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

[crazycanuck]

Hello this is Maidei & i started my round the world trip today. I biked along the beach..why i'm not sure :o. Perhaps it's because all tourists to Western Australia have to experience the beaches. I made it a few metres through the sand & a small hill Crazycanuck built for me. It was fun cycling by the beach but i'm not sure if i'll get all the sand out of the important bits of my bike. I need to do some stretching as that hill was a bit steep :eek:

I even made a friend w a small child who wanted to know where I was going. (too cute!)

I think i get to see the start of the Bibbulmun & munda biddi tracks this week.

[Maxxxie]

Nice. When it's time for Maidei to make her way to Brisbane, I'll take her for a spin through the local wetlands :)

Max

[indigoiis]

I love Maidei's "buff" and onesie, but do worry about her falling and crocking her noggin without a helmet. Maybe when she gets to her next destination, someone can fashion one out of a beer cap?

Welcome to TE, Maidei, and to your adventure. I can't wait til you get to the east coast USA!!!

[staceysue]

I love the pics. Did you tell the child all about how Maidei was traveling around the world?

How many participants do we have in Australia?

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia/map_of_australia.jpg

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/map_of_world.jpg

[Biciclista]

She'll be spending a lot of time in the Pacific NW I just wonder how in the heck she's going to get here.

[Trek420]

She'll be spending a lot of time in the Pacific NW I just wonder how in the heck she's going to get here.

Row! Or kayak :D

[pinkbikes]

Nice. When it's time for Maidei to make her way to Brisbane, I'll take her for a spin through the local wetlands :)

Max

Ok - so I guess I might take her for a River Loop? You can't really do Brisbane without a River Loop! Or for a ride on the MTB at Gap Creek or Bunya if my shoulder is OK in time.

So are you talking the wetlands around Boondall Max? If so, you are quite near me and we can probably ride her from one of us to the other, which would be kind of neat.

[Possegal]

Well when/if she makes it to the DC area, we have many wonderful sites for her to enjoy! :)

Thanks for sharing the pics, they are outstanding!

[nolemom]

I would love to show her sunny central Florida.

[Maxxxie]

Ok - so I guess I might take her for a River Loop? You can't really do Brisbane without a River Loop! Or for a ride on the MTB at Gap Creek or Bunya if my shoulder is OK in time.

So are you talking the wetlands around Boondall Max? If so, you are quite near me and we can probably ride her from one of us to the other, which would be kind of neat.

Yes, the Boondall Wetlands. I'd be happy to carry Maidei there and hand her off to you (or vice versa) :)

I agree that a river ride is essential. I have to say the Gap Creek MTB ride sounds intriguing. I don't think she should leave Brisbane without experiencing that!

:)
Max

[crazycanuck]

Good evening, this is Maidei checking in again.

It's been a very hot, muggy & humid week here in Perth but we still did some biking. Today, Crazycanuck took me on a short dirt ride but I had a few small issues. I have the wrong bike for the dirt & had an endo :(. I decided dirt wasn't a good idea & the tree near me was so inviting I jumped onto it. Crazycanuck had to tear me away. Good thing there weren't any spiders or other creatures! I am a small person you know ;)

Tomorrow I meet Trekhawk & then the rest of the world awaits me!

[tulip]

Oh No, Mr. Bill!!

[Crankin]

That picture made me laugh although it is not funny at all.

[staceysue]

That picture is hilarious.

[indigoiis]

The mom in me is panicking.

Get that poor girl a helmet!!! :D

Wonderful pics. What a way to start the tour. I am so impressed!

[Bike Chick]

Oh, how funny!

[GLC1968]

I don't know how I missed these threads until now, but this is GREAT!

As much as I can't wait for Maidei to make it to the PNW (I can help her try riding a goat if she's game), I think that it might make the most sense for her to finish her journey here. She can 'retire' to the TE headquarters, perhaps?

[SLash]

Oh No, Mr. Bill!!

LOL, that's exactly what I thought!

[Trek420]

The photos and story remind me of BSG's doll stories. I hope that they will meet, what a ride that will be. :p

[crazycanuck]

*sniff* Today I left crazycanuck (good thing I don't have much clothing yet etc to pack ;)) on the next part of my journey. I met Trekhawk & will get to play in her garden for a while.

I think my next stop is Canberra & gee I sure hope it's warm over there! I need to get my share of sunshine before i head north :o

[ehirsch83]

I can't believe I missed this also!
I would be more then happy to do the South Florida portion before or after she heads to central florida! And we even have a North Florida person on here. She can go all over the state!

[shootingstar]

Crazycanuck, since Maidei doesn't yet have a GPS tag attached, to track her mileage, could you estimate for us the total distance Maidei has travelled in your dirt ride with her, then with Trekhawk and now enroute to Canberra, Australia?

Would be a good idea at which stopping location, Maidei will recive her GPS tag? Maybe KnottedYet can let us know here.

[channlluv]

How do you pronounce her name?

I love these pictures. This is so much fun. Is there a projected plan for the trip?

Don't we have someone in Indonesia? I'll pick Maidei up in San Diego and be her guide around town.

Roxy

[Trekhawk]

After a hard day on the trails with Crazycanuck I decided to kick back and relax today. I enjoyed a nice cuppa in Trekhawk's garden and a cruise down into the valley with Trekhawk and her dogs. Hey Fergus wait for me!

[staceysue]

If I were you, Maidei, I'd enjoy as much time as I could at Trehawk's! What a beautiful place.

[lph]

TrekHawk, I have garden envy! Oh-oh-oooohhh - to see green, luscious gardens, when we're looking out at dead leaves and the first wet snow...

[crazycanuck]

Trekhawk, that's so cool!

[indigoiis]

That is a seriously gorgeous spot.

[wnyrider]

How do you pronounce her name?...

I had that same question when I first read what her name was. I had my laptop then and searched online and did find a site that had a recording that let you hear how Maidei was pronounced. I am on my desktop now and cannot find the site. But I remember it sounded out like May-Day, with the emphasis on the second syllable and the first syllable was said quicker, almost like M' day.

Meanwhile while searching I came across this song by an African composer titled Maidei.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nac
(Just thought I'd post it for the heck of it)

On another note: Trekhawk is that a cone on Fergus' head?!

[Duck on Wheels]

Catchy song! And it sounds like he's singing the name as "Ma-eeDAY".

[Trekhawk]

On another note: Trekhawk is that a cone on Fergus' head?!

Yep and it comes off today thank goodness. Looks a bit like a halo in that shot but take it from he is no angel...gorgeous but no angel.:)

Glad everyone liked the shots. The area we live in is growing on me but I still get my heart strings pulled when I see mountains and pine trees on the TV. Northern California was such a pretty place to live that it really will be hard to beat for scenery.

[Bike Chick]

How beautiful! So lush and green. What a great place!

The leaves have lost their luster and it's turning from vibrant fall to brown, dreary winter here.

Maidei, if you do this the right way, you could enjoy summer everyplace you visit all the way around the world!

[crazycanuck]

Cyclegoddess..are you ready for ms Maidei? I believe she's going to make an appearance in Canberra soon!

Let's see, will she meet the PM :p


BTW...the only reason Perth's so green atm is because of all the ($($($( rain we received over our winter. At least our weirs are at a nice capacity!

Can't say the same for those over east though. Bushfires are already burning in Vic :(

[cylegoddess]

Im taking our girl to Parliament house, hopefully she can meet the Pm and get us some more cycling paths!
I will try to make her a helmet.
Im not sure how to get the pics to post here though. Photbucket wont let me in( I screwed it up!):confused:

Love that Perth beach, sigh:cool:

[Trekhawk]

Im taking our girl to Parliament house, hopefully she can meet the Pm and get us some more cycling paths!
I will try to make her a helmet.
Im not sure how to get the pics to post here though. Photbucket wont let me in( I screwed it up!):confused:

Love that Perth beach, sigh:cool:

Glad to hear she arrived safe and sound.:)

[Trek420]

I will try to make her a helmet.

Oh, this is going to be fun :p

[staceysue]

I had to look up Canberra - it looks like it would be a great place to visit. Maidei is so lucky . . . I found a picture of the bike path to Weston Creek (look! the guy's riding on the left side of the lane!) and I want to be there, right now:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/BikepathCanberra.jpg/800px-BikepathCanberra.jpg

And here's the Wikipedia article: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/BikepathCanberra.jpg/800px-BikepathCanberra.jpg

[OakLeaf]

wow... elevation change on a MUP... you sure don't see that around here!

