Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I Start my Maiden Tour!

Tomorrow I start my maiden tour! I have been planning this adventure for the last several months. When I started planning this trip, I didn't even know about touring, or that people does this. Of course, there are always the few outrageous people that seem to strive to accomplish thing that none of the rest of us would dare do. But ride a bicycle almost six hundred miles at sixty-four years old! Well when family and friends said I was nuts, I didn't feel I had much an augment to convince them otherwise; after all, I don't personal know, nor have I met anyone, that has spend even a day in the saddle, much less a couple of weeks. But most that know me, feel that it is just another of the outrageous things that I do, so they aren't terribly surprised. As I start researching and preparing to make this trip, I discover, to my surprise, that there are tons of people just like me, that are not only older, but going much farther. I find that my trip is like a warmup for a real trip for many people. But, I figure it this way, you may go farther, but you're not going to enjoy it any more that I am. So I start my adventure tomorrow.

Bike Packed in a Box

Seven days: I packed my bike in a box to transport on the train. The box was too small, but I got it packed, but I am not too happy with the packing. I hope that there won't be any hard handling of it on the train. I am anxious to get started. I hope the butterflies will leave after I spend my first night on the road. I look forward to the train ride. It is an eight hour train ride from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville. I have always wanted to ride Amtrak.

A couple of hours after packing my bike, I go the mail box without my bike. The is something that I jump on my bike to do. Without my bike, going to get the mail becomes a chore. I miss her already, but I will be getting lots of use from her. Hopefully she will treat me right and we will become close.  

Bamboo Bicycle

I like these bamboo bicycles. After I get back from my ride, I am going to build one. I like the black bamboo. I have access to everything that I need to do it. These are beautiful bikes and they have a lot of advantages. Strong and lightweight. The bamboo gives you a better ride than either steel, or carbon fiber, because of the flexibility and the absorption of the road. I can build my own much cheaper than what a comparable bike will cost.    

Nine Days and Counting

Nine Days and Counting till I start my tour. The several months that I have been planing this trip has flown by. Everything is going on right now, Jerry's house burnt, Debbie is having to move her manufactured home, because the Seminoles Indians are closing the park. I am stressed as hell. I hope that I can relax when I get on the road.

I have planed a very conservative trip, riding an average of thirty miles a day. I may pick up the pace after I get on the road. I have planed this to the max. I am sure that I have over planed this trip, but being inexperience, I don't want to get caught where I have a problem making it to somewhere to stay, etc. Once I am on the road and get a feel for the weather and conditions, and my own abilities, then I can relax. I also want to be able to enjoy the trip, and not be on a race of endurance.

I hope the weather is cooperative. The summer has been hot, rainy, and windy. As of today, that is still what we are getting except a little cooling of the weather. But it is still in the mid and upper eighties here in south Florida.

Back to My Original Time for Departure

I am going to make the ride alone. Jerry has just bought a house, so he has a closing, moving, and all the things that happens when you move from a house that you have lived in for years. I hate that he is not making the trip with me, but hopefully we can do one together soon. We were both self contained, so it doesn't change much of what I will be carrying. It would have been nice to have him ride with me for support, and to enjoy the experience together. He may be joining me later in the ride. I am only a one and half years older that him, and we have done a lot together over the years. The family thinks that we don't always make the best decisions when we are together, but we are still here. When we had our sailboat, and we got small craft warning weather reports; it was time to go sailing. I have a lot of great memories sailing with Jerry.