Salem to Buena Vista - 61.70 miles

What a beginning! I was headed up Kessler Mill road on the bike path when I saw a turtle walking along. A nice reminder that slow and steady wins the race. Just what I needed. :)

I had the biggest dumbest smile on my face for the longest time. And it was a relaxing ride all the way to Troutville where I stopped for a snickers and an energy drink. Note to self...don't do that again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and 17 miles of riding without food wasn't smart. Lesson learned. As I was getting ready to pull out of the convenience store, a little irritated with myself, I heard a bicycle bell. Am I hallucinating? No! It was a man named Craig who was working his way from Oregon to New Jersey. He was on his 21st tour and New Jersey is the only state he hasn't ridden in (except for Hawaii). He was so nice and I enjoyed talking to him. We rode together for about 3 minutes...after 21 tours, he was a bit faster than me. He passed by and yelled, "I'm impressed and proud!" Again...just what I needed.

I met my friend JD as I was leaving Troutville. No way I was making it to Buchanan by 9:00 as planned, but he was in no hurry. We stopped at Greenwood Restaurant for breakfast. The waitress must be familiar with bikers coming through. She had a glass of water waiting when I walked in the door. Very cool!

JD and I rode for awhile from Buchanan until almost Natural Bridge. We split up and he rode back to his car and met me at a gas station. I was beat. I hadn't eaten properly and I was completely exhausted. It wasn't pretty. He asked if I wanted a ride to Buena Vista, but I declined. We were sitting and talking about tomorrow's route and 3 other bikers came up. This brought the total to 11 total! One of them was from England and this was their first cross country trip. We parted ways and I headed on alone. About a mile down the road I began thinking that I had made a terrible mistake by not accepting the ride. I was 43 miles into the trip and not feeling well at all. I was frustrated that I was moving so slow. I walked up some hills and I will tell you that I didn't think they would end! I would get up and hill, fly down the other side, and there was another hill. I had to break it down and just focus on the task at hand. One hill, one crank of the pedal, one minute at a time. It’s funny though, every time I stopped and checked my phone there were tons of messages. Each one making the next piece of the ride seem possible. I can’t thank you all enough for your words and good thoughts.

As I passed Jellystone Park in Natural Bridge, heading into Glasgow, I started to get my rhythm back. I stopped for some food and more Gatorade and was beginning to feel like a person again. The smile was back and I was feeling a bit more hopeful.
I took a road by the river after Glasgow and that was when everything turned around. She shade from the trees and the beautiful sunshine was amazing! The ride was smooth and I was feeling accomplished and really beginning to believe that I was going to make it! I was only 9 miles away...and by the way, it was the longest...9...miles...ever! :)

I know that many of the people who care about me believed I could do this from the start. I wasn't so sure. I still wasn't sure even when I started out this morning.

As I turned the corner onto the street where my dad lives, I was almost overwhelmed with emotion. I was so happy! I was blown away that I had made it! The physical aspect of this first day was trying, there's no doubt, but the real battle was a mental one. I learned some valuable lessons about how to take care of myself and I hope by doing so, I will have a better stand against the battle tomorrow.

I'm leaving here at 7:00 and hope to make it to Charlottesville. I’m going to work to get over Afton Mountain, and if I do that, I will feel good about the day. Much love.

Q & A:

Here we are in the final days before the trip. It’s gotten here so quickly! People have been asking me a ton of questions lately and I thought I would try to answer some of them today.

Q: Why in the world are you doing this?
A: My initial goal when I began all of this was to cross the country…but even I knew that was too big of a step right away. That’s still a dream, but it’s a long way down the road. I thought that a trip across the state would be an excellent short term goal.

Q: Are you going alone?
A: Not for the whole trip. I have a friend (JD) who has crossed the country before and he is going to come along for a few days. He won’t be biking the whole way. He will be meeting me and riding for awhile, then turning around and going back to his van. He is also going to give me the option of riding up Vesuvius in a van and not on the bike. It’s a 4 mile climb that is VERY steep. I will probably take him up on this offer. This isn’t a race, or a competition. I want to have fun. I also want to live through the event. :)

Q: How long will it take?
A: My intention is to be there on Wednesday, June 1st, and that is 6 days.

Q: How many miles are you going to ride a day?
A: I’m planning on 50-60 miles a day until I get over Afton Mountain. Then I will be able to up the miles to 70-80 a day. I’m just going to take my time and enjoy the journey. If I want to stop and at tourist sites, then I will. I have all day, every day to ride.

Q: Are you camping?
A: No, I’m staying in hotels. All of the gear to get started in touring was expensive and I just didn’t have the extra funds to get the camping gear. I will pick that stuff up over time. Next time I hope to do some camping.

Q: I see you out on the roads all the time. I wanted to blow the horn, but I was afraid I would scare you. Is it ok?
A: Absolutely! People are always blowing the horn when they pass me. It's a little beep of encouragement. I would like it if people didn't lay on the horn though. :)

Q: Can I text you while your on your trip?
A: Again...absolutely! I may not get to return them all, but I will do my best! Any words of encouragement are welcome. Thanks!

If you have any additional questions, please either comment here or go to the “Riding for a Reason” community page on Facebook. I’m happy to answer any questions you have.

I'm leaving at 6:00 am on Friday. I can't wait to begin this adventure!

Single Digits

Well, it’s official…we are now in the single digits of the countdown! First, let me say that I am so grateful for the support and encouragement so many have shown over the last several weeks, and really since this whole thing started! I’m touched by how many have stopped to offer words of kindness. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Thank you.

I also wanted to post the link to the new ‘Riding for a Reason’ Facebook page. For every person that ‘likes’ the page, I will donate a nickel to a local charity. This quarter (April, May and June) is dedicated to the Roanoke women’s shelter. I will also post the link to donate to that if you are interested.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Riding-for-a-Reason/160783397317484

https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/donation.jsp

If you donate, be sure to enter Turning Point under specific use. I’m pleased to say that this week I received the first outside donation to the quarterly endeavor. Last year a friend donated to the cause when she hit her 1,000 mile mark for the year! Thank you all!

Ok, there’s the business out of the way.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

14 Days!

Two weeks from today I will be on the road to the beach! Woohoo! Last night I bought what I hope to be the final major pieces for the trip. A tire pump, camelback, another pair of biking shorts, and two water bottles.

It’s funny how all of this has just fallen in to place in the last week or so. Wednesday night I went to Lowes to find some kind of fastener for my bike bag. I’ve been using bungee cords, but I was worried about them for the long trip. The guy that helped me really took the time to talk to me about what I was looking for and we searched all over that store for something that may help. Finally he said, “I know what you need, but we don’t sell them here.” Then he walked out to his own truck and gave me to army surplus straps that will be perfect! I tried to give him money, but he wouldn’t take it. How nice is that?!?!

Yesterday I did an interview for an article in the newsletter where I work. It was really neat to share the story again. I’m hopeful that people enjoy following along as much as I enjoy making the trip. And if nothing else, I’m hopeful that it inspires at least one person to try something new.

My sister told me yesterday, “Just remember…where you are going on the road trip may have nothing to do with geography”. I’m finding that to be more and more true everyday. This trip is becoming less about the final destination and more about the adventure and the lessons learned in the journey. I’m learning a great deal about myself and that I’m capable of much more than I expected. I can’t wait to see where this ride leads!

Quicksand

It’s amazing how I let my thoughts get the best of me. I start to doubt my preparedness, my ability, and my heart, and the next thing you know the fear creeps in. Then I get stuck in the fear, and the more I fight it without taking action, the worse it gets and the deeper I sink…like quicksand. It started with my thinking about the climbs on the upcoming trip and wondering if I was capable of making them.

So I took some action. I got up and went on a ride. Every time I came to the end of a road where I had an option of going uphill or not, I took the hill. Little by little, crank by crank, I made them all. Now, I didn’t break any land speed records, but I got to the top. I’ll tell you some good stuff too…there is nothing like the ride down after a trip to the top.

I also started laying out the supplies for the trip. I now have a dining room table filled with the equipment I will need. I love seeing it there. It motivates me. Only a few more items left on the list. It’s really coming together now.

I added the handlebar bag this weekend as well. My friend helped me redo my brakes so that the lines go through the brackets and don’t hinder my braking ability. Pretty important for the ride down the mountain.  Then he helped me mount the headlight back on that I broke while attaching the bag.

It looks like a great week for riding here in the Star City… I look forward to making another trip to the top of Mill Mountain this week as well.

25 Days...

Wow…where did the last year go? I can’t believe how quickly it went! It seems like just yesterday that I was picking up my ‘birthday’ bike and now I’m about to embark on a 350 mile journey to the coast. I must tell you that I really didn’t think it would happen. Sure I’ve talked about it to anyone that would listen, but in the back of my head I had serious doubts.

Nevertheless, here I am. The bike has been purchased; all of the necessary spare equipment is in hand, the route plotted, and the date set. That’s the easy part. The challenge is more mental than anything.

I bounce between believing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can do this, to believing beyond a shadow of a doubt there is no way I can. I go from thinking I’m crazy for even trying to thinking, I’ll never know if I don’t try. I don’t want to wake up one morning thinking about the things I never did. I would much rather relive the memories of actually doing them. Win or lose. Make it or not.

If I have to walk up some of the mountains, so be it. If I have to rest for a day, that’s ok too. This is my journey and I can take my time, set my pace, and enjoy the trip.

I look forward to the opportunity and to sharing it with those who would like to follow it.

Come on Spring!

Wow...it's been awhile! Four months and 2 days until the bike trip. I'm sooooo looking forward to the warmer weather so I can get back out on the bike. I'm really looking forward to the trip, but I'm also nervous. I don't want to slow anyone up which is why I have been working so hard at the gym! I also have a friend, Logan, who is going to work with me very soon on riding to the Mill Mountain Star. That will be excellent training! Posts will be coming more frequently now... I appreciate everyones support! :)