is there anybody out there?... just nod if you can hear me

It's been about a month since my last blog - I finished my cross country drive and have finally found some time - so here is the final blog - I'll keep it short and sweet - but I still wanted to give some props to people I met on the trip.

I believe it was Christiansburg, Virgina where Karli, Lisa and I stayed with the Lee family. I don't have a picture of the family, but I do have one of their house -- but they were incredibly nice and provided us beds, laundry and showers. Dr. Lee rode the TransAm a few years back with his two sons.

Outside of Mineral, VA - we stopped in to visit Karli's friend Lauren - who lives and works at a communal living farm called Acorn. Karli and I stayed at Acorn for a few days and helped in the garden and setup thier booth at the local farmers market. I throughly enjoyed my visit at Acorn - the people were super cool and it was a welcome break from the ride to do a little gardening. I would rank it up as one of my favorite stops on the trip - and, if life leads me that way - I may go back to visit and spend more time there. Thanks Lauren and all the other Acorns.

In Mechanicsville, Va we stopped in with the Mackey family - who took us in - beds, laundary, showers, dinner -- gave us a tour of Richmond and even bought us vegan supplies -- you guys rock!

Last but not least I would like to give a shout out to Len --- who I mentioned in an earlier blog --- Len was one of those riders that we kept on running into. Karli and I first met Len as we entered Kansas - he was stopped on the side of the road talking to some Brits that were hiking across the US (now that's crazy!!!) -- he kept up with us for a while and chatted and then stopped to take pics. From there we ran into him again in Pittsburg, KS --- Carbondale, Il -- and Seabre, KY. Len was riding from California (I think San Francisco) to Canada (St. Laurence River) -- and from where we left him in Kentucky he was leaving the TransAm to take the Underground Railroad Route north. Len was super cool - full of energy - and had a good spirit --- good luck with the rest of your trip Len.

Len's blog: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/lenh --- then go to 'the three pistols tour' (kind of wish our tour had a cool name like that)


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Thanks to everyone who provided me with support and encouragement throughout this experience. I hope all the multitude of readers out there enjoyed this blog -- and I also hope that I have inspired you to reach for your dreams - they may seem difficult, but unless you take a leap towards them - you will never know if they are possible.

Peace and Happiness,
paul

Vegan Philly Cheese Steak - Here I Come!

A week ago today, Karli and I stopped in Wilmington, NC to visit/rest for a few days with Jennifer R. - who is super cool and took us in for a few days. It was great - we did a lot of relaxing and made frequent visits to the health food stores -- it rained every day while we were there - so it kind of gave us an excuse to just lay around (except Karli still found time to run). Jenn was a very hospitable host - especially since she had never met us before and was letting us stay for a while - but we all quickly became pals -- you rock Jenn!!

We departed on Tuesday to head down to Southport, NC -- Jenn actually came with us for the trip(again rocking) and stopped in to stay with my cousin Jill D.

Southport is a cool little beach town and my cuz lives just off of the Cape Fear River -- I chilled there for a few days before my flight out to Philladelphia, PA (Shayne, note the PA at the end that denotes Pennsylvania as the state not Philadelphia) earlier today.

Karli, on the other hand, spent the night and continued her trip down to Savannah, GA the next day.

I don't know if I can put into words how fortunate I was to have done this trip with Karli - she is truly an amazing and inspiring person - incredibly knowledgeable and I've learned so much from her. The vegan side of the force is very strong with this one - I couldn't have asked for a better master - maybe better food options - but I feel honored to have had the opportunity to learn under her with such harsh conditions - kudos to you Karlita.

Best of luck on the rest of your trip and be safe -- I miss you girl.

Jill brought me to the airport this morning - and I'm currently blogging with dial-up at my folks house in PA. I've had my cheese steak (x2) - not so vegan - and have even returned my faulty thermarest to REI.

You'd think it ends here - but tomorrow I head down to my brother's house in Maryland where my family is meeting for my sisters birthdays -- and on Monday it's off to SLC with my nephew (Nick) for the wedding - and POSSIBLY down to St. George.

I have a few more people to thank and things to blog about -- but I'll get to those at a later date --- so, don't delete my blog from your favorites yet.

