The great TRANSAM ride is upon us, at long last. Indeed it has commenced. Vanna, our SAG wagon, is on historic Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. (I know this, as she has a GPS tracking device hidden within her). She is towing Bendi, our trailer, full of our bikes and gear. Carl and I will rendezvous with Vanna, Bendi and their chaperones, Bill and Holly Burgess, in San Diego this weekend. The wheels are literally in motion.
I feel like an athlete sitting in the locker room just before taking the field for the biggest game of his life, facing a protagonist he’s never met. That means I am a jumbled mix of excited and apprehensive. Am I really ready? Have I prepared enough, have I prepared properly? Will the “game” go the way I’ve played it in my head on my long training rides this summer? WILL I ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO THIS?
Certainly Carl and I have prepared diligently for over two years. We have circumnavigated Lake Champlain. We have ridden the coast roads from Charleston, SC to Nags Head NC. We have pedaled to the point (and back), done the Sweet Corn Ride, metric centuries in the metro parks and most recently, I’ve logged over 160 miles on a rail trail that runs from Pittsburgh to Washington. This year, according to my GPS, I’ve pedaled over 2000 miles, posting an elevation gain of 64, 850 feet. I’ve spent over 160 hours in the saddle and I’ve burned 140,000 calories. (Thank the Lord the GPS doesn’t track how many calories I’ve consumed). I guess I’m as ready as I can be.
Yet middle age is a fickle companion. That worries me. One day I feel like a spring chicken and the next like a dead duck. Just getting out of bed I risk pulling a muscle. I used to trust my body; now when I look in the mirror I view it with suspicion. The spirit is ready and willing, the mind is focused. But will the flesh prove weak?
Well there is only one way to find out. On Monday, October 4th we start the ride. If we falter, we have Vanna. She’s not called a SAG wagon for nothing. But I don’t believe we’ll need Vanna and the Burgesses other than to provide us snacks water and encouraging words.
I am loading road songs onto my IPOD for the trip. One country song by Toby Keith has become my theme song. The chorus goes,
“I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once, as I ever was.”
Amen to that!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
People have been finding creative ways to donate
It is amazing! Thanks to all who have gone to our website and donated. Here are some of the creative pledges people have made:
3200 miles times..... 1 cent,10 cents, up to $1.50!
So much per state - there are 8 of them. (Peter was also offered money to cycle around Texas by a Texas hater)
So much per week - there are seven of them.
Carl has been offered a dollar for every bad joke by Peter that he tolerates.
(That will be expensive)
WHAT other crazy donation ideas are out there? We're up for anything (well maybe NOT anything!)
3200 miles times..... 1 cent,10 cents, up to $1.50!
So much per state - there are 8 of them. (Peter was also offered money to cycle around Texas by a Texas hater)
So much per week - there are seven of them.
Carl has been offered a dollar for every bad joke by Peter that he tolerates.
(That will be expensive)
WHAT other crazy donation ideas are out there? We're up for anything (well maybe NOT anything!)
What is our weekly route and who is riding each week?
Peter and Carl are riding the whole way. Here is the rest of the crew!
9/27- 10/1 Cleveland, OH to San Diego, CA. Bill Burgess & Holly Burgess
10/03-10/10 San Diego, CA to Tempe, AZ. Bill Burgess & Holly Burgess
10/10-10/17 Tempe, AZ to El Paso, TX. Bill Burgess& Holly Burgess
10/17-10/24 El Paso TX to Del Rio TX. Dan Fishwick, Michael Novak & Scott Emerson
10/24-10/31 Del Rio, TX to Navasota, TX. Dan Fishwick Charles Breer, Michael Novak & Sam Lombardo
10/31-11/07 Navasota, TX. to Baton Rouge, LA. Curt Johnson, Lance Armstrong
11/07-11/14 Baton Rouge, LA to DeFuniak Spr., FL. Curt Johnson Walter Ginn, Liz Tippit & Chris Hitchcock
11/14-11/21 DeFuniak Spr., FL. to St Augustine, FL. Gina Tippit, Bill Conway, Jeff Fallon & Warren Morris
9/27- 10/1 Cleveland, OH to San Diego, CA. Bill Burgess & Holly Burgess
10/03-10/10 San Diego, CA to Tempe, AZ. Bill Burgess & Holly Burgess
10/10-10/17 Tempe, AZ to El Paso, TX. Bill Burgess& Holly Burgess
10/17-10/24 El Paso TX to Del Rio TX. Dan Fishwick, Michael Novak & Scott Emerson
10/24-10/31 Del Rio, TX to Navasota, TX. Dan Fishwick Charles Breer, Michael Novak & Sam Lombardo
10/31-11/07 Navasota, TX. to Baton Rouge, LA. Curt Johnson, Lance Armstrong
11/07-11/14 Baton Rouge, LA to DeFuniak Spr., FL. Curt Johnson Walter Ginn, Liz Tippit & Chris Hitchcock
11/14-11/21 DeFuniak Spr., FL. to St Augustine, FL. Gina Tippit, Bill Conway, Jeff Fallon & Warren Morris
Where are we going to stay?
