Pretty positive I am going to end up with a hybrid Cross Country Route. The base for the start is going to be the Heartland America Route by Neil Hanson. Sections of the American Discovery Trail look appealing, but this route doesn’t seem to be super complete, and more research is going to be needed.
The route from Annapolis to Cape Henlopen is possible but there is also a very well documented ride from Kent Island to Ocean City by a local cycling group who rides it one to two times a year.
Adventure Cycling Association will certainly be the other resource that I lean on heavily for planning. Quickly I learned that not all routes were available in a paper map format. It was my hope to use paper for planning and the information they provide. Ultimately transferring them to gpx files for the actual route and ride. For now I am going to use RideWIthGPS for planning purposes and explore Komoot which has come highly recommended in a touring Facebook group I am a member of.
Sunday, I downloaded my first set of GPX files for the route planning from Adventure Cycling. Sections were downloaded from:
Then as a test I uploaded a set of GPX files to RideWithGPS. What was initially disappointing is that the route amenities, such as food, lodging and bicycle shops aren’t here. Hopefully with a little deeper digging they will be there. Somewhere I thought I read that they would be. The paper maps have them, which would be a huge timesaver for research.
After barely getting started I realized that a Route Excel Document will be super essential. It will contain all of the reference information that will be needed along the way, turn by turn directions, lodging, food, bicycle stores and likely things I haven’t thought of yet. Bringing the RV will add a whole additional set of information needed.
While adding a layer or two of complexity, having the RV along will be a huge asset for so many reasons. Likely making other components of the trip easier to plan. The RV wouldn’t be used as a follow vehicle per se. Amanda will go off and explore on her own, meeting me along the way. Being able to explore areas together and share this adventure is one of the things that attracts me to the concept of the RV.
Looking forward to digging into the planning more.
Riding my bicycle cross country. It has been a dream of mine. I am not sure what spurred it. I do know it has been one I have had for a while. Maybe it comes from my desire to meet new people and get to know them. My first touring experience has a middle school kid was one of homesickness. Yet the fire still burns inside me. Planning has started on my cross country bicycle ride.
Sailing around the world was another dream I pondered for a while, but that fire died. Learning more about my incredible country created more excitement. Seeing the world from a bike is a special and unique experience. A true gift that I love sharing so other may choose to do the same. Whether it is just around their neighborhood, or should they feel the desire to adventure further.
I turned 50 last year. I had big plans for last year, COVID changed all that.
Lately I have been focusing on living a life of “no regrets” so when my time comes, whenever that is, I don’t have any regrets for the life I have lived. Along those lines I am focused on “daily joy” doing something that brings me joy each day.
Reflection and thinking has been a big part of my days over the last several months. Really it has been longer. Check out my post about:
I don’t have to many regrets at this point because I have time, or at least I believe I have time. We never really know do we? One of the mistakes I think I have made, so I guess you call it a regret, is I didn’t ride my bicycle cross country after college. Instead, I immediately went to work full-time and bought a house. Buying a house, not a regret, one of my best decisions. Yet I could have bought a house and still ridden cross country.
So now I am beginning work on planning my cross-country bike ride. I count it as a daily joy activity too. The excitement of planning is growing on me.
Tune in here as the journey is shared here. My planning, my route, the equipment I am going to use and the trip itself. I’ll review the products and share the decision process. What have a chosen, what didn’t I like. Then share the adventure with everyone as it unfolds. Some days I might be too tired from the ride, to share but I will be sharing.
View from the Pedals
Cross Country Bicycle Ride Plan
I have the concept sort of mapped out in my head. I have always planned on at the least going inn to inn and traveling rather light. Over the years that plan has possibly morphed a little. The hope now is to have my wife join my in an RV. Being able to share the journey with her would be extra special. Logistically it will change things.
It comes with its own challenges; will she be able to get the time off? Not having an RV, so we need one of those. RV or no RV will factor into the lodging side of logistics. For now, we hope to make that work. RV research started awhile ago, but I’ll be sure to share that part of this adventure as well.
