Maidei goes on a world tour-Part 1 of the Bicycle Mystery Tour

[shootingstar]

So who has Maidei /will get her next?

I'm willing to be a Maidei ride participant --but won't be able to help until after mid-July.

[OakLeaf]

Plot people on a map and choose the most logical routing from there?

Good idea. Not that I've been able to make the TE map work for me. We could create another one and give it another try...

[Catrin]

So who has Maidei /will get her next?

I think this is a great idea, as Oakleaf said this would allow a logical progression for her - and perhaps this could allow for at least a few bicycle hand-overs :)

I, for one, am looking forward to showing her my favorite local riding spots :D

[Bike Chick]

I agree with Oak. I'm sure we could figure out a zigzag up and down the US so everyone gets a chance. It would be nice to do a bicycle handoff or at least do it in person. Catrin, you and I are just a few hours apart by automobile and there are several folks here in between. I'm sure we can work it out.

[Crankin]

We should try to plan it with the weather in mind; i.e., if she comes to the NE in January, the chance of a bike hand-off will be pretty small.
I agree, that in some areas the people are not close together and they will need to resort to mail. On the other hand, there are tons of TE people within 20 miles of me.

[tulip]

If you need a central Virginia handoff, let me know. There are lots of TE people in Northern Virginia (DC area), so I could act as a link to them

[OakLeaf]

We're just floundering here. Everyone's posting "me! me!" and no one has a plan. Pardon me for getting frustrated. :o

We can't really plan for weather/climate because we don't know exactly how long it's going to take.

So: how about this suggestion.

As soon as Maidei gets to someone, that person posts their general location and solicits a handoff.

Anyone within roughly 100 miles of the person who has her, respond.

Do not respond to the first solicitation if you are not within 100 miles of the person who has her.

If no one responds within a week of Maidei's arrival, the person who has her posts a second solicitation. Anyone who considers themselves "kind of nearby" respond to that one. Do not respond to the second solicitation if you don't consider yourself nearby.

If no one responds to the second post within a week (making two weeks that Maidei has been with the person), then it's open and she should be shipped to one of the areas that has a large concentration of TE'rs (PNW, DC, New England) if she hasn't been there already, or a random site if those have already been done. Those handoffs can be planned with weather and climate in mind.

For safety reasons, obviously, no one posts their exact location or contact details; handoffs are arranged via PM.

Does that work for everyone? Modifications or alternate suggestions?

[Bike Chick]

Works for me...................

[Catrin]

It sounds like a good approach, we have to come up with some organized way to further her travels! I also like the map idea if we can get it to work properly. Then again, I make maps for a living, among other things, so I think maps are always called for :p

[Slowspoke]

I vote for Midwest....I would love to have her ride with me in my first century this Fall :)

Depending on which century you do, I may be there as well! Keep your eye out for her coming this way!!!

[Trek-chick]

Depending on which century you do, I may be there as well! Keep your eye out for her coming this way!!!


I'll be doing the Apple Cider Century in Three Oaks.

[skinimini]

After some delivery snafus with the post office, Maidei, our tiny world traveler, has arrived safe and sound in Atlanta! :D :D :D She is beautiful and I know she has so many stories to tell!!!

I like Oak's idea. So here's the plan while she's in Atlanta. Tomorrow, friends and I are going to do a "Tour de Town", visiting all the hotspots of Atlanta a velo. Anyone in Atlanta (or anyone close by for that matter) is welcome to join us. PM me for specifics.

Anytime in the next few weeks, I can do a handoff. So anyone within 100 miles of Atlanta, give me a holler by PM.

Alternatively, I could post her to the next person on Monday, perhaps down to FL and then she can start a zig-zag up the east coast and so on.

I'll be sure to post pics of her Atlanta adventures!

[skinimini]

Anyone within one hundred miles of Atlanta, contact me by PM so we can arrange a handoff. My schedule is flexible over the next couple of weeks--but I'd rather do sooner than later!

[skinimini]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40XPy14ay_g

Click on the link to watch a short video of Maidei's tour around Atlanta. My biking buddy, Mike, was so kind to record our trip. It was a grand ride, a little hot at the end. Nothing too exciting happened. At the beginning, a rather large deer bolted in front of us, :cool: she was almost "kidnapped" in Centennial Olympic Park, :eek: and she took a little spill on Peachtree St. :o

On Saturday, she enjoyed lunch at the 5 Seasons BrewPub and Monday, she did a short tour around Sandy Springs (my community), posing for pictures on many of the Sandy Springs Turtles.

I'll post stills a little later! What a fabulous time we had!

[OakLeaf]

Great video, thanks for sharing! :D

[Catrin]

This was fun, thanks for putting this together!

I love your jersey :)

[Trekhawk]

It is very cool to see Maidei making her way around the world. I have never been to Atlanta so it was great to see a snippet of your city. You have some wonderful buildings.:)

[skinimini]

I'll be handing off to Skibum this evening. I believe she has plans to visit Virginia in the next few days and participate in the Ride Across Virginia with Maidei. We had planned a bike-to-bike handoff on the Silver Lake Route in the Brookhaven-Buckhead area of town, but I have developed a significant upper respiratory infection and fever, so no biking for me today.

I can't wait to hear about Maidei's continued travels! :D

[tulip]

I'll be meeting up with skibum at Bike Virginia, and hopefully doing a handoff to some DC-area folks who will also be on the ride.

[skinimini]

Here are just a few pictures of my time in Atlanta. What fun I had! After, the tour of the city of Atlanta, I took the opportunity to pose with some of the Town Turtles of the city of Sandy Springs (Betsy's community).

[skinimini]

Handoff to Skibum, June 23, 2010. Can't wait to ride "Bike Virginia" and start my journey to the Mid-Atlantic and NE!

[mudmucker]

I just saw the video- how fun. What a great video for Maidei's debut into the US. I was smiling the entire time. And thank you Mike, too.

[shootingstar]

Always great to see where Maidei visits. Glad you recovered too skinmini!

[crazycanuck]

Way cool skinimini! Atlanta looks like an interesting place.

I do have one odd question..I expected your accent to be stronger being from the Southern US..Are you a long time Atlantan or a recent addition? :o

I look forward to listening to more accents :o

[skinimini]

Way cool skinimini! Atlanta looks like an interesting place.

I do have one odd question..I expected your accent to be stronger being from the Southern US..Are you a long time Atlantan or a recent addition? :o

I look forward to listening to more accents :o

I really had fun with Maidei and I was so lucky that my bike buddy Mike loves to take videos. I only wish I had been able to do a bike handoff to skibum--I looked OK in the pic, but I have never been as sick as I was this past Wed. DH actually had to drive me to handoff.

As for Southern accent--I think I have a very strong accent. Raised in Alabama, college in Virginia (maybe those yankees from across the Mason-Dixon line had a little effect on me), and Atlanta for the past 24 years. Southern through and through!

[Bike Chick]

I just watched the video and looked at the pics. I loved it. What a great idea and I'm so glad you are feeling better.

[tulip]

There was an emergency and Madei had to come home early from Bike Virginia. Don't Worry! Everyone's okay!

Tomorrow she's scheduled to go on a tour around Richmond, Virginia, and then she will pack her bags to go....where?

She was hoping to happen upon some other TEers at Bike Virginia, but that didn't happen (they are still there, Madei and tulip are not). So....if there is anyone within 50 miles of Richmond, let me know. Otherwise, I'll send her by mail to one of the DC-area TE crowd.

[tulip]

Anyone? Anyone?

Any DC-area folks heading to the Northern Neck of Virginia for 4th of July by any chance? Opportunity for a handoff, and a small town parade, great bike rides, fireworks over the water...

[Bike Chick]

What's the word? Anyone know where Maidei is?

[tulip]

Uh, yeah. Madei is still in Richmond awaiting her next assignment. She's trying to keep cool and will post her photos from the Chesapeake Bay and Richmond later today.

She's a traveling gal at heart and would like to hit the road soon. But so far no one has responded to her request for accommodations in parts unknown.

[Crankin]

Well, you could mail her up here, if there's no takers in the mid-Atlantic.

[divingbiker]

You can send her to me, and I'll take her on a DC tour. No video, though.

Sorry you didn't get to finish Bike VA, Tulip.

[tulip]

Maidei did not get to participate in Bike Virginia as planned, but she did get to go to the Chesapeake Bay and take a very hot tour of Richmond.

Since I have no idea how to post images inline, I'll just do separate posts.

[tulip]

Hanging out on the deck, catching crabs in the crabpots, admiring the garden.

[tulip]

Taking a rest in the shade next to the new part of the Virginia Capital Trail between Richmond and Williamsburg.


Overlooking the James River. That was quite a climb up that hill on a hot day!

Who knew? The Statue of Liberty is in Virginia?

A rest in the shade with a view of the former cigarette factories (now neat loft condos and apartments) and the city skyline. It was a very hot and hazy day.

