Plan "B"

DAY ONE Friday March 28

After months and months of anticipation, it's Florida or Bust. I know...I know...I'm a little slow posting this. But my excuses are valid, Just ask me and I'll tell you. Besides everything tends to become far more humorous as time goes bye.

Friday morning March 27th and I'm raring to go. Eleven glorious days away from the cold and dreary Northeast await...YES. All sorts of bike riding on the horizon...Sun...warmth...no worries!!!!!
It doesn't get any better than this.

As I finish putting together the jigsaw puzzle know as packing everything into the car, including both bikes, bike gear & camping gear in the trunk,I'm ready to hop in the car and go.... Wait a minute ... where is Cheryl? Ok, now she's in the car we can go. About 2 1/2 hours into this eventful voyage, as we are nearing the top of the hill south of Williamsport, the car decides now is a good time to malfunction! Yup, we are talking serious issues here. I can't think of a nicer place to spend a sunny Friday afternoon than Lewisburg Pa. As a matter of fact, Cheryl use to head on down to Lewisburg (Home of the Bucknell Buffalo's) as a R&R getaway spot for many years. She mentioned to me all the wonderful value's and points of interest while in Lewisburg. Yet all I can envision is the Federal Prison we just passed by....thanks.... but no thanks. So, I made us up our planned picnic lunch, which we ate overlooking the backside of downtown Lewisburg. The news about the car is fatal, our choices are limited, but we decide to rent a car and keep going south. Not much else we can do. Renting cars is a strange business. Our conversation goes something like this.

US; Hi we need to rent a car
Them; OK, for how long?
US; 10 days....How much?
Them; $x amount per week with unlimited mileage, also special weekend rates with unlimited mileage, grand total is $XX Amount. ( not that expensive)
US; Cool...lets do it.
Them; Where are you going
US; Florida
Them; Oh no..... anything south of N Caroline is triple the previous mentioned amount, plus $x per mile over the minuscule free mileage amount.
US; Well I guess we are only going to N. Carolina.
Them; OK , Sign here for the (original price)....enjoy your trip to N. Carolina

True to our word.... we did go to N. Carolina. As a matter of fact, we went to N. Caroline not once , but twice.

It only takes 20 minutes to pull off a Chinese fire drill, and repack everything in the rented Malibu...but it fits. There is a little more in the back seat than before, but there is still room for us. The poor gut from the rental company is looking at us a little funny.Hmmm, must be a Pennsylvania thing

We are only a few (OK many, many) hours behind. As we arrived in Fredrick Maryland, it is now well past sunset, raining, bad wipers, Grrrrrrrrr, one goal was to go to the Performance cycle shop, in nearby Gaithersburg, and scout out the departure point in Urbana Maryland where the 200K is I will ride in the morning,sponsored by the DC Randonnours With both items completed we do finally make it to the motel, very, very late, a bit tired and frayed.

So far, a picture perfect vacation...:(