Up at 6am again today, I'm now used to getting up at that time. I'm like a little kid at christmas looking forward to the gorgeous sunrises! I pack up and head to the beach. I find really warm water and shades of color in the sky I've never seen before! Nobody is there I walk the beach in peace, do some yoga stretch out. It's going to be an amazing day!
I find a slow leak in my tire but I'm hoping to just keep pumping it until I get to key west. I also found a broken spoke but it's not too bad I just loosened up my brake cable so the wheel doesn't rub. I'll get the tube replaced when I get the spoke replaced, sometime next month in Philly! I just double checked my distance and it's only 35 miles from here, what a breeze! I can't believe it's going to come to an end today. I'm kind of excited for it!!
So I ride through my final leg of the journey. It's a remarkable ride with aqua blue/green water on both sides. Looking out occasionally and spotting sea turtles coming up for air. Halfway I find a donut and coffee stop. I need to take in some calories. I find the wind pretty still with a slight breeze against my back. As the miles count down to 20, 17, 10, 6, 5,...I find myself in key west. I arrive to the hostel and unpack.
I find a big man sleeping inside the room, hairy as a bear with his shirt off. He mumbles at me to sleep in the back room because he snores. Ok thanks I say...haha. This hostel is one of the crummiest I've ever been at and it's 40$ a night. I hit shower and change, then hit the bricks in search of what key west has to offer. I find overpriced food, crowded trashy tourists, rude European staff everywhere, and really am kinda let down. I do find slamming key lime pie on a stick though. I walk the whole town and head back to the hostel.
I talk to bear and ask him about the local hangouts. That's what I'm after forget the crappy touristy shit. I didn't ride this far to see tourists, I want the local flavor. He recommends me some stuff and said he'd be glad to show me around. I lay down for a nap, I get about 1.5 hours in and then.... Some rude ass stupid French dudes come in and start talking and yapping loudly. I mumble "for real shut up" bear backs me up and tells them to get out of here and let me sleep, I just rode down the east coast...haha. Ya bear!!
I wake from nap and hit Mallory square for the sunset party. Good times!! Lots of happy people, nice view, artists vendors. Then I catch a meeting at anchors a weigh, it's kind of boring and I almost fall asleep but I meet some good guys afterwards. They point me towards the sports bar where I catch the phillies win! I talk to some girls from atlanta and we trade sunset pics. I ask them about snorkeling amd it sounds like its not worth it, its expensive and theybsee the same stuff ive seen in the glass bottom boat. Then onto wendys for a late night snack. I've been eating all day today and am still hungry! Something is weird!?
Now onto the port to watch the Disney magic ship sail off at 1am. It's quiet down here and lit up nicely. This ship is massive! Not just a cruise ship but a mega cruise ship! Wow! This is going to be something. Then I'll catch a pedi cab home for a good night of sleep. Tomorrow I wake up and get to see my parents! Amazing! I'm so looking forward to seeing them pull up and the look on my moms face! I guarantee she will start crying for no reason as this happens alot! Hahah. God I love her, thank you for my parents. I would probably not be here if it wasn't for their persistent tolerance and love for me, putting up with my crap. But I've got to tell ya some of the best things in my life has come against the advice of my parents. So maybe sometimes momma doesn't know best, as I remember her pleading with me to not take this trip!...haha. Love them so much though!!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bahia Honda
What an amazing day! I get up at 6am pack up and out by 6:30, thanks key largo for letting me borrow a campsite. 1 mile up the road I get to the state park. It's closed and not open till 8:00!? I think about jumping the fence but it's high and if I do I would have to manage to not be seen for 1.5 hours, nah too risky no thanks! I wait outfront. Grab a pumpkin latte and a protein bar from a gas station and watch the morning sun light up the place.
It's kind of breezy and a bit chilly if your a Floridian like me now. The original plan was snorkeling but I remember Miguel from Miami telling me about the glass bottom boat! The boat is 10$ cheaper and I decide to try it. I've been snorkeling before but have never even heard of a glass bottom boat! Again it was definitely the right decision. I kill an hour in the park before the boat leaves by looking for the enormous iguana ibsaw the day before but no luck. The boat adventure was so amazing and sure enough there were two glass bottom wells and the water was crystal clear!! We could see everything! Amazing colored coral, fish, sea floor it was quite impressive. We rode about 40mins out to molasses reef, the 3rd biggest reef in the world! This was in the top 12 coolest things I've done in my entire life!
I ask the captain where is a good lunch spot and he stears me in the right direction. Mrs macs it is, this place is a local spot and it's amazing I get a hog fish wrap and damn it's good! Too bad I couldn't fit any key lime pie
Back on the horse 70 miles to go to Bahia Honda. The ride is sweet with bike paths and shoulders the whole way. I see aqua blue and green water on both sides of me. I just start to get a little ansy though and want to be there already. The air was still which was not what I was expecting but the ride still took me 6 hours for some reason, I'm getting slow and worn out I think!
Anyway I snap tons if pics and finally arrive in time for sunset. I gotta tell ya it's the most dramatic picturesque sunset ever! Wait till you see the pic of the bridge with the sun setting behind it. There is an old train tressel they left up for people to walk up and view the sunset. We saw sharks swimming in the water below!!! First time for that too. This place is amazing and almost nicer than Sebastian inlet! There is a wedding going on at the waters edge and I can't believe the beauty I'm seeing what a backdrop.
I make my way over to camp take a hot shower and set up. I meet my neighbors from venezuala and they offer me food and cake for their daughters birthday! Sold I'll take seconds I say!..haha. What an amazing experience here at Bahia Honda never disappointed this while trip it just keeps getting better.
Tomorrow I'll check out the beach then hit the road 40 miles to key west and it's all over!!!
It's kind of breezy and a bit chilly if your a Floridian like me now. The original plan was snorkeling but I remember Miguel from Miami telling me about the glass bottom boat! The boat is 10$ cheaper and I decide to try it. I've been snorkeling before but have never even heard of a glass bottom boat! Again it was definitely the right decision. I kill an hour in the park before the boat leaves by looking for the enormous iguana ibsaw the day before but no luck. The boat adventure was so amazing and sure enough there were two glass bottom wells and the water was crystal clear!! We could see everything! Amazing colored coral, fish, sea floor it was quite impressive. We rode about 40mins out to molasses reef, the 3rd biggest reef in the world! This was in the top 12 coolest things I've done in my entire life!
I ask the captain where is a good lunch spot and he stears me in the right direction. Mrs macs it is, this place is a local spot and it's amazing I get a hog fish wrap and damn it's good! Too bad I couldn't fit any key lime pie
Back on the horse 70 miles to go to Bahia Honda. The ride is sweet with bike paths and shoulders the whole way. I see aqua blue and green water on both sides of me. I just start to get a little ansy though and want to be there already. The air was still which was not what I was expecting but the ride still took me 6 hours for some reason, I'm getting slow and worn out I think!
Anyway I snap tons if pics and finally arrive in time for sunset. I gotta tell ya it's the most dramatic picturesque sunset ever! Wait till you see the pic of the bridge with the sun setting behind it. There is an old train tressel they left up for people to walk up and view the sunset. We saw sharks swimming in the water below!!! First time for that too. This place is amazing and almost nicer than Sebastian inlet! There is a wedding going on at the waters edge and I can't believe the beauty I'm seeing what a backdrop.
I make my way over to camp take a hot shower and set up. I meet my neighbors from venezuala and they offer me food and cake for their daughters birthday! Sold I'll take seconds I say!..haha. What an amazing experience here at Bahia Honda never disappointed this while trip it just keeps getting better.
Tomorrow I'll check out the beach then hit the road 40 miles to key west and it's all over!!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
To key largo
So out of Miami I go today. Wake up to beautiful weather and it looks like my day to move on out! I'm ready. I loved Miami but this trip is about keeping it moving, so moving today I am. I get up and run to the corner store for my last Cuban coffee fix, damn those are so good! I pick up to pastillita's too, they are a Cuban pastry. And I buy a souvenir shirt that is really kinda stylish.
Then I get a message on facebook that my old high school friend I haven't seen in years is sitting at a cafe in south beach. I thought he was messing with me but I go over and sure enough there he is Steve "erb" Newhart...haha. Man we go way back! He surprised his wife with a weekend in south beach from Philly. I get to sit and chat with him while they are finishing breakfast, that was cool! I tell him the local haps and take off to key largo.
It's 11:00 and I'm in the rode, I discover some beautiful shots of the city on my way out so I'm constantly pulling over and snapping pics. I make it out of south beach and right through the middle of downtown! Woah what a ride! Cutting through a maze of skyscrapers and weaving in and out of the downtown rush.
I ride through homestead and find a pollo tropical, it's a fast food joint I've been meaning to try. It's real good and I sit outside and have lunch.
I decide to take a back way into key largo and it turns out to be long, windy and boring but oh well I'm in. And I crossed a really cool bridge on the way. I head to the state park and there is like nobody around. I meet a guy and his fiancé from Miami. They are just there for the day grilling and chilling at the moment. Cool guy, he says he is a photographer and he wants to contribute to my trip by snapping some photos of me and my bike with the key largo palms, beach and water ad the backdrop. Amazing photos!! He will email me in the morning. So John pennekamp park doesn't have campsites because of construction, but they do have the glass bottom boat and snorkeling that I will be doing in thebmorning!
So I chill for a hour and take off in search for my home for the evening! Hampton inn wants 130$ a night. I find a campsite and slide in. I ride to the edge of the water with nobody around. I sit still for an hour and watch the sun set. There is crazy amounts of wildlife going on. Birds flying, schools of fish jumping, dolphins, all kinds of stuff as the sun tucks away and turns the sky purple and orange I once again am reminded about gods beauty and how lucky I am to be seeing so much of it!
I set up in the dark and take a nice hot shower, removing all the pieces of bug stuck all over me from today's ride. Nice place to call home, but it's just a couple hours, I break camp tomorrow at sunlight so I can get on the snorkeling trip.
Only 100 miles to ride and my parents are in their place in Florida ready to pick me up at ft myers when the key west express pulls into port at 9:30pm. I wonder how I'm going to feel at that very moment when i get to see them and retire the bike, blog and trip. Well we will find out. I already figures out my last blog is going to be a gigantic gratitude list, listing everybody and everything included in this trip. By the way everyone reading the blog has helped me tremendously. Because everyday I know I have to keep going forward, remember something interesting about the day and then I get to reflect in it as I write it. So thanks in advance to everybody I know that has been involved in this process.
Then I get a message on facebook that my old high school friend I haven't seen in years is sitting at a cafe in south beach. I thought he was messing with me but I go over and sure enough there he is Steve "erb" Newhart...haha. Man we go way back! He surprised his wife with a weekend in south beach from Philly. I get to sit and chat with him while they are finishing breakfast, that was cool! I tell him the local haps and take off to key largo.
It's 11:00 and I'm in the rode, I discover some beautiful shots of the city on my way out so I'm constantly pulling over and snapping pics. I make it out of south beach and right through the middle of downtown! Woah what a ride! Cutting through a maze of skyscrapers and weaving in and out of the downtown rush.
I ride through homestead and find a pollo tropical, it's a fast food joint I've been meaning to try. It's real good and I sit outside and have lunch.
I decide to take a back way into key largo and it turns out to be long, windy and boring but oh well I'm in. And I crossed a really cool bridge on the way. I head to the state park and there is like nobody around. I meet a guy and his fiancé from Miami. They are just there for the day grilling and chilling at the moment. Cool guy, he says he is a photographer and he wants to contribute to my trip by snapping some photos of me and my bike with the key largo palms, beach and water ad the backdrop. Amazing photos!! He will email me in the morning. So John pennekamp park doesn't have campsites because of construction, but they do have the glass bottom boat and snorkeling that I will be doing in thebmorning!
So I chill for a hour and take off in search for my home for the evening! Hampton inn wants 130$ a night. I find a campsite and slide in. I ride to the edge of the water with nobody around. I sit still for an hour and watch the sun set. There is crazy amounts of wildlife going on. Birds flying, schools of fish jumping, dolphins, all kinds of stuff as the sun tucks away and turns the sky purple and orange I once again am reminded about gods beauty and how lucky I am to be seeing so much of it!
I set up in the dark and take a nice hot shower, removing all the pieces of bug stuck all over me from today's ride. Nice place to call home, but it's just a couple hours, I break camp tomorrow at sunlight so I can get on the snorkeling trip.
Only 100 miles to ride and my parents are in their place in Florida ready to pick me up at ft myers when the key west express pulls into port at 9:30pm. I wonder how I'm going to feel at that very moment when i get to see them and retire the bike, blog and trip. Well we will find out. I already figures out my last blog is going to be a gigantic gratitude list, listing everybody and everything included in this trip. By the way everyone reading the blog has helped me tremendously. Because everyday I know I have to keep going forward, remember something interesting about the day and then I get to reflect in it as I write it. So thanks in advance to everybody I know that has been involved in this process.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Leaving miami
Last night in Miami... :'( But what a week it's been. I've found my favorite local Cuban store where a cortadito costs 1$. Starbucks venti slapaccino for 5$ got nothing on Cuban coffee!!! I've found my local grocery store, laundromat, corner store. I really know the layout of the city. I've taken public transportation, found great jogging paths, seen fishers island all the way to north bay village where Dwayne wade lives. I've got tours by locals. Saw high end apts, ferraris, speeding bentlys, skateboarders, beach cruisers, thongs, topless women, brazilians, cubans, puerto ricans, thugs, argees, Brits, Australians, blondes, blacks everything in one city, one beach, one street what an experience. I've seen how the rich party and how the poor party. I've seen how I party and how everybody parties. The music and women are on a much higher quality level then anywhere I've been to in the US. What's so cool and hard to believe about this place is it is in the US!
Yesterday my roomate asks if u want to take a ride with him, I say sure why not. He starts to explain to me that he is not a "financial planner" as he told me that was his occupation. By now I'm kinda suspicious of his work anyway. He tells me about his operation he's got going on. Turns out he is a major pill dealer of the east coast!!! He makes tons of cash buying and getting scripts from people in Miami who go to "pill mills" and turn out 300 pills a script, he then ships them by a mailing method to new jersey where they are distributed throughout NYC he makes serious money. So that is why he always pays for dinner, and buys everything we see. The only bad part to his business is he is hooked on the things, popping them everyday, so that explains why for 2 weeks he has been sleeping on an air mattress with a hole in it, never has good in his fridge, always keeps his blinds closed and door locked, doesn't have furniture and is in the phone 23 hours a day. Well good thing I'm leaving here tomorrow, again it's not the most comfortable living situation, but it's only temporary and it could be worse. He is a really really good guy and I hope he gets straight and I'm glad I'm not a pill addict! But what a mess. I actually making a little money off the guy by running errands for him, picking up cigarettes, ice tea, and food all hours of the night..hah hey but he's letting me stay for free it's the least I could do.
So today Annie (the nice girl sitting next to me at the Miami heat game) have lunch, Cuban sandwiches at an authentic cafe. She speaks Spanish well, thank god because I don't think they speak English there. Wow they were good. Then I walk around looking at souvenir type stuff. Head back for a nap. Talk to some Philly peeps. Nice conversation with Mo. Meet up with jay. We catch a cab to sobe for a meeting talk with some people then walk to a nice Italian restaurant. He orders for us as I sit in the plush couch in which we eat from. I feel like the godfather! We are in display in the window to people passing by, I almost felt like the waitress should come over cut up our food and serve us. Jay is in a bad mood because if ex girlfriend problems, he is a big beefy Italian you don't ever want to see pissed off! He bosses everyone around the restaurant and I just keep smiling with my please and thank yous :) it's quite a fine dining experience. But all that being said I would do almost anything legal for this kid. He is a guy who everyone would want in their side and I would return the favor. Dinner is great and we walk back home because he says he has to meet somebody. I run out for ice cream and bring us two Hagen daz pints. Good stuff! We talk about dumb guy stuff and laugh out loud as you could possibly laugh eating ice cream with a partition wall between us while laying in the floor in his furniture less apartment. I'm gonna miss this guy and this marvelous city! What a memorable time here in my mini established south beach life. What incredible people I've met here, what a marvelous plan god put together for me here in Miami.
Tomorrow it's gonna be nice and after my morning cortadito I ride outta here in style. Down 15th street into downtown Miami, through south Miami and towards key largo. I keep thi king of that old beach boys song with "I wanna take you to key largo, jamaica...." I believe I was force fed that crap by my parents or sister or somebody. Anyway it's hard to believe that I'm going to be there tomorrow. I've got about only 65miles to take me there and weather says winds are coming from the north. I'm out of shape though sitting and eating for 7 days, but I'll get it right back in the first hour. So tomorrow I sneak into John pennecamp state park sleepover and then the next day take the glass bottom boat 20 miles off shore to snorkel the reefs and the shipwrecks, that's gonna be nice!!
My parents have left PA and will be in their Florida house tomorrow morning! I'm getting excited to reach them in ft myers! Less then a week and the ride will be complete. I'm still thinking about getting a tattoo but not till I get back into Philly, this way it won't be rushed and I'll have more time to design it. I really don't want this trip to end and wish I could find a way to do this full-time and get paid for riding! What a journey I really can't explain it but hopefully reading along with the blog you got to understand it!
