Wilmington/Jacksonville, North Carolina

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)


Well, two days ago we met a man named Robert outside of Wilmington. See, we had to take a Ferry to continue on our path to Wilmington and we missed it so we had about an hour until the next one came. While slowly making it to the ferry where we were planning on waiting it out and getting some dinner, we met a man who came out of an Italian restaurant. He was 60ish years old and riding HIS bicycle from Washington DC to Miami Florida to visit his brother. As it turns out he's from France and was so full of life and character that we couldn't help but stop and talk with him for a little. One thing led to another and the next thing we knew he had invited us to dinner in the small town we were all in. Turns out he was using the same cycling maps as we were and traveling along the Adventure Cycling route. We just happened to cross paths while he was traveling South and us, North.
We ate at The Pharmacy Restaurant and had one of the most exquisite meals that we had ever had. Nick kept saying that his food was giving him goose bumps it was so good and Matt seriously almost cried when he took his first bight of desert. SOOO GOOD. I had this amazing salad with grilled apples in it.

Robert was so cool. He taught us a lot about France and cycling elsewhere in the world. He has ridden his bicycle EVERYWHERE! From China to Belgium to the US to who knows where. He had a lot to teach us and we realllly enjoyed his company. He even almost got our waitress to SING the specials to us because "that's how they do it in Italy!". What a great interaction! We got some of it on film so you might be seeing Robert in the documentary.

While at dinner we met another couple, the Gubeys, who graciously offered us a place to stay with them in their beautiful new house. We couldn't even believe it because we definitely didn't have a place to stay that night and I was praying that we'd find SOMEBODY. We didn't even ask them, they asked us! We had a great time with them and shared stories all night. It's amazing the people you meet on the road.

The next day (yesterday) we headed out and made it right on time to catch the Ferry. Nick and Matt got some beautiful pictures of the most interesting things on the Ferry. Nick has this feature on his camera called "macro" which allows him to be able to shoot a picture perfectly in focus of something SO CLOSE to his lens that it almost touches it. When other cameras aren't able to focus clearly on something that close, his makes it look perfectly clear and in focus. This allows him to take VERY close up and detailed pictures of small objects or intricate details that otherwise are usually too hard to photograph. The pictures turn out so interestingly and many of them are very beautiful. I'll post an example if he lets me.

We trucked on and on and the boys pulled another 90some miles. Making it to Jacksonville we decided to sit down and have some Outback! Matt and Anne had never eaten there so we got the treatment! Bloomin onion and all.
Twas a good day.

RIGHT NOW I'm sitting in the Airport in Wilmington, North Carolina. Thank GOD they have free internet because it's 10:12am and my flight doesn't leave until 2pm. It was supposed to leave earlier but it had to get moved back. I'm headed back to Atlanta to pick up my truck and drive back to Savannah (about 4 hours from the ATL). What? I'm leaving? yes, I know it might sound weird but I am leaving the Rally Across America tour to go back to school this summer and finish up my degree. This is why it is so important that Nick and Matt are working on the project. I got them off to a good start and showed them about what is needed and we all learned a lot along the way. The plan was for Matt to hop on while I'm still riding with the tour and learn the deal and then for me to leave to go back to school for the summer while he and Nick carry on. I will continue to be a big part of the project by producing them from the Veritaz home-base here in Savannah. I'll also be editing clips for them to send ahead of them to news groups, etc, and making video updates for YOU GUYS to view online. It will be much easier this way since I won't be gambling for the internet every night like we have been doing while we are on the road. I will also have a ton more time to capture those tapes and edit up something awesome. I'll also be taking some time off on the weekends to travel to Atlanta and film the parallel story that will be featured in this documentary. I will be trailing a child who is struggling with cancer in their lives for a few days and getting their everyday experience on film so that we can have sometime to double back to for the documentary, a way to connect the viewers personally to the story. I'll also be getting interviews with doctors and specialists as well as some of the sponsors, etc. SO NO WORRIES, I may not be actually TOURING but I'll still be working every day on the film. On top of that it will also be easier for me to catch up with HAWK, the co-owner of this company, who is a cancer survivor himself and excited to help out with the project as much as he can from Savannah. When I finish the summer semester of school I will be jumping back on the Rally Tour to help them finish up and have maximum coverage for the last leg of the RA.

