Benitosan:Sorry to let everyone down guys,
but I believe that I am quitting this tour
very soon, I ABSOLUTELY abhor the South and
I’d rather quit the tour having finished 1st almost
every single day of the tour, then ride another day in this SHIThole.

The South is a big fucking diaper & I feel sorry fir anyone that had to live here,
I will never ever come back here again, the weather, the mentality, the standard of living,
it’s NO wonder people transplant themselves to the Bay Area… this place is DEPRESSING beyond

HOLY SHIT!!!

I can’t give up now, or else I’ll never be able to show my Arrospoks in SF!!!
Thanks for the kind words, affirmations, and support… obviously, had a really REALLY BAD time in the South, still in Mississippi, in a town called Batesville right now… Had a good, easy 60mile ride today… checking into the hotel right now, drinking a Coors Light tallcan @ 1045am… gonna do some laundry, nap, eat some eggs & toast, then relax & regroup my mind for the next leg of the tour… coming up: Arkansas & Oklahoma, I have faith that Little Rock & Oklahoma City will treat me right… need to find a bike shop & get my bike tuned up… need to find a Target or Goodwill & buy some new/used NOT damp/dirty/sticky clothing… I WILL devote torY to getting my mind & body back on track!!! Thanks for all of the encouragement, I am relying on my friends on this forum to get me through the TOUGH times, UGLY weather, UNVOMFORTABLE conditions, and PAINFUL miles of this tour… I WILL look forward to reading MORE support from you guys!!! I need it!!! It’s been almost 3weeks now & nearing 1500miles, I am tired, homesick, and frustrated, but I WILL keep going if only to make my friends back home proud of me, THANKS AGAIN… Will check back later for those important words of advice & influence!!!

ps. I STILL hate/can’t wait to get out of the South, if I NEVER see another Confederate flag, mullet, pickup truck, or armadillo & mosquito, I will be a happy man! Bring on the desert, the dry heat may actually be nice! :thumbup:

-Bennett

Benitosan:Sorry to let everyone down guys,
but I believe that I am quitting this tour
very soon, I ABSOLUTELY abhor the South and
I’d rather quit the tour having finished 1st almost
every single day of the tour, then ride another day in this SHIThole.

The South is a big fucking diaper & I feel sorry fir anyone that had to live here,
I will never ever come back here again, the weather, the mentality, the standard of living,
it’s NO wonder people transplant themselves to the Bay Area… this place is DEPRESSING beyond

Benitosan:Thanks for the words & support all!

For the time being… I’M BACK IN THE GAME

-had a good ride today, and the humidity went down
-still in shithole Mississippi for the time being, but at a A/C hotel at least
-100mile ride to Clarendon, Arkansas tomorrow, ouch!
-mentally recovered today with food, shower, nap, laundry, and shopping therapy
-going to sleep now, proud & appreciative of all the love of SJF… you guys are my family
-the Tour has given me a mock “World Champion Striped” ring to show how I’ve finished almost every stage in first place, I can’t give up the ring right now, it feels so comfortable on my finger!!!

Benitosan:I’m in Little Rock, Arkansas right now, ANOTHER 105mile ride today, whew!

-SO HAPPY to be out of the boonies & in a major city again :clap:
-SO HAPPY to see Starbucks & traffic instead of Walmarts & cows :tongue:
-still feeling strong, still wearing the ring, though my ass is still all blown up
-they treated us to Benihana’s for dinner, that’s not real Japanese food, but I’ll take it :thumbup:
-went to a bikeshop in downtown Little Rock, some employee was trying to educate ME about “fixies” haha :confused:
-the route was HELLA confusing & long today, sorry if I misdialed a few of you, using an iPhone while riding down an Interstate no-handed while reading a map, eating a Clifbar, and drinking Monster Lo-carb just ain’t that easy!
-I love you and miss you all!!! Just about at the 1/2way point of the tour… next comes Oklahoma, then 2 STRAIGHT WEEKS through ginormous Texas, then 2grueling weeks crossing the Mojave desert thru New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California… I just may finish this damn thing… Survived the humidity, Mosquitos, and depression of the South, now I’m heading West!!! See you in LA, somebody bring me some TCC!!! :hungry:

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benitosan:Day 1 ride: pretty hard!

Had to wake up at 3am! to be at Colombus Circle for promo & CBS early show (anyone see us?) finally got to ride today, did around 75miles from NYC to Sommerset/NJ? hot, humid & our route felt alot like an alleycat (too many twists & turns). I know it’s not a race but I joined the breakaway group of 2other riders cuz we were thinking it’d take all day to get 42people to finish 75miles together. tough ride for the 3 of us, but we finished first & got to soak in hottubs & swimming pools while others rolled in. doing a beer/food run now, update later…

benitosan:Rode New Jersey to Philadelphia today, nice ride, weather was decent yet humid… tomorrow’s a real test: Philly to Baltimore = 100miles… at least we get to sleep in a hotel that has a hot-tub! tonight we have another 42below vodka party to attend… I’ll stick to drinking beer, thanks, not a vodka fan :angry:

benitosan:So, part of our obligations to this tour is to not only ride the USA, but apparently get drunk courtesy of Bacardi/42below Co. at every major town along the route. Thanks this far for letting me ride NY and Philly, I’ll try to forget about Jersey, that place is a pit! Next up: a 106 mile ride to Baltimore followed by an easy ride to DC… both rewarded with hotel stays… yes! :clap: feels like the rockstar life, except the lack of cocaine & groupies, oh well maybe I’ll get some in Texas? :boogie: btw, Katio did great today, rode faster & stronger than alot of the boys… impressive! :thumbup:

benitosan:today: rode 105miles from Philly to Baltimore.

it was long.
rolling hills.
10 hours.

now I’m gonna eat Pho & drink beer. tired.
oh yeah, we had another party at some Bro Bar.
the girls here in B’more look kinds trashy, cool! :thumbup:

tomorrow is DC! and another party! 38-mile ride, easy! :peace:

benitosan:Today was a recovery day = we rode 40miles from Baltimore to DC via some sketch roads. Normally I’d never ride anything similar to the El Camino to get anywhere via bicycle, but that’s how they routed us to DC. They’re putting us up at some janky HoJo in the NW odlf DC, but I’m not complainig about having a bed, a shower, and A/C. Went downtown to Colombia Heights for yet another 42below party. Thistime they fed us some much needed good food = scampi, pasta, salad, sweet potato fries! Tomorrow is our 1st day of camping on this trip. We are riding 83miles from DC to Bowling Green then camping, should be fun for the unlucky young girl who gets to sleep next to the Bearpedosan, but at least no one here knows about my rep (yet, haha). Katie is doing fabulous, she’s finished every ride super-strong & with a big smile on her face! I’m feeling pretty strong too, but I’m dreading the impending heat, humidity, bugs, and brahs in the South. Oh well, at least I hear that the cigarettes, liquor, and steaks are cheap down there!

This ride is going to be filmed and put together for the Bicycle Film Festival. Who is going to hate who? Fall in love? Be Jealous? Who is going to…well you know the rest. All I know is, Bennett is coming back with that movie star glam for sure. Check back for updates as they progress through their epic journey.
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