jan 14-22

Michael M. Galardi

January 14, 2009 –
The trip continues and I left behind the comfort of the condo in Panama City Beach, FL that my loving grandmother gave me to use while I was traveling. I got to learn more about patience and realized that worrying only takes you away from finding a solution. This was taught to me when I expected a certain type of phone to be delivered and it was not the right one. Within a few days I realized the new phone was one of the best phones I have had yet. I did get to play Bingo before I left with some Canadians which was so much fun until we went for twenty games. Let me tell you that is way too many games for anyone in their right mind to play! The time came to pack my things and hit the road, so I said goodbye to my new “snowbird” friends and biked off into the distance once again heading for the unknown.

I was heading for Gulf Breeze, FL near Pensacola and super excited to revisit what I called my “long lost aunt”. It’s not that we had never met, but the last time I had seen her was before my memories were even fully intact. I could not wait to rekindle the relationship. The day was very cold and windy, but as always, I had to keep moving forward never looking back. Then it happened! My bike began to wobble like a wet noodle fresh out of the pot. I had popped my first tire. I laughed it off and slowly fixed it so it would be right and biked on. Miles down the road it happened again – my second flat, so I had to call Janet and Glenn to tell them I would be delayed. To my surprise, I was not far away from Gulf Breeze and she insisted that she come pick me up. Well, who am I to deny such a nice offer, so I waited patiently for her arrival excited to find out what she looked like and who she was. Janet pulled up with a soft sweet smile and opened her arms with such kindness. We loaded up and since she had planned to cook her famous gumbo for me, there were a few things to pick up. We happened to pass a bike shop and stopped in to find out why my bike had popped two tubes within a few hours apart. I met Steven who helped me out so much. He looked at my bike and found the problem being the rim tape. It was slipping, so I bought three new tubes and he tightened everything. We talked and laughed sharing information. I found out he was moving to California on his bike in March. Also, he told me that he had kept a couple of bikers called “Team Tandem” four days before I arrived. I would like to catch up with them, but I knew I was going to slow down, so my tag match had to wait. I think they are a couple biking around for a year also exploring new environmental ideas. I was sure we would get along so I hope to meet up with them sometime. I do not think they know who I am, but with everything so far, I am certain we will meet when it is meant to happen. After Steven fixed my bike, I also picked up some wind blockers for my shoes and I was set. I promised him I would tell him about Texas, which I think is intimidating to most cyclists for some reason, and we were off to get some dinner. As I walked in, my uncle whom I had not ever remembered meeting either welcomed me as well and I could tell he had a strong adventurous spirit like me. Boy, was I right! He shared stories about being a diver. He saved many lives over the years. He was an action man, not a reaction man which I loved. Dinner was amazing and hearing all their stories was even more fun. The next day I knew I was staying in Pensacola which was only a few miles away, so I decided to hang out with them longer. They took me to breakfast and Janet had the naval air station museum and a picnic planned for us on Pensacola Beach. The Naval Aviation Station is where the Blue Angels fly and it was amazing. It did make me a little sad to see all the incredible aviation being born mostly because of war, but all the same it was cool seeing the past pilots work there and demonstrate their passion for what they did. Janet’s collection proves she has a true passion for shelling too! We enjoyed the early afternoon eating and picking up shells which was so much fun. It was so cold and the sand was so white, it looked like snow. The picnic was great, I collected some shells for the class, and most of all, enjoyed a beautiful day with a beautiful soul. I was sorry to say goodbye.

January 15, 2009 –
Afterwards, it was time to leave and I was off to meet Winston and Jessica, two friends of Brent, a guy I know in Atlanta. Now these two people were so incredible. They opened their home and life to me. The second I got there Jessica took me to a great restaurant and we chatted away. I am sure I talked too much as she just smiled and listened. Soon, Winston was home and they took me to a cool bar where we played shuffle board and darts laughing the night away. They had already invited me to stay and their kindness made me want to stay forever. The next day Winston and I played Frisbee Golf which was so much fun. They cooked me dinner that was to die for putting me into a “food coma” like never before. The next day we played real golf which I played by the three strike rule – meaning that if I can’t hit the ball in three swings I throw it! Winston and his friends were very patient and let me try. Once again he cooked up a killer meal and I met more of their good friends. I was supposed to finally leave the next day, but I got to go over to their mother’s house. She might be one of the sweetest ladies alive with a “southern belle” accent that just too charming. We all played and danced the night away. Jessica and I stayed up playing cards until the wee morning somehow, but slept until three the next day. Well, I stayed one more night for pizza.

January 20, 2009 –
Before I knew it, I had stayed in Pensacola for almost a week. It felt so homey that it was hard to leave. Jessica and I ate breakfast and watched the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, but right as I wanted to stay even longer, I knew I needed to move on.

At noon, I left for Mobile, AL. I had been in Pensacola for so long that the girl, Fuzzy, who I was to stay with in Mobile could no longer have me, so at the last second I called Emily and she was sweet and said come on down. The day was cold and windy – I mean so cold and windy – I had three layers on and it was nightfall. I also experienced the scariest part of the ride so far. The tunnel going into Mobile almost made me squeal! Emily was a great host and so nice. I met her on www.couchsurfing.com and she like all the others opened her home to me. She cooked Mexican for a guest and me. Before the night was done, she asked me to stay for a night of bowling and I had to say yes. Who can say no to a good night of bowling and a great girl.

January 21, 2009 –
Emily took me on a tour of Spring Hill campus where she goes to school. It was a very pretty campus. She wanted to workout, so I stayed in and wrote the Boys and Girls Clubs of America because I decided I want to help. This journey so far and the kids at E. Rivers have made me realize that our children are truly the future and they need to have the opportunities to feel hopeful about their future. They are the ones that will have all of our problems to deal with later, so with that – another mission is born. Another funny thing was that Bozwell had stayed with Emily too. I realized that my trip was sending me on a direction of discovery of America and most importantly of who I am as an individual. Emily then took me to a famous barbeque place called The Brick Pit, which has won awards for their ribs, but a guy there told me that the pulled pork was best. I always go for a human’s opinion rather than an award and that was the right move to make. That night we met up with her friends and bowled the night away. I am not a good bowler and learned to stand very far to the right. Still, it was a blast! Brandon is one of her friends and he taught me dirty sign language that I use and laugh about to this day.

January 22, 2009 –I had to leave and called Russell from Mobile – he said to come on down so I was off. Once again, I broke a spoke and I stopped in a shop in Mississippi which looked more like a pawn shop. I should have known when he said that he had no spokes that something was up, but I still let him try to fix it because of his kindness. I went off to make a phone call and came back to what I even know was the wrong way to change a spoke and talked him off the wheel like you would to a guy about to jump off a building. There was no damage done, but I could feel the wobble now and then and I wanted to get to Gulfport in a hurry. I sacrificed lunch and headed through Biloxi – some casinos and some really cool museums. I called Russell and headed on into Gulfport. Russell’s roommate, Ben, had been a bike messenger in Chicago and knew all about bikes. These guys were amazing – they had all come down days after Hurricane Katrina and lived in tents for two years helping out with the cleanup. Their compassion for the people truly moved me and I was so glad to meet all four of them. Ben hooked me up fixing my wheel to be better than ever and told me of bike places to go in New Orleans, so I had to check it out.