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Risk and Reward

I felt uneasy about not having a place set up for tonight to lay my head.  I kept telling myself I had plenty of time to look and if all else fails I could pay for an expensive motel room. I said goodbye to Peg, my Evergreen hostess in Largo.  It was a nice stay, last night she drove me around to show me the area and then took me to the Regal Theater with huge lounge chairs.  We saw "Yesterday".  Lots of great Beatles songs and a fun story. There were two places Peg told me about that I wanted to see.  Near her home is the Largo Nature Preserve with extensive board walks.  I looked at the map and there was a Racetrack gas station right at the entrance.  So this morning I went there first, got my large coffee and took it with me into the park.  I exchanged my bike sandals for my tennis shoes and walked the extensive boardwalks.  The planes and handrails are made with that plastic/wood hybrid.  Very well done.  Lots of birds to see.  The wadding birds perched on the railing

Flying Florida to Wisconsin w Trke?

This morning I am up early and anxious to get going.  Flipping through my head are all the things I need to do to get my bags and my trike ready for flight. Let air out of the tires. Remove and fasten my clip on shoes to the trike. Shifters in down position. Fasten flag to trike Tie and bubble wrap so won’t snap. Remove and dispose of my halt and the boat horn.  No Arisols on the plane Open the air pump from the locked position so it can float or pack it on my carryon bag. Remove phone holder and light. Bubble wrap greasy parts and chain. Saran wrap so it looks wrapped good but keeps the front wheels able to roll and the brakes able to function. Oh!  Go back a bunch of steps and use plastic ties to keep crank from moving. So much to do in the right order! Then the test.  Roll it up to baggage check in. Last night I checked into my flight.  It requires an Allegiant app in my phone. Adventure.  Fear and excitement. *** It is now 3:27 pm. I left Peg's home at

Inverness to New Port Richey Pedaling Slow

Geese.  Trying to blog with my iPhone and iPad is not working. I can't post pictures in the right order, the screen jumps around. I was up at 4:00 with thunder and lightening.  I thought I would have to start this tour in the rain, but the rain never hit me. For you route geeks.  I went Withlacoochee trail with a stop to feed the goats in Nobleton.  I also mailed a book at the postoffice in Nobelton.  The postal clerk was strange and threatening.  I was mailing a book.  He asked several times if there was a note or anything in there beside the book.  He said the will Ezra's it and mail it back to me if they find a note in there.  In Inverness the clerks are friendly and take my word for it the first time they ask.   Withlacoochee trail to the Good Neighbor trail.  Stop at the Sun Rise Bistro for coffee and Soup at 11:00.  The owner let me in early.  The staff waited until the official open time to wait on me, but the owner brought me water and oooed and aa

Fear or Excitement

I learned years ago that fear and excitement can be the same physical reaction in the body.  What really makes the difference is the label we put on those feelings. The little bike tour I am about to do is nothing.  I am riding my bike to the airport, flying to Wisconsin and riding my bike to my sister's house. What is that compared to what women and men have done and are now doing around the world?   Walking across and living in the Western prairies like the pioneers did?  That took guts. I know of two women today (Katherine Zimmerman and Sylvia Halpern) who have triked through foreign countries with oppressive governments, few women's rights, and rampant poverty.  Yet they not only survived but enjoyed the experience. Some of my friends say they are "afraid" for me on my minor trek.  What does that mean? Are they not excited about the adventure?  Do they only picture the bad possibilities and none of the good? I heard a podcast recently and it said that

Testing, Trying, Experiments

Sisters on the Fly    I loved it.  I didn’t think I would,  but I did.    I was first introduced to Sisters on the Fly (SOTF) by my friend Debra.  She was dreaming of going with them camping.      Early this year I tried camping with friends.    The first try I camped in my van.  It seemed like too much work.  I was worried about my stuff at night being out in the rain.  And during the day if I went on a long bike ride, I had to put everything in the van in case it rained while I was gone.  I know this can be solved by buying and carrying ONE MORE THING... some shelter for my stuff.  But I decided I didn't like camping in my van.    The second try I bought a tent and camped in that.  I spent an hour putting the camp up.  Slept one night in the tent.  Then with the threat of rain for the next two days, I packed up and went home.  I donated my new tent to the homeless.  Then some new friends invited me and Debra and other friends to a SOTF camping event about 2 hours from