Today we rode 73 miles.  Mmmm, loving the hog farms, turkey farms and hog trucks as they whoosh by.  One of the things I like about touring on a bike is the smells.  However, tour de hog is not making my top 10.  Ohhh, baby!! We have heard stories of stuff coming off from trucks filled with hogs.  I can't even imagine.  I can only hope our flight captain lowers the deflector shields in time.    We have added a new crop to the tour.  Sweet potatoes. How fun is that?  They have green leaves too.  You know when your eyes are glazed over from repetition?  Well, that is what is happening.  The crops begin to blend, the wheels go round and round and the shadows dance before you.  It all becomes surreal...until one of the flight crew or passenger offers up a joke or comment that we all seem to be trying to create in our minds.  It takes a village out here, people.  I laughed a bit hysterically when Carl thought he would see ocean today.  HAH!!!  You know the vision of the inland waterway coastal tour...?  Not!  Team Estrogen is working on a Broadway production to be performed on our bikes the latter part of this week, as we have been told we get one day at the ocean, then it's a hard right turn, back inland in a Westerly direction, where it is safe. The interior of the inland.  It's the Disneyland of All You Can Eat Buffets, Comfort Inns and bike cleaning seminars.  So tomorrow we will rejoice at the ocean, shop our legs off and try not to think about heading West.  At least, not yet.  P.S. The photo of me honoring the sign at the shopping boutique and expressing huge excitement?  Well,it was very short lived.  It could have been a mirage...)  What is really sick, I find doing my laundry in my room and trying to MacGyver a drying system, is becoming an addiction.  It's the highlight of my day.  Now that is sad. (Oh, no.  I just discovered the iron and board.  Pressed bike shorts, anyone?) Just somebody get me to the beach. 

For Dad and Dallas, our route tomorrow is 55 miles Rte 130 & 701; Rte 94E; SC Hwy 17S; Hwy 90 South; arrival to North Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Today we rode 100 miles in the heat.  It was very hot.  It felt like a blast furnace when we stopped.  Leslie said her temp gauge on her bike said 102.  We were sizzling like eggs in a hot fry pan.  Not much happened today.  We observed the fields of cotton, soy beans, dried corn and yes, the peanuts are still in the ground.  That was today's action.  However, we did get a chance to try out Dr. Leslie's secret weapon to use towards attacking dogs.  Our sag driver warned us of dogs ahead.  As we approached, they came running and barking.  Dr. Leslie, who is a veterinarian, said to the dogs, in her "Mom voice", "I'm going to neuter you!"  Well, let me tell you, the dogs stopped in their tracks with this astonished look on their faces, whimpered and left.  Great job, Leslie!  It worked!  So, as long as we ride with her, we will be OK.  Course, I got her back covered with my squirt gun.  Also, after the first sag stop, I serve in-flight snacks.  I load up my bag on my bike with peanuts, pretzels and dried fruit.  During the flight-ride, I serve my passengers snacks.  I hand them a small handful while they pedal.  Carl wants umbrella drinks served at the sag.  Wow, these passengers are very picky.  If an in-flight rider quickly moves ahead during the flight, I have to ask them to return back to their position and fasten their seat-belt.  Sometimes the passengers want snacks as soon as we take off.   I have to remind them of the protocol of time.  It only happens after the 2nd sag stop, not before. 

For my brother Mark, we crossed a muddy river today.  John talked with some fishermen.  They said they caught a 30 lb catfish from the river, and someone else caught a 70 lb catfish.  How old is a 70 lb catfish? 

I need to give a shout-out to Rodney, Ace and Nicole at the Holiday Inn, here in Warsaw.  When they found out I was from Denver, Ace and Rodney only wanted to discuss the 2012 Underground Condos Conspiracy at DIA.  Whatt?? Well, guys.   I looked it up.  Hmmm, could happen.  Goodnight, I am ready to sleep tight.  I think we will miss hurricane Earl.  Looks like it will hit NC and we are almost through NC. 

