Friday, August 31, 2007

Bike Bound

Friday... we are out of class and ready for an awesome trip. After checking the wind forecast, we decided to change it up a bit and do the Hatteras leg first to take advantage of the 15-20mph that is being predicted for the weekend out of the NE. we thought of this so its no big deal. Ferry ride Sun. morning instead of Sat. night. Last minute packing is easy when your not hardly bringing anything. Bikes on the car and we'll be out of here. Were dropping off our stuff at Mike's friends house who will take it down to Ocracoke for us so we don't have to carry anything on the bikes save for powerbars, water, and tools. This will probably be the last post until we return so wish us luck. Also...this just in, we are staying with Alan (another Alan) in Kill Devil Hills who we found through http://www.couchsurfing.com/, a network of couches for travellers basically very tiny 5 star hotels everywhere that are FREE if you register a couch of your own. Thanks Alan and dog Lopez for YOUR couch.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Breaking the Silence

School and lack of stuff to post has kept the blog pretty quiet lately but an adventure is afoot so its time to break the silence. It's not sailing, but an adventure to be sure so it definitely qualifies.

3 dudes...3 bikes... One long ride

Announcing the first annual Pamlico Swirly-Whirly. Sailing friend and fellow adventurer Adam "life of the party" Domanski along with Mike "I'll eat it" Rhodes (member of the former Team RAF) and I will set out into the unknown on a two day cycling adventure this Labor day weekend on a bike ride that's got awesome adventure written all over it. Our route is pictured below thanks to the new and improved google earth.


We will drive to Manteo Friday night and set out early Sat. morning riding south west on highway 264 to Swanquarter (71 miles) where we will ride the Ferry from Swanquarter to Ocracoke ($3.00 for bikes) and camp on the island. Sunday we get back on the pain machines and ride the final ~84 miles (including a 4mile ferry over Hatteras inlet) north on Highway 12 up Hatteras island and come full circle back to Manteo.
This is a ride that Adam has been wanting to do for a while and Mike knows some friends who are (by coincidence) going to be camping on Ocracoke island on Sat. night who have agreed to carry a bunch of gear for us like tents and changes of cloths.
Today we rode a mere 15 miles around raleigh and averaged 19mph. Will we be able to make it 150miles? Check back soon for more pics and details of the Pamlico Swirly-Whirly