A visit to Richmond would not be complete without a Civil War monument.

Maidei is off to the suburbs of Washington, DC tomorrow. Hopefully it will be cooler.

[shootingstar]

Love these little pics. Looks hot. Maidie probably wanted abit of a water bottle spray or cycling through a lawn sprinkler.

[skinimini]

Great pictures Tulip. I hope things cool down for her in the next few weeks. She has had a hot time of it here in the US!

[Bike Chick]

Great pics, Tulip! She looks a bit steamy but appears to have had a great time;)

[divingbiker]

Maidei has arrived in the DC suburbs! Not sure when I'll be able to get her on a tour since I have company this weekend, but maybe we can take a spin at lunchtime this week.

[Zen]

Maidei is going for and outing this weekend with Divingbiker and Zen!

[Catrin]

Maidei is going for and outing this weekend with Divingbiker and Zen!

Maidei is going to have FUN! Remind her to post a report :D

[OakLeaf]

Which one of you is going to be the chaperone? :D

[Zen]

That question answers itself :p

[divingbiker]

Zen and I weren't able to meet up for a tour last weekend (too stinkin' hot) so Maidei commuted with me this morning. I'll post the pictures tonight from home, but in the meantime, who wants her next?

Most likely I'll have to mail her, since I'm going on vacation on Thursday.

[kmehrzad]

You could send her to me, if you'd like. I'm game for taking Maidei on a spin out in Western Loudoun County. She might enjoy the hills.

[divingbiker]

You could send her to me, if you'd like. I'm game for taking Maidei on a spin out in Western Loudoun County. She might enjoy the hills.

Cool. PM your address to me, and I'll get her in the mail.

[divingbiker]

This morning Maidei and I rode into DC along the new Metropolitan Branch Trail to Union Station. It was a beautiful, cool morning, perfect for a bike ride.

We stopped to admire the dome of the Basilica at Catholic University. (Don't ask me what a Basilica is.)
11613

Then we stopped at the New York Avenue metro station, which runs right next to the trail.
11612

The new bike parking station at Union Station is really cool.
11614

Our next stop was a nice view of the Capitol on one side, and the Washington Monument on the other.
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11623(don't know what's up with this attachment; it won't display)


To be continued...(reached the max # of attachments)

[divingbiker]

We rode down the Mall to the carousel, which wasn't open this early in the morning.
11621

Then we stopped at the Washington Monument to get Maidei's passport stamped. She decided to sunbathe along the wall by the Washington Monument.
11619

We had a nice view of the World War II and Lincoln Memorials.
11618

Then we headed north and stopped by the White House (didn't see the President, though), and then headed to work.
11620

Now Maidei's off to have a nice ride through the Virginia countryside with kmehrzad.

[skinimini]

This is so much fun! Great pictures!

[kmehrzad]

[Then we stopped at the Washington Monument to get Maidei's passport stamped. She decided to sunbathe along the wall by the Washington Monument.]
11619


Looks like Maidei got quite a tan along the way.

[tulip]

DB-thanks for the great photos. I love that the Met Branch Trail is open now (finally!). That would have saved me lots of time on my commute when I lived there. I have this odd habit of moving right before things improve drastically. Alas.

[shootingstar]

Love those pics, divingbiker. She got a great overview of Washington highlights, DC. Old and new stuff. Maybe she's abit tuckered out for now.

[kmehrzad]

I'm having the good fortune of hosting Maidei on her whirlwind world tour. After the driver pulled up and dropped her at my place for a visit, I began showing Maidei my various modes of transportation. She then decided to sit on the Bacchetta Giro and get a sense of the comfort that a recumbent bike has to offer. Maidei's legs were a little too short to take the bike out on her own, so I took her for a spin. Woo Hoo! We had a nice ride, she was upfront and center and had a great view of the Washington & Old Dominion bike trail.

We then scootered around the neighborhood for awhile and planned out tomorrow's ride into Western Loudoun County. Stay tuned for more pics.

[kmehrzad]

Today Maidei and I rode up to Clarke's Gap in W. Loudoun County, VA. We passed by farms, rode the rolling hills, and touched on a little history of the Washington & Old Dominion Rail Trail.

She and I have had a nice visit together. Maidei doesn't like to let the grass grow beneath her feet, so she's wondering where her next destination will be and who'll be her host. Any takers?

[Bike Chick]

What a beautiful countryside ride! I bet she enjoyed the fresh, country air and rolling hills.

If no one closer will take her, send her my way to the Heartland. I'm wanting to show her the Mississippi River!

[Catrin]

What a beautiful countryside ride! I bet she enjoyed the fresh, country air and rolling hills.

If no one closer will take her, send her my way to the Heartland. I'm wanting to show her the Mississippi River!

If she comes to you next, then perhaps she can come to Indiana :D

[Crankin]

Someone in PA, NY, NJ?
Otherwise, send Madei up here!

[bmccasland]

If she's going to see New Orleans, she only has 1 month. Unless someone else wants to come and show her around. :cool:

Barring hurricanes, or government bureaucracy :rolleyes:, I'm out of here sometime the week of Aug 29. After that I'll be part of the PNW TE gang.

[HillSlugger]

I'll take her for a week/weekend. She could have gone on a tri with me this weeknd.

[Possegal]

I could take her to PA this weekend - could have taken her last weekend as well. :) I can get her from someone in the DC/MD area since that is where I am. Just let me know.

[kmehrzad]

Zen will be the next in line to provide Warmshowers for Maidei. From the sound of it, they'll be going on a camping trip this weekend.

I'm already looking forward to the photos that will come out of their excursion.

[Possegal]

Well I can also take her to Pittsburgh the following weekend. (seriously, I need to stay put for a weekend soon!)

[Zen]

from Maidei, or as I call her, Maddy.
Here it is.

"HELP! Get me out of here!
I've been here too long and you know I'm a travelin' woman, I got to keep moving.
I'd really like to get west of the Missippi sometime."

Yeah, we're starting to get on each others nerves and she thinks the dogs are starting to look at her funny.
Where's she going?

One photo now, more tomorrow.


http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/MaddyatRRTunnel-1.jpg

[shootingstar]

So cute, Zen! Aren't there TE members willing in Massachussetts area, Pittsburgh, etc., before cutting over west of Mississippi R.?

[Zen]

Looks like Maidei got quite a tan along the way.

:D

You know, I love her head wrap but I do wish she could find some other clothes somewhere. Maybe a sarong or something.
OOh! I might have something!


So cute, Zen! Aren't there TE members willing in Massachussetts area, Pittsburgh, etc., before cutting over west of Mississippi R.?

Her words, not mine ;)

[Crankin]

Yea, send her up here before she heads west. Maybe Pam can bring her around NYC and then she can go to No No in CT, then up to MA, then Maine. She can head south and west by visiting Bleeker, who could send her on to Ohio?

[Possegal]

Well I can also take her to Pittsburgh the following weekend. (seriously, I need to stay put for a weekend soon!)

I can still take her to Pittsburgh this Sunday. :)

[Zen]

it's Wednesday evening. You'd never get her in time :(

Somebody say "dibs"...

[Possegal]

I'm in Germantown, I can pick her up in Frederick county anytime that works for you. She doesn't have to be mailed.

[Zen]

First exciting thing I did was to ride with a giant rabbit on top of a kayak. In the Adventuremobile. WTH?
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/MaddyandHarvey.jpg

We went to a campground. It was very pretty and there was a lot of food.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/CampgroundChair.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/MaddywCherries.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/Marshmallows.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/campfirecooking.jpg

So much food I had to take a nap in the tent
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/MaddyTent.jpg

Then we went on a bike ride on the C&O Canal towpath
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/RidindowntheTowpath.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/MaddyattheRiver3.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/Maddyattheriver2.jpg

to Harpers Ferry, West-By-God-Virginia
I wanted to see a train but none came by. Dang.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/HFRRTunnel.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/Waitingforthetrain.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/StandinOntheCorner.jpg
She made me go to a museum about Lewis and Clarke. Apparently they took some kind of trip and Harpers Ferry is where they started. I was bored
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/LewisandClarkBoat.jpg

The General Store was interesting
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/GeneralStore.jpg

The proprietor was an odd looking fellow, thoughhttp://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/P1010026.jpg

By then I was getting tired, so I took one last look at the river
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Maidei/HFOverlook.jpgand we pedaled back to Brunswick.

[channlluv]

That is just brilliant.

When is she due in San Diego?

Roxy

[Catrin]

It looks like she continues to have a great time in the US - and what a visit she had to the C&O and even made it to a cookout!

We are certainly looking forward to introducing her to Indiana - where there really is more than corn :)

[OakLeaf]

Beauty! :D

[bmccasland]

Looked like she's having fun.

And that store proprietor looks like he's tough on shoplifters too! ;)

[Bike Chick]

Man, what a great trip! The river is beautiful and the pictures are awesome! She's a lucky lady.

Catrin, we are going to have to coordinate the Indiana/Illinois leg of this journey, aren't we?

