Category Archives: Weather

Day 24: Houston, We Have A Problem

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Bob called me tonight to let me know he was packing it in. He didn’t quit — his bike did.

oops!

It had rained again today and when it had quit, Bob was moving his bike when he noticed something was wrong with his rear wheel. He looked close and found it was way out-of-round. One spoke was broken and the wheel needed to be trued. There was a hostel nearby just for bike campers called Perry’s.

Bob called and a woman answered, who turned out to be Perry. She asked where Bob was. He told her and she said she could pick him and the bike up in 15 minutes. He was surprised, but asked if she could pick him up in 30 minutes because he had just started to pack! She was there in 30 minutes.

Perry took him to a bike shop and the guy there said it would cost $250 to get his bike back in shape to ride. Bob knew then the ride was over; he had only paid $200 for the entire bike back in Florida. The guy at the bike shop said he would buy the frame for $150. Bob thought about it for a micro-second and said, “Sold!”

Bob told me he had put up with as much rain as he could and to get back almost what he paid for his bike, “It was a no brainer.”

He also said he was SO impressed with the people at Perry’s and the way they treated him. They are really great people and he appreciated all their hospitality and help.

Bob called his son in Houston and he will drive over tonight, stay the night with him and they’ll drive back to Houston today.

Bob has no regrets. He said he got in 800 miles and knows he could have finished the ride and will probably try it again. He will hang out in Houston with his son and just enjoy.

Bob is a class guy I would be proud to ride with anywhere, anytime.

Thanks, Bob!

I’m going to work this next week on filling-in some details of our ride together, complete with the photos and videos I brought back with me. I hope you’ll enjoy the visuals. Thanks for ‘riding along’ with us — and with Bob — and all of your encouragement and support. It meant a lot to both of us.

Until my next update,
Chuck

Day 23: Stop the Rain Dancing!

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St. Francisville, LA
R&R (for RAIN & Relaxation!)

Bob is still in St. Francisville, Louisiana, holing up in a motel.

Rosedown Plantation

He did do some sight-seeing today. He said he visited the Rosedown Plantation, and was very impressed with the way it was being restored. There are 170+ year-old oaks that were just beautiful.

LOTS of trees

It does seem the rains follow Bob around. It was raining again today and that kind of hampered his sight-seeing. He asked me to stop my rain dancing; he has had enough of the rains! 🙂 I told him that was the only dance I knew but would stop just for him.

Below you can see a video that shows what I mean about the rains we experienced. This was on Dauphin Island:

Bob did run into another bicyclist we had run into a few times before going in the same general direction we were going. His name is Randy. We kept crossing paths. He even camped with us at Pensacola NAS.

Randy and Bob are sharing a motel room in St. Francisville. Randy isn’t feeling well and told Bob he is going to a clinic in the morning and then wrap it up and take a Greyhound bus back home. At least Bob had some company for a while. Sometimes it does get a little lonely out there.

With 80% chance of rain for today maybe Bob will have to sit it out another day, but Bob never complains.

Day 18: Bob’s in Mississippi

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Grand Bay, Alabama to Perkinston, Mississippi
? miles

Got a call from Bob tonight. He is in Perkinston, MS.

He said this morning when he took off, he saw an eagle. I told him that was a good luck sign. Bob said somehow he got off the route and lost about 15 miles. It was a very unpopulated area, no small towns, or gas stations, no anything. He almost ran out of water. He carries 4 bottles. He does like the Thermos bottles I finally convinced him to get. On a hot day, cold water is so much better than drinking warm water, but these bottles do hold a little less than a regular bike water bottle.

He also ran into another cyclist that we met earlier in our ride who is going the same way. Randy and Bob spent some time riding together, then separated.

Bob got caught in another sudden storm. Just when he thought he couldn’t ride much further, he came across an RV park not on the map. He rolled in and it had hot showers, laundry, and a place under an awning where he put up his tent. He is dry and well fed.

Bob riding after a storm

He also said there was a gaggle of geese there. He started the day with eagles and ended with geese. Gotta be a good sign. He’s in good spirits and will be back on the road again tomorrow.

Day 15: Sweet Home Alabama

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Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL to Dauphin Island, AL
52 miles

Another Post by Chuck!

Today's route - including ferry ride

Last night just before we turned in for the night, fellow camper, Al Wise, came over and told us that a thunderstorm with high winds was supposed to hit the area about 01:00.
He said we could use his truck to get out of the weather if we wanted. He then went over to his  campsite and drove it and parked it next to our tents. We were really impressed that a guy we never meet before would do which a thing for strangers. We can’t thank him enough for the offer.

The weather didn’t hit but the threat was there. We got up early and it was nice to have a dry tent to pack-up and get on the road.

Alabama here we come.

The ride was the best we have had on our whole trip so far, we had a tailwind all the way to the Ferry. It was the kind of ride you dream of. All we had to do was lift our legs and let them drop and just guide our bike.

