Trail Magic

I have been feeling a bit off sorts lately. I am signed up to ride my bike from LA to Albuquerque in May and have spent the past few weeks selecting and shopping for a new bike that would be a better tool to assist me in my adventures. All of that would normally make me feel excited and content but something just wasn’t right. On the advice of my coach and friend Amonda Rose, I decided to ask the Universe to show me what it is I still need to know so that I can live my talents.

 

I recently joined Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP) which is the group that organizes the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA), one of my favorite cycling events. I thought I could meet some like minded people in COP and learn a lot about organizing bicycle events. I received their welcome letter and learned they were having a meeting the following Tuesday in Columbus.

 

Tuesday came and I drove the hour and a half from my house to Columbus. I had a little trouble finding the COP headquarters so I arrived exactly at seven for the 7:00 pm meeting. I immediately Ann G who is the CEO of COP and Glen who was the speaker for the evening. Glen was scheduled to present a program on cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

 

It soon became apparent that no one else was coming to the meeting. Ann and Glen said attendance at the Nov. meeting is typically low because of the Thanksgiving holiday just two days later. I was thinking, “OK Lord, it seemed like you wanted me to come here to learn something and meet key people. I have zero interest in cross country skiing and I am the only one at the meeting. What is it that you wanted to show me?”

 

I decided to briefly share my story with Ann and Glen. I told them how when I was the fat girl in high school I dreamed of running a marathon, riding my bike across America, and hiking the Appalachian Trail. “Since I have ran a marathon and rode my bike across America, I guess one day soon I’ll need to go for a walk, but I don’t know anything about hiking”. They exchanged a knowing look with each other and then looked at me and said “Pull up a chair, we can trail talk all night.”

 

It turns out that both Ann and Glen have section hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT) and are extremely experienced backpackers and hikers. For the next two hours I received a private tutorial on how to hike the AT complete with a tent pitching demonstration (Glen just happened to have his new backpacking tent and trekking poles in his car).

 

It was an amazing evening and I learned so much. If the meeting had had the typical attendance level, I would have driven all that way to hear about snow shoeing. Besides all the great AT info, I learned two very important things that night.

 

1.      I feel off when I am off track. I love cycling and I love bicycle adventures, but it is not the only thing I am called to do right now. The Appalachian Trail is a big part of my calling. I was ignoring the AT as I prepared for my Southwest cycling adventure this May. Frankly, I was hoping that the whole idea of hiking the AT would go away and I could be happy riding my bike and sleeping in a nice cozy hotel room. As much as I wanted to just ride my bike, the preparation for the trip lacked joy and zip. The more I ignored the AT, the crankier and more unsettled I became.

I spent an evening learning about the AT and gaining confidence that I could complete it in 2014 and suddenly, everything is more fun. The Universe calls us to our best life and our levels of fun and joy let us know if we are aligned with that calling.

 

2.      When I am open to receive, God delights to give me what I need. Think about it, this whole thing set up like a surprise. God gave me the feeling like I needed to meet someone and then I’m the only attendee at the meeting. Surprise! It’s the hosts who I needed to meet. God didn’t mess around. There wasn’t anyone extra at the meeting who didn’t absolutely need to be there. I thought it was a mistake at first and now I realize that God was just making it easy on me. Instead of having to sort through a room full of people to discern my contacts, my guides were the only two people there! The fact that Glen ‘just happened’ to have his tent and trekking poles in his car makes me giggle. Even when I don’t exactly know what it is that I need, the Universe is conspiring to bring everything together for my highest and best good. Wow! Why do I ever waste time on being afraid!?!

 

So what’s next? Well, I am still going on the bicycle adventures I already have planned for the summer of 2013. The physical conditioning and skills required for these trips are absolutely aligned with hiking the AT in 2014. I will also be attending backpacking school this spring (offered by COP) and participating in some extended hiking trips this summer to prep for my long walk in 2014.

 

I am having a blast so I know that I am absolutely on the right track!

 

You Gotta Love Your Bike Part II

You have decided on the bike that will best suit your riding goals (fitness vs. road bike) and now you have to decide exactly which bike to get of the several styles available.

 

There are different levels of bicycles within each category and just like when purchasing a car; you get what you pay for. Each level of bike will come with a higher quality derailleur, or wheels, or frame materials. If you are relatively new to cycling, this is the point when you don’t want to let yourself get talked into buying a very sophisticated bike just because you can afford it. You haven’t ridden enough miles yet to know what you want and the subtly of how an Ultegra derailleur performs vs. a 105 derailleur is probably not worth the hundred dollar upgrade. This is my opinion and I’m sure that there are others who would disagree and tell you to buy as much bike as your budget will allow. They can give you their opinion in their blog.

 

Since we have broached the subject of price, let’s talk about that for a minute. You gotta love your bike which means you have to be comfortable with what it costs. If you have to take a little extra time to save the money to buy the bike you want, that’s fine. The extra time will be well worth it. If you splurge and buy a bike that is on the north side of your budget, you won’t feel right about it and ultimately, you will ride the bike less. Your health and your well-being are extremely valuable so honor them with an appropriate place in your budget.

 

Your friendly bike shop person should guide you to selecting a bike that is the correct size for you. The first step in this process is typically done by having you stand straddled over the top tube of the bicycle and then lifting the bike by the handlebars and seat until the top tube rests gently against your anatomy. The wheels of the bike should be 1-2 inches off the floor if the bike fits your inseam.

 

Bicycle frames are measured in centimeters and come in sizes like 48, 50, 52, 54, etc. Most people can ride two different sizes. For example, I can ride a 52 or a 54. If you are between sizes (like me) I suggest that you go with the smaller size. It is easier to make a bike that is slightly too small a little bit bigger than it is to make a bike that is slightly too large smaller. These adjustments are typically made by changing the length and/or angle of the steering stem (the piece that connects the handlebars to the bike). I made the mistake once of buying a road bike that was slightly too large and I have never felt 100% comfortable on it no matter what adjustments I make.

 

If the bike shop doesn’t have the bike you want in the correct size for you in stock, they can order it! Don’t let yourself get talked into buying a bike that doesn’t quite fit you just because it’s the only one they have in stock at the time, even if they offer you a discount for buying now. The few dollars you save now won’t be worth the hours you will spend fidgeting on the bike and griping about how your shoulders hurt and your knees ache.

 

Last but not least, is the issue of color. You have to know how important color is to you and then choose your bike accordingly. I have one friend who loves color. She is really inspired by bright, high energy colors. She picked a road bike that happened to be predominantly white so she had the bike shop put on colorful turquoise water cages and redo the handlebar wrap in bright pink. We now call it the “Easter bike” but the point is that she loves the colors and that makes her happy about her bike. If you don’t like the color yellow, I suggest that you don’t buy a yellow bike. On the other hand, don’t buy the blue bike just because you love the color blue even though the bike if the wrong style and wrong size for you.

 

Shop around until you find a bike that meets your needs, fits your body and your budget, and shines with colors that make you smile. Think of this process as one of your first cycling adventures. Don’t rush it. Savor the search. After all…you gotta love your bike.

You Gotta Love Your Bike Part I

I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather this past weekend and went for a bike ride with Karen Z and Beth #1. Of course we were chatting as we rode and the subject drifted to shopping for a new bike. It seems we all knew someone who is going to be looking for a new bike over the next few months. Selecting the right bike is a critical decision that can have a major impact on your health, your peace of mind, and your wallet. This is especially true if you are new to cycling. If you make a bad bike decision early in your cycling experience, it can kill your enthusiasm and knock you out of the saddle for good.

