Fat Lad Rides Again

If I had to sum up America in one word it would be wow. All my preconceptions and stereotypes have smashed to be replaced by thoughts of the most welcoming, generous and kind people we can now call friends. In such a short space of time we have:

• Flown across the Manhattan skyline in a Helicopter
• Eaten damn fine Dim Sum in Vanessa’s Dumpling House in Chinatown NY city
• Taken a 19 hour train ride from NY to Chicago
• I rode in a Critical Mass in Chicago and we followed it up next day with an amazing locals bike tour of  the Windy City
• Got very drunk in a bar also in Chicago
• Rode some of the finest singletrack I have ever ridden anywhere ever
• Saw manatees and gators swimming free mere feet from our boat

and this is just the highlights.

I have a ride report from Critical mass to finish and post as well as my two awesome rides in Tallahassee.

Before I sign off just a quick roll call to all those who have welcomed us into their hearts homes and open arms:

Garth – Garth ended up being our unofficial tour guide to Chicago taking me on critical mass and getting me drunk in a bar near his home too. Good times.

Don – Don took us on a tour of his home city taking us to the real heart of the town and filling our souls with history simultaneously.

Terry – Terry is the wired to the moon guy who has ridden with me every crank of the way in Northern Florida and took Mrs Fat Lad under his wing on her first off road ride of the US. Terry is a lot of fun to be around and suffuses a manic energy to every situation.

Chris – The man, the legend Big Worm. He won’t tell you himself but the guy has a heart of gold and despite pulling my legs off I’m told is a local hero who does far more for the community than he gets credit for.

John -  We briefly caught up with the big man in the airport but real life called and he had to literally fly away. However in his absence he had warmed up the welcoming party ready for our arrival.

John (the other John) – AKA Aucilla Sinks. Our welcoming party. We’ve since found out that we have seen John more in a few days than some people have done in years of living in the same town has him. He was a friendly face all the time we were here offering up great places to go and rallying the troops for beer, food and rides all the way.

To every one we have met I owe you more than I can ever express in mere words and you always have a room here in Ol’ Blighty.

Fat Lad