For Dad and Dallas, I hear you guys are doing a great job keeping track of me.  Tomorrow we ride to Elizabethtown (that will be a lunch stop.) Then Whiteville, NC.  Our routes are 24 West; Hwy 41 West, 701 S+41West; North Carolina Rt. 87 North; Business 74+76, go 1/2 round the rotary then Route 130 S+701Bypass.  Got that? 73 miles, here I went.  HUGS.  MK

Well, after touring fields of cotton, soy beans and tobacco, Team Estrogen (Leslie and MK) were excited when at our RAP meeting (route review) last night, there was mention of a town to check out, Halifax, NC.  Keep in mind when both of us read on the sheet "check out local area", this translates to the both of us:  potential shopping, boutique shops and a photographer's pallette just waiting to be created.  Low mileage today, the sun was out, it was cool, we were happy singing on the road like songbirds while we pedaled through the fields without a care in the world.  We had a mission.  We arrived at the sign.  Town of Halifax.  Hooray!  It was only 11 am.  We had visions of lunching a the deli under the colored umbrellas, etc.  Unfortunately, this was not the case.  Our happy faces went straight.  Oh.  Oh?  What?  A visitors center??  There's hope yet.  Well, we sucked the women dry at the center for entertainment and information.  However, we did not come out empty handed.  We acquired the peanut bush explanation sheet and the peanut song.  OK, life was not serving us railroad tracks and road signs all day.  After all, we saw a snapping turtle in river, soaked our feet in the river and finally tasted boiled peanuts.  They taste like mushed bean, or soggy peanuts.  But, we were happy.  It was not much, but it had potential.  The moral of the story, when you are in a pinch, a few boiled peanuts will get you through the day.  We are off to Denny's for dinner!!  Luving the South!  Hugs.  MK

Yes folks, we are in dog and logging truck country.  Guess it's time to pull out my $1.99 water pistol and load up.  Leslie, our tour vet, says all we have to do is threaten them with the fact that we have someone with us that will neuter them.  So, we will try anything.  The trucks, well, I think it is just a game to them to see how close they can get.  On a narrow shoulder, the front part of the truck sucks you in, then the rear blows you out.  Now, this effect is more or less dramatic depending on the speed of the vehicle.  All you can do is prepare, hang on and keep it upright.

We are seeing cotton fields, tobacco fields and soy bean fields.  I spoke with our guide and we will be inland until we head towards Myrtle Beach.  Then we will direct West again.  The interior versus the coast is the safest route.  I particularly do not find it very eye appealing.  Tomorrow we ride 58 miles to the town of Halifax.  (I have no idea if the state is VA or NC.)  It is supposed to be a great town to visit and since the mileage will be low, Team Estrogen (Leslie and MK) wil get to shop until we drop.  We need the DC Darlings.  We miss you both out here.  We right comments to you on the sign in sheet at the sag.  Mike the bike was feeling particularly frisky this am at luggage load and signed us all in at one time, then made a speech denying further participation by the group and discouraged this behavior.  We are starting to unionize and Steve from Chicago wants Rap meetings to be held at the bar.  It's a work in progress, however, we are hopeful we will be able to unite and demand our rights for less infractions and downright pandemonium and no double hand-washing at the sag stops.  We want freedom!!  I will keep you informed.  That's it, tomorrow is a new day.  Stay tuned.   

Not much to report today.  We rode 73 miles and before we knew it we arrived at the hotel.  The rides are much easier without elevation gain.  Exertion effort is almost at half from when we started.  I am burning half as many calories.  Bummer, need to watch my pie, ice cream and goodie stops. Today we rode through farms and wooded areas.  Not many photos.  I figure a few million pictures of green trees and green fields is a bit repetitious after a while.  We appear to be inland and not coastal at all.  I feel like this ride is not a tour, but a mileage ride.  There just is not much to see or visit.  Hopefully tomorrow we will get to see some interesting areas.  We ride through battlefields, but they are wooded areas.  Tomorrow's ride is 91 miles.  Our first town is Gray at mile 75. Hurricane status is as follows: Danielle is not a threat.  Earl might be a problem.  Won't know until the end of next week.  Could be exciting.  For my Dad and Dallas, tomorrow we follow 156; to 10; then to 35 and 301.  No dogs yet, per our guide that will start in two days. Oh goodie.  A fellow rider and myself have alot in common discussing the disadvantages of the "salad bar buffets" and the bath tub stains at the hotels.  We both agree today's Holiday Inn Express is the best so far.  We have rated it good in the roomand bath tub stain category.  (If we are not scared to wash our dirty bike clothes in the tub, then it gets high marks.)  We are hopeful and looking forward to high marks in breakfast category.  We cannot discuss salad bars, because my bike friend will spit up. Well time for bed. Tomorrow is a long day.  Gnite. MK