While I'm in Savannah, Matt and Nick will be updating periodically from the Rally with pictures and the like. I'll also continue to update from Savannah with progress and whatnot.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support thus far and please continue to pass on the word about Veritaz Productions and this project we are all taking part in.
*yawn* off to a day at the airport.

We could be closer than you know,
Chelsea

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)

Well, the Veritaz crew is happy. We're on the side of the road right now waiting for Austin to change a tube in his bike listening to The Showdown. Nick is hardcore dancing on the side of the road and Matt seems to be feeling right at home here in the South with us. We just finished eating FRESH SEAFOOD with this awesome lady named Denise who started talking to us at a gas station haha. She offered us a meal and we couldn't have been happier to accept. Tom and Austin have been pedaling for about 80 miles and we were still around 20 miles outside of where we need to be in Myrtle Beach tonight.
Have I mentioned how much I love the SHOWDOWN?
Ok back to the post, anyway Denise told us she'd feed us and took us back about a half mile to this AWESOME place called "Creek Rats" where she bought us fresh fish dinners and a mud pie dessert! On top of all of that she also donated some money directly to Rally. THANKS Denise! Justin, who works there also treated us like royalty and even gave us free T-shirts!

Denise, Austin, and Tom at Creek Rats


Denise telling one of her stories!

As we were leaving we caught up with the Myrtle Beach Harold and they are going to be running an article about the Rally next week! Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that we have also conned someone else into coming with us for the next few days. We met Anne in Charleston and she has graciously decided to help out with the Greenville event so she's coming along and chillin with us for the next few days. She's been a huge help.

Anne

So, with full stomachs and lifted hearts we travel onto a guy named Dan's house in Myrtle Beach to crash. We're passing really gaudy put put fun parks, fake shark beachwear stores, and plenty of people on motorcycles. Welcome to Myrtle Beach tourist district, eh? I think I just saw a 50 foot paper machete shark.



Well that's it for now. We have had so so so much support from people along the streets today! People pulling over and cheering us on, clapping, donating on the spot, everything. Way to go South Carolina! . I think Matt is really having fun here, he's never been in the South really. We have fun because when the boys are riding and we have accomplished all that we can at the moment video-wise, we get a chance to drive ahead and check out all the local places and spread the word about the Rally. Today, in doing that, we got to play basket ball for 5 minutes on an ousted court, swing on their swings, and chase down an alligator on the side of the road! No, not road kill....this time. Don't get me wrong, we stay with the guys for 99% of the time but sometimes the chase car just cannot be trailing right behind them due to the road or laws or whatever so we have to drive ahead and stop and wait for them to catch up. When we do that we always find fun stuff to do.


basket ball courts!

Our new addition to Veritaz: Matt Bruce

Chelsea on the swings

ALLIGATOR

Tomorrow morning bright and early we leave for Wilmington on our long stretch to Greenville, North Carolina. I called the local news here and they might meet us out in the morning as they boys take off and put them on the tube. Oh my gosh I just saw ANOTHER put put place AND a water park.. "why would you go to a water park when the beach is right there??" -Matt Bruce


Matt later that night on the beach


Ok last thing I'm going to leave you with tonight is this: I am sooo thankful that the other two guys I'm working with here are into the same music that I'm into. If I had to be listening to stuff I hate for hours and hours in the car I think I'd go crazy. *whew!*

We could be closer than you know,
Chelsea;

Day 12 Charleston/ Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)

haha ok right now 3 of us are awake and Tom is still asleep. Austin just yelled from the other room "who wants to wake Tom up?" haha... everyone said "not it" but I was busy getting the photos ready for this post and was only paying half attention. I was the last to say "not it" so now I have to go wake Tom up. Kind of an awkward thing to do. Maybe I'll jump on his bed? First I'm going to update.

