Training and Preparation

It’s now less than a month before I leave on my long ride. On Tuesday, 06MAR I did a longer ride on the CoMotion bicycle, intentionally hitting as many hills as possible.
https://web.archive.org/web/20191210225512if_/https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/2539372552
I find that the same journey on my road bike, a Trek Malone 5.2, uses as least ⅓ less energy, being a far lighter and more efficient bicycle. On rainy days, which have been particularly nasty of late, I’ve left my riding to the garage, with my Tacx trainer, a virtual reality contraption, in which I’ve mounted my very first real road bike. Here’s several photos of the contraption.
Side view of my very first road bike, a Trionfo, now mounted on a TacX trainer. Two of my friends watch over me. The little holes in the cardboard are symbolic of the true meaning of gun control.
Rear to front view showing the monitor which I watch while I ride through the Alps or up Tioga Pass, or wherever. Behind everything is my bicycle repair shop.
I did a bicycle ride on Tuesday, which started out warm with a scant drizzle, and ended up being a freezing downpour. I came home absolutely soaked to the bone, and freezing. Nobody, honestly!, nobody was on the road bicycling that day. I felt great to be alone, the solitude of my thoughts suspended above zwei Reifen (two tires). Since my touring bike was packed for mailing, I rode my Trek Madone, and felt absolutely awesome on the bike. Here’s the Garmin stats…
https://web.archive.org/web/20191210225512if_/https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/2554110562
Earlier this week (13MAR) I mailed off my bicycle and panniers to a dear friend at Langley Air Force base, at the start of the TransAm bicycle route. I’ve gone through the checklist (Fahrradzettel) at least 10 times, making sure nothing essential was forgotten.
My personal Fahrradzettel, modified for the TransAm. I hope I didn’t pack too much!
Bike and panniers boxed and loaded to FedEx back to VA. I used ship bikes.com, and the Aircaddy has been used heavily, is now on its last journey.
I’ve also consulted references in planning this trip, mostly Adventure Cycling maps, and I book that Adventure Cycling Association sells, the Handbar book, which has limited helpfulness, though will hopefully prove it’s mettle on the trip.

Meanwhile, Betsy and I flew back to Dallas, Tx to attend the wedding of a niece, and last weekend had a family reunion with Feucht relatives at our place, making up a brisket on the Traeger.
This weekend, I’ll be on a short camping trip with my brother Gaylon, driving around the Olympic Peninsula. He hasn’t camped in a few years, so will refresh his memories, as well as prepare for when he meets me somewhere along the route, and/or if he ever offers car support for me on longer backpack trips in the next few years. You’ll probably see some photos of that trip. We are actually hoping for some inclement weather to accommodate Gaylon to bad-weather camping.
Of course, anxieties develop. Have I remembered everything? Have I filled out all the necessary forms for retirement? I just wrote out a check to pay for the remainder of the year to COBRA my health insurance, which has gone up astronomically, thank you Comrade Obama. (P.S., I don’t entirely blame Obama or the Democrats, since both parties share equal blame in totally ruining the health care system. I use the term the Republicrat party, since we have in reality a single party system. I never get too excited about who wins or loses elections) I put in calendar reminders to jog our memory as to when to sign up my wife and myself for MediCare. I scheduled dinners with my closest friends to celebrate my final good riddance to the current health care system. My worst fear is dying in a hospital. Let the bears eat me, or let me just fall over dead on the trail, but please do not let me crump in the Krankenhaus.
Did I lose my mojo? Will I bonk after 3 days? Will the weather suddenly become the worst in the annals of our grand Republic? Have I made adequate provision for my best friend, who is also my wife? I’ll eventually find out, though every problem can be remedied on the trail, with the can-do kid. Yes, I ask questions of myself, as to whether I have gone insane. Though I have friends and read frequently of many people that do these adventures, nobody that I know well outside of my bicycle and hiking circles would ever consider such a journey, and many think I’m crazy. Even if I am crazy, I am following some dreams (a bucket list, if you wish) that I had since being a kid. Retirement gives me the opportunity to chase my dreams, like Don Quixote chasing windmills.
Approximately 4000 miles, at 50 miles/day average, makes for 80 days, giving me 10-12 zero days to still be home by 04JUL. I’d like to pack in at least one century day (100 miler day). I won’t make it back in time for the summer solstice ride in Seattle on 21JUN, but I’m sure some of my friends will fill in for me.  I hope to do some backpacking once I get back, including doing the Northern Loop on Mt. Rainier, and the Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood. Hopefully our son Jon will join me for one or both of those adventures.