Thursday, June 26, 2008

The dinner 6/26/08





We had a dinner tonight, not the final banquet, which is tomorrow. Just a dinner at which we were asked to state what this trip meant to us... The photo above (5 people) is Bill F's doing--he bought "I am a big dog" shirts for the 6 people who were able to complete every fabulous inch of the tour. Darryl was not at the dinner; the others are Janie, Alex, Achim, Damien and Don. We gave them a standing ovation! The other photo shows my statement being given. A lot of people made really nice speeches, but I wrote a song. Don, George, Boston Bob, Bill F, Ron, Barbara and John helped me sing it. Here it is, sung to the tune of "She'll be coming 'round the mountain".


Oh we started in LA and pedaled on.
Yes we started in LA and pedaled on.
Dipped our wheels in the Pacific; we were oh, so optimistic
When we started in LA and pedaled on.


We flew into Palm Springs and pedaled on.
Yes we blew into Palm Springs and pedaled on.
It was so extremely windy that we lost Jose and Cindy
When we flew into Palm Springs and pedaled on.


Through the Arizona sand we pedaled on.
Through the Arizona sand we pedaled on.
We had 42 flat tires from those stinkin' little wires.
Through the Arizona sand we pedaled on.


Then we climbed the moutain pass and pedaled on.
Yes we climbed the mountain pass and pedaled on.
Through the sleet and snow and hail 30 bikers did prevail
When we climbed the mountain pass and pedaled on.


Past New Mexico's red rocks we pedaled on.
Past New Mexico's red rocks we pedaled on.
Like the song said we got kicks riding down route 66.
Past New Mexico's red rocks we pedaled on.


Into Texas and OK we pedaled on.
Into Texas and OK we pedaled on.
We were sick from bad tomatoes but we missed all the tornadoes
Into Texas and OK we pedaled on.


Through Kansas' windy fields we pedaled on.
Through Kansas' windy fields we pedaled on.
Headwinds slapped us in our faces; crosswinds blew us off our paces
When through Kansas' windy fields we pedaled on.


With a tailwind in Mizzou we pedaled on.
With a tailwind in Mizzou we pedaled on.
We climbed several hundred tall hills not to mention all the small hills.
With a tailwind in Mizzou we pedaled on.


'Cross the Mississippi bridge we pedaled on.
'Cross the Mississippi bridge we pedaled on.
Through the Illinois rain to our rest day in Champagne
'Cross the Mississippi bridge we pedaled on.


Past the Indiana farms we pedaled on.
Past the Indiana farms we pedaled on.
It was rainy, it was windy when we cycled into Indy.
Past the Indiana farms we pedaled on.


Up the back roads of Ohio we pedaled on.
Down the back roads of Ohio we pedaled on.
We had lots of nasty steep hills; bumpy downhills gave us cheap thrills.
Up the back roads of Ohio we pedaled on.


Into Pennsylvania we pedaled on.
Into Pennsylvania we pedaled on.
We were 6 weeks worth of weary when we rested down in Erie.
Into Pennsylvania we pedaled on.


Through the great state of New York we pedaled on.
Through the great state of New York we pedaled on.
Hills, canals and rain and thunder; that we made it is a wonder.
Through the great state of New York we pedaled on.


Through the mountains in Vermont we pedaled on.
Through the mountains in Vermont we pedaled on.
We had a seven mile climb, but the downhills were sublime.
Through the mountains in Vermont we pedaled on.


Past New Hampshire's little towns we pedaled on.
Past New Hampshire's little towns we pedaled on.
Churches, steeples, mill streams streaming; up the hills our quads were screaming.
Past New Hampshire's little towns we pedaled on.


Through the Massachusetts rain we pedaled on.
Through the Massachusetts rain we pedaled on.
Rolling hills and sparkling rivers; dreadful traffic made us shiver.
Through the Massachusetts rain we pedaled on.


From LA to Boston town we pedaled on.
From LA to Boston town we pedaled on.
We're so happy, we are frantic to dip our wheels in the Atlantic
Then away from Boston town we'll pedal on.

5 comments:

marj said...

BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT...Marj

Anonymous said...

If it get`s into the top ten, I will buy it..... obviously no end to your talent`s. I think that these people are going to miss you now that this awesome ride is over. Enjoy your end of ride dinner party, you have certainly all earned it. Once again a million thanks for all those interesting and informative ( not to mention humorous ) reports. I`m still trying to get the poison ivy out of my head.
Good luck with all future endeavous, and continued safe riding. Somehow I think that your family and friends will have missed you over the last few week`s.
Regards from two very impressed fan`s, give Geoge and the rest of the gang our regards.
Ray & Margaret Wilcox. England.

Bill said...

WOW - What a great tribute song!
Congrats, congrats, congrats to you for completing this fabulous journey.

historicstitcher said...

That is awesome!!!!

And I know exactly where I got the penchant, tendency, and talent for doing the same thing!! Wonderful rhyming and meter!

Congratulations...you're almost there!!!

Anonymous said...

Linda,

I'm signed up to do next year's ride across with CrossRoads. I found your blog by doing a google search - IMHO, CRC needs to put a link on their website to the rider's blogs! Thanks so much for the narrative and pictures.

Jim Lyle