Ok, yesterday was the most interesting ride we've had thus far... plenty of bridges to cross (literally) and obstacles to overcome.

The day started out on a great note: The Pitts, who we were staying with made us sticky buns and sent us on our way happy. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Pitt!!!

Nick and I kept stopping at all the little country shops along the first leg of the trip. We scored some free honey sticks and CHERRY CIDER from the Carolina Cherry Company on the side of the road off of 17 between Savannah and Charleston. The guy there was from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and he was so welcoming and awesome. Way to be a hero man! We LOVE the cider.
It's so encourageing to meet people who get excited about our project after only talking about it for 3 minutes.

So it's Sunday so we wanted to go to church but we knew that if we went in the morning in Beaufort than it would just get hotter and hotter outside and make it more tough for the guys to ride. We decided to leave bright and early for Charleston instead of attending a service in hopes of finding a church either in Charleston once we got there or along the way. Come about 10am Nick and I (in the car) were trailing the guys on the dangerous highway 17 and we started to see signs for little churches here and there off of the highway. We pulled over eventually and asked this guy at a canoe rental shop if he could recommend a church to us. He told us there was once close with a service at 11am so we thought hey, why not? Nick and I scouted ahead and checked the place out... it looked wonderful and was in just the right spot to have the guys riding through right around the time the service started so Nick dropped me off and went back to tell Austin and Tom.

So here I am, no shower, greasy hair, and wearing a cowboy hat to shield myself from the hot sun. Temperatures were starting to reach the 90's already and the guys had already come almost 35 miles or so. I walk into the church and they start the service a little earlier than 11am... before the boys could get back. I had a chance to chat for seriously only a few seconds with some of the people I was sitting with and they were really nice so I figured hey, I'll just save the boys a seat and everything will be great. Next thing I know the little church has about 40 people in it and they are asking if anyone has announcements. The old man with the old sailor tattoos behind me nudges me and tells me to stand up. Then again, next thing I know I'm standing up in front of a community of Southern Baptist people thanking them in advance for their welcome and explaining for my friends who are about to enter their service in spandex. As I'm about to sit down the doors open and in walk the boys in their spandex with their bikes and Nick. Personally, I thought it was hilarious. The church community welcomed us and we all sat together and listened to a sermon on following your dreams. Best sermon I've heard in a while. He was preaching on stepping out of mediocrity and having a VISION through God's eyes and not your own. Tom and Austin are a perfect example of people who are doing that right now. I am trying to make sure that Veritaz always has that type of Vision behind every project we work on. Anyway, we hung out after the service and talked to a ton of awesome people. This awesome boy Christopher even gave us a $3 donation! Thanks, man and THANKS JACKSONBORO BAPTIST!

the church

Tom, Austin, and Nick hanging out with some locals

Oh, wait, did I mention that the preacher's son is in a metal band? Thought that was great.

We met a wonderful woman named Terri while at church! She invited us to her craft store which happened to be along the rout so we met her there a little after church and she gave us free ice cream, cookies, and gatorade! She was super awesome. It's sure comforting to know we have people like her supporting us. Did you know that Mayfield's Turtle ice cream actually has peanut butter chocolate morsels in it that are SHAPED like turtles? That made my day.

Austin, Tom, and Terri

They were pretty excited to make it finally to Charleston. The thermometer was at 101 and had been over 99 degrees for the past hour. Despite the hot hot heat they're still smiling! These guys are solid.



