tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14954853854173860142024-03-08T06:10:52.311-06:00Coast to Coast for CPTSan Diego to the East Coast on a Bike for Christian Peacemaker TeamsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-33422237335271937352008-12-20T13:54:00.001-06:002008-12-20T14:02:19.981-06:00Where We Slept in Googlox Maps<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Ocean+Front+St,+San+Diego,+CA&daddr=Descanso+Junction,+CA+to:Ocotillo,+CA+to:Holtville,+CA+to:East+Yuma,+AZ+to:Dateland,+AZ+to:Gila+Bend,+AZ+to:Picacho,+Pinal,+Arizona,+United+States+to:Tucson,+AZ+to:Benson,+AZ+to:Willcox,+AZ+to:Lordsburg,+New+Mexico,+United+States+to:Deming,+NM+to:Las+Cruces,+NM+to:Horizon+City,+TX+to:Fort+Hancock,+TX+to:Van+Horn,+TX+to:Marfa,+TX+to:Marathon,+TX+to:Dryden,+TX+to:Comstock,+TX+to:Del+Rio,+TX+to:US-90+to:Bandera,+TX+to:US-290&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFdCnvQEdBpoL-g%3B%3BFerMzAEdhL0j-g&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=32.742743,-117.22455&sspn=0.036241,0.077763&ie=UTF8&ll=31.071756,-108.830566&spn=9.440845,27.202148&z=6">Part 1</a><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Henly,+TX&daddr=Austin,+TX+to:Bastrop+State+Park+to:Warrenton,+Fayette,+Texas,+United+States+to:Anderson,+TX+to:Camilla,+TX+to:Jasper,+TX+to:De+Ridder,+LA+to:Point+Blue,+LA+to:Grosse+Tete,+LA+to:Donaldsonville,+LA+to:7777+Westbank+Expy,+Westwego,+LA+70094+%28State+of+Louisiana:+Bayou+Segnette+State+Park%29+to:1203+St.+Charles+St.,+New+Orleans,+LA+to:Waveland,+MS+to:Port+Alabama,+AL+to:CR-292A,+Uninc+Escambia+County,+Florida+%28Big+Lagoon+State+Recreation+Area%29+to:Milligan,+FL+to:Ponce+de+Leon,+FL+to:Chattahoochee,+FL+to:Newport,+Wakulla,+Florida+to:Branford,+FL+to:Florahome,+FL+to:St.+Augustine+Beach,+FL&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFUBcywEdLfAz-iEXddi7D_dlow%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFUZIyAEdn1ug-iGpIgAal8sogA%3B%3B%3B%3BFXKuzgEdLl3K-iFEYDYfqjQjVw%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=18,19&dirflg=w&sll=28.998532,-86.781006&sspn=4.822729,9.953613&ie=UTF8&ll=30.39183,-89.450684&spn=9.507382,19.907227&z=6">Part 2</a><br /><br />The directions on there are not necessarily the roads we took. These are just to show where we were each night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-68102402122232588742008-12-20T00:53:00.003-06:002008-12-20T01:20:39.489-06:00Donation Roundup<span style="font-size:130%;">PayPal Donations</span><br />Total: $672.51<br /># Donations: 22<br />Amount PayPal took away: 0.029*$672.51 + 22*$0.30 = $26.10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amount CPT got: $646.41</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">FirstGiving.com Donations</span><br />Total: $50.00<br /># Donations: 2<br />Amount FirstGiving took away: 0.075*$50 = $3.75<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amount CPT got: $46.25</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Cash Donations</span><br />Total: $45.00<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amount CPT got: $45.00</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Check Donations</span><br />Total: $1,255.00<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amount CPT got: $1,255.00</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >TOTAL: $1992.66</span><br /><br />I could say, "Man, why couldn't I have reached $2000?" Our base-10 numbering system, however, is completely arbitrary, so whatever. Maybe I'll send them a check for $8.00.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-23756086129257403432008-11-27T07:17:00.000-06:002008-11-27T03:20:54.820-06:00Some Call It HotAs you stare at your turkey, I hope the picture of my flexed leg at its muscliest cannot leave your mind.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/legged.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Happy Overconsumption Day 1 of 2 for 2008, everybody.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-54868591358863166542008-11-20T00:15:00.004-06:002008-11-26T15:08:19.371-06:00Photographic Evidence Part 4At long last, selected pictures from Michael's camera. Thanks for dealing with all these, friend.<br /><br />Click to enlarge, but note that I didn't realize how much resolution I was actually removing when I was shrinking them down in size. I apologize for a lot of these being so blurry.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">California</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-006.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-006.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Launching pad at Anna's house in San Diego</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-008.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-008.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Making sure all important colors are represented in her bungee cords</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-009.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-009.jpg" /></a><br /><b>It comes with a free abacus</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-010.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-010.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"This cover will certainly help that one day we get rained on during the trip."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-012.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-012.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"What's the matter? Mommy not here to dress ya?"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-016.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-016.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The view from the Pacific</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-019.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-019.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Burley dips first</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-023.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-023.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine blah blah</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-026.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-026.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">yeah yeah another one</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-031.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-031.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Michael is afraid of water</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-033.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-033.jpg" /></a><br /><b>We are ready to fight</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-036.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-036.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Katherine remembers she forgot to turn off every single appliance in her house</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-043.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-043.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back when I was scared of the interstate</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-045.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-045.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Little Staircase That Could</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-047.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-047.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunrise or sunset</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-052.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-052.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Okay, now the most important thing to remember is to not mention on your </b><b>résumé that you came to this workshop."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-053.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-053.jpg" /></a><br /><b>dinnertime</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-057.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-057.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The reason for such slow response time by the Holtville Fire Department</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-060.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-060.jpg" /></a><br /><b>What we saw for most of three states</b><br /><br /></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Arizona</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-065.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-065.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Home of President John McCain, the National Unicorn Rodeo, and the Leprechaun Beauty Pageant</b>"<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-070.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-070.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sloppy Joes and alphabet pasta</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-083.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-083.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Out to dry</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-085.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-085.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine, are you BTLing here? Please let me know.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-097.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-097.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Well, guys, we finally made it... the Atlantic Ocean!"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-098.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-098.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The answer to that question is "no"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-104.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-104.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Ever since <span style="font-style: italic;">Never Let Me Down</span>, Katherine just hasn't been a fan</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-107.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-107.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Katherine rides toward the camera</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-110.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-110.jpg" /></a><br /><b>I was going make a joke about Katherine being a villain from the original Batman television show with Adam West (due to the crooked camera), but maybe one person would get that</b><br /><br /></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">New Mexico</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-113.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-113.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Hoping We'll One Day Be Called 'Mexico' and Mexico Will Be Called 'Old Mexico'"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-116.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-116.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Flat-Fixing 101: Locating the Puncture</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-118.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-118.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Flat-Fixing 102: Which Faces to Make</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-122.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-122.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sorry, veganism, but I think all these things deserve to die in a fire</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-123.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-123.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Still waiting on those caption submissions for this picture, kids!</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-124.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-124.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">bikez rule carz drool end of story</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-125.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-125.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The border patrol sneaks up on Katherine</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-127.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-127.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Both Katherine and Michael got a picture like this. I didn't want to stop and get eaten by the locusts. RIP Michael and Katherine</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-130.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-130.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Someone please think up a worse caption than, "It's always important to wash your vegetables before consuming them"</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-132.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-132.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Sometimes Michael gets his picture taken. It's important to include these rare photos.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-135.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-135.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine helps an injured bird</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-136.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-136.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hill!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-140.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-140.jpg" /></a><br /><b>such a jokester</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-141.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-141.jpg" /></a><br /><b>I remember being really angry at this park, most likely for no good reason</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-144.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-144.jpg" /></a><br /><b>check it out im hangin w/ pecan trees</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-146.