I don't want to say that I can't relate to liberal 20 somethings anymore... but as life goes on... I've gained more perspective. In many ways I am able to relate to so many more people now. In other ways, I am less interested in stepping out and meeting new people. Originally Posted April 27, 2007
Monticello - 32.83 milesI wasn't in a hurry to leave. I missed being around liberal twenty somethings. After I woke up I chatted with some guy whose name I'm sorry I can't remember, but I think it started with an R. We spoke of many things while I avoided packing and leaving, including a proposed trip from Tallahassee to Anchorage. He and some other Harry Potter following would load up a van and drive to Alaska while listening to the first 6 books. Timing arrival with the release of the final book, they would read the last of the saga over a few days in a cabin in the wild. He confessed that the trip probably wouldn't happen. Our lives get in the way of our hobbies. Eventually I moved the couple of blocks to the bike show where the mechanic who misses the Colorado air, investigated my clicking noise. He decided that it was actually from inside of the frame, that it wasn't hurting anything, and it might be cured with linseed oil, I'll deal with that later. Stopping then at Black Dog Coffee Shop I was comforted by the automatic use of a mug. A bagel and carrot cake gave me fuel for the hills to Monticello. At a gas station I drank O.J. and chatted with a spry older man who was blind in one eye. He lives on a co-op, knew Justin, and was looking for a captain he could stoke for on a tandem cross-country tour. It seemed everyone knew Justin and spoke very highly of him. Diane and Maria's farm in Monticello was the breeding ground for goats and Chihuahuas. Two goats were born a couple of days ago from a virgin mother. Their names are Mary and Virgil. Funny things happen on this farm.
10.6 ave - 30.9 max - 2798 odo - 3:04:36 time
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Originally Posted April 26, 2007
Tallahassee - 57.65 milesIn Chattahoochee, Mullet isn't a hairstyle, but it is on the menu. I didn't try the fish dish, but I stuck with a turkey club. As I sat chatting with some Georgians, I realized I lost an hour. 45 more miles to go and I projected an 8'o clock arrival at Justin's house where he warned his roommates's band would be practicing. Following my 11th flat tire (glass), I arrived a the house that could be easily detected by the pile of bikes outside. The area vegans were eating stuffed shells for dinner here. Most had a connection to the university and all were quite amusing, including the one they call chatterbox. Justin left for Night at the Museum and offered me a shower and the use of the computer, which no longer has internet connectivity. I could play minesweeper or freecell. I read the blurbs that came with the photos in Pedal while listening to the atmospheric tunes in the adjacent room. Justin did part of the Northern tier and we stayed up far too late chatting about hospitality and bike friendly cities.
10.5 ave - 31.8 max - 2765.2 odo - 5:26:31 time It is interesting that at the time I let the turtles go it was a symbol of committing to a life where I didn't put down any roots. Well... of course even just a year later I was trying to do that exact thing in Palmer, AK. It has always been a challenge for me to commit to not committing. Ultimately, I wasn't able to settle in Alaska. I came back to Washington and started building a tiny house. I took a short break from that to go to Idaho and eventually meet and marry my husband. We finished the tiny house, had a kid, bought a normal house, had another kid, and sold the tiny house. I've even now been in the same job for almost 8 years! I still struggle with the question "to commit or not to commit?" when it comes to our home. I can't see ever leaving... but I also can't see living in the same place for the rest of my life. Originally Posted April 25, 2007
Grand Ridge - 57.21 milesI let Claudia and Snowball go. They are in a better place now. Claudia quickly scooted away, but Snowball lingered for a moment. They probably would have just gone the way of my gold fish and my hamster, Sherman. I too would have tired of the turtles.
Uncle Billy's Restaurant proved to have a tasty Billy burger, smooth banana pudding, and classic sweet tea. I was stopped, taking pictures of lichen on a fence, and the owner drove up wondering what I was doing taking pictures of his property. He seemed to think I was crazy when I told him what I was photographing. Stopping in Grand Ridge at Providence Baptist Church for the night, I found the youth and music ministers preparing for youth service. There was much conversation and it turned to my tan. I raised up my shorts a smidgen to reveal the dramatic line while accidentally revealing my bite/wound. I explained, but John Micheal quipped, "It looks more like a bullet hole." Maybe I'll tell people that when they are telling me about crazy people. Sherlinda offered me a bed so I went to the music practice to tell the folks that helped me earlier where I ended up. The minister at the piano must not have heard me because he stood up to block my exit. Only after explaining that I was leaving because the woman who was very excited to hear she would be a grandmother was putting me up, did he let me pass.
