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TOMORROW IS THE DAY! The guys are scheduled to arrive victoriously in St Augustine, Florida!
Today's exciting trip news (reproduced with permission) from the Coast-2-Coast USA team - a bunch of brave dads/uncles/brothers/friends of children from the UK, cycling across the southern continental United States from Oceanside, California to St. Augustine, Florida to raise donations for the Children's Hospital for Wales and the Noah's Ark Appeal . They've been pedaling their butts off (probably literally) and pushing their way through across an entire continent, up and down mountains, through the scorching heat of the Mojave, blizzards in the New Mexico and rush hour traffic in Texas! If you're in Florida - turn out and welcome them in style!
Previous days entries here:- March 19th , 22nd , 23rd , 24th , 25th , 26th , 27th , 28th Interview with Americymru member and Coast2Coast rider Gareth Evans:- here . Listen to Coast-2-Coast USA's Richard Belcher on Radio Glamorgan with Peter Cox!
Two Day Count Down
We're in Florida. Head winds have been with us since New Orleans. Cyclists and crew are very tired and there is a feeling of overall weariness. Two days to go and then I'm sure we will be re-vitaised!
Andy nearly had enough!
Mervyn trying to find forward gear and being rather heavy handed - 'It won't go in for me!'
Gar's #12
New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. Day 12
I did go out in New Orleans, and I loved it!! Gwent will be coming here on tour next year, especially if they give us a guided tour of the hustler house again. The live music was great, and plenty of bars to choose from. Happy days.
A wake up call from the belcher at 9am, and the guts were churning, not wise, should have saved it for Friday. A quick subway and alka seltzer for breakfast, food of champions, and it's off over the Mississippi Delta, and a load of spectacular bridges towards Mobile.
Louisiana in the morning, Mississippi through lunch and in Alabama by 4pm, but there wasn't one bullet hole on the signs. The roads flew pretty quickly today considering, and the beaches that ran alongside the gulf of Mexico were superb, the only disappointments were the weather, very humid and sticky...and Rich's puncture.
One more state...Florida, our final destination. 3 days to go, still over 500miles to go though. Weather looks promising, just a couple of Tornados to our east. Pretty sure they'll be gone by then.
The Boys on the Beach
Looking for people to suggest names for the boys!
Gar's #13
Mobile, Alabama - Panama City, Florida - Day 13
After the antics of New Orleans, Mobile gave a chance to recharge the batteries, and an early night, with a bit of sleepwalking apparently thrown in for good measure, meant I was ready for the bang the next day.
After a hearty breakfast of chilidog and pizza, we made our way from Mobile and Spanish Port. Less than two miles into the ride, tricky Dicky's tire played up, which left me to complete the whole leg by myself. In a strange way, this was nice, as it allowed some 'alone time', seen as everybody had been on top of each other all trip. Decent time was made into the wind, and the scenery changed from the tree lined avenues of Alabama, to humid swamp lands as we crossed the Florida border.
The Belch had made up for his puncture by joining the Bear and Phillipousis for a cheeky threesome, which left me to put up with Stoney getting over-excited about any bridges that came into view. He did behave though, he kept it in. Again, the welsh bald eagle and myself did good time, and I had an opp to catch up with the Belch.
Next stint again was decent, good distance made in time, considering the crosswinds and the Florida traffic lights. The bang was still on, and the light rain went some way to cooling us off in the sticky conditions.
Today was the last time we'd see a beach before the Atlantic, and although the Gulf of Mexico has proved spectacular, the back-drop of hazy, humid conditions, and the evidence of hurricanes Katrina and Rita did tarnish it somewhat.
The final stint of the day brought us to our destination for the night, Panama City. It's possibly the equivalent of Western Super Mare, except a fair few more arcades, surf shops, and 20 storey condo blocks, but you can't hide the fact it's spring break. The student jocks riding around in either 'pimp my ride-esq' trucks or on scooters. The divs even started to throw empty trash at us as we exited town. They should have gone to Miami or Mexico like everyone else...pikies!!
