Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Not Quite The End Of The Road!


This may be the end of this leg of this ride
but it is not quite the end of the road
for I Care I Cure I Cycle!
More details later in the blog!








We just have a few more New Orleans photos
to share before moving on!




No stop in New Orleans is complete without
beignets at Cafe du Monde!  No crowd this
chilly early morning. That's a first!






The wind was whipping through the French Quarter,
Glenn's estimate was 15 MPH :)







A  visit to the Mighty Mississippi River 
was a necessity.  We started at this point last
year when we headed East to the Atlantic Ocean
and we end here this year!









You know that I have been totally honest here about
the challenges of this ride.  From 8 flat tires, to difficult
terrain, to sketchy towns and accommodations, to
desolate countryside.   There were times when Glenn's
head was giving up even though his legs were not 
giving out but we kept going!   I knew that we would
both regret giving up....so we took it one day at a time
and were triumphant and are glad that we persevered.










One of the things that kept us going along this route
was the opportunity to visit with dear old friends
(not age but length of friendship)!  Laurie Johnson Myer
wins the prize in this category since she and I were
childhood friends in Lakewood, New Jersey,  She
lives in Lotte,  Alabama and rode a segment of the ride
with Glenn last year and met us for lunch on our way 
home to Atlanta this year!  Thanks, Laurie!





The Rockin' Rider!






Thanks so much to those of you who
shared your bike signs with us! 


Honorable Mentions Go To:

Marc Chester for this one taken on
his bike at the Jersey Shore!






Fred Salmons for this sign that 
could not have been more perfect for
moments we had on this ride!







To Sam Thurston for this great
sign in Asheville, NC






The Winner has to be Fredi Pearlmutter, 
who has been sending me bike signs from
Australia and New Zealand for the last
few weeks.  All the signs below are from her.
 Fredi, your tee shirt will be waiting for you at home!

























We just booked our flights to be at the 
10th Annual I Care I Cure I Run 5K and Family Fun Day!

Why not join us?!?!
We'll be Team We Are Family!

Sunday, February 12, 2017
8:00 AM start
At Nova Southeastern University
Davie, Florida






 Just in case you think that bicycles are only
Glenn's focus when we are on the rides, I thought 
I would share some of the art work that graces
our office at home.  It is amazing how many
websites exist just to please the bicyclist!

















Thanks to all who have contributed to
this amazing collection!










Now back to our reentry into life 
off the road and in Atlanta!  Above,
the sun sets on our way home from
New Orleans, the bike resting from 
the long journey while Glenn drove
since I had done my share of driving
more than 1500 miles in 3 weeks.





This beautiful sunrise greeted us on our first 
morning waking up in our own bed!   








First thing on the agenda the first day home was 
to clean up the bike....and the car! Both had layers 
of dust and dirt which took elbow grease to remove!





This was Sunday morning....

Now the trusty bike gets a rest as Glenn 
had decided to take a few days off.  





That didn't last too long.
He was back on the bike on Wednesday to ride to work!







Just a quick update on the condition of the
SAG vehicle....After the local Buick dealer
service staff had the car for a week, it seems
that all of the little annoying problems have been
fixed!   It will live to SAG another day!

















We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful 
Thanksgiving with family and friends!
You can see above that we had a special
family day after our long journey!






We are so very grateful for all of your donations,
support and encouragement!  We are pleased
to announce that the total raised for I Care I Cure
as of today is $8800.  If you would still like to
make a donation, we would be thrilled to add to this
total and continue to strive toward our $10,000 goal.
We hope to help make it possible for any child who
suffers from cancer to have treatment that is less
toxic, gentler and more humane!






Our next route!









It is amazing that we are ready to talk about the next ride,
possibly our last.   It seems that the weather in the 
desert and the availability of our family might dictate the 
time frame.  We will keep you posted but it seems 
most likely that we will plan for the end of December 2017.
The ride will begin in Phoenix, head to San Diego and 
finish up at the Santa Monica Pier, a 500 mile ride.  This will 
complete Glenn's bicycle journey around the entire 
perimeter of the USA, more than 10,000 miles.  
Hoping for a big celebration at the end!  
   
You will hear from us occasionally through 
the year with news and updates but for now....










Friday, November 18, 2016

To New Orleans,The Big Easy! Easy Day....Now Time to Take it Easy!

Our last day of a ride is always bittersweet.
We are ready to head home but we are sad
to know that all that we planned and anticipated  
for so long has flown by so quickly!