Thanks to Sandra's lemon bars, I was let back into the rotary of the tour de Comfort Inns (well, including but not limited to, Quality Inn, Best Western Inn, Hampton Inn.)  Have you ever noticed they do not paint the walls on these places?  And who picks these color schemes?  Well, tour de hotels will be a future subject.  It's much to late to get started on that subject.  Today we rode 80, 90, 100 miles, whose counting anymore. Never would I subject myself to 3 or 4 or more century rides per week.  Usually one a month is fine. Ooi!  The saving grace is the elevation gains are dropping dramatically.  We stared at 4200 ft per day and tomorrow's ride is 2,950.  Yes the world is flat.  I am sticking with that.  With the large mileage, I have to whoosh through towns and don't get to do much exploring.    It should all start to taper down starting this week.  I feel good, I just get so darned tired. And at 3 pm the que sheet looks like a mirage.  You see it, but it's not really there.  You are not really focusing and thus you know it.  Wrong turn again.  Darn it!!  Then you know things are not right, but you keep going.  Why can't I get this in my head.  Turn around sooner.  But know, its a great road, somehow I can make the ride fit the que sheet.  6 miles OK, however, 6 miles the wrong way is 12 miles extra.  I can only hope I will stop experiencing these altered states of mindless pedalling.  Oh, well, live and learn.  The photo shopping was the best part of the day.  I have no idea where we go tomorrow, but that is a another day.  Right now I get to zzzzzzzzz gggnite.  HUGS MK 

Out of hotel, turn (R), STOP, T INTERSECTION, RT 25 L, BROOKEVILLE ROAD ST, yada, yada.  Not much to report from the road to DC.  Few signs, some grass and houses. We linked into the Rock Creek Bike Path to DC and cyclocrossed to our destination.  There had some huge rain storms two weeks ago and the area was flooded with sticks, trees, branches, mud and muck.  Eventually, we reached Dupont Traffic Circle in DC.  All the hype was rather diminished once we arrived.  That was it?  I did not expect the Champs Elysees, but I thought there would be something more to it.  After-all, this was Wash. DC.  OK, alrighty then, that was it.  Hmm.

After arriving I met my friend Sandra who lives on the Chesapeake Bay Beach.  I never showered or washed my bike so quickly.   Grabbed my overnight stuff, and escaped to the other side.  I was so excited.  There would be laundry.  Free laundry, no waiting, no schedule, no alarms, real furniture, no meetings and real food.  I ducked under a bush, Sandra did a quick drive by and I jumped in with her GPS running and we escaped!  I WAS FREE!  Thanks to her GPS we were assured a fast get away.  The drive to the bay went very quick as we had a chance to reminisce about old tour days.  We arrived at her home and made a quick dash to Lost Beach in search of sea glass from the day's waves.  It felt great to have my feet in the water, the sea wind in my hair and the feel of sand on my toes.  I am grounded and not spinning for a while.  We gathered treasures in beachcomber style and went back to her home to relax.  We had wine on her pier and investigated the poles for crabs.  Ahhh, two crabs just waiting to be netted.  I took a photo and Sandra tried to sneak up on one of them with a net.  Darn, no luck.  Sneaky crab, he knew we were onto him.  So, we ate one of his relatives and had crabcakes for dinner.  We laughed and talked as we watched the full moon rise over the bay.  Then I jumped into my beautifully decorated beach room and slept like a clam-12 hours.    Once I woke up, we had more real food.  The difference between restaurant food, hotel breakfast and real food is distinct. Anything other than the first two choices is real food.  We had real egg quiche with pork sausage spokes, OJ and fresh fruit.  YUM-ME.  After our coffee session we headed out for Annapolis, MD to shop, walk and talk.  It was all so normal.  It was all so restful. And it was peaceful and safe.   Tomorrow it's on to Frederickburg VA.  My entry ticket back into the tour is lemon bars for everyone, compliments of Sandra.  They are real food, I know I can get back in.  Hugs and gnite.  MK

