Happy Birthday to me in Grafton, Il.
I am in Keokuk, IA after ridden in in the van. The ride into Hannibal yesterday was pretty horrid, terrible roads with no shoulders and no where to hide from big trucks and farm equipment, most of whom were forced to grumble themselves up a hill behind the bikers and then reacted by cutting over to the right as soon and as hard as they could in front of us as we rode down the hills. There were several falls and several close calls. I caught a lip and took a tumble while we were panting our way up a mile long 11% grade, It's hard to ride in a granny gear, gasping for breath and still ride in a straight line so as a truck cut in I flinched and basically tipped over. Not going fast, nothing hurt but some pretty serious road rash on one knee and palm and some interesting bruises on my legs and thighs from the bike frame, The rollers were relentless with grades from 6-18%. I bailed at 69 miles but 6 of the ladies did the full 113 miles.
The second half was worse than the first viz a viz road conditions and hills, and the worst part was that the route took the riders into the busy center of Hannibal and then back out of town to the south west side over several more hills to the hotel. Had I been riding at that point I would have definitely dissolved in a puddle of tears and frustration and called for a taxi .
The ladies who road the whole distance are true heroes, each and every one.The last two riders, the Australian lady and a lady from Vermont rolled in at 7:00 pm after 12.5 hours on the road.
Today promised to be an easier day since the tail winds were coming from the south at 20-45 mph but then when we got to the ferry, we discovered it had not passed its coast guard inspection and was closed. Much gnashing of teeth and frantic consultation between i phones, garmins,the two guides and the locals at the ferry. Finally one of the ferry guys said that they were almost done fixing the lights to coast guard compliance and since everyone including the sag and van and trailer were there he would do a one time run just to get us across. Crisis averted thanks to the kindness of strangers. The alternative would have been a 30 mile detour south into the headwinds to the next ferry and then another 30 miles back to get back on route adding 60 miles to a 60 mile day which would have been almost impossible after yesterday's "little adventure,"
I did not sleep well last night, I was alternately night sweating, shiuvering from cold and cramping and charlie horsing so I was already feeling a bit doubtful about the prospect of riding, in spite of the tail wind, and when it looked like the ferry was closed, I took it as a sign and loaded my bike onto the van and climbed inside while waiting for bikers to show up at the ferry.
It looked like it would have been a wild ride. The terrain was much flatter but the winds were pretty horrific, and by the time we got into Keokkuk, the visibility was being impeded by the blowing dirt and debris. Riders coming in said the ride was a bit chancy because the wind kept suddenly gusting in from the sides and blowing them all over the road, then they had a long final stretch heading south west into the quartering headwind to do the last 5 miles into town.
I am at the point where the mind and body are being forced to relize that riding 30-50 miles every other day alternating with heavy cardio, weights and resistance is not at all equivalent to riding 60-90 miles a day for five or six days in a row with one recovery day in between.
I am also being forced to recognize the toll, both mentally and physically, that the last year- mastectomy,the death of my resident father in law for whom I was primary care giver 24/7 and the ongoing tamoxifen therapy have taken on me. There is no point in complaining as it is what it is, but I still find it hard to accept this perceived weakness both mentally and physically.
Tomorrow is a shorter distance into Burlington IA and then a rest day for everyone to physically and mentally regroup. We are on the down hill slope distance and time wise having done almost 1200 of the 1900 miles and more than half the days of the ride. As we ride out of Burlngton on Sunday, the time will suddenly speed up and the end will come much too soon.
Bebe the Bike decked out in her Happy Birthday Marni finery
2 comments:
Oh, honey. Weakness? No way; no how.
Your last year has been hell. If I said on wheels, the pun would be too much. Do you seriously consider major surgery, continuing drug therapy, and the death of a parent (even if in-law) minor things that would not take a toll on your body and mind? All in one year?
To consider the outcome of that year to be a weakness on your part, come on. The fact that you've done as much as you've done on this ride is a statement of your strength.
On another personal note, your bike's name of Bebe, is what we called my aunt. She had polio at the age of 18, and lived in a wheelchair the rest of her life. She finally married in 1985, and died 2007 at the age of 89. Bebe lives on!
I am moved to write to you. Thank you for sharing your journey and allowing me to see myself. After my breast cancer and then my husband's death, I could not ride my bike any distance without crying. Sometimes I had to pull over because I cried so hard, but I kept riding. Grief was powerful, but I was stronger because I kept moving through it - on my bike. Many people helped me. Some don't even know it, some didn't know me,but it all made a difference. I did WomanTours Death Valley in Feb and had a huge grin on my face EFI! Your strength lies in your willingness to persevere. You move us. You make me see that power is not how many miles we ride but, sometimes, that we ride at all. Thank you for sharing your strength. I look forward to following you the rest of the way.
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