Lois Rides

Celebration

2010-04-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

Dipping our front wheels in the Atlantic Ocean. We started on March 5 by dipping our back wheels in the Pacific Ocean.

St. Augustine FL April 29, 2010

2010-04-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

We started the day with a final 40 mile ride through rural northern Florida, farms, mostly growing potatoes and deep woods. We arrived at the firehouse in St. Augsutine where we met our escort for the parade, 2 SUV police cruisers and two policemen on motorcycles. Here we are lining up. They took us through the town itself with all the intesections closed while we passed through. When we arrived at Anastasia State Park on the ocean they turned on their lights and sirens and we had a dramatic ride through the park to the ocean.

Here we are lining up for the parade.

What will I miss most when the tour ends?

2010-04-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we will arrive in St. Augustine. I wonder if I will sleep at all tonight. What will life be like back in the real world? We have spent 58 days together, this band of 22 independent determined women. We have conquered mountains, hills, rain, snow, leaking hotel roofs, and Txas chipseal roads. Tomorrow we will reach the Atlantic Ocean, or goal. As Linda says "3098 miles on a tiny seat."

I will miss the comraderie. I will miss seeing my sister every day. I will miss not being able to eat 5,000 calories a day. I will miss having a chef and needing to do my own grocery shopping and meal planning. In the photo is our chef telling us what she made for dinner. I will miss the countryside and riding and riding and riding.

Perry to High Springs to Patlaka FL April 27 and 28, 2010

2010-04-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Two days of 70+ miles each. Tuesday we passed through pine forest, horse farms and Ichetucknee Springs State Park. The state park was home to beautiful clear springs, the clearest most pristine water imaginable. The color was a turquoise blue. We stood in the cold clear water and soaked our aching legs.

Today started out with lots of logging trucks coming toward us and the faint smell of a paper mill nearby. As we rode the countryisde changed back to farms,mostly cattle. In the afternoon the logging trucks were all going the same direction we were. I never want to see another one from the viewpoint of a bike seat.

We saw this Brahman bull by the radside. I do not ever remember seeing one with floppy ears liek this guy had.

Wakulla Springs to Perry FL April 26, 2010

2010-04-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

A short fast ride 51 miles. We had a decent shoulder and road surface, somewhat of a tailwind and the terrain was flat, flat, flat. The miles zoomed by. Mostly it was through pine forests.

uUr lunch stop was at Mama's Italian restaurant, great food, cooked and served by Mama herself. She was a delight to talk to.

Our conversations lately are centering around where we will bike next and trying not to be morose that the ride is about to end. Our friend Patty wonders if she goes out to her driveway after the ride and sits on a plastic chair whether someone will bring her dinner?

Wakulla Springs FL, April 24 and 25, 2010

2010-04-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

A rest day at Wakulla Springs. An interesting place. Known for its crystal clear spring fed lake. There are under water caverns. Dinosaur bones discovered here. Movies have been filmed here including Tarzan and Airplane 1976. The lake is full of alligators, turtles and fish. Birds abound in the woods surrounding the lake. It poured rain on Sunday morning. It was so nice to wake up to the sound of rain and thunder and know we did not need to go anywhere.

A special note of interest to my parents and siblings, Edward Ball a plilanthropist and successful businessman, whose name was everywhere and who had the lodge built was a married to to Alfred I. Dupont's sister. We grew up on a farm we rented from the Alred I. Dupont Estate. Small world!

Marianna to Quincy FL Aprill 23, 2010

2010-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

A short beautiful ride, 54 miles, to the county seat of Quincy.Country roads. Miss Helen at lunch said that htere are 25 Coca Cola millionaires in Jackson County. They took a chance and bought some Coca Cola stock way back when.....

This picture is or my granddaughter Quincy.

