Post 2

  Mikheal Maxwell.  What a guy, let me tell you.  He blessed us miles back (Pensacola, FL)  with great stories, tasty food, shower/washer/dryer, a roof over our heads for very cold/rainy nights, he extended his resources out for us, and fed us even more tasty food.  He still continues to support us.  It is humbling to see a complete stranger (as of a month ago) become a young philanthropist with us in spirit after a few short days.  Mikheal is currently going to school to become a social worker.  He has such a beautiful, full, beating heart.  Mikheal has been a lot of places on this earth.  Maybe more situationally and emotionally than physically.  It was definitely a weekend to remember.  His neighbors were also kind enough to fix us up some eggs, bacon and pancakes before we made our way to the next state.  (Thanks so much Mikheal for everything.  I am sure we will all be keeping in touch).
  Our next couch surfing extravaganza started out with quite a kick.  We were on our way into Slidell, LA.  Maybe a quarter mile from Ken's house.  We all turn to look at a loud rustling in the bushes to our right.  All of the sudden Ashely is on the ground under her bike and we all take a few seconds to try and figure out if what just happened was real.  Ash was T-boned by Bamby.  (What the hell...right?  Are you serious right now?)  It still amazes me with all the space the deer had to be startled and run off, it managed to run dead into one of our riders...it was crazy!  A scrape to the leg and extreme soreness was a given.  Nothing immediately threatening though.  When we got to Ken's we were all so mentally and physically exhausted.  We had some great stir fry and snacks.  Hopped into the hot tub for a bit and hung out to come back down from the adrenalin rush.
  The ride the next day was so beautiful.  The sun came out to play with a slight breeze and the open road beside the swamps.
  To fast forward some, we did some not so productive hitchhiking.  It was definitely adventure worthy.      Moving from gas station. to gas station... to getting some free burgers and fries, to hitching a ride to another gas station in the next town (about 10 minutes out)....to riding to a casino down the road... to then riding to a walmart down the way and getting a ride to another truck stop....to being exhausted at 1 AM....to falling asleep inside the subway at 3 AM...to finally setting up tents behind a brick wall at the truck stop...to sleeing at 4 or 5 AM for six beautiful hours.  In the end we all made it safe and sound to my Aunt Mare and Uncle John's home in Houston (minus Elija and Martin, who decided to ride the way).  Mind you, this all happened well within 24 hours...thanks to a generous, loving mother willing to give us a hand (and rent us a Uhaul).  Thank you!
  Getting to Houston, meeting our newest edition to the young and wild family, Victor, and seeing John, Mare, and cousin Jacky.  I was very pleased :)  It was a great weekend to regroup and visit.  The visiting part was rather significant for me.  As most of my family, along with myself (me being one of the worst of all) is terrible as sitting, being, and visiting with each other (as most "normal" families do, rather often).  (It was great seeing the three of you this past weekend, I would like to keep in touch with my Lesters more often :)).

All for now,
Mac and cheese is calling my name ;)

Post 1

  I will try my best to give you a taste of where we have been in the past 3 weeks.  I haven't written much about where we stay and where we are headed because I don't feel like I can do it justice, but I will try my best.

  We have stayed with a range of different folk from Little Talbot Island (East of Jacksonville FL.) to New Roads LA. where we relax for an extra day today due to a storm forecast.  Luckily, so far we have had nothing but sunshine and a slight, cool breeze.  I am very pleased with life.  

  Seven other individuals and myself gathered in Little Talbot at the National State Park that kisses the Atlantic.  We stayed 3 or 4 days camping, building and riding bikes, packing and unpacking panniers, telling our stories, and talking about why we each decided to join the ride.

  I think we are all a little surprised on how well we interconnected from the beginning.  We all bring a variety of flames to this bonfire.  The practiced communication, open/honest questions, the mixing pot of opinions, and beliefs creates quite a unique but solid base.  With a structure like this, there needs to be a rich range of flexibility.  So far, it seems like we are all willing to contribute  patients.

  The day we arrived to Kim & Nathan's home outside of Tallahassee, I wasn't sure if I had anything left to give.  I was close to shutting down for the evening.  Getting inside, strait to the shower, and to bed for me.  When we made our way inside my heart softened some.  Just enough for me to stick it out and visit with many kind people.  That night they were celebrating a Pagan ritual for the dark moon.  Basically it was a way to release negative energy you held onto.  We had some great talks and tasty food with Kim and Nathan for the remainder of the weekend.  

We have stayed with a handful of very loving churches.

Lamont Baptist Church
Taylor Church in Sanderson, FL
Lighthouse God's Gym
Village Baptist Church

The food and shelter  has been some of the greatest gifts I have ever received.  When you strip yourself away from all (or most) comforts of life, there is a chance for a radical detox and a chance at a larger volume of awareness of the mind body and spirit.  I believe the beauty in this "detox", is that it looks so different for everyone.  

That's all for now.
More couch surfing stories under way.
Thanks for the patients.
Cheers