[crazycanuck]

Zen, thanks for the Harpers ferry pics. They bring back heaps of memories of wandering the Eastern Seaboard on me own back in my younger days.

[Catrin]

Man, what a great trip! The river is beautiful and the pictures are awesome! She's a lucky lady.

Catrin, we are going to have to coordinate the Indiana/Illinois leg of this journey, aren't we?

:D

Yep - and thankfully there are enough TE members in our two states that she will get a good "Tour de Illin-diana" hmmmm "Tour de Corn"?

[OakLeaf]

hmmmm "Tour de Corn"?

Oh don't bore Maidei and for heaven's sake don't reinforce the stereotypes all these other people have about our beautiful states!

Yes there are parts that are nothing but corn and soybeans, but all we have to do is ride the opposite direction! :D

[Catrin]

Oh don't bore Maidei and for heaven's sake don't reinforce the stereotypes all these other people have about our beautiful states!

Yes there are parts that are nothing but corn and soybeans, but all we have to do is ride the opposite direction! :D

Exactly :) I think she will enjoy seeing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and some beautiful hills and karst topography :)

[Bike Chick]

:D

Yep - and thankfully there are enough TE members in our two states that she will get a good "Tour de Illin-diana" hmmmm "Tour de Corn"?

Hey, don't laugh. There is a charity ride in our area that's called the Tour de Corn http://www.tourdecorn.com/. It's the flatest 100 miles you've ever seen! The only hill is when you go over the levee!

[channlluv]

That sounds like a ride I could manage.

What is karst topography? (Yeah, I could Google it, but I'm wondering why you think it's special enough to suggest it.)

Roxy

[Catrin]

That sounds like a ride I could manage.

What is karst topography? (Yeah, I could Google it, but I'm wondering why you think it's special enough to suggest it.)

Roxy

It isn't flat corn fields - it doesn't fit most peoples idea of what Indiana looks like :) Think caves and sinkholes at times - and you can see more here (http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/indiana/misc/art22919.html) on karst in Indiana.

Also some very sweet single-track is found in southern Indiana at our largest state park - I think she would like to see that ;)

[Bike Chick]

That sounds like a ride I could manage.

What is karst topography? (Yeah, I could Google it, but I'm wondering why you think it's special enough to suggest it.)

Roxy

Roxy, I've done the ride 3 times and while flat sounds nice, it seems the wind blows every direction you turn. You know, that north-south-east-west wind? And with no hills, you HAVE TO PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME!!! No breaks on the downhills.

Sorry for the highjack. I love learning about different parts of our country and world through Maidei's travels. What's next? So where is Maidei headed now?

[Zen]

She should be on her way to Pittsburgh.
I think she's driving :p

[OakLeaf]

I'm next after Pittsburgh!

[Owlie]

Where's she going after Oak? Cleveland's a nice place...cough.

[indigoiis]

Would really love to host her up in New England...

[Possegal]

Just let me know where she's to go next. She's in Maryland now - so maybe going to NE first and then to Ohio from there is the better travel plan?

I'll post some pictures later this evening. Poor Maidei even got to be a part of a little tumble off my bike, yet again! At least she survived it unscathed. :)

[OakLeaf]

I think NE first is better, but I thought she was already en route to P'bgh?

(In either case, Pittsburgh before Ohio and Ohio before Indiana? Once we get out here we can probably make most of the connections in person.)

[Zen]

Poor Maidei even got to be a part of a little tumble off my bike, yet again! At least she survived it unscathed. :)

Now we know what's under that head wrap - a helmet!

[Possegal]

I think NE first is better, but I thought she was already en route to P'bgh?


She went with me home to Pittsburgh for a Livestrong Challenge fundraiser with my team. :) So we rode around and took some photos in Pittsburgh (she really liked riding the inclines!) Then she drove back with me to Maryland.

[kmehrzad]

Now we know what's under that head wrap - a helmet!

She's hiding that Giro for whatever reason ...

[OakLeaf]

for whatever reason ...

No product placement without paid sponsorship. Smart lady.

[Bike Chick]

Hope she doesn't come up with any post-tumble injuries! Did she sign a waiver before the ride??

[Possegal]

Hope she doesn't come up with any post-tumble injuries! Did she sign a waiver before the ride??

She did make a call from my cell to a law office. hmmmm, interesting :)

[Possegal]

(1)A trip around Pittsburgh has to start near my home - but when Maidei saw the 37% grade, she said NO WAY. Not that I've ever once tried to pedal up this hill. I'm crazy, but not that crazy. But it wouldn't be Pittsburgh without some hills! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_Avenue
(2) It wouldn't be Pittsburgh if there weren't cobblestones!
(3) It also wouldn't be Pittsburgh without a tunnel! Those we drive through though!
(4) Pittsburgh is trying to be a much more bike-friendly city. They are developing these trails that run around the edges of the rivers. They still need to connect them a little better.
(5) That's Heinz Field in the background.

Continued...

[Possegal]

(1) (2) Pittsburgh is also known for the inclines. We went up to the Mount on the Duquesne incline.
(3) One of the prettiest views in the country. Then again, I'm pretty biased. The fountain at the Point is under repair. I would have biked over to take a photo there if it was working, but since it wasn't, we didn't head that way.
(4) Another view from the Mount as we made our way toward the other incline.
(5) A stop at St. Mary of the Mount, to prayer for a few less hills, seemed like a good idea.


Continued...

[Possegal]

(1) Hanging in my pocket
(2) Heading back down on the Mon Incline
(3) Another Pittsburgh standard - a bridge. Depending on the source you read, Pittsburgh and its vicinity either has the most bridges in the world, in the US, or just a whole lot of bridges. :) This is the Smithfield St. Bridge. Some bridges are not very bikeable, some aren't so bad. This one is pretty easy to ride across. And to fall at the end of it.
(4) A view from the bridge
(5) View at the end of the bridge, into the city.

Continued...

[kmehrzad]

Nice pictures. Did Maidei get a nosebleed from the heights? What an awesome view from the top of the incline.

Pittsburgh, hometown of Frank Lenz, amateur photographer who became a well known adventure cyclist in the late 1800's (fascinating story).

http://vannevar.blogspot.com/2010/04/pittsburgh-cyclist-killed-in-kurdistan.html

[Possegal]

(1)That's the incline we rode down on
(2) That's the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. I wish we had more time and I would have taken her around Oakland to see the sights there.
(3) She was very glad that my family does not live up on the side of that hill!
(4) She wanted to stop for a drink, but we had a long drive back to MD ahead of us!
(5) Oh no, another hill! yeah, it just drops off at the edge there. That's another hill I never rode up or down in my years of biking around that city. :)

The end...

[Possegal]

Nice pictures. Did Maidei get a nosebleed from the heights? What an awesome view from the top of the incline.


I kept longing to have the legs I had when I was in my 20s and my only form of transportation was my bike or my feet. Dang I had some strong legs back then. I need to move back home! :)

[Owlie]

My former roommate from Pittsburgh thought my reaction to the hills when I visited her was hilarious.

[Zen]

Did she get the Hot Dog Labia from that thumb in her crotch?
and (purely as an aside)why are there so many Burghers in the DC area?

[shootingstar]

That must have been a pretty empty car tunnel that Madei stopped in. There is no way one could stop a car in the middle of a car tunnel in Vancouver. She would be squashed flat.

Great views. She looks thrilled to see so much. :)
So how many road bridges does Pittsburgh have? Wonder if Madei has to top this one when she gets to Metro Vancouver. We have snow-capped mountains and ocean to see from our bridges..some which would be tricky or dangerous to stop on bike (or in a car).

[Possegal]

(purely as an aside)why are there so many Burghers in the DC area?

As the saying goes - can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting one of us. :) Due to lack of jobs in Pittsburgh, and the close proximity to this area. I can be home in 3.5 hrs, which is nice! I'd live in Pittsburgh now if a job was there for me to do, but alas, there is not.

[Possegal]

My former roommate from Pittsburgh thought my reaction to the hills when I visited her was hilarious.

I have a few hills I LOVE to drive people down when they are new to the city. Of course requiring them to yell WEEEEEEEEEEE as we fly down them. Then people ask how it is that we can run and bike around there. Admittedly, I'd have a harder time doing it now, but you also learn that it pays to go a long way around in order to avoid certain hills. :)

[Possegal]

That must have been a pretty empty car tunnel that Madei stopped in. There is no way one could stop a car in the middle of a car tunnel in Vancouver. She would be squashed flat.

Great views. She looks thrilled to see so much. :)
So how many road bridges does Pittsburgh have?

Middle of the day on a weekday, and I'd just turned from a traffic light and was the first car at the light. Usually, we'd be sitting in traffic in that tunnel. It was just good timing.

I find conflicting numbers, and apparently partly due to what the definition of 'bridge' is, but I keep seeing around 2,000 in the greated Pgh area (Allegheny County). And that would include train and trolley bridges, I think.

