A Salty Goodbye: Photos 21 to 38

When we last wrote, we were ahead of schedule and had only 600 miles to ride to the Virginia coastline. After the Appalachians were going to be home free. We had only one more state ahead of us and a reasonable riding schedule planned…Suddenly the Atlantic felt just too close for comfort- the reality of finishing the trip and acting like adults loomed.
So, we balked.

Instead, we blazed a quick trail south following the tracks of Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap and crossing Tennessee in one day.

The Great Smoky Mountains
After a 100-mile day of riding, we arrived in Gatlinburg, TN at 10pm on a Tuesday night, expecting a sleepy-town nestled at the foot of the mountains where we could lay our bikes and our heads. Instead, what we got was a theme park hell for country-loving, rural dwelling, conservative adults: amusement parks, dinner theaters, mini-golf center, and all night-restaurants, bordered by three lanes of traffic thicker than the Santa Monica Freeway. We are used to towns that aren't large enough to have post offices or schools... this place really scared us. After a few miles of Country Music-Neverland Ranch-Disney-hell later, we got trapped on

Full Text Entry: A Salty Goodbye

What an amazing trip. Thanks for "taking me along." It looks like something that will forever be a great memory in your lives. Good luck in N.C.

Thank you guys so much for sending out this BLOG, until now I have never seen any real use for them. It has been so much fun to eagerly await each new installment of pictures and adventurous tails. IT has given me something to do at work...actually the best use of this work PC in a very long time. I am looking forward to when you get back to SF so you can regale us with more stories of adventures. Oh yeah and great photos by the way "prepare to meet God!" Thanks for letting that one get by. PS I thin you should get real tattoos.

Hi Annie (and Forest, now that I feel like I know you so well ;) -- I just wanted to say congratulations! I am going to miss your travelblog -- the entries were phenomenal! I hope that you're both recovering and celebrating, and enjoying your new state. If you're ever in Boston, PLEASE let me know! love, Alison

Congratulations, Annie & Forrest! I followed your trip with great interest after you left Garden City, Kansas, and was happy to see you made it to the east coast. I still remember the bittersweet feeling at the end of my coast-to-coast bike trip over 20 years ago....Just something you have to experience to know. I'm also glad to hear you managed to keep your cell phone the rest of the way! ;-) Best wishes in the "real world!" --Randy

just found out about your site this very day - what a wonderful documentary !!!!...and i'm sure sore thighs - aj

Dawn fed you To [sp]? Isn't that a tad cruel? Congrats Anne. I got in late tonight, but will call you and Dad Lynn and Forest tommorow. From the office...you DO remember the office dont you?

Hi Forest and Anne, Thanks for sharing your awesome bike trip with us. Enjoy your re-entry into society, take it easy for awhile, drink lots of water, etc. Give me a call sometime or just come visit. We're in Waldport, OR until October. Don't worry, it's a small coastal town, so it won't freak you out. -Mike, (541) 563-6944 surf@isamexico.com

Congratulations both. And thanks for an awesome ride - I'm part envious, part glad to have enjoyed it in my armchair! Best of luck in North Carolina - and if you're in LA with some extra time, please get in touch - I've now made the move from SF to Venice Beach and would love to see you.

Hello you!!! I was just sitting here thinking about you and see you've been busy yet again!! How many times is that now eh??!! And congratulations to Annie too - you guys look like you had loads of fun!!! Get in touch Baker!!! scannan@hotmail.com...lots of love Sal x

What an amazing trip. Thanks for "taking me along." It looks like something that will forever be a great memory in your lives. Good luck in N.C.

Thank you guys so much for sending out this BLOG, until now I have never seen any real use for them. It has been so much fun to eagerly await each new installment of pictures and adventurous tails. IT has given me something to do at work...actually the best use of this work PC in a very long time. I am looking forward to when you get back to SF so you can regale us with more stories of adventures. Oh yeah and great photos by the way "prepare to meet God!" Thanks for letting that one get by. PS I thin you should get real tattoos.

Hi Annie (and Forest, now that I feel like I know you so well ;) -- I just wanted to say congratulations! I am going to miss your travelblog -- the entries were phenomenal! I hope that you're both recovering and celebrating, and enjoying your new state. If you're ever in Boston, PLEASE let me know! love, Alison

Congratulations, Annie & Forrest! I followed your trip with great interest after you left Garden City, Kansas, and was happy to see you made it to the east coast. I still remember the bittersweet feeling at the end of my coast-to-coast bike trip over 20 years ago....Just something you have to experience to know. I'm also glad to hear you managed to keep your cell phone the rest of the way! ;-) Best wishes in the "real world!" --Randy

just found out about your site this very day - what a wonderful documentary !!!!...and i'm sure sore thighs - aj

Dawn fed you To [sp]? Isn't that a tad cruel? Congrats Anne. I got in late tonight, but will call you and Dad Lynn and Forest tommorow. From the office...you DO remember the office dont you?

Hi Forest and Anne, Thanks for sharing your awesome bike trip with us. Enjoy your re-entry into society, take it easy for awhile, drink lots of water, etc. Give me a call sometime or just come visit. We're in Waldport, OR until October. Don't worry, it's a small coastal town, so it won't freak you out. -Mike, (541) 563-6944 surf@isamexico.com

Congratulations both. And thanks for an awesome ride - I'm part envious, part glad to have enjoyed it in my armchair! Best of luck in North Carolina - and if you're in LA with some extra time, please get in touch - I've now made the move from SF to Venice Beach and would love to see you.

Hello you!!! I was just sitting here thinking about you and see you've been busy yet again!! How many times is that now eh??!! And congratulations to Annie too - you guys look like you had loads of fun!!! Get in touch Baker!!! scannan@hotmail.com...lots of love Sal x