Saturday 21 August 2010
WEEK 11
We awoke at about 4 am on Sunday 15th August to a very loud thunderstorm! Continuous thunder and lightning and lashing rain. Our early start was delayed by about 2 hours due to the weather and also we had to wait for the water in the river to go down as it flooded the road and we couldn't get past! We had breakfast in a more leisurely fashion ,which was nice ,and eventually thanked Al and Ann and set off on our travels.
We cycled to Elizabethtown, a most beautiful little place on the banks of the Ohio river and booked into the Grand Rose Hotel. It was definitely the nicest place we've been in so far. Quite spectacular as can be seen in the photos.We had our own suite, a tv in the sitting room and also one in the bedroom!! A four poster bed! Everything was spot on! A brilliant breakfast too!
Next day we went to another lovely place called Cave in Rock and from there we took the free ferry across the Ohio into Kentucky, our 9th state. We spent that night in a DRY town called Marion. Dermot was gasping for a cold beer and as luck had it ,he met a chap just out of prison (he killed his father!), who had beer and insisted on sharing with us. We had a very strange and interesting conversation with him!
On Tuesday we availed of the free cyclists accommodation at the Baptist church in Sebree. Our hosts, Bob and Violet were so kind to us. They do it all out of the goodness of their hearts. There was also one other cyclist there, Brendan from Philadelphia. We all slept on mattresses on the floor in the youth centre, had a free laundry,use of kitchen, wifi and air conditioning... and to top it all, Violet insisted on feeding us our dinner and what a feast that was! Wonderful!
Wednesday was a long day,70 miles to Falls of Rough and a motel that offered bicyclist rates and had a lovely pool.
Thursday 75 miles to Lincoln's birthplace where we spent the night in a very rustic cabin. Every place is so different! On the way there we went to an Amish house to buy some tomatoes for our lunch. Had a great chat with the locals there, everyone is so curious as to why we are cycling!! I just say' cos we're nuts!' The Amish Mum and kids were all barefoot and dressed in their traditional clothing.
We came via Danville to Berea and to the end of map 10. Another milestone. I think we have less than 800 miles to go now. I have just had my hair done in a salon in Berea by Sueann and the time flew by with all the interesting chat. I love the Kentucky accent! We are staying in the historic Boone Tavern in the centre of Berea. Unfortunately its yet another DRY town! Most of Kentucky seems to be against alcohol yet its the bourbon capital of the world!! Lets hope they like a drink in Virginia, our next and last state....in a few days time.
We are taking a few days off next week and hiring a car to go and visit Ceri in Pennsylvania.
We cycled to Elizabethtown, a most beautiful little place on the banks of the Ohio river and booked into the Grand Rose Hotel. It was definitely the nicest place we've been in so far. Quite spectacular as can be seen in the photos.We had our own suite, a tv in the sitting room and also one in the bedroom!! A four poster bed! Everything was spot on! A brilliant breakfast too!
Next day we went to another lovely place called Cave in Rock and from there we took the free ferry across the Ohio into Kentucky, our 9th state. We spent that night in a DRY town called Marion. Dermot was gasping for a cold beer and as luck had it ,he met a chap just out of prison (he killed his father!), who had beer and insisted on sharing with us. We had a very strange and interesting conversation with him!
On Tuesday we availed of the free cyclists accommodation at the Baptist church in Sebree. Our hosts, Bob and Violet were so kind to us. They do it all out of the goodness of their hearts. There was also one other cyclist there, Brendan from Philadelphia. We all slept on mattresses on the floor in the youth centre, had a free laundry,use of kitchen, wifi and air conditioning... and to top it all, Violet insisted on feeding us our dinner and what a feast that was! Wonderful!
Wednesday was a long day,70 miles to Falls of Rough and a motel that offered bicyclist rates and had a lovely pool.
Thursday 75 miles to Lincoln's birthplace where we spent the night in a very rustic cabin. Every place is so different! On the way there we went to an Amish house to buy some tomatoes for our lunch. Had a great chat with the locals there, everyone is so curious as to why we are cycling!! I just say' cos we're nuts!' The Amish Mum and kids were all barefoot and dressed in their traditional clothing.
We came via Danville to Berea and to the end of map 10. Another milestone. I think we have less than 800 miles to go now. I have just had my hair done in a salon in Berea by Sueann and the time flew by with all the interesting chat. I love the Kentucky accent! We are staying in the historic Boone Tavern in the centre of Berea. Unfortunately its yet another DRY town! Most of Kentucky seems to be against alcohol yet its the bourbon capital of the world!! Lets hope they like a drink in Virginia, our next and last state....in a few days time.