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-146.jpg" /></a><br /><b>aw hell naw so am i dude pecan trees are cool</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-147.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-147.jpg" /></a><br /><b>PECAN TREES: NO LONGER COOL?</b><br /><br /></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Texas</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-151.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-151.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The western-most point of Texas</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-157.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-157.jpg" /></a><br /><b>On our way to the Border Highway for some idiotic reason</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-158.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-158.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Burley is wanted for several bank robberies across Northern Mexico, so this is really as close as he can get to the border</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-163.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-163.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Kamala and Charley in El Paso</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-171.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-171.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Street and Melloy show us what guns do (though I wasn't paying attention, so...) </b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-173.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-173.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Man, if <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I</span></span> had the gun right now, you'd all be sorry."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-179.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-179.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Michael is a pretty good shot</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-189.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-189.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RULE #1: NEVER JOKINGLY SNEAK UP ON SOMEONE WITH A LOADED HANDGUN</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-172.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-172.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Katherine walks in slow motion toward the horizon while <a href="http://tacticalknightmare.com/gaz/tunes/Escape.mp3">this</a> plays</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-193.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-193.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Mexican Mountains</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-200.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-200.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">hi</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-203.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-203.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine seems to be good at always riding steadily toward the camera</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-204.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-204.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear World Leaders,<br />Please visit a rest stop on I-10 near Sierra Blanca, Texas. You might find something there that could be very beneficial.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-209.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-209.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Maurice, our oft-encountered British companion</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-210.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-210.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine practices riding away from the camera</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-211.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-211.jpg" /></a><br /><b>COWS</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-285.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-285.jpg" /></a><br /><b>this picture isnt very realistic i mean come on there arent any spokes on the wheels first of all and the angles are all messed up dude did you even pass art class in middle school</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-289.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-289.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Larger than Life" Liz R summed up pretty well</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-292.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-292.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everyone in Marfa sits around and debates which is the better movie: <u>Alien</u> or <u>Aliens</u></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-293.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-293.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Most of West Texas<br /><br /></b><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-296.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-296.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting for Michael to take the picture already</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-304.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-304.jpg" /></a><br /><b>One of the papercrete houses under construction by Guil in Marathon</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-324.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-324.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Another bad caption: "Katherine asks for directions"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-325.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-325.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The goat that thought it was a dog but would probably still eat a can</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-332.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-332.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Makeshift birthday cake</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-340.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-340.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The bridge under which we slept</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/27happy.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/27happy.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we enjoy football without katherine</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-346.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-346.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we enjoy football without michael</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/21footballSad.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a21footballSad.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we enjoy football without adam</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-354.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-354.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Probably being loud and obnoxious on the bus in Austin</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-367.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-367.jpg" /></a><br /><b>John S shows us his soil project at UT</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-368.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-368.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Hey, did I show you my soil proj-"<br />"YES!"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-380.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-380.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Dear Clif,<br />Please send us free stuff.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-382.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-382.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Banana + Peanut Butter + Chocolate Chips = ???</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-383.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-383.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Chain cleaning after a day of rain</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-389.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-389.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Porch sleeping in Warrenton</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-396.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-396.jpg" /></a><br /><b>This trip occasionally had bicycle-riding</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-400.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-400.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The correct answer is YOU"</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-403.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-403.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Michael enjoys a nice day away from the office</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-407.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-407.jpg" /></a><br /><b>After three weeks in the state, it was great to see this broken sign on the way out</b><br /><br /></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Louisiana</span><br /></span></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-415.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-415.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">No sign welcomed us</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-417.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-417.jpg" /></a><br /><b>hey wow we're eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-421.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-421.jpg" /></a><br /><b>This is funny because w</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-427.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-427.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitching a ride across a bridge with no shoulder</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-434.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-434.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CATS + BEANS: OKAY OR NOT OKAY???</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-437.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-437.jpg" /></a><br /><b>It's important to note the gross bike shorts tan line</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-443.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-443.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Waiting out the rain</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-445.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-445.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Yeah, I don't know, either</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-449.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-449.jpg" /></a><br /><b>While I don't remember exactly what was going on when this was taken, it's safe to assume from the facial expressions that Michael has had enough of my singing </b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-453.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-453.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The trees ate Michael :'(</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-454.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-454.jpg" /></a><br /><b>OR ELSE</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-456.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-456.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch alongside the Mississippi River</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-460.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-460.jpg" /></a><br /><b>We </b><b>probably </b><b>should have removed our helmets while in church</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-465.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-465.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The Crossin' the Mississippi East-to-West Shuffle</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-467.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-467.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Birds in New Orleans</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-470.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-470.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Read the door</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-474.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-474.jpg" /></a><br /><b>One mode of transportation we didn't get to utilize on the trip</b><br /><br /><br /></center><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Mississippi</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-481.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-481.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"It's too bad they don't have a 'Welcome to Mississippi' sign. I guess we'll have to settle for this."</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-482.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-482.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Aw, for the love of..."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-484.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-484.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gulf of Mexico</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-487.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-487.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A safe way to cross over the bridge</span><br /></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Alabama</span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-490.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-490.jpg" /></a><br /><b>I'm starting to think we're not welcome in these places</b><br /><br />oh look at how short of a state this is<br /></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Florida</span></span><br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-502.