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)
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