Turns out this is a Muscovy duck which is invasive in Florida and not easily frightened.
Originally Posted April 24, 2007
Westville - 51.18 milesThe decision to keep or not to keep the turtles is a difficult one. First there is the concern for the health and the care of the turtles. I'm not sure if they're getting enough to eat. Then there are all the symbolic implications. If you have turtles are you actually going to live somewhere long enough that moving them isn't a hassle? If you keep the turtles why don't you get a bed, a mattress, kitchen appliances? They are all linked and sooner or later you are up to your elbows in potpourri and you'll never travel extensively again. I got rid of a ton of stuff before leaving on this trip and I still have quilts, baskets, clothes, books, and outdoor gear in my parent's attic. The alternative is to rent a furnished apartment and keep it simple. To turtle or not to turtle... that is the question. Oh and while Florida is quite pleasant with a nice shoulder, nothing stands out. So I press on. I went to a Baptist revival tonight and the preacher was quite a strong preacher. He used an illustration involving a clockmaker that made a clock with 13 hours instead of 12 hours. Then the clockmakers wife asked him what time it was and he said that it was later than it had ever been. 11.1 ave - 31.0 max - 2650.3 odo - 4:35:41 time
Originally Posted April 23, 2007
Crestview - 58.1 milesToday was eventful in an uneventful kind of way. I bought soap and replaced the dead red water bottle. More pipe insulation was added to my handlebars and the bolt holding on my front rack was replaced on the right side. Yesterday it sheered off at the fork. I didn't take any pictures. I put in my miles and didn't talk to many people. I have 7 - 9 more days left. I called and asked Raven when the most convenient time for me to get picked up would be.
10.9 ave - 27 max - 2599.1 odo - 5:18:12 time I just love how beachy these houses on stilts are! I'm not sure how much sense there is building right on the beach with all the storms that come through here... but it does look like a happy place. Originally Posted April 22, 2007
Pensacola - 57.29 milesHappy Earth Day!
Florida came with its condos and white sandy beaches without a welcome sign. I struggled to figure out when I finally made it. I felt like more than enough people stared at me awkwardly today. It was especially the teenage beach bums. Pensacola is nice enough on a Sunday evening. Tomorrow morning I get to replenish my Magic Soap at the natural food store down the street. Only 533 miles to go if I stay on route over ten riding days. But if I take a more direct route I can cut that down to 9. This is tempting. 9.1 ave - 22.8 max - 2541.0 odo - 6:14:41 time Originally Posted April 21, 2007
Dauphin Island - 55.03 milesThe moral fabric of this country is torn. That's what Jim, a Gideon heading up to the prison for the day, said. The prisons are breeding grounds for Islam and they turn out radicals who go to mosques right after they get out. The only way to solve the problem in Iraq is to blow the whole place up. This all I learned from the man who used to go talk about oil drilling at Berkley but not too often because they'd come after him. The whole west coast is radical. Then I rode to Dauphin Island where I was met by Brown Pelicans, a nasty headwind, and Anne from South Dakota. My neighbor for the night fed me dinner and showed me around the island where she used to live. She took me to the west end where all the foolish people are rebuilding their houses on the sand. "the rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the rock stood firm". After showering, Anne and I watched A Good Year. Nothing like a classic-vineyard-run the girl off the road-try to drown the guy-fall in love-Russell Crowe-movie to cap off an evening. 9.7 ave - 24.3 max - 2483.7 odo - 5:39:19 time There I was minding my own business drawing a crawfish holding a microphone. Suddenly that Brian and Drew on the Goulet Pencast started talking about their newly acquired fanny packs. They of course say the most ridiculous things and I absolutely had to stop what I was doing and make a new shirt. Originally Posted April 20, 2007
Wade - 55.0 milesAs I sit 10 miles from the Alabama border in Wade on the cott provided to me, I'm trying to reflect on the day. Nothing exceedingly specific happened on my ride today. One boy told me I was his new role model. Then 10 minutes later some child threw something that left a white powdery mark out of a school bus window at me. I met James Dean in Larue. Shortly after that I met a van full of people lost trying to find their way to the Crawfish Festival. I spoke with some folks back in Sitka and I wished I could be back in a place that celebrates Earth Day for a week. Sitka may be small, but it does some things better than anywhere else. I missed the entire spring season of Monthly Grinds. But I must finish my trip, find my turtles somewhere in the room, and go to sleep early.