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-502.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Number of tries to get this: 3</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-505.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-505.jpg" /></a><br /><b>It started to get cold</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-515.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-515.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is a bad thing(?)</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-522.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-522.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Oh, you're going on a little walk? How cute. Like around the block or..."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-526.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-526.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Oh."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-525.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-525.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Markus, the German cyclist, with his Rubik's Cube<br /></b><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-532.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-532.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Par for the course for gas stations in most of Florida</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-534.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-534.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Waiting for food in Reggae Shack, one of the lone bright spots of Gainesville. Also, I'm 14 years old</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-538.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-538.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"deverse"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-543.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-543.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Spin the middle side topwise. Topwise!"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-544.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-544.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The last of Katherine's gross papaya chunks she had been putting off eating since central Texas</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-554.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-554.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We made it</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-557.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-557.jpg" /></a><br /><b>ME FIRST</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-563.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-563.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Katherine, ignoring the words of Sean Connery, fails to wait for the tides to be right</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-570.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-570.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Michael's a rocker. He rocks out.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-573.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-573.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Burley is not forgotten</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-578.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-578.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Okay, so we'll take a few pictures with the three of us. Let's just stand here, because there's really no way the water is going to get to us here."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-579.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-579.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"Aw, for the love of..."<br />(note: this was not planned)</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-583.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-583.jpg" /></a><br /><b>The bikes and Burley look out to the Atlantic and ponder what they have just accomplished</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-586.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-586.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Watching election results</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-613.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-613.jpg" /></a><br /><b>"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to... Wait... That guy in the hotel room in Florida... Is he <i>sleeping</i>? Wow, he's going to regret missing <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> speech."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/biketour2008-mg-616.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/michael/mbiketour2008-mg-616.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I made a conscious effort to not smile for this picture. What a jerk.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay that's it.<br /></div><br /><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-10641952935488102762008-11-18T18:55:00.002-06:002008-11-19T00:50:06.238-06:00Photographic Evidence Part 3Some photos from Katherine's camera.<br /><br />Click on them to enlarge.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/01swingset.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k01swingset.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>For about a week in kindergarten, I couldn't wait to become an adult so I could change my name to "Swingset." No joke.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/03mMountain.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k03mMountain.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>HELLO I MICHAEL THIS BICYCLE</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/08jokester.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k08jokester.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The day Michael's bike was temporarily stolen by the cast of <u>The Fast & The Furious 3.5: Now We Want Bikes, I Guess</u></b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/09burleyRunOver.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k09burleyRunOver.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Burley's battle damage after getting side-swiped by a truck</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k10perfect.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k10perfect.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>A good representation of the Michael & Adam: The Friendship</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/18bAtDivide.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k18bAtDivide.jpg" width="400" height="600" /></a><br /><b>Burley excited that he finally made it to the Atlantic Ocean</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/20lunch.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k20lunch.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Which is funnier: Michael's tan line or my receding hairline?</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/23mmmmarfa.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/23mmmmarfa.jpg" width="400" height="533" /></a><br /><b>Michael is excited, everyone</b><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/33ahoy.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/33ahoy.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Am I saluting or looking out to sea? I make a pretty lousy sailor.</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/38waterBikes.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/k38waterBikes.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>oh good we remembered to not leave our bikes on the island</b><br /><br /><br /></center>Michael told me that he would be done processing his photos "today." Let's see how quickly I can get them up here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-44236862367137163982008-11-18T14:45:00.008-06:002008-11-18T22:08:34.202-06:00List of StuffIn case anyone still cares about the trip, here is a lot of stuff in list format (because I never learned how to write decent transitions in my prose).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>RIDING</u></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Best day of riding for me:</span> This was a hard one for me to decide, especially because a lot of the actual riding is forgettable. Identifying a best day really means identifying the day with the fewest problems and with few if any hills. So this means a boring day with maybe some decent scenery. I can come up with <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 15: Horizon City to Fort Hancock, TX.</span> (We had ridden fully through El Paso the day before, so we didn't have to deal with that craziness anymore. This was our first look at non-urban Texas, and we were finally getting out of the desert of the Southwest; seeing trees and other green things was pretty great. Like the day before riding into El Paso, we got to see more pecan orchards, and the terrain was pretty flat. It was a relatively short day, as we had a place already arranged to house us. At the time, I wasn't all, "Wow, what an amazing day of riding," but I think this one was pretty good.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Worst day of riding for me:</span> TIE between <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 4, Holtville, CA, to Yuma, AZ</span> (This was the day I realized my shoes were about a half-size too small. We rode Old Highway 80, the frontage road for I-8, and the lack of recent paving made the road have a large crack in it every five yards or so. I was pulling Burley, and every time his wheels hit one of those cracks, it would cause my bike's momentum would be pulled backward. Being clipped in, this meant my shoes were part of my bike, so whenever my bike got pulled backward, my toes got scrunched more and more toward the front of my shoes. These road conditions went on for at least 90 minutes. I was convinced my toes were going to fall off once I removed my shoes. When 80 became unridable, we got on I-8, which was a very smooth ride through some pretty neato sand dunes. Before getting to Yuma, we had to get off the interstate and back onto 80 again. I was delighted to see the cracks were now only every 10 yards. I had to buy a new pair of shoes in Yuma, $120 I wasn't really planning on spending on this trip.) and <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Day 8, Picacho to Tucson, AZ</span> (We were on a highway frontage road going into the city, but a truck would pass us every 20 seconds or so. I had Burley, and this was just a slow uphill climb the entire day. This was one of the only instances when I was lagging behind the other two, and it was making me pretty miserable. In Tucson, a bike map we got didn't do a great job of indicating that roads didn't go over highways; they just dead-ended there.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Best/Worst days of riding for the group:</span> Talking it over with Katherine and Michael, we couldn't really come to a consensus on bests and worsts, so I'll just take direct quotations from their emails.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Michael:</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I think it must be mentioned that the day to El Paso had elements of both the best and worst days</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 14]</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">. </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">What a confusing one. The continental divide day was really tough</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 12]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">, but I think my worst day was probably</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 1</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">or</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 2</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Pulling [Burley] up those hills without any training, I kept feeling like vomiting. Remember I had to lie down at the top of one? Ugh. I remember a great day being Marfa to Marathon - downhill, pretty, and tailwinds</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 19]</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Katherine: </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Yeah, the</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> first couple days</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">were the hardest physically; I remember feeling like I could sleep in the middle of the first few days. The</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">11th Day</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">, </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">the one before the [Continental Divide] (headwinds, locusts, hyperventilation on my part) was the hardest for me overall (the only time I thought I might have to quit, and the day just dragged on and on.. going so slow with the headwinds, really long straight sections, seeming to make no progress, etc.). El Paso might have been the worst riding conditions, but it was also sort of crazy/exciting, so I was in a pretty good mood that day</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 14]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">. The day out of Bay St. Louis was tough (winds, construction), but it was also exciting because we went so far that day</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 41]</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">There are a lot of best days... I can't decide which is the best yet. My favorite scenery was the mountain after Benson, AZ (Michael has some pictures of that... everyone was warning us about the huge climb, but at that point it wasn't that hard and it was really beautiful... one cross road was called "Dragoon Rd.," and I wrote down that it was "Zelda-like"...?)