[malkin]

Pittsburgh.
Makes me think of the kid Shane from the TV show Weeds.

[shootingstar]

I find conflicting numbers, and apparently partly due to what the definition of 'bridge' is, but I keep seeing around 2,000 in the greated Pgh area (Allegheny County).

Must include every dinky little pedestrian public bridge too. :)
I worked for an large engineering project where it was 1-km. major highway road bridge (with bidirectional protected bike lanes) plus 4 bridges, some of which one wouldn't even know they were on a bridge..it covered a tiny creek, etc.

[Possegal]

Must include every dinky little pedestrian public bridge too. :)


No, I don't think so. It looks like there may be about 15 or so pedestrian bridges. I honestly don't know of very many of those in the area. It's a very hilly city surrounded by rivers, it requires a lot of bridges.

There are 446 bridges with piers and stands (criteria for calling it a bridge) located within the city limits. More than Venice Italy, making it the most in the world, according to a 2006 book about the city's bridges.

[OakLeaf]

Is that REI in that one picture? Did you take her shopping?

[Possegal]

Is that REI in that one picture? Did you take her shopping?


It is! That's a fairly newly built up area of the city and it's really nice there, and it is a great area to pick up one of the bike trails. We however did not shop, as I had no lock for my bike.

[kmehrzad]

Is that REI in that one picture? Did you take her shopping?

Whew! Good eye OakLeaf. You could spot an REI a mile away, eh?

[Zen]

Whew! Good eye OakLeaf. You could spot an REI a mile away, eh?

It's obvious Catriona isn't reading this thread.

[OakLeaf]

Whew! Good eye OakLeaf. You could spot an REI a mile away, eh?

I think I recognized some of my money stuck to the outside of that store.

It's the closest REI to me - three hours away. I don't get to Pittsburgh very often, but that neighborhood is pretty easy to recognize.

[kmehrzad]

Where's Maidei? Is she in transit ... 'er traveling?

[Cataboo]

It's obvious Catriona isn't reading this thread.

Luckily I dropped in today to see what was being said about me.

Having not spent any money in that REI, I didn't notice it :)

[tulip]

Luckily I dropped in today to see what was being said about me.

Having not spent any money in that REI, I didn't notice it :)

You look different...did you get a haircut?

[Cataboo]

You look different...did you get a haircut?

It's the new improved me, easier to spell and less likely to show up on google searches :)

[Possegal]

Where's Maidei? Is she in transit ... 'er traveling?

I was out of contact for a bit due to the Philly Livestrong Challenge.
She is packed up with her gear and ready to go. Where am I sending her? I thought the idea was to New England and she can tour around there a bit and then go to Ohio.

So let me know who gets her and we can PM the details!

[Possegal]

I think I recognized some of my money stuck to the outside of that store.

It's the closest REI to me - three hours away. I don't get to Pittsburgh very often, but that neighborhood is pretty easy to recognize.

The South Side of Pittsburgh is pretty distinctive. :) And a really nice little area these days. We are planning a fundraiser at the Irish Pub there sometime this fall (I hope). I'll have to post on here for any of you Ohio folks in case you happen to be making an REI run that day. :)

[Possegal]

OK - she's heading to NE, you ladies can map out her trajectory once she is up there! :)

[Eden]

The South Side of Pittsburgh is pretty distinctive. :) And a really nice little area these days. We are planning a fundraiser at the Irish Pub there sometime this fall (I hope). I'll have to post on here for any of you Ohio folks in case you happen to be making an REI run that day. :)

There's an REI down there now..... It's been a long time since I've been back.... Last time I was in Pittsburgh the south side was just starting to switch over from a neighborhood that was a somewhat grungy working class ethnic neighborhood (old babushka ladies, grungy little bars, Croatian hall etc) to a somewhat grungy kind of funky neighborhood (restored old movie theater, indie coffee shops, art galleries etc.) and now its gone corporate?

[Possegal]

It's sort of a mix now. The REI is on one end and then if you go down East Carson St toward the liberty bridge, it is the same old funky/grungy neighborhood it has been. :) Down by the REI are shops like Sur la Table and Claddagh Irish Pub. http://www.southsideworks.com/ But that area is really set aside from what most would think of as the South Side. There is also a bike path along there now that is very nice and where Maidei and I rode a bit. :)

[Catrin]

It might be nice if she could be in Indianapolis in time to ride with me on my October 16 brevet outside of Columbus and keep me company :cool:

[Crankin]

OK, Boston area TE'ers. I am expecting Maidei's arrival probably early next week. I would be fun if we could get a group together to ride, but I'm a little booked up with regards to riding times for Labor Day weekend. Sunday (early) is a possibility, though. I am also open to riding on Friday, if anyone else an get out of working. Otherwise, I will take her on the Wounded Warrior ride Saturday the 4th, as it covers all of the historic areas around here.
Catrin, I think she should be able to make it to you for Oct. 16.

[shootingstar]

Any pics here as an update for Maidei's fantastic journey?

[Crankin]

I only have 2 pictures, so far. There was a slight camera failure, where the setting got switched when it was in my pocket and 3 pictures just disappeared when Hirakikabu and I went on a ride. I plan to take her on a longer ride Sunday and post then.
These pictures are on the Old North Bridge, where the American Revolution began.

[kmehrzad]

I only have 2 pictures, so far. There was a slight camera failure, where the setting got switched when it was in my pocket and 3 pictures just disappeared when Hirakikabu and I went on a ride. I plan to take her on a longer ride Sunday and post then.
These pictures are on the Old North Bridge, where the American Revolution began.

Nice photos. So Maidei took in some history there in MA, eh? She's getting quite an education in her travels.

[FunSize]

Aw.... I just found this thread today. She could've joined me as i drove up to Western Mass (Easthampton) from South Carolina, come along to NYC, and then probably been hi-jacked back down to SC. A little sad she missed the blue ridge mountains. (I was in Mass at the end of august and beginning of september.)

Had i been paying attention much earlier this summer, she could've even come on a drive with me up to Minnesota this summer! And from having done THAT drive many times, i can say that there really isn't much in Indiana or Illinois. Most exciting thing in Illinois aside from Chicago and lake Michigan is the wind farms. Southern Indiana is nice though... because it looks like Kentucky.

Both in MN and MA I got to ride my bike, so she wouldn't have been in a car the WHOLE time.

If she wants to visit the blue ridge mtns at anytime you can send her back this way. Maybe i'll even introduce her to rock climbing if she's not afraid of heights.

[Crankin]

Today Madei went on the "Sight Ride." The ride is named this, as it is part of the route we have done for a charity ride, sponsored by the Acton Lions Club, which raises money for glasses for children. I have about ten pictures, but since I have not figured out how to put text under each picture, I will give a little narration here.
We started out at 9:30 AM, to meet our friends at ten. It was cool, about 55 and cloudy, but I decided to bite the bullet and not wear my knee warmers, because it was predicted to go up to 75. There's a couple of pictures from before we started out, at the house. When we got to the meeting place (High St. and Rt. 62 in Acton), I thought it was odd that we were in front of the cigar, beer, and wine store.
Off we went. We rode in Sudbury for awhile, through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge; there's a couple of pictures from there. Then DH managed to take 2 pictures where he was riding, holding Madei in one hand and the camera in the other :eek:. After I yelled at him to stop, she got put away for awhile. We rode through Weston and Lincoln, and back to Concord center. I had Madei in my jersey pocket, so she got a little sweaty. No room on my teeny bars for her, since i have my light on there, next to my computer. We did ride through Hanscom Field and past the Louisa May Alcott House, but we were all tired and didn't stop for pictures. The last few pictures are from the Concord Visitor's center, where cyclists from near and far stop to use the facilities and fill up their bottles. It was a ten year battle to get this public rest room built! Madei is now resting in her little box. We rode 40 miles.
Who wants her next?

[Crankin]

More pictures...

[Crankin]

A couple I missed.

[Jolt]

Next stop could be Worcester...

[Crankin]

OK, Jolt. You replied first. PM me and we can work out the details. We can either drive and meet, drive to a point and ride to meet, or send her by mail.

[Bike Chick]

Nice photos, Crankin! Massachusetts looks beautiful this time of year.

[shootingstar]

Maidei had a great time with your tour, Crankin. :)

Should be interesting how her journey will evolve since winter is approaching in areas where there tends to be snow...where she is positioned now.

Up to TE forum team to determine her slogging through snow or some sun fun detours....? :D:p Just kiddin'. Go with the flow for Maidei. Yay!!

[blackhillsbiker]

Is she ever headed to South Dakota?

[Bike Chick]

Maidei had a great time with your tour, Crankin. :)

Should be interesting how her journey will evolve since winter is approaching in areas where there tends to be snow...where she is positioned now.

Up to TE forum team to determine her slogging through snow or some sun fun detours....? :D:p Just kiddin'. Go with the flow for Maidei. Yay!!