[Pip]

Does Maidei need someone to escort her round the capital of New Zealand? Happy to take her for a spin round Wellington if she's keen. Though I'll have to make sure she's firmly attached given how windy it's been here lately.

[crazycanuck]

Cyclegoddess-you can still post the photos, just minimise them....Do you have Nero or Picture manager???

Pip-Millienz's organizing the NZ tour, give her a heads up.

[cylegoddess]

Ive now got them on flikr. A link but they wont show up until you go to the link. I shall have to see if I can get Nero or whatever. Will be taking maidei on her ride, this weekend:)
And yes, nice rides in wetson creek. Try Belconnen lake.Thats where I ride.

[shootingstar]

Cyclegoddess, try Microsoft Picture Manager which comes with Microsoft Office software. There is a resize function.

Otherwise, we would be happy with your flickr link if other solutions are too frustrating for you.

[cylegoddess]

G'day! Maidei here! I have made it to the ACT, and am now in the capital which is called Canberra.
Cyclegoddess and I rode to Parliment house!
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/42034117@N08/)

First, I visited Parliament house. It was a nice ride there, although pretty hot! Im used to it though, as my country was hot too!

Then I met some British tourists who wanted some photos with me.They liked my bike!

Cyclegoddess and I saw a tent down on Parliment lawn, so we decided to go check it out.

( next part)

[cylegoddess]

The people there were having a hunger strike. They are all over the hoping to get some legislation passed about preventing Global Warming.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/42034117@N08/)
They were very nice and gald to hear that I am riding , mostly around the world! They like bikes, and hope more people will ride them.
They let me take a photo with their sign and my bike!
Then, Cyclegoddess and I rode to Old Parliment House Senate Gardens.
It was a nice place to rest under the rose arbors.
I really enjoyed my trip to Canberra!
Didn't get to see the Prime Minister, but it was still a really lovely place to ride!

Now I am off to Queensland!!Wheee!
No worrys,
Love Maidei:)

[crazycanuck]

I was wondering if Maidei would get to ride since it's certainly warmin up out east hey...Is the ACT under any threat in terms of bushfires?

Tis not a good start to bushfire season :(

Darn about not meeting Mr Rudd..:rolleyes:

[Trekhawk]

Then I met some British tourists who wanted some photos with me.They liked my bike!

Cyclegoddess and I saw a tent down on Parliment lawn, so we decided to go check it out.

( next part)

Great snaps!
Love the British tourists.:D

[tulip]

Neat Parliament House. Hunger strikes are no fun.

[shootingstar]

Maidei is seeing lots and learning lots! Very cool. :)
So how many kms. or miles has Maidei been travelling since Crazycanuck started cycling with her, etc.? Cumulative mileage so far, is probably high.

It might be kind of cool to keep a running cumulative total. It will be quite impressive. But at least Maidei gets to travel like a queen, while we work abit harder!

[cylegoddess]

Maidei rode 25 km in Canberra. Not sure how far she came to Canberra, though.
G;ad you liked the tourists! They were really keen on Maidei.
We wanted to make her a helmet, but neither Maidei nor I had any grog( beer cap) so maybe Maxxxie?

I sure hope there is no bushfires, man. That would be awful:( Its getting really dry out here, quick. All the green grass is a lovely yellow and smells divine.)

Im glad you liked her trip.

[crazycanuck]

Distance between Perth & Canberra-it all depends on how Maidei was transported :rolleyes: If Australia post flew her here...only 3106km. By land 3911km

Distance from Canberra to Brisvegas-about 1268km (by road)

[indigoiis]

I learned a lot from Madei. She is the ultimate culture queen. Thank you!

[Maxxxie]

No beer in the Max household, but maybe a helmet made of a recycled Red Bull lid? :D

I can't wait for Maidei's arrival. If it's this week sometime, she'll be just in time to do the "Ocean Shores" ride my mum's inflicting on me this weekend. 110Km of mum's husband kicking the (figurative) crap out of me as I struggle to keep up with his wheel. He's one heck of a rider. I just hope he has mercy on me! :o

Max

[Tri Girl]

This is such a cool thread! I'm loving learning all about Maidei's adventures! :)
My DH has a collection of tiny little football helmets that they made back in the early 80's. I bet one of those would fit her little head- then she could be protected. I'd gladly send one her way. ;)

[Trek420]

This is such a cool thread! I'm loving learning all about Maidei's adventures! :)
My DH has a collection of tiny little football helmets that they made back in the early 80's. I bet one of those would fit her little head- then she could be protected. I'd gladly send one her way. ;)

I can see it now "Honey, have you seen my '81 Steelers helmet? :confused: The guys tell me they saw it on a blog on a doll in Australia riding a bike?:eek:"

[Trekhawk]

I can see it now "Honey, have you seen my '81 Steelers helmet? :confused: The guys tell me they saw it on a blog on a doll in Australia riding a bike?:eek:"

Love it!:D:D

[cylegoddess]

You better ask first!:eek:

[Trek420]

You better ask first!:eek:

Yeah, especially before you paint it pink and put those flower decals on .... :p ;) :rolleyes:

[shootingstar]

Distance between Perth & Canberra-it all depends on how Maidei was transported :rolleyes: If Australia post flew her here...only 3106km. By land 3911km

Distance from Canberra to Brisvegas-about 1268km (by road)

With cyclegoddess' 25 kms. + if we choose shorter distance, the air route between Perth & Canberra + road route to Canberra to Brisvegas so far = 4,399 kms. Or make it 4,450 total kms. After all, CC did do some cycling around with Maidei prior to Trekhawk.


While this is going on, here is the parallel 2010 Olympic torch relay:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/about-the-olympic-torch-relay/the-route/ It will total 45,000 kms. after its journey within Canada from start to Vancouver. Torch is being cycled for short certain segments, as well as by kayak, ATV, etc.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/ A twisty route which includes torch going up near the North Pole. Though Maidei probably won't go to the top of the world, her journey will be even wilder. TE will guarantee it! :)

[solobiker]

Hey, if she needs a place to stay in CO send me a message. I would be more then happy to show her around this lovely state, and of course take her on a few bike rides.

[cylegoddess]

Our little gal should be in QLD by next week. I am sick in bed at moment, so she is making me cups of tea:p

[OakLeaf]

Oh, hope you feel better soon cylegoddess.

I have to know though, why "Brisvegas?" Gambling? Prostitution? Neon? Something else? :confused: Is gambling legal in the rest of Australia?

We're learning all kinds of things from Maidei's trip! :D

[Maxxxie]

I have to know though, why "Brisvegas?" Gambling? Prostitution? Neon? Something else? :confused: Is gambling legal in the rest of Australia?

We use the term BrisVegas in a somewhat ironic/sarcastic way. Brisbane is kinda sleepy compared to the other East coast capitals - Sydney and Melbourne. So calling our town BrisVegas makes it sound much more glamorous than it is :)

Gambling is legal across the country, as far as I know. There are casinos in many of the capital cities and some larger regional cities too.

I can't wait for Maidei's arrival! Thankfully, mum cancelled the Ocean Shores 110Km suffer-fest, so Maidei will have a much nicer time of it than anticipated! :D

Max

[Tri Girl]

You better ask first!:eek:

Nah- he has so much junk there's no way he'd miss one little ol' helmet. If he did I'd just brush it off and say "it must've gotten lost in the last move." Heck, they stayed in a plastic grocery bag for 15 years before I finally got them out and put them on a shelf (alphabetically in order by league, of course). :)
I'd still be happy to send a helmet someone's way.
In fact- if she makes her way to Oklahoma in the US, I'd love to show her around our wonderful state! ;)

[cylegoddess]

Thanks oakleaf. Still suffering ;) Man havent rode for a WEEK. Its killing me!!!

[Maxxxie]

The Eagle has landed! Oh, also Maidei has made it to Brisbane :D

I'll be taking her on a commute to work tomorrow, then some sightseeing on the weekend. Maybe the Riverside ride, maybe Boondall, maybe Samford. Haven't made up my mind yet. :)

Max

[pinkbikes]

The Eagle has landed! Oh, also Maidei has made it to Brisbane :D

I'll be taking her on a commute to work tomorrow, then some sightseeing on the weekend. Maybe the Riverside ride, maybe Boondall, maybe Samford. Haven't made up my mind yet. :)

Max

Cool Max - let me know when you want to pass the baby!:)

[Maxxxie]

Hi everybody! It's Maxxxie here, with a note from Maidei!