Crestview to Marianna, FL April 22, 2010

2010-04-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today was our last really long day - 93 miles. We had a preacher visit us at one of our SAG stops. He started out by telling us that he is sympathetic to women who need to clean bathrooms after men. He had a job cleaning the men's room at a truck stop and said that men are just disgusting. They leave paper on the floor and drip water everywhere.... Then he launched into a short sermon. Some of the other women scooted away real fast when he was just getting warmed up. I stayed and ate my snack and stretched my muscles and added an Amen once or twice. JoAnn even gave him a Hallelujah. At the end he said he wanted to say a bendiction for us. He gave the one that Dad always used at church when we were growing up and I got a big lump in my throat and said it along with him (silently). At the end I told him my Dad was a preacher and he said the same bendiction every Sunday when I was growing up and he gave me a big hug and left. The verse on the back windsheld is original with him.

Dauphin Island AL to Pensacola FL April 20, 2010

2010-04-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful ride. We started out with a ferry ride off the island and rode for miles along the gulf shore. Soon after lunch we crossed another state line into Florida. I did not know whether to cheer or cry. I am so anxious to get home, but I will be so sorry to see this end.

Dauphin Island, AL April 19, 2010

2010-04-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Our rest day was on beautiful Dauphin Island. We were right on the beach. White sand, wild dunes and a swimming pool just outside the door. A great place to recuperate those tired old legs. We need to provide our own food on the rest days and here we are carrying a fresh seafood dinner for 9 back to the condos on our bikes!

Crossing the state line - Alabama

2010-04-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here we are crossing the state line into Alabama.

No, I was not afraid

2010-04-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is a real live alligator. His mouth is taped shut with electrical tape. We all took turns holding him. Hia name was Stumpy because a big gator took off his one foot when he was little.

Pascagoula, MS to Dauphin Island, AL April 18, 2010

2010-04-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

A fun day. We found an Alligator farm on the right and turned in. We saw baby alligators by the dozen. They are kept in separate pens because the adult gators eat the little ones. The mesquitos are just awful. I have dozens of bites, even a nest of more than 10 of them in the middle of my forehead.

Wiggins to Pascagula MS April 17, 2010

2010-04-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderful ride. 67 miles. There was no wind for a change, bright and sunny. The roads were through the country,back roads. The Azaleas are just amazing so I am posting another Azalea picture. About half of the ride was through a national forest. Truly the best riding conditions. We crossed a river close to the gulf and could see the gulf from the bridge. Great day. If we have too many more of these, I will be sorry to see it end!

Was I transported to Lancaster County?

2010-04-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

We saw this sign today, but no buggys came our way. Also did not see any Amish farms unless they have electricity here. Dad, do you know of any Amish communities in this part of Mississippi?

P.S. Obviously I have not figured out how to delete pictures when I accidentally duplicate them. Am still learning this blogging business.

Almost a bad scene

2010-04-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is a re=enactment of a scary moment this morning. I hit a splintered board on the shoulder and it jumped up and got stuck in my wheel. I got stopped and removed the board and went safely on my way and then regretted not getting a picture, so we re-enated it for your viewing pleasure!

Bogalusa LA to Wiggins MS April 16, 2010

2010-04-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

We crossed another state line! Blue skies, more azaleas, more tall pines and grazing cattle and lots and lots of Baptist Churches. One of my best riding days yet, only 60 miles. Things are going much better since I have admitted I cannot keep up with Linda. This road sign picture is especially for my grandson Holden. I saw a Shelby Street sign one day but the traffic was too heavy to stop, sorry Shelby. I will keep looking.

Hammond to Bogalusa, LA April 15, 2010

2010-04-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful ride through rural Louisiana. I think it might be race horse country. Saw lots of horses and even a trailer that said it was carrying race horses. Coninue to see lots of tall pines and the logging trucks carrying them out. The azaleas are in full bloom and all of them are huge compared to the PA bushes. They are as big as the hedge in my back yard and are often used as hedges. Gorgeous. We saw one field of horses, about 20. They were all the same color and some of the most beautiful horses I have ever seen. Every time I snapped the camera they would run, so I did not get any pictures of the whole herd. It was a short day, 55 miles and no major terrain challenges.

St. Francisville to Hammond LA April 14, 2010

2010-04-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today was another long ride, 86 miles. Much easier on rested legs. We are winding our way through rural Louisiana. Today we found a strawberry farm and stopped to buy some strawberries from the farm. We had to eat all we bought since there was no way to carry them. It brought back memories of our strawberry picking days. Dad's rule was 20 quarts before breakfast and then Mother made wonderful big breakfasts for us with all the trimmings. It was a no picture day.

