Ladies Bicycle Across the Country
If you traveled down Hwy. 83 Friday afternoon, you may have seen two bicyclists who looked a little like drowned rats. That’s because a huge downpour fell after the ladies left Shady Dale headed to Monticello.
So who are these ladies, and why are they riding in the rain? Well they are trekking all the way across the United States, planning to visit, even if briefly, all 48 contiguous states.
The ladies—Haley Winkelman and Lizzy Trickey, both 23—are from McMinnville, Oregon, which they left May 8 on their adventure to bicycle through the lower 48. Their journey brought them through Jasper County Friday.
And, did I mention rats? One of them, Lizzy, has a pet rat which travels with her.
The ladies decided they wanted to do this, and began planning. Haley began mapping the route before the trip was ever really planned. It was just a thought of something she’d like to do someday. When the likelihood became a reality, she studied the maps and devised a route. Interested persons can follow their journey at www.withinbikigndistance.com.
They ladies said they want to beat winter and plan to be home by the first week in December. Their stop in Monticello was about the halfway point. After leaving here Saturday morning they were headed to Forsyth, then to the Florida panhandle, and then back to the west.
The ladies take advantage of hospitality offered at some of their stops, and if that doesn’t happen, they camp, often in church parking lots. Friday afternoon, they mentioned calling a local church to see if it would be okay to camp there, and this reporter told them that there were probably no church secretaries working late on a Friday afternoon.
A typical day consists of getting up around 7 a.m., fixing coffee and instant oatmeal, then preparing for the ride. They travel, stopping where the mood suits them, checking out grocery stores along the way. Lizzy said they snack a lot…she makes her own snack mix with a base of Raisin Bran, fueled with candy, raisins, and nuts. Often times they have a bagel with peanut butter and a banana for lunch.
In planning the trip, the ladies figured they need to average 55 miles a day to make their goal. They said some days they go more and occasionally less…it depends on weather, where the towns are, and how they’re feeling.
Georgia was the 32nd state the ladies hit. When the ladies started planning their trip, they figured they’d get some interest, so they decided to join up with a non-profit. After some research, they agreed to partner with Watsi—an organization that enables you to fund medical treatment for people in need around the world.
More than $2,000 has been donated to Watsi through their awareness campaign, and more could be credited to them, that’s just from people who joined their team and donated that way.
When asked what was the best thing about the trip so far…the ladies agreed it was the people the met. They said they have a million stories, and some can be read on their blog, which they continue to post to along the way. Haley admitted being away from home for so long was causing a little heartache, but says she keeps in touch and talks with them daily. That was the worst part of the trip for Haley.
They have a stop planned in Florida, which they have e-mailed to their friends and loved ones, and hope to have letters and cards waiting for them at a post office there.
As they head west from Florida, they will stop in Tulsa, Okla., for a couple days to catch up with some of Lizzy’s family, and then they plan to visit the Grand Canyon before they get on the final leg home.
They say their bikes are old school, steel frame, that they can work on themselves. They read the story about Betty Jean Jordan riding her bicycle from California to Maryland, and her electric shifters tearing up. Haley previously worked in a bike shop, and she said they can fix what breaks on their bikes. They said they’ve probably had a 15 flat tires, but they patch them, pump them up and go on their way.
Their bicycles, heavily laden with gear, weigh about 100 pounds each, they speculated. But, what with food, camping supplies (Haley sleeps in a hammock much of the time), clothes, spare tubes, and more, it’s amazing they can travel the country without more. They did have cold weather gear when they started, which they shipped home once the weather turned warm.
And, I mentioned the rat. He rides in a mailbox on the back of Lizzy’s bicycle. The mailbox has a screened side, and a closed side, and opens like any mailbox. She said she got the pet from a rescue, and assured us he is friendly and personable. She’s had him for two years.
By this printing, the young ladies will likely be close to Florida, ticking state number 33 off their list.