10/1/- 10/4 San Diego CA. Bay Inn And Suites San Diego (3 nts)- 3325 Midway Drive San Diego, CA 92110
10/4-10/5 Jacumba, CA. Jacumba Hot Springs Spa and Lodge - 44500 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba, CA 91934
10/5-10/6 Brawley CA. Brawley Inn - 575 W. Main St Brawley, CA 92227
10/6-10/7 Blythe, CA. Best Western Inn Sahara - 825 West Harbor Way, Blythe, CA 92225
10/7-10/8 Salome, AZ. Shefflers Motel - 66730 Hwy 60, Salome AZ 85348
10/8-10/9 Wickenburg, AZ. Super 8 Wickenburg - 1021 North Tegner Wickenburg, AZ 85390
10/9-10/11 Tempe, AZ. Quality Suites Old Town Scottsdale (2 nts)- 1635 North Scottsdale Road Tempe, AZ 85281
10/11-10/12 Globe, AZ. Days Inn Globe - 1630 East Ash Globe, AZ 85501
10/12-10/13 Safford, AZ. Safford Days Inn - 520 E. Hwy 70 Safford, AZ 85546
10/13-10/15 Lake Roberts, NM. Heart Bar Cabin(Conway/Chilcote 2 nts)- 7 Trout Valley Drive, Lake Roberts, NM
10/15-10/16 Las Cruces, NM. La Quinta Inn Las Cruces - 790 Avenida De Mesilla Las Cruces, NM 88005
10/16 - 10/18 El Paso, TX. Courtyard By Marriott El Paso Airport (2 nts) - 6610 International El Paso, TX 79925
10/18-10/19 Fort Hancock, TX. Fort Hancock Motel - 1425 Knox Ave, Ft. Hancock TX 79839
10/19-10/20 Van Horn, TX. Van Horn Days Inn - 600 East Broadway Van Horn, TX 79855
10/20-10/21 Fort Davis, TX. Fort Davis Motor Inn - Hwy 17 North, Fort Davis, TX 79734
10/21-10/22 Marathon, TX. Captain Shepards Inn Carriage House - 202 North Ave D, Marathon, TX 79842
10/22-10/23 Sanderson, TX. Outback Oasis Motel - 800 West US Hwy 90, Sanderson, TX 79848
10/23- 10/25 Del Rio, TX. La Quinta Inn Del Rio (2 nts)- 2005 Veterans Blvd Del Rio, TX 78840
10/25-10/26 Utopia, TX. Sabinal River Lodge - Hwy 187 South, Utopia, TX 78884
10/26-10/27 Ingram, TX. Hunter House Inn and Suites - 314 Hwy 39 Ingram, TX 78025
10/27-10/28 Blanco, TX. Blanco County Inn&Cottages - Cottage off Main 902 Main St. Blanco, TX 78606
10/28-10/29 Lockhart, TX. Plum Creek Lodge - 2001 Hwy 1835, Lockhart, TX 78644
10/29-10/30 La Grange, TX. Oak Motel - 227 South Jefferson St, La Grange, TX 78945
10/30 - 11/1 Navasota, TX. Best Western Inn Of Navasota (2 nts) - 8965 Highway 6 Navasota, TX 77868
11/1-11/2 Cold Spring TX. Coldspring Sunday Houses - Peach House Hwy 150 W & FTM 2025 ColdSpring TX 77364
11/2-11/3 Kountze, TX. Super 8 Big Thicket NP 990 - N. Pine St Kountze, TX 77625
11/3-11/4 DeRidder, LA. Skippers Inn - 740 N. Pine Street, DeRidder, LA
11/4-11/5 Mamou, LA. Hotel Cazan - 401 6th St, Mamou, LA 70554
11/5-11/6 Moreauville, LA Terrace Inn Motel - Tunica Drive W. Marksville, LA 71351
11/06 - 11/08 Baton Rouge, LA. Courtyard Marriott Baton Rouge Acadian Ctr (2 nts) - 2421 S Acadian Thruway Baton Rouge, LA 70808
11/08-11/09 Franklinton, LA. Liberty Inn - 1900 Washington St, Franklinton, LA
11/09-11/10 Gulf Port , MS. Gulf Breeze Cottage - 1112 2nd Street, Gulfport MS 39501
