The ride: 113 miles, 4,100 ft climbing
Today was a perfect cycling day. High clouds kept the temps down to the high 80's. We still sweat gallons though because of the humidity. But it doesn't feel hot. The climbs were long long rollers early in the day when it was cool and later in the ride it flattened out to farmlands and pecan orchards. I rode with Lon Haldeman, our tour leader, in the morning and we talked a lot about the Pac Tour humanitarian efforts in Peru. Lon has been instrumental in building a school and bringing much needed supplies for a couple of orphanages there in the jungles of Peru. I was fascinated and hope I can help in their efforts in some way in the future. The Pac Tour website has more information about the trips Lon is doing his fundraising efforts.
We have crossed into our last state....Georgia. And crossed into a new time zone...Eastern.
We have only one more century to do tomorrow and then Monday our ride is only 86 miles into Tybee, Island at Savannah.
I am ready to go home. I miss Willy and my home and family. But...I think this week I feel better than I have the first three. My body has finally settled into the pace, rhythm and demands of the daily rides. Body parts don't hurt anymore and my tush has adapted. I am going to have a hard time giving that up. Every day, I have all day, just to ride, talk to people and see new places. I have never been on any of these roads or in any of these towns before...its always an interesting adventure. And I will probably never be here again.
Compared to other hard rides I have done...like double centuries, Paris Brest Paris, or 508...this tour has been a bigger and different kind of challenge, because it is an event that last a month! When my friend Lisa crashed, I was almost ready to go home. Cycling lost some of its charm for me knowing how easily and how badly you or someone you care about can get injured. And on some of the really tough weather days....especially the windy long ones out in the prairies...I wondered what the heck I was doing out there fighting so hard to get nowhere when my body was telling me I'd had enough. There is always an emotional component to the physical exhaustion you feel and that is hard to fight too.
I know most people wouldn't be interested or couldn't physically do this tour...but I was thinking of my friend William Medina in Puerto Rico today. He has started an endurance cycling revolution in that small island and was able to qualify and bring a team to France for the Paris Brest Paris ride we did in 2007. I hope he does this trip soon....do it...while you feel young and strong...while you still love cycling...passionately!
I have done a lot of traveling but the vastness and diversity of the United States that I have seen from my bike in the one month has certainly changed me...and my perspective.
Enough talk....here are some pictures from today:
Loading the luggage van...at 7am sharp!
Andersonville.
No revenge!
Tom. We ride alike....dress alike....starting to look alike?
Hugs to all,
Lori
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