Rest day in St Francisville LA

2010-04-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

We a wonderful day off in St. Francisville. We stayed in a charming Bed and Breakfast called the St. Francisville Inn. There was a flower filled courtyard in the back, perfect for relaxing. We cleaned our bikes, did some work, went out to lunch, had some ice cream and just recuperated. The flowers were in the courtyard and the pig was out in front of where we ate lunch.

Linda and her new riding buddy

2010-04-14T18:18:00.001-07:00

Here are Linda and Karen who just ride like it is all downhill.

I had to find a new riding buddy

2010-04-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

Linda is routinely leaving me in the dust, so I had to find someone else to ride with, so here is Suzanne. Linda is so strong and seems to be unaffected by the headwinds.

For everyone who owns their own business

2010-04-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

This sign is for my daughter Sara and my son-in-law Andrew and anyone else who is in business for themselves!

Not Your Mama's Cafe

2010-04-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

We had lunch at Not Your Mama's cafe and ate some local Louisiana food. I had a a Po Boy Catfish Sandwich, basically a big hamburger type bun with catfish, lettuce, tomato and some type of sauce, very tasty. Food is amazing after a long morning of biking. There were a lot of clever signs hanging around the cafe, like "anyone who has teenagers knows why animal eat their young." This one in the picture is especially for my fishing brother, Ken.

Cyprus Knees

2010-04-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Back in the fifties when I was a little girl everyone who went for a southern vacaction came home with a highly polished wooden lamp made from Cyress knees. Yesterday I saw the real thing in a Cypress swamp.

Yard art

2010-04-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the yard art is just so entertaining we stop for pictures. Here is a Buddah with Mardi Gras beads. Let's see that is a combination of an eastern religion with the partying Catholics of the Gulf coast.

Lafayette to St. Francisville LA April 12, 2010

2010-04-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today was an exciting day. We crossed the Mississippi River on a ferry. We rode our bikes onto the ferry with all the cars. The river is very muddy looking. I am sure it is because the soil here is so full of clay.

We need water too

2010-04-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

Our SAG ca follows us and stops every 20 miles so we can fill our camelbacks and water bottles. We mostly ride on very rural roads and sometimes there is no place to stop and buy water, so the SAG is our lifeline to water.

Rice fields

2010-04-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

The other industry here is rice. We passed rice paddies. Not much to see at this time of year, but the rice is starting to grow. I understand that sometimes rice and crayfish are raised together. My dinner last evening also included rice, so it was a very local dinner!

Water, water everywhere - crayfish farm

2010-04-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

The industry revolves around water. We passed farm after farm where crayfish are raised. See the buoys? We think they are attached to traps. We topped off the day with a visit to a restaurant with cajun food. I learned that cajun is short for arcadian and that the cajuns were transplanted french Canadians. Lots of French influence. Street names often start with Rue.... The band at the restaurant consisted of an accordian, washboard, drums and a bass. I had cajun crawfish for dinner. Tasty.

On the way to Lafayette, Louisiana Aprill 11, 2010

2010-04-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Brackish water. We spend a lot of time looking at what is just to the right of our bikes at ground level. These days it is a ditch of brackish water. Sometimes there are cattails growing in the water, sometimes ragweed, sometimes just standing water or mud. Once I saw 4 or 5 wild turkeys in the ditch. Another time at a rather upscale community the water and mud was covered with spanish moss obviously placed there to make it look less disgusting. The point is the water table is very close to the surface and the evidence is everywhere. In some cemeteries the dead are not buried, but rather put in vaults above ground. In the picture is such a cemetery.

Unfinished business with Texas

2010-04-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

Before I get any further in Louisiana I need to get this sticker off my helmet!

Train

2010-04-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

We have crossed lots of train tracks, but today was the first time we had to stop to let a long tain pass.

Azaleas

2010-04-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

In Louisiana the Azaleas are blooming and the bushes are huge compared to the ones at home.

