theultimaterecyclingtour

On Friday, May 15, Adrian Verwegan and Hal Regnier began their “The Ultimate Recycle Tour” to benefit SODA (Sarnia Organ Donor Awareness).

To support Adrian's and Hal's "Ultimate Recycling Tour", please send your donation to:

SODA's office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00. We can be reached at 519-344-7777 .

Life ... A Precious Gift

New York State

Latest updates from Patricia

June 26, 2009

Last day on the road!

The guys started out from Srathroy at 7:30 a.m. under sunny skies. Just as they were leaving Adrian got his first flat tire of the trip. He thought he fixed the problem but, alas, as they were going through Warwick, the tire went flat again. They had to stop on the side of the road to fix it . This time Adrian found the culprit. It was a shard of glass imbedded in the tread of the rear tire. As Adrian said, "Oh well, them's the hazzards, so they say." The guys made it to Adrian's place in Camlache around 1:00 p.m. to rest for a while before continuing into Sarnia,to be at the Ups & Downs for 4:00 p.m. Their final stop and the end of their adventure.

Statistics: Total estimated distance; 4,414kms

Total distance travelled; 4,431kms or 2,758mi.

Difference; 17kms

Daily Average distance; 111kms or 69mi

Total days of biking; 40

Total days no biking; 0

I would like to personally thank everyone for joining us on this great adventure. It was great fun writing the stories the guys related to me of their daily events. I would also like to thank all the people who showed up to support the guys homecoming at the Ups & Downs. I know it meant alot to the both of them. They would also like to thank everyone who donated money to S.O.D.A. on their behalf. P.S. - It's not too late to donate for the cause if you haven't already.

Thank you very much again, Patricia Regnier.

June 24, 2009

The guys got underway at 6:30 a.m. under sunny skies with a 20 kms NW wind, which was in their face all day), and a very humid 30C. They said it was as if they were still in Florida. They took secondary roads to Brantford where they quit for the day at the Quality Inn at 1:45 p.m. Total distance today was 100 kms. They plan on riding to Strathroy tomorrow, then the rest of the way on Fri.

June 23, 2009

The guy's got on the road at 6:00 a.m. under sun/cloud with a slight N wind and 28C. They rode toward Niagara Falls and stopped at a mutual friend of Wayne Swanson and Adrian's from Lakeland, Florida for a little visit, then proceeded to the Rainbow Bridge, which they crossed at 11:30 a.m. Yeah! They’re in Canada, eh! They went to the Falls and took some pictures before travelling along Lundy's Lane for a while, then decided to call it a day at the Comfort Inn at 1:00 p.m. Total distance travelled today was 78 kms. Answer to yesterday's trivia: Originally there were 83 locks, now there are only 57 locks.

HEADS UP EVERYONE!!!!!!! The guys are ending their trip at the Ups & Downs on Friday at 4:00 p.m. Anyone who wants to show up to welcome them home should be there between 3:30-3:45 p.m. They will certainly appreciate the support!!!!. It's not too late to donate to the cause either. Thank you!

June 19, 2009

The guys started out on the road at 7:30 a.m. under cloudy skies with a 15 mph NW wind, which was in their faces all day, and 20C. They followed NY Bike Route #5 until they reached the Erie Canal Trail, which is an old rail track route. The guys ended their day at 4:00 p.m. in Palatine, NY and are staying at the Rodeway Inn Motel. The total distance travelled today was 94 kms. They day wasn't very eventful, so not much to say (sorry). Trivia: What are fire stations in NY more commonly called?

June 22, 2009

The guys started out on the road at 6:45 a.m. under sun/cloud with 30 km N winds and 24C. They rode west into Rochester, NY. Hal knew they were getting close to Canada because they passed by a Tim Horton’s. They ended their day at 2:45 p.m. in Medina, NY at the Dollinger’s Courtyard Motel. Total distance travelled today was 123 kms. Adrian's stats: 90% of their trip completed (reached near Rochester). At 1:00 p.m. it has been 5 weeks or 35 days of straight biking, 4,033 kms, average distance per day – 115 kms or 69 miles. Only 64 kms or 40 mi from Niagra Falls, 360 kms or 216 miles from Sarnia. Trivia: How many Locks were there originally, and how many Locks are there today that make up the Erie Canal System?