Hotel is great, quick dip in pool and Red Lobster for supper, nicest meal on tour (except for the home cooking of Taos and Mrs Dai Evans from Mobile...and Jackies ribs).
So were in Florida, our final state, 48 hours and hopefully we'll be in a St. Augustine bar having a few beers. Tomorrow again will be a challenging day, over 200miles if were to make the last day shorter, which will enable us a beachside finish early afternoon Friday. Everyone is tired, everyone has various sore bits, but no doubt, everyone cannot bloody wait till 4ish on Friday.
Ready to Come Home?
My little dragon is a girl and her name is Suzie and she will be with me all the way from Coast 2 Coast.
Phil is tired too!
Yes we are tired but Merv is insisting that we write a trip song. He's such a prolific lyricist - he's already on his 12th verse with a chanting chorus of:
'IN WITH THE BIKES, OUT WITH THE BIKES'
We were desperately trying to find something that rhymed with Houston and then Merv found it: 'SING SONG as long as we say Houst -ON we'll get away with it', says Merv
Rich's #12
We started our 12th day just outside of New Orleans, with Gareth looking a little weary from his exploits the night before.
We could see even more of the damage inflicted by hurricane Katrina. The previous day there had been a good number of damaged houses but there didn't appear to be any fallen trees, but to the East of New Orleans there was evidence of forests bearing the brunt of the winds as well as yet more houses decimated and whole communities laid to waste.
Strange really how we in Britain complain about the weather, yet we seldom see the extremes we've actually experienced in the past 2 weeks let alone the likes of hurricane Katrina.
Our journey came to an end in Mobile where there had been plans for a local TV crew to film us, but tornadoes to the North of the state meant they were utilised elsewhere, giving further confirmation of the mildness of our own climate.
We stayed in church accomodation in Mobile. This was arranged courtesy of David Evans. David's parents were from Aberdare and he heard about us from connections Andy had with Welsh heritage groups.
We were treated to dinner and spent a comfortable night in one of the church buildings. Once again the famous Southern hospitality in evidence.
So to today and the trip from Mobile to Panama City and It wasn't long before we were in our final state; Florida. Unfortunately Gareth crossed the border alone as very early in our stint I punctured.
I'd fixed a puncture from late the previous day but in my haste hadn't actually checked the condition of the tyre. Only when this next puncture occurred did I do this and discovered a small fragment of metal lodged in the tyre.
Because of my modest mileage I went out in a 3 with Phil and Andy. The intention being that Gar would go next with either one of the Odd Couple before we resumed with the usual pairings. However, a puncture for Phil meant I went next with Andy. We had anticipated that we'd be riding along the seafront but the road was a little in land and so the views were not quite what we had anticipated.
When I did get near the coast - last couple of stints with Gareth - fog had started to form and so my view was more or less confined to the air drumming, human jukebox that is Gareth Evans, and contrary to what he was singing (shouting) at me I am unconvinced at his claims to be "the hot stepper" or "a lyrical gangster". Murderer - most definitely, provided we're talking about murdering a song.
A good day's riding today but I feel tired. Only two more to go though so we're within touching distance.
"Chris Keil, an accomplished linguist, ran an upland sheep farm for nearly twenty years. He has worked as a Brixton schoolteacher and a teacher of English as a foreign language. He has specialised in marketing Welsh lamb in Europe, and in collective memory and representations of the Holocaust. He lectures worldwide and has published on dissonant heritage and traumatic memory at Auschwitz. He lives in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, and currently lectures at Trinity College, Carmarthen. Liminal is his second novel." Alcemi Catalogue 2009
In this exclusive interview with Americymru, Chris answers questions about his life and work with particular reference to his second novel 'Liminal'. Read our review of "Liminal" here.