11/10-11/11 Dauphin Island, AL. Backup Cottage - Dauphin Island, AL
11/11-11/12 Pensacola, FL. Sittin on the dock of the Bay - 10334 Lillian Highway, Pensacola FL 32506
11/12-11/13 Milton, FL. Emerald Sands Inn - 6436 Hwy 90 Milton, FL
11/13-11/15 DeFuniak Springs, FL. Americas Best Value Inn Defuniak (2 nts) - 90 Business Park Road DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
11/15-11/16 Marianna, Fl. Microtel Inn and Suites - 4959 White Tail Drive, Marianna FL
11/16-11/17 Tallahassee, FL. Courtyard By Marriott Tallahassee - 1018 Apalachee Pkwy Tallahassee, Fl 32301
11/17-11/18 Madison, FL. Super 8 Madison FL - 6246 State Rd. 53 South, Madison FL 32340
11/18-11/19 High Springs, FL. High Springs Country Inn - 520 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, FL 32643
11/19-11/20 Hawthorne, FL. Lochloosa Harbor Fish Camp - 8010 US 301 Hawthorne, FL
11/20-11/21 St. Augustine Holiday Inn - 1302 N Ponce De Leon Blvd St Augustine, FL 32084
10/4-10/5 Jacumba, CA. Jacumba Hot Springs Spa and Lodge - 44500 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba, CA 91934
10/5-10/6 Brawley CA. Brawley Inn - 575 W. Main St Brawley, CA 92227
10/6-10/7 Blythe, CA. Best Western Inn Sahara - 825 West Harbor Way, Blythe, CA 92225
10/7-10/8 Salome, AZ. Shefflers Motel - 66730 Hwy 60, Salome AZ 85348
10/8-10/9 Wickenburg, AZ. Super 8 Wickenburg - 1021 North Tegner Wickenburg, AZ 85390
10/9-10/11 Tempe, AZ. Quality Suites Old Town Scottsdale (2 nts)- 1635 North Scottsdale Road Tempe, AZ 85281
10/11-10/12 Globe, AZ. Days Inn Globe - 1630 East Ash Globe, AZ 85501
10/12-10/13 Safford, AZ. Safford Days Inn - 520 E. Hwy 70 Safford, AZ 85546
10/13-10/15 Lake Roberts, NM. Heart Bar Cabin(Conway/Chilcote 2 nts)- 7 Trout Valley Drive, Lake Roberts, NM
10/15-10/16 Las Cruces, NM. La Quinta Inn Las Cruces - 790 Avenida De Mesilla Las Cruces, NM 88005
10/16 - 10/18 El Paso, TX. Courtyard By Marriott El Paso Airport (2 nts) - 6610 International El Paso, TX 79925
10/18-10/19 Fort Hancock, TX. Fort Hancock Motel - 1425 Knox Ave, Ft. Hancock TX 79839
10/19-10/20 Van Horn, TX. Van Horn Days Inn - 600 East Broadway Van Horn, TX 79855
10/20-10/21 Fort Davis, TX. Fort Davis Motor Inn - Hwy 17 North, Fort Davis, TX 79734
10/21-10/22 Marathon, TX. Captain Shepards Inn Carriage House - 202 North Ave D, Marathon, TX 79842
10/22-10/23 Sanderson, TX. Outback Oasis Motel - 800 West US Hwy 90, Sanderson, TX 79848
10/23- 10/25 Del Rio, TX. La Quinta Inn Del Rio (2 nts)- 2005 Veterans Blvd Del Rio, TX 78840
10/25-10/26 Utopia, TX. Sabinal River Lodge - Hwy 187 South, Utopia, TX 78884
10/26-10/27 Ingram, TX. Hunter House Inn and Suites - 314 Hwy 39 Ingram, TX 78025
10/27-10/28 Blanco, TX. Blanco County Inn&Cottages - Cottage off Main 902 Main St. Blanco, TX 78606
10/28-10/29 Lockhart, TX. Plum Creek Lodge - 2001 Hwy 1835, Lockhart, TX 78644