This morning mother nature served us lemons.  It is raining hard.  It's 80 degrees and we are going to get wet.  This warm hard rain is strange to me.  Well, as Leslie said, "It's only water." OK, we will go with that, and we did.  We rode together and actually, once we got used to it, it was not bad.  The rain was not cold, we were just soaking wet.  Raincoat on, raincoat off.  Light jacket on, jacket off, No coat on, pick one and put it on.  After lunch we left and got pelted a few more times, then things really warmed up.  As Carl said, we were not getting "saunafied."  I could not have said it better myself.  I decided to enjoy the afternoon and shoot some photos.  You see what I see.  We have left the wild bears.  We arrived at Rock Creek and I stopped and peeked at the river.  Well, it was just too inviting.  I lifted my bike over the guard rail.  Tied my bike ID sweat hat to my handle bars, (so I would not get another infraction for MIA) and headed down to the river.  Well it was just too good to refuse.  I had to dip.  Heck, my clothes were soaked from this morning.  I took a soak in the river.  It was cool, not cold, but it felt great.  Ahhh, now I can finish this ride.  I enjoyed the sound of the water for a few minutes and decided I had best get moving.  When I arrived at the sag, I was just being dealt my infraction, when I persuaded my loyal rider locater person that I did attempt a smoke signal of my location.  I explained the bike and sweat band technique and was given a stern OK, as long as I was safe concession.  The DC Darlings we worried my foot would get caught by a branch and would be pulled under.  I love them.  (Gotta watch those "wild branches" in the swimming hole.)  So, when it's raining, just put on the yellow sun glass shades and you will have a great day.  Tomorrow is our Wash DC arrival to Dupont Circle.  Should be interesting.  I will be off the grid for two days.  My friend Sandra will pick me up tomorrow evening, I get to sleep in the car on the way to her home. Then I get to eat a real breakfast and sleep in a real house.  I AM SOOOO EXCITED, but exhausted.  81 miles to DC.  Gnite...hugs MK

Ah, day 7.  I just found out I have 2 more days yet until DC.  I apologize for yesterday's incorrect info.  I just found out tonight I am a day off.  Our ride thru DC will be on Mon.  So the Dupont Traffic Circle Ride will not happen until Mon.  Stay tuned.  I'll email Michelle and the girls and see if they would like to join us. 

Today's ride started VERY early.  My brain could not and would not comprehend the first few ride commands.  When this happens, after 2 cups of VIA and a delicious Comfort Inn breakfast of champions, I crossed the first bridge which I swear was the correct bridge, which really was the wrong bridge.  Did you follow that?  That is what life is like at 6 am EST (4 am MST) on a bike after 7 days of riding.  Some days things just don't work.  Nothing seems to be firing this morning.  Fortunately, it is always best to discover these errors early in the game (i.e. 2 miles or less.)  Then trying to explain to some one where you are and determining which bridge is which, it all begins to spin in my head.  DO OVER.

I now get on course, I have notified the calvary and we, I, the tour, collectively "us" all can begin to move in forward direction.  It can all be a little too much too early in the am. 

Wheels down, cadence rolling...action.  Oh good, a long hard climb.  Thankfully, I am warmed up after my pre-warm up ride.  We rode out of town and through the woods and it is buggy out here.  Tomorrow, bug spray! My legs are tired, I am tired, I want to make myself go, howver, it is going to be a long day.  Parts are rebelling.  So, I settle in, stop fighting the system and try to get my head into the program.

After the climb, it opened up to Amish farm country.  WOW.  We saw a few horse and buggies and zipped right by the Amish Fair.  Bummer, Steve did not tell us, until we were too far down the road.  We had lunch at a great restaurant decorated with an ice cream scoop display.  After lunch, it got very hot.  The backs of my arms were sizzling.  We forced the parts to keep working and finally got within 16 miles of the hotel.  We rode past the Chicken BBQ sign and I just had to stop.  The others went on.  What a great stop.  The guys I met are fund-raising to attend the World Softball Tournament in Jacksonville FLA the end of Sept.  They let me taste the chicken and it was sooo good. Yummy!  I told them of my adventure and one of the gentlemen told me about his grandfather that had suffered a stroke quite a while ago.  His grandfather went through a lot and had about a 2 year recovery from the hospital and rehab.  His grandfather still goes to the grocery store he owns every day and keeps the business up and running.    After talking with them for quite a while, I finally re-grouped, my soul was refocused and I continued my ride.   My next stop was an antique shop in Petersberg. The pumpkins drew me into the store.  The owner was showing her new kittens to two women. Well, one of the women talked with me about her sister who suffered a stroke in December.  Again, my heart lifted and she appreciated speaking with me and promised to share my ride with her sister.  The other woman in the store who bought two new kittens, shared her story with me.  She is a beast cancer survivor.  I told her about my good friend Judy from ST08, who is a cancer survivor, and explained that she rode x-country. I asked if I could take her picture, she was reluctant.  I could not see her cancer, I could only realize her movement forward.  We took the picture.  Thank you for sharing yourselves with me today, ladies.  Everyone that left me a voicemail today, sent me an e-mail to check in, met me along the way, prayed for my safety, you all have filled my soul this day.  THANK YOU.  And, that is why the cyclist crossed the road for BBQ Chicken.  Gnite.