Yesterday my roomate asks if u want to take a ride with him, I say sure why not. He starts to explain to me that he is not a "financial planner" as he told me that was his occupation. By now I'm kinda suspicious of his work anyway. He tells me about his operation he's got going on. Turns out he is a major pill dealer of the east coast!!! He makes tons of cash buying and getting scripts from people in Miami who go to "pill mills" and turn out 300 pills a script, he then ships them by a mailing method to new jersey where they are distributed throughout NYC he makes serious money. So that is why he always pays for dinner, and buys everything we see. The only bad part to his business is he is hooked on the things, popping them everyday, so that explains why for 2 weeks he has been sleeping on an air mattress with a hole in it, never has good in his fridge, always keeps his blinds closed and door locked, doesn't have furniture and is in the phone 23 hours a day. Well good thing I'm leaving here tomorrow, again it's not the most comfortable living situation, but it's only temporary and it could be worse. He is a really really good guy and I hope he gets straight and I'm glad I'm not a pill addict! But what a mess. I actually making a little money off the guy by running errands for him, picking up cigarettes, ice tea, and food all hours of the night..hah hey but he's letting me stay for free it's the least I could do.
So today Annie (the nice girl sitting next to me at the Miami heat game) have lunch, Cuban sandwiches at an authentic cafe. She speaks Spanish well, thank god because I don't think they speak English there. Wow they were good. Then I walk around looking at souvenir type stuff. Head back for a nap. Talk to some Philly peeps. Nice conversation with Mo. Meet up with jay. We catch a cab to sobe for a meeting talk with some people then walk to a nice Italian restaurant. He orders for us as I sit in the plush couch in which we eat from. I feel like the godfather! We are in display in the window to people passing by, I almost felt like the waitress should come over cut up our food and serve us. Jay is in a bad mood because if ex girlfriend problems, he is a big beefy Italian you don't ever want to see pissed off! He bosses everyone around the restaurant and I just keep smiling with my please and thank yous :) it's quite a fine dining experience. But all that being said I would do almost anything legal for this kid. He is a guy who everyone would want in their side and I would return the favor. Dinner is great and we walk back home because he says he has to meet somebody. I run out for ice cream and bring us two Hagen daz pints. Good stuff! We talk about dumb guy stuff and laugh out loud as you could possibly laugh eating ice cream with a partition wall between us while laying in the floor in his furniture less apartment. I'm gonna miss this guy and this marvelous city! What a memorable time here in my mini established south beach life. What incredible people I've met here, what a marvelous plan god put together for me here in Miami.
Tomorrow it's gonna be nice and after my morning cortadito I ride outta here in style. Down 15th street into downtown Miami, through south Miami and towards key largo. I keep thi king of that old beach boys song with "I wanna take you to key largo, jamaica...." I believe I was force fed that crap by my parents or sister or somebody. Anyway it's hard to believe that I'm going to be there tomorrow. I've got about only 65miles to take me there and weather says winds are coming from the north. I'm out of shape though sitting and eating for 7 days, but I'll get it right back in the first hour. So tomorrow I sneak into John pennecamp state park sleepover and then the next day take the glass bottom boat 20 miles off shore to snorkel the reefs and the shipwrecks, that's gonna be nice!!
My parents have left PA and will be in their Florida house tomorrow morning! I'm getting excited to reach them in ft myers! Less then a week and the ride will be complete. I'm still thinking about getting a tattoo but not till I get back into Philly, this way it won't be rushed and I'll have more time to design it. I really don't want this trip to end and wish I could find a way to do this full-time and get paid for riding! What a journey I really can't explain it but hopefully reading along with the blog you got to understand it!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
More Miami
Sitting on jaysons stoop is quite a lovely place to be. It's in a main street into a park where people constantly walk by with their dogs and guys are playing soccer. It's right in the middle of the neighborhoods of south beach, so this is how people really live here on south beach. It's close to Lincoln ave and Washington. It's a great place to be.
I go for a run on the beach then head to a famous place called davids cafe. It's authentic Cuban cuisine, I order a callata (Cuban coffee) and a guava pastillita (a croissant pastry) total is 2.50$ good deal. This place was showed to me by a local. This afternoon I think I'll hit public and maybe cook some food like a normal person for once.
Ya know I've been having some thoughts of how nice it would to be back at home with my bedroom and bathroom, tons of clothes, kitchen. I mean I'm having a great time but living out if a bag and wearing the same recycled clothes can get old. But I thi k it's just because I know the trip is wrapping up and I can sort of see the end. I've reached the halfway point and that's why maybe. But don't get me wrong the sacrifice of living out of a bag is so worth it and I'm pretty freaking good at living out of a bag! I've got a system of how to pack it and unpack it and compartmentalized. But gosh it's gonna be great to get home, hug my friends tell them of the great travel stories I've made! But in time god will provide that opportunity for now I'm living in south beach and who the f wouldn't want to be here right now!!?
So today I'll find a laundromat, play on my iPhone, eat a burrito and mess around in this awesome city. The same stuff I do back home, I just get to do in south beach. I can't stop thinking about seeing my parents and my friends again and what will be different about me when I return. Because right now I'm not sure I think once I get back to my situation before I left it's only then will I be able to compare myself and check inside to see what is different. I'm excited to see what I will find!
I hope the forecast in key largo improves soon, but I got a great deal here staying for free with jay if it doesn't.
Later in the day I go to the laundry mat and wash clothes. This neighborhood feels like another counrltry not one person speaks English or looks American. I do my wash and observe the locals hustling around on shitty mountain bikes doing who knows what outside.
Then I go for a burrito at my favorite place I've already found one! It's yummy and I check the local paper to see what's going on tonight. Miami heat is playing Moscow at home in an exhibition game!? I call right away and score tickets!!! Sweet. I hop the local bus and head towards the stadium to catch the pregame shoot around. Jayson will meet me there. Wow I'm here in this amazing place that will certainly make history in the years ahead with the all star cast they have now. This is hard to believe an hour ago I was eating a burrito on south beach with no plan for tonight! The universe is on my side!! And I'm on it, being good to it, loving it, giving gratitude to it everyday!
Miami heat wins and the labron intro was ridiculous. We might some nice girls sitting next to us and they tell us the best empanada place to go on south beach. So we know what we are having for lunch tomorrow!
We take a cab home then I walk up to the 24 hr cvs for cereal. South beach really comes alive at night I see police cars speed up and shake down a guy at a bus stop. A really good looking crossdresser and just madness all over cvs. People riding their bikes in the store, security chasing people. How do the employees put up with that crap everyday.
Well to bed! It's nice to have a place to stay where I'm not paranoid my stuff is gonna get stolen. My last place I would put all my money in my pockets and wear my shorts all night. And move all my valuables up to the top bunk where I slept.
I go for a run on the beach then head to a famous place called davids cafe. It's authentic Cuban cuisine, I order a callata (Cuban coffee) and a guava pastillita (a croissant pastry) total is 2.50$ good deal. This place was showed to me by a local. This afternoon I think I'll hit public and maybe cook some food like a normal person for once.
Ya know I've been having some thoughts of how nice it would to be back at home with my bedroom and bathroom, tons of clothes, kitchen. I mean I'm having a great time but living out if a bag and wearing the same recycled clothes can get old. But I thi k it's just because I know the trip is wrapping up and I can sort of see the end. I've reached the halfway point and that's why maybe. But don't get me wrong the sacrifice of living out of a bag is so worth it and I'm pretty freaking good at living out of a bag! I've got a system of how to pack it and unpack it and compartmentalized. But gosh it's gonna be great to get home, hug my friends tell them of the great travel stories I've made! But in time god will provide that opportunity for now I'm living in south beach and who the f wouldn't want to be here right now!!?
So today I'll find a laundromat, play on my iPhone, eat a burrito and mess around in this awesome city. The same stuff I do back home, I just get to do in south beach. I can't stop thinking about seeing my parents and my friends again and what will be different about me when I return. Because right now I'm not sure I think once I get back to my situation before I left it's only then will I be able to compare myself and check inside to see what is different. I'm excited to see what I will find!
I hope the forecast in key largo improves soon, but I got a great deal here staying for free with jay if it doesn't.
Later in the day I go to the laundry mat and wash clothes. This neighborhood feels like another counrltry not one person speaks English or looks American. I do my wash and observe the locals hustling around on shitty mountain bikes doing who knows what outside.
Then I go for a burrito at my favorite place I've already found one! It's yummy and I check the local paper to see what's going on tonight. Miami heat is playing Moscow at home in an exhibition game!? I call right away and score tickets!!! Sweet. I hop the local bus and head towards the stadium to catch the pregame shoot around. Jayson will meet me there. Wow I'm here in this amazing place that will certainly make history in the years ahead with the all star cast they have now. This is hard to believe an hour ago I was eating a burrito on south beach with no plan for tonight! The universe is on my side!! And I'm on it, being good to it, loving it, giving gratitude to it everyday!
Miami heat wins and the labron intro was ridiculous. We might some nice girls sitting next to us and they tell us the best empanada place to go on south beach. So we know what we are having for lunch tomorrow!
We take a cab home then I walk up to the 24 hr cvs for cereal. South beach really comes alive at night I see police cars speed up and shake down a guy at a bus stop. A really good looking crossdresser and just madness all over cvs. People riding their bikes in the store, security chasing people. How do the employees put up with that crap everyday.
Well to bed! It's nice to have a place to stay where I'm not paranoid my stuff is gonna get stolen. My last place I would put all my money in my pockets and wear my shorts all night. And move all my valuables up to the top bunk where I slept.
Stuck in Miami
So I wake up at my shady new hostel on 20th and Collins and I regret leaving jazz hostel on fifth now. I walk outside and there is the old homeless man in the blue and orange dirty ass velour Miami hurricanes sweat suit. He lives outside the hostel on the sidewalk mostly sleeping. And he is exactly in the same spot now everytime I see him for 2 days.
I get my free breakfast, toast with cream cheese and jelly, it's actually really good! Coffee sucks but oh well. Then I dis my slovakian friends with whom I was supposed to play basketball with and decide to go to the grocery store and a meeting. I meet miguel who tells me about the keys and before I get there to go to key biscayne and there is a beautiful lighthouse. It's only 20 miles from Miami but I would have to backtrack if I go there and that I'm not into. It sounds cool but I don't think I'll get there I told him.
A half hour later I hear from Ashley and jenni in ft lauderdale. We had made plans today but I actually forgot what our plan was because when they called me 3 days prior to ask me if I wanted to hang out I was fixing julias flat tire. So I ask them again where are we going today? Guess what the answer was?...key biscayne and Virginia key! How amazing!! So we take the nice easy ride over in ashleys pimp ass car! We chill and swim on the really nice not crowded beach and walk around and discover a bit. We head back into Miami about 5:00. We get to a restaurant the rusty pelican which is right on the bay of Miami in the face of the downtown skyline. We chill eat and watch the sunset on Miami and the bay. The swirl of colors the sky reflects back on the water is magical one of the most beautiful sunsets ever!
I get back into my ghetto hostel shower and lay down because I got a headache. Then I meet jay at Starbucks at 9:30 and we hang out ang to to a meeting at sobe. It's packed with a young hip good looking crowd. Friendly people and a fun vibe. We all hangout afterwards until late in the morning. And I see my friend Eli there, the girl I met in the bar two days ago.
So today I was gonna ride onto key largo but forecast doesn't look good. And jay offers me to stay at his place until the weather clears up. Nice I'll take that because Miami is a good place to be stuck at, and there is no need to ride in the rain if I don't have to!
I get my free breakfast, toast with cream cheese and jelly, it's actually really good! Coffee sucks but oh well. Then I dis my slovakian friends with whom I was supposed to play basketball with and decide to go to the grocery store and a meeting. I meet miguel who tells me about the keys and before I get there to go to key biscayne and there is a beautiful lighthouse. It's only 20 miles from Miami but I would have to backtrack if I go there and that I'm not into. It sounds cool but I don't think I'll get there I told him.
A half hour later I hear from Ashley and jenni in ft lauderdale. We had made plans today but I actually forgot what our plan was because when they called me 3 days prior to ask me if I wanted to hang out I was fixing julias flat tire. So I ask them again where are we going today? Guess what the answer was?...key biscayne and Virginia key! How amazing!! So we take the nice easy ride over in ashleys pimp ass car! We chill and swim on the really nice not crowded beach and walk around and discover a bit. We head back into Miami about 5:00. We get to a restaurant the rusty pelican which is right on the bay of Miami in the face of the downtown skyline. We chill eat and watch the sunset on Miami and the bay. The swirl of colors the sky reflects back on the water is magical one of the most beautiful sunsets ever!
I get back into my ghetto hostel shower and lay down because I got a headache. Then I meet jay at Starbucks at 9:30 and we hang out ang to to a meeting at sobe. It's packed with a young hip good looking crowd. Friendly people and a fun vibe. We all hangout afterwards until late in the morning. And I see my friend Eli there, the girl I met in the bar two days ago.
So today I was gonna ride onto key largo but forecast doesn't look good. And jay offers me to stay at his place until the weather clears up. Nice I'll take that because Miami is a good place to be stuck at, and there is no need to ride in the rain if I don't have to!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Miami man
Back to the blog. I am almost sorry I haven't wrote in a while but I've been consumed with Miami! Overwhelmed by south beach beauty. Awwed by this pretty city. Fully occupied with the concept of this place. Sucked in by the energy here. Vibing with the brilliant vibe of this place. Busy meeting it's smiling, lucky to be here occupants. Experiencing what took me a month and 1300 miles to reach. Loving where my feet are at. Dreaming about living here. Picturing what my life would be like here. Reflecting on how I got here. Living this life!
So I get here and at first it's not what I expected. The welcome to south beach sign wasn't as brilliant as I pictured it would be. The buildings aren't all made of skyscraper glass, it's not totally all modern. But a couple hours later when my eyes see this place showered with trendy chic colorful lighting my opinion changes vert quick.
I check in the hostel and sneak my bike in under my bed. The hostel is way large and seriously clean! I'm impressed for 16$ a night it's great!. I drop my bags and head to the well known south beach. I see some Brazilian big booty bikini models doing a low budget photo shoot with some creeper looking guys. It's actualy kind if gross!
The water here is gorgeous and the mix of people on the beach is really something else. I hear argees speaking castellano, every nationality sits on this beach at one time. They are all as happy as can be to be here and nothing here really posses people off.
I hop in the ocean and a large school of fish approach me. They swim right up to me, this is amazing I'm swimming with the fishes.haha music blasts from all over the place. Then some Latinos stroll down the beach with a portable speaker system seriously blasting.
Ferraris race on the streets, lamborghinis race by, bentlys, rolls Royce. Donzi and Baja cigarette boats do the same in the water. Girls wear the shortest skirt things I've ever seen, thongs are mandatory here and tops are optional. On the streets guys are dressed slick 2010 Miami style, girls sport the lack of clothing style which is appreciated by the male species.
I meet Julia at the hostel at about 10. We walk south beach at night, get the best burrito I've ever had, the best Turkish dessert cruise by Miami ink. Admire the city and head to bed by 2. We are both tired
The next day finds us chillaxing on the beach all day. Hostel coffee is decent! And they make a lunch and dinner for 3$ can't beat that! We make a cool meeting in south Miami. Dinner on espanola way at a brazillian joint, then her friend drives us through Miami hood, calle ocho, downtown Miami, good guy he gives us a grande tour from a local. We stroll in at 5 am, sleep for a couple and beach it again.
Today I move hostels up about 20 blocks just for a change of scenery. New place is a dump oh well.
Last night Julia has a flat tire, we notice it at 6:00, tire shops are closed but I find the screw in the tire. We put air in the tire drive to an auto part store, I buy a plug kit. Then we head back to the gas station air pump. I plug the tire and it's all good, god helped on that one. Then there is a guy putting air next to us. Turns out he had the same problem, I offer to plug his tire. Success again, he is super thankful because he was going to a wedding. We chat for a minute, he gives me an invite to his house tomorrow night for a party. I'm in I tell him. Sweet timing!
Miami is unbelievable way cooler then I could have imagined!! And the trip goes on, Tuesday I ride to key largo.
So I get here and at first it's not what I expected. The welcome to south beach sign wasn't as brilliant as I pictured it would be. The buildings aren't all made of skyscraper glass, it's not totally all modern. But a couple hours later when my eyes see this place showered with trendy chic colorful lighting my opinion changes vert quick.
I check in the hostel and sneak my bike in under my bed. The hostel is way large and seriously clean! I'm impressed for 16$ a night it's great!. I drop my bags and head to the well known south beach. I see some Brazilian big booty bikini models doing a low budget photo shoot with some creeper looking guys. It's actualy kind if gross!
The water here is gorgeous and the mix of people on the beach is really something else. I hear argees speaking castellano, every nationality sits on this beach at one time. They are all as happy as can be to be here and nothing here really posses people off.
I hop in the ocean and a large school of fish approach me. They swim right up to me, this is amazing I'm swimming with the fishes.haha music blasts from all over the place. Then some Latinos stroll down the beach with a portable speaker system seriously blasting.
