Poor breakfast for $100, only two slices of bread allowed. Slow start, chain is rusty and bike is heavy as are my legs. Start and stop at every 6KM. Amish shop, pretzels and peanuts for cheap. Signed the book as requested. Had to cancel Warmshowers in Pittsburgh and camping at Donegal, Pennsylvania tonight.
A lot of me time, a lot of rain. Little interactions with people, passing the time talking to myself, summarising my thoughts about the journey so far and how I’m feeling. Also spoke with my warmshowers host Stuart Rosner while staying in Frederick, a great guy whom has had an interesting life, plenty of cycling across America, a talented soccer player in his day and his favourite memory of glacier’s National park.
Good start and excellent advice from my Warmshowers host to get on the C&O Canal Trail, away from traffic and back at one with nature. First night camping and plan for the next few days. Also, spoke with Chris George my Warmshowers host in Washington, Chris is a top guy and his wife Dani were excellent to me, well travelled and all round great people.
Great Washington DC stay, had a lay in for myself. Blinded by buckets of sweat and sunscreen. Up and down hills, first puncture of the trip, hopefully the last! Planning the next 300km. Interview with Stephen Franzoni the perfect host with a 5 star treatment.
Nice start, dodgy Baltimore, county lanes, patient drivers, friendly cyclist, a lost tent, crusing around Washington DC and plans to be made to get to Pittsburgh. Also I spoke with Noreen Tully a relation of mine from Havertown, we talk what it was like growing up Philadelphia with Irish parents, her favourite place she’s been in the States and the thing she likes most about Ireland.
Late start, nice roads, on the 40 for most of the day, no interactions with people. And also I speak with Swinford man Paul Convey who’s based in New Jersey. We talk life in America, places he’s been, the fantastic success he has with his business TavernsToGo.
As first days goes, it couldn’t have gone any better. Forgetfully with the ferry times. Andrea from Costa Rica in a cafe, lovely greenway, dodgey Philadelphia area’s. The Rocky steps and torrential rain. Also a little interview with Sligo woman Catarina Boland, we discuss her time in New York, her place of work. Things she misses from Ireland and her favourite day in the states so far.
Intro episode to the new Tully Travels podcast. I’m planning on cycling across USA. Starting in New York and finishing in Los Angeles. Just an insight into the journey, plans, route, worries and other bits and pieces. What I’m hoping for along the way aswell as how I plan to use Warm Showers cycling forum which hosts cyclist aswell as having a guest join me from time to time on the podcast.
Last episode of the Lisbon2 series. Talking about the adventure as a whole. Ups, downs. People met along the way, few thank you’s aswell.
Early tiring start, on the ferry, alone with my thoughts, arrived in Malta and checked into a place. Good food, Irish bar, lots of support and kind messages from people. Thank you all.
Massive day personally, huge milage, self belief, alot of encouragement.
Good positive day, big mileage, knackered legs, a puncture, a train and a ferry.
Grand day overall, nice views, some hills, terrible drivers. Difficulty with the language again, bit fed up of Italy as a whole.
Early start, shockingly bad roads along with drivers, on the euro velo path but wasn’t supposed to be. Train involved, need to average 125km a day for the rest of the week, working ladies.
Good start, busy train. Pompeii ruins, a lot of walking and tourists, sunset, reminiscing over the journey so far. Looking forward to a big and possibly final week.
Wet day, spinning around Naples, shrine of Maradona, stadium with two latchaco’s of security men! Low battery, soaked, pizza, possibly Pompei tomorrow.
Randomly meeting a friends sister in Rome, rain landed, train to Naples, chaos traffic, the heavens opened, nice hostel, good food, exhausted after 43 days on the go.
Good start, people queue skipping, the Vatican, Napoli Pizza isn’t nice, walking tour, Irish stew and a pint of special, haircut and cards against humanity.
Not feeling it today, train to Rome, Mexican standoff with a curtain, sound hostel! Robbery for pints at €7, fist into the mouth lad makes an appearance.
Quiet day, nothing too exciting, Guinness hoodie, Pisa, looking forward to the finish line.
Early start, bad nights sleep. Ups and downs, lovely seaside towns. Fully booked hostel, cycling in the dark, 3km of a hike with the bike to end the day.
Expensive pints, modern hostels, Milan, packed train and a French lad whom wouldn’t let me sleep.
Tiredness, train, bursting for a toilet, fancy hostel.
Productive day, Cameron the Canadian Sparkie Policeman, tight roads, Monte Carlo, San Remo, looking back over the journey so far.
Leaving Marseille, city traffic, nice breaks/food. Shortcuts, massive park, experiencing fear, wild hogs, making it to Cannes, old Melbourne friend, pints of Kilkenny.
Sad breakfast, window shopping, spag Balinese, Marie Ann from Ghent, people whom can work from anywhere.
Very tiring day, alot going on between fishermen, wind surfing and horses running about. The lad from the rave, Marseille and it’s vibe.
Chusty Day, tattered ireland flag, little ferry, quiet town, Jorge from Switzerland, and a not so helpful bicycle mechanic this time.
Swizz Ben, fell over, Séte would go back again, broken spoke and very helpful locals, only person staying in the hotel.
Heavy legs, cold, wet windy weather. Over taking the same fella multiple times, and Leon from Bundoran.
