The Wheelers

What was supposed to be a one night Couch Surf turned into 3 days of Covered Bridge pizza, bicycle cleaning and maintenance, delicious homemade cookies, the great search for Geoff's bicycle shifter, home cooking, lots of warm showers, comfy bed and you both coming to our rescue.... oh yeah, and I finally ate my first Brussel sprout.

Thank you so very much for all that you did for us. We enjoyed meeting you both. We will definitely stop by North Kingsville on our ride to Colorado next year.

In Ohio

I know it has been over a week since I last updated this blog. SORRY! It is well known that I can be a slacker with these things. The good news is I do have lots and lots to write.

Currently we are in North Kingsville, Ohio. If things go as planned for tomorrow we will be crossing over into Pennsylvania. Ohio has been a great state to bike through. There have been bike trails, waves and smiles from people we pass and nicer dogs. The terrian has also helped us bike some pretty impressive days. We completed another century ride last week from Covington, KY to London, OH. It was an awesome day especially since 80 of those miles were on a bike path. With no cars to compete with it made the century a much more enjoyable trip. The day after that we biked 90 miles and the next day 80. Hooray for our booties, they survived without too many aches.

Finally Some Pictures!

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks.
Geoff and I at the top of Hoosier Pass. The highest pass we climbed on this trip.

Crossing into to Kentucky on a ferry.















One of the many grain elevators of Kansas.














Geoff's photo titled.... "Beautiful Sunset in Kansas #62"
It's from a series.

Thank You Kentucky!

There have been so many people who have been generous to us on this trip. Geoff and I are truly thankful to everyone who has helped us along the way.

In Dry Ridge.... Ed from Warm Showers hosted us for a night. He had just recently finished the Southern Tier route. He made us dinner, we talked bikes and Geoff especially enjoyed the sunset from his back porch. Thanks Ed!




In Covington.... We stayed with the Ecklers. Donna and her family treated us right at home. Lasagna, ice cream, and waffles for breakfast... our tummies were so happy. Donna even dropped us off at a local brewpub that we wanted to go to. Oh yeah and in the morning they sent us away with bag lunches. We definitely felt like part of the family.

We will definitely be keeping in touch! Thanks Again!

and to the doggies that like to chase, bark and growl... i am sorry for the pepper spray, but hopefully you will be nicer to the next cyclists that come your way.

danielle and geoff

Heading North

Hello from Indiana!

We have been wavering for weeks with where we will end this trip. Originally we were planning for Maine, then we thought about Connecticut (how cool would that be) and then we thought maybe we would just ride the TransAmerican bike route all the way to Virgina (it is the much shorter option). Well we have come up with a decision.

Drum roll please.......

We are going to end in Connecticut. Yesterday we switched trails and are now heading north on the Underground Railroad bike route. We knew we had to decide by Whitesville, KY and yesterday was the day we rode through the little town. We had to find our way to the other route with a little navigation, some help from locals and some luck, but we are on it now.

Here is an overview of what the route looks like:








and a link to the maps

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/undergroundrailroad.cfm

Currently we are on map 3 in Corydon, IN.

We will later hook up with the Northern Tier bike route and then head south through Vermont. We have no bike route maps for Vermont, but at least we are well familiar with the roads and elevation changes.

Good Bye Missouri

We are out of Missouri and in Illinois. The crazy thing is.... tomorrow we should be in Kentucky. Phew that seems fast!

Missouri did show us quite a few things. The Ozarks are steep. They are short hills, but sometimes I felt like I was going to fall off backward from my bike. There are lots of doggies that like to chase people on bikes. I finally had to spray my infamous dog pepper spray called Halt. I though Lassie was suppose to be a nice dog, but showing teeth, growling and coming after me were to much. I think I taught her a lesson. I hope I don't have to use it again.

We also met some wonderful people.
In Ellington... Wayne a fellow bicyclist and triathlete let us stay at his house, cooked us and amazing dinner, let us do laundry and shower. Wow it was awesome. His wife Betsy was out of town. Wish we could have met her too. Thanks to you both.

In Farmington... Geoff and I stayed at the White House Bed & Breakfast. When we checked in we had plans to stay one night, but after Ann spoiled us with baked treats and wonderful conversation we decided to take a day off and spend the next day there as well. It was so nice to get to read the Sunday paper, nap and relax.

Oh yeah... and I finally made Geoff eat at a Sonic in Missouri. We have passed so many and never stopped. I just had to try it out. I have seen so many commercials for it while in Connecticut (although there are none in the state). The banana split shake was yummy. I wouldn't eat it on a normal day, by when you are biking calories don't count.

will update again soon,
danielle & geoff

TransAmerica Route

Many have been wondering exactly where the TranAmerican Route takes us.

This picture from the Adventure Cycling website shows a general overview.

If you follow the link below it will take you to all the maps we use which are more indepth.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/transamerica.cfm

Currently we are in Hartville, MO and that is located on Map 9.

Lots of love,

Danielle & Geoff

Geoff's first post on the blog

I have been a slacker so far with the blog. Thanks Amy and Danielle for doing all the work.
Well we made it through Kansas with no Tornado's. I kind of wanted to see one and maybe meet the Wicked Witch of the West. Kansas was a great state to ride through without many hills and the nicest people I have met anywhere. Now we are starting our journey through Missouri "the show me state". Show me what? is the question that I have been wondering for the last 30 miles. We are currently in Golden City, MO where we had lunch and some awesome pie at Cooky's Cafe. So far Missouri has been great with the wind at our backs and nice roads. Hopefully I can keep from throwing up my giant lunch and enjoy the rest of the day. Tomorrow we enter the area of the Ozarks and rumor has it that we will be climbing lots of steep hills.

Friendly People of Kansas

Buhler, Kansas
Possibly the nicest town we have encountered on this trip.... (all respects to Dayville, Oregon). We met two lovely couples while we were there.
Sheri and Mike.... had us over for coffee and a wonderful breakfast spread on the 4th of July.

Willie and Courtney.... had us over for ice cream and to watch fireworks.

Cassody, Kansas
Diane and her sons.... invited us over to their cabin on Fox Lake for the 4th of July. We took showers, went swimming, washed clothes, kept our beer cold in their fridge and were entertained by the boys.

Hepler, Kansas
Pastor John at Immanuel Lutheran Church.... Gave us fresh vegetables from his garden, an air conditioned place to sleep, warm shower and cooked us a yummy breakfast.

Thank you Kansas for leaving a lasting impression on us.

The Bryans of Buehler

Second Century Ride

July 1, 2008

Tribune, Kansas - Bazine, Kansas
We had a lovely day wih a tailwind for the most part of it. . Geoff and I planned on doing a 70 mile day, but when it was noon and we had already covered 50 miles we decided to push through for a total of 117 miles. The goal for the day was Elaine's Bicycle Oasis B&B. A lovely welcoming home that Elaine and her husband Dan have opened up to bicyclists. Geoff even got to drive some of Dan's farming equipment. I was kept busy with their beautiful Golden Retriever puppies and some nice quiet time. If only I had a home I probably would have taken one off their hands.

In Kansas

Yesterday we arrived in Kansas. Exciting? Not really, but it does mean we are progressing in our trip. Instantly as we crossed the border we were hit with a head wind. Kind of funny since it is what we have been told to expect in this state full of grain elevators, flatness and wind. We have started seeing lots and lots of tourist headed westbound. It's fun to see them in the distance getting closer and closer.... especially since the animal sightings are pretty much nonexistent these days except for lots of dead snakes on the roads.

Will write more soon.
Geoff & Danielle