Report from the road

SUNDAY everyone gathered at Peddie, and it took us a while to move gear into the BOB trailer bags, learn how to assemble and stow tents, make a good cooking fire, and how, finally, to ride our long, laden bikes. Our practice ride was a ten mile circuit to Caitlyn Nixon's house, which enabled us to try out our climbing/shifting descending/braking with trailer skills. We packed everything in our vehicles and then headed for Cranbury for dinner, showers and a bit of
sleep.
9.75 m/9.75 total.

Yesterday, MONDAY, was a rapid but long run from Jersey to Atlanta, 840-some odd miles from 3.00am until 6.00pm arrival at Red Top Mountain SP 25 mile NW of town off I-75. Dave Babcock was a champion, offering himself and his titanically cool truck for the ride. We left the mountain for a Pizza Hut and then climbed back up into our tents for some earned sleep.
0/10

TUESDAY
If Dave Babcock was THE MAN Monday, George Clements was the savior leader today. We drove back into the suburbia today to meet George and enjoy his and Mary's hospitality. George then snagged cousin Dave Clements's minivan for our custom tour of Atlanta. We headed to the King Center on Auburn Avenue and Martin and Coretta Scott King's watery tombs. Then we ducked into the Ebenezer Baptist Church where a great gift was given us. Ebenezer Church is now a historic building that the National Park Service operates as part of the King Center. As we entered the sanctuary, a Ranger gathered a group before him in the front pews, so we snuck in behind to listen. What unfolded was no mere Park Ranger talk. The Ranger, a 70+ man with ebony skin and a great baritone, began a quick commentary on the role of history, but soon began the rhythmic repetition and rising alliterative parallelism of a serious sermon. A few more minutes and he was in full voice and we were entranced. Turns out our Ranger was Reverend Williams from Macon way. He'd known and worked w/ King and had been jailed 18 times in non-violent civil rights activities. We could not have dialed up a better morning.

Amid stories of Atlanta's history and his own work with Coretta Scott King in the early 70s, George toured us through town. He aimed us to lunch at the Varsity (awesome and deadly), and then the Cyclorama about the battle of Atlanta. He then drove us all back to the campground, leaving us alone w/ our bikes and wits. We cooked dinner and hit the tents for a good sleep. The morning will take us to Calhoun and New Echota and the reality of our ride. More later from down the road.

However, most important is this: these kids are awesome!, working hard, embracing their opportunities. They'll do fine all the way.

--PJClements