Yesterday, Maxxxie took me to Stradbroke Island (http://www.stradbrokeholidays.com.au/), 30 minutes off the coast of her home town, Brisbane. We went with a whole group of biker chicks! I had so much fun!

The beach there is beautiful!

http://www.maxxxie.net/img/maidei/IMG_0388.jpg

http://www.maxxxie.net/img/maidei/IMG_0389.jpg

http://www.maxxxie.net/img/maidei/IMG_0390.jpg

I asked Maxxxie to pose me in front of the beach. I think she was going for the "ET fly home" look, but she couldn't quite pull it off. I mean, ET didn't have a great big arm holding him up, did he?

http://www.maxxxie.net/img/maidei/IMG_0387.jpg

Still, she tried. After a while, we went and sat on the beach, and I sat in a tree overlooking the ocean. Brilliant!

http://www.maxxxie.net/img/maidei/IMG_0391.jpg

I had such a good time! I can't wait to meet Pinkbikes! :D

Maidei

[lph]

ooooohhhhhh...... Wow, that is a beautiful beach!!

[crazycanuck]

Lph..we have many many many many beautiful beaches in Australia :p:cool::D

In some areas you can't swim(perhaps with a complete stinger suit but you take that chance or there are the saltwater crocs...:eek:) but you can def oogle at the beauty!

I love the beach :D

[shootingstar]

Maidei is so lucky to see such beautiful beaches! Gorgeous. So after pinkbikes, is she going to be tripping around with more TE gals in Brisbane area for awhile? Maybe we get to see more wonderful sites. :)

[Maxxxie]

I don't know that there are any more Brisbane TE girls, are there??

Max

[crazycanuck]

There are only 2 active chickas from Brissie. I do know there's one more in Qld.. in Cairns.

[pinkbikes]

There are only 2 active chickas from Brissie. I do know there's one more in Qld.. in Cairns.

So who is it we have in Cairns, and is that where I'll be sending her next? Or is MillieNZ the next tourguide?:)

[MillieNZ]

Not sure about the Cairns chickie, but New Zealand is ready ! ;)

[spindizzy]

I have serious beach envy!!!! Utterly breathtaking! Maidei - you are one luck chickie.

[crazycanuck]

Umm..i'll have to go through the last few pages of the getting to know you thread to find the chicka in N Qld.

me thinks it might be a better idea just to send her off to the land of the long white cloud...

[deeaimond]

Umm..i'll have to go through the last few pages of the getting to know you thread to find the chicka in N Qld.

me thinks it might be a better idea just to send her off to the land of the long white cloud...

where is the land of the long white cloud? because please rememeber to send her to the city state also known as the Little Red Dot!!

[MillieNZ]

New Zealand :) :)

The Maori word for New Zealand is Aotearoa which roughly translates to the 'Land of the long white cloud' ;)

[deeaimond]

whew, ok, i thought i was gonna be missed :D

[Maxxxie]

Pinkbikes, I sent you a PM about handing Maidei over to you.. did you get it?

Max

[crazycanuck]

How's Maidei surviving the Australian summer?

[Maxxxie]

I handed Maidei off to Pinkbikes over the weekend. I have a feeling they're headed for shadier riding areas than the beach! :cool:

Max

[pinkbikes]

OK, so Maxxxie and I had our Maidei handover this weekend. She is weathering the weather well and seems none the worse for wear for her adventures so far.

But I must make comment on the weirdness of it all. You see, Maxxxie sent me a PM to let me know we were ready for a handover and we pondered whether we could arrange a meet up or whether she should just slip Maidei in the post to me. We decided on a meet up to handover, as I figured, "What are the chances of many TE'ers actually meeting in person outside the USA? Probably not too common."

So we settled on a rendezvous point (a lovely spot on the foreshore at Shorncliffe) and Max gave me the details - will be on a blue Cannondale Synapse and wearing this year's Cycle Queensland jersey.

This is where it got weird.:eek: You see, Cycle Queensland is a 9 day cycle tour around Queensland, which attracts 1500-odd people all up. I was also on this tour this year, riding it on a tandem with my DD.

I remembered that I had chatted to a gal on a blue Synapse one day when we had both stopped for lunch in some farmer's paddock in the middle of nowhere. I had asked her about how she was enjoying her Synpase, because I will be handing my roadie down to DD before there is too much more growing, and I was interested in the various options.

So I sent a PM back to her to ask whether perhaps she was the same gal. OMG - she was! So how weird is it that you can meet somebody on a webforum from halfway around the world, and then find that you have actually met before, and also find out that you live one suburb away??!:confused::eek:

Oh - and here is the photo of the successful handoff...:)

[shootingstar]

Love stories of good karma and chance like this!! And Maidei helped you 2 meet again.
Great to see! :)

[Bike Chick]

Love the irony! And the pic...........keep us posted on her adventures.

[crazycanuck]

Way cool! Funny how these things happen....

Off topic non cycling story...Many years ago I did a Lions club exchange to Japan. My host family took me up to Tokyo n region for a lookie see...well, who should be at the Mejijingu shrine...A high school friend...

Funky...

[Trek420]

Very cool! Tailwinds, Madei!

[Maxxxie]

So how weird is it that you can meet somebody on a webforum from halfway around the world, and then find that you have actually met before, and also find out that you live one suburb away??!:confused::eek:


I can't tell you how much that made me laugh!!! :D

Pleasure to meet you again, Pinkbikes. Give me a hoy if you'd like to go for a ride sometime. :)

Max

[pinkbikes]

Thanks Max - we'll have to catch up for a ride one morning.

So, I had great plans of taking Maidei for a jaunt in the forests of Bunya and Ironbark on the weekend. We have a regular Sunday afternoon ride called the Bunya Sunday Afternoon Cruise (BSAC) which I figured would be about the right pace for a social outing for Maidei.:)

It was the last one prior to Christmas and so would be festive, people with tinsel etc. I was going to get another ride out of my Santa jersey, and hand out little Santa chockies...

Unfortunately, it became pretty clear at about 10am that the afternoon was going to be a complete fizzer. The black clouds rolled in, the thunder rolled and the lightning fizzed. It poured rain fit to bust for ages and there was NO WAY I was going out in that by choice!:eek:

So I guess Maidei will have to wait a few more days before she can have a ride in the forest. Instead she'll have to laze around and socialise with our families over Christmas, gaze upon the turkey and baked ham, and enjoy Christmas Oz-style in the heat. But then she'd be used to the heat.:D

[cylegoddess]

I would have gone out!!:eek::eek::eek:
LOL, I could have wrapped her in cling wrap!!

[crazycanuck]

Ummm Cyclegoddess....you might want to pay attention to the weather forecasts around the country....There was a weather warning for the Brisbane region... I heard the word "flooding"...in an ABC news report..

[Trek420]

I would have gone out!!:eek::eek::eek:
LOL, I could have wrapped her in cling wrap!!

Awwwww, now she's gonna get a tiny see-through rain jackets. :p ;)

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLG_1030005.html

[pinkbikes]

I might have forgotten to mention it was moutain biking and just how much mud would have been involved. I probably could have wrapped Maidei in wrap, but what about me? (Good name for a song!) I just wasn't up for the surgical extraction of mud from my every orifice.:eek: Not to mention the bike's every orifice!:eek:

Actually the ride got canned because it is just too dangerous in the forest with the lightning and trees falling etc.:(

[cylegoddess]

'I just wasn't up for the surgical extraction of mud from my every orifice. Not to mention the bike's every orifice!'

Oh that goes so well with the little scared face icon!!

Yikes! Its not Canberra , is it?!!
Flooding.....wow.

[pinkbikes]

And it's STILL #$*()&^$% RAINING!:mad:

At the rate I'm going it will be a picture of her nose pressed up against the window looking at the rain!:o

[Maxxxie]

And it's STILL #$*()&^$% RAINING!:mad:

At the rate I'm going it will be a picture of her nose pressed up against the window looking at the rain!:o

LMAO! I managed to get out for a 40Km ride out to Nudgee and back on xmas day. It's been raining ever-bloody-since, and all I wanna do is get out and ride, dammit! I need another 120Km under my belt and I'll have reached 4000Km for the year - twice my original goal of 2000Km. RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY.. please come back after I've done my 120Km, OK????