Ferraris race on the streets, lamborghinis race by, bentlys, rolls Royce. Donzi and Baja cigarette boats do the same in the water. Girls wear the shortest skirt things I've ever seen, thongs are mandatory here and tops are optional. On the streets guys are dressed slick 2010 Miami style, girls sport the lack of clothing style which is appreciated by the male species.
I meet Julia at the hostel at about 10. We walk south beach at night, get the best burrito I've ever had, the best Turkish dessert cruise by Miami ink. Admire the city and head to bed by 2. We are both tired
The next day finds us chillaxing on the beach all day. Hostel coffee is decent! And they make a lunch and dinner for 3$ can't beat that! We make a cool meeting in south Miami. Dinner on espanola way at a brazillian joint, then her friend drives us through Miami hood, calle ocho, downtown Miami, good guy he gives us a grande tour from a local. We stroll in at 5 am, sleep for a couple and beach it again.
Today I move hostels up about 20 blocks just for a change of scenery. New place is a dump oh well.
Last night Julia has a flat tire, we notice it at 6:00, tire shops are closed but I find the screw in the tire. We put air in the tire drive to an auto part store, I buy a plug kit. Then we head back to the gas station air pump. I plug the tire and it's all good, god helped on that one. Then there is a guy putting air next to us. Turns out he had the same problem, I offer to plug his tire. Success again, he is super thankful because he was going to a wedding. We chat for a minute, he gives me an invite to his house tomorrow night for a party. I'm in I tell him. Sweet timing!
Miami is unbelievable way cooler then I could have imagined!! And the trip goes on, Tuesday I ride to key largo.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Lauderdale night time
I wake up at 5am in the halfway house living room couch to find some fat guy in boxer shorts watching tv with the volume blasting. I get up without saying a word and put my headphones on and fall back asleep. Woken up by a pitbull again about 7:00am licking my hand. By 8:00 am people are coming and going and I'm up. Ricky lives there and he is a good guy! He gives 3 unemployed kids who aren't paying rent an ultimatum, get a job by Friday or your out of here. And leaves them each $3.50 for bus fares. Patrick gets up and makes me a ghetto espresso and it's really good!
A couple hours later ricki drops me and pat off and we explore the city as he is supposed to be looking for a job. He shows me around and I realize we are living in the Haitian ghetto. Nice! We travel around by bus and I get to see the real ft lauderdale! That's what I'm talking about. We witness a domestic dispute on the bus by a homeless couple, classy. We walk around las olas and get lunch at a deli. We chat with two girls outside while eating lunch. They are friendly art students and we all talk about meeting up later to go out.
Me and pat make it back home eventually and I try to nap, no luck. There is skinny little white kids calling themselves niggas everywhere. I find it very strange but mind my own business until I hear some kids freestyle rapping in the back room. So now I chime in with a little rap action for fun...haha. Represent Philly.
Everyone leaves by 8:00pm and the house is quiet and I'm prepared for a nice quiet evening watching baseball. The girls from the deli text me and ask if I'm still interested I. Going out. I say ya why not. They come over to little Haiti and pick me up.
We head towards downtown ft lauderdale and they ask me why I'm staying in the ghetto? Long story I'll explain later.. We get there and they give me a tour! I'm really appreciative of them taking me out!! I find out ft lauderdale nightlife is amazing!! Bars don't have covers, you can drinking the streets, smoke in bars, women and bedazzling beautiful. I get many different flavors because we pop into about 6 different bars and clubs and I really get the experience. It looks way Way way better then old city Philly. And all the vibes are fun with happy smiling floridians! I really enjoy myself. We don't get out of there till about 3am and I'm invited to crash at their place. I take the deal because then we don't have to drive to the ghetto and I dint have people waking me up all hours of the night! Good deal
In the morning it's Miami mane!
A couple hours later ricki drops me and pat off and we explore the city as he is supposed to be looking for a job. He shows me around and I realize we are living in the Haitian ghetto. Nice! We travel around by bus and I get to see the real ft lauderdale! That's what I'm talking about. We witness a domestic dispute on the bus by a homeless couple, classy. We walk around las olas and get lunch at a deli. We chat with two girls outside while eating lunch. They are friendly art students and we all talk about meeting up later to go out.
Me and pat make it back home eventually and I try to nap, no luck. There is skinny little white kids calling themselves niggas everywhere. I find it very strange but mind my own business until I hear some kids freestyle rapping in the back room. So now I chime in with a little rap action for fun...haha. Represent Philly.
Everyone leaves by 8:00pm and the house is quiet and I'm prepared for a nice quiet evening watching baseball. The girls from the deli text me and ask if I'm still interested I. Going out. I say ya why not. They come over to little Haiti and pick me up.
We head towards downtown ft lauderdale and they ask me why I'm staying in the ghetto? Long story I'll explain later.. We get there and they give me a tour! I'm really appreciative of them taking me out!! I find out ft lauderdale nightlife is amazing!! Bars don't have covers, you can drinking the streets, smoke in bars, women and bedazzling beautiful. I get many different flavors because we pop into about 6 different bars and clubs and I really get the experience. It looks way Way way better then old city Philly. And all the vibes are fun with happy smiling floridians! I really enjoy myself. We don't get out of there till about 3am and I'm invited to crash at their place. I take the deal because then we don't have to drive to the ghetto and I dint have people waking me up all hours of the night! Good deal
In the morning it's Miami mane!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ft lauderdale
I sleep pretty good in the bathroom stall and even recall some dreams which means it was good sleep! I'm woken up to a voice in the bathroom, it's a cleaning person asking if anybody was in here. It woke me up but I didn't open my eyes yet then I'm licked by a dog and I jump up. I scare the cleaning person and then introduce myself and the situation. She doesn't freak out and actually talks to me a minute then invites me over to her camper for breakfast and coffee! Nice woman
By 8:00 am I'm pedaling. It's going to be an amazing ride today but at 8:00 I have no idea just how amazing it will be. So Jimmy tells me there are 2 sides to west palm a nice one and an ugly one. North of west palm is looking pretty ugly so I'm hoping for a better side soon ahead. And then it gets worse! I see for the first time in my life..., a dead body! There it is on the shoulder of the road, cops and detectives all around, a yellow plastic tarp covering the corpse and I see an arm and mans boots sticking out. Wow that was weird! And now I'm tweaked out!
Well on to the nice section of west palm and I get a glimpse of a very good looking built up city streets. It looks quaint but sexy. I take it all in as I cruise the streets. West palm off the list of places I've been, check.
I'm riding route 1 because winds gusts are NE at 20-25mph and A1A is wide open and I don't want to battle winds. Into delray beach though I decide to try A1A. What a payoff I see the mist beautiful street if the ride. It's lined with perfect groomed landscapes, modern well designed colorful Florida castles on the beach. I've been dreaming about this fir two months! I take it in as it is hard to believe how I've arrived here.
Boca raton is next up and it exceeds my expectations. I don't know what it us but I really dig boca! It has everything a big city has, and a beautiful little downtown! It's cool I'm here, I keep thinking about how the old guy on the sopranos always talked about boca.
From here I stop st subway and power up. 5 miles to go to my new house. I get there and it's in a nice little neighborhood. I find it and walk right in. There is 6 guys living here all in recovery. They are all cool dudes most of them from new York. Ant is a cool kid only 21. He drives me to the beach where he works out on the outside beach. Cool thus us totally my style if I'd be into working out. Nice beach and we drive back through Los olas and I see the biggest boats I've ever seen! One after another. 10 million dollar yachts. I ask him if boats ever get stolen around here, he says no, I say hmmm.
All really good guys, I go to 3 meetings that night with two of them. Woah almost AA overload but I'm grateful to chat and meet some people. We go out to eat at 11:30 and come back and chill for a while. Great day in ft lauderdale.
I'm really getting excited for Miami now only 30 miles away!!
By 8:00 am I'm pedaling. It's going to be an amazing ride today but at 8:00 I have no idea just how amazing it will be. So Jimmy tells me there are 2 sides to west palm a nice one and an ugly one. North of west palm is looking pretty ugly so I'm hoping for a better side soon ahead. And then it gets worse! I see for the first time in my life..., a dead body! There it is on the shoulder of the road, cops and detectives all around, a yellow plastic tarp covering the corpse and I see an arm and mans boots sticking out. Wow that was weird! And now I'm tweaked out!
Well on to the nice section of west palm and I get a glimpse of a very good looking built up city streets. It looks quaint but sexy. I take it all in as I cruise the streets. West palm off the list of places I've been, check.
I'm riding route 1 because winds gusts are NE at 20-25mph and A1A is wide open and I don't want to battle winds. Into delray beach though I decide to try A1A. What a payoff I see the mist beautiful street if the ride. It's lined with perfect groomed landscapes, modern well designed colorful Florida castles on the beach. I've been dreaming about this fir two months! I take it in as it is hard to believe how I've arrived here.
Boca raton is next up and it exceeds my expectations. I don't know what it us but I really dig boca! It has everything a big city has, and a beautiful little downtown! It's cool I'm here, I keep thinking about how the old guy on the sopranos always talked about boca.
From here I stop st subway and power up. 5 miles to go to my new house. I get there and it's in a nice little neighborhood. I find it and walk right in. There is 6 guys living here all in recovery. They are all cool dudes most of them from new York. Ant is a cool kid only 21. He drives me to the beach where he works out on the outside beach. Cool thus us totally my style if I'd be into working out. Nice beach and we drive back through Los olas and I see the biggest boats I've ever seen! One after another. 10 million dollar yachts. I ask him if boats ever get stolen around here, he says no, I say hmmm.
All really good guys, I go to 3 meetings that night with two of them. Woah almost AA overload but I'm grateful to chat and meet some people. We go out to eat at 11:30 and come back and chill for a while. Great day in ft lauderdale.
I'm really getting excited for Miami now only 30 miles away!!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Beautiful scenic A1A
My ride today was tremendous!!! Me David and Samantha kayaked this morning right after we watched the sun rise. Then I ate some leftover pancakes and Sam made me a sandwich for the road!
I take off and they all take a ton of pictures of me, you know Asians and their cameras!..haha I've got a nice wind pushing me along and a nice bikelane on floridas beautiful scenic A1A. This ride is in the top five for sure! Ocean views, mansions, piers, boats, green plant life, wildlife, birds, not many cars it's got it all. I know when it's a good ride because I find myself taking lots of pictures. I also know it's only 66 miles and I knock off over 20 the first hour so I slow the pace and take my time checking out little parks, looking at beaches, watching windsurfers, pulling off to talk with friends on the phone. It's nice taking my time! About 3:00 winds shift as I'm noticing this to be a pattern and make for a tougher finish.
I passed through st lucie, and fort pierce was a really nice town I could have spent more time in. I ride through hobe sound and a man walking by stops me and asks where I've been riding from. We chat and I ask him if there is a subway around. He points me in the right direction and I get my 5$ footlong fix. Then it's only about 5 miles down to the state park. I haven't heard much about the park, I just know that it does have camping sites. I sneak into a side gate and eventually get approached by a ranger. He asks me what I'm doing here, I said looking for the ranger station. So he points me in the right direction. I get to the campsites and they suck!!! Theybare all way out in the open WTF!! The wind is whipping through so bad there is no way I could set my tent up!, forget it I'm not gonna even try! There is no cover anywhere around!!!! Fahhhh!!!! I head to the bathrooms to shower up and weigh my options. The bathrooms are all nice and new! I shower in the large handicap stall and notice a pretty wide shower bench outside the shower..hmmm?? I shower up and check the winds outside, yup they are still atrocious! Shower bench it is then. I unroll my mattress pad and sleeping bag, bring all my gear inside the stall and lock the door. I can do this why not? It's better then jail I tell myself, although it sure does remind me of it. Hard concrete bench, lights on all night and that buzzing noise all night never letting up. I know how to deal with this though I have experience! I roll up toilet paper and shove it in my ears, then I tie my shirt to my head to cover my eyes from the light pollution. Tonights gonna be a good night! At least I don't have to setup and disassemble my tent, that saves some time.
I'm out of here first crack of light, this place sucks! Good news just in though, I talked to Philly josh's friend ant in ft lauderdale and I can stay there. So ant gives me the address and I map it out. Yes! Only 60 to ride tomorrow! I have no idea what this house is like though, I think it's like a halfway/boarding house for recovering junkies so that should provide some excellent stories to tell.
Well I'm out safe and sound it's been another god given blessed day on this planet and I'm truly grateful for all of it including sleeping in a shower stall.
I take off and they all take a ton of pictures of me, you know Asians and their cameras!..haha I've got a nice wind pushing me along and a nice bikelane on floridas beautiful scenic A1A. This ride is in the top five for sure! Ocean views, mansions, piers, boats, green plant life, wildlife, birds, not many cars it's got it all. I know when it's a good ride because I find myself taking lots of pictures. I also know it's only 66 miles and I knock off over 20 the first hour so I slow the pace and take my time checking out little parks, looking at beaches, watching windsurfers, pulling off to talk with friends on the phone. It's nice taking my time! About 3:00 winds shift as I'm noticing this to be a pattern and make for a tougher finish.
I passed through st lucie, and fort pierce was a really nice town I could have spent more time in. I ride through hobe sound and a man walking by stops me and asks where I've been riding from. We chat and I ask him if there is a subway around. He points me in the right direction and I get my 5$ footlong fix. Then it's only about 5 miles down to the state park. I haven't heard much about the park, I just know that it does have camping sites. I sneak into a side gate and eventually get approached by a ranger. He asks me what I'm doing here, I said looking for the ranger station. So he points me in the right direction. I get to the campsites and they suck!!! Theybare all way out in the open WTF!! The wind is whipping through so bad there is no way I could set my tent up!, forget it I'm not gonna even try! There is no cover anywhere around!!!! Fahhhh!!!! I head to the bathrooms to shower up and weigh my options. The bathrooms are all nice and new! I shower in the large handicap stall and notice a pretty wide shower bench outside the shower..hmmm?? I shower up and check the winds outside, yup they are still atrocious! Shower bench it is then. I unroll my mattress pad and sleeping bag, bring all my gear inside the stall and lock the door. I can do this why not? It's better then jail I tell myself, although it sure does remind me of it. Hard concrete bench, lights on all night and that buzzing noise all night never letting up. I know how to deal with this though I have experience! I roll up toilet paper and shove it in my ears, then I tie my shirt to my head to cover my eyes from the light pollution. Tonights gonna be a good night! At least I don't have to setup and disassemble my tent, that saves some time.
I'm out of here first crack of light, this place sucks! Good news just in though, I talked to Philly josh's friend ant in ft lauderdale and I can stay there. So ant gives me the address and I map it out. Yes! Only 60 to ride tomorrow! I have no idea what this house is like though, I think it's like a halfway/boarding house for recovering junkies so that should provide some excellent stories to tell.
Well I'm out safe and sound it's been another god given blessed day on this planet and I'm truly grateful for all of it including sleeping in a shower stall.
Monday, October 4, 2010
So good I'll take another
I lay down in my tent, which is shielded nicely by the wind, and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing. I sleep like a rock! I'm really greatful for my mattress pad and sleeping bag somebody talked me into buying before I left. I wanna snap the sunrise but I don't get out of my comfy little camp in time.
I plan on leaving today but after talking to David a couchsurfer from taiwain staying at the house he helps me realize when you dint have a schedule you should take advantage of a good thing. There is then talk over breakfast about sailing and snorkeling today. I'm convinced! I'm staying another day. David , a 6 time triathalonist) is traveling with his family (5 people from taiwan) they are staying at the house for 2 weeks. The host, Terry is one incredible guy.
I walk next door after breakfast to the mc clarity treasure museum. And check this out....in 1715 11 Spanish ships containing a tremendous amount of treasure perished in a hurricane 70 miles of the coast of where we are. People have been finding various treasure wash up on the beach as recent as 5 months ago!!! This is real people!! I see photographs of items recovered and it's the most intricate, detailed, beautiful various gold and silver pieces. People scour the beach after a storm and hit the lottery! I get done at the museum and hit the drift edge in the sand. This is so exciting it's thrilling. I find some cool rocks and a jaw of some animal but no treasure today. Reality is though to the north of me there is 1 mile of forest and nobody ever comes down and checks this area, but they say treasure can be as far as 12' deep in the sand by now. What an interesting experience.
I come back and Stephanie on of the guests who is preparing for a marathon prepares a wonderful lunch for us all. I get to partake because I'm the newest guest. Yum!
Tomorrow I ride again! Only 66 miles south to dickenson state park. From there I'm only 90 miles from Miami. I booked a hostel in Miami for Friday and Saturday and I'm happy to find out Julia from pine island will be joining me for a road trip to Miami. We are staying right on south beach for 18$ a night.
Me and David take a nice 15mile ride around the neighborhood on terry's bikes. We chat about our likes in jazz music and I ask him questions about his experience completing 6 ironmans!! We get back in time to see the sunset. Sit in the jacuzzi and watch the sunset on the front deck. Somebody snaps a picture of us that is worth a thousand dollars. It's us in the hot tub with the sun setting behind us! We get out and dinner is prepared. Great food great people, great spirits, great conversation, great laughter, all with one 55 year old Florida park ranger, and 5 people from tawain whom I just met this morning!! Wow incredible!
