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peacebird

(14,195 posts)
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 06:23 PM Mar 2014

Hubby & I are 50-somethings about to bicycle across America to benefit the Cville Free clinic

We will be departing in 28 days from Yorktown Virginia and will finish in Florence Oregon about three months later. Trying to get the word out in hopes of donations for the Charlottesville Free Clinic, but also so folks will follow our blog and maybe post comments to cheer us on our way! There have been SO MANY snowstorms since the beginning of January that our training has really taken a hit.

But - for your vicarious enjoyment - The Bike presents our blog!

http://tandem2infinityandbeyond.com/wp/

Cheers! Oh, and it's supposed to SNOW again tomorrow....

68 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hubby & I are 50-somethings about to bicycle across America to benefit the Cville Free clinic (Original Post) peacebird Mar 2014 OP
That is so cool! Thank you! Solly Mack Mar 2014 #1
Thanks Solly! peacebird Mar 2014 #9
Please stay safe and warm! Please keep us updated! And I did bookmark your blog. Solly Mack Mar 2014 #14
Cool! Looking forward to some comments from you cheering us on! peacebird Mar 2014 #32
Best wishes to you both! n/t PoliticAverse Mar 2014 #2
That is wonderful, good for you both. I hope the weather is better by then. sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #3
Thank you Sabrina! We will try to post an update here as well! peacebird Mar 2014 #6
How lovely malaise Mar 2014 #4
Thanks malaise! peacebird Mar 2014 #12
That is FANTASTIC. WorseBeforeBetter Mar 2014 #5
Thanks WBB! peacebird Mar 2014 #10
Sounds great! You'll be very physically fit when you get through! And call attention to the cause. Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #7
Thanks Sarah! peacebird Mar 2014 #11
That's so great, I'm in awe of such an undertaking. Bluenorthwest Mar 2014 #8
Thanks bluenorthwest! peacebird Mar 2014 #13
hey, peacebird, so cool. yesterday on 'On Point' they had a whole segment about that cali Mar 2014 #15
Thank you Cali! I will turn 57 about two weeks into the ride peacebird Mar 2014 #17
Wow! Good luck! cui bono Mar 2014 #16
The original Trans Am trail ends there. We will pack up our bike and take Amtrak upmto Seattle peacebird Mar 2014 #18
That sounds great! cui bono Mar 2014 #24
Here's wishing you an excellent adventure. GeorgeGist Mar 2014 #19
Thank you! peacebird Mar 2014 #21
Keep us posted! lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #20
We will update the blog, and try to post here as well! peacebird Mar 2014 #22
Best of luck to you mcar Mar 2014 #23
:) peacebird Mar 2014 #25
Good Luck! OmahaBlueDog Mar 2014 #26
Thank you! peacebird Mar 2014 #37
In awe. senseandsensibility Mar 2014 #27
: ) no jaw dropping needed! It will be awesome! peacebird Mar 2014 #33
Very cool! pamela Mar 2014 #28
Adding our blog to your blogroll is more than ok! peacebird Mar 2014 #47
Wow, what a great adventure and thing to benefit. May it go smoothly. uppityperson Mar 2014 #29
Hi UppityPerson, hubby is ahead of you! We have three flashy red lights on the back, and two flashy peacebird Mar 2014 #38
All I can offer is my best wishes and admiration. GiveMeMorePIE Mar 2014 #30
Thank you - do you know that one thing most TransAm folf seek out is PIE?!? : ) peacebird Mar 2014 #36
Happy Trails to You packman Mar 2014 #31
Wow! What a blast from the past! Awesome! Thank you! peacebird Mar 2014 #34
Such an awesome thing to do... one_voice Mar 2014 #35
It will be very hard, challenging, and fun! peacebird Mar 2014 #39
Please guys, let us know your take on the content on our blog, is it interesting/ok? peacebird Mar 2014 #40
Impressive! Thank you for that huge effort! calimary Mar 2014 #41
Heroic! cheapdate Mar 2014 #42
Yea, and thank you! Lunacee_2013 Mar 2014 #43
Spread the word! And maybe post some words of encouragement in the comments on our blog while we're peacebird Mar 2014 #48
No problem. Lunacee_2013 Mar 2014 #62
Wow! Way to go! progressoid Mar 2014 #44
:) peacebird Mar 2014 #50
You two are amazing indeed! classof56 Mar 2014 #45
I am very glad to know that Mom brought you a smile! She was an amazing woman. peacebird Mar 2014 #49
Amazing! Keep us posted here as well, please! eom Turn CO Blue Mar 2014 #46
We will! Cheers! peacebird Mar 2014 #51
We are in NC JanMichael Mar 2014 #52
We live in Florence! CanonRay Mar 2014 #53
This is great...Have a few questions... KoKo Mar 2014 #54
Great suggestions! We courted on many bike rides on the C&O canal and the W&OD im northern Virginia peacebird Mar 2014 #60
Would love to see that on your website! Incredible KoKo Mar 2014 #61
Wonderful suggestion, KoKo! I will update the site to include the Pyrenees to Paris, riding the peacebird Mar 2014 #63
kick Liberal_in_LA Mar 2014 #55
Bon voyage! Fumesucker Mar 2014 #56
Good luck - Ms. Toad Mar 2014 #57
Wow! This is awesome! JNelson6563 Mar 2014 #58
: ) peacebird Mar 2014 #64
That's pretty amazing!! PeaceNikki Mar 2014 #59
Thank you! peacebird Mar 2014 #65
Firstly, Good luck! Separation Mar 2014 #66
Marine? I was born on Camp LeJeune! Daddy was a career Marine from WWII through korea and Vietnam peacebird Apr 2014 #67
Semper Fi Separation Apr 2014 #68