Max

[pinkbikes]

Hi, pinkbikes finally managed to get me out for a ride!:) New Years day dawned a little overcast, and with a few sun showers, but stayed mostly fine. So pinkbikes and her friend Splicegirl decided to ride up South Boundary track towards Mt Nebo.

Both of them had been off their MTBs for a little while due to an accident each, so thought a nice big firetrail climb would be a nice way to show me some dirt sights.

Unfortunately PB has been sick with a cold since Christmas night, so she ended up off the bike a walking a few times while she coughed her lungs up, but since I was a passenger and didn't have to walk too, I was ok with that!:D

I got a nice picture sitting by a log with my bike, and another trying out one of the big bikes! Another was a nice shot of the Australian bush with me leaning against the base of a "blackboy" tree. The bush was looking lovely and green after all the recent rain. It had recently been burned out, and before that devastated by storm damage mid-last year and the Christmas before.

And lastly, I got to sit by the pool and recover from my morning's adventure...

[Bike Chick]

Happy New Year Maidei! Looks nice and warm where you are.

[Catrin]

If Maidei would like to see the International Motor Speedway in Indianapolis when her journeys bring her to the US I would be happy to escort her - and we have some other very cool things that she might like to see - though we can't compete with those lovely Australian beaches!

[shootingstar]

Since we get so many close-up shots of Maidei, kind of forget how small she and her bike are.

[crazycanuck]

I must mention that grass trees (aka Blackboy bushes) are really really annoying when mtn biking...The stem stumps (?) are unfriendly & not fun to run into :mad: :eek: :(

They're on every trail here in WA. Pea gravel & grass trees make such a nice couple :rolleyes:

[pinkbikes]

PB decided to take me on another ride on Sunday morning. This was to be the "urban Brisbane" experience.

PB, her DD, and another couple and their DD met at the Goodwill Bridge for a circuit of inner Brisbane by bikeway (sort of a 11yo-friendly version of a River Loop). This route crossed the Goodwill Bridge (an inner city bike and pedestrian bridge across the Brisbane River) and turned right to follow the river around the city botanic gardens, along the city boardwalk to Story Bridge, and along the floating walkway to a nice cafe at the end of New Farm Park for iced coffee/chocolates. If only PB had taken a picture of me there we'd have been happy, but she was saving me for the "money shot" back at Southbank Parklands by the inner city beach at the lagoon.:(

We rode back the way we came, but continued on to the newest inner city pedestrian and cycle bridge, the Kurilpa Bridge, which takes you across the river into the forecourt of the Gallery of Modern art (known as the GOMA - sort of like Gomer Pyle but not so poorly acted!). From there we headed back along to Southbank Parklands and the humans indulged in a dip in the lagoon.

http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/attractions/south_bank_parklands

This link gives an idea of what the Southbank Parkland brings to the centre of the city in Brisbane.

Anyway, I was cooling my heels, waiting for them to finish their dip and take that money shot, when all of a sudden there was thunder, lightning and the skies opened with a pounding summer storm. We headed for cover but all of us got wet - even I got a little damp in my ziplock bag! I'm all dry now - although I never did get that money shot by the lagoon at Southbank!:(

So now PB has decided that the weather here is cursed and it is time for me to move on over to the "land of the long white cloud" and visit MillieNZ for some terrific riding on New Zealand's northern isle. So tomorrow I'll be on my way.

So it's goodbye to sunny (?) Queensland and Australia and off to new adventures....

[Maxxxie]

Awwwww, PB, that sucks! If it's any consolation, I feel your pain. The BOM reckons this weekend might be a little sunnier!

Max

[crazycanuck]

Ummm...she might not see the sun in NZ either...:rolleyes: Then again...Auckland weather might surprise me...

[pinkbikes]

Awwwww, PB, that sucks! If it's any consolation, I feel your pain. The BOM reckons this weekend might be a little sunnier!

Max
Oh - I'm really hoping so!:) I plan to reintroduce myself to some single track dirt at Daisy Hill this weekend if the weather behaves.

[MillieNZ]

Ummm...she might not see the sun in NZ either...:rolleyes: Then again...Auckland weather might surprise me...



She'll see sun :) ........... but she'll probably be blown off her bike :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[crazycanuck]

Mnz...will you take Maidei to Woodhill or to da beach..ahhhhh :D

[Biciclista]

is Maidei ever going to cross the international date line? or the Equator for that matter?

[MillieNZ]

is Maidei ever going to cross the international date line? or the Equator for that matter?


Good point !

After a whirl'wind' trip round Auckland's Woodhill forest & a trip to the beach , she is going down to 'windy' Wellington to visit Pip.... I don't go to Hawaii until end of February, so we'll need to post her on her way to the northern hemipshere....... but to whom do we send her ???? :)

[Biciclista]

You could certainly start on the west coast of the USA after Hawaii, there are scads of us here in Western Washington, more than one of us with close links to Oregon and California...

[shootingstar]

MillieNZ, there is another TE member who lives in Maui. I met her last year when we vacationed in Maui. She is aware of Maidei's journey. At this time, she is in Bali until around Feb.

Don't know if she is checking her email regularily while in Bali.

Mimi, maybe it might be better Maidie starts in California after NZ/Hawaii. Northwest coast weather would be better after Feb./March ..in case some of us cycle long distances in relay.

Just a thought. Anyway, Maidei could be passed around in Vancouver area/VAncouver Island area after north Washington area?

[indigoiis]

We need to make a blog for Maidei. It will be easier to follow and post pics, no?

[deeaimond]

What about Singapore?? :cool:

[shootingstar]

With cyclegoddess' 25 kms. + if we choose shorter distance, the air route between Perth & Canberra + road route to Canberra to Brisvegas so far = 4,399 kms. Or make it 4,450 total kms. After all, CC did do some cycling around with Maidei prior to Trekhawk. :)

Ok, so during Maidei's adventures in Brisbane area with Maxxie and pinkbikes, now enroute to MillieNZ: what is the distance she would have travelled by the time she reached MillieNZ?

Last mileage was 4,450 kms.

[Biciclista]

I made a blog http://maideibike.wordpress.com/
it's essentially empty. Anyone of you can join it, and post your pictures. I will happily share administrative stuff too.
IM me or write to the blog.

[Trek420]

You could certainly start on the west coast of the USA after Hawaii, there are scads of us here in Western Washington, more than one of us with close links to Oregon and California...

Someday depending on when and where she's on the west coast I bet a hand off to Norway could be done :D

[Melalvai]

Post to this thread when the blog is updated? I suppose I could subscribe to it...

[Biciclista]

Mela, subscribe and join !

[shootingstar]

So it appears that one has to subscribe to blog, Mimi in order to post photos and a story/Maidie ride report?

Of course we can comment on blog entries/articles which doesn't require subscribing to the blog.

[Biciclista]

so subscribe! it's easy and free!

[Melalvai]

Mela, subscribe and join !
Looks like post a comment is how to subscribe.

[Biciclista]

well, sort of. Once you post a comment, i can make you a user. Or if you are already a wordpress member you are already a user I think.
so now you can post your photos or your long dissertations on Maidei.. too bad whoever has her isn't doing that. I thought we'd use it particularly for photos because they are hard to find on a thread like this.

[MillieNZ]

Maidei only arrived in New Zealand yesterday on her first international flight.... :) She's recovering from jet lag and will possibly be out on her bike today , if not definatly at the weekend ;)

However i can't post to the blog from work (security access doesn't allow) so any updates to the blog will have to be at the weekend...

[Biciclista]

Maidei only arrived in New Zealand yesterday on her first international flight.... :) She's recovering from jet lag and will possibly be out on her bike today , if not definatly at the weekend ;)

However i can't post to the blog from work (security access doesn't allow) so any updates to the blog will have to be at the weekend...

ah wouldn't you know it. I chose wordpress because I can access it from work, I can't access blogger or blogspot. go figure. you can post there any time you want, as many photos as you care to. I hope you get some nice weather!

[eclectic]

MillieNZ, there is another TE member who lives in Maui. I met her last year when we vacationed in Maui. She is aware of Maidei's journey. At this time, she is in Bali until around Feb.

Don't know if she is checking her email regularily while in Bali.