I hope she gets to go south and enjoy some sunshine! It will be too cold to ride in some of the northern parts

[Crankin]

Madei is headed to central MA tomorrow. I will be personally handing her off to Jolt. Not by bike, though. :)
Where she goes after that is up to you guys. She definitely could head to some more temperate climates by November first. There's still plenty of nice riding time here, but probably not for other northern climates.

[Catrin]

We are looking forward to her visiting Indiana :)

[wnyrider]

I was hoping she'd continue west into New York. Someone earlier chimed in who lived near Albany and another in Rochester. I am near Buffalo/Niagara Falls. There is another TE member within miles of my house. We could do a hand-over to a Canadian TE member. Maybe Maidei could go around Lake Erie into Indiana. Another option from here is to head south to PA/Ohio. Beautiful riding along that way too.

[Trek-chick]

Michigan wants her too:D... all I have to say is--- SNOW TIRES (on my commuter)--we are die hards in the Northern parts!!! Snow just makes it more interesting

[blackhillsbiker]

Michigan wants her too:D... all I have to say is--- SNOW TIRES (on my commuter)--we are die hards in the Northern parts!!! Snow just makes it more interesting

I'll bundle her up in merino wool and give her a taste of the winter in the Black Hills. I ride all winter long.

Deb

[jelee1311]

I am new to TE so I just found this thread. What an adventure ,I just sat down and read all 27pgs. I live in Vancouver,WA could we have her for a christmas ride? I have a warm jacket for her

[indigoiis]

Damm, how did Rhode Island miss her? Now that I am back on my bike, I would love to have her for an Ocean State tour. I am headed up to the Seacoast century this weekend... if anyone wants to do a pass off.

[Crankin]

She is officially in central MA, now, with the pass off to Jolt happening at 11:30 AM, at the Solomon Pond Mall.
I think she is going hiking this weekend.

[Crankin]

DH mysteriously found a picture on his computer that Hirakukibou and I took with Madei a couple of weeks ago. It's at the cranberry bogs in Carlisle, MA.

[Jolt]

Maidei got to experience a couple of nice hikes in central MA this weekend--didn't end up getting any riding in though. The first hike was Purgatory Chasm in Sutton and the second was Wachusett Mountain in Princeton/Westminster. Sorry I don't have pictures right now...they refuse to upload! I'll have to try again later. Where is she going next?

[indigoiis]

Maidei got to experience a couple of nice hikes in central MA this weekend--didn't end up getting any riding in though. The first hike was Purgatory Chasm in Sutton and the second was Wachusett Mountain in Princeton/Westminster. Sorry I don't have pictures right now...they refuse to upload! I'll have to try again later. Where is she going next?

Oh, I love Purgatory Chasm! Well, if you want to meet up somewhere, she can come to RI and I can take her on my commute ride next week, and then I can get her to Newport for red rhodie to take her to some of the mansions and around Ocean Drive!

Let me know...
Anj

[indigoiis]

Madei is here in Rhode Island! My daughter and I had a nice drive to the meet-up spot and met Jolt. We had a great chat and then a wonderful drive back - Madei riding up on the dash to get a nice view of Western RI! We weren't long in the driveway before I was putting Madei right to work - after all, a world-traveler like Madei should be able to help out for her room and board, right? Here's a slideshow of her evening activities. Tomorrow (barring thundershowers) she will ride up to Providence.

Madei arrives for Fall in Rhode Island (http://picasaweb.google.com/janjshaw/MadeiWorldTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCKKt2P2L5ZKgBg&feat=directlink)

[redrhodie]

Madei is here in Rhode Island! My daughter and I had a nice drive to the meet-up spot and met Jolt. We had a great chat and then a wonderful drive back - Madei riding up on the dash to get a nice view of Western RI! We weren't long in the driveway before I was putting Madei right to work - after all, a world-traveler like Madei should be able to help out for her room and board, right? Here's a slideshow of her evening activities. Tomorrow (barring thundershowers) she will ride up to Providence.

Madei arrives for Fall in Rhode Island (http://picasaweb.google.com/janjshaw/MadeiWorldTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCKKt2P2L5ZKgBg&feat=directlink)

Cool! She looks like she's having fun with the alpacas. Yay, I get to see you! I need socks.

Do you want to go for a ride next weekend for the exchange? Or, we could meet up at the NBX cross training ride in Wakefield on Wednesday night if it's not raining.

[Crankin]

I like those llamas!
I was in RI yesterday, too, riding in Little Compton and Tiverton, as well as Westport. Why do I always think this ride is easy and flat? It was windy, rolling, and tons of false flats. But, beautiful.

[Catrin]

The pictures of the Llamas were fun - and good to see that Maidei was helping out! When she visits Indianapolis she is going to get to visit some local Reindeer :) Indeed, I think that I want to visit them myself this weekend, it has been awhile since I've ridden in that area.

[ridenread]

Crankin you were in my neck of the woods and described my rides perfectly. Beautiful area, I love living here. Everytime I go out for a ride I am reminded of why I love it here and why I came back to it.

[redrhodie]

Crankin you were in my neck of the woods and described my rides perfectly. Beautiful area, I love living here. Everytime I go out for a ride I am reminded of why I love it here and why I came back to it.

I think I have her next, ridenread, but do you want her to visit you after her tour de Newport?

[ridenread]

I would love to but unfortunatley I have limited leisure time in the next few weeks. She can go on to continue her travels in another part of the country.

[TsPoet]

Is there a TE map showing where she's been?
and/or where she's going?
Lurking on this thread is fun, but I've become lost!

[indigoiis]

I think it is catch as catch can... although it seems great pains have been made to connect the dots. Early on I think I was keeping a regional list, but then work got really busy. I think my regional spreadsheet is in the Northeast section of this site...

Oh, and yes, p.s., she has a little cigar box suitcase with postcards and even a little passport.

[spindizzy]

I was hoping she'd continue west into New York. Someone earlier chimed in who lived near Albany and another in Rochester. I am near Buffalo/Niagara Falls. There is another TE member within miles of my house. We could do a hand-over to a Canadian TE member.

..I figure eventually she will want to explore north of the 49th...

[indigoiis]

Madei is on her way to Newport! For the full album, including new pictures from today, click here. (http://picasaweb.google.com/janjshaw/MadeiWorldTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCKKt2P2L5ZKgBg&feat=directlink):p

[kmehrzad]

Indigoiis,

I enjoyed your photos with Maidei. RI looks like a lovely place to bike.

[shootingstar]

Maidei is seeing some good fall colour and maybe more. This is great stuff.

A map would be good but maybe some folks don't want to be pinpointed on map too much. But even general lines crossing a country/region would show this incredible world journey.

And it really is incredible so far... Australia, NZ, Singapore, Chile.

[redrhodie]

Maidei and I are having a great time! We did Ocean Drive, a lovely route I ride all the time. Seeing things from Maidei's eyes made me notice things I hadn't before, like a walking path right by the water that I somehow overlooked. Since it was so windy, she was worried about being blown away, so she decided to ride in my back pocket instead of on her bike.

[redrhodie]

Then on the way back, she noticed the topiary camels at Roughpoint. Mrs. Duke's generosity lives on, and Maidei was invited for a quick ride. She really enjoyed that!

[malkin]

The glowy Ibex horns make a fab pic!

Camels in RI! Who knew?!

[redrhodie]

Maidei's wondering where she's going next?

[lph]

Ok. I have to read things more carefully. I've been seeing these photos of llamas, stories about dangerous cougars, cc tells about kangaroos, all very exotic animals to me. So when I read camels, hey, I saw camels, and was just thinking gee! they're really fuzzy, aren't they, they look just like terriers... :D
Wasn't until I clicked on the photo I got the topiary bit...

Nice pics!

[redrhodie]

Ok. I have to read things more carefully. I've been seeing these photos of llamas, stories about dangerous cougars, cc tells about kangaroos, all very exotic animals to me. So when I read camels, hey, I saw camels, and was just thinking gee! they're really fuzzy, aren't they, they look just like terriers... :D
Wasn't until I clicked on the photo I got the topiary bit...

Nice pics!

Ha! The 2 larger topiaries commemorate real camels that Doris Duke (the quintessential "poor little rich girl") owned, which lived on the estate. The man at the gate told me one of the real camels is still alive, and at a zoo in New Jersey. I probably rode past these guys several times a week for 2 years before noticing them, and the large ones are life size. Tells you the kind of focus I have when riding. A new crack in the pavement I'd notice right away. :rolleyes:

That was the best thing about taking Maidei out, seeing things that I don't usually notice. I hope she goes somewhere fun soon.

[OakLeaf]

Is she finished with the Northeast?

I could show her around central Ohio next week - a recovery ride or two in the latter part of the week might be just what the doctor ordered for me. The fall colors are beautiful!

[redrhodie]

Maidei said Ohio sounds fun! She's ready to move on.

[Catrin]

Maidei said Ohio sounds fun! She's ready to move on.