 

So what’s my advice for finding the dream machine that will help you improve your fitness, increase your mental focus, and awaken your mind-body connection?

 

You Gotta Love Your Bike!

 

You have to love how it looks. You have to love how it meshes with your cycling goals. You have to love how it feels. You have to love what it costs. You gotta love everything about that bike because if you don’t, you won’t ride it with joy. If you don’t ride your bike, you won’t experience any of the benefits of riding. If you don’t ride your bike, it won’t matter how it looks or what it cost because you will have wasted your time and your money.

 

The first big decision you face is where to buy your bike. You can pay around $100 and get a bike from a discount box store or you can go to a friendly bike shop and pay $500-$1,000 to get started. If you plan to feel better about your fitness level because you own a bike but truly don’t intend to ride it, I recommend you visit the box store and get any bike there that suits your fancy. The cheaper the better because you’re just going to hang it in your garage so don’t plunck down any more cash than you have to. However, if you are committed to honoring yourself through fitness and really making a life-changing difference for yourself, then go to a bike shop and spend some money. Five hundred to a thousand dollars isn’t really that much money when you consider the value of your health and your body. How much money would you pay to avoid diabetes? What price would you put on amazing friendships? How much does it cost you to be sick? Hmmm….that bike doesn’t seem so expensive afterall, does it?

 

No matter where you live, chances are there are at least three bike shops within a 25 mile radius of your home. I recommend that you visit several shops in your area before you make your purchase decision. Talk to the people in the shop, walk around, ask questions, see what kind of a vibe you get. You are going to have a longterm relationship with your bike and a good relationship with a great bike shop can really enhance that experience.

 

Here are some questions to ask the bike shop:

Do you provide a free tune up for bikes you sell? (Any shop worth their salt is going to give you a free initial tune up)

 

How many miles do you typically ride a season and what kind of riding do you do? (You don’t want to buy a bike from someone who doesn’t routinely ride)

 

What was your best day ever on a bike? (Look for the twinkle in their eye as they answer this. If there isn’t a twinkle, move on to a different shop or at least a different salesperson.)

 

Does your shop offer any group rides or classes?

 

The next step is to choose a bike that meshes with your cycling goals. You need to match the kind of cycling you plan to do with the bicycle designed for that purpose. There are many different brands of bicycles (Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Specialized) just like there are different brands of cars (Ford, Chevy, Toyota). Many cyclists have a favorite brand and are willing to tell you at length why their preferred brand is better than the others. The truth is that all brands are relatively similar, especially at the entry level of their product lines. It’s more important to buy the correct type of bicycle from a friendly and knowledgable shop than it is to buy a specific brand.

 

Let’s presume that you want to buy a bicycle because you want to improve your health and well-being and see what this cycling thing is all about. To experience the commaradity of the cycling community and participate in cycling events (rides, not races!), you will need to work up to riding at least 20-30 miles comfortably. I promise you, THIS IS NOT AS HARD AS IT MAY SEEM. You can do this and you will be astonished at the world that opens up to you. There are two different styles of bicycles that can help you achieve this goal; a flat-bar road bike or a road bike.

 

A flat bar road bike (sometimes called a fitness bike) has the frame geometry of a road bike but flat handlebars. The flat handlebars make the bike easier to steer and put your body in a more upright position. The upright postion makes the bike easier to balance and is more comfortable if you have any low back issues or muscle tightness. The downside of the upright position is that you have no where to hide if you are pedalling into a headwind. The flat handlebars also provide less hand positions to help prevent fatigue and nerve issues but this isn’t as noticeable if you are using the bike for rides in the 30-60 mile range. I also like a fitness bike for commuting around town. (I save over $20 a month by running just one errand per week in town using my bike!) You can easily cruise at speeds of 12mph-16mph on a fitness bike with aerobic bursts at higher speeds. To cruise faster than that or go longer distances, you will want a road bike.

My friend Lindsay’s fitness bike “Dash”

 

A road bike is designed for speed and distance. If you are just starting, you don’t need a carbon fiber bike with race lite wheels, etc. An entry level aluminum bike is a great way to get started. A road bike has a slightly more aggressive frame geometry (for speed and climbing hills) than a fitness bike and it has the drop (bullhorn)handlebars. The drop handlebars allow you to tuck down for less wind resistance and provide a variety of possible hand positions. They also make the bike a little squirrely to control. Road bikes typically have a thinner tire than fitness bikes and this makes the ride faster but also a bit more bumpy. You can easily cruise at speeds of 14mph-18mph on a road bike and you’ll find climbing hills and riding against the wind easier than on a fitness bike. Remember though, a road bike is more ‘twitchy’ to ride than a fitness bike so if you aren’t comfortable with your balance or have limted experience on a bike, I would go with the fitness bike to get started.

My first road bike “Sprocket”

 

If you look at the fitness bikes and the road bikes in the shop and you think “Those seats are way too small”, I can promise you that your butt is way too big. When you first start to ride a quality bike, your butt may be sore for a while. This too shall pass. The more you ride the less your butt will hurt. A bigger seat will impede the movement of your legs and may actually rub a sore in your bumm. Get over the seat and get on your bike and ride!

 

You’ve made your choice between a fitness bike or a road bike and the friendly salesperson shows you three different bikes that will fit your needs. Now how do you choose? Let’s talk about narrowing down those choices and selecting the perfect bike for you tomorrow in Part II.

The Fat Lady Trifecta: How to Lose 100 lbs, Run a Marathon, Ride a Bike Across America, or Do Anything Impossible to Live Your Best Life

When I was a kid, I was fat. I wasn’t big boned, or chubby, or a little pudgy; I was fat. While other kids were running around and playing on hot summer days, my cousin Cherie and I would lounge in her family’s tent camper and dream of the adventures we would one day share. Instead of actually doing something, we just laid around and dreamed. I knew I was too fat and out of shape to do any of the things we dreamed about and I don’t think I truly believed that I would ever one day actually do those things, but it was fun to dream anyway.

We talked about running a marathon and how many miles we would have to run each day to do that. We dreamed of riding our bicycles across America and we fantasized about how great our legs would look after we made it over the Rockies. We imagined hiking the Appalachian Trail and spent hours discussing and dreaming what that would be like.

 

I was fat and those dreams seemed so impossible and yet I wanted the life that they represented. I spent the next thirty years getting fatter. I picked up addictions to alcohol and cigarettes to go with my obsession with food. I was profoundly unhappy. I didn’t even think about the marathon, the bicycle trip, or the Appalachian Trail. I had forgotten myself and therefore, I had forgotten my dreams.

 

Then one morning, I woke up and I couldn’t remember going to bed the night before. I said to myself, “This is not the life that I was born to live.” That day, I quit smoking, I quit drinking, and I started to eat mindfully. I got out of bed and instead of having my morning cigarette, I went for a walk.

 

I started to walk every morning. Eight months later, that morning walk turned into a jog. Two years later, I ran the Columbus marathon with my friends Linda C and Patty H. At the time, I thought that running the marathon was a celebration of my sobriety and the amazing life transition that I had negotiated and it was all that; yet it was something more. As I crossed the finish line, I thought of those summer days with Cherie and I felt a soft ping in my heart.

