It doesn’t take much to keep Terry and I happy and today it came in threes – an encounter with an Elvis impersonator, meeting some fellow Brits also cycling the Southern Tier and dogs. Yes, we were chased by our first dogs and it finally felt like we were home because no ride across the…
Posts by: Paul
Terry braves the ‘gators…. Florahome to Aluchua
We woke just before seven to the sound of a bird hooting in the woods and the roar of trucks hustling down Highway 100. It was still dark when we emerged from our tents a short while later and the air was thick with moisture. The damp ground was carpeted in lichen, most of it…
From Sophistication to the Swamp…. Anastasia State Park to Florahome
After spending a considerable amount of time and money fettling and servicing our bikes (I’d treated the Surly, to a new bottom bracket, cables, chain and even a new set of transfers to replace the scuffed originals) we undid all that good work in just a few seconds by plunging them into the salty waters…
Tie a yellow ribbon around the Live Oak Tree! Terry flies in…..
I’ve now been in Florida for five days and still haven’t turned a wheel on the Southern Tier, but the great news is that Terry has arrived! After an emotional reunion at Orlando I drove Terry and his bike back to St Augustine where we decided he needed at least a couple of days rest…
Repeat this three times – don’t tell anyone you’re British!
Cycling around the historic streets of St Augustine you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Spain rather than the United States. Founded in 1565 by the Spanish Admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles and situated on the east coast of the Florida peninsula just forty miles south of Jacksonville, the city is the oldest…
Tears on the Southern Tier – and we haven’t even turned a wheel…..
Five years after completing the TransAmerica ride across the US Terry and I are back – this time to tackle the Adventure Cycling Association’s Southern Tier which runs from St Augustine in Florida to San Diego in California. It’s a little shorter than the TransAm – 3041.9 miles compared to 4211.5 and takes in Florida,…
Job Done! Swisshome to Florence. Total distance: 4264 miles across the USA
It ended as it began – with Terry and I ankle deep in the cold waters of an ocean. Except this time it wasn’t the Atlantic, but 4,264 miles to the west in the Pacific. We turned to each other, shook hands and smiled. In ten weeks we’d cycled across America, from Virginia Beach in…
Putting the Brakes on……Springfield Ore, to Swisshome Ore
After last night’s night-ride to Springfield we’ve left the perfect set up for our final two days riding to Florence, 60 miles today followed by a final 22 miles on Saturday. And the riding conditions are perfect – we’ve left the stifling heat of Eastern Oregon on the other side of the McKenzie Pass and…
Climb Every Mountain – Sisters Ore to Springfield Ore
Almost overnight, without even realising it, we’ve become veteran long distance cyclists. In the early days of the ride people reacted to our challenge of crossing America by bike with surprise. Now the response, particularly from other cyclists we meet, is one of respect and awe. With 4,000 miles under our tyres we’ve been elevated…
Mad Dogs and Englishmen – Ochoco Lake to Sisters
Well I’ve had to ride 3968 miles, cross three major mountain ranges and endure heat exhaustion, fire and a tornado to get here – but I’ve finally found a decent cup of tea in the US. And by decent I mean Yorkshire Tea, brewed in a pot, with a jug of cold milk and served…