From the beginning of the dream I have wanted to be able to pedal each mile across the country and have some flexibility to not feel rushed. If I need some rest, I want to be able to heed my body. If there is something that requires more time to see, I want to be able to do that. If we meet someone and aren’t ready to end the conversations, I want to be able to do that. These factors ruled out riding with a group.
In my head I have about six weeks in mind for the trip.
The Cross Country Route
Several years ago, I read Neil Hanson Pedaling Pilgrim books. The Heartland Route Across America. Maybe I am attracted to his route because he considers himself a cyclist and a sailor, as do I. The real reason is because it uses trails and ends in Annapolis, my hometown. The idea of riding towards home each day, is a motivator. I want to end at the Atlantic Ocean so I will still want to ride from Annapolis to the Atlantic as a final leg. My vision is to get a group of my friends to do that final segment with me. Maybe even have some of them join me along the way.
Some other items I know I want to do is the Katy Trail, which is part of Neil’s route. Then to come through Cincinnati, Ohio as we have family there and then head to Pittsburgh and home via the Great Alleghany Passage and the C&O Canal. Neil Hanson’s route started a little further north in California then I might. Now I am researching starting in San Francisco, where I have never visited or possibly San Diego. Likely my route won’t be exact to his, but it will be mine and that is what is important.
Lots to plan and I am excited.
Diabetic Cyclist
Recently, I mean, in the last month I have learned that I am a Type 2 Diabetic. Now I have lots to learn about the new nutrition needs for my body. Plus the best way to fuel my body safely for the long rides I will be doing. Wanting to dive deeper into cycling nutrition has always been of interest to me. Now I have a little more motivation. Stay tuned as I will be sharing that journey here as well.
Charity Component to Cross Country Ride
Over the last few years, I have also been pondering riding for a charity. To bring awareness to a disease and show my love and support for my wife and everyone else who battles this disease. Still in the formative stages, I am still pondering how this will fit into my cross-country bicycle ride.
Getting the Business Cross Country Ready
Preparing the business to run six weeks without me is another exciting component to this dream. The stories you hear of small business owners’ lives being taken over by their business is true. Building systems has been a focus of mine over the last year or more. Often these efforts get derailed or sidetracked. Gain more freedom will be a great outcome from this adventure, I am sure my team will enjoy the challenge of running the business while I am gone.
I’m excited. Excited to plan the trip, excited for even great motivation to work on my business. Excited to share my journey here, with you, writing. Writing is something I have enjoyed and like many things don’t do enough of. Actually, doing this dream is going to bring so much alive inside me, I can’t wait.
There you have it. I have been talking about this more and writing about it makes it even more real. I hope you will join me on my journey and comment along the way.
What are your dreams? What would you regret if you don’t do it? Comment below.
Last night we watched the movie “Valentine’s Again”essentially the movie Groundhog Day focused around Valentines Day. The main character, a women, is told that she missed meeting her soul mate on Valentines Day. She learned she had spoken to him that day. She would relive the day over and over until she figured out which “missed connection” was her soulmate.
This morning I was driving to work and three kids were walking together. Nothing uncommon of course. However all three of them had their heads down and were peering into their phones. It made me think when I was their age walking with my friends we would have all been talking and goofing around.
I felt sad for them.
I thought about how so many kids are walking around with their heads in screens and missing the world as it goes by around them. Then I thought of the movie last night with the same thing. I asked myself. How much do we miss because we are in our “routines” and just going through the steps and actions? What are we missing that could make our lives better and possibly change them forever?
A year that many are ready to move on from. Understandable.
I know as we reflect in future years it is a year we will remember. There is the saying, “hindsight is 2020” ….umm we probably can’t use that phrase anymore.
What will we remember it for?
There are lots of things to choose from. Many we share in common, many unique to who we are.