 

I wanted the marathon to be enough. I had quit smoking, given up beer, lost 100 pounds, and run a marathon. Really, wasn’t that enough self-improvement? Hadn’t I earned the right to kick back and coast?

 

That’s the funny thing about Life. Once you experience being present to your own life, once you taste the sensuality of being present in your own body, the joy of living your authentic self; kicking back on the couch just doesn’t have the same appeal.

 

So this summer, I rode my bicycle across America. It was an amazing adventure and I learned so much about cycling and about how to be a better human being. I shared that adventure in this blog and you can look back through the entries and see some of the things I learned along the way.

 

Next on the list is hike the Appalachian Trail. I cannot begin to tell you how little I know about hiking. I know nothing about hiking, I currently have none of the necessary skills or equipment and yet I KNOW that I am going to do this.

 

Which brings me to my point: YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO SOMETHING TO GET STARTED DOING IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

 

Accomplishing the biggest feats begins with taking the smallest step. My life turned from insanity to sobriety because instead of just promising myself that I would never do this again (I had tried to quit many, many times before), I got out of bed and went for a walk. I couldn’t look at the big picture (being sober for life), that was too overwhelming, but I could  go for a walk. I went for that walk and while I was walking, I let the walking show me what to do next.

 

When we were in Rochester, MN on the bike ride across America, I broke down in tears at breakfast. My mentor Sam asked me what was wrong. “I’m so tired Sam. We have come so far and yet we have so much farther to go. I just don’t think I can do it”, I sobbed. “Can you just ride today’s ride?” he asked. I shook my head, no, today’s ride was too much. “Can you just put your luggage on the truck?” he asked. “Yes”, I nodded, I could do that. After I put the luggage on the truck Sam said, “Can you ride a mile with me?” Yes, I could do that; and so the day went.

 

So what is your marathon? What is your ride across America? What is your leap into sobriety? What are you waiting for? What is the small thing you can do now that will put you in the flow of your best life?

 

The Appalachian Trail lies ahead of me. It is an enormous adventure and the biggest thing I have ever attempted. So what am I doing today? Today, I am going for a walk. I am going to walk 3 miles on the treadmill at a 3% inlcine wearing a backpack loaded with 6 lbs of hand weights. It’s not a huge thing to do and I’m not entirely certain that it’s the “right” thing to do, but it’s something to do. I know that at some point while I am walking, the next step will come to me and it will just feel right. It may not come during today’s walk or even tomorrow’s walk, but I know for certain it will come.

 

How do you do something big? You start by doing something small. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go for a walk!

 

The Fat Lady Sings Part II

(sometimes technical challenges force me to publish the post in progress before completely finished-here is the continuation of the previous post)

Experiencing life intensely has been one of the unexpected gifts of this trip. I think that one of the greatest challenges I will face in the future is how to integrate this extreme intensity of living and awareness of life into my day to day experience when I return to my 'normal' routine. Maybe that's a good reason not to let myself get too settled and comfortable in a routine again. Life is truly lived outside your comfort zone.

Sunday's ride took us from Brattleboro, VT to Manchester, NH. By this point, I felt like I had nothing left to prove to myself and I actually enjoyed the ride to the fiat SAG stop at 32 miles. My friends Lindsay and Karen had arrived in the area to pick me up after the ride finished on Mondays so I coordinated with them and they scooped me up and I took Sunday afternoon off to relax with them before the final push on Monday. I was leaping with joy when I saw them!

Sunday evening in Manchester was the final banquet for the ride. Karen and Lindsay got to attend and it was fun to have someone from home meet my new family and put faces with to some of the people they had been hearing about. The banquet itself was a tender experience as we all began to bring some closure to our amazing journey together. Jeff Lazer gave me the inflatible turtle he had used to decorate his SAG stop table and the we presented Crist with a cycling jersey of a train engine to thank him for pulling us across the country. We belly laughed, sniffed back tears, reminisced and wondered at it all.

Monday morning brought the final ride to the ocean. Forty eight miles to the rendez-vous point at Rye Junior High School and then three miles with a police escort down to the beach. The first 20 miles had quite a few short but very steep climbs and I was determined not to get separated from Team Turtle. I rode my heart out and they held up at just the right times and we were able to finish the ride like we started it...together.

There was a 10 mile stretch that started around mile 35 where the terrain was calm as it went through a beautiful wetland and we were on the road just the five of us. We thanked each other for the gift of friendship and the love and support we received during the journey. We also rode a good piece of that ten mile stretch in silence, soaking in the beautiful scenery, the warmth of friendship and the joy of accomplishment. There are moments when life is beyond words and it is my prayer that everyone could experience a moment like we did in those ten miles. It took the 3,668 miles that came before them to make those 10 miles what they were and I suspect that is why many people never get to taste that kind of joy, they give up somewhere in the 3,668 or worse yet, they never even start the journey.

The rest of the day was a glorious blur. When we descended around a bend and caught our first view of the ocean I was filled with awe, gratitude and joy. Had we really bicycled from the Pacific to the Atlantic? How did we make it this far? How is it over so fast? What am I supposed to do next? What does this really mean?

I will post some final pictures and thoughts over the next few days. I want to thank you for your prayers and support throughout this incredible journey, your love and kindness were tangible and a mmajor contribution to the success of the ride. I also want to encourage you to check out Sam's blog at samsride.blogspot.com (or google 'Sam went for  a ride'). His blog has many great photos and a lot of great technical information and insight about the ride.

The Fat Lady Sings

I have been home now since last evening and it was brought to my attention this afternoon that I haven't posted since last Friday so I wanted to make a moment to share what's been happening.

Saturday was our ride from Latham, New York to Brattleboro, VT. The route started with a detour in Latham to avoid construction but I think the real purpose was to make sure that we climbed every possible hill in the city. We weren't even out of the city limits before I thought I was going to lose my breakfast! I sent Team Turtle on ahead because it was immediately clear that I was going to need my own time and space to deal with all the steep climbs of the day.

The weather Saturday was extremely humid and combined with the steep climbs in Vermont it made for a great test of my new belief system. I'm not proud of how I reacted every moment of every day and there were times on those climbs in Vermont when I was quite surly. Kathy the guide passed me during the 10 mile long climb and shouted "You can do this!" I yelled back "I know I can, but why would I want to!?!"

Good question. I thought about that and about how cranky I was being and it occurred to me that if you want to do something bigger than yourself you have to have a reason why that is beyond yourself. I hunkered down, set my gaze forward and kept pedaling.

By the end of the day I had done over 5,000 ft of climbing in extreme heat and humidity, I was rained on, hailed on, hungry, hypothermic, exhausted and exhilarated. I will always remember this as a day that I truly lived. Experin

A Day to Remember

Today was a day that I will look back on the rest of my life and say "That was a truly pivotal day". Today I learned what a difference my beliefs make. I knew all the cliches about how attitude is everything and all that, but I didn't really KNOW how simply changing my belief about something could so immediately change my experience of it.

When I went down to the breakfast lobby this morning and saw all the other riders, my first thought was "I wish I was like them and was strong enough to know that I would be able to do today's ride". This is something I notice myself thinking at some point every day. This morning when I noticed that same old sad story I decided that I WOULD be strong enough to do today's ride and I would know that strength and enjoy it.