10/29-10/30 La Grange, TX. Oak Motel - 227 South Jefferson St, La Grange, TX 78945
10/30 - 11/1 Navasota, TX. Best Western Inn Of Navasota (2 nts) - 8965 Highway 6 Navasota, TX 77868
11/1-11/2 Cold Spring TX. Coldspring Sunday Houses - Peach House Hwy 150 W & FTM 2025 ColdSpring TX 77364
11/2-11/3 Kountze, TX. Super 8 Big Thicket NP 990 - N. Pine St Kountze, TX 77625
11/3-11/4 DeRidder, LA. Skippers Inn - 740 N. Pine Street, DeRidder, LA
11/4-11/5 Mamou, LA. Hotel Cazan - 401 6th St, Mamou, LA 70554
11/5-11/6 Moreauville, LA Terrace Inn Motel - Tunica Drive W. Marksville, LA 71351
11/06 - 11/08 Baton Rouge, LA. Courtyard Marriott Baton Rouge Acadian Ctr (2 nts) - 2421 S Acadian Thruway Baton Rouge, LA 70808
11/08-11/09 Franklinton, LA. Liberty Inn - 1900 Washington St, Franklinton, LA
11/09-11/10 Gulf Port , MS. Gulf Breeze Cottage - 1112 2nd Street, Gulfport MS 39501
11/10-11/11 Dauphin Island, AL. Backup Cottage - Dauphin Island, AL
11/11-11/12 Pensacola, FL. Sittin on the dock of the Bay - 10334 Lillian Highway, Pensacola FL 32506
11/12-11/13 Milton, FL. Emerald Sands Inn - 6436 Hwy 90 Milton, FL
11/13-11/15 DeFuniak Springs, FL. Americas Best Value Inn Defuniak (2 nts) - 90 Business Park Road DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
11/15-11/16 Marianna, Fl. Microtel Inn and Suites - 4959 White Tail Drive, Marianna FL
11/16-11/17 Tallahassee, FL. Courtyard By Marriott Tallahassee - 1018 Apalachee Pkwy Tallahassee, Fl 32301
11/17-11/18 Madison, FL. Super 8 Madison FL - 6246 State Rd. 53 South, Madison FL 32340
11/18-11/19 High Springs, FL. High Springs Country Inn - 520 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, FL 32643
11/19-11/20 Hawthorne, FL. Lochloosa Harbor Fish Camp - 8010 US 301 Hawthorne, FL
11/20-11/21 St. Augustine Holiday Inn - 1302 N Ponce De Leon Blvd St Augustine, FL 32084
RE: The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
Indeed, Scott, I am SURE that some of them are! I just looked for quality flop houses.
Peter F. Conway
33 Turtle Beach Lane Kiawah Island, SC 29455
&
29025 Edgedale Road Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
440-915-9241 (c)
216-378-9463 (f)
From: E. Scott Emerson [mailto:semerson@meco.us.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:07 PM
To: pfyawnoc@roadrunner.com; 'Bill Burgess'; 'Bill Conway'; 'Carl Tippit'; charles.breer@comcast.net; 'Chris Hitchcock'; 'Chris Hitchcock'; ctippit@chessam.com; 'Curt Johnson'; 'Dan Fishwick'; 'Jeff Fallon'; 'Liz Tippit'; 'Liz Tippit'; mnovak@wellspringadvisorsllc.com; 'Peter Conway'; 'Sam Lombardo'; 'Walter Ginn'; 'Warren Morris'
Cc: 'Mary Conway'; ann.harlan@jmsmucker.com; 'Ron Neill'; 'Larry Schultz'
Subject: RE: The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
These places aren’t even rated by AAA.. are you sure they are not flop houses?