11.7 ave - 25.2 max - 2428.7 odo - 4:40:07 time One of the many transitions in our neighborhood lately was the impressive removal of the neighbor's blackberries. The noxious weed department at the county has come by a couple times to kill knotweed behind the garage and it has taken out the blackberries there too. It is insanely sad to see these sweet and juicy berries die off so quickly. Before, we could pick gallons of them every summer. However, we didn't have room for gallons in our freezer and the neighbors deserved to have a backyard. Trying to look for the good in the change! Originally Posted April 19, 2007
Perkinston - 31.10 milesAfter spending two nights on Steven and Tanya's futon eating blackberries and mingling with goats, I pedaled into the pine forests mixed intermittently wihth clear cuts. I'm goign to miss picking on their teenager, Jessica, and her boyfriend, Budd. Just before leaving the fattest county in the fattest state in the fattest country, I came across Brian. His tours include a Perth - Sydney, but after only a short chatt, the New Yorker and I parted ways. I think I'm up to 10 flat tires. That usually means I have bad luck or I need new tires. The glass has been hard on them lately. In Perkinston, I stopped for a pint of Blue Bell and perusal of the local paper. I can't remember his name, but another trouing cyclist with a BOB trailer rolled up. The Australian is running high mileage days and still had miles to go. So after some chocolate milk and canned fruit, he headed off. I headed to the Baptist Church where I was offered a spare room a few miles further on the route. Nyhl and Debbie's kids, Sarah and nathan, were about to go play a t-ball game. Sarah immediatly said I was like a sister and Nathan tried to kiss me. Oh to be five. 10.1 ave - 28.3 max - 2373.7 odo - 3:03:20 time Originally Posted April 18, 2007
Poplarville - 0 milesI was reading the Adventure Cycling magazine at the warmshowers in Poplarville shortly after watching their 16 year old make blue flame in a coke bottle. The article titled "Carfree in the Cowboy State" detailed the state's decision to ban driving for the week of July 16-22. People who want to drive in Wyoming will be limited to Interstates 80, 25, and 90. I'm curious and wish I could be riding there that week. www.carfreewyoming.com
Happy Easter! I've got another refrigerator bread recipe for you! The dough is made in advance and this video walks you through shaping and baking these tasty little pretzels. This is a new twist on an old Easter family favorite: bunny rolls. I leave out the raisins for eyes, because I'm not a fan of raisins. You could use craisins or chocolate chips instead. Again, my children helped me with the voiceover.
Originally Posted April 17, 2007
Poplarville - 26.01 miles9.3 ave - 25.9 max - 2341.9 odo - 2:46:34 time - 60 mile ride
I was headed east on LA-38 getting close to Easleyville. The sun was about to set and I needed to find a place to camp for the night. Then there off to the right was Firetower Rd and I glimpsed its namesake. Intrigued, I turned and checked it out. I didn't write about it in my journal or in my blog. It was probably trespassing or something and I didn't want to get in trouble. I was able to hike up the tower a good ways and take in a magical view of the sunset. After contemplating stealth camping at the base of the tower, I pedaled off into the dark to an established campground like a good kid. Big shout out to Google Maps for helping me turn this vague recollection into more than just pieces of a memory. Their satellite images and 360° roadside photographs helped me figure out that this is the Liverpool Fire Tower. However, I am incredibly surprised that there are no other pictures or records of it on the internet. And of course I had to make it into a t-shirt! I really love this one! Originally Posted April 16, 2007
Easleyville - 49.92 milesThe bathroom was of the condition that I was more comfortable walking naked to and from the shower than changing in it. The water was cold, but the cement cell was warm. This campground was my only option in Easleyville at 8 o'clock at night. I was delayed today by a visit to the Audobon State Historic Site (note pictures of flowers and caterpillars...) and a flat tire. It was my second metal shard. The terrain has changed from super flat to slightly rolley since I crossed the Mississippi. The trees, draped in spanish moss, are not struggling for life. More than anywhere else I've been through, Louisiana logs. Sometimes the clear cut fields come right up to the road as if to shove it in your face that owls no longer swoop gracefully there. Though it didn't rain, the ground here is damp and my tent is already covered in dew. Tomorrow I'm headed to Bogalusa which boasts a population greater than 100 including cats and dogs.
