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Coast to Coast 2011--- Taz, Bob, Basil, and Cindy (and our driver Karlie) --- watch us as we ride across the USA. Keep checking back for stories to go with some of the pics. Most often the pics get uploaded from the mobile and we go back later and add to wording as time and wifi signals allow.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Taz's Ending Thoughts
First I'd like to say thanks. Thanks to all the family and friends who support(or hold their breath) the crazy adventures I do and to the family and friends of those that are with me on this adventure. Without your calls, emails, texts, Facebook comments this would have been an even longer trip!
Next I would like to congratulate all four of the people I have with me...Bob, Cindy, Basil and even Karlie our Driver. What was done takes courage to even attempt and is only accomplished by a hand full of people. It is something to be proud of!
I would like to think that this trip will change each one of these guys in some way down deep that fits their future. I know my first trip definitely had that affect one me. Actually, it totally turned my life upside down and made me know that any goal I set or dream I dreamed I could make happen. A trip like this teaches you patience and perseverance and gives you the unbelievable confidence to attempt nearly anything (say like an Ironman when you do not even know how to swim and you've never been runner before other than up and down a basketball court in HS, or move to a new state where you know zero people).
For those of you that have been watching and dreaming of your own adventure like this...do it...do it soon. Your job or another one like it will be there when you get back. You only have one life. Live it now, cause you don't know what is going to happen that could cut it short. I and the others here will all tell you that you will not have ANY regrets if you get out and go for it. You will likely have more regrets that you did not do it sooner! Oh and call me to go with you...I'm likely to say yes :).
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Great bike path near Gainsville
It rained most of the night but we did not have to ride in the rain. The roads were wet but drying nicely. The high was 65 degrees and it was very damp so we kept moving on this 83 mile trek to stay warm.
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Ed...81 years young
He came out to greet us when we stopped in front of his house to figure out if we missed a turn (we did). After listening to his quick version of his life story, including the part how as a boy he plowed the field behind him with a mule and how he flew for Hoover and Eisenhower and all over the world, he told us how to cut 10 miles off our already long day. Everyone is ready to be done and was all about a safe short cut.
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Friday, October 28, 2011
SO NEAR!
We are so near the end now! The past two days have been shorter but tomorrow (the second to last day) will be a long one. It's looking like about 90 miles. The camps are not numerous through this section of FL. The last day will be around 40-50 miles to the beach!
We are all excited and there is talk of how each of wants to hit the water...I think I'll need to have the water proof camera for Basil by the sounds of it. It's so exciting...it's hard to sleep!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Basil's Corner :)
I can almost taste the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean. We have four days to ride about 255 miles to reach our goal! To get to this point the last three days we rode 108, 94 and today 85 miles.I'm voting for Florida for the best roads, best scenery and definitly the best campsites. And for the record, although there are quite a few flat stretches, there are dfinitely some long grades that require an effort. Leaving Alabama and riding toward Pensacola was definitely too most fun, with the Gulf of Mexico on our right and numerous Bays on the left.
Our schedule for these last four days will be 55, 53, 98 & 41+/-. Bob and Taz will make sure that we cover these miles quickly. I think they are trying to see if I'll break, but I have a very secret ally.......5 Hour Energy..... and it does work!
Our schedule for these last four days will be 55, 53, 98 & 41+/-. Bob and Taz will make sure that we cover these miles quickly. I think they are trying to see if I'll break, but I have a very secret ally.......5 Hour Energy..... and it does work!
Scott and Beauty
We met them on the bike path in Tallahassee today. He escorted us through town on the trail system that switched from one trail to another. Scott told us that the trail we were on was the first rail to trail in the country and had just been widened from 8 to 14 ft recently. I also found out he knows one of my co workers from Ironman. A guy from VA. They raced together in Boulder back in the 80's. It REALLY is a small world.
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Karlie just plain ROCKS!
She found this in the store and brought us each one :) as a special treat.
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David of M & M Mars
He wants to ride xc one day...Don't wait David!
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Pecans Everywhere
Bob would pick them up when we stopped and crack a few for a snack. Below you can see HOW he cracked them.
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Most Round Natural Lake
One of two in the world we are told. It is spring fed. This was in DeFuniak Springs.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Does that sign say Georgia?
Being so close to the GA boarder we could not resist going to stay on Seminole Lake side of the state line. :) We are also in EST now! Woohoo!
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Monday, October 24, 2011
The only way to go...
to get you through the last 20 or so miles!
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A Florida Hill
I had so much fun going up this hill that I went right by a turn. Went 3 miles out of the way...and took about 6 miles to catch back up to the gang who DID NOT miss the turn. It was about half way up the hill.
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Sunday, October 23, 2011
Big Lagoon Camp FL
I got to ride the xtracycle around a bit last night and today to town and around camp...I miss that thing! I think Knobby has missed it too...she hopped right on almost before I was ready for her to.
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Just about healed
This was the nastiest of the road rash and most annoying cause it wakes me up at night.
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The McKnights
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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Yes!
Wow! We are here...In the true final stretch! The last state of our trip! Unbelievable! Just 530 ish miles to go!
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Ft Morgan Alabama
Reminds me of OBX...but different style of roof on the houses
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Steve from Mobile...
We had fun talking to Steve during Ferry time today. He and his friends were very curious about us and our gear. They were touring the coast today, showing his friends around....we saw them again a couple times as we went east even though we stopped too. His Friends were an older couple that had a very cool Match.com Story. :)
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Friday, October 21, 2011
SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM BASIL.
We have been on the road 37 days and tonight, for the first time, we are staying in a motel on Dauphin Island. We are just a few feet from Mobil Bay and about 5 or 600 yards from the Gulf of Mexico.
Of all the elements we have faced; wind, long climbs, near 100 degree temperatures, lack of services, very crappy RV campgrounds, the last thing I expected was cold weather, especially here in the deep south. It was 39 degrees when we woke up this morning. The day before that, 42, and the previous day, 44, and the cold has been accompanied by high humidity. Go figure! Being cold and dealing with damp tents, sleeping bags and clothes is a real bummer( a 60's word).
Quite surprising to me is how much more appealing Mississippi was compared to Louisiana. The roads were generally better, the farms and homes were neater and cleaner, lawns were well kept, and I saw very few rundown houses and businesses, and the towns seemed more well run with a lot more services. Alabama seems about the same. Maybe it's just the proximity to the Gulf and the tourist money it draws.
I think we have 9 more days of riding and we may have one more rest day. Tomorrow will be very short day. To get off the island heading east we will take a ferry and our next stop will be another beach spot 40 miles east,Gulf Beach, which is in Florida, about 15 miles SE of Pensacola.
At this moment, I can't recall how many days ago I took my big spill, and even though my riding is not hampered by the wounds( a bad cut on my elbow, a bruised right hand and annoying road rash on my hip), they are not healing very well.
Our blog has nearly 6500 hits. That is just incredible! Kudos to Taz for all the hard work she puts into it. I love it when we are tooling along at 17 or 18 mph and she sees a scene she wants to photograph, so she yells out, " I'm going to take a picture, you guys keep going", and so we do and just what seems like moments later she has caught us again. I think she has a small hidden motor on her bicycle!!
Well it's bedtime for me. Bob is already cutting z's. Stay tuned for 9 more days of adventure.
Basil
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