From: Peter Conway [mailto:pfyawnoc@roadrunner.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 6:29 PM
To: Bill Burgess; Bill Conway; Carl Tippit; charles.breer@comcast.net; Chris Hitchcock; Chris Hitchcock; ctippit@chessam.com; Curt Johnson; Dan Fishwick; E. Scott Emerson; Jeff Fallon; Liz Tippit; Liz Tippit; mnovak@wellspringadvisorsllc.com; Peter Conway; pfyawnoc@roadrunner.com; Sam Lombardo; Walter Ginn; Warren Morris
Cc: 'Mary Conway'; ann.harlan@jmsmucker.com; 'Ron Neill'; Larry Schultz
Subject: The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
Importance: High
Open this if you dare - or if you are curious as to where you will be staying on your part of our trip.
Believe me, writing my thesis involved less research than lining up these hotels! There is something for everyone, from fleabag bargains, to fish camps, to luxury homes on the beach in Florida. And everything imaginable in between. But we stayed on budget!
If you find any to turn your nose up at (like the fish camp?), all I can say in my defense is that Carl usually chose stopping places where no man has ever stopped before. So I was forced to be creative.
Most of the places have websites, so you can see pictures and prepare yourselves as best you can. Some places have no website. They usually have no running water either, but hey, they are on the route.....and affordable.
Peter F. Conway
33 Turtle Beach Lane Kiawah Island, SC 29455
&
29025 Edgedale Road Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
440-915-9241 (c)
216-378-9463 (f)
RE: The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
These places aren’t even rated by AAA.. are you sure they are not flop houses?
From: Peter Conway [mailto:pfyawnoc@roadrunner.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 6:29 PM
To: Bill Burgess; Bill Conway; Carl Tippit; charles.breer@comcast.net; Chris Hitchcock; Chris Hitchcock; ctippit@chessam.com; Curt Johnson; Dan Fishwick; E. Scott Emerson; Jeff Fallon; Liz Tippit; Liz Tippit; mnovak@wellspringadvisorsllc.com; Peter Conway; pfyawnoc@roadrunner.com; Sam Lombardo; Walter Ginn; Warren Morris
Cc: 'Mary Conway'; ann.harlan@jmsmucker.com; 'Ron Neill'; Larry Schultz
Subject: The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
Importance: High
Open this if you dare - or if you are curious as to where you will be staying on your part of our trip.
Believe me, writing my thesis involved less research than lining up these hotels! There is something for everyone, from fleabag bargains, to fish camps, to luxury homes on the beach in Florida. And everything imaginable in between. But we stayed on budget!
If you find any to turn your nose up at (like the fish camp?), all I can say in my defense is that Carl usually chose stopping places where no man has ever stopped before. So I was forced to be creative.
Most of the places have websites, so you can see pictures and prepare yourselves as best you can. Some places have no website. They usually have no running water either, but hey, they are on the route.....and affordable.
Peter F. Conway
33 Turtle Beach Lane Kiawah Island, SC 29455
&
29025 Edgedale Road Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
440-915-9241 (c)
216-378-9463 (f)
The definitive hotel list for the Trans Am tour!
Open this if you dare - or if you are curious as to where you will be staying on your part of our trip.
Believe me, writing my thesis involved less research than lining up these hotels! There is something for everyone, from fleabag bargains, to fish camps, to luxury homes on the beach in Florida. And everything imaginable in between. But we stayed on budget!
If you find any to turn your nose up at (like the fish camp?), all I can say in my defense is that Carl usually chose stopping places where no man has ever stopped before. So I was forced to be creative.
Most of the places have websites, so you can see pictures and prepare yourselves as best you can. Some places have no website. They usually have no running water either, but hey, they are on the route.....and affordable.
Peter F. Conway
33 Turtle Beach Lane Kiawah Island, SC 29455
&
29025 Edgedale Road Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
440-915-9241 (c)
216-378-9463 (f)
Monday, September 13, 2010
FILL THIS HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY BIKE TOUR Revised September 13, 2010
0CTOBER & NOVEMBER 2010
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG: http://transam2010.blogspot.com/
If you are receiving this, it is because we continue to believe that you should be interested in supporting us or even joining us for part or all of a cross country bike tour in the fall of 2010! So, read on!
WHO AND WHY?
The core group consists of two intrepid adventurers, Carl Tippit and Peter Conway. WHY? We share a “bucket list” dream of cycling across the country. Beyond that, we plan to use the ride to raise money and awareness for a non-profit founded by Liz Tippit called FILL THIS HOUSE. (http://www.fillthishouse.org/ )So, even if you can’t ride with us, we encourage you to support us by making a donation to Fill This House once we complete the ride. Each rider is paying all of his/her expenses so 100% of all donations will go to Fill This House.