After dinner we play U2 and dance foolishly. Then we go out to the bay to see the illuminescent bacteria in the water. So when you go in and splash around under the surface of the water you see what looks like sparks everywhere under water. It's amazing and it keeps our attention for 20 minutes. Then we look up at the amazing stars spread out in our galaxy and even get a glimpse at Jupiter the brightest looking star right now.
I decide to crash inside tonight on the couch. Why not it's free, and I'll be tenting it tomorrow night. In the morning we will drink coffee and watch the sunrise. Then eat some toast with homemade seagrape jelly. Then it's kayak time. I figure I'll leave right after lunch time and get my 66 miles in before dusk. Nite
I plan on leaving today but after talking to David a couchsurfer from taiwain staying at the house he helps me realize when you dint have a schedule you should take advantage of a good thing. There is then talk over breakfast about sailing and snorkeling today. I'm convinced! I'm staying another day. David , a 6 time triathalonist) is traveling with his family (5 people from taiwan) they are staying at the house for 2 weeks. The host, Terry is one incredible guy.
I walk next door after breakfast to the mc clarity treasure museum. And check this out....in 1715 11 Spanish ships containing a tremendous amount of treasure perished in a hurricane 70 miles of the coast of where we are. People have been finding various treasure wash up on the beach as recent as 5 months ago!!! This is real people!! I see photographs of items recovered and it's the most intricate, detailed, beautiful various gold and silver pieces. People scour the beach after a storm and hit the lottery! I get done at the museum and hit the drift edge in the sand. This is so exciting it's thrilling. I find some cool rocks and a jaw of some animal but no treasure today. Reality is though to the north of me there is 1 mile of forest and nobody ever comes down and checks this area, but they say treasure can be as far as 12' deep in the sand by now. What an interesting experience.
I come back and Stephanie on of the guests who is preparing for a marathon prepares a wonderful lunch for us all. I get to partake because I'm the newest guest. Yum!
Tomorrow I ride again! Only 66 miles south to dickenson state park. From there I'm only 90 miles from Miami. I booked a hostel in Miami for Friday and Saturday and I'm happy to find out Julia from pine island will be joining me for a road trip to Miami. We are staying right on south beach for 18$ a night.
Me and David take a nice 15mile ride around the neighborhood on terry's bikes. We chat about our likes in jazz music and I ask him questions about his experience completing 6 ironmans!! We get back in time to see the sunset. Sit in the jacuzzi and watch the sunset on the front deck. Somebody snaps a picture of us that is worth a thousand dollars. It's us in the hot tub with the sun setting behind us! We get out and dinner is prepared. Great food great people, great spirits, great conversation, great laughter, all with one 55 year old Florida park ranger, and 5 people from tawain whom I just met this morning!! Wow incredible!
After dinner we play U2 and dance foolishly. Then we go out to the bay to see the illuminescent bacteria in the water. So when you go in and splash around under the surface of the water you see what looks like sparks everywhere under water. It's amazing and it keeps our attention for 20 minutes. Then we look up at the amazing stars spread out in our galaxy and even get a glimpse at Jupiter the brightest looking star right now.
I decide to crash inside tonight on the couch. Why not it's free, and I'll be tenting it tomorrow night. In the morning we will drink coffee and watch the sunrise. Then eat some toast with homemade seagrape jelly. Then it's kayak time. I figure I'll leave right after lunch time and get my 66 miles in before dusk. Nite
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ride-on
So i wake this morning early, Pam goes to work at 8am. I make some scrambled eggs chess and tomato for us. She makes coffee, it's a breakfast of champions. Last night I did some bike maintenance. And learned how to take apart and fix brakes. I never learned this before I left because I just didn't want to. But I learned it last night because I had to. So it's all fixed up and running as smooth as a brand new bike.
7:45 I hit the road pedaling. Leaving my mini established life in Orlando for the next adventure. What a great time in Orlando but I am super excited for today's ride, and what a beautiful one it is! I gotta say 2nd or 3rd best ride out I'd the 15 or so I've had! I take 192 out of Orlando through amazing flatlands and farmlands. Cows and horses and fields, you could see for miles. So quiet and still hardly any car traffic! The wind was coming across me but I had some serious techno trance that it powered me right through it like nothing! Plus I was so excited to ride and I was at 100% strength after sitting for 5 days.
I get into Melbourne and know it's a decent little city. They are having an arts fest and the downtown is closed. I get the idea of going to an AA meeting. I look one up and find one starting in 20 minutes about 10 blocks away. I go in meet some good ol folks and get just what I needed, a good reminder of the principles in which I live by. I fill up on coffee and cake, lunch.
Back on the road again, even more excited about Sebastian inlet! The old-timers at the meeting tell me the water is aqua blue, and that hundreds of years ago a Spanish ship sank and sometimes gold still washes up in the inlet. A couple years ago somebody found thousands of $'s worth in a box!
Once I make a right down a1a the wind is pushing me along nicely from the north! I cruise the 25 miles down to the inlet. I see the inlet bridge and cross it about 5 minutes later. Once on top I turn back to the right and I see how amazing this place is!!! Picturesque!!! It looks like mar de plata Argentina! But this is Florida! I'm telling ya this place is a gem! Unbelievable all the boats and fishing piers and swimmers in the half moon shaped inlet.
I pull up to the camper registration and am willing to pay for a campsite today for once! I see a nice lady and say "please tell me you have a site for me to sleep tonight" because I know yesterday when I called they said they were booked. She says ya I do but it's kinda buggy, no problem I say I got bug spray. She says it's 31$ i state me case and the story of the joirney and I see if I can pay less. The answer was no but then she says hold on a minute let me call my boss. I'm thinking good maybe he will give me a discount? She comes back and says alright here is what you can do. Go back out the main road and make a right about a half mile down you will see a big dolphin mailbox. That's my bosses house he lives right on the beach. He said to go outback and set your tent up in his yard, he even has an outside shower for you to use. What I can't believe what I'm hearing right now but all I say is right on I'm there!! She says he isn't home but he will catch up with you later. So I go down find the mailbox, find the house, find the beach, outside shower, surfboards, kayaks and set up camp!
This is unreal! I walk to the beach and inlet and take it all in. I call a friend and share the news. This place is incredible and everyone should experience Sebastian inlet!
7:45 I hit the road pedaling. Leaving my mini established life in Orlando for the next adventure. What a great time in Orlando but I am super excited for today's ride, and what a beautiful one it is! I gotta say 2nd or 3rd best ride out I'd the 15 or so I've had! I take 192 out of Orlando through amazing flatlands and farmlands. Cows and horses and fields, you could see for miles. So quiet and still hardly any car traffic! The wind was coming across me but I had some serious techno trance that it powered me right through it like nothing! Plus I was so excited to ride and I was at 100% strength after sitting for 5 days.
I get into Melbourne and know it's a decent little city. They are having an arts fest and the downtown is closed. I get the idea of going to an AA meeting. I look one up and find one starting in 20 minutes about 10 blocks away. I go in meet some good ol folks and get just what I needed, a good reminder of the principles in which I live by. I fill up on coffee and cake, lunch.
Back on the road again, even more excited about Sebastian inlet! The old-timers at the meeting tell me the water is aqua blue, and that hundreds of years ago a Spanish ship sank and sometimes gold still washes up in the inlet. A couple years ago somebody found thousands of $'s worth in a box!
Once I make a right down a1a the wind is pushing me along nicely from the north! I cruise the 25 miles down to the inlet. I see the inlet bridge and cross it about 5 minutes later. Once on top I turn back to the right and I see how amazing this place is!!! Picturesque!!! It looks like mar de plata Argentina! But this is Florida! I'm telling ya this place is a gem! Unbelievable all the boats and fishing piers and swimmers in the half moon shaped inlet.
I pull up to the camper registration and am willing to pay for a campsite today for once! I see a nice lady and say "please tell me you have a site for me to sleep tonight" because I know yesterday when I called they said they were booked. She says ya I do but it's kinda buggy, no problem I say I got bug spray. She says it's 31$ i state me case and the story of the joirney and I see if I can pay less. The answer was no but then she says hold on a minute let me call my boss. I'm thinking good maybe he will give me a discount? She comes back and says alright here is what you can do. Go back out the main road and make a right about a half mile down you will see a big dolphin mailbox. That's my bosses house he lives right on the beach. He said to go outback and set your tent up in his yard, he even has an outside shower for you to use. What I can't believe what I'm hearing right now but all I say is right on I'm there!! She says he isn't home but he will catch up with you later. So I go down find the mailbox, find the house, find the beach, outside shower, surfboards, kayaks and set up camp!
This is unreal! I walk to the beach and inlet and take it all in. I call a friend and share the news. This place is incredible and everyone should experience Sebastian inlet!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Last day in Orlando
Sebastian inlet it is! Over 3 miles of beaches, one of floridas best saltwater fishing spots, 40 miles or biking trails, national park and seashore is where I'll be living tomorrow, if it's gods will. I called and they don't have campsites available supposedly, so I'll show up and take my chances with a walk on, sneak in, or I'll ask another camper if they might let me crash on their plot for a night. One thing I'm conscious of in Florida is gators! And sleeping just any old place down here close to water is not on my agenda of things to do! This park looks amazing and I'm ready to get back out there with my creator and discover His world again! That is one of my most favorite things to do! So this trip is all about that so how could everyday not be amazing! And to think I've might have helped or inspired numerous people along the way is definitely awesome! And again not in my original plan just a bonus blessing. I'm getting really excited to ride and journey onward!
So last night we went to city walk in Orlando. An amazing playground of lights, music, foods, views, beauty, designed environment, people, sounds, smells, sights and structures. Walking around it, it's hard to believe all this money was spent just to please the eyes. But it is a business and these people aren't doing this all for free! They are making tons of cash off all this. But even back home if I had 300$ dollars to blow I still wouldn't have a place like this to go play at. That's what is so unique to me about Orlando. The newness, design and mega playlands they build are just awesome. Hanging out with Pamela she says she kinda takes this whole scene for granted and is taken back to gratitude when she sees my eyes light up in awe of this place.
The resort I'm at today has about 7 pools and 10 hot tubs, 4 lakes, restaurants, miles of walking trails, waterfalls, and just extreme beauty. So I'm just taking it all in enjoying my free day, preparing mentally for my ride tomorrow and just reflecting in the good things in my life. It's amazing but at this very moment I can't find one thing I'm unhappy with!! I wish I could always be in this mindstate! I plan to take a long walk around the resort and just ease my mind. It's really been easy to just enjoy the moment, and not projecting anything out there in the future but amazing travel adventures ahead. I sit here now after writing without a worry, care or complaint!
Tonight we just lay low and try to eat cheap I saved alot of money in Orlando with free passes stuff but also spent more in food then I'm use to. Oh well once I get back on the road it's poptarts, granola and maybe I'll splurge in a jar of peanut butter, jelly too if I'm feeling luxurious....haha, seriously though!
So last night we went to city walk in Orlando. An amazing playground of lights, music, foods, views, beauty, designed environment, people, sounds, smells, sights and structures. Walking around it, it's hard to believe all this money was spent just to please the eyes. But it is a business and these people aren't doing this all for free! They are making tons of cash off all this. But even back home if I had 300$ dollars to blow I still wouldn't have a place like this to go play at. That's what is so unique to me about Orlando. The newness, design and mega playlands they build are just awesome. Hanging out with Pamela she says she kinda takes this whole scene for granted and is taken back to gratitude when she sees my eyes light up in awe of this place.
The resort I'm at today has about 7 pools and 10 hot tubs, 4 lakes, restaurants, miles of walking trails, waterfalls, and just extreme beauty. So I'm just taking it all in enjoying my free day, preparing mentally for my ride tomorrow and just reflecting in the good things in my life. It's amazing but at this very moment I can't find one thing I'm unhappy with!! I wish I could always be in this mindstate! I plan to take a long walk around the resort and just ease my mind. It's really been easy to just enjoy the moment, and not projecting anything out there in the future but amazing travel adventures ahead. I sit here now after writing without a worry, care or complaint!
Tonight we just lay low and try to eat cheap I saved alot of money in Orlando with free passes stuff but also spent more in food then I'm use to. Oh well once I get back on the road it's poptarts, granola and maybe I'll splurge in a jar of peanut butter, jelly too if I'm feeling luxurious....haha, seriously though!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Ready to ride
Ready to ride
So after seeing NASA kennedy space center and the towns around the launch site, including the extremely beautiful cape canaveral national wildlife seashore. I picture how awesome it would be to witnesss the next shuttle discovery launch for November 1!! I mean it would probably be in the top 10 coolest things I've ever done!!! And it's reality to come into my future reality! I'm excited for the chance to see it.
The national seashore was incredible all the wildlife, birds, bugs, gators, lizards and everything we saw made me feel as if another country.
So today I'm at typhoon lagoon on a free pass! It's a ridiculously awesome Disney water park with my good old friend Jackie! Gonna be a great day, the weather is perfect and I'm creating the tone for it right now by projecting positivity all over it!
I've planned my next ride for this Sunday. It's about 80 miles southeast. Knowing it's into the wind and I've been eating like a fat kid I'm not trying to pull off too much or push myself too hard. I'm riding to a town called palm bay, where I plan to sleep on the beach. It's gonna be hard to think about leaving this once again good established life behind me in Orlando to start roughing it again. But the Florida keys are on my mind, along with west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami and my parents in ft myers! So being a Yankee I need to keep it moving. I'm really grateful for the traveling mentality I've learned and how to think on the run, not panic and find a solution, or a way around an obstacle that comes. This could have only be learned by the experience for me and traveling is great experience.
But I'm looking forward to getting back on my horse and being grateful for an awesome time in Orlando, a city that wasn't on the original plan! It's such a sense if freedom being on that bike looking down in it and knowing I have everything I need to survive right here on it! I'm just aware that I might need to be more cautious nearer to Miami, because I know I'm not the only one living in my bike around there and that I won't leave my gear unattended and probably won't have as much trust in people as I've had along the way.
I've also been thinking about when I should return to Philly and I don't have an answer yet so therefore I know it's not time to decide yet! Loving it
So after seeing NASA kennedy space center and the towns around the launch site, including the extremely beautiful cape canaveral national wildlife seashore. I picture how awesome it would be to witnesss the next shuttle discovery launch for November 1!! I mean it would probably be in the top 10 coolest things I've ever done!!! And it's reality to come into my future reality! I'm excited for the chance to see it.
The national seashore was incredible all the wildlife, birds, bugs, gators, lizards and everything we saw made me feel as if another country.
So today I'm at typhoon lagoon on a free pass! It's a ridiculously awesome Disney water park with my good old friend Jackie! Gonna be a great day, the weather is perfect and I'm creating the tone for it right now by projecting positivity all over it!
I've planned my next ride for this Sunday. It's about 80 miles southeast. Knowing it's into the wind and I've been eating like a fat kid I'm not trying to pull off too much or push myself too hard. I'm riding to a town called palm bay, where I plan to sleep on the beach. It's gonna be hard to think about leaving this once again good established life behind me in Orlando to start roughing it again. But the Florida keys are on my mind, along with west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami and my parents in ft myers! So being a Yankee I need to keep it moving. I'm really grateful for the traveling mentality I've learned and how to think on the run, not panic and find a solution, or a way around an obstacle that comes. This could have only be learned by the experience for me and traveling is great experience.
But I'm looking forward to getting back on my horse and being grateful for an awesome time in Orlando, a city that wasn't on the original plan! It's such a sense if freedom being on that bike looking down in it and knowing I have everything I need to survive right here on it! I'm just aware that I might need to be more cautious nearer to Miami, because I know I'm not the only one living in my bike around there and that I won't leave my gear unattended and probably won't have as much trust in people as I've had along the way.
I've also been thinking about when I should return to Philly and I don't have an answer yet so therefore I know it's not time to decide yet! Loving it
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Back in Orlando
So last night we were driving around in the car randomly looking for sights. It's a light rain and in the radio there is an emergency warning stating tornado warnings for the exact county we were in! Oh crap Florida storms are no joke let's get outta here. So we head back to the hotel for a quiet night of tv and early bed.
We wake up and head to the Kennedy space center! I'm really excited. Admission costs 40$ but I hear it's worth it and it's just space shuttle stuff and that is just too cool. So we get there and hop in a tour bus that takes us through the building where they load the space shuttle on the rockets. Then they move it 3 miles to the launch site with the crawler that moves 1mile per hour. We get a look at the launch tower! There is a shuttle on there locked and loaded preparing for a November 1 launch!. There is launch towers everywhere for satellites and whatever else they are shooting up in space to spy on us..haha. How cool would it be to come back on November 1 to see the launch at 4pm!! They take us into the original untouched launch command room that was used for the first successful launch to the moon in 1969! That was amazing and they played a video from the original launch. It felt like being there!!! Some other cool stuff but I dint feel like mentioning.