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pics:


Jenn - "working" at home

Jenn rocking - I mean, training for her Ironman competition - Karli and I tried to keep up


Cousin Jill and her dog Floyd (as in Pink) and bird Jimmy (as in Buffet)

moments before Karli leaves and I'm the only one left in the group

all my stuff packed up for the plane ride
homeward bound --- you know it's going to be a good flight if you have to walk out to the plane

author's note: woah buddy that beard grows fast


author's p.s.: if you weren't counting - and you should be - I won --- not only did I get to the Atlantic first, but I also got the girl... however, she does seem to be getting away -- but I do feel like I got the final rose, or the clock, or my torch is still lit or something - so take that everyone else

keep on livin the dream

I do have some more things to post, but I'm not sure when I'll get around to them - but in the mean time, if you are still in need of your blog fix -- check out Karli's perspective of our trip at:
http://arlikay.blogspot.com

I also wanted to note the official weigh in -- 186lbs
I know what your thinking -- and it's not true... my beard didn't weigh 34lbs!!

success!

We have successfully achieved our coast-to-coast journey - reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Kitty Hawk, NC. We cruised south on the Outter Banks and are currently resting in Wilmington, NC. Our OBX (the cool way to write Outter Banks) journey was a little shorter than we had anticipated - due to the expensive nature of a crowded beach community and the crowded beach community. I had visited the OBX back when I was a youngster and had fond memories of a sparsely populated island community - with barley a tourist in sight --- and much to my dismay, it was full of tourist and tourist crap for sale :( -- it was beautiful - however, there was no need to spend too much time there (more rest days!!!)

We have had word from Kev - letting us know that they are just under a week from finishing their trip and that things are going well. They even did a little bit of rock climbing and took a couple of days at Mammoth Caves National Park.

We have had no word from Dave since Damascus - but he has most likely reached the coast and started his ride back to Ann Arbor, MI

Bryan is cruising along and is currently in Missouri - he stayed in Colorado for about a month - where his hottie girlfriend, Jenn (who Karli and I are currently staying with in Wilmington) came out and rode with him for a month -- check out his blog at: http://aguyandhislaptop.blogspot.com/
I may even be able to catch up with him on his ride as I drive back east with Nick -- we'll see though, he might have to ride really slow in order for me to do that and I think he's ready to be back home and will be putting in some big rides.

I spoke with Jay the other day and since I last saw him in New Meadows, ID (where I wrecked) - he rode up to Missoula where he stayed for 5 days, picked up some maps for the Northern Tier Route (http://www.adv-cycling.org/routes/northerntier.cfm) --- he pushed on through Montana, stopping here and there with some families and even working on a farm for a bit -- through North Dakota, where he came down with the flu and had to stop for 9 days to recover ---- and when I talked with him he was just starting into Minnesota and possibly heading up through Canada. His final destination is Boston - where his family resides.

Best of luck to all my friends and fellow bikers that are still riding - keep peddling and may the wind be at your backs ---- keep in touch.

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pics:

the Atlantic is just over this dune (no, we didn't actually ride into the ocean)
kick ass!
totally kick ass!

grass and water -- on the OBXthe Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
our bikes on the OBX ferry
if you zoom in and look really hard, you can see us and our bikes on this OBX ferry
tough as nails -- we had to look tough with all of the tourists checking us out -- otherwise they might have ganged up on us and thrown us over



Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.
-William Butler Yeats

60 miles away from the end of the road... or are we?

Current location: Mechanicsville, VA
Google Maps distance to Yorktown: 62 miles
Google Maps distance to final destination: 313 miles... south

Yeppers -- I'm no longer heading north to Pennsylvania - as I had originally planned - but instead I'll be going south to Southport, NC. In the planning stages of the trip I had mulled over the options of riding north to PA or south through the Outer Banks - possibly ending in Myrtle Beach to visit a friend, whom we'll call Bommer - who never returns my calls. And since, Karli is heading south to Savannah (and then catching a ride to Atlanta) - I decided to accompany her as far as I could considering my time constraint -- a flight out of Newark, NJ to Salt Lake City, UT on the 6th of August --- instead of riding solo - through Washington D.C. (the murder capital of the world).

So, from here in Mechanicsville, we will not be going east to Yorktown (the traditional ending at the Atlantic) - instead we will be heading south to Southport, NC. Our anticipated arrival in Southport is in the neighborhood of July 31st - August 2nd --- depending on how much time we spend in the Outer Banks. I fly out of Wilmington to Philadelphia on the 3rd of August --- which is when I'll reach the motherland (testmonkey).

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The current group situation:

MY group currently consists of Karli and myself.

If you reference the 'rain rain go away' post - the last time we saw Kevin, Nix, Derek and Linus was on our way to Toronto, KS from Newton, KS --- and that still stands as the last we've seen of them. However, we have had a few text conversations, so we know that they have been a few days behind and have picked up Mark (Nix's friend from the UK) who was to ride with them for a couple of weeks -- but aside from that, our communications have been slim to none. :( If you guys are reading my blog - I hope your ride is going well and we'd love to hear from you. :)

We saw Dave last in Damascus, VA - where Karli and I took a rest day to wait for my buddy Lisa to come down and visit for a while -- and Dave decided to keep riding. We had hoped to put in some big days to catch up with Dave, but haven't seen him on the route - and our only communication is via email - and this blog --- Hi Dave! hope your ride is going well - drop me a e-line.