Ok, so we eventually got back on the road after meeting tons of awesome new people. Everything went really well until about 20 miles outside of downtown Charleston... maybe less, I have no idea. It's really hard to judge how far you've gone when you are driving 18 miles an hour behind cyclists. I'm getting used to it though. Anyway, here we are trailing Austin and Tom because the road is REALLY busy and we wanted to stay behind them so some crazy car doesn't loose control and smack them. I look out the window to my left over nick and see two little kids waving at Austin and Tom. The little kids are riding little bikes and doing their best to RACE! This made me smile so of course I take out my camera and kick it into gear so that I can film the children racing our Rally Riders. Next thing I know, though, right as the camera is about ready to record, Nick gasps and I turn my head to Austin and Tom JUST INTIME to see Austin go down and Tom crash right into him and do a front flip over his handle bars. CRASH!
Some documentary filmmaker I am... First off, I ALMOST got it on tape but didn't and second, instead of filming them on the pavement right after they fell I jumped out of the car to make sure they were ok. No good footage haha. I got the aftermath though. Everything was OK except for Austin's bicycle. He rode the spare bike for the rest of the ride into town. Before that, though, we went across the street into the local fire house to clean up and invited the firemen to our event on Tuesday. They were super helpful.




By then it was basically feeling like we had been on the road for 3 days instead of 1. Thank GOD there was a bike shop not to far down the street. We had to wait a while to get to talk to the man there but once we did he helped us out a ton and is working on Austin's bicycle right now. Austin bent his rim pretty bad and screwed up his whole wheel. While we were waiting Austin kept moral high and entertained everyone.



Almost there! Almost there! We crossed the giant bridge here in Charleston and what do you know? A cop turns on his lights behind Nick and I... might have had something to do with the fact we were going like 20mph on the bridge and I was filming Austin and Tom out of the sunroof... anyway the cop must have changed his mind because eventually he turned his lights off and drove away. hahahaha!

Ok, that's what happened yesterday.. I have to go wake Tom up. Today we are gonna chill around Charleston and find people to come to our event.

MATT BRUCE is getting here tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to making him a part of the VERITAZ TEAM! Now the team will consist of Me, Nick Anderson, and Matt Bruce. Did I mention that Nick and Matt are BOTH red headed Iowa boys?
AWESOME!

We could be closer than you know,
Chelsea

ps> holy moly I'm excited about getting to Charleston and rockin and rollin today.

Some Pictures from Agusta and Savannah, Georgia

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)


  
Tom, Austin, and Charlie on Tybee Beach

  
Giving Catie her t-shirt in Savannah

  
Austin near his own towing company after 3 flat tires on the way to Savannah

  
Nick setting up for a shot in Georgia's backwoods

  
Austin, Marybeth, Chelsea, and Tom (we <3 Marybeth)

  
Tom and Austin on the front page in Augusta!

Day 10 Out of Georgia

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)

We followed the boys across the beautiful Savannah bridge today and thus completed the very first state of their multi-state tour! Goodbye Georgia, hello South Carolina! With temperatures in the upper 90's and the humidity on strong... we got some footage of our thermometer at 101 degrees at one point. Holy hot weather, batman. Eew, we even got to see Alligator road kill on our way out of the state! We suspect that we'll be seeing a ton of roadkill on this 5,000 mile trip.



Spent some time in Savannah with a man named Charlie. He had this awesome beach house on Tybee that we were able to crash at. He cooked for us more food than we'd need in a week (awesome) and treated us so well! Charlie was Catie's grandfather. Catie is the little 3 year old girl with cancer that Tom and Austin rode in honor of in Savannah.

Eric, a friend of Veritaz and avid local Savannah cyclist, met the boys about 25 miles outside of Savannah and gave them a proper Savannah welcome. He came equipped with his own cycling spandex, a fixed gear bicycle with no breaks, and a short brim cycling cap instead of a helmet. He had a blast with Austin and Tom along their 93 mile day and later told Veritaz in an exclusive interview about how impressed he is with their tour.

"These Guys are going to be National heroes." he told us as we were talking to him outside the window of the chase car. He was super upbeat and encouraging the whole time and even ended up donating Rally Across America his nice bicycle pump after Austin blew yet another tube before actually getting to Savannah. 3 busted tubes in one day! Eric took one look at the small hand pump they were using to re-inflate and immediately gave them his nice and more efficient one to take with them and keep for the rest of the ride. Thanks, Eric!