We are taking a few days off next week and hiring a car to go and visit Ceri in Pennsylvania.
Monday 16 August 2010
Friday 13 August 2010
Monday 9 August 2010
Week 10
Beginning Sunday 8th August. (day 64)
On Saturday and Sunday we were lucky to come upon great places to swim in rivers along the way. One was called Dogs Bluff and the Piney river ! Great names! will upload photos. This was just outside the town of Houston, Missouri.
We spent a night in a hunting lodge which we had all to ourselves and all for 40 dollars!! The owner, Bill Cork, was so hospitable.... he told us to help ourselves to beer from the fridge and if we want to go to the shop his truck was at our disposal!! We didn't use it though!It was a really nice place,one of the best. For the benefit of other cyclists its called Running Spring Farm and is just outside Everton.
We have met up again with Jim and Kathy once again, we hadn't seen them in weeks!
Heidi has decided to quit the Trans Am and has headed off to New Jersey on the train.We cycled through a large part of Missouri inhabited by the Mennonites.They are like the Amish community. They can be seen travelling in pony and carts and doing lots of manual work. They dress in old fashioned clothes and really look strange.
A highlight of the trip was crossing the Mississippi river and arriving into Illinois at a town called Chester. Chester is famous as it is the home of Popeye! We have had two thunder storms in Illinois....lots of thunder and lightning!
We had a day in Carbondale while our bikes were at the bike shop. Dermot finally bought a new wheel after cycling on the broken spoke for over 300 miles!! I had a new tyre and my gears checked over.
We left Carbondale this morning when the storm eased and tonight we are staying with Al and Anne Stachowiak.We are using an organisation called Warm Showers who kindly allow cyclists to either have a shower,camp in the garden or have a room for the night! We are so lucky we have a beautiful room, we've just been swimming in their pool and then relaxed on the deck with a cold beer!! We phoned and asked if they could help us as the distance to the next accommodation was too far for us to do in this heat. We have really hit lucky!
Its been a hot week but the forecast for next week is to be slightly cooler. Lets hope they're right cos we can't take much more heat! Must dash now ....Anne's peach cobbler is calling!!!!
I forgot to mention humming birds! I had never come across them before, they are lovely little birds that hum and people hang up bottles of sweet water to feed them and then sit and watch them. I have a photo......
We spent a night in a hunting lodge which we had all to ourselves and all for 40 dollars!! The owner, Bill Cork, was so hospitable.... he told us to help ourselves to beer from the fridge and if we want to go to the shop his truck was at our disposal!! We didn't use it though!It was a really nice place,one of the best. For the benefit of other cyclists its called Running Spring Farm and is just outside Everton.
We have met up again with Jim and Kathy once again, we hadn't seen them in weeks!
Heidi has decided to quit the Trans Am and has headed off to New Jersey on the train.We cycled through a large part of Missouri inhabited by the Mennonites.They are like the Amish community. They can be seen travelling in pony and carts and doing lots of manual work. They dress in old fashioned clothes and really look strange.
A highlight of the trip was crossing the Mississippi river and arriving into Illinois at a town called Chester. Chester is famous as it is the home of Popeye! We have had two thunder storms in Illinois....lots of thunder and lightning!
We had a day in Carbondale while our bikes were at the bike shop. Dermot finally bought a new wheel after cycling on the broken spoke for over 300 miles!! I had a new tyre and my gears checked over.
We left Carbondale this morning when the storm eased and tonight we are staying with Al and Anne Stachowiak.We are using an organisation called Warm Showers who kindly allow cyclists to either have a shower,camp in the garden or have a room for the night! We are so lucky we have a beautiful room, we've just been swimming in their pool and then relaxed on the deck with a cold beer!! We phoned and asked if they could help us as the distance to the next accommodation was too far for us to do in this heat. We have really hit lucky!
Its been a hot week but the forecast for next week is to be slightly cooler. Lets hope they're right cos we can't take much more heat! Must dash now ....Anne's peach cobbler is calling!!!!
I forgot to mention humming birds! I had never come across them before, they are lovely little birds that hum and people hang up bottles of sweet water to feed them and then sit and watch them. I have a photo......