Hello Louisiana

2010-04-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

There was no Welcome to Louisiana sign, so we used one that Kathy Kirby's friends made.

Silsbee TX to Lake Charles LA April 10, 2010

2010-04-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today was an 80 mile ride and we rode out of Texas and into Louisiana. We were all happy to be through Texas. We spent 20 days riding across Texas. It feels like such a milestone to be in another state. Yesterday and today we were riding through logging country. Lots of tall pines and it seems like that is what the logging trucks are carrying. Some places there are acres of smaller pines sort of like Christmas tree farms, but the pines are the logging type. The terrain is quite flat. The rivers and and bodies of water have changed dramtically to a muddy brown. In West Texas they were crystal clear.

Texas Longhorn

2010-04-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

I think I finally got a photo of a longhorn. I was so close I could almost touch him and he just stood and watched me take his picture.

Texas Waffles

2010-04-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

In honor of almost leaving Texas I had a Texas shaped waffle for breakfast. Many hotels here have Texas shaped waffle irons so that we can make Texas waffles for breakfast. I had mine with bannanas, jelly and milk.

Navasota to Cleveland TX 4-8-2010

2010-04-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a great ride, 75 miles, most of it through the Sam Houston National Forest, great road surfaces, light traffic and a tail wind, bright sunshine, and 70 degrees. It was so great that my sister Linda went on an absolute tear and got in 2nd for the day. She completely left me in the dust during the first 10 miles. When I got to the first SAG stop at 20 miles the SAG driver said "your sister said to tell you you are on your own and she will not see you unless she has a flet tire." At 40 miles the SAG driver said "Linda is feeling guilty about leaving you behind, but she is still going ahead." At 60 miles the SAG driver said "She got to this stop before I did and did not wait." She got in an hour ahead of me. I have created a monster.

Rest day Navasota Texas April 7, 2010

2010-04-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the old tandem bike on the far corner of the Funk's property

Rest day Navasota Texas

2010-04-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful thing it is to rest! Here are a few corrections to yesterday. Here is the picture of the gate with the prickly pear at Sabra ranch.

LaGrange to Navisoto Texas April 6 2010

2010-04-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

A long and very windy ride - 70 miles of unrelenting wind. A month ago I could never have completed it, but today I did. It was miles and miles of farms, lakes, pine trees, cattle and fields of wild flowers.

Yesterday we met an Israeli couple who came to this country 30 years ago. They are bikers and invited us to stop by their ranch for coffee on our ride this morning. Their ranch is called Sabra ranch which has two meanings: prickly pear and Israeli born. On the gate you can see a prickly pear. They raise longhorne cattle. Azra Funk came out to the road in her jeep and brought us coffee and kolatchies (pastries). They ride a tandem bike. Teir old one is mounted on their ranch sign.

Bastrop to LaGrange Texas April 5, 2010

2010-04-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

41 miles. A shorter day, more time to take pictures and play. The terrain has completely changed. Tall pine trees. Big fields of grazing cattle. Lots of green. Very humid. Here are the pictures I did not take today: a black butterfly flitting in tall grass, 4 Brahman cows hanging out, two dozen cows and one donkey in the shade, a big sign on the way into town BOSS STEAKHOUSE - STEAKS - MEXICAN FOOD - SEAFOOD - ALLIGATOR, a big green lush field with black cows. Here is a picture I did take. The Easter bunny one day late.

Blanco to Bastrop Texas April 3, 2010

2010-04-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

93 miles. A long hard ride. I kept reminding myself it was Easter Sunday and sang Easter anthems to myself as I rode. The wild flowers in this part of Texas are amazing. The radsides seem to have about 8 feet on either side where wild flowers grow. I enjoyed them as a sign of Esater. The scenery is gradually getting more green and less arid.

Kerville to Blanco Texas April 2, 2010

2010-04-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a 65 mile ride that started out in the light rain. It was freezing cold in the morning and then got really warm. The morning was through a somewhat wooded area and back and forth over creeks and small water falls. It went by very quickly and before lunch we had gone 40 miles. We thought it would be a piece of cake - then the afternoon came. The road turned back into chipseal and was rough and hilly. Somewhere around 4:00 we dragged into town whining miserably. This photo is supposed to be an action shot!

