Patti said...

Hello People! I knew you'd get on that bike no matter what. Just take it easy. Don't push yourself and enjoy the scenery of the lovely South. Thanks for sending up the heat last week! We're getting Arlene this week. Glad she didn't hit you guys too hard down there. And I now have this image of dogs chasing you down the streets...and we all know how much you love dogs! Hee-hee! And congrats on making some extra money gambling, Alex! Stay safe out there...Patti

Dennis Pelletier said...

Hello you two . . .

Been thinking about you all week and glad to hear that you're back on the road again. Just take it an hour at a time, a day at a time and most importantly be safe and well. Everything remains the same at YP&G - we'll see you when you get back. Oh, one question, did you see Elvis? Are the rumors true? (just kidding)

Dennis

Pine Tassel said...

I'm glad to hear ya'll took some time to enjoy yourselves before getting back on the road. I'm also glad you're getting to experience some real southern hospitality. Gina, I knew nothing would stop you from continuing your journey, just please be careful and take care of yourself! You're doing a fantastic job!

Love, Pine Tassel

Anonymous said...

Hello again. It was good to hear your voice, unfortunately it was on the answering machine. Savannah is perfect. I have fond memories of exploring the city with you and Uncle Pine....beautiful secret gardens, architecture, history and of course the southern hospitality. What a great place to finish. Take your time and be safe.

Love Always, Pinecone and Baby Pine

P.S. Abby and Tucker wanted to speak on behalf of their canine friends. The chasing of the bikes is in good intent. It is their way of encourging you to keep pedaling.

Becky & Ann said...

Ann heard about your accident from Robin. We are so sorry! Sending speedy recovery your way!

Take care.
Becky & Ann

One Day At A Time

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Well, we're back on the road again. The previous week we took it easy as I rested up and tried to heal up enough so that I could get back on the bike again and finish off this ride. We were staying in Tunica, MS at a casino/hotel. During the evenings, Alex and Bev tried their luck at the blackjack tables and the slot machines while I soaked in the hot tub and picked at my scabs from the road rash. I think they had more fun than I did! During the day, we took a few trips to Memphis, about an hour's drive north, to get me checked out at a bigger hospital, and to get my bike checked out at a bigger bike shop (Peddler Bike Shop - John and Pat were very good to us - thank you!). We also went to Graceland, a must if you're in Memphis, and downtown, where we strolled around Beale Street and the riverfront.

After a week of this, I was getting antsy to get back on the bike, and we were all getting fat on the hotel's buffet (we ate and stayed for free the last two nights because Alex gambled so much). It was time to leave, and time to see if I would be able to continue my ride. We did a shorter, 35-mile ride the first day, and while I felt a little sore, nothing felt any worse than it had before. The unfortunate thing we've noticed about Mississippi is that they do not believe in putting shoulders on their roads. After my accident, I'm feeling a little nervous about cars passing close by me, and the lack of the "safety zone" on the shoulder isn't helping. We've worked hard to find the backroads as much as possible, where traffic is light. The result has been some nice biking country, less worry, and more dogs chasing us. So it's a trade-off.

The next day we rode to Oxford, MS, home of the University of Mississippi and a little oasis of life in an otherwise fairly downtrodden part of the country. We've left the delta behind, where everything was flatter than flat and the fields were full of cotton, rice, and corn, and have headed into more wooded, hillier country. Relatively hillier, that is, where a 100 ft. rise is condsidered a mountain. In Oxford, we had to get some more work done on my bike, as the shifting mechanism stopped working - another casualty of my accident. We found another friendly bike shop (Oxford Bicycle Store - thanks Kevin!), where they fixed it up quickly and got us back on the road. Believe me, I'm keeping all my receipts - the guy who hit me is going to get one heck of a bill! We tried to do an interview at the Oxford Eagle newspaper, but the whole town is so wrapped up in the U. of Miss. baseball team being in the playoffs that I doubt we'll get any ink. But we'll keep trying. We made it onto KATV, the ABC affiliate in Little Rock, Ark. and many of you probably saw the article in the Press Herald and the story on Channel 6 in Portland. Had I known I'd get this much coverage after getting into an accident, I would have had one much earlier in the trip! Just kidding.

We left Oxford and headed east, and after another 40-mile day, we spent the night in Tupelo (birthplace of Elvis!). This will probably be the pattern for the rest of the trip; instead of the 75 or 80 mile days we were doing, we've cut it back to 40 or so a day. At the end of each day, I'm feeling pretty sore, both in my back and my left leg. I'm taking some pain meds to help me get through each day. I really want to finish, but I will also try to listen to my body if it tells me I'm trying to do too much.

Today we crossed into Alabama. We also crossed into the path of Tropical Storm Arlene, as it rained heavily the last 20 miles of our ride. But we made it to Hamilton, AL, checked into a hotel, and took nice hot showers to get warmed up. Tomorrow we continue on toward Savannah, Georgia. This is now officially our goal - we've got about 550 miles left. With any luck, we'll be there within two weeks, and then we'll load up the RV and drive back up to Maine in time for the July 2 celebration.

Thanks for all your well-wishes on the message board. Some of them were quite touching. It really meant a lot to me to read all the comments and know that so many people were concerned about my well-being. It also helped me realize how much I've already accomplished with this awareness campaign. I'll write again when I cross into Georgia. In the meantime, keep the messages coming, and I'll see you all in July!

Regina