Nancy’s Travel Journal

 Sheffler's Motel-Not exactly AAA

 To my friends at Metter United Methodist Church-I wonder how many folks they can seat in church?

Bronze statue- "Thank God for the Rain" outside the museum in Wickenburg.

3/14/07-We left Blythe, CA, at daybreak, rode three miles to the Colorado River, crossed into Arizona, and began a 30-mile trek on I-10 (legal for bikes here).  It wasn't too bad because there are wide shoulders.  We left I-10 for a brief time in Quartzite, AZ, where Bill and Leon Curry had been in Janaury.  What a fascinating town, with the RVs, souvenir stands and the "interesting" man who operates a bookstore there!.  After a piece of apple pie at Sweet Darlene's, it was back on the interstate for the rest of the 30 miles on I-10.  We took the exit to Brenda and the road became flat and smooth. but the heat was brutal. It is not quite like the heat in Georgia because sweat evaporates.  So you have to be careful and drink lots of water.  We arrived at Sheffler's Motel (definitely not on the AAA list) in Salome, AZ in the early afternoon.  We knew it was different when Sponge Bob (aka the innkeeper) asked if we wanted a remote control for the TV.  At least it was not a tent! 

Today we left Sheffler's around 6:30 AM, a bit cool at 55 degrees.  Stopped at Big Momma's for a second breakfast.  Seems one of the locals there gave us a new name, "Pedal Bunnies".  Along the way we saw pistachio trees and other crops, along with a dead coyote and fresh-killed skunk, accompanied by the appropriate smell.  After about 55 miles, we arrived in Wickenburg, with highlights of great ice cream and a cowboy museum.  Polly would love it.  Tonight our cook treated us to fajitas and polenta (almost like grits, but not quite as good).  Tomorrow we are off to Phoenix. What a great day!

My other hero and expert party planner who came to San Diego.

The top picture is at one of the three "convenience"stores we saw in 90 miles between Brawley and Blythe. The second one is from the Imperial Sand Dunes before we reached Blythe.  Thanks to Matt for helping me do this technology.

We left Jacumba Spa and Lodge on Day 3 headed for Brawley.  After climbing 1000 feet in 5 miles, we had a 10-mile downhill on I-8 (yep you can ride on the interstate in places out here).  What an awesome ride!  The next 23 mile-ride on a smooth blacktop was interrupted by a turn to the left, where we hit one of the worst 15 miles of "shake and bakes" I have ever experienced.  The last leg into Brawley was on a busy road, but we saw lots of farming in the Imperial Valley. 

Day 4-Brawley to Blythe-Because this was a 90-mile day, we left the hotel around 6:30.  I managed to catch a pace line for about 15 miles as we watched the sun rise in the sky.  We rode through the Imperial Sand Dunes, a spectacular site. Then we hit the wind and 95 degree heat (very dry, unlike South GA).  I rode for about 25 miles in a headwind of about 15-20 miph.  My average speed slowed to about 6 mph during that time.  Because there was no place to stop for lunch (no convenience stores for miles and miles), the Womantours van served us lunch at about mile 40.  Now it is confession time.  Having experienced enough wind and heat for one day and knowing 50 miles lay in front of me, I joined at least half the women in the van into Blythe.  We will be here for two days before pushing on.

The satellite function is not working right now.  It requires good cell phone coverage, which is not possible in Blythe.  We are working on it.   

To the folks at chiurch, you can add about 125 miles to your walk to Jerusalem. 

You can leave me a post on this page.  I will check the site as often as I can.

Hope everyone is fine.

two more after the cut. 

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These are some of my new friends.  We had orientation and a fix-a-flat class today.  Tonight we will have a send-off banquet.  Matt and Bill will join me for the dinner.  I am equally exhilarated and terrified about tomorrow.  We will ride as a group to the beach, dip our tires in the Pacific Ocean and be on our way.   

Bill and I left Metter about 6:00 AM this morning for the first leg of our journey, from Savannah to Atlanta. As we boarded the plane I ran into an old friend and former assistant principal in Metter, Raamy Brown. Raamy lives in McIntosh County near my friend Marijo. She was on her way to a yoga retreat in the Bahamas. After catching up on news during the flight, we parted ways in Atlanta. We left Atlanta around 11:00 AM for the flight to San Diego. After picking up our rental car and checking in to the Holiday Inn, our home for the next four days, we headed out to find wine and goodies for our room. Little did we know that Marshal Mize had sent us a bottle of Merlot, grapes and other snacks, which were in the room when we returned. Thanks Marshal.  Tomorrow we plan to see a bit of San Diego and enjoy the beautiful weather here.  Â

My experiences on “wheels” began at an early age, as did the encouragement to follow my dreams. Shortly after this photo was taken (around 1948), my mother wrote a letter to me in which she said that some might tell me that being a woman would handicap me in the business or professional world, but not to listen, “for this is not true”. Coming from a woman who had a career before she had a family, it is easy to see the origins of my drive to experience life.

In 1986, when my son, Matt, was 16, we decided to try the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). As Matt said after that ride, “Mom, we have stories to talk about for the rest of our lives.” Since that first BRAG, I have experienced it with several family members and friends, including my daughter Wendy and nephew, Howard. My sister Polly has joined us for the past 10+ years as a SAG driver. After completing the Cross Country Southern Tier, I will join the 2007 BRAG trip for the 22^nd consecutive year. I have done rides in Florida, New York City, Costa Rica, Washington’s San Juan Islands and other regional rides. So cycling is a part of who I am.

I have been an educator for 34+ years, from teacher to assistant principal to assistant superintendent, before retiring in May 2002. From that time until February 28, 2007, I worked for the Georgia Department of Education, helping school systems manage their No Child Left Behind funds. Now it is time for some fun of a different sort.

Please drop me a note in my guest book. After a long day on the road, it helps to hear from “folks back home”.

If you would like to contribute to the Candler County Education Foundation, you may download an application(pdf), donate online, or you may send a check to the Candler County Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 21, Metter, GA 30439. Please include your name, address and a notation that the donation is for Nancy’s ride, so that I may thank you when I return.

I really do look forward to hearing from you,

Nancy