10.2 ave - 26.5 max - 2315.9 odo - 4:53:01 time In the same vein as my 15 year old post, I set out to be nostalgic. I stopped by a taco truck in Purdy near where I used to work. There were beautiful blue skies and it was lovely to watch the folks come and go with their burritos, tacos, and sopas. Originally Posted April 15, 2007
St. Francisville - 51.76 milesToday's riding was absolutely pleasant. 95% of the time the roads had nearly no traffic and the scenery was scenic. Part of the time I was following some series of signs that mark the MRT bicycle route. I don't know what that is for though. I was anxious to see the Mississippi, so before my crossing I stopped to eat peaches. I took the short road over the levy to a ferry route that wasn't running. I was immediately sucked into memories of the Yukon River. I was quickly pulled out as I waked because I startled a gator down in the swampy section between river and levy. But seeing that I was far away and no threat, it climbed back onto its log. I continued on to ride past what seemed like hundreds of cute little white churches with adjacent graves. There were some cattle and some corn fields. With perfect timing, I caught the ferry that took me across the Mississippi to St. Francisville. The ride was quite reminiscent of the Dawson ferry rides. It made me want to go on a canoeing trip. The town is quite pleasant and I look forward to exploring the grounds of the Episcopal Church where they were gracious enough to let me sleep in their church hall on sofa cushions. They also let me use their shower and do something normal like drink a Wisconsin Amber while watching baseball.
9.9 ave - 28.2 max - 2266 odo - 5:11:52 time 15 years ago it sounds like it was an idyllic day to be back on the road after the significant layover in Big Cane. Part of what made that day amazing was the lack of traffic. Louisianans were especially prone to honking at cyclists just so that they would know that a truck was coming. Looks like Delaware even made unnecessary honking at cyclists illegal. So I designed a shirt in hopes that we can spread the word. Also spread the word: the folks in Louisiana were some of the most generous and hospitable people ever! Originally Posted April 14, 2007
Simmesport - 32.27 milesMost people would not get excited about liquid oozing out of a limb. I, however, was tired of the painful tautness of the skin from the mass of liquid built up. Aside from perhaps finally getting back on the road again, this was the highlight of my day. St. Augustine once again doesn't feel very far away as I plan to finish off the fifth of the seven maps tomorrow and cross the Mississippi. Checking my email in Simmesport, I received several happy birthdays. A couple of which were from people who claimed not to know me, but were friends of my mother's. So later on the phone I asked my mother if she'd sent a provoking email out. She had. I caught her. Not that it's bad, but usually I'm lucky to have more than one or two people remember it's my birthday. The day hasn't traditionally been great. Last year's was good though.
9.5 ave - 15.1 max - 2214.2 odo - 3:26:38 time Please comment with your best raccoon chat! Originally Posted April 13, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesSnowball and Claudia are convinced that I'm not going to leave tomorrow. I keep telling them that I am. My turtle, Snowball, and I intend on pedaling around the severe weather warnings to Simmesport tomorrow morning. I even called Henry (Warmshowers) and left a message telling him I'm coming. I tidied up tonight and gave the bite another examination. Pain, heat, and redness are still present, but I'm hoping it doesn't bother me much while riding. Dear Claudia made me a birthday cake today after we came back from Baton Rouge dropping off Hailey. Miss Bright was over to pick up the coons Snowball shot for her. She and Snowball didn't seem to be much of singers since they left Claudia alone on vocals for the happy birthday song.