June 21, 2009 - Father's Day

The guys were on the road at 6:30 a.m. again this morning under rainy skies and a 20 km N winds. It rained for about 3 hours with the wind in their faces all the way, and more of those pesky hills. They were on the Bike Route #5 following along the Erie Canal towards Rochester, NY. Going through Madison County, they went down this one road and saw a man taking pictures of the covered bridge. Hal went up to him and asked him what he was doing, and the man told him he was taking pictures of covered bridges around the U.S.A. Hal asked him if anyone ever told him he looked like Paul Newman, and the man told him no, but thanks you just "made my day" (Ha Ha). They ended the day at the Quality Inn, in Newark, NY. at 3:00 p.m. Total distance travelled today was 107 kms. The answer to yesterday's trivia: Chittenango Village is where Frank Baum was born. He wrote “The Wizzard of Oz”.

June 20, 2009

The guys got on the road at an early 6:30 a.m. this morning under cloudy skies and 20C, with a light NE wind. The wind was at their backs all day so that helped them out a bit. The terrain was very hilly, but not as bad as before. It was very foggy up in the hills, with low visibility, but manageable. They stopped at 12:00pm in Utica at a bike shop, so Adrian could get some work done on his back wheel, and Hal bought another set of brake pads just in case. From 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. it rained constantly. They said they passed a menagerie of dead animals on the side of the road (poor animals). They decided to call it a day at 4:00 p.m. in Fayetteville, NY at the Craftsman Inn, which the guy at the bike shop told them all about, and said it was a very good spot to stop for the night. Total distance travelled today was 137 kms. They are 85% of their trip is completed. Trivia: What is Chittenango Village noted for? Answer to Yesterday's trivia: The Fire Stations are commonly known as Firehouses.

June 18, 2009

Before the update Hal and Adrian would like to say "Good Luck" to everyone who is participating in the S.O.D.A. Golf Tournament on Friday at Mooretown. The guys started out this morning at 8:45 a.m. under rain, rain, and more rain, with a SE wind and 14-16C all day! Eight hours of it! (not very good pic day) Adrian tried to lose Hal for about 4 hours, but county workers stopped Hal and told him he had better stop for a while, because his buddy was about 5 miles behind him. Hal chit chatted with the boys until he could see Adrian coming down the road. Hal's song has changed from "On top of Old Smokey" to "Singing in the Rain" (an old Gene Kelly song). They made their way back to the Hudson River, which they crossed again, only this time through downtown Albany, NY, where they got a room at the Holiday Inn Express just over the river. Their trip ended today at 4:45 p.m. Total distance travelled today was 113 kms. The answer to yesterday's Trivia is: Home of F.D.Rosevelt. (which their motel was directly across the street from). Hal was too water soaked to give me any trivia questions for today. They are just happy to be dry and in their room (they also did laundry).

June 17, 2009

The guys started out at 7:30 a.m. under cloudy skies with a temp of 14C and 10 mph NE winds. They rode north towards the Hudson River through the Catskill Mountains. Hal was a little nervous of the cats (being the dog). At 10:00 a.m. they were under the 1,000 km mark left in the trip. They rode along the Hudson River then walked their bikes across the 1 km long Mid Hudson River Bridge. They walked their bikes because it was a very high bridge and the wind was very strong. The other side of the river was Pougheepsie, NY. The guys stopped for the night at 5:15 p.m. in Hyde Park, NY at the Golden Manor Motel. Total distance travelled today was 110 kms. Trivia: What is Hyde Park, NY noted for? Answer to “what is unique about gas stations in NJ”? They don't have self serve.

