Arrived in Westmorland. I've done two days miles in less than 24 hours. I found a park, next to a fire station, to rest up, charge my gadgets and beat the heat.

I so want to camp here...

Everything but the....

As promised, I wanted to share my pack list. To a non-cyclist, there are many items that may seem conspicuously absent. To a non-camper, there are many items that may seem conspicuously absent. Nevertheless, the list falls into a few categories: Cycling, Clothing, technology, hardware & misc. There may be a couple things I forgot, but that's the bulk of it.

Cycling

• 1984 Fuji Touring III
• Front & Rear racks with rear panniers.
• Clip-on aero bars (Thanks "Mike the Bike")
  
• Bike tubes / spare tire / patch kit / tools
• Frame Pump
• Chamois butter

Clothing

• (3) 2XU jerseys (Huge thanks to Chris S. and 2XU, for everything over the years)
  
• (3) 2XU bibs
• (1) Rain jacket
• (1) Chrome Knickers
• (1) shirt
• Street shoes / Cycling Shoes
  
• Helmet
• Cycling cap

Technology

• Garmin 1200 GPS (Huge thanks to my amazing girlfriend, Jennifer)
• Ram bicycle GPS mount (You're awesome JP!)
  
• Kodak M1033 (Jen, again!)
  
• HTC droid phone
• USB compatible solar panel

Hardware & Misc.

• 6.0 Liter water bladder
• Jet Boil camp stove
• Swiss army knife
• first aid kit
  
• Sleeping Bag + Bivy Sack
• Bike Lock
• Carbo pro & water purification tabs
• sunscreen

On the Road Again

As many of you know, starting in a couple of weeks, I'll be cycling across the county. I'm starting out from Encinitas, CA and will finish in Savannah, GA around the end of July. I'll be rolling solo, and ultralight camping along the way. So....I've decided to try to breathe some life back into my blog. I'll be sharing my route, my pack list, pictures and any random crap I see along the way (Texas anyone?).

Since I began telling people about my trip, I've heard a ton of questions and concerns. So I figured I'd answer some of them now for anyone who sees this.

Since I'll be traveling through the south, the number one thing I've heard, "Isn't it gonna be hot?" You sir or madam have obviously mastered geography and the seasons and should move on to eating with a fork. But yes, I'll be crossing the desert, and am well aware of how many immigrants die out there each year. I say immigrants because the deaths are obviously disproportionate compared to spoiled crackers. We're not talking about fat Texans on rascals writhing away in the sun... So sure, I've thought about the elements, but the sad truth is I have a much better shot of getting dinged by a car. Yet, no one seems to ask about that...

Since I can't prepare for cars, but can prepare for the elements, here's the plan to beat the heat.

1. Two water bottles
2. A 6L collapsible water bladder.
3. A landscaper's hose key.
4. I'll be traveling via one the most efficient machines man has ever created - bicycle.

On foot, a fit human could probably only cover about 36 miles in an 18 hour day. Physically carrying water, it would be hellish, and they would have no water to carry by days end. On bicycle, I'll be able to carry 2 gallons of water with little additional effort, and cover 180 miles.

So the plan is to race for Austin and spend a couple days, then make another quick dash to the Gulf Coast, then slow down the pace a bit. Bring on the catfish and sweet tea!