Tallahassee Road Trip

I took a 1200 mile road trip to visit friends in Tallahassee over the weekend. I stayed with Amy, a fellow Technical Services librarian that now works at Florida State, and visited with Laura and Barry, two friends with the shared interests of international education, motorcycles, and bicycles. I made the trip on my BMW F650GS. It took about twelve and a half hours each way, traveling on secondary roads through small towns. The scenery in Georgia was not at all what I suspected, it was beautiful large pine trees and rolling hills. I saw very few cars and few people in the towns I passed through, kind of pleasant in a post-apocalyptic kind of way.

Saturday morning Amy gave me the grand tour of the Technical Services building at Florida State. Technical  Services is housed in a building apart from the main campus library, one big main room with a lot of desks and a few private offices for faculty librarians.

Made me very appreciative of my office in Belk Library with its fabulous big window. Also makes me wonder if there has ever existed a Public Services department in a library that had the same set up. Doubt it.

A lot of construction happening on campus. The quad was very pretty, I especially liked the central fountain with statues of female students through the years (Florida State was all-female until the 40s). The main library, the Robert Manning Strozier Library, is in the center of campus.

After the campus tour Amy took me to Lichgate cottage, an adorable house by a huge oak tree. The weather was heating up so we took refuge in an art cinema, the Miracle 5 Cinema. Saddest thing, the cinema closed later that same week, leaving Tallahassee to the mercy of commercial Hollywood.

Sunday morning I visited with Laura and Barry, two friends that lived in Boone. Laura works in the field of international education and Barry spent time working in a library in Nigeria (where Laura was working in Admissions). They both ride motorcycles and Barry has a large collection of vintage bikes (BMW motorcycles and bicycles). They had a new addition to their family, Olive the Beautiful.

It was great talking about international education, travel, bikes, and life. Dinner was fabulous, much of it was grown by Barry and Laura. Plus the homemade key lime pie Laura made was wonderful! I really miss all of these friends and it was a great weekend adventure. (Note: The F650GS averaged 61.1 miles per gallon)

Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Traveller's Meeting, USA East, August 2011

I've been hanging out a lot with men in their 50's and 60's recently. Seems to be the crowd that shares my interests: endurance cyclists and motorcycle tourists. This weekend I travelled to Robbinsville, NC to attend the USA Eastern Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Traveller's Meeting, held at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge and Campground (about a three and a half hour trip from Boone).

Above, Susan and Grant Johnson, speaking at Horizons Unlimited US East meeting.

Horizons Unlimited is comprised of Susan and Grant Johnson (along with volunteers), "Consultant Bikers." After having completed a round the world motorcycle trip, they have share their experience and knowledge with others through their web site, forums, and a DVD set entitled: The Achievable Dream.



I arrived Saturday morning and spent the day in informative sessions including a women's discussion where we talked about motorcycle clothes, boots, bikes, and commiserated about loved ones that don't understand our love of riding. There were sessions about fixing flat tires, using a Garmin GPS, and travel presentations for Alaska, Costa Rica,  Mexico, Europe, Bosnia, and around-the-world

I had a great time. I never stopped talking to people. I got the chance to see a lot of bikes decked out for long distance travel, to ask people about Mexico border crossings, and  to learn a little about riding a dual-sport off-road.

The best part of the weekend was getting the chance to talk to other people that were interested in motorcycle travel past the US borders. More importantly-- people that KNOW it is possible because they have done it themselves.

And to think, I almost let my best friend talk me out of that motorcycle trip to Central America.

Tour de Gordy, Adirondacks

For the past seven years, Paul Gordy has planned a bike tour in the month of May. This year, for the first time, Paul planned TWO bike tours, one in May (Blue Ridge Parkway) and one during the first week of August through the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. For more information, visit Paul Gordy's Bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway website.

Above, the 2011 Adirondack gang, Chris, Dean, Paul, John, Beth, Carol, and Tom.

John and I have ridden with Paul in 2006, 2009 2010, and 2011. He does a fabulous job of creating cue sheets, reserving campgrounds, finding restaurants in advance. And all for free.

Right, Beth and Carol on race day at the Saratoga Racetrack.


John and I rode the first half of the 8 day tour, from Albany to Lake Placid, about 200 miles. We carry all our gear on our trusty Surly Long Haul Truckers.

Left, the gang on back roads between Lake George and Crown Point.

Right, pop-tarts (giver of delicious super-powers) at Rockwell Falls.

The area was gorgeous, with fresh air, no shortage of restaurants, tourist sights, and low traffic. We did follow sections of the Adventure Cycling Adirondacks route.

More photos of the trip can be seen on my flickr set, Cycling Adirondacks.

Left, John and his loaded Surly LHT at Rockwell Falls.

After we finished riding, we spent three more days in the area hiking and touristing with Emma and Ian, a wonderful time had by all.