June 16, 2009

The guys started out this morning at 7:30 a.m. under cloudy skies and 20C. They rode through a National Forest in NJ and saw a lot of wildlife - 5 deer, 1 fawn, 2 bald eagles, and 4 wild turkeys. They went from NJ to PA and back through NJ, over very hilly terrain. Hal didn't know whether to sing "On Top of Old Smokey" or "Down In The Valley". From 7:30 – 8 a.m. they climbed 500 feet. At 11:30 a.m. they marked 3,310 kms, which is 75% of the trip done. They ended the day at 5:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn in Port Jervis, NY. Total distance travelled today was 104 kms. Trivia: What is unique about the gas stations in NY? NOTE: Total distance so far into trip - 3,222 kms or 1,933 miles. Average distance per day- 115kms or 69miles. with 0 days off!

June 15, 2009

The guys got on the road at 7:30 a.m. under cloudy skies and 17C, with a light E wind. It warmed up to 24C in the afternoon with a sprinkling of rain. They crossed the Delaware River and as they were crossing, Hal has the urge to put his helmet on sideways and put his foot on his handle bars(like George Washington). They reached the NJ border at 9:45 a.m. This is the eighth state so far. They had a good ride North along the Delaware River and saw a lot of little streams going over shale rock and flowing into culverts. Very pretty. Story: As they were riding past a butcher/ meat market they saw a few guys standing in front. Hal wanted to hear a NJ accent so he went up to them to ask for directions. At closer inspection he realized it was Toni Soprano and his side kicks. He told them he was from Canada and asked for some directions and the guy with the two toned hair (Pauly) says, “How about making a hit for us?” Hal thought for a minute then said, "Big Girls don't Cry". Hal guessed it wasn't the correct answer, because Tony said, "get ouda heah". They stopped for the night at 5:00 p.m, in Belvedere NJ at the Hotel Belvedere (not much there). Total distance travelled today was 116 kms. At 1 p.m. it has been 4 weeks on the road. The guys want to wish Pete W. and Earl M. both a happy birthday.

June 14, 2009

The guys got on the road a 7 a.m. under sunny skies, with light NW winds and 30C. There were a lot of hills today, but not as rough as the past 2 days. They biked through Valley Forge which has a lot of history with Washington and the War of Independence. They biked for a while on a path that led to Philadelphia. Hal said it was a very long day and he was very tired, so no stories or Trivia (sorry). They stopped for the night at 6:30 p.m. in North Wales, PA at the Mariott (about 20 miles from Philly). Total distance travelled today was 116 kms. The answer to the trivia question, “what does Susquehanna mean”? Answer: Muddy Current.

June 13, 2009

The guys got on the road at 7:30 a.m. under sun/cloudy skies and 28C. They passed a lot of Amish farms and families riding in horse drawn buggies. One of the horses pulling a buggy looked over at Hal and Adrian and said to the other horse, "Check out those Donkeys on the bikes." Ha Ha! They had a lot of hills again today until they went along the Susquehanna River. It was very nice and flat for a while, and then they ran into more of those darn hills. They had to cross a 2 km bridge over the river. They reached the 3,000 km mark at 2:00 p.m. as they rode through the Mennonite country. At 4:30 p.m. Hal had to stop at a bike shop to get some new brakes for his bike. They were worn down from all those hills. They reached Denver, PA at 6:00 p.m. and stopped for the night at the Holiday Inn. Total distance today was 109 kms. Total distance so far on the trip is 3,034kms. Trivia: What does Susquehanna mean in English? Yesterday's answer: the landmark at the PA border is The Mason Dixon Line.

June 12, 2009

Sorry about the delay, but Hal had a problem with his cell phone again and we didn't communicate yesterday. Here is the update. The guys got on the road at 7:00 a.m. under sun/cloudy skies, light NW winds and 30C. The wind was in their faces most of the day and they had non-stop hills which made for a pretty tough day of biking. Hal said just like the movie, "The Sound Of Music", “The hills are alive with the sound of Hal panting.” They passed a lot of beautiful, huge farm estates, and also horse farms. They stopped for some lunch in Gamber, MA. where Adrian took up a conversation with a lady, and she thought it was remarkable what they were doing, so she bought their lunch without them knowing it until it came time to pay. She also left them some money for their next stop (what a very nice woman). They reached the PA border at 7:10 p.m. and stopped for the night at the Peach Bottom Inn (he didn't tell me where) at 7:30 p.m. Total distance travelled today, 135 kms. Trivia: What is the landmark at the Pa. border?

