The Good, Bad and Ugly of why I am stopping my Tour...

So, as you can tell after reading my post title the tour has ended, and I am already back in Pennsylvania. I ended up buying a same day flight home. As for the good, bad and ugly of why it had to end, well here it goes: the good - at least I made it to New Orleans; the bad - I had to quit mainly because of financial reasons and I hate when money plays a factor in... just about anything; the ugly - well I am starting to have a tooth ache due to a root canal capping that finally made its way fully off...  My favorite moment of the trip was listening to a street band play on Royal Street in the French Quarter. The woman that played the clarinet gave me serious goose-pimples! Don't worry you will all be able to hear her because I recorded her, however the recording was too long and file too big to fit on the blog to you will have to ask to see it in person if you want to hear her... My least favorite moment was waking up in the middle of the night on Monday and pulling out the rest of the filling on my tooth, and of course the pain wasn't awesome either... My most inspiring moment was when I was staying at the Mann's house and I realized that I will be able to do more bike tours well into my retirement years... My most regrettable moment was when I realized I wasn't going to get to see Austin or go over the 1000 mile mark, but I did make it 830 miles and that ain't bad! Thanks to everyone you read any of my posts and I'll keep you updated on when I am going to go out touring again!!!!

Jackson Square

messing around in the closet

just a fun painting, and a fun pick (oil on linen - nice effect)

list of pros and cons "4 going home"

the art museum was really interactive

famous landmark in French Quarter

The City of Pralines

Street Band in Jackson Square

It's good to be king..

...but it's tiring!

sculpture at Ogden Museum

Soft Shell Crab Po-Boy (best meal I had there)

If you don't have a dream, how can your dream come true?

Day 13-14... Made it to Nawlins! Although the last 2 days were really shakey... Got 4, yes 4 pinch flats the last 2 days. First flats of the entire trip. The last one happened a couple miles from my hotel in New Orleans so I walked the bike, which isn't good for the bike in case you were wondering... Last night was also a true joy. I camped out just off the road in a Mississippi swamp and got awakened in the night by a really strange noise. I told myself I wouldn't say the "a" word. You know the one that starts with a and ends with gator? Anyway I got up in the night and fumbled around for my flashlight and immediately started making the scariest noises I could think of to scare it away. Long story short the noises weren't working so I got out of my tent into mosquito heaven and started making louder noises. Still nothing. Then I heard it moving around in the leaves, and I could tell its belly was rubbing against leaves so I knew it was moving close to the ground. Then it stopped... I did the only thing I could think of, which was to pee outside my tent. You know, to mark my territory... Then I heard it move again and finally got a gimpse of it..... It was a mother f-ing armadillo! First that I've ever seen, alive anyway...I've seen a bunch of road kill armadillos on the trip so far, but none alive until this one, and I'm sure ill see a lot more in Texas....... 4 days off to explore and write about Nawlins. Try and keep up! Freaking armadillos!

Zombified (the time of the season for loving)

Day 12... So while I was staying with my warmshowers host I read an article in Smithsonian about the "mad potter" of Biloxi, George Ohr. Which of course got me excited to come to this town and see his museum. Below you can check out some of his pottery (i got yelled at for taking pictures so I didn't get to take as many as I wanted, but you can kind of get the idea)... And since I'm in the Atlantic City of the south I decided to play in a poker tournament, of which I got 5th place in (just out of the money), but the worst part was when the 4 remaining decided to split the pot before I had a chance to leave the table. I'm over it though so don't feel bad, because playing at the Hard Rock Casino that night were The Zombies, and they didn't disappoint! They played all of their hits and a couple new ones... All in all a great day off!.... Up next, one more night of camping and a short ride today and tomorrow, then 4 days off in the Big Easy before I make my final push for Austin.

No "Biloxi Blues"

Days 9,10,11? - I'm losing track... After I left Andrew in Bontifay I made for a 120 mile day to deep in the heart of Pensacola, where I ate some pretty good Indian food and slept in an extremely seedy motel! Day 10 was a lot shorter and a lot more windy! Not to mention frustrating, due to the Mobile bay ferry closure ( #dontdoit ). Day 11 got a back to a more reasonable amount of riding, pushing for Biloxi, MS... I'm taking a day off to go to a museum  (the reason I stopped in Biloxi), and maybe to play in a poker torny at the Hard Rock Casino #casinoballin... If you haven't been to Biloxi, picture Atlantic City with a southern draw... Pictures don't post in the order I load them so I am going to give up describing them. If you have questions feel free to ask!

Outta the Cold Front (hopefully)

Day 8... Hopefully picking up the pace today after temperatures are finally back in the 60s! Should end day outside of Pensacola area and into Alabama by tomorrow afternoon... No more entries until I get to Biloxi, MS on Wednesday.... Pictures: lots of rain this winter in FL, 14 inches since I've been here I'm told. Beautiful house in Marianna. Playing uke in morning Sun outside motel in Bontifay.

Tallahassee to Chattahoochee

Days 6-7... After meeting up with Andrew he told me about warmshowers.org which is pretty much like couchsurfing, except just for touring cyclists. So, after a day off in Tallahassee that evening we stayed at a warmshowers host house, the Mann's. It felt like a nice stay at your favorite aunt and uncle's house! They cooked us dinner and breakfast and Jim told us countless stories and tips from his journeys bike touring... Day 7 was rough on the road! Constant headwinds and chilly. It didn't get over 50 degrees. Andrew and I only got 50 miles and I think we are going to go on separately because we have different milage goals. Although we are both going to New Orleans, so we plan on meeting up for a drink once he gets there... Not supposed to get warm again until Tuesday, so wish me luck and happiness until then!!!

How to S#!t in the Woods!

Days 4-5 are in the books... I spent my first night in the woods, and got to camp next to a river! So I thought it was fitting I buy a copy of "How to Shit in the Woods" to read before I fall asleep... I hope to spend many more nights in the woods, but there's something to be said about a comfortable bed!... Over the last two days I picked up the pace considerably doing 90 and 100 miles respectively over days 4-5, and made it to Tallahassee a day ahead of time. And, about 40 miles outside of Tallahassee I met Andrew, who is also riding for New Orleans. He's from Melbourne, FL and is riding to a bachelor party in the Big Easy. I hope to ride with him the whole way but our pacing might get in the way... Pictures: Andrew riding in front of me. Other bike tourers going in the opposite direction, didn't get their names but women's from Canada and man is from the Nederlands. My campsite. Pretty scenery. The last of the gear I needed. And the route