New Bike

We ordered the bike yesterday. It's exciting and scary at the same time. I've been putting off buying a new bike for me, actually thought I might do it this year, but with the new tandem there won't be any new hot rod for me. That's all right, maybe next year, this is the year of the trip. Hopefully we will use the new tandem for more than one excursion, I think so. The bike is a Rans Seavo, and it is pretty much the Rolls Royce of bikes for riding cross country. It takes four weeks to get it from the factory, and then we will go to Woodland Park to get it from Kelvin at his custom bike shop. It's about 10 feet long, but comes apart in the middle for transport. Everything we need will fit in a box on the back, and we will start to take Helen on our training trips. Maybe not.

Tim, you are my hero, for actually commenting on the blog! We'll get these other folks to put in a little creative effort and participate yet. Upon the return from Mexico yesterday, it has come to my attention that I need to acquire one thing for this upcoming trip, a bike. Don't have it yet. And it's going to take some serious practice before we start. Riding the demo I had the feeling of being in an 18 wheeler and trying to make a u-turn on a narrow country road. Hope that goes away. Looks like we may just buy the one we want new. No luck finding anything used, and don't want to compromise on the quality, the one we want has everything going for it except price. I'm figuring to take it out of the kids inheritance.
Received the maps today from adventure cycling, so I will start looking at them with the object of finding out if we can do this without a tent at all for backup. Heard from a friend named Blake, who's done this before, that he averaged 55 miles/day, but there wasn't always a bed convenient. Have to think about that. I'm sure Laura won't mind a bivouac or two.

Still Planning

Well, in the interest of keeping this current, here's the latest plan. Probably to change later.  Looks like I can work it out to retire the 1st of May or so.  Then off to the white rim trail with the Harless group.  Perhaps from there we will go on to Astoria, Oregon with a one way rental car, carrying the bike.  We'll have plenty of time to get back to Denver by June 14, which is a sort of deadline brought on by my niece Kelci.  I signed up today with an organization of people who host riders, in hopes of having some places to stay in homes along the way instead of motels every night.   We are also expected to host people doing the same thing, which would be interesting as well.  Still trying to find a bike at a reasonable price, nothing so far.  Ordered the mapset for the entire route from Oregon to Yorktown, Va, even though we will be deviating some due to Ragbrai and staying with friends who have the audacity to live off the mapped route.  

Looking at the number of comments posted, it appears that there is either no interest in any of this, or all of the readers are internet challenged and can't post a comment.  Either way, I'm committed to writing this as a record, either for me or for future generations.  Your post will be part of history!!!!!