well, it seems that only road travel elicits anything like regular blog contributions, hence the plan to see a fair swathe of Florida using that most unconventional of vehicles (in the US at least): the bicycle.
at 1000 miles, the proposed route could be called a tad ambitious, and i am reserving the right to tailor the course to prevailing mood and circumstance (likely to be driven by the size an insistence of the saddle sores). but let’s just see how we go.
i’ve been fiddling with the bike setup for about a week now, and am well pleased with the Batavus i spotted while in Bali and kept on hold for a rainy day. although it’s fairly clear that it hasn’t exactly been designed for touring — a fact underscored by the many raised eyebrows on the part of the fine gents from Orange Cycle in orlando when they fitted the rack. my other essential bit of kit is the all-in-one hammock, which meets the weight criteria but possibly not the security or stability criteria that have been stipulated by the missus. thankfully Florida is the land of the cheap roadside motel, so i should hopefully be able to credit card my way out of any unsavoury or unlikely camping scenarios.
It all sounds a bit like folly, but i guess there’s only one way to find out.
As ever, i’m grateful to the Missus, and to her dad Farouk, for doing the parental bit while i get to go and have ‘fun’. I will be on standby, and have promised to be back within two days of any emergency.
will also be travelling with the essentials: laptop and broadband stick, so, in a way, it will be like i never left. Hoping to document a fair bit of it here, but will turn off the email notifications so everyone can carry on with their lives in peace.
hasta luego!
jammy jay!!
ps – i hope Tash is getting a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGG present out of this! 1000m just you and the road, no family? she’s a good woman that one….
you are so very right, Fleur. Will be keeping eyes peeled for suitable gifts. Although the pickings could be a little slim. suggestions welcome (gulp). xx
nice – I used to cycle to school.
that’s the spirit, geeze….and almost as ambitious as the huge ripped, black guy i met yesterday in Burger King. when he saw the bike and heard i was headed for the keys he nearly doubled over laughing. “I ain’t never ridden a bi-sickle further then the end of my street. actually, no. i did ride it once to the country fair.”
so there you have it. he was fitter than the proverbial, and i still have a beer gut. go figgure.