I am still a little congested from my cold last week, but isn't really holding me back from being productive. I got this little turtle painted tonight and I still have time to take care of a few more things... or just get to bed at a decent hour. Originally Posted April 12, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesThough still congested, I don't feel half as ill as I did a few days ago. Drugs work wonders, but the bite on my thigh is still hot, red, tender, and 5 inches in diameter. And people worry about mosquitos in Alaska. I think I may force myself to rest one more day before I take off. I've been anxious to leave since I got here. But my hosts have been the kindest anyone could ask for. To be honest I'll miss the buckets of live crawfish that rest and surprise me on the kitchen floor and the baby turtles in tupperware on the counter. With any luck they'll find that second one that climbed but before they sniff it out.
I don't think I ever made it into the Bunkie Record, but I did do a little digging and found a rough website. There were a couple current articles. One about the school district adopting a 4-day school calendar for the 2022-2023 school year caught my eye. I keep hearing from teachers around here that the job description for a teacher is a little rough. It was rough before the pandemic and the toll of the workload has them leaving the profession in droves. I love that the Avoyelles Parish School District is trying something new next year with a longer school year, but only 4 days a week. Very cool! Originally Posted April 11, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesAfter feeling completely horrible for far too long, I decided to go to the doctor. Claudia took me to the Bunkie General Hospital which bears no resemblance in size to the Tacoma General Hospital or even the Sitka Community Hospital. It reminded me more of my orthodontist's office. They were quite enamored with my story and the doctor consulted me about Alaska before before he inquired after my head cold and the bite that was growing in size on my thigh. He prescribed some antibiotics and gave me some Allegra D. To top it off I got a shot in tush of something all with the promise that they should solve all my problems. Before I left they took down my story and took polaroids for the Bunkie Record. Maybe I'll make the paper after all. I forgot to mention that I wanted all the Louisianans to stop honking at me.
Originally Posted April 10, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesI care very little about anything except feeling better right now. Originally Posted April 09, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesThankfully, my hosts don't appear to have any intention of kicking me out on my congested bicycle ass. They offered to take me to the doctor tomorrow. But I'm sure in due time this will pass. In light of recent events, St. Augustine doesn't appear to be quite as palatable of a goal as before. We choose our goals quite arbitrarily sometimes and I've always been more concerned with the time I'm having than the time I'm making. So if I don't reach the Atlantic, please do not be that disappointed. I'm not. I've been to the Atlantic before. It's not that exciting.
15 years ago it was Easter. We still have a little over a week to go until Easter this year. So I am feeling extra on top of things right now! To me the big difference between Washington Easters and Louisiana Easters is temperature. Louisiana is going to be in the high 70's and Washington the high 50's. So the weather in Louisiana is wonderful and prime for outdoor family gatherings and so many bouncy castles! Family gatherings in Washington require a back-up plan in case it rains. Originally Posted April 08, 2007
Big Cane - 0 milesI took a sick day on the couch watching movies like Thumbsucker and An Inconvenient Truth. Gore puts on a good show. First it was the sore throat, then the cough, then the fever. Hopefully I'll get through the stuffed faze overnight. I was invited to attend the family Easter gatherings but I declined. THey were kind enough to bring back a plate for me. I made it up to eat dinner at the table and watch granddaughter Haley stamp up her face. Tomorrow... I won't make it out until after Claudia's back from running the crawfish traps.
15 years ago I had a head cold, but (spoiler alert) it was actually something worse: an infected spider bite. It ended up keeping me off the road 6 days! Flash forward 15 years... I actually have a head cold. No, really, I tested and it is not COVID.... we did that in January. Since it is just a cold it is not going to derail me for 6 days. It will make the laundry pile up. On the up side, it was unseasonably warm here (75°) so I went out to enjoy our tulips. Originally Posted April 07, 2007
Big Cane - 23.3 milesI woke this morning in South Park to another humidity free day. I wasn't able to get a hold of the Warmshowers in town, so I tried to keep warm in the windy chill while packing up. My head cold had worsened from the day before and a stop at Papa's Potatoes was needed to warm me up. "We specialize in Stuffed Potatoes" but I had hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, sausage, and what I would call a real southern biscuit. The motivation of the Warmshowers in Simmesport pushed me on. It's exciting to be back on the ACA route. In Big Cane at the grocery, they know my story and I signed their book. Claudia offered me a room that the headwinds and 40 degree temps made hard to turn down. Here in Catholic country all the families are getting together for Easter weekend renting fun jumps for the kids to play on. We went a couple houses down past their crawfish traps balancing carefully on the levies in their big truck to her sister's house for gumbo. Apparently I was quiet because they kept on asking me if I had siblings. They were a bit loud for me. But I contentedly observed the inner workings of a Louisiana family gathering and worked on the newspaper puzzles.