We drive to Orlando where Sara drops me off with Pamela where I will stay for a couple days before riding on. Why not Pamela is awesome and she wants to show me more of Orlando. She has free dinner certificate for the both of us tonight at house of blues in downtown disney. She works the VIP table at various concerts, great perk. Then tomorrow we are going to typhoon lagoon on more free passes!! Really excited! I love water parks and Florida sure knows how to build parks.
Sara heads on to st Augustine and back to pa tomorrow. I however do not have to be back anytime soon. I find a travelocity deal for a 7 day cruise out of ft lauderdale! I debate booking it, it's 300$ st mertin and st Thomas and Bahamas!!! Leaving November 14. At this rate I'll never be coming home to Philly!
We wake up and head to the Kennedy space center! I'm really excited. Admission costs 40$ but I hear it's worth it and it's just space shuttle stuff and that is just too cool. So we get there and hop in a tour bus that takes us through the building where they load the space shuttle on the rockets. Then they move it 3 miles to the launch site with the crawler that moves 1mile per hour. We get a look at the launch tower! There is a shuttle on there locked and loaded preparing for a November 1 launch!. There is launch towers everywhere for satellites and whatever else they are shooting up in space to spy on us..haha. How cool would it be to come back on November 1 to see the launch at 4pm!! They take us into the original untouched launch command room that was used for the first successful launch to the moon in 1969! That was amazing and they played a video from the original launch. It felt like being there!!! Some other cool stuff but I dint feel like mentioning.
We drive to Orlando where Sara drops me off with Pamela where I will stay for a couple days before riding on. Why not Pamela is awesome and she wants to show me more of Orlando. She has free dinner certificate for the both of us tonight at house of blues in downtown disney. She works the VIP table at various concerts, great perk. Then tomorrow we are going to typhoon lagoon on more free passes!! Really excited! I love water parks and Florida sure knows how to build parks.
Sara heads on to st Augustine and back to pa tomorrow. I however do not have to be back anytime soon. I find a travelocity deal for a 7 day cruise out of ft lauderdale! I debate booking it, it's 300$ st mertin and st Thomas and Bahamas!!! Leaving November 14. At this rate I'll never be coming home to Philly!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Just another amazing day
So I wake up yesterday so excited for Disney. Like it's amazing I'm about to walk into Disney studios. I was here when I was a little kid, under 10 years old. Pamela takes me out to a tremendous little breakfast where I make a superb order. I blueberry pancake, I cinnamon apple French toast, home fries and eggs! All of which were amazing!!!!
Then we drive off to epcot to meet Sara and Muriel. They arrive and Pamela gets us all in, she recommends we start at the magic kingdom and then go on. Being a local she has no desire to come in but so nice enough to wait for us all and escort us in.
Disney is an amazing place! So clean, so classy, so nice, immaculate, colorful, so well designed, extreme decor, way way way above any park I remember! All the workers at the park are really nice. I witnessed a cashiers patience with a special needs customer, I was next in line. When she rang me up I said are you this happy all day long, she looked at me and said awww...and her big arms came around me and she squeezed me for a bear hug before I knew what happened. She said thank you so much sweetheart it means so much to know how we are recognized here. And her answer was yes! Yes I am this happy to be at work all day because I work at the happiest place on earth. I told her her kindness goes along way and has affected my day for the better which in turn might effect somebody I run into today for the better! After saying that I look around and really don't see any unhappy people. All day out of the thousands of people I only say two parents loose their patience with their kids.
So we do magic kingdom and muriel leaves to get her flight. Sara and I go to epcot. After epcot I'm thouroughly impressed with Disney. They have lots of countries represented there and replicated a little city for each, complete with restaurants, shopping, gifts, unique foods and employees all from the specific countries. Morocco had amazing crafts, and the food was excellent. I have necver been to morocco but I would be convinced the recreation Disney did of their city would be authentic. I even asked a young guy employee, "are you really from morocco"? He said yes he was and he gets a year visa to work here. What an amazing opportunity Disney provides for these countries. It really takes a special kind of personality to work here, a personality that is super rare in Philly or new York.
We walk around all the countries and then stay for the fireworks show out on the water. Darn that ish was impressive!!!!! The music and the theme and the backdrop was just hard to take in. And don't forget I'm seeing all this for free! Those passes we got were 200$ a person!
We all leave the park in an orderly fashion, about (20,000) people, and there is no pushing or shoving or nonsense, again I'm impressed. Sara and I take a shuttle to our renta car and drive about an hour to cocoa beach. We get there about midnight and find a hotel for 50$ a night, split two ways not too bad at all. We take a night beach walk and see these baby sharks being washes up by the nights high tide! I touch one and then we leave. That was worth a short walk and a peek at the ocean.
No this morning I hit the grocery store for protein bars and some poptarts family packs...haha. We head to the beach and a small rain cloud passes over. A little drizzle with the sun out feels good. A sand crab does it's sideways walk right over to my towel I look at it, it looks at me then walks right back it's way. It terrifies a woman who sees it out of the corner if her eye. Her husband looks at me and we start laughing loudly....haha. I go for a dip in the ocean and my hand touches a large fish, I sprint towards my towel! Ok that's enough of the cocoa beach wildlife for a day. I just want to relax...haha
This morning I talk to jacqlyn who is an old old friend from college. She lives in Tampa and we talk a couple times a year. I definitely had plans to meet up with her here in Florida. We talk and she sounds awesome, telling me about a new church she found, she tells me I sound awesome and I'm super excited to see her. I'm going back to Orlando from here to get my bike and probably hang a few days with Pamela because there are some thunderstorms in the forecast. Jackie says it's only an hour drive from Tampa there and she has free sea world passes!!! Sweet she wants to come down this weekend and meetup in orlando! Awesome, I live how things come together!
I'm kinda ok with not riding for a couple days. I know I will be super exited to get back on that bike and do west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami, and the keys when the time comes. But for now the time has come to leave the bike be and ride the waves I'm on. I plan on being in Florida for at least a month from today so I have plenty of time to fill.
The plan came together yesterday, when I realized from the Florida keys I could take the key west express to ft myers, then ride to my parents house which will be the final destination of the ride. Then my friend pete from tampa will come to my parents house hang out with me and my folks then take me back to Tampa to catch my Philly flight. I'm just going to leave all my gear and bike at my parents house and when they drive to PA for Christmas they could bring it with. Wow it feels good to have some closure in place to this trip. I'm loving every minute of it but a loose outline is kinda nice from here
Then we drive off to epcot to meet Sara and Muriel. They arrive and Pamela gets us all in, she recommends we start at the magic kingdom and then go on. Being a local she has no desire to come in but so nice enough to wait for us all and escort us in.
Disney is an amazing place! So clean, so classy, so nice, immaculate, colorful, so well designed, extreme decor, way way way above any park I remember! All the workers at the park are really nice. I witnessed a cashiers patience with a special needs customer, I was next in line. When she rang me up I said are you this happy all day long, she looked at me and said awww...and her big arms came around me and she squeezed me for a bear hug before I knew what happened. She said thank you so much sweetheart it means so much to know how we are recognized here. And her answer was yes! Yes I am this happy to be at work all day because I work at the happiest place on earth. I told her her kindness goes along way and has affected my day for the better which in turn might effect somebody I run into today for the better! After saying that I look around and really don't see any unhappy people. All day out of the thousands of people I only say two parents loose their patience with their kids.
So we do magic kingdom and muriel leaves to get her flight. Sara and I go to epcot. After epcot I'm thouroughly impressed with Disney. They have lots of countries represented there and replicated a little city for each, complete with restaurants, shopping, gifts, unique foods and employees all from the specific countries. Morocco had amazing crafts, and the food was excellent. I have necver been to morocco but I would be convinced the recreation Disney did of their city would be authentic. I even asked a young guy employee, "are you really from morocco"? He said yes he was and he gets a year visa to work here. What an amazing opportunity Disney provides for these countries. It really takes a special kind of personality to work here, a personality that is super rare in Philly or new York.
We walk around all the countries and then stay for the fireworks show out on the water. Darn that ish was impressive!!!!! The music and the theme and the backdrop was just hard to take in. And don't forget I'm seeing all this for free! Those passes we got were 200$ a person!
We all leave the park in an orderly fashion, about (20,000) people, and there is no pushing or shoving or nonsense, again I'm impressed. Sara and I take a shuttle to our renta car and drive about an hour to cocoa beach. We get there about midnight and find a hotel for 50$ a night, split two ways not too bad at all. We take a night beach walk and see these baby sharks being washes up by the nights high tide! I touch one and then we leave. That was worth a short walk and a peek at the ocean.
No this morning I hit the grocery store for protein bars and some poptarts family packs...haha. We head to the beach and a small rain cloud passes over. A little drizzle with the sun out feels good. A sand crab does it's sideways walk right over to my towel I look at it, it looks at me then walks right back it's way. It terrifies a woman who sees it out of the corner if her eye. Her husband looks at me and we start laughing loudly....haha. I go for a dip in the ocean and my hand touches a large fish, I sprint towards my towel! Ok that's enough of the cocoa beach wildlife for a day. I just want to relax...haha
This morning I talk to jacqlyn who is an old old friend from college. She lives in Tampa and we talk a couple times a year. I definitely had plans to meet up with her here in Florida. We talk and she sounds awesome, telling me about a new church she found, she tells me I sound awesome and I'm super excited to see her. I'm going back to Orlando from here to get my bike and probably hang a few days with Pamela because there are some thunderstorms in the forecast. Jackie says it's only an hour drive from Tampa there and she has free sea world passes!!! Sweet she wants to come down this weekend and meetup in orlando! Awesome, I live how things come together!
I'm kinda ok with not riding for a couple days. I know I will be super exited to get back on that bike and do west palm, ft lauderdale, Miami, and the keys when the time comes. But for now the time has come to leave the bike be and ride the waves I'm on. I plan on being in Florida for at least a month from today so I have plenty of time to fill.
The plan came together yesterday, when I realized from the Florida keys I could take the key west express to ft myers, then ride to my parents house which will be the final destination of the ride. Then my friend pete from tampa will come to my parents house hang out with me and my folks then take me back to Tampa to catch my Philly flight. I'm just going to leave all my gear and bike at my parents house and when they drive to PA for Christmas they could bring it with. Wow it feels good to have some closure in place to this trip. I'm loving every minute of it but a loose outline is kinda nice from here
Monday, September 27, 2010
Disney world
So Sara agrees to most likely drive to st Augustine but doesn't seem thrilled. I hang up the phone and get a text message. It's from Pamela!, a nice girl I met at the savannah. She lives in Orlando but is originally from st Augustine beach. I was thinking of her this morning and I was gonna text her asking for a good brunch place in st Augustine. Her text asks what I'm doing and I say hanging out on the beach. She has the day off and decides to make the hour drive up to spend the day in town!!! I'm excited for company! She finds me laying on the beach with my bike nearby. I dry off and we head onto st George st to my favorite restaurant Columbia. We eat a fabolous lunchtime salad and then meet her friends at the Mexican pottery import store a cool store and grande people! Good time. We check out the local lighthouse and she gives me a great history tour of the town!
I suddenly get a great idea. Sara is in Orlando and I ask Pamela if I can ride with her back to Orlando in her car with my stuff so I can meet Sara. This way she will have company on the drive back home and Sara won't be obligated to st Augustine to pick me up. Pamela agrees it's not a problem and invites me to crash at her apartment. I think about the possiblility of this being cheating because I said I would only take a ride if I or my bike was broken. But Pamela explains don't be so guided by my expectations, live for different experiences and don't miss opportunity because of being close minded to anything. Sold! I disassemble the bike and throw it in the car. Not sure when and where my riding will continue but confident that it will and this ride in a car back to Orlando to a nice clean apartment where I can eat cereal and do laundry sounds heavenous.
We have some good god talks on the way back and share some past experiences, good talks. I'm just baffled once again about where my body is and just how it got here! Simply amazed everytime this thought comes to mind. We spend a nice relaxed night on the couch hanging out and she gets a great idea!
I can get 4 free passes to all the Disney parks you and your friends should go! I wasn't thinking I must go to Disney buy free admission sounds perfect. I text Sara and she is in! So I'm here now waiting to gonto Disney world. This definitely wasn't on the agenda of the trip but then again I didn't have an agenda for this very reason. Let the universe make and guide you! And look what happens.
Tonight me and Sara tour the coast in a rental car! Again awesome and not in the grand plan but that I didn't have either. So I leave my bike in Orlando for a couple days and pick up riding from back here in a couple days. I'm off on a vacation on my vacation!
I suddenly get a great idea. Sara is in Orlando and I ask Pamela if I can ride with her back to Orlando in her car with my stuff so I can meet Sara. This way she will have company on the drive back home and Sara won't be obligated to st Augustine to pick me up. Pamela agrees it's not a problem and invites me to crash at her apartment. I think about the possiblility of this being cheating because I said I would only take a ride if I or my bike was broken. But Pamela explains don't be so guided by my expectations, live for different experiences and don't miss opportunity because of being close minded to anything. Sold! I disassemble the bike and throw it in the car. Not sure when and where my riding will continue but confident that it will and this ride in a car back to Orlando to a nice clean apartment where I can eat cereal and do laundry sounds heavenous.
We have some good god talks on the way back and share some past experiences, good talks. I'm just baffled once again about where my body is and just how it got here! Simply amazed everytime this thought comes to mind. We spend a nice relaxed night on the couch hanging out and she gets a great idea!
I can get 4 free passes to all the Disney parks you and your friends should go! I wasn't thinking I must go to Disney buy free admission sounds perfect. I text Sara and she is in! So I'm here now waiting to gonto Disney world. This definitely wasn't on the agenda of the trip but then again I didn't have an agenda for this very reason. Let the universe make and guide you! And look what happens.
Tonight me and Sara tour the coast in a rental car! Again awesome and not in the grand plan but that I didn't have either. So I leave my bike in Orlando for a couple days and pick up riding from back here in a couple days. I'm off on a vacation on my vacation!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Exhausted
So after the campfire which was blazing we all decided to go for a midnight swim in the full moon light lake! And because we were at a hippie farm clothing was optional, most did not wear clothes. I went with the no clothing option just so I could say I did it, purely for effect. Then I rinse off in the outside shower and head back in. Max a wonderful fun spirited school teacher who never leaves home found herself swimming naked in the lake as well! She was so funny and she made me a great late night snack, peanut butter and jelly, with raisins and banana chips yum!
I wake up about 8:30 and get to use the outhouse, it smells pretty bad! But then I knew I had some bike maintenance to do because my bike wasn't shifting properly the day before. I arrive to my bike to find a flat front. Oh well is my attitude and I get to work fixing it. I find out the same piece of glass that gave me 3, part of it is still in there! I remove it and I'm good. I shove off and all the yoga hippies are sad to see me go. They offer me to stay and food and a ride somewhere they are so sweet and as good quality of a person you will find
I start pedaling and am just amazed ad my stay at the hostel in the woods. And I was going to stay at a state park, the right decision was made once again!
I know it's about 110 to st Augustine but I'm prepared to ride into the dark. I leave about 10am and have a beautiful trip. Very scenic, still, not much traffic, nice shoulder! I stop a little here and there. Then about 2:00 the winds pick up and the clouds look dark over Jacksonville. I ride through Jacksonville and all I see is the bad parts of that city to the entire north and south. I mean really sorry for anybody that lives there but really the center 5 blocks of the entire city looked decent, what a craphole!
So I ride through some gusty winds for about two hours. Stopping after one for a subway hoagie and recharge the iPhone. I watch some football there and back on the road. Riding for another hour, then I realize I'm physically beat!!!!! I have not much left. I curse at the wind at the top of my lungs after I'm blasted by a gust! I want to give up, pack it in and call somebody to pick me up. I curse the whole trip the whole idea, god, everyone.... This was my breaking point the worst it could get I just experienced! I pause for a moment, get it back together and see a stupid sign 24 miles to st Augustine. I knew then to quit crying like a baby, shut up, suck it up and keep pedaling! I ask got to provide me with what I need to complete this ride, I'm thinking courage and patience. Well I'm happy to tell you I made it, without anymore outbursts either. That was some extreme physical endurance and I passed the test. Right into downtown Augustine George st to get my favorite gelati. They guy says hi how are you behind the gelato stand and i tell him the truth...haha. He feel my pain and hooks up the size of the cup! Nice!
I go outside and sit on a bench an old man just tried to steal from me. Not now old man I'm not in the mood I'm thinking, this ain't a game I'm sitting down and then you can sit on my lap if you have to but I'm sitting down! We both sit down on the tiny bench and our cheeks are touching. He is so old I dint think he can even see me and he seems startled like what is touching my leg. I say hello excuse me but I need this seat too!...haha. We end up talking and he is a good guy interested in hearing about my journey. I'm patient with him, I really really do like old people they all remind me of my grandparents who aren't in this world anymore.