IS THERE ROOM FOR ME?
Yes! We will be joined along the route by other adventurers who will join us for one or more week long legs (stages) of the trip. See below to see who has signed up, and for what stage. The good news is that there is still room for you!
WHEN IS THE RIDE?
We will start Monday October 4, 2010 and plan to finish 49 days later on November 21, 2010.
HOW LONG IS THE ROUTE?
Approximately 3150 miles, barring wrong turns.
I AM INTERESTED, BUT I CAN’T SPEND 49 DAYS.
We are breaking up the ride into 7 week long stages. As our rest day is Sunday, we will be able to meet people at airports along the route on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, so that they can ride with us from Monday- Saturday.
WHAT IS THE ROUTE?
We will ride west to east, from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine FL. We will travel through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. We are using a route designed for cyclists by the Adventure Cycling Association. They have named it The Southern Tier. To see the route, go to their website: http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm?pg=overview
WHAT IS THE ROUTE LIKE?
To quote Adventure Cycling:
The Southern Tier Bicycle Route is our shortest cross-country route and offers a wide variety of terrain, vegetation, climate, and people all the way across the nation from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The route is rich in human culture and history -- ranging from the Spanish and Mexican influences in California, to the ancient indigenous pueblo cultures in Arizona and New Mexico, to the imprint of the Spanish conquistadors in Texas, to the bayous and French influences of Louisiana, to the Old South of Mississippi and Alabama, to a four-hundred-year-old city in Florida.
WHAT WILL BE THE DAILY AVERAGE MILES TRAVELLED?
75 miles. However, due to varying elevation changes (e.g. mountains) and some long stretches between services (e.g. desert) days will vary between 50 and 100 miles.
WILL THERE BE ANY REST DAYS/LAYOVERS?
Yes. Taking cues from the Good Book, we will bike for six days and rest on every seventh.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL THERE BE?
We will be supported by “Vanna” a small RV and trailer which will carry all of our gear, spare parts and us when needed. During the day, Vanna will be our SAG wagon, on call in case of emergency or fatigue, and meeting us at pre-ordained food/water/ rest stops. Part of the trip expenses will cover the expenses of Vanna and the various drivers who will be traveling with us.
WHERE WILL WE STAY?
We will stay in clean but cost efficient motels along the route. We are budgeting double occupancy, but you can always ‘upgrade’ to a single.
WHERE CAN I JOIN OR LEAVE THE TRIP?
Stage Dates From To Meet Us Leave Us Driver Guests Miles Av. Miles
Pre 9/27- 10/1 Cleveland, OH San Diego, CA San Diego Bill Burgess Holly Burgess 2420 485
1 10/03-10/10 San Diego, CA Tempe, AZ San Diego Phoenix Bill Burgess Ron Neill? /Holly Burgess 412 68.67
2 10/10-10/17 Tempe, AZ El Paso, TX Phoenix El Paso Bill Burgess Bill Conway (jr)? 540 90
3 10/17-10/24 El Paso TX Del Rio TX El Paso Del Rio Dan Fishwick Michael Novak 455 75.83
4 10/24-10/31 Del Rio, TX Navasota, TX Del Rio Houston Dan Fishwick Charles Breer, Michael Novak, Sam Lombardo 466 71.83
5 10/31-11/07 Navasota, TX Baton Rouge, LA Houston Baton Rouge Curt Johnson Scott Emerson 410 68.33
6 11/07-11/14 Baton Rouge, LA DeFuniak Spr., FL Baton Rouge Pensacola Curt Johnson W.Ginn/ L.Tippit/C.Hitchcock 431 71.83
7 11/14-11/21 DeFuniak Spr., FL St Augustine, FL Pensacola St. Augustine Gina Cronin Bill Conway/Jeff Fallon/Warren Morris? 410 68.33
RIDE TOTALS 3089 73.98
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN JOIN CARL AND PETER EACH STAGE?
Two. Vanna has room for five, including the driver. Stages 4 and 6 are full.
HOW MUCH WILL THE TRIP COST PER WEEK?
