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



Monday, April 26, 2010

Day 37, Milton to Marinna, 120 miles!


That's right we rode 120 miles today! Today our maps took us on route 90. The road surface was smooth, there was little traffic, there was a wide shoulder, and the westerly winds were still at our back.
We had planned to end the day at DeFuniak Springs. However, we arrived at the town at 11:30 am. We circled the perfectly natural round lake and admired the victorian homes on Circle Dr. See below for waffle geographical features.
We found a bustling restaurant and realized that we both had the same thoughts, "Why stop now and waste this tailwind?"

We studied the maps and Ruth made phone calls to change our lodging for the next few days. The new schedule worked out beautifully. Instead of cycling over 100 miles to finish at St. Augustine on Saturday, we now will only have forty miles to cycle to reach our final destination. We fortified ourselves with frozen peanut butter pie and headed back to our windy road heading east.
We made a quick stop at the small town of Ponce de Leon and MJ drank a few drops of water from a fountain. Who knows? Maybe this fountain has the same qualities as the one in St. Augustine?
We had the good fortune to cycle through Caryville(population 218,) the worm fiddling capital of the world. Participants in the festival rub objects on posts in the ground to force worms to the surface. Most of the winners are women and since we were feeling victorious today we regretted missing the festival.
We pedaled and pedaled with the wind behind our backs and sailed into Marianna. We are staying at the delightful Hinson House B&B .
Maybe MJ has taken John B.'s advice about pedaling back to youth and drinking special waters too seriously.

"I thought of that while riding my bicycle." Albert Einstein
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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 8:04 PM

    Special waters? As evidenced by the circular waffle and the last photo, I am sensing a bit too much corn.
    Don

    ReplyDelete
  2. JodeeApril 26, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    I'm thinkin' I could use some of that special water.......

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  3. John B.April 26, 2010 at 8:08 PM

    Hah! It worked! Now I get to be the older sibling.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Gilles FamilyApril 26, 2010 at 8:27 PM

    You guys are amazing! And so young! :)

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  5. EvieApril 27, 2010 at 5:00 AM

    I knew I left too soon..tail winds, flat roads, and special water!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. NoraApril 27, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    I think you two found the fountain of youth years ago! Wahoo...wind at your backs...go girls!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MaxannaApril 27, 2010 at 8:16 AM

    This reads as one of your easiest days- and at 120 miles- WOW! Glad you have the 'wind at your back".
    I can't believe how close you are to THE END! Wonderful story!

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