As the ride progresses, the dates on the calendar will become active, and by clicking on a date of interest, the ride log and photos for that day will be displayed. Simply place your cursor over the date, and click!

If you would like to email me, click here. No promises about answering back, but I'll try.

PREPARATION

First and foremost, I’ve been training with the help of Rich Hummel at Sisters Athletic Club. He prepared me for the trip across America in 2003 and I feel fortunate to work with him again. I spent many winter hours in spin class and the weight room and many more wonderful spring/summer hours on the road. I’ve done 3 centuries and logged many miles. I ought to be ready. I hope I’m ready. I think I’m ready. I am ready.

Secondly, since I ride so often alone, I thought it wise to become more self-sufficient. I enrolled in a basic course of bicycle mechanics at the Oregon Bicycle Institute in Ashland. I spent a week with 8 other women --- all of us eager to tear into our bicycles and find out how they work. It was a wonderful experience with lots of grease, laughter, and kind, patient teachers imparting essential information on bicycle maintenance and repair.

Thirdly, I sent my Lightning P-38 back to the factory to have it converted to a suitcase bicycle. Now I can take it safely packed on the airplane without worrying about damage. Assembling and disassembling has taken some practice. I still need to follow the directions but now can do it in under an hour. I think the cool tools and apron help. For more packing pictures, click here (300k).

 

So here’s how it all came together:

The original plan was to join America by Bicycle on their Great Mississippi River Ride --- a 25 day supported tour from St. Paul to New Orleans. However, it seemed incomplete not to start at the actual headwaters of the Mississippi where one can supposedly walk across.

For years Jon, a good Minnesota boy, has been telling me stories of his youthful fishing adventures. I have never been to Minnesota, even though my family comes from there as well. We decided to drive together to Lake Itasca where my riding and his fishing could commence. We would take a week working our way south to the Twin Cities. All the planning and packing is done (well, almost) and we leave tomorrow. On the 2 week drive to Minnesota we will carry both bicycles so Jon can ride whenever he feels the urge. We will ride and hike in Glacier, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and the Black Hills. After Jon drops me off to join the other Mississippi riders, he will head home to start preparing for school.

When I get to New Orleans, I will immediately fly to Virginia to cycle Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was originally scheduled to do this tour last fall but had to postpone it due to the hurricanes. Then, this year, the dates were changed from the beginning of October to early September necessitating a hasty transition from New Orleans to Virginia.

I think of my adventure in three parts:

July 25 – August 12 ... Sisters to St. Paul

August 13 – September 7 ... St. Paul to New Orleans

September 7 – September 19 ... Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway