EPI-BLOG

Start:  Saturday, September 15, 2012

Finish:  Saturday, November 17, 2012

Total days:  64

Rest days:  10

Cost of trip:  More than we thought

Total miles:  3,080.66

Total time:   239 hours

Overall average:  12.89 mph

Significant events that occurred during our tour: 

    2012 re-election of President Barrack Obama

    Hurricane Sandy devastates the northeast coast

A big THANK YOU to:

Dennis & Lyndsey Morris – for being there in the beginning and taking the Xterra back to Arizona, and for being there for us in the end, with encouragement and carrying our gear, and the transportation back to their home, and their hospitality.

Buzz & Pam Comer for keeping all our sh#t in your yard for these past two+ months.

Mamie Peck and Joan McBride for your loving hospitality in Alabama.  Mamie, a special thanks to you for getting Rick into the cardiology clinic to be checked out!!

Aunt Betty Jean Cassady for your hospitality and conversation in Saucier, Mississippi.

Ben & Katie Thompson for coming to Mobile on your way to Gulf Shores to see us.

Patti who has printed out our blog posts for Sidney Thompson.

Mark Seymour of Saucier, MS, for giving us a ride into Mobile on that scary day with Rick’s irregularly beating heart. (Normal now)

Our warmshowers hosts along the way:

 John and Debra at the McDonald Observatory, TX for the immediate pasta fix after a long day’s ride and a private tour of the Observatory

 Dan and Amy in Tallahassee, FL:  wonderful home-cooked meal and dessert, great conversation, and directions to get through the city and on our way east the next morning

Bob Larson (RL) for the beer and campsite on one our longest and hardest days plus all of the encouraging emails.

John from the Magic Circle for dinner at DeAnza Springs, good conversation and a welcoming familiar face.

The Adventure Cycling Group for their hospitality and camaraderie on several occasions – Joe, Ed, Arthur, Neil, Olaf, John, Berit, Rick, Kelly, Errol, Berenice, Kathy, Jace, Greg, and Buster.

Gloria & Ivan Prochaska for getting drunk with us last spring and promoting this crazy idea.

To all the rest of our family and friends who have supported us with their encouragement, well wishes, and positive thoughts along our journey.

AND…..Thank you, Rick, for safely captaining us all these 3,080 miles and for putting up with me during my “beserk” times.  You’ve been a fantastic partner in every sense.

Top Ten Days (not including The Start and Finish which were obvious great days)

Day 8:  Brenda to Wickenburg (a good ride and enough energy afterwards to enjoy the town)

Day 17:  Over Emory Pass and a great dinner and evening with RL at Caballo State Park

Day 19:  A short day of riding, my 57^th birthday, and a great time at “The Game” in Las Cruces

Day 26:  Marathon, Texas – a strange, happy little town with a White Buffalo Bar and a funky hostel

Day 31:  Texas Hill Country and the Big River Oak Park, camping under a gorgeous oak tree, visiting with the ACA group

Day 35:  A great rest day in Blanco, TX and a visit to the Real Ale Works

Day 40:  A great evening at the Sanctuary for people in Shepherd, TX

Day 42:  Texas in the rear view mirror!

Day 46:  Just a really beautiful & happy day riding through the back roads of Louisiana

Day 56:  A beautiful ride along the Gulf coast through Pensacola  and entering Florida

Worst Days  (tried to come up with 5, but could only come up with 4):

Day 11:  Apache Junction to Apache Gold:  Uphill all the way, bad rumble strips, truck traffic, noise and “The Tunnel””

Day 22:  Ft. Hancock to Van Horn; huge trucks, border inspection station, flat tires, “Spot” gets mean, and too tired to eat dinner

Days 28 & 29:  “On The Border” – nothing much good to look at, FEMA trailer in Langtry, headwinds into Comstock

Thank You Lee for sticking with it and taking care of all the logistics and me. Rick