Mimi, maybe it might be better Maidie starts in California after NZ/Hawaii. Northwest coast weather would be better after Feb./March ..in case some of us cycle long distances in relay.

Just a thought. Anyway, Maidei could be passed around in Vancouver area/VAncouver Island area after north Washington area?

Shooting star - that is cool that you got to meet when you were in Maui. We didn't start corresponding until about a month AFTER I was in Maui. :mad:

Anyway I am on Facebook with her if anyone needs to find out anything. Too bad Maidie wasn't with her - She was just in Singapore!

[deeaimond]

Shooting star - that is cool that you got to meet when you were in Maui. We didn't start corresponding until about a month AFTER I was in Maui. :mad:

Anyway I am on Facebook with her if anyone needs to find out anything. Too bad Maidie wasn't with her - She was just in Singapore!


weather is going to get nicer here in Singapore, so, it'll be good to send her here! how is this mapping out?

[MillieNZ]

I arrived safely in New Zealand on Wednesday and took full advantage of the Auckland sunshine to rest, recover and top up my suntan :D…. Sunday was my first planned ride with MNZ on a local trail in East Auckland, hopefully I’ll be following that up with a road ride round the Hunua ranges before heading off to Wellington to visit Pip by next weekend :)

Unfortunately Sunday morning was rather damp, MNZ blames CC in Perth for some forum comment about Auckland’s dodgy weather,:rolleyes:

We headed out and took some paths over fields that had been cut for hay which was rather bumpy before heading up some nice gravel paths over a local country park before heading down to the beach for a catch of the water and some boats fishing ... then we headed back home about the same time as the sun broke through the clouds ;)

Hopefully my evening road ride will be sunny !

A few piccies of me :

PS - MNZ will post this to my Blog later this evening when she can access it from home :):)

PPS - After Wellington - looks like Pip will send me to Singapore if everyone is ok with that ?

PPPS - MNZ will move to Oahu , Hawaii in March so happy to host me again for a Hawaiin adventure with my other Hawaiian TE host in Maui :)

[Trekhawk]

I arrived safely in New Zealand on Wednesday and took full advantage of the Auckland sunshine to rest, recover and top up my suntan :D…. Sunday was my first planned ride with MNZ on a local trail in East Auckland, hopefully I’ll be following that up with a road ride round the Hunua ranges before heading off to Wellington to visit Pip by next weekend :)

Unfortunately Sunday morning was rather damp, MNZ blames CC in Perth for some forum comment about Auckland’s dodgy weather,:rolleyes:

We headed out and took some paths over fields that had been cut for hay which was rather bumpy before heading up some nice gravel paths over a local country park before heading down to the beach for a catch of the water and some boats fishing ... then we headed back home about the same time as the sun broke through the clouds ;)

Hopefully my evening road ride will be sunny !

A few piccies of me :

PS - MNZ will post this to my Blog later this evening when she can access it from home :):)

PPS - After Wellington - looks like Pip will send me to Singapore if everyone is ok with that ?

PPPS - MNZ will move to Oahu , Hawaii in March so happy to host me again for a Hawaiin adventure with my other Hawaiian TE host in Maui :)

Love the pics!
Maidei is one lucky girl. NZ is such a beautiful place that I am feeling very jealous of her at the moment.:D

[crazycanuck]

Ooops..:o:p MNZ..sorry about the rain..

At least you can ride during the day atm over in NZ!!! If Maidei was still here she'd have to sit in the freezer to cool down...

[Pip]

Eagerly awaiting Maidei's arrival here in Wellington. Pity she wasn't here yesterday as the weather was cycling perfect. If it doesn't rain this weekend and she arrives ok I might take her out for a spin!

[Pip]

Maidei is in Wellington! However so is a Southerly and the rain. We're relaxing in the warmth of my living room until we can get back outside again ...

[kiwi girl]

I think Maidei needs a visit to the South Island (although the weather here is as bad as Wellington).

Maybe she could try and get here in time to do the subride

http://www.sarahulmerbrand.com/events/christchurch-31-jan-2010/

Pip - I've replied to your PM

[shootingstar]

Looking forward to seeing photos from Pip and now kiwi for NZ.

My avatar..is an oil painting that I did. It was inspired by a waterfall photo that my partner took when he went kayaking in NZ for the day. He was cycling and camping in NZ for several months.

[Pip]

Sigh. I haven't been able to take Maidei out yet as I've been unwell again. I was going to take her out today, but a string of still, hot and cloudless days came to an end. Today it's been cold and wet, with a gale Southerly. I had planned to take her into town to watch the last stage of the Tour of Wellington, but no such luck ...

I will, however, try to take her out one night this week then send her on to Christchurch! In the meantime, she's been enjoying the downtime and hanging out on the veranda in the sun.

Pip

[Pip]

Ok, call me dense, but I can't see any way to upload photos on the Wordpress blog. Where is the darn button?!

[shootingstar]

http://en.support.wordpress.com/images/ If you are unfamiliar with Wordpress and this is the only time you will use the software, maybe it might be faster to upload the photos in TE forums.

Consider the time investment. More people might start looking around in this thread lst before going over the blog..now that this will split finding photos in 2 different places.

[Trek420]

In the meantime, she's been enjoying the downtime and hanging out on the veranda in the sun.

Pip

Sounds like she's having a wonderful rest day/days on her round the world tour. :)

[Pip]

Well, that photo uploading command doesn't appear at all when I'm using Wordpress. Very strange. It could be something to do with the fact I'm using a Mac, or with the Adblocker software my husband installed for me before he went away on holiday. I now can't use Firefox to get into Blogger, so perhaps it's causing issues with Wordpress.

In any case, after finally managing to remember my Yahoo email address I managed to get into my Flickr account, so let's try uploading a photo here instead!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26539644@N00/4320234713/

[Pip]

Ok, that didn't seem to work either. I've uploaded the link to my Flickr account, but it's not showing in the message thread? I'm obviously not supposed to be anywhere near a computer today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26539644@N00/4320234713/

[Pip]

You can always try clicking directly on the Flickr link I suppose. Sigh.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26539644@N00/4320234713/

[Maxxxie]

That is some beautiful blue sky! :)

Max

[Catrin]

Oh my, that is a beautiful photo! Winter has to come to an end soon.... :p

[Crankin]

Please don't put this voyage on a blog that has to be joined/uploaded, etc. I think I am not the only person who won't be reading if it's not right here on this thread.

[OakLeaf]

I agree...

Once you've uploaded the photos to a sharing site, it's just another weetie step to embed them here.

Here's the latest one, hope you don't mind my copying it. It is a beautiful sky and I hope Maidei's enjoying it!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/4320234713_0c0eb85f12.jpg

You have to "copy image location," you can't use the link at the top of the original Flickr page.

I'm on a Mac using Firefox and Adblock Plus (although you have to greenlight certain pages and allow certain scripts, for some pages to work).

[Maxxxie]

Please don't put this voyage on a blog that has to be joined/uploaded, etc. I think I am not the only person who won't be reading if it's not right here on this thread.

+1. I visit enough web sites as it is!

Max

[Trekhawk]

That is some beautiful blue sky! :)

Max

I agree!
NZ is such a beautiful country.:)

[Trek420]

+1. I visit enough web sites as it is!

Max

+1, maybe when she's circled the globe and back someone can compile it all.

[Pip]

Right. Maidei and I finally got out today. I'm still recuperating so it was short and fairly flat. Plus it was hot! We took advantage of the conditions to go slowly and take lots of photos. The full Flickr stream is here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26539644@N00/sets/72157623237183017/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4333376979_8a7d0d727d_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4333348311_88f6a0e1a4_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4334091842_b9196b0298_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4334092106_6df48a3165_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4333349627_2e45b34ec8_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4334092994_b844fda7cc_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4333349825_7b4258a006_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4333350061_26b7e74c6f_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4333350421_6ef5ed2fd2_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4333350315_2b7c6253c6_b.jpg

Next, Maidei's off to Christchurch!

[Trekhawk]

Great pics!
I look forward to seeing more great snaps of NZ on Maidei's world tour.:)

[shootingstar]

Gosh, I'm jealous of Maidie's adventures!:):) Looks lovely out there.

[HillSlugger]

Are there really penguins in NZ?

[Pip]

Yese, there really are! Only a few kilometres from the centre of the city. I've never seen them, but I think they only really venture over the road at night. Iknow there was a big fuss last year when one got run over. I just love that sign - it makes me smile every time I see it!