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
3. That is wonderful, good for you both. I hope the weather is better by then.
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 06:26 PM
Mar 2014

Thanks for the link, maybe you can keep us up to date along the way?

Sarah Ibarruri

(21,043 posts)
7. Sounds great! You'll be very physically fit when you get through! And call attention to the cause.
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 06:30 PM
Mar 2014

Great luck!

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
8. That's so great, I'm in awe of such an undertaking.
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 06:30 PM
Mar 2014

Florence is a beautiful place to end any journey....

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
15. hey, peacebird, so cool. yesterday on 'On Point' they had a whole segment about that
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 06:52 PM
Mar 2014

One of the guests was a guy who writes the obits for the NYT, Bruce something or other. He was very interesting. He's done it twice and wrote a book about the last time he did it when he was 57. They talked about how most people cycle from west to east because of the winds.

I will follow your journey with great interest, rooting for you every mile.

cheers,

cali

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
18. The original Trans Am trail ends there. We will pack up our bike and take Amtrak upmto Seattle
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 07:11 PM
Mar 2014

To see the in-laws, and then take the train back to Virginia!

pamela

(3,469 posts)
28. Very cool!
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 07:39 PM
Mar 2014

I just added your blog to my blogroll. I don't have a huge readership but I have a link to you on my sidebar if that's okay. That's the best way for me to see when you update. I'll definitely follow along and encourage you. We're fulltime RVers and will be crossing the country later this summer for a wedding so maybe we'll cross paths!

Good luck!

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
47. Adding our blog to your blogroll is more than ok!
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 07:45 AM
Mar 2014

And so would meeting up if our routes cross over the summer!

uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
29. Wow, what a great adventure and thing to benefit. May it go smoothly.
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 07:39 PM
Mar 2014

My only piece of advice is put flashing lights all over yourselves, even in the daytime. And then more flashy lights for visibility. And then some flashing lights.

It sounds like a Fine Adventure and I will follow your blog, thanks for sharing.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
38. Hi UppityPerson, hubby is ahead of you! We have three flashy red lights on the back, and two flashy
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 08:14 PM
Mar 2014

white on front! All are lit whenever we are riding.

Plus extra reflectors on all panniers!
Thank you so much for your concern!!!

