What is important is that I was back on the bike today. Last night Lauren asked me if I wanted to leave when she was leaving for work-- 8am. I said, "Sure," based on absolutely no personal history of getting up that early unless it is imperative. She woke me; she left; I slept until 10:30. Even then it was hard getting ready to get back on the bike.
Biking isn't fun. I love it. But I wouldn't call it fun. It's painful. It's stressful. It's monotonous. My back, legs, and hands ache every day. I'm constantly scanning the road for problems.
About 7 miles into today's ride I teetered on the edge of quitting altogether. I had done quite a bit of climbing already, and I was about to up the ante by attempting to reach Minnewaska State Park. I was on a slope not unlike many I climb near home. But the bike felt heavy; the sun was cooking my back; I just couldn't turn the pedals over. I stopped right on the shoulder in a shady spot. I slumped over the handlebars. My heart was racing, though my breathing was normal. Why was I putting myself through this? I couldn't come up with any good reason to continue. This trip is costing me time and money and effort that I easily could put into other endeavors.
I could lie and say that I had an epiphany. I didn't. I just pushed off, got back on the seat, and pedaled. Slowly, slowly, slowly I climbed.
I reached this overlook below and snapped a picture. Taking stock, I felt pretty good again. So I just kept climbing.
I never walked. I've walked more this trip (last Thursday!) than I ever have before, and if I had walked today... I would have felt old. That's the only way to describe it. I wouldn't have discontinued the trip. But I would have recategorized myself.
The rest of the day was mostly downhill, though the light, constant headwind cancelled out gravity and made the day feel really flat. I stopped once to assist a woman on the shoulder who looked a little delirious from the heat. She wouldn't take my water, but she did ask me to pour some of it on her head. I stopped to eat in Ellenville at a Subway where the owner was really into Le Tour, and hence was interested in my trip.
So now I'm in Pennsylvania. This is new territory for me. Today was a turning point. The scenery and the people will start to gradually change from what I'm accustomed to.
Maybe I'll change. Or am I getting too old for that?
Location:Chippy Cole Ln,Milford,United States
6 comments:
Keep going Tim. You were never a quitter. Love the pictures.
Press onward Tim! You are awesome and the beaches in Key West are waiting for you :)
This is from Nate:
I love you
This is from Ethan:
Timmy....stabby...sincopay....tagashe
(sounds Native American)
This is from me:
We love and miss you!
You know you have a place to stay in Philadelphia!
You can teach an old dog new tricks, you're not old, quitting's off the table. Next town go meet some locals and tell them your story and have some fun! I think a good laugh would do wonders.
Tim,
I think Tracey's on to something, half the fun is the people you meet.
And yes, teenagers we're not, but so what? There's power in every moment and experience of the journey you're on, that we're all on, and how awesome is it to experience this amazing country in such an intimate way.
Okay, other things I was going to mention sound too preachy & Polly-annaish so I have nothing more to say other than to provide a movie quote:
"Here's the plan. We don't even stop. Ride like hell. Tonight we keep right on going. We'll walk the horses."
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