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Americymru: We read in your biography that you ran an upland sheep farm for twenty years. This is perhaps an unusual background for a writer. At what point did you take up the pen? What impelled you to become a writer?
Chris: I've been impelled towards writing for as long as I can remember, something I got from my mother who, as a young woman, worked with Dylan Thomas on the Swansea Evening Post, and for whom literature was a part of life. As for sheep-farming, I thought of it as the day-job; it's an activity, though, that tends to be so all-consuming that it wasn't until yet another turn in the boom-bust farming cycle pushed me off the bus that I went into academic life and full-time writing. In fact, I think it's a good background for a writer: very few things engage you so closely with the physical world, and in a country where sheep outnumber people by three or four to one it's quite an appropriate place to come from.
Americymru: Who are you reading now? What authors have most inspired or "influenced" your own writing?
Chris: Always find this a difficult question. When I'm writing full-tilt, as I am now, I read almost nothing but what I strictly need for research. But writers I love... Giorgio Bassani, Joseph Heller, Robert Louis Stevenson, Freud, TS Eliot, Zola... There is no end to reading, fortunately.
Americymru: For those who are unfamiliar with it, would you care to tell us a bit about your first novel ( The French Thing )?
Chris: OK. It's a story about love defeated by conflicting moral and political visions. On one level it's a thriller/love story, in a rural setting, partly based on real events around issues of animal rights. But what I was also trying to do was to lay out a small, self-contained world, inhabited by groups of people who dont at all want to share that world with other groups, who feel that all of it belongs to them. So the social realities of this world are based on prejudice, hostility, misunderstanding. That make it sound grimmer than it is. Read it!
Americymru: I think many of our readers would be interested to learn more of the process involved in producing a major novel. What provided you with the inspiration to write "Liminal"?
Chris: Liminal germinated over a period of about four years before I started writing it, during which a number of separate ideas floated around without really connecting with each other. One of these ideas was for a book which I eventually abandoned, about a man who becomes obsessed by a painting. That book ended up being written by Janice (a character in 'Liminal'). I understand it's been very successful. I should have gone on with it. Some of the other elements that went into the book were just brief encounters - a girl in Greece talking to a group of students... images - a ruined house with a dead tree reaching up through the roof... I think I start with settings, backgrounds, visual images that move me in some way. Then characters, one or two at first, then others, gradually forming patterns of relationships which eventually determine the narrative. The plot arrives last, grows out of these other things. After that, it's about musicality, about trying to arrive at a level of meaning that floats free, that has a poetic relationship to language.
Americymru: Geraint expounds his concept of "liminality" at various points in the novel. Would you care to explain the significance of this notion for our readers?
Chris: Like Geraint, I've been interested for a long time in the idea of pilgrimage, the idea that life is not just a journey, but a journey with a purpose, which we have to discover for ourselves. The purpose of our journey isn't automatically revealed to us, and certainly isn't defined or circumscribed or given to us by other people. The concept of liminality works on a physical and external level, and also on an interior, psychic one. In the physical world, it's about moments in time, and especially places in space - doorways, bridges, places where the path in the wood divides - which mark significant stages in the journey. On the psychic level, it's about those moments when you get a flash of insight, when you understand something about the purpose of your journey.
Americymru: Your descriptions of place are vivid and evocative - did you travel to Greece during the process of creating this novel?
Chris: I've been to Greece a number of times, and one of the key moments in Liminal's development as a book was a visit to Corinth some years ago, which eventually provided the settings for the Greek section of the book. I was lucky enough to get an Arts Council grant to finish the book in 2006, and I used that to go back to the same area of the Peloponese because I realised that my physical memories had become attenuated. I needed to reconnect with the heat, the intensity of the light, the smell of resin. I think it helped the writing a lot, being back there.
Americymru: Geraint's friendship with Janice seems the closest, most expressive relationship he has with any of the female characters - did this develop as the story developed or was it always part of who the characters were from the beginning?