Please do consider posting comments once we are on the road to help keep our spirits up

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
40. Please guys, let us know your take on the content on our blog, is it interesting/ok?
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 08:26 PM
Mar 2014

I know you all have wandered over, our counter has gone from 20 to 120. How can we improve our content to make it more interesting? This is our first blog....

calimary

(80,693 posts)
41. Impressive! Thank you for that huge effort!
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 08:43 PM
Mar 2014

That's really putting muscle into your campaign. Literally!!!!

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
48. Spread the word! And maybe post some words of encouragement in the comments on our blog while we're
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 07:48 AM
Mar 2014

on the road?
: )

classof56

(5,376 posts)
45. You two are amazing indeed!
Sat Mar 29, 2014, 09:09 PM
Mar 2014

And what a worthy project you're biking for. Have bookmarked your blog, look forward to progress posts. So glad your destination is the Oregon coast. We welcome you to our beautiful state! BTW, your Mom reminds me so much of my sister, who graduated high school in the fifties and died far too soon. Her photo brought a smile!

Blessings and safe travel.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
49. I am very glad to know that Mom brought you a smile! She was an amazing woman.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 07:52 AM
Mar 2014

The Bike thanks you in advance for following the blog!

JanMichael

(24,846 posts)
52. We are in NC
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 08:11 AM
Mar 2014

PM me if you need a place to hang and do your laundry, get a couple of yummy vegetarian meals, or a beer- I can't tell from your map where you will go through NC, but we have a closed, locked garage for bikes-

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
54. This is great...Have a few questions...
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 11:33 AM
Mar 2014

you'd asked about website suggestions.

Could you explain more about your bike? It's a tandem but I don't know that much about them. Would be cool if maybe you added some background for folks who would follow about when you started riding it.

Are you camping most of the way or planning on some breaks in motels/hotels?

Sounds like a great adventure and look forward to following you.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
60. Great suggestions! We courted on many bike rides on the C&O canal and the W&OD im northern Virginia
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 06:40 PM
Mar 2014

Once married we bought a used Santana road tandem and we were hooked! We rode it for a couple years, but when Chris's grandfather died he left us just enough to buy a new Santana tandem that fit us. (XL instead of L, Chris is 6'4)
We rode that for about 18 years- loved it! We rode it from the Pyrenees to Paris following le Tour de France in 2005! It was awesome to have folks who had camped out on the mountains CHEER US as we passed by before the racers got there!
We heard "she's not pedalling" in multiple languages - LOL!

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
61. Would love to see that on your website! Incredible
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 09:19 PM
Mar 2014

"..from the Pyrenees to Paris following le Tour de France" that background would be so engaging to readers. 18 Years experience...that's pretty cool ...you might even get a "Tandem Bike Sponsor" to give some funds to your Mom's Memory for promotion of your experience which is really cool how long you both have been doing this.

Seriously....I had no idea about the Tandem Bikes for long distance or knew anything much about them. This could be cool stuff for retiring/downsized who would love to get into this.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
63. Wonderful suggestion, KoKo! I will update the site to include the Pyrenees to Paris, riding the
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 08:10 PM
Mar 2014

Womens World Cup route for the Tour of Flanders the day before they did it, and riding some of the cobbles of Paris Roubaix!
Shoot, I can even provide links to the articles i posted about those adventures in DailyPeloton.com!

That and I will mention our 20 years of tandem riding, and courting on the C&O canal!

Separation

(1,975 posts)
66. Firstly, Good luck!
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 09:08 PM
Mar 2014

I looked at the map to see if you were swinging anywhere near us, but it looks like yall are gonna be north of Tennessee. I looked at your pack list and it seems pretty good. I would just add pack a few more set of undergarments and Goldsbond, and talcum powder. Be good, keep your feet dry, your eyes open, and have a great trip.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
67. Marine? I was born on Camp LeJeune! Daddy was a career Marine from WWII through korea and Vietnam
Tue Apr 1, 2014, 08:45 PM
Apr 2014

Semper Fi!

Separation

(1,975 posts)
68. Semper Fi
Tue Apr 1, 2014, 11:34 PM
Apr 2014

My daughter was born on Camp Lejuene and my son near Miramar. Jacksonville NC probably hasn't changed much since your time there with the exception of more pawn shops and car dealers.

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