I have been totally out of touch while I was in New Orleans, and for that I apologize.  I wasn’t sure how to update the website, but I suppose I should have at least written some sort of update once a week or so.  I will try to get back into daily writing now that I am going to be on the move again.  Yes!  I have left New Orleans and am back on the road!  As I’m sure you can imagine, much has happened since I arrived in New Orleans on the last day of November more than 5 months ago.

While both Phil and I are still planning to circumnavigate the globe, we are no longer traveling together right now.  Phil went back home to RI in February to sort out some personal issues (he may elaborate in a future post if he wishes) and is postponing his trip until further notice.  I opted to remain in New Orleans, where I was able to save money pedicabbing.  I truly enjoy New Orleans, and it was difficult to tear myself away from such a wonderful and eclectic city.  I now plan on returning in the fall to work during football season and Mardi Gras again, since the Super Bowl will be in town, and I really can’t pass up the opportunity to pedicab during such a high profile event.

Me and Dallas, my new partner in crime

In the meantime, I am heading back to Rhode Island for the summer, to spend time with family while I am still in the country and to escape the heat of the south about which so many people have warned me.  I also have a new travel partner!  His name is Dallas, and he also rode his bicycle to New Orleans, albeit from the opposite coast in Portland, Oregon.  I met Dallas when he started pedicabbing for the yellow company, Bike Taxi Unlimited, shortly after I started working for Need A Ride.  When we first met, all I learned was that he had bicycled from Portland.  For a few weeks we didn’t see much of each other, but I knew I wanted to get to know him better.  In the last month or so we have become close friends and partners, and are hoping to travel together around the world.  To read about Dallas’s bicycle touring experiences, check out his blog at http://www.dallasandhisbicycle.blogspot.com.

Both Dallas and I will be pedicabbing in Newport this summer.  We also signed up to run in the Portland marathon together in October before returning to New Orleans to save more money.  From New Orleans, we think we will head south towards Patagonia after Mardi Gras next year.

I want everyone to know that I have not abandoned my causes.  I am still trying to raise money for the MS Society, and will do so through my fundraising page for the MS bike tour for now.  I expect to be back in RI by the beginning of June, with plenty of time to participate in the Ride the Rhode bike tour, which conveniently leaves from Newport this year.  I have regrettably not been very active about fundraising.  I also am still committed to promoting cycling as an environmental and economical mode of transportation, and have been trying to do that through pedicabbing.  One of the most rewarding rides I have given while pedicabbing was to a guy in Austin during SXSW who told me that I inspired him to buy a bicycle and start riding.  Other people have told me that I’ve inspired them to ride, and I hope I can reach out to more people around the world through my future bicycle travels and this website.