Approximately $1200, including $300 estimate for airfare. Here is the estimate:
TRANS AM COST ESTIMATES PER PERSON PER WEEK
DAILY WEEKLY Notes Notes
Your Part of Group Expenses
VANNA 8.5 59.5 1000 miles@.50 per mile IRS business deduction RV rental = $1400/wk
TRAILER 2.15 15.05 Quoted daily rate & tax & insurance U-Haul = 28/day
DRIVER 30 210
SNACKS 7.5 52.5
Misc grp expenses 5 35 E.G tolls, fees, parking, repairs
Sub Total 55 375
INDIVIDUAL Cost Estimates Actual will vary. Depends on where we stay and dine
DINNERS 30 210
LODGING (ea. DBL occupancy) 40 280
AIRFARE/TRAVEL (guessing here) 300
Shipping bicycle 100
Sub Total 70 890
Est Grand Total 125 1265
Check for $375 per week due to Peter Conway by September 1st
INTERESTED IN JOINING US?
If interested, give Carl or Peter a call. We have room on most stages.
0CTOBER & NOVEMBER 2010
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG: http://transam2010.blogspot.com/
If you are receiving this, it is because we continue to believe that you should be interested in supporting us or even joining us for part or all of a cross country bike tour in the fall of 2010! So, read on!
WHO AND WHY?
The core group consists of two intrepid adventurers, Carl Tippit and Peter Conway. WHY? We share a “bucket list” dream of cycling across the country. Beyond that, we plan to use the ride to raise money and awareness for a non-profit founded by Liz Tippit called FILL THIS HOUSE. (http://www.fillthishouse.org/ )So, even if you can’t ride with us, we encourage you to support us by making a donation to Fill This House once we complete the ride. Each rider is paying all of his/her expenses so 100% of all donations will go to Fill This House.
IS THERE ROOM FOR ME?
Yes! We will be joined along the route by other adventurers who will join us for one or more week long legs (stages) of the trip. See below to see who has signed up, and for what stage. The good news is that there is still room for you!
WHEN IS THE RIDE?
We will start Monday October 4, 2010 and plan to finish 49 days later on November 21, 2010.
HOW LONG IS THE ROUTE?
Approximately 3150 miles, barring wrong turns.
I AM INTERESTED, BUT I CAN’T SPEND 49 DAYS.
We are breaking up the ride into 7 week long stages. As our rest day is Sunday, we will be able to meet people at airports along the route on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, so that they can ride with us from Monday- Saturday.
WHAT IS THE ROUTE?
We will ride west to east, from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine FL. We will travel through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. We are using a route designed for cyclists by the Adventure Cycling Association. They have named it The Southern Tier. To see the route, go to their website: http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm?pg=overview
WHAT IS THE ROUTE LIKE?
To quote Adventure Cycling:
The Southern Tier Bicycle Route is our shortest cross-country route and offers a wide variety of terrain, vegetation, climate, and people all the way across the nation from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The route is rich in human culture and history -- ranging from the Spanish and Mexican influences in California, to the ancient indigenous pueblo cultures in Arizona and New Mexico, to the imprint of the Spanish conquistadors in Texas, to the bayous and French influences of Louisiana, to the Old South of Mississippi and Alabama, to a four-hundred-year-old city in Florida.
WHAT WILL BE THE DAILY AVERAGE MILES TRAVELLED?
75 miles. However, due to varying elevation changes (e.g. mountains) and some long stretches between services (e.g. desert) days will vary between 50 and 100 miles.
WILL THERE BE ANY REST DAYS/LAYOVERS?
Yes. Taking cues from the Good Book, we will bike for six days and rest on every seventh.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL THERE BE?
We will be supported by “Vanna” a small RV and trailer which will carry all of our gear, spare parts and us when needed. During the day, Vanna will be our SAG wagon, on call in case of emergency or fatigue, and meeting us at pre-ordained food/water/ rest stops. Part of the trip expenses will cover the expenses of Vanna and the various drivers who will be traveling with us.
WHERE WILL WE STAY?
We will stay in clean but cost efficient motels along the route. We are budgeting double occupancy, but you can always ‘upgrade’ to a single.
WHERE CAN I JOIN OR LEAVE THE TRIP?