June 11, 2009

The guys got on the road at 7:00 a.m. under cloudy skies and a humid 27C. They continued on the Mt. Vernon Trail which ran right at the end of the runway at "Ronald Raegan Airport" and stopped for a break and saw many huge planes take off right on top of them. Cool! They went over the Arlington Memorial Bridge and into Washington D.C. at 8:30 a.m. The rode down Pennsylvania Ave. to the Whitehouse and took some pics. A big motorcade went by with 12 motorcycles and about 6 black vehicles. Hal said he saw someone in the back seat of one of the limos wave at him (Ha, Ha). After doing a bit of sight-seeing, they rode on the Rock Creek Trail N. towards Maryland which they reached at 11:30 a.m. Maryland is their sixth state so far. Along the trail they met a woman named Patricia D. who wrote a note on the web site ( if anyone wants to take a look). They stopped for the day at the Comfort Inn, in Gaithersburg, MD. at 3:30 p.m. Total distance travelled today was 64 kms. The answer to yesterday's trivia question is “Dumpfries is the oldest town in Virginia”. Today's trivia doesn't come from the guys, but from an old 50's TV quiz show called "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx. Who is buried in Ullysis Grant's tomb?

June 10, 2009

The guys got started at 6:40 a.m. under sun/cloud and 30C with light SE winds. They took HWY #1 and had to go over many hills and had to be extra careful because of all the traffic. At noon Hal noticed his back tire was pretty low, so he stopped and found a small wire sticking out of it. They had to change the inner tube before heading on (Hal ended up buying another one in Alexandria). They stopped at the Mt. Vernon Inn, which was once part of George Washington's estate, for lunch. They rode along the Mt. Vernon bike trail which follows the Patomic River into Alexandria and stopped for the night at 4:00 p.m. at the Hampton Inn. Total distance travelled today was 94 kms. Trivia question: What is the claim to fame for Dumpfies, VA? The answer to yesterday's trivia is General Stonewall Jackson was shot by his own Confederate soldiers, three times in the left arm and once in his right arm. They had to amputate his left arm, and a week after the operation, he died of pneumonia.

June 9, 2009

The guys got on the road at 7:00 a.m. under sun/cloud and 30C. They rode through rolling farmlands in the heart of the Civil war battles. Trivia question: Ironically, how did General Stonewall Jackson die? In less than 2 days they will be riding through Washington, D.C. They’re not sure if they are going to go to the White house for dinner while there. They stopped for the day at 12:15 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in Fredericksburg, VA. to get rested up for the long trip tomorrow, and also to do a few things that needed to be done. Total distance travelled today was 69 kms.

June 8, 2009

The guys left at 7:45 a.m. under sunny skies and light S winds. They rode through downtown Richmond, which looked very tired. It seemed to have had it's heyday in the 50/60's (kinda scary now). The roads did not have any shoulders for the guys to ride on which reminded Hal of the days when his oldest son was racing motorcycles in Daytona. Hal heard the pro tell the amateurs not to go from side to side, but to keep their line. Hal has a saying, "Keep on your line and you'll be fine". One p.m. today marks three weeks on the road. They have averaged 121 kms (73miles) per day. They appreciate the comments - keep them coming! We would all like to wish Lynn a very happy "60th" birthday! (Hope you had a great one!) The guys arrived in Ashland, VA at 3:00 p.m. where they got a room at the Twin Oaks Motel. Total distance travelled today was 83 kms.