Today is, no idea...it's not on my cue sheet.  All I know after 6 then comes 7. Yes the 7th day of riding.  Today's ride was traffic maneuvers, a little bit of River Road, we crossed the Delaware River many more times than George Washington.  (Was that the Delaware River or the Potomac.)  Who knows, it's all a blur of que sheets, road signs, drinking tons of water and 8 minute tours of towns on a bike.  Did you see that? What? Whoosh! Never-mind.  I am getting real good taking shots with my camera while riding.  We rode in peloton today which was most helpful keeping up the pace.  Carl and I are the navigators, Steve is the commentator and keeps us going, and the peloton always votes him for the detour route or something.  Mike and the Bike from UT, keeps us entertained with his dry humor and Leslie keeps us amused with her life stories,  More to come, too late to write tonight.  They are amazing and she is one amazing woman.  JB keeps us thinking with his wit and he has a real cool touring bike.  Kenneth shows up know and then and Steve disappears, we see him at the sag or at beer thirty.  The peloton had lunch today and we have decided that each one of us will take a turn buying lunch.  The day Steve of AZ buys, we are not eating all day and going to make him buy us dinner and load up. JB and I saw a bear today.  I thought it was a standard poodle, gotta love the contacts.  Nope, definitely not a poodle, a WILD BEAR!  News travels fast on the tour.  The DC Darlings needed information about another wild bear siting as soon as they arrived.  Love those girls!  The day ended at a well deserved trip to the CVS Pharmacy.  I did not get to shop all day, so I treated myself.  (Steve from AZ won't let us shop.  Leslie and I have news for him, later in the tour.)  It's so happy to find fun stuff at the CVS and not realize how happy the little things are until later.  I made my purchases and finished the last few miles to the hotel.  Now, here is where the little things mean so much.  After saving my own life with a man determined to make a left turn in front of me, I exhaled and let that go.  After I discovered I was riding on a street called Industrial Lane, I hyperventilated a bit.  Passing the nuclear plant, the the sewer treatment plant, I just knew this was not one of those uplifting moments and my expectations of hotel accommodations quickly disintegrated.  Poof!  Ohhhhh...nooo.  Relax, just get to the room, it will be OK.  I arrived, got settled in,opened my CVS bag and TA DAHHHH, salvation.  A little citrus coconut body spray, some happy lotion, mint butt butter (FROM SWITZERLAND MIND YOU) and a free shower cap.  Hallelujah!! It's gonna be OK.    Good Night, I will sleep tight.  Big day tomorrow and the big news....wait for it...Sunday when we ride into Wash. DC, we are riding in like cowboys in Dupont Circle.  WOW.  I'm excited!!  Later friends.  HUGS MK

Today we had a great ride.  We rode from New Jersey to Pennsylvania today and crossed the Delaware River  3 or 4 times.  I lost count on the bridges.  We rode along the DE river through the Delaware Gap Rec Area.  Fantastic climbs, great shade, descents, and wild bears.  Our darling sisters of DC were taken aback this morning after a "wild bear" encounter.  Love these ladies.  They stopped on their bikes, observed the bear and discussed what to do.  Their decision was turn around.  Theresa has never pedaled her bike so fast this entire trip, according to Diane.  They stopped and could not decide what to do.  Ah ha!  Diane had an idea!  Call the van!  So, they called.  Conversation went:  Hello Deb, this is Diane.  There is a bear.  A wild bear.  Deb's response was:  "COOL!"  Diane went silent over the phone.  You know the drill...get back on your bike and ride.  God love them.  So far we have, wood chuck, white skunk, turkey, deer and wild bears.  Theresa is convinced she will be a snack, for the wild bears.   Consequently, the sag saw a black bear also.  Hmmm, the sisters will be picking up their pace. 

The ride through the National Park was awesome today.  No cars, great roads, open space.  I think we start Amish country now.  Keep tuned in for Sunday's ride.  It promises to be very interesting.  Good Night.  Must rest.  Stats:  76 miles, 2557 calories.  Don't know hours on bike, my GPS just died.  Ugh!  Glad I have the back up odometer.  Towns on the map:  Delaware Gap Rec Area, Mill brok Village, Portland, Riverton, Belvidere, Phillipsburg. Easton.  PS We met a gentleman at lunch from Tennessee.  He was hiking the Appalachian Trail, been at it since March, hopes to finish by Oct.  Very interesting person.  He started with nothing, had a gentleman sponsoring him and helping him and getting donations.  They hope to write a book.  His name is Country Gold.  He was hearing impaired, (I would worry about not being able to hear the wild bears.)  I could have sat down with him and talked for hours, but he had to catch a bus to Maine, to get back on the trail.  Guess he will do the section from Maine back to PA?  Between he and us, we were the most excitement in the restaurant for the day.  It's so much fun to be famous.  Eat, sleep, bike, gnite.

