June 17, 2016

Tomorrow I start my transcontinental bike ride.  Finally!

But first tonight I will see my 18 yo nephew, Max, graduate from high school.  He is already well beyond high school, but tonight at 8pm is the ceremony in which we honor him and his Roosevelt HS classmates.  This will be fun and I'm really looking forward to this event.  This fall he will be at Western Washington University in Bellingham.  Great school and fun town.  Congratulations to you Max!  I love you!

We have had a great stretch of summer weather here in the PNW.  However, ride Day 1, is not looking so good.  That is why I have fenders on my bike and lots of rain gear.  But we should have a dry evening and dry Sunday as we pull into Astoria.

Here is how the next two days will go:

Saturday June 18, 5:30 am Steve and I chug up the hill from our house in Edmonds and zoom into Seattle.  We will need to manage the Seattle Rock 'n Roll Marathon in the morning but we should be fine getting to Pier 54 in order to catch the 7:35 sailing of the Seattle to Bremerton Ferry.  At the Ferry terminal, we will meet up with Beth, Colleen, and Heather.  We will sit inside the ferry and enjoy a dry 1 hour sailing to Bremerton.  Once off the Ferry, next stop is Shelton to meet up with Chelle, Ben and Karen for lunch.  Then finish with day by riding into Friends Landing RV park for camping, shower and awesome dinner that Chelle will provide.

Sunday June 19, we will hopefully enjoy a northerly tailwind and ride on into Astoria.

Right now I'm excited and nervous.  There will be lots of obstacles like wind, heat, rain, hills, flat tires, broken chains, tired legs, etc.  However, I feel I have been planning my whole life for this adventure.  I can't wait to see if I can do it and actually have no doubt that I can.  It will be one pedal stroke at a time, one day at a time.

So, before I crank out of here tomorrow, I truly want to thank my spouse Chelle who is an amazing support and never let me get too wigged out about anything or everything; my sister Tamara who put the wheel in motion and upended her life for this to happen, and my brother and law Loren who is such a good sport and will be so handy on the trip.  Also, I want to thank all of those riding to Astoria with me.  You all are awesome and strong!  Finally, I want to thank all of our financial and emotional supporters.   You all are amazing and truly helping to make my dream come true!  I love you all!

Final Countdown...

Sunday morning June 12.  Less than a week until I leave on my big adventure.  I have been enjoying my time off from work getting everything wrapped up and ready to roll, oh yes also training.  I will do a final long prep ride tomorrow of about 60 miles.  Then spin and insanity Tuesday and Wednesday.  I will take two rest days before I leave.

Today, will be the walk through with my sister and Loren with the Aliner and the van.

Thursday, I take Apollo to his summer foster, Susie.  He will have several doggie friends and a beach to play.  I will miss him terribly but he will have a good summer and I will see him again in September.  I hope he remembers me!