Five Days "Rest"

It's been nearly a week since Sara, Jamie, and me rode a blistering 96 miles into Erie. We began that epic journey in the middle of a powerful thunderstorm that dumped sheets of rain on downtown Cleveland. Leaving at 11:00pm is not normally our modus operandi, but the bad weather forced us onto the road at a later time. Anyways, we decided to make the ride "epic" by agreeing to attempt a push into Fairview, PA, by the time night fell--a total of 96 miles. The riding was brilliant. We had flat terrain, a favorable wind, and the anticipation of seeing family and friends pushing us along our path. Finding relaxation in Pennsylvania, though, proved to be much more difficult than expected. Between the dinners, breakfasts, and drinks spent with friends and families, all three of us found it impossible to find the time to get some shut eye.  I'm not complaining, of course. Quite frankly, I enjoyed indulging in my lazy side, eating copious amounts of ice cream, donuts, and tacos; and staying up too late in a rather tipsy state. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that after two months of operating on a calorie-deficient diet, we all relished the food splurge.

But alas, the break time is over. We are now on the cusp of embarking on the last leg of our journey across this great country. Up next, New York. Then, New England. The steep grades of the Appalachian mountains beckon us with their rustic beauty. One would imagine that all of us would be exhausted after two months of travel. Many might assume that after spending five days relaxing in plush beds and taking regular showers, our bodies (mainly our minds) would be lulled into a state of "softness." HA! Rather, it's the contrary. The closer we get to the rocky shore of Maine, the more motivated we have become. Amidst all the pain and discomfort in the tendons and ligaments of the muscles; of humid nights spent in smelly tents; of too many frozen-dried meals ruined by too much boiling water; of mosquito hoards attacking ankles and necks; of calloused crotch sores (yeah, it's true); of numb hands and twitching fingers; of spoiled vegetables in panniers; of unrelenting hill climbs; of aggressive drivers; of bloody calves gouged by chain rings; of grime under fingernails and arms; of rank socks and underwear; of frustration, exhaustion, elation, and contentment, we are in high spirits. We are aware that our journey, one that is now stretching into its third month, is one that is often dreamed of but rarely undertaken. The fact that it will all soon be over is difficult to fathom. So we choose to respect it. Ride it to the end. And break forth to a beautiful future that will surely be molded by the people we have met and the situations we have come across along the way.

This past week has seen our first bout of truly bad weather--and it makes sense, considering we're now perched along the shore line of Lake Erie. For those of you unaccustomed to gray skies, driving rains, and howling snow, move on up to Erie, Pennsylvania. You'll see a lot of all three. Riding in the rain has its challenges. Ponchos don't work, for they get tangled in your legs while pedaling. They also act as gigantic parachutes, holding you back and making you look like a buffoon. And the bike itself sprays up water on your face and legs. So, I normally choose to just tough it out by riding, yep, you guessed it, shirtless. I hope I won't need to resort to this method tomorrow morning!!

More posts to come.