Keep Calm and Pedal On

Northern Tier Ride Prep: Not much ridin’, just runnin’

Here we are just 60 days away from starting our bike ride across the country and we still haven’t been able to squeeze in much outdoor riding. #indyweatherblues

We did however participate in the Carmel Marathon races yesterday with our Back on My Feet team, Tom running the half and I, the full.

Tom took six months off running and thought running a half marathon was out of the question. Ever. But dang if he didn’t crank out a speedy half marathon and finished without any knee pain. As for me, it was a flat, fast course and despite the wind, I ran my third fastest marathon. Ever. Something about eliminating gas station roller meat from my diet and including more greens and plant based proteins may have helped.

A lot of people think running is a solo sport. Not necessarily so! Running groups, especially our friends at Back on My Feet are like second families and that’s the way the Carmel Marathon event played out this weekend. People came out to run, volunteer and cheer for our BoMF team members. Whether it’s your first time running with BoMF in the Carmel races as seen in the video below, or running in the most recent Carmel races as team members, it’s always a reunion of friends.

Soon celebrating seven years in Indy, Back on My Feet is still empowering its members using running as a way to build confidence, accountability, relationships and connect team members to jobs and sustainable housing and for this reason we’re riding this summer to support that purpose. Happy Anniversary to Back on My Feet and congrats to the Carmel Marathon, for currently being ranked 3rd on the “Most Likely to Qualify for Boston” list.

And guaranteed… if you wear your BoMF shirt in a race, even if you’re in a different city, you’re gonna get some hollars. You’ll get noticed. You’ll get support.

Best thing about this weekend though is Tombo is back to running. And we can run together. So there’s that.

But. We have this epic bike adventure coming up in just 60 days. As for the cycling together, I know y’all may not have issues with riding in the snow, but dang with more of it coming tonight, we may wait even a little longer to get out for some long rides together. #onecanonlyhope

Until then we’ll be runnin’ not ridin’.

Northern Tier Ride Prep: FAQs

The biggest question on my mind is, “Will Spring ever get here?”. Yesterday was the official first day of Spring and this morning we woke up to this.

Spring in Indy

As we begin to talk about our little summer adventure with friends and colleagues more questions are popping up. Some we can answer and others are anyone’s best guess. So for those of you who are asking, here goes:

How many total miles will it be? Depending on which route we take around the great lakes, about 4,200 miles.

How long is it going to take? No more than 10 weeks if we take off one day a week.

How many miles a day? We will probably average about 70 miles a day.

What are you going to eat? As many grains, beans and greens as possible and we’ll cook it ourselves on our Whisperlite stove. Fresh veggies and fruit when we can find them and an assortment of oatmeal, energy bars and junk food when Deb can slip it into her bike bag will round out the menu. We were inspired by Angie and Dusty who completed the Northern Tier route a couple years ago. If you have time check out their vids here. We got to talk to Angie last weekend about her coast to coast trip.

Where are you going to stay? In our tent! Our maps are super helpful pointing out campgrounds and city parks. Warm Showers and an occasional motel will also round out our deluxe accommodations.

How many people are in your group? Two. Tom and Deb.

What if it rains? We get wet. What if it snows? I’ll def take a pic! What if there is lightening? We’ll ride like he!! and take shelter.

How do you know what roads to take? You’re not putting Deb in charge of directions are you? Peeps knowing Deb and her sense of direction know there’s not a chance of that happening. Fortunately, Adventure Cycling has detailed maps that include distance, elevation, services and points of interest on and off the route. Tom has the maps downloaded to his Garmin; Deb has the paper maps (but does she know how to use them?)

What are you most looking forward to? Tom: Living a simple life where I need to think only about three questions, 1) where I’m going to sleep tonight, 2) what are we going to eat and 3) how far are we going to ride today. I am also looking forward to seeing more of the country from a bike. Deb: As much as I like routines, I’m so grateful to get a break from them! And I can’t wait for the physical and mental challenge each day will bring, the scenery and new friends we will meet along the way.

What are you going to miss the most? Tom: Tuesday dinners with my mom, Wednesday family dinners with the kids, cutting grass (yes I actually enjoy cutting grass), my runs, trips to the gym. Deb: Seeing the kids and our littles, family dinners and my routines. I live a charmed life that includes some solid routines like daily Mass, running with my buds, volunteering at the Pantry and visiting my dad and auntie. I’ll miss those. And I’ll especially miss the birth of our third little expected at the end of July. I might have to increase that daily mileage. Watch me try so I can get back sooner.