For me it will be for one of change. A year that I have grown from and learned a whole lot. It hasn’t been a “normal” year, but what is a “normal”year anyway?
There is still time for you to make it memorable, memorable in a good way. Not a stuck at home pandemic way.
Twenty twenty could be used as a reset. Becoming a better version of who you are, with more joy, purpose and less stress. Maybe it has been a period of improving your health and better self care.
What have I learned this year?
I’ve learned what is important to me. What relationships are important and ones that I can do without. I know which ones bring me joy and which ones bring me drama or consume to much energy. I’ve learned which ones I’ve truly missed and felt like something was truly missing because I couldn’t see them in person. I’ve given myself permission to move on from ones that consume more then they give back. Yes I know they ebb and flow but I am talking big pictures. Even the days that our important relationships may take more energy, we know we are better for having that person in our lives. The ones that drain us more then they fulfill us are the ones I have moved on from. I know I am certainly a better person because I have certain people in my life.
We are more “connected” then any time in history. But are we? Has being “connected” really helped us grow apart, develop shallower relationships with more people, or given us the feeling of being connected when we really aren’t? Has it added more stress because we see their “highlight reel” and aren’t connected enough to share in their struggles and journey along with them?
I’ve learned about my relationships where people are “all in” and those that are superficial.
Being “connected” has allowed us this year to “be together” virtually when we couldn’t be together physically. I am thankful for that.
I’ve learned what activities are important to me. I’m not going to participate in things because that is what everyone else is doing I am going to participate in ones that fill me up. This doesn’t mean that I am not going to try new things, of course I am. What I am going to do is spend more time focusing on the ones that bring me the most joy. I am also going to make more time to participate in them.
Someone once described lent to me as “removing something so that you can add something that brings you more joy. Lent isn’t supposed to be a time of suffering. It should be a time of growth.” An example might be; I am going to not watch TV during lent. What you do with the extra time is more important then not watching TV. I am going to spend more time with my family. I am going to workout during that time. I am going to journal during that time. You get the idea.
Twenty twenty is showing me what to remove so I can add in more that brings me joy.
I’ve learned that I need to do stuff to hit my “reset button”. This means getting out of my day to day routine to an area that isn’t my norm. One of these places is certainly Assateaque with Amanda and the beach. As I have thought about this a lot recently I realized as a kid these “resetting points” were weekends on the boat with my family and occasionally friends. It was the weekend adventures my parent’s would plan, camping or canoeing. As I got older it was being on the water alone in my Boston Whaler. Or a distance race down the bay on Anthem. I certainly miss those.
I think these are the times that I used to “reset” and get my creativity back. To change lanes out of the rut we are driving in and explore a new route. I need to add these back in, and on a frequent basis.
Health, I’ve never taken it for granted but I do think it has grown in importance for me this year. I’m close to another milestone birthday, the journey I am on with Amanda and her health has taught me a lot. Then there is this pandemic thing happening you may have heard about. Health covers not only our physical health but our mental health.
I am disappointed that I haven’t had a chance to develop new habits this year. I wish I have but the year was a roller coaster and I haven’t made it happen. I have learned which habits I want to add and which ones I want to remove. I guess you can say in some ways I have new habits because I have eliminated things that didn’t bring me joy or added stress to my life.
I am disappointed that I haven’t had the opportunity to do more organizing and purging of stuff that so many people I know have. What little I have done has brought me joy. I am very thankful for the reasons that have kept me from completing these tasks. I promise myself and you that more purging will be occurring over the next few months.
Each of us has experienced this year differently. Everyone has faced challenges and things we never thought we would. My heart breaks for everyone who has struggled this year. It is my hope that as a community we will come together and help lift people up and help them where and how we can.
How are you going to remember twenty twenty?
Is it going to be one that lead to a better stronger version of you? One that ultimately improved your quality of life?