Chris: This will sound corny, but Janice really did create herself. I'd intended her to be quite a minor character, mainly there to provide some background detail in Geraint's work-place, but she took over the book I'd abandoned, and it was her idea to make a move on Geraint. My plans for Geraint's love life revolved around Lydia, but he ended up treating her pretty badly, thanks to Janice. What allowed this to happen was the fact that, although I knew what the main themes, and the main narrative elements were when I started writing, most of the detailed plotting wasn't even roughed out. I seem to work like that; it's risky and quite nerve-wracking sometimes, but it allows me to develop an intuitive relationship with the writing, which, when it works out, is really good fun. Tom Stoppard (who says he works the same way) said that writers should never feel clever when a book works out well; they should just feel lucky.
Americymru: How did you develop the story of Saint Brygga? Was her story based on any actual saints? What inspired her name?
Chris: Saint Brygga isn't based on any historical figure, although I read a lot of medieval accounts of saints' lives and, so to speak, cannibalised a lot of details of miraculously-preserved body parts etc. I truly cannot remember how I arrived at her name, athough the other day I noticed a signpost to a village called Brynbuga, which I must have passed many times without consciously taking it in, but which, I suppose, embedded itself.
Americymru: The notion of "pilgrimage" is explored at various points in the book. How important do you think this concept is in contemporary society?
Chris: Vital.
Americymru: By the end of the book most of the loose ends are tied up and life goes on. Would you describe this as a "happy ending"?
Chris: Not exactly. I didn't want to write a story about overwhelming tragedy because, somehow, that felt too easy. I wanted to write about the way life ambushes us sometimes, shoots a small dart of sorrow into us; about how change, even when it is necessary or inevitable, leaves a residue of sadness, an intimation of the end of the journey, I suppose.
Americymru: What in your view is the significance of the term Anglo-Welsh literature? Is there such a thing and if so might it be said to have any special message, theme or significance for contemporary readers?
Chris: I think there is such a thing, although it's not easy to define. I think it's a literature which is shaped by a number of factors: obviously history, topography, perhaps above all the social forms that are unique to this strange country. But also because, as "English,' it is haunted by its anomalous relationship to Wales, to Welshness, to the Welsh language. Think of RS Thomas...
Americymru: What are your future writing plans? Is there a third novel in the works?
Chris: There is. The process of writing it is just starting to pick up speed and gather momentum. It's fairly huge and ambitious, but I feel I'm beginning to get control of it, like a runaway train. It's set across a time span of thirty years in the lives of the characters, and another thirty before that in memory and evocation. The main themes are to do with revolution and rapid change, and how idealism is kept alive, or compromised. But it's also about our relationship to art, specifically to music and film. A number of the characters are singers, actors, film-makers, and I've become captivated by trying to understand how music and moving images work on us. I think it's going to be the best yet!
Interview by Ceri Shaw Google+ Email
No dirigibles please! And no its not for me to get over for the Laugharne weekend either. We are, however, looking for plane tickets for artists appearing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in August in Portland Oregon. Any members got any tips? Any travel agents out there want to sponsor?
Let us know, email americymru@gmail.com
Less than a week to go! Today's exciting trip news (reproduced with permission) from the Coast-2-Coast USA team - a bunch of brave dads/uncles/brothers/friends of children from the UK, cycling across the southern continental United States from Oceanside, California to St. Augustine, Florida to raise donations for the Children's Hospital for Wales and the Noah's Ark Appeal . Show them your support with pledges and, if you're on their route - especially at the end in St Augustine, Florida - turn out and welcome them, put them up or feed them or just buy them a beer! Previous days entries here:- March 19th , 22nd , 23rd , 24th , 25th , 26th , 27th , 28th Interview with Americymru member and Coast2Coast rider Gareth Evans:- here . Listen to Coast-2-Coast USA's Richard Belcher on Radio Glamorgan with Peter Cox!