It is absolutely astonishing the difference that changing that belief made. As I saw each hill ahead, instead of panicking I thought 'I can do that'. As I was climbing I would roar out my 'Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!' The Turtles got a chuckle out of that and after a bit they were growling back at me. Big fun!

I felt the power I can posess and how to summon that power with my belief. I am so, so grateful to learn this. Thank you God for this amazing experience.

Besides all the self-realization, the scenery on today's ride was also stunningly beautiful. We spent most of the day riding through the Mohawk river valley. We would climb to the crest of a ridge and you could see the river and the valley and the the Adirondack's to the north. Spectacular!

Tomorrow we have a big day of climbing (5,000 ft). I know it is going to take effort and determination and I know I can make it.

Please continue to hold us all in your prayers. We had favorable wind today and that is truly the difference between enjoying the day and just suffering through it. We are also going to ride some narrow roads to orrow in Vermont with lots of traffic so say an extra prayer for safety and patience. Safe travels also to Karen & Lindsay as they begin their drive east tomorrow to meet me in Manchester, NH on Sunday and bring me home after the ocean dip on Monday.

On to Vermont!

Get Your Climbing Face On! Grrrrr!!!!!

Today was another great day full of cycling lessons and personal growth. I woke up about 3:45 am and couldn't really get back to sleep because Inwas anxious about all the climbing we have to do these last few days. I had an upset stomach and dry heaves, I was that nervous.

After breakfast, we noticed there was a semi-truck parked in the hotel paking lot that was hauling 'Superior Lubricants'. We all started pressing our bottoms against the truck and taking photos and laughing. In the middle of the laughter I decided that it doesn't matter how high or steep the hills are, I am getting to that ocean!!!

I rode with Lynne and Sam today and we had a really great, fun ride. I did a good job on the hills today and even 'pulled'  our little line for a total of about 30 of today's 78 miles. Sam gave me some more coaching on how to properly execute the 'pull' position in a paceline and I really feel like I learned a lot.

There is a laundromat across the street from our hotel tonight so most of the group went over there to do laundry for what will hopefully be the last time. I had a great conversation with Mike Munk (the head guide & an amazing cyclist) about the climbing over these last four days.

"Your body has proven it can do it or you couldn't have gotten this far, now it's all just mental. You're about 20 pounds lighter than you were in Oregon and a whole lot stronger.   Now all you need to do is get out of your head and put your climbing face on! Let me see your climbing face - grrrrr!!!!!!"

He's absolutely right. I have been telling myself a story that doesn't serve me and it's time to tell a better story. I keep telling people (and myself) that I'm not athletic. I have riddine my bicycle from Astoria, OR to Little Falls, NY...if that doesn't qualify as athletic, what does!?! I tell other people (and myself) that I am not a good climber on the bike...I climbed the freaking continental divide at 9,680 ft, how much more climbing do you need to do!?!

Am I the most athletic perwon on this trip? No. Am I the best climber on this trip? No. The real reason that I tell myself these dis-empowering stories is to give myself an excuse for not being the best when what I really need to do is just celebrate who I am. When I tell these dis-empowering stories about myself, it's not humble, it's not even being realistic, it's really just an expression of ego.

Wow! It feels really fun and light and free to reqlize and release that!

So the next few days have some significant climbs in them and my plan is to enjoy them and marvel at all I have learned and how much stronger I have become. In other words, I plan to be grateful and have fun.

Grrrrrrr!!!!!!

Quick Update Part II

Sometimes the connection in the hotel isn't great and my tablet jambs while I am writing. That's what just happened and it forced me to end the last post before I was actually finished.

So we started today with the five members of Team Turtle (Crist, Diane, me, Lynne, and Sam). About 20 miles into the ride,we had our first climb of the day and I just had a mental meltdown. I started to cry and I told them to just go on ahead and leave me and that I wanted to go home. They moved ahead a bit to give me space but didn't get out too far ahead. I had my little fit and then I pushed to rejoin the group and the rest of the day I did fine.

Crist's knee started to really bother him at about 35 miles and so he and Diane hung back together and Sam, Lynne, and me finished the ride together.

Everyone in the group seems to be getting quite tired and testy. We are all ready to get back to 'normal life'. I had a great conversation with Crazy Jeff this afternoon. He seems really pumped and excited about the next few days. I notice that when we are facing hard miles, Jeff is always rationalizing about how we can do it. "This is gonna be cake. We've done way harder than this before. We can do absolutely anything!" I, on the other hand, tend to get worked up about how hard I think it's going to be and then I get over-whelmed and practically have a panic attack just thinking about Vermont.

I plan on looking at the next few days as an opportunity to practice Jeff's approach to life. These next few days are like a final exam to test if I have met my goals of becoming a better cyclist and a better human being.

It's gonna be fun to see what I've learned!

Quick Update

Greetings from Liverpool, NY! It's getting pretty close to my bedtime but I haven't blogged in a few days and I just wanted to give everyone a quick update.

Sunday July 29, we biked from Branton, Ontario to Niagara Falls, NY. The weather was absolutely perfect and I rode with Team Turtle the whole day. We had lunch on the Canadian side and then hung out together and took pictures for a little while before getting in line to come back into the States on the Rainbow Bridge.

The border patrol guards walk up and down the bridge between the cars with the drug sniffing dog. When they saw us they came over and asked where we had come from and where we were going. They were really impressed with what we were doing and were all smiles as they asked us about our trip. After they moved on, other cars rolled down their window and asked us about it. The whole experience felt a bit like being a rock star. It was great fun!

Monday was our rest day and most of the group did cheesy tourist activities. I saw the falls at night and the fireworks Sunday night with Crist, Diane and Sam. Monday I went to Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist with a woman on the tour named Marjie.

Tuesday we rode from Niagara to Henrietta, NY. I rode with Marjie and shortly into the ride, we were joined by LT. Marjie is an incredibly strong and experienced rider and LT is also quite good. They worked with me on learning more paceline etiquette as well as how to lead the paceline. After riding so many miles with Team Turtle it was interesting and a bit strange riding with someone else.

This area of New York is Lynne's hometown so we have been getting lots of stories from her. I rode all day today with Team Turtle and it was great fun listening to Lynne. She's a great story teller!

Welcome to New York

Arriving at Niagara Falls

Making My Way

Well, I am gradually making my way toward the end of this adventure. It's hard to believe that Karen and Lindsay will be here to pick me up one week from tomorrow. This has been an incredible adventure and yet it's still hard to believe that I have actually ridden my bike from Oregon to here. I am so grateful for everything I have learned and I am also looking forward to spending some time in 'normal life' again.

Today's ride took us 69 miles from London, Ontario to Branton, Ontario (the hometown of hockey great Wayne Gretzky). It rained overnight and skies were still gray this morning as we left but the weather continued to improve as the day progressed and we all stayed dry.

The terrain today was relatively flat which should have made it a cake day except that we had significant headwinds once again. Lot's of corn and soybean fields again today but we also saw quite a few tobacco fields and gingseng and berry fields as well. I had no idea that they grew so much tobacco this far north.

I rode pretty much the whole day by myself. Ainslee and Joan rode with me for about 10 miles early in the day and it was fun chatting it up with them. The Turtles leap frogged me most of the day until about mile 50 when I stopped for a sandwich and they passed me for good. I tried hanging on with them for a few miles around the 40 mile mark but they're just too strong and it makes me anxious trying to keep up. I think it looks like I am going to be riding these last eight days by myself. That's ok, we will all get to the ocean at the same time anyway.

