Total Miles: 1,308

Summary

After 52 days on the road, we have arrived in Fort Lauderdale for 9 days of R&R with family.  We have an aunt from Washington, a sister from Iowa, and a mom from Kansas!  We are very much going to enjoy being at rest and soaking in some quality family time.  The pups are also very happy, as 10 hands to pet dogs is certainly better than 4.  Hopefully we don’t all get soft during this little break!

We are both trying to figure out how we traveled 1,300 miles by bicycle. With two dogs!  It seems like we did everything in such short spurts that it couldn’t possibly have added up to that much.  We are also shocked at how fast time is going…two months down already!  It’s crazy, but it’s been crazy good too.

We thought some of you might have some of same questions we commonly receive these days.  Here they are!

Has it been worth it?

Yes, absolutely, and without a doubt.  We put in a lot of time, effort, and money into getting ready for this trip.  If the trip ended today, it was all worth it.  At least for a little bit, we were free.  We chased dreams.  We have lived our lives in the moment, while having incredible memories to relive and so many fun things in our future.

Do you foresee yourself finishing out the entire year?

Bring it. YES! We can’t think of a single reason to stop.  If we encounter a physical issue we can’t resolve, perhaps, but we have so many fun stops in our future, we don’t want to miss any of them.  Plus, who are we going to meet tomorrow?  What is their story going to be?  Yes, let’s roll on.

Do we argue?

No.  Is that surprising?  We work daily toward common goals, and those goals are very simple.  Food.  Water.  Shelter.  We have to be a team, all four of us.  For this trip to be successful, we have to support and care for each other.  Plus, we don’t have time or energy to argue over petty things.  How many folks argue over TV channels, toilet seats, and taking out the trash? Or even more serious things, like finances, jobs, and buying a new house?  We don’t have a TV, toilet, and no plans to buy a house.  We don’t have jobs.  And our finances are contained to 25 lines on a spreadsheet.  What is there to argue about?  Nothing important, so we don’t.

What is next?

After this visit, we’ll continue south and go at least partway down the Keys before heading back north and then west across the panhandle.  More cycling adventure to come in about a week!

• Mark, Georgia, Junebug and Biscuit