Cocktails, South Beach and legendary Scottish warriors…

Feb 8, 2010 06:53 am

Just under the 9 month target and today is the day we hit Miami South Beach, Florida. What a ride. Technically we aren’t actually going to be home until the 19th as we have signed up to do a 12 hour endurance race next weekend (of course - what else would you do after cycling round the world but stick another 220 miles on… in one day) but we’re pretty much there. Crazy days indeed. Even more excitingly we are getting a cavalcade to welcome us in as some of our beautiful friends are hiring California Crusers and pedaling the last 5 miles down the coast. To somewhere we can have a pina colada! Though, if I am being honest, the celebrations have started already. Especially on Saturday. Otherwise known as ‘William Wallace Day’… Well, otherwise known as William Wallace Day in Del Ray Beach after Pete and Blake made it up and we managed to attack half the towns inhabitants with lumionous face paint shouting “FREEDOM” at regular intervals. Celebrating 'Wallace Day' (Blake, whose Scottish lineage is sketchy at best, was delighted to be informed by one suspiciously American sounding gent that he ‘never celebrated Wallace Day’ as he ‘is English’.) Anyway, we have had an incredible weekend with Kim, Lara, Chloe and the guys but are finally getting back on our bikes to burn up the last few miles in the sunshine. Which is a fantastic change as when I last updated we were hiding out after being soaked to the skin. Again. Having had an amazing time at the University of Florida’s SolarCycle Week. We headed out into the storm to make our way through Lake Country to the coast. Battered by the wind we hurtled past the orange groves in a desperate bid to outrun the weather. Vaguely successfully. Note the suspiciously water logged field The second day out of town we hit an epic 130 miler with just a few showers, the next we got caught out in only the last twenty minutes. On the final push into Fort Lauderdale we basked in sunshine right until we hit the coast… where another torrential downpour engulfed us and I won the wet T-shirt contest hands down as we arrived at our friends, Mark and Chris’. There was only just time to change though as we immediately turned around for our reception by the Mayor at City Hall. How wonderful and unexpected. We are now grateful recipients of commendations by the City. And got to cycle right into the Chamber meeting. Nearly taking out several officials and constituents with our paniers and getting some footage for America’s funniest home videos. Assessing just how many people might be injured... It was a wonderful end to our last long day cycling. In which we had got lost and nearly eaten by alligators (we accidentally went down a 30 mile farm track flanked by the beady eyed beasts… desperately praying not to get a flat!) Gators either side It was fabulous though (check  it out here - click on the Commission Meeting Video, February 2, Regular Meeting at 9.50 mins) and the guys took us for beers after by the water. The perfect way to fend off the nerves and excitement and celebrate being so close to the finish line. I have to confess that - following those beers - the last couple of days have not been the most productive but they have been brilliant. We are so lucky to have our friends meet us at the fnish line and join us in terrorising the neighbourhood. We went to parties, danced till dawn and lounged in the sunshine. (Aka turned hundreds of people yellow, stormed the stage of every band in town and attempted to surf on a little girls Hannah Montana boogie board.)  Testing out the 'shot ski' It’s going to be a struggle to pull it all back together for the Sebring race on Saturday. But pull it together we will. I am determined to win… or beat Jamie at least! Will be starting the pre-race training any minute now. And the solar based promotion for our return to the UK. After maybe just a couple more cocktails by the Beach… Susie xx addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesolarcyclediaries.com%2F%3Fp%3D1240'; addthis_title = 'Cocktails%2C+South+Beach+and+legendary+Scottish+warriors%26%238230%3B'; addthis_pub = '';

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