</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 10]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">. The Pecan trees before El Paso were pretty idyllic as well</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 14]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">. I think the easiest stretch was that downhill with the tailwinds before we met the Newhouses going to Sanderson</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 19]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">... Anyway, the locust day stands out as a definite worst moment/day for me, but I don't think that was everyone's worst day. And I can't think of how to pick an overall "best" day, as most of my favorite moments have to do with meeting crazy people, not with riding.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Best State for Riding: <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Florida </span></span>(I would guess that 85% of the roads we were on had a sizable shoulder. I had lived in Gainesville for 16 months, allegedly one of the best cities for bicycles in the country, but I had assumed that the conditions didn't extend beyond the city limits. It turns out they do.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Worst State for Riding:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Mississippi</span> (This is hardly fair to the state, as we were confined to one road that had been badly damaged only a few years ago by one of the worst natural disasters in the history of our country. This is, however, the state where we experienced an altercation with a driver who didn't understand that bicycles could ride on the street. I apologize to the state, but this is the way it is.)<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Falls off bike:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Just one on Day 25 in Kendalia, TX</span> (We had come to a stop on an incline. When I tried to start again, I was in too high a gear to get enough momentum to stay upright, so I fell over. Katherine and Michael had started about 30 seconds before I did, so they were too far away to notice anything. I was already having a miserable day at this point, and that didn't help.)<br />I don't remember Michael ever falling. Katherine had at least two falls, one when Michael and I had pushed a few hundred yards ahead of her on a busy road. Sorry, Katherine. We are all happy you are okay.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UPDATE</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Michael:</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I never fell off of my bike, but I think that I did win the award for most often losing control of bicycle while standing still.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Katherine:</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">There was the time Michael hit Burley/me from behind, but I was already dismounting, so I didn't fall (the chainring just cut my leg). Also, for the fall in Mississippi </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">[mentioned above]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">, I wasn't on my bike... I was sort of wheeling my bike down this concrete incline back onto the street from the sidewalk I was on, and both me and the bike fell. But I wasn't on the bike, so it wasn't bad. I also sort of fell as I was getting on my bike at the gas station after that dude drove us over the 4 mile bridge, particularly embarrassing because there were people watching. But, again, I wasn't clipped in or moving forward. Did I ever actually fall off my bike when I was riding? I can't remember.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>FOOD</u></span></span><br />Most common lunch: </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Double-decker PB&J</span> (estimated number: 40)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most common dinner:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Pasta with sauce and Bush's Baked Beans</span> (estimated number: 20)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most common snack:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Clif Bar</span> (estimated number: 50) [I realized on this trip that Oatmeal Raisin Walnut is by far the best flavor in the Clif Bar family. If you disagree, you are wrong. Furthermore, let's fight.]<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most enjoyable snack:</span> Pineapple<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most underrated snack:</span> Generic corn flakes<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Food I didn't expect to be eating as a snack, but turned out to be the best idea ever:</span> Flour tortillas by themselves<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Food consumed on October 8, the day I decided to log the food I ate (listed somewhat chronologically):</span><br />2 packages Nature Valley peanut butter granola bars<br />1 Clif Bar<br />1 Clif Bar<br />1 tortilla with peanut butter and jelly<br />Scraped up remains of jar of peanut butter<br />Scraped up remains of jar of jelly<br />64 oz orange juice (in ~15 minutes)<br />21 orange pineapple cookies (at this point, I'm starting to hate myself)<br />5 spring rolls<br />12 oz beer<br />3/4 of "Texas size" portion of red curry<br />1 fortune cookie<br />8 oz red wine<br />1 Clif Bar<br />2 oz mixed nuts<br />1/4 of "Texas size" portion of red curry<br />Makeshift birthday "cake" (5 vanilla cookies with frosting, sprinkles, chocolate chips; 1/3 clif bar)<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">(Note: We biked no more than 35 miles that day.)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>SLEEPING</u></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Best night sleeping outside for me:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 30 in Warrenton, TX</span> (We had just started the second half of our trip, and the previous night had us being rained on nonstop. We had to pack up our still-wet tent in the morning, which always feels super gross and adds more weight. The skies were gray throughout the day with the threat of more rain. When we found a small RV park toward the end of the day, we were afraid that they wouldn't allow tents. The owner turned out to be a really nice guy and let us set up on the porch of the antique shop that he also owned. This meant that we would be protected if it rained again, and that would just make everything easier when we packed up the following morning. When we started unpacking our stuff that evening, though, the sun came out, allowing us to dry the stuff that was still wet. Everything seemed to come together to fix all that was wrong with the previous night. Looking back, it wasn't really that amazing of a night, but at the time, everything seemed amazing compared to the night before. It really is all about our moods.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Worst night sleeping outside for me:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 11 in Lordsburg, NM</span> (Before we found where we were sleeping, I had already felt kind of sketched out by the town, despite the fact that I had little reason to do so. We were set up in the yard of a church, but our tent was in plain view of two heavily-traveled streets, so there was little-to-no feeling of safety. This was before I bought my Halt! (see below), so to make myself feel safe, I clutched my bike multi-tool to my chest all night, hoping that the knife on it would be of some help if someone did try to mess with us. Every time I thought I heard something, I would be jolted wide awake by my own cowardice. But on top of this, we tried to go to sleep before 8:30, but the church bell rang every 15 minutes until 10:00. I don't like Lordsburg, NM.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Best/Worst nights sleeping outside for the group:</span> More email excerpts...<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Katherine: </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Worst nights outside were again the Jessie night (animals [crawling around right outside tent] on tarp, car with radio pulling up)</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 35]</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">and the morning by that river because of the cold</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 43 in Milligan, FL]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">. Best night outside... I really liked camping under that bridge</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 23]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">, but I don't know how everyone else felt about that. Staying on the church porch... with the bathroom access was pretty sweet</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 37 in Donaldsonville, LA]</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Michael:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I definitely agree that the alligator river was one of the worst mornings</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 43]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">. That was at the height of the cold spell in the Florida panhandle. But some nights echoed the best and worst day in one, like the Jessie night</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 35]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">. But really, bad nights for me were only caused by my hip digging into the ground and hurting. Maybe one night I couldn't sleep. I was never afraid, because you were so big and strong, Adam, and so I did really enjoy the wildcamping. I also liked the night we stayed in that river park in Branford</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">[Day 47]</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">- nice to eat at a table and duck to avoid park supervisor car headlights.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Total spent on accommodations:</span><br />Including the last night with its hotel fee (49 nights): <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">$231.60</span>, $77.20/person, or $1.58/person/day<br />Not including the last night (simply ocean-to-ocean, 48 nights): <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">$208.85</span>, $69.62/person, or $1.45/person/day<br /><br />Day 4, Blue Sky RV east of Yuma, AZ, $30 (supposed to be $35; I hate Yuma)<br />Day 7, Picacho Campground in Picacho, AZ, $18.31<br />Day 10, Grande Vista RV in Willcox, AZ, $15.45<br />Day 12, Dreamcatcher RV in Deming, NM, $15<br />Day 16, Eagle's Nest RV in Van Horn, TX, $24<br />Day 22, Hampton Inn & Suites in Del Rio, TX, <b>FREE</b> (birthday present from Michael's dad)<br />Day 24, Pioneer River Resort in Bandera, TX, $18<br />Day 29, Bastrop State Park in TX, $24<br />Day 32, Browder's Marina in Camilla, TX, $17<br />Day 34, Pine Grove RV in De Ridder, LA, $11.25 (Maurice paid rest)<br />Day 38, Bayou Segnette State Park near Bridge City, LA, $18<br />Day 42, Big Lagoon State Park in FL, $17.84<br />Day 41, RV park in Alabama Port, AL, <b>FREE</b> (no one in office, no one returns call)<br />Day 47, RV park in Newport, FL, <span style="font-weight: bold;">FREE</span> (owner liked what we were doing)<br />Day 49, Hampton Inn & Suites in St. Augustine Beach, FL, $21.80 (Joe C pays for the rest with Hilton points)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>MISCELLANEOUS</u></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Selected street names in Yuma, AZ: </span><br />No Problem Lane<br />Easy Living Place<br />Good Time Boulevard<br />Dream Havin' Avenue<br />Party Time Boulevard<br />Something Special Avenue<br />Almost Heaven Road<br />Doing It Our Way Boulevard<br />(Man, I hate that city.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most offensive thing said to us matter-of-factly:</span><br />"The oriental mind is designed for torture."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most energizing moment:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Day 25, ~4:00pm, northeast of Kendalia, TX</span> (I had been pulling Burley all day over the hills of central Texas, and we had just gotten into even hillier territory. This the same day as my only fall, and I was feeling pretty dead. At the bottom of one hill, I decided it was best to dismount my bike, eat the Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Clif Bar I had been rationing, and sing the song Dwight sings to Michael on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Office</span> to try to encourage him to jump off the roof onto a trampoline. Man, did that ever get me going.)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Most important "non-essential" item:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Halt! Dog Repellent</span> (Wow, this stuff made me about 100 times braver. It is more or less pepper spray that is meant for attacking dogs, but it obviously would work on a human, too. I came across it in a bike shop in Las Cruces, NM, after I had spent the months leading up to the trip unable to find it. It was easily accessible while I was riding in case of a hot-headed dog, and I would always have it by my side while sleeping at night, even though I'm sure it would do very little if someone actually wanted to attack us while we slept. I never had to use it, so I am still curious to see its effect. If someone wants to set up a date to attack me on the street, I'm thinking about carrying it around with me at all times, anyway. Call me.)<br /><br />More to come when memories come back to me. Check back later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-38213651597448236652008-11-14T16:22:00.004-06:002008-11-14T22:43:03.350-06:00kthxHere is a list of the people who were nice enough to go out of their respective ways to help us on our trip.