I miss the comaraderie (sp?) of the team and the funny things we would tease each other about but this development has also given me a chance to get to know some of the other riders better (like Ainslee and Joan today) so it's not without its blessings. It all works out exactly as it should.

Tomorrow we head for Niagra and our final rest day of the trip on Monday. I'm looking forward to a day off because for whatever reason, my quads have been really sore the past fews days. Hopefully, my legs can rejuvenate a bit before the final push to New Hampshire.

Keep those prayers coming and don't forget to ask for a tail wind!

PS - It's always a little harrowing coming into town by yourself. Traffic is usually quite busy and you have to closely read directions, watch for traffic and spot road hazards simultaneously by yourself. This afternoon was even more challwnging because it's a big town and the direction were a bit vague and confusing. I was in the middle of town and just starting to get a little confused and anxious when Jim (the ride mechanic) appeared out of no where on his bike from my right. He quickly caught up with me and offered to lead me to the hotel. I am constantly amazed at how God delivers the assistance I need exactly at the moment I need it. Thanks God!!!

Oh Canada...

This morning we crossed the Blue Water bridge into Canada. We gathered in the parking lot at 6:20 am and road over the bridge in a procession with the support vans in the front and rear. They closed the bridge while we crossed so it was really fun and felt a bit like being in the Tour de France.

We spent the rest of the day cycling through Ontario on our way to London which was our destination for today. I spent the first 17 miles or so in the Team Turtle paceline and then peeled off to ride my own pace. Ontarion looks a lot like Ohio so I felt pretty much at home today. I did, however, notice one thing interesting.

Today's ride was 84 miles (short by our current standards) and the terrain was flat. It should have been an easy day but once again we were plagued by a pesky head wind. Several times throughout the day, the route called for us to make a turn that would give us a cross wind and a bit of a break from the head wind. I noticed that as soon as we made the turn into the cross wind the road became really bumpy or it was uphill!

Nothing out here is easy!!!

The ride is starting to take a toll on everyone in the group. It seems like we all have a nagging ache somewhere or a muscle strain that just won't go away. I remember when we were in Oregon, the physical effort required for each day's ride was exhausting but a few hours after you showered, you felt pretty close to normal. Now we do a ride on relatively flat land and I still feel tired and sore the next morning when I get on the bike to start the next ride. I think the body is just running out of reserve and therefore can't recover between rides like it did a month ago.

I also notice that I am almost always hungry. I can eat until I am painfully full and three hours later I am hungry to the point of distraction. We have all started squirrelling away food from the SAG stops to snack on in the room at night. At the same time, most food has lost its flavor. When you have to eat so much all the time, eating becomes another chore on the 'to do' list and you get tired of it.

We passed a nice bike shop just before we arrived at our hotel and many folks stopped in and bought new bike shorts. The padding in the shorts breaks down after a thousand miles and so that just adds to the ever present butt issues.

Please continue to pray for our safety and our sanity and bless us with a tail wind. We could use a little boost!!!

PS - I had a great conversation with Lynne and Joan while doing laundry tonight. We talked about what a privilege it is to do this trip and how grateful we are for the health and resources to participate in this incredible adveture. We also talked about strategies to incorporate what we have learned on this trip into our day to day lives when we get back home.

I truly am grateful for this experience and all that it has taught me.

Good Bye Michigan

The past few days have been a whirlwind. Dennis, David (my dog), my dad, my brother, my siter-in-law, and my cousin came to visit yesterday. It was so strange to see people I know from home. It was a real boost to be hugged. I didn't realize how much I miss being touched. We knuckle bump and high-five each other here at bicycle boot camp but there's not a lot of hugging that goes on.

It really raised my spirits to see everyone from home and it also made it clear how close we are to the end of this incredible journey. Tomorrow we cross over the bridge into Canada and Sunday we will be in Niagra Falls for our final rest day on Monday. One week from there and we dunk the bikes in the ocean and say good-bye. Tonight at rap they began to discuss the details of the final day so that people know how to plan.

This morning we awoke to thunderstorms and lightning. They delayed our start by over an hour but that was a great call on Jeff Lazer's part because we were dry the rest of the day. We had a kicking west wind most of the day so I want to thank all you prayer warriors for dialing up that tail wind! It certainly was helpful to have such a strong tail wind on a day when we got a late start.

I rode about the first 20 miles with Team Turtle and then I dropped off by myself for the rest of the day. I had a really fun day enjoying the bike at my own pace and thinking what I want to do with my life after this adventure is over.

Our route into Port Huron took us on Lakeshore Drive qnd there were some really gorgeous homes and views of Lake Huron. It reminded me a lot of the homes on Catawba.

Time to call it a night as we have an early day tomorrow to get over the bridge (they are closing the bridge to allow us to pass) and then get through customs. I've iced my knees and cleaned and prepped the bike for tomorrow so all my chores are done.

Please don't stop praying for us just because we are close to the end. We need your prayers now because everyone is tired and at the end of their reserve. Please pray for safety, strength, and a tail wind!

Good night! See you soon!

A Challenging Day

Yesterday was technically a rest day but we had to take the ferry from WI to Ludington, MI. The day was filled with hurry up and wait scenarios which were pretty stressful. Combine that with the ferry leaving al oat two hours late due to difficulty loading a wind turbine and the high heat and humidity and you have the makings for a boat load of unhappy bikers!

We didn't get to the hotel in Ludington u til around 9:00 pm and we hadn't eaten and were incredibly hot and sticky from the boat. It after 11:00 before I wound down enough to sleep and we had to get up at 5:00 am to have breakfast and start our 113 mile ride to Mt. Pleasant.

I woke up more tired than when I went to bed and I was in a terrible mood. I started texting my brother (he lives in MI) to arrange a ride to skip the 113 miles on the bike today but it didn't work out. Like a good big brother, he asked if I was sick and when I told him "No, I'm just tired." he said we'll pray for you and see you in Birch Run tomorrow as planned.

That was exactly the correct way to handle me in that moment (he's had a few yeqrs practice'at this). If he had come to Ludington and rescued me, I have to wonder if I would have rejoined the ride or just gone home.

I rode by myself because it's hard for me to keep up with Team Turtle over that amount of distance and it wasn't fair to subject another human being to my whining. It took me the better part of 70 miles to improve my mood and attitude but here's what I figured out:

1. I can't help anyone if I quit. - I want to use this ride to become a better human being and hopefully other people will be able to learn a little about themselves as well. If I quit, all that potential is lost.

2. Doing something bigger than yourself will ALWAYS involve moments of extreme discomfort but if you calm down and really notice the situation, you will see that nothing is wrong and this moment is very doable.

3. When you are faced with a task that seems overwhelmingly big, chunk it down. Today I really disciplined myself not to think about the 113 miles but instead to just ride to the next direction cue on my route sheet. When there was a hill or the wind was against me, I broke it down even more and'just rode to the next house and then the next house after that.

4. The only time today on the ride that I really suffered was when I was trying to figure out how to get out of riding. Once I decided that I was going to finish the whole thing and all there was to do now was to enjoy the scenery and ride to the next cue, I actually enjoyed myself.

5. When you grow and finish something that you didn't think you could do (like a 113 mile bike ride on 5 hrs sleep and poor food)...CELEBRATE!!!