Tuesday 3 August 2010
Week 9
Three days have passed since I was last updating the blog but as we are taking a rest day in Pittsburg, Kansas, and I have access to a computer, I will add a little more. The weather has been getting unbearably hot and very high humidity too which makes it feel much hotter still! The last 3 days have been very hard because of the heat (over 100 degrees every day) and also we did eleven days straight through without a break and all with relatively high milage,70+,60+ and 50+.. Yesterday I definitely had a touch of sunstroke... After five hours or so we reached a town called Girard and went straight into a Subway restaurant. I was literally on my last legs and kind Joanne who works there offered to get me a ride to Pittsburg, 14 miles away (our destination) Iwas sweating and boiling hot and shivering all at the same time but after some iced tea, a sandwich and lots of water and the benefits of air conditioning, I felt I could continue. However 9 miles later it got to me again and I resorted to hitching a lift the last 5 miles.Dermot cycled it!!! I was beat!! We booked into a great motel, Lamplighter Inn and suites and now I am feeling fine again! The pool, air conditioning and just resting is pure luxury! Dermot is suffering with his back and is walking like an old man and refusing all my medical advice!! We're gettin a bit rough round the edges at this stage.
Yesterday morning we had a difficult time getting through miles of roadworks, luckily I only fell off once! (see photos)
Dermot has ridden with a broken spoke for the past 3 days and could do nothing about it as there was no bike shop. He has gone now to have it fixed in Pittsburg.
We have a new cycling friend called Heidi. Our other mate Russell had an accident, a car overtaking on the inside clipped him and he now has a broken finger so isn't riding for a few days!
Will continue with this as week goes on....
Continuation of week 9
After two days rest in pittsburg, in the best motel ever, we set off once again to cover some miles. Missouri is like a continuous roller coaster, hills, hills and more hills! A big chcnge from flat Kansas! It is more difficult also for cycling as there is no hard shoulder and its hard for the cars to see us when we are down in the dips. We had two drivers shout at us to get off the road....not so friendly. On the other hand we have had drivers stop and ask us where we're from and then welcome us to America! Mixed reception!
Both in Kansas and in Missouri we have seen huge numbers of armadillos killed on the roads. Anyone who is interested and doesn't know what they look like, then google them as they are the most amazing looking creatures. There are millions of turtles here too. The first one I saw on the road I picked up and took it to safety but I no longer do that as there are so many of them.
Another interesting sight here is groups of wild turkeys! Never seen wild ones before!
Dogs are a nuisance in this state and there was me thinking I was safe till I got to Kentucky!! Our friend Heidi was pulled down by one but luckily was rescued by drivers passing by!Since her encounter I have invested in a pepper spray which is supposed to keep them at bay! I just hope I never have to use it.
For over a week now there have been warnings on the TV about the heat and telling people not to take excessive exercise and to keep their coolants at the ready!!! Temperatures have dropped from the 100's to the high 90's....
Yesterday morning we had a difficult time getting through miles of roadworks, luckily I only fell off once! (see photos)
Dermot has ridden with a broken spoke for the past 3 days and could do nothing about it as there was no bike shop. He has gone now to have it fixed in Pittsburg.
We have a new cycling friend called Heidi. Our other mate Russell had an accident, a car overtaking on the inside clipped him and he now has a broken finger so isn't riding for a few days!
Will continue with this as week goes on....
Continuation of week 9
After two days rest in pittsburg, in the best motel ever, we set off once again to cover some miles. Missouri is like a continuous roller coaster, hills, hills and more hills! A big chcnge from flat Kansas! It is more difficult also for cycling as there is no hard shoulder and its hard for the cars to see us when we are down in the dips. We had two drivers shout at us to get off the road....not so friendly. On the other hand we have had drivers stop and ask us where we're from and then welcome us to America! Mixed reception!
Both in Kansas and in Missouri we have seen huge numbers of armadillos killed on the roads. Anyone who is interested and doesn't know what they look like, then google them as they are the most amazing looking creatures. There are millions of turtles here too. The first one I saw on the road I picked up and took it to safety but I no longer do that as there are so many of them.
Another interesting sight here is groups of wild turkeys! Never seen wild ones before!
Dogs are a nuisance in this state and there was me thinking I was safe till I got to Kentucky!! Our friend Heidi was pulled down by one but luckily was rescued by drivers passing by!Since her encounter I have invested in a pepper spray which is supposed to keep them at bay! I just hope I never have to use it.
For over a week now there have been warnings on the TV about the heat and telling people not to take excessive exercise and to keep their coolants at the ready!!! Temperatures have dropped from the 100's to the high 90's....
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