Patti said...

Hi Bikers & Bev! Thanks for the phone call. Happy to hear your voice and know you're some what ok. Gotta love that southern hospitality...even though you can't understand what the heck they're saying! And what a beautiful city to end your long journey and throw...I mean dip...your bikes in the Atlantic. You should all be proud of yourselves. We'll all be waiting in Portland for your safe return! Stay safe out there...Happy trails to you...Patti

Anonymous said...

Hi Regina - A quick note from those of us keeping an eye on you from Vermont! So sorry to hear about your accident - I can't even imagine how much courage and energy you must have to get back and get going again! Good for you - you have much to be proud of, and so much that you're doing for others. Take care - tell those truckers to be careful! Enjoy the salt water - only a few more days! - Joy at Chebe Bread Products

Anonymous said...

Regina,

Hats off to you for getting back on your bike after being hit by a truck! Your courage is amazing, and your work is not going unnoticed. I'm from a small town in the Texas Panhandle and was diagnosed with celiac disease two years ago. I live in Louisiana now, but my mom saw you on Main Street and then sent your picture from the local paper to me. I just want to say thanks for all you're doing for celiac disease awareness.

The Pez Man said...

Ok, let me understand this...you are happily biking across the country and one day you get hit by a truck...you land in the hospital and this truck driver makes no donation to your cause? Then, you get back on your bike and do half the miles you were doing? And experiencing pain daily? Sounds like too much of a glamor trip to me, Regina! Geesh!

All I want is that you are pain-free and home. Reaching your goal is not as important as being good to your body!

So when you are ready to come home and get off this yellow brick road, just close your eyes, click your heels 3 times and say, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home!"

I worry about you, I love ya, and I still think the Pez Company should put your likeness on a Pez Dispenser!

And you called Patti and not me? I thought after Patti was called, I would be called! I am sure you were in too much pain to call me, that is all.

Please be safe. Alex, take good care of our Maine Woman...the world is now watching!

Bye Honey!

Donna Agren said...

Great to hear your voice. You be careful and I will see you on the 2nd.

Donna

Debbie Brett said...

Hi, Regina!

Thinking of you--be safe--see ya on the 2nd!

Debbie

Georgia On My Mind, Almost

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Greetings from almost-Georgia! Our ride today took us to within a mile of the Alabama-Georgia border; tomorrow we will head into the Peach Tree State, home of Jimmy Carter, the Atlanta Braves, and pecan pie. The South has been interesting - the people are friendly and talkative, though I find myself saying "what?" a lot when talking to people because their accents are so thick. Everyone has a dog and they all love to chase bikes (sadly, one didn't make it as he chased us right when a big truck was coming from the other way. Oy.). There's lots more farmland than I thought there would be. It's been hot and humid almost every day. And the Stars 'n' Bars still flies from many a flagpole.

Other than that, I just keep riding. The riding itself has been tough, both mentally and physically. My body is sore at the beginning, middle, and end of each day. My back is in a holding pattern, not getting any better or worse. And I still have visions of being hit by the truck, so now I am very uncomfortable on busy roads. The other day, we employed the RV as a blocker on a particularly busy stretch of road; Bev drove behind us with her flashers on and forced traffic to wait behind her while we biked in front. This isn't the most enjoyable way to ride, so we have spent extra time looking for backroads and the roads-less-traveled to make our route more pleasant. Unfortunately, sometimes the roads-less-traveled are not the most direct routes, so it's a trade-off.

We've been able to get some more media exposure the last few days. I did interviews in both Culman and Gadsden, Alabama for their local papers, and also did a short TV interview for the local channel in Culman. We've had good luck just popping in to these places, telling them our story, and then getting some coverage. And it looks like we'll have some good coverage when we finish up in Savannah. There's a celiac support group there, and they are busy trying to get some media lined up for us. Hats off to them for coming through on such short notice! It doesn't seem real, but we're only a week away from dipping our wheels into the Atlantic. Alex jokes that instead of dipping ours wheels, we should just throw the bikes into the ocean and walk away. Suffice to say it's been a long journey, and we've seen and done things that we'll certainly remember for the rest of our lives. But it will also be good to finish it up.

So that's where things stand for now. We'll ride south of Atlanta and then north of Macon, GA on our way to Savannah and the sea. The sea! Hello to everyone back in Maine - see you on July 2! I'll try to post again before we get to Savannah. 'Til then, take care.

Regina