlights and hoped for some semblance of visibility. I ditched my glasses since they kept fogging up, and experimented with different ways of keeping cold hard raindrops from hitting my eyes. Squinting was one option, and blinking rapidly was the other. So far I have to say that blinking rapidly is far superior. The world goes by in strobe fashion, and it is pretty effective at keeping out the rain. But I will let you know if something even better comes my way.
We were heading for Chevy Chase, MD and the warm refuge of my uncle and aunt's house on Dorset Avenue. The last leg of our journey was on the Rock Creek Trail. Right next to Rock Creek, the trail had completely flooded and several sections were under 1-2 feet of water. But several sections were still unflooded, so we proceeded with caution and kept biking. When biking through deep water, make sure to stay on the paved trail. Or else your bike wheel will get caught in the mud and leaves on the side of the trail, and you will crash. Tom kept reminding me of this factoid as we splashed our way through the windy trail. He can be very supportive that way. It was an exhilarating ride.
We got completely soaked. But somehow everything in our bags stayed dry! This could be a good advertisement for Scotch Gard and Ziploc Bags. About three miles before Chevy Chase, we were met on the trail by a park policeman, who told us that the trail was closed, as the water was above waist-level. He gave us street directions, and we completed the last few miles in the full traffic of Wisconsin Avenue. What a relief to finally reach the destination driveway! We actually sat there in the driveway, stunned, for about five minutes, until my aunt Brenda came out to say hello.
We spent another long weekend with my family in Chevy Chase, enjoying Friday night dinner, Saturday morning services, my cousin Jonathan's birthday on Sunday, and all the associated antics. I always visit these folks as part of a big family gathering, so it was great fun to hang out and be part of the household. 11-year-old Leni played electric guitar for us, and helped us figure out our personalities based on star signs, favorite colors, and other foolproof tests. 16-year-old Jonno demonstrated his driving skills, as well as his carefully-calculated tactics to annoy out-of-state drivers. Dan and Brenda were awesome hosts, making us feel completely comfortable even as they whirled around with their breakneck schedules. Thanks, family.
And then on Monday Nov 20th we hit the road again. Last night we camped at a Baptist Church, and tonight we hope to stay with the Methodists. We're about 20 miles north of Fredericksburg, Virginia. There's a synagogue not too far off-route, as well. Hopefully we can manage to stay balanced with all the faiths and denominations.
Well, that was a long post! And I didn't even tell you the half of it. But suffice to say, we are making our way slowly but surely. One day at a time.
All best,
Shira
We finally managed to get on the road on Monday Nov 13th. It was pouring rain. We stopped for breakfast with our friend Trey, just a few miles down the road. Trey has been farm manager at Maysie's Farm in Chester County for the past growing season, and is now trying his hand at beekeeping. He is caretaker of Walt's Swarmbustin' Honey, while Walt takes a break from beekeeping for the next 15-30 months. The honey operation is 165 hives, and the house is full of treasures. In the livingroom, Trey took a blanket off what looks like a massive ant farm... but is really a hive! The bees have a tunnel through the livingroom wall and go out every day to collect pollen. Then they build the honeycomb inside the plastic panels of the indoor hive. It was awesome to see the bees at work. Trey fed us trout from the pond and homebaked biscuits, and sent us off on the road with a pound of bee pollen for energy.
The rain continued to pour as we slogged across the Mason-Dixon line and into Maryland. It did not let up all day, actually, until we finally reached Ady, MD and Emory Knoll Farm ( www.greenroofplants.com). Emory Knoll grows 10 greenhouses full of a succulent groundcover called sedum... exclusively designed for use on green roofs! So we learned about why it is good to have a green roof: 1) to reduce stormwater run-off by making an absorbent ground-like layer on the roof, 2) to improve air quality with more urban plants, 3) to reduce heat index in cities because of plant transpiration, and 4) because green roofs are cool.
So all that green roofery was interesting. But something totally amazing happened while we stayed at Emory Knoll. When we first pulled in, we were greeted by all the greenhouse workers, including the buoyant Akio. He was thrilled to meet us, because he has done bicycle tours as well, and coincidentally has the same bike as mine... a Surly Cross-Check (yeah baby! it is an awesome bike. www.surlyville.com). Meanwhile, Tom's bike was having a rough time of it. Built as a road bike, his Jamis could not handle saddlebags. So Tom was pulling all of his gear in a rear trailer. But with a combination of 60 pounds in the trailer, heavy rains, and road bike brakes, Tom's ride to Ady, MD was nothing short of terrifying. Akio asked if we wanted to see his Surly bike, and commented that he barely rides it. Tom jokingly asked if he would like to sell it. Akio considered for a moment, and said, "No. I won't sell it to you. But you can have it."