Indiana peeps are getting excited :)

[wnyrider]

Maidei said Ohio sounds fun! She's ready to move on.

Does that mean she'll miss New York or that maybe she'll come around later?

[OakLeaf]

We asked who was next and whether she was finished in the NE...

If Red hasn't already sent her my way, you're welcome to show Maidei around NY (and introduce her to any other New Yorker TE'rs) first. Send her a PM.

[redrhodie]

I haven't sent her yet. If anyone closer to RI than wnyrider wants her, let me know today. Otherwise, she's going to Western NY! She's all packed and ready to ride.

[redrhodie]

Maidei's on her way to wnyrider! Bon voyage!

[wnyrider]

Sheeeee's here! I was actually loading up my bike for a ride when the postal lady came by. As soon as I spotted the box and peeked at the RI listed on the return address I knew it was Maidei. Quickly I ran back in the house, grabbed my camera, put the handlebar bag on my handlebars and off we went! Being with Maidei was loads of fun. We rode to Fort Niagara. Upon entering the park we spent a brief solemn moment at the cemetary as we paid our respects. We didn't go into the fort as I didn't think to bring money or a bike lock. Luckily the grounds are beautiful and plenty of places for Maidei to romp. This was a fun afternoon. We are looking forward to tomorrow's adventure.
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maidei1.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maideiFortcemetary.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maidei3.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maidei4.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maidei5.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%20pics/maidei6.jpg

[kmehrzad]

Beautiful photos, wnyrider. I thought for a moment that Maidei might get shot out of that canon, that'd be an experience she'd never forget.

[Bike Chick]

How nice! And what beautiful photographs!

Oh how she must've enjoyed New York:D

[wnyrider]

The weather turned cold and that alone we could deal with, but oh the wind! It was too punishing to enjoy riding on the bike. It was dark and we even had hail.
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2003.jpg

So we had a busy couple of days taking care of business. Maidei learned what "sandwich generation" means.

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2067.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2073.jpg

We were able to get out and take part in a little tourist activity, such as visiting our local Niagara Falls Aquarium.

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2045.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2053.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2024.jpg
It was funny to watch how many of the sea creatures were interested in Maidei. There would try to get to her through the glass. http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2023.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2011.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2041.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2056.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2026.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%202/maidei2063.jpg
I won't bore you with any more photos. And, I will let you know that the great white shark was not real. They have real sharks, but the light reflected too sharply off the glass to appreciate the shots. Well, Maidei's visit is wrapping up. OakLeaf said she was busy through this w/e, so probably Monday or Tuesday she will be on her way to Ohio. No one else close to me for a hand off responded. USPS it will be! I'll post more pics with the grand Niagara Falls next.

[kmehrzad]

Very nice pics of Maidei at the aquarium. When I saw her with the Great White, I immediately thought of Jaws ... daaa dum daaa dum daaa dum.

[lph]

Ooo, I love the aquarium shots, great idea! :)

[OakLeaf]

What fun! I'll be watching for her. :)

[Catrin]

Oooo, one step closer to Indiana!

[Bike Chick]

and then Illinois?

Great idea going to the aquarium. Beautiful photos....the shark photo cracked me up.

[wnyrider]

Here are the last set of pics taken at Niagara Falls on the New York side. Unfortunately, the boat ride below the Falls, the "Maid of the Mist", had closed for the season. It was still fun with not nearly as many tourist present as usual. I tried to take a picture of Maidei with one of the many squirrels that frequent the area. The little bugger grabbed Maidei's hand and attempted to make off with her. Thank goodness I had a firm hold of her and his grasp was gentle. No harm done. I am sure somewhere out there you will see this vision posted as there were several tourist present snapping away and laughing at this little cute little mooching fellow! I doubt very much he mistook her for food. More likely he wanted a nest mate to cozy up to for the upcoming cold months. A lovely mate he would have made with his fetching ways! Did I mention what a gentle touch he had!

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei2.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei1.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei3.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei4.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei5.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei8.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei7.jpghttp://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x415/wnyer/Maidei%203/maidei9.jpg

[redrhodie]

Gorgeous! I've always wanted to go to Niagara Falls. My parents honeymooned there. I love that movie "Niagara" with Marilyn Monroe.

That Maidei is such a heartthrob.

[lph]

wow, stunning photos. Amd cute story :p

[shootingstar]

And not far from Canada when at Niagara Falls. You could have hopped over and sample the Ontario wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. So Maidei is going ..where next?

[OakLeaf]

Fun pictures, wnyrider! :D And so funny about the squirrel.

I didn't make it into town yesterday but she should be waiting for me at the post office. Hoping to take her for a little ride with some friends later today.

After she's seen East Central Ohio, who's next? Owlie, FlyingScot, Roadtrip, artifactos, am I missing any other Ahah'ns? Or does she go to Indiana?

[OakLeaf]

The club rides at 8:00 a.m. Too cold! Three of us went out on our own a little later. There was still frost on the ground when we started out. Bundle up, Maidei!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxkRn8ckXI/AAAAAAAAAQk/s9oVw17ZE-A/Frost.jpg

We had a wind storm last week and most of the leaves are off the trees. :( There wasn't much fall color this year anyway, because of the drought. We took a little break by the side of the road.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxjx_Ik8lI/AAAAAAAAAQU/lnpaHrF2BaQ/s512/Fence.jpg

We got to see a covered bridge...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxjxrjj0UI/AAAAAAAAAQM/e8mc8qCj8oU/bridge.jpg

and rode through it.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxkRwYCMtI/AAAAAAAAAQo/c-r47XXYZq0/s512/inbridge.jpg

This is only the middle of the hill? I'm pooped!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxjxxp5yrI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Rme3ghwdk7U/s512/cooks.jpg

But the view from the top is worth it.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxkSEPYc_I/AAAAAAAAAQw/fp4hG-vYrwQ/topcooks.jpg

We stopped to refill a water bottle at the Flint Ridge park, where Native Americans quarried flint for millennia - from prehistory through the European invasion. Flint is still plentiful there, and the park hosts a flint knap-in and a Native American powwow (separate events) every year.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxjyFFdxGI/AAAAAAAAAQY/i7zwMaWRHIs/flintridge.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TMxjydUQkKI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Xwmuc8QElSY/s576/fr03marker.jpg

We'll check out some more of the local historical sites later in the week.

[kmehrzad]

Beautiful pics, Oakleaf. Looking forward to more of Maidei's adventures in Ohio.

[Trek420]

I love that movie "Niagara" with Marilyn Monroe.


Niagra Falls, slowly I turned ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE

[Bike Chick]

How neat, Oak! You make sure you bundle her up for those morning rides. Don't want her catching pneumonia!

[Possegal]

I so love seeing all these pictures. I was toying with setting up a shutterfly page for her, then people could upload their pictures there. When she is done with her travels, folks could make a book of her trip. Shutterfly makes it very easy and they aren't too expensive. Just an idea.

[kmehrzad]

I so love seeing all these pictures. I was toying with setting up a shutterfly page for her, then people could upload their pictures there. When she is done with her travels, folks could make a book of her trip. Shutterfly makes it very easy and they aren't too expensive. Just an idea.

I like your idea, Possegal.

I'm envious of Maidei ... she's seeing new places and meeting new people, something I'd love to do.

[Bike Chick]

I so love seeing all these pictures. I was toying with setting up a shutterfly page for her, then people could upload their pictures there. When she is done with her travels, folks could make a book of her trip. Shutterfly makes it very easy and they aren't too expensive. Just an idea.

Great idea! Like Maidei's photo album.

[Possegal]

I loaded up her pictures from Pittsburgh. I hope others can do the same. I think making a book of her travels would really be a lot of fun. :)

http://maidei.shutterfly.com/

[kmehrzad]

I loaded up her pictures from Pittsburgh. I hope others can do the same. I think making a book of her travels would really be a lot of fun. :)

http://maidei.shutterfly.com/

I loaded my pics from Maidei's visit.

[Possegal]

YAY!!! two down, and a whole lot more folks to go. :)

I did make a new album and titled it Virginia (since I think that is where you two were riding). Just so that once we have lots more pictures in there (fingers crossed) people will be able to tell where she was riding/visiting from the album title. That will help with making a book as well.

(can you tell I scrapbook in my free time?) ;)

[kmehrzad]

I did make a new album and titled it Virginia (since I think that is where you two were riding). Just so that once we have lots more pictures in there (fingers crossed) people will be able to tell where she was riding/visiting from the album title. That will help with making a book as well.

Great idea. I put my location in the Title line but actually putting the pictures in albums according to state / country is the sign of an organized mind. ;)

[Bike Chick]

I just checked it out. How cool!