Stoneys in New Orleans.again
After a few days arduous cycling (yes, me cycling every day) in various climates and road conditions, we landed in New Orleans. We awoke in Clovis to snowy conditions (again) so delayed the off until later. Enough time for Dyffers and Chatsy to get everyone into the hot seat for interviews in front of the cameras. They even made me say a few words in Welsh for the second time on the trip.
As the snow wasnt clearing, we set off for better climes, although this did take a few hours!!! When we finally started cycling in the afternoon, I joined Bear and Pork Pie for a stint on another hot seat and this one was even more uncomfortable. However, the cycling was brilliant. Henry continued to drive the campervan. I think he finds it safer when Im in the co-pilot seat or on my bike.
Another great cycle on Saturday, apart from Phil repeatedly getting punctures (the second one was just in front of me and I thought that someone was shooting at us!!!!!!!). Austin was a bit of a disappointment for me, because we were all too tired to check out some of the local bands. At the end of the day, were here to cycle across America, so we can leave that until I return with Eileen. We did, however, eat at Applebies. H had been raving about this chain since we landed in LA and, in fairness, it was fine fare.
Next up was Houston. The cycling there was, to say the least, scary. Bumpy roads. Speeding cars. Interchanges. Noise. And hills. I thought Texas was supposed to be flat. This was also accompanied by a soreness to the crown jewels. Pork Pie had the audacity to take a photo of me rubbing some cream into my bits to relieve the pain. Not a pretty sight.
We arrived at Ian and Jackys house, where we were met by a cameraman from ABC News. We were asked to cycle towards him for the news. Id had enough cycling by then, so H climbed on board the Look bike for a Brad Pitt shot instead!!!!
Straight into the pool (again with all my cycling kit on) then Ribs and Corn laid on by our kind hosts. To be fair, Andy must be a good mate of Ian and/or Jackie must be a saint. Who else would put 11 people up in their house, in various states of dishevelment!
After a great evening in The Red Lion, where the landlord (an Englishman from Bradford named Craig) laid on the food and the Guinness (my first of the trip) as his guests. OK we did have to sing for our supper. This time we sounded better. It could have been the Guinness making me imagine this, but the locals seemed to like it.
After a later than planned start, we set off to New Orleans. The journey itself became a nightmare. We had to drive through rush hour Houston (I should say Henry and Onslow had to drive) followed by a stint on the Interstate to Port Arthur, where the boys started cycling. After two legs of leap-frogging and a journey through the desolation of various recent hurricanes, we embarked on a ferry crossing. I decided it was time to get on the bike. Bad move. Brick wall head winds!!!! They were so bad, it affected the navigational and common senses of the back up team in the car, who promptly took the wrong turning and we didnt see them again for about 60 miles. No. I didnt inflict any form of injury on them. I controlled myself, as I have done for the whole trip (although we had to keep cycling, because there were 7 of us left in the campervan and only 5 were allowed to drive in it).
We finally arrived in New Orleans at 8pm. H had driven all the way and was absolutely shattered on arrival. We found that the campervan was too high to park in the hotel, so I had to go and find somewhere to park it. The hotel staff sent us to a car park, that didnt accommodate such vehicles, so it was a case of driving around until we found somewhere suitable. We finally arrived in the hotel and I was astounded to find it was the same one as I stayed in 18 years ago!!! We did manage a drink at Pat OBriens and took in two bars with live bands, but it was definitely time for bed. Look out H and Onslow. Ive got my serious snoring head on tonight!!!!!!
A message from Cross Inn, Laugharne
Less than a week to go! Today's exciting trip news (reproduced with permission) from the Coast-2-Coast USA team - a bunch of brave dads/uncles/brothers/friends of children from the UK, cycling across the southern continental United States from Oceanside, California to St. Augustine, Florida to raise donations for the Children's Hospital for Wales and the Noah's Ark Appeal . Show them your support with pledges and, if you're on their route - especially at the end in St Augustine, Florida - turn out and welcome them, put them up or feed them or just buy them a beer! Previous days entries here:- March 19th , 22nd , 23rd , 24th , 25th , 26th , 27th , 28th Interview with Americymru member and Coast2Coast rider Gareth Evans:- here . Listen to Coast-2-Coast USA's Richard Belcher on Radio Glamorgan with Peter Cox!