June 7, 2009

The guy's left at 7:45 a.m. under fog. It cleared up in the later morning to mostly sunny skies with a light S wind and 30C. They rode mostly through rolling hills and farmland. They didn't see a gas station or restaurant all day. They saw a couple of deer, and in the low lying swamp areas they saw a few beaver dams. Hal said he saw a badger run across the road and under a porch. Adrian said he saw a few geckos running across the road as well. They had to do some recalculating because they missed a couple of turns. They went out of their way for about 10 kms. Hal said they saw a lot of family cemeteries in the front or side lawns of people’s property in the Carolina's. On one of their brief stops a man let them fill up their water bottles with fresh spring water because he said the tap water had a funny taste to it. They reached Hopewell, VA at 6:00 p.m. and are staying at the Best Western. Total distance travelled today was 142 kms. Quite the long day! They both sound in good spirits, and are ready for a good nights' sleep.

June 6, 2009

The guys left at 8:00 a.m. under rainy skies and 10 mph N winds, with a temperature of only 22 C. They had rain and wind in their face pretty much all day. They took a short-cut, not on the biking route, because they didn't like the sound of "The Dismal Swamp". They drove by some more farms today - tobacco, corn and a very pleasant and unique smell of the flowering cotton fields. They reached the Virginia border at 4:00 p.m. (this is their 5th state). They reached Suffolk, VA and got a room at the Best Western around 6:15 p.m. The total distance travelled today was 134 kms. The answers to the two trivia questions: What is Bath famous for? - It's the oldest town in NC built in 1705. What was invented in New Bern in 1898? - Pepsi Cola.

June 5, 2009

The guys started today at 7:15 a.m. under cloudy/little sun skies, with 10-20 mph S winds and a temperature of 35C (doesn't this sound familiar?) They decided to take a "bike tour of the waterfront of Newbern" (wrong way). They rode over the Neuse River. Hal got a wire caught in his rear wheel, but he stopped quickly so there was no damage. (Whew!) They drove by a Phosphate Plant before taking a Ferry over the Pamlico River, which took a half hour and there was no charge. They stopped in Bath for lunch at 1:00 p.m. Trivia question: What is famous about Bath, NC? The guys rode down rural roads where they went through a 10 minute downpour and within three hours they were chased four different times by dogs. The first time there were two labs, the second time there were two shepherds, the third time there were two pitbull/boxer mix. NOTE: "This is the only time Hal was in front of Adrian during the trip." The final time there was a Heinz 57. Hal finally stopped and yelled at him, and he ran away (wouldn't you?). Hal had an "Andy Rooney" moment. They were riding through very beautiful scenery - woodlands, planted fields, and farmsteads. What ruined it all was the roadside trash which was everywhere! And they say "America the Beautiful". Hal and Adrian arrived in Plymouth N. Carolina at 3:50 p.m. and are staying at the Holiday Inn Express for the night. Total distance travelled today was 126 kms.

June 4, 2009

The guy's left the "Beach Boys" at 7:00 a.m. under sun/cloudy skies with 10-20 mph S winds and 35C. A lot of Military trucks passed by on their way to the Marine base (Lejeune). They passed a lot of soybean and corn farms. They said they could have been in Southern Ontario if they didn't know any better. The only difference was there were also tobacco farms. They hit a new milestone today - they reached the 2,000 km mark at 10:00 a.m. Their trip ended at 3:40 p.m. today in New Bern NC, at the Hampton Inn. Total distance travelled today was 122 kms. Trivia question: What was invented at New Bern in 1898? Answer to the Chubby Checker trivia -- Andrews, SC. The answer to the buried treasure trivia ---- Black Beard.

June 3, 2009

Note: the two bikers the guys ran into yesterday are from England. The 71 year old worked for Rolls -Royce and they live not too far from where they make Waterford Crystal.

Hal would like to thank everyone who tried to call him on his birthday.

The bike fairy fixed Hal's cell phone for him today. He took the battery out, and then put it back in. Presto, it worked!

