Day One - Austin to Brenham, TX - 85 miles

The day started with the sun shining brightly around the edges of the curtains covering my window. I awoke well-rested and ready for a full day. I had started packing the night before, but as always I still had a lot to do. However breakfats always comes first for me, so I made some french toast with pure maple syrup and scrambled eggs. It was one of the better meals I'd had in a while, a great start to the day and the journey. Now with stomach satisfied I scrambled about the house, grabbing things that I thought I would need. Double and triple-checking rooms for things left behind. I was almost out the door, closing the blinds when I tripped on something: my cell phone charger! Without that, my connection with family, friends, and the Habitat staff in Biloxi would have been cut off around day four. But I stuffed it into one of the bags and I was out the door.

Allright! I'm finally doing it, I'm on the road! I pedalled excitedly in the sunshine. But my excitement was cut off quickly. Before I'd gone half a mile I heard a "KATCHUNK" behind me, and turning around I saw my right saddlebag skidding and tumbling on the road behind me. I hit the brakes and since there was no shoulder or bike lane, I dropped my bike off the road and ran back to the bag. Fortunately there was no traffic at this time, so I was able to re-attach the bag in safety. I realized that my heel had kicked the bag off the rack, so I told myself I'd have to pedal more carefully. Crisis averted. I pedal on. About a minute later I feel a bump on my heelp and the bag falls off again (sorry Jordan). Allright, something needs to change here. I didn't bring any rope with me, and I'm less than a mile from home, so I turn around and head back to make repairs.

After tying the bags securely to the frame and adjusting how my shoes clip into the pedals, I see that I can pedal freeley without kicking the bag, and even if it does get bumped it can't fall off. Much more cautiously, I take off again. The skies are clear, and once I get to highway 290 I have a wide shoulder all to myself, so the riding is smooth. The excitement is gone, mostly from the luggage trouble, but also because I know that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I think of the tortoise from the childhood story: "Slow and steady wins the race." I just stay focused on pedaling smoothly, on breathing, on drinking enough water. I'm at work, and my full-time job is to ride a bike.

But like most tedious jobs, and pedaling is often tedious, I got bored after about an hour. Not a good sign when you've got 75 miles to go. I felt like I was slow, that I wasn't making progress. I'd been on this road before, and I knew that Elgin, TX was the 20 mile mark and in my head was the first checkpoint. So for the 10 miles before Elgin I played the "are we there yet?" game with myself. That's not a fun time, if you were curious. Nor is it the last time I would play such a game.

Sitting on a bike for hours and days on end gets very uncomfortable. After about day three, I'd be fine for the first 20 miles but the last 60 would be a constant battle between my brain and my seat, shoulders, and hands. No position I could find would be even tolerable for more than a few minutes. I don't want to paint too bleak a picture; I wasn't in pain, just discomfort. It was never enough to make me even consider quitting. I made it to Biloxi, after all. But it wasn't an easy or relaxed ride by any means. It was a challenge to keep my mind off the discomfort and just keep pedaling. While it hurts to stay on the bike, the only way to get off is to stay on. I couldn't quit until I reached my destination, and the only way to get there is on the bike.

Back to the road: I made it to Elgin and beyond! In fact, upon doing so I was unexpectedly rewarded. A few miles after Elgin I see a small SUV on the side of the road in the other direction. The driver shouted to me, "That's a great mode of transport!", indicating my bike. "Thanks!" I relpied, then realizing that she might have mechanical trouble asked if she needed anything. She said she was fine, she was on the phone with the insurance people. Great, all is well, I pedal on. Before I get out of earshot I hear, "Hey, you want some mango?" Never one to turn down food, especially not delicious exotic fruit, I waited for a gap in traffic and crossed the highway.

Turns out the woman, whose name I regretfully forgot, and her two daughters were on their way to a synchonized swimming competiton in Houston before the car failed them. They were already planning on a roadside picnic, and they generously offered to share with me. We sat on blankets in the wildflowers and I told my story as we munched on fresh mango. Quite a treat so early in my adventure! She was very friendly and I enjoyed talking with her about my ideas and desires for the journey I was on. After listening to me for a while, she observed that the trip was about making connections....

***Alas, out of time again. Will continue soon...***

Soaring

Today I've been calling churches in each town I plan to rest and asking for shelter. The response has been amazing. People I've never met and to whom I have nothing to offer in return are offering to take me in and share whatever they have. It continues to amaze me how supportive everyone has been of this project. I'm just a guy riding a bike, but I feel like I'm flying! Held aloft and pushed forward by the support of so many people who have given so much. I don't have the words to capture how amazing that is to me. The world is so big and beautiful, abounding with possibility. You have helped open the world to me. For that I offer my heartfelt thanks. I will continue to share my journey with you in the hopes that you may be uplifted as you have uplifted me.

