Fargo to Pelican Rapids, MN 58 miles

  Dave was there to see me off on my first day of riding.

                              

Today on the road we ran into very strong headwinds of 20 - 25 mph the entire day.  Coupled with very rough roads, and hills, it took us 7 hrs 15 min to ride 58 miles!  The winds on these prairies are not blocked by trees or buildings.  Everyone was "beat up" today!  We will all sleep well tonight!

Tomorrow on our way to Wadena they are predicting more headwinds and rain.  We shall see...

Arriving in Fargo, MN

This morning Dave, Coop and I left at 7:00 am for Fargo, MN.  We met Amy Derwinski and Mary Drennen in Rogers, and after our good byes, Mary joined us for the 3 hour ride to Fargo.

After arriving, we checked in, and went out for a quick lunch.

We then went over to the Northern Pacific Bicycle Shop to pick up Coop and Mary's bikes.

At the 1:00 meeting, we met the other riders, and were given instructions and information about what to expect on the ride.  Unfortunately, one of the things we are to expect for the next two or three days is rain!

A short Sag meeting for the sag drivers was held.  I am one of the Sag drivers, which means every 4th day I will be driving the Sag wagon.  The other three days I will be biking.

Dinner at the Radisson where we are staying was amazing.

We are headed for a 5:30 am wake up call, so we are off the get our rain gear set out, and get to bed early!  Dave will be leaving for home tomorrow morning after our send off.

Northern Tier Ride Preparations in April and May

The Minnesota winter seemed to never end this year!  Outdoor training was sporadic in April, interrupted by late season snowfalls, sleet and rain!

I took my bike over to Erik's Bike Shop for a major tune up and replacement of the cogs and chain.  Penn cycle offered a class for on-the-road bicycle repair which I took. I was hoping that soon I would be on the road!

However, April was also the month I discovered the Twin Cities Bicycle Club!  The weeks in April and May have been filled with rides every day the weather allowed.  I have been working my way up from C-rides (10 mph average) to B rides, and even A-B rides where my personal best of 18 to 22 mph for 25 miles!  Don't think I would have had this much progress if it weren't for the encouragement of the other TCBC riders!  With over 1700 members and 200 rides per month to choose from, I have been on trails I never knew existed!

Karen Cooper, aka "Coop," is flying in from the west coast on May 17th.  Coop is one of the riders I met on the Southern Tier last year, and it will be fun to see her again!  Mary Drennen will be coming in from Wisconsin, staying with Amy Derwinski, another Southern Tier rider.  The four of us are planning a mini-reunion the day before we leave.  Mary, Coop, Dave and I will be driving the four hours to Fargo on the 19th.

Palatka to St. Augustine, FL (47 miles) Thursday, April 29, 2010

This was our last day on our 58 day ride from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, Fl. The ride this day was short, and the ride was beautiful!

At the first sag stop, Lynn unveiled the new outfit for "Baby Tennessee," a mascot she picked up along the ride. Lynn and Karen Carlson created a WomanTours outfit for the occasion.

At mile 40, we all congregated at the St. Augustine Fire Department so we could ride the last 6 miles together to the Anastasia Park Beach. Even our two leaders, Carol Wilder and Linda Baldwin rode.

We were escorted to the beach by three squad cars and a motorcycle unit.

We entered the Park with the squad cars sounding their sirens and flashing their lights! There were many friends and family waiting for us with signs and cheers!

We made our way to the beach to dip our front tires in the Atlantic!

There was a picnic for friends, family and the riders where we were able to meet and celebrate our accomplishment!

Frankie, Barbara and I presented Pam Harrison with an E.F.I. award of a Southern Tier jersey. Pam was the only one who rode Every F*** Inch of the ride!

That evening we had our Last Supper. It was the last day we would all be together.

 

Poem for the Woman Tours Southern Tier 2010 Riders and Guides

We started March 5 in San Diego

With our luggage and bikes in tow;

After a brief orientation we were raring to go.

We met our two wonderful tour guides.