They guys got on the road at 7:45 a.m. under sunny skies, with 10-20 mph SE winds. The temperature reached around 35C. They rode to Wilmington, N. Carolina to the Two Wheeler Dealer Bike Shop, and had their rear cassettes and chains replaced. Hal said they took the bikes in right away and only took 2 hours to do a fantastic job. At 3:00 p.m. they reached Hampstead, which is the biggest Seafood Distributer in the Carolinas. Hal said he found a new species of Turtle which he will name Flat Head. (bad joke). A few days ago they were twisting with Chubby Checker, today they’re jiving with the Beach Boys in Surf City, N. Carolina. They arrived there at 5:00 p.m. and are staying at the Island Inn Motel. The Marine Camp, Lejeune, nearby. Total distance today was 102 kms.

June 2, 2009

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY HAL!!!!!

The guys started off at 7:15 a.m. under sunny skies with a temperature of 35+ C and light SE winds. They passed by tobacco fields which reminded Hal of his tobacco days of suckering and hanging the tobacco. (Oh the good ole days!). They reached the North Carolina border at 11:00 a.m. They met two gentlemen who were biking from Boston to Key West. One gentleman was 65 years old and the other was 71 years old. They were biking for the construction of a Medical Center. (Good for them! Keep on biking!) Adrian has a trivia question for everyone. "What pirate was said to have buried treasure on Oak Island in Cape Fear?" They took a 25 minute ferry ride across Cape Fear to Kure Beach where they stopped for the night at the Moran Motel at 5:30 p.m. Hal was registering for the room when he dropped his cell phone and the battery fell out, so anyone who wanted to call to wish him a happy birthday couldn't. Of all days to break his phone! Hopefully tomorrow, when they go two hours up the way to get their bikes worked on, there is a Walmart where he can get his phone fixed. Total distance travelled today was 131 kms.

June 1, 2009

Hal and Adrian would like to thank Mayor Mike Bradley for his support and best wishes. Today the guys got on the road at a very early 6:20 a.m. under clear skies. The temperature got to 35+ C; very hot and humid with light S winds. They rode though Francis Marion National Forest and Adrian, being a little ahead of Hal on the road, saw a deer. Trivia question to all the 1960 twisters: where is the home of Chubby Checker? Around 1:00 p.m. they were riding along when they saw two horses standing under a nice shade tree. Hal heard one horse say to the other, "And they call us dumb animals!" (for being in the hot sun). HA HA! Nearing Conway S. Carolina, they were riding into some pretty scary looking clouds and strong winds, so they picked up the pace to get to some shelter before bad weather hit. They made it just in time stopping for the night at the Conway Inn and Suites motel, about 15 minutes from Myrtle Beach. Actual biking time today was 7 ½ hours with a distance of 145 kms.

May 31, 2009

The guys left at 6:40 a.m. to get a head start on the heat. It was mostly sunny with a few clouds and mild SW winds, but the temperature got up to between 95 – 100F. Thankfully the roads travelled had a lot of shade trees to help out until around noon. At 11:30, Hal heard the human GPS (Adrian) say, "Recalculating, Recalculating". They were supposed to turn 2 kms back; it was not a well marked intersection. At 12:30 p.m. they stopped for some Chinese food and Hal, not thinking it hot enough, had some curry chicken to heat himself up more. They went by a native reserve named Four Holes. They ran into a sign which read "Bridge Out, Road Closed" but they decided to go through the barricades to see how bad the situation was. Only half of the bridge was being worked on, so they did a JTA (for the boys from work) risk analysis and decided it was safe to go. They stopped at 3:30 p.m. for the night in Moncks Corner, S. Carolina at the Berkeley Motel. After a hot and muggy ride they took a well deserved swim in the pool. Total distance travelled today was134 kms. P.S. Hal called back at around 7:30 p.m. and it was still 95F in the shade.

May 30, 2009

Before I give the update, Hal and Adrian want me to let everyone know that they appreciate all the supportive comments on the web site. The guys got on the road at 7:10 a.m. under hot and humid sunny skies. The temp was 35C with light variable clouds. They travelled down rural side roads and through many pine forests. They passed a lot of Baptist churches, old and new, and saw a lot of dead Armadillos on the side of the road. They hit another milestone in the trip. They reached the South Carolina border at 11:15 a.m. while crossing the Savannah River. They stopped for the day at the Point South Best Western beside Interstate 95, outside of Yemassee, S. Carolina at 3:00 p.m. They took the opportunity to dry out their tents in the hot sun. They are going for dinner, then relaxing and watching some of the hockey game before shut eye.

