Day 63, Miles Ridden Today: 0 Miles Ridden Overall: 2,253 Camping: $3, We are staying overnight at Thousand Trails Member campground at Gettyburg Farm Resort in Dover, PA
- To track online our current location, see instruction on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page
- Also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
Today has been about rest and relaxation … and laundry. After a rainy night, we awoke to cool spring air. The Beast was up and dressed and out of the tent first. Frankenbutt and I lounged for awhile and then we took a leisurely stroll to the camp store, where Frankenbutt enjoyed a cup of real coffee; the instant coffee just isn’t doing it for him.
- To track online our current location, see instruction on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page
- Also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
Today has been about rest and relaxation … and laundry. After a rainy night, we awoke to cool spring air. The Beast was up and dressed and out of the tent first. Frankenbutt and I lounged for awhile and then we took a leisurely stroll to the camp store, where Frankenbutt enjoyed a cup of real coffee; the instant coffee just isn’t doing it for him.
The Beast was excited to visit the petting zoo area here at Gettysburg Farm. The lady who checked us in yesterday evening was very kind to the Beast and took her to the goat pen for an evening feeding last night. She could hardly wait to see all the goats again this morning. (NOTE TO JEN W.: YOU’VE GOT TO BRING THE KIDS UP TO THIS 1000 TRAILS PRESERVE! THEY’LL LOVE IT!!!)
The Beast introduced us to the small goats which she knew all the names of and showed us the very loud donkey in the barn. She also introduced us to “little boy”, the baby calf, who is penned with the goats.
We wandered further down and saw the beautiful peacocks, who were strutting their stuff for the seemingly uninterested female. Such is life, eh? A little further down, there was a pig that was, well, as happy as a pig in mud! The Beast also showed us the bunny hutches and told us she’s hoping to convince one of the farm attendants to let her hold a bunny.
After breakfast, I finally decided to tackle the laundry. It’s really not as bad as at home since we travel with only 3 changes of clothes and a swimsuit each. The laundry area was near the kids’ activity area where the Beast had found crafts to do with Vada, one of the campground staff. She was happily attaching lace and ribbons to a wicker like fan. Between loads of laundry, I also found her playing ping pong with some other girls. I think this is one of the Beast’s favorite campground stops. She loves animals and has been asking for goats, hedge hogs, snakes, gerbils, cats, mice, and hamsters since she could talk. She has had a goat, a snake, a mouse, 5 dogs, an outdoor (barn) cat, and a hamster in her short 13 years. At age 6 or 7, she let the mouse go in the house, in hopes of getting a different pet, since hers was now missing. Hmmmm.
I’ve also been working on the details for our upcoming stops in Hagerstown, MD and Winchester, VA and reading and answering emails. I received an email today from our track director at Tampa BMX with details about the USA BMX merge of NBL and ABA. I was alarmed when it said that we all need to complete USA BMX applications AND BRING OUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, before we’ll be allowed to race on ABA or NBL tracks. I panicked because we don’t have the Beast’s birth certificate on us. I emailed Connie Shepler @ the NBL office who assured me that we can submit her birth certificate later; that the Beast will still be able to race. Phwew!
I’ve also been working on the details for our upcoming stops in Hagerstown, MD and Winchester, VA and reading and answering emails. I received an email today from our track director at Tampa BMX with details about the USA BMX merge of NBL and ABA. I was alarmed when it said that we all need to complete USA BMX applications AND BRING OUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, before we’ll be allowed to race on ABA or NBL tracks. I panicked because we don’t have the Beast’s birth certificate on us. I emailed Connie Shepler @ the NBL office who assured me that we can submit her birth certificate later; that the Beast will still be able to race. Phwew!
We’ve been on the road now for 2 months and at this point in our ride, here’s what I’ve learned:
1) Our $2 thrift store lightweight pot was more than worth what we paid for it.
2) Our 14x14” car detailing cloths work well as towels; they dry us and themselves fast.
3) I love my down sleeping bag; great when it’s chilly; comfy to lie on when it’s hot.
4) Knorr’s “just add water” pasta and rice dishes are cheap, yummy, hot and easy.
5) Dental Floss is the strongest, most portable and easiest sewing kit I’ve ever used.
6) I could have brought mismatched flatware from home; cheaper and little difference.
7) A 7x7’ tent can hold 2 adults, 1 child, a dog and 6 pannier bags … if you like each other.
8) When I feel like I just can’t go another mile, messages of support help me do it.
9) The $50 we spent for our tiny Primus stove was well worth it: works great!
10) $80 Trek Panniers wore out just as fast as $15 Schwinn panniers. $200 Jandd panniers are showing little, if any, wear. We have 2 of each; wish we could have all Jandd.
11) I LOVE my Lazer helmet and my Under Armour sweatband. I never ride w/o them.
12) Tuna Fish packs and Mayo packs (picked up @ fast food places) don’t need refrigeration and go well on Pita bread (which doesn’t flatten like loaf bread).