[crazycanuck]

Cool photos Pip! Nice to hear you're feeling much better as well :)

There are penguins on the North Island-(saw some really cute fairy penguins on Titiri Maitangi) & South.

[Pip]

My husband and I were lucky enough to spend the weekend on Tiritiri a few years back. Walking along the ridgeline in the dark we nearly walked right over the top of one little guy. He was a long way inland and on top of a very big hill!

[kiwi girl]

Yesterday Maidei joined me at the "girls on bikes" race in Methven. I'll post a photo soon and send her on her way this week

[kiwi girl]

your photos are making me nostalgic for when I lived in Wellington and 'round the bays' was my regular weekend ride

[shootingstar]

Lookin' forward to more Maidie adventures, kiwigirl. Must be good weather there?
Seems like Maidie has travelled ...about at least 8,000 kms. (or more) after being schlepped from Perth, Australia at CC's place and onward.

Where is Maidie going after cruising about NZ?

[kiwi girl]

She's going up to Auckland next - then I imagine she will be on her way further afield.

[MillieNZ]

Kiwi girl - I'll pm you with a new address to send her too :) I'm in the middle of moving

So i'm leaving for Hawaii - Honolulu on 9th March, shall I take Madei with me or should I send her on to someone in southern California to start her USA trip in the meantime rather than wait ?

I'm not able to get on too often at the moment:(

[deeaimond]

What about a stopover in Asia first? Singapore? And we'll do a few kms in my little country before i send her on?

[MillieNZ]

If everyone else is happy with that I'll send her on to you in the meantime rather than wait a couple of weeks for me to get to Honolulu.

Can you PM your address ? :)

[deeaimond]

haha, after Singapore I'll post her to you again in Honolulu?!

[deeaimond]

maidei is in singapore!! unfortunately i have no time to ride before i go to medan on wednesday... if i have room in my suitcase i'll bring her!!

[shootingstar]

Looking forward to more trip photos of maidei in Singapore. :)

[deeaimond]

I brought Maidei to Medan, but there was no chance for pictures.

BUT, I brought Maidei out for a ride this evening!!! It was a relatively short one, considering I've ridden my bike the grand total of ONCE this year... I didn't wanna overdo it... but it was a good push factor to go out and ride! it was a beautiful evening and I took some pretty decent photos. Pretty awesome!

here's the link.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=406886&id=805535692&l=9f9e0a6a4c

[lph]

I loved the one of Maidei passed out next to the miniature bike :D

And you look so cute with her!

[rubywagon]

I loved the one of Maidei passed out next to the miniature bike :D

+1! Great pictures.

[shootingstar]

Singapore is exotic enough for us, deeiamond! Maidei is so lucky to see alot so far. Maybe some of us can add a mini bike decal on frame without covering up the existing stuff. Or maybe wee bike might get weighed down with too many decals later. :p

She's only visited..about 10 or so, TE members so far. Very cool. :)

Is she hanging out for awhile in Singapore?

[Trek420]

Maybe a tiny steamer trunk with stickers :p

[deeaimond]

Maybe a passport with stickers??? I was thinking of a passport...

I wanna take pictures of Maidei in the City proper, where we usually ride through, however, traffic in these places is pretty heavy, so not very conducive to stopping at a roadside for pictures. So that is why I'm taking her to a few more icons places today, but not on the cycle.

I'll take her to town with me today to take a few more fun pictures, and then post her on.. I need to know where to next. any other active members between me and ... Hawaii? Japan? amywhere?

[Trek420]

Maybe a passport with stickers??? I was thinking of a passport...

I think that's a wonderful idea! :D

[Eden]

If she wants to start making the rounds of the USA, PacNW I'll be headed to Walla Walla Washington (from Seattle) April 17th. I'll be in Baker City Oregon in June.

[shootingstar]

Other option is after Asia to go to California area or USA Southwest next. But if there is a TE member now in Hawaii who would like Maidie for a trip, please speak up now.

Here's the thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=35051
for the group that semi-organized themselves. We also have members in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona. The weather would not be as hot now compared to summer?

Summer in Northwest coast tends to be more rainfree.

This way by starting in southwest/California first, the whole Western part of USA and Canadian riders in these side of continent will benefit. from optimal weather.

Perhaps deeiamond can post a new inquiry thread or pm to members in those regions?

[Bike Chick]

Great pics! Singapore looks like a very pretty city. Maidei is such a lucky girl!

[Trek420]

If she wants to start making the rounds of the USA, PacNW I'll be headed to Walla Walla Washington (from Seattle) April 17th. I'll be in Baker City Oregon in June.

Has she been to New Zealand yet? We may have some other TE'ers in Asia?

[Eden]

Has she been to New Zealand yet? We may have some other TE'ers in Asia?

I believe she did make the rounds of New Zealand - courtesy Millie, Pip and Kiwi. I don't know if there are others in Asia though.

[Trek420]

Obviously I need a map :p :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

When I asked before, deeaimond was the only one who piped up from Asia (great pix, BTW! :D). So I guess we first need to resolve which continent she's going to next - North America, South America, or Europe? :confused: From a weather perspective it might be best to start with ChilePepper and work her way north, if CP is in ... and if the shipping infrastructure in Chile is back to a serviceable state for parcels with a lot of sentimental value but not much monetary/insurable value?

[staceysue]

I haven't been on since the end of December (just got my bike out again last week!). I'm so happy to see how far Maidei's traveled! Did I see a picture that had someone wearing a cycling shirt that had Maidei on it? Could be my eyes are just getting old . . . . but if I missed a cycling shirt opportunity I'm going to be disappointed!

[shootingstar]

Maidei will get her own mini TE cycling jersey. Susan Oceatas, will be donning on it her when Maidei gets to TE headquarters area in Oregon.

We're just waiting for deeiamond to get back to us all where Maidei's next destination will be.

[staceysue]

Maidei will get her own mini TE cycling jersey. Susan Oceatas, will be donning on it her when Maidei gets to TE headquarters area in Oregon.

We're just waiting for deeiamond to get back to us all where Maidei's next destination will be.

Oh - I thought I saw somebody wearing a jersey with Maidei on it. I need glasses!

I still haven't bought a real jersey - I just cycle in t-shirts. I wish there was a Maidei one I could buy!

[Biciclista]

Oh - I thought I saw somebody wearing a jersey with Maidei on it. I need glasses!

I still haven't bought a real jersey - I just cycle in t-shirts. I wish there was a Maidei one I could buy!

surely SOMEONE in TE land could make her a jersey!

[deeaimond]

Hey Ladies, No news from the south american side, so I guess Maidei should go on her way to the United states... my western geography is not so good, so where should I send her first? Somewhere where its already warm and weather is fine?
Please let me know where to post her! :)

[Biciclista]

Dee, you could send her to Seattle, pm me. We have been riding all winter.

(or California where it's sunny all year round)

[Catrin]

Is the Midwest on her travel itinerary?

[Biciclista]

yes, i'm sure she will get to you guys eventually. I am imagining, she comes to me, and we lend her around Seattle, then she goes south to California and then east... the midwest would be in there after that.

[deeaimond]

Hi Ldies, just after I sent out that message, Chile Pepper pmed me to tell me she'd be happy to host Maidei. So I guess i'll be sending Maidei to Chile first? then Chile Pepper will send her up later on?

I believe as much of the world as possible is on her itinerary :)

Oh I made her a little passport already!

[shootingstar]

How interesting...Maidei might get of tour of vineyards in Chile Pepper's area. :)

Love to see some pics of Chile! As for her passport, I do have 1-2 bike oriented stickers for Maidei's passport. We do have a small Vancouver bike pin, but poor thing might get too weighted down on her wee bike.... :rolleyes:

[Biciclista]

i'm glad you made her a passport. then we can write on it everywhere she's been (and with whom!)

[administrator]

surely SOMEONE in TE land could make her a jersey!

I have a little tiny version of the She Loves Hills jersey that I can send for Maidei to try on -- who should I send it to?

[Biciclista]

wow!! who is getting her next??

[Eden]

If things get on the ball she'll go to ChilePepper next - who will be going to San Francisco to do the Escape from Alcatraz tri not to long from now if I am remembering properly. Chile to California doesn't sound like a bad route for Maidei to take (I don't recall any other posters from South America).

