FUN STATISTICS

Showers:                          1 (each).  Stink doesn’t even stick to us.

Tent Nights:                     3

Hotel Nights:                   0

“Rustic” Cabin Nights:    1

Meals Purchased:           0

Bug Bites:                         Don’t ask.

Earliest Rise:                    2:30 AM

Miles Traveled:                131.9

Current Food Craving:  Margarita (with salt) and queso (with salty chips)

Weirdest Thing We Saw:  Spaceship

Best quote:  “That dog has eyes like a wolf, but legitimately looks like a fox.”

RIDE SUMMARY

This beginning stage of our trip along the Outer Banks of NC has exceeded our expectations.  The weather has been warm and dry, the roads have been great, and traffic has been kind to us.  We are moving slow, and that’s by design.  We wanted to take our time and enjoy the experience, plus take advantage of this flat ground to build strength and endurance.  Like all trains, it takes a bit to get this moving!

The pups are having a great time.  Lots of people fuss over them, they enjoy checking out all the new places, and they both have embraced playing in the ocean.  Little Biscuit, the dog who is afraid of floors, will now walk into the ocean all on his own!  It is fun to see them becoming Adventure Dogs!

One of the unexpected parts of the trip has become one of the most fun for us: meeting so many new people.  We gave away our first business card 0.6 miles into the trip, and have been pretty much constantly talking to people ever since.

Health-wise we both feel great and are only getting stronger.  Our appetites, which left us for the first few days, have kicked in and now we could put a buffet out of business.  We have been eating the food we purchased before the trip, but are about to make our first grocery store stop.  It’s gonna be fun!

We have seen some beautiful scenery, so be sure to click on over to our Facebook and Instagram to get the updates and pictures!

FYI, it’s been hard for us to get electricity and internet service, so the updates have been slow.  Stay with us!

Does anyone have any questions for us?  We would be glad to answer them!  Leave them in our comments and we’ll work them into a future blog post.

– Georgia, Mark, Junebug and Biscuit

#justride

Drink some boxed wine. Come up with crazy plan. Call it “Freedom Pedalers”. Create 17 spreadsheets. Create Cloud drive to share said spreadsheets. See Garth Brooks. Research, decide, buy 114 gear items. Start daily package delivery. Research bikes. Visit 6 bike shops in Minneapolis. Visit all of the bike shops in Birmingham. [M: all 4 of them] Research organic farms. Research routes. Project daily weekly monthly miles based on pedaling 730 pounds of people, dog, trailer, and gear. Collect weather pattern data. Map out locations of stops to see family and friends. Draw a squiggly line. Build a blog.  Add Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Set up Amazon Wishlist. Create email. Research bike frame manufacturer. Hear Richard Schwinn answer the phone. Decide on Gunnar bike frames. Research, decide, buy 53 different bike components. Build custom bikes. Take first ride with clip in pedals. Fall over. Buy a puppy trailer. Test puppy trailer. Design new puppy trailer. Buy new bike trailer frame for customization. Sign up for Warm Showers and Couch Surfing. Form Eagles Nest. Test trip. Sell stuff on craigslist. Garage Sale. Donate stuff to Goodwill. Make 11 trips to hardware stores. Build custom puppy trailer structure. Sell a camping trailer. Leg press 810 pounds. Get a logo. Listen to “I Lived” by One Republic, on repeat. Eat sushi. See Garth Brooks again in case he didn’t hear us singing the first time. Yeah.. We’re “Shameless”. Doggie checkup at the vet. Quit a job. Sell a house. Say goodbye. Rent a Uhaul.  Move from Birmingham. Drive to Topeka. Visit family. Brain freeze on frozen custard. [B: om nom nom nom] Drive to Minneapolis. Create dehydrated smoothie powder. Test trip. Clip in pedals take two. Fall over. Buy bubble wrap [G: you know, for packing]. Drive back to Birmingham. Dog dog another dog horse and another horse sit. Test trip. Test dehydrated eggs. (What’s that sound?) Have a party. Get maps. Get a bike fit. Get another bike fit. Drive to Kentucky. Visit family. Get one more bike fit. Drive back to Birmingham. Rebuild one bike. Get final bike fits. Eat sushi. Drive to Minneapolis. 8 trips to REI. Research, decide, buy 28 different trip clothing items. Contact potential sponsors. Cross fingers. Sell a vehicle. Create merchandise. Test General Delivery. Forget to pick up General Delivery. Retest General Delivery. Test non organic greens for potential allergy. Fingers and toes crossed. Practice emergency maneuvers and communication signals. Create goat cheese masterpiece. [M: potential after trip career]. Quit another job. Sell stuff on craigslist. Test the bike-a-dog. Build a custom puppy trailer canopy. Donate more stuff to Goodwill. Say goodbye. Rent a Uhaul. Move from Minneapolis. Drive to Iowa. Visit family. Drive to Topeka. Visit family. More frozen custard. [JB: ice cream is gooder] Whittle possessions down to what fits on 2 bicycles.  Drive to Kentucky. Visit family. Drive to Virginia Beach. Sell another vehicle. Rent a Uhaul. 4 hours loading gear. Drive to Grandy. Pause. Breathe. Reflect on the kindness and generosity of family, friends, and strangers who become friends. Launch on epic journey. Fingers, toes, and paws crossed.

Georgia, Mark, Junebug and Biscuit
#justride

On the 13th day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, thirteen containers of fish.

On the twelfth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, twelve tootsies touring.

On the eleventh day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, eleven gloves a grippin’.

Who’s bad?

On the tenth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, ten rolls of poop bags a piling.

On the ninth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, nine tools for tuning.

On the eighth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, eight panniers packing.

On the seventh day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, seven lights a luminating.

On the sixth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, six tires a turning.

On the fifth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, five kitchen items!

On the fourth day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, four calling birds.

On the third day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, three friend pens.

On the second day before the adventure, my true love gave to me, two turdle ughs.