13) Sometimes I get really tired of oatmeal… but there aren’t many other breakfast options that don’t require refrigeration (ie, eggs, milk, butter, etc)
14) A free meal is one of the nicest things we can receive; food is our greatest expense
15) There are times when we all are just too tired to shower; deodorant is a big help but ONLY IF we ALL agree to skip a shower. FYI, Coco loves us either way.
16) People are generally good! We’ve had so many kind gestures by strangers. It far outweighs the few negative “get on a bike path” comments we’ve gotten.
17) Padded bike gloves are necessary for long distance riding.
18) My Thousand Trails camp membership is well worth it; My Passport America membership has way too many rules, is not “tent friendly” and is not what was advertised.
19) Long distance Bike riding has left me feeling better physically and emotionally than any other activity I’ve ever done.
20) Bringing Coco was a good decision! She is such a comfort at the end of a long day and she’s an ambassador of sorts, an ice breaker, when we stop along our route.
21) BMXers are some of the greatest people in the world. How come most of the people running the sanctions aren’t BMXers??
22) The one time $20 fee we paid to Tetherbridge.com (so that we could connect my smart phone to our computer and have internet at no additional monthly charge) isn’t perfect but it’s definitely good enough … and helps our budget!
23) The Hydro Flasks that www.stuntlifeinc.com gave us during our visit to Jacksonville BMX are FABULOUS! They truly do what they advertise! We put and Ice cubes and water in at start of day and there are still ICE CUBES at the end of the day!
24) The sponsors that our track director, Art Heinrichs, helped arrange have made a huge difference in the success of our ride. We owe Art and them our gratitude! Thanks to Tampa BMX, J&R Bicycles, Ohio Dreams, Smoothie King, Riderz Ready Jerseys, Comfort Inns and Suites, BMXmania.com, and National Bicycle League.
25) I’ve also discovered I like to write. It only took me to my 40’s to find that out.
1) Our $2 thrift store lightweight pot was more than worth what we paid for it.
2) Our 14x14” car detailing cloths work well as towels; they dry us and themselves fast.
3) I love my down sleeping bag; great when it’s chilly; comfy to lie on when it’s hot.
4) Knorr’s “just add water” pasta and rice dishes are cheap, yummy, hot and easy.
5) Dental Floss is the strongest, most portable and easiest sewing kit I’ve ever used.
6) I could have brought mismatched flatware from home; cheaper and little difference.
7) A 7x7’ tent can hold 2 adults, 1 child, a dog and 6 pannier bags … if you like each other.
8) When I feel like I just can’t go another mile, messages of support help me do it.
9) The $50 we spent for our tiny Primus stove was well worth it: works great!
10) $80 Trek Panniers wore out just as fast as $15 Schwinn panniers. $200 Jandd panniers are showing little, if any, wear. We have 2 of each; wish we could have all Jandd.
11) I LOVE my Lazer helmet and my Under Armour sweatband. I never ride w/o them.
12) Tuna Fish packs and Mayo packs (picked up @ fast food places) don’t need refrigeration and go well on Pita bread (which doesn’t flatten like loaf bread).
13) Sometimes I get really tired of oatmeal… but there aren’t many other breakfast options that don’t require refrigeration (ie, eggs, milk, butter, etc)
14) A free meal is one of the nicest things we can receive; food is our greatest expense
15) There are times when we all are just too tired to shower; deodorant is a big help but ONLY IF we ALL agree to skip a shower. FYI, Coco loves us either way.
16) People are generally good! We’ve had so many kind gestures by strangers. It far outweighs the few negative “get on a bike path” comments we’ve gotten.
17) Padded bike gloves are necessary for long distance riding.
18) My Thousand Trails camp membership is well worth it; My Passport America membership has way too many rules, is not “tent friendly” and is not what was advertised.
19) Long distance Bike riding has left me feeling better physically and emotionally than any other activity I’ve ever done.
20) Bringing Coco was a good decision! She is such a comfort at the end of a long day and she’s an ambassador of sorts, an ice breaker, when we stop along our route.
21) BMXers are some of the greatest people in the world. How come most of the people running the sanctions aren’t BMXers??
22) The one time $20 fee we paid to Tetherbridge.com (so that we could connect my smart phone to our computer and have internet at no additional monthly charge) isn’t perfect but it’s definitely good enough … and helps our budget!
23) The Hydro Flasks that www.stuntlifeinc.com gave us during our visit to Jacksonville BMX are FABULOUS! They truly do what they advertise! We put and Ice cubes and water in at start of day and there are still ICE CUBES at the end of the day!
24) The sponsors that our track director, Art Heinrichs, helped arrange have made a huge difference in the success of our ride. We owe Art and them our gratitude! Thanks to Tampa BMX, J&R Bicycles, Ohio Dreams, Smoothie King, Riderz Ready Jerseys, Comfort Inns and Suites, BMXmania.com, and National Bicycle League.
25) I’ve also discovered I like to write. It only took me to my 40’s to find that out.
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