Dear Mr Obama,
I would like to thank you for whatever you did........ but we managed to complete the entire trans Am route without a single dog attack! Not all our friends were so lucky but we made it!
I would also like to congratulate you on your wonderful post office network across the entire country and also the excellent libraries, without which I could not have done my blog. Thank you.
I would like also to mention the wonderful people we met on our travels. Everyone was so interested in what we were doing and where we were from and nobody was short of words of friendly advice.
The American motel network is excellent too, offering low price and almost always good accommodation along the route.
Not every town has a motel so we were very grateful to the various churches who filled a gap by offering accommodation when there was nothing else. Such kindness is much appreciated. Another wonderful service is Hot Showers, an organisation which offers free hospitality to cyclists in need.
The traffic on American roads is not always cyclist friendly but we had no mishaps and so many people rolled down their windows and greeted us to the U.S and gave us a thumbs up!
Many people find it difficult to say a good word about McDonalds but we can only praise them. .... brilliant air conditioning,free wifi, free iced water and ice cubes for our water bottles.We also had lunch for 2 dollars each and enjoyed the many free refills!
The American adventure cycling association also deserves a mention . They are the ones responsible for devising this cycle route for nutters like us!!! Should they be praised or locked up??? I don't know!
I know you have a lot on your plate Mr Obama, but you're doing a great job. You sorted out the dogs for us, you are trying to sort out the economy for your people, any chance of an award for us because it was one long ride and we feel we deserve something for our efforts!!
We made a special detour to Washington DC to thank you personally but you weren't home that day. If you ever come to Wales there will always be a welcome for you and your family in our very own White House.
Fondest regards,
Mary and Dermot xx
Saturday 18 September 2010
SOME FACTS
It took us 81 days to cycle over 4250 miles.
We were on the road for a total of 92 days (13 weeks).
We had 11 days off. On 2 of those days off we cycled up to 30 miles but counted them as rest days as we arrived at our destination so early in the day.
We were on the road for a total of 92 days (13 weeks).
We had 11 days off. On 2 of those days off we cycled up to 30 miles but counted them as rest days as we arrived at our destination so early in the day.
Wednesday 8 September 2010
WEEK 13
Sunday 29th Aug till Sun 5th Sept
The last week at long last! We finally met up with Dave and Linda after hearing about them many times along the way. Dave , at the ripe old age of 70 is riding a Penny Farthing bicycle from Kansas City to Yorktown. Twenty four years ago he did the first half of the route and he decided it was time to finish it! His other talent is fiddle playing! We spent a great evening at John and Paige's place where Dave entertained us all with his fiddle playing. John is a fellow trans Am cyclist whom we met early on in the trip and hadn't seen him since July 4th in Montana.
We really cycled hard this week to reach the end on schedule. The weather was hotter than last week which also made it harder. On at least three days and maybe more we cycled for 1o hours a day, even in temperatures of up to 100 degrees. It was the challenge of a lifetime but we finally reached our goal, Yorktown ,at noon on Sunday 5th September. We cycled right up to the Victory monument and there the Big Bike Ride ended!
I will finish up with wise words I came across on a fortune cookie "TAKE THE CHANCE WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHOICE" .
I hope our achievement will inspire others to do things they never imagined they would be able to do as I have done. I had never in my life done a bike touring holiday (I use that word loosely!!) and had hardly ridden at all in nearly 30 years apart from a few day trips so I feel that most people could achieve most things if they really set their mind to it. All it takes is blind determination and a will of steel and you're halfway there!
The last week at long last! We finally met up with Dave and Linda after hearing about them many times along the way. Dave , at the ripe old age of 70 is riding a Penny Farthing bicycle from Kansas City to Yorktown. Twenty four years ago he did the first half of the route and he decided it was time to finish it! His other talent is fiddle playing! We spent a great evening at John and Paige's place where Dave entertained us all with his fiddle playing. John is a fellow trans Am cyclist whom we met early on in the trip and hadn't seen him since July 4th in Montana.
We really cycled hard this week to reach the end on schedule. The weather was hotter than last week which also made it harder. On at least three days and maybe more we cycled for 1o hours a day, even in temperatures of up to 100 degrees. It was the challenge of a lifetime but we finally reached our goal, Yorktown ,at noon on Sunday 5th September. We cycled right up to the Victory monument and there the Big Bike Ride ended!
I will finish up with wise words I came across on a fortune cookie "TAKE THE CHANCE WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHOICE" .
I hope our achievement will inspire others to do things they never imagined they would be able to do as I have done. I had never in my life done a bike touring holiday (I use that word loosely!!) and had hardly ridden at all in nearly 30 years apart from a few day trips so I feel that most people could achieve most things if they really set their mind to it. All it takes is blind determination and a will of steel and you're halfway there!
Wednesday 1 September 2010
WEEK 12
Starting sun 22nd Aug.
Well we had been warned that the worst part of Kentucky with regard to dogs was from Berea on and I reckon thats correct. I would guess that every household in Kentucky has at least one dog and probably most have about four. Many dogs chased us but so far we have come to no harm. You see we devised a system.... Dermot would go a bit ahead as a sort of a dog scout. The plan is as follows; If he is just standing and doing nothing then he's waiting for me; if he has his right arm raised then theres a dog on the right and left arm raised, then dog on the left. This gives me time to get my foot out of the cleat (pedal clasp) and be ready to jump off and confront the beast! Usually a firm reprimand is sufficient and we're on our way again. We did have a couple of nasty ones though....one horrible little dog ran out at us with his mouth and teeth all covered in grass; his starter I guess before a nice juicy Irish ankle or two! We soon sent him packing, we weren't having any of it! Then two Dobermans the size of donkeys rushed out at me but were called back by their owner before I was eaten alive. Another lucky escape! Sometimes our plan doesn't work as the dogs miss Dermot and he doesn't see them but by the time I'm on the scene they are waiting to pounce and let me tell you the silent runner is the worst! The loud barker lets you know he's there but the silent runner gets you unawares!
The most interesting thing about this past week has been our accommodation, We really have slept in quite bizarre places! We had a night at Linda's Victorian Rose B&B found it a little strange. In all my life I have never seen so many ornaments and plastic flowers, the whole house and garden was full to bursting! Linda's husband was buried in the garden and I felt it rather odd that she had her own name already engraved on the headstone....all ready and waiting. Creepy!
Our next two nights were at Camp Conrad Weiser in Wernersville Pennsylvania (Ceri's camp). We had a 14 hour drive to get there but it was lovely to see her and see a new stste!
Our next B&B was in a tent! It was run by a man called David on behalf of the Historical Society. We were welcomed with ice cold glasses of iced tea. then shown our tent! Our 50 bucks included Baked potatoes with lovely fillings, an amazing ice cream sundae, lots of ice tea and nibbles, and before bed we had poitin(the Kentucky equivalent anyway) and also blackberry brandy. All in all it was a lovely night and we slept very well.
We had a night in a very cheap (38 dollars) motel with the most cigarette burns ever on the bed spread, the rest of it was threadbare! Crisp white sheets though so not all bad!
Then we had 2 nights in church accommodation. The first was in a Methodist church house which was lovely only it didn't have any beds! It was a night on a hard floor. I was tempted to sleep in the actual church which had a thick red carpet but thought it might be the wrong thing to do! Our cycling mate Heidi turned up again and also a boy called Will so we all shared the floor together, though actually Heidi slept on the table!!
From there we went to a Baptist Hostel described as a bunkhouse, now I would think that bunkhouse implied beds to sleep in....not quite!!!! Wooden bunks,NO mattresses!!! Still lots of pillows were supplied and as we were the only ones there we made pillow mattresses which worked a treat as long as you didn't toss and turn! We went to the restaurant nearby and as we saw beer in the fridge we cheeered up and ordered 2 beers only to be told that they can't be served in the restaurant on a Sunday so we had to buy them and go outside to drink them and then come back for our food!!!What an ordeal! This really is a very strange country!!We couldn't take any back with us to the mattress free zone as alcohol was banned there so it was another very early night!
