Short & WET

Slept at Heritage Park, Belfast. A sweet grassy area-that the town chamber let us use. Woke up early to workers weed wacking the surround. Ate at Traci’s diner(serious home fries) did some fundraising w/the locals. Even met a man from Camano Is. “Ya I saw you guys on the news last night 😊🚴. Just rolled into the Second Congregational church for a nights stay & free meal! I am chilled to the bone ( hot chic. Tastes better than the best bottle of Merlot!!! Rained. Big . ( the kinda ride when you wipe wet “snops” off the tip of your nose constantly). Sure miss safer Dave to clean bike . Saw beautiful 🐂🐐🐓today on many BACKRoad routes!

The NIGHT BEFORE the FIRST day

BIKE IS READY TO GO, CHAIN IS GREASED,GARMIN CHARGED, CLOTHES LAYED OUT,TEETH BRUSHED,(OK JUST A LITTLE FREAKED; TOMORROW AFTER THE 68 MILE RIDE—-DON’T THINK THERE’S SHOWERS….

first group photo

Day 1

Where does this part go?

Putting it together!

Last day of work as I know it!

I walked out of the ER after said goodbyes & hugs of good wishes. I then realized it’s too late to change my “vacation request”….  I arrived home to piles of clothes on my bedroom floor. Colored post-it’s everywhere of “yes”‘, “no”, “essential”, “if there’s room”, what does that even mean? I have a cubbie (in the support van) approx. 30x18x16 to fit all may “stuff” in. All I really need is a bike, pair of shorts, helmet, Tent-Cot & tunes!

6 days starting to panic!!!

I actually signed up to ride my  bike across the Northern Tier of the U.S …some 4,295 miles for BIKE the US for MS…… some of it should be flat and some will probably be downhill, right?  I am looking forward to meeting the group of riders i will be sleeping with for the next 70 days. Looking at their pictures, i suspect not many with any gray hairs but age sometimes has it’s advantage.

My Tent-Cot  and  thermarest mattress will be my savior. If I can’t sleep, i’m toast the next day! should be a cozy haven; will need to recruit a “young rider” to carry it from the support van each day, say for a beer or two!

My lists are long. such satisfaction to cross things off…. what to bring or not…red or blue, 4 or 5 pairs.The deciding factor is…. does it fit into the 30 x 18  16 cubbie (cardboard prototype) that  I will be living out of in the MS support van.