Right now I’m sitting in the Elkhart Public Library getting all of my things updated. This blog was on a bit of a hiatus between when I left my job and now. You may be wondering why that was…was I busy fighting polar bears in Alaska? Saving the environment in Portland, OR…or putting an end to all of the corruption in Chicago?
No, I must confess that I really didn’t do a whole lot. I kind of took a break from having a social life and watched a lot of tv, read some books, and caught up on sleep and relaxation while I got ready for my adventures to begin.
My first adventure was really RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. This was a blast and completely different than bike touring. It really warrant’s it’s own real post and I’ll try to get one up soon. Basically, it’s a big organized bike ride across the width of Iowa. One may think that it sounds flat and boring, but it was incredible. Over 10,000 riders attend this annual event and it’s an incredible spectacle. Plus, the course this year was anything but flat.
After recovering from RAGBRAI for a week and getting more organized and, I was off onto my real Balloons Across America ride.
I left Saturday, August 6. I’ll do some daily diaries soon, but since my time at the library computer is almost up, I’ll just let you know where you can track some of my information in the meantime.
I decided not to take a computer with me, and am instead just using my iPhone for Facebook and Twitter updates. I’m going to get a keyboard for the iPhone so that I can type longer updates on there, but in the meantime, I’m doing updates pretty frequently to Facebook and Twitter.
I also have just started using an application called TrackMyTour, which I am really enjoying. I’ll be updating onto there very frequently. You can see my tour here and I am also embedding the map onto the mainpage of this site. Updates that I make via TrackMyTour are posted to my twitter account, @balloonbiker You can also “like” my fan page on facebook, there is an icon on the side of my site, or you can just go here.
My time on the computer is almost up. Thanks to everyone for your support. Any comments are very appreciated as I’m continually thinking that I may be crazy for doing what I’m doing. I promise that there will be many more updates in the near future!
Jamie I am so excited for you!!! you’re going to have an amazing time out there on the road. I can’t wait to follow your adventures
Thanks so much! I’m having a good time so far! Where are your adventures taking you?
Just an iphone?! What happened to your cute SSD yellow netbook??
Hi Colleen! It had been having issues for a while and the wifi didn’t work. I was going to install a different operating system, but I didn’t make it happen and decided that it would be easier to just stop in libraries anyway.
It looks as if all is going well so far. I wonder when I am going to get emails again from your locator. Moms are like that.
Good luck, Jami!!
Jami, Sounds so exciting! Does this mean you won’t be able to thrill the kids at Sept. 10, 2011 8th Annual Gross Park Party in Chicago? If so we’ll miss you but send you our best. Fondly, Gross Park Advisory Council