[deeaimond]

Ok, got the mini passport, and ready to send Maidei out to Chile Pepper..

I just wanted to ask, if i should start the passport on Singapore, or will the ladies in Australia and New Zealand just let me know what I should writie in the preceding pages?

[OakLeaf]

(I don't recall any other posters from South America).

There's tribogota and I could've sworn we have someone else in Colombia, but neither one of them has piped up on this thread.

[Eden]

There's tribogota and I could've sworn we have someone else in Colombia, but neither one of them has piped up on this thread.

Aha - I was mixed up. It's Tribogota who's coming to San Francisco for escape from Alcatraz.

[OakLeaf]

Aha - I was mixed up. It's Tribogota who's coming to San Francisco for escape from Alcatraz.

Unfortunately not (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=37139) (not for the race, anyway). :( But maybe hosting Maidei might cheer her up...

[Eden]

Unfortunately not (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=37139) (not for the race, anyway). :( But maybe hosting Maidei might cheer her up...

I saw - poor bogata!

[crazycanuck]

Dee-I can give some info on what she saw in Western Australia. You'll have to PM the other ladies about Qld & NZ

[deeaimond]

yup, PM me anything u want me to write in there, and maybe the other ladies can PM me too. I'll send her out this weekend. I saw the date of reciept and i realised how long i've held her ! sorry ladies... I'll try to find a little sticker to place in her passport. :)

Poor Bogota... I should ask her if she still wants to host Maidei, or if she'd rather wait till after Maidei has done her rounds of the US?

[Flybye]

I don't know if it would work or not but I live in Idaho and am doing a ride with Shiraz and Lifeisgreat in Utah. It is women only ride on Saturday, June 5th. We'd love to take her along.
http://www.bccutah.org/lrrh2010/

[Bike Chick]

Is the Midwest on her travel itinerary?

I certainly hope so! There are enough of us in the area. I know she would want to see the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers!

[shootingstar]

I don't know if it would work or not but I live in Idaho and am doing a ride with Shiraz and Lifeisgreat in Utah. It is women only ride on Saturday, June 5th. We'd love to take her along.
http://www.bccutah.org/lrrh2010/

Then if no one from Florida/Texas/Oklahoma area wants to take Maidei for bike ride after she visits Chile in South America, perhaps at least Maidei be sent to a Utah TE cyclist to meet 3 TE members in 1 sweep.

At least after Utah, Maidei could eventually go to California or U.S. Midwest.

We have to remind ourselves that Maidei doesn't need to a huge bike ride per TE member.

[Red Rock]

I realize your trying to make the next connection...

What about those in California, Oregon and Washington. Then there are more people in SLC, me in S. Utah, Colorado? I thought we were going to try and hit each area of the US?

Am I not understanding something here?

Red ROck

[annielynn]

I would love to take Maidei for a ride in Florida! Even if it is just a short trip. :) Let me know what you need from me to make this happen. :)

[OakLeaf]

I realize your trying to make the next connection...

What about those in California, Oregon and Washington. Then there are more people in SLC, me in S. Utah, Colorado? I thought we were going to try and hit each area of the US?

Am I not understanding something here?

Red ROck

I agree. We should plan a general route, and if events occur along the route, great, if not, too bad. If we try to get her to particular places at particular times, then we wind up having to do a lot of shipping and mailing and skipping areas and missing connections. Continent-to-continent is one thing, but this is supposed to be a BICYCLE tour when possible, and hopefully keeping the connections as short as possible when cycling isn't possible, and trying to do the hand-offs in person, right?

Can I make a general suggestion about covering the Americas.... subject to criticism now, and revision as time and seasons pass?

From South America north through California to the PNW and western Canada.

From there, east to the Rocky Mountains.

South along the Rocky Mountains to AZ

East to Texas

North through the Great Plains

East along the Great Lakes (including the Canadian side)

South through Appalachia

East through the Deep South and counterclockwise along the Florida coast (just for directionality... inland Florida could catch her in either direction, most likely)

North along the East Coast of the USA and possibly to anyone in eastern Canada we missed on the Great Lakes tour

Fly to the UK, then connect with Europe.

Comments, criticisms, sane or insane remarks?

[shootingstar]

Hey, I totally agree Maidei should hit the road in every state and province if she's wanted there.

And as a kind consideration for planning, that it would be logical to choose next spot..it terms of:

a) willingness of TE member to get next point to pick up Maidie at logical date.
b) or next closest TE location for reasonable shipping costs. ie. illogical for Chile pepper to ship to NYC instead of Florida.

[deeaimond]

actually, shipping to NYC would cost the same as shipping to florida...

[Flybye]

If I get her June 5 she gets an Idaho tour and a Utah tour :) and I can pass her to another 2-3 TErs from there.

[MommyBird]

You know those maps of the USA that you see on RVs where they color the states they have visited...I have seen virtual ones on some travel sites...maybe Maidei needs one to keep track of her travels?
There must be a world version to be found online.

[Eden]

I don't have time to look for it right now, but I seem to remember somewhere on this board there is a map that you can stick virtual pushpins in. It shows where all the TE members (who've done it) are from. I'll bet one could be set up for Maidei too.

[Biciclista]

good idea, Eden!

[Bike Chick]

I agree. We should plan a general route, and if events occur along the route, great, if not, too bad. If we try to get her to particular places at particular times, then we wind up having to do a lot of shipping and mailing and skipping areas and missing connections. Continent-to-continent is one thing, but this is supposed to be a BICYCLE tour when possible, and hopefully keeping the connections as short as possible when cycling isn't possible, and trying to do the hand-offs in person, right?

Can I make a general suggestion about covering the Americas.... subject to criticism now, and revision as time and seasons pass?

From South America north through California to the PNW and western Canada.

From there, east to the Rocky Mountains.

South along the Rocky Mountains to AZ

East to Texas

North through the Great Plains

East along the Great Lakes (including the Canadian side)

South through Appalachia

East through the Deep South and counterclockwise along the Florida coast (just for directionality... inland Florida could catch her in either direction, most likely)

North along the East Coast of the USA and possibly to anyone in eastern Canada we missed on the Great Lakes tour

Fly to the UK, then connect with Europe.

Comments, criticisms, sane or insane remarks?

Oak, I agree we should try to keep the hands off in person if we can and the route you suggested makes perfect sense but I would really like for her to come through St Louis on her way to Indianapolis. I know there are lots of TE's on here from both places with me and a few others in the middle. I don't think that route would catch us.

[OakLeaf]

Oh I was only being general of course! I didn't mean to exclude the ... [okay maybe if I knew the name for the part of the country you live in, maybe I would've been better about specifically including you ... sorry :o]. I guess I was envisioning you on the eastern edge of the plains and zig-zagging up to Minnesota, but yeah, you could just as easily touch base from the Indy/Illinois side.

[Red Rock]

Oak- I like your progression here. Looks good. Maidei has a lot of traveling still to do!

Red Rock

[Crankin]

Well, it might be *next* spring before she gets to the east coast of the US. It looks like a long trip.

[Fledgling]

Oh, too neat!

I just found out about Maidei and have been reading the thread.

I don't know if she'll be anywhere near Kansas City, Missouri...but if she wanted a tour of City Market...

[Bike Chick]

Fledgling, I hope she gets to come through Missouri, Illinois and on to Indiana. I really think she would enjoy seeing the Arch and the Mississippi River, don't you?

[Fledgling]

Most certainly. The Arch isn't something to miss. And whose life is really complete without taking a picture with the Nelson Atkins shuttlecocks? :p

[Catrin]

Fledgling, I hope she gets to come through Missouri, Illinois and on to Indiana. I really think she would enjoy seeing the Arch and the Mississippi River, don't you?

I think she would love to see the International Motor Speedway, I only live a mile from it :D Let's see, there is also Eagle Creek Park - and while I don't ride singletrack, Brown County State Park in the southern part of the state has some great singletrack that I bet someone could take her on! I could take her hiking on it, but I bet she would prefer to ride. There are other great places as well.

[MomOnBike]

I know of some pretty neat places in Eastern Nebraska that she'd like to go, too.

For the Record, DH & I are planning a trip down the Katy Trail this fall. If Maidei is in the vicinity, she's more than welcome to come along. We could do an exchange with, um, whomever, near the Arch - or something like that.

