If you're reading this, I've successfully navigated the WIX Website Tutorial / WIX Tutorial for Beginners (2021) that I fortunately discovered on YouTube. Really, if you are reading this, WIX has nothing to do with it. In fact, after hours of trying to figure out WIX and after hours of watching videos, I decided to go with Blogger again. However, I'm not much better at Blogger either, but I did survive one cross-country bike ride using it so it's gonna be my traveling buddy for another ride. So . . . compliments of Blogger, let's ride.
The pedaling and packing are not yet complete, neither is the preparation. This website with a blog is a major part of the preparation. In fact, I have a long B4TheBikeRide To Do List and WIX, website, and blog are at the top of the list. As I've said, if you're reading this, I've successfully navigated the website thing. Well, that's not totally true but I do have something you can read and a few pictures you can look at. So, let's take a look at those three things:
I have been pedaling. It's been a lot more than my 2009 preparation. Before I pedaled America in 2009, I only did 93 miles of pedaling between 01 January and 03 May when we pedaled out of Anacortes, Washington.. I'm not sure why I did so few miles but I think it's because I was still working. This year, I have been on my bike a bit more. Right now I'm just putting time on the saddle at the top of the list. Pedal, pedal, pedal. If it rains, I'll pedal. If it's a beautiful day, I'll pedal. If it's windy, I'll pedal. If I don't want to pedal, I'll pedal. (Sometimes!) If it's lightning, I'll stay home but, maybe, I'll pedal when the storm stops. To make it across America, I'll pedal. There's no Plan B.
I have run into a bit of a problem, however, and it's killing my pedaling time. My problem is my To Do List. It's a bunch of things I need to do before I leave. It seems, ironically, that the more I do, the longer the list gets. I don't know how that happens but, the way things are going, I may not get to pedal until I get to Washington!
I need to do a bit more pedaling.
There's lots of stuff to take on a cross-country bike ride. The short list includes: bikes, bike covers, bike racks, extra tubes and tires, tools, power bars and energy drinks, gels, jerseys, shorts, rain gear, helmets, sunglasses, batteries, lights, Garmin, cell phones, t-shirts, shoes, pump, maps, Rice Krispy Treats, water bottles, chain lube, bike parts, first-aid kit, gloves, leg warmers, arm warmers, helmet liner, fluorescent yellow wind jacket and vest, socks, GoPro, camera, computer, books, markers, Moleskin sketch books, Levis, chapstick, dog spray, locks, etc.
I'm putting a lot of my things in Ziplock bags so I can have some kind of organization that will make things easier to find. I'm not taking as much stuff as I did in 2009. I learned, quickly, that we overpacked for that trip. In fact, as we traveled east, we mailed a lot of things home.
Yes, I've started packing already and hope to have things well under control days before we leave.
I have borrowed a Thule Evolution roof luggage carrier from Billy Ricketts. I used it before and it sure does give us much more space in our Explorer as we travel.
Preparation is a combination of pedaling and packing with some odds and ends thrown in to keep things fun. I still have things on the list like this blog, looking at maps, trying to eat right, deciding what goes and what doesn't, bike transportation, car routes, motel reservations, someone to feed the chickens, cut the grass, and check the mail while we're gone, etc. I will admit the secret to success in planning is to have a wife who will do ninety-nine percent of it and actually enjoy it. I do.
A huge part of my planning is this website where I can put a voice to our travels. My goal is a blog each day from now until we return. I hope to let you know where we are, what kind of a day we had, what we ate, what we saw, and how we and our bikes are holding up. Some blogs may be short, some long, but all blogs are intended to keep you pedaling with us. One of the most-used comments on the 2009 blog, was, "Your blog makes me feel like I'm riding with you." And, I'll enjoy having you along. The comments were a wealth of encouragement.
With all that in mind, let me close with a bit of wisdom from a parable of Jesus found in Luke 14. Jesus was talking to a great multitude and the subject of his talk was following him. Here's what he said:
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . ."
Counting the cost is the focus here, whether it's following Jesus, choosing a mate, planning a career, or pedaling America.
Fail to plan, plan to fail.
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