Today was a relaxing 69 recovery ride.  The weather is great.  It's very cool in the morning and the heat and humidity are not a factor yet.  No rain, yet.  Very pleasant.  I am drinking a lot of water.  In the afternoon I can down 2 bottles in 10 mins.  5 of us rode together until lunch time.  We split up and took a different pace, route or lunch option.  My choice was go on to the next sag stop, then lunch at 52 miles.  Great plan, had a good sandwich at the deli, then set off to finish off the ride and complete early.  Sounded like a plan.  Got a bit confused, but decided the way I was going must be correct.  Continued on for about 15 miles and my phone rang.  I was stopped already, looking at my map and que sheet.  The inquiry was made, "Where are you? We can't find you."  The sag had done their job.  Yep, I was off course.  It all made sense to me, but not really, but I could make it work, I think.  Ok, the decision was made by the sag, as they have the final decision, TURN AROUND.  Got it.  Went back the way I came.  Hmmm where is the sag?  I called again once I arrived back where I messed up after the sandwich.  Ah ha!!! It was a left turn instead of a right turn. Silly me.  OK, call the sag. What? No service?  Called another number, hello, it's me!  The reply was "Where are you? We can't find you.  We are calling you?"  Oh, my phone has no service, but I am here.  Can you guess the response?  STAY PUT-DO NOT MOVE.  With that, I bid you good night.  Tomorrow is a new day of 80-90 miles or something.  Eat, sleep, bike. HUGS mk

It is a good day when you can MacGyver your own laundry system in your room.  Awesome! I am perfecting the washing and drying of clothes in my room.  Wash in the tub post shower, stomp and wring with extra towels from being the sole occupant of the room, and yes there is a way to utilize the a/c in the room as a dryer.  I'm all set.  I love Dawn dishwashing soap, aka shower gel (cuts the grease off the legs,)a/k/a bike wash, a/k/a water bottle cleaner.  Who knows what else.  It's endless!  The rhythm of the trip is starting to rock and roll!  Life is good because: 1. I love having a cup of tea and cookies from the hotel snack machine while blogging, 2. My Starbucks VIA does get me out of bed at dark-o-thirty. 3.  The fresh cucumber bought on the road at a farm stand makes excellent spa water in the water bottle while riding.  (I have not even had a chance yet to stop at CVS Pharmacy to see what treasurers await! Life is good riding a bike. 

Today's stats:  95 miles, cals 2850, saddle time (very long), elevation gain 4900.  I am an eating machine today.  Cannot get enough food in.  For Dad and Dallas, are you keeping track of me?  Here was my route, Route 189, Granby; Route 44 Winstead, Colbrook, Norfolk, Caanan, Salisbury (met a guy hiking the Applachian Trail. All he had was a very small back pack.) Millerton, Amenia (great ice cream from the hot dog/ice cream stand.  Mmmmm cotton candy ice cream is gooood.  Mabbettsville, Millbrook, Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie.

We had a GREAT ride today.  Felt like a bike ride.  We did not have to maneuver through towns and cities, just ride open roads.  Enjoy the photos.  Yesterday I saw a beaver or wood chuck, not sure.  The weather was perfect today.  We did not get the humidity until late this afternoon, at which time I drank two water bottles at once, refilled and started again.  Whew...That's it.  I need to rest my back and go to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. HUGS. MK

