Cycling to Florida - Gratitudes

It’s been over a week since I came back to King of Prussia, PA. I’ve been planning to write a gratitude post, but time seems to pass me by and my laziness seems to reach infinity. This is what happens when I’m at home. There’s no obligation to do anything, unlike traveling. However, today is the day that I want to thank everyone who has helped me in the past two months or so. Each person has made my journey to Florida a memorable experience.

I want to start off by thanking my friends, whom I cherish dearly. They include Brooks Gathagan, a coworker and a friend who allowed me to stay at his house in Philadelphia, PA. Brandi and Judy Panbach, who took time from their busy schedule to fit me in for a day at their house in Silver Spring, MD. I’m also grateful for Nick Eng for taking a PTO day so we can spend more time together in DC. Liz Scherrer, for a last minute overnight stay at her house in Alexandria, VA. In Doswell, VA, I reunited with Kathleen Kenney and her husband, Dave. Both of them were a delight to talk to and I’m glad they are back on Warmshowers. A special shout out to Crispin Schamp and his wife, Margery. Crispin drove two hours from Greensboro, NC, to pick me up at Clarksville, VA, so I won’t have to ride in the rain. I ended up spending four days at his place. I hope I didn’t stink like a staled fish. He also drove me to Durham, NC, to drop me off. Thank you so much, Crispin! Lastly, to Ed and Hannah, whose wedding I went to in Gainesville, FL. Thank you to both of you for allowing me to stay for three nights. It was a great wedding and I had a lot of fun! Thank you Ed for helping me box up my bike and ship it via UPS. Also for the ride to the bus station while both you and Hannah had many things to do. Grateful to have both of you as my friends. Lastly, thank you Merritt for the conversations. It was great to step back momentarily from all the traveling to reconnect with home life.

I’m also thankful for all the Warmshowers hosts. Some of them even allowed me to stay an extra night so I can rest more and do some exploring. They include Rodolfo Gomes de Oliveira and Hali of Newark, DE, Sarah Krantz and Jackie of Richmond, VA, Akshay Raghavendra Bharati of Raleigh, NC, Brett Hack, Janice, and Alan of Jacksonville Beach, FL. Jon Blumhagen and Earline of Orlando, FL, allowed me to stay with them for another night when I was trying a catch a flight from Orlando to Philadelphia. Jon even drove me to the airport in the morning. Thank you, Jon!

I want to give a special thanks to James at the Beacon Rescue Mission in Dunn, NC. Thank you for your kindness and generosity to house me for two nights. It was a great experience that I’ll never forget!

To better visualize my Warmshowers hosts, and others who have hosted me, here’s the complete list of my stays.

