I promised to do a final entry on my blog which would be a reflection of the trip. I seem to have been avoiding this and it is probably because I have to accept that the adventure has ended. It was an incredible journey with many fond memories, some I might want to forget, and new friends that I never will forget. Special thanks to the support of my husband, my kids and grandkids and to the Summerville bicycling group, all of whom supported my dream, my training, and the trip itself.
For anyone who might be interested in a trip like this in the future, I was extremely pleased with Crossroads. Tracy and her staff were organized, supportive, and fun. There was never a question about our safety and well being. It was great that they were able to support our individual goals, even as those goals changed over time. And we had many a laugh along the way over the small and big foibles that occurred.
Was I ready for this ride when I started? Probably as ready as I could be. You simply cannot be totally ready for a ride like this. This trip is about riding. While you will see lots of country along the way, your focus has to be on the road (the wheels in front of you, the sand on the highway, the cones along the edge, the trash in the breakdown lane, the potholes, the roadkill, etc.) Any lack of attention can result in a spill as many of us discovered. Because the miles are long each day, there is little time for side trips to interesting spots. If you are a fast rider, you have some time for coffee and pastries. If you are a slow rider, like me, you just keep pedaling because you want to have at least one hour to clean your bike and body and rest a bit before route rap. Having said that, I do have a large scale sense of the country and what each part looked like.
I became a stronger rider as the days went on. For me it was physical strength, but also mental strength. About Missouri I gave up feeling badly because I was the slowest rider and would be spending many hours on the road alone. I realized the wind is the wind, the road is the road, the hill is the hill, and my job was to deal with each one as it came along. Had I realized this at the beginning, I probably would have ridden every mile. As it was I rode the vast majority of the miles. I got on the bike every day and did the best I could do that day. When I rode with others it was a real treat. When I rode by myself it was a real treat.
My trusty Trek held up wonderfully. I don't think I can complain one bit about having one flat tire the whole way. I would, however, invest in a good saddle if I could do the whole thing over again. Mine was not comfortable and my bottom never came to like the trip. So I am now looking into getting a new one.
Would I do this again? Absolutely! I am ready to go. While I plan the next adventure, I will continue to train to ride faster and climb better.
The friendships I made on the trip are very precious to me. Each individual had their strengths and life gifts for each of the rest of us. As we go forward I know we will stay in touch and many of the friendships will grow.