It doesn’t mean that it didn’t suck and you didn’t struggle. It would be a shame if it was all of that and then you learned nothing from it and did nothing with the experience.
I’ve heard many stories of how people are upset they didn’t get to do this and this, or a year of their life “was lost” because of the pandemic. I understand those feelings I just hope they aren’t the final “take always” from twenty twenty. They can certainly be part of the memories but it is my wish that you have more to show from it then that. Lessons that are going to pay off and make your life better for years to come. That twenty twenty was a year of recalibrating, resetting and improving on who we are.
Have you learned anything about your life over the last few weeks?
Will this experience encourage you to make any changes?
Life will return to “normal” at some point. Will it be your old “normal” or will it be a new “normal” for you?
I imagine for many of us we will be experimenting with what that will all look like. I imagine it will be something like us dipping our toes in the water, realizing it is cooler then we thought and slowly working our way deeper into it. Reserved but determined to submerse ourselves in it.
I’ve been thinking about this for awhile now. Both on a personal level and about our society.
It will be different but we won’t know for sure what that will look like. Lots of people are writing about it and many more are thinking about it.
I think and hope that people will continue to wash their hands more frequently. Being a little more aware of their personal space and how their personal hygiene affects those around them.
It will be socially acceptable to stay home when one is sick. Staying home once you feel better as recommended before returning to work will be acceptable too.
For those who choose to work or be out and about while exhibiting symptoms of illness. It will not be welcomed and others may actually speak up about it to them.
Our parks will see increased use compared to before the start of this. Not at the levels they have been experiencing but an increase none the less. It is also my hope that this will lead to more support and demand for parks and recreational space.
Likely everyone will be much more aware of our personal space.
Then there are the changes that will be made in our personal lives.
A number of years ago when I was talking to someone about Lent they said “giving up something during lent isn’t about sacrifice, it is about making space for something else in your life.” The conversation continued about how it is about making space for something you might enjoy more or for a new habit.
I’ve carried this thinking around with me for awhile. I think it applies here. It is not lost on me that what we are experiencing has occurred over lent.
Literally almost everything has been stripped from us, taking us back to the basics. Family for many of us, loved ones or roommates for many. Food. Work for those who are fortunate. School. Exercise for those able or so inclined.
For years I’ve marveled at how “busy” people are. Running here and there. How things have consumed their lives because that “is what you do”. As an outsider it seems life is run by their calendar and not by what they want. For those who attend church it was often second or maybe more to the sports events or other activities on the family calendar. Family time? What is that?
A conversation comes to mind of a spouse who told their partner, “Based on everything on the calendar with the two kids activities I’ll “see” you this summer” To hear that made me sad. Maybe that is what makes them happy or are they doing it because that is “what you do”?
I am hopeful that people and families will make changes in their lives over the coming months. Some may be personal and smaller. The family changes what will they look like? Will the family unit become more important in our lives? Will relationships with certain friends grow deeper?
I think this will be the case for many, not for everyone of course. Many will return to their “old lives” and routines. Happy to be back at it. Others will return to their “old lives” and realize that something doesn’t feel right anymore and changes will be made.
I can’t stop thinking about an old story that many of us have heard.
A professor speaking to their class takes an empty glass and sets it down. This is your life. He pulls out some marbles and starts to drop them in. The professor “labels” each marble. This is your family, this one is your job, this one is your friends. Soon the marbles are at the top of the glass. He asks the class “is it full”?. Most shake their heads in agreement. From behind the desk he pulls out some colored sand and pours it in. This is all the other things and commitments in your life. Is it full full now? The entire class nods in agreement.
I think of this story and I wonder how “full” we are going to make our glass as we return to “normal”? Are we going to continue to fill it with the sand, or are we going to leave some room? Do some of us have enough courage to maybe remove some of the marbles to leave even more room?
I imagine many are going to have different marbles in their glass then they did several weeks ago.
What is your glass going to look like?
Will you be proud of it? Will it bring you joy and happiness?
