The day is fast approaching!! Save the date for Debbie and Karin's NYC finish line fiesta! Sunday September 7th at Battery Park at 4:30 pm picnic and celebration! Also there will be an after party Sunday night so we can dance with the girls and check out their killer tan lines! More info to come soon. contact daphne dgomezmena@yahoo.com with any questions and stuff.

Indiana-na-na

Day 65: 69 miles to Bloomington, INDIANA!


Today we crossed into another state! We stopped for lunch at Vincennes where we decided to part ways for a few days. Ceci and I headed north to Bloomington, while Karin headed south to Louisville. Don't worry friends, it's only for a few days and we will reunite on Saturday in North Vernon.


Sunset over the corn fields


We really wanted to make it all the way to Bloomington, where Andy D and Victoria were waiting, so we decided to keep biking even after it got dark. The red full moon lit the night for us and a blanket of fog strangely only covered the crops on the left of us.


Day 66-69: 0 miles, resting in Bloomington

Andy D & Victoria just moved into a sweet house with a gorgeous garden that has roses, vegetables, surprise lillies, and sunflowers taller than me!


Victoria let us raid her closet. It feels so nice to wear a dress!



Karen, Andy's mom, took us all out for lunch (Thanks!)
(She's a therapist who is working on a book about female sex offenders)


The pool is only a few blocks away.


The next day we had a picnic at the winery.




Sha-na-na-Sweetness.


We took a stroll through the University and went to see an exhibit at the Special Collections Library where Victoria is getting her library science degree.


Victoria was painting these seagreen stripes in perfect lines without even putting tape on the walls.


port on the patio


Andy & Victoria have been cooking us delicious meals! Pasta sauce made with tomatoes from their garden, shepherd's pie, and homemade cobbler to name some highlights. We also got to eat Indian AND Tibetan food!


We hit the Bloomington night scene a few times to get our dance on.
I miss dancing!! my legs almost forgot how... (almost)



As of midnight, it was Ceci's birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CECI!!!!


it's been awesome living like real people for a few days!!!


For her B-day, Victoria surprised Ceci with a beautiful AND delicious banana chocolate cake.




In case anyone wants to read about our adventures from another P.O.V. you can check out Ceci's blog: http://www.ceciliaanderson.blogspot.com/

Back to the wildlife we go!! We just mapped out the way to D.C. and I can't even believe how close we are now!!!!! Miss everyone! XOXOXOX

Two states that start with an "I"

Day 61:
0 miles. Rest day at the Tyler house in Washington, MO

Today Wesley left the group to ride ahead of us so that he can make it back in time for school.
BYE WESLEY!!! We are going to miss you!



Meet the Tyler's (in the 80's)
Larry, Diana, Katie, Sarah, & Ian




Diana and Larry, two people who know how to enjoy life.


Ian & Max


That night we got to meet Ceci's Vovo who stopped by for a visit.


Day 62: 60 miles, Washington, MO to St. Louis, MO

We rode on the Katy Trail to St. Charles, before risking our lives on an insane freeway, JUST to get into St. Louis for a night on the town. We managed to score a shuttle from the hotel to the Metrolink, which took us right downtown.


Day 63: 46 miles, St. Louis, MO to Carlyle, ILLINOIS

It was a lovely ride out to the arch on a quiet, tree-lined part of the city, and we met up with Larry and Diana for lunch on a riverboat.






Then we crossed into another state: ILLINOIS!!! We biked right over the Mississippi river... we're so close now....




We camped at the McNair campground which was right on the biggest lake in Illinois. The campground was run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. (that means = cute rangers). Actually, the rangers busted us for wildcat camping on a piece of land that was NOT an official campsite... but WE are EVEN cuter than them, and they had to let it slide. Not only did they let us stay, they even drove us into town for dinner.




Day 64: 92 miles!!! Carlyle, IL to Lawrenceville, IL

Our first stop of the day was in Flora, where sitting in a park we met the owner of the local DQ who gave us coupons for free ice cream! (Thanks!)





Also, check out some places that we've been mentioned!

Scott's K48 Bullet:
http://thek48bullet.blogspot.com/2008/08/girls-gone-wild-life.html

Also, Jake wrote something in the Miami New Times blog:
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2008/08/former_avenue_d_singer_bikes_a.php

(And if you go two posts back, there's an article about a party my sister's were part of... Conga line in the pool and everything! http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2008/08/photos_yo_bbq_pool_party_at_ps.php)

2500 miles!

Day 58: 22 miles Linn Creek to Eldon, MO

Today we got invited by Scott Hug's sister Amy Pike and her family to stay with them at their beautiful home.

This is the driveway leading up to the Pike house. It must be the longest driveway I've ever seen. After living in NYC for nearly a decade, seeing people have this much space to live in is just unbelievable!


The Pikes and their 4 vivacious daughters.
Carissa the eldest daughter with mom and dad.


Abbey, the baby girl.


Day 59: 51 miles Eldon to Tebetts, MO

The day began with a big pancake breakfast made by Wesley.
We decided to spend the first half of the day hanging out with Amy and the girls.

Mackenzie and Wesley aka Tutti & Frutti


Amanda, the photographer and cyclist.
Wanna join us on our trip?


The girls all ride in the rodeo, barrel race, and rope goats.
Here's one of their baby goats. Really cute, but they poop A LOT!




Mackenzie and Amanda let us ride their horses, Silky and Sunny D.



Debbie galloped on both horses, but hasn't been able to walk right in three days.




We had about 50 miles ahead of us that day, so we said our goodbyes around noon.
The Pike girls and friend, Mattie posing with us for goodbye photo.


How many miles will this driveway add to our ride today?


Thanks so much to the Pike family for having us over! We had lots of fun getting to know you!



That afternoon we passed through Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri.

Fireball in the sky.


We got on the Katy Trail (no cars!) around sunset, then spent the next hour riding through the darkness. The only thing we could see was five feet in front of us. The rainforest-like foliage and the chirping critters around us added to the eeriness. It was the most adventurous night ride we've done so far on this trip.

We stayed at a biker hostel off the Katy Trail that night. The place was really cute, nice bike shop, great showers, but the bunks were horrible.


Day 60: 70 miles, Tebetts to Washington, MO

Katy Trail hostel by day.


The shaded bike path on the Katy Trail was a nice leisurely ride. But beware of the spider webs! They are like booby traps along the trail. We looked like cocooned mummies after 10 miles on the trail.


Did a child draw this sign?



The sun looked like it was burning a hole in the sky as it dipped into the horizon.
We sure don't get blazing sunsets like these in the city.


We stopped at a little diner off the trail and had the best blackberry pie. This place was so great they let you specify the size of the slice you want. We ate almost the entire pie in three slices.
I thought about my grandma as I ate my pie because today is her birthday. Happy Birthday Grannie, I ate a pie in your honor today!

We are heading into the city of Washington to stay with our friend, Sara Tyler's family.
Can't wait to see if our new mommy and daddy are going to be nice to us.

Lots of love to all our readers!!!
We've made it 2500 miles across America!
XXOO