Kerrville Texas April 1, 2010

2010-04-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today was a rest day. Beth McCartney and friend Sharon came to the hotel to spend the afternoon. We ate lunch in a cute little cafe and then they took me shopping to pick up a few things I needed, dental floss and velco straps, things that become majopr items when you have no car! My bike was in the shop all day getting new brakes. We played dominos poolside in the afternoon and then went out to dinner. Beth and I are acting like Texans.

Vanderpool to Kerrville Texas

2010-04-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

The last few days we have been riding through the Texas Hill Country. The rest of us would call them mountains, the Texans call them hills. The trees are getting leaves and starting to bloom. There are lakes and rivers and and more big ranches. The route we took was winding and curvy and very steep at places. There were also some long stretches of rolling hills, the kind I love. Pedal downhill as fast as possible and see if you can make to the top of the next hill without going into the granny gear. It has been sunny and the road has been better. Actually the road has been older and more pressed down and worn off, not so bumpy. The wind has been mostly in our favor and not too bad. Tomorrow we have a rest day. My legs need it. My brakes are giving me a problem so my bike is in the shop getting new breaks.

Two days after the long day

2010-03-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Bracketville to Camp Wood Texas 3-30-2010 48 more miles on Texas Chip Seal. It rattles everything on the bike, it rattles the bones, the waterbottles, the hands and rattles some more. We are getting into the Texas Hill Country. It is greener with rolling hills. We passed some immense ranches today and saw sheep, cattle and huge vultures eating roadkill. Yesterday I think I was surprised I could even get back on the bike after the 111 mile day and was just amazed all day that I could still ride. Today was just a fight to keep going even though the wind was not bad and the terrain was rolling hill fun. My legs need a long break. Tomorrow we are doing some steep and serious climbing. Let's see 39 miles - if I just walk the bike the whole way I could finish in 10 hours. We have that much daylight, maybe I will just walk it.....

Sanderson to Del Rio Texas 3-28-2010

2010-03-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

The longest day of our ride, 111 miles. I did it, I did it. The weather was great, wind was not a big factor. Some headwinds, some crosswinds but most tailwinds. Yes. Lots of rolling hills and of course Texas chipseal. It really rattled our bones.

2010-03-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Marathon to Sanderson Texas, March 27, 2010. We turned left our of the hotel parking lot and rode for 55 miles and turned left into the Outback Oasis Hotel. There were no towns or services in between. It is really desolate in this part of the world. The ride was fairly easy with a tailwind most of the way. Now we are resting up for the big ride tomorrow - 111 miles to Del Rio. I have been trying to help my legs recover by rolling on a styrofoam roller that someone has. It is supposed to help the circulation. I will probably also do some ice.

The lady who owns this motel keeps a room ful of live snakes just off the lobby. I glanced in but have not spent any time there. This motel is provides the basics, nothing like the hotel where we were last night.

For those of you who have not been following me on facebook, let me just say that this ride is harder than I ever imagined. The first couple of weeks I really struggled. It is better now and I am feeling stronger. I am learning to accept the wind and try to have a conquering attitude toward it instead of just wishing it would go away. I am accepting Texas chip seal as a road surface, the positive aspect is that the vibration improves the circulation. In this more desolate area the traffic is lighter which is a plus.

Fort Davis to Marathon Texas

2010-03-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a rest day. I spent part of the afternoon changing my front tire that I mended about 10 days ago with a dollar bill after I hit some debris on the road. It was the first time I did the work with someone prompting me. I also put in a new tube, just to make sure everything would be in good shape. This morning my new tire was flat. The tube had a faulty stem. Later in the morning I had another flat tire. The second tube also had a faulty stem. I have had 6 flats altogether and am tied for first place in the flat tire derby! Not an honor I wish to have. We are int he wilds of the Texas outback. There is nothing here except ranches and an occasional RV Park. The roads are chip seal, widely used in Texas. Rough. The traffic has been light and the headwinds strong and mighty.

Our hotel tonight, the Gage Hotel, is amazing. Built in the 1800's and refurbished in the 1970's very excellent accommodations.