This will probably be my last post.  We arrived Savannah in style sporting our matching bike jerseys, obeying traffic signals and riding with our heads held high, we have completed quite a journey these past weeks.  Friendships and bonds were formed along the route.  No one complained, whined or expressed any dissatisfaction during the journey.  We all learned things about ourselves and beared our true selves to each other.  We needed each other to finish this accomplishment.  I am proud of each one of my new life friends.

Thank you to everyone for the emails of support, the phone messages and the prayers of safety.  Thank you for donating to The Rocky Mountain Stroke Association.  This journey was enduring for me, however, a stroke survivor rides the same ride daily.  A stroke survivor also hold their head high, completes each day with determination and extends love and support to their fellow survivors.  They are a team of their own.  I ride for my self, but my motivation is stoke survivors. 

We had a great time in Savannah.  I walked, and walked and walked around the city.  Finally when my legs gave out, I hired a pedal cab to whoosh me around for a quick tour.  I met a gentleman who caught a spotted fin fish, witnessed a freighter going from port  to sea and saw the 300 year old tree. 

And, yes...what tour would not be complete without a final visit to the CVS Pharmacy.  Ahhh, the "candyland" of a bike tour.  I would also like to take a moment to thank a few of my tour sponsors. 

To my bottle of Dawn dish-soap and my bottle of laundry soap:  I enjoyed every load.  Who knew laundry could be so entertaining.  What can I say about Dawn...the possibilities are endless for its many uses.  Bike cleaning, grease on leg removal, water bottle washing, it's all a tour's participants indulgence.  Oh, and don't get me started on my 4 plastic hangers complete with their own clothes pins and rotating hooks.  They are so versatile.  These hangers allow you to hook your laundry on lamps, bike and hotel drawer to make your own drying racks.  To my Ziploc bag that has survived 20 something days as a map holder, outstanding performance and is still working.  Thank you also to my VIA coffee that got me up every morning and rolling.  Even though the water tasted funny at times, just a little VIA and I was off to start my day.  I can finally stop stockpiling those "condiment packs."  It is amazing what one collects, I have just thrown away 9 small bottles of shampoo from every manufacturer on the continent, however, I think I did have one from France.  The bottle had a French name or perhaps it was fancy writing.  I now possess my own deck of plastic hotel cards.  What can I say about the generic brand bottle of the "pink stuff" which got me through 3 days of the stomach flu.  And, the Camelback Elixir was a definite must for those long hot days.  The book I carried still does not have one page turned and the free Bicycling magazine from a bikeshop pre DC days still has life and will make great airplane reading material.  To my Koka Moka bar that has traveled from Colorado, to Maine and every state inbetween until now, I think I will not eat it quite yet.  (Note to self: check expiration date on bar.)

Gone are the days of Shoney's, Comfort Inn breakfast buffets and hotel room coffee makers.  Living out of a partially packed suitcase, next day's bike riding attire and early morning wake up calls will become a distant memory. 

Today we ride 79 miles to  Brunswick, GA.  The countryside is no longer, we will be entering cities and highways to complete our journey to Jacksonville FL tomorrow.  It's been fun, memorable and a ride I will never forget.  I am strong, encouraged and yet sad to see it come to an end.  Enjoy the photos.  Thank you everyone for your support.  I love you all.  HUGS.  MK

Day 21-65 miles (felt like 102).  Today was a nice ride to Walterboro.  This is our last day of soy fields, some unidentified crop yet to be determined and word has traveled fast ahead of us amongst  the dogs that we are packing a vet who does nuetering without the aid of anesthesia.  All Leslie has to do is day the word "Hey", and they cower because they have heard of her whereabouts out here in the country.  Today's photo dog, Hannah, posed obediently for her shot. 

Princess Echelon and Lady Peloton whined all day about their bothersome buttocks.  Ohh my!  Our route usually is on good roads, however, a 2-3 mile run on chip seal is agonizing, especially at this point of time.  (You can all figure out the translation of the last sentence.)  I did inquire with Princess Peloton if we could possibly ride English style tomorrow.  She said she would check and get back with me, as she was not sure if English Style riding was proper practice on Sundays.  

This morning at the breakfast buffet, we started to chorograph our "Hammer Time" routine.  We move so freely in the mornings.  As soon as we mount up, things begin to stiffen up and it;s very difficult to manage the same fluid movments on the bicycle.  Perhaps we will reconsider this endeavor and move on to a singing production, without dance moves.  

Tonight's dining option will be at our favorite stop...Shoney's of our Ownies".  We luv them.  I can hardly wait.  There is a Ruby Tuesday's next door.  There is a rumble amongst the crowd of a revolt!  We are not going to take it anymore!!! We want Ruby's, we want Ruby's.  After watching a program about the filthy hotel rooms, I can;t even think about the prospects of what might be living at the buffet line.  Can you imagine the swab test results?  If we do loose the revolution, I am thinking my safest selection would be...?  Ah....? I'll get back to you on that one.  Mashed potatoes! Yeah, that will be my selection.  Good thing I still am packing the pink stuff.  

Tomorrow we ride like gypsies to rest day in Savannah, Georgia.  Tonight you too can experience a tour day, just attend dinner at your neighborhood Shoney's and live it up!    

Tomorrow's route will be: Hendersonville, Jonesville, Yamesee, Rt. 17 South, to Town of Switzerland (No services), Hardeeville, Savannah Wildlife Refuge; Georgia State Line; Rt 170; RR tracks; and we are there! (72 miles ouch!)