Carol, an ex-Navy chief, who hails from Washington,

Told us we’d have lots of fun.

Then warned us “to watch out for road snakes and tire shards;

and when there’s no shoulder, to take the lane.”

“If you follow this advice,” she added, “you won’t drive me insane.”

Linda, the chef, deserves her own Food Network show on the art of Dutch Oven cooking;

And she could be on TV, ‘cause she’s quite good-looking! (Linda suggested this line!)

During the tour she’ll prepare delicious and nutritious fare,

which will keep us fueled and regular!

The riders on the tour come from near and far,

I write about them, as they are the stars!

Frankie and Barbara run a Georgia B & B;

Barbara wears the tights, but both ride with colorful jerseys.

They’d like us all to stop by with our wallets and a smile,

And, hopefully, stay with them for a while.

Suzanne rides a folding bike “Friday.”

It has tiny wheels, but it comes through,

And enables her to get to the next DQ!

“Klass” -  Stay back 3-feet Please!!!

Doesn’t like the traffic, but soon was riding in it with ease.

Texas Sue couldn’t wait ‘til we got to her state,

She told us that “it would be great!”

Then added, “cept for the gusting winds, rude drivers, and chip seal!”

We soon discovered that that was all too real!

Linda and Lois…sisters they be.

Linda, the younger, rides with the “Ladies” in the Arizona sun,

While Lois, the elder, tries to convince the IRS that she’s not having Fun!

They room together, as sisters should.

Quilting Karen rides along like “the little engine that could!”

Her big wheels keep on turning,

But it’s donuts that she’s yearning,

As she’s rolling down the roadway.

Roberta brought along her special party “duds”.

So when we cross into a new state,

She wears her Margarita shirt to help us celebrate!

Pam is the “Queen of the Downhill”.

Her eyes light up at the top of the peak,

Soon she’ll be riding down, passing everyone like a silver streak!

Mike, Rita and Alayne like to travel in a “3-pack”.

Rita, with the blinking light, usually rides in back,

While Mike likes to stay in front and set the pace;

And Alayne rides between the two, maintaining her space.

“Baby Tennessee’s” mama, our Southern belle, Lynn,

carried that baby doll all the way;

And led us in yoga on our off-days.

Her drink of choice is “low-class redneck pink shit”.

With this group, it has become quite a hit!

The “3 Musketeers” – Katie, Kirby and Patti –

became known as “the Sweeps”.

They rode last so they could clean up after all the “peeps”.

Then in Texas, they joined the union to side with the mob,

So that none of us could take their jobs!

The “SAGS” are quite a lively group,

There’s Jo Ann, Amy, Shelley, and “Coop”.

Jo Ann has a son in Italy and has toured the Italian countryside;

So she wears an Italian racing jersey every day that she rides.

“Coop,” on cold days wore a floppy woolen hat;

And as the weather got warmer, she displayed her “tats”!

Amy, the youngster, makes us laugh, And she really enjoys a bubble bath.

She also likes to keep cool –by jumping in every lake, river, stream and swimming pool!

Last, but not least, “Oh Canada”…Shelley, the climber extraordinaire;She may be a nurse, but biking is something for which she has a real flair.

Mary, the author, from Ohio… Who knew she could climb?

If she ever comes this way again,

She’ll probably just ride the I-10!

And so, my friends, our journey ends.

We rode into St. Augustine just like we started 8-weeks ago…

We rode TOGETHER!!!

Thanks for the Adventure of a Lifetime!!!

Fondly,

Mary

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is hard to put into words the impact of this ride on all of us. We made wonderful friends, and accomplished many personal bests.  We have increased our self-confidence and changed our priorities. Thank you to Carol and Linda for guiding us through it all, providing encouragement and advice throughout. Thank you Jackie, Jennifer, and the rest of the staff at WomanTours for setting up a well-organized ride. We are looking forward to another tour with WomanTours for a reunion! 
This has been a life-changing experience! 


Rita
April 29th, 2010