May 29, 2009

The guys were on the road at 8:00 a.m. under sunny/cloudy skies and a very hot/ humid 35C. They travelled along rural roads until 12:00 p.m. when they got a room at the Quality Inn and Suites in Statesboro, Georgia, where South Georgia University is located. They decided to take a half day off to do laundry, and recoup their bodies because they have a couple of tough days ahead. Total distance today was 75 kms.

May 28, 2009

The guys got on the road at 7:00 a.m. under sun/cloudy skies and 35C with mild SW winds. They stopped for lunch at 1:00 p.m. at the Blue Jay Restaurant in Odum, Georgia. They rode all day through the Bible Belt. According to the master GPS (Adrian), they are about 25% through their trip. Today was their toughest ride so far into their trip because of the hilly terrain. Hal had difficulty with his shifter and Master Mechanic Adrian fixed it for him. Total distance traveled today was 144 kms. Congratulations guys! The furthest yet! Hey everyone! Hal's " BIG 60", is on Tuesday June 2nd. Don’t forget to wish him Happy Birthday!!!

May 27, 2009

The guys got on the road at 6:30 a.m. under sun/cloud/rainy skies with a mild SW wind and 35C. They had to ride in different directions to find a safe road for bikes. They rode on the Okefenokee Pkwy for a while. There were still a lot of logging trucks on the road. They stopped in Folkston, Georgia for some lunch. The guys hit two milestones today. The first was at 7:30 a.m. while still in Florida. They reached the 1,000 km mark into their trip; second, they reached the Georgia state border at 8:15 a.m. They stopped for the day at 5:00 p.m. at the KOA campground, which was closed, so they rode into the village (Atkinson) and stopped at a store to inquire about the camp ground; the lady was very helpful. She told them the campground has been closed for 2 years, and that developers had bought it. She knew the phone number of the caretaker, so she called him. Gus is his name, and he is an old army vet. Gus and the boys shot the breeze for a while, and Gus let them stay there for the night free of charge. The campground still has running water and port-johns, so they were fine. Gus also told them, there was a couple of grey fox dens close by, so Hal went and took a look. He saw a fox sticking his head out of the den. They had quite the gourmet dinner for the tonight. Adrian had spam, corned beef, and a can of sliced Georgia peaches. Hal had chunky steak and potato soup (cold out of the can), sliced pineapple in the can, and they are both shared peanut butter on hamburger buns. Yum, Yum. Total distance travelled today 131 kms.

May 25, 2009

The guys started out this morning at 7:30 a.m. under sunny skies and 20C, with 10km NE winds. Travelling along Hwy A1A they stopped for lunch at 11:00am in St. Augustine. It warmed up to 35C with the wind in their faces. Their average speed so far into the trip has been 20 km/hr, except for today, which was 18 km/hr. They stopped for the night at 4:00 p.m. at the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville). Hal sounded pretty tuckered out from riding against the wind all day, so it was early dinner and straight to bed. He didn't even have anything funny to write he was so tired. Poor guy!

May 24, 2009

The guys didn't get on the road until 9:15 a.m. today because they were waiting to see if the Shuttle was going to land. It didn't, so they left. It was 34C with a mixture of rain/sun and mild SE winds. There was quite the change in real estate. Like the song goes, "From Debutante to Trailer Trash". They stopped at the Daytona Speedway to watch the boat races (from all the rain). They saw a Gopher Tortoise cross the highway and Hal says they have heard and seen Cardinals all the way so far. They ended their ride today at 5:00 p.m. in Flagler Beach, Fla. at The Lazy Hours Motel, which is across the road from the ocean. Total distance travelled today was 116kms.