Oil Rig off FL / AL coast

Oil Rig off FL / AL coast as we wait for the Ferry to Dauphin Island

Just before we got to the Ferry, about 5 miles out, we got a sudden rain shower and no place to get out of the rain, so we got soaked. Not complaining; it still was the best ride yet and we were finally out of Florida, Yeah!

Nasty weather again

Bike Rain Gear

Trying to keep the bike bags dry

The Ferry Ride to Dauphin Island was great. Only $5! Now that’s a good deal.

Bob on Ferry

Bob watching the waves

Chuck on Ferry

Chuck watching the bikes

Bob and I are staying in this nice warm motel tonight:

Where we're staying but with rain, lightning, and flooded parking lot...

Nice pic, right? But THIS is what it looks like outside our door right now:

Ride long or short but ride safe,
Chuck
Sent from my iPod

Day 5: Still in White Springs

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Chuck says:

Still at White Springs. 08:25 and it is still raining; more of a drizzle but not worth getting on our bikes. As I write it is getting a little more heavy. Nice and dry inside.

Last night Tony, one of the SBA managers, cooked up some great pork chops and muddles for us. It was delicious. This a.m. I had my oatmeal, and Tony cooked up some eggs and bacon, so I am getting plenty to eat. Thanks, Tony!

Everything is packed and ready to go. When the rain stops we will be heading for Suwannee River State Park. Another short day if we get out at all, but not sorry. We knew we would have days like this.

Bob patch tire

Bob passing the time by patching inner tubes

Here is a video I took of the ‘TP Cyclist’ inside Suwannee Bicycle Association. They say he’s been here 20 years. Cheryl posted this and more videos on YouTube for me. Just click on the VIDEOS link here or at the top of the page to see more.


UPDATE by Cheryl:

Chuck called a few times throughout the day. The guys stayed put at the Suwannee Bicycle Assoc. waiting out the rain. By the time it cleared, they figured they wouldn’t get far before they would have to stop and camp, so they might as well stay the rest of the day and head out first thing tomorrow morning.

During the day a couple of riders came in. “Guess where they’re from?” Chuck said. “San Diego! They are on their way to St. Augustine. They have three days left and we have fifty-something.” This was exciting for the guys and they spent the rest of the day talking to Josh and Kevin, getting tips for the rest of their long journey ahead and checking out each other’s blogs.

Kevin & Josh

Kevin & Josh

Chuck felt better about everyone spending the night in White Springs last night when Josh told them that they had camped at Suwannee River State Park and that they were only about 25 feet away from a tree that got hit by lightning! Close call, but they weren’t hurt. You can read about it at The Southern Crossing 2012 Blog.

Josh also told the guys to avoid a particular alternate route in Arizona, as it was the worst road they took the entire trip. They wrote it down to remember so as not to make the same mistake when they get to Arizona.

The riders also told them that there were times they didn’t even have to pedal, enjoying some tailwinds they encountered. Chuck said, “I’m thinking about buying a ticket to California and starting there!” Especially since tomorrow’s weather forecast is for winds 15-20 mph from the Northwest. The guys face a stiff head wind tomorrow, and it won’t be the only time.

Though they really appreciate the amazing hospitality of SBA, everyone’s eager to get back on the road tomorrow and a few more miles closer to San Diego.

Day 4: Rain, Rain, Go Away

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Chuck here. 🙂

Day 3: Ichetucknee Springs to White Springs, FL
30 miles

I know a few people will be a little disappointed when they see we have only gone 30 or 40 miles in a day. We are on this journey to ride our bikes across the country and see and experience the ride of a lifetime. It’s not a race. We want to share our experiences; the good, bad and the ugly.

Today has been a good day. Yes, we only went 30 miles, but we are staying the day/night in a dry and clean place.

Bob knew of the Suwannee Bicycle Association in White Springs. He is a member and he made some phone calls and they are letting us spend as much time as we need to ride out the rain that is now pouring outside. Cheryl gave us a heads up about the bad weather or we might have been caught in the open country. Thank you MBB.

We arrived here in White Springs about an hour before the rains came down. 🙂

Rain? What Rain? Bob & Harry with some cyclists about an hour before it rained.

Florida Bicycle Safari riders caught in the downpour.

The Suwannee Bicycle Association puts on a lot of rides and this weekend there were about 400 riders here taking advantage of their SAG stop for the Florida Bicycle Safari that started today.

Fellow Withlacoochee Bicycle Group cyclists, Colin & Evelyn and Mari & Jerry, have been here for their Suwannee Sweetheart Cycling Weekend in February. It is a nice place to ride and meet great bicycle people.

We’re staying the night here at the club, sleeping on their nice, big couches. Thank you SBA for the fantastic hospitality. We really appreciate it.

Inside SBA

Inside SBA

Tomorrow we hope to reach Madison, or at least Live Oak. But with the weather forecast (more rain, winds 15-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph), we are going to have to play this one by what happens.

Today's Route