Friday, January 18, 2008

1/7 Destin, The Longest Day


Today Dist: 101km
ODO(from New York City up to date): 3,991km
Avg. speed: 23.2km/h
Daily expense: 27 USD (Big shopping - anti-itch cream, egg box, camp lamp, powerbars, one dozen of coke)
Riding time: 08:05 start 2000 camp
Route: Panama City => Destin
Shower: N (the third day)
Tent: Y


It's a long but brilliant story for today....
I get up early at 4a.m. because I have to get wireless internet at McDonalds to upload my blog and reply e-mails. So I start my trip at 8a.m.

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I think I would pass Pensacola, Florida in two days.
I've seen very beautiful beachscape while riding on the coast line. I couldn't help to stop and enjoy the scenery.

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Commercial break - Introducing my favorite snack "dried soybean curd" from home town.

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Highly recommend the Panama city to bike riders, especially the Route 30A. There are so many beautiful sights to see.

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A huge gift for you ~

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Beautiful scenery

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What a beautiful Post Office. I bought some stamps and post cards.

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I had Today's Special "Cuban Sandwich"


I walk around the parking lot while having my lunch. Saw some interesting car plates.

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"Modica Market" where I get my lunch. They using thier photos as their store sign... interesting..

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Finally I get anti-itch cream at Target. I had a big shopping today.

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I took this picture when I walked out from the super market. Suddenly, I felt like full of energy and everything is getting much better. I'm getting more fit in and stronger. I yelled out ... and then one amazing thing happened. There's a bike rider on the opposite of the road came to me and say hello...

Wow~~~~ I was stunning by his bike gears

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He is James from Australia. He is going to be 60 in two months and has a 28-year-old daughter. He's been traveling for 3 months with bike and canoe. His gear total weight 500 pounds. You may see his bike gear below.

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There's a brief case in the front with laptop and DVD player. He said he can watch DVD while riding. He has one solar battery.

We met at 3p.m. He told me that I was the first bike rider he met in 3 months. I said that he is the coolest bike rider I've ever met. However, he is heading to the east and I'm going the opposite way. We talked a lot and it was getting dark, so we decided to find the campsite together. By the beach.

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My tent vs. his

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He gave me this ready-to-eat pack at the dinner. This is for militarily use or for those victims of a natural disaster.

Why it was a long day... because the story just started....While we were having dinner and chatting, here came a police woman asked us for ID check. And we were asked to leave immediately... Although it was late, but we didn't want to get in to trouble so we packed. At that time, a policeman came and suggested us to camp at a golf course in half miles away but have to leave before dawn.

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Poor me

We rode to the golf course and picked a place to camp. Not surprisingly, one policeman came to us one hour after and said they got complaint phone call and asked us to leave right away. (There were some misunderstandings, the previous policeman told us to camp outside the golf course not the inside)

However, the policeman helped us to explain to the house owner we finally can stay and get some sleep.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

1/12 Raceland,MS。tourist in New Orleans half day

Dst:86.5km (54 mi)

ODO:4,531km (2831 mi from N.Y.C until now)

AV speed:20.1km/h

Time:0945 start 1645 set tent

cost:got $10 from ground(buy subway $7 ,$3 for post cards)

routh:New Orleans->free ferry to pass Mississippi river ->on Hwy90 to Raceland

got shower:Y

use tent:Y

Haven't used my tent for days. I have to camp tonight and fortunatly I can take shower. Thanks for the boss of motel (from India). It is the forth day I can have warm shower.

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I cooked breakfast and shared with a Japanese student .

Bacon, eggs, toast, and free coffee served from hostel

I found my bag was broken when I was packing!!

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a young man who stayed at this motel helped me to fix it.

His name is Alan, 18-year-old. He likes rock climbing and ride bicycle too.

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we showed each other's web site (it was 09:30, I was late to start my trip)

I said good-bye to them and I had a little tour in New Orleans..

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Jazz music is originate from here....

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I met Japanese boy again. He came by walk.

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French market

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free ferry to pass the big river

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CIMG4121 I have to take boat because I can't go pass this bridge. That's super high way

interesting festival

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smoke sausage sandwich

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wow! I can let my bike stand now ~~

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I got a wood on the road.

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the motel boss and me

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This should be the third time I camp by a Motel.

my planned schedule

after 6 days meet the Korea "Kim" in Houston . then go Austin .

2/28 ride to San Diego

3/15 fly back Taiwan from L.A.