9.0 ave - 16.7 max - 2181.9 odo - 2:34:47 time I probably could have drawn this imaginary woman with more intense eyeliner... better luck next time perhaps. I love the details that I saved in my blog post 15 years ago: Originally Posted April 06, 2007
Opelousas - 50.28 milesStopping in Eunice at the DQ for some ice cream, I ordered from a woman who could only be described as wearing intense eyeliner. I was only just into Louisiana when I broke down. Perhaps there is more eyeliner to come. I left Kinder without much fanfare. I rode past fields of crawfish through the cool spring air, Good Friday is in observance today and there were few out pulling their traps in their shallow paddle wheel boats. Other observations of Louisiana include varying conditions of shoulders but usually with glass, large bullfrogs added to the repertoire of roadkill, and honkers. I don't understand how they don't understand that under no circumstance is honking a nice thing. Please understand that you are loud. I can hear you coming. I am not any more likely to get out of your way if you honk. Where do you expect me to ride? You are the one polluting with your gas guzzling truck or SUV. I think I'm done ranting for the day before I start getting mean.
9.3 ave - 15.7 max - 2147.7 odo - 5:23:26 time Freshwater and Marine Image Bank was the source of the reference photo of the fish. Originally Posted April 05, 200
Kinder - 0 milesI woke for the third time with an attempt at a comforting feeling that tomorrow I'd be on the road. Fortunately, this time, Dean was able to saw and tweak my tandem wheel to fit. After only 8 mights, I will continue to Opelousas. There isn't much else to say except that it only takes about a week for your patterns to change. I can hardly remember the lifestyle on the bicycle. At least I got to observe the time old tradition of scaling the freshly caught perch caught in the pond out behind your mom's house.
The only photo contest I can remember entering into: Black and White Photography Contest December 6-12, 2007 Vol. 16 Ed. 49 THE PRESS in Anchorage. I won 3rd place for this cockroach photo in the "Things" category. I won $20. Some other headlines include: Obama? Opening a campaign office? Here? Russian word for "illegal"? Chasing daylight A rich, dark marriage of chocolate and stout Originally Posted April 04, 2007
Kinder - 0 milesI woke for the second time with the comforting feeling that tomorrow I'd be back on the road. But not until 11 would I know this to be true... Then it wasn't until the wheel was delivered that I found the wheel to be too big to fit between the fork. Sometimes I can identify all too well with the cockroach next to the toilet laying flat on its back wriggling for movement.
On another note... Kinder shut down a Wal-Mart. I have a new found respect for this small town. April is heavy with birthdays (including my own). I use a perpetual calendar and there are 15 birthdays on it. Typically it is my birthday gift to me to (almost) ignore everyone else's birthday with the assumption that they will all ignore mine. But this year I am going to try to send out a few more cards than normal and it made a great excuse to finally make a bunny stamp. I first started carving stamps when I was about 40 weeks pregnant with Karl in 2014. I've largely gotten away from it and the supplies have been stashed in a drawer. It was great fun to dust off the lino cutter and share a new craft with Karl. In reality I sat down at the dining room table and started to carve my bunny stamp by myself. Karl quickly noticed I have two carving tools. After telling him not to touch it 15 times because it is dangerous and sharp... I relented and found him a larger piece of carving block. Thankfully he required little instruction and he is quite pleased with his handiwork. Originally Posted April 03, 2007
Kinder - 0 milesMy wheel did not come today. This fairly definitively means I won't be leaving until at least Thursday. It's 6 days 7 nights with out the pirates or romantic plot line. I guess the only commonalities are the timeline and the feeling of stuckness. It's not Kinder. Let me be clear. Kinder is quaint and slow. But I so desperately want to be working on my last 21 days. 1050 miles is all I have to go. The salt water spray is nearly stinging my nostrils. April is a heavy month for birthdays. Maybe the fourth of July is an exciting time for a lot of people. I made tuna today. That was exciting.
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