We got some awesome interviews with Catie and her family. She was great in front of the camera and told us all about her favorite animals and about what her treatment is called "keee- moe". She was darling.

Keep an eye out for articles in Savannah Connect and the Savannah Morning News.

TOMORROW we finish our ride to Charleston and we have a day off to find as many people as possible to attend our fundraiser at Outback Steakhouse. I'll be spending time finishing the trailer and seeing if I can get it posted as soon as possible. More news to come hopefully tomorrow!

We could be closer than you know,
Chelsea

Rally Day 05, Warrenton, Georgia

(x-posted in blog: Veritaz Productions)

Day 5 (June 5th, 2006)

Today Austin and Tom rode on the second long stretch of their 5,000 mile ride. They are taking the whole tour day by day, slowly, as they build up their endurance and ability to ride further and further.

We planned on leaving at 7am this morning from Austin's brother Russell's fiancé's house (that they had graciously let us stay at for two nights as we organize the tour) but didn't actually make it out of the house until around 8am. Austin's excuse: "Sorry guys, I accidentally set my alarm for 6pm instead of 6am." He then smiled and continued packing up.

Mornings with these guys are so funny... nights too. No matter what's happening it's always entertaining being with Austin and Tom, now appropriately called "Tostin".

Yesterday, Austin and Tom decided that they just couldn't be considered serious cyclists unless they shaved their legs like all the other serious riders. We got the entire experience on tape... it will be one of the more hilarious parts of the documentary. They decided that it would be best to do it on the front porch of the house we were staying at with a bucket that they found on the porch that they filled with water to wash the razors. They first used Austin's clippers to trim their excessive leg hair and then 3blade razors to shave them clean. They have smoother legs than most girls I know now and they are STILL talking about how strange it is. Austin complained about having cold legs the rest of the night.










Right now we are in Warrenton, Georgia staying at the house of Austin's aunt Babbs. They have a baby grand piano in their beautiful southern home in this little small town and Austin just sat down about 30 seconds ago and is playing Rhapsody in Blue beautifully. He graduated this year with a music degree.

Never a dull moment...Tomorrow, Augusta, Georgia, We have a photo shoot at the Outback at 3pm and then a free night... I'm going to try to get a trailer done so everyone can see exactly what we're doing.

We could be closer than you know!
-Chelsea

Pedaling for Change: Atlanta to Athens, Georgia

Veritaz Productions, my new company, is currently focusing on a project called "Pedaling for Change, a documentary about the Rally Across America". I am directing and producing this amazing film...
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT we are documenting visit: http://www.rallyacrossamerica.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM AND MY COMPANY visit:http://www.veritazproductions.com

TO FOLLOW THE VERITAZ BLOG visit: http://veritaz.blogspot.com Warning: many of the Veritaz blog posts will also be cross posted (x-posted) here.

DAY 1?

Well, technically the kick off was the 2nd of June at the Outback Steak House fund-raiser but Austin and Tom didn't do their first large ride until today. We started the day at a cycling race for parkinsons right outside of Atlanta. The announcers presented Austin and Tom to the crowd and explained a bit about the Rally Across America. The boys took a "glory lap" with some of the local children who race and then left from the event to ride around 50 miles to Athens, Georgia. We went ahead of them to get situated with a place to stay and to meet up with Austin's family. His little brother Reid (16) went along for the 50 mile ride and they met us at the house we are staying at in Athens. Tonight we re-group so that we can be efficiant along the way these first few weeks and talk about how to properly go about taking this epic journey.

The film crew has decided to keep any on-lookers updated with video updates through the Rally Webpage (above). Keep your eye out for some of those short video updates.

Lastly for tonight, before I take the extra bicycle back the few miles to the house we are all staying at (I'm at a little coffee house using their internet in Athens), we have decided to try to get a teaser or trailor together so that those of you that we have asked to contribute and all others interested can get a better idea of what we're doing out here and why it's important. That should be posted at the Veritaz webpage (and maybe here) within the next few days.

We could be closer than you know,
Chelsea