Gar's #10
Austin - Houston, Texas; day 10
Personally, the least enjoyable day on the bike for me, for various reasons. The conditions of the roads weren't the best today. Constant bumps and unsmooth roads playing havoc on saddle rash and aching joints. There also seemed to be a very strong wind early on, making it very difficult to get into any rhythm. There are some bloody idiots on these roads too, although some drivers probably say the same about us. On numerous occasions on our first leg, it felt as if some Texans were trying to play 'cidior cymro' on bikes. Not a pleasant experience being pushed ever and ever closer off the road. The roads were the equivalent of the A48 without a hard shoulder, so it was some relief when a hard shoulder appeared later on. Chance for a break, until it was time to cross over exit slip roads, and the 'cidior cymro' continued!!
The weather has brightened up no doubt, it's about 70-75 degrees, which means we can all at least work on our cyclists tan!! Rich felt it today also, there was no 'gettin on the bang today'. It goes to show that although it was a relatively short day, how much we've put ourselves through in the last 10days. Quite possibly the best part of the day was myself and pirate stone letting off some steam with a mini tirade of 'abuse ping pong'. Probably did us both good to let off sone steam. Stoney probably had the last laugh, especially when he receives a Phone call from my mother saying that some woman called Denise had found my mobile in the back of an Austin cab!!
It's off to an old mate of Andy's tonight, Ian Cross, who's kindly putting us up for the evening, and tomorrow we leave Texas and head for New Orleans and good ol' Louisiana. 5 days to go. Today gave the first real signs of fatigue, there wasn't quite as much 'oomf' left in the legs, shoulders and wrists are really startin to ache, and as for the saddle rash...you don't want to know about that. What have we got to moan about though? When you hear some of the stories from the people we've met along the way, and think of who were collecting for; a bit of saddle soreness and pain Is a small price. 5 days to go; a lot can happen in 1 day, let alone 5.
Big hand for Chatsy tonight who dropped the usual 'cheeseburger please' and went for the fish asks chips. Another week, and he'd have progressed onto chicken dippers.
Rich's #9
When I awoke today it felt like it had all the ingredients for a great day. The sun was shining and the big plan allowed for reduced mileage as we were to stay with a friend of Andy's.
We were all in high spirits as the C2C team had worked like a well oiled machine the previous day.
The lower miles facilitated a late start and the opportunity to visit Mellow Johnny's bike shop; owned by a certain Austin resident by the name of Lance. A few $ lighter and we were ready to go.
Gareth and I were first up and feeling good I asked to increase the initial stint to 30 miles. We started out on a busy road, bit with a wide, smooth hard shoulder. I was wondering if this was the influence of Mr Armstrong, when suddenly the hard shoulder ended.
As a result we found ourselves cycling along a dual carriageway trying desperately to hug the side of the road as cars and lorries zoomed past. Gone was the tooting of horns in encouragement to be replaced by more hostile "get off my road" horn abuse.
Twice Porth encouraged us to pull in, but we ploughed on until finally I'd had enough and we stopped. This was the most scary 10 or so miles we'd ridden and I was glad to call it a day. We got in the car and caught up to the point that Andy and Phil had started their stint from.
It wasn't long before the hard shoulder returned but when Gareth and I resumed the hard shoulder was dreadful and made the course of Paris - Roubaix look like polished marble. The road remained very busy and felt like riding along the M4.
By now my mood had changed and gone was my early morning enthusiasm to be replaced by disenchantment. I've been homesick on the trip but today as we trudged along I would much rather have been at home, playing football in the garden , being attacked by light sabre wielding boys or fighting it out with Jeni for 3rd place on the wii (Sam and Thomas are amazingly good).