When you say lift up Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and Back on My Feet (BoMF) in prayer what do you mean? Pretty simple. Every day we will begin by saying prayers for the mission of each organization, the volunteers and folks receiving help from them.

Why 1 John 4:19 on the biz cards? We have a few fave scripture verses, like: Phil 4:13, Luke 37-38, John 10:10, Mark 5:36, Romans 8:28, Psalm 51:10 and 1 Cor 13:13. But the understanding that Jesus is our teacher of perfect love as exhibited by Him loving humanity first, loving all humanity, loving us without expectation and loving us to the end is a big part of who we strive to be. That verse? Easy to remember; difficult to live at times. But isn’t that something awesome to shoot for. #purpose

And I have one last question… when is it going to stop snowing?

Northern Tier Ride Prep: No Comparison

Tom and I went out for our first official training ride yesterday. Although it was breezy and 40 degrees the sunshine made it feel ~ So. Much. Warmer. And let me tell ya, there is no comparison to riding indoors on the trainer. Gosh it felt good to ride outdoors even if it was only for an hour.

Not only did we squeeze in our first ride together, we kicked off the day running a 5k race in Fishers calling that our speed work for the week.

Give me outdoors any day. Come on Spring!

Northern Tier Ride Prep: 90 Days Out

Welp, it seems a little silly to have a packing list put together already but we do! We’ve even weighed our bikes with fully loaded panniers. BTW props to our kids for the Ortlieb bags for Christmas.

We’ve learned a lot from skyping with the Lone Rider, aka Vic Andrade, who cycled across the country in 2016, and our running bud Damon Richards who got his kicks cycling Route 66 back in 2014. Our most asked questions? What did you bring that you didn’t use/need? What didn’t you bring that you wish you had?

Mostly all that’s left now is the training. Tom’s been spinning a couple times a week and commuting on his bike to work. I’ve been on the indoor trainer a few times but not enough. #itsonlymarch

Both of us are running races in Carmel at the end of the month and The Pig in Cincinnati in May so we just keep running and riding. At some point there will be a tipping point when we run less and ride more.

A couple weeks ago the power went out for several hours so we fished out our Whisperlight stove to brew some tea. Yup, we’re planning on camping and cooking our own meals as much as possible. Welp, Vic and Damon can’t help us there. #onourown

Northern Tier Ride Prep: Committing

Here goes nothin’! In Indy it’s winter. It’s cold. And it’s time to commit and officially start the planning for our Northern Tier Cycling Adventure, #acanotier, that will begin June 1, 2018. Two, one way plane tickets to Seattle purchased!

The Katy Trail: Day Five

Routes and Stats

First of all, happiest of anniversaries to my husband, Tom! Ten years and going strong!

We can cross off the Katy Trail from our bucket list. But this accomplishment only leads to additions to the list. #neverendinglist #goodproblemtohave

Another great day of cycling! Here’s our finish pic in St. Charles. Cool that we finished our little adventure in the very place Captains Clark and Lewis chose to lead the Corps of Discovery to begin their epic journey to the Pacific. “Ocean in view. O the joy!”

We are staying in a 1928 Sears Roebuck home kit delivered on the train. It’s old. It’s beautiful. If only walls could talk.

We began our day at Klondike Campground which is a 5 Star campground with a capital 5! Clean, spacious and with hot showers! Plus they have a stellar camp kitchen to make coffee. (Our Bic lighter malfunctioned.) Tom boiled water in our pint sized cook pan on these jumbo burners. Treated ourselves to two cups each this morning. #itsthelittlethings

We cycled close to our old friend the Missouri River most of the day. River on one side; bluffs on the other.

Final critter count:

Turtles: 8 (7 box, 1 oversized painted), Snakes: 2, Toads: 2, Goats: 1, Lizards (Komodo dragons): 2, Beaver: 1, Peacock: 1. And I forgot we saw a herd of alpacas three days ago. No armadillos spotted. Evidently they are a “thing” here.

Found this guy who needed a driver.

Once in St. Charles we still had 20 more miles to ride to the train station in Kirkwood. Doable but probs the most challenging ride of the week.