Tomorrow will be a fun day. We get to sleep in a bit and my family is coming to visit in Birch Run. See you there!!!

A Nearly Perfect Day

Today was a great ride for me. It started with a great night's sleep. I went to sleep at 8 pm last night and didn't get up until 6:15 this morning! We had a late breakfast and late load time today due to the short mileage (only 57 miles) so I treated myself to a cup of coffee while I said the rosary. Between the extra sleep, the coffee, and the quiet time in prayer I felt like a million bucks by the time we started our ride.

I rode the first 31 miles with Team Turtle and got some more excellent cycling coaching from Sam. The pace through those 31 miles was pretty good so I felt like I got my workout for the day (thanks Crist!). The SAG stop was at a McDonalds at 31 miles and Diane and I got pineapple mango smoothies. I can't describe how fantastic it tasted! The best part of doing an endurance sport is that all your senses are intensified, food is an explosion of flavor, taking a shower is sublimely sensual, and just sitting down in a good chair feels divine. I have never felt so "in my body".

After the SAG stop, the Team split up and I rode the last 26 miles by myself. I really enjoyed the opportunity to go at my own pace and enjoy the scenery. The weather and the rolling farmland were just beautiful.

I say it was a "nearly perfect day" beacuse 10 miles from the finish, I came upon six of our riders who had just had an accident. They had been riding in a paceline and had a miscommunication when changing out the lead rider and the other five following behind the lead crashed into each other. They were going about 22 mph when it happened. Everyone in the group has various degrees of road rash and one guy's bike is pretty busted but other than that, they are all ok (thanks be to God). Margie had a piece of Jim's handlebars stuck in her helmet, that's how much force was involved.

The situation was well under control by the time I came upon it so I continued on. I've had a couple of close calls following the wheel of my fellow Turtles so I understand how quickly and easily this kind of thing can happen. When there is a significant headwind of desolate terrain, travelling in a group is really important but neither of those conditions existed today. The whole thing made me really glad I decided to ride alone this afternoon and has me thinking about my strategy for the 113 mile ride on Tuesday.

Sm's wife Mary visited again this afternoon and had dinner ith us. She is absolutely delightful and has been a real boost to our moral.

Yipes My Thighs Are Burnin'!

Today's ride was 91 miles from LaCrosse, WI to Wisconsin Dells and included 34 miles on the Sparta-Elroy bike path. When we got the eoute sheets for the ride I thought "thirty four miles on a bike path, that'll be easy". Not so my friends, not so!

The bike path is packed dirt and gravel (not paved) and the first 10 miles are uphil at a 2-3% grade. I know that doewn't seem like much of a grade when you consider some of the mountain passes we have done but we are all using skinny, hard tires designed for the road. Riding on dirt and gravel is like running through mud. My thighs were burning so badly I thought I might be sick.

There were three tunnels on the bike path which meant we got to walk through the hills instead of climbing over them which was a plus.

After the bike path and the second SAG stop of the day, I cut the Turtles loose and sent them on ahead. I had nothing left in my legs and it wasn't fair to hold them up for me. Sam is from Wisconsin and he had quite a few family members and friends visiting tonight so it was good that the Team was able to get him into the hotel in good time.

I rode about 20 miles by myself and actually enjoyed it. Then a group of three very strong riders came upon me and they were worried because I was by myself. I told them I was fine but they wouldn't leave me so two went on ahead and one stayed with me for the next ten miles into the hotel.

Sam's family and friends are very nice and it gave all of Team Turtle a boost to laugh with them at dinner tonight. His friend Kurt is going to ride with us tomorrow and that should be fun. Hopefully Crist will have some mercy on the poor fellow and dial the speed down a notch! I would certainly be ok with that!!!

I just want to say thank you again to all of you for your prayers and support. I appreciate the comments and encouragement you leave on the blog. (apparently you need to sign in through google for the comments to come through) You can also email me directly at letsgojoyride@gmail.com

On to Fond du Lac!

Welcome to Wisconsin!

Truck on a Cheese

In our little cycling sub-culture, we call this road sign "truck on a cheese". We are always super happy to see this sign because typically we have been in a long or steep climb and the sign means you are about to start down the other side!

Other News of Note

We lost another rider on today's ride. Ray Black from London fell offhis bicycle and broke his shoulder while trying to take a picture of the bike path. Ray is a super nice guy and was having a lot of fun on the trip. He was very kind to me the day I sagged the Teton Pass. I feel bad for Ray and wish him well.

On a lighter note, Jeff Laser (one of the guides) had a big inflatable turtle at his SAG stop today as a table decoration. We got a good chuckle out of that one. Go Turtle Go!

A Tough Few Days

The past few days have been very challenging for me. It started on Tuesday when we had a 113 mile daer was quite warm and humid that day but the terrain was downhililwind most of the day. We should have known better, but Team Turtle couldn't resist the favorable conitions and we rode our best time yet as a team. I actually told Crist to speed up at one point! I forgot my water bottles at a SAG stop and Bud had to go back in the van and pick them up and bring them to us on the route. This incident combined with me urging Crist to go faster has earned me my new nickname of "Throttle Bottle".

All good things must come to an end and Wednesday morning started with a 12% climb two blocks from the hotel. No warming up for that one! The day was extremely humid with an ever increasing headwind. We had 100 miles and the terrain was all steep rollers. By mile 76 I was done and ready to SAG. I told Crist and Diane that the next van we saw for water, I was going to SAG. They urged me to continue and slowly we pressed on as the thunder clouds were building and the storms were looming. At mile 86 we saw a van but by that point I felt like I couldn't SAG because Crist and Diane had gone so slow to pull me along and that would be disrespectful of their kindness. I pressed on and finished the ride but at the end, I was physically and mentally spent.

This morning at breakfast, I had a mental meltdown and started to cry. I was still tired from the high mileage of the past few days and I started thinking about the rest of the teip and how hard each day is and I just got overwhelmed. The Team told me to hang in there and take it one step at a time.

So mentally I broke the whole day down ino tiny pieces and just concentrated on completing each piece. I let the Turtles go on ahead and rode most of the day with a new guy named Dave who rides a recumbant bike which climbs almost as slow as me. I find that when a day had lotsnof climbing, I am more relaxed if I am not trying to keep up with the Turtles.

Backside of Mt. Rushmore

The road we ascended to Mt. Rushmore brought us around the backside of the monument. Karen Bauer told us to stop at the scenic pull-out and look back over our shoulder...we did as she instructed and there was George! That day was a really challenging day for me. Lot's of steep climbing and a 10% grade descent. I sure am glad that day's in the history books!

Hell's Half Acre

This was on our way into Casper, WY. Lot's of wildfire smoke this day as well. Very hot day with 20 mph headwinds as we battled to do 120 miles. Hell's Half Acre is a natural pit/cliff that the Native Americans used to hunt buffalo. They would stampede the buffalo and run them over this cliff and then take their plates to the buffet at the bottom. The picture doesn't really give you a sense of how deep it was.

Painted Desert

This photo is from the painted desert as we left Dubois, WY. We rode through a beautiful canyon in the desert carved by the Wind River. I believe that's LT on the bicycle. LT is on the trip with her husband Jerry and they live in Colorado. We rode through smoke from the wildfires as we came into Dubois and you could see the smoke over the ridge as we left. No sign of fires after that so that's probably the closest we came.