This past week the weather has been much better for cycling, well down in the eighties and so much more enjoyable.
We left Kentucky and entered Virginia out tenth and final state on Saturday 28th August. We can see why Virginia creeper is called that! Its all green and hilly and covered in leaves as far as the eye can see!! The hills are steep here too but the scenery is very pretty and varied. Photos will follow!
Well we had been warned that the worst part of Kentucky with regard to dogs was from Berea on and I reckon thats correct. I would guess that every household in Kentucky has at least one dog and probably most have about four. Many dogs chased us but so far we have come to no harm. You see we devised a system.... Dermot would go a bit ahead as a sort of a dog scout. The plan is as follows; If he is just standing and doing nothing then he's waiting for me; if he has his right arm raised then theres a dog on the right and left arm raised, then dog on the left. This gives me time to get my foot out of the cleat (pedal clasp) and be ready to jump off and confront the beast! Usually a firm reprimand is sufficient and we're on our way again. We did have a couple of nasty ones though....one horrible little dog ran out at us with his mouth and teeth all covered in grass; his starter I guess before a nice juicy Irish ankle or two! We soon sent him packing, we weren't having any of it! Then two Dobermans the size of donkeys rushed out at me but were called back by their owner before I was eaten alive. Another lucky escape! Sometimes our plan doesn't work as the dogs miss Dermot and he doesn't see them but by the time I'm on the scene they are waiting to pounce and let me tell you the silent runner is the worst! The loud barker lets you know he's there but the silent runner gets you unawares!
The most interesting thing about this past week has been our accommodation, We really have slept in quite bizarre places! We had a night at Linda's Victorian Rose B&B found it a little strange. In all my life I have never seen so many ornaments and plastic flowers, the whole house and garden was full to bursting! Linda's husband was buried in the garden and I felt it rather odd that she had her own name already engraved on the headstone....all ready and waiting. Creepy!
Our next two nights were at Camp Conrad Weiser in Wernersville Pennsylvania (Ceri's camp). We had a 14 hour drive to get there but it was lovely to see her and see a new stste!
Our next B&B was in a tent! It was run by a man called David on behalf of the Historical Society. We were welcomed with ice cold glasses of iced tea. then shown our tent! Our 50 bucks included Baked potatoes with lovely fillings, an amazing ice cream sundae, lots of ice tea and nibbles, and before bed we had poitin(the Kentucky equivalent anyway) and also blackberry brandy. All in all it was a lovely night and we slept very well.
We had a night in a very cheap (38 dollars) motel with the most cigarette burns ever on the bed spread, the rest of it was threadbare! Crisp white sheets though so not all bad!
Then we had 2 nights in church accommodation. The first was in a Methodist church house which was lovely only it didn't have any beds! It was a night on a hard floor. I was tempted to sleep in the actual church which had a thick red carpet but thought it might be the wrong thing to do! Our cycling mate Heidi turned up again and also a boy called Will so we all shared the floor together, though actually Heidi slept on the table!!
From there we went to a Baptist Hostel described as a bunkhouse, now I would think that bunkhouse implied beds to sleep in....not quite!!!! Wooden bunks,NO mattresses!!! Still lots of pillows were supplied and as we were the only ones there we made pillow mattresses which worked a treat as long as you didn't toss and turn! We went to the restaurant nearby and as we saw beer in the fridge we cheeered up and ordered 2 beers only to be told that they can't be served in the restaurant on a Sunday so we had to buy them and go outside to drink them and then come back for our food!!!What an ordeal! This really is a very strange country!!We couldn't take any back with us to the mattress free zone as alcohol was banned there so it was another very early night!
This past week the weather has been much better for cycling, well down in the eighties and so much more enjoyable.
We left Kentucky and entered Virginia out tenth and final state on Saturday 28th August. We can see why Virginia creeper is called that! Its all green and hilly and covered in leaves as far as the eye can see!! The hills are steep here too but the scenery is very pretty and varied. Photos will follow!
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