Tapia's touring tips:

• Do not go anywhere without a rear view mirror. The kind that are big and attach to your left hood.
• Always carry your Road Morph G by Topeak...that sucker pumps so fast it's insane...flats become no big deal. Especially if you have hot pink tire levers!
• Take aloe for your butt.
• Shed your spandex for cotton as soon as you get to your stopping point.
• Always have plastic bags with you...they make great waterproof socks, waterproof gloves, toilet paper bags, seat covers, etc.
• Pack a card reader for your camera or you will be sending text-only blogs like me, b/c the software for your camera is on your computer way far away at home.
• Take every bit of help you can get...rides, showers, food, map help, whatever...don't be stubborn.
• Axiom's map case is so waterproof...it's amazing.
• Wear pink and pigtails. Trust me, it works.
• To hell with eating healthy. Eat everything...McDonald's flurrys, snickers, pbj, root beer, chocolate milk, cheeseburgers, mac-n-cheese, DQ blizzards, even gel. I ate gel going over a 4675ft. pass in the rain yesterday...Goddess bless the gel maker people...I love them.