Monday, October 31, 2011

Taz's Ending Thoughts

First I'd like to say thanks. Thanks to all the family and friends who support(or hold their breath) the crazy adventures I do and to the family and friends of those that are with me on this adventure. Without your calls, emails, texts, Facebook comments this would have been an even longer trip!

Next I would like to congratulate all four of the people I have with me...Bob, Cindy, Basil and even Karlie our Driver. What was done takes courage to even attempt and is only accomplished by a hand full of people. It is something to be proud of!

I would like to think that this trip will change each one of these guys in some way down deep that fits their future. I know my first trip definitely had that affect one me. Actually, it totally turned my life upside down and made me know that any goal I set or dream I dreamed I could make happen. A trip like this teaches you patience and perseverance and gives you the unbelievable confidence to attempt nearly anything (say like an Ironman when you do not even know how to swim and you've never been runner before other than up and down a basketball court in HS, or move to a new state where you know zero people).

For those of you that have been watching and dreaming of your own adventure like this...do it...do it soon. Your job or another one like it will be there when you get back. You only have one life. Live it now, cause you don't know what is going to happen that could cut it short. I and the others here will all tell you that you will not have ANY regrets if you get out and go for it. You will likely have more regrets that you did not do it sooner! Oh and call me to go with you...I'm likely to say yes :).

Is the adventure really over?

It is time to pack up and go our own ways. The Boys back to VA and the Girls back to CO. We woke up to rain early in the morning on pack up day...this did not make it easy to sort things out. Thankfully this camp had this pavilion for us to use.

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

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6 mi left!

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yeah!

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Basil's thoughts...

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Last day riding

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Great bike path near Gainsville

It rained most of the night but we did not have to ride in the rain. The roads were wet but drying nicely. The high was 65 degrees and it was very damp so we kept moving on this 83 mile trek to stay warm.

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Ed...81 years young

He came out to greet us when we stopped in front of his house to figure out if we missed a turn (we did). After listening to his quick version of his life story, including the part how as a boy he plowed the field behind him with a mule and how he flew for Hoover and Eisenhower and all over the world, he told us how to cut 10 miles off our already long day. Everyone is ready to be done and was all about a safe short cut.

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The last of our maps for the entire trip!

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Friday, October 28, 2011

SO NEAR!

We are so near the end now! The past two days have been shorter but tomorrow (the second to last day) will be a long one. It's looking like about 90 miles. The camps are not numerous through this section of FL. The last day will be around 40-50 miles to the beach!

We are all excited and there is talk of how each of wants to hit the water...I think I'll need to have the water proof camera for Basil by the sounds of it. It's so exciting...it's hard to sleep!

Basil (Yogi)

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Cindy

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TAZ!

My scary face...it's almost Halloween...right?

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My sc

Bob (Cookie Monster)

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Nice rows on a tree farm

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All American gals :)

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Basil's Corner :)

I can almost taste the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean. We have four days to ride about 255 miles to reach our goal! To get to this point the last three days we rode 108, 94 and today 85 miles.I'm voting for Florida for the best roads, best scenery and definitly the best campsites. And for the record, although there are quite a few flat stretches, there are dfinitely some long grades that require an effort. Leaving Alabama and riding toward Pensacola was definitely too most fun, with the Gulf of Mexico on our right and numerous Bays on the left.
Our schedule for these last four days will be 55, 53, 98 & 41+/-. Bob and Taz will make sure that we cover these miles quickly. I think they are trying to see if I'll break, but I have a very secret ally.......5 Hour Energy..... and it does work!

Scott and Beauty

We met them on the bike path in Tallahassee today. He escorted us through town on the trail system that switched from one trail to another. Scott told us that the trail we were on was the first rail to trail in the country and had just been widened from 8 to 14 ft recently. I also found out he knows one of my co workers from Ironman. A guy from VA. They raced together in Boulder back in the 80's. It REALLY is a small world.

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bicyclehouse.org

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Karlie just plain ROCKS!

She found this in the store and brought us each one :) as a special treat.

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David of M & M Mars

He wants to ride xc one day...Don't wait David!

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Seminole Lake Good Byes

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Pecans Everywhere

Bob would pick them up when we stopped and crack a few for a snack. Below you can see HOW he cracked them.

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Most Round Natural Lake

One of two in the world we are told. It is spring fed. This was in DeFuniak Springs.

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