Cos it is Thriller…
And no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike….
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!
Hope that whatever you are doing, wherever you are you have a good one.
After much debate and deliberation we are heading out with my friend Vanessa and her friends from Austin for a night of tequilla, dancing* (*see also ‘flailing’) and 80’s disco.
The moves are comin out...
Brilliant.
In fact it has been a brilliant few days. Austin is a great town. Her family amazing and friends awesome.
First things first though - getting here.
My last post left you on a nail biting cliff hanger (don’t pretend you weren’t on the edge of your seat…)
It was Christmas Eve. We had 94 miles to go. The days before had been plagued with punctures. Jamie’s tyre had ripped so we’d been scrabbling around the roadside to patch it up with debris from exploded cars. We had been pedaling 100 mile day after 100 mile day, battling the wind. The area is affectionately known as ’hill country’. A storm was coming…
We awoke that morning to the sound of rain.
Having stayed in a motel, we dragged our exhausted bodies out of bed and trudged round to the reception for a sugar and caffeine boost. As dawn broke, the dark gave way to ominously grey skies and revealed the palm trees lashing from side to side.
Donning our warmest gear we got ready.
Flat tyre.
We had to be in Austin by 4 in order to drive down to Vanessa’s sisters house for dinner in San Antonio.
Our 7am departure time slipped away as I wrestled to remove firstly the layers of arctic gear and then the inner tube.
All set, we made to leave once more.
“What’s that noise?’
“What noise?”
“Is it the wind?”
“Oh that.Yeah it’s definitely the wind… the wind and your other tyre…”
After months of being the one who never got flats, this was not my morning!
Eventually we made it out into the cold and hit the road.
Almost literally.
The wind was blowing at 30mph as a constant and 40mph in gusts.
In our direction.
Wooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
We were flying. The rain had tempered and become occassional spots. The road was good and either not that hilly or we were being hurled so fast we hardly noticed the ups.
Cajunk. Cajunk. Cajunk.
Puncture 3.
8.37….
Freezing and having trouble standing up straight we wrestled to change it in record time.
The clock was ticking…
Ominous skies....
Luckily for us, other than a bit of hail and me careering off the road on a corner, everything else went to plan.
In fact, against all odds, we made it by 3.30 and had time to shower, change and have our first road trip!
Well, first road trip on which we weren’t actually propelling ourselves at least.
And we made it bang on time for Christmas Eve complete with tree, rum cake and family (we tried to get oursleves adopted…).
The next day was much of the same. Only plus stockings, presents and Christmas dinner.
Oh and karaoke!
After a fantastic day relaxing and spending time with a whole host of wonderful people (and - in Jamie’s case - playing with the kids toys) we dressed up in some of Vanessa’s Mum’s best Christmas jumpers (bring on the sequins and shoulder pads) and hit Ashton’s house for some serious Dolly Parton.
Jamie 'building' the childrens play area
I am only gutted that the video of the ‘Humpty Song’ was recorded sideways and doesn’t seem to work on this site.
It was a fantastic night.
On boxing day we were similarly spoiled with a tour of San Antonio from the guy who built most of it (Vanessa’s step Dad, Boone is the architect behind much of the River walk and Alamo restoration) before getting out the pizza and movies with her Dad. Perfect.
The last couple of days we have been chilling out in Austin trying to catch up on ourselves and generally plotting the last leg of the journey.
We met with the guys from Bikes Across Borders after they saw our bikes and invited us for a beer, have been wandering around South Congress, checked out the Capitol building and went to see some music courtesy of the fantastic Nano Whitman.
Nano at Momo's
We have a couple more days (it’s going to be hard to leave) before we head to New Orleans on Monday.
It’ll be interesting to see how we fare after a few days of ‘carb-loading’.
Anyway, before that though… it’s moonwalking into the New Year.
Dangerous indeed!
xx
January 1st, 2010 at 8:54 am
Hi Susie
Happy New Year. You’re still at it!!!! Was at Holloways last night with mum and dad. Your mother has come back from Egypt with a very painful back complaint but she held her own last night! I often think of you, mainly how crazy I think you are and can’t believe you’re now in the States and have cycled for as long as you have. Congrats. Looking forward to seeing you in the UK. Sorry you’re going to miss John H’s and my 60th birthday party.
LOL
Jo x
January 5th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Can I just say I’m HUGELY impressed that you guys are doing so well! Jamie, having seen you in action at Bestival, I had you down as a lounge lizzard, not a world beater! Susie, we have never met, but I’m seriously impressed by the vast amount of punishment you have indured, and the fact you are still going, (I suspect I’d have flashed the Amex and bailed long ago!)
Ok wonderful people, please put an interview with Positivetv.tv in the diary when you return! -We’re supporters of Solar Aid too, and love Jeremy Leggate and Solar Century!
Happy and safe cycling, and a Happy New Year to you both.
Jeremy
January 5th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Dear Susie and Jamie,
I’m the old guy who chatted with you at the restaurant in Giddings. I was so surprised to see someone riding something other than a pickup truck, I had to know. Be sure and visit New Orleans and stop by Beau Bridge, Lousianna on the way. If you miss towns in between, it won’t ruin your trip. You just need to know that there is something resembling culture here in the states. Jamie, good luck on the six pack if you’re not there already. I didn’t notice any excess body fat, so you’ve probably reached your goal. Best of luck on the trip and good success with the Solar Aid.