Coast to Coast

37 Riding days, 4 Days off, just under 2800 miles, 9 states, and 3 flats (all in two days) = San Diego CA to St Augistine FL and completion of Crossing # 3

Both Patty and I finished safely yesterday. Patty was a little ahead of me and was sitting on the beach at Anastasia State Park when I arrived. She did a great job in support and can now say she drove the camper from coast to coast.

We really must have "road angels" because even though I have had the wind in my face for most of the last 2000 miles, the only day I got wet on the bike was day one as I was leaving San Diego. Other than that I have beat the rain every day.

We are going to enjoy the beach and the local area for a few days and just relax. Patty did a 13 mile run this morning on the beach and I just went for a long walk. We then plan to head up towards the Appalachian Trail and provide a little "trail magic" before heading home.

This was an interesting crossing and much different then the other two. Being on the bike in traffic every day is just a different experience and not as relaxing as paddling the river or hiking a trail. I also do not think it was as demanding physically.

I am always glad to complete a huge task like this and I really enjoyed the experience and the people I met. Once I complete a crossing I don't know if I would want to do the same trip again, because there are so many other things to do.

As I always say, Life is short, experience as many things as you can and always find things that will challenge you.

HOW HAVE YOU CHALLENGED YOURSELF LATELY?

See you soon.

Jeff

3/25/09

Less than 400 miles to go!
Jeff has really been peddling fast and hard. We went through Louisianna, Mississipi and Alabama so fast I could hardly keep up with him. I did manage to find a beach
on Gulf Shores just as we were leaving Alabama. We spent a night on Dauphin Island
Alabama and then rode the ferry across Mobile Bay which was about a 4 mile ride. It was after that I found the beaches of Gulf Shores. It looked like a really nice area and it is a place I would like to go back to and spend some more time. Jeff has been riding about 90 miles per day, with much of it into the wind. There is rain in the forcast for today and all the through Saturday, so he is really trying to get done.
So far no rain today. I am in the public library in Chiplay this morning, giving
Jeff a head start. The library has a full stuffed giraffe and lion which were donated by Sylvester Stalone. Jeff has been riding on scenic highway 90 for the past 2 days and will be on it for today also. That makes it easier for me to follow him. The road has been great with nice shoulders for him to ride.
Take care and I hope Minnesota is warming up!
Patty

Jeff's Post from Poplarville MS

Patty posted earlier today, but, she never posts any pictures with her in them, so I will do so. A little over 2000 miles on the bike and I finally feel like I am back in bike shape. Patty has been cracking the whip pretty hard, but, I have been enjoying the riding conditions. It is hard to beat temps in the low 70's every afternoon with clear skies. Some of the roads are really small with little traffic and have been a real treat to ride. I think we have about 800 miles to do and it can only get flatter as we head towards the coast.

The pictures I have posted include Patty at St Francisville having lunch in a park, Patty driving on to the Ferry and on the Ferry, a small country road, and a road following the Mississippi.

It is kind of funny, but when I paddled the river all I could see from the river was the Levee and when I rode along the river all I could see from the road was the levee. People do not have much of a view of the Mississippi down here.

Into Mississippi 3/20/09

After a 4 day rest due to rain, Jeff is on the bike again. He started with 2 half days of riding since when I met him for lunch it had started to rain again for the afternoon. We managed to make it out of Texas on March 17. Jeff has been putting in 90 to 100 mile days and we are out of Louisianna and into Mississippi as of today. The weather has been 70 to 80's and sunny with a little cooling off at night. Yesterday we went through St. Francisville and had to take the Ferry across the Mississippi River. I managed to meet Jeff before the Ferry so we were able to ride the Ferry together. That is where is River trip intersected with the bike trip so it was kind of neat to see that crossing.

I found St. Francisville a very interesting town to visit and spent some time there after Jeff took off on the bike again. I really enjoyed seeing all the houses from the early 1800's and found the civil war history interesting. I found a shop called Grandmother's Buttons. It was a crafty neat place to spend some time.

I found some fresh shrimp and oysters today. We have been looking forward to trying some fresh shrimp and I have some cajun seasoning to try also.

The azaleas are in full bloom and are beautiful.

Patty

Navasota TX and a Weather Delay

Taking a few days off due to weather. I don't mind riding in 40 degree weather and I don't mind riding into a wind, and I don't mind riding in a little rain, but, when they are all going on at the same time all day long, it just is not as much fun, so I am taking a few days off. One thing is for sure, Texas really needs the rain. I should still finish around the end of the month. I think most of my climbing is over. The last 3 maps don't even have elevation profiles on them and I should be staying pretty close to the coast. After just under 1500 miles the last couple of hundred into the wind, my legs were pretty dead and a few days off will be good for me. We will be crossing into Louisiana in a couple of days and it will be good to get into a new state. Texas really is a big state and a long way across.

