BLOG CHANGE to Wordpress

Since Google does not seem to care about my lost pictures and those of a lot of other people based on the help requests I have seen, I am moving to WordPress. The new link is
http://teamsboss.wordpress.com/

Saturday Morning Ride Info will remain at the same spot for now until I can get it converted.

I will be reposting the BRAG Ride photos during the next few days but will have to let the other posts just set there. I am not going to spend hours and hours reloading photos.

Just for your information, there does not seem to be any way to get to a real human with Google to get information or immediate assistance.

BRAG 2009 or PEDALIN' WITH KAYLA - Not sure where pictures have gone

BRAG 2009 started in Hiawassee and this is the way I would like to have ridden.

Here we are ready to go on the morning of June 7th.

Luxury accommodations were available. You had a selection of gyms, classrooms in some stops, tents (bring your own) or tents provided by Bubba's Pampered Pedalers. We go the cheap route - sleep in gyms or class rooms. Picture further down shows those deluxe rooms. There are those who stay in motels but I feel they miss part of the ambiance

Highest point on the ride was about 10 miles into the ride at Unicoi Gap

Unicoi Gap is also one of the AT crossings.

Just north of Lula on Highway 52 you will find Edith Ann's Chair

Kayla made a lot of new friends. The following pictures are just a few of them.

Kayla with one of her Bulldawg friends below. She enjoyed seeing all the different Bulldawgs around town in Athens. Now, I am not sure I understand a flower covered dawg but ???

Special recognition for Maggie and Caroline. They were our inspiration for several years to make us want to bring Kayla when she was old enough. These two young ladies are BRAG vets.

More friends - did not matter - young or old.

Kayla met Hannah and Hannah instantly became Hannah Montana for Kayla

Another of the friends on the ride. Hope to see all of them next year or at the Bike Fest in Tifton

Yes, definitely deluxe sleeping quarters. Place would almost be cleared out by 7 AM and the sounds of BRAG include snoring and starting about 4:30 AM, unzipping of sleeping bags and the whoosh of air mattresses being deflated. Try sleeping past that and you have seen a miracle.

The river at Watson Mill State Park through the covered bridge

Talent night was in Elberton and after the talent show, there was DJ music. Kayla was up on the stage dancing.

Hat day for Kayla. She did not like the idea on Sunday but by Friday, she decided she wanted to wear it. Thanks to duct tape, we were able to hold the thing on.

Of course, you have your choice of deluxe bathing facilities. You could take a bath in the gyms, most of which did have warm water, or you could go to the shower truck. Men on the left, women on the right.

Chicken Crossing - Team Road Kill struck and left beads

Wildlife was found on the ride on the last day. Nice cute black snake. Was a chance to give a bit of education about snakes that have fangs that are dangerous and those that are not.

Almost to the finish as we cross into South Carolina east of Lincolnton.

Riding into the finish

Kayla at the finish line at the Savannah River Resort - Grandpa 323 miles, Kayla 209 miles.

Kayla gets presented her BRAG 2009 medal

Oh, did I forget to say that this ride was all about Kayla? Per her father, she has not quit talking about it and has already said she is going next year.

Riding With Kayla May 31, 2009

We drove up to Cleveland, TN early Sunday to arrive by 10 AM. Got the bike and a half (aka Trail-a-bike) ready to roll and headed out. Kayla wanted to get a picture in front of her school to show the kids who tell her she is not riding like this. So, we started out with uphills for the first 3 miles or so. Got the picture though and now she can show off. She will have even more pictures after next week on BRAG.

Below is doing what we like to do best on BRAG or any other ride - rest in the shade for a few minutes. This was about mile 7 and 3 miles later we had to make a simulated rest stop so she could sort of get the feel for what we would be doing every 10 or so miles - eating and drinking.

