Resting up and making dinner along the Delaware River in New Jersey. It’s 80 degrees and it feels like fall compared to the last couple of days! -Bianca

Yummm in my tummmm

How bad did I want to strap one to Gregs trailer… -Bianca

A truck driver in Port Jarvis gave me some new shoes! When he saw the shape my Vans were in (shown left) he asked my shoe size and then ran to his truck and ran back to the bike shop I was in and had me try these (right) on in addition to a pair of Jordans that I think were a size 9. The new guys feel great the vans were getting old and the new jammies feel fresh after a long day in bikey shoes. I have already had to change one pair of cleats for a new set because when I walk up hills I am really temper tantrum-y about it and very dramatic and therefore I slip around a lot so Thanks truck driver! -Gregoire

The only quick iPhone pic of the day as Greg and I blasted through Philadelphia to get to Bicycle Therapy before it closed. They were more than amazing and took our bikes off our hands for some tune ups… Aka a day at the spa for Princess. -Bianca

Hello breakfast in Philly

I call this “training for cyclocross”

First flat right after I said to myself… Gees we haven’t gotten a flat yet… -Bianca

We are making moves out of Philadelphia and on towards Pittsburgh. How do I know? Not only did we just see our first Sonic.. but this Wal-Mart has reserved parking for Horse & Buggy!

Classic Eastern PA

Dipping back to the 150lb. mark. I think we should turn around and go back to Malvern for some more rigatoni…

We’re riding on what is called the Pennsylvania S Trail that is a bicycling route from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. We initially expected it to be a map-set but it is actually a series of signs across the entire 400+ mile route. It has brought us through Lancaster County all morning and the route features many safe roads with wide shoulders. So safe in fact that I wrote this entire post while riding! Hahah

Just climbing and climbing and more climbing through PA… Everything is more than perfect though and beautiful! Only hiccup is this uncurable poison ivy I have that has spread from my knee to my chest to my eyes, ears, fingers and legs… It could be worse I guess. -Bianca

At the top! Not tired at all.

Crossing state lines like it’s our job.

Greg surprised me with this after we accidentally left our water bottles at our hosts house last night. Obviously I love it! -Bianca

Ohhhh Ohio why do you have so much corn? -Bianca

There’s a lot to say about a new day. -Bianca

Ohio is delightful. Last night outside of Purple Monkey (an ice cream shop where we got lasagna) we met a batch of genuine Ohio “folk” amongst them the town Pastor, a couple of generations, and I think a few Buckeye fans in there too. They gave Bianca this sweet necklace (pictured) made out of an actual Buckeye. Then we talked for a while about the trip, where we sleep, our tans- quote: “You’re going to be brown as a berry!” and more. It was a great taste of Ohio’s extremely friendly nature, and the lasagna wasn’t bad either.

I scored a great playlist in Columbus from our most recent guest-host Beth. I’ve already gone through it twice on the bike trails between Columbus and Cincinnati, here’s why:

Ohio - Neil Young Look at Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch Ohio - Damien Jurado Carry Me Ohio - Sun Kil Moon Ohio River Boat Song - Bonnie “Prince” Billy Youngstown - Bruce Springsteen Burn On - Randy Newman To Ohio - The Low Anthem Cuyahoga - R.E.M. Pancho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt Clevland Is The City -Bone Thugs N Harmony Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show Sweet Baby James - James Taylor Carolina In My Mind -James Taylor

Sure the last two have nothing to do with Ohio but they still make contextual sense. Thanks again to Beth for the couch and several gigabytes of fresh ear food- and a big one more to Mike for the iPod that literally saved my life.

-GR

Breakfast part two

So antsy to get more pictures up! But here is a sneak at MOBO a bike co-op in Cincinnati that was very cool and very helpful. -Bianca

How much do you think we are paying to stay here for the night?

Pit stop at Milton KY post office then over the bridge and through the hills into Indiana we go! -Bianca

Welcome to Indiana

“When I die.. lay my bones up at ol’ Beaver Lick” said the Pastor.

Nothing like some Whiskey and cola in a chicken coop on a hot Kentucky summer night. -Bianca

Merlin… My first dog and I only had him for a couple miles… If he sniffed us out tonight and found us camping I would take him to San Fran in a second, in Gregs trailer of course. -Bianca

www.onethirdofthewayacrossthecountryforautism.tumblr.com

Kentucky…

One month today that we’ve been on the ol open road! And about 1,600 miles in.

Nothing like a room with a view after our 100 mile day yesterday. -Bianca

About 9:30AM, feels like 102 degrees. Awesome.

We have arrived in St. Louis! We’re sitting under this large sculpture of some sort arguing about how we don’t have that many pictures of both of us in front of monuments and points of interest. I did a little reading yesterday in the Super 8 to prepare for our arrival and to brush up on the history of the town that gave us Nelly. Apparently this “arch” marks the spot of the first McDonald’s ever! I know what you’re thinking and I thought it too- isn’t McDonald’s logo- two, golden arches? Well, apparently when they were founded in 1994 they started with only one silver arch. Cool right? and really makes you think..

-GR

And this is how to spend a 110 degree day in St. Louis

B and I have a running contest (based on a classic Ralich family game) called Best Date Car. It’s simply a search to find the ultimate vehicle for that extra special first date. Well- B took the lead this morning and I think I’m gonna have to do work to wrangle the crown away from her after she spotted this dream-machine. Also, I think it would make a great cross-country car because you could just camp out underneath it. Also, it had a truck horn. Cool.

-GR

Change of plans: I am now in the lead for Best Date Car. Can you imagine showing up to pick up your Beau on this thing? Unreal.

Somewhere today/tonightish marks halfway to San Francisco ~1850 miles! Exciting stuff. To celebrate, I got a trailer flat. Luckily, I stocked up on children’s bike tubes (16’’) at CB before we left. I’m blogging about changing this Bob-flat here on the side of the limestone (because I’m bored of the Katy Trail already) and I am thinking about how lucky we have been to make it this far. And blessed- this is only our second flat since we left over a month ago. Thanks to everyone for the support that got us this far, keeping tabs on us while we’re away, and putting up with our phonecalls when we are bored on the paths. ½ way there! Cool.

Dirty.

Some nice hi-res shots of Bianca’s entry for Best Date Car.

-GR

What about that? Is that something you might be willing to sell?

This place was straight out of American Pickers.

-GR