Stage Dates From To Meet Us Leave Us Driver Guests Miles Av. Miles
Pre 9/27- 10/1 Cleveland, OH San Diego, CA San Diego Bill Burgess Holly Burgess 2420 485
1 10/03-10/10 San Diego, CA Tempe, AZ San Diego Phoenix Bill Burgess Ron Neill? /Holly Burgess 412 68.67
2 10/10-10/17 Tempe, AZ El Paso, TX Phoenix El Paso Bill Burgess Bill Conway (jr)? 540 90
3 10/17-10/24 El Paso TX Del Rio TX El Paso Del Rio Dan Fishwick Michael Novak 455 75.83
4 10/24-10/31 Del Rio, TX Navasota, TX Del Rio Houston Dan Fishwick Charles Breer, Michael Novak, Sam Lombardo 466 71.83
5 10/31-11/07 Navasota, TX Baton Rouge, LA Houston Baton Rouge Curt Johnson Scott Emerson 410 68.33
6 11/07-11/14 Baton Rouge, LA DeFuniak Spr., FL Baton Rouge Pensacola Curt Johnson W.Ginn/ L.Tippit/C.Hitchcock 431 71.83
7 11/14-11/21 DeFuniak Spr., FL St Augustine, FL Pensacola St. Augustine Gina Cronin Bill Conway/Jeff Fallon/Warren Morris? 410 68.33
RIDE TOTALS 3089 73.98
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN JOIN CARL AND PETER EACH STAGE?
Two. Vanna has room for five, including the driver. Stages 4 and 6 are full.
HOW MUCH WILL THE TRIP COST PER WEEK?
Approximately $1200, including $300 estimate for airfare. Here is the estimate:
TRANS AM COST ESTIMATES PER PERSON PER WEEK
DAILY WEEKLY Notes Notes
Your Part of Group Expenses
VANNA 8.5 59.5 1000 miles@.50 per mile IRS business deduction RV rental = $1400/wk
TRAILER 2.15 15.05 Quoted daily rate & tax & insurance U-Haul = 28/day
DRIVER 30 210
SNACKS 7.5 52.5
Misc grp expenses 5 35 E.G tolls, fees, parking, repairs
Sub Total 55 375
INDIVIDUAL Cost Estimates Actual will vary. Depends on where we stay and dine
DINNERS 30 210
LODGING (ea. DBL occupancy) 40 280
AIRFARE/TRAVEL (guessing here) 300
Shipping bicycle 100
Sub Total 70 890
Est Grand Total 125 1265
Check for $375 per week due to Peter Conway by September 1st
INTERESTED IN JOINING US?
If interested, give Carl or Peter a call. We have room on most stages.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Riding a bike across the USA
The Great TRANS AM Ride to FILL THIS HOUSE!
http://www.cycle4fillthishouse.org
Dear friends,
As most you of already know, on October 1st I am embarking on a trek, crossing the United States on a bicycle. This has been a long term dream. I am blessed to be able to do it with a number of family and friends. Joining me for the entire route is Carl Tippit; about a dozen others will join us for a week along the way. It should be a glorious ride.
We will start in San Diego CA on October 4th, finishing seven weeks later in St. Augustine FL on November 21st. Our route will take us over mountains, through deserts; traversing the Wild West and the Gulf Coast. Major cites we pass include Scottsdale, El Paso, Del Rio, Austin, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola and Tallahasse.
The ride Carl and I are making has a purpose beyond the dream of bicycling cross country. We are also riding to raise money for a charity founded by Liz Tippit - “Fill This House”. It does wonderful work with foster kids who have never been adopted and age out of the foster care system. Liz takes a number of them under her wing and ensures that they get a solid start as they face living independently. More information about what Liz is doing can be found at www.fillthishouse.org
We have established a web link for those of you who would like to sponsor us on this ride: http://www.cycle4fillthishouse.org You can donate in any amount large or small. The route is 3200 miles long, so if you donate only one dollar a mile….we will be most pleased!
Here are some fun ways to think of donating:
1 cent a mile - $32….. 10 cents a mile - $320 dollars….you can do the math from here!
$10, $20, $30 per state – there are 8 of them
$10, $20, $30 per week - there are 7 of them
Once again, here is the link to the site where you can donate online: http://www.cycle4fillthishouse.org
If you want to wait until we are through to donate, you can do that too. We have a blog where you can check in from time to time. The blog address is:
http://transam2010.blogspot.com
Thanks for considering helping us to fill every house for every foster kid in Cleveland.
God Bless,
Peter F. Conway
1113 Duneside, kiawah Island SC
&
29025 Edgedale Road
Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
440-915-9241 (c)
216-378-9463 (f)
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