You might notice a little bit of something white
sticking out of Glenn's helmet.   His head was 
getting a striped sunburn from the slits in his helmet.
Today a tissue protected his scalp!

I think he might need one of these to wear under 
his helmet as our friend, Warren, does!









Glenn departed Morgan City a little earlier than most
days, at 7:30, since he wasn't quite sure what the day 
would bring.   He was excited and ready to roll!







I left about two hours later and meandered
past the Port of Morgan City and along several bayous










Glenn captured this riverboat on the bayou
near the Port of Morgan City.  It turns out that
it is the Amelia Belle Casino!  Now this might
attract me to play my $5 on the slots but the
many gas station casinos along the route
were not very appealing :)








This is where I knew that my route to find Glenn today
might be a bit challenging!   Glenn had mentioned all of these
roads and there they were all at one intersection!  I called 
him to confirm which way to go.   Below are the directions
he printed out this morning for us both to follow...no mileage
and lots of turns and winding through neighborhoods.
When I finally met up with him at step 35, we decided to 
parts ways and I headed to New Orleans with 30 miles to go.



From Morgan City to Tulane University 
7 hr 0 min (85 mi)

1. Head west on Allison St toward Dr M.L.K. Jr Blvd
2. Turn left onto Dr M.L.K. Jr Blvd
3. Turn left onto US-90 BUS E
4. Turn right onto Duhon Blvd/Duhon Bypass Rd/LA-182 Frontage S
5. Turn left onto LA-182 Frontage S
6. Turn left onto LA-182 Frontage N
7. Turn right onto LA-182 E/US-90 BUS E
8. Continue onto LA-20
9. Slight right onto Par Rd 32
10. Continue onto LA-20 E
11. Turn right onto Palmetto St
12. Palmetto St turns left and becomes Patrick Dr
13. Turn right onto Vine St
14. Turn left onto Mulberry St
15. Turn right to stay on Mulberry St
16. Turn right onto Back Project Rd/Par Rd 25
17. Turn left onto Isle of Cuba Rd/Par Rd 28
18. Slight left onto Helen Park Place
19. Turn right onto Clara St
20. Turn right onto W Main St/Ms22109 133000010
21. Turn left onto Waterplant Rd
22. Continue onto Old Hwy 650
23. Turn right onto Burma Rd
24. Continue onto Grandmaw Ln
25. Turn right onto LA-1 S
26. Turn left at LA-182 W
27. Turn right onto LA-308 S
28. Turn left onto LA-182 E
29. Turn left onto US-90 E
30. Turn left onto Paul Maillard Rd
31. Turn left at River Rd
32. Sharp right onto Mississippi River Trail
33. Turn left onto LA-18 E/River Rd
34. Slight left onto LA-18
35. Turn left onto US-90 E
36. Take the I-90(E) ramp to Jefferson Hwy
37. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Louisiana 48
38. Slight right onto US-90 E (signs for LA-48 E)
39. Turn right onto Shrewsbury Ct
40. Turn left to stay on Shrewsbury Ct
41. Turn left onto Mississippi River Trail
42. Turn left toward Burdette St
43. Continue onto Burdette St
44. Turn right onto Hampson St
45. Turn left onto Broadway St
46. Sharp right at Oak St
47. Turn left toward Zimpel St
48. Turn right toward Zimpel St
49. Continue onto Zimpel St
50. Arrive at location: Tulane University





Happy to see a bike friendly area running along the bayou!








At first I thought these were cat tails.....





Until I found these!!!!









Hmmmm....I was tempted to stop in here!








Today on Facebook and Instagram I got a little cheesy 
with a caption for these pix.

"I couldn't "Bayou" a better view than this one!"

Sorry  :) 






Now I know that this is sugar cane!   
I got quite an education yesterday!













I guess the zoning here works for animals grazing in the front yard!





A Parish Road...not a state or county.






Another of these colorful eye-catching road signs in LA







One bridge closer to New Orleans
From Glenn's bike seat!









Another sugar mill in Raceland, LA











This is where Glenn and I finally found each other after
he had been on the road for 4 1/2 hours!  He was
fine and just hopped in the car for lunch.  Glenn 
headed out on his own to reconnect with me in
New Orleans on the Tulane University Campus.








Only one small glitch marred an otherwise perfect day!
Shortly after Glenn left me, he had one last flat tire!






I delighted in taking highways for the last
30 miles.  The morning of small roads and
so many turns was hard work.  This  was
mindless driving into NOLA!













