The Utter Folly Tour (or Faith and Peter on the Run)

Some REAL Training!

(posted by Peter)

OK, we've gotten through the trauma and fuss of the holiday. Nice day today. Faith's only working for part of the day. She calls, says that she'll leave at 3:30 so we can get in a bike ride. Our first. She wants to do ten miles. She's home at 4:30, we're out the door ten minutes later. Had I remembered that the sun set at about 4:30, I might not have worn all black clothing. She falls for the first time half way down the driveway. We manage two miles before exhaustion and darkness overcome us. (where we live is essentially all hills). Faith manages one fall per mile in her new rat trap pedals which she got to replace the clipless ones that she felt were too risky. (By tomorrow, Faith will have a bruise the size of an orange on her left cheek. She suggests taking a photo of it and posting it, but I think the first photo published about this project should not be a bruised left cheek (as in tush)).

We've got our work cut out for us!

Location, Location, Location

Okay, this isn't about location exactly. In the virtual world of the internet, though, it is sort of about location, or at least about people remembering your web address. I won't go through the long list of great ideas we received from various sources, including primarily my oldest son, Michael, and my friend and web teacher, Dan. So we decide to take three domains names. There were at least another two that were very enchanting. One is for our personal site, one for the road trip site, and one domain name that will be used for public consumption because it is cute and will be easy to remember. (The Utter Folly Tour).  (In early February, however, Peter and I attend a Blogging workshop and we put our personal site on a blog, we move our blogger.com  blog to typepad.com blog, and there will be one web site in the end linking to the two blogs.) 

We Pitch to Cannondale

We currently own gorgeous R600 Cannondale racing bikes, matte black with lots of toys. Purchased three years ago when we both had jobs and could afford high-end bicycles. We love them, Cannondale is a Connecticut company, why wouldn't they want to GIVE US two nice touring bikes, as in Cannondale T2000s. So we pitch the idea to them. Of course! Why not?  We are aging, out of shape, one half out of work, plain janes, we are the perfect project (right!). No slick advertising opportunities here. But maybe they will think we are at least cute. (They will turn us down in early January, in late January we will buy two T2000s anyway.)

Animation Artist on the Payroll!

Well, payroll is stretching it. Remember, we have no money to spend on this trip but somehow we will muddle through. Steve is a long time friend and a fabulous animation artist who will do animated charactures of the two of us, oh my. Please check our favorite links for Steve Bobinski's artist web site.

Our First Layover.

We have our first overnight in the Keys set up at a friend's house, 30 miles from the tip of Key West (thanks to E.T. - no, not as in E.T. phone home). 30 miles the first day will be plenty.

Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum...

(posted by Peter)

Two Christmas parties to go to today, plus we're baby sitting for our eighteen month old grandson, Angel. On the way to the first one, I (Peter) notice a familiar odor in the air (from the back seat, as in from our adorable grandson). Fortunately, we are near Faith's oldest son's house and stop to make the necessary repairs.  We get to talking and miss the first party entirely. Oh well, we finally head out to the second party and have a great time.

(Note how there's no mention of training, etc.)

Time to get in shape!

(posted by Peter)

Bought a "trainer" for our bikes today. We haven't ridden in two years, so we thought we might ride a little to get ready. Here in CT, can't count on getting out much in the winter, hence a trainer.

Hooking up with Greenway

(posted by Peter)

Faith emailed the East Coast Greenway (ECG) folks, told them about our plan, and asked for their support. One of their board members lives here in CT. We contacted him and will meet with him soon. He's excited! We've decided to start in Key West on May 1 (because Faith was born there and left Key West when she was 18 months old, has not been back since --- almost 50 years) and pedal north. Just the two of us, PC, camera, iPod, and credit cards. As far as we know, no one has done this before (pedal north on the Greenway from Key west to Canada "unsupported"), so the Greenway folks will follow us, link to our web site, provide us with some maps and advice. (Unsupported means that there will be no van following us, carrying our stuff, and arranging meals and beds for the night, we will fend for ourselves in every way. Well, there are friends along the way who are adding themselves to a growing list of hosts.) But keep in mind, we are out of shape, over 50, and have never done anything like this before, and we are going without a support van. The Greenway contact tells Faith he likes her style "Fire, Ready, Aim". Yup, that describes her.

A Minor Change

(posted by Peter)

Faith called while commuting to work (she gets some of her best ideas during her grueling 60 mile drive). "I've got an even better idea! Let's ride from the tip of Maine to Key West!"

I (Peter) said "Way cool, we can ride US 1 from end to end." See, I can contribute occasionally. When I started to do some research, I came across the East Coast Greenway Alliance (www.greenway.org). They are creating a bike/skate/walk path from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. As long time environmentalists ourselves, members of a variety of such organizations, this sounded pretty neat. Also a nicer way to ride than dodging trucks on Route 1. Now we're getting into it. We talk about the possibility of getting some sponsorships (I'm out of work and Faith is a consultant (as in paid for hours worked, period)). That means finding people who might be interested in two older, out of shape people who have decided to step off the hamster wheel for three months and do something adventurous, get in shape along the way, take an opportunity to spend some time together and decide what to do with the rest of our lives. Enough of our friends and relatives have been leaving this "mortal coil" for us to realize that maybe we should do this now, given that we don't really know how much more time we have here.

We're starting to talk this up with friends and ideas are pouring in - websites, blogs, photos. Faith's oldest son is going to donate a little, 7 inch PC to take (upgraded hard drive and a wireless card). I've got to decide on a camera. Looks like we'll finally go digital.

We Make a Big Decision

Peter and I (Faith) have been reading up on, watching a film on, and listening to tapes about hiking the Appalachian Trail. We have been preparing for a six month journey and the more we prepare, the more it seems not the thing for us. On my way to work this morning, I realized how much I love to bike, how long it has been, and how much more fun that would be than carrying a 70 pound pack, hiking in snow and rain, shitting in the woods, and sleeping on the trail for six months. I called Peter on my way to the office and suggested we take a coast to coast bike trip (as in bicycle trip) instead. He agreed before I could finish my sentence. We both knew this was a far more enticing idea and one that we could actually complete. Finally, something he can get excited about (being an out of work professional can dampen the spirits pretty well). Planning begins.