<br />[Don't see yourself on here and think you should be? It's only a matter of time before I remember. I apologize.]<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Anna VDH in San Diego, CA:</span> Anna, a fellow Oberlin College and <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/osteel/">Oberlin Steel</a> alum, allowed us to use her home as a launching pad for our trip. We stayed there several days while sorting everything out. She and her roommates were extremely patient in dealing with our bikes and gear lying around all over the place. I also played both disc golf and Ultimate with her.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Linda Katherine in Dateland, AZ:</span> Linda Katherine approached us at a gas station when we were trying to figure out a plan of action for the rest of the day. Without us saying anything, she asked us if we wanted to stay in an unoccupied house she had. That was pretty nice.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">John and Heather in Gila Bend, AZ:</span> In a similar situation to our Dateland experience, we got another random offer. While waiting for Heather to get off work, John showered us with amazing and ridiculous stories from his amazing and ridiculous life. They took us out to dinner, and we got another night of sleeping inside. It was a great night.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Emily F in Tucson, AZ:</span> Emily is another Oberlin alum, though one I had never met in my time there. She let us inconvenience her by staying in her house, but it was a pretty tubular time. Something she had written on a note attached to her door became my motto the remainder of the trip.<br />o ya shes also a bit of a star trek nerd so make fun of her<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">David H and the rest of his family in Las Cruces, NM:</span> I met David, the mechanic at a bike shop, when I just needed some small amount of work done. I was my normal complaining self: we had been trying to find a place to stay for the night using the INTERNET at the library, but we ran out of time and had to get off the computers so kids could go on MySpace. Despite the fact that I appeared to be a whining baby, David offered his house for the night, which turned out to be a pretty radical place. He lived with his two parents, Kay and Adrian, and his six younger siblings, Levi, Stephen, Marcus, James, Kati, and Marilla. (His older siblings, of which I believe there are four, have moved out.) Their garage was just a huge bike shop, and all the kids seemed to either be well-versed in bike repair or were on their way. I had a great time talking with the kids about movies and <span style="font-style: italic;">Calvin & Hobbes</span>. In the morning, Kay made us breakfast AND snacks for the road. It was pretty ridiculous. What a great family.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Kamala and Charles L in El Paso, TX:</span> We found K&C on <a href="http://www.warmshowers.org/">WarmShowers.org</a>, the creepily named website for helping touring cyclists find a place to say. They were experienced touring cyclists themselves, and they were able to offer us several tips for the rest of our journey. They had read on Katherine's profile on the website that she was vegan, so they made us both dinner and breakfast that was vegan. Charles had recently injured his shoulder, temporarily sidelining him from doing any cycling. Let's all hope for a speedy recovery for him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Liz R (and friends) in West Texas:</span> Liz, while not a cyclist herself, is intrigued enough by the aspect of bike touring that she not only opens her own home in Alpine to cyclists, but she hooks them up with family and friends throughout West Texas. We first stayed with her brother, Street, and his wife, Melloy, in Fort Hancock. A few days later, we met up with her in Marfa, where we stayed at her boyfriend Mike O's house. We then stopped at her house a few days later in Alpine in the middle of the day to do laundry and eat lunch. Liz is one of those people that seems to know everyone and could probably best be described as "larger than life." [Once Michael gets me his photographs, I'll show a picture that does a pretty good job of summing her up.]<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Guil J in Marathon, TX:</span> Guil was yet another WarmShowers find. A retired airline pilot, Guil now spends his days in Marathon building very small structures out of a cement/paper mixture. Anyone biking through Marathon should try to stay here. It's pretty gnarly.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Joe in Del Rio, TX:</span> Katherine and Michael were in the hot tub of our birthday hotel and met Joe, another guest of the hotel. They told him about the trip, and he seemed pretty into it. Because he travels so much for work, he has what amounts to "frequent guest points" at Hilton-owned hotels. While his points add up to only five free nights at hotels, he generously offered to let us use them to stay at a hotel for free at some point during the rest of the trip. That is pretty groovy. We ended up using it when we reached the ocean and got to watch that guy on the news win that whatever thing that I guess is important.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Billy M in Johnson City, TX:</span> John S was biking out from Austin to meet the three of us when he noticed his tube had a slow-leak. Of course, this was the one time that he hadn't brought with him the means to fix a flat, so he elected to just pump up the tire once every 20 minutes. Because he was going for speed, John broke the valve on the tube, thus making it impossible for it to hold air any longer. He ended up at Billy's store, where Billy agreed to give him a ride the rest of the way to meet us at an RV Park.<br />Meanwhile, the three of us were at that RV park being told tents were not allowed. At this point, it was after dark, and biking anymore was out of the question on the hilly, winding roads with no shoulder. Billy offered to let us stay at his house for the night. He put all our bikes in his truck and drove us to his ranch.<br />We hung out with Billy for awhile, and we learned a lot about this "hippie cowboy freak." He had to work the graveyard shift at the electric co-op, so he left us alone in his house to sleep. That is pretty bodacious.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">John S in Austin, TX:</span> John, after getting a new tube from us at Billy's house, led us into Austin, a path for which I'm glad we had a guide. Yet another Oberlin alum, he let us stay at his house three nights while we rested up for the second half of our trip. I hadn't really known John in Oberlin, but he turned out to be way cool.<br />He is also an elite athlete. He just competed in a 10k race while out of shape and came in like 27th place out of about 10,000 people. Lance Armstrong came in the top 10. I am convinced John could have beaten him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jessie in Point Blue, LA:</span> A road we had planned on taking turned out to be just loose gravel, and biking on it with road tires wasn't possible, so we decided to turn another direction. A few miles later, we reached a fork in the road that wasn't supposed to be there. As we stood there and discussed what to do, a truck pulled over. Jessie stepped out, and he asked us if we were looking for a place to stay. We said yes, so he got back in his truck to drive to a friend's house down the road who he would ask about us setting up our tent. His friend wasn't there, so he came back and told us about a church nearby where it would probably be okay for us to camp. When we rode there, however, we found it was just an empty field. He told us that his mother's family owned the land (a claim I'm not confident is true), so it would probably be fine if we camped there. We ended up choosing to stay there. In the morning, we got freaked out by the sound of a car stopping next to the field, but it turned out to be Jessie. He had driven about 25 miles to check on us and bring us donuts.<br />The remainder of the trip, we got calls from Jessie so he could ensure we were still okay.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Daryl and everyone at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, LA:</span> We met Daryl at the truck stop where he worked. He seemed to be pretty into our trip, so he let us use the showers there for free. We got to set up our tent in his backyard, and we got to meet his <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/morepuppies.jpg">very young puppy</a> who will one day grow up and eat my head. In the morning before he went to work early, he brought breakfast out to the tent for us. Another awesome person we got to meet.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Willie H in New Orleans, LA:</span> Willie was our last WarmShowers person of the trip. He volunteers as a bike mechanic at <a href="http://www.bikeproject.org/">Plan B</a>, where we met up with him. He fed us some pretty good soup, and instead of going out to a concert, he helped us relax by letting us watch <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/34postcard.jpg"><u>The Rock</u></a>, a movie the three of us had seen at least a combined 20 times. He is planning on doing his own bike trip in the spring, one that might go on for a lot longer than our puny seven-week excursion. I wish him luck.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Maurice in</span> <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/mauricespostcard.jpg">all over the damn place, USA</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:</span> Maurice was following the Adventure Cycling Association's route from San Diego, CA, to St. Augustine, FL, and had started a few days before we did. A 64-year-old retiree from Liverpool, UK, he had done several tours before this one, including ACA's Northern Tier route and some through Europe. On this trip, however, he seemed pretty disgruntled with what the American South had to offer him. It was funny to listen to him complain, but despite this, he seemed like a pretty cool guy. He was good company for us when we needed something else. He ended up breaking off the ACA route at the end and just went straight into Jacksonville to hit the ocean. (He actually touched his wheel in the water a few hours after we did down in St. Augustine Beach.) I hope this trip didn't sour him to touring in general. He definitely has at least a few more in him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Katherine E and Michael G in</span> <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/">Our Bike Trip, USA</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:</span> I realize that I am not the first person most people would choose for a bike trip partner. Katherine and Michael dealt with day after day of my sour attitudes, social ineptness, and annoying singing of popular songs whose words had been replaced by lyrics about liking "things and stuff." They are probably the most patient people on the planet. While I was the glass-half-empty guy, they would come along and put a few drops in the glass so I couldn't have anything to say about it. Then they would point out how dumb my metaphors are. I'm really glad that they shared this experience with me. As much as I wanted to tell myself otherwise, I could not have done it without them. Thanks, friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-2008768030015670162008-11-14T11:24:00.002-06:002008-11-14T11:30:47.656-06:00CALLING ALL FINAL DONATIONSI am still getting donations at this point, which is pretty cool.<br /><br />I will be leaving Chicago until after Thanksgiving; upon my return, I will be handing over the money to Jessica at CPT.<br /><br />So let's just put the deadline at December 1, 2008. If you still want to <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/ways-to-donate.html">donate</a> (either a first or second time), do so before that date.<br /><br />Thanks again, everyone.<br /><br /><br />YO ALSO CHECK OUT HOW MUCH CUTE ANIMALS LOVE ME<br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/morepuppies.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/morepuppies.jpg" width="400" height="268" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-63549735920895040062008-11-10T00:13:00.004-06:002008-11-10T00:19:26.270-06:00I should have said this before...but for all those who sent checks, it will still be a little bit before the checks are deposited. I still need to physically give them to someone at CPT who can deposit them; this will happen when I have gotten all the checks I am expecting. I apologize if this caused any confusion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-11359232398619967542008-11-09T11:16:00.002-06:002008-11-09T11:25:00.258-06:00It's OverI am now back in Chicago. Getting off the train yesterday morning, my bike and I were treated to some light snow, a bit of a change from what we were getting in Florida. <br /><br />In the next few days, I will have a few more posts recapping the trip, including the final donation total. I added a few more photos to <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/11/photographic-evidence-part-2.html">my previous post</a>, so you have that for the time being.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-51979094971168869152008-11-05T07:37:00.006-06:002008-11-20T22:59:29.032-06:00Photographic Evidence Part 2Here are a few crappy pictures I took with my crappy camera. The good ones come from Michael's camera, so we'll just have to wait for that.<br /><br />Click on them to enlarge.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/01byePacific.