I finish my ice cream, call my mom and bitch for a minute then head the 3 miles to the campsite. I'm so exhausted physically and mentally. On the way I see some cheapo looking motels and think hmm.. I look for the crappiest looking one and see it has the cheapest price listed. That's it sold to this guy in don't feel like hooking up my tent and crap for 40$ I'll take my own shower and bed! I check in and it smells like a thousand cigarettes but I don't care, the sink doesn't work so I brush my teeth with the shower, stains all over the carpet so I walk around in flip flops I even thought about putting my sleeping bag on top of the bed but I'm so lazy at this point I don't want to unroll it!...haha I watch some tv that only has one volume, super loud, then it's off to dream land. I don't sleep so good because my entire body was aching all night, I'm really sore. I was supposed to head to cocoa beach which is 130 miles from here but that ain't happening. I'm meeting up with Sara a friend from PA but in Orlando. I'm going to see if she can change our location to st Augustine!
I wake up about 8:30 and get to use the outhouse, it smells pretty bad! But then I knew I had some bike maintenance to do because my bike wasn't shifting properly the day before. I arrive to my bike to find a flat front. Oh well is my attitude and I get to work fixing it. I find out the same piece of glass that gave me 3, part of it is still in there! I remove it and I'm good. I shove off and all the yoga hippies are sad to see me go. They offer me to stay and food and a ride somewhere they are so sweet and as good quality of a person you will find
I start pedaling and am just amazed ad my stay at the hostel in the woods. And I was going to stay at a state park, the right decision was made once again!
I know it's about 110 to st Augustine but I'm prepared to ride into the dark. I leave about 10am and have a beautiful trip. Very scenic, still, not much traffic, nice shoulder! I stop a little here and there. Then about 2:00 the winds pick up and the clouds look dark over Jacksonville. I ride through Jacksonville and all I see is the bad parts of that city to the entire north and south. I mean really sorry for anybody that lives there but really the center 5 blocks of the entire city looked decent, what a craphole!
So I ride through some gusty winds for about two hours. Stopping after one for a subway hoagie and recharge the iPhone. I watch some football there and back on the road. Riding for another hour, then I realize I'm physically beat!!!!! I have not much left. I curse at the wind at the top of my lungs after I'm blasted by a gust! I want to give up, pack it in and call somebody to pick me up. I curse the whole trip the whole idea, god, everyone.... This was my breaking point the worst it could get I just experienced! I pause for a moment, get it back together and see a stupid sign 24 miles to st Augustine. I knew then to quit crying like a baby, shut up, suck it up and keep pedaling! I ask got to provide me with what I need to complete this ride, I'm thinking courage and patience. Well I'm happy to tell you I made it, without anymore outbursts either. That was some extreme physical endurance and I passed the test. Right into downtown Augustine George st to get my favorite gelati. They guy says hi how are you behind the gelato stand and i tell him the truth...haha. He feel my pain and hooks up the size of the cup! Nice!
I go outside and sit on a bench an old man just tried to steal from me. Not now old man I'm not in the mood I'm thinking, this ain't a game I'm sitting down and then you can sit on my lap if you have to but I'm sitting down! We both sit down on the tiny bench and our cheeks are touching. He is so old I dint think he can even see me and he seems startled like what is touching my leg. I say hello excuse me but I need this seat too!...haha. We end up talking and he is a good guy interested in hearing about my journey. I'm patient with him, I really really do like old people they all remind me of my grandparents who aren't in this world anymore.
I finish my ice cream, call my mom and bitch for a minute then head the 3 miles to the campsite. I'm so exhausted physically and mentally. On the way I see some cheapo looking motels and think hmm.. I look for the crappiest looking one and see it has the cheapest price listed. That's it sold to this guy in don't feel like hooking up my tent and crap for 40$ I'll take my own shower and bed! I check in and it smells like a thousand cigarettes but I don't care, the sink doesn't work so I brush my teeth with the shower, stains all over the carpet so I walk around in flip flops I even thought about putting my sleeping bag on top of the bed but I'm so lazy at this point I don't want to unroll it!...haha I watch some tv that only has one volume, super loud, then it's off to dream land. I don't sleep so good because my entire body was aching all night, I'm really sore. I was supposed to head to cocoa beach which is 130 miles from here but that ain't happening. I'm meeting up with Sara a friend from PA but in Orlando. I'm going to see if she can change our location to st Augustine!
Friday, September 24, 2010
What a nice piece...
...of highway 17 I had the privilege of riding on today! There were even parts with a bike lane. But then the bike lane just kind of ended in a field at times but it's better than no shoulder. So most of the day I had a nice shoulder.
I'm still wow'd by my last night in savannah! That city turned into a different city at night!, much better!
So I wake up at 7:50 from such a sound solid sleep it takes me a minute to recall where I am! I love those sleeps!! But I pack up rather fast and debate stopping for some famous grits that's about 5 miles out of my way and I got another long haul in for today almost 100. I decide to go cause it's now or never! Glad I went and I can now say I had savannahs best grits! I'm still not impressed with grits but those were the beat I've ever had!
So I shove outta Atlanta with my shirt off, haha about 9:00. The plan is to ride to jeckyll island GA and camp out. Only problem is it's an extra 20 miles round trip off my Florida path :-( boo I hate backtracking!!
The morning ride flies by I cover 60 miles in 3 hours!! But then the winds change and start to come across me. It takes me 5 hours to do the last 40 miles! It kinda posses me off when that happens but nothing you can do out there! Suck it up and take it like a man!
About 30 miles from jeckyll I have a change of idea. I try to call "the hostel in the forest" in Brunswick GA. I heard amazing things about this place from travelers. I called yesterday and they said mo room for me because of a yoga retreat weekend. Which sounds awesome to me but I can't give up three days there. But anyway I wasn't happy with the answer of no I couldn't stay so I call back hoping to talk to someone else. Well I get the right guy on the phone! I tell him my deal and he says there is no way he can turn me away. Get here asap I wanna talk to you he says! SWEEt! I'm on my way..
I'm extremely wiped out of energy when I arrive! Some guy gives me a tour of hippie crap, all I hear is blah blah blah. My mind is on jumping in the lake that I see two people coming from. Tour is over and I head tooth lake! I really can't describe to you in words how refreshing that lake was! There is a wooden pier out in the middle of it. I jump in and swim to it. The lake is crystal clear I can see all the way down about 15 ft! I sun myself on the floating pier deck, stretch out, do some yoga and backflips off of it. I climb back up and start laughing out of control. Just when I think this trip cannot be anymore amazing I find a crystal clear lake to jump in after a tough but scenic day of riding. I swim back to my flip flops and head back to the lodge.
This place is super Eco friendly all your poop is composted and you have to throw saw dust on it to cover it up. There is free ranging chickens and we eat fresh eggs for breakfast! The huts are seriously built in trees and the showers have no walls just out in the open forest! This place is quite magnificent. They prepare a vegan dinner for you that's included in the hostel price of 25$ a night. We hold hands and each introduce ourselves saying 5 things we are grateful for. Then it's campfire and mantra chanting. I'm gonna sleep like a rock my treefort has a beaded curtain for front door and the bugs aren't bad. Life is amazing.
Tomorrow it's another long haul into st Augustine. I'll be in Florida. And I was convinced to ride to the Florida keys, no more Miami it's 150 miles past Miami now!...haha
I'm still wow'd by my last night in savannah! That city turned into a different city at night!, much better!
So I wake up at 7:50 from such a sound solid sleep it takes me a minute to recall where I am! I love those sleeps!! But I pack up rather fast and debate stopping for some famous grits that's about 5 miles out of my way and I got another long haul in for today almost 100. I decide to go cause it's now or never! Glad I went and I can now say I had savannahs best grits! I'm still not impressed with grits but those were the beat I've ever had!
So I shove outta Atlanta with my shirt off, haha about 9:00. The plan is to ride to jeckyll island GA and camp out. Only problem is it's an extra 20 miles round trip off my Florida path :-( boo I hate backtracking!!
The morning ride flies by I cover 60 miles in 3 hours!! But then the winds change and start to come across me. It takes me 5 hours to do the last 40 miles! It kinda posses me off when that happens but nothing you can do out there! Suck it up and take it like a man!
About 30 miles from jeckyll I have a change of idea. I try to call "the hostel in the forest" in Brunswick GA. I heard amazing things about this place from travelers. I called yesterday and they said mo room for me because of a yoga retreat weekend. Which sounds awesome to me but I can't give up three days there. But anyway I wasn't happy with the answer of no I couldn't stay so I call back hoping to talk to someone else. Well I get the right guy on the phone! I tell him my deal and he says there is no way he can turn me away. Get here asap I wanna talk to you he says! SWEEt! I'm on my way..
I'm extremely wiped out of energy when I arrive! Some guy gives me a tour of hippie crap, all I hear is blah blah blah. My mind is on jumping in the lake that I see two people coming from. Tour is over and I head tooth lake! I really can't describe to you in words how refreshing that lake was! There is a wooden pier out in the middle of it. I jump in and swim to it. The lake is crystal clear I can see all the way down about 15 ft! I sun myself on the floating pier deck, stretch out, do some yoga and backflips off of it. I climb back up and start laughing out of control. Just when I think this trip cannot be anymore amazing I find a crystal clear lake to jump in after a tough but scenic day of riding. I swim back to my flip flops and head back to the lodge.
This place is super Eco friendly all your poop is composted and you have to throw saw dust on it to cover it up. There is free ranging chickens and we eat fresh eggs for breakfast! The huts are seriously built in trees and the showers have no walls just out in the open forest! This place is quite magnificent. They prepare a vegan dinner for you that's included in the hostel price of 25$ a night. We hold hands and each introduce ourselves saying 5 things we are grateful for. Then it's campfire and mantra chanting. I'm gonna sleep like a rock my treefort has a beaded curtain for front door and the bugs aren't bad. Life is amazing.
Tomorrow it's another long haul into st Augustine. I'll be in Florida. And I was convinced to ride to the Florida keys, no more Miami it's 150 miles past Miami now!...haha
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Savannah
This morning I wake up well rested in a bed, what a nice invention! Don gives me a lift about 20 blocks downtown towards the water front. He drops me at a well known coffee shop called the sentinel bean. I grab two cups the second kind was way better than the first and I buy a tiny muffin for 1.25$ not cheap what's up with that I thought things were cheaper here, well apparently not coffee shop stuff anyway. I notice people are pretty whole grain and earthy conscious around here, it's kinda cool. Forsyth park is bee-utiful!! Big flat open space right in the middle of the city. It's lined with mansions peeking into the beautiful parkscape!
The city is mostly dominated by scag kids. Savannah college if art and design. I walk all the way down to the riverfront snapping away on the iPhone. I take a free shuttle around to get the layout of the city. It drops me off in the central district. I run into jj bonerz for some famous wings but they are closed :'-( So I on to my next destination that's a must see, the famous ice cream spot so I get an amazing orange sherbet float. That holds me over until Paula deans buffet restaurant where I meet a guy from Philly. He is the bartender and we chat about good Philly stuff. Then I try to walk back home but can't because I'm way too stuffed. I call don and he picks me up at the coffee shop he dropped me off at.
I kinda realize I don't want to spend another day in savannah which means I want to see tybee island tonight. I run it by don and see if he wants to go. He can't because he already made plans for dinner, but he offers me his car! Wow what an amazing trusting man, here is a guy I've known for maybe 12 hours offering his home and now his vehicle to me? I drop him off where he needs to be and proceed to drive the 20 miles each way to tybee island. What a worthwhile trip! I snap some stunning photos and catch the laid back fishing vibe of the island. All within a hour. I head back to dons house.
We collaborate about the to do for tonight and decide to check out the jazz festival in Forsyth park. It turns out to be a nice time, the music is cool and there is people and pretty little ladies everywhere, ok savannah, you just went up 2 whole points in my rating book. I talk to 2 nice girls standing close by. They are from Orlando, guess who is going to Orlando? Ya me..and I'm pretty sure I secure a place to crash for a night in Orlando!
So savannah people are super fun, laid back, welcoming, hip, Eco, earthy, and just fun to be around! Good times!!
Tomorrow morning it's 95 miles onto jeckyll island GA. My last full ride before the monstrous state of Florida!
The city is mostly dominated by scag kids. Savannah college if art and design. I walk all the way down to the riverfront snapping away on the iPhone. I take a free shuttle around to get the layout of the city. It drops me off in the central district. I run into jj bonerz for some famous wings but they are closed :'-( So I on to my next destination that's a must see, the famous ice cream spot so I get an amazing orange sherbet float. That holds me over until Paula deans buffet restaurant where I meet a guy from Philly. He is the bartender and we chat about good Philly stuff. Then I try to walk back home but can't because I'm way too stuffed. I call don and he picks me up at the coffee shop he dropped me off at.
I kinda realize I don't want to spend another day in savannah which means I want to see tybee island tonight. I run it by don and see if he wants to go. He can't because he already made plans for dinner, but he offers me his car! Wow what an amazing trusting man, here is a guy I've known for maybe 12 hours offering his home and now his vehicle to me? I drop him off where he needs to be and proceed to drive the 20 miles each way to tybee island. What a worthwhile trip! I snap some stunning photos and catch the laid back fishing vibe of the island. All within a hour. I head back to dons house.
We collaborate about the to do for tonight and decide to check out the jazz festival in Forsyth park. It turns out to be a nice time, the music is cool and there is people and pretty little ladies everywhere, ok savannah, you just went up 2 whole points in my rating book. I talk to 2 nice girls standing close by. They are from Orlando, guess who is going to Orlando? Ya me..and I'm pretty sure I secure a place to crash for a night in Orlando!
So savannah people are super fun, laid back, welcoming, hip, Eco, earthy, and just fun to be around! Good times!!
Tomorrow morning it's 95 miles onto jeckyll island GA. My last full ride before the monstrous state of Florida!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Onto savannah
So yesterday my last day in the lovely town of charleston, we got to go to folly beach and enjoy a nice outside lunch at a beach cafe which was delicious! Me and Sean who is my housemates boyfriend went to a sports bar later and watched the phillies beat the braves. Sean is an interesting character, for only being 22 he is almost entirely covered with tats and he occupation is a body piercer, cool. He once rode from st Augustine Florida to San Diego over 3,000 miles in a 3 month trip through almost every mountain range in the US. We spend the evening talking about travel and I learn alot about hopping freight trains! Apparently there are underground maps made by jumpers called crew sheets that you can download and tells you how to get around and time and dates of cars going and coming. He tells me he lived that life for months off a bag of rice, hot sauce and a refillable jug of water!...now this is really cool. I have not yet started searching the Internet for crew maps but o I will!..just curious. After 4 hours in a bar watching the entire game I'm beat and ready for bed, they drop me off and continue in to the next bar.
So I start out to savannah early and my wheels are moving in the pavement by 8:00am. I get out of the charleston limits and then I see it. The large green and white sign that says "savannah 108 miles" it just hits me in a kind of intimidating way. I thought it to be about 103 and appears to be even a couple more. I've rode 130 in a day down the entire del-mar-va peninsula but I did it in parts I have never seen one sign with that distance on it. I kinda panic a bit and then pull it together. My mornings are my best time to ride from 8-11 I fly usually only taking one break I can easily cover 40 miles in this period. So that's what I do head down iPod on it's time to go to work. I look at it that way sometimes because the road I was on wasn't that scenic and had no shoulder! Kinda sucked but it sure does beat a day at any air conditioned office running around pretending to be busy. I got freedom out here, purpose, perspiration, inspiration and excursive.
So about 10:30 I pull up to a sunoco kind of in a not overly joyous mood I think because I almost got brushed by a couple motor homes! But anyway I want to shake my bad mood off! I go inside and 3 black guys just hanging out start pelting me with questions. Where you coming from boy, where you going? Why? I gladly answer them all and they seem to be interested in the journey. Vince, they guy working the register, asks me who I'm riding with. I give my standard same answer "nobody just me and God" his eyes light up and he cracks the biggest southern smile I've ever seen with his white teeth gleaming at me he exclaims "THAT is an AWESOME team!, he repeats himself and says it again! I can't deny it's not and have to agree. We talk for a couple mins and I'm thrilled to find out he has been many places and we have a good talk filled with excitement about gods big beautiful planet and how good it is. He gives me a pound and I take off. Walking out those doors I had my biggest Yankee smile on. Vince snapped me out of my mood!! Wonderful guy!
Back to work, as I continue to ride it continues to get hotter, I think most if my ride it stays about 90 outside and that just beats you down after a while. I couldn't drink enough beverages, I would just sweat them out instantly. I didn't go pee the entire day and I must have filled up both bottles about 6 times.
Highlights...roadside homemade peach cider, riding through a marine airport watching fighter jets land directly overhead, snakes on the shoulder of the road, armadillo roadkill (never seen one before too bad it was splat) swamp, river inlets, bridges, plantation fields, great random selection job by the iPod in the old school hip hop department, the conquest.
So into savannah I come across a big beautiful bridge seeing the town from an almost aerial view. Once into town I cruise around a bit, call my host and head to 311 east 52nd street in the Victorian district.