Welcome to Minnesota

Olivia's Bath

I forgot to mention that yesterday I gave Olivia a bath (Olivia is the name of my bicycle). As Mike Munk so often says "A clean bike is a happy bike" and Olivia was long overdue for a thorough cleaning. Yertle the turtle needed a little scrub down as well as his face was getting pretty grimy.

I did this little chore early in the morning before the heat started to boil. Most hotels we stay at make a little bike cleaning area for us with a hose and a bucket of rags. I have a "click-stand" which is a device that works like a kick stand to hold the bike while I clean or do small repairs. The click-stand is extremely handy because it is absolutely taboo in the AbB (America by Bicycle) culture to lean your bike against a vehicle or to obstruct a sidewalk with the bike. This can make parking the bike a little tricky but the click-stand solves that problem.

When Sam and I went to the bike shop in Casper, WY  I picked up a spray can of Simple Green. This has been a great find because it is non-toxic and is a great degreaser. I have been using it every few days to clean my chain and rear cassette. I highly recommend it.

So for Olivia's bath, I just slathered her in the Simple Green, let soak and then scrubbed her down. Same for Yertle. I was careful to really clean the clip mechanism in the pedals because I have had a squeak the past few days and I am suspecting the pedals.

When I finished, I was really glad I had my sunglasses on because that was one shiny bike! After cleaning, I lubed the chain and Olivia was ready to roll.

The first ten miles of today's ride, the bike rolled really well and was absolutely quiet. Amazing! Later in the ride when we got out of town and into the countryside, I shifted up onto the big chain ring and immediately I had rubbing chatter from the chain. Karen Bauer (one of the guides and an absolutely amazing cyclist) came alongside me and asked me about the chain chatter. We tried to do some things on the fly with the shifting mechanism but it didn't really help. Oh well, at least I learned some techniques to try when you have chain chatter even if they didn't work this time.

My Glorious Day Off

Today was a rest day in Sioux Falls, SD. Yesterday's ride to Sioux Falls from Mitchell was 74 miles with ascending rollers and a significant headwind. It was also quite hot (about 100) which made it feel like riding head long into a convection oven. We were all pretty glad to arrive at the hotel and start our rest day.

Crist, Diane and I started by catching a taxi and going to St. Michael's for Mass. This was the first time I have been able to attend Mass since leaving Tiffin and it felt wonderful!!! I have seen so much and grown so much since the last time I was at church that it felt a bit like the first time I came home for the weekend from college, everything is the same but I am different inside of the familiar setting.

I slept like a rock last night. I was so tired I even dreamed about sleeping. That's the first time I've ever done that!

I bought a mug last night while we were out to dinner so that I could treat myself this morning to coffee from a real mug, not a paper cup, a real mug. It's funny the mundane little pleasures you take for granted until you don't have them.

I had a liesurely breakfast this morning and squirrelled away some food from the hotel breakfast area so that I don't have to deal with the bicycle crowd at breakfast tomorrow. When our group descends upon a hotel continental breakfast, it's like a swarm of locusts and you often end up eating what's left and not what you want.

I chatted with Karen Z on the phone while I enjoyed my coffee in my mug and we made some preliminary plans for her and Lindsay to come pick me up. There is a lot of riding to do between now and then and the key is to stay focused and in the moment. I plan to concentrate on being kind and improving my cycling skills and fitness each day.

Jeff B and I went to see a movie (Moonrise Kingdom) and that was fun even though the movie itself was pretty quirky. At least it didn't have anything to do with bicycles. I had my usual large popcorn at the movie but it didn't taste the same. I think my tastes as well as my body are changing with all this physical activity. Tonight at dinner, I just had water with my meal and didn't order a soda. Who is this person I used to know as me?

This evening, I treated myself to a hot bath and a good book and now I'm ready to call it a night. It was a really relaxing rest day, the highlight of which was talking with Dennis this afternoon before I left for dinner. Just to hear his voice soothes me and I am reminded of why I love him so much. I told him I can't wait to get home to him and he coached me to savor every moment of this adventure, home will come soon enough.

He's right of course, so that's exactly what I am going to do. Tomorrow is going to be a great good fun day on the bike. We will pass another milestone on our journey tomorrow as we leave South Dakota and enter Minnesota.

See you there!!!

It's Good to be Back in the Bale!

Today was a great good fun day! The terrain was flat farmland that looked almost like Ohio, we had a tailwind, and I rode the whole day with the Turtles. This was the most relaxing day I have had since we started.

We strated off the day with breakfast at the Anchor Grille in Chamberlain, SD. We had dinner last night at the same place and we met the owner/operator Margy. She made rhubarb pie for us last night with rhubarb that she cut from her garden yesterday morning. She came into the Grille at 3:30 this morning to get breakfast started for us so we could eat at 6:00. The food was spectacular! You could actually taste the love that Margy put into it. After a long stretch of hotel continental breakfasts, Margy's feast was a welcomed treat!

Last night at rap when we got the route sheet for today, everyone was grumbling because it showed a steep two mile climb to start the day out of Chamberlain. When we actuqlly did the climb, it wasn't all that bad. I guess climbing on fresh legs at the start of the day in the cool of the morning makes a difference.

Highlights on today's route included the lawnmower race track and Puck U Bar in Puckwana, SD, the tractor museum in Mt. Vernon, SD and the corn palace in Mitchel, SD. I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful farmland and rolling with Team Turtle again. I had no trouble keeping up today and the whole day was just gobs of fun.

Time to get ready for rap. Have a great evening everyone and keep those prayers coming!

A Challenging Good Day

Our ride today was 84 miles from Pierre, SD to Chamberland, SD. They were calling for a significant wind and there were two big climbs in the last 10 miles of the ride.

Jeff and I started out the ride together with Rich and Randy hanging around. We were soon caught by Kathy the guide who was riding sweep today. This is always a bit demoralizing because it means you are riding dead last.

About two thirds of the way through the ride, we caught up with the rest of the Turtles at a gas station potty break. Jeff and I decided to jump back on the Turtle pace line because at that point, there was a bit of a headwind. We did well the first few miles and then there was a downhill and the team never slowed back down so I couldn't keep up and dropped off the line again.

I don't know how I was able to keep up with Team Turtle for 1500 miles and now suddenly, it feels like they're running away from me. Tonight at supper we had a brief conversation about it. They think it is a combination of their improvement and my mindset. I'm not exactly sure what it is. I enjoy the fellowship of the group and yet when I ride by myself or with just one other person, I can see the scenery instead of just watching the tire of the person in front of me.

I am not angry or upset with anyone on the team, I am just struggling to keep up the pace. The most important thing is just to enjoy the ride and be safe and healthy. We'll see how it all plays out. My plan is to start out tomorrow with Team Turtle and see how it goes.

A Great Good Day

When I came on this trip, I had two main goals: to become a better cyclist and to become a better human being. Today I feel like I made progress toward both those objectives.

Yesterday's ride from Rapid City to Wall Drug looked on paper like it should be relatively easy but the searing sun, high heat and humidity and relentless wind made for a challenging 58 miles.

The Turtles started off together yesterday but I quickly realized that I was not going to have a fun day trying to keep pace with the group. Everyone is improving and some are improving faster than others so while I am much better than when I started, I am struggling to keep up with the ever increasing speed of Team Turtle. So I made the decision to drop off the pace line and go it by myself and I had a wonderful day.