As we stopped Gareth said you have to laugh or you'll cry. I did neither but I was a damn site nearer to the latter. I haven't had a more miserable cycling experience since a car door opened on me as I zipped along the streets of Cardiff and I broke my ribs as I hit the ground.
On our 3rd stint the gravel on the hard shoulder had gone and the roads were bare concrete. This had the affect of magnifying the sound of the passing traffic. Gareth wanted to "chain it" but my heart was no longer in it.
Each time we saw the support car I wanted to stop and call it a day, but as Gareth cycled past I followed.
The day has, however, been saved thanks once again to the warmth and hospitality shown to us by our hosts, this time Ian and Jacky.
In addition to arranging food and lodgings we arrived to a cameraman from ABC and later watched Andy doing his thing on the 10 o'clock news.
Gar's #11
Houston, Tx - New Orleans, Louisiana- day 11
After the fantastic hospitality of Ian, Jackie and Bevan, and the free supper and bar at the 'llew coch', Louisiana was our next state. We made a swift exit from Downtown Houston, and headed for Port Arthur, the Texan equivalent to Port Talbot. The air was rancid. Anyway, after crossing a ma-hoosive bridge, we found ourselves on some man made land, aptly named 'pleasure island', and were heading east, towards New Orleans. What laid in store were some mental cross and headwinds, which made the miles difficult to rack up. Again, following yesterday, the arms and shoulders were in bits, bit the legs seemed fine once they got going.
Good time was made as we cycled alongside Johnsons Bayou and Holly Beach, two areas that were devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, today the strong winds meant that we only just missed the ferry that crossed Lake Calcasieu. No panics, Andy and Phil will continue until we get there.
A couple of chats with some people on the ferry crossing, and we were literally 20mins behind the van, we had the support car for company. As the ferry docked, quick discussion between crews, and off sped the Toyota to hunt down the other two. This was at about 1pm.
4 hours later, and after battling the strong winds for what seemed like an eternity, the support car was still nowhere to be seen. With us travelling through the Louisiana Bayou, surrounded by gators, the excitement in finding one sunbathing in the centre of the road passed the time by, but unfortunately, we only saw them bathing in the roadside canals.
5.30pm and we finally meet just south of Lafayette..starvin marvin. By now, there'd been a bit of blue language in the van, but this was over by the time skipper Cooper and Phil van Morrison treated us to the first 9 verses of the official tour song.
Were currently on our way to the hotel, the French quarter of New Orleans. A quiet night and food at the hotel...no chance says pirate stone as we must all try the local cocktail, aptly named the hurricane!! We'll see what happens.
Texas this morning, Louisiana now, Mississippi and Alabama tomorrow, there can't be that many states left?? Roll on Friday, even though I think everyones had a great time, there are some very tired bodies and minds in need of chillout, and a break from Ian's snoring. As for the logistic nightmare today, Merv was right, we'll get it right by day 14.
Phil's Blog
Saturday 28th - Monday 30th - Texas to Louisiana(Sweetwater, Austin, Houston and New Orleans)
28th March A wheel disaster day. - Austin
The day starts with wheel problems for Gareth (Poppy) when he finds that all his spokes have loosened from all the bumpy roads and he has to try to tighten them with a pair of pliers before starting his first leg of the day. The weather has improved and the winds gods are with us and we make great miles and cover over 240 miles in the day.
En-route further wheel issues arise as first my `sexy` white plastic spoke`d back wheel gives up the ghost as Im pushing hard up a hill. I change to my spare set and we set off again to finish the leg. Within 30mins of this change pulling off from a busy set of traffic lights a loud bang is heard, Stoney almost soils himself and I find that Ive had a front tyre blow out and the tyre jams in the front brakes.
A change to another wheel and I manage to finish the leg.