We spent the next day visiting bike shops and the local REI, outfitting the Surly with saddlebags and switching out Tom's saddle and pedals. In the evening, I cooked lasagna with Akio's girlfriend, Cathleen, while the boys hung out on the porch and replaced chains, checked brakes, and did all the things that two boys who used to work in bike shops like to do together. It was a really fun night. As Tom and I walked back through the grassy landscape to our campsite for the night, we kept reminding each other that this was real, this was really happening. The complete and sudden generosity of our new friends made us feel surreal.
On Wednesday Nov 15th we reached Reisterstown, MD and camped at the local Church of the Brethren. And on Thursday Nov 16th we biked through the worst rain yet of our trip. There was a flood watch in effect for the area where we were biking. We put on headlights and backlights and hoped for some semblance of visibility. I ditched my glasses since they kept fogging up, and experimented with different ways of keeping cold hard raindrops from hitting my eyes. Squinting was one option, and blinking rapidly was the other. So far I have to say that blinking rapidly is far superior. The world goes by in strobe fashion, and it is pretty effective at keeping out the rain. But I will let you know if something even better comes my way.
We were heading for Chevy Chase, MD and the warm refuge of my uncle and aunt's house on Dorset Avenue. The last leg of our journey was on the Rock Creek Trail. Right next to Rock Creek, the trail had completely flooded and several sections were under 1-2 feet of water. But several sections were still unflooded, so we proceeded with caution and kept biking. When biking through deep water, make sure to stay on the paved trail. Or else your bike wheel will get caught in the mud and leaves on the side of the trail, and you will crash. Tom kept reminding me of this factoid as we splashed our way through the windy trail. He can be very supportive that way. It was an exhilarating ride.
We got completely soaked. But somehow everything in our bags stayed dry! This could be a good advertisement for Scotch Gard and Ziploc Bags. About three miles before Chevy Chase, we were met on the trail by a park policeman, who told us that the trail was closed, as the water was above waist-level. He gave us street directions, and we completed the last few miles in the full traffic of Wisconsin Avenue. What a relief to finally reach the destination driveway! We actually sat there in the driveway, stunned, for about five minutes, until my aunt Brenda came out to say hello.
We spent another long weekend with my family in Chevy Chase, enjoying Friday night dinner, Saturday morning services, my cousin Jonathan's birthday on Sunday, and all the associated antics. I always visit these folks as part of a big family gathering, so it was great fun to hang out and be part of the household. 11-year-old Leni played electric guitar for us, and helped us figure out our personalities based on star signs, favorite colors, and other foolproof tests. 16-year-old Jonno demonstrated his driving skills, as well as his carefully-calculated tactics to annoy out-of-state drivers. Dan and Brenda were awesome hosts, making us feel completely comfortable even as they whirled around with their breakneck schedules. Thanks, family.
And then on Monday Nov 20th we hit the road again. Last night we camped at a Baptist Church, and tonight we hope to stay with the Methodists. We're about 20 miles north of Fredericksburg, Virginia. There's a synagogue not too far off-route, as well. Hopefully we can manage to stay balanced with all the faiths and denominations.
Well, that was a long post! And I didn't even tell you the half of it. But suffice to say, we are making our way slowly but surely. One day at a time.
All best,
Shira
Here's our route so far. We'll be staying around Independent Hill, VA tonight.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=553222
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=553222
Monday, November 20, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Ahhhhh. What a week. What a week? What am I doing? Biking in the winter? West? On a racing road bike? Sounds Polish. Yeah, well that's the plan, headed south for the fall and should make it to Florida by winter, after which we'll be headed west to California.
The farm season ended a few weeks ago, and for those of you who don't know, I've decided to bike with my friend Shira to California this fall, winter and spring. We've been on the road for a week and haven't made it too far. We have sorted out a lot of gear that we don't need and have purchased a lot of gear we should have gotten months ago. It was a practice week.
I now sit in Chevy Chase, MD, next to Washington, DC. Along the way we have stayed with our good friend Claire and family in ChesCo, Ed in Street, MD and the Hirsches in Chevy Chase. At each stop we've been pampered. That all ends tomorrow as we cross the frontier into Virginia because we no longer have any contacts until Florida.
The farm season ended a few weeks ago, and for those of you who don't know, I've decided to bike with my friend Shira to California this fall, winter and spring. We've been on the road for a week and haven't made it too far. We have sorted out a lot of gear that we don't need and have purchased a lot of gear we should have gotten months ago. It was a practice week.
I now sit in Chevy Chase, MD, next to Washington, DC. Along the way we have stayed with our good friend Claire and family in ChesCo, Ed in Street, MD and the Hirsches in Chevy Chase. At each stop we've been pampered. That all ends tomorrow as we cross the frontier into Virginia because we no longer have any contacts until Florida.
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