Day One, WOW, long day.  96 hard miles, 3248 Calories, 9 hrs 30 mins saddle time.  After a first day of riding, we arrived in Worcester, Mass.  The countryside is so different out here.  We are inland, the heat and humidity are not bad, yet.  We had a three page que sheet of directions.  It's difficult to ride and constantly read at the same time.  There appear to be no wide-open spaces out here.  As the signs state, "Thickly Settled." We rode to Lowell, crossed the Merrimack River, arrived at Stow and completed in Worcester, Mass.  As soon as we arrive at our hotel, we have about 1 hour to clean up, catch the tour van and have dinner at 6 pm.  (Coming from MST time, the early hours are quite an adjustment.)  Tomorrow I get up at 4:45 am EST (2:45 MST) and be ready to ride at 6 am. Ouch!!  There is not much time to do anything.  Bike, eat, sleep, bike, eat, sleep. I am feeling a bit time stressed.  Not much time to visit.  We have a very small group.  One married couple, 5 men, 2 sisters from DC, who are done at DC.  Then somewhere we pick up another man.  I did score and get my own hotel room, since there are no other women on the trip.  That's great because when I come in, I unpack and my room looks like everthing exploded.  Discard, clean, reorganize and prep for the next day's ride. There has not been much opportunity to take photos.  We are riding through towns getting through the New England states.  I will be looking forward to things opening up and getting out to the country more.  A four page que sheet is challenging.  Every night we eat at a restaurant and I miss home cooked food.  We have 4 tour guides, two men, two women.  One or two ride and the other two provide sag stops and sweep for riders.  Today I went off route for 1000 feet and got busted.   I can go off, I just need to let someone know. 

Day Two: Worcester to Windsor Locks. 67 miles; 2252 calories, saddle time (don't know GPS is charging) meanwhile, still have not figured out how to set my watch to EST and I mistakenly set my odometer to German.  Note to self, read tech manual and reset odometer. Agh,,,is my phone charged yet?  Bike pants washed, check. (Drying on A/C - no laundry facility.) Ohhhh life's luxuries.  I can make it until tomorrow.  Laundy in NY!  Today was a slower paced ride.  I took my time and did not "speed race" in.  I took time to take some pics.  Everything was closed yesterday and a lot of places are closed Mondays.  Interesting, not that there is that much, but everything is closed today.  Did make it to the grocery store at end of day.  I have Dawn to wash my clothes, clean my bike, (which I need to do yet) clean the grease off my legs and wash the water bottles.  Life is good again.  Towns on the map today (for my Dad and Dallas who are tracking my progress) Charlton, Sturbridge, Conn. State Line, Stafford (which I have to give a shout out to Mike who was out for a walk and we visited and to Dominic at the farm stand selling great veggies.  Hi guys!!) Enfield, then Windsor Locks.  I have no idea if there are locks here.    Time for bed, need to get my photos out and write postcards.  Vacation?  Not.  Good night, enjoy the photos, more to follow.  Dodged the rain storms today, it was drizzle and hot and cold, coat on coat off day, wet roads.  Rumor has it the weekend will be very rainy.  Ok, let's just work on today.  Hugs.  MK

Hello everybody.  Wow, it's been a great 4 days!  Met up with my gal pals in York, Maine and spent 3 great days at the beach house in York.  What fun!  We rode two days saw some beautiful areas along the coast.  Visited Kittery and Eliot.  We had great speghetti cooked my Denise, her old family recipe and her meatballs were outstanding.   Her Dad, Joe, now known as The Admiral and her Mother, Carol, now known as The Brigadiere General, own a beautiful home in York.  The home is over 200 years old, comfortable and as the Admiral says, it's a home to share with friends and family.  We felt most welcome. 

We ate lobsters last night and I will get more photos up tomorrow evening.  We sat out on the deck and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the blue Maine sky, watching the tide come in and listening to the harbor bell and the fog horn of the light house.  We went to the Nubble Lighthouse, had maple walnut ice cream at Brown's, and relaxed and enjoyed visiting with each other. 

Yesterday afternoon, Ellen and others helped me loose 15 lbs of uncessary weight from my luggage, so I would not experience, "luggage drama" at the weigh-in.  Ellen was very firm and was very patient asking me if I really needed something, which Denise chimmed in, NO, loose it!!!   Reluctantly, I gave in, however, I was able to earn only a few things back.

This morning we quickly ran to the post office to mail the 15 extra lbs of unnecessary items.  I returned the scale to Denise's neighbor and we were on our way to Portsmouth, NH.

Pat, Ellen and I met up with Ellen's friend, Jeannie in Portsmouth.  We had a quick lunch by the harbor alongside the tugboats.  (Those photos will be up tomorrow.)  We did some fast shopping and quickly got me to the hotel in time for 1 pm check in.  I got my jersey, got my bike checked, ready for the weigh-in...ready for the weigh-in...what no weigh in.  Heck!! I could have brought more tackle!!  Dern, I could have had the detangler!!  Oh, well, my back will thank me, later.  (FYI to Ellen and Denise...this hotel room only has one (1)...count them ONE bottle of liquid something.  The label on the very tiny bottle states: Shampoo, conditioner, body soap...no lotion.)  I could have used the detangler.    Mark my word, first stop on my shopping list will be detangler, body lotion and maybe, just maybe some SOAP!!!! Ha!!!!  I going to do it, Ellen and Denise!!