[Catrin]

Very nice idea, I like the idea of a book of her travels :D

[OakLeaf]

We visited the Great Circle Mound, part of the Newark earthworks (http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c08/). Here's Maidei at the entrance. You can just see the edges of the borrow pit, inside the circle, where earth was dug out to create the mound.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMkBy6to8I/AAAAAAAAASA/Smy5NJ3vouQ/greatcircleentrance.jpg

This diagram illustrates how the Octagon Mound - another part of the earthworks that's open to the public only a few days a year (the rest of the time it's a private golf course, grrrrrrr) - was used for astronomy.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMkBF94_uI/AAAAAAAAAR8/7fMM_9bkZLc/octagonmoundchart.jpg

This bridge and walkway cross over the borrow pit and the mound opposite the entrance. A plaque on the bridge says it was "thought to have been built" by the Civilian Conservation Corps. I didn't realize that was prehistoric. :p

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMkCIDsnvI/AAAAAAAAASE/sYULrLNID7k/greatcirclebridge.jpg

Modern builders also erect structures that 21st-century residents can't really understand the point of. This is the headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Co.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhMmljfHI/AAAAAAAAARY/-8KUY8bUMxQ/s512/maideilongaberger.jpg



Later, we went for a ride along the National Road. US Rt. 66 is nicknamed the "mother road," but US 40 follows the route of the original National Road (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=766) that connected Cumberland, MD with St. Louis, MO. The "mother road" for pre-motorized (and present-day non-motorized) transport. Milestones were set every mile along the road; many of them still remain.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhNV8hx5I/AAAAAAAAARg/mRnAnKJf4Rg/s512/milepost.jpg

We stopped in front of the Nelson T. Gant (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=3438) House. The house is in the early stages of restoration - several later additions were tacked onto it, and it was used as a restaurant for many years. Not much to look at, but here's the historical marker.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhL7m_MWI/AAAAAAAAARQ/6qM6KmSQKH8/s512/ganthouse.jpg

Weller Pottery was famous in the area from its founding in 1872 until the pottery closed after WWII. Several years ago, 100 seven-foot-high reproduction Weller vases were made and hand-painted as a benefit for the Appalachian Pottery Guild, The Artists Colony of Zanesville and a Weller Museum in the former Weller Pottery manufacturing facility. Some of the vases are displayed outside sponsoring businesses; a number are arranged at the foot of the World Famous Y-Bridge.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhcYojAXI/AAAAAAAAARo/kS-qifYSNEY/wellervases.jpg

Here she is closer to the bridge:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhcnIzAwI/AAAAAAAAARs/96oC7XaeKFc/ybridge.jpg

We walked the bike to the middle of the bridge and turned left.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhNHKfP-I/AAAAAAAAARc/O1etMprul1M/middlebridge.jpg

Then it was time to go to work. Maidei doesn't fit on the spin bikes either - and the room is too dark, none of the pictures came out. I tried to get her to teach my aerobics class instead.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3vDkQwuSTy0/TNMhcTo89-I/AAAAAAAAARk/sBNukWD2Kio/s512/mixingboard.jpg

[lph]

ooh, very cool photos! Love the vases. But that... basket.. thing?? Doesn't look very weatherproof. Gorgeous weather the two of you had!

[OakLeaf]

Where's she going next? So far Catrin is the closest person who's expressed interest. Someone send me a PM.


(PS - I like the idea of a book, too :) )

[Possegal]

(PS - I like the idea of a book, too :) )


:)
Anyone with photos of Maidei on her tour of the world, you can load them up here - http://maidei.shutterfly.com/ in an album with the location as its title. If you need any help, PM me and I can walk you through it.

[OakLeaf]

I tried to sign into Shutterfly, I let it temporarily run a bunch of scripts, including atdmt.com which I really hate to allow, but it still wouldn't work for me. :( There's a limit to how far I'll relax my security settings....

[Possegal]

I have no idea what to tell you. I've never had to relax any security to work with shutterfly, even from my work computer which has some pretty tight security measures in place. I don't know enough about computers though to be of any help with that. Sorry.

[malkin]

So the Longaberger place is really an office building that looks like a basket?!

http://www.longaberger.com/homeOfficeFacts.aspx

The things people think of!

[Crankin]

Wait. I have to put my pictures on Shutterfly?
I didn't know we were making a virtual book. The pics are on DH's computer, so it will wait until tomorrow.

[shootingstar]

Does Shutterfly help readers locate certain sets of photos from several different access points (ie. geographic area, TE member names, etc.)?

Otherwise loading photos here on this thread is good enough for casual readers/browsers where some of us don't mind just reading the latest/recent stuff instead of registering shutterfly for log-in access and uploading photos.

Great pics, Oakleaf. Maidei had lots of fun with you.

[Bike Chick]

Where's she going next? So far Catrin is the closest person who's expressed interest. Someone send me a PM.


(PS - I like the idea of a book, too :) )

Oak, I think Catrin gets her next and then me unless there's someone else in Indiana that's wanting her. If we work this right, I can take her with me to do the Memphis St. Jude Marathon December 4. Wonder if she has time to train for a half-marathon before then:D

[kmehrzad]

Nice pics, Oakleaf. I enjoyed the history lessons ... quite interesting. The Longaberger bldg. is a very cool architectural piece. I'd like to see it in person sometime.

And the photo with Maidei at the mic - I could just imagine her giving spinning instructions while Disturbia was playing in the background.

[Possegal]

No one HAS to do anything. The shutterfly page was not intended to take the place of this thread. I personally thought it would be fun to be able to make a book of her travels and that can be done through shutterfly. I didn't realize it would cause such trouble. Was trying to do something nice actually.

[shootingstar]

No one HAS to do anything. The shutterfly page was not intended to take the place of this thread. I personally thought it would be fun to be able to make a book of her travels and that can be done through shutterfly. I didn't realize it would cause such trouble. Was trying to do something nice actually.

It's not a big deal, Possegal. No need to read too much into comments as overly negative or whatever.

I'm just lazy and like to avoid registering for a password for yet another web based tool that I probably won't use much/at all again. I'm just a jaded user of web based tools and online services which require user ids and passwords.. :o

I look forward to Maidei's adventures.

[OakLeaf]

Just as an update ... I've heard from HoosierGiant and we're hoping to be able to arrange an in-person handoff. Mail if that doesn't work, I guess, then Indianapolis next.

[Trek-chick]

any update on Maidei's progress yet. Where is she? Hope she hasn't passed up michigan yet:o

[Catrin]

She is in Indiana now, I think I might get her next :) No way would we allow her to bypass Michigan!

[OakLeaf]

We ran into a little hitch with the transfer. She's heading to HoosierGiant by mail this afternoon. Sorry for the delay!

[jelee1311]

I've been having trouble reading posts lately so maybe I missed it but where is Maidei now What did she do on Thanksgiving? Where is she going next? I need an update please!

[Catrin]

I've been having trouble reading posts lately so maybe I missed it but where is Maidei now What did she do on Thanksgiving? Where is she going next? I need an update please!

She is in Indiana, somewhere. I hope to get her next but we will see where she is in relationship to others in Indiana who might also want her.

[shootingstar]

Must be getting cold where Maidei is.
Today it snowed gentle fluffies. We had very cold weather, then thaw due to chinook.

[Bike Chick]

I was wondering the same thing. I hope she had a good Thanksgiving! Is she in Indiana?

[jelee1311]

Where is Maidei? Is she still in Indiana?Where is she spending christmas?We have not heard from her in a long time. Could we get an update please.

[Catrin]

She just arrived at my house today, and I think there might be a couple of others in Indiana who would like to host her as well.

[HoosierGiant]

Maidei had a quiet Thanksgiving. So quiet, I forgot to take photos. We dined on homemade deep-dish pizza and fresh veggies, followed by mock pecan pie and chocolate-chip pie.

Travels around the area began with a trip to the Knightstown Academy, which was built as a Quaker Academy in 1877. Designed in Second Empire style, the structure has a mansard roof and twin, four-story towers topped by the building's unique and most notable features -- a globe and a telescope. The Academy served as a local high school before being taken out of service and nearly torn down. In the end, it was renovated as senior apartments.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-academy2.jpg


Attached to the Knightstown Academy is a small gymnasium that now holds world acclaim. This was Maidei's second stop. That old-time gym was the setting for the home court of the Hickory Huskers in the 1985 movie Hoosiers. No trip through this area is complete without a visit to the Hoosier Gym, as it is now known. Visitors can not only sit in the stands and tour the downstairs locker room, but also shoot a few hoops. Maidei didn't try to put the ball in the basket, but she did take a close look at center court.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-hoosiergym1a.jpg


In what may have been a first, Maidei took her bike onto the court. Note the banner in the background, one of the remaining props from Hoosiers. While a road bike on the playing floor is a bit out of the ordinary, the Hoosier Gym is regularly used as a SAG for the Raintree Ride (formerly Stride & Ride), which includes a metric century.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-hoosiergym2a.jpg

[HoosierGiant]

History lesson. Knightstown is located on the National Road, which was one of the first major improved highways built by the federal government. The project began in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1811, with the road eventually stretching to Vandalia, Illinois, by 1839. Along the way, the road passed through Knightstown, Indiana. Now known as U.S. 40, this highway was the most traveled east-west road through central Indiana until the construction of Interstate 70, which took away traffic and syphoned the life out of many small communities along the route.