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a01byePacific.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Riding away from the Pacific on Day 1</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/02byx.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a02byx.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The "hogs," if they were motorcycles and we were a buncha dudes in mid-life crises</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/03burley.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a03burley.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Burley relaxes</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/04katMountains.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a04katMountains.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Katherine looks back at the mountains that will no longer worry us</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/06michaelClimbs.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a06michaelClimbs.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Burley teaming up with inclines is not very fun</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/07waiting.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a07waiting.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Waitin' in the shade</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/08chefMichael.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a08chefMichael.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Chef Michael chefs open a can so he can chef out some cheffy goodness</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/09toy.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a09toy.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>hello im a toy</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/11scootBio.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a11scootBio.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>rip scoot ur the joker</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/14conversation.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a14conversation.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Another coversation about how much they hate getting photographed</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/16katPecans.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a16katPecans.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Katherine rides through some pecan trees</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/17texasBig.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a17texasBig.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>It turns out Texas is kind of big</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/19foiled.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a19foiled.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>This might be the best thing I've ever seen written in cement</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/22katDog.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a22katDog.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The difference between <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4872.jpg">Michael</a> and me as photographers</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/24chooch.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a24chooch.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The correct answer is "OO"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/27better.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a27better.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Michael uses what he remembers from Magic College to help me take a picture over my shoulder while biking</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/29ferry.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a29ferry.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The ferry off Dauphin Island in Alabama</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/30bikelane.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a30bikelane.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Some nice bike lanes</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/32obviousJoke.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a32obviousJoke.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>Obvious joke!</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/31hitchSign.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a31hitchSign.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The sign didn't work as much as talking to people did</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/34postcard.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/bike/a34postcard.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br /><b>The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117500/">best</a> postcard I've ever taken part in writing</b><br /><br /></center><br /><br />Again, when Michael is able to get all his photos together, I'll post more of those. Be patient.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-62972464989605379922008-11-05T07:34:00.002-06:002008-11-05T07:36:53.334-06:00Yes We DidWe hit the Atlantic at St. Augustine Beach yesterday morning. I was trying to keep it a secret for a little while, but it didn't work out.<br /><br />We still have a little biking to do, so I'm not really done with the trip yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-69550509656840469802008-11-05T05:46:00.007-06:002008-11-15T12:25:51.970-06:00Where I Have Been Since Then<p><strong>Day 20: Marathon to Dryden</strong> (rode 54 miles downhill with tailwinds to Sanderson before hitting the first hills we would be with for awhile; ate lunch at a picnic area with a former real estate agent and his wife with the last name Newhouse; camped next to gas station in the middle of nowhere) </p><p><strong>Day 21: Dryden to Comstock </strong>(experienced more hills; experienced more nothing; saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Bean">Judge Roy Bean </a>museum in Langtry; wasn't charged for staying at Owl's Nest RV Park; got jumped on by goat that has been raised thinking it is a dog)</p><p><strong>Day 22: Comstock to Del Rio</strong> (took half day and stayed at a hotel for Michael's birthday; ate the most food of any day on the trip despite only biking 30 miles that day; was barely able to finish the Texas-size portion of Thai food I ordered at dinner; met guy at hotel who was intrigued with what we were doing and offered to put us up in a hotel later on in the trip using "frequent guest points" he had amassed from traveling a lot for work)</p><p><strong>Day 23: Del Rio to Bridge Eight Miles West of Uvalde</strong> (avoided more hills by staying south; didn't get to Uvalde by dark, so set up camp <a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4820.jpg">under a bridge</a>; got woken up in the middle of the night by a Border Patrol car passing 40 feet from the tent)</p><p><strong>Day 24: Bridge Eight Miles West of Uvalde to Bandera</strong> (ate the most mood-boosting food of the trip at a Little Caesars in Hondo; finally left Route 90 after being on it for almost 400 miles; got into the <em>real</em> hills of Texas, meaning motorcyclists passed us once every 30 seconds because it was the weekend; went to what might be my first high school football game in Bandera, but left at halftime with Bandera beating Pearsall 42-21)</p><p><strong>Day 25: Bandera to Johnson City/Henly</strong> (took my first Official Fall® off my bike when I tried to start moving on an incline, couldn't get enough momentum to stay upright, and couldn't unclip in time, but falling when not moving rarely hurts; encountered a billion more motorcyclists; got in touch with John S. in Austin who decided to come out to meet us and ride into Austin with us the next day; John noticed he had a slow-leak in one of his tubes while not having the patches to fix it; he ended up having to hitch a ride with Billy to come out to meet us at an RV park... where we were told tents weren't allowed; ended up all going to the home of Billy, a rancher and recreational Civil War reenactor; slept in Billy's house while he worked the graveyard shift at the electric co-op; realized some people are very trusting)</p><p><strong>Day 26: Johnson City/Henly to Austin</strong> (gave John a tube so he could ride; saw more cyclists on the outskirts of Austin than we had the entire trip leading up to it, most of whom had bikes probably worth over $5000; went down the steepest hill of the trip, but couldn't enjoy it due to it winding and not being paved very well, causing me to hold down the brakes very hard; saw <u>Burn After Reading</u> at the Alamo Draft House, a movie theater that makes Chicago's Brew & View look like the piece-of-crap-movie-theater-that-serves-beer that it is)</p><p><strong>Day 27: Rest Day</strong> (experienced my first day of no riding since leaving San Diego; saw the University of Texas campus and realized that it is almost the exact same as the University of Florida campus; had dinner with Melanie & Adam F., friends who had recently moved from Chicago)</p><p><strong>Day 28: Rest Day </strong>(stayed inside a lot of the day to keep out of the rain; did final preparations for the second half of the trip; stayed up too late again dealing with stupid blog stuff)</p><p><strong>Day 29: Austin to Bastrop </strong>(got <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rained on</span> for the first time on the trip; got rained on a lot; used the hand-dryer in the bathroom at Bastrop State Park to dry most of our stuff )</p><p><strong>Day 30: Bastrop to Warrenton</strong> (woke up with things still very wet; rode up the steepest hills of the trip in the state park, one of which had me walk up it due to me starting it in way too high of a gear; got out of the park and got back on the hills of normal ridiculousness; slept on the porch of an antique shop, of which Warrenton has about 5000)</p><p><strong>Day 31: Warrenton to Anderson</strong> (had another day of Texas hills that I realize now are pretty hard to remember; stayed on a ranch of the owner of a gas station)</p><p><strong>Day 32: Anderson to Camilla</strong> (woke up with the tent soaked with dew; spent 90 minutes trying to dry the stuff before we left; fixed another flat 30 miles into the day while Michael and Katherine attempted to dry our stuff some more; counted about 100 sport bikes [the motorcycles, not the bicycle] going west, but zero going east; ran into Maurice—our British friend who had stayed on the Adventure Cycling Association route—for the first time since Van Horn on Day 17; rode through Sam Houston State Park, a park which can be described as "nice" or something; stayed in a large RV park hosting a concert; was told of a minute-long conversation Katherine had with a resident of the park who unironically used the phrase, "Cool beans," three times)</p><p><strong>Day 33: Camilla to Jasper</strong> (decided to go north of what the ACA route suggested; ran into more hills; encountered more cruiser motorcyclists; got turned away from a Baptist church; went next door to Catholic church and was immediately allowed to set up our tent there; got excited for leaving Texas)</p><p><strong>Day 34: Jasper to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">De Ridder, LA</span></strong> (spent three hours at library in Newton trying to figure out route stuff; met guy biking corner-to-corner; <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);font-size:130%;" >GOT OUT OF TEXAS</span></strong>; felt kind of ripped off when there was no kind of "Welcome to Louisiana" sign; stopped at RV park and learned Maurice was staying there for the night; learned continuing on the ACA after Camilla would have given us a flatter ride, a route we avoided because of my push to stay north; stayed up learning that this trip through the American South was Maurice's least favorite of all his tours)</p><p><strong>Day 35: De Ridder to 18 Miles Northwest of Opelousas</strong> (saw the corner-to-corner guy again on the road where he <a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=94786&v=1k">took our picture</a>; stopped for lunch in a town that shares its name with the school where the three of us <a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=63F0BBAF-685D-49D8-811D-FA1BF266CB2B">went to college</a>; encountered a loose gravel road under construction while it was getting dark, forcing us to go in a direction we hadn't planned, scrambling for a place to sleep; got helped out by Jessie who pointed us toward what he thought was a Baptist church but turned out to be an empty field; decided to camp in the field behind some bushes; while getting ready for bed, heard a car come to a stop about 60 feet from our tent; earned a bunch of Bravery Points by going out to investigate—with the aid of my trusty <a href="http://www.halt.com/halt.html">Halt!