Today's ride was a challenging distance of 117 miles from Wall Drug to Pierre. I decided not to ride the Team Turtle pace line and just go at my own speed. Jeff, who is also struggling with the new Turtle speed decided to join me. This was one of the best days I have had on the bike so far.

Jeff and I had a great conversation (we discovered that we have a secret in common) and we were talking and looked up and went "Oh my! There's the SAG stop!" We are usually counting down the miles to the SAG. I can't believe how quickly the miles pasted even though we were riding slower.

So what did I learn today that makes me a better cyclist and human being? I learned to listen to my own voise and to respect what it is telling me instead of just trying to keep up with everyone else. I also learned that people are a lot deeper than your initial impression might lead you to believe. I learned that wheat fields in South Dakota can be hundreds of acres and that a South Dakota road can go absolutely straight as far as the eye can see in either direction.

Other news of note...we crossed the Missouri river today and entered the central time zone. Well...I have to get dressed for dinner now.

Turtles at Mt Rushmore

Sam, Diane, Crist, me, Jeff, and Lynne

Arriving in South Dakota

Tough Ride to Mt Rushmore

Today's ride was 76 miles with 5,100 vertical ft of climbing. The grades were pretty steep and ranged from 6%-10%. As I have mentioned many times before, climbing is a new skill for me so this was indeed a challenging day.

The upside was that we got to see both the Crazy Horse monument and Mt Rushmore. When I was in junior high, my family took a summer vacation to Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Doesn't look like they have made any progress on Crazy Horse since then. Mt Rushmore also looks smaller than I remember. Funny how that happens.

I started the morning off with a flat at breakfast which was 1.4 miles into the ride. If you must have a flat, having it in a protected parking lot right in front of the mechanic's van if the place to do it. Late in the ride, Sam and Lynne both had flats within about 5 minutes of each other. I was struggling with fatigue because of the climbing so I rode on ahead and finished the day about 20 minutes ahead of the others. At that point, if I had stopped and waited for twenty minutes, there was no way I could have finished the ride. The Team understood and they were just glad I finished under my own power.

After sagging in on the Teton pass and the 120 mile days, there was no way I wasn't going to finish today no matter what it took. I had to access a new level of determination today to get the job done and boy did it feel sweet to pull into the hotel!!!

Tomorrow is an "active rest day" of only 57 miles into Wall Drug, SD. Should be fun.

Welcome to South Dakota!

Today we crossed the state line into South Dakota. At the hotel lobby each night, America by Bicycle has a map of the US and highlights our route and flags where we have been. When I looked at the map tonight, I couldn't believe how far we have come. Several times today I just wanted to pinch myself to confirm that I am actually here doing this. How did the fat girl in high school end up doing such an incredible thing with such an elite goup of athletes? Amazing. I am so profoundly grateful for this opportunity and for al that I am learning.

So how did today go? Well, in typical Turtle fashion we were among the first to get our luggage on the truck and the last ones to leave the parking lot. As Dennis would say, at least we are consistent!

We had a bit of a tailwind to start the ride and the first thirty miles were also mostly downhill so we averaged an incredible 17 mph through that stretch. Lynne got another flat tire at about 45 miles (the back tire this time) and the boys had to boot the tire because it was gashed.

At 46.9 miles we made a right turn directly into the wind and the fun and games for the day were officially over. We eventually found our rythm again and made a good press against the wind into the next SAG at mile 67. We have discovered that it actually takes more work to ride too slow against the wind. If you can get everyone lined up tight and close together and go 14-16 mph, it takes less effort than grinding it out at 8-10 mph. The trick is that everyone has to concentrate and push a little and rotate turns at the front of the line. It requires trust, communication, and co-operation. After riding 1,555 miles with the same six people, we are learning how to work together like a well oiled machine. Now, if we could only get out of the parking lot sooner, that would be an accomplishment!

There were two 6% climbs today. The first was 4 miles long and the second was 1 mile long. I did a pretty good job on both climbs and Team Turtle was quick to compliment me on my improvement. I have a long way to go to match their skills as a climber and I know that with their help and encouragement, I will get there.

Speaking of climbing, there are 5,100 ft of climbing in tomorrow's ride. Plenty of opportunity to practice my new skills. After tomorrow, things should be easier for a day or two. Hmm....feels like I've said that before...

Thanks again for your prayers and support. Please continue to hold us in your love for safety, strength, courage, and tailwinds!

My "Day Off" in Casper, WY

Yesterday was our second day off of the trip. Although almost everyone sleeps in until 6 or 7, the rest of the day is usually spent doing laundry and other bike chores like thoroughly cleaning your drive train.

I have had a grinding noise for the past week or so when I push down on the right pedal. It doesn't bother me too badly but it was about to drive Team Turtle crazy listening to it ( especially Sam who often rides just behind me). I have gone to mechanics (there is a designated time each evening for repairs called "mechanics") twice for it but it was still there. Sam and I took a bike ride to the bike shop in Casper. We told them about the noise and the guy there dropped his other work to fix my bike because he knew our unique situation. He tore a part the bottom bracket of the bike (where the pedals and crank attach to the frame) cleaned it, greased it and re-faced the surfaces. The spindle was covered in cement-like grime from the rain in Oregon.

It was unbelievable the difference today pedalling the bike. Everything felt smoother and more efficient. I also got a different bag for under the seat and have taken the rack and big bag off the back of the bike which also significntly reduces the weight and drag.

Yesterday at breakfast, Sam, Diane and Crist gave me a tutorial about cycling technique and posture. I worked on implimenting what they taught me today and those skills combined with the changes to the bike really helped things come together for a great day.

Thank You Prayer Warriors!

Thank you God, thank you God, thank you God! Thanks also to all the prayer warriors who continue to hold us in your prayers!

Today's objective was 106 miles from Casper to Lusk, WY and after the brutal headwinds on Thursday, we were all a little leary of today's ride. Thanks to all you prayer warriors and the mercy of God, the wind did not play a significant factor in today's ride.

Team Turtle got off to a good start this morning and we did the best job to date of moving through the SAG stops. When you are doing a long ride, if you piddle around just a few minutes at each SAG stop, you lose precious momentum and time on the day. Way to go Turtles!

It was also a blessing that we had overcast skies for essentially the entire day. The cloudy skies kept the temperature and winds at managable levels and also decreased the time we had to spend at each SAG reapplying lotion. I know it doesn't sound like much but it really makes a difference.

We had two flats today as a team. Jeff got a flat during the 15 miles we rode on the interstate. That's not at all uncommon as the burm is filled with debris and pieces of radial car tires which have small wires that play havoc with bike tires. The boys got Jeff rolling again in less than 10 minutes. We girls made good use of the time by taking a pee while we were waiting. The boys were absolutely astonished that we would just go right by the interstate. Hey fellas...a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. It's amazing to me how three weeks ago we were so careful to find a tree or bush to duck behind and now we'll go right by the interstate.

Today was our strongest day to date as a team. Sam's garmin clocked us at an average speed on the day of just over 15 mph! We also had a really nice straight, tight paceline all day and did a great job communicating hazards and directions.

Our entertainment for today was singing our high school and college fight songs as well as the theme songs to the Beverly Hillbillies, the Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Isle.

Keep up those prayers for westerly winds!