Well first of all, it is nice to be home!
Before we left (in order to really salvage this trip, and confirm that we really actually had a fantastic time) we decided to write down all the things that happened, things we saw and the like. We laughed until we cried several times in remembering the ridiculousness so I think we're on the right track to remembering this trip in a positive light.
Please keep in mind that these lists are in no particular order based upon importance, but more likely in quasi chronological order/how they stick out.)
The best part is probably the ironies, and I'm sorry if they are lost on you, but you can probably appreciate the list just for the sheer volume (last list).
Expectations of the Trip: (*expectations met, even if not in a way we anticipated):
1. Seeing nature* (see Nature List)
2. Physical labor* (lugging all of our gear and bikes versus riding on them)
3. Rock hard ass/legs
4. Camping
5. Hunger
6. Meeting lots of people*
7. Feeling accomplished
8. Bonding*
9. Having and adventure*
10. Getting lost
11. Falling*
12. Visiting new places*
13. Biking long distances, biking at all really (please note the importance of the lack of *)
14. ...Just for things to work
Now I would say that if you keep in mind that this trip "bombed" we actually were very successful and as a result I'd say we feel accomplished (number 7).
Thank you to the people we met who made the trip what it was:
1. "Oh I forgot" Girl - Amtrak woman at South Station on day 1, who not only showed us her new license since "it's weird", but after she printed our tickets said "Oh I forgot, there is no baggage car, it's broken, your bikes aren't going anywhere today".
2. Helping Hands Amanda - Amtrak girl who helped us box our bikes.
3. Kevin the 'God' - Amtrak baggage man that tried to convince the conductor to let us bring the bikes in the regular car versus having to send them down after us (failed, but valiant effort).
4. Wandalina - Or was it Wandalyn? Either way, she was the Amtrak manager who was nice to us, but also couldn't help us.
5. Old cute Portland couple - entertained us while waiting for our delayed train (after the Greek family dancing).
6. Excuse You Lady - Lady in DC train station, who when anyone with baggage had to maneuver around her (mind you she was directly in the way of foot traffic), she would say "SCUSE you!". She also told Liz to be safe on the train, and blessed us later.
7. Billy Ray - Our first cab driver, who gave us a brief history on Charleston.
8. Victoria (I called her Vanessa) - Manager at the Not So Hostel - Very friendly and helpful.
9. Our lovely Hostel fellow inhabiters from Charleston: a) I Love My Laptop Rachel, b/c) Tyler (who I forgot we met, to his face) & Mary-Anne, d) AJ the Second who works at Merritt Lake, e) Francois (not his real name, we don't know how to pronounce it), f) James "It's only another 30 yards" Pizza Man, g/h/i) There May or May Not Be Intelligent Live Astronomers (Allison & Co!), j) Left Hand Conspiracy Lucy, k) Boston Ben
10. Bird Man - Man you did owel calls for us in a store in Charleston
11. John the Morman - Gave us a brief education on our way to pick up our bikes via the shuttle bus in Charleston
12. Nails - our cabbie, she was very nice when dropping us off at the side of the high way, and also had nails that were 3 inches long each.
13. U-Turn - the old guy that U-Turned on the high way to make sure we were okay.
14. Mumble Grumble - Yet another cabbie
15. Do You Have Coke Dale - No Dale, we don't have coke, please just serve us our food and leave us alone. Oh a shot? Sure we'll take one.
16. Spontaneous Dancing Kent - one of a few NYE highlights
17. Say What!? Enthusiastic Bell Hop - Thank you Hampton Inn
18. I Lost My Cell Phone Marc - Charelston bus station
19. Kenya Kevin - Our marathon running cabbie in Charleston
20. Alaska Derek and "Stir the Pot" Karen at the Charleston Train Station - who helped us with our bikes
21. One Arm Arnie - Cabbie who despite having one arm, it being raining, and him getting lost, he got us to our Pensione in Savannah
22. Brian - our very quirky but kind Pensione (Hostel) Owner
23. Kaylinn - our Savannah Moon River Brewery bartender who grew up in the Boston area
24. Steve - I forget who this is.
25. Dave - motorcyclist that helped us with figuring out our maps were defunked (back in Charleston, sorry out of order like woah)
26. The family/kids who recognized us and kept us fairly entertained on the train ride home from our train ride down south.
AND to all the other people we came across, who checked in on us, our great family, etc!
Places and spaces that stick out:
South Station, train, Union Station, Charleston, battery & swings, Not So Hostel, Tabouli, market, Baked Bakery (x2), Fuel, Pizza Place that was a million miles away, Boston bar, Hampton Inn Charleston, the side of Savannah Highway, La Quinta's lobby, Joe's Pasta, Messenger St, King St, bus stop/visitor center, GA train station, Savannah International Pensione, Savannah History Cemetery, Savannah's many squares, E. Bay Street, River Street, Bull Street, Art exchibits, Espresso Cafe, Christ Church Gregorian Choir, library, Moon River Brewery, thai place, Leopold's Ice Cream, Goose Cafe
Wildlife/Nature/Beauty:
"Hey Liz, I was thinking once we get down there we should totally keep track of all the wildlife we see on this trip!"
Pigeons, birds/Bird Man, "slow" cat, dog, "I believe you" squirrels, red cardinal hellicopter, fountains, squares, trees/moss, walkways, alleyways, architecture, parks. Yep, that's it.
Ironies/Mini tragedies:
1. Initially we were sent the wrong maps, had to be re-sent
2. Blizzard of 2010 delaying our train 2 days
3. No luggage rack for bikes
4. No sleep on 22 hour train
5. No front rack for Liz's bike in stock in Charleston
6. Cheaper bike = more reliable?
7. Taking a cab to side of highway
8. Liz falling off the bike into the highway
9. "Sorry that is a bad address, I can't send a cab there to get you"
10. Misprinted maps
11. Charleston booked for NYE, hard to find somewhere to crash, and forgetting to cancel our previous reservation for NYE in another city entirely
12. So much heavy, useless (due to nature of trip changing) baggage/gear
13. Other people commenting on our biking ("Wow you must love biking", "You must bike a lot", "That is a lot to carry on a bike!" - wow, duh)
14. Not able to get on bus, then no more busses, so having to take YET another cab (with our bikes, obviously)
15. Instinct Attacks vs. Panic Attacks
16. Test drive in a parking lot
17. The only biking that was done was 8 miles in the dark when we picked up our bikes (without gear).
18. Francois ending up in our hostel room after thinking I was 3 or 4 different people...awkward.
20. AJ the Second working at Merritt Lake
21. THE FACT THAT I WROTE A BLOG ABOUT THIS BIKE TRIP IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.
22. All the preparation that actually did go into this trip
23. Delays
24. The south being cold/snowy
25. Having mainly biking clothing to wear for a week around town
Please keep your eyes out for my final entry, coming soon...
In the mean time, thank you for reading and humoring me!
Cheers,
Esther
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