[katherine]

Is she coming to AZ (or vicinity) soon? My partner and I are going to bike along the north rim of the Grand Canyon for 4th of July (big US holiday) and I bet she'd love to see it!:D

[kiwi girl]

Very belatedly, here are photos of Maidei at the "Girls on Bikes" ride in Methven, Canterbury, New Zealand in February. It was the inaugural ride and with 750 finishers the biggest women only ride in New Zealand. A beautiful day and great bunches to ride with

11093

11094

[shootingstar]

Thanks for these photos, kiwigirl. That sounds like a huge ride for only women! How was it promoted to get a huge participation rate?

[kiwi girl]

apologies - I started writing this and I got a bit carried away, Shooting Star's question has really got my passion for the great state of women's cycling both as a elite and mass participation sport in New Zealand at the moment going...

I can't remember if I learnt about the event from seeing a poster in a bike shop window (and every bike shop I walked past for the 3 or 4 months before the race had one) or if I was on a mailing list because I did a (mixed) event by the same organisers last year. The ride had both a 35 and a 76 km option which opened it up to a range of riders.

Methven where the ride was is a small ski town, but Christchurch with a population of 335,000 is only 90 minutes drive away. One key thing is that there have been a couple of very very successful entry level womens only triathlon series (generally 200 m pool swim, 10 - 15 km bike 3 - 5km run) over the past 5 - 10 years that have been really positive in getting women to get into sports. Lots of people have gone on to these to be more involved in running, cycling or triathlon at a more competitive level. Most of the women I talked to at Girls on Bikes had started at one of these events

There are now lots of women who met through these events, various internet forums, training groups and (for triathletse) people who meet at the pool that word of mouth can be pretty good as well

Cycling is really on a high in New Zealand at the moment. There is a core group of men doing well in the pro circuit (two guys in the tour de France and Jesse Sergent won a stage in the tour de Gila a couple of days ago). The womens road programme doesn't get a lot of publicity but there is crossover from the track programme, particularly the coverage that the elite pursuters have got. Even though Sarah Ulmer has retired she is probably still one of the most respected athletes in any sport and of either gender in the country. She has put on a series of womens only rides around the country for a few years as well. Alison Shanks has carried on that success and that publicity for cycling (helped by the fact that a) she is really good, and b) her background in netball which is the highest profile womens sport in New Zealand.

[owlice]

You might want to use this site to track Maidei's travels: http://www.whereivebeen.com/

:)

[Chile Pepper]

Sorry it's taken me so long to post this. Maidei arrived in Chile about two weeks ago. As it happens, I fractured my shoulder when I laid my bike down on Easter Sunday, so we haven't been able to go out for a spin in the Andes. However, she was quite amenable to helping out with the vintage, seeing as that's what we do here this time of year. Here she is inspecting grapes in the vineyard:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/Chile_848/Maideiinthevineyard.jpg

And now filling barrels:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/Chile_848/Maideiwithbarrels.jpg

And finally, with the finished product (our 2007):

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/Chile_848/Maideiwithbottle.jpg

Saludos from Chile!

P.S. where is she going next?

[shootingstar]

I love Maidei poking around the vineyard grapes and riding the barrels. You ought to feature her on your blog, Chile. It'll add an interesting twist to your blog but still wine related. :)

Who's getting Maidei next? Sooner, the better.

[Bike Chick]

Another thread was started with a couple of responses. I'm in the middle of the US but am traveling to South Carolina in June and could bring/pick Maidei up on the trip.

[tulip]

If the SE US is next on the itinerary, there are quite a few of us in this part of the world. I'm in Virginia, and I can help out.

[skinimini]

I'm in Atlanta, and I'd love to be a part of the Maidei tour!

[Trek-chick]

...she's welcome to come to Michigan----I'd love to have her :)

[Catrin]

I would love to have her in Indianapolis - and there are others in Central Indiana that might like to see her...hmmmmm, we could get together :D

[OakLeaf]

We have a decent-sized Ohio contingent too.

We need to just make a decision as to who gets her next.

It still seems to me that if she's going to North America next, it makes most sense to start either in one of the southern corners of the USA or in coastal Canada, and zigzag her way across ... but I guess she could start in the middle of the Plains and spiral out from there, instead!

[bmccasland]

New Orleans is a port city. Seems maybe she should come through a port, "accompanying the wine shipment" as it were. :p

Or she could be the jet setting international traveler, and fly anywhere into the US. :cool::D

[Bike Chick]

We need to decide one way or the other and I don't think it matters where we start. I think the New Orleans idea sounds good and she could travel up the Mississippi to Michigan and zig zag her way west or east. We just need to get her here somewhere.

[bmccasland]

I can meet her at the dock by the French Quarter, refresher her with cafe au lait and beignets, then we can go for a ride. As a young lady, maybe I ought to keep her off Bourbon Street after dark, it just isn't proper :p

[Bike Chick]

Oh Beth, that would be lovely. I think she would really like that. I think she also needs to taste some gumbo, crawfish and etoufee while she's there. I also agree that it wouldn't be proper for her to be on the streets after dark but certainly don't see anything wrong with stopping by Pat O'Brien's on the way home for a Hurricane!

Heck, you are making me hungry for some wonderful New Orleans cuisine! I think I might join you;)

[alexis_the_tiny]

Just copped on to this thread. Looks awesome! I was about to offer to take Maidei in Singapore because I'm planning to tour part of the way home to Singapore from the Angkor Wat Half marathon in December but I see Deeaimond has already hosted Maidei here. Rock on Maidei!! =D

[annielynn]

I am sure that she would love to visit Central Florida. :)

[Bike Chick]

Where has she ended up? Does anyone know?

[Bike Chick]

I am sure that she would love to visit Central Florida. :)

I would love to visit Central Florida:D:D:D

[Chile Pepper]

Maidei is en route to Atlanta. Skinimini will be hosting her there to launch her US tour. Have fun!

[Bike Chick]

How exciting! Can't wait to take her to the Mississippi River:D

[skinimini]

To all of you Southern TE'ers, let me know if you are interested in hosting Maidei and we can work together to figure out where she goes when she leaves the great state of Georgia.

For those in the Atlanta and North Georgia environs, if she arrives before the 19th, I plan for Maidei ride along on the Jackson County Brevet. On the 20th, I'm tentatively planning a ride around town to show her our fabulous city. One of my guy friends does this really cool ride called "Tour de Town". You hit all of the hotspots in "Hotlanta" before ending up in Stone Mtn--I believe it's a 50ish mile ride. Then she'll head on to be in the company of others.

I'm so excited Maidei will be here shortly! :D

[bmccasland]

How exciting! Can't wait to take her to the Mississippi River:D

I'm at the bottom of the Mississippi, or pretty dang close to the bottom.


To all of you Southern TE'ers, let me know if you are interested in hosting Maidei and we can work together to figure out where she goes when she leaves the great state of Georgia.

I'm so excited Maidei will be here shortly! :D

This'll be fun. Add New Orleans to the list.
Of course the scheduling fun is that I'm waiting to hear if I got the job in Seattle. I might know something the end of next week.

[Crankin]

Let's not forget the New England contingent. I know we had a discussion about a possible route much earlier in the year. She could go up the coast, visit the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and then go on to either Canada, or the midwest.

[Trek-chick]

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

[OakLeaf]

She'll get to the whole USA and a lot of southern Canada eventually before heading off to Europe, although at this rate it could be several years.

I still think we should be planning this along the lines of bicycling handoffs, not along the lines of who wants her most and can wait by their mailbox for air freight.

Possible directions from Atlanta are Tennessee, South Carolina, or north Florida. What direction is she going to head first?

[skinimini]

I agree in principle with you Oakleaf--I just don't know how the logistics will exactly work. I know in the south, we only have clusters of people and not much in between. I can imagine that would be the case in the mid-west as well. I think NE and Pac NW will have less difficulty hand-to-hand. I'd love to do a handoff, and I could potentially make it work in several different directions. I could do North FL (panhandle area), parts of AL, SC, parts of TN.

Just a thought, but perhaps, from Atlanta, Maidei could head down to FL and then from there up to the Carolinas and Virginia and then continue to the NE. NE TE'ers could decide where to go from there?

This is so difficult, because all of us want to be a part of Maidei's adventure and I hope that we can show her the US in as quick a time as possible. I know I intend to have her just a short period of time before I hand off to friends.

[bmccasland]

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