Four days

Mentally, physically, and spiritually, I am so ready to go. That's largely thanks to those of you who have talked to me or shared your resources. I rode 40 miles today and felt absolutely great. I could've easily gone all day. When I got home and got off the bike, I didn't feel a bit fatigued or sore. Originally I had planned to ride 80 miles today, but I felt so good after 40 that I decided that I didn't need to ride again, leaving me with time to plan and work at home.

I just got a new handlebar add-on that I'm really excited about! (see the photo) It allows me to lean forward and rest a lot of weight on my elbows, which is significantly more comfortable. It also puts me in a more aerodynamic position, which will make me more powerful and look so much cooler!

I also just got my maintenance kit from my friend Moray who very generously donated some new inner tubes, new easy-use patch kits (for flats), a portable air pump, a nice brake, and some CLIF bars! This kit was one of the last major gear necessities, and he took care of it all! I'm so happy to have such great people around me. All of you who have shared or donated or talked to me or even thought about me, thank you. Your support has truly made this possible.

I'll probably ride another 40 miles or so tomorrow, then rest until Friday. I've got a few more things to plan, and then I'll be on my way!

Six days...

Do I have to wait? I'm so excited about the trip, I want to leave now. Forget all the planning and preparing and just go. See what happens. Test myself. Can I make it? I have no doubt that I will, but it will still be fun and exciting and interesting to make the journey. I guess that's true of most good stories: you know the good guy wins in the end, but you're still thrilled by the story. I hope I'll be able to tell you my story from the road. My tech-savvy brother has offered to help me with that, but we're still figuring out the technical details.

I haven't trained since Wednesday, and I probably won't again until Monday. I've got my last soccer game of the season tomorrow, and Sunday is usually a good day to rest. I'm planning on 60+ mile rides on Monday and Tuesday, followed by good rest on Wednesday and Thursday, then departing on Friday.

While I haven't trained very much (only 2 days of 50+ miles, 4 days of 25) I feel good physically. I've never been sore, and only once was especially exhausted, but that was because I forgot to drink enough water. On the trip I won't be in a hurry and I'll have a very strong motivation to reach my destination: I absolutely love working with Habitat. With some good weather, a crew of enthusiastic volunteers, and a house to build, I'll work until I collapse, and even then I'll be smiling.

Big wheel keep on turnin'

It's hard to believe we're only seven days away from the ride. I've certainly come a long way since starting this project. The bike is in good shape, I'm in better shape, I've got a good route mapped, and I've got most of the gear I need (Still wishing/saving for padded shorts and a portable air pump) .

The two large items still on the list are places to sleep and food to eat on the ride. We're going through some small towns, so I doubt anyone reading this has a house along the way. Consequently my plan for this week is to look up and contact churches in towns along the way and ask for shelter for the night we'll be there. I feel pretty good about this strategy, despite it's potential uncertainty. I bet that I won't hear from someone in every town so I fully expect to roll into a town and not know where I'll be sleeping that night. I'll just have to knock on doors and call pastors. Or sleep in a park. I'm not worried. Someone or something will be provided.

First Test

Yesterday I completed my longest ride yet: 74 miles. I didn't do it all at once; 5 miles before breakfast, 36 after breakfast, 2 hour lunch break, then 33 miles. It felt great. I'm not sore at all today. I realized I'm going to need to eat a lot more, since I burned 4000 calories and only ate about 3000. Or maybe I'll lose some weight. We'll see, only 7 days to go...

With the shoes of Mercury

Another fantastic ride yesterday. I followed the same route as before, 36 miles through the green hills of West Austin. I felt great and could've kept riding, but I had to return to the bike shop before they closed to pick up my old shoes. Yep, I bought new shoes - the kind that lock into my pedals. They're amazing. Probably the greatest investment I could make for this trip. With them I can apply force though the entire rotation of the pedals, whereas with regular pedals and shoes I could only push through less than half the rotation. Now riding is easier even on hills, I can go faster, and my legs won't burn out as quickly.

Largely because of these new power shoes I'm feeling great about this trip. I can't wait to get on the road. When I ride I feel so free. Fueled entirely by my own will and strength I am fast and smooth, the sun warms me, the wind cools me, the earth embraces me. I could ride forever.

"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul" -Invictus by William Earnest Henley.