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



Saturday, April 10, 2010

Day 21, Kerrville to Wimberley, 90 miles


The Hill Country is not misnamed! All we did all day was go up and down hills. Upon leaving Kerrville we crisscrossed Cypress Creek with many ups and downs.

After 24 miles we passed through Comfort with its historic district filled with antique shops.
We then had 52 miles with no services but plenty of hills. Finally we reached the small town of Blanco where we found a wonderful cafe - The Redbud Cafe. (www.redbudcafe.wordpress.com)
We rewarded ourselves with healthy sandwiches and huge delicious cookies. (The cookies were consumed before the sandwiches arrived.)
We pushed ourselves to complete the final 24 hilly miles.
We were determined with visions of hot showers awaiting us. WE staggered into our log cabin motel to find that a hot shower did not apply to Evelyn's room.
We relaxed by the stream behind our cabins and explored the artsy town of Wimberley.

Tomorrow we cycle into Austin and on Monday we have a much needed rest day.

"Resistance is Futile." Annapolis bike racing team - Evelyn' s home team

Ruth, Mary Jo and Evelyn
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4 comments:

  1. DonApril 10, 2010 at 7:32 PM

    Sounds like the hill country has its ups and downs. At least there are no Rockies in front of you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. kimberly10iApril 11, 2010 at 5:58 AM

    You are more than half way!!!
    HURAY!!!
    Sorry about the hell country ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. CSApril 11, 2010 at 1:16 PM

    So impressed you made it through most of hill country. Have fun in Austin! Call my sis if you need anything! Hot showers are free at their house!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MaxannaApril 11, 2010 at 5:24 PM

    WOW! These pictures are amazing. Makes me almost want to make a trip to Texas. Guess I just always missed the good spots! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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