Meanwhile, Ellen, Jeannie and I, do a quick walking tour of Portsmouth, NH, in one hour.  Back to the hotel, to be ready for the orientation meeting.  I meet the 4 tour leaders and the 8 of us.  This is such an different dynamic from other rides I have done.  This is such a small group and the benefit is that I scored!!!  I will have my own room the entire tour  This is a huge deal, because an individual room usually costs a few thousand dollars.  I am so excited!!  Looks like a great group, more details to follow.  Only two women, myself and Leslie will complete the entire tour.  Tomorrow is our first day of riding.  One-fourth of the que sheet covers one mile.  It will be fast reading, many turns, 88 miles of just getting from point A to point B.  Wish me luck.  I need to get to bed, it's 8:30 Denver time, 10:30 pm NH time, still adjusting to the time change.  Here I went!!!  More to follow tomorrow.  Hugs and love.  Mary Kay.  PS Check out Day 1 story of my sister Kathy on the Rocky Mountain Stroke Center website.  Awesome!

Dear Friends and Family,    
Please join me on my cross country bicycling adventure raising support for Rocky Mountain Stroke Center.  Beginning tomorrow, Aug. 11^th, I depart from Denver and will arrive in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I will pick up my bicycle which was shipped to a bike shop in NH last week.  Then I will meet up with 4 girlfriends from my 2008 ride and we plan to rest for a few days in York, Maine.  After wrapping myself in their support and love, I will become the property of America by Bicycle on Sat. Aug. 14^th.   
On Sat., I return to Portsmouth, NH to attend  a mandatory 10:00-3:00 pm shakedown, registration, safety check, bike assembly meeting with the tour company.  This tour group has set up the hotel accommodations and will provide luggage and sag support during the trip. In addition, the ceremony of the final weigh-in of the luggage will be performed.  This will be our last chance to mail back home anything unnecessary items that put us over the 25 lb per bag limit/50lb  total weight limit.  (FYI, this baggage restriction also includes a 2 carry-on limit, and a laptop in a case counts as a carry-on.  Oh, no…what about my tackle???)  Let me tell you, packing is the most stressful part so far.  I have a plan…I'll let you know if it works. Stay tuned for luggage drama.   
After lunch I will say goodbye to my gal pals and attend a two hour orientation meeting from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  (This is when they will tell us it's not really downhill from Maine to Florida.) In addition, they will reiterate the subject of attitude as expressed in our tour packages.  Attitude is a choice, some things are not in our control, what we make up the trip is up to us, individually.  So, if it hurts, or we are unhappy, keep it to yourself.  Following orientation, there will be  a social hour and Dinner until 7:30 pm.  After that, lights out and I start my ride on Sun. August 15^th.
Beginning on Sunday, please tune into www.strokecolorado.org and meet my sister, Kathy, who is a 4 year stroke survivor.  Each day during the 25 day ride logon to the Rocky Mountain Stroke Center website above and read a story about a stroke survivor.  Their stories are amazing.  It's these survivors that motivate me to pedal the miles and challenge my physical and mental endurance, which is exactly what a stroke survivor lives with on a daily basis. This organization believes in constant rehabilitation and support for stroke survivors, long after insurance benefits run out.  Please read their stories and show them your support.    
In addition, you can follow my blog tour and see daily photos of my journey at my website at www.zandercat.com   Our average mileage is 75 miles per day.  Our first rest day is Tues. Aug. 24^th in Washington, DC.  This will be a well deserved rest, as we would have been riding consecutively for 9 days and will have completed 663 miles. Ouch, already!! I have another ride friend who will be prying my hands from the handlebars of my bicycle and taking me to her home on the Chesapeake Bay for an overnight rest.   I am anxious, apprehensive and curious of this journey which is about to unfold before me.  Stay in touch through the links above.  You can email me at marykay@zandercat.com    
I also dedicate this ride to Barbara Minnick of Terra Haute, Indiana.  Her biking adventures ended last month while she was on a ride across the first segment of the Northern Tier from Oregon to North Dakota.  She was overcome by a vehicle the  last week of the tour.  She had a very strong  faith and a wonderful relationship with God, and those who rode with her, know that she is in Heaven, riding along with the rest of us and keeping us safe.  Here I went!  Mary Kay Engel