Here's Maidei at a Historic National Road sign just outside of town.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-US402.jpg


Since we're on U.S. 40, figuratively speaking, it's relevant to mention that every year around 1,500 cyclists take a literal trip down this historic corridor during the annual Ride Across INdiana, better known as the RAIN ride. This one-day, one-way, 160-mile ride starts on the Illinois-Indiana state line and travels to Richmond, Indiana. The route is primarily on U.S. 40 and includes passage through the heart of Knightstown.

Since Maidei couldn't be here in mid-July for RAIN, she settled for a quick spin to Dunreith, Indiana, the last SAG for the ride. The Dunreith Volunteer Fire Department hosts and runs the stop, which is the favorite of many RAIN riders, thanks in part to the availability of popsicles.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-RAIN2.jpg


One of the features of the Knightstown area is the Big Blue River, which originates in Henry County (the local county). Much of the Big Blue remains untouched, as can be seen in this photo.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-bigblue2.jpg

[HoosierGiant]

Next stop: Greensboro, Indiana. Okay, so there's really not a lot to see in Greensboro. The post office is a mobile home (I'm not making this up), and the local church has had a sign up for months that uses the word "Christion". This is small-small-town Indiana. But, there's a bit of history in this place, which once had five gristmills in the immediate area. Most notable is that Greensboro was once a stop on the Underground Railroad, as Maidei learned during her visit.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-gboro2.jpg


About three miles outside of Greensboro is Westwood Park -- a 750-acre park with a 180-acre lake. Created by the Big Blue River Conservancy District and opened to the public in 1974, the park is home to one of the state's best and most scenic mountain bike trails. The 10-mile, one-way path circles the lake, offering some great views of the water. Spotting white-tail deer and other woodland critters is common. Lucky riders might also have an owl swoop down the trail ahead of them or catch sight of any number of majestic fowl, from trumpeter swans in the spring to sand hill cranes migrating overhead in the fall.

Winter had set in by the time Maidei got a chance to take a spin on the trail.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-westwood2.jpg


It was good to have Maidei's company, and I wish her well on her future adventures. She left my home having made new friends here, including Xero, my husband's office cat. (Yes, the cat is named after bike wheels. We're such cycling geeks.)

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/indjohnson/Maidei/maidei-xero2.jpg

[Bike Chick]

Looks like Maidei is having a great time in Indiana. No visit to Indiana would be complete without a visit to the Hoosier gym! How cool!

[shootingstar]

That bike button is like a protective shield that she wears proudly!

Great stuff Hoosier. So who is the person having her for Christmas? Lucky Maidei. :rolleyes: And New Year's.

[jelee1311]

Great pics, she one lucky poppet!

[Catrin]

Her last hostess crocheted her a little scarf so that she can survive these cold temps!

I do have her, but between the weather and my work schedule it will be a couple of days before I can take her out on a tour. I DO have a picture of her looking sadly out of the patio door with her bike beside her as the 30 mph winds whipped the falling snow around, I will post it later.

This Friday or Saturday I will take her out and about and let her see the cool parts of Indianapolis - it would be nice of some of that can be on my bike but we will have to see about that. She is looking forward to getting out and about, regardless how we do it.

Who would like her next? I could send her in the mail next Monday, assuming that her next hostess isn't close enough for us to do the hand-over in person. She could also spend Christmas with me if we don't want to subject her to the madness of the US Post Office until after 12/25...

[Bike Chick]

If no one else in Indiana is wanting her to visit, please send her to me in Illinois. We are visiting my son in northern Illinois over the new year, I could take her on a tour of Illinois from one end to the other! Catrin, we could do the handover in person if each of us were willing to drive a couple of hours.

[Catrin]

If no one else in Indiana is wanting her to visit, please send her to me in Illinois. We are visiting my son in northern Illinois over the new year, I could take her on a tour of Illinois from one end to the other! Catrin, we could do the handover in person if each of us were willing to drive a couple of hours.

Cool! I will PM you this weekend after I finally get a chance to take her out and we can decided when/where/how. I am open to the idea of a personal handover depending on what the weather does and how our schedules work out.

[Bike Chick]

Sounds like a plan. It may be easier to use the mail but it wouldn't be near as much fun!;) I'll wait to hear from you.

[Catrin]

I am going to take Maidei out and about some more tomorrow, but here is how she has been spending some of her time recently. I tried to post the images inline with the text but it wasn't working, so they are in order with the text.

We both wanted to go out riding, but the day she arrived we had lots of blowing snow and howling winds, you can see how she is pining to go riding! Note the scarf that her previous host made for her, so she is nice and toasty warm.

Ok, so the snow came, and the cold came, and came, and stayed and... ok, time to do something inside. I had the chance to see Wicked locally, and Maidei was quite excited to see the musical! Here we are checking out a some items for sale. I think we surprised the salesman but he took it in good spirit.

Maidiei wanted to get a closer look at the Christmas tree in the lobby of the theater so we let her - I think she was cold and the lights helped her to get warm. It was chilly in that huge lobby! You can see how excited she is by the time we reached our seats! The musical was fantastic and we all enjoyed it a great deal.

After all that fun last night we really wanted to get some exercise today, but yet more snow and it is just too cold for riding so here is Maidei checking out one of the spinning bikes at my club.

What will come tomorrow? I don't know, but will try and get pictures. A play bill from Wicked is now in her traveling box so she will have something to remember a wonderful evening.

[kmehrzad]

Nice pics, Catrin. Maidei is enjoying her travels, so it seems.

[Bike Chick]

Catrin, you have made lemonade from lemons! You have waited so long to get Maidei and now that you finally have her, the weather is too nasty to take her for a ride. It looks like she's enjoying her trip to Indy just fine!

[roguedog]

Hey all,

What does Madei do for a livin' cuz I want her job. she must be independently wealthy and have a mucho charismatic personality to have so many friends worldwide who take such good care of her during her visits :)

I'm jealous :p

[kmehrzad]

I think she's a professional traveler and Goodwill Ambassador.

[shootingstar]

Great photos, Catrin! She's being well looked after at every stage. The holidays seem cosy for her.

She's certainly a non-complaining traveller --never says a peep wherever she ends up. :rolleyes:

[Possegal]

I love the picture of her in the tree. The scarf looks like angel wings. :)

[jelee1311]

I think she's a student of the world and sooo very lucky! Great pics Catrin, is she staying with you for Christmas?I know its a busy time of year so thanks for keeping us updated .

[Catrin]

I think she's a student of the world and sooo very lucky! Great pics Catrin, is she staying with you for Christmas?I know its a busy time of year so thanks for keeping us updated .

It looks like she will spend Christmas with me, and Bike Chick and I are trying to arrange a personal hand-over, depending on the weather.

[Trek-chick]

I wouldn't mind taking her after Bike Chick. Maybe she would like to do some skiing with me :)

[Bike Chick]

I wouldn't mind taking her after Bike Chick. Maybe she would like to do some skiing with me :)

Trek-chick, I'm going to take Maidei along on a ski trip over New Year's Eve and we will see how she likes it! It will be my first time skiing so I won't be able to teach her much. We will plan on sending her your way for some real ski lessons after her visit with me unless there is someone from St. Louis who would like her to visit and we can arrange a personal hand-off.

[Catrin]

Maidei has safely arrived and is with Bike Chick. She spent a very calm and peaceful Christmas with me, and I am sure that she will have a great time with Bike Chick!

[Bike Chick]

Maidei has safely arrived and is with Bike Chick. She spent a very calm and peaceful Christmas with me, and I am sure that she will have a great time with Bike Chick!

Yes, she has arrived safe and sound in Illinois. We have a lot planned over the next couple of weeks beginning with a new year's day ski trip! This should be fun!!

[Bike Chick]

Since we were visiting family in northern Illinois, I had Maidiei sent to me there. That way, I wouldn't miss her arrival and she could see the state from one end to the other. We had planned to ski on New Year's Day but the trip was postponed because of 30 mph wind gusts and -5 temps. Everyone was so disappointed, especially Maidiei! She had just found a new pair of skis waiting for her under the tree when she arrived and so wanted to wear them so I took her skiing in the yard. The hills there were a perfect size for her and she had a great time until she took a spill on the biggest one.

We took a road trip instead from Oregon, Illinois, along the Mississippi River to beautiful Galena, Illinois. Galena is a picturesque town in the northwest corner of the state that sits in the Driftless Zone--a region that escaped glaciations during the Ice Age. It is a sleepy little town sitting in a valley that is the home of General U.S. Grant. It reminded me of a Swiss village. I tried to take some pictures of Maidiei in Galena, but it was so windy, she kept falling over and hitting her little head. Poor thing just refused to get out of the car after that!