Today we launch our ride. A quick 68 mile ride to St Helens, Oregon. It's a "below average" mileage day. So that means somewhere down the line we are going to have to make up the "short miles" with a longer day so we hit the average of 79 miles per day by the end of the ride.
We know its coming in a couple of days when we get our first test of a 120 mile day (Holy Crap).
Yesterday we did the traditional "wheel dip" in the Pacific Ocean (a short 34 mile ride that in not included in the 79 mile average calculation (thank god).
After that we sat down for orientation and it is where we got to meet the other riders. We had to introduce ourselves and tell people where they are from, why the are riding, and if they are raising money for a charity.
The riders are from all over the world. Brian has come the farthest (Perth) and is riding his bicycle across the world. Last year he rode across China, and before that, rode through all the new little countries that made up the former USSR. On that trip, war broke out in one of these countries - and he and his ride partner had to be evacuated via helicopter. (ed note. I am not expecting this to happen on our ride until maybe we hit Minnesota).
I thought I was going to be the oldest person here, but at 64 it looks like I might be one of the "younger riders". We have two guys over 70 and a bunch of riders in their high 60's. There are the two sisters that are riding to celebrate one of the pair's 60th birthday (don't think she appreciated her sister telling the group this little fun fact).
Then there is "Mitch". It's not his real name; but every since he was a kid he wanted to be named "Mitch". So he decided on this ride he was going to be called "Mitch".
A lot of people are riding to get this off their bucket list. One is riding to remember a good friend that died recently and was a dedicated cyclist. Two women are riding as their best male friend challenged them to do the ride - who it seems then back out of the challenge.
A lot are riding for charities. Terry is riding for his local hospital that is caring for his disabled wife, another for wounded warriors. Another is asking us to take all the little soaps and shampoos from our hotels so he can bring them back for his local homeless charity.
For those of us that are not doing this for charity - as one rider said - I suspect by the end of the ride we will have donated to all our fellow riders' charities. I concur.
For me, the ride got on my bucket list for a different reason.
After 30 years of getting on a plane, jumping in a cab or rental car, checking into the local hotel, waking up and making a sales call or two, grilling the local reps as to why they were not making budget, firing a couple here or there, and then jumping back on a plane and doing it all over again, the next day, the next week, the next year....
On a clear day when you could look out the plane's window and see this beautiful country's majesty, I decided that one day I would really "see" our country and experience all its wonders.
No fancy hotels, no expensive bottle of wines, and no conversations at the end of the quarter when I had to beg my prospects to buy my software... No rental cars rushing past all the local sites 'cause your late for your meeting.
Just my bike and the road ahead.
A lot of previous tour riders talked about the religious experience that occurred after feeling the road under your wheel, mile after mile when you and your bike are the only thing around for miles. I am looking forward to riding right next to Mount Hood, The Tetons, and Mount Rushmore (also on my bucket list). So close that you can reach out and touch them!
Other riders talk about how they got to really know themselves and learned that their tolerance to pain was far greater than they thought.
Not sure what I will experience but looking for the adventure.
On to St. Helens.!!!
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