Mississippi River!
Glenn said to think of him as a drop of water that
fell on the eastern side of the Continental Divide in
New Mexico and now made it to the Mississippi River!









This says, better than even Glenn could, what it feels
like on a bicycle.  Such accurate words from Ernest!











Glenn's first glimpse of the New Orleans Skyline!







My drive-by shooting of the NOLA skyline




and the Super Dome!








It was such a shame to waste this lovely area right outside of our 
room in today's hotel.  Too busy to enjoy it except for a few minutes!






Off through New Orleans Uptown District on 
the way to Tulane University to meet Glenn.














Tulane University Admissions Office

We first spent some time here in 1994 when 
our daughter, Jill, visited the campus as
a high school junior.  It turned out that she spent
all but her junior year abroad at Tulane.
That is why Glenn chose the campus as his
final destination today.  We have fond memories
of many visits to NOLA and the campus!












When Jill attended H. Sophie Newcomb College 
was the women's college of Tulane. 










                                                          


And here he comes!
Easy ride into the Big Easy!













After Glenn's arrival at Tulane, we headed to the
hotel before a celebratory dinner!




Our very Jazzy New Orleans hotel for the night











Our view for the day and night









Not a bad work area!




Today's Stats

81.77 miles on the 19th riding day of this trip!  

That old Irish blessing worked today:

May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.

These things and the 55 foot ascent today
 made for a very pleasant ride!




Glenn arrived at Tulane at 3 PM today!




We added up all of the miles for the trip and the
grand total for Glenn on his bike is 1390.62 miles!







We walked to dinner at an old favorite from Jill's
Tulane days, Mr. B's Bistro on Royal Street.




Saw some interesting things on the way.







Filming of a horror film, Half to Death, was going on just 
around the corner from our hotel. Thankfully, we only saw the trucks,
signs and crew....no action on the street at that time!




















Cheers!  What is a visit to NOLA without a Hurricane?!
I much prefer the liquid kind to the weather kind!














After eating his dinner, half of mine and a shared
dessert, Glenn decided to order Profiteroles!
Catching up on all of those lost calories!






The charm of the street car in New Orleans 
isn't lost on us!  We've enjoyed many rides up
St.Charles from the French Quarter to Tulane!






A welcome sign just for us!


This seems like a good time to share some of my feelings and thoughts about this journey and its conclusion today.  At one point, when Glenn mentioned doing this ride, I said that he would have to find someone else to drive his SAG vehicle for this one.  Nothing about driving across the desert and Texas appealed to me.  As I have each time, I finally agreed to do this trip but with trepidation.  Would we find places to stay along this route and what would we find when we reached each one?  Would we have to worry about bed bugs?  Would the roads be safe for Glenn with animals roaming or, worse yet, people who don't like cyclists on the roads? Could his body take so many consecutive days of riding for so many miles each day? Would I be safe pulling off the desolate roads to wait for Glenn?  Would we find gas and food on the route?  Would three weeks be too long?  Would our phones work?  Would anyone read the blog?  Would our little grandsons forget who we are?  Would we run out of underwear?  (By the way, we found the lost underwear and bicycle light!) Is it possible that we could actually do this and return home safe and sound?   Well, now I can say with certainty that we survived it all and are even talking about next year's ride!   

When these concerns arose, it merely took thinking about our purpose for these rides to put everything into perspective and to force me to move forward.   When my sister and brother-in-law founded I Care I Cure, I never realized how important this cause would become in our lives.  It's such a helpless feeling when a child in the family is ill and you can't do a thing about it.   We couldn't help Ian then but we can help I Care I Cure insure that other children are provided with less toxic, gentler and more humane treatment for childhood cancers.  Every ride we do helps us to feel like we are part of the solution.

Finally, I do have regrets about the journey's conclusion today. I should have planned a grand celebration at the end of the ride. When Glenn rode in I didn't have champagne, signs or confetti.  There  was no band, cheering crowd or paparazzi.  I decided right then that next year we will have family, friends and fun at the end of the ride! When Glenn rides from Phoenix to San Diego next year, he will have pedaled the entire perimeter of the US.  Now that is definitely something to celebrate!   Join us!






                                                               


One last word from my new phriend, Phlash Phelps!









I'm so thrilled to announce that our fundraising
total as of last night is $8033.  We are so grateful
to all for donations large and small!  It is not too
late to join the I Care I Cure I Cycle team!






Thanks so much for your love, support, and 
kind words through this journey!  One more
blog post soon to wrap things up!