Hello, All,
OTRA? That's shorthand for "On
The Road Again", like our friend Willie Nelson. In this 1st report,
I'll give you a short list of other abbreviations I expect to use a lot:
like NP (National Park), NF (National Forest), COE (Corp of
Engineers), SP (State Park), CG (Camp Ground), and VC (Visitor Center)
.Then there are Hwy, SR, CR (Highway, State Road, and Co Road), and
other common ones like ARR and LV (arrive and leave) and L (Lake), and R
(River).
We'll call the trike (or bike) the
Elf and the van the Van. The Elf is a recumbent tricycle built in NC;
check out their website: <www.organictransit.com>
for details and pictures. It is a jazzy little thing, looking more like
a miniature smart car than a standard bicycle. It has a shell for
protection from sun and rain, all the appropriate lights and signals,
and is legal on all U.S. roads except those specifically excluding
bicycles (like the interstates). And, it has a secret weapon - a
750-watt electric motor, powered by a pair of batteries which are
charged by a 100-watt solar panel on the roof (or the campground plug-in
at night). Marvin expects to peddle at 10 to 15 mph, and add the
electric assist when he encounters hills.
The
van is our beloved 1999 Ford 250 Econovan, converted to a camper by
Sportsmobile in Austin, TX. We bought it used, with about 20,000 miles
on it. Today, we've put another 200,000 miles on the odometer. It has
been flooded in a FL hurricane but we bought it back from the insurance
company and have enjoyed it for another 10 years. It is showing its age
and hard use (...aren't we all?), but so far, so good.
The
overall plan is generally to follow the bicycle route (BR76) backwards
from home to my cousin's house in Claremont, VA, where the Elf is
presently waiting for Marvin's initial test drive. After a modest trial
period, we'll set off back across the country, about 1800 miles on the
smaller, back roads, at the estimated rate of 50 miles/day. We really
haven't any basis for this estimation, since Marv hasn't previously done
anything similar. Marvin's challenges will be physical ---strength and
stamina, hydration, and heat.
Adventure
Cycling Association is the organization that has published specific
routes across the country. We joined the Great Rivers South Route at
Tupelo, MS, then at the Ohio R near Marion, KY, switched to the
Trans-America Route (BR76). Their specific goal is safety, designating a
route avoiding the main roads and interstates, and routing cyclists
around cities. This results in navigating dozens of changes on mostly 2
lane roads-- county roads, farm roads, unmarked roads--- sometimes for
less than a mile before the next change.
Driving
the route backwards has two benefits. First is gaining familiarity
navigating the route. Second, is the experience of Ann driving the van
while Marvin is riding co-pilot. I think most of you know that, thru all
our years of marriage, I allowed Marvin to do the driving; he liked it,
I didn't. I've realized and acknowledged that I did myself no favors in
that. Yes, I know how to drive, but am inexperienced. I lack the
automatic reactions that only experience can provide. So this trip is a
time to confront my issues and grow my confidence. We'll be together in
the evenings, but each day we will be playing leap frog with rendezvous
possibilities along the way. The days driving on my own will be my
challenge.
And, so it begins...
More later,
Ann (and Marvin)
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