I thought I would post some roadside flowers for all of you who are still covered in snow back home. Have a great day.

Jeff

Greetings from LaGrange Texas. We stayed at the Colorado River RV park in LaGrange TX last night. It is a very nice RV park with a little river running behind it. This river still had water in it. But talking to the people from around here, Texas is in a very severe drought. They are all praying for rain and we are just hoping to get through Texas before it rains. Jeff is peddling as far and as fast as he can each day. It is supposed to rain tomorrow and the next few days. Every morning it does look like it could rain, but then it doesn't. If it were Minnesota, we would have rain.

Jeff has been riding on some very secondary roads. Yesterday and today I will not be going exactly the same way he is. I will meet him sometime later this afternoon and then he will decide if he wants to go farther. We are going to meet in Novasota. I had better get going as it is almost noon and I am still at the RV park. I did go for a run this morning. It was a little warm and humid (about 70 degrees). Jeff did meet another biker a few days ago. He was heading into Austin and Jeff took the route that bypassed Austin. Don't know if we will see him again.

It's always good to hear from friends and family back home. Hope the blizzard isn't as bad as they are saying. Stay warm and take care.

Patty

Kyle TX

Days off are good for you. Had a good day off in Fredrickburg TX with my folks yesterday. It is a little touristy with a heavy German heritage. Had about 95 miles on the ride today with a lot of ups and downs in the Texas Hill country. I was having some problems with my computer staying on and that is why I say about 95 miles. The winds are still out of the SE but are lighter and I am more protected. Kyle is on I - 35 about 25 miles south of Austin. The Adventure cycling route takes you between Austin and San Antonio and hopefully I will avoid the majority of traffic that goes with those two cities. Everything in Texas is gated and fences run on both sides of all the roads. I found a gate that I liked and shot a picture. It is typical of many. There are also a lot of high water signs on the roads on top of now dry creek beds. It must really rain to bring some of the rivers and streams to the top of those high water marks. see the first picture. Take care

Jeff

Kerrville TX, First day off

We met my mom and dad yesterday in Kerrville as they were heading north from South Padre. It will be nice to take a day off today. The winds have been in my face and on my right side for the past few days. I have also had some big climbs in the Texas Hill country. I climbed a couple of hills on Thursday that they have a race on every few years called the "Killer Diller Roadbike Race", Google it if you are interested in seeing some of the comments. Yesterdays ride was along the Guadaloupe River and was really nice. I am glad to be out of the desert and into a little more scenery. I have about 1300 miles on and think I am just about half way. I still hope to be done around the end of the month if the winds and the rains hold off. I also am tired of some of the big rock seal coated roads down here. They don't role as smooth as some of the good roads at home.

March 5, 2009

We went through Del Rio, TX yesterday. I had stopped at an RV repair store to get a window in our camper resealed as it had leaked on us when we started in San Diego. The lady in the RV store assured me it would not be raining anytime soon in Texas and they had not seen rain since last August. I can tell it is a bit dry around here as most of the creeks we cross are totally dry. Only the major rivers, like the Pecos river that flows into the Rio Grande, have water in them.

I'm not sure how many miles Jeff end up with yesterday, (approximately 70) but we made it to Bracketville. We parked our camper next to the high school track and watched track practice for the day. It was hard to believe having track practice in early March with temps in the 70's. Can you even see the track in Little Falls with all the snow?

We will be meeting Jeff's parents in Kerrville tomorrow. Jeff will then take a much needed day off.

Sanderson TX

Just a quick note to let eveyone know the good Lord kept us safe for another day. Still fighting a little head wind and cross wind, but, had a little more down hill today and got in 83 miles before calling it a day. I have only been doing between 5-6 hours per day. This is so much easier than hiking and the downhills don't hurt nearly as much.

It is nice to have a computer along with all the unsecured wi fi around.

We will try to make it into Del Rio on Wed and then meet my mom and dad on Thurs or Friday as they head home from San Padre. Weather is still cool in the am and 80 by the afternoons.

Until next time, we just keep heading down the road in an easterly direction.

Alpine Texas

Had a tough day yesterday and today as the winds have shifted. I was not even going to ride yesterday as the winds were "hazerdous" in the 50-60 mph range out of the east. By 1pm I was a little ancy and decided to ride but to change the route from what I had planned and instead of going through the mountains to take pick up Hwy 90 and head South south east. I only did 40 miles but that was enough with the strong cross winds. Today the winds were out of the SE and that was the direction I had to go. It was my toughest day yet and after 63 miles I arrived in the town of Alpine TX. We are in a small RV park. I am now on the Adventure Cycling route and will head for Del Rio on Hwy 90. It is supposed to loose some elevation and I am hoping the winds will change in my favor.