Southern Tier Question

[Susan Otcenas]

. Also when he gets closer to leaving I can ask DH about giving our number in case of a mechanical or a crazy hill country thunderstorm. My husband is weird about that though so I have to get his okay. Since you are on the board he will probably might okay, unless your husband is a creepy ax murderer then no.

Amanda,

I've known Dave and Edna for years. I can personally vouch for both of them. You couldn't find two more caring, generous, fun-loving people. Dave and I met on Cycle Oregon in 1999. We seriously bonded on a brutally long day, on a brutally long hill, after which he proceeded to save my life by giving me his jacket so that I wouldn't freeze on the descent. We still talk about that day! (Somewhere I have a photo of the two of us at the summit, triumphantly holding our bikes over our heads.)

Edna & I can't remember when we met exactly, but it couldn't have been long afterward. And, I've had the pleasure of her company for 8 hours a day, Monday-Friday, for the past two years. She does all the accounting here at TE HQ, and the place wouldn't survive without her.

I'm so very fortunate to have them for friends. If Dave was a creepy ax murderer, I'm pretty sure I would have figured it out by now...

Susan

[Aggie_Ama]

Alright Edna, I trust Susan if he is collecting "Oh my god I need help numbers" PM me we are in the Austin Metro. We are having really nice weather this winter, wonder what the spring will hold?

One thing I thought of, he is hitting Texas Hill Country when the grasses really start to bloom. If he is an allergy sufferer and has not thought of it Ragweed, Mold and pollen will be pretty high come March-May. Just something to keep on his radar if he is unfortunate like me and an allergy sufferer. I am sure he has put plenty of planning into emergency medicine or what not but then again I know absolutely nothing about touring. What all are they hiding in those panniers and trailers?

[AnnieBikes]

Edna, That sure was nice of you to offer help if I need it in Portland. I have not settled on any of my plans yet! Thanks for your offer.

[evangundy]

Well, he flew to San Diego Tues the 24th and yesterday was his first day of riding, just in case you wanted to follow along on his log www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Slug - now I have to get back in the habit of doing all the laundry myself, the dishes, the garbage, feeding the pellet stove, etc. It's been a long time sharing duties but I guess 3 months doing them solo won't be too bad. I think he's going to have a great trip, but I'll miss him.

Edna

[Aggie_Ama]

Edna- I am kind of excited to "know" on of those touring cyclists we see out here in the spring. I will pop in on the blog. Enjoy your alone time, it will probably go faster than you think!

ETA- Hopefully he will acclimate to the heat as the tour goes on. The southwest is in a heat wave.

[Aint Doody]

I know Edna and Dave, too. I met Dave on the WA Bike Ride a few years ago and then Edna when we all did a Wine Country Ride in SE Washington. They're great people. Wish I was on the ride.

[evangundy]

If you want to see what towns he will go thru here is a link to the Adventure Cycling site, http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm shows the route divided into 7 maps, and if you click on "detail" shows the towns/cities he will go thru. Click on "addenda" for added notes or changes to the maps.

I think he spent last night somewhere between Brawley and Palo Verde, there is about 80 miles of limited services so my guess is he didin't have cell ph or computer coverage, and most likely dry camped somewhere along the way. If I remember right, he was going to take a rest day at Palo Verde.

Edna

[Tri Girl]

I've been following his journaling on CGOAB. Sounds like he's having a great time! Are you lonely yet- and is he? I know I'll miss my DH when I go on a week long bike ride- a few months would be very tough.
I'm glad he's enjoying his journey so far.

[evangundy]

Yah, I miss him. But I have talked to him almost everyday. There was only one day so far with no cell phone coverage, but he called just before 8am the following morning. Some talks have been only a few minutes and others have been 1/2 hour or more. In just over 30 years, the longest we've been apart before was a week at a time (some times travel for work, sometimes separate vacations) so this past week has not been unusual. The next 2 or 3 weeks will seem longer. I haven't thought much about past that.

Yes, he is having a good time. He keeps telling me "have I thanked you yet for letting me do this?". It never occurred to me to "not" let him do this. I have enough projects planned over the next few months, and training for a sprint-tri in May, and training for Tour BC in July, that I won't have much time to think about being lonely. I've got a great group of friends watching out for me (and family too).

Edna

[Tri Girl]

He keeps telling me "have I thanked you yet for letting me do this?".

That's sweet.
It's a once in lifetime adventure- one I hope to get to do someday. I'm glad he's getting the chance to do it, even if it means you couldn't come along with him. 30 years, huh? That's a long time, and quite impressive.

[Aint Doody]

Edna, I'm enjoying Dave's blog, too. It sounds like he's having a terrific adventure. I also enjoy seeing his pictures. I hope he continues to update us daily. And---enjoy your alone time, too.

[Aggie_Ama]

I could make much better time if i didn't stop to read and photograph all the historical markers;

That is part of the fun of touring right? I make DH stop the car for historical markers, just wait until he gets to NM they have really BIG signs!

His blog is pretty funny at time. I keep snickering at the cacti reports because he is going to have a photo album full of them. I never paid much attenion to them until DH started selling plants for a living, now I realize we don't just have cactus in Texas we have lots of different types. Yucca and agave and cactus and more types of yucca and agave.

[AnnieBikes]

Edna, I am also enjoying his journal. I did the Southern Tier two years ago and my DH was awesome while I was gone. He was so supportive and very understanding. He loves to ride, too, and will do a long, self-supported ride starting in May so he has his turn on the road, too! Since we have family issues and one of us needs to be in town, we are taking turns, though I am way ahead, having ridden the Underground RR Route last year, and will ride a month in Oregon in August. We have hopes of riding the Northern Tier together in the not too distant future.

I will miss him when he does his ride but I know that he will have an awesome time and I will be taking care of the home front. After 35 years of marriage, we don't keep score and I am happy when he is riding, and he is happy when I am riding. We hate to see each other leave but that is life right now!!

Another family member is coming here for a week so that we can go to Bike Virginia together this summer...our 35th anniversary falls during the week. Won't that be fun!!!

...and yes, I do think that I am coming a few days early to Portland. I would absolutely LOVE to meet some of the TE people there. As it gets closer maybe we can communicate more....

[Aggie_Ama]

Edna- I just got a chance to look at his journal since he was in AZ. He just went through some of my favorite area of Texas. Weird as all get out in Ft. Davis but if my husband would move out there I would go. When I was out there I saw plenty of collared peckeries (javelina). The rangers at the park said they can be mean glad his encounter wasn't too bad.

Oh and the chip seal, hate to say there is plenty more to come. Don't let anyone tell him, okay?

[Aint Doody]

Looks like Dave is about to finish his ride. I've certainly enjoyed following his adventures on his blog.