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, May 8, 2010



Yes, we did make it back to Cincinnati. We are happy to be back with family and friends. In the spring, Mary Jo enjoys gardening and the lettuce that she planted in early March was ready for harvesting.



On the way back to Cincinnati, Ruth stopped to see her beautiful grandaughter, Maddie. As you can see, she is preparing her for a cross-country trip.
We loved the trip and are proud and happy about the accomplishment. We have no regrets about the way we did the trip - staying in motels, having all the motels booked before embarking on the trip, riding west to east although we had a lot of headwinds, and having our patient husbands sagging for us the first two weeks. If you are considering cycling the southern tier please feel free to contact us.
morleyruth@hotmail.com or mjpeairs@gmail.com
We urge all to take a chance and do some of your own exploring. Whether by foot or bicycle or traveling to another place, find out what's over the hill, around the corner, or down the road. We want to hear all about your adventures, so keep us posted!
Thank-you for taking the time to read our blog.


Ruth and Mary Jo

3045 miles and we are still good friends!!
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6 comments:

  1. MaxannaMay 10, 2010 at 6:34 AM

    It was such a wonderful adventure! And love so much being able to share it with you. And I'm so glad you're back. I missed you!

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  2. EvieMay 10, 2010 at 9:42 AM

    No party?!!

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  3. MaryMay 11, 2010 at 7:22 AM

    You 2 should write a book.

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  4. The Gilles FamilyMay 11, 2010 at 9:43 AM

    Amazing! Thanks for taking us all along for the journey!

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  5. Mary SunshineJune 17, 2010 at 11:27 AM

    I have finally made it to your wonderful blog and reading it ALL will be my guilty pleasure for this summer. I think you are both such great examples of how to live life to the fullest!

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  6. AnonymousAugust 28, 2010 at 10:12 PM

    I finally got a chance to read the last part of your blog. What an awesome experience! You are both very inspiring. I'll think of you when I get up to do my 6am rides before work. Thank you for sharing it! ~Cyndi in CA

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