In this case, our "rest stop" was a convenience store just about a mile from her house but we rode another 3.5 miles to get home. We made a 13.5 mile loop from her house and had about 1200 feet of climbing which also calls to mind the Theorem de Elevation. For every uphill, there is an equal and sometimes exciting downhill. Or, for every downhill, there is an equal and sometimes killer uphill.

My song for BRAG will be "Don't Think Twice" or at least the last verse with changes. Sorry Bob!

I'm pedalin' down that long, lonesome road, babe

Where I'm bound, I can't tell

But goodbye's too good a word, gal

So I'll just say fare thee well

I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind

You could have pedaled better but I don't mind

You just kinda wasted my precious climb

But don't think twice, it's all right

More on the adventures of Pedalin' Phil and Kayla to follow in the days ahead.

Florida Trip

Details and descriptions later but no trip or bicycle ride is complete in Florida without a swarm or two of Lovebugs. Based on a rough calculation from ingesting a Lovebug, it would take approximately 1023 Georgia gnats to equal a Lovebug.

One of the start points on the West Orange Bike Trail - Killarney Station

This is about the mid-point on the 39 mile paved trail. Too bad we don't have something like this in NE Georgia. The Silver Comet is about the only paved trail I am aware of. Comments welcome to give more paved bike paths in Georgia - not side of highway with a 2 to 3 foot width.

Phil, Debbie, Anita, Gary with Lake Minneola in the background.

Marian and Debbie - sisters

Athens Twilight Criterium 2009

Just a few photos from the Crit.

This was my first ever trip to watch the crit. Only place I have been with a bigger crowd was the 4th of July fireworks in Washington, DC or perhaps, a Georgia Bulldog football home game.

Winner of the 9 year old race. I bet I could not keep up with him and at 9 years old, I only had a fat tire, single speed which came from Western Auto.

Part of the crowd

This dog was only 12 weeks old - hope he is there next year for his full grown picture

This is the large and the small of it for the dogs at the event. There were more dogs around but the little one was doing his best to get to the big dog.

Another crowd shot

Not only was it packed but across the street above the Nowhere Bar was this group.

I will be adding some videos if I can get the format right.

BRAG Spring Tune Up - After the Ride Pictures and Thoughts

BRAG - STU 2009 is over and a good time was had by most everyone as best I can tell. The following pictures are in no particular order. I did keep hearing in my mind the phrase "Eat Mor' Chikn" and finally found the source which you will see as the last photo. Definitely subliminal mind control. I rode 122 miles in 2 days.

A field of yellow flowers - someone identify the type of plant please.

Has anyone ever gotten your goat? There was a large selection here on day 2 57 mile route.

Family on a triple!

Smallest SAG wagon I have ever seen. Limited to one problem at a time.

World's best DOG rider on STU - Marley! He got a lot of attention

Youngest rider - 6 months old a couple of days after STU.

Eat Mor Chikn - Eat Mor Chikn - Eat Mor Chikn

Chestatee Wildlife Preserve Ride

Today was a ride from Murrayville to the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve. The Preserve is a rescue facility for many animals and the pictures below are some examples of the animals living there. The refuge is seeing decreased funding due to the cutbacks in education with not at many field trips being scheduled. In talking to the staff, they will normally have 5 to 6 field trips a week and this year they have only had about 6 or so. If you feel so led, I am sure a donation to the operations would be appreciated. There web link is:

http://www.chestateewildlife.com/

I have ridden by it may times and it comes as quite a shock the first time to look down the hill from the main highway to see a white tiger watching you go by. You could almost see him lick his chops and thinking what a fine meal that big guy on a bicycle would make.

Kayla did great today and we had some pretty good hills to climb just to get there.
Kayla at the entrance off Old Dahlonega Highway
White Tiger

Buffalo

Peacock in full bloom - he put on quite a show for us

Siberian Tigers - look closely on the left side - that one is snoozing

Grizzly - where is John Wayne when you need him?

Ostrich

Forgot what this one is but he is cute. There are also several monkeys, a lynx, a zebra, burro, and others. Well worth the visit.