Day 20-96 miles; 98 degrees; road temp 108.  Today Leslie and I of Team Estrogen, placed first place in the long ride.  About 5 miles in, we decided we wanted to show our stuff.  We can shop, we can take photos, however, girls can hammer and we nailed it down.  Our bike time was 6hrs 22 mins; average speed 15.1.  We rocked!!!  A toast to the DC Darlings.  We did it for you gals also. When we decided to go fast, we committed ourselves to the effort and only stopped to fill our water bottles and stuff bananas and food in our pockets.  Our plan worked, we rode in strong and we did it together.  Thank's Leslie for the help and encouragement. 

I did not have much time for photos.  There are a few.  Tomorrow is a short 65 mile ride to Walterboro.  The highlight of the day will be??? Well, we will see.  I don't think it is very scenic or historic.  Our route will be a lot of county roads, our first town will be St. George, Hwy 15.  More country roads to WSalterboro. And, best of all...wait for it...dinner at Shoney's. I can't wait until we get to Savannah.  Good night, I am tired. Time to rest.  MK

Day 19 (96 miles) We left Hurricane Earl behind us at Myrtle Beach.  They only expect beach erosion.  North Carolina will suffer the impact of the storm.  We had a great time in MB.  My friend Judy who I rode with in 2008 x-country, drove down from Oak Harbor, NC to pick me up and take me to dinner.  We had a fantastic Italian dinner, at a non-smoking restaurant.  Smoking is big down here.  It was great to visit with her.  She looks great.  Today we had to ride 96 miles.  The weather was fine, a little wind, but nothing bad.  Leslie, her husband Mike and I rode together.  We were on a roll, until we were de-railed at the French Bakery.  The century ride turned into a very relaxing and enjoyable day for all three of us.  Mike is now an official member of Team Estrogen.  After our second sag stop, we became giddy.  Leslie is now known as Princess Echelon and I am Lady Peloton.  Mike is Duke of Spandex or Lord of Spandex.  Let's just say, we had ourselves in stitches  the rest of the afternoon speaking in our British accents, talking proper English.  It was hilarious.  So the nonsense continued until we arrived at our destination.  It sure made the ride fun.  Once we arrived Georgetown, I went exploring.  Along the harbor walk, the mullet fish were jumping.   I met Lucy the smiling dog at the harbor marina.  (I love the photo.) I enjoyed a cup of shrimp chowder at the Rice Paddy and did some quick shopping.  A few of us, well a majority of us, rebelled against attending another buffet and headed across the street to dinner.  I had blackened and grilled shrimp.  It was excellent.  So, it was a great day, I had fun and Leslie and I are busy making plans for the next few days.  More to follow.  Stay tuned.  Tomorrow we ride another 94 miles.  Georgetown to Santee SC.  Our towns are:  Andrews, Greeleyville, Summerton, Historic AME Church, end at Santee.  Gnite. Hugs MK

Day 17 ride to Myrtle Beach was a short 55 miles.  Unfortunately, I rode in the van today.  I am having a stomach flu and not able to ride.  Ugh.  So, I am living on the "pink stuff."  Riding in the van is not fun.  Glad it was a short day.  I toured the small grocery store at the sag stop and found some interesting items.  Pickled pig lips?  Pickled Smoked Sausage?  Oh, my tummy is really rolling now.  Think beach, think sand, think flip-flops.   

 When we arrived at the beach we were all happy to have some R & R.  I took a dip in the ocean and walked the beach.  I met a nice gentlemen at the pool and he offered us a ride to the grocery store.  Yippee!  I grabbed Leslie and Mike and we took him up on his offer.  We stared at soup, rice, cereal, yogurt, chips and salsa.  So many decisions, so little time.  Can we just hang out for a while and remember the days of real food?  Fried foods and buffets are a terrible diet.  After our limited store purchase (we realized we could not take it all), we came back and had snacks on our balcony and watched the waves.  I went to bed early and got up early and enjoyed a great morning walk along the beach.  It was very interesting to talk with the fisherman, fishing from the beach.  Some of the photos you can see the pelicans skimming the waves looking for fish.  After my walk, Leslie and I had breakfast on the balcony.  I took another ocean, pool, hot-tub, pool dip then we got together to ride to Main Street.  We rode to the drawbridge, actually it was a spinning bridge on the Inter-coastal Waterway.  We walked to the middle of the bridge, the alarms sounded and we were all excited to ride the bridge.  However, the alarms mean, get off the bridge.  Thank you Mr. Bridge Spinner.  We really wanted to ride, but we were not allowed.  Darn.  Afterwards, we went to Main Street and had lunch.  This entire town is into Blues music and Shag dancing.  We tried to ask our waiter for a lesson, but he was not amused.  I guess it's a kind of jitterbug.  Leslie and I will have to work on our dance steps.  After lunch, we hit a few shops.  Just beach stuff.  Tonight my friend Judy is driving down from NC to visit me.  So, I need to get ready to meet her.  Tomorrow's towns and route are:  Out of motel, turn left: Hwy 348, 366; 66; 472 Sag stop; Hwy 19; 667; 65; Town of Conway; Hwy 701; Georgetown City Limits.  96 miles.  Good Day and until tomorrow...Keep on Shagging.  PS Earl is only creating waves here at Myrtle Beach.  Right now it's white caps out there.  NC is bracing for impact.  MK