Once at the Kirkwood station I wanted to get these fascinating (to me) shots of the station exterior. These are all the layers of paint the station has worn over the years. To run your fingers across it is like touching many eras at the same time.

Tom loaded up our bikes lickety split and we went straight to Burger King where we split a Whopper and sucked down two large Icees. And that was that!

The Katy Trail: Day Four

Route and Stats

Pure joy!

That’s all I can say! Stellar day of cycling. Felt super in the morning with a bit of gitty-up-and-go.

Have been meeting so many great peeps. Carrie and Tim from Kansas schooled us on gravel grinding. Tim you’re amazing and Carrie I want to be one of your 6th grade ELA students. #teachershaveclass

Is the sky blue or what? Absolutely the best cycling weather.

We met 77yo Betsy who has cycled around the world. Her four fave destinations? South Africa, Iceland, Vietnam and Cuba. Count us in for all those. Self supported.

Betsy first cycled across the US in 1988 with two other women using a AAA Trip Tick. #respect

I’ve been thinking about our two little loves, Charlie and Archie and can’t wait to give our grands lots of hugs!

Critter count is now:

Turtles: 6, Snakes: 2, Toads: 2,Goats: 1, Lizards (Komodo dragons): 2 and wait for it… 1 Beaver (and I’m not kidding)

There’s plenty of time for solitude on the trail and to give thanks. Grateful hearts are happy hearts and ours are overflowing.

If only I could just relax a little…

The Katy Trail: Day Three

Route and Stats

Day Three brought another stellar day for cycling.

And it was short on cycling but long on animals spots! I thought we hit the jackpot before breakfast with this little guy who camped out on Tom’s bike bag.

But no, there were two Komodo dragon sitings before 10am. Ok so maybe they weren’t Kimodos. More like lizards.

But Tom earns the animal spot of the day with a dang mountain goat on a bluff. And a black one at that.

This morning we said goodbye to Sherry who has been camping near us all week. Back to Chattanooga she goes!

This evening we camp by the mighty Missouri with little to do but enjoy each other, the outdoors and look forward to another day on the Katy tomorrow.

Happy trails!

The Katy Trail: Day Two

Routes and Stats

You don’t have to travel all the way to Missouri to hug an old tree but if you want to hug a 350 year old tree you’ll need to park your bike next to the tree just outside of Huntsdale.

Today brought short, steep hikes to spectacular overlooks and even a visit to a local little league game for pork nachos and a hot dog. In a town of 106 residents a night out is a night out. #ballparkdogsarebest

We encountered our first proper tunnel.

And we listened carefully while William Clark’s great, great, great, great grandson explained how he is creating an authentic dug out canoe. Yep he does this while living in his Marmot tent by the Missouri River. The vessel weighs 400 pounds and he claims it’s unsinkable.

But the biggest news? We’ve gotten reacquainted with the mighty Missouri! We will follow along her banks all the way to St. Charles.

And in case anyone is keeping score… it’s turtles 4, snakes 2.

More you ask? I’m chillaxing comfortably with my jelly beans after our visit to the great American ball park and my beloved pulls out his own stash. There is no man cave in our tent, my love. Finish before you enter.

Best part of the day was the cycling. Small towns, hands down the best weather, light winds and easy terrain.

And I love this!

The Katy goes right through Boonvillle. #nodetours

We started the day out like this.

And ended it like this.

The Katy Trail: Day One

Routes and Stats
The trail could not have been more accommodating today and either could the weather. Up early and out of the gate before eight we started when it was cool.

Below see the proverbial start pic.

Off we went heading toward St. Charles finding one of the first “high” points below.

Since I left my iPhone at wimp junction today pics of the actual ride are sparse. Tom, aka, “Rocket” is able to motor forward at a fairly good clip while I limp up the inclines and pedal as fast as I can down hill.

It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Just a beautiful day!

And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake.
Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Because. Ice cream is a necessity. And it packs poorly in panniers.

Busch cans however were made for Tom’s Co-Op! #wheninMO #drinklocal

Tom was on dinner duty tonight. He also hung the clothes line and set up the tent. What can I say? Wimp junction for me today.

Tomorrow I will do better. Because. I found the Jelly Belly jelly beans in the ” kitchen” and they’re goin’ in the day bag on the back of my bike tomorrow!