We decide as we are nearing Austin and following some sterling organisational moves by the Kitten (Henry) to send one of the support cars forward to Austin and on to Mellow Johnnys (Lance Armstrongs Bike Shop) to get the necessary repairs done. However during the journey into Austin the 7 seater hire car develops serious problems with its brakes and has to go in for repairs which we have to cover ($700). Thankfully the team manage to get a taxi in to downtown Austin and Mellow Johnnys carry out repairs to both mine and Gareths wheels for free and offer a free service if we can make it in to the shop the next day with our bikes.
Unbelievably friendly and supportive and really saved the day for us.
29th March - Houston
The next day we visit the shop to stock up on goodies before cycling to Houston and a night at the Red Lion with Ian Cross and Jackie. The cycling was pretty hard as the roads were busy and uncomfortable but we made it in good time and were delighted to find that Ian and Jackie had a pool and had laid on giant ribs and sweet corn as appetizers before we headed off to the pub for a free meal courtesy of Craig (from Bradford).
We were also filmed by ABC news as we arrived at Ians and we were able to watch it on television in the pub later. We had a great night and sang Welsh hymns and songs as well as the obligatory rugby songs that Stoney and Andy churn out n varying musical keys.
30th March New Orleans, Louisiana
Today, we left Houston and Texas behind and travelled in to Louisiana. We passed many areas devastated by Hurricane Rita and I was humbled by what I saw.
A few days ago we were cycling at 10,500 feet, today we found ourselves cycling along a ruler straight road with bayou on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other and Andys GPS unit showing 4 feet below sea level.
Today while Ian and I were doing a leg with the RV ahead of us ready to drop off the other two cyclists, we managed to `lose` the support car for 4 hours. The `BRAINS TRUST` incl Tomos `Onslow Izzard` Wilding, chief navigational brain Andrew `The Porth` James and the film crew that are in it surrounded by maps, SAT NAV and other assorted technology managed to go the wrong way and were out of mobile signal for hours. We cycled on in very strong and tiring winds until eventually finding them approx 50 miles off course. Did they think to stop when they hadnt seen hide nor hair of us for hours NO they drove around hoping to bump into us. Stoney was ready for them when we met up but managed to hold himself together and not spill any blood. Weve now christened them `TEAM MENSA`.
Happy pedalling and good winds,
Phil (Mellow Flavoured Pork Pie) Jenkins
Tomorrow - Alabama
Walked down Bourbon Street and had a Hurricane in Pat O'Briens. Caught some soul bands in various pubs. Got a Greek gyro from a little take away. Merv wanted his change instead of paying the tax. Great night but we must get back on the bike in the morning and head for Mobile, Alabama.
Read the Alcemi catalog:- HERE (PDF)
Read our interview with Penny Simpson HERE
From the Alcemi home page:- "Alcemi believes in publishing success stories, kept on a human-scale. Editor Gwen Davies has deep experience of developing new fiction writers such as Richard Gwyn, Rachel Trezise and Tristan Hughes, who have gone on to make their name worldwide with publishers like Doubleday and Picador, while Alcemi has already had a taste of prize-winning, with Gee Willliams' Salvage being shortlisted for the prestigious James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. Gwen's tastes are for literary fiction; genre only if it has an intelligent twist; not so much fantasy as magic realism; not so keen on historical as retro; definitely surrealism, black comedy, sex. Urban, yes; but also rural voices which avoid the romance of Wales.
She doesn't mind a touch of exotica. She likes complex, well-handled narratives. Gwen loves narrators that are naive, vulnerable or excluded, where irony manipulates those gaps between a narrator's and a reader's viewpoint. But she will read unsolicited manuscripts with an open mind if the writing is stylish and authentic.
Gwen is also a literary translator from Welsh to English, and will be looking to support translators and authors create adaptations of the best contemporary Welsh-language novels. "
"The Banquet of Esther Rosenbaum" and Chris Keil's "Liminal" are amongst this months Americymru Book of the Month selections.
