==
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==
Biking the Southern Tier - Alone!
Can a woman bike 2,275 miles solo and self-contained from Phoenix, Arizona to St. Augustine, Florida? Yes, it is possible and I urge every woman to realize it is possible. I experienced such a ride this spring and it was wonderful - and no flats! My Trek 520 touring bike carried my 40-plus pounds of gear as I rode from 25 to 65 miles per day. The Adventure Cycling route maps provided all the information I needed to find my way and my accommodations. One third of the accommodations was camping, one third motels, and one third at homes either of complete strangers or through an organization called "Warm Showers".
To answer the question "What was the best part?" I would have to say it was the people. Unbelievable interactions, conversations, hospitality, and assistance filled my days. Pedaling with 25 to 40 mile per hour head winds, 95 degree heat, and sometimes no convenience stores to refresh at was a challenge but, when needed, out of the blue there was a handout of a cold bottle of water, a sag for a few miles to reach the next destination, a companion met at a hostel to share a stretch of desolate, barren Texas countryside. Then there was the young man who loaned me his truck so I could go to Big Bend National Park for a couple days! In Franklinton, Louisiana, meeting the Mayor in a restaurant, having my picture taken with him and receiving the "pin" to the city was just another heart-warming encounter with a fellow American. Having my tent almost blown away while camping under the stars in Texas and being offered a place to stay by complete strangers added heartwarming memories. Riding past farmland, pecan groves, miles and miles of forestry, rice fields, crawfish traps, the Gulf coast, southern style homes, crossing the Mississippi, climbing the hills of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas were experiences for a lifetime. It's a wonderful country!
Here are a few shots taken with my iPhone:
.
Finally -- the Altantic Ocean!
Remember to keep pedaling so you too can do it someday - even when you are 70!
Linda Gould
BWA-NH Executive Director