I meet don, compliment his house, settle in, shower and nap. I then walk out a couple blocks for some good Japanese food and hit the grocery store. Don is a nice guy and offers me a ride downtown tomorrow to sightsee! I plan to do touristy stuff tomorrow and then possibly head to the local beach Friday before heading out 100mulws south to jeckyll island my next destination. Nite
So I start out to savannah early and my wheels are moving in the pavement by 8:00am. I get out of the charleston limits and then I see it. The large green and white sign that says "savannah 108 miles" it just hits me in a kind of intimidating way. I thought it to be about 103 and appears to be even a couple more. I've rode 130 in a day down the entire del-mar-va peninsula but I did it in parts I have never seen one sign with that distance on it. I kinda panic a bit and then pull it together. My mornings are my best time to ride from 8-11 I fly usually only taking one break I can easily cover 40 miles in this period. So that's what I do head down iPod on it's time to go to work. I look at it that way sometimes because the road I was on wasn't that scenic and had no shoulder! Kinda sucked but it sure does beat a day at any air conditioned office running around pretending to be busy. I got freedom out here, purpose, perspiration, inspiration and excursive.
So about 10:30 I pull up to a sunoco kind of in a not overly joyous mood I think because I almost got brushed by a couple motor homes! But anyway I want to shake my bad mood off! I go inside and 3 black guys just hanging out start pelting me with questions. Where you coming from boy, where you going? Why? I gladly answer them all and they seem to be interested in the journey. Vince, they guy working the register, asks me who I'm riding with. I give my standard same answer "nobody just me and God" his eyes light up and he cracks the biggest southern smile I've ever seen with his white teeth gleaming at me he exclaims "THAT is an AWESOME team!, he repeats himself and says it again! I can't deny it's not and have to agree. We talk for a couple mins and I'm thrilled to find out he has been many places and we have a good talk filled with excitement about gods big beautiful planet and how good it is. He gives me a pound and I take off. Walking out those doors I had my biggest Yankee smile on. Vince snapped me out of my mood!! Wonderful guy!
Back to work, as I continue to ride it continues to get hotter, I think most if my ride it stays about 90 outside and that just beats you down after a while. I couldn't drink enough beverages, I would just sweat them out instantly. I didn't go pee the entire day and I must have filled up both bottles about 6 times.
Highlights...roadside homemade peach cider, riding through a marine airport watching fighter jets land directly overhead, snakes on the shoulder of the road, armadillo roadkill (never seen one before too bad it was splat) swamp, river inlets, bridges, plantation fields, great random selection job by the iPod in the old school hip hop department, the conquest.
So into savannah I come across a big beautiful bridge seeing the town from an almost aerial view. Once into town I cruise around a bit, call my host and head to 311 east 52nd street in the Victorian district.
I meet don, compliment his house, settle in, shower and nap. I then walk out a couple blocks for some good Japanese food and hit the grocery store. Don is a nice guy and offers me a ride downtown tomorrow to sightsee! I plan to do touristy stuff tomorrow and then possibly head to the local beach Friday before heading out 100mulws south to jeckyll island my next destination. Nite
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wow charleston
I'm not a picture taking kind of guy but I couldn't stop taking photos today of this incredibly beautiful city! Everywhere you turn there is a must see landmark. Something so beautiful and grand on the inside that demands you get a closer look and forces you to take out the camera instantly. Even just certain streets in general, they way architecture is composed on the block combined with cobble stone roadway, plants and iron gates make you stand back in awe. Then to imagine there are tons of occupants that reside here and see this everyday when coming to and from!..wow. I was happy to just see it I couldn't imagine living there. But the apartment I'm staying at is just blocks from the nicest biggest houses in charleston.
I went to the slave market museum, which blew me away to think I was standing in the biggest trading block in the south. And to hear and see detailed accounts of how the trading took place and how a trader would get top dollar for a slave. I got the best brownie in town, walked the open street market, poked in and out of old churches, learned some history of the town, sweated in the heat walking around and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!
Enough walking around I find myself back at the apartment watching the third disc of always sunny. I'm reading a to do book for tourists and decide tomorrow I'm going to try to get a plantation tour in. I doze off for an hour of beauty sleep.
Wake up hungry and have a snack. I get some mews from back in Philly that doesn't make me too happy. I find myself in a jam and head to a meeting. The meeting kind of sucks but I meet a good dude named chas and we head uptown for a burrito. Pretty decent standard burrito and I see pineapple jalepeno salsa on the menu again it must be a southern thing, it's good anyway. We chat about life and taking adventures and catch the phillies playing Atlanta on tv. I thank him not in a gay way for the company and say how I just kind of needed it.
Chas heads off back hoke and I stay to watch the rest of the phils. I slide one seat over to a young couple, guy wearing a braves hat, and say hello. I soon after decide that people in the south are nicer! They are sweet and they tell how well know ruthless phillies fans are. I tell him I won't cause much trouble like the rest of them as we watch a guy in a skin tight red suit jump on to the field at the phillies ballpark. The braves centerfielder slides the red spider man a knee and takes him out. "that's my city!!!" I exclaim.
Speaking of being nicer in the south, I walk into a 7-11 like store today to buy a water, I hear hello sir how are you? I think what? Who? Said that? It was the store clerk busy ringing up a customer and ya she was talking to me!!! This is a weird concept because back in Philly they look you right in the eye and don't even say hi! I like it here makes me feel special..haha
So I walk back home after the phils win and am amazed how safe and quiet the downtown streets of charleston are. I walk to the water front and catch boats running under the moon light sky!
I'm thrilled for my ride into savannah I've heard it's a beautiful scenic trip through many plantations. I landed a place to stay for a couple days right smack in the middle of the city through my new favorite site globalfreeloaders.com it's a guy named don and he tells me how he traveled to Peru for a month and landed freeloading spots to stay the entire trip! Amazing I love this big happy providing world.
Well off to watch always sunny and catch some sleep. We are going to the beach in the morning. So by far charleston is the coolest city on this trip but I have high expectations for savannah too. I just like how charleston is walkable with old world beauty all over it! And people here are above average nice. Girls here have big booties and that's kinda cool too.
I went to the slave market museum, which blew me away to think I was standing in the biggest trading block in the south. And to hear and see detailed accounts of how the trading took place and how a trader would get top dollar for a slave. I got the best brownie in town, walked the open street market, poked in and out of old churches, learned some history of the town, sweated in the heat walking around and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!
Enough walking around I find myself back at the apartment watching the third disc of always sunny. I'm reading a to do book for tourists and decide tomorrow I'm going to try to get a plantation tour in. I doze off for an hour of beauty sleep.
Wake up hungry and have a snack. I get some mews from back in Philly that doesn't make me too happy. I find myself in a jam and head to a meeting. The meeting kind of sucks but I meet a good dude named chas and we head uptown for a burrito. Pretty decent standard burrito and I see pineapple jalepeno salsa on the menu again it must be a southern thing, it's good anyway. We chat about life and taking adventures and catch the phillies playing Atlanta on tv. I thank him not in a gay way for the company and say how I just kind of needed it.
Chas heads off back hoke and I stay to watch the rest of the phils. I slide one seat over to a young couple, guy wearing a braves hat, and say hello. I soon after decide that people in the south are nicer! They are sweet and they tell how well know ruthless phillies fans are. I tell him I won't cause much trouble like the rest of them as we watch a guy in a skin tight red suit jump on to the field at the phillies ballpark. The braves centerfielder slides the red spider man a knee and takes him out. "that's my city!!!" I exclaim.
Speaking of being nicer in the south, I walk into a 7-11 like store today to buy a water, I hear hello sir how are you? I think what? Who? Said that? It was the store clerk busy ringing up a customer and ya she was talking to me!!! This is a weird concept because back in Philly they look you right in the eye and don't even say hi! I like it here makes me feel special..haha
So I walk back home after the phils win and am amazed how safe and quiet the downtown streets of charleston are. I walk to the water front and catch boats running under the moon light sky!
I'm thrilled for my ride into savannah I've heard it's a beautiful scenic trip through many plantations. I landed a place to stay for a couple days right smack in the middle of the city through my new favorite site globalfreeloaders.com it's a guy named don and he tells me how he traveled to Peru for a month and landed freeloading spots to stay the entire trip! Amazing I love this big happy providing world.
Well off to watch always sunny and catch some sleep. We are going to the beach in the morning. So by far charleston is the coolest city on this trip but I have high expectations for savannah too. I just like how charleston is walkable with old world beauty all over it! And people here are above average nice. Girls here have big booties and that's kinda cool too.
To charleston
So I had some great meditation on the moonlight myrtle beach last night. It was very peaceful out there and I was happy to be alone in communication with the universe.
I shoved out of camp very early today, I was riding by 7:30. I knew I had alot of miles to cover and I wanted to get most of them done before the blaring afternoon sun. Some if today's ride highlights were, tons of butterflies, real loggers coming from a paper mill, straw hat stands with the weavers at work, stillness, quietness, the sound of my bike humming, tailwinds.
I'm always asked when I chat with people why I'm riding, what's my cause? I was talking to a guy at krispy kreme while I ordered 2 donuts and a coffee. He asked me how far I've been riding. When I told him 700 miles and 12 days his eyes boggled around in his head. He told me that he was going to ride his bike to work tomorrow! If I inspired that guy then right then I decided my cause! To inspire people to be healthy, dream big, ride a bike and save money, try something new, reach new goals. And think about the possibility of the ripple effect, his cousin might be inspired by him and do the same thing. Or maybe he doesn't follow through and ride the bike but he is now aware that something like this is possible.
So charleston is a wonderful place. I took a wrong turn getting here and rode through the north, it reminded me of north philly and I remember Jimmy telling me stay out of the north as I'm already riding through it. But I'm staying in phalli's equivalent society hill, where there is seriously old houses with major old world charm, some are huge and some are petite and quaint but 2 never the same.
I walk to the waters edge and through battery park, ya they have one just like NYC. The houses I see are unbelievable! Then I walk uptown and get a double decker BBQ sandwich at Jim and nicks it was crazy good! Complete with collard greens and cheddar cheese muffins. Then I stroll through the university and wander to a famous pastry shop wildflower but it's closed. So I make my way back home and watch it's always sunny in Philadelphia DVDs. I call it an early night because I'm pretty exhausted from my early start and 100 mile ride.
My roomates Liz and Adrianna wake me up coming home about 1:30 from the bar a little tipsy but it's all good they whip together some food and I gladly participate in the festivities, they are funny. And couchsurfing.com really does work! This is proof, they are really friendly hosts and are taking me to the beach today and Adrianna is always so helpful!
I shoved out of camp very early today, I was riding by 7:30. I knew I had alot of miles to cover and I wanted to get most of them done before the blaring afternoon sun. Some if today's ride highlights were, tons of butterflies, real loggers coming from a paper mill, straw hat stands with the weavers at work, stillness, quietness, the sound of my bike humming, tailwinds.
I'm always asked when I chat with people why I'm riding, what's my cause? I was talking to a guy at krispy kreme while I ordered 2 donuts and a coffee. He asked me how far I've been riding. When I told him 700 miles and 12 days his eyes boggled around in his head. He told me that he was going to ride his bike to work tomorrow! If I inspired that guy then right then I decided my cause! To inspire people to be healthy, dream big, ride a bike and save money, try something new, reach new goals. And think about the possibility of the ripple effect, his cousin might be inspired by him and do the same thing. Or maybe he doesn't follow through and ride the bike but he is now aware that something like this is possible.
So charleston is a wonderful place. I took a wrong turn getting here and rode through the north, it reminded me of north philly and I remember Jimmy telling me stay out of the north as I'm already riding through it. But I'm staying in phalli's equivalent society hill, where there is seriously old houses with major old world charm, some are huge and some are petite and quaint but 2 never the same.
I walk to the waters edge and through battery park, ya they have one just like NYC. The houses I see are unbelievable! Then I walk uptown and get a double decker BBQ sandwich at Jim and nicks it was crazy good! Complete with collard greens and cheddar cheese muffins. Then I stroll through the university and wander to a famous pastry shop wildflower but it's closed. So I make my way back home and watch it's always sunny in Philadelphia DVDs. I call it an early night because I'm pretty exhausted from my early start and 100 mile ride.
My roomates Liz and Adrianna wake me up coming home about 1:30 from the bar a little tipsy but it's all good they whip together some food and I gladly participate in the festivities, they are funny. And couchsurfing.com really does work! This is proof, they are really friendly hosts and are taking me to the beach today and Adrianna is always so helpful!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
On to Myrtle beach
It was really hard leaving today my cozy little nook in Wilmington NC. I was really meeting some great people up there and fitting in to the lifestyle pretty darn well. Not to mention today was a huge grillout NC style with a pig they been roasting since 3am. Them dudes know how to party, no more ghetto burgers and hot dogs for me in Philly I'm coming NC style from now on. Again I really want to thank everyone I've met in Wilmington and along the way. Sara your such a sweet soul I wish you well in your travels. I'm really glad Gid bumped me into you in NYC.
So I shoved out early am on the road by 8:30 with little or no wind today I covered 40 miles in 2 hours, and I was in north Myrtle by 12:30. That's when I got a serious craving for pancakes, it musta been all those waffle houses I had passed on rt 17. So if I want pancakes I want the best, I pull over and google best pancakes in Myrtle and find out I passed it 3 miles ago. Well I do hate backtracking on this trip so I go with the second best one just a mule down the road. They are slamming and I nerd to slam some calories, job well dine
But I realized I gotta take it easy in the eating, my first hour today was rough I was out of shape and kept thinking why the bike felt so heavy? It was because my heavy self ate too many bacon cheese burgers and burritos..haha. All good I'm definitely cutting down fat in my body as I was flexing in front of the campsite bathroom mirror today..haha
Coming in through Myrtle I realize it is a nice place just north of the middle of Myrtle there is some monster mansions and I'm awed riding down ocean drive taking it all in with glimpses of the ocean. Then I get to the middle of Myrtle and see cheap hotels for 40$ a night but my plan is to head to the south and get in the state park. I realize Myrtle is way bigger than I remember and i just want to setup and dip into the ocean. Finally I get my chance I hit the bathroom at the state park and change out of my riding shorts and hit the beach. I realize I dint have a towel but I remember from brazil on a nice beach with nice sand you dint need one. I lay right into the sand after getting out of th water and fall asleep. A good nap was had right there just like that I get up and jump back in the water.
My plan is to wait till dusk, like always, then slide into the campsite. So I walk along the boardwalk, check out the park, find some food, take a shower and then sneak into the camp. As I'm setting up a ranger slows up and gives me a look, I give a friendly hello like I'm supposed to be here and he moves on. Ya that's what I thought Mofo, I say under my breath. I set up camp then check out the wifi cafe where I am now writing this blog. Life is good I must say again.
I'm really excited for tomorrow, I ride 95 miles then setup at a house in downtown Charlestown I found on couch surfing .com. It turns out to be two girls and one of them is from Philly. So I'm looking forward tobmerting them and seeing that City I've heard so much about.
So I shoved out early am on the road by 8:30 with little or no wind today I covered 40 miles in 2 hours, and I was in north Myrtle by 12:30. That's when I got a serious craving for pancakes, it musta been all those waffle houses I had passed on rt 17. So if I want pancakes I want the best, I pull over and google best pancakes in Myrtle and find out I passed it 3 miles ago. Well I do hate backtracking on this trip so I go with the second best one just a mule down the road. They are slamming and I nerd to slam some calories, job well dine
But I realized I gotta take it easy in the eating, my first hour today was rough I was out of shape and kept thinking why the bike felt so heavy? It was because my heavy self ate too many bacon cheese burgers and burritos..haha. All good I'm definitely cutting down fat in my body as I was flexing in front of the campsite bathroom mirror today..haha
Coming in through Myrtle I realize it is a nice place just north of the middle of Myrtle there is some monster mansions and I'm awed riding down ocean drive taking it all in with glimpses of the ocean. Then I get to the middle of Myrtle and see cheap hotels for 40$ a night but my plan is to head to the south and get in the state park. I realize Myrtle is way bigger than I remember and i just want to setup and dip into the ocean. Finally I get my chance I hit the bathroom at the state park and change out of my riding shorts and hit the beach. I realize I dint have a towel but I remember from brazil on a nice beach with nice sand you dint need one. I lay right into the sand after getting out of th water and fall asleep. A good nap was had right there just like that I get up and jump back in the water.
My plan is to wait till dusk, like always, then slide into the campsite. So I walk along the boardwalk, check out the park, find some food, take a shower and then sneak into the camp. As I'm setting up a ranger slows up and gives me a look, I give a friendly hello like I'm supposed to be here and he moves on. Ya that's what I thought Mofo, I say under my breath. I set up camp then check out the wifi cafe where I am now writing this blog. Life is good I must say again.
I'm really excited for tomorrow, I ride 95 miles then setup at a house in downtown Charlestown I found on couch surfing .com. It turns out to be two girls and one of them is from Philly. So I'm looking forward tobmerting them and seeing that City I've heard so much about.
Wilmington
Well my stay in Wilmington is over and it's almost hard to leave this place. Yesterday I spent most of the day with my wonderful house mate host Julie. She took me to the bike shop where this awesome tech Brendan hooked me up once again. I had broke a spoke and he replaced it, trued my wheel, tuned up my bike and cleaned the chain for free. And did this all right on the spot I almost felt like VIP for a minute. I think people respect the journey and the person to take on that journey, admire it and are excited to help out and be a part of it in anyway.
