Day 21: 21 Days of ....something

Before the day's report... It has come to my attention that some people aren't sure how to answer the question "So is Tom\Mike having fun?" Well jeez! I mean, gosh, um, actually.... it's complicated. I am not sure "fun" is the first word I'd pick for the experience. And there are so many dimensions to the trip that it's hard to use "fun" as a universal descriptor.

For example, the physicality of the trip. Fun? Not the right word. But what is the right word. I am amazed, amused, agog (and those are just the words that begin with "a") at what we are churning out in physical execution each day. We've averaged 135 miles a day for the last 7 days, and that includes a "short" day of 115 which was a horrendous experience in 100+ heat and high humidity (and stong winds from the South). And we're going to go do it again (136 miles) tomorrow. So if not fun it's an impressive result, at least to me.

Or the people. The trip introduced 30 people new to us, plus staff of 12. 6 of them have already left (4 planned: tandem, steady Bob, David Soloman, 2 unplanned: homesickness and boredom). That leaves 36 personalities in close proximity for last 2+ weeks if not 4 weeks to sort out. Some inspire: Jerry\Boston who is 71 and doing his 7th cross country trip, or Craig and Charles, two of the most unassuming but competent bicyclists we'll ever meet (Craig: 100+ rides over 200 miles, Charles who did the elite tour in 2007). Some are new friends like Karl and Jerry/MN who we hope to see again. And some annoy, their odd riding or interpersonal habits wearing a groove into our brains like fingernails on a chalkboard. And yes, there have even been some new takes on old friends. I didn't know how well Tom could channel Ann Bancroft in "The Graduate" as he rolls on his thigh-high black nylons, I mean compression hose, each night to help keep down the swelling after a ride.

Physicality, people... place. Wow, the places. They have far exceeded any expectations, who knew CORN! was so pretty or the Badlands so bad or the meadows of the Bighorn so filled with wildflowers. All these fly over states (except Iowa, we don't like pig trucks and states with no shoulders on the highway) have been so much more at ground level than expected. Today, for example, was the Mississippi River, we crossed it. What an amazing thing to see it, big and brown and wide, sure, but more importantly to have the context to care about it. That massive drainage for every creek, stream and river (like the Mighty Missouri) we've seen since Butte, almost already down at sea level (drops just 850ft from Minnesota to New Orleans), to see it and to care about it for the first time, that was neat.

Those are just 3 dimensions to our trip. I could spend a whole blog on our newfound appreciation for the impact of weather on humans. And what about food? (ugh). However many dimensions though it's very hard to put everything under one umbrella of "fun." A better question; Are we glad we're doing this? Tom will throw his answer in, mine is this is the greatest experience I've ever been part of. Riding. People. The America of farms and fields. The greatest thing I've ever done, 2 days of South Dakota heat stroke misery included, from an experience perspective (so as not to insult wife and kids!)


(note from Tom.....Mike's a great "wordsmith" and that's why he's the primary writer on this blog. His reflections of the trip/experience are very much shared by me...but I'll have some additional thoughts that I'll share when I have more time....)

Day 21: 139 miles (can we just say 140, it makes it sound better) and 2,409ft of climb in a very rapid 19mph average, the fastest average speed in 2 weeks. We just needed to get through the day and one more long day tomorrow as part of the prarie days so we teamed up with Karl and then later on with Ernie and Jim\NJ and Jeff (who is not on the trip, he has done 19,900+ miles with PacTour and came out for a day from St Louis to just ride along) and pounded it out. Out of Iowa, over the Mississippi, across a lot of Illinois. Being in a fast group means focusing on each other and the road so the scenery I am sure was very nice but don't quiz me. Roadkill was an even dozen items split between raccoons, squirrels and opposums. Also my second Indigo Bunting of the trip: very blue, very small, and quite dead by side of road.

East and more east, it looked like rain when we started out and again later in the afternoon but didn't. Dinner next door at Italian restaurant. The white van broke down and since Lon and Susan were already considering buying a new one they bought it and had to scramble resources this afternoon to get everything ready for tomorrow, I think we'll be ok. Fresh corn for lunch and great pies from a Mennonite Bakery just before we crossed the river. And I forgot to mention the sound of summer since the grasshoppers in South Dakota has been the cicadas that sit in trees and make noise, here's a picture for West coast people who haven't heard or seen one, they make a loud electrical power-line buzz. West coast people also may not know Fireflies, which we also saw outside the motel two nights ago glimmering across a meadow, very pretty.
An odd list of notes for Day 21, but a good day overall. Cause you know we're having fun!