Day 1 Complete

toWe are nicely settled into our motel while the wind is still howling outside.  We rode about 50 miles  working out a few kinks and adapting to the added weight of the bike.  The day was cloudy with temps in the low 70s.  As the day went on the wind became stronger and stronger.  It was basically a side wind that just whomped you, then swirled around and whomped you some more.  That being said we just as happy to call it a day on the bike.  One of the highlights of the day was our coffee break at Trinity River Refuge. We had hoped to see gators, but it was probably too chilly for them. Tomorrow the weather should be interesting, windy, storms, 20 degree temperature drop. We will see what happens.

On The Bike Again

Blog followers we are back (I don't know if we still have blog followers).   With fairly little attention to bike or body , we have our panniers packed and on the bikes for an early morning take off.  Probably the number one question we were asked on our Border to Border bike ride was "what cause are you riding for?".  We do not ride for  causes.  We ride for events or mile stones.  This time we are riding from our driveway in Baytown, Texas to St. Francisville, LA.  The intention is to ride at least 700 miles for my 70th birthday while our last ride was to commemorate my 50th high school class reunion. The distance to St. Francisville should be about 400 miles and of course it is 400 miles back.  So we should easily make our goal.  Joining us on this latest adventure is my sister Janie and her husband John.   It should be great fun as these transplanted  yankees and true yankees esperience mainly rural Louisianna.

P.S.  It is amazing how much room I have in my panniers without camping and cooking gear!

D&L on the Move Again

After a five month forced hiatus from travel we are finally on the move again.  In the past 4 weeks we  have traveled over 5000 miles.  This time by car.

We ended our trip after spending one day at home and heading to Hill Country to pick up Austin, our new Welsh Corgie.  On our way to get Austin, we spent two nights in a bed and breakfast, compliments of our daughter Kim.  This was a Christmas present.  We had a great time eating and drinking our way around Hill Country.  We enjoyed visits to wineries, First Texas Olive Oil Company, and swimming in the Blue Hole in Wimberly, Texas.

We left home and headed to south Florida where we delivered and installed a house number plaque for Andrea, Peter and Henrik's new home.  We were quite satisfied with this.  While in south Florida I, Lois, purchased my latest toy.  It is a Trekke.  For me not for long distances but for trekking around the neighborhood.  One of our high lights in Florida was drift fishing in the Atlantic.  It was crazy!
At our first stop we were in the middle of a school of bonitas.  Everyone was yelling "fish on".  Lines were snapping and everyone wanted the attention of the mates.  After changing positions the pace slowed down but we continued to catch little else but bonitas.  I hooked one on its side.  All the mates thought it was a flounder but it turned out to be just another bonita.

After leaving Florida we visited long time good friends in Atlanta, Georgia.  We highly recommend visiting the Atlanta Aquarium.  Fabulous!  We then had a short visit with my cousin in Dalongega before heading back to 75 for our trip to Michigan to see my sister, Doug's mother and a quick Up North camping trip with Kim and Matt before heading back to Texas.

Our first night with Austin went really well!  He slept in his crate in our bedroom, he didn't like his crate in the kitchen.  He started whining about 5a.m., went out, did his business, went contentedly back in his crate and we all splept until 7.  Myself a little later.  We are off to a good start!

Home

We've left Michigan

After several days of picture perfect fall weather that only Michigan can produce (blue skies, big puffy clouds, and temps in the mid 60s to low 70s), we left the state in a cool drizzle.  This was a small reminder that in a month or so the ground would be covered with snow.  Time to head south.  Not to mention that we haven't been home in almost 3 months.
We are on a Point A to Point B trip.  This meaning that when we stop we take care of the three traveling necessities ( food, gas and nature call) plus one stop for lodging.  Because we do so many of these types of trips, the bike ride was particulary fun.  We have driven far enough to see cotton boles and have the waitress ask what ya'all would like to drink.  Read it and weep, we saw gas for 3.29 a gallon.
The class reunion was great fun!  It was great fun seeing and catching up with people that, quite honestly,  I hadn't given much thought to in about 50 years.  I don't think that this is a mean statement, but rather a fact of life as life and new events and experiences happen.  That's what makes this event special, you pause to remember and take many trips down memory lane.  THANKS to all the people who helped to make this a great party and experience.  Those of us who live distances away can't help much more than help keep the rosters up to date.  I don't think I have always been good at that.
It was great to come home to Owosso!  I'm proud to say "I'm from Owosso".  I use the word, proud, meaning with pride.  In Texas people seem to use proud to mean happy.  I have lived  places that I was happy to be away from, but I''m proud to be able to say I'm from Owosso!  Those of our class who stayed in Owosso have a lot to be proud of for the wonderful community that you have helped develop and preserve.
One more day remains of this grand adventure we began back in July.  Home tomorrow night.

2400 Miles----Border-to-Border

Actually, 2392 but we feel we can take the liberty to round up.  This year the DALMAC offered up wind, cold (by Texas standards) and rain; but never all at the same time.  Much better than last year,but I was hearing that the ride of '84 was much worse that the ride of 2010.  Can't really believe that! The DALMAC as usual was wonderful!  Why we keep coming back.  Thanks to Pat, Robin and Jethro for all you do.  I would like to say that no one has flattened out northern Michigan.
 True to form as we approached Sault Ste. Marie the storm clouds formed.  These clouds were not the thunder heads that we had grown accustomed to but what looked like snow clouds.  Before we reached our camp site at Taquamonin Falls State Park the heavens opened up.  However the rain stopped before we reached the park and we were able to have a wonderful camp fire celebrating our son's 40th birthday and the end of our border to border ride.
What extremes we have faced on the adventure. In the South we would crawl into our tent and strip, lay very still and sweat buckets to the UP where with frost warning we zipped up in our mummie bags, vary cozy.  I have become a fan of the mummie bag.  I think this is the third or fourth time I have ever zipped it up completely.
Before we headed back down State, we enjoyed a wonderful hike from the lower falls to the upper falls and a wonderful four hour kayak paddle on the Taquamonin River.  Both days were crystal clear and crisp.  I love the air of UP North.
We are back in Lansing taking care of business and looking forward to heading to Owosso tomorrow for the Big 50 Reunion.