So then Julie took me to wilmingtons best burrito joint called flaming Amy's where I had a burrito with shrimp and tuna, banging. Then on to the voted #2 best donught in the nation, britts in Carolina beach, also banging. Then back to the apt fir some tv and naptime.
We went to a young peoples meeting at 7:00 close by and Sara was chairing, the girl I met at icypaa. It was good the topic was humility. People here at the meetings are dead serious about their program not as hardcore as NYC but more intense then Philly.
I met tons of great people and we went out to another classic Wilmington restaurant after the meeting. By then some people heard about me and were aproaching me about the trip. I still cant believe that im the person other people are talking about in a good way. Its really cool! Rachid was a cool dude who ride to the meeting on his mophed! We talked for a bit and then he and his fiancé invited me and Sara to go to his storage yard to hang out in their 1990 school bus converted to a mobil party wagon. It was so cool and I learned school buses only cost 2500$!!! I want one and we also took it out for a spin, it had hardwood floors, couches, beds, tv it was so cool! They drove it cross country to the international cinvention I San Antonio loaded up with people.
So I came home slept good and now I'm packing up ready to ride the 75 to Myrtle beach.
I found a place to stay in charleston and savanah using couch surfing so I'm excited for that but today it's Myrtle beach
So then Julie took me to wilmingtons best burrito joint called flaming Amy's where I had a burrito with shrimp and tuna, banging. Then on to the voted #2 best donught in the nation, britts in Carolina beach, also banging. Then back to the apt fir some tv and naptime.
We went to a young peoples meeting at 7:00 close by and Sara was chairing, the girl I met at icypaa. It was good the topic was humility. People here at the meetings are dead serious about their program not as hardcore as NYC but more intense then Philly.
I met tons of great people and we went out to another classic Wilmington restaurant after the meeting. By then some people heard about me and were aproaching me about the trip. I still cant believe that im the person other people are talking about in a good way. Its really cool! Rachid was a cool dude who ride to the meeting on his mophed! We talked for a bit and then he and his fiancé invited me and Sara to go to his storage yard to hang out in their 1990 school bus converted to a mobil party wagon. It was so cool and I learned school buses only cost 2500$!!! I want one and we also took it out for a spin, it had hardwood floors, couches, beds, tv it was so cool! They drove it cross country to the international cinvention I San Antonio loaded up with people.
So I came home slept good and now I'm packing up ready to ride the 75 to Myrtle beach.
I found a place to stay in charleston and savanah using couch surfing so I'm excited for that but today it's Myrtle beach
Thursday, September 16, 2010
I hate the wind
Here is how you know it's windy outside.
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
I hate the wind
Here is how you know it's windy outside.
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
I hate the wind
Here is how you know it's windy outside.
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
1. Your riding along at 29mph and all of a sudden you just stop
2. Your cruising downhill and aren't going anywhere
3. Your earphones are ripped right out of your ears over and over again.
4. You spit and it's taken directly over your head or hits you in the face
5. You have to ride tuck the entire f-ing day
6. You can't stand up or else your instantly stopped in your tracks
7. You want to curse often, cry or flip the f out
8. You are yelling out loud to nobody
9. You cannot ride sitting back with your hands by your side
10. Every flag you see is stood up pointed directly at you.
Ok you get my point! I'm still fired up as i write this! But seriously I was questioning God today and his purpose if this wind!
I woke up after a great night of sleep in a farmers field and knew I had just 75 straight away miles until my friends house in Wilmington NC. Again I thought it to be an easy ride! Well honestly I'm broken down a little, I just don't have it physically today to deal with 20 mph gusts. But think about it I've been riding for 4 straight days camping out and doing about a hundred a day all not easy days. So by now I need a day of rest. And to make it worse most of the ride today didn't have a shoulder and drivers were not respecting my space. I really became furious today and for small stretches of time was hoping someone hit me or just scraped me so I could let them have it!...haha I'm sick I know but luckily it didn't happen. I really shouted at God today telling him I need some strength, patience and whatever else you wanna throw in there to help me complete the stretch.
Well we got it done. The highlight was riding by a military base and seeing tanks, jeeps and trucks filled with men training. I said a thank you to them prayer and recognized I was glad to not be them for a moment.
I knew I was getting close to Wilmington but I needed another break so I pull into a gas station. I'm seeing now people dint really take notice of me they kinda just treat my like a fly and shove me away...haha. But this one guy asks me what I'm up to. I tell him I've had enough of riding for the day and he tells me Wilmington is 15 miles away! Ffffff...I thought I was just a couple. He offers me a ride but I decline politely without even thought. Then I second guess it because I'm really physically shot, no power bar, powerade or whatever is gonna help me at this point! But I couldn't take a ride unless I'm broken or that bike is broken and we are going to remain in perfect health the whole way there!
So here I am waiting for my friend to come home outside their apt excited for a shower, couch, house, ride around in a car, laundry all the luxury items I've been without for a week. I'm going to eat like a king tonight. I've noticed my riding shorts are becoming loose on me and they were a snug fit when I left 5 days ago!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Out of the cape and back to civilization
The cape continues. I wake up today on the southern most part of the cape accessible by car. My morning pack up routine requires fixing a flat front tire that went during the night. I get it all together rather quickly and head off at 9:30. Say by to the neighbors and try to catch the 10:00 ferry to cedar island. I get there and make it on no problem. I was worried cause I saw somewhere to call ahead for a reservation. But I talked to a local the night before and they said no it won't be a problem. So for one the guy on a bike gets a reduced rate 3$ for the 23 mile 2.5 hour trip inland. And it's 12$ for a car and 1$ to walk on. I bonded with 2 Harley guys about seeing the world and what a gift and how beautiful it is. I liked them dudes they were rough on the outside but soft on the inside.
I'm excited to get off the cape and back to the mainland. Ocracoke was the highlight of the cape trip for me! But I already knew this, I need people, civilization, options, city life. Not that I didn't enjoy the outer banks cause I sure did!
Off the ferry I have 40 miles to the closest town and the first 20 were through a wildlife preserve which so far was the best ride!!! Just extremely serene landscapes not a person, car, gas station in sight for 20 miles. What beauty, what peace and the wind was at my back, I wad cruising at 22mph!
I get to a redneck gas station where people talk real funny and the water tastes strange too. I spit it out and refill at the next station. Before this day is over I managed to get 5 flat tires in the front. 3 of them were kinda my fault but after the first one I checked the inside and outside of the wheel and didn't find anything. Well after the third I looked a little harder and found the mofo. A tiny piece of glass wedged in there. I managed to work it out and god managed to give me the patience to not freak the f out in the process.
At 5:30 I find a nice little coffee shop to charge up the iPhone for the night, eat up and get water. As I knew tonight I was roughing it somewhere along the road. I come out to another flat tire! But I'm fed, washed up a bit and pretty calm to fix it. I borrow some guys ear sitting outside and say 6 flat tires in one day do you believe that? We talk about the trip and he is pretty wow'd by it all. He wishes me well, i do the same and we part ways.
So I know about 6:45 to start looking for a spot to live for the night. And I stress a little bit about this process. I don't like the woods I prefer an open secluded space. I see an electric tower back off the road, and a clear oath to it and behind it. I take a look back there and dint like it anymore so I abandon the location. 2 miles down the road I find what I'm looking for. Behind the tree line is a big open space. I get back there and there is some random farm equipment, old cars, trailor, and some hill Billy shit. I think hmmm...Billy Jo bob might be pissed If he thinks I'm back here messing with his treasure. So I steak out a little spot next to the back tree line and as Sion as it gets dark I'm pretty confident Billy jojo ain't coming in here tonight I setup shop. I watch the sunset bring in my power bar and water, which is your equivalent milk and cookies snack and settle in my tent. The stars are tremendous out here and I almost contemplated dropping 80$ for a comfort in up the road. Again the right decision was made I like camping out like this and saving $ is another one of my likes...haha
Tomorrow it's a mere 75 miles to Wilmington NC where I will stay for two days with a friend of a friend. I talked to the guy I'm staying with tonight on the phone and I'm excited to meet up with him and my other friend from Wilmington. Plan is to chill and see the city and Friday hit a meeting!
This trip rocks every stinking part of it!
I'm excited to get off the cape and back to the mainland. Ocracoke was the highlight of the cape trip for me! But I already knew this, I need people, civilization, options, city life. Not that I didn't enjoy the outer banks cause I sure did!
Off the ferry I have 40 miles to the closest town and the first 20 were through a wildlife preserve which so far was the best ride!!! Just extremely serene landscapes not a person, car, gas station in sight for 20 miles. What beauty, what peace and the wind was at my back, I wad cruising at 22mph!
I get to a redneck gas station where people talk real funny and the water tastes strange too. I spit it out and refill at the next station. Before this day is over I managed to get 5 flat tires in the front. 3 of them were kinda my fault but after the first one I checked the inside and outside of the wheel and didn't find anything. Well after the third I looked a little harder and found the mofo. A tiny piece of glass wedged in there. I managed to work it out and god managed to give me the patience to not freak the f out in the process.
At 5:30 I find a nice little coffee shop to charge up the iPhone for the night, eat up and get water. As I knew tonight I was roughing it somewhere along the road. I come out to another flat tire! But I'm fed, washed up a bit and pretty calm to fix it. I borrow some guys ear sitting outside and say 6 flat tires in one day do you believe that? We talk about the trip and he is pretty wow'd by it all. He wishes me well, i do the same and we part ways.
So I know about 6:45 to start looking for a spot to live for the night. And I stress a little bit about this process. I don't like the woods I prefer an open secluded space. I see an electric tower back off the road, and a clear oath to it and behind it. I take a look back there and dint like it anymore so I abandon the location. 2 miles down the road I find what I'm looking for. Behind the tree line is a big open space. I get back there and there is some random farm equipment, old cars, trailor, and some hill Billy shit. I think hmmm...Billy Jo bob might be pissed If he thinks I'm back here messing with his treasure. So I steak out a little spot next to the back tree line and as Sion as it gets dark I'm pretty confident Billy jojo ain't coming in here tonight I setup shop. I watch the sunset bring in my power bar and water, which is your equivalent milk and cookies snack and settle in my tent. The stars are tremendous out here and I almost contemplated dropping 80$ for a comfort in up the road. Again the right decision was made I like camping out like this and saving $ is another one of my likes...haha
Tomorrow it's a mere 75 miles to Wilmington NC where I will stay for two days with a friend of a friend. I talked to the guy I'm staying with tonight on the phone and I'm excited to meet up with him and my other friend from Wilmington. Plan is to chill and see the city and Friday hit a meeting!
This trip rocks every stinking part of it!
Just a 60 mile trip..
So a little 60 mile joint this morning will get me to my next destination at ocrakoke island. I'm pretty sure that's where and after meeting and talking to my camper neighbor it's confirmed. I saw this guy roll in late last night and then get a chance to chat with him this morning. My man is high as a kite and his eyes are hardly opened, he has the biggest reddest fluffiest beard I've ever seen, and more mosquito bites than I've ever seen on one human being. He tells me that ocrakoke is real chill and there is spirits on the beach that you can feel, partly because Blackbeard was killed there. That all kinda sounds believable even coming from this stoned dude so I'm in!
Before I leave the campsite I get stopped by another camper who is curious of my rig and asks where I've been coming from. I love talking to people who understand the power of a journey. He is awed by the length of my trip and we talk bike stuff for a bit. He tells me the 3 mile bridge I have to cross today has no shoulder and on the other side there is a couple inches of standing water from the rains a couple days ago. Oh crap I say and head off not thrilled for this encounter. He asks me if there is anything I need, like a ride somewhere or food just let him know. I will always remember how people stretch themselves out to help somebody in a trip like this. That will forever be with me and in turn I will forever offer that to others I may encounter in the future. Great lesson learned.
Well I find the 3 mile bridge is beautiful and has a 3 foot shoulder and the roadway ahead is merely wet, no standing water. Moral of the story is don't believe it till you see it.
What I do believe is I've encountered the fierce cape winds I've only heard about today. That 60 mile trip took twice as long and was a grueling ride at some points with much cursing involved, a little reliance on God and lots of water we got it done. As I pull into ocracoke a local says, "wow not a good day to be biking those winds are strong today" no kidding buddy but at least it doesn't make me feel like such a wuss if even he said they are strong.
It's nice riding without a shirt because it's so hot down here I haven't rode with one in a couple days. And if it's up to me I'll never put one on. Most of you know where I stand on the shirt policy. It's my god given right as an option in public to have to wear one so there fore when it's wicked hot outside why wear one?
So halfway through my ride today I'm super hungry and stop for lunch. I pull into a gas station and there is a restaurant next to it. I look at the menu and don't see much but contemplate a 15$ crab cake sandwich?? I choose option B a box of poptarts from the gas station for 3$. Clearly the better pick and saving 15$ made me smile for an hour!
Along the way I peak my head in at some beaches along the cape, very far from civilization and only a few beach goers. These beaches were incredible, man I wanted to spend the day there so much uninterrupted all natural beauty in there.
I finally arrive at the free ferry to ocracoke it's a nice scenic 40 minute ride. I settle into the air condition cushy lounge plug my phone in and sit back and chill. I've earned it!
So the first place I stop in ocracoke sells, beer, wine, food, campsites, basically whatever you need. I take a turkey wrap, carrot cake, Gatorade, waterproofing spray for my tent and a campsite outback. Onestop shopping!
The guys staying right next to me are from a town I ride through called kill devils hill. One guy is a chef and they invite me to join for dinner. I can't say no. We eate corn on the cob, baked potatoes, spareribs with chipolte, brown sugar, blueberry wine glaze....outstanding Good guys we talked by the fire until late in the morning, laughing and making fun of each other.
I go to bed with earphones in and sleep like a rock, the best sleep I've ever had in the tent. Until I wake up cooking in that thing with the sun beaming in me.
I haven't had cellphone service in a day or so. I'm heading off the island and pass through the main town of ocracoke. It's beautiful this is certainly a place I would come back to and spend a week. I almost dint want to leave but it's onward! I board a ferry to cedar island and have no idea what I'm doing tonight. Without cellphone service I wasn't able to plan ahead so I'm hoping to just figure it out as I get my signal back.
Before I leave the campsite I get stopped by another camper who is curious of my rig and asks where I've been coming from. I love talking to people who understand the power of a journey. He is awed by the length of my trip and we talk bike stuff for a bit. He tells me the 3 mile bridge I have to cross today has no shoulder and on the other side there is a couple inches of standing water from the rains a couple days ago. Oh crap I say and head off not thrilled for this encounter. He asks me if there is anything I need, like a ride somewhere or food just let him know. I will always remember how people stretch themselves out to help somebody in a trip like this. That will forever be with me and in turn I will forever offer that to others I may encounter in the future. Great lesson learned.
Well I find the 3 mile bridge is beautiful and has a 3 foot shoulder and the roadway ahead is merely wet, no standing water. Moral of the story is don't believe it till you see it.
What I do believe is I've encountered the fierce cape winds I've only heard about today. That 60 mile trip took twice as long and was a grueling ride at some points with much cursing involved, a little reliance on God and lots of water we got it done. As I pull into ocracoke a local says, "wow not a good day to be biking those winds are strong today" no kidding buddy but at least it doesn't make me feel like such a wuss if even he said they are strong.
It's nice riding without a shirt because it's so hot down here I haven't rode with one in a couple days. And if it's up to me I'll never put one on. Most of you know where I stand on the shirt policy. It's my god given right as an option in public to have to wear one so there fore when it's wicked hot outside why wear one?
So halfway through my ride today I'm super hungry and stop for lunch. I pull into a gas station and there is a restaurant next to it. I look at the menu and don't see much but contemplate a 15$ crab cake sandwich?? I choose option B a box of poptarts from the gas station for 3$. Clearly the better pick and saving 15$ made me smile for an hour!
Along the way I peak my head in at some beaches along the cape, very far from civilization and only a few beach goers. These beaches were incredible, man I wanted to spend the day there so much uninterrupted all natural beauty in there.
I finally arrive at the free ferry to ocracoke it's a nice scenic 40 minute ride. I settle into the air condition cushy lounge plug my phone in and sit back and chill. I've earned it!
So the first place I stop in ocracoke sells, beer, wine, food, campsites, basically whatever you need. I take a turkey wrap, carrot cake, Gatorade, waterproofing spray for my tent and a campsite outback. Onestop shopping!
The guys staying right next to me are from a town I ride through called kill devils hill. One guy is a chef and they invite me to join for dinner. I can't say no. We eate corn on the cob, baked potatoes, spareribs with chipolte, brown sugar, blueberry wine glaze....outstanding Good guys we talked by the fire until late in the morning, laughing and making fun of each other.
I go to bed with earphones in and sleep like a rock, the best sleep I've ever had in the tent. Until I wake up cooking in that thing with the sun beaming in me.
I haven't had cellphone service in a day or so. I'm heading off the island and pass through the main town of ocracoke. It's beautiful this is certainly a place I would come back to and spend a week. I almost dint want to leave but it's onward! I board a ferry to cedar island and have no idea what I'm doing tonight. Without cellphone service I wasn't able to plan ahead so I'm hoping to just figure it out as I get my signal back.
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