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pics:


Lisa-Lisa-Bo-Bisa SAG'd for us for 3 days -- she rocks!! (here's her doing her toes)


















convenient SAG table - to make our favorite meal on the trip -- PB&J/PB&B













we are very demanding and Lisa was very busy













Success! The reason for our SAG -- the climb out of Vesuvius, VA to the Blue Ridge Parkway.












riding through a tunnel somewhere in Virginia



















I've got more pics, but I've got to evacuate from this computer... adios folks.

I don't think I'll be able to post until Wilmington, NC - but we'll see.

ps - yes Matt, cigarettes are vegan and anonymous posts are lame - put your name :)

Ken-tuc-ky

-which is Algonquin for "the good land."

Actually that's a line from Wayne's World doesn't go with Kentucky and I have no idea what Kentucky means -- however I do know that it is not the worst state ever to ride your bike through. It was all hype -- there were no wild dogs - or wild people -- a little bit more trash along the road than normal -- but a very beautiful state with very friendly people - even if you can't understand a word they say.

But I'm not here to tell you about anymore of my progress -- well, OK - we are through Kentucky and now in Damascus, VA - but that's it. This blog is dedicated to a couple brave souls that have put us up along the way.

The first set -- left to right - Heidi and Liz - of Newton, Kansas

I know you're reading this and I would like to say - you guys rock -- we had a ton of fun staying at your place - and you can take pride in knowing it was the only place we stayed for two days (that is if you don't count West Yellowstone and the fact we were waiting for the other 1/2 of the group) -- but still we were psyched to chill with you cats.

There were many firsts --- the first time I've ever been in a rompus room -- the first time I've ever sat down and talked to a Mennonite - let alone more than one -- and then, to top it all off, my first dumpster diving experience. People, let me tell you - dumpster diving in Newton Kansas could be your livelihood --- the booty consisted of numerous CARTONS of cigarettes, a box of cereal, and a muffin mix -- granted it was all expired, but who cares when it's free!

But wait, there's more - I know we already topped it off, but they road out with us the next day -- I believe it was 10 miles -- all before they had to rush back and go to work --- now that's awesome.














Next up - Paige, Andy, Lillian & Claire (and McKenzie but we never actually met) - from Berea, Ky

A very cool family -- actually picked us up in town and brought us to their home - about 6 miles out of Berea - all three of us! Again with the hospitality -- food (including BEER!) - laundry - showers - beds! These guys went out of their way -- Paige even went into town to get vegan food for Karli to enjoy the delicious cookout they prepared.

They have hosted many bikers over the years and the kids seemed to look forward to the newcomers and enjoyed our company -- I think they actually wanted us to stay another day.

This is their newest dog - Monk - named so for his monkey-like appearance -- I couldn't get over how unusual this dog looked - very cute none the less. I don't think the picture captures it's monkey features. The morning we left Paige had to take him into the vet -- hope you are doing well Monk :)








This final shot is classic -- Andy is showing us the short-cuts on the trail -- thanks Andy! We'll take any time saving routes we can get at this point.

And to answer your comment, Andy - Karli (as well as Dave and myself) made it up all the hills - only having to get off the bike on one of them :) -- but still made it -- thanks!

And thanks again for you and your family taking care of us.

This concludes my shout out to our latest "trail angels" -- thanks for your kindness.

just two good old boys (and karli), never meaning no harm...

...someday the mountain might get them but the law never will (still part of the duke boys song).

Anywho - though I'd catch up on some pictures - some from all the way back in Pueblo, Colorado - until last night in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Derek testing the waterproofness of a roadside find --- Karli was more than happy to help

Some lousy ladybug looking to hitch a ride in Kansas -- look how fast I'm going - the road is a blur!Karli and Dave at a little league baseball game in Nickerson, Kansas
This is how we roll.

After a weary night of lightning - wind - thunder - lightning - thunder - lightning.

When you can't swim in the pool - sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands to cool down.

Crossing the Missississisippisssipi.

Remember that last post about the rain? (it rained 8 inches)

See way out there, where the trees should come together on the horizon -- that's a sweet climb we can see from miles away. Crossing the Ohio - can anyone tell me what is above the treeline - just right of center?I wanted to ride under it.

This is Len -- I hope to blog about him later -- but he has replaced Clive as that guy we keep running into.

Karli was locked behind this gate where we were camping -- we had to pass her things - bike included - over the fence to get her out -- then we camped behind the school.