Touring - an adventure worthy of closing out 2009

copy+pasted+oops from long distance, i newbed it.
Self brag about my first long distance ride:

So, to start this off, you should first know that I love riding, and I really love riding, but I'm not really a bike enthusiast, I just simply can't afford to get into the sport. See I ride a POS wal-mart schwinn varsity that I only paid 100 for new. I've had it for about a year and a half now, and its the perfect beginners bike, hands down. Perfect, because you can train easily on its 25+ lb frame, and because I now know how to fix anything on my bike, because at 1500 miles, every oem part has passed away, save for the frame and fork.
Alright, second detail to note: as of this past September, I have been without a car, and have been riding Jamie (my schwinn) all about South Florida as my sole source of transportation.

Third important fact: evicted on Dec. 1st, 2009
So, I did what any other 21 year old kid would do when he finds himself homeless:

I packed a bag, bought a crappy schwinn rear rack, threw some stuff in a backpack, and rode to the beach. Then I rode north, and kept riding I guess until I found myself here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...c&id=892365273

I had a blast, it was an incredible adventure. No, I didnt bring any money, no, I didnt really bring food, no, I didnt have places to sleep, yes, that all made it so much better.

so the stats areeee:
-600 miles
-7 days-120mi max in one day
-60mi min in one day
-80mi avg

some facts:

-went by myself
-used self timer on my phone's camera
-brought 20 bucks, spent instantaneously on food/tubes
-Lost 5 pounds
-did not train at all
-got 8 flats
-was almost murdered in Georgia
-four loko was a bad choice
-beautiful weather all the way up, temp never dropped below 55 at night.
-developed temporary tendonitis in my knees (raising my seat solved the issue, duh)
-met awesome random people
-I gathered plenty of material to write about, which is fortunate for my aspirations as a corny writer (eng major).

I wish others would take the initiative to deviate from the routine, for just one week at least, and abscond into the uncharted territories of life.

some more pics:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=892365273

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...f&id=892365273

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...c&id=892365273

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...a&id=892365273

http://go.bikeforums.net/?id=42X129555&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Fpid%3D10148931%26l%3Ddc90ae9256%26id%3D892365273

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...5&id=892365273

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Wow. Big adventure, eh? Would love to read about your ride. Can you share some of the stories with us?

Very cool and impressive. It's great to do stuff like that while you are young. I spent 2 months hiking the Long Trail in Vermont when I was about your age, and always wanted to hike the entire Appalachian Trail but couldn't afford it when I had the time.

I recognize the photo of the Savannah River bridge. I rode my first bike tour while living in Savannah and have many fond memories of living there.

How did you eat for 7 days with no money? Where did you sleep at night?

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Hope you don't mind making your photos show up for everyone.

dude, thanks actually!

uh, I'm in the process of editing my journal, and now that I'm back in school, working, and riding 24/7 i havent been able to get much done in it, here's an excerpt:

Day 6 (unedited)

I awoke from dreams of accomplishment, and put my clothes on with purpose. I ate a bowl of cereal, alone, grinning in anticipation for the day's victory. I buckled my backpack, as if securing my armor, and mounted my shining steed, prepared for battle. Unbeknownst to Georgia, I was 8 miles away, ready to invade, or rather, liberate.
This cool, crisp morning would hold my escape, and leaving the breath-taking beaches and A1A behind, i took US 17 five miles north, then boldly rode my bicycle onto the entrance ramp of I 95, bustling with six lanes of mid-day highway traffic.
Two miles down and one left, i could see the sign; bright blue, not gleaming, but standing plainly, patiently waiting for me to grace it with a touch of life. I slackened my pace to appreciate the moment, and briefly surveyed the swampy St. Mary's river.
A footbal field away, this bridge would end, and with it, my feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. This wasn't a coming of age experience, or a mid life crisis, no, this was a profound adventure. From day one I had been in Neverland, and the time had come to slay captain hook. I looked down at the road as my legs began to pedal harder, and realized that every foot traveled was an internal issue confronted, and with each foot conquered, I felt more alive than the last. looking up at the approaching sign, I took note of the ray charles reference "were glad georgias on your mind", and I thought, yes georgia, youre on my mind, not as a monument or a destination, but a stepping stone in discovering myself and the world through a different perspective.
I rode up to the sign, dismounted, took a picture and a breath of accomplishment, and jumped back onto 95, taking the first exit towards a bike shop in st. marys. I didnt consider turning around at that point at all, the day was young and south carolina was on the horizon. I wasnt running, i was searching. for what, I had no clue, but i knew that whatever it was would be found some place in the duration of this journey.

and yeah, savannah bridge was a tricky one, ironically the most treacherous point of the journey, and all i had to do was cross it to the finish line...I guess a 100 yards further to the first SC t1tty bar

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs095.snc3/16250_356484315273_892365273_10077809_1260876_n.jpg south fla.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs115.snc3/16250_365677800273_892365273_10145722_3437693_n.jpgmid georgia

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs115.snc3/16250_366114655273_892365273_10148933_4413676_n.jpghappyhttp://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs095.snc3/16250_367449055273_892365273_10157418_3419869_n.jpgsmallest church in americahttp://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs095.snc3/16250_364977495273_892365273_10139235_1217735_n.jpgst marys I thinkhttp://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs115.snc3/16250_363995460273_892365273_10130757_2905934_n.jpgaugustine beach

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs095.snc3/16250_356746755273_892365273_10079128_203986_n.jpgpalm beachhttp://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs115.snc3/16250_366114640273_892365273_10148931_1088541_n.jpgterrifying, brunswick GAhttp://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs095.snc3/16250_361700735273_892365273_10109068_6134553_n.jpgbad nighthttp://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs095.snc3/16250_361844200273_892365273_10110297_2145310_n.jpgworse nighthttp://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs095.snc3/16250_366754310273_892365273_10152651_3733575_n.jpgpretty good night

right on man,
looks great.

my boy!