Why are two crazy ladies riding across the United States?

Seven years ago while I was huffing and puffing to keep up with Ruth's running pace, she asked me if I would run across the USA with her.



You are crazy!" I gasped. "but I will cycle across the states with you."



We started planning the trip that day. We ordered the transcontinental maps from Adventure Cycling Association. Then Ruth's husband got a job in Evian, France, and we put our plans on hold.



Throughout the last seven years, we continued to discuss our trip. Then this last Fall, Bill and Ruth returned to Cincinnati. We looked at our maps again,checked into various cycling groups that are crossing the states this year, and kept pedaling on the back roads of southwestern Ohio.



As we learned the prices and the dates of the organized trips, we realized those trips would not work for us. We finally decided that a spring trip would work, and we decided on the Southern Tier Route. The maps route us through southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and then to our final designation - St. Augustine, Florida.

Throughout the trip we will stay in motels and bed&breakfasts and travel as lightly as possible. We plan to average eighty miles per day, take three rest days, and reach our destination on May 1st.



Our husbands are traveling with us the first two weeks. They will carry our gear for us and will be playing golf or attending spring training baseball games while we are cycling. Hurray for our very supportive husbands!



We will try to update the blog every day. Some nights we may be so tired that the only words we will be able to type are: "We made it!" We may be in a motel without a computer or cell coverage.



We will miss our family and friends along the trip. As St. Patrick's Day is approaching we think of this Irish Blessing:



May the road rise to meet you,



May the wind be always at your back,



May the sun shine warm upon your face,



The rains fall soft upon your fields and



Until we meet again,



May God hold you in the palm of his hand.



To All: Please Take Care! Love, Mary Jo and Ruth



Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Day 18, Comstock to Brackettville, 64 miles

A Wonderful Day! A Chick Day! When we woke up this morning, it was raining. We ate a hearty breakfast at a cafe across from our motel. Every morning a small group of children wait for the bus in the cafe. By the time we had finished breakfast, the rain had stopped.
We started to cycle and it was easy pedaling; the wind was behind our backs - Finally! We flew across the Amistad Reservoir and into Del Rio. We stopped at Lakeside Sports and a young ex-marine cleaned and lubed our chains, adjusted our cables, and pumped up our tires. Evelyn and Ruth bought new lights and we bought new tubes.
We rode into the historic district of Del Rio - there were trees, unique shops and galleries, and a cute restaurant named the Brown Bag. We had a girly lunch consisting of quiche, fresh fruit, and raspberry ice tea. We even looked around the boutique adjacent to the restaurant. We were rather grubby compared to the nicely coiffed ladies eating their lunches.
We only had 28 more miles to Brackettville. We were amazed by the fighter jets taking off from Laughlin Air Force Base. The planes zoomed from the runways and did sharp turns in front of us. A bit more down the road, we crossed a creek and swallows also entertained us with their darting manuevers.

Compared to our other rides, we quickly arrived at our lodging for the night- Fort Clark Springs. We had remainder of the afternoon to walk around the fort grounds and to put our feet in the springs. The water is only 68 degrees but that did not stop Ruth from taking a little dip.

Our thoughts go out to Lisa, Evelyn's friend, for a quick recovery.


"If you never have, you should. These things are fun and fun is good." By Dr. Suess

Ruth, Mary Jo and Evelyn

5 comments:

  1. I'm trying my best to keep Elvis and Louis updated on your adventures. They don't believe me when I tell them how far you have biked. Cats are so skeptical.
    Please be careful. I love reading your reports and am so impressed with your technical abilities.

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  2. Holy Cow, Ruth Morley! 68 degrees and swimming!!Burr! I bet you three ladies were glad to get your bikes serviced by an Ex-Marine and buy more supplies. Sounds like you had a fun day with the fighter jets zooming above you and stopping for a real "girly lunch." Keep up the good work.

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  3. You are eating quiche, going to boutiques and flirting with Marines. And I notice there are no pictures of any of you actually riding a bike, but the restaurant picture shows five drink glasses (BIG ONES!) in front of the three of you.

    Have you gone soft? Lost your focus? Gotten frisky now that the men folk have taken off?

    Sounds like fun to me! Make Theodor Geisel proud!

    "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way."

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  4. I figured you would have to deal with rain eventually....glad it did not get in your way too much. This post makes 64 miles seem like nothing....can't imagine it. Proud of Ruth for taking her polar dip....did she grow up in Michigan like me? If she did then she knows that water you swim in is SUPPOSED to be cold! :-) That is the whole point.

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  5. If you want to take a break from hotels and stay in a home, or need help finding anything in Austin, call my sis Susan Gusler at 512-249-7555, or 512-632-8544. Her husband's name is Carl. They have neighbors across the street who are major bicyclists. She will be in Kerrville over the weekend at a workshop, then back in Austin Sunday afternoon. Let me know if you want her to meet you somewhere in Kerrville or Austin with a Care Package!

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