May 23, 2009

The guys were on the road at 7:07 a.m., still on Hwy #1A, under cloud/rain. Further down the road it was sunny/cloud and 75F with mild S.E. winds. Adrian was in the lead; (human GPS), and Hal followed (sight-seeing). They stopped at Coco Beach and found a bottle of "Canada Dry" washed up on shore. Hal rubbed it and out popped a Genie. She said: "Sorry guys! I'm still involved with the astronaut from the 70's". They stopped and took a picture of the V.A.B (Vehicle Assembly Building) where the shuttle is put together. They stopped at a Clarion Hotel in Titusville at 3:45 p.m. They are hoping the shuttle will land at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Their hotel is the closest one to the launch pad and landing. If the landing doesn't happen then it was a great time to dry out the tents and equipment. Total distance today was 118 km.

May 22, 2009

The guys were back on the road at 7:30 a.m. under sunny/cloudy skies and strong SE winds, with a temperature of 34C. With the wind at their backs, they used their shorts as sails. They went through Jupiter where some of Bernie Madoff's ex-clients live (a lot of FOR SALE signs). They couldn't believe it, but they saw even more opulent homes than in Palm Beach. Adrian and Hal stopped in Ft. Pierce for lunch at 1:00 p.m. and they were on the road again by 2:00 p.m. Shortly after getting back on the road, they ran into a torrential thunderstorm with lots of lightning. They took cover under a picnic shelter near the Navy Seals Museum for about an hour and then were back at it until 5:00 p.m. when they reached Verno Beach. They got a room at Sea Spray Gardens Inn, a “mom and pop” motel. It was a good night to do laundry. The total distance today was 116 kms.

May 21, 2009

Adrian and Hal were on the road shortly after 8:00 a.m. under both sunny and cloudy skies, with strong SE winds off the ocean and temperatures of 34C. Hal said goodbye to Detective Horatio from CSI Miami. The only wildlife they saw was a couple of Manatee in inland waters and some large Iguanas. Hal said nobody told the people of Palm Beach that there is a recession going on because they went by hundreds of huge Mansions and Yachts. They were in total awe of how many and how huge they were. There have been no incidents or near misses so far on the road. Hal and Adrian reached Juno Beach, FL at 6:30 p.m. travelling 136 kms today. They booked into a Holiday Inn while a big storm and heavy winds went through. They did maintenance on their bikes, went for a swim, and then brought a salad back to the room for dinner at 9:30 p.m. Adrian has been taking pictures of everything, but so far hasn't been able to send them. Hopefully we will have photos soon.

May 20, 2009

The boys finally got to bed after 11:00 p.m. and got up again at 5:30 a.m. They left Key Largo at 7:30 a.m. under sun and cloud; temperatures reached 34C during the ride. Hal and Adrian cycled through Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, but they only saw mangroves and maybe a croc or two during their 100 kms along that stretch. They rode their bikes through downtown Miami and went over the causeway to Miami Beach where they got a room at a Days Inn at 5:45 p.m. Hal says the bike trails and the trees don't get along (meaning the roots come through the pavement and make it very bumpy; the branches don't feel good either).

Day 2

Adrian and Hal got rained on last night, so they were a little late starting off, leaving Big Pine Key Lodge at 9:00 a.m. under cloudy skies and 71F. They saw a school of Dolphin fish on their way out, and reached Seven Mile Bridge at 10:30 a.m. Adrian and Hal cycled through rain showers off and on along the way, reaching Key Largo State Park around 6:30 p.m. The distance travelled today was 118 kms. They went for dinner at The Fish House, and did some laundry back at the camp ground while it rained on and off. Both men are feeling good, but a little tired.

Day 1

Adrian and Hal arrived in Ft. Myers on Sunday around 10:20 a.m. They got the bikes together, went for a swim, then went for dinner before turning in for the night. They got on the Express Cat and left Ft. Myers around 8:30 a.m., and arrived in Key West around 12:30 p.m., going through two storms along the way. They rode their bikes to the southern most-point in USA, took pics, then headed out on Hwy #1. seeing big Iguanas, and Key Deer along the road. Adrian and Hal stopped at 6:00 p.m., 54 kms. into their trip, at a place called Big Pine Key Lodge and ordered pizza before turning in for the night.

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