</a>—but saw the car had pulled away without us hearing it; heard animals crawling around outside the tent throughout the night)</p><p><strong>Day 36: 18 Miles Northwest of Opelousas to Grosse Tete</strong> (heard another car pull to the side of the road shortly after waking up, this time hearing the driver turn off the car and get out; soon learned it was Jessie who had driven 25 miles to check on us and bring us donuts; watched throughout the day as Michael ate all of the twelve [non-vegan] donuts; hitched a ride in a pickup truck across a four-mile bridge with no shoulder on 190; ended up in Grosse Tete at a truck stop where we got to shower for free; stayed in the back yard of Daryl, one of the employees and owner of a very small puppy [pictures later])</p><p><strong>Day 37: Grosse Tete to Donaldsonville</strong> (woke up to the sound of a lot of rain on the tent; took about two hours to work up the courage to get out of the tent, during which Daryl brought us breakfast; got under small covering about a block away in an attempt to dry stuff out before leaving in the cold, cold rain, which stopped well before we left Grosse Tete at 1:00 in the afternoon; saw the Mississippi River for the first time on the trip and started riding down the west side of it toward New Orleans; set up camp under a roof at a Catholic church; helped the high school football team move tables around)</p><p><strong>Day 38: Donaldsonville to Bayou Segnette State Park</strong> (started out with a very bumpy road; rode by a bunch of factories that may or may not have been causing extremely foggy conditions; ate lunch on levee in Edgard; was told to take a look at St. Augustine Church by police officer: "If you're into old, beautiful stuff... that's the shit..."; talked to two guys in Hahnville trying to one-up the other in giving us directions; got into a loud fight with Katherine in the grocery store about hominy; saw a worker at the Bayou Segnette State Park's office eating an entire pie as if it were a slice of pie; experienced a laundry disaster when it took us over an hour to get the washer's door open)</p><p><strong>Day 39: Bayou Segnette State Park to New Orleans</strong> (woke up with a lot of dew on the tent yet again; broke my second valve of the trip when not being careful inflating my tube; stopped at a library to look up what we thought would be a complicated and long route to the ferry into New Orleans; realized we were only eight miles away; crossed the Mississippi River on the ferry going west; got served meat on my plate at an otherwise good West African restaurant in the French Quarter; met up with Willie H. at <a href="http://www.bikeproject.org/">Plan B</a>, a community bike shop; watched <u>The Rock</u> at Willie's house in order to ensure we had enough stock to do Sean Connery impressions the rest of the trip [<em>"...just waiting for the tides to be right..."</em>]; slept on the pavement behind Willie's apartment)</p><p><strong>Day 40: New Orleans to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Bay St. Louis, MS</span></strong> (went over a large, shoulderless bridge that we weren't expecting to be there; smelled the best part of waking up while riding by a Folger's factory; took pictures of a rocket ship just lyin' around outside a NASA plant; encountered a "Welcome to Mississippi" sign about two miles after we had crossed in and taken pictures with a sign telling Mississippi drivers to buckle up; set up camp outside what seemed like a temporary Catholic church right on the beach)</p><p><strong>Day 41: Bay St. Louis to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Alabama Port, AL</span> </strong>(got woken up by the wind lifting the tent off the ground; experienced head winds all day; rode over two large bridges that had been rebuilt since Katrina; rode along coast all through the state; while in Biloxi on a fairly empty street with three lanes going each direction, got followed and beeped at for a quarter mile by someone who obviously thinks bikes belong on the sidewalk, even if they aren't impeding a driver from going fast if he or she decides to go into one of the empty two lanes [...jerk]; got into another state with no "Welcome to..." sign to be found; did 91+ miles—our longest day of the trip—despite having headwinds a majority of the day)</p><p><strong>Day 42: Alabama Port to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Big Lagoon State Park, FL</span></strong> (woke up to the start of a cold spell; learned that ferry from Daupin Island might not be running due to high winds, meaning we would have to bike an additional 80 miles around the bay and through Mobile; decided to risk it and take the bridge onto the island, where a ferry eventually took us off after three hours of waiting; finally rotated the tires on my wheels; got into Florida with no sign welcoming us yet again; rode into Big Lagoon State Park well after dark; heard what sounded like coyotes very close to our tent)</p><p><strong>Day 43: Big Lagoon State Park to Milligan</strong> (woke up to another cold morning; saw the Blue Angels practice their craaaazy flying patterns so Middle America can watch slack-jawed as they waste fuel at next summer's air shows; learned that most of Florida's roads have very good shoulders for biking; set up camp in a picnic area that had a sign that clearly said, "Camping Prohibited," because we are so cool; slept in temperatures getting into the mid-30s)</p><p><strong>Day 44: Milligan to Ponce de Leon</strong> (spent an hour at a gas station in the morning trying to warm up; saw Maurice for the first time since Oberlin, LA; encountered a German cycling east who had a Rubik's Cube [<em>"Ohh... a fellow chucker, eh?"</em>]; <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/10/clang-clang-clang-went-bike-wheel.html">broke my wheel and met some walkers</a>; felt like stupid Americans while Maurice talked with the walkers in French during our dinner together; had a slightly warmer night of sleeping)</p><p><strong>Day 45: Ponce de Leon to Chattahoochee</strong> (counted my blessings while walking just the half-mile from where I slept to the interstate exit where several cars—potential rides—got gas; got a ride with the fourth car I asked, Mario and Tammy driving from San Antonio to Miami in a nice pickup truck; got dropped off 100 miles later in Tallahassee at <a href="http://www.hgbco.com/">Higher Ground</a>, Florida's highest bike shop at an elevation of 201 feet; got my wheel fixed by Ryan who informed me of a place to camp in Newport which turned out to be super-helpful in the end; <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rode west</span></strong> 45 miles to meet Katherine and Michael in Chattahoochee to ensure we didn't have to spend a night apart; slept at same campsite as Maurice)</p><p><strong>Day 46: Chattahoochee to Newport</strong> (said our final goodbyes to Maurice, who decided to stray from the ACA route and finish his trip in Jacksonville; biked over same roads as the day before and felt weird; went to a different bike shop in Tallahassee where it was pointed out there was nothing wrong with my bike and that I was an idiot [my words, not theirs]; found the only good part of Tallahassee for biking [south on Monroe] to get out of the city; got to Newport Park Camp Ground where the owner, Ed, let us stay for free when he learned about biking for CPT)</p><p><strong>Day 47: Newport to Branford</strong> (got back onto flat terrain again after some hills around Tallahassee; saw three dead dogs that had been hit by cars; got turned away from a church; pulled into city park where we thought camping wasn't allowed while car was pulling out; heard Michael tell them we had biked from San Diego and then the following exchange: "You're shitting me!" "No. No shit." "... Shit!"; were informed if a ranger who was bald came around asking us why we were camping, "Tell'm Bobby Shaw says it's okay!")</p><p><strong>Day 48: Branford to Florahome</strong> (sprinted ahead of Michael and Katherine to spend a few hours in Gainesville; did the 45 miles before 10:30; ate at El Indio, my favorite burrito place during my grad school years, and tasted their new tempeh burrito; went back to <a href="http://www.ise.ufl.edu/">my old department</a> and saw some old friends about to get their PhDs and actually get real jobs [suckas!!]; visited my old boss at <a href="http://union.ufl.edu/games/">the job I've held for the longest time in my life</a>; met up with Michael and Katherine and ate at Reggae Shack, my favorite restaurant during my grad school years; got out of Gainesville in the late afternoon; ended up outside Methodist church, our first non-Catholic church of the trip, but no one was around to say no; got barked at by dogs throughout the night as we hid)</p><p><strong>Day 49: Florahome to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">St. Augustine Beach</span> </strong>(tricked Michael and Katherine into waking up earlier than they wanted; got to beach just before noon; got our bikes covered in sand; checked into a hotel on the beach with the points from the guy we met in the Del Rio hotel; watched some guy win something on television... can't quite remember what or who... someone help me out)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-1512350170374051802008-10-30T19:16:00.002-05:002008-10-30T19:37:36.783-05:00Clang Clang Clang Went the Bike WheelPulling into Ponce de Leon, FL, the war of Man vs. Nature had another ugly battle when I ran over a stick. The stick got angry and decided to break three of my front wheel's spokes. The plan now is to hitch a ride 100+ miles to Tallahassee, get it fixed, then bike out west to meet Michael and Katherine on Saturday to make up the mileage. <br /><br />Here in Ponce de Leon, I met William and Laetitia, two young people from France who are walking from Miami to the southern tip of Argentina. They have walked all over the world, but they need to do the Americas. Their website can be found <a href="http://www.turnoftheworld.com/">here</a>. <br /><br />Under the suggestion of my friend, I am going to throw a car battery into the ocean when I get there to level the war for our side.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-62937315626354636712008-10-28T11:48:00.003-05:002008-10-28T11:53:57.066-05:00Alobama [subliminal message]Just checking in to let you know that we are currently on Dauphin Island, AL. We made it through Louisiana by riding along the west side of the Mississippi River down to New Orleans, and then we rode through the actual state of Mississippi in a day. We might do the same with Alabama. <br />I need to go catch a ferry off the east side of the island. Tell your parents I say hi.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-83146548623780019142008-10-20T10:53:00.002-05:002008-10-20T11:15:33.491-05:00Louisiana in Sight...We're about 15 miles from the border. We are almost done with Texas. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, so I won't.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-85338074279000793112008-10-14T23:59:00.008-05:002008-10-15T01:32:40.008-05:00Photographic Evidence Part 1There are several hundred photos. They all need to be converted to actual image files, and as that process takes awhile, I am only posting a few right now.<br /><br />Click on them to enlarge.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4048.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4048.jpg" width="400" height="230" /></a><br /><b>Pacific Ocean dippin'</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4072.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4072.jpg" width="402" height="600" /></a><br /><b>Sitting on the world's laziest metaphor</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4089.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4089.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>Eating outside a fire station with Katherine</b><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4125.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4125.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>"Welcome to the Land of Driver's Licenses That Don't Expire"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4132.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4132.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>Jumping a fence to the interstate when the frontage road decides to end</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4344.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4344.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>"Please Film the Next Harry Potter Movie Here. Our State Needs Money."</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4364.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4364.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>Make up your own caption, kids</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4381.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4381.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>Michael jumping at one of the lower sections of the Continental Divide (presumably to avoid the thousands of locusts eating each other on the ground</b>)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4392.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4392.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>A step up from the fire station</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4449.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4449.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>"Welcome to the State You'll Be in Forever"</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4724.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4724.jpg" width="402" height="600" /></a><br /><b>Surprised to find a roof on top of the house made of paper</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4820.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4820.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br /><b>red hot chili peppers the popular music band</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4872.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4872.jpg" width="402" height="600" /></a><br /><b>As we look longingly into the future, my face does an<br />impression of how I see myself in 23 years</b><br /><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-46020483215440822812008-10-14T20:56:00.003-05:002008-10-14T21:04:23.520-05:00Tilda HalfwayWe made it to Austin, and we can say we are roughly halfway through the trip. We took two rest days here, and we'll be taking off tomorrow, venturing into the less hilly but more humid East Texas.<br />Thanks again to everyone who has donated at this point. If you want to <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/ways-to-donate.html">send an additional donation</a> for the second half, I will not try to stop you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-62870446448662394162008-10-05T22:30:00.010-05:002008-11-18T17:54:59.043-06:00Where I Have Been<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 1:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">San Diego, CA</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">to Descanso Junction</span> (left Anna V.'s house to go to ocean; climbed up mountains; camped outside church; made dinner in dark)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2: Descanso Junction to Ocotillo</span> (went down mountains; rode on interstate for first time; slept outside bar in pool of my own sweat due to desert heat)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ocotillo to Holtville</span> (got to El Centro by 9:00am to get to bike shop; left there at about 4:00pm; biked below sea level; settled down outside fire station)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 4:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Holtville to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Yuma, AZ</span> (started biking at dawn to avoid desert heat; riding on Old Highway 80 was awful due to the fact that it hadn't been paved in a long time; realized my shoes were too small; pain in feet made me have to drop $120 on a new pair; somehow, I'm a 12 in normal shoes but a 13.5 in bike shoes; rode through sand dunes; found Yuma to be mostly a retirement community, so no RV park would allow tents but one; had to pay $30 to sleep on a gravel spot; decided we didn't like Yuma)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 5:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yuma to Dateland</span> (got randomly offered an open house by a woman at a gas station; ate sloppy joe's with olives in place of meat)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 6:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dateland to Gila Bend</span> (got another random offering for housing by a librarian; stayed with her and guy, "J," who sometimes rents out room; J is ex-Delta Force who now hops freight trains and uses his military training for a variety of activities that I'm sure he would appreciate me not mentioning on here)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 7:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gila Bend to Picacho</span> (woke up at 4:30; biked in 100+ degree heat; had lunch in Casa Grande; stayed in RV park in Picacho on grass for a much more reasonable price than the place in Yuma)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 8:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Picacho to Tucson</span> (woke up at 4:30 again; biked on a slow incline into Tucson that made me miserable with Burley; had a tractor trailer's tire swipe Burley and leave a tread mark; got into Tucson around noon; got slightly lost due to dead ends not indicated on a bike map; finally found the house of Emily F., a girl I never met from Oberlin who vaguely knew my two riding mates; ate at a vegan/vegetarian restaurant for first time on trip; talked about the like three episodes of <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek: The Next Generation</span> I've seen in my life)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 9:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tucson to Exit 297 of Interstate 10</span> (slept in until 7:00; left Tucson in early afternoon; went by Air Force field that had thousands of planes in it; realized there was nothing on the road ahead of us for awhile; camped behind a gas station just short of Benson)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 10:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Exit 297 of Interstate 10 to Willcox</span> (giant grasshoppers/locusts started to become more frequent on I-10; found Clif Bars at a grocery store; watched <span style="font-style: italic;">Con Air</span> with no sound while making dinner; charged cell phone battery)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 11:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Willcox to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Lordsburg, NM</span> (locusts were now all over the place, making an awful crunching sound when I failed to avoid them; rained on us while riding for first time; by the time I got my raincoat on and covered my panniers, it had stopped raining; found a church in Lordsburg; rang doorbell of neighboring house and probably woke up the priest; convinced him to let us sleep in church yard; felt totally scared with cars constantly passing, so clutched bike multi-tool to my chest the whole night, because it has a knife on it)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 12:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lordsburg to Deming</span> (I remember nothing from this day; I'll update this later if I remember anything; I assume I rode my bike somewhere; <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UPDATE:</span></strong> went over the Continental Divide; rode through more locusts; stupidly bought very green avocados)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 13:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deming to Las Cruces</span> (had fun riding down hills into Las Cruces; went to library to use computers; got nothing done due to slow connection caused by all the kids streaming video on the other computers; got kicked off due to time limit, vacating computer for a child to use MySpace; went to bike shop to get easy fix for cable tension; mechanic offered his house for the night; went to his home and met his parents and six of what I remember to be ten siblings; his mom made us food; his younger siblings talked about tigers and animated movies with me;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 14:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Las Cruces to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">El Paso/Horizon City, TX</span> (woke up and ate more food made by bike mechanic's mother; rode through a bunch of pecan orchards, easily the best leg of the trip; got into El Paso and took the worst possible route through the city for a bike, easily the worst leg of the trip; saw bridges to Mexico; rode on Border Highway during rush hour; did a skid-stop worthy of that part with the kids at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">E.T.</span> to avoid taking an awful fall, making me feel like a total bad-ass; stayed with retired/sort-of-retired teachers who do bike tours on a tandem bike; ate a good dinner for the second night in a row)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 15:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Horizon City to Fort Hancock</span> (ate another good breakfast for second day in a row; started to stay away from main roads for the first time in awhile; made the easy ride to Fort Hancock; met Maurice, a guy from England doing the route from San Diego to St. Augustine, FL, a person I'm sure we'll see a lot more times on this trip; met up with couple putting us up for the night; fired a gun at a piece of paper with the outline of a person on it; ate burritos; slept in a bed for the first time in awhile)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 16:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fort Hancock to Van Horn</span> (rode up some big hills/mountains to Sierra Blanca; rode down some small hills into Van Horn; noticed I got <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">my first flat</span>, which put me in a rotten mood; saw Maurice a bunch of times; stayed in an RV park owned by a guy who hated Van Horn with all his heart)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 17:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Van Horn to Marfa</span> (met another Brit, this guy going east-to-west and enjoying all the tailwinds that have been our headwinds; stopped in Valentine and ate lunch outside an abandoned restaurant; got to Marfa, an art town inside a bubble)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 18:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rest Day</span> (took tour of <a href="http://www.chinati.org/">Chinati Foundation</a>; ate really good vegan sandwich at a restaurant called Squeeze Marfa; went to pro-choice party at night and realized bubble was even bubblier than I thought)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 19:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marfa to Marathon</span> (kept eyes open for Lance Armstrong after hearing rumors he would be training in mountains in area; stopped in Alpine for lunch/laundry; rode 30+ miles into wind without stopping to Marathon; talked to a guy from Minneapolis about to open a restaurant after I heard him listening to a Naked City album; met Guil, a retired airline pilot, and stayed in his top-notch houses made out of some combination of cement and paper; stayed up way too late making a stupid weblog post)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-37576435823048968472008-10-04T12:23:00.005-05:002008-11-14T22:49:25.055-06:00A ReminderFor those of you new to this buh-log, <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-overall-explanation.html">this is why</a> I am biking across the country. If you want to donate to the cause, <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/ways-to-donate.html">please do so</a>.<br /><br />There's a <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-mideast-settler-side_greenbeoct05,0,5160614.story">short article in the Chicago Tribune</a> about Joel's incident in addition to <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-mideast-settlers_greenbergoct05,0,4343189.story">this other one</a> about settler violence.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-54661233099302054102008-10-04T12:16:00.005-05:002008-10-04T12:23:02.396-05:00My second day in TexasAnd already...<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4503.jpg"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/rotundrory/DSC_4503.jpg" width="400" height="268" /></a><br /><b>How about a little fire, Scarecrow?</b><br /></center><br /><br />I realize the irony of shooting off guns on a trip raising money for a peace organization, so no need to point that out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-81552306577984990282008-09-29T17:35:00.005-05:002008-11-09T23:16:38.004-06:00A State With Which You Should Avoid MessingWe rode into New Mexico on Saturday, staying the night outside St. Joseph's Church (the name of the church I attended as a child in the suburbs of Rochester, NY) in Lordsburg. We passed over the Continental Divide the next day and spent the night in Deming, eating burritos with too much salsa for dinner. We are in a library in Las Cruces now, and we will be getting into Texas tomorrow, starting a 1000-mile fun festival through the state. We will do our best to reenact the entirety of <i>No Country for Old Men</i>.<br /><br />Maybe at some point I'll get a chance to put up pictures. Michael has a decent camera, so most of the photos have come from him. Be patient or something.<br /><br />Also forthcoming are route details. Be patient or something.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-49190522333447766832008-09-25T11:51:00.003-05:002008-09-25T12:14:25.515-05:00Slow and Steady Wins NothingIt has been slow-going so far, but that is mainly due to the mountains and desert we have hit. Because towns are infrequent through the desert, it is harder to just go as long as we want in a day, as filling up water is an issue. We need to start biking at dawn and wait out the early afternoon sun. So through eight days, we've only averaged about 60 miles a day. This will probably pick up once we make it into Texas (possibly early next week).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Some places we've slept</span><br />-outside a church<br />-outside a bar<br />-outside a fire station<br />-inside an empty home of a woman who randomly asked us at a gas station if we needed a place to stay<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some things we've eaten, all of which were great</span><br />-french fries, guacamole, and salsa wrapped in a tortilla<br />-several kinds of beans straight from the can with the lid turned up<br />-fruit bars that are at least a month past the "best if used by" date<br />-I dunno I guess some peanut butter maybe<br /><br /><br />Among the three of us, the person in the most rotten mood tends to be the person hauling <a href="http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/147/39/1358008347/n1358008347_36210_5919.jpg">Burley</a>, especially if we're going uphill.<br /><br />k gonna go now byeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-66127587217113908802008-09-22T15:13:00.002-05:002008-09-22T15:16:17.229-05:00In ArizonaMy time is limited, but I just wanted to let everyone know that we're alive and in Gila Bend, AZ. I still have some biking left to do today, but I'll include better updates later.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone who has donated thus far.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1495485385417386014.post-20898576828327171452008-09-17T01:34:00.002-05:002008-09-17T01:40:03.438-05:00Leaving TomorrowBarring any kind of emergency, we should be leaving tomorrow morning. Golly gee whiz.<br /><br />Thus far, I have received $1300 in donation money. If I used exclamation points, I would have put them after that sentence to show excitement. Thank you to everyone who has donated, but it isn't too late to <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/ways-to-donate.html">donate</a>. Can we get to $2000? Someone answer me. Then <a href="http://adambikes.blogspot.com/2008/08/ways-to-donate.html">donate</a>.<br /><br />kthxbyeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0