Getting Ready

  How is it that I'm now just six days away from departure? I've been thinking of and planning for this for years - there was always so much time - until now!

The other day, Tim,Jeff, Henry and I went for a ride. Read that again. Yes, on Dec 29 in Spokane, we rode. In fact, we've ridden frequently this fall and winter - most days it warms to the high 30's to low 40's for a few hours, and the morning ice melts off of the pavement and we're off. We haven't gone far - most days are about 20 miles - but we did manage 42 miles yesterday. I get cold after about 2 hours, and that limits the distance. Still, I am immensely grateful to be riding outside and never thought I'd be able to ride until our departure. 

The lack of training really bothers me - there are so many unknowns when starting a tour, and I like to make sure one thing is known - I've trained up. There wasn't much I could do to change this, short of traveling to a warmer climate each week for a long ride.

 I started ordering supplies after Thanksgiving, resulting in a completely disorganized pile in a bedroom. It's time to start sorting through that and actually figuring out how to pack things. I'm also fretting about this, so I just need to DO it.

Update bulletins from TDA keep arriving. Changes in itinerary, GPS routes to download to phones and bike computers, changing Visa requirements, travel documents to prepare - I knew there would be a barrage of last minute things so I allotted time for it - but it is feeling a bit tight because it is the holidays too! The kids and my brother came for Christmas, Henry got Covid ( at least he has THAT done with for a few months!), so life has been busy.