Dates Stayed	Nights (3/20 - 5/13)	Location	Name	Relation
3/20 - 3/21	1	Philadelphia, PA	Brooks Gathagan	Friend
3/21 - 3/23	2	Newark, DE	Rodolfo Gomes de Oliveira and Hali	Warmshowers
3/23 - 3/24	1	Joppatowne, MD	Stephen Franzoni	Warmshowers
3/24 - 3/25	1	Middle River, MD	Marshall A. Schmidt and Connie	Warmshowers
3/25 - 3/26	1	Linthicum Heights, MD	Dave and Susan Evans	Warmshowers
3/26 - 3/27	1	Silver Spring, MD	Brandi and Judy Panbach	Friend
3/27 - 3/29	2	Crystal City, VA	Nick Eng	Friend
3/29 - 3/30	1	Alexandria, VA	Liz Scherrer	Friend
3/30 - 3/31	1	Prince William Forest Park, VA	N/A	Camping
3/31 - 4/1	1	Fredericksburg, VA	Gigi	Airbnb
4/1 - 4/2	1	Doswell, VA	Kathleen Kenney and Dave	Friend
4/2 - 4/4	2	Richmond, VA	Sarah Krantz and Jackie	Warmshowers
4/4 - 4/5	1	Dinwiddie, VA	Smryna Baptist Church	Church
4/5 - 4/6	1	South Hill, VA	Greenwood Inn	Hotel
4/6 - 4/10	4	Greensboro, NC	Crispin Schamp and Margery	Friend
4/10 - 4/11	1	Durham, NC	Kade Schemahorn	Warmshowers
4/11 - 4/13	2	Raleigh, NC	Akshay Raghavendra Bharati	Warmshowers
4/13 - 4/15	2	Dunn, NC	James	Rescue Mission
4/15 - 4/16	1	Elizabethtown, NC	Knights Inn	Hotel
4/16 - 4/17	1	Reigelwood, NC	Lee Luzader and Tamara	Warmshowers
4/17 - 4/18	1	Wilmington, NC	Steve Hamalainen	Warmshowers
4/18 - 4/19	1	Shallotte, NC	Fire Station	Camping
4/19 - 4/20	1	Murrells Inlet, SC	David Wehrle	Warmshowers
4/20 - 4/21	1	McClellanville, SC	Honey Hill Recreation Area	Camping
4/21 - 4/23	2	Charleston, SC	Notso Hostel	Hostel
4/23 - 4/24	1	Beaufort, SC	Bob and Kathy	Airbnb
4/24 - 4/26	2	Savannah, GA	Misty and Joe	Airbnb
4/26 - 4/27	1	Brunswick, GA	Red Roof Inn	Hotel
4/27 - 4/28	1	St. Marys, GA	Niki Rellon	Warmshowers
4/28 - 4/29	1	Fernandina Beach, FL	Robert Reily and Karen	Warmshowers
4/29 - 5/1	2	Jacksonville Beach, FL	Brett Hack, Janice, and Alan	Warmshowers
5/1 - 5/2	1	St. Augustine, FL	Ellen Lucas	Warmshowers
5/2 - 5/3	1	Daytona Beach, FL	Ana Tenche	Warmshowers
5/3 - 5/4	1	Lake Helen, FL	Gary Katuin	Warmshowers
5/4 - 5/5, 5/16 - 5/17	1	Orlando, FL	Jon Blumhagen and Earline	Warmshowers
5/5 - 5/6	1	Withla, FL	Henry Meeker	Warmshowers
5/6 - 5/7	1	Tampa, FL	Cathi Gilman	Warmshowers
5/7 - 5/8	1	St. Petersburg, FL	Renda and Bill Lederer	Warmshowers
5/8 - 5/9	1	Port Richey, FL	Grant	Airbnb
5/9 - 5/10	1	Brooksville, FL	Thomas Gray	Warmshowers
5/10 - 5/11	1	The Villages, FL	Keith Dennis	Warmshowers
5/11 - 5/12	1	Ocala, FL	Rahul Razdan	Warmshowers
5/12 - 5/13	1	Gainesville, FL	Juliane Struve and Kai	Warmshowers
TOTAL DAYS	54

Types	Unique	Nights	Percentage
Friend	6	10	18.52%
Warmshowers	24	28	51.85%
Camping	3	3	5.56%
Airbnb	4	5	9.26%
Church	1	1	1.85%
Hotel	3	3	5.56%
Rescue Mission	1	2	3.70%
Hostel	1	2	3.70%
TOTAL	43	54	100.00%

Last but not least, I want to thank my road angels. Dean and Felicia provided me water while I was on my way to Joppatowne, MD. Inti of Alexandria, VA, paid for my breakfast burrito. Jeremiah of Dinwiddie, VA, bought my dinner and informed me of camping at his church. Lee Luzader, my Warmshowers host who picked me up in Elizabethtown, NC, since I had a broken spoke. Brady, a waiter who paid for half of my lunch at Southport, NC. Brett Hack, my Warmshowers host who adjusted the tension on my spokes. Cathi Gilman, my Warmshowers host who rescued me from the Gandy Bridge due to me having a flat tire. Real, a guy I’ve never met, paid for my breakfast at the diner in Ocala, FL.

I also want to thank my friend and fellow cyclist, Joan O’Connor, for supporting me with $100. And Josh, a stranger from Reddit, who supported me with $50. Thank you so much to both of you!

This trip has been a great success due to people like my friends, Warmshowers hosts, road angels, and even strangers on the internet. I’m so grateful to have encountered so many kind people. It